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Citing two people familiar with the project, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Apple could allow other device makers to use AirPlay for "streaming movies, TV shows and other video content." One person reportedly said that such devices could be made available as soon as this year.
"An expanded AirPlay would let users stream programming wirelessly from an Apple mobile device to a TV that carries the technology," authors Cliff Edwards and Adam Satariano wrote. "That may spur wider use of Apple's services and devices in consumers' living rooms."
The strategy could negate the need for users to purchase Apple's $99 Apple TV set top box, currently the main beneficiary of the AirPlay standard. If HDTV makers were to integrate AirPlay into their products, it could also pour cold water on longstanding speculation that Apple intends to build its own connected high-definition television set in the near future.
If Apple does license video streaming with AirPlay, it would be an unusual step for the company, which typically does not license its software to other companies. However, with last year's announcement of AirPlay, Apple did reveal it was working with third-party device makers to allow integrated streaming audio compatible with the new standard. A handful of those products are already available on the market.
According to Bloomberg, those who sell AirPlay-compatible devices pay Apple $4 for each device sold, as part of the licensing agreement. It was also said that the existing AirPlay technology used by manufacturers allows for video to be streamed, though the licensing prevents it.
The report also said that Apple's chip partner for AirPlay, BridgeCo., has been working with "several TV makers" on future Web-connected HDTVs. However, it was not known whether the talks were to include AirPlay technology.
Apple has been quickly expanding the reach of AirPlay since it was first introduced late last year. The iOS 4.3 update for iPhone and iPad released earlier this month added the ability for third-party applications on the App Store to stream AirPlay video out to the Apple TV.


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Howes: GM, FCA book fatter profit despite sales plateau
Car and truck sales are plateauing in the lucrative U.S. market, but you wouldn’t know it from the big jump in profits and other financial metrics.
General Motors Co. exceeded Wall Street expectations Wednesday with record net income of $2.8 billion in the third quarter. And Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV demonstrated that the price for exiting small-car production may not be as high as originally feared.
Bottom line: the good times are not yet over for Detroit’s automakers or their foreign rivals operating in the United States. This town’s auto leaders are just more cautious and more disciplined, determined to avoid past mistakes and show investors that Old Detroit is gone for good.
“We fully expect 2016 to be another record year for the company,” said Chuck Stevens, GM’s chief financial officer. “We expect to generate strong cash flow over the next number of years.”
That’s huge, but not sufficient. Cash flow is tallied after the company makes investments in its core car and truck business, and after its leadership places bets on the mobility technologies of ride-sharing and autonomous vehicles. How are they doing it?
Three numbers, measured in industry-speak, are key. Average transaction prices at GM exceeded $36,000 in the third quarter, the company said, almost $5,000 above the industry average. That’s a clear sign that GM’s bias for retail sales over sales to rental companies is paying off, and that consumers see greater value in GM’s metal.
Second, adjusted operating margins are rising at GM and, to a lesser extent, at FCA to levels this town rarely, if ever, saw (much less consistently) before the global financial meltdown. At GM, North American margins exceeded 10 percent in five of the past six quarters.
And, third, the more the U.S. market skews toward trucks and SUVs amid comparatively low gas prices, the more North American profits are likely to stay robust. That has major — and positive — implications for the Motor City and Michigan in terms of jobs and hiring, salaried bonuses and profit-sharing payouts, a buoyant supplier sector and corporate philanthropy.
Yet another quarter of gangbuster performance still is not, however, enough for investors to jump into the sector. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed trading Wednesday down a slight 0.3 percent, but shares in GM slid 4.18 percent to close at $31.60; Ford Motor Co. — set to report its third quarter Thursday — closed at $11.85, down 1.58 percent.
“It’s just amazing how under-owned and under-loved the domestic automakers are,” David Kudla, CEO of Grand Blanc-based Mainstay Capital Management LLC, said in an interview. “We do believe the peak auto cycle is here. The best we can hope for is this plateau.”
He continues: “They’re all operating at structural costs that are a lot lower than the last cycle. The margins are pretty incredible for the autos than where they’ve been before.”
Enter the Detroit conundrum. A U.S. market plateau of 17 million to 18 million vehicles a year, thanks partly to low fuel prices and the prospect of more to come, is a market that delivers fat profits because it sells large numbers of trucks and SUVs. Good, right?
Except it’s also a market that demonstrates little upside to investors hungry for the conditions that can deliver growth. As much as Detroit’s U.S. car and truck business is a hard-won story of profitability, it’s not thought much of a growth story — excluding China and the Asia-Pacific region, that is, and the mostly untapped mobility space.
As impressive as their post-meltdown rebound may be, Detroit’s three automakers are burdened by a legacy of denial, mismanagement and capital destruction. And that’s complicated by the indelible fact that theirs is a cyclical industry.
History doesn’t help. But each passing quarter delivers more evidence that these are very different companies led by different executives working in a different world delivering refreshingly different numbers, almost routinely.
With the notable exception of GM’s Chevrolet Bolt electric car, hitting select showrooms before the end of the year, Wednesday’s separate GM and FCA conference calls with the investment community hewed to familiar scripts detailing plant capacity, market conditions and automotive profitability.
Underpinning it all is a nagging sense there’s no winning a race that will never end. Any sign of slowdown, such as Ford’s decision to slow production of its best-selling F-150 pickups and the hit it likely will deliver to Blue Oval profitability, is considered a harbinger of a slowing economy.
Maybe it is, which would be real news in this town. Or maybe it’s Ford paying for its decision on fleet sales. Or honoring again its pledge to tie production tightly to demand. Neither is necessarily a commentary on a market in which GM and FCA both reaffirmed their confidence Wednesday.
This year should be as strong for GM as last year. FCA upgraded its estimates for net revenue, adjusted pre-tax earnings and adjusted net profit for the year. The Italian-American automaker also said its realignment of U.S. production capacity to Ram pickups and Jeep SUVs should deliver “double-digit margins” by 2018.
“The transformation should allow us to achieve best-in-class margins,” CEO Sergio Marchionne said. “It continues to be the single largest shortcoming this house has against the competitor class and it has to be overcome.”
Meantime, expect Detroit’s automakers and their foreign-owned rivals to take advantage of steady market demand, low interest rates and cheap gas for as long as they can — because it’s a virtuous cycle that cannot last forever.
Daniel Howes’ column runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Follow him on Twitter @DanielHowes_TDN, listen to his Saturday podcasts, or catch him 3 and 10 p.m. Thursdays on Michigan Radio’s “Stateside,” 91.7 FM.

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Amazon has already shown that it is dedicated to keeping Kindle among the top e-readers on the market. But it has not forgotten about the software side of things. Amazon has just released an update for Kindle app for iOS that makes it work like a charm on iPhone 4 and improves its performance in search, switching, and other areas (keeping it among the best e-reader apps on iPhone/iPad).
For starters, Kindle for iPhone and iPad is still a free application (not suggesting that Amazon planned to make it a paid app). The iPhone version has been updated to work fast on new iPhones (support for fast-switching). The search functionality has been improved too. Users can now search for things using Google, Wikipedia, or the app’s built-in dictionary. It may not be perfect (in-app browser would be much better), but it’s a start.
Just like Kindle 3, this is not a major update for Kindle app. Amazon seems to be playing the waiting game as far as its iPhone/iPad apps are concerned. These apps are decent and do make reading books on iPad more convenient. But we haven’t seen anything revolutionary from Amazon in the past few months. The good news is, Amazon will continue selling a ton of e-books in the upcoming months. Hopefully, that will keep it motivated to innovate and introduce some of those outside-the-box ideas.
How would you improve Amazon Kindle app for iPhone or iPad?


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- Tel Aviv based training platform developer Novos.gg has announced a $750K USD funding round led by Reimagine Ventures.
- Overwolf and Intel contributed to the round, as part of the two company’s joint $7M fund for competitive gaming apps.
- Novos plans to expand its team in Israel, and further develop its technology for the general market.
Novos.gg, an Israeli startup focused on training tools for competitive gamers, has raised $750K in funding. Leading the round was Remagine Ventures, with additional investment from firms including Kaedan Capital, and boutique investment bank LionTree. PC app store Overwolf also joined the investment through The Overwolf Fund, in partnership with Intel .
“It was very important to us to find the right partners,” Or Briga, co-founder and CEO of Novos, said in a statement. “We are on a mission to change the way gamers grow better today and even more importantly—the way they define themselves and their goals. We are providing gamers with the perfect training environment, imagine a world in which every kid who aspires to become a soccer player would be able to practice at the Real Madrid stadium.”
Related Article: Japanese Tournament Organizer PlayBrain Raises $1.9M Seed Round
Novos has developed a platform for competitive gamers aspiring for the professional level, which assesses a player’s ability before delivering a goal-oriented training program. Established in 2017, Novos plans to use the funding to expand its team in Israel, and further develop its technology.
The Overwolf Fund, of which Novos is a recipient of, delivers $100K to $500K in each approved developer, based on the need and value of the project. Rather than acquiring shares in the company building the app or mod, the fund is paid back through revenue sharing. Intel Captial led a $16M series B funding round in Overwolf in late 2018, which included Liberty Technology Venture Capital, and Overwolf’s existing investors, including Marker LLC.


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Strawberries can be found year-round and are brisker, cheaper and extra environmentally pleasant – the promise of an indoor vertical farm.
Kiwi Arama Kukutai – CEO of Lots – is about to open one of many largest vertical farms on the planet. Utilizing LED lights and robots, the US-based facility can develop an entire lettuce in 10 days: “That is about 15 to twenty instances sooner than the sphere,” he mentioned.
Numerous farms will provide recent produce to retail Walmart. Subsequent, Kukutai will switch the expertise to the east coast of the US and, maybe in the future, to New Zealand and Australia.
Kukutai (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, Te Aupōuri) challenges anybody who believes that conventional farming receives free daylight and water. Many crops require irrigation, which consumes vitality.
It’s estimated that Lots Farms makes use of solely 5% extra water than a standard farm. “We measure the quantity of water in particular person crops, we measure the vitamins. We’ve knowledge on the plant degree. We all know how the crops work.”
Daylight additionally means publicity to the weather and pests. “It could possibly be a hailstorm that kills all of the strawberries. It could possibly be bugs or pests that assault the crop,” Kokutay mentioned.
Most Lots farms are run by robots, however not solely. With crops rising sooner beneath intense UV mild, a farm can harvest as soon as a month. “We will change the entire system to supply totally different greens on the fly. The retailer will get the merchandise they need at any time when they need them.”
A 2018 report on vertical farming famous that the method was solely appropriate for some crops — Lots at the moment grows leafy greens and expands into tomatoes and strawberries. As well as, the report on New Zealand has ended Exorbitant prices From creating inside methods the financial savings outweighed. However Kokutay mentioned the local weather disaster is now altering the steadiness.
Outside crops will more and more climate droughts, storms, wild winds and floods. Indoor plantings might be higher shielded from these.
Rivers burst their banks, flash floods and extra extreme hurricanes. How local weather change is making floods extra extreme.
There’s a threat that indoor farms could worsen our carbon manufacturing.
Already, kiwi greenhouses burning coal and pure gasoline To maintain crops heat in winter.
Kukutai acknowledged that farm LED lights are energy-intensive. If electrical energy is generated by burning fossil fuels, then vertical farming might improve greenhouse emissions. He had hoped to pair the brand new Lots services with renewable energy era initiatives. “It aligns with our mission… Renewable capability is a precedence.”
He added that one hectare of vertical farming can domesticate between 200 and 300 hectares of standard fields. This implies produce will be grown nearer to cities, decreasing meals miles. “While you’re near the shopper, you do not ship the product left, proper, and heart.”
It would not use a number of pesticides or herbicides. He mentioned indoor farming considerably reduces meals waste. “As much as a 3rd of the meals produced within the discipline is misplaced.”
Kokutay added that decrease supply instances imply produce stays brisker for longer, as fewer meals bought find yourself rotting and littering.
Given these efficiencies, Kukutai believes that vertical farming ought to have the ability to produce merchandise which can be cheaper than conventional farming methods. He added that this achievement has not but been achieved. ‘However that is the purpose of investing in expertise to cut back price.’
The CEO mentioned agriculture might additionally enable extra land for use for different functions resembling carbon sequestration. “Land is a treasured useful resource. We are going to uncover different methods to make use of it.”
Kiwi Enterprise 26 Seasons operates vertical farms in Auckland, Foxton and WellingtonAnd the cultivation of small greens and strawberries.
When requested if Lots would be part of them on the shores of New Zealand, Kokutay could not say something definitive. However he thought a small farm could possibly be possible. “I’ve a slight bias, being a kiwi.”
The weekly e-mail publication, from Olivia Wannan of the Ceaselessly Challenge, summarizes the most recent local weather developments. Register right here.


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Going into June 2020, there has been a lot of craziness going on with the market. But Paul Meeks is here to give us some good news. Paul is back on CNBC’s Trading Nation to
Coming up on three months of nationwide shutdowns, and now very real civil unrest is happening with threatened violence from the President. Both big box and small retail stores are being looted and closed, and yet the market is up today. How is this even possible?
As technology continues to grow, the availability of information and research has become more easily accessible. For some investors, it has raised the question of ‘why managed money?’
Another week. The rally continues for U.S. stocks, and I think that it can go further if the S&P 500 breaks through technical resistance at 3,000.
If you read this blog, you know that I’ve been waiting for the major tech companies that I cover to announce their March quarter earnings. For the “FAANGs,” which includes Facebook (FB), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Netflix (NFLX), and Google (GOOGL), and to which I’d add Microsoft (MSFT) to this group of tech titans
This week, we’re in the teeth of the earnings announcements for the quarter ended March 31. So far, stock price reaction has been muted even for miserable reports and weak guidance for the June period and beyond.
Next week, the week of April 27, most of my covered technology companies report their financial results for the latest quarter. During these announcements, some firms will provide outlooks, or at least try to, for 2020.
Since the pandemic of the Coronavirus started, investors are looking to make changes to their strategies.
It’s only been a month and a half since the economy took a hard hit due to the coronavirus. Now there is talk about re-opening the economy.
In my last post, I wrote about how I am waiting for companies to “confess” their actual coronavirus impacts before reinvesting in this market in any meaningful way. I know from experience and historical evidence backs me up, that stocks cannot consistently rise until Wall Street sales and earnings estimates for covered companies have been … Continue Reading


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Las Vegas, NV -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/25/2014 -- Though it’s a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, it has, over the years, evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage in the US, especially in regions that have a large Mexican-American population. Celebrated on the 5th of May, Cinco de Mayo traditions include mariachi music performances, parades and street festivals in cities and towns across the US and Mexico.
Those in LA can visit Michoacán Restaurant - the best Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas, to celebrate Cinco de Mayo festival this year with authentic Mexican food and a variety of tequilas.
Michoacán Restaurant has recently announced that it would celebrate Cinco de Mayo from May 2nd till May 5th 2014 with mariachi bands, food and drink specials, dancing, giveaways, and much more! Loyal customers of this restaurant can even pick their free raffle tickets to celebrate the event in style.
For tequila connoisseurs, Michoacán Restaurant – rated as one of the best Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas, brings good news with its extensive and varied repertoire of 279 different tequilas. Be it Tequila Blanco, Tequila Reposado, Tequila Añejo, Infused Tequila, Tequila Flight or other varieties, one can have a lot to choose from. Tequila, the mysterious potion, is often regarded as the signature miracle elixir of Mexico.
No wonder that it’s the ideal choice to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in true Mexican style. Whether one is looking to celebrate this festival with friends or family, Michoacán Restaurant offers the perfect ambiance to everyone.
Those who want to take a sip of their favorite drink can also look forward to tasting some of the best Margaritas in Las Vegas at Michoacán Restaurant, in addition to taking their pick from a huge repertoire of imported and domestic beers!
With a musical performance of Mariachi Mexico Antiguo and Mario Olivares Band (May 4-5) and Mario-Mariachi-Ballet (May 5), along with gourmet Mexican delicacies and an extensive stock of high quality tequilas, not to mention beers and Margaritas, Michoacan Gourmet Mexican Restaurant has planned everything to ensure that its patrons have a memorable experience of celebrating Cinco de Mayo festival in May 2014.


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Restaurant digital ordering platform Menufy is partnering with Uber as a solution to help its eatery customers keep up with the escalating demands for food delivery, according to a press release on Wednesday (June 2).
Menufy, a commission-free, digital ordering and delivery solution for independently owned restaurants and small chains in the U.S., teamed up with Uber so that its 11,000 restaurant clients across the country could tap Uber’s network of drivers. The collaboration is anticipated to speed up delivery and expand restaurants’ reach.
“With more people eating at home, today’s diners expect restaurants both large and small to offer a seamless, consistent delivery experience,” Sharmil Desai, CEO of Menufy, said in the release.
Desai said that adding Uber as an option “solves these challenges” of a seamless process and gives more restaurants the ability to offer a “consistent delivery experience” without the need to hire additional workers. He also added that Uber’s brand awareness could make it easier for customers to trust the speed and reliability of an add-on delivery service.
Menufy executives indicated in the release that one issue was the same for many restaurant operators during the pandemic — the need to improve delivery services.
“Menufy has been an important partner in supporting restaurants during a difficult time for the industry,” said Pooja Daftary, head of Uber Direct for the U.S. and Canada.
Launched in Leawood, Kansas, in 2009, Menufy aimed to extend delivery to its restaurant clients at a flat fee of 12.5 percent, along with offering support and end-to-end peace of mind that customers would be serviced from order to delivery, the release indicated.
All Day Kitchens recently raised $20 million in a Series B funding round to expand its distributed restaurant platform so it can grow the number of restaurants’ food it can bring to satellite kitchens for takeout and delivery.
CEO of All Day Kitchens Ken Chong told PYMNTS in a recent interview that the company’s satellite locations are delivery and takeout only; however, they are not ghost kitchens or even virtual kitchens, saying that “we’re sort of skipping forward into the post-ghost kitchen era.”


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Boarding House taking reservations
The Pioneer Woman Boarding House, 540 Kihekah Ave., Pawhuska, is taking reservations.
In an announcement issued Thursday night, Ree and Ladd Drummond provided information about the lodgings, meals and amenities they plan to provide to guests at the new downtown business. They described the style of The Boarding House as “cowboy luxury.”
The Boarding House will feature eight luxury rooms, each with its own design and name — for example, “The Photograph Room,” the “The Drugstore Room” and “The Tack Room.”
The building that the Drummonds have converted into The Boarding House goes back to 1920 and was once used as a J.C. Penney store.


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Black Friday will bring us another pair of the adidas AlphaBounce. The latest will be the adidas AlphaBounce ’Triple Black’ which more then likely sell very well.
As you can see, this adidas AlphaBounce stays true to the Triple Black theme while dressed in Core Black, Core Black and Core Black. Featuring Black through the uppers, the highlight is the reflective Xeno highlights. Finishing the look is Black used once again across the Bounce midsole.
adidas AlphaBounce Xeno Triple Black Release Date
The ‘Triple Black’ adidas AlphaBounce Xeno will release at select adidas Originals retailers on Black Friday, November 25th, 2016. Retail price will be $100. Below you can check out more images which will give you a detailed look.
adidas AlphaBounce Xeno Triple Black
Core Black/Core Black/Core Black
November 25, 2016
See Also: adidas Release Dates
Update: adidas Originals has officially unveiled the AlphaBounce XENO which is releasing on Black Friday. They will be available for men and women for a retail price of $120.


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Austin has had reputation as a secondary tech city, especially for start-up. The 800 pound gorilla has been Dell but recent developments make Austin a top destination for skilled talent. The year is already off to a hot start as we’ve seen some big developments from some of the world’s biggest tech companies. With that we expect some great developments in real estate values, as these high paid employees will need housing.
Downtown – Tech Jobs
You may have noticed the big pit downtown. However, the good news is that it’s going to be built into a high-rise. In addition, the better news is that tech giant Google is moving in and will lease the entire 723,000 square foot building. This is right next door to the space they already occupy. While it’s not completed yet, it’s expected to be finished within 3 years.
North Austin initially looks to benefit the most. Historically this area has already been home to tech companies (due to Dell) but is still expanding with huge opportunities. The major news this year has been Apple’s new $1B campus. This campus is poised to house as many as 15,000 new jobs over the next 5 years.
Building on the North Austin love, The Domain has also been subject to large job additions. Facebook is scheduled to lease an entire 320,000 square foot building (Domain 12) which is still under construction. Word is that this is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
After some disappointment of neither Austin or Dallas landing tech giant Amazon’s infamous HQ2, reports say that their location in New York City has been cancelled. Simultaneously, it was announced that Amazon will be leasing 145,000 square feet on four floors in The Domain where they already lease 250,000 square. Similarly, Amazon has also announced it will move additional jobs to Austin with the NYC plans falling apart. This has The Domain poised to become Austin’s second downtown.
In conclusion, these tech jobs will have a huge economic impact on the city, and especially the surrounding neighborhoods. Reach out to Loan Ranger Capital for any loan requests on investment property!


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When Target appointed an interim CEO following Gregg Steinhafel's departure in May, analysts and executive placement experts saw it as an indication the retailer would for the first time reach outside for a new leader.
The big-box chain went further against the grain on Thursday, when it announced that Steinhafel's permanent replacement would come from the consumer packaged goods industry.
Although the selection of Brian Cornell, who serves as CEO of PepsiCo Americas Foods, came as a bit of a surprise, experts said they weren't shocked to see Target reach outside of the industry for its pick.
That's because the retail field has struggled to compete for talent with industries that offer higher paychecks, while the candidate pool lacks a bevy of people with both merchandising and financial know-how.
Les Berglass, CEO of retail placement firm Berglass + Associates, said Cornell's experience at PepsiCo, paired with his prior experience as president and CEO of Sam's Club, will be advantageous to the company's business.
"He wears a wholesale hat and he wears a retail hat, and that's a rare combination," Berglass said.
Because Target's grocery business leans heavily on vendors such as Pepsi, Cornell's experience at the food and beverage distributor will help it find a delicate balance between pushing for exclusive products at low prices without being too forceful, Berglass said. This is a key skill for the company's new head as Target looks to expand its grocery business, including in-store pickup for some of its non-perishable foods.
Jason Hanold, managing partner of boutique executive search firm Hanold Associates, said it's logical for retailers to extend their search outside of the industry, so long as they come from a business that's "wired to consumers."
"[Cornell's] not the first executive to come from another industry and infiltrate the ranks of retail," said Elaine Hughes, founder and CEO of executive search firm E.A. Hughes. She pointed to Kohl's Chief Customer Officer Michelle Gass, a Starbucks alum, as an example.
When tapping talent from other industries, it's important to make sure they're familiar with the "burden of inventory," Berglass said. In particular, he said he'd like to see more retailers tapping into the digital space for new hires, for example poaching talent from Amazon.
Hanold said the most important characteristic is to find a good leader—something Target did in appointing Cornell. In the aftermath of Target's massive data breach over the holidays, Target needs a "very genuine leader" to restore credibility with consumers and shareholders.
"What's promising is you hear reputationally how strong he was," Hanold said. "That is a phenomenal trait for what Target needs most right now."
Berglass also pointed to Cornell's international experience as a positive for Target, which stumbled in its entry into Canada last year. At PepsiCo, Cornell oversaw a portfolio that included all of the company's Latin American food and snack businesses.
Through his experience with grocery, which is a lower-margin business than traditional retail, Cornell also knows how to "wring out the sponge" better than people with a traditional retail background, Berglass said. Wells Fargo analyst Matt Nemer said his familiarity with membership clubs will also be particularly useful to growing Target's REDcard loyalty program.
Still, the shift won't be all smooth sailing for Cornell. For one, Hanold pointed to the fact that the executive hasn't yet been tested with turning around a struggling business. In a note to investors, UBS analyst Jason DeRise noted Cornell also has less experience with ecommerce—which he estimates counts for less than 2 percent of its US sales—and the home and apparel categories, "which are critical areas for the Target turnaround." DeRise estimates online accounts for less than 2 percent of US sales.
This is particularly an issue because the fashion cycle changes much more rapidly than the consumer products industry, Hughes said.
Meanwhile, JP Morgan analyst Christopher Horvers called into question Cornell's background in grocery and packaged foods as possibly "taking another uncomfortable step closer to Wal-Mart."
"Target has a differentiated positioning relative to big discount retailers," Stifel Nicolaus analyst David Schick said. "Consumables matter but business was best when Target's discretionary differentiation was at its strongest."
—By CNBC's Krystina Gustafson


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Sony’s(alongside the Xbox Sequence X and S) has been nearly impossible to purchase since its start again in November. Individuals shortages will very likely keep on for a little bit longer, according to Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Amusement. But stock really should select up in the 2nd 50 percent of the calendar year, he claims.
The news will come from a series of interviews with Ryan fromand , the place the PlayStation manager reflected on the earlier several months because the PS5’s launch and the road in advance for the up coming-technology console.
“Demand was greater than we expected,” Ryan stated, conveying the ongoing stock issues for the console. “That, along with the complexities of the provide chain challenges, resulted in a a little reduced source than we originally predicted.”
Things will ultimately strengthen, though it could take some time. “It will get better every single thirty day period through 2021,” Ryan. “The tempo of the advancement in the offer chain will obtain throughout the program of the calendar year, so by the time we get to the next fifty percent of , you’re heading to be seeing really decent quantities certainly.”
That claimed, Ryan would not guarantee that there would be enough stock for everyone who would like a console to get 1 this vacation year. The large need for PS5s, blended with the ongoing international semiconductor shortage and the simple fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing most console income via bot-infested on-line portals, signifies Sony is nonetheless experiencing severe constraints in how many folks will basically be ready to invest in a PS5. “There are quite several magic wands that can be waved,” notes Ryan.
Continue to, Sony is previously viewing encouraging figures in the breakdown of customers who have been ready to purchase a PS5. According to Ryan, 1 in 4 PS5 entrepreneurs did not personal a PlayStation 4 console, and fifty percent of all PS5 owners are new to PSN. (Sony’s online account process that the enterprise has made use of considering that the PlayStation 3.)
Sony isn’t the only one hoping that following-technology console supplies will decide up in the 2nd fifty percent of the 12 months both. Mike Spencer, Microsoft’s head of trader relations, just lately uncovered that the new Xbox consoles will probable seein an .


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Alex Wilhelm is a San Francisco-based writer. You can find Alex on Twitter, and on Facebook. You can reach Alex via email at [email protected] Alex Wilhelm is a San Francisco-based writer. You can find Alex on Twitter, and on Facebook. You can reach Alex via email at [email protected]
According to the HP and Palm conference call underway as we speak, the two companies are looking to spread the powerful webOS platform to a number of new areas.
Chief among the discussed potential options are slate computers, or in layman’s terms flat iPad looking machines. Running webOS these computers would boast the best multitasking experience in the mobile world.
While webOS lacks the app catalog of Android and iPhone, the software itself has generally been praised since its first unveiling. The idea of a webOS tablet is already polling well in the market. Simply run a Twitter search and see what the world is saying.
In short, with HP’s ability to spend healthily on reasearch and development for future hardware, the operating system just might get the shot at life that Palm could never give it. Generally speaking, Palm has suffered from low sales due to hardware concerns, not software problems. HP might be able to fix that.
As a short warning, this is still unconfirmed, but very strongly hinted at speculation. HP plans to “double down” on webOS, meaning that we will see a full court press in the coming months.
Finally, this means that the mobile market will remain fractured. Between iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Symbian, and of course webOS, consumers have never had so many good options. HP, get to work and make Palm hot again.
What do you think? iPad? webOS slate? Which do you want to get?
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With the holidays heating up, it's no wonder that you didn't have time to check out all the crazy automotive news you crave. Luckily, we chose to round up all our new stories from this week.
We've assembled ten great car gifts ranging from a mere $9 all the way to $300, and each one is bound to give the recipient automotive smiles galore.
The U.S. and Europe aren't the only ones who have their sights set on getting autonomous taxi services on the road. Nissan has plans to test fully-autonomous taxis on the roads of Japan in 2018.
Dollar for dollar, there's only one travel mug to rely on when you want a hot cup o' joe and dry pants. It's the rather lengthy-named Zojirushi SM-KHE48BA, and it's fantastic.
Ford's Application Program for the new Ford GT put the car in an exclusive space only a select few could hope to enter. The high-end clientele club Ford had established was not without its hurdles.
Volkswagen is banking on the future of mobility, not just with their Moia mobility division but with a brand new electric van for its ride-hailing service that will come in 2018.
Having your tablet in your car can be helpful. It allows you to easily stay connected even if your car doesn't have a modern infotainment system.
The race to get a fully autonomous robo-taxi fleet on the road is well underway. GM just announced its plans for launching a commercial fleet of self-driving ride-share vehicles in urban areas.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has vowed that the company will one day become "the best manufacturer on Earth." While this is possible, there are some major flaws in the manufacturing process.
You can walk into your local Chevy dealer and start asking about that seriously big Z06 discount that amounts to $9,107.
The auto industry isn't immune from the buying insanity, and there are some great deals out there. There's no indication how long some of these deals will last, so you'd better get yourself out there.
One that comes to mind is the new 2018 Toyota CH-R. Except, in this case, we absolutely hate it. It's our least favorite car of 2017 for a number of reasons.
Looking for a sports car that won't break the bank? These six models are some of the best sports cars out there and they're easily affordable, too.
Falling in line with the direction of where the automotive industry is going, Volvo has signed a framework agreement with Uber on a three-year contract to supply cars.
There are times when we all can become forgetful, but there comes a time when that can just be a bit excessive. We've been in that all-to-common situation where we have parked in giant parking lot.


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All the predictions of general relativity that we’ve tested have held up to scrutiny, but the effects are usually subtle. Astronomers have spotted a distant star that further confirms general relativity in a more obvious fashion.
A new show from National Geographic will focus on the life of Albert Einstein, showcasing him as both an older and younger man, and with an eye towards his personal life — not simply his scientific endeavors.
With the advent of Internet-connected phones, computers, and other devices, it’s become something of a non-issue to worry about whether it keeps time properly. Now it’s down to edge cases, such as an old car I had with a specific model-year problem that caused the dashboard clock to gain roughly 10 minutes every month. And I…
DARPA has unveiled its plan for the future, and it includes a brand new global positioning, navigation, and timing system (GPS) that doesn’t depend on satellites.
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I Used to be the [H] News Guy
- Nov 27, 2006
Looks like the leaked Intel Skylake release schedule Steve posted earlier this month is panning out, if the detail in this DigiTimes article is true. The 14nm CPU and corresponding 100-series chipset is expected to be unveiled early August at Gamescom in Germany.
Intel will announce the Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K as well as Z170 chipsets initially targeting gamers, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.


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The PlayStation 4, that many believe is going to be called the Orbis, will ship before Microsoft's next-generation console, according to a source that spoke to VG247.
The source claims that the PS4 plans were set "at least" two years ago and Sony is "confident" that it will release the PS4 before the next Xbox. Indications seem to indicate this would be around the holiday of 2013.
It was also mentioned from the source, that many partners (such as Ubisoft) and their developers are already working on the next console.
VG247 also states that parts of the PlayStation Vita's launch hardware were modified to make sure the PS4 and PS Vita would work similar to the Wii U and its controller (The Wii U is debuting this holiday season). PS4 games will be playable using the PS Vita controller.
Sony has stated previously that it has no plans to bring the new system to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in the summer. E3 runs June 5th through the 7th.
Use this QR code in a QR reader application on mobile to open quickly on a mobile device


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One powerful tool for domestic industries is a complaint at the International Trade Commission (ITC) under Section 337. The ITC does not award money damages, but can stop importation in the United States, and patent infringement by a foreign competitor is one basis for obtaining such relief. However, another requirement is that the complainant must show economic damage to a domestic industry caused by the patent infringement. A recent case found that the economic damages can be proven by showing loss of patent licensing revenue. That such activity can be considered a domestic industry is a significant issue as enabling non-practicing patent owners access to the ITC has a significant effect on the relative leverage among such patent owners and their targeted potential licensees.
The case before the US ITC is in the Matter of CERTAIN SILICON-ON-INSULATOR WAFERS (337-TA-1025). The initial determination was summarized by the Administrative Law Judge as follows:
While this case is ongoing and may certainly be modified at a later date, many are watching as it could open the door for NPEs to have greater leverage in asserting patents against foreign industrials.


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December 4, 2019 - News
We have been appointed once again to build this year’s iconic Manchester Christmas Markets, which are situated across 16 city centre locations and feature more than 300 traders. This is the 20th anniversary of the markets which have previously been voted the best Christmas Markets in the UK and sits amongst the best in Europe.
Operations Manager, Sean Conlon said:
We’ve worked closely with Manchester City Council and our supply chain partners to deliver the city’s best ever Christmas Markets, bringing thousands of seasonal jobs to the area and adding £millions to the local economy.


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Gas prices make slight decline over past week
Average retail gasoline prices in Nebraska have fallen 1.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.38 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,150 gas outlets in Nebraska. This compares with the national average that has increased 0.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.43 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Nebraska during the past week, prices yesterday were $1.12 per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 5.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average ha...
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October 6, 2022: India’s Amara Raja Batteries is proposing to integrate the plastic battery components business of a key supplier, Mangal Industries, with its own battery manufacturing operations, the group told investors on September 26.
Amara Raja said it already receives Mangal’s entire output of plastic components for batteries and the proposed deal would simplify operations and improve efficiencies.
The move would also boost control over raw materials supply at a time when Amara Raja is expanding its operations, the company said.
Mangal, which started operations in 2004, was founded by Amara Raja patriarch Ramachandra Galla, who stepped down as chairman of the battery group last year.
The Andhra Pradesh firm is wholly-owned by RN Galla Family Private Limited and will continue to manufacture a wide range of other products including automotive components.
The plastic battery components business has around 150 injection moulding machines, which would be taken over by Amara Raja along with their facilities, buildings and land.
Details of what Amara Raja called the proposed “demerger” of the components unit are being presented to shareholders and regulatory authorities and the deal should be completed within 12 to 14 months.
Amara Raja’s executive director of automotive and industrial batteries, Harshavardhana Gourineni, said the move would strengthen his company’s control of the supply chain and “augments our battery recycling initiatives”.
“It also helps us in improving margins by better utilization of manpower and reducing logistics costs.”
Meanwhile, Amara Raja chairman and MD Jayadev Galla (pictured) said the group is looking for a technology partner to support its move into the production of lithium ion battery cells.
Galla said on May 20 that his company would “fast track” its development of a customer qualification plant for lithium cells while also building on its lead battery foundations.
“We are very bullish about the future of lead acid batteries. Even with the transition going from internal combustion engines to EVs taking place,” he said.


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Why Apple removed charger, Earpods from iPhone 12 box
Apple launched its iPhone 12 series on October 13. But Apple has made one unique change to its iPhone 12 lineup as the company has removed the charger and the Earpods from the iPhone 12 box. According to Apple, it has been done to achieve the environment goals set by the company. It is to be noted that Apple wants to become 100% carbon neutral by 2030. Apple said that this will help in reduction of shipping-related emissions.
10月13日，苹果发布了iPhone 12系列。但苹果公司对其iPhone 12系列做了一个独特的改变，公司将充电器和耳机从iPhone 12包装盒中移除。据苹果公司称，这样做是为了实现公司设定的环境目标。值得注意的是，苹果公司希望在2030年达到100%的碳中和。苹果公司表示，这将有助于减少与航运相关的排放。


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Planet Fitness added new members last quarter as consumers look to get back in the game. In recurring payments, upscale fitness equipment maker Peloton reported that the ranks of its connected fitness subscribers have surged. And in eCommerce, recent research indicates that consumers’ perceptions of merchant trustworthiness determine the arc of shopping behaviors, from the sharing of personal information to their choice of merchant. All this, Today in Data.
600K: Number of new members Planet Fitness added last quarter.
84%: Share of shoppers who want small merchants to do whatever it takes to protect their data.
61%: Portion of bridge millennials willing to forgo extra data protection with trusted merchants.
$25B: Peloton’s approximate market value.
$1.26B: Peloton’s revenues for the third quarter.


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Meet Puerto Rico urges ‘doing things differently’
Tourism destinations need to “move forward and do things differently,” including relying on the so-called “sharing economy” as a key driver of doing business, Meet Puerto Rico President Milton Segarra said Wednesday, during the Destination Marketing Organization’s (DMO) annual meeting.
In his presentation to tourism industry executives, he stressed the importance of new business models such as Enterprise, Uber and Airbnb, as cornerstones of future growth, and signs “of a world that is changing around us.”
“We need to change our destination marketing model because the world is changing around us. Come January 2017, we will have not only a new government but a fiscal board governing the island. We cannot continue doing the things as we have always done them,” he said.
During the event held at the Puerto Rico Museum of Art, Segarra laid out the goals and strategies for Fiscal 2017, which include jump-starting demand for group meetings, increasing awareness of Puerto Rico as a destination for meetings and conventions, counterbalancing negative perception in key markets and assigning more resources to international markets.
The plan includes a combination of media buys, strategic implementation of selected social media tactics, and innovative ways to reach a global audience with a digital driven media plan, he explained.
An aggressive sales and business model will focus on increasing citywide and convention center bookings, sales team expansion into international markets, increased participation in trade shows, sports shows, client events and sales missions as well as sales promotions.
Meanwhile, Meet Puerto Rico Chairman Peter Hopgood said “our vision remains to position Puerto Rico as one of the preferred group and convention destinations of the Americas.”
“Our board has supported Meet Puerto Rico’s strategic plan to be the leading DMO, promoting our unique group and convention experiences, through branding, selling and partnerships,” he said.
The goal is to generate $150 million in economic benefits associated with meetings and conventions for Puerto Rico in Fiscal 2017, with a 30 percent market share, Segarra said.
With that objective in mind, Meet Puerto Rico would surpass its Fiscal 2016 results, which were affected by Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis and the Zika virus emergency that prompted the cancellation of 35 group events between March and May 2016. The DMO closed the year with some $120 million in business — or 88 percent of its initial target.
“Despite the fact that 35 groups were canceled, 57 new groups were booked,” Segarra said, noting Meet Puerto Rico closed the year with 136,716 hotel room nights, representing a return on investment of more than 2,123 percent.
The groups and conventions segment brings a higher direct economic impact per room night than any other segment in the tourism industry, he said.


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A micro-SD card can further expand the storage capacity. The new smartphone arrives after the Moto Z3 Play, which debuted in June, and has as main features a great resistance to water splashes and a great Android experience. The device is is splash resistant.
What stands out in the design department of the Moto Z3 is the placement of the fingerprint sensor. The dual cameras are used for depth sensing for AI photos as well as for features such as Cinemagraphs. There is an 8MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture, wide-angle 84° lens, and screen flash. Interestingly, Motorola has baked in Google Lens into the rear camera.
On the other hand, Moto Z3 Play comes with a 12-megapixel primary sensor and 5-megapixel secondary sensor on the back. Moto Mods haven't quite take off the way Motorola presumably would have hoped, though the company says the usage stats among consumers who buy them has been steady.
Alisson to debut for Liverpool against Napoli
Belgian forward Dries Mertens has not yet returned to training after helping his national team clinch third place in the World Cup .
The device is packed with a 3000mAh battery and offers fast charging through the bundled 15W TurboPower charger. Another potential drawback is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. It should provide new levels of connectivity for everyone, just as 4G LTE did. It uses a USB Type-C slow for charging.
LENOVO-OWNED Motorola has shown-off the "first" 5G-enabled smartphone. The Mod will definitely only work on Verizon's 5G network, not any other carrier's, though.
Meghan Markle And Kate Middleton's Friendship
First, they said that Meghan Markle can contact her father and directly plead to stop hurting her. He fumed: "I refuse to stay quiet".
The Mod will initially work only with the Z3, although Moto said it's working on making it compatible with earlier generations of Verizon Moto Z phones. To add to the advantage, the 5G Moto Mod delivers an extra 2,000mAh battery power upon connection. Ahead of the company's event, the phones were leaked in image renders and specifications on the Android One devices also surfaced online.
It'll then move on to mobile 5G solutions in 2019.
The price of the new Moto Z3 smartphone in the United States has been set at $ 480 (about € 415). The smartphone will be available in ceramic black color. The price of the Moto Mod is yet to be announced but it won't be available until the start of 2019. The company has now launched the smartphone only for the USA market.
More than 1000 homes destroyed as Carr Fire rages on in California
Officials say 20 people who had been reporting missing in California's devastating wildfires are now accounted for. The fire burning for 11 days in and around the city of Redding is now 200 square miles (518 square kilometers).


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Apple officially announced its September iPhone event this week, confirming that it will be held on September 12th at Steve Jobs Theater. The event is expected to be packed full of new product announcements, headlined by the iPhone XS.
Read on for a roundup of everything we know about the iPhone XS…
Only this week were finally able to confirm the 2018 iPhone naming. After much speculation and back and forth, we reported that the iPhone will be referred to as the iPhone XS – pronounced iPhone Ten S.
Further, a Bloomberg report suggested that Apple is contemplating dropping the ‘Plus’ tag from this year’s iPhone XS. This would mean that Apple is taking an iPad-like approach to naming with the iPhone XS, having two screen sizes under a single brand name.
Screen & Size
In terms of screen size, the iPhone XS will be available in two options: 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch, both of which will use OLED displays.
We aren’t expecting any form factor changes for the iPhone X, which currently measures 143.6 mm by 70.9 mm by 7.7 mm thick. In terms of display technology, we should expect the same 2435 x 1125 resolution with 458 pixels-per-inch.
Supply chain schematics suggest that the 6.5-inch iPhone XS will measure in at 157.53mm by 77.44 mm by 7.85 mm thick. This is smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus, which features a 5.5-inch display but with much larger bezels.
For the 6.5-inch iPhone XS display, a Bloomberg report has indicated the device may feature a 1242 x 2688 resolution, which would make a for pixels-per-inch at the 458PPI mark.
With a larger display comes support for new software features, as well. The current iOS 12 beta suggests that the iPhone XS 6.5-inch may support more iPad-like horizontal apps, showcasing more information and details in a single view.
- New video goes hands-on with 2018 iPhone dummy units, size comparisons to iPhone X & more
- iPhone X Plus said to be iPhone 8 Plus size, iOS 12 to bring horizontal Face ID support, more
- iPhone X Plus concept imagines gorgeous gold and dual SIM next to today’s flagship [Video]
Both screen size variants of the iPhone XS are expected to feature Apple’s A12 processor, which serves as the successor to the current A11 Bionic.
The A12 processor is the first Apple processor to be built on the 7-nanometer design, allowing for speed improvements in a smaller and more efficient package – hopefully leading to some battery improvements, as well.
Performance is expected to be a major focus for this year’s iPhone XS – which is often the case for ‘S’ year iPhone upgrades. A report this week indicated that Apple has focused heavily on making improvements to iPhone performance this year, and alleged leaked benchmarks suggest a bump to 4GB of RAM (compared to the iPhone X’s 3GB).
- Bloomberg: New OLED iPhones to feature speed and camera improvements, Apple may not use ‘Plus’ label for 6.5-inch model
- Possible A12 Geekbench score suggests next-gen iPhone X upgraded with 4GB RAM, 10% speed boost
- Apple partner TSMC begins mass production of 7-nanometer ‘A12’ processors for this year’s iPhones
The camera is said to be another area of focus for Apple this year. Although some reports had suggested Apple could make the jump to a 3-lens system this year, that now looks to be more like a 2019 or beyond upgrade instead.
Nevertheless, Bloomberg indicates the iPhone XS will feature significant camera improvements – with camera upgrades and performance being the “main changes” this year.
Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until later this month to hear what specific camera improvements the iPhone XS will bring.
The unreleased iPhone X in gold
The iPhone XS, unlike its predecessor, will be offered in a new gold color variant. While Apple had tested the iPhone X in gold, the option was ultimately never released to the public.
Our report on Thursday, however, confirmed that the iPhone XS will be available in gold. The image we obtained shows the iPhone XS in a gold color, with gold stainless steel edges and a black front face.
The iPhone XS, of course, will also be available in the traditional silver and space gray color options.
First, the 2018 iPhone is expected to be available in a dual-SIM configuration in “at least some regions” around the world. What specific countries that includes remains to be seen, but dual-SIM support will allow iPhone users to more easily switch carriers when traveling.
Second, reports have suggested that Apple will stop including the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter with iPhone purchases this year. The company has included the adapter with each model since the iPhone 7, but with wireless becoming more readily available, that might change this year.
Lastly, Apple is widely expected to bundle USB-C charging cables with this year’s iPhone XS. This would mean you’d get a USB-C charging block, as well as a USB-C to Lightning cable, with the purchase of your iPhone.
- 2018 iPhones may kill 3.5mm adapter two years after headphone jack
- Apple reduces USB-C to Lightning Cable price amid rumors 2018 iPhones dropping USB-A
- Renders claim to show new 18W Apple USB-C charger, will be bundled with 2018 iPhones
- Rumor: New iPhones may be first to bundle USB-C fast charging
- iPhone rumored to adopt USB-C ports next year, 2018 iPhone bundles USB-C charge cables
The iPhone XS with a 5.8-inch display is expected to start at $899 this year – down from the iPhone X’s starting price of $999. Thus, keeping with past “Plus” trends, the 6.5-inch model is expected to start at $999.
Pricing is hard to predict ahead of Apple’s announcement – and could change at the last-minute – but this seems to be the most likely outcome.
- Supply chain report suggests Apple expects 6.5-inch ‘iPhone X Plus’ to be most popular 2018 iPhone model
- Analyst: iPhone X Plus to start at $999 as refreshed iPhone X drops to $899
Apple will announce the iPhone XS – in both screen sizes – at its September 12th ‘Gather round’ event in less than two weeks.
If past iPhone launch schedules are any indication, pre-orders would then begin on the following Friday, September 14th, with general availability commencing on September 21st.
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Vogel to be awarded this year
1 April 2014 @booksandpublishing
Allen & Unwin will announce the winner of this year’s Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award on the evening of 22 April 2014, with the book to be available for sale from 23 April. ‘It will be the third time we have published the winning book to coincide with the announcement,’ Allen &...
Category: In brief


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Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, died in 1992. Little did he know he would be remembered in certain quarters as a kind of corporate criminal. His offense? Starting a business that has brought convenience and low prices to the countless millions of Americans who roam Wal-Mart's deliriously overstuffed aisles.
If that seems innocuous enough, you aren't familiar with the political, economic and cultural fault line of post-millennium America. Wal-Mart, an unabashedly capitalist and bourgeois "red state" institution, is on the wrong side of that divide for self-styled progressives. Wal-Mart might as well have been Halliburton during the Democratic primaries. It was the target for potshots by John Kerry, John Edwards, Howard Dean and, yes, Dennis Kucinich.
The latest front in the Wal-Mart Wars was in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood. Activists screamed about a Wal-Mart proposal to build one of its superstores on 60 barren acres. Replacing barren acres with almost anything short of smut shops or crack houses would seem to be a good thing by definition, but not by the twisted logic that obtains when Wal-Mart is involved. The City Council, then voters in an April 6 referendum, stiffed the store. In response to Wal-Mart's broader plan to build 40 new supercenters in California, opponents are mobilizing a coalition that includes the Nation of Islam and the once-grand civil-rights group the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. How everyday low prices violate civil rights is a mystery.
In the latest issue of National Review, writer Jay Nordlinger undertakes a spirited defense of Wal-Mart, which is the nation's first politically incorrect discount retailer. As Nordlinger writes, Wal-Mart is a standing affront to the Left, partly because it is so "gloriously, unabashedly, star-spangledly American." He knocks down the canards on which the anti-Wal-Mart case is built, most importantly that the store is a ruthlessly exploitative employer.
More than 90 percent of Wal-Mart employees have health insurance. Half of those get their insurance through the company, and the rest through other means, whether their parents, or spouse, or Medicare. Many Wal-Mart employees are young people or semiretired, and thus aren't supporting families. Employment there can be an escalator to success. Two-thirds of the stores' managers are former hourly employees.
Meanwhile, the competition howls about Wal-Mart for good reason -- because it almost invariably gets out-hustled, out-discounted and altogether out-retailed. FAO Schwarz, the pretentious toy seller, has nearly been bludgeoned out of business by Walton's creation. Such is the cost of selling over-priced toys in the age of Wal-Mart. Yes, the killer store snuffs out charming local retailers, but most consumers simply value convenience and low prices more than charm.
All across America, shoppers have voted with their cash and charge cards. Almost a third of all disposable diapers and hair products are purchased at Wal-Mart. No other store sells more groceries, toys or furniture. This is a boon for lower-income Americans who spend a disproportionate amount of their income on retail goods. As a Federal Reserve economist has said, "Wal-Mart is the greatest thing that ever happened to low-income Americans."
The store is also part of the wondrously flexible and various American job market. "The Europeans sniff at our job creation," CATO Institute economist Brink Lindsey tells Nordlinger, "while their job market is stagnant. They say, 'Oh, America just has Wal-Mart-type jobs.' Actually, the percentage of managerial and professional jobs in our country has climbed steadily. Yes, we have a lot of low-end jobs, but we have a lot of young people and older people in our work force, unlike Europe. There, they don't let people get hired, they don't let industries move fast, they don't create jobs."
If Wal-Mart seems unstoppable, there is one force that will be its undoing, and it's not angry protests. Instead, it is the market. Eventually, some retailer will be more nimble and cunning than even Wal-Mart, and it will get -- as all businesses in America do -- its own capitalist comeuppance.


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Almirall begins marketing its new therapeutic promise in Europe. Klisyri, the innovation of the Catalan pharmaceutical for topical actinic keratosis can be prescribed both in Germany and in the United Kingdom, being the first countries in the Old Continent where the product is sold. The company expects this drug to reach maximum sales of 250 million euros when it completes its launch in the rest of European countries .
The drug began to be marketed in the United States at the beginning of 2021. During the first half of the year, according to the results of the Catalan firm, it sold 1.3 million euros during its first stages in the market. Now, and until the end of this year, Almirall plans to gradually add countries to its commercial network, including Spain. According to estimates, it is believed that in Germany there are 1.7 million patients annually who might need the drug, while in the United Kingdom the forecasts are similar.
“We are privileged to bring a new and innovative medicine with the potential to help millions of patients across Europe; the convenient 5-day dosing schedule should significantly ease the burden of conventional therapies,” stated Gianfranco Nazzi, Chief Executive Officer of Almirall.
The history of this drug began three years ago now. It was then that the Catalan pharmaceutical company signed an agreement with the biotechnology company Athenex for the acquisition of this molecule, at that time in clinical trials.
After making an initial payment of up to 55 million euros, the American company took charge of its development in the United States and Almirall in Europe. After the FDA’s yes, the commercialization passed entirely to the Spanish firm, although Athenex will receive up to 65 million per milestone. In addition, the contract also contemplated the payment of staggered royalties starting at 15% based on annual net sales, which will increase in case of higher income.
Together with Seysara, this drug represents the two great assets for the future of the company in the dermatological area, the main one in the pharmaceutical area. Both will have to fill the gap that Aczone will gradually leave, which after the end of the patent and the appearance of generics is losing weight in the company’s accounts.


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Two scammers who stole $1.5 million from Apple over a three-year period using the company’s own technology have been sentenced to a combined 13 years in prison.
In September 2021 it was reported that two scammers developed a scheme to use a stolen point-of-sale device from an Apple Store to create fraudulent Apple gift cards between 2015 and 2017.
The scam was enabled through a handheld employee-only point-of-sale device called the “Isaac”. Retail workers carry Isaacs around in the store, allowing them to check stock and sell products to customers, wherever they are.
One of the scammers simply walked into Apple stores across the country waiting for the opportune moment to steal Isaac’s device. They then sat outside the same store, still connected to its Wi-Fi network, and used a logged-in employee account at Isaac to acquire digital gift cards worth thousands of dollars.
Digital gift card redemption codes were loaded into the Wallet app to generate QR codes, which were screenshots and sent via iMessage to other conspirators, who were then able to walk into other Apple Stores and purchase high-value Apple devices. Were. , According to the indictment, the process was then repeated across the country, allowing the pair to defraud Apple totaling more than $1.5 million.
One of the scammers stole $50,000 worth of digital Apple gift cards in Texas, while on the same day, his partner used the gift card to buy thousands of dollars worth of Apple products in New York. A total of $50,000 was moved using 26 digital gift cards in Southlake, Texas alone.
The couple were eventually caught on CCTV stealing Isaac devices in Apple stores and were tracked using their cellphones via GPS, before eventually being arrested by the FBI. He later pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
according to a Press release From the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Texas, the offenders have now been sentenced to a combined 13 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1.26 million in restitution to Apple. It’s not clear whether Apple made any changes to its internal systems and access to employee accounts on Isaac to prevent the same scam from trying again.


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China's ambition to lock down its lithium supply chain and solidify itself as a dominant player in electric vehicle (EV) production will have far-reaching implications for global suppliers, according to a study by risk consultants Verisk Maplecroft.
In its report, 2018 Political Risk Outlook – China’s lithium supply chain strategy: solidify, diversify and control, Verisk Maplecroft analysts said China believes its plan to steer its auto market towards a battery-powered EV can only succeed if it can secure a reliable supply of the minerals and metals necessary for lithium-ion battery production.
The Chinese government has previously stated it wants 2m EVs to be sold annually by 2020, for EVs to make up at least a fifth of new vehicle sales by 2025 and to eventually phase out internal combustion vehicles altogether.
However, at present, according to the report, the Chinese government believes the country is too reliant on imports of raw materials used to make EV batteries, placing it at a disadvantage to other countries.
China’s lithium output makes up about 6% of global mine production, well behind exporters such as Australia (41%), Chile (34%) and Argentina (16%).
Hugo Brennan, Asia analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, said China would first have to increase its supply of lithium if it is to fulfil its ambitions to be a dominant player in EV production.
“For China to bolster its supply of lithium, we believe that Beijing will likely pursue three strategic objectives in 2018 – namely, to develop its domestic lithium resources, diversify its lithium imports and increase its influence over the global lithium value chain,” he said.
“The progress China makes towards furthering these goals will go a long way to determining to what extent it can meet its EV ambitions.”
If China wanted to reduce its reliance on the leading overseas suppliers, Beijing would have to diversify the source of its lithium imports, replicating a model its has already used for its hydrocarbon sector, he added.
“Chinese firms are therefore likely to receive official encouragement to sign offtake agreements and strategic partnerships with companies from mid-tier and emerging production hubs – such as Zimbabwe, Brazil, Bolivia and Canada – to create a more diversified import model,” he said.
But, as the report pointed out, strategic investment in China’s mining operations domestically and globally would likely have an impact on pricing and competition within both the lithium extraction industry and the fast-emerging EV sector.
Brennan said as the government has made transitioning towards EV a national priority, it would most likely create significant policies to ensure China gets ahead of the game “in the global scramble for lithium resources”.
“Considerable state support for Chinese firms investing in lithium mining assets and processing facilities overseas is more than likely,” he said.
“This will increasingly reach not just tradition lithium producers, such as Tianqi Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium but beyond to include lithium-ion batteries and EV manufacturers, including the likes of CATL, BTD and Great Wall Motors.”


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MILAN, April 22 (Reuters) - French luxury goods group LVMH LVMH.PA will increase its stake in fashion company Tod's TOD.MI to 10%, Tod's said on Thursday, in a move which sources described as "friendly support" for the Italian struggling leather goods maker.
Tod's said in a statement that LVMH would buy a 6.8% stake from Tod's founder and Chairman Diego Della Valle. LVMH, led by French billionaire Bernard Arnault, already owned a 3.2% stake in Tod's.
"Through this transaction, the twenty-year friendship between the Arnault and Della Valle families is reinforced", Tod's said in its statement.
A source close to the matter said the French giant does not expect to raise its stake further for now. Diego Della Valle has been a member of LVMH's board of directors since 2002.
The Italian luxury leather goods maker has performed worse than most rivals as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. It said in January sales had fallen by almost a third last year, marking the fifth year in a row of falling annual sales.
The group, known for its loafer shoes, launched a new strategy in late 2017 to revamp its brand and lure younger consumers, but the health crisis has hampered its efforts. Earlier this month, Italian influencer Chiara Ferragni joined its board, in a move that pushed shares sharply higher and was seen as a bid to rejuvenate its image.
There has been recurring market speculation that Tod's could be the target of a takeover by a bigger group, although Della Valle, who has increased his stake in the company in the past couple of years, has repeatedly denied this possibility.
"This may represent an excellent reason to consider further opportunities to be taken in the future ahead", Della Valle said of LVMH's stake increase on Thursday, without elaborating.
LVMH, which has more than 70 brands after building up an empire through a string of acquisitions, last week reported surging sales in the first quarter, beating market expectations and fuelling hopes it may be putting the health emergency squarely behind it this year.
The group is often rumoured as a predator, even though it has just completed a $15.8 billion takeover of U.S. jeweller Tiffany and has said it is focused on absorbing that purchase for now. However, Jefferies analyst Flavio Cereda said in a note late on Thursday there could be speculation of a further LVMH stake increase in Tod's.
The price agreed for LVMH's stake purchase is 33.10 euros per share, a 10% discount to Tod's share price. Tod's shares closed at 35.3 euros on Thursday.
After the transaction, which is expected to be executed on April 28, Della Valle will own 63.64% of Tod's outstanding shares.
"We are very happy to reinforce further this
partnership", LVMH boss Arnault said in the statement.
(Reporting by Claudia Cristoferi and Silvia Aloisi, additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler and Marguerita Choy)
((Kanishka.Singh@thomsonreuters.com; +91 8061822801;))
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


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NEW YORK — In what might seem like a marriage of strange bedfellows, Nordstrom Inc. has purchased a majority interest in Jeffrey.
As part of the deal, owner Jeffrey Kalinsky will become director of designer merchandising for women’s and men’s at Nordstrom. He will continue to operate his Jeffrey stores as president and chief executive officer.
The luxury designer specialty stores, Jeffrey New York and Jeffrey Atlanta, along with a Jeffrey shoe salon in Atlanta, did $35 million in sales last year.
Kalinsky and Pete Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom full-line stores, declined to discuss the purchase price; however, retail experts said the Jeffrey businesses likely fetched $40 million to $50 million.
Kalinsky was a pioneer in 1999 when he opened Jeffrey New York in a 12,000-square-foot space at 449 West 14th Street between Ninth and 10th Avenues. It was the first fashion business in the neighborhood, a temple to high style with collections from Gucci, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, Ann Demeulemeester, Balenciaga and Dries Van Noten.
At first glance, Kalinsky and Nordstrom might seem like an odd match. Kalinsky is a downtown denizen and standard bearer of the avant garde, given to wearing shirts in florescent colors, while Nordstrom is buttoned up. They were on the same wavelength, however, on Friday morning as they sat around a table in Kalinsky’s office discussing the newly consummated deal, which is being announced today.
“For me, the excitement is being a part of Nordstrom,” said Kalinsky in an exclusive interview. He will report to Nordstrom, as do Sue Patneaude, executive vice president of designer apparel, David Whitman, executive vice president of men’s and Margaret Myers, vice president of main floor accessories.
“The motivation was recognizing what a talent Jeffrey is,” Nordstrom said. “If there was any way that we could work together, I wanted to make it happen. Designer has been our top-growing category. This demonstrates our commitment to designer. We want to grow it and work at it. We’re going to carry a broader array of products.”
Nordstrom — which has 95 full-line stores — wants to build its designer business, which continues to fuel its strong performance. The company reported a 39.3 percent jump in second-quarter profits to $148.9 million, exceeding analysts’ estimates by a nickel. Sales, meanwhile, rose 7.8 percent to $2.1 billion.
Nordstrom hasn’t ruled out opening additional Jeffrey locations.
“Are there opportunities for the business to grow?” asked Nordstrom. “We want Jeffrey to fully realize his dream for what this business can be. If a new Jeffrey makes sense down the line, we will do it.”
Leveraging Jeffrey’s name at Nordstrom is a no-brainer. Asked about a line with the Jeffrey label, Nordstrom said: “Why not? About 13 percent to 14 percent of our business is private label. That door’s completely opened.”
For his part, Kalinsky said he’s “much more anxious to work with the Nordstrom team and make a contribution to the designer area.”
“To take the next step in designer, we’re going to have to take a more synergistic approach,” Nordstrom explained, noting that buyers now stay within their respective categories. He suggested there will be more crossover.
Nordstrom has not been as acquisitive as other retailers such as Neiman Marcus, which acquired stakes in Kate Spade and Laura Mercier, or Saks Fifth Avenue, which purchased Club Libby Lu and is now looking to shed it.
“We’ve never done anything like this before,” Nordstrom said.
Actually, Nordstrom bought the Façonnable brand in the fall of 2000 for $170 million. In addition to selling the label in the store, the company has opened Façonnable boutiques in major U.S. cities.
“The idea of bringing Kalinsky’s talent in-house is really an innovative move,” said Manny Weintraub, a retail analyst. “They’re extending the Nordstrom brand to another level. It’s been a store for women who want great service and mainstream fashion. Now, women who are more fashion-forward can go to Nordstrom.”
A former luxury retail executive said Nordstrom wants to get on a more comparable footing with Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.
“It’s a bit of a laboratory and a bit of leveraging Jeffrey’s relationships,” the former executive said. “It’s certainly a way to buy entry to the designer world. This is a somewhat different way of doing that than if they raided someone from a traditional store. I think Nordstrom’s wants to ensure that there’s a greater differentiation between them and Macy’s.”
“In some ways, it’s kind of clever,” said investment banker Peter Solomon of Peter J. Solomon Co. “Nordstrom is buying into the Barneys New York sensibility at low cost. It’s interesting to see a retailer use some imagination.”
Others, however, took a more wait-and-see attitude toward the deal.
A luxury merchant, who asked not to be named, said, “It’s so extreme that it might work. When you look at the selection of merch offered at Jeffrey compared to Nordstrom, it’s the wildly fashion-forward customer versus the Midwest customer.”
Speculation about Kalinsky putting his business up for sale has swirled for years. In 2001, he denied the business was on the block after press reports that Neiman Marcus and The Leiber Group reportedly eyed it.
Last September, speculation again circulated. Kalinsky said he wasn’t actively selling the store, but that anything was for sale at the right price.
Peter Nordstrom read the reports. Then, Patneaude began talking about Kalinsky to Nordstrom. When Patneaude and Kalinsky met in Milan during the collections, she urged him to call her boss. “I think you ought to give him a call,” she said. “He won’t call you.”
After the collections, Kalinsky called Nordstrom. The following week, Nordstrom was in New York for a tour of Jeffrey New York. In December, Kalinsky flew to Seattle.
“I left the next day feeling so high,” Kalinsky said. “I felt like we had a great first date and a great second date.”
Kalinsky was hoping Nordstrom would pop the question, but all he did was suggest they speak after the holidays. By February, though, things started moving quickly.
“Taking his skill sets to a broader universe was very exciting to Jeffrey,” said Bill Susman, president and chief operating officer at Financo, which served as Kalinsky’s adviser in the deal. “Pete Nordstrom’s vision to provide great choices and great merchandise with an increasing designer element made it an attractive combination.”
“What he brings in terms of added value to designer merchandising at Nordstrom will be significant and allows Jeffrey to play in a much bigger arena,” said Gilbert Harrison, chief executive officer of Financo.
“Nothing at Jeffrey is going to change,” stressed Kalinsky. “I’ll still be picking out the clothes with David Rubenstein [buyer for Jeffrey]. I’ll devote 30 percent of my time to doing the things that Pete wants me to do. I have 100 ideas a day. Depending on how much these guys want to be talking to me, I’d love to spout them out.”


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KUALA LUMPUR, 11 May 2021 – The PETRA Group has invested RM45 million into the furniture business through the setting up of PETRA Mobilia, which is expected to become the standard bearer for Malaysia’s furniture manufacturing sector.
PETRA Mobilia is also a shareholder in the Sofa Bed Company, registered in Malaysia, that has the agreement to supply Sofabeds and Recliners to Tempur Sealy International.
PETRA Mobilia owns the Rize brand (medical furniture products such as lift chairs) that specialises in medically designed therapeutic lift chairs that place equal emphasis on style and comfort, intended to improve the quality of life of those with mobility issues.
As such, this is big news for the Malaysian furniture industry, which consists mainly of original equipment manufacturers (OEM) competing on the lowest cost basis, increasingly losing out to other cost competitors such as those in Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh. Ranked amongst the top 10 largest exporters of furniture in the world, Malaysia exports around 80% of its production. However, the value of furniture export from Malaysia has been declining significantly due to a lack of technological innovation.
PETRA Mobilia Chief Executive, Abbi Kanthasamy, said, “What distinguishes us from other local furniture manufacturers are our intellectual patents (IPs) and international brands. We are proud to be a Malaysian-owned company that uses technology and innovation to create high value products that can compete on the global stage.”
“By using innovation and design, we have been able to increase our margins and also create high value jobs for the local workforce. Hopefully, this will set a trend for other local manufacturers to innovate and capture a larger share of the global furniture business,” he added.
Kanthasamy looks forward to working closely with Datuk (Dr) Vinod Sekhar, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the PETRA Group, allowing PETRA Mobilia to not only expand its global presence but also leverage on the group’s other businesses.
“We see synergies with Green Rubber to provide its revolutionary recycled rubber for our furniture products, and to partner with PETRA Modular, a global manufacturer of modular high-quality homes in future. More importantly, Datuk Vinod’s vision of social capitalism and ensuring all PETRA’s businesses support solutions for socio-economic issues, is compelling. It is critical for society as a whole and all companies to embrace this thinking,” added Kanthasamy.
The company has already begun receiving orders for the Rize brand, which will commence production very soon. PETRA Mobilia’s annual turnover, through its various product offerings, is projected to be RM1 billion within the next 3 years. The PETRA Group is a global innovation-based conglomerate controlled by Datuk (Dr) Vinod Sekhar.


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Mazda sold 13,615 copies of the 2 in 2014, against 59,340 Honda Fits, 63,192 Ford Fiestas, and 93,518 Chevy Sonics. And the company is busy this year with the launch of the new CX-3 and, of course, the new Miata.
Subcompact buyers who really want a Mazda-engineered entry do have some recourse. They can head over to their neighborhood Scion store and check out the Scion iA sedan, which is essentially a rebadged version of the Mazda 2 sedan. Or they can pick up a genuine Mazda 2 hatchback on their next trip to Puerto Rico—the car will be sold there—and stuff it into their carry-on.
- 2016 Mazda 2 Unveiled, Instantly Becomes Least-Dorky Subcompact Extant
- 2016 Scion iA: A Mazda 2 Sedan with a Scion Badge
- 2016 Mazda CX-3 News, Reviews, Photos, and Buyer’s Guide
As for the rest of us, Mazda senior VP of U.S. operations, Robert Davis, did offer this nugget of hope: “It will always be there if we need it.” Suggesting that if circumstances change—a spike in gas prices, for example—Mazda could decide to import the car. In the meantime, perhaps you’d be interested in a CX-3?


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The researchers, from the University of Minnesota’s department of food science and nutrition, used paired comparison tests for broth and salt-in-water solutions to determine thresholds at which trained sensory analysts would notice a reduction in sodium content. They established two series of concentrations from these thresholds; 12-step reduction for the more complex broth, and a 26-step reduction for salt in water over a 10-month period.
“The series of salt concentrations determined in this study provides a foundation for food manufacturers interested in reducing salt content of processed foods, and basic information for people interested in reducing their personal dietary salt intake without adversely impacting product acceptability,” the study’s authors wrote.
“The strategy of gradually decreasing salt content of foods is currently being considered by the Food and Drug Administration for industry-wide application, and if successful, has the potential to significantly reduce rates of health conditions related to overconsumption of salt.”
The researchers explained that the task of discriminating saltiness in a more complex broth is more difficult than in a simple salt-in-water solution, so it may be more difficult to predict what level of salt reduction is possible in a more complex food product at each stage.
“However, approaching salt reduction more conservatively by using smaller steps than defined in broth is a viable option,” they wrote.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) outlined a strategy of gradual stepwise reductions in sodium across the food industry back in 2010, and urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action by setting mandatory standards for industry. Since then, the FDA has continued to support voluntary industry measure to reduce sodium content in foods, but has not mandated particular targets.
“Our inherent taste for salt, however, has presented a large challenge to food manufacturers, particularly in ensuring consumer acceptability of low-sodium foods,” the study’s authors wrote.
They concluded that the steps detailed in the study may provide “a conservative foundation for gradually decreasing salt in food products to a low-sodium target.”
According to IOM figures, the average American consumes 3,400mg of sodium a day – about one and a half times the USDA’s suggested upper limit of 2,300mg – and 1,900mg more than the American Heart Association’s suggested maximum daily consumption level. The food industry has been under pressure to reformulate products with lower sodium, as processed foods are thought to contribute about 80% of the sodium in the average American diet.
Source: Journal of Sensory Studies
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-459X.2012.00379.x Vol. 23, Iss. 3, pp. 168-175, June 2012
"Determining Sequential Difference Thresholds for Sodium Reduction"
Authors: Nuala Bobowski and Zata Vickers


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I know that you are all waiting with bated breath for the results of the World Scotch Pie championship (judging tomorrow, results announced on Tue 30 Nov) but the last week has been a corker for the Scottish hospitality industry, especially the Italian parts of it.
Edinburgh's Hotel Missoni, a 5pm member and no stranger to this blog, has just been named as the Best New Hotel in Europe at the World Travel Awards.
You can see the 5pm offers at their Cucina restaurant here.
Meanwhile at the Pizza Pasta and Italian Food Industry Awards, aka the PAPAs, Scotland has spanked the rest of the UK.
Almost half of the independent winners came from either Edinburgh or Glasgow and the overall Pizza Chef of the Year award went to Darren Smith from the Battlefield Restaurant in Glasgow.
Edinburgh's La Favorita took the platinum award for the Independent Pizza Restaurant of the Year while Glasgow's Bella Napoli took gold.
The ever popular Di Maggio's group of restaurants was highly commended in the Chain Award.
Glasgow's L'Ariosto and Paperinos both took gold awards in the independents category.


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Vicky Zugah launches Vicks Cosmetics with wide range of skincare products
Ghanaian actress Vicky Zugah has launched a host of skincare products under the umbrella name Vicks Cosmetic.
YEN.com.gh observed the recent updates on the actress’ social media handles which have been busy promoting the products even before its launch.
Vicky held the launch on Friday, November 30, 2019, in Accra.
READ ALSO: Prince David Osei surprises fans with photo of his ‘hidden’ son who looks just like him
The products include shower gel, skin polishing cream, skin whitening cream, acne and dark spot remover, others.
In an exclusive interview with YEN.com.gh, Vicky revealed that the products are all organic and using them brings no side effects.
She added that the products were good for all skin types and were 100% safe because they contained no hydroquinone as contained in other creams that causes short-term and long-term damages.
READ ALSO: Xandy Kamel beats competitors to win International Best Female Actress at Glams Award
According to Vicky, it was her aim to make available good quality skincare products to everyone at affordable prices, hence conceiving 'Vicks Cosmetics'.
Vicks Cosmetics happens to be one of Zugah’s businesses aside from being an actress.
She disclosed to YEN.com.gh that she also owned Vicky’s Affordables where she deals in the sale of original Italian shoes and bags for ladies.
READ ALSO: Vim Lady releases photos of women Captain Smart has allegedly divorced to clear her name
The foregoing proves that the actress has risen above all challenges she has faced in the past including domestic violence.
As a mother, Vicky Zugah has shown her determination to succeed as a business woman and also an actress.
She has featured in a number of movies with top actors and actresses.
Some of them are Jackie Appiah, John Dumelo, Majid Michel, Nadia Buari, just to mention a few.
She is also the brand ambassador for Leap Tomato Paste.
READ ALSO: Mahama campaign team begs for support to raise GH₵400K filing fee
Ghana News Today: AFRIMA Climaxed Successfully / Ghana Out of U-17 Women's World Cup| #Yencomgh
READ ALSO: I have suffered too much – Vim Lady breaks silence on Captain Smart’s divorce saga
Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place


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Sharp Australia is not saying whether a decision by the company in Japan to shut their TV display production plant will affect supplies into Australia.At the weekend Toshiba, Hitachi, and Panasonic said they would shutter their liquid crystal display plants for a month following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck the country on March 11.
Now, with new aftershocks and pending supply problems, Sharp, who are Japan’s largest exporter of LCD TVs, has suspended production at its two biggest factories, due to a shortage of a gas used in the manufacturing process.
The plants, which have a combined capacity of 172,000 display panels per month, won’t reopen until May 6, at the earliest.
The company claims it has enough TVs in its inventory to last about a month.
Big losses are tipped for all of the TV Japanese TV manufacturers with the exception of those that are already manufacturing in China and Taiwan.


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The U.S. Justice Department has announced a major antitrust investigation into unnamed tech giants, while the House Judiciary Committee has begun an unprecedented antitrust probe into Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple over their aggressive business practices, and promises “a top-to-bottom review of the market power held by giant tech platforms.”
In addition, at least two 2020 presidential hopefuls have expressed support for breaking up some of technology’s biggest players amid concerns they have become too powerful.
Experts say breakups are unlikely in the short term, and Rep. David Cicilline, the Rhode Island Democrat who leads the subcommittee pursuing the House investigation, called such measures a “last resort.” But even without that, Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple could face new restrictions on their power.
Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple declined to comment on the investigations.
Here’s a look at the cases that could be brought against them and what their defenses could be.
With 2.4 billion users, $56 billion in revenue last year and a name that’s synonymous with social media, Facebook is certainly big. But is it an illegal, competition-crushing monopoly?
Federal regulators are already investigating the company’s privacy practices. But the antitrust question has been rumbling in the background, with critics calling for spinning off WhatsApp and Instagram. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has called for breaking up Big Tech, as has Chris Hughes, a co-founder of Facebook. Former Vice President Joe Biden has said that he is open to the idea.
Critics believe a breakup is needed because Facebook can squash competitors either by buying them or using its enormous resources to mimic services they offer — as it’s done with Snapchat, for example.
Facebook executives have been calling broadly for regulation, though nothing that comes close to breaking it up. In a recent statement, the company’s vice president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, said Facebook “accepts that with success comes accountability. But you don’t enforce accountability by calling for the breakup of a successful American company.” CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called for “new rules” in four areas: harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability.
Facebook has also stressed that it has competitors in messaging and digital communication, including Apple and Google.
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With more than 40 pages and 60 charts, the Benchmark Report is the most comprehensive report ever produced about the green industry. The goal in this webinar is to boil down that data to 10 key findings that will help businesses grow and improve.
St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) March 15, 2016
HindSite Software, the premier provider of field service software to the green industry, recently announced a new webinar designed to help businesses understand the results of a recent survey of green industry businesses. Scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, 10 Lessons from the 2016 Green industry Benchmark Report, will analyze data from the recently released 2016 Green Industry Benchmark Survey.
The 2016 Green Industry Benchmark Report is the culmination of a two-month-long surveying effort that reflects the opinions of hundreds of green industry business owners and managers who provide services including landscaping, irrigation service and installation, mowing, fertilizing and snow removal. This is the fourth year HindSite has released the Green Industry Benchmark Report.
“There’s a wealth of great data in the 2016 Green Industry Benchmark Report,” explains HindSite’s Marketing Manager, Chad Reinholz. “With more than 40 pages and 60 charts, it’s the most comprehensive report ever produced about the green industry. Our goal in this webinar is to boil down that data to 10 key findings that will help businesses grow and improve.”
Among the topics covered in the webinar include:
- Why the data shows you need to offer more than just new hire training to your employees.
- Why hiring in a green industry business is difficult - and what tactics those who find it easy to find employees use.
- What to focus on as your business grows.
- What three marketing tactics most correlate to growth.
- And a lot more!
“The feedback from the Green Industry Benchmark Report has been exceptional,” explains Reinholz. “There were some obvious takeaways from the data that we want to share with green industry businesses.”
The ten lessons will be presented over the course of 45 minutes and will be followed by a 15 minute question and answer session. Green industry business owners interested in attending the free webinar can register at http://info.hindsitesoftware.com/10-lessons-from-the-2016-green-industry-benchmark-report-webinar
About HindSite Software
HindSite Software has helped contractors better manage and grow their business with field service software since 2001. Initially designed as irrigation business software, HindSite today assists service businesses with scheduling and billing, contact management, field data collection, and invoicing in QuickBooks®, and Sage50®. When used by lawn care businesses, this paperless lawn care software has been proven to increase efficiency and organization, meaning greater profit potential with less administrative time.