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World’s First 5G mmWave Mobile Technology Developed by Samsung
4GLTE is now a mainstream technology, but coverage is still rather limited. Mobile technology companies are though already working on the next big thing: 5G mobile networks promising data transfer speeds that are several hundred times faster than 4G. Samsung Electronics announced that it has successfully developed the world’s first adaptive array transceiver technology operating in the millimeter-wave Ka bands for cellular communications.
The new technology is at the core of 5G mobile communications system and will provide data transmission up to several hundred times faster than current 4G networks. 5G mobile communications technology is the next generation of the existing 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network technology. 5G will be capable of providing a ubiquitous Gbps experience to subscribers anywhere and offers data transmission speeds of up to several tens of Gbps per base station.
Samsung plans to accelerate the research and development of 5G mobile communications technologies, including adaptive array transceiver at the millimeter-wave bands, to commercialize those technologies by 2020.
Luigi Lugmayr Luigi Lugmayr (Google) is the founding chief Editor of I4U News and brings over 15 years
experience in the technology field to the ever evolving and exciting
world of gadgets. He started I4U News back in 2000 and evolved it into
vibrant technology magazine.
Luigi can be contacted directly at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Kevin Durant Re-Signs With Nike
2013-14 NBA MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star forward Kevin Durant re-signed with Nike for his shoe endorsements. Under Armour previously dangled an offer which was reported by ESPN to be in the $265 million to $285 million range.
Oakland Athletics Trade For Adam Dunn
The Oakland Athletics acquired first baseman Adam Dunn and cash from the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 31. In exchange, the White Sox received minor-league pitcher Nolan Sanburn.
About the Geek Mind
The “geek mind” is concerned with more than just the latest iPhone rumors, or which company will win the gaming console wars. I4U is concerned with more than just the latest photo shoot or other celebrity gossip.
The “geek mind” is concerned with life, in all its different forms and facets. The geek mind wants to know about societal and financial issues, both abroad and at home. If a Fortune 500 decides to raise their minimum wage, or any high priority news, the geek mind wants to know. The geek mind wants to know the top teams in the National Football League, or who’s likely to win the NBA Finals this coming year. The geek mind wants to know who the hottest new models are, or whether the newest blockbuster movie is worth seeing. The geek mind wants to know. The geek mind wants—needs—knowledge.


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Helen Walters reflects on the ‘four frantic days of CES’ and wonders if what we are witnessing is a font of Innovation or a signal of ‘global vandalism’.
…I honestly don’t want to knock the hard work of executives who are struggling to survive in a terrible economy. But really. 20,000 products? Each one the result of hours, days, weeks, months of meetings and discussions and agonized decision making. Each one apparently accompanied by a breathless press release describing how it represents genuine innovation, not to mention fabulous design. And yes, some of the products will probably even be a welcome addition to our gadget-laden homes. But this as the face of modern day innovation? Oy.Before the show, Shawn Dubravac, Chief Economist and Director of Research of the Consumer Electronics Association reckoned that 80 tablet devices were to be announced at the show. 80?! What clearer way to illustrate the way that consumer product lemmings once again demonstrate why genuine innovation is both so rare and difficult to execute.

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Google is getting ready to implement a new change to Google searches in May 2016. Consumers are turning to their mobile devices to access information by cell phone, by tablet, on their car consoles and their watches! Maile Ohye, a developer programs tech lead at Google posted a great video outlining the reasons businesses should have a mobile website. Here is some of the information she presented in her video explaining why customers searching for information on their mobile device matter. You can watch her complete video at the bottom of my post!
- “85% of smart phone users have searched for local info
- 81% have taken action as a result
- 40% visited the location in-person
- 35% called a business after searching”
Because Google made a pivotal change in their search engine algorithm last year in reaction to the dramatic shift in the way that consumers use mobile devices & search for information, you must have a mobile friendly website to stay competitive. On March 16th, Google announced that starting in May, 2016 “we’ll start rolling out an update to mobile search results that increases the effect of the ranking signal to help our users find even more pages that are relevant and mobile-friendly.” If your website is mobile friendly, you won’t see a change, but if you do not have a mobile friendly website, you will begin to see your rankings fall behind.
Don’t wait until May to start your new dental website design. Sharon Kantor Bogetz, MBA, MEd, partner at Cutting Edge Practice and her team of website designers can create a mobile friendly responsive website that will launch before May 2016. If you already have a website you like, we can re-engineer a new dental website that will be mobile friendly before this next big Google change. Call Sharon to discuss your options at (847) 370-9131.


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CEO Hong Qi Yu of Tokenize Xchange is Optimistic of Singapore’s Crypto Market
Despite stringent regulations on companies dealing with cryptocurrencies, Tokenize Xchange is poised to rise above these challenges.
When discussing the topic of cryptocurrency, many opinions are thrown out to the front. Some say it is a fad that will simmer down, while others believe it will revolutionise our relationship with money. Whichever the case, the authorities are definitely keeping an eye on the developments of this nascent market and ensuring that its citizens’ interests are taken care of first before granting more leniency to new players.
One of the players within this burgeoning market is Singapore-born digital currencies exchange company, Tokenize Xchange. Leading the company is Hong Qi Yu, a coder-turned-entrepreneur whose journey started in 2017 after his friends introduced the Ethereum blockchain to him. “Around April or May, I was still looking at the technology and figuring out how to buy Ethereum, then I managed to code for my own token and issue a smart contract,” shares Qi Yu about how he went about learning about cryptocurrency.
The lack of such a medium to buy or trade digital currencies spurred Qi Yu to consider creating his own. Bearing in mind the many problems he faced while interacting with the exchange platform, he tried to reduce the barrier to entry through Tokenize Xchange. And while understanding the mechanism of cryptocurrencies, Qi Yu realised the enormous potential of this technology. “[In the early months of 2017], Ethereum cost less than US$200 and I can send this amount anywhere as long as I have internet access, and that fascinates me a lot,” shares the founder and by the end of 2017, Ethereum would have more than doubled.
To pursue this venture full-time, Qi Yu quit his day job and pooled funds of around S$120,000 from his friends and other angel investors to start Tokenize Xchange. While the idea was the brainchild of Qi Yu and his friends, he did not expect to be wearing multiple hats. “Aside from being the technical person, I had to be the CEO and ensure that operations are conducted smoothly especially since Tokenize Xchange is a new company.” The fund he raised could only provide a short runway for a tech-based company like Tokenize Xchange and Qi Yu was actively looking for fresh funds.
“There were multiple ICO projects when I first started the company and these helped us raise funds and where the total reached S$12 million in valuation.” The cryptocurrency market saw a bullish trend and many investors were over the moon from their earnings. To quote Isaac Newton, “What goes up must come down,” the market saw its first major correction in 2018. “The S$12 million we raised was short-lived. In the next three months, the value went down by 50 per cent and a further 50 per cent more the following three months.”
In Singapore, the government has cautioned retail investors when dealing with the growing excitement for technologies that are based on the blockchain. At the beginning of January this year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued a guideline giving effect to the regulator’s expectations that digital currency platforms should not engage in direct marketing to retail investors. Inevitably, this has driven bigger players off the market due to the lack of a strong base. The country’s crypto community is not substantial enough to warrant its independence.
Despite such unfavourable conditions, Qi Yu still decided to keep business as usual. At this moment, Tokenize Xchange operates in Singapore under the “exemption” list meaning the company can still conduct its business like offering cryptocurrency exchanges until its application for a licence is approved, rejected, or withdrawn. Qi Yu shares that the company is still pending the Digital Payment Token Licence from MAS and is hopeful of the results as the company has strictly abided by the regulations and is in touch with the relevant authorities.
Being headquartered in Singapore has also provided Tokenize Xchange with the home ground advantage of waiting for the regulators’ approval. This luxury of time is not conferred to foreign entities as the cost of maintaining operations is costly and these resources could be used more efficiently elsewhere. The curtailing of direct advertising also means only a niche group of people is in the know but obviously, the goal is to have as many on board as possible.
For a long time, Singapore has prided itself on being a hub for innovation and there are a host of policies to support businesses venturing into emerging tech spaces. MAS is said to be broadly supportive of blockchain, but is concerned about the risks involved with cryptocurrencies and discourages retail investors from owning them, hence companies are not allowed to overtly market their products. However, the regulator acknowledges the potential for innovation and is keen to explore the technology in a controlled manner. It has since launched “Project Guardian” and it involves regulated financial institutions like JP Morgan, DBS Bank and Marketnode, and the SGX to issue bonds using tokenisation.
This is encouraging for companies like Tokenize Xchange as it shows that the Singapore government is looking into expanding the space. “If we were to look at the crypto market in 2019, it is bearish with only 2 per cent of the population in Singapore investing. But during the Covid period, it has grown by at least ten times more.” The magnitude of growth is telling of people’s confidence in this fledgling asset and people are less doubtful about the technology.
To further strengthen the company’s case for its licence approval, Qi Yu shares that due diligence has been conducted since day one of operations and external parties are engaged to safeguard the investments of its users. “Currently, even before we get our licence, there are routined checks like VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing) and third-party vendors are hired to access our security and infrastructure.” Additionally, the company is looking to work with insurance companies as extra protection against unforeseeable circumstances. The recent Terra Luna crash is an apt case study to take into consideration.
In a similar vein, NFTs have had a terrible start to the year and reports have shown its value plummeted by more than 50 per cent. But Qi Yu, is not fazed by how the market is behaving as he sees the “crypto winter” as a part of any business cycle where there will be periods of time where it corrects itself. The company is in a strong position, Qi Yu shares, and it is in the midst of closing Series A funding while looking to raise US$300 million in Series B.
Tokenize Xchange has launched its own NFT marketplace called “Elemint” and its first collection is the “Poker Penguin”. Interested creators can launch their projects with Elemint and seize the opportunity to connect with Tokenize Xchange’s 250,000 users. However, one must be able to meet the criteria set by the company. “Our NFT platform requires creators to meet these requirements: it must have a utility or be backed by a tangible asset like a physical artwork.” And increasingly, pressure on meeting ESG guidelines is taking place and Tokenize Xchange is considering to include that into its set of criteria.
For the Poker Penguins, collectors will be entitled to perks like coaching, access to an exclusive community and even private events. The mechanics are similar to how other major NFTs like Bored Ape Yacht Club organise its pool of collectors.
A common perception that people have of NFTs draws parallel to how cryptocurrencies are thought to provide: fast cash. Qi Yu’s advice to those interested in NFTs is to look at it as more than just an investment. Rather, it would be better to see NFTs as the spending economy for the cryptocurrency world.
A change in mindset is pertinent for regulators, investors and operators. To look beyond just the monetary gains one can get from dabbling with cryptocurrencies and NFTs. The authorities have to be assured that its citizens are well-informed of the risks involved and this can be done through robust education in crypto literacy. For investors, being prudent will always help and they have to look through the glitz associated with this speculative asset. And for operators, it is their responsibility to minimise possible ramifications to their users by making sure protocols are put in place. In order for this tripartite relationship to blossom, all hands need to be on deck to push for a safer crypto environment.
For more reads on leaders, click here.


