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Tesla, the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has announced its collaboration with BYD, a leading player in the EV and battery industry. The partnership involves Tesla incorporating BYD’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) blade batteries into the rear-wheel-drive entry-level version of the Model Y, which will be produced at Tesla’s Berlin factory in Germany. Deliveries of this model are slated to commence in June 2023. Let’s delve into the significance of this collaboration from the perspectives of both Tesla and BYD.
Tesla’s Berlin factory has thus far been responsible for manufacturing the premium variant of the Model Y, equipped with Panasonic’s 21700 lithium-ion batteries. In contrast, the entry-level version of the Model Y had been imported from Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, China, with CATL’s LFP batteries installed.
With this collaboration, Tesla will now produce the entry-level Model Y directly at its Berlin factory, integrating BYD’s LFP blade batteries with a capacity of 55 kWh. This battery configuration will offer an approximate range of 440 kilometers. Although this variant features a reduced capacity of 5 kWh compared to the CATL battery-equipped Model Y, the BYD LFP blade batteries boast improved energy density. This enhancement results in an increased range per kilowatt-hour, from 7.6 km/kWh to 8 km/kWh.
Additionally, the adoption of BYD’s blade batteries provides Tesla with cost advantages. The blade batteries employ cobalt- and nickel-free battery materials, which are more affordable. Consequently, Tesla stands to save approximately $750 in battery pack costs when considering a battery cost of $150 per kilowatt-hour. Moreover, the square-shaped design of the blade batteries enables tighter and more efficient packaging, leading to higher energy density. This design also facilitates Tesla’s integration of Cell to Chassis (CTC) technology, which reduces packaging material usage and overall costs.
Considering these factors, the decision to utilize BYD’s blade batteries aligns with the cost-effective preferences of the entry-level Model Y’s target consumer group while fulfilling Elon Musk’s commitment to cost control.
In 2022, BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest EV manufacturer, boasting sales of 1.86 million electric vehicles. As a result, BYD’s market share in battery assembly has steadily increased, owing to its self-supply capabilities. As of the first quarter of 2023, BYD stands as the second-largest global supplier of power batteries, with a market share of 16.2%, surpassed only by CATL’s 35%.
Despite BYD’s remarkable growth in the electric vehicle sector, its battery production capacity initially struggled to keep pace. This resulted in a period during which BYD could only fulfill its own demand and was unable to export batteries, impeding the growth of its battery business in terms of customer quantity.
Apart from its use in BYD’s own EVs and the recent collaboration with Tesla for the Model Y, BYD’s batteries primarily find application in Changan Ford vehicles. Furthermore, a staggering 98% of BYD’s electric vehicle sales currently originate from the domestic Chinese market. This high market concentration poses the dual risks of relying excessively on a single market and a single customer for battery sales.
BYD’s inclusion in Tesla’s supply chain with its blade batteries marks a significant step toward diversifying sales risks. Nevertheless, for BYD to maintain its position as the second-largest battery supplier in the future, the company will need to adopt a proactive and diversified market strategy, expanding its presence in the supply chains of various automakers.
(Photo credit: Tesla)
Sodium-ion batteries are burgeoning as a popular alternative to lithium-ion batteries, thanks to the efforts of Chinese automakers who are pushing for its mainstream adoption.
Leading Chinese companies like CATL and BYD are ramping up the production of sodium-ion batteries. In mid-April, CATL and Chery unveiled their new battery brand, “ENER-Q”, which includes full product lines including sodium-ion, iron phosphate lithium, and ternary lithium batteries. Chery’s new energy vehicles will be the first to use CATL’s sodium-ion batteries.
Following CATL, BYD is rumored to start mass production of its sodium-ion batteries in the second half of this year, which will be used in its compact hatchback, the Seagull series. Both the moves have once again sparked discussions about battery technology in the market.
Geopolitical risks fuels Sodium-ion Batteries
Considering market supply and technical stability, lithium-ion batteries and iron phosphate lithium batteries are still the most popular types of batteries for electric vehicles. The former has a higher energy density but contains cobalt and nickel, which drives up costs. The latter has a lower cost but a lower energy density.
Sodium-ion batteries, on the other hand, have been overlooked due to their low energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
So, why are companies like CATL and BYD turning to sodium-ion batteries?
