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It's been a long journey, but puzzle platformer Yumi's Odd Odyssey, known as Farewell Umihara Kawase in Japan, will finally be available on the North American 3DS eShop on March 20th, according to publisher Natsume:
Natsume also confirmed a $29.99 price tag for the title.
This is the first time the series has ever ventured outside of Japan in its 2-decade history, but Natsume has expressed in interviews its desire to bring the latest game to overseas fans, and that digital distribution has been seen as a good way of helping lower the risks and costs involved.
The titular protagonist of Yumi's Odd Odyssey wields a fishing line and hook, swinging, flinging, and navigating herself through a multitude of levels. The series has drawn a cult following of fans outside Japan who came across its unique style in various ways, including a playthrough of the original Super Famicom title on GameCenter CX. No official word has been given regarding a potential release of Yumi's Odd Odyssey in Europe or Australia.
Will you bite on Yumi's Odd Odyssey, or is it just not hooking you? Let us know in the comments.


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iPad Bandit on the run: Police hunt for woman caught on camera stealing over 100 tablet computers
Police are on the hunt for an Apple enthusiast of the highest order who toured Texas shoplifting $57,000 worth of iPads.
Surveillance cameras captured the woman stealing more than 100 of the sought-after tablet computers in a well-rehearsed scam that usually took place in the early hours of the morning.
According to WFAA.com, the shoplifter toured 28 Wal-Mart stores and eight Target stores in a total of 36 cities, pinching the Apple products, which cost between $499 and $829 each.
Scam: The woman fills her shopping cart and takes it to the cashier in the ipad swindle she repeated around Texas and Oklahoma
Ploy: She then says she needs to pick up the ipads from the electronics department and walks off
Surveillance video taken at Sherman Wal-Mart shows the woman filling up a shopping cart with groceries and heading to the check-out.
When the cashier begins scanning items, she says she forgot something and returns to the electronics department where she grabs three iPads.
Back at the check-out, the clerk scans the iPads, and places them in a bag. As the employee focuses on scanning other groceries, the shoplifter places the devices in a bag she brought into the store.
Scan: She busies herself as the cashier scans the ipads and puts them in a bag
Sneaky: As the cashier continues scanning other items, the woman slides the bag with the ipads into a tote bag she brought with her
'As they ring those iPads up, she takes that time to slip those iPads into a tote bag similar to a book bag,' Sherman Police Department spokesman Sgt. Bruce Dawsey said.
'She tells the clerk she needs to get the rest of her money. She goes outside and doesn't come back in.'
At another store, police say the woman told the clerk she was going back for two DVDs but the store's cameras caught her walking out and driving off in a black car.
Get away: The woman makes an excuse that she needs to get the rest of her money then walks out with the ipads and doesn't return
Crime spree: The shoplifter pulled the same trick in 36 cities around Texas and Oklahoma
Police are asking for information on the woman, who is wanted in crimes all over North Texas and Oklahoma, from Ardmore to Sherman and Plano, McKinney and Allen.
She has also struck in Rockwall and Terrell, in Lewisville and Denton and in Cedar Hill and Corsicana.
Apple products are among the most highly-prized items for thieves.
Reports of stolen iPhones and iPads are on the rise in cities across the U.S., according to police.
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unifi's latest "unifi Your World" campaign lets you save up to RM1,500 a year with customized plan
unifi today has launched the unifi Your World campaign as an initiative to offer customers to set up their own internet subscription package at home. Through this campaign, users can bundle various broadband solutions under one package with unlimited unifi Mobile 4G LTE, unifi TV entertainment pack, and special devices such as unifi Plus Box or the Mesh WiFi.
unifi has also invited the media to witness a demonstration of these new products. They demonstrated the additional Mesh WiFi devices that are aimed to extend the reach of WiFi connections from routers and stabilizing those connections throughout every corner at home. This facility starts at RM15 per month.
Marketing chief of unifi Lai Shu Wei (holding a microphone) sharing to the media about the benefits of unifi Your World campaign.
Mesh WiFi booster (the white device on the left side of the laptop) can extend the reach of internet from router to all corners of the house.
unifi Plus Box is now offering more options for television shows as well with more than 70 channels and video content from iflix and Viu. Customers can also subscribe to the unifi Mobile 4G LTE plan under this campaign to get unlimited data, calls, and SMS on their smartphones.
For more information, visit the unifi Your World website or go to the nearest TMPoint branch. Let us know what you think about this new campaign from unifi on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more latest local tech news.


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Drug makers call for more supportPUBLISHED: 07 Feb 2013 00:32:17 | UPDATED: 07 Feb 2013 00:32:17PUBLISHED: 07 Feb 2013 PRINT EDITION: 07 Feb 2013
The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry has again called on the federal government to give the industry as much policy attention as the car sector after drug exports leapt 15 per cent in 2012 to a record $4.3 billion.
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With several new content initiatives, Cartoon Network Enterprises is poised to offer a broader portfolio and more opportunitites in licensing and events.
Penguin Ventures has entered a number of licensing agreements to further extend the Peter Rabbit brand, among others.
AEG and O2 have renewed their agreement for the music and entertainment venue The O2, securing the venue’s naming rights for the next 10 years.
German design label Jolina Dallas Sports Couture has released a premium apparel collection featuring the Pink Panther.
Outfit7’s flagship property “Talking Tom and Friends,” the animated series based on the “Talking Tom and Friends” app franchise, is now available on Netflix in a host of regions.
VIZ Media Europe has revealed its plans to release new products and content this year for the animated television series “Yo-Kai Watch.”
Rubik’s has teamed up with Fantasma Magic to create a range of themed magic sets.
In partnership with Saban Brands, Dreamtex has unveiled the latest addition to its Power Rangers collection.
The Smiley Company has partnered with Terrier Worldwide to create Egg-Moji, an interchangeable figurine with collectible accessories for customization.
The Royal Horticultural Society has tapped the Gourmet Candy Company to create a range of branded chocolates and sweets.
Model and fashion designer Mimi Wade has launched a new apparel collection featuring the Pink Panther at London Fashion Week.
4K Media has tapped the New Zealand Mint for a line of collectible silver coins engraved with characters and imagery from the animated series “Yu-Gi-Oh!”
Entertainment and brand development company Surge Licensing has appointed licensing agency Licensing Link to represent the animated YouTube series “Little Baby Bum” in the U.K. and Ireland.
Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products has partnered with licensee TD Gulliver for a new spring/summer “SpongeBob SquarePants” apparel collection for Russia and surrounding territories.
BBC Worldwide has partnered with “The Great British Bake Off” winner Frances Quinn to create an array of recipes and treats inspired by its preschool series “Go Jetters.”
Dutch broadcaster RTL 7 will launch a new boys' programming block, B.O.Z., every morning for boys, ages 8 and older, and their fathers to experience adventurous programs together.
German brand management and media company m4e will take on the comic book adaptation of “Jinnrise,” a new CGI-animated series for kids.
Rainbow has partnered with Italian publisher Mondadori Libri to produce a range of titles based on its new live action series “Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends.”
The Victoria and Albert Museum has partnered with ten licensees for a raft of new products across multiple categories.
Bulldog Licensing has teamed with Centum Books for a wide-ranging publishing program in the U.K. based on “Yo-Kai Watch.”
U.K. retailer Mothercare has partnered with fashion designer Julien Macdonald to develop range of newborn and baby apparel, in a deal brokered by Select Licensing.
©2017 UBM. All rights reserved. A UBM Company.


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Indian retailer Flipkart has published on its Facebook page that it will be offering the Galaxy S5 Mini exclusively in India. Despite the fact that there wasn’t any notice of a definite dispatch date or price details, it is likely that the gadget will be accessible in the nation over the nearing days.
With the declaration, Flipkart is setting its sights on adding to its prominent rundown of selective devices, which incorporate handsets from Motorola and Xiaomi. While this is the first run through Flipkart has figured out how to tangle a select from Samsung, it isn’t the first retailer in the nation to do along these lines, as Amazon guaranteed exclusive rights to offer the Galaxy K Zoom in India. The Galaxy S5 Mini, nonetheless, is liable to draw in a significantly more standard gathering of people. It stays to be seen whether the exclusive plan with Flipkart will imply that the Galaxy S5 Mini might be accessible to be purchased only on the web, as Samsung has a strong off line market deals system.
With respect to the device itself, the variation that will be available to be purchased in the nation will conceivably be the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini Duos (SM-G800h), which was listed on Samsung’s e-store earlier. Other than the vicinity of dual SIM card slot, the gadget is like the standard variant of the Galaxy S5 Mini, which gloats a 4.5-inch 720p display, 1.5 GB RAM, 1.4 Ghz quad-core Exynos 3 (Quad 3470) SoC, 16 GB internal memory, 8 MP camera, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.0, 2100 mAh battery and Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. As we noted in our survey of the device, the Galaxy S5 Mini accompanies a heart rate sensor, Ip67 dust and water safety and an unique finger impression scanner, much like the Galaxy S5.
Indian users, what are your musings on the fast approaching dispatch of the Galaxy S5 Mini in India? With devices like the Xiaomi Mi 3 accessible in the nation, would you be eager to buy Samsung’s most recent smaller than expected advertising?