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HyperFlex Tunable White 2835 LED Strip eliminate the need to cut and reconnect the strip light when making bends or turns in a lighting run.
Switch Always On is a smart IoT DC micro UPS with a lithium-ion battery and cloud connectivity that ensures network power and internet connection are maintained in commercial or residential applications.
A new Control4 automation system installed at San Diego’s new 1,100-seat Portside Pier, completely reimagines how restaurant staff operates.
Regardless of what caused the rise in retail robots, it seems investment in them is becoming more prominent than in the last few years.
Update to all WilsonPro cellular amplifiers in the 4300/4300R series eliminates ambiguity of whether an amp works properly for all carriers.
Mitsubishi Electric Power Products boasts decades of innovation when it comes to keeping some of the biggest and smallest companies running.
Eaton says Tripp Lite acquisition will enhance the breadth of its edge computing and distributed IT product portfolio.
Lighting and production team delivers the joy of the holidays in unique way with show control by grandMA3 light console.
NEC says it demonstrated multiple highly stable simultaneous terminal connections in an office environment through distributed-MIMO in the 28 GHz band.
Advance Sound Company and MSE Audio helped create a 164-zone Dante audio system at New York City’s new Moynihan Train Hall.
Organizations are seeing a boon when implementing AV over IP technology, and integrators are finding happy customers when installing AV over IP. In this webinar, you’ll learn exactly why you need AV over IP.
The one-hour webinar will discuss the basics of fiber cable, as well as how its bandwidth capabilities support today’s and tomorrow’s AV formats, and guidelines for specifying and installing fiber products.


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In recent years, mobile medical and nursing apps have gained favor from providers and patients alike. The apps are available on a variety of mobile devices and make healthcare more streamlined and easier to understand. With apps to track steps and calories, check heart rates and glucose levels, and monitor chronic health conditions, it’s clear that reliance on the apps will only keep growing.
However, with all of the benefits that are clearly available with the spread of these apps, there are some undeniable downsides. Like with any new trend, development, or invention, not enough time has passed to properly research the effectiveness of the apps and correct any problems. Because the apps are still relatively new, we’re only just starting to identify problems that could arise. These problems are more than simple IT issues. Instead, apps can manipulate data, give incorrect calculations, or improperly manage patient health information.
For example, according to a 2012 report, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer discovered that an app designed to help manage inflammatory diseases was giving wrong information to patients. As a result, Pfizer asked doctors to get rid of the app from devices and review any information and data that they received from the app, as it could be incorrect.
To help reduce the negative impact of improperly working apps, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) released a guide for how to manage mobile apps. The Mobile Medical Applications Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff stipulates the regulation of medical apps that are designed to turn regular mobile devices like phones and tablets into a medical device. This includes apps that manage pacemakers, apps that analyze medical images, or apps that can transform a regular smartphone to act as an ECG machine. These are the types of apps that can cause the most damage if used incorrectly or if they experience some sort of malfunction.
On the other hand, the FDA will remain silent regarding apps that are intended for educational or informational purposes. Medical apps that give advice for managing conditions or that offer helpful tips to patients will generally not result in major issues if something goes wrong. Apps deal with scheduling and health records will not be regulated either.
Some members of the medical field may feel that FDA involvement in medical apps will stifle technological growth in healthcare. However, regulation does not necessarily mean “removal” of the apps. Instead, app users can rest assured that the apps are properly managed so as to avoid any future issues. With the FDA stamp of approval, the app is legitimized, and users can be certain that it will function according to plan. Like vitamins and supplements on the shelves, apps without FDA approval are lest trustworthy and reliable. It doesn’t indicate that they are “bad”, but they aren’t vouched for by the government agency.
FDA regulation will not only ensure safety but will also encourage innovation in the way of medical and nursing mobile apps. In 2013, CBS News revealed some amazing apps that were on the way:
“One app that has been released on the market is SprioSmart. It uses a smartphone’s microphone to take lung measurements of breath capacity. This could help people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis check their stats, especially because home testing systems called spirometers can cost up to a few thousand dollars. Researchers at Seattle Children’s and the University of Washington are seeking FDA approval for the app.
Another app and device can reportedly turn a smartphone into a handheld biosensor so people can test their food for allergens. The device, which was developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, uses lenses and filters on a cradle mirror to detect toxins, bacteria, spot water contamination and identify allergens. The smartphone then processes the information. The additional device contains about $200 of optical parts, but may do tests as well as a $50,000 laboratory device can.”
In the few years since these apps have been revealed, there have been quite a few more apps available to patients and healthcare workers. Ranging from fetus growth trackers to period trackers to asthma regulation, mobile apps certainly seem like the way of the future. And with the current FDA involvement in the creation and supervision of said apps, nurses can be sure that these apps will be helpful to them and to their patients.


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Sky & Space shoots up 30pc on $30m Africa payments deal
Sky and Space Global has signed a $30 million deal, and then watched its shares rocket up over 30 per cent.
The nanosatellite phone service business (ASX:SAS) has done a five-year deal with an African mobile payments outfit called BeepTool Communications & Integrated Services.
Its shares rose 31 per cent in early trade to touch 21c.
Sky and Space and BeepTool ran a pilot in October to test the nanosatellite system’s ability to handle financial transactions.
Under the deal, BeepTool will buy “all the available communications bandwidth that is required by BeepTool to fill its commercial demand”. Sky and Space will use the BeepTool messaging app in its communications software.
But the deal will only go ahead if a second field trial, on the original 3 Diamonds network, is successful.
BeepTool will pay fixed payments for end user devices in advance, as well as a per usage rate for the service certain minimum usage commitment, and a security deposit covering advance services.
SAS says it’s the first company to successfully use narrowband connectivity offered by nanosatellites to make a phone call.
‘Narrowband’ means the communications link uses a smaller frequency range, or bandwidth, and can only provide low data rates, such as 56 kbps.
The Pearls, to be built in Denmark and launched in late 2018, are powered by three metre sun-tracking solar panels which allow 24/7 operation.
Once operational, customers can tap into the service through a dedicated smartphone satellite device or through an adapter. That service is planned to go live in 2020.