Geopolitical risk is a major factor. Most lithium mines are located in countries like the US, Australia, and Canada. In today’s anti-China political climate, these materials could be used as bargaining chips to curb China’s electric vehicle industry. China won’t want to be at the mercy of other countries when it comes to the fate of its EV industry, so developing new technological routes is crucial.
From a mass production perspective, sodium is a more abundant element in the Earth’s crust than nickel, cobalt, or lithium carbonate, with a distribution that’s more evenly spread out. As such, sodium could be a better fit as a positive electrode material in batteries in the long run. Industry experts predict that sodium-ion batteries could even cost 20% less than iron phosphate lithium batteries once it reaches economies of scale.
The Supporting Actor in EV Batteries
However, a closer look into the pros and cons of both the materials may reveal that it’s not a zero-sum game. Instead, their characteristics can complement each other and help to accelerate battery technology development.
CATL’s new sodium-ion battery has an energy density of up to 160Wh/kg, which is comparable to the iron phosphate lithium battery in its Kirin battery system, but still lags behind the 255Wh/kg of ternary lithium batteries.
As a result, CATL is mixing sodium-ion and ternary lithium batteries in Chery’s new energy vehicles to balance cost and performance.
BYD is also expected to use a mix of sodium-ion and iron phosphate lithium batteries. Assuming this is true, it will echo the market’s assumption that sodium-ion batteries are not overturning the battery industry, but rather helping battery manufacturers maintain flexible product portfolios that cater to different market segmentations.
To give an example, CATL’s lithium iron phosphate batteries have been utilized in heavy-duty vehicles like 120-ton ore trucks and marine service vessels since 2022, where charging efficiency and cost take precedence over high energy density.
Therefore, sodium-ion batteries are likely to become a complimentary choice for lithium iron phosphate batteries, as they offer advantages such as high-rate charging, low cost, and high safety. This will definitely give car makers more flexibility in their future product strategies.
As a consequence of rising power battery raw material prices, a number of global new energy vehicle (NEV) brands including Tesla, BYD, NIO, Li Auto, and Volkswagen, have successively raised the sales prices of electric vehicles (EV) in 1Q22. TrendForce believes that power batteries are the core component that account for the greatest portion of an EV’s overall cost and reducing the cost of power batteries will be an important strategy for companies to remain competitive in the future. As technology continues to innovate, lithium iron phosphate batteries are expected to account for more than 60% of installed capacity in the global power battery market by 2024.
TrendForce indicates, from the perspective of the world’s largest EV market, China, the power battery market reversed in 2021 and lithium iron phosphate batteries officially surpassed ternary batteries with 52% of installed capacity. Lithium iron phosphate installed capacity continued to grow in 1Q22, rising to 58%, and demonstrating a growth rate far beyond that of ternary batteries. However, from the perspective of the global EV market, thanks to the increase in the penetration rate of NEVs in Europe and the United States, ternary batteries still accounted for a market share of more than 60% in 2021, far exceeding that of lithium iron phosphate batteries, which captured a market share of approximately 32~ 36%.
Although the current gap between these two materials remains substantial, according to production capacity planning of global new energy battery cathode material manufacturers in the past two years, the scale and speed of lithium iron phosphate materials expansion will far exceed that of ternary materials. According to TrendForce investigations, planned expansion projects announced by global cathode material manufacturers are currently concentrated in China and South Korea, with a nominal total planned production capacity of over 11 million tons, of which planned production capacity of lithium iron phosphate cathodes accounts for approximately 64%. However, since planned production capacity exceeds market demand, there will be a certain shortfall between the industry’s total planned production capacity and actual future production capacity. It remains to be seen to what level actual effective production capacity can rise in the future.