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Que the Creek barbecue competition returns to Kellogg Arena Saturday
It's time to bust out the wet wipes for a day of mouth-watering barbecue at Kellogg Arena.
Que the Creek BBQ Festival returns to downtown Battle Creek following a one-year hiatus, featuring a competition that pits local food vendors against each other for the title of best barbecue in town.
Que the Creek runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $3.50 in advance or $5 at the door. Children 12 and younger receive free admission. The event is presented by Penetrator Events, the Battle Creek Small Business Development Office and Kellogg Arena.
The festival will feature the return of 2020 winners Finley's Smokehouse and Grill (best brick and mortar pitmaster), BlackMarket Smokehouse (people's choice startup), Island Style BBQ (judge's choice startup), along with On the Roll Food Truck, Pop's BBQ, Redline BBQ Smokehouse and Umami Ramen.
The event also will feature yard games, as well as barbecue-related vendors with products such as barbecue sauces, smoked cheeses, jerky and custom barbecue grills. Specialty craft cocktails will be available, starting at $4 a glass, courtesy of mixologists Joshua Cronk, Jen Will and Chris Fuld. Music will be performed by Chris Canas, Sam Luna and Jake Kershaw.
“Penetrator Events is happy to partner with the Small Business Development Office and the Kellogg Arena in bringing this event back to our community since the inaugural event in 2020," Jeremy Andrews, owner and operator of Penetrator Events said in a release. “We are humbled to be working with a great group of people and the community’s best BBQers. And we are super stoked to see the live music we have lined up."
Doors open at 2:30 p.m. COVID-19 protocols will be in place, with face masks required to enter the event and attendees expected to wear masks when not eating or drinking. Tables and food and drink lines will be spaced for social distancing and arena seating will be open to allow people to spread out.
For more information, visit the Que the Creek BBQ Festival event page on Facebook. For tickets, visit kelloggarena.com.
Contact reporter Nick Buckley at firstname.lastname@example.org or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckle


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- Rob Ford on women: Give them cash ‘and they are happy’
- Ku Klux Klan group holds recruitment meeting in Maryland
- Airport assassination: Mayor, 3 others killed at Manila airport
- Tea party-type lawmakers take mysterious, off-books trip to Mideast
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- Egypt rights center raided, 2 Mubaraks acquitted
- New Mexico Supreme Court rules same-sex marriage constitutional
- Blame Bush: 5 years later, that’s still the mantra, pollsters find
P.G. County latest to consider bag tax
Question of the Day
Maryland’s second-largest county is pushing for a tax on plastic grocery bags, joining a number of local governments across the U.S. that are considering taxing or banning the bags as a way to reduce litter and generate extra revenue.
State lawmakers from Prince George’s County plan to push a bill in next year’s General Assembly that would allow a 5-cents-a-bag tax at groceries and other stores in the county, following similar laws in neighboring Montgomery County — the state’s largest county with more than 970,000 residents — and the District.
San Francisco became the first U.S. city in 2007 to launch a plastic bag ban, starting a movement that has spread mostly along the West Coast and through the Northeast, even as residents and officials argue about whether such laws are smart environmental policy or a nanny-state overreach.
“We think this is a much more environmentally sustainable approach, and it’s much more cost-effective,” said Seattle City Council member Mike O'Brien, who authored the city’s law banning plastic bags at groceries, department stores and many other retailers. The new law took effect July 1. “Plastic bags have some very negative impacts on our waterways. It’s not horrific pollution out there, but it’s visible to the eye.”
The law passed by Seattle’s nonpartisan council also requires stores to charge 5 cents for each paper bag they give out.
The new law came three years after Seattle voters rejected a 2009 referendum that would have allowed a 20-cent tax on plastic bags.
Local governments in 13 states and the District have passed laws to ban or tax plastic bags, according to the Campaign for Recycling. There have been no such statewide laws, although all four of Hawaii’s counties have banned plastic bags.
Environmental advocates have pushed for bag bans and taxes as a way to move shoppers toward reusable fabric shopping bags and away from disposable paper and plastic ones, which they argue are seldom recycled and often end up polluting waterways and littering neighborhoods.
Critics, however, argue that bag laws are intrusive and inconvenient. They say developing programs to encourage recycling is a better way to change behavior.
In Prince George’s County, a bag tax proposal similar to the one now being considered died last spring after some lawmakers raised concerns that a bag tax could disproportionately hurt poorer residents who might be less inclined to buy reusable bags.
In Darien, Conn., a town of about 20,000, the town’s 100-member Representative Town Meeting rejected a plastic bag ban in September, after many members said they already use fabric bags and don’t need laws telling them to make the switch.
“This is another ordinance that infers that we’re not wise enough to make proper choices in our lives, and which hinges on personal freedoms,” town meeting member Arden Broecking told the Darien Patch.
Some of the loudest objections to bag laws have come from plastic bag manufacturers, who contend their product gets a bad rap from environmentalists.
The American Progressive Bag Alliance, which represents a group of bag manufacturers, says its products are often recycled and reused by consumers, take up less landfill space than paper bags, and are made by American workers whose jobs are at risk when usage goes down.
“The majority of people reuse their bags. I use them for lunch; a lot of people use them for kitchen liners,” spokeswoman Donna Dempsey said. “There are 30,800 American jobs [in plastic bag manufacturing]. That’s what I think we should be talking about.”
Ms. Dempsey disputed the notion that bag taxes and bans are trending across the U.S., and characterized the places that have passed such legislation as outliers.
Officials who have passed bag laws generally have favored banning plastic bags with an occasional paper-bag surcharge, but some towns and counties in Colorado, Maryland and other states have opted to tax plastic bags rather than get rid of them.
Proponents contend that revenues, which often go to environmental programs, are a secondary goal behind reducing usage.
The District’s 5-cent bag tax brought $1.6 million to the city in fiscal 2012 after generating $1.8 million the year before. City officials hailed the 11 percent decrease as proof that the tax was working to wean people off of plastic.
Maryland state Sen. Paul G. Pinsky, a Prince George’s Democrat and bag tax supporter, said he thinks a tax is less intrusive than a ban and provides an adjustment period for residents to get used to bringing their own bags to stores.
“As a transitional program, it makes sense,” he said. “Once people see how easy it is, they adopt it. After that, the next step could be a ban.”
Mr. Pinsky also argued that bans and taxes have little effect on shoppers’ grocery bills because bag costs already are built into prices and many stores offer rebates for customers who bring their own reusable bags.
Nonetheless, Ms. Dempsey said grocers and consumers insist that they want plastic bags as an option.
“They tell me that their customers want plastic bags,” she said. “For the reuse, for the convenience and for the ease of carrying their bags home.”
Despite such concerns, Mr. O'Brien said Seattle residents have widely accepted and even praised the city’s bag ban since raising complaints in the weeks before and after it took effect.
“It just kind of went away,” he said. “It’s the new normal.”
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
About the Author
David Hill joined The Washington Times in February 2011 as a Maryland political reporter. He can be reached at email@example.com.
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Once again TOTALLY HEMP CRAZY (OTCMKTS:THCZ) has something new to share with its stakeholders. This time the company welcomed two new distributors for its Rocky Mountain High hemp-infused beverage.
Two new distribution agreements
As per the press note, the company has engaged Desert Shark Distribution, LLC in New Mexico to oversee the sales of its beverage at the Snoop Dogg Sling 2015 Tour, which will begin on Saturday, April 25 at the Santa Ana Star Center. The second distribution agreement is entered with Cann American Holdings, which is a Northern California based distribution firm. Cann American is a renowned consulting and product distribution firm in the region that specializes in medical cannabis and industrial hemp segments.
As TOTALLY HEMP CRAZY (OTCMKTS:THCZ) announced the two distribution agreements, each of the distribution firms expressed their optimism in driving sales for the company. Austin Pellegrino, who is CEO of Desert Shark said that TOTALLY HEMP CRAZY (OTCMKTS:THCZ) will benefit from the presence of a number of dispensaries in New Mexico, where medical marijuana is legal. Pellegrino visualizes abundant opportunities for the company as dispensaries can become potential retailers for the Rocky Mountain Hemp-based beverages.
At the same time, Cann American Holdings’ President Jason Black asserted that TOTALLY HEMP CRAZY (OTCMKTS:THCZ)’s Rocky Mountain Hemp-based beverages are best in class among other similar available products. Alongside this, BrokerBank Securities, Inc have also released a brief analyst report on the company, where it indicated at the blossoming opportunities that marijuana industry has to offer.
The report cited the findings of Arc View Market Research, according to which, legal marijuana market is expected to grow to $10.2 billion in 2018 from $1.53 billion in 2013. Based on these projections, the report underscored the growth prospects of TOTALLY HEMP CRAZY (OTCMKTS:THCZ) in future.
The stock of TOTALLY HEMP CRAZY (OTCMKTS:THCZ) headed up by 6.50% to $0.278 in the last session, when nearly 24 million shares traded hands. The stock extended further by 2.52% during the after-hours.


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It’s been 15 years since Lara Croft began raiding tombs in the original Tomb Raider. To celebrate the milestone, Crystal Dynamics is launching a digital art show highlighting the evolution of the iconic heroine while promoting the upcoming reboot.
The show starts today, with work by Andy Park, the artist for the original Tomb Raider comic series. Besides Tomb Raider, Park has done work for the Uncanny X-men, Excalibur, Weapon X, and Superman series. More recently, Park has contributed to TV shows, like True Blood and V – and has also done concept art for Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, and the upcoming Avengers film.
As October continues, work from other artists who contributed to the evolution of Lara Croft’s look will be added to Crystal Dynamics’ 15-year celebration site, with updates scheduled for Oct 7th, 10th, 14th, 17th, 21st, 24th, and 28th.
“This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate TOMB RAIDER’s history by looking at Lara’s promising future,” said Crystal Dynamics global brand director Karl Stewart in a prepared statement. “We can’t wait to share each artist’s unique interpretation of what it means to be Lara Croft.”
Artists featured in the digital art show will also be available for signing events at the upcoming New York Comic Con on October 15th.
The Tomb Raider reboot is currently scheduled to release at the end of 2012 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
Oct 4, 2011


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EA confirm new Marvel game
Do you remember EA and comic book moguls Marvel forming a partnership some months ago? Well, the first fruits of this deal were announced today in the shape of Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects. The new game will be heading to the PS2, Xbox, Cube and PSP this autumn. Nihilistic are in charge of the new development, which kicked-off when their work on Starcraft: Ghost for Blizzard was completed. A fighting game is the order of the day, starring Marvel favourites such as Spider-Man, The Thing, Wolverine and Elektra.
In a 'Marvel vs. EA' fashion, EA will be adding their own roster of home grown superheroes to the game, a cast of oddballs being created as we speak in conjunction with 'top' comic book talents like Jae Lee and Paul Catling. "Marvel Nemesis delivers the definitive Super Hero videogame allowing gamers to play as and against the world's greatest Super Heroes," gushed executive producer Marc Aubanel. "Marvel Nemesis truly captures the Marvel Universe offering players an authentic Super Hero fighting experience that comic book fans and gamers have been asking for."
"We are thrilled to be working with EA and collaborating with some of the top talents in both the videogame and comic book industries in creating this groundbreaking comic series and innovative fighting game franchise," added Marvel's Ames Kirshen. More on this soon.
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- New Overwatch videos show off Hanzo and McCree


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- Direct-to-consumer companies matured in 2019, moving from short-term goals like consumer acquisition to long-term objectives like profitability.
- In the process, many of them started using traditional advertising like TV and set up their own content studios. They also made inroads into physical retail.
- At the same time, legacy brands including Procter & Gamble and Express launched direct-to-consumer brands of their own to fend off the threat.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Direct-to-consumer matured in 2019, moving from short-term goals like consumer acquisition to long-term objectives like profitability, leading them to fundamentally change their playbook. Here are some key themes that Business Insider tracked in the direct-to-consumer landscape.
After spending millions of dollars building their businesses on social channels like Facebook and Instagram, many DTC brands branched out to traditional channels.
DTC brands' ad spend increased by 37% on average over the last two years, and a growing chunk of those ad dollars started being directed toward traditional advertising such as TV and print, according to MediaRadar. Brands like Peloton, SmileDirectClub, and Leesa Sleep started using traditional advertising like TV and hired executives from thoses backgrounds.
As these brands scaled back on the now-saturated online platforms that fueled their initial growth, many also turned to content marketing.
Companies saw content marketing as a way to cultivate loyal audiences and often did it themselves to maintain control over quality, which let them limit the number of agencies they use to work faster and save money.
Others ventured into physical retail. Some opened pop-ups. Casper and Glossier opened a string of physical locations, and clothing rental startup Le Tote shocked the retail industry by acquiring beleaguered department store chain Lord & Taylor.
As direct-to-consumer brands went mainstream, legacy brands including Procter & Gamble as well as Express launched direct-to-consumer brands of their own to fend off the threat.
P&G and venture firm M13 launched menopause management product line Kindra and fashion retailer Express launched wellness brand UpWest.
The agency world also got in on the action. Gin Lane, an ad agency that helped take direct-to-consumer upstarts including Harry's and Hims to market, raised $14 million and spun off into a direct-to-consumer brand conglomerate called Pattern.
Other agencies Decoded and The Engine Is Red rolled out products like yoga equipment, cannabis-infused beverages and ricotta snack cups to crack the market.
Former AOL and Google executive Tim Armstrong also jumped on the bandwagon with the dtx company, his new company focused on the direct-to-consumer retail market. He promoted DTC brands through ads featuring their founders and products on TV, billboards and digital media on Nov. 15, a day he proclaimed "DTC Friday."


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U.S. beef packers including Tyson Foods and Cargill are racking up historically high margins, thanks to slumping cattle prices amid a supply glut and as Americans turn to beef for their backyard summer barbecues.
Anecdotal evidence and supply observations suggest packers have recently had a negotiating advantage over feedlots. Packer margins continue to be wide and the supply of cattle on feed continues to be high.
Despite struggling for most of 2015, U.S. pork exports posted a strong finish during December, ending a tough year on a high note. December export volume was up 3 percent from 2014. For the year, U.S. pork and pork vari


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According to a recent press release, “OctoML is leveraging the power and traction of Apache TVM, an open source project originated by the founding team, to enable companies of every size to harness the power of deep learning without the expensive heavy lifting of tuning and securing models to each hardware configuration that a customer might need. Apache TVM is an automated deep learning model optimization and compilation stack that powers efficient model deployment in major technology companies like Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Xilinx, and Qualcomm. It is backed by a thriving community of more [than] 270 contributors worldwide, including people from major tech companies and academic institutions. The mission of the project is to enable data engineers to easily optimize and deploy models across a broad set of hardware in a portable manner.”
Luis Ceze, co-founder and CEO, commented, “It has been awesome to see the community take off around Apache TVM. It is clear that researchers and large tech companies see both the utility and value it can offer in pushing the state of the art in efficiency machine learning in research and production settings… The promise of Apache TVM is so high that hardware companies are actively looking to optimize for it and companies with lean teams need solutions to not only deploy these models but keep them up and running. That is the opportunity that OctoML is pursuing. OctoML’s automated model optimization technology leveraging TVM, leads to lower engineering and operating costs for customers, and lowers the risk of dependence on specific platforms.”
Read more at Business Wire.
Image used under license from Shutterstock.com


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By Samuel North / July 3rd, 2013
Another video game casualty has been produced, as the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita action RPG Warrior’s Lair has been officially cancelled. Confirmed by a Sony representative in an interview today, the collaborative title between Idol Minds and Sony San Diego has been revealed to have been dropped.
While it is unfortunate for Warrior’s Lair, previously known as Ruin, the Sony representative did apologize to the fans who pre-ordered the title, and asks them to cancel their order at their retailer.
“Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm that Warrior’s Lair for PS Vita is no longer in development,” a representative said. “We apologize to those who pre-ordered the title and ask that they contact their retailer directly to cancel their pre-sale.”
The Sony representative went on to say that the Vita, while losing a very good game, should not be ignored, as many first-party and third-party titles will be released this year:
“The line-up of PS Vita first-party and third-party content remains strong with more than 85 titles scheduled to launch for the system by the end of 2013 including Killzone: Mercenary, Tearaway, Doki Doki Universe, Batman: Arkham Origins, Blackgate, Flower, The Walking Dead, and more.”
While it’s quite a blow to Sony’s Vita line-up, this cancellation does not come as a complete surprise. The developer Idol Minds, who was originally behind the project, had rumored to have closed shop, with Sony San Diego taking the helm back in 2012. Warrior’s Lair was also never shown at neither E3 2012 nor 2013 shows, leading many to believe that the title was in trouble. There are obviously more questions that need to be answered, and we will just have to wait and see on further developments as more of this story gets revealed.
Idol MindsPS3RuinSonyVitaWarrior's Lair


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The U.S. discount store operator TJX Companies Inc has acquired a 25% stake in Russian low-cost retailer Familia for $225 million. This is the first major M&A purchase in Russia by a western company since sanctions of 2014.
It is important to note that sanctions had a direct impact on popularity of discount retailers in Russia. Launched as solution to decline in global prices for export, the discount centers turned into promising opportunity for development and consumer spending centers.
Familia has more than 275 stores in 90 cities across the state. With clothes, shoes, accessories and household goods on stock the company managed to raise turnover for 24% against 7% in the previous year. Now, when Russia found a successful path for development, the economy is ready to offer more and more investment opportunities for foreign markets.


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BuildingGreen, publisher of the GreenSpec Product Directory and of Environmental Building News, recently announced its choices for the Top 10 new green building products of 2003. The second annual award recognizes the most exciting products added to the Directory during the past year, although some products may have been on the market longer, says GreenSpec co-editor Alex Wilson.
Winning products are considered green for a variety of reasons, such as being made of recycled or bio-based materials, saving water, or being durable.
Bio-Based Systems' BioBase 501 soy-based foam insulation, CertainTeed's MemBrain vapor retarder, Taco's Hot Water D'Mand System, and Southern Diversified's American Pride interior latex paints are some of the most notable products named for the residential market.
Green building has yet to really take off in the residential segment. But, "there is a recognition that a green building is a healthier one to live in, that it will reduce costs for water and electricity, that it will be more durable and require less maintenance. As more and more homeowners begin to recognize this, I think we can expect to see growing demand for green," Wilson says. "This trend shows no evidence of slowing."
Green building products are receiving accolades from the experts. The GreenSpec directory lists more than 1,750 products. An online version, available as part of a subscription to the BuildingGreen Suite, allows products to be sorted by relevance to LEED credits.


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Alfa Romeo has announced a multi-year title sponsorship deal with Stake, a leading crypto casino and sports betting platform. The partnership marks a new identity for the team ahead of the 2023 F1 season and will see the team rebranded as Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake.
The announcement comes after the team parted ways with previous title sponsor Orlen. While the team had initially removed Orlen from their title partner list, they caused confusion among fans when they put the Polish company back on the roster a day later.
Stake has already established a presence in sports sponsorship, having previously partnered with F1 driver Pietro Fittipaldi and his brother Enzo, who races in Formula Two.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Managing Director of Sauber Group, which operates the Alfa Romeo Racing team, welcomed the new partnership and said:
“We welcome Stake as a new co-title partner for the team in what represents the start of a new era for us both. Formula One has seen a huge increase in interest over the last few years and the arrival of brands such as Stake are representative of the massive exposure our sport can offer.
“We are excited to join such a portfolio of sports and entertainment brands and we’re looking forward to the activation programme that Stake will unveil for our fans.”
Co-Founder of Stake, Bijan Tehrani, stated:
“We could not be more thrilled to join a legendary F1 team that shares with us the same ambitions of growth and success. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake will expand our opportunities for fan engagement through brand integration and activation.
“We are fully committed to enhancing race weekends by creating unique experiences for all Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake fans, growing audience engagement in the digital arena.”
This partnership marks a new era for both Alfa Romeo Racing and Stake and is expected to bring increased exposure and engagement for fans of the F1 team and the sport overall.


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What Premier Wade MacLauchlan ate for dinner, and why we care
Premier Wade MacLauchlan told a group of dignitaries what he had for dinner Wednesday, and why he gave some to federal MP Gail Shea. Both were on hand Thursday to announce provincial and federal dollars for a food research and marketing program called Canada’s Food Island. MacLauchlan’s story was an allegory for that program. He had for dinner, he said, a pizza he made with toppings of bar clams from Annand Clams of Conway, kale from the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market and Jeff McCourt’s pizza gouda cheese from Glasgow Glen, where Thursday’s press conference was held. The Guardian Charlottetown story.
New Whitehorse grocery store aims to bring local food home
Two Yukon farmers are pooling their life savings to open a new grocery store in Whitehorse. The owners of Farmer Robert’s hope to help people grow more food and stock the shelves with local produce year-round. Co-owner, Simone Rudge, says the store will stock produce, meat and bulk goods from farmers in Whitehorse and Dawson City, as well as fruit from British Columbia. She says she and business partner Robert Ryan, who runs Ibex Valley Farms, want to make it possible for smaller producers to find a market. CBC News North story.
FEED provides fresh idea and fresh food for Comox Valley
Patients at St. Joseph’s General Hospital, residents at Glacier View Lodge and students at North Island College are enjoying freshly picked vegetables, thanks to a project geared at increasing the supply of local food in public institutions. The project — dubbed FEED (Food, Environment and Economic Development) Comox Valley — is establishing a new food model for institutions that is not dependent on imported vegetables from the U.S. Comox Valley Record story.
Rick Doucet hopes local food survey will shift culture
The New Brunswick government is hoping to get a better understanding of people’s views on local food as it builds a strategy to get people buying more food that was produced in the province. The Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries launched an online survey this week, asking citizens to share their local buying habits and their opinions on the issue. Agriculture Minister Rick Doucet said the online survey is designed to give consumers a chance to express their views on the importance of supporting local producers or what can be done to improve accessibility of local food and beverages. CBC News New Brunswick story.
Harper Government Announces Support for Greenhouse Project in Northwest Territories
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council today announced support for the development of a commercial greenhouse that will utilize hydroponic technology to provide locally-grown, high quality, affordable produce.
Head of the Line Services Inc. (HOTLS), an Aboriginal business based in Fort Simpson, NWT, will receive support through CanNor’s Northern Greenhouse Initiative to undertake the project. The greenhouse is expected to grow produce which will be sold to local, retail, and camp markets as well as providing employment for local people. Canadian News Wire story.
Food Day Canada explores tastes and flavours of our nation
If you don’t have any plans this coming August 1, why not throw a party. After all, it’s Food Day Canada, a time to rejoice in the flavours of our nation – and everyone from sea to shining sea is encouraged to set a table and celebrate all good things to eat that Canada has to offer. So says award-winning author and activist Anita Stewart, who has been at the helm of Food Day Canada since its conception. “When I began this event back in 2003, the goal was to collectively celebrate the foods of Canada – specifically beef, and the devastation in that industry at that time,” Stewart says. Edmonton Sun story.
Goal of Compost Study to Increase Soil Production
Soil health is being blamed for lagging potato yields in New Brunswick compared to yields in other North American potato production regions, but researchers are working hard to change that. “For New Brunswick, the industry looked at crop insurance data and, in the last 20 years, tuber yields have pretty well remained the same,” Zebarth says. Matt Hemphill, Potatoes NB executive director, says recent research suggests a soil health and soil conservation challenge. FCC Express story.
Farming, not oil, should be Canada’s future focus as temperatures rise, economist says
The second motivation for writing the book was to alert Canadians to the economic opportunities that climate change will bring. While rising levels of atmospheric carbon denude much of the value of the country’s high cost oil reserves, climate change will make other resources more valuable. None more so than the country’s arable land and its fresh water supply. In a time of climate change and ever-tightening restrictions on carbon emissions, Canada stands a much better chance of becoming an agricultural superpower than an energy one. Vancouver Sun interview with Jeff Rubin.
Harper announces expansion of Rouge National Urban Park
Mr. Harper said an additional 21 square kilometers of new lands will be added just east of Toronto in both Pickering and Uxbridge, increasing the park’s boundaries by 36 per cent to 79.5 sq. km once fully established. Mr. Harper assured that the park will be granted the highest protections of any urban park in the world, with its own legislation – the Rouge National Urban Park Act, which is said to provide investments to both conserve and restore it and ensure its enforcement year round. Globe and Mail story.
ALUS Manitoba Projects Underway
Manitoba producers Charles and Meriel Tavenor are one of the first three ALUS Manitoba projects started up this summer. The Tavernor’s emigrated to Canada from England nine years ago, purchasing a 1110 acre farm just north of Basswood, MB along the south side of the Little Saskatchewan River Valley. After having converted much of the annual cropland to perennial forages, they carefully custom graze 300 head of cattle using a mob grazing effort on small paddocks. The latest ALUS effort is part of ongoing improvements that has seen them restore and enhance wetlands, repair cuts and gullies, install offsite watering systems, planting shelterbelts and setting up rational grazing systems. Alternative Land Use Services post.
AND IF YOU HAVE TIME
Unleash your Midas touch: Adopt these seven habits of Canada’s top farmers
Country Guide asked Jack Thomson, president of the Outstanding Young Farmer organization, Rob Saik, CEO of The Agri-Trend Group, and Jerry Bouma of Toma & Bouma Management Consultants to share their insights on the things that top modern farmers do that explain why they’re ahead of the pack. Country Guide story.


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This week expect to see more follow through price action from US inflation data and a focus on the consumer
Initially tabbed as the start of the “Dog Days of Summer,” featuring low liquidity and relatively little volatility, last week saw an injection of market volatility from softer-than-expected inflation data out of the US. Below, we break down whether it may be a long-awaited sign that we are finally at “peak inflation” as well as what it might mean for Fed policy moving forward. For the coming week, traders will be watching some second-tier data, including a central bank meeting in New Zealand, a jobs report in Australia, and the minutes from the recent FOMC and RBA meetings.
Has the US seen peak inflation?
Following on the back of a stronger-than-expected US jobs report showing elevated wage growth, traders were concerned that the last week’s US inflation reports would not show the expected decline in price pressures. Instead, both the US CPI and PPI reports for July showed that inflation fell by more than expected, and with little in the way of major US economic data until Jerome Powell’s Humphrey-Hawkins testimony at the end of the month, the “peak inflation” narrative may gain more steam this week.
Looking at the market-implied pricing for the next FOMC meeting, traders are pricing in about 60% odds of a 50bps interest rate hike, essentially double the probability that was expected at the start of last week. Not surprisingly, the greenback was the weakest major currency this week as a result. This week’s economic data is unlikely to shift those figures meaningfully, but traders will soon start looking forward to the annual central bank confab at Jackson Hole at the end of the month for more clarity on what the Fed and other central banks are expecting. For now, expect the market to digest last week’s moves, with no major shifts expected this week.
UK GDP recap
Outside of the US dollar, pound sterling was the second-weakest major currency this week, despite a better-than-expected GDP report on Friday. While the UK economy’s -0.6% contraction in June was smaller than anticipated, it still ensured a contraction in Q2. Crucially, this weakness was widespread across consumption, industrial output, services, construction, trade, and government spending, supporting the BOE’s outlook for a rough few quarters to come. Swaps traders are still pricing in an 80%+ chance of another 50bps interest rate hike from the BOE next month.
Earnings to watch
Earnings season is definitely on the downslope, but there will still be a clear theme to this week’s reports: A focus on the retailers and the US consumer. In that vein, traders will get the latest quarterly reports from Wal-Mart (WMT) and Home Depot (HD) on Tuesday; Lowes (LOW), Target (TGT), and TJX Companies (TJX) on Wednesday; Estee Lauder (EL) and Ross Stores (ROST) on Thursday; and Foot Locker (FL) and Buckle (BKE) on Friday. Other notable names reporting results include Li Auto (LI), BHP Group (BHP), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Deere (DE).
Economic data to watch
As we noted at the top, there are several second-tier economic reports to watch, even as many market participants try to squeeze in their last summer vacations over the next couple of weeks. The FOMC minutes will be closely monitored, though perhaps a bit stale after strong employment and soft inflation in recent weeks. Elsewhere, the RBNZ will make an interest rate decision of its own, Australia will get an update on its labor market, the UK will release a highly-anticipated CPI reading, and a mid-week update on US retail sales will fill in any gaps from retail earnings. See the key economic reports to watch below:
- UK: Rightmove Home Price Index
- Japan: GDP
- China: Retail Sales, Industrial Production, Unemployment and Fixed Asset Investment
- Switzerland: PPI
- Canada: Manufacturing and Wholesale Sales
- US: Empire State Manufacturing Index and NAHB Housing Market Index
- Australia: RBA Meeting Minutes
- UK: Employment Report
- Eurozone: Trade Balance and ZEW Economic Sentiment Survey
- Canada: CPI and Housing Starts
- US: Building Permits, Housing Stats, Capacity Utilization and Industrial Production
- New Zealand: RBNZ Meeting, GDT Price Index, and PPI
- Japan: Core Machinery Orders and Trade Balance
- Australia: Wage Price Index
- UK: CPI and PPI
- Eurozone: Flash GDP and Employment
- US: Retail Sales, Business Inventories, Crude Oil Inventories, and FOMC Minutes
- Australia: Employment Report
- Switzerland: Trade Balance
- Eurozone: Final CPI
- US: Initial Unemployment Claims, Philly Fed Manufacturing Index, and Existing Home Sales
- New Zealand: Trade Balance and Credit Card Spending
- Japan: National CPI
- Eurozone: German PPI and Current Account
- UK: Retail Sales
- Canada: Retail Sales
Chart of the Week: EUR/USD
Source: Tradingview, StoneX
The world’s most widely-traded currency pair had probably put some of its traders to sleep after consolidating in about a 150-pip range for the three weeks leading into last week, but the big rally on the back of soft inflation data undoubtedly woke them from their slumbers.
As we look ahead to the coming week’s trade, the biggest question for forex traders will be whether EUR/USD’s bullish breakout above previous resistance at 1.0270 is legitimate. Despite Thursday’s confirmation of softening inflation in the PPI report, EUR/USD bulls were unable to push the pair meaningfully above the long-term previous-support-turned-resistance level at 1.0350, which dates back to the low set at the start of 2017; it also overlaps with the 50-day EMA, a key indicator that has defined the downtrend over the last six months.
Between a bank holiday in some European countries on Monday and a general lack of top-tier European and US data, forex traders may struggle to push the pair above resistance in the mid-1.0300s this week…after all, if major declines in two of the market’s most closely-watched indicators during a period of lower liquidity failed to break it last week, the bullish case is unlikely to be stronger this week! For that reason, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the pair edge lower back into its previous range as the week progresses.
On the other hand, if bulls are able to overcome that resistance level with a confirmed break and close above 1.0350, it would point toward a continuation of the counter-trend rally toward 1.0500 next.
Read More: Week Ahead: Traders Mull Peak Inflation Heading into “Retail Week”


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5 Highlights from Alphabet’s 2021 4Q Earnings
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) is the parent company of Google, the world’s most dominant search engine. It will be impossible to believe if anyone said they have never heard of Google.
Here are some of the highlights from its latest stellar earnings.
The advertising giant reported its fourth-quarter revenues at $75 billion, up 32% from the previous year’s quarter.
For the full year in 2021, Alphabet’s revenue surged 41% from $183 billion to $258 billion.
This top-line growth is a significant boost over the 23% growth that Alphabet reported in 2020. Indeed, it is growing even faster than its pre-pandemic growth rates.
In terms of its segmental performance, Google Search & other revenues increased $44.9 billion (43.2%) to $149 billion while YouTube ads revenues increased at an even faster rate by $9.1 billion (46%) to $28.8 billion in 2021. The overall growth was driven by interrelated factors, including increases in search queries resulting from growth in user adoption and usage. This was primarily happening on mobile devices. The company also experienced growth in advertiser spending. And there were improvements made in its ad formats and delivery.
Moreover, YouTube benefits from the ongoing trend of people shifting their viewing from linear TV to streaming. Today, YouTube is generating 15 billion views globally every single day.
On the other hand, non-advertising revenue increased by $6.3 billion (29%) to $28.0 billion. The growth was primarily driven by an increase in paid subscribers for YouTube’s subscription packages like YouTube Premium, its hardware and Google Play fees.
In terms of its hardware segment, the revenue growth was driven by sales of Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, as well as its acquisition of Fitbit.
Lastly, another lucrative growth driver for Alphabet is its cloud business. The revenue increased by $6.1 billion (47%) to $19.2 billion.
2. Operating Income
The advertising giant reported its fourth-quarter revenues of $21.9 billion, up 39.5% from the previous year’s quarter.
For the full year, Alphabet’s operating income surged 91% from $41.2 billion to $78.7 billion.
Currently, the only profitable segment for the company is its Google Services, which is the core advertising business. The other two segments, namely Google Cloud, and Other Bets are still operating at losses. However, what is comforting for investors to know is that the operating loss incurred by Google Cloud is narrowing.
Management said in the earnings call that they remain focused on the longer-term path to profitability. This means its operating loss and operating margin should benefit from increased scale.
3. E-Commerce Opportunities
One way that Alphabet plans to further monetise YouTube is through the platform’s e-commerce opportunities. For instance, it is now easier for viewers to buy what they see on YouTube advertisements. Moreover, it is also simpler for advertisers to drive action with innovative solutions like product feeds in Video Action Campaigns and emerging formats like live commerce.
With the greater success of using YouTube for e-commerce advertising, more brands and businesses might start to adopt YouTube as an integral part of their marketing strategy.
This strategy may just be the perfect response to Amazon’s encroachment into its advertising space.
Amazon’s advertising has a key advantage right now over Google. This is because advertisers may prefer to place ads directly on an e-commerce site, where consumers may already be thinking of making a purchase.
4. Returning Value to Shareholders
Over the past year, Alphabet returned $50 billion to its shareholders in 2021 in the form of share buybacks. Coupled with its increasing margins, the earnings per share (EPS) surged 38% to $30.69 per share.
5. Stock Split
The Board of Directors had declared a 20-for-one stock split, which will take place on July 15, 2022. For every Alphabet share that investors have now, they will receive an additional 19 shares.
The stock split will make Alphabet’s share price more accessible to retail investors. This is because we can now invest with a smaller capital since it takes much less to buy a single share of the company.
The lower price per share also might allow Alphabet to be included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
As we continue to see more commerce being transacted online, I do not doubt that the digital advertising leader will continue to thrive.
The company has developed applications that have brought huge utility and convenience to our lives. Few, if any companies, enjoy as strong of a competitive advantage as Alphabet. Its products like Google Search, YouTube, Android and Chrome are all highly valuable assets for the company.
Therefore, I am still optimistic that Alphabet Inc will continue to have greater influence in our lives moving forward.
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Dallas startup Mizzen + Main has been making moves with dress shirts constructed from performance materials rather than traditional cotton. Now, they’ve joined forces with J.J. Watt, the Houston Texans defensive end who’s got some moves of his own. We just didn’t think they were this sartorial in nature. But, yes indeed, they are.
Launched in 2012, Mizzen + Main specializes in clothes — mainly shirts, chinos, and sweaters — made from manmade materials like nylon, lycra, and polyester that don’t require ironing or dry cleaning. Not the kind of guy to sit on the sidelines, Watt went from Mizzen + Main’s brand ambassador to working with the company over a six-month period on a collection that includes eight pieces ranging from polos to dress shirts, all in a bunch of snappy patterns and colors (deep reds and blues, cool grey).
Our personal favorite is the Bend Creek in trim (above, $145), a red and blue checked long-sleeved shirt that looks as good unbuttoned and thrown over a tee-shirt as it does dressed up with a tie and sportcoat.
They’re priced from $80 for the polos to $145 for the dress shirts, and all have names that have personal significance for the Wisconsin-bred NFL star. And of course, like all the company’s products, they’re made in the US from materials that have a good bit of stretch and keep you cool and dry no matter what you’re getting up to.
In the case of Watt, he’s currently preparing for the coming season and fundraising for flood relief for his adopted hometown of Houston, and the rest of South Texas that’s in the midst of devastating floods from Hurricane Harvey.
For more than 25 years, Men’s Journal has been the expert in all things gear — from mountain bikes to fitness trackers, blenders to watches, and drones to cars. We take pride in a rigorous review process that includes testing and torturing. While our standards remain high as ever, our site now includes affiliate links, which means that if you buy something using these links, we may receive a commission.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!


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Redmi 9 Prime is coming, and the smartphone will likely be unveiled on August Four as Xiaomi’s newest price range smartphone. Given Amazon is touting its launch as one of many Prime Day launches, the cellphone is just about confirmed to go on sale throughout the Prime Day sale occasion on August 6-7. Although Xiaomi has begun teasing the cellphone, the corporate hasn’t shared a lot details about the cellphone. So, here is what now we have been capable of piece collectively from numerous official teasers in addition to the hypothesis across the cellphone.
Redmi 9 Prime launch date, time, dwell stream, sale particulars
Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime, as talked about earlier, goes to launch in India on August 4. The launch occasion will kick off at 12pm (afternoon) and can seemingly be streamed on the corporate’s all social media accounts, together with YouTube, and its official web site. The Redmi 9 Prime will likely be bought through Amazon, mi.com, Mi Home shops, and Mi associate retailers within the nation. There isn’t any phrase on the value at once.
Redmi 9 Prime specs (anticipated)
So, we do not know all confirmed specs of Redmi 9 Prime at this level. Rumours point out that Redmi 9 Prime is only a rebranded model of Redmi 9 international variant that made its debut in June this 12 months. Given Xiaomi’s earlier historical past rebranding stuff, Redmi 9 international variant being Redmi 9 Prime appears very believable. Also, the one Redmi 9 Prime specification that Xiaomi has teased till now matches completely with Redmi 9 international variant. Xiaomi India boss Manu Kumar Jain on July 31 teased that Redmi 9 Prime will include a full-HD+ display, one thing that can be current in Redmi 9 international variant specs.
If Redmi 9 Prime certainly seems to be Redmi 9, here is what you possibly can count on to see: MediaTek Helio G80 SoC, paired with as much as 4GB of RAM and as much as 64GB of onboard storage. Additionally, the Redmi 9 comes with 6.53-inch display, 5020mAh battery, USB Type-C port, and dual-SIM (Nano) help.
There is a quad camera setup on the back as effectively that homes a 13-megapixel major shooter, an 8-megapixel secondary ultra-wide-angle shooter, a 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On the entrance, there may be an 8-megapixel camera.
Other specs of the Redmi 9 embody a rear fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm audio jack, IR blaster, and a big 0.7CC speaker pack.
[Attribution Gadgets 360]


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Can Diane Von Furstenberg Rid Google Glass Of Its Stigma?
The DVF | Made for Glass collection is now available to buy for $1,800, but the question remains - what will it take to make Google Glass chic?
Simplicity in design is what makes Diane Von Furstenburg’s iconic wrap dress the wardrobe staple that it is today. Now, DVF is applying her eye for simple luxury to Google Glass, with a collection that is intended to turn the controversial wearable technology into a coveted fashion accessory. But can the designs turn Glassholes into, dare I say it, Glasshionistas?
The DVF | Made for Glass collection, which is now available to buy for $1,800 on Net-a-Porter, is a collection of eyeglasses and sunglasses, designed in universally flattering shapes such as the cat eye and aviators, in a bid to make the wearable computer actually wearable. This has long been an obstacle that Glass has tried to overcome – earlier in the year, Google released a more fashion-forward titanium framed version, and in March they announced a collaboration with Luxxotica-owned brands Oakley and Ray-Ban.
While we have yet to see product from that collaboration, what we have seen is the first luxury version of Glass. The most important element of the collaboration, more than the design itself, is the DVF logo on the side. The bid to make the product appeal to the masses by turning to the luxury market first may be a wise move by Google. Already the price point limits mainstream consumer access, keeping the potential buyer pool relatively small. But like most luxury logic, limited editions, high prices and designer logos all equate to an aspirational appeal.
On Net-a-Porter, they are working really hard to show just how aspirational and suited Glass is to the luxury lifestyle. Below each DVF Glass style is outfit suggestions for work, the weekend, while traveling and even working out – showing just how easily Google Glass can fit into that lifestyle. Once, in theory, Google Glass becomes seen as a covetable luxury item, it can begin to trickle down to the masses with lower price points and more accessible collaborations.
But after all that, what about the actual designs? Despite DVF’s efforts, they still haven’t been able to move away from the glaring design difficulties inherent in the technology of Glass: the huge ear pieces at the end of the glasses’ arms and the small screen – the core of the technology – that turns every wearer into an unsettling cyborg. This is the ultimate problem with Glass – no matter the frame, its wearers’ still look like some bizarre proto-android. Plus, as all the attacks on Glass-wearers have shown, nobody trusts a person with a camera attached to their face.
But are these design limits something that consumers can get over? As with all nascent technology, it starts out bulky and unappealing before streamlining into a more palatable option. Consider the first computer – the size of a room, the first cell phone – the size of a brick. We are quick to judge Google and early adopters of Glass but as designers begin to think about how they can marry good design with technology, and as more people wear them, we all might become Glass advocates.
Just as we have adjusted to a world where people have become vulture-necked zombies wandering around the streets, heads down, faces staring at a glaring screen, so too might we accept people glancing up at their glasses and talking to themselves (but actually talking to their specs). We live in a world of science fiction, where change is as rapidly accepted as it is dismissed. Diane von Furstenburg was smart enough to see that, even without wearing her pair of Google Glasses.


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eBay and Sotheby’s want you to buy more high-end stuff (from them, of course). So, they’re marrying Sotheby’s cache and eBay’s technological know-how.
eBay is creating a new marketplace where it will stream some of Sotheby’s New York auctions, so customers can bid online. The idea is to reach new, younger consumers, who’d never go to an auction.
“You’ve got millennials who are starting to make some money, and they’ve grown up around this technology, and would find it silly to go somewhere to do something like this,” says Paula Rosenblum, a managing partner with RSR Research.
Sotheby’s can just piggy back on eBay’s existing technology, the question is: What’s in it for eBay?
“There’s never any harm from having a venerable brand like Sotheby’s sprinkle some of its pixie dust, hopefully, onto eBay,” says Sucharita Mulpuru, a retail analyst with Forrester Research.
Mulpuru says eBay wants to attract more affluent consumers to its site. But they won’t be able to use PayPal for their new paintings and purses – at least not right away.
The two companies tried a partnership a dozen years ago, but it didn’t work. They’re hoping this time will be different.


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Atari hope for revival with new boss
A new CEO has been appointed at struggling French publisher Atari, with long-time boss Bruno Bonnell finally standing-down. The outspoken Bonnell had been in charge since his hoped-for replacement, music industry veteran James Caparro, stood-down after just six-months in charge of the troubled games firm. Now, a long-term replacement could be in the offing with the appointment David Pierce as CEO and President of the Atari group.
It is believed Bonnell will continue in his role as Chairman of the troubled PLC, but it will be Pierce's unenviable task to revive the fortunes of the once influential publisher, formerly known as Infogrames before the purchase of the Atari brand. Pierce apparently has a background in films and music, and is credited with turning around formerly ailing Sony Music division, Sony Wonder.
Over the last year or so Atari has been besieged with financial problems, exacerbated by under-performing titles. A massive restructuring of the publisher has already been undertaken to ensure its survival, with the Driver series and developer Reflections recently being sold to Ubisoft. THQ also nabbed Stuntman and developer Paradigm, with TimeShift also going to VU Games earlier in the year.
Pierce will be hoping to boost the company's share price, with it recently slipping below the 1 USD level required by the NASDAQ. De-listing looks likely now, and that would bring further woes upon the firm. More as we get it.
- Report finds that the 100 USD tier of Assassin's Creed: Unity's microtransactions is completely unnecessary
- Final Fantasy Type-0 HD gets a new trailer
- Bungie deconstructs their latest Destiny patch, hints at what is coming next
- DayZ creator Dean Hall could join UK studio Improbable
- Shadow Of Mordor arrives on last-gen consoles
- David Braben apologises for ditching Elite: Dangerous's offline mode, outlines refund criteria
- Microsoft celebrates the 1st birthday of the Xbox One with free access to Sunset Overdrive
- Hacker group leaks account details for thousands of PSN, Origin, Windows Live and 2K Game Studios accounts
- RedLynx promises online multiplayer is coming to Trials Fusion early next year


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In the latest phase of the nationwide lockdown, since June 8, the Central Government has allowed hotels and restaurants all over the country, except in containment zones, to reopen, subject to permission from State Governments. While some states, like Maharashtra, have not allowed restaurants to open up, restaurants in other states, like Kerala are resuming operations.
However, just allowing restaurants to reopen is not enough. People need to be convinced that eating out is safe. This is where, once again, Kerala appears to have taken the lead.
Kerala’s Food Safety Department has decided to conduct a state-wide campaign to alleviate people’s fears about eating out, and to ensure that eateries follow the required safety precautions, so that they don’t become sources for the infection to spread.
foodnetindia believes that this is a great initiative by the Kerala Government, and other states should also conduct similar campaigns. Hotel and Restaurant Associations across the country should also conduct similar campaigns. The importance given to food safety and hygiene by people across the country has skyrocketed because of the fear caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Going forward, people are going to be much more careful about the places they choose to eat out at, or order in from. And this change is going to be permanent.
We hope that the Kerala Government allocates sufficient funds to the Food Safety Department, not just for this campaign, but also to ensure that they have the resources needed to to make sure that hotels and restaurants adhere to the required food safety and hygiene standards.


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In two-part documentary On Weed, the former political reporter looks at what's behind the green rush, both recreational and medicinal.
In Patrick Gower: On Weed (Three, Wednesday, 8.30pm), the former political reporter vapes weed with a doctor in Colorado, drinks cannabis tea with a group of women in LA and goes on a “bud crawl” in Vancouver.
All legal, of course. When it comes to cannabis, the times are definitely a-changin’. Canada, Uruguay and 11 US states have legalised the consumption and sale of cannabis, and many more countries have decriminalised.
And the medicinal use of cannabis is now legal in more than 35 countries, including New Zealand. An amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act was passed by Parliament in December and submissions on how the medicinal cannabis system should work have just closed.
Then there’s next year’s referendum, which will be held at the general election. Voters will be asked whether we should legalise personal use of cannabis, a move that could open up a large recreational, regulated market.
In this two-part documentary, Gower looks into the two sides of cannabis: medicinal and recreational. In New Zealand, he meets growers and “green fairies” who are supplying up to 1000 people each. He discovers that, although patients can be prescribed cannabis products, they are often too expensive.
“We already have a medical cannabis market here,” says Gower. “From what I’ve seen, once you go medical, you’ve got to go big, or else you’re going to have a black market in the medical space before you even get to recreational.”
In the US, the recreational green rush is on. “Anything that you can think of making into cannabis, they’ve done it. That’s modern-day branding, that’s modern-day merchandising, that’s America.”
But it’s possibly not New Zealand. The draft scheme put to the Cabinet by the Ministry of Justice would ban the advertising and marketing of cannabis products, although Gower doesn’t cover that in the documentary.
One thing Gower is very clear about is that CBD, the non-psychoactive compound in cannabis that is often used for pain relief, should be legal. In the documentary, he includes his personal story about his mother’s death from lung cancer.
“It made it a way better documentary for me, because I started thinking, ‘Man, I wish I had found out more about this while Mum was suffering.’”
This article was first published in the September 7, 2019 issue of the New Zealand Listener.


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The news: Square is moving into Spain with an early access program that lets merchants test its in-store and online solutions, per a press release.
Why it’s worth watching: Square emphasized global expansion in its Q2 shareholder letter, pointing out that its international markets achieved strong seller gross payments volume, which amounted to $42.8 billion in the period.
But Square isn’t the only payment provider going on an international expansion spree: PayPal brought its in-store payment solutions—specifically its QR code offering—to Germany through a partnership with Euronet and expects to roll out the solution to more EU markets. These moves bring the two rivals head-to-head as they both seek out growth opportunities on the international front.
Square’s opportunities: Evolving payment habits and retail sales growth in Spain offer substantial revenue potential for Square.
The bigger picture: As Square and PayPal look to build out their presence in Europe, they’ll need to contend with the European Payments Initiative (EPI)—a coalition of major European banks, credit institutions, and other payments firms.
EPI was established to create a domestic payment entity to take back control of European payment processes from US companies and poses a direct threat to PayPal and Square. Although the initiative is still in the beginning stages and unlikely to make an immediate impact on PayPal’s and Square’s European businesses, it might pose challenges for future expansion efforts on the continent.
Related content: To learn more about Square’s solutions and what makes it an attractive partner for merchants, check out Square’s segment in the Small-Business Payments Disruptors report.


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Movin'On and beyond
Canada Funds Rural Public Transit on the Acadian Peninsula
A brand-new public transit system is en route for Canada's Acadian Peninsula, a rural area on North America's east coast.
Heavy-Duty Trucks on U.S. Roads Must Cut Emissions by 2027
Millions of heavy-duty trucks speed along American highways, hustling essential goods to cities and hubs.
Electric Aircraft, Software-Rich Vehicle Cockpits Charm CES 2023
Today, automotive and mobility high-tech is a big part of CES, held annually in Las Vegas.
New Light Rail Lines Link U.S. Cities to Colleges, Airports: All Aboard!
Residents of cities on both U.S. coasts are celebrating the completion of light rail transit projects
Movin’On Inside Special Edition – Electric Mobility in Africa
Is Africa ready for an electric vehicle revolution? Join us on Thursday, December 8 at 2pm (CET).
‘Hundreds’ of Companies Race to Master Electric Planes
electric aircraft evolution is on fast forward as countries try to meet their climate commitments to decarbonize transportation
China’s Electric Carmakers Spark Excitement Across Asia
By 2030, electric vehicles will make up 90 percent of new car sales in China, William Li, CEO of the Chinese EV startup Nio, predicts.
WBCSD and Movin’On join forces to make mobility more sustainable
WBCSD and Movin'On announced a new partnership to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility globally in line with a 1.5°C scenario.
Movin’On Challenge Design announces the theme of its 2023 edition
The challenge: Designing an innovative mobility solution which balances the three recognized pillars of sustainability: PEOPLE, PROFIT and PLANET
SAVE THE DATE – Movin’On Inside Maritime Mobility
For 60 minutes, we will explore, decipher and respond to the challenges of sustainable growth for a new ocean economy.
U.S. Electric Vehicle Startup Canoo Clinches Walmart, NASA Sales
To expand its last mile delivery service, Walmart has ordered 4,500 electric delivery vehicles from the American startup automaker Canoo.
World Bank Loans India US$250 Million to Make Roads Safer
With only one percent of the world’s vehicles, India accounts for almost 10 percent of all crash related deaths.


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What are you giving up when you shop at a typical grocery store? What do you miss out on when you’re rushing through the aisles, one earbud in and a list in hand? “That’s not connection; that’s just a chore,” described Colleen Stewart, communications coordinator for the NH Food Alliance.
In her mind, eating local isn’t just about fancy radishes at the farmer’s market (although those are crazy delicious!). “It’s really about community, about knowing your farmer not just as your farmer but as your neighbor,” she described.
Cultivating Creative Initiatives
Across the country, American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) members have launched annual Eat Indie Local campaigns to support various aspects of their local food systems. It’s just one of AMIBA’s nine signature Choose Indie Local campaigns that take place throughout the year.
From CSA sign-ups to dining out farm-to-table style, Eat Indie Local promotes innovative ways to cultivate resilient, local food systems that make communities healthier and stronger. Though this work continues year-round, celebrating a concentrated Eat Local Month is one strategy many AMIBA members have seen success with over the last decade.
Eat Local App
For example, the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN) began their Eat Indie Local efforts about seven years ago, and it has become a core piece of their educational marketing. In 2022, their Eat Local Month included a food-themed trivia night at a brewery, a community bike ride through Cambridge (just outside Boston), and a manufacturer-led workshop on how to grow microgreens at home.
SBN has also been working to spread the word about their inventive EatLocalMA app, which helps foodies find places to choose locally. In the past, dinner pop-ups with well-known chefs and farmer’s market showcases have also been part of their Eat Local Month repertoire. However, the intensive, month-long campaign can sometimes feel like a heavy lift because the organization’s signature Boston Local Food Festival happens shortly after, going into its 13th year.
With close to 100 booths and head counts of up to 40,000 attendees pre-pandemic, it’s an enormous investment in local food culture. Right now, SBN focuses on attracting more visitors who intend to shop versus simply passersby. They’re working toward enabling festival-goers to use SNAP benefits, EBT, WIC, and additional state assistance. As the event continues to grow, SBN is looking closely at how to make it sustainable for the next ten years.
Growing the Movement
The opportunity to examine priorities was something afforded to both local organizations and consumers during the pandemic. Buyers took advantage of local foods in unprecedented numbers. “Out of necessity, some experienced local food in ways they never have before,” described Lisa Vaughn, who works with Eat Local First Olympic Peninsula (EatLocalFirstOlyPen) in Washington State.
She also noted the rise of agritourism during the pandemic, with many people choosing farms as safe, outdoor destinations for entertainment. Her organization sees this as a great area to build upon, helping local families engage more deeply with their local food system and especially getting to know their local farmers face-to-face.
“As supply chain issues and pandemic restrictions disappear, it could be easy for consumers to fall back into old patterns of eating and purchasing,” Vaughn said. So it’s an essential time at both a local and policy level to reinforce the importance of a secure, resilient local food system.
EatLocalFirstOlyPen currently runs three campaigns a year toward that end, with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) theme in late winter/early spring, Eat Local Month in September, and a Holiday Campaign to close the year. Each provides an opportunity to highlight how and why farmers need financial support throughout the year, not just during harvest season.
“The Holiday campaign has helped consumers understand that ‘shop local’ for the holidays should include food for their holiday festivities and also gifts and decorations,” Vaughn described. From preserved foods and lavender gifts to homegrown holiday trees and wreaths, there are lots of opportunities to support locals in her area. In fact, EatLocalFirstOlyPen even educates people about how to recycle their festive greens by turning them into compost for farms in the region.
Ideally, Vaughn would like to see every family incorporate more locally grown products into their budget. That might mean growing their own food, supporting a farmer, or buying from local food businesses. “Each purchase adds up to create a vibrant and resilient local food economy that we each can bring into reality with each dollar we spend,” she said.
In West Michigan, Kathleen Roark, director of engagement for People First Economy, works with her team on fresh ways to engage people in this Choose Indie Local thinking. The pandemic deeply impacted many of the food businesses in her region. But it also led to interesting shifts in the local food ecosystem, from a surge of zero-proof beverages to experimentation in frozen, prebake concepts.
Another strong example is the rise in ghost kitchens, which have popped up rapidly in West Michigan over the last couple of years. These kitchens operate online, fulfilling orders for delivery instead of being served in a traditional restaurant setting.
While People First Economy focuses on eating locally all year long, their Nourish our Community month in the fall aims to spark more extensive food system conversations during harvest season. Before 2020, the organization held a large-scale event called Fork Fest, a beloved structure. But those efforts shifted online during COVID.
Staff has used the time to examine their approach to bringing people together around food in a way that produces change and educates about a healthy food economy that serves the community and planet.
Heating Things Up
To expand consumer engagement, they’ve been investigating ways to gamify the local food experience, and one idea that’s risen to the top is the Hot Ones’ model. This format popped up around the country and was brought to their attention by some of their members.
The idea is that Local First would host a show or panel, during which guests would answer questions related to local food. But here’s the catch; those guests would consume increasingly hotter sauces or foods as they go. “So the conversation becomes just a little bit more freeform and may be vulnerable,” Roark described with a laugh.
A fun and funny approach, this model is one People First Economy is looking to riff off of with the help of local producers. They’re also considering incentives to encourage event attendees to follow up with participating businesses. And they’re wondering if there might be a way to give it a fundraising spin and accept real-time donations. While still in the early stages, it’s an idea they’re excited to test out.
Live Free and Eat Local
In New Hampshire, bringing on the fun after the last few years of uncertainty has led to impressive outcomes. During the pandemic, the NH Food Alliance shifted their efforts to social media, launching a photo contest, and other online initiatives. While it kept the dialogue going, Communications Coordinator Colleen Stewart said it felt “hollowed out” because of the missing interaction between eaters, local farmers, and restauranteurs.
In 2022, she faced the question of whether people missed that connection enough to get back out into the world. With fingers crossed, the Alliance launched a Live Free and Eat Local Challenge (based on NH’s motto, Live Free or Die).
During their August NH Eats Local Month, residents tracked visits to farmer’s markets, farm stands, restaurants that source locally, co-ops, and other producers. They mailed in a form, and then randomly selected winners received donated foodie prizes from across the state. “It’s really about celebrating our food and all the amazing things our state can produce,” Stewart said.
The initiative was simple, and it was a hit. Many people even wrote right on their tracking forms how much they loved the challenge. “I just think that being out in the community really brought it to life for everyone,” Stewart said. The enthusiastic response disproved the theory that people might prefer to live digitally forever after the pandemic.
Instead, the in-person experience was richer, and that’s what Stewart wants to capitalize on. While she recognizes emphasizing those human exchanges may make for slower growth, it will mean the people participating are really engaged.
She has felt inspired by connecting with other AMIBA members across the country doing similar work. For instance, she pointed to The National Farmer’s Market Association’s Farmer’s Market Week in August, which aligns perfectly with New Hampshire’s Eat Local Month.
Stewart was able to plug into their campaign and leverage ready-to-go resources in her home state thanks to the amazing connection from AMIBA. AMIBA’s data has also been invaluable for driving decision-making. Detailed information about the economics of shopping local vs. on Amazon has helped strengthen NH Food Alliance’s messaging and inform its campaigns.
Gathering and Sharing the Bounty of Grassroots Efforts
AMIBA members find that added credibility to be a big advantage. “We need to come together around this consistent and concise, unified language,” Stewart said.
Gregory Nicaise, local food program manager for SBN MA, also relies on the national dialogue led by AMIBA members. “It was really helpful last year and this year to have some of those debrief sessions and hear what other people are doing,” he said.
In 2022, he worked closely with Jen Risley, AMIBA’s director of operations and Choose Indie Local coordinator, to develop a documentary film showing that sparked local food conversation via SBN MA.
It’s a strategy AMIBA has been leaning into over the last several years, most recently screening the film GATHER virtually last July, followed by a meaningful discussion with director Sanjay Rawal, as well as other food resilience thought leaders. It was an opportunity for viewers to connect deeply with the film’s stories, which delved into the fight to revitalize native foodways.
For communities to create highly functional food systems, these conversations are critical because local food producers face myriad challenges, from staffing shortages and rent increases to finding investors and accessing funds. “It’s really hard to get the capital to scale and grow,” Nicaise described.
While evidence in the northeast points to plenty of demand for local food, it’s the underdeveloped infrastructure that often creates hold-ups. Nicaise posed the question: “How do we get enough co-packers, manufacturers, and people with enough technical expertise to get through all the food safety regulations?”
In Washington, Vaughn sees similar barriers. With increased distribution channels, small growers and producers could get their products to market, making it easier for wholesale purchasers, like restaurants, grocers, and institutional buyers, to source more locally.
While distribution is a substantial factor in the local food access conversation, Nicaise posits that economic development is the piece that needs to rise to the forefront. Entrepreneurs, many of whom are historically immigrants, tend to be the faces behind the local food industry. Empowering people to become part of that entrepreneurial force can be a game changer.
“Getting out there and buying local is important, but not everybody can do that. One thing people in that position can do is talk to their policymakers,” he said. It’s a chance to work together to craft the future food environment.
“If we were able to create an ecosystem where there’s an entry point for everyone who lives in our community, that would be the end-all, dream goal,” Roark said.


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Global hospitality major Accor Hotels plans to add up to nine hotels in India this year targeting to offer a total of over 10,000 rooms across its properties in the country. The French hospitality firm currently has 46 hotels with a total of over 8,700 rooms ... Business Standard, 2 days ago
Global hospitality major AccorHotels today elevated Jean-Michel Cass as its Chief Operating Officer - India and South Asia.DNA, 1 month ago
Hospitality chains are hosting dual brands on one property, looking for operational efficiencies without diluting their brands, says Shivani Shinde Nadhe. Given the highly competitive and crowded market for travel in the country, Indian hospitality chains have been experimenting with a concept that has taken off in a big way in the West. They are locating multiple brands on one property; Accor, Lemon Tree and others have opened up budget and premium branded hotels within the same ...Rediff.com, 2 weeks ago
Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal, organised 'Hospitality Conclave -Vision 2017' at Dr TMA Pai Hall here. The different aspects of 'Rethinking the Hospitality Arena for Tomorrow' were deliberated upon by speakers drawn from diverse ...Deccan Herald, 3 weeks ago
The Tata group-owned budget hotel chain is going back to the drawing board to reboot the brand. But is it too late? IMAGE: The Jaipur Ginger hotel. Photograph: Kind Courtesy: www.ginger.com. Losses and rising competition from budget room aggregators are driving the makeover at the 13-year-old Ginger Hotels, owned by the Tata group’s Indian Hotels Company which also operates Taj luxury hotels. Over the past few quarters, the company, that has 37 properties across the country, says it has ...Rediff.com, 6 days ago
Mr. Perumal, born in 1932, took to photographing flora and fauna after being initiated into the field by O.C. Edwards, who is considered the doyen of bird photography in the country. Mr. Perumal called it a chance encounter with Edwards in 1960s in the ...The Hindu, 1 month ago
on your WebpageAdd Widget >Get your members hooked!


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A luxurious superyacht has been dropped while on a shipping boat in Panama.
The Low Profile, a three level 40m boat, was being lifted onto a container ship when the procedure, captured in a video uploaded to YouTube on May 23, went pear-shaped.
The strapping around the boat broke and the Low Profile crashed onto the top of the container ship.
It is unclear how much the damage was caused to the vessel.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2019


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Cerus Corp. reported a loss of $11.4 million for the fourth quarter, compared with a profit of $3 million in the same quarter a year ago.
The Concord company (NASDAQ: CERS) had sales of $2.4 million for the quarter, which ended Dec. 31. A year ago in the fourth quarter it had sales of $13.7 million.
For the year, Cerus lost $45.3 million on sales of $11 million. In 2006 it lost $4.8 million on sales of $30.3 million.
The company reported a cash burn of $36.6 million in 2007.
Claes Glassell is president and CEO of Cerus, which makes a blood filtering system.


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- Report: Apple has no plans to bring Siri to other devices
- Siri, the voice-activated "personal assistant" is exclusive to the iPhone 4S
- App developer said he got a message from Apple denying any plans to expand
- Hackers have run Siri on the iPhone 4 and 3GS and iPod Touch
Smartphone owners hoping to talk to their iPhone 4 or 3GS about the weather, their schedule or the meaning of life appear to be out of luck.
In a message received by a developer who creates apps for Apple's products, the company has confirmed that it has no plans to adapt Siri, the personal voice assistant, for older phones.
"Siri only works on iPhone 4S and we currently have no plans to support older devices," Apple said in a statement that developer Michael Steeber posted on his blog.
Steeber said the comment came in response to someone who suggested that Siri could be added as a paid upgrade to Apple's operating system for all of its mobile devices.
"The possibility of Apple brin[g]ing Siri to other iOS devices was already slim, but this pretty much confirms that it won't be happening," Steeber wrote. "Although, Apple has been known to go back on their word before."
Hackers [the good kind] have already modified the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch to run Siri. [Watch one such mod here]. But those tweaks didn't come with Apple's blessing, and could theoretically be nuked by the company in future software updates.
The voice-activated "personal assistant," the most high-profile upgrade on the iPhone 4S, is a talkative tool that helps schedule appointments, send and receive messages and perform any number of other routine tasks.
In recent weeks, there have been reports, albeit unsubstantiated ones, that Apple is experimenting with Siri on other devices. If that sort of testing is going on behind closed doors in Cupertino, Apple isn't saying.
Many Apple fans were initially disappointed that the company rolled out a similar-looking upgrade to the iPhone 4 instead of a radically redesigned iPhone 5. It would make sense that Apple would keep Siri exclusive to the iPhone 4S, at least for the time being, to spur sales of that device through the holiday season.
But take heart, non-iPhone 4S owners: if you need to get your chat fix, there's always the Furby.


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Petco’s first-quarter net revenue increased 4.3% to $1.476 billion.
Petco Health & Wellness Co.’s momentum continued in the first quarter as the company delivered its 14th consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth.
Petco, which has placed a growing emphasis on pet health and wellness services and exclusive products, posted net income of $24.7 million, or $0.09 per share, in the quarter ended April 30, up from $7.6 million, or $0.03 per share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.17 beat estimates for $0.15.
Net revenue rose 4.3% to $1.476 billion and was up from $1.415 billion last year topping estimates of $1.450 billion. Comparable sales rose 5.1%, also more than expected.
“Petco's strong Q1 results were driven by our incredible team's 'no excuses' execution approach, a pet category that continues to surge, and the power of our one-of-a-kind end to end offering that now includes over 200 fully owned veterinary hospitals," said Ron Coughlin, CEO of Petco. "This is our 14th consecutive growth quarter and we are confident that continued category momentum – combined with our differentiated services, merchandise and advantaged Retail 3.0 omnichannel capabilities – positions us to continue delivering growth."
In January, Petco and Lowe’s Cos. said they are partnering on a pilot programto open in-store Petco shops inside Lowe’s stores, with 15 locations scheduled to open by the end of March. And in February, Petco announced it is partnering with Rover, an online marketplace for pet care, to connect customers with a variety of services.
Petco maintained its fiscal year guidance for net revenue of $6.15 billion to $6.25 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $0.97 to $1. Analysts expect revenue of $6.194 billion and earnings per share of $0.99.
Petco operates more than 1,500 locations across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico, including a growing network of on-site veterinary hospitals and mobile veterinary clinics.


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- Mobile Phones
Thursday, 11 Apr 2013
Sony Mobile has announced that the Xperia ZL, a design variant of its premium flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z, will be available in Singapore from tomorrow (12 April) onwards.
Not that you'd need another reason to get a Samsung Galaxy S4, but a recent tear down of the device revealed that the S4 is much easier to repair than most handsets out in the market now, including the Galaxy S3.
The Korea Times reports that Samsung is excluded from the development of Apple's upcoming A7 processors.
Wednesday, 10 Apr 2013
According to people familiar with the matter, Apple and Yahoo are discussing possibilities for deeper collaboration and integration on iOS.
Tuesday, 9 Apr 2013
Google has apparently been working on a redesign to Android's Google Play store that will include brighter colors and bigger images, not to mention a clean new interface. Leaked images inside.
The Verge reports that Microsoft will be bringing support for 1080p displays and quad-core processors to Windows Phone 8 by end of the year.
According to inside sources at Digitaltrends, Google may be interested in acquiring mobile messaging app, Whatsapp, for a rumored US$1 billion. Update: WhatsApp’s business development head, Neeraj Arora, has told AllThingsDigital that the company is not holding sales talks with Google after all.
Tumblr, one of the top social media sites on the web, has just updated its Android app with a whole new look. The app comes with fancy new animations, and a look that's more in-line with Android's "Holo" theme.
Samsung's upcoming 5.8-inch Galaxy device, the Mega will be equipped with a dual-core 1.4GHz Exynos processor, 1.5GB RAM and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.


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One of the biggest nights in fashion has just begun in London. Celebrities, from Shailene Woodley to Julia Roberts, have flown out to attend the glitzy British Fashion Awards at Royal Albert Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the British Fashion Council, recognizes the most innovative UK designers. And sometimes, some big surprise guests come: last year, Meghan Markle was a guest presenter and among them. Here, the best dresses on the London red carpet.
Both in Fenty.
In 1 Moncler Pierpaolo Piccioli.