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DETROIT/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> eliminated a huge obstacle with a U.S. settlement over unintended acceleration in its cars and trucks, leaving it to fight smaller cases that will be harder for plaintiffs to prove and less likely to damage the company's growing sales.
While the Japanese automaker still faces possibly hundreds of personal injury lawsuits related to claims that its vehicles accelerated unintentionally, Wednesday's $1.1 billion settlement announcement will remove the last big roadblock to putting the issue behind it.
Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies and an outspoken critic of Toyota who has assisted plaintiffs' attorneys against the automaker, said the settlement covered the biggest financial hit for Toyota.
"Those are not billion-dollar cases," he said of the pending personal-injury lawsuits. "Those are at best million-dollar cases or multimillion-dollar cases. With a company like Toyota, that's not even something that's a blip on their radar."
At the time, the recall around the unintended acceleration issue and resulting lawsuits were a surprise for a company long associated with quality and reliability, and the resulting fallout led President Akio Toyoda to apologize publicly.
Lee Kaplan, a product liability lawyer in Houston, said plaintiffs in the injury and death cases also will have an uphill battle in court because they will need to prove deficiencies in Toyota's equipment.
"I have never seen anyone identify the single cause of the problem," he said. "Without identifying a true scientific or technical basis, pinning a verdict on Toyota will be hard."
Toyota said it agreed to spend $1.1 billion to settle sweeping U.S. class-action litigation over claims millions of its vehicles accelerated unintentionally. The recall fallout related to the issue was a $2 billion hit to earnings in the company's 2010 fiscal year.
Judge James Selna is expected to review the settlement on Friday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California. However, final approval and disbursement of the money may not occur for several months.
The proposed settlement will compensate customers for economic losses related to possible safety defects in Toyota vehicles, covering most of the litigation involving unintended acceleration.
About 16 million Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles sold in the United States spanning the model years 1998 to 2010 are covered by the settlement. Company officials have maintained the electronic throttle control system was not at fault, blaming ill-fitting floor mats and sticky gas pedals. A study by federal safety officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NASA found no link between reports of unintended acceleration and Toyota's electronic throttle control system.
Toyota, the No. 3 automaker in the U.S. market, admitted no fault in proposing the settlement, one of the largest U.S. mass class-action litigations in the automotive sector. One plaintiff's law firm called it the largest settlement in U.S. history involving auto defects.
However, the deal does not cover wrongful death or injury lawsuits, which according to a June Toyota filing totaled more than 300.
Those cases will be handled by Toyota one by one, with the first slated to go to trial in February 2013 in Judge Selna's California court, involving a Utah crash that killed two people. However, one wrongful death case in Houston was dropped last year due to lack of evidence and the largest such lawsuit, over the death of the family of off-duty California Highway Patrol officer Mark Saylor, was settled out of court for $10 million in late 2010.
Toyota's recall of its vehicles between 2009 and 2011 relating to the unintended acceleration issue hurt its reputation for reliability and safety.
But the automaker's sales were up almost 29 percent in 2012 through November, compared with a 14-percent increase in the industry, and Toyota's share of the U.S. market has risen to 14.4 percent from 12.7 percent in 2011. Last year's Toyota sales were depressed by the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
The full effect of the acceleration issue on Toyota's U.S. sales may not be known for years, until the current owners affected by it need to buy another vehicle.
Yet with its U.S. sales rising at double the industry's rate and the company expected to reclaim the global sales crown this year, analysts said Toyota has seemingly shaken off any lingering damage to its reputation.
"Toyota is the Teflon company," Edmunds.com analyst Michelle Krebs said. "They always bounce back.
"The consumer doesn't seem to care," she added. "The consumer keeps on buying Toyotas."
(Writing by Ben Klayman; Additional reporting by Bernie Woodall and Deepa Seetharaman in Detroit and Dan Levin in San Francisco; Editing by Ben Berkowitz and Dan Grebler)


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DSCC estimates that the AMOLED market will grow 19% in 2019 to reach $31 billion, up from $26.5 billion in 2018. OLED revenues will continue to grow and reach $48.8 billion in 2022 (a CAGR of 16%).
Looking at OLED unit shipments and area production, 2019 will see a 22% growth in unit shipments to 610 million panels and a 35% growth in area to 9 million square meters. Area shipments will grow faster than revenues as OLED selling prices will continue to decline - and as OLED TVs take up a larger share of the OLED market.
âIn 2022, OLED unit shipments will cross the 1 billion market for the first time. While OLED TVs will enjoy a fast growth (from 1.7 million panels in 2017 to 13.1 million panels in 2022), they will still remain a small part of the OLED market - and a small part of the total TV market (which is around 200 million panels per year).
Foldable OLEDs will generate $5.5 billion in revenues in 2022 - a 16% market share in terms of revenues, even though in terms is shipments foldable OLEDs will only grab a 5% market share. Foldable OLEDs will be larger in area than flexible and rigid OLEDs - and will also command a premium price. Even with the fast growth of foldable OLEDs, DSCC expects smartphone OLED revenues to decline in 2022 due to price pressure from smartphone makers and a persistent over supply market situation.
DSCC estimates that OLED TV panel revenues will exceed $2 billion in 2018, and reach $6 billion by 2022. Smartwatch OLED panel revenues will exceed $1 billion in 2018, and will only grow to $1.4 billion by 2022. Tablet OLED panel revenues are expected to cross $1 billion in 2020. In 2022, DSCC sees Notebook OLED revenues reaching $2.9 billion, OLED monitor revenues at $1.4 billion and automotive OLED panels at $1 billion.
Finally, DSCC discusses OLED production price per area - with some interesting information. OLED TV production cost are currently at around $770 per sqm, and this is expected to decline to $488 - still expensive compared to LCD TVs (currently at $170-200 per sqm). OLED smartphone panel are selling for around $5,850 per sqm - while smartwatch OLED costs are currently at around $42,000 per sqm. In the OLED industry as a whole, the price will decline from $3,900 per sqm in 2018 to $2,100 per sqm in 2022.


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Mexico’s electric vehicle sector has seen a flurry of new investment announcements in recent months, with yet another large manufacturer expecting to enter the country in the coming months.
The announcements include those by BMW, who recently said it would put 800mn euros (US$860mn) into its San Luis Potosí plant to manufacture batteries, and firms like Evergo and Cenntro Automotive.
They include growth in overall vehicle production, parts manufacturing, charging station buildout, and the production of electric vehicles.
The biggest investment announcement on the horizon is the long-rumored push by Tesla to build its next “gigafactory” in the country. While the announcement has reportedly stalled due to issues such as securing sufficient power supply, its confirmation would be a large boon for Mexico’s ambitions to becoming an electric vehicle manufacturing hub targeting the US, the second largest automobile market in the world.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Wednesday during his daily press conference that the company was eyeing the states of Nuevo León and Hidalgo as potential sites for the factory. Nuevo León, which borders Texas, has long been rumored as the company’s preference. Hidalgo, meanwhile, borders central Mexico state, where presidential spokesman Jesús Ramírez said Tesla would build an export-focused facility.
The plant has been the subject of rumors and speculation in recent months, especially regarding Tesla’s relationship with federal power utility CFE, and the terms of a potential deal to supply the plant’s power. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said he is “confident” that Tesla will choose the Asian country over Mexico to build the factory. Other nations reportedly being considered by Tesla include Canada and South Korea.
These new and potential investments slot into a long trend in Mexico, with several car manufacturers announcing growth strategies in the region focused on EVs.
US car maker Ford said in 2021 it would triple its manufacturing capacity of Mach-E electric SUV at its Mexico state plant in Cuautitlan this year, to 210,000. The move is part of US$50bn worldwide investment to grow its electric vehicle output to 2mn per year by 2026. In 2021, Ford produced 64,000 units.
The same year General Motors announced it would invest over US$1bn at its Ramos Arizpe plant to build new paint and assembly facilities, partly meant to start electric vehicle production this year, and produce them exclusively starting in 2024. The complex also produces batteries and other electric components.
Last October, Canadian sports vehicle manufacturer BRP said it would build its first electric motorcycle manufacturing plant in Querétaro state, with production of its two electric models set to start by March of 2024.
Several European firms, including Germany’s Volkswagen and Audi, as well as multinational Stellantis, owner of Peugeot and Fiat, have unveiled expansion plans for their plants in Mexico to start electric vehicle construction between 2025 and 2027. While Volkswagen said the investment in its Puebla plant would total US$764mn (including non-EV related overhauls), the others are yet to provide a figure.
The influx of new production has led to major investments by service and parts suppliers anticipating higher demand, including Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn, Japanese electric motor manufacturer Nidec, and German automotive supplier Sodecia, which already owns a plant in Coahuila.
Nidec said it was considering investing around US$760mn to build a factory in an unspecified state.
Chinse battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) said it was eyeing a new US$5bn plant in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua state, or in the state of Coahuila, to supply US and Mexican manufacturers, including the potential Tesla facility. Car painter Navistar also said it would grow its Nuevo León plant in light of stronger demand.
Mexico also has large deposits of lithium, a key component of the batteries used by manufacturers of electric vehicles. The US government’s Inflation Reduction Act, which is focused on clean energy, requires North American sourcing of parts for electric vehicle manufacturing to access the bill’s coveted subsidy scheme. While the issue of how lithium will be exploited in Mexico is still controversial, López Obrador has said some forms of private extraction will be allowed.
The seventh-largest car manufacturing nation in the world, Mexico has set goals for half of its production to be hybrid or electric by 2030. Today, it produces approximately 3mn cars per year, according to the International Trade Administration, with the vast majority made for export. In 2021, around 50,000 of the vehicles were electric.


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By Andrew Levy
Apple held its iPhone event today announcing the long anticipated and rumored iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s. Although many of us were expecting announcements for the iPad, Apple TV, and maybe even the iWatch(?), we may need to tune back our urges and be happy with what Tim Cook and friends gave us. The iPhone 5s and 5c will be available for preorder starting tomorrow and will be available to in-store purchase on September 20th.


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I-BAND lauds passage of Meat Labeling Bill; urges governor Burgum to sign
3/5/2019 ~ The Independent Beef Association of North Dakota (I-BAND) is lauding the North Dakota Senate’s passage of House Bill 1400 on Monday, March 4 in a 44:1 vote. The bill, supported by I-BAND, will ensure truthful labeling of meat at the point of sale. The bill will now be sent to Governor Doug Burgum. Also passed on March 4 was companion legislation, House Concurrent Resolution 3024, which directs Congress to adopt similar legislation on the federal level differentiating meat from cultured or lab-grown products.
The following statement can be attributed to Dwight Keller, I-BAND President:
“We’re very pleased that the North Dakota legislature has taken meaningful steps to ensure consumers have appropriate information when purchasing beef to feed their families. I-BAND members are unanimous in their support for this legislation and we’ve worked diligently with lawmakers to shepherd this sensible, reasonable bill forward. I-BAND believes that our partnership with consumers includes truthful labeling and advertising so there is a clear understanding whether beef in retail cases is derived from an animal or if it’s produced through unconventional production methods. I-BAND now urges Governor Burgum to sign this legislation into law.”
North Dakota joins a number of states currently considering similar legislation.
“This legislation is the absolute right step to take and the timing is right,” noted Keller. “The production of cultured or plant-based alternative proteins is a rapidly evolving industry and it’s important for the rules pertaining to labeling of those substances be promulgated before retail sales begin in earnest. This must be done with the best interests of consumers in mind. I’m proud that North Dakota lawmakers are doing exactly that.”
In November, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the two agencies will hold joint oversight of lab cultured food products. FDA will oversee cell collection and growth as well as cell banks. USDA will provide oversight of production and labeling of food products grown in laboratories from the cells of livestock and poultry.


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By Tristana Moore
BBC News, Munich, Germany
BMW World was officially opened in October 2007
BMW's glitzy new showroom, BMW World, dominates the Munich skyline.
Walking into the futuristic building, with its steel roof, everything is geared towards promoting the BMW brand.
There are restaurants, a café and a shop selling BMW merchandise.
Since the luxury showroom opened its doors last autumn, more than a million visitors have flocked here.
BMW chose the showroom as the venue for the company's annual press conference.
The world's biggest premium carmaker sold a record 1.5 million vehicles in 2007, and says its on course to meet its target of selling 1.8 million cars in 2012, confident that sales of its BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands will continue growing.
The company's profit before tax was 3.9bn euros ($6.1bn; £3.0bn) in 2007, 6.1% down on the previous year, but still high.
Managers told reporters that despite the weak dollar and high commodity prices, the carmaker is hoping to increase its earnings this year.
But there is one big cloud on the horizon.
The BMW group is battling to limit the fall-out from the weakening dollar.
In an interview with the BBC, BMW's chief executive, Norbert Reithofer, confirmed that the carmaker would be increasing production at its plant in the US.
"If I look into the future, we will increase our production capacities in the US from 150,000 units to 240,000 units, the car plant in the US helps us on the natural hedging side, it can reduce your total exposure," Norbert Reithofer said.
The United States is BMW's biggest single market and the group has a big plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Four out of five BMW Group cars are exported, so the company is exposed to exchange rate fluctuations.
The carmaker knows that it is operating in a tough economic climate.
"During the first two months of this year, in January and February, we had a challenge in the US," said the company's chief executive.
"We were able to compensate for the losses in car volume in the US elsewhere in the world."
"We have a very good market situation in China, Germany is going up, and we had good results in the UK.
"We are a global player and we are not just dependent on one market," he said.
"From a financial hedging point of view, we are in a good position this year," Mr Reithofer said, smiling broadly.
"It's not just one currency. We have three important markets, Japan, the UK and the United States," Mr Reithofer explained.
BMW said that it has hedged itself completely this year with "all of the main currencies".
However, currency fluctuations are taking their toll.
They cost BMW 517m euros last year, while raw material price increases cost the group 288m euros.
But that was offset by higher sales and improvements in efficiency.
Faced with tough competition from rivals, the German group is bent on cost-cutting.
BMW believes luxury cars are not the first-hit in a slowdown
"Our major production cost is materials, which amounts to 26bn euros," Mr Reithofer said.
"We have to have discussions with our supplier networks about prices and we have to start an initiative to find out if we can we reduce the costs of our supplier companies and cut logistics costs."
"We have to buy more goods, that means more components for our cars, in the US. For our car plants in the US and Europe."
The premium carmaker has announced that it is planning to axe more than 8,000 jobs, a decision that provoked outrage in Germany.
And it is worried that a slowdown in the US market could affect its sales.
"A slowdown of the car market in the US in 2008 could affect the whole car market."
"Look at our customers, we are a premium car manufacturer and that helps," Mr Reithofer said.
"Over the last 10 years, during a recession, first volume car manufacturers are affected, then later it's premium carmakers."
"Will it affect us? We don't know, it depends on how deep the crisis will be," he added, sounding an ominous tone.


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Samsung released the probe report as to what caused the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco involving series of burns and explosions. The main reason for the explosion was attributed to the faulty battery. Samsung did two rounds of replacements and recalls but nothing stopped the phone from being charred to pieces.
Due to the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, Samsung had to virtually wipe off $5.3B on the operating profit of the company. In a statement released to the press, Samsung disclosed that they would take all the necessary steps to prevent this kind of incidents in future.
Responding to media, Koh said that lessons of this incident are deeply reflected in our culture and process. Hence, you need not have to expect the launch of Samsung Galaxy S8 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February.
We have seen several rumors surrounding Samsung Galaxy S8 over the last few months. The latest news was the presence of a physical button for the activation of Bixby. Moreover, Bixby, dubbed to be a competitor to Alexa and Google Assistant will be available for all apps. However, for female voice, the name will not be Bixby.
As of writing this, we don’t have any information about when Samsung will unveil Galaxy S8. If the company doesn’t launch the phone during the upcoming MWC 2017, you can expect the launch around April 2017.
Based on the reports available, Samsung is currently testing the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus at extreme temperatures. This step is being carried out to ensure fault free handsets. Moreover, majotSamsung will not be able to tolerate another round of explosion fiasco. Hence, the company is going to take all kind of safety precautions to avert major incidents like Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
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This week market manager Laura Avery talks with farmer Andy Mariani of Andy’s Orchard about why his fruits have such unique flavors. He says his growing region benefits from the Coastal Valleys’ warm days and cold nights.
She also talks with Nicole Rucker, co-owner of Cofax, and former KCRW Pie Contest winner, who is shopping for July Flame peaches. Nicole bakes them into pies for Bludso’s on La Brea and serves them at Dinosaur Cafe on Sundays. She says you can freeze the sliced peaches on sheet trays in the freezer. Once frozen you can bag them for future cooking projects whether it’s baking pies or making BBQ sauce.


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Seniors are better off than boomers because being born before WWII they avoided many of the economic ills that plague today’s generations. » Read More
Williston Mayor Ward Koeser discusses KKR's building plans in his city, and whether the city is making money from the boom.
A small New England footwear company is doing what few have done in years: building a shoe manufacturing plant in America.
A recent flood of investment into two Texas shale fields has helped the state bolster its title as one of the world's leading energy producers.
Ridgewells Catering has furloughed workers and lost revenue across the board. Now, holiday parties are starting to cancel.
More Americans are opting for early retirement out of fear slashed benefits are always around the corner. It's the new American normal.
Many firms offer them as a way for job seekers to get back into the workforce, but they do have drawbacks.
Some Americans have decided to keep out of the rat race, at least for now. Find out why. NBC News reports.
John Tucker, founder and CEO of Laser Plus Imaging addresses the uncertainty his business has faced during the government shutdown. Rep. James Lankford (R-OK), says the government could be back open by Thursday.
Small companies that rely on federal contracts have been dealt a severe blow.
For politicians, the most important shutdown deadline is Oct. 17. Meanwhile, federal employees are focused on Friday, Oct. 11: payday.
Though revenues and the economic outlook have improved for all 50 states, the financial picture for municipalities remains mixed.
CNBC's Diana Olick reports that real estate crowdfunding is about to get easier and looks at Fundrise, which connect investors and projects.
Small businesses will have an easier time raising capital, reports CNBC's Julia Boorstin. Only accredited investors can buy equity in a small business or fund.
The 80 year ban on private company advertising has been lifted. CNBC's Julia Boorstin has the details.
Influenced by rising overseas costs and a growing desire for "Made in USA" goods, more merchants are making American-made apparel in emerging hubs.
Be on the look out for more hedge fund "branding" in places like sports arenas and opera houses, reports CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" crew.
Between new federal tax bill changes and underutilized deductions, CNBC finds ways to save money while filing taxes.
Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow. is focused on improving Americans’ money knowledge of saving, spending and investing.
Advisor-centric content with guest columns covering practice management, investment strategies and marketing/social media.
Congested airport terminals and gates have areas that many frequent travelers are willing to pay a fee to avoid – and there are alternatives on offer.
Jim McCann grew 1-800-Flowers.com from one flower shop in 1976 to $1.2 billion in annual revenue in 2018. Watch this video to see how McCann used technology and product diversity to grow his company into the Amazon of flowers.
Many smaller brands say there couldn't be a better time to grow in the retail industry.


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Brexit has not damaged UK trade with EU, report reveals
Sombre ex-PM speaks out on visit to scene of kibbutz massacre
BREXIT has not damaged the UK’s trade with the European Union despite dire warnings from Remainers, a report argues today.
Exports of goods and services have continued to rise since Britain left the EU, according to analysis by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) think-tank.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch will today argue that this growth contradicts the ‘narrative that Brexit has severely damaged our economy’.
She is expected to say that the figures show Britain should ‘stop talking ourselves down, and instead talk ourselves up’.
After the Brexit vote in June 2016, many gloomy economists and Remainers suggested the move would harm UK businesses by making trade harder with companies on the Continent.
The Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government’s fiscal watchdog, predicted in 2021 that new barriers linked to Brexit would result in a 15 per cent drop in trade volumes, contributing to a 4 per cent hit to the economy in the long run.
It argued that this lower trade would be driven by stunted investment in Britain due to the uncertainty caused by Brexit.
But the IEA has now argued that the outlook is much brighter. UK goods exports jumped by 13.5 per cent to EU countries and 14.3 per cent to non-EU countries between 2019 and 2022, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Over the same period, UK services exports – including professional services and labour – rose by 14.8 per cent to EU countries and 22.1 per cent to non-EU countries.
Pointing to these figures, economist Catherine McBride, author of the IEA report, said: ‘If Brexit were a major disrupter of UK trade, we could expect to see a divergence between UK trade with EU destinations and UK trade with non-EU destinations. This is not the case.’
This is largely thanks to the UK and EU’s tariff-free and quota-free trade deal. And while both EU and non-EU countries saw a large drop in trade in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid lockdowns and supply chain shortages, the UK has been able to recover from this.
Excluding precious metals from the trade figures, goods exports to the EU have outperformed exports to non-EU destinations substantially since Brexit, the IEA found.
This makes any claims that Brexit has harmed UK trade with the EU look ‘absurd’, Ms McBride argued.
She added: ‘While the data is still emerging and longer-term effects are as-yet unknowable, there has been no real disparity between UK trade with EU and non-EU countries.
‘Nor has there been a sharp fall in UK–EU trade either at the aggregate or sector level.’
The report argues that although Brexit could have some impact on the UK’s future level of trade with the EU, it has also presented opportunities with other nations.
In a speech at the launch of International Trade Week today, Mrs Badenoch is expected to say: ‘I just don’t agree with the narrative that Brexit has severely damaged our economy. Every major country has faced significant economic challenges over the last few years. We should stop talking ourselves down, and instead talk ourselves up.’
Contrary to some reports and many pre-Brexit establishment voices, the data says Brexit has not had a major impact on UK– EU trade. UK trade with EU countries has broadly moved in line with UK trade with non-EU countries.
The UK remains the second largest exporter of services in the G7 after the US, with its trade patterns compared with other G7 countries remaining unchanged since Brexit.
‘Start talking ourselves up’
BORIS Johnson last night spoke of his horror at the ‘evil’ of the Hamas attacks on Israel as he paid an emotional visit to the scene of one of the terrorist group’s bloodiest massacres.
Wearing body armour, the grim-faced former prime minister toured the horrifying aftermath of the Hamas assault on the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where Hamas terrorists slaughtered men, women and children indiscriminately on October 7.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Johnson took an apparent swipe at the BBC and others who have refused to call the Hamas atrocities a terrorist act.
‘No one looking at the charnel house of that kibbutz could be in any doubt that this was terror,’ he said.
‘This was witting evil – a systematic programme of torture and sadism that is in a different moral
‘No doubt that this was terror’
category from the actions of Israel’s troops.’
Mr Johnson also hit out at pro-Palestine demonstrators in the UK, warning ‘intentionally or otherwise those demonstrators are giving hope and comfort and support to the terrorists of Hamas’.
The visit was conducted under tight secrecy to protect the safety of Mr Johnson and former Australian PM Scott Morrison, who accompanied him.
After travelling to Jerusalem, they went south to the Kfar Aza kibbutz – just yards from the fence separating Israel from the threemile buffer zone with Gaza.
They wore sombre expressions as they were shown the remains of bullet-ridden vehicles and toured a site where dozens of Israelis were slaughtered in their homes.
In a statement later, Mr Johnson urged people to remember the fate of Hamas’s victims as they debate Israel’s response in Gaza.
‘The Israelis are trying their best – even if they are not always succeeding – to keep civilians out of harm’s way,’ he said.
‘Hamas was and is trying to cause maximum harm to the innocent. I wish all those who are demonstrating against Israel could see what I have seen today.
‘Intentionally or otherwise those demonstrators are giving hope and comfort and support to the terrorists of Hamas.
‘What I saw today showed above all why we need and will always need the state of Israel – a place where Jews can be safe.’ Reports suggest more than 100 residents were killed in the attack, including as many as 40 babies and children. Even babies were beheaded.
Some 20 or more residents are missing, with many feared to have been taken into Gaza by Hamas. Around 70 gunmen are thought to have broken through the kibbutz’s fence and used rocket-propelled grenades to destroy security posts and break into homes.
When the Israeli Defence Force regained control of the kibbutz they discovered a massacre of unspeakable depravity.
Several victims are reported to have been beheaded. One child had a knife driven into his skull.
Around 80 per cent of the victims are said to have showed signs of being tortured.
Mr Johnson told GB News: ‘This was an orgy of brutality and torture against innocent people.’
ReMeMBeR when the doom merchants warned Brexit would devastate UK trade with the eU, leaving us much poorer?
How wrong they were. since we quit the bloc, exports of goods and services have risen sharply – despite the extra red tape.
That success comes as Britain exploits newfound freedoms to sign trade deals with the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Contrary to Remainers’ scaremongering, this is a huge vote of confidence in this country’s firms – and our economic future.


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The hotdog vendor has a social media strategy, do you?
Social media is now a bonafide marketing tool for small and medium enterprises. A recent report from Borrell Associates showed how SMEs have adopted social media strategies to enhance their marketing efforts. Most local businesses have contributed to the SME adoption of social media as a marketing boost. It’s not a secret that a social network like Facebook has become a marketplace turning it to a destination-location for merchants and customers.
The report shows that most local businesses between 45% and 70% have already established a social media presence through Facebook and about 60% and 64% of these businesses have a formal presence on social media sites. These aren’t surprising figures, MerchantCircle found that 70% of SMEs are already using Facebook as a means to promoted their products and services. However, Borrell’s report showed that social media marketing was still behind SEO and paid-search last year.
Many local businesses still depend on SEO for potential customers to find them and improve their lead generation. But SMM is catching up in a tremendous way, the report estimates that $6.2 billion was spent on paid-social in 2011. Facebook’s advertising platform has covered 65% of the entire social media advertising last year. With Twitter’s Promoted Tweets and Facebook enhanced advertising platform, it’s a possibility that budget for social media advertising will surpass SEO and paid-search.
SEO pundits might raise their eyebrows with these findings, but it’s a fact that Facebook being more complicated to use with its gamut of changes and the lack of a standard metric for social ROI conversion rates. It’s too early to tell if social media advertising is the end-all and be-all to improve your online marketing. One thing’s for sure, as long as Google’s social products like Google Places and Google+ integrate smoothly with Google’s search engine, search engine marketing is always the old reliable.


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Periods are decidedly unpleasant for a number of reasons; on top of feeling like your uterus is clenched in the fist of a vengeful higher power, the cost of buying tampons, pads, or whatever method you use to stem the red tide adds up quickly. This week, however, it was announced that Brown University would start offering free tampons and pads in its bathrooms — including men's and gender inclusive restrooms, because not everyone who gets a period identifies as a woman.
According to the Washington Post, the initiative is student-run; Brown's Undergraduate Council of Students (UCS) came up with the idea months ago and implemented it on Sept. 7, the first day of classes for the fall semester. The name-brand tampons and pads will be available in non-residential buildings across the campus, and the council says they will restock supplies once a week. In a letter sent out to students on Tuesday, UCS Vice President Viet Nguyen wrote, "In the long term, we are optimistic that this program will be institutionalized. We will also be working with the University to eventually expand sanitary disposal bins to men’s restrooms as well."
Nguyen went on to note that the effort is designed to be inclusive of transgender students, which is why the products will be available in all bathrooms rather than just women's. "We... hope to set a more inclusive standard for this issue moving forward, both in terms of the language used and how future initiatives will be implemented, keeping in mind that menstruation is experienced by more than just those who identify as women and that not all people who identify as women menstruate," the letter reads.
Brown appears to be one of the first universities to offer free menstrual products, but Nguyen told the Post that the UCS has received numerous calls from other institutions interested in implementing similar programs. The move is the latest in a series of initiatives intended to make the lives of people who menstruate easier this year. In July, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation making free menstrual products available in all the city's public schools, jails, and shelters, and in August, the California Senate passed a bill removing the sales tax from menstrual products.
This tax is often known as the "tampon tax," which has been widely discussed for more than a year at this point. Many states classify menstrual products as luxury items rather than necessities like food or medicine, and as such, they're subject to a higher tax. Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, who introduced the bill removing California's tax, told the Los Angeles Times that she estimates women in the state pay more than $20 million in taxes on menstrual products each year, on top of the cost of the products themselves. When someone is already struggling to make ends meet, this is more than just an annoyance; it's a financial burden.
"Why aren't these products treated the same way as other products we hand out, like toilet paper?" Nguyen said in a statement to the Associated Press. "It's a necessity, rather than a luxury, so Brown and other universities should treat them as such." He added that he hoped the university would eventually step in and take over the program's cost.
Fortunately, some states have eliminated the tampon tax entirely, and other universities hopefully will follow Brown's example. In the meantime, it's safe to say the lives of menstruating students at Brown just became a little easier — if life at an Ivy League school could ever be called easy.


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Turning a profit was one thing, but claiming to have the highest attach rate in console history is quite another. It's all go for Microsoft.
"We're now at a stage where we sell about 7 games per console and that's a record certainly for any console and relative to history," Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell told CNBC. "So people are now actually spending more on the games and accessories than they are on the underlying console, so that business model that we put in place the last couple of years is certainly starting to fire."
Liddell's bullish remarks come after Microsoft showed its gaming business was in the black for the second consequitive quarter last week.


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The Winter shuffle
By Andrew Tolvesummit daily newsCOPPER MOUNTAIN – When it comes to fashion, 35-year-old Ben Thompson’s life has a rather simple symmetry to it. In early summer, the Copper resident packs his winter gear into his closet, folded and neat, and bids farewell to another winter in Summit. Months pass. Seasons change. Then, as he did the year before, Thompson returns to his closet once again for that cherished winter shuffle.”I get all excited like a little kid before Christmas,” Thompson said Monday. “All my pants and gear get folded up and shoved into the closet (in June). A week before the first snow in the Fall, I pull all my stuff out and wax my board.”
As Thompson spoke, he stood with his friend, Luke Murphy, near the Burning Stones Plaza at the Copper Village. Snow machines whirred in the background. A brisk air blew between the two boarders. Murphy dragged on his cigarette and announced that he too has recently pulled his winter wardrobe from the depths of his closet. But, unlike Thompson, he has added a purchase to it.”These are brand new,” he said, pointing to his Special Blend, corduroy boarding pants. “I’m just trying to break ’em in, get some of the stiff out of ’em.”Thompson shook his head, holding back disdain.”I’ll Duck Tape my jacket before I buy a new one,” he declared.All across Summit, locals are engaging in this familiar winter debate: When do they pull their wardrobe out of storage? Do they add new clothes to the selection? Should they buy new gear for the season?Monday morning, across the Burning Stones Plaza from Thompson and Murphy, Harold De Blanc’s outfit seemed to answer all of the questions above. The 43-year-old Masters ski racer was bundled in a Schneider speed suit (shell and shorts included), a Briko helmet and Carrera goggles. A Thermex toe warmer was attached to his ski boots.
“Oh yeah, it’s out,” De Blanc said of his winter wardrobe. “(Every spring) I clean it and pack it neat in marked boxes where the kids can’t find it in a closet.”De Blanc added that each year he buys five new pairs of skis for the season. With his organization and his annual purchases in mind, he said he’s definitely a man who makes an art out of preparation.Such is not the case for Greg Kline, a 24-year-old who arrived in Summit five days ago from Jacksonville, Fla. The newcomer drove his 1995 Ford Explorer to the High Country with only two pieces of winter clothing to his name. His girlfriend (who had never seen snow) had none.”I traded in a surf board back home, got a $300 credit at the only surf shop that sells board stuff too and bought a snowboard jacket and pants,” Kline said at the Keystone River Run center Tuesday. “It’s crazy. I know it’s not even arctic cold here yet. My winter clothes are waiting to be purchased, basically.”When Kline – or anyone else – is ready to make that financial plunge, Chris Johnson of A Big Hit in Breckenridge said there are two paths they can follow. If they choose boarding gear, the new trends are pushing toward waterproof street gear (like corduroys, denims and synthetic suedes) offered in mostly soft, Earth-tone colors.Ski gear, on the other hand, has gone bright and colorful, Johnson said, what he calls “the bling.” Johnson promised that skiers can expect strong, primary colors and flashy designs on the slopes this year.
“Here’s the crazy part,” Johnson said. “What I’ve been seeing in 15 years of watching design, this year snowboard clothing looks like ski clothing looked a couple of years ago – Earth tones, really soft colors like whites and soft blacks and yellows, not the ’80s neon. Now you’re seeing the skiing going toward showing the bling, whereas the snowboarding is going a little more low-key.”Despite Johnson’s advice, Dave Sokol and Daryl Sutcliffe, both part of the lift operations department at Copper, say that reviving winter wardrobes – let alone updating them – is not what Summit County is all about.Sutcliffe, a 25-year-old from North Island, New Zealand, says that in hopping from continent to continent, he never packs his winter clothes away.And as for Sokol, he calmly brushed the question aside.”Pack it away?” he asked. “I don’t think that’s an option up here. I just hang it up and a couple of months later wash it and hope it doesn’t smell.”Andrew Tolve can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 13629, or at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that it will offer an exclusive edition of Tony Bennett's next studio album, "Duets II." The deluxe edition of the album will be available at Target stores and at Target.com beginning Sept. 20. Target previously partnered with Bennett in 2006 for his album "Duets An American Classic."
“I celebrated my 85th birthday in August and the celebration is continuing with this special gift to my fans,” said Bennett. “I hope they enjoy the extra songs found only at Target.”


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They applied a layer of titanium dioxide and a small quantity of platinum as a catalyst onto an aluminum lampshade, a breakthrough in improving indoor air quality.
At Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, scientists have devised an innovative solution for improving indoor air quality through the use of lampshades.
According to an article published by The Cool Down, researchers at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, have developed an innovative solution to improve indoor air quality using lampshades. They coated an aluminum lampshade with a catalyst made of titanium dioxide and a small amount of platinum, specifically designed for improving indoor air quality.
When heated by waste heat from a lightbulb, the catalyst decomposes indoor air pollutants, such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, into harmless compounds like acetic acid, formic acid, carbon dioxide, and water.
Indoor air pollutants, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are released from various household items like paints, cleaners, and furniture, posing significant challenges to improving indoor air quality. Even though their concentrations are low, people spend most of their time indoors, accumulating exposure to VOCs over time, leading to potential health issues.
READ ALSO: As the US Flu Season Arrives Early, Health Experts Emphasize the Vital Importance of Flu Shots
The technology makes use of the wasted heat generated by halogen and incandescent lightbulbs, which primarily emit heat, offering a promising approach for improving indoor air quality.
According to an article published by Yahoo News, this heat activates the catalyst, breaking down VOCs. While more research is needed to adapt the method for energy-efficient LED lights, it holds promise for improving indoor air quality.
The ultimate goal is to create a hybrid catalyst that can utilize a broader spectrum of light, including UV and visible light, along with waste heat, further advancing the goal of improving indoor air quality. Additionally, efforts are underway to replace platinum with copper, which has disinfectant properties, to further enhance air quality, showcasing continuous commitment to improving indoor air quality.
In summary, researchers have developed lampshades coated with a special catalyst that uses waste heat from lightbulbs to convert indoor air pollutants into harmless compounds, addressing indoor air quality concerns and potential health issues associated with VOCs. The technology shows promise for commercialization and further improvements in the future, contributing significantly to the goal of improving indoor air quality.


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Lee Tansley has replaced Isuzu Truck UK’s recently retired national fleet manager Martin Bragg. Isuzu has also moved Dave Slatcher into a newly created position of municipal fleet sales manager. Isuzu Truck UK MD Pete Murphy welcomed the moves, and added that continuity was key to the business’s success, and both Tansley and Slatcher were both long-established members of the Isuzu Truck sales team. Tansley joined Isuzu Truck UK 15 years ago, while Slatcher joined the business in 2014. Retired […]
Essex-based haulier Simarco increased its workforce by a fifth last year, ahead of its aquistion of freight forwarder IFB in April.
Wimbledon-based TRG Logistics has appointed a new operations director to manage the firm’s branches and recruitment business. Donna Topham will be responsible for operations in Dublin, Manchester and Birmingham, as well as TRG’s planned new offices in Wimbledon and Bradford. She will also manage the firm’s operations located at customer sites, as well as compliance and recruitment programmes. Chief executive Nick Gordon said: “2013 promises to be a year of significant growth for the overall TRG business and its vital […]
Axis Fleet Management has opened a mobile maintenance division to service its UK-wide customer base.


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Indie labels see boom in payouts from Latin American streaming services
Indie-labels licensing agency Merlin says that its members’ earnings from Latin America have grown five-fold in the last three years, fuelled by music-streaming services. The company expects to generate more than $60m...
March 15, 2018
Lyor Cohen wants YouTube to break ‘two-horse race’ of Apple and Spotify
Why did Lyor Cohen take the job as head of music at YouTube in 2016? In his keynote speech at SXSW today, the music-industry veteran explained. “My greatest fear at the time was that distribution was going to be too...
March 14, 2018
Apple Music now has 38m subscribers and 8m trial users
In early February, Apple revealed that its Apple Music streaming service had 36 million subscribers. A month on, and that figure has increased to 38 million. The new figure was provided by the company’s SVP of internet...
March 13, 2018
Launching Stationhead–The First ‘Stories’ Format for the Music Industry
A year ago, Music Ally ran the first-ever interview on New York startup Stationhead as the company emerged from stealth mode. Since that first interview, publications including Billboard, TechCrunch and Forbes have followed...
March 8, 2018
Garth Brooks talks Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon
Country veteran Garth Brooks may have an exclusive deal with Amazon, but during his appearance at SXSW last week he had warm words for Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, if slightly cooler views on Apple Music. “Spotify came in,...
March 20, 2017
Zane Lowe: ‘There are no stories to be told on a playlist alone’
Apple Music’s Zane Lowe was one of the SXSW keynotes this week, and his speech included a reference to the ‘storytelling’ theme that’s been a feature of several recent industry conferences. “There are no stories...
March 17, 2017
Campaigns: SXSW X FB – Sandbox 153
Half of the international music industry is currently dusting itself down after the 30th SXSW festival in Austin. In recent years, it has become as important for its focus on new technology as its focus on new music, with...
August 18, 2016
Lady Gaga: ‘The record labels don’t have any f***ing money’
Lady Gaga: 'The record labels don't have any f***ing money'
March 17, 2014
PonoMusic hits $2.2m on Kickstarter from just under 7,000 backers
Neil Young was described as 'all smiles' yesterday after the SXSW launch of his PonoMusic service, and no wonder. At the time of writing, PonoMusic is past $2.2m of pledges on its Kickstarter campaign with 33 days still to...
March 13, 2014
Vevo to stream iTunes Festival shows from SXSW
Vevo to stream iTunes Festival shows from SXSW | Music Ally
March 12, 2014
Pono Kickstarter campaign goes live, passes funding goal in hours
As reported earlier in the week, Neil Young’s new high-quality audio offering has opened for funding on Kickstarter and, in a matter of hours, had galloped past $1m with 34 days still to go.
March 12, 2014


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Sources close to the development confirmed that the shares were acquired on behalf of the Burman family and it was a strategic investment. Though Burmans have been shoring their holding in Eveready Industries
since late last year, so far, they have not asked for a seat on the company's board.
The latest increase in stake brings the Burman family holding in Eveready close to the promoter holding. As of March 2020, it was at 22.99 per cent according to an exchange filing.
Sources indicated that Burmans were investing in Eveready because they saw value in it. In the fourth quarter, though Eveready's operating income was lower by 28 per cent to Rs 224.20 crore, profit before tax increased 205 per cent to Rs 16.74 crore.
In its results commentary, the company said that its core categories of batteries and flashlights were witnessing a healthy demand given the sharp decrease in dumped imports from China and the disruption case to the unorganised market for non-availability of supplies. The situation in the battery segment is expected to improve further once the full effect of implementation of BIS standards comes into force.
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Rolls-Royce is to begin testing of its new SUV this week ahead of its 2018 launch – with the luxury car manufacturer releasing these pictures of a camouflaged prototype model.
In a statement released today, Rolls-Royce says testing will begin on Friday, with the “Project Cullinan” SUV undergoing cold weather durability and traction testing in the Arctic Circle from early next year.
It will then head to the Middle East later in 2017 for testing in high temperatures and desert conditions.
“This is an incredibly exciting moment in the development of Project Cullinan both for Rolls-Royce and for the patrons of luxury that follow us around the world,” said Rolls-Royce’s CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös.
“Bringing together the new four-wheel drive system and the new ‘architecture of luxury’ for the first time sets us on the road to creating a truly authentic Rolls-Royce which, like its forebears, will reset the standard by which all other luxury goods are judged.”
The firm first announced its “all-terrain, high-sided vehicle” in February 2015, before releasing these pictures of a bizarre Phantom-based test mule.
Project Cullinan is’s expected to have genuine off-road ability to rival a Range Rover, while its price tag could make the £162,000 Bentley Bentayga W12 look affordable.
Underpinning the SUV is a new aluminium architecture which will be used across the entire Rolls-Royce range from 2018.
Four-race series for Ferrari 488 Challenge launches at Brands Hatch in spring 2019
Google has updated its Maps app so that you can now track a friend's journey, estimated time of arrival and…
A brief look at Mazda's infamous five dead brands – Amati, Autozam, Efini, Eunos and Xedos, with an honourable mention…
The CEO of Tesla introduced the world to the 'mid-range' Model 3 via Twitter
We reveal how to keep the cost of car insurance down – and the things you definitely shouldn’t do...
A visit to London, dinner at the RAC and a hat-tip to 'Hey Jude'. It's all part of the anniversary…


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Two suspects held up convenience stores Tuesday and Wednesday
Police are searching for suspects connected to two convenience store armed robberies that occured this week in Wilmington.
According to the Wilmington Police Department, two suspects described as black men entered convenience stores wearing scarves over their faces, pointed a gun at the clerk and ran off with cash.
Then men first held up a store just after 1 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the 3000 block of South College Road. Around 5 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, officers responded to another armed robbery in the 800 block of Kerr Avenue. Police believe these suspects are the same in both incidents, though they fled in a vehicle during the second robbery.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Wilmington Police Department, 910-343-3609 or visit www.tip708.com to send information anonymously.
Reporter Ashley Morris can be reached at 910-343-2096 or Ashley.Morris@StarNewsOnline.com.


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The sweetest scents of newborn baby is something unique and impossible to describe. People from Dolce & Gabbana don’t think so, since they announced plans to release a new perfume – designed especially for babies. Allegedly inspired by the softness of baby skin, the freshness of baby breath, a mother’s sweet hug, the first smile and designed to cuddle and pamper every little boy and girl, new Baby perfume will contain notes of citrus, honey and melon — and is alcohol-free for baby’s sensitive skin.
D&G posted a photo of the bottle along with print ads for the fragrance on Instagram.
Although Dolce & Gabbana says the idea is to enhance the baby’s smell (not hide it), but most of us think that we really don’t need a bottle of these things our child already possesses, and that’s one more marketing trick which will attract only rich snobs. A bottle of 50ml perfume will set them back $45!
Surprisingly, this is not the first scent created for babies. Burberry and Bulgari already offer perfumes for babies.


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Refusing to be dominated by the tech giants, Sony also breezes in with their new tablet – Xperia Z. As per the reports, Xperia–Z owes not only its name, but also its basic features to its ancestor Xperia–Z Smartphones. Sony's new Xperia Z tablet, introduced in the CES 2013 (Consumer Electronics Show), proved that they are also fuelling up to join the long race in the world of smart-phoning.
The specifications expected from the new offspring of Sony is mind blowing. It will be having a 10.1 inch screen, 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor and 2GB RAM. The screen will be displaying 1920×1080 resolution i.e., HD quality. Adding extra charm to it, the list continues with 32 GB internal storage memory, 8.1 mega pixel rear camera and 2.2 MP front facing camera. Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, compatibility for LTE networks, Blue tooth 4.0 and NFC (Near Field Communication) are added advantages of new Xperia Z. In terms of wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n is expected.
Yet another catchy feature of Xperia, which is gonna steal the hearts of those who work beyond the four walls is the fact that it will be waterproof and dust proof. The tablet will be using a dynamic 6000mAh battery.
Reports says that Sony Xperia Z tablets will embrace the design of its forerunner Xperia Z Smartphone. It will be as thinner as Xperia Z Smartphone.
Nothing has been specified about whether Sony will use their Bravia Engine Technology in this tablet also. But experts are not keeping the chances of it away as it has brought much of appreciations to the Smart phone version.
If these expected specs are to be put in to reality, the android lovers are sure to have one more choice added to their choice list. It is believed that the upcoming Sony tablet will be released in Japan first, during the second-half of 2013. By that time, hopefully, the other tech giants will also join the race to meet up with their new found powerful foe, making the decisions of customers tougher than ever.
Coping up with the competition, Sony also steps into the market of Tablets.
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NY Times writer Jon Caramanica shadowed Kanye back during New York Fashion Week, observing his first Yeezy/adidas fashion show and digging into the mind of Ye. The T Magazine profile is now available for your reading pleasure and it offers a look at Ye’s new attitude after finally having achieved a goal he strived towards for over a decade.
He explains his frustration with being shutout by the high-end fashion establishment for so long:
A couple of years ago, in 2013, West could be found inveighing against the gatekeepers he perceived as impediments to his success: the designers who wouldn’t collaborate with him, the financiers who wouldn’t back him. He did this in interviews as well as on stage, from the 60-foot tall mountain that was the centerpiece of his Yeezus tour. “I would scream — ‘Look at this mountain I just made! You don’t think I can make a T-shirt?’ ” he told me. “ ’Look at everyone in the audience — we’re selling $300,000 worth of T-shirts every night!’ ”
Continue reading this post…


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In today’s age of social media and perfectly curated online personas, it’s no surprise that even celebrities can’t resist the allure of image editing tools. And the latest accusation to hit the headlines involves none other than the queen of selfies herself, Kim Kardashian.
Over the weekend, Kim appeared to accidentally post an unedited selfie on her Instagram. The photo in question was meant to celebrate the birthday of model Fai Khadra, but it wasn’t long before eagle-eyed fans and screen recording enthusiasts noticed something off about the uploaded image.
A comparison between the original selfie and a subsequent one revealed a subtle but noticeable difference in Kim’s appearance. Her jawline and cheeks appeared to have been edited, giving the impression of a smaller and more chiseled facial structure. In a way, it was like an unintentional before-and-after transformation.
This isn’t the first time Kim has faced accusations of digitally altering her photos. In fact, it’s been widely rumored that even her reality show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” heavily relies on extensive filtering and editing to present the family in their most glamorous light.
But let’s not be too quick to judge Kim or anyone else for that matter. Beauty standards have become increasingly unrealistic in today’s world, and social media often exacerbates that pressure. It’s easy to get caught up in the illusion that everyone looks flawless, but remember, Instagram is not real life.
Who knows what Kim Kardashian truly looks like without filters and edits? Heck, who knows what any of us look like? I’m just a little gremlin sitting in my kitchen typing this article, after all. So, let’s not be too hard on ourselves for not living up to the unattainable beauty standards set by social media.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s important to remember that true beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and imperfections. Embrace yourself for who you are and don’t let the curated world of Instagram make you feel any less worthy.
As for Kim Kardashian, well, let’s hope she remembers that her fans love her for who she is, unedited or not. After all, flaws and all, she has built an empire on her own terms, and that’s something to be admired.


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Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling about one million vehicles sold in the US that are at risk of having passenger-side air bags fail to deploy properly due to a passenger-seat sensor issue.
Sensors installed in some Toyota and Lexus brand sedans and SUVs could improperly classify passenger weight, causing air bags not to deploy as designed in potential crashes, the company said in a statement Wednesday. The recall affects certain 2020-2022 model year gas- and hybrid-powertrain vehicles, including the Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, RAV4 and Sienna, as well as Lexus ES and RX models.
Toyota said its dealers would inspect the sensors and, if necessary, replace them free of charge. Owners will be notified by mid-February, it said. – Bloomberg


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How to launch A new game at Christmas and reach adults and parents as well as kids
In a year when we’ve possibly played more board games than ever before, the launch of a new version of the iconic board game Monopoly is exciting news but how do you make sure the adults and children alike have it on their Christmas lists?
With 92% of Brits admitting there is a sore loser in the family and one in four (26%) playing more boardgames this year, we spotted a timely opportunity to create a news moment to raise awareness around the launch of Monopoly for Sore Losers. This week we’ve launched The Sore Losers Small Claims Fund as a chance for sore losers, and their family and friends, to wipe the slate clean and apply for a cash reimbursement for any previous Monopoly misdemeanours.
Sore losers and their exhausted family and friends are able to text Mr Monopoly to submit a claim to the Sore Losers Small Claims Fund for redemption against bad Monopoly etiquette. All successful applicants will receive a £20 cheque and a copy of the new Monopoly For Sore Losers game to avoid any future fall-outs. You can make a claim if you’ve exhibited or been privy to one of the following five behaviours:
1. False accusations
Incorrectly calling out that somebody cheating during the game
Just because the banker is doing well does not automatically mean they’re skimming.
2. The Monopoly Meltdown
Tantrums, foot stomping, funny faces,, sulking and claiming: ‘It’s not fair’.
There’s no need to lose your cool in a long game, but if an alliance has been made that you don’t agree with or you’ve narrowly missed out on the Free Parking stash, there’s no need to have a meltdown
3. Unsporting Behaviour
During game play one should conduct themselves in a fair, respectful and gracious way
Bickering about which token to choose. Refusal to accept being served fees, fines or bills, throwing money across the table or worse, leaving the game early.
4. Infringement of the Rules
Bending the rules in support of one player
A slight of hand often used by parents to avoid a Monopoly Meltdown. Not limited to but including slipping a player money, excusing a rent payment or claiming a different number appeared on the dice.
5. Damage to the Game
The board flip
Tensions can run high, but a board flip can never be excused, even if you’ve been served jail time and someone is about to land on your newly purchased hotels.
**Disclaimer: These criteria were not based on the behaviour of any Sore Losers in the PrettyGreen team.**
With a well-known Sore Loser hogging the news headlines in the past week (we won’t mention any names) we’re pretty confident in the earned media coverage potential of this story and expect parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles across the nation to be adding Monopoly For Sore Losers to their Christmas present buying lists – because let’s face, we all know a Sore Loser that needs this game in their life!
PrettyGreen is the UK PR agency for Monopoly and Hasbro.


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Oct. 24 (UPI) -- A Japanese instant noodle company has created a noise-canceling ramen fork that covers up loud slurping sounds.
Nissin, makers of the popular instant noodle Cup Noodle, shared a promotional video introducing the Otohiko, a special fork meant to ease cultural tensions by drowning out the slurping sounds Japanese natives often make while eating ramen.
"Otohiko provides a magnificent solution for 'Noodle Slurping Noise' - the cultural friction between the people who enjoy slurping noodles and the people who feels the noise uncomfortable," the company said.
A microphone embedded inside the large, white fork detects the sound of slurping, prompting the user's smartphone to play a sound effect using near-field communication.
The Otohiko is available to pre-order until Dec. 15 on Nissin's website for 14,800 ($130 USD).
Only 5,000 Otohiko forks will be made available and the product will go into production once all pre-orders have been completed.


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Podcast – Interview with Guest Panel on Omnichannel and the New Consumer
The third episode in our ‘Marketing Futures’ series of the csuite podcast, produced in partnership with SAP. Guests from Nestle Nespresso, Econsultancy, Bata India and SAP get to the heart of today’s retail trends and the shopping experiences of the future.
Host Graham Barrett was joined online by Jim Clark, Commercial Research Director at Econsultancy, Michela Cocco, Global Customer Experience and Innovation Manager, Nestlé Nespresso and Anand Narang, VP Marketing and Customer Experience, Bata India and Sunny Neely, Global Solution Director, Consumer Products at SAP.
Two reports that Econsultancy has produced for SAP, were the basis of the discussion, The Retail Trends Playbook and Retail Experiences of the Future.
Econsultancy’s Jim Clarke explained that ‘The Future of Retail’ report was based on nine industry thought leaders, Anand was one and other brand speakers included the likes of Asda, Alibaba, Boots, Bata and Currys.
Sunny added that he loved the reports, and the key theme that stuck out for him was around consumer data being the foundation of everything in terms of increased consumer engagement.
He said: “the MarTech landscape is wildly varied and cluttered with 8,000 different solutions out there. I think brand managers are going to need a simple solution for solving those two different deficit problems.”
Anand explained that Bata India has transitioned from a single channel to multichannel to omnichannel, and with them being a footwear and accessory retailer across 70 markets, they started selling on Flipkart and Amazon.
Michela said: “the first thing you need to understand is what is the ideal experience that you want to deliver to your customers, regardless of the channel based on your brand, based on your promise. So, once you identify that you have already a big foundation and a big starting point.”
She added that their boutiques are a key touchpoint as there is a human experience that you can’t find on other channels and said, “you need to guarantee consistency because when customers see inconsistency, then they don't believe in the brand anymore.”
Jim explained that an innovative example from the report includes Freshippo, established in China, where 60% of sales are online but in-store is magnificently digital, he said: “in the fresh seafood section, if a customer was buying lobsters, they can scan the barcode and the app provides you with a rundown of where it was sourced, a digital certificate that it was organically farmed, how to cook it, which wine to drink with it or if it you want to have it cooked in the in-store restaurant.”
Sunny added that at SAP, they’ve been working with Adidas, and their amazing collection of fitness apps called Runtastic for running and training. With around 182 million people signed up, the community enables 200 different data points to be pulled together to deliver a personalised message to these consumers.
Anand said they saw that the penetration of multi-channel usage was less among certain key customer segments, but described them in three cohorts:
1. Digital Natives
Younger target audiences typically 20–25-year-olds. They are familiar with online shopping; they use social media extensively and discover trends over Instagram or Snapchat.
2. Digital Adopters
They have limited online experience, people in their 40s or 50s and they would need some recommendations. They have all the digital instruments to shop online, but handholding is required.
3. Digital Novices
These customers typically don't have a credit card, relies more on the cash economy and would prefer to speak to a store manager before deciding.
Michela said they had to understand who their customers were, by using archetypes they were able to determine what these people are driven by, their values, and what they care about, and once they did, it had to be translated into Nespresso.
She added: “we personalise our communication based on coffee preferences, based on their consumption occasions, based on the fact that if they like black coffee or milk coffee. And these I can tell you can change drastically within the different markets that we have. Coffee habits are very different.”
Jim explained that the Metaverse is a perfect example of a virtual world that has opened up people and shoppers, particularly in the West.
He said: “the role of the store will remain important. But obviously, it's going to be more embedded into the customer journey to stay relevant”
“An example in the report was Nike's Rise concept stores in Asia. It's like a lifestyle hub. You can go in, you can socialise, get your shoes fixed. You can enlist in community events. You can see your running stats on the board, which is a sign of note people that are in store that are logged into the running app.”
“I think that's a great example of the future and how shopping habits, or at least an indication of how shopping habits will continue to evolve.”


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Entries in 'customer' (5)
EA and Bioware have today opened a new customer service centre in Ireland that is hoped will create as many as 200 new jobs.
Etail giant Amazon has plans to install a network of item collection 'lockers' in shopping centers in the UK.
HMV believes its new customer loyalty scheme can tempt games consumers away from other retailers – and become an ‘integral’ part of the firm’s category offering.
UK entertainment retailer HMV has launched an interesting new customer loyalty scheme that offers members the chance to snap up a range of limited edition or hard to find items ...


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Remember to hit the highway when you ‘balik kampung‘ for Raya with sufficient balance on your PLUSMiles and Touch ‘n Go cards, and enjoy rebates as well.
PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) will close all the 134 added value lanes at its toll plazas from Jun 22 until Jul 2 to allow for smooth traffic flow during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday.
In a statement by PLUS today, it said that the measure was aimed at reducing congestion caused by highway commuters queuing up at the value added lanes.
“PLUS expects the traffic flow at the North-South Expressway, in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday, will increase to 21 per cent compared to normal days.
“PLUS reminds the public to ensure their PLUSMiles or Touch ‘n Go cards have sufficient balance,” said the statement.
Members of the public can top up their cards at 9,200 other value-added locations nationwide, including automated teller machines (ATM), 24-hour convenience stores and petrol stations, including those at rest and service (R&R) areas along the highway.
PLUS customer service centres will also open daily from 7am until 10pm, including weekends and public holidays to enable the public to carry out their added-value matters at the selected toll plazas.
Also remember that PLUS is offering toll rebates of up to 30% for PLUSMiles and 10% for Touch ‘n Go cards for six designated dates: Jun 19-21, Jun 28-29 and Jul 3.
Highway users will still pay toll in full, with the rebates coming in the form of reloads which will be credited when users top up their cards at all PLUS customer service centres from Jul 15 till Oct 14.
The rebates are not offered for toll payments at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, Tanjung Kupang and Penang Bridge toll plazas.
PLUS estimates that 1.7 million vehicles will ply the North-South Expressway on peak days during Raya, a 21% increase over normal days.