It is worth noting, as the price of core battery raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel has moved up clearly since 2H21 and the global power battery supply chain is plagued by uncertainty including the Russian-Ukrainian war and the global pandemic, there will be a short-term disparity between the growth rate of supply and demand and companies will focus more on reducing the cost of battery materials and supply chain security, two major issues related to future competitiveness. As a result of this trend, TrendForce expects the cost-effective advantage of lithium iron phosphate batteries to become more prominent and this type of battery has an opportunity to become the mainstream of the terminal market in the next 2-3 years. The global installed capacity ratio of lithium iron phosphate batteries to ternary batteries will also move from 3:7 to 6:4 in 2024
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has escalated in recent days. In addition to the surge in natural gas and crude oil prices, the conflict may also impact the supply of non-ferrous metals including aluminum, nickel, and copper. According to TrendForce, nickel is a key upstream raw material for the manufacture of electric vehicle power batteries and mainly used in the production of ternary cathode materials. In 2021, global nickel mine production was approximately 2.7 million tons, originating primarily from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Russia. Russian nickel production accounts for approximately 9% of the world’s total (including low, medium, and high-grade nickel), ranking third globally. At present, the market penetration rate of new energy vehicles is accelerating and ternary power batteries account for nearly half of power battery market share, which signals strengthening demand for upstream raw material nickel for automotive power batteries. Although Russian nickel exports remain unaffected for the time being, if the situation on the ground between Russia and Ukraine continues to deteriorate, global nickel supply may be impacted in the short term, pushing up nickel prices, and further increase cost pressures on end product markets such as the electric vehicle industry.
TrendForce states that in the medium to long term, since the lion’s share of new nickel ore smelting and processing projects have been located in Indonesia in recent years and Indonesia’s nickel ore production accounted for approximately 37% of the world’s total production in 2021, Indonesia’s concentrated production of nickel is expected to improve supply and demand in 2H22. TrendForce also emphasizes, regarding the export ban on mines announced by Indonesia last year, this ban only prohibits the export of raw ore and does not prohibit Chinese companies such as Zhejian Huayou Cobalt, Tsingshan Holding Group, Lygend Resources, and GEM from investing in the processing end of nickel mines in Indonesia. Therefore, smelting nickel ore and highly processed products are not affected by the export ban.
From the perspective of suppliers, among the top five nickel ore manufacturers in the world, Russian manufacturer Norilsk supplies approximately 9% of the world’s raw nickel materials, or 90% of overall Russian production, and its high-grade nickel production accounts for 22% of the world’s total (Note: according to nickel content, nickel materials can be divided into high-grade nickel, medium-grade nickel, and low-grade nickel with high-grade nickel referring to Ni content ≥ 10%), ranking first in the world. China’s Jinchuan Group ranks second at 17%, followed by Switzerland’s Glencore at 13%, and Brazil’s Vale S.A. at 12%. TrendForce believes, looking at the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, if Europe and the United States impose sanctions on Russia, a change in the flow of Russian nickel may occur due to the high concentration of production and processing by Norilsk.
TrendForce states, at present, high-nickel-based ternary cathode materials (primarily referring to ternary materials with high nickel content such as NCM622, NCM811, and NCA) rely on the two advantages of higher energy density and less dependence on the precious metal cobalt as a raw material, its market share of ternary cathode materials has increased rapidly, 10% in 2019 to nearly 40% in 2021. The development of high nickel content means that consumption demand for nickel corresponding to each ton of ternary cathode materials has increased. With the acceleration of the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in China, Europe, and the United States, the market demand for lithium power batteries is strong and overall nickel inventories continue to decline. At present, the global refined nickel inventory is only 100,000 tons. In the context of tight supply and increasing demand, inferring from the Chinese market where new energy vehicles accounted for 53% of the global market in 2021, the spot market price of electrolytic nickel in China reaching RMB130,000 to RMB150,000 per ton in 2021, and prices jumping in early 2022 to RMB160,000 to 170,000 per ton, the possibility of continued pricing spikes in the future cannot be ruled out.
As of February 8, 2022, it has been 3 months since Russia began amassing troops on its border with Ukraine and tensions have yet to ease. Since Ukraine is a major producer of gases required for semiconductor manufacturing, once the two sides go to war, some gases may be in short supply.
Ukraine primarily produces neon, krypton, and xenon, which are key materials for exposure and etching processes
According to TrendForce research, Ukraine supplies approximately 70% of the world’s neon gas. In the semiconductor manufacturing process, neon gas can be used in KrF lasers utilized during exposure. In addition to neon gas, Ukraine also supplies approximately 40% of the world’s krypton gas. Krypton gas is also used in KrF lasers and both neon and krypton gas are closely tied to the exposure process. Furthermore, Ukraine produces xenon which can be used in semiconductor etching processes, accounting for approximately 30% of the world’s supply. Since Ukraine is a major supplier in the neon, krypton, and xenon markets, if a war breaks out, shortages of neon, krypton, and xenon are likely to follow. Even if the market is quick to find new gas suppliers or expand gas production capacity, product certification will take several months or even more than half a year, plunging the supply of electronic gas required for semiconductor manufacturing processes into scarcity.
A shortage of neon and krypton due to the war will affect the shipment of mature process products
TrendForce indicates, the large supply of neon and krypton in Ukraine is primarily used in KrF lasers and KrF lasers are utilized in mature 8-inch wafer 250-130nm nodes. At present, products manufactured at the 250-130nm nodes include power management chips (PMIC), micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), and power semiconductor components such as MOSFET components and IGBTs. Once Ukraine and Russia go to war and the war expands into a stalemate, the shortage of neon and krypton will affect shipments of the aforementioned products to varying degrees. From the perspective of end-user products, the automotive industry, which requires large quantities of power management chips and power semiconductors, will face a new wave of material shortages.
（Image credit: iStock）


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Twissen interviewed BAGBNB, an innovative network of luggage rooms.
Bleisure segment could boost tourism in Sweden.
WeChat registers a 35% growth in 2016: Travel & Tourism industry is ready to renew payment methods.
In 2017, Brits are expected to travel more but taking new typologies of holiday.
Portugal tourism industry is investing in accomodation a international cooperation.
The rising nuber of women travelling is bringing economic benefit to the Travel & Tourism industry.
A study reveals the main factors that will impact the travel insurance industry in 2017.
Maltese tourism policies show interest towards sustainability and the the quality of the tourism supply.
Twissen interviewed Bikenbike, an online platform where demand and supply for cycling tourism meet.
A digital strategy applied to cultural sites could increase tourism flows.
Slovakia tourism policies are oriented to cooperation and sustainable tourism.
Cooperation and brand sharing are the keyword of hotel industry future.
Twissen interviewed Buforfun, an example of how transport service combines with experience.
Greek tourism supply is focusing on alternative tourism sectors to deseasonalise the demand.
According to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international arrivals globally grew by 3,9%, up to 1.235 million, in spite of the challenges that afflicted 2016 such as terrorism,...

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Continuous integration is becoming more popular than continuous delivery in large-scale organizations. A recent report by DigitalOcean found 45 percent of respondents reported using CD compared to 58 percent who reported using CI.
Forty-three percent of respondents who reported they were not using a CI or CD process stated they planned to use CI/CD, while 26 percent did not believe a CI/CD solution would be beneficial to their company.
Those who are not using CI or CD stated that they didn’t find it necessary for their workflow, it is too complicating, and setting up an initial build system is too time-consuming. The respondents who are using or plan to use a CI or CD solution said the benefits include being able to quickly review and deploy new code, the ability to work together, reduced personal workloads, and the ability to meet customer demands more easily.
The DigitalOcean Currents survey is based on 5,993 software developer responses.
The report found as companies grow in size, they are more likely to use CI, with two-thirds of companies that have more than 1,000 employees stating they use CI. Organizations with more than 100 employees also reported CI and CD is becoming standard practice.
“While only 45% of developers in organizations with five employees or less are using continuous integration, and only 35% are using continuous delivery (CD), developers report the likelihood of using these technologies increases with the size of the organization. This is somewhat intuitive as many of the benefits of these methods provide ways for groups of developers to work together. In large organizations with over 1,000 employees, 68% of developers report using continuous integration and 52% are using continuous delivery,” the company wrote in a blog post.
A surprising result of the study is that despite the advances artificial intelligence and machine learning can bring to a development workflow, 74 percent of developers are not using AI or ML. However, 81 percent of respondents indicated they want to learn AI. The top three advancements respondents are most looking forward to in 2018 are automated machine learning (46%), sentiment analysis and natural language processing (22%), and hybrid deep learning models (21%). In addition, the report found Google TensorFlow was the most popular AI/ML platform.
The report also covered current events, which included the repeal of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules governing net neutrality. Last December, the FCC voted to end net neutrality, which according to DigitalOcean means less freedom on the Internet. According to the survey, 83 percent of U.S. respondents and 61 percent outside the U.S. are against the repeal because it would take away the openness and freedom of the Internet. However, 37 percent of respondents indicated they did not take action against the repeal while 30 percent signed the petition and 23 percent discussed the subject with friends.
The report also provided a mix of results regarding the possibility of net neutrality affecting the workplace. Thirty-four percent of respondents believe it will increase technical and business expenses, 32 percent believe it will inhibit the ability to compete with well-established companies, and 23 percent think it will slow down the development and deployment process. Others felt it will remove restrictions from company’s work and decrease business expenses.
The report also looked at the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation, and found a majority of developers and companies are still confused about what the regulation means to them. Only 29 percent of developers are currently taking steps to prepare for the legislation while 37 percent said no and 34 percent are unsure how their company is even preparing for the legislation.
Additionally, 33 percent of respondents indicated they will spend 11-50 hours to prepare for GDPR. Thirteen percent said they will dedicate 51-100 hours to prepare while 34 percent will dedicate less than 10 hours.
Other findings of the report included 37 percent of respondents believing there is an increased sense of community among developers when it comes to open source, 30 percent recognize open source brings better code quality and 21 percent feel open source provides fast delivery of software. In addition, despite the media frenzy over the Spectre/Meltdown vulnerabilities, 71 percent of respondents said their day-to-day work was not impacted by the bugs.


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Last night, Rochelle Merrifield was watching a TV news report about the cop impersonator linked to two sexual assaults that occurred last weekend, including one near Dinkytown, when she realized she might've seen the suspect on November 13.THE BACKSTORY: U of M released wrong photo of alleged West B ... More >>
Yesterday, University of Minnesota police sent out a crime alert after four violent robberies occurred on or near campus during a four hour stretch early Sunday morning. Those robberies were similar to six other incidents that have taken place since mid-August.SEE ALSO: Rush Limbaugh decries Univers ... More >>
(Pictured: Kokoon Spring 2010)With MN Fashion Week in full swing, this is an excellent weekend to check out some of the free fashion parties around town, from a charity events to high fashion to t-shirt sales. But don't worry if you're not a fashionista; there are plenty of other cool events for ... More >>
"The Great Debate: Heads Vs. Feds," is a national college debate tour.
Stripping himself of celluloid, the 'Inland' emperor has no clothes
Don't look now, but apathy is anathema
Absence/Presence searches for the aesthetics of genocide; Thomas Hart Benton hits the road


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Qualcomm Inc, known for its chips and modems in Android phones, is utilizing generative artificial intelligence (AI) to expand its presence in the automotive chip market and revolutionize driving experiences for automakers.
The company has successfully sold its Snapdragon Digital Chassis, a comprehensive solution consisting of hardware chips, sensors, and software, to major automakers including General Motors, Hyundai Motor Co, and Volvo Car AB, as reported by CNBC.
By leveraging the power of AI, Qualcomm aims to entice automakers to adopt its chips, enabling the development of innovative scenarios such as intelligent driver assistants capable of handling tasks like navigation and reservations.
While Qualcomm’s automotive revenue is currently modest, amounting to $1.32 billion in fiscal 2022 (approximately 3% of total sales), the company projects significant growth. It anticipates that its chips will be integrated into upcoming vehicles, targeting sales of over $9 billion by 2031.
Each vehicle equipped with Qualcomm’s chips and software generates revenue ranging from $200 to $3,000. Additionally, the company earns licensing fees of $5 for every car connected to 5G.
Qualcomm’s CEO, Cristiano Amon, envisions vehicles evolving into advanced computing platforms. The company is also developing a smart user guide utilizing a language model trained on dense car manuals. Furthermore, AI technology could be utilized for driver monitoring to detect distractions and fatigue.
Integrating AI into Qualcomm’s platform could also enable over-the-air software upgrades for self-driving capabilities, allowing customers to remotely unlock new features and services.
Price Action: QCOM shares traded higher by 1.53% at $116.00 on the last check Thursday.


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McDonald’s February same-store sales up 4.8 percent
McDonald’s Corp (
While the weather and high unemployment numbers weighed on the world’s biggest hamburger restaurant chain’s domestic U.S. markets, Chinese New Year celebrations in many overseas markets boosted sales.
Sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose 0.6 percent in the United States, 5.4 percent in Europe, and 10.5 percent in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region.
McDonald’s January same-store sales fell 0.7 percent in the United States, while those in Europe and in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region both rose 4.3 percent.
McDonald’s and some other fast-food chains initially benefited when the global economic downturn sent U.S. diners to lower-priced fare.
That so-called trade-down effect is no longer strong enough to offset a spending retreat by young men and minority groups, who account for a large number of fast-food customers and have unemployment rates much higher than the overall U.S. jobless rate.
Earlier this year, the burger chain surprised analysts by announcing a 1 percent increase in U.S. comparable sales for December after two months of declines.
McDonald’s Chief Executive Jim Skinner told Reuters in February that the December increase in U.S. same-store sales was a “sustainable result” in the longer term.


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Earlier this year, Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN -4.95%) released the results of its third annual Prime Day, saying it was the biggest shopping day in the company's history. The company also revealed that the event produced more sales than last year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined.
The company debuted the shopping event in 2015 on the eve of its 20th anniversary, exclusively for members of its Prime loyalty program, and "offering more deals than Black Friday." The event was a smashing success, prompting the company to make the global online shopping day an annual event. Since its inception, each Prime Day sale has become more successful than the last.
Amazon isn't one to let an opportunity slip by. If one fabricated holiday produced such extraordinary results, why not initiate another?
Last year, the company introduced another shopping day, this one geared specifically toward digital content across its e-commerce site. Called Digital Day, the shopping event offers "the biggest savings of the year on digital content across Amazon," according to the company's press release. "Customers will be able to access more than 5,000 deals over eight categories including movies, TV shows, mobile games, apps, eBooks, and more." The company also said it will be offering 40% more deals than last year.
This year's sale will take place on Dec. 29, with the company promising "an amazing time to shop for deals on digital content." Some of the more compelling offers include 60% savings on Wonder Woman on Amazon Video, 33% off on video games, and an 80% discount on a number of best-selling Marvel graphic novels like Civil War II, House of M, World War Hulk, and Star Wars.
Shoppers will also find significant savings on e-books for Kindle and discounts on select PC software.
What a difference a day makes
Amazon didn't experience the same success that it had with Prime Day -- or it would have revealed as much in a press release. Even so, a successful event can play a positive role in the company's financial results.
Investors cheered when Amazon released its third quarter 2017 earnings report. The company exceeded the expectations of analysts and its own forecast. Net sales of $43.7 billion increased 34% year over year, exceeding the high end of the company's own lofty estimates. Even factoring out the contribution by Whole Foods and a favorable foreign currency translation, net sales increased by 29%, still better than expected.
When asked to explain the catalyst for the impressive results, CFO Brian Olsavsky said, "I wouldn't point to anything other than the Prime Day pickup, but stronger than -- it was stronger than probably I anticipated."
Lightning never strikes twice... or does it?
Investors shouldn't expect Digital Day to produce the same blowout results as Prime Day. It does illustrate that the online retailer continues to come up with novel ways to increase sales.
Amazon's digital assistant Alexa, which serves as the foundation for its Echo family of smart speakers, is also driving sales. A survey found that 17% of Amazon customers use the devices to order products from its e-commerce website, according to RBC Capital Markets.
Amazon Prime is also spurring additional sales, as members tend to spend an average of $1,300 per year, compared to about $700 for non-members, according to a report by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.
Taken individually, these initiatives may not mean much, but taken together they show that the online retailer has developed a talent for getting consumers to spend more, which is a great deal for investors.


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Across North America yesterday evening, PlayStation Network returned after a 23-day total blackout. In a process spanning about seven hours, the PlayStation 3's online capabilities gradually reactivated state-by-state, beginning in New York and ending in Texas. As gamers rushed to message boards to verify the news in their precincts, the evening had the feel of an election night, one whose results were cheered and celebrated by all.
This is the end of a chapter, not the whole story but, for millions, it does bring closure to something that swiftly metastasized from a network hiccup to one of the largest data breaches in history. Its perpetrators were at first thought to be goofball hackers, and now are understood to be criminals with quite sophisticated means. As long as PSN remained dark with no estimate for its return, there seemed to be no limit to the bad news. Bringing back PlayStation Network at least removes the "What next?" dread that clung to this crisis for most of its three-week lifespan.
Sony endured more than just the worst three weeks in PlayStation's history. It faced withering criticism from the press, government officials and, of course, its own customers as it labored to restore a global online service counting some 77 million users. Assuredly this will all become a case study in areas of corporate crisis management and network security. For now, Sony deserves our gratitude and a note of congratulations. It's Sunday; let the quarterbacking resume tomorrow.
This is a watershed moment in video gaming, and not in a happy way. It reminds us that, although a service such as PSN may be the custodians of our privacy and personal information, we have chosen to share it with them. We should be mindful that there will always be determined malefactors seeking to pry that information loose. They will act. We should too.
Using separate, secure passwords, and changing them periodically-especially in accounts that contain credit card numbers or other readily exploitable information-these are either inconveniences or responsibilities in a digital society. We're well past the days when considering what information to share and who we share it with and availing ourselves of privacy settings are choices made by excessively cautious persons. This should be mainstream prudent behavior. As video gaming is enjoyed by millions of adolescents and young adults, it's an especially teachable moment for them, too.
PSN still has some work to do before its services are fully back to normal. PlayStation Store must return, a situation still of considerable concern to developers who sell through it. Governments remain interested in Sony demonstrating it has implemented enhanced security. Yes, there are and will be lawsuits.
There will also be a raft of goodwill gestures and make-goods coming to millions of PSN and Sony Online Entertainment customers. And while the outage will likely do damage to community numbers of certain games with heavy online components, most will likely return with forgiveness. The games will go on, and many disappointments will gradually fade.
Yet let's hope the last major headline has not been written. That should concern the arrest of the criminals whose attack brought down PlayStation Network. May they face formidable and painful consequences.


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Subaru Ascent: US recall sees nine owners get brand-new cars
Improper welding forces manufacturer to replace vehicles. There are recalls, and then there are recalls.
Subaru of America has issued a recall for the seven-seat Ascent SUV less than a year after releasing it into the wild, and some affected owners will be getting a completely new car.
According to reports out of the US, a manufacturing fault has caused welding robots to miss "some of the spot welds around the B-pillar", meaning the vehicle's body strength could be compromised, increasing the risk of injury in a collision.
While Subaru's American division has confirmed the issue affects 293 units in total, a spokesperson for the company confirmed with Consumer Reports that only nine examples are in the hands of customers, with the remainder still on dealer lots or in transit.
Those nine affected owners will have their Ascent replaced with a completely new vehicle – considering the issue affects units built between July 13 and July 21, these owners likely won't have covered many miles. Subaru will then "destroy the flawed SUVs".
According to Consumer Reports, this isn't the first time in recent years a manufacturer has replaced vehicles as part of a recall. In February 2017, Jaguar replaced nine XFs with potentially cracked sill panels that could result in leaky fuel lines, and earlier this year 252 Volkswagens were recalled across the Eos, Golf, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg lines for a manufacturing fault.


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Allied Wallet snaps up Hong Kong fintech company Epayment
Global online payments business Allied Wallet has acquired Hong Kong fintech firm Epayment.
A statement released by the firm shows that Epayment, one of the largest financial technology companies in the territory, has been on Allied Wallet’s radar for several months following its successes in connecting with regional users
“I knew that if we could combine the products, features, and functionality of Allied Wallet with Epayment, that we would have a leading product and service in Hong Kong,” said Allied Wallet founder Dr Andy Khawaja. “We are very happy to have acquired Epayment, and we are excited to provide an even more advanced solution in the region. We look forward to making new announcements as this develops.”
About 86 per cent of Hong Kong’s population are internet users. As e-commerce continues to grow in the area, Allied Wallet is aiming for a leadership position in the market with a view to expanding regionally.
Allied Wallet has shown considerable growth for over a decade in the digital payments and fintech space. In the past year alone, it has expanded its offer in numerous countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Spain and Peru.


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Who is Helen Hunt wearing? The actress revealed her flowing gown was designed by...H&M!
Wait, what? Helen said she chose the design because she liked that it was "green".
According to PRNewswire.com, H&M is the first fashion company to launch a global garment-recycling initiative. Customers will be able to exchange used garments in all 269 H&M stores in the US (and in all 48 H&M markets worldwide).
What do you think of Helen's choice? Tell us in the comments section or on Twitter @OKMagazine.


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Would-be dog owners have been warned of a scam involving the fake sales of puppies on Facebook Marketplace in Lincolnshire. The fraudsters are posing as real people presenting photos of puppies for sale, with buyers paying money for a puppy that never arrives.
The advert usually involves photos of a puppy with the fake seller asking buyers to send a private message to them if they are interested. Buyers are then told they only need to pay for delivery and asked to send their address along with a delivery fee.
Lincolnshire Police is asking users of Facebook Marketplace to remain vigilant and wary of posts on purchasing sites such as Facebook Marketplace. It also said it has received reports of buyers' home addresses being shared with other buyers to be used as a targeted address to collect the puppy that doesn't exist.
Fraud protect and prevent officer Sharon Hall said: "It's easy to see how people can fall in love with images of adorable animals on websites or on buy and sell sites online. However, fraudsters will exploit this and use it as the perfect opportunity to get victims to part with their money.
"If you can't see the puppy to verify it is genuine, chances are it is a scam. It's also important to check the language that's being used in the post. Does it make sense, or does it sound as if they've used a translation programme?"
She added: "Never send your private details to anyone if you haven't verified their identity or the product/s they are selling online. If you come across any suspicious adverts or sellers, you can use the online marketplace’s report function to report them."
Ways to avoid fraud when buying a pet:
- Never put down a deposit before seeing the animal first
- Do your research before parting with your money
- Check which companies do deliver pets and ring them first
- Be wary of adverts that state the pet will be delivered to you and asking for upfront costs
- Research who you are buying from and that they are a legitimate seller
- On Facebook Marketplace, view seller's feedback before purchasing anything from them
- Lucy's Law means you can no longer buy a puppy or kitten in England from someone who is not a breeder under the age of six months old
Buyers who think they have been a victim of fraud should contact their bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online.


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SBJ/Dec. 16-22, 2013/People and Pop Culture
Bob Scanlon, Discovery Communications
Published December 16, 2013, Page 3
I’m closely watching over-the-top delivery services and the ways that people are consuming media and television and bypassing traditional service providers. We want to structure delivery of programming to consumers that considers traditional service providers and viewers both as customers.”
Can Velocity afford live sports rights?: You’re seeing tape-delayed motorsports events on our schedule thanks to Discovery’s acquisition of Eurosport. We tested the British Superbike Championship, the European Rally Championship, the Silk Way Rally and one other desert off-road race rally on tape delay. Those series will be available next year live if we opt to carry them live.
Are sports overvalued?: Every time one of these cycles has hit its apex, the reaction has been the same: “Those people are crazy to pay that kind of money for sports programming. They’ll never survive doing it.” Yet in every one of those cycles, the numbers have worked out, and the rights holders make money on these incredibly expensive investments in sports.
How has Velocity’s distribution doubled to 56 million homes over the past four years?: We’ve been able to ride this wave of technological innovation from the cable operators’ point of view. They have essentially eliminated the duplication of standard-def signals and high-definition signals in the cable box. The fact that the set-top box is technically an HD box now makes Velocity a basic service, based on the old affiliate covenants that still are in effect from Discovery HD Theater.


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Brooklyn's own, Lance Stephenson, has joined the swarm of rappers to freestyle over Bobby Shmurda's 'Hot N*gga,' and he makes sure to give his new team owner, Michael Jordan, a shout on the track. No mention of ear-blowing, though he does mention his former team the Indiana Pacers
As many people know the Air Jordan 5 "Bel-Air is releasing this Saturday, October 5th. But what a lot of people don't know is that it is releasing along with a whole 80's themed Jordan pack. The entire pack has the same bright colorway throughout with neon green, pink, and blue on most of the sneakers.
New Yorker's havent been having much luck with limited sneaker releases. Last month, Supreme's flagship store in New York didn't release the highly anticipated Air Force 1 collab, due to fears of a riot.
While New York sneakerheads are still fuming over the fact that the Supreme store won't be stocking the highly coveted Air Force 1 collab, the folks in L.A are kicking it with Wale.
Jerry Seinfeld probably doesn't come to mind when you think of celebrity sneakerheads, and rightfully so. However, the stand up guru happens to know a thing or two about kicks. Looking back on some classic episodes of "Seinfeld," you'll see he showed off a fair share of Nike & Jordan heat throughout the years.
The year of Jordan Brand's 30th anniversary is upon us and along with some returning classic we will be seeing some new look colorways including these Looney Tunes inspired Air Jordan 7s. Two never before seen versions of the Air Jordan 7 have been unveiled, both of which feature colorful accents reminiscent of Marvin The Martian.
Macklemore is back at it again on instagram, showing off another monochromatic Air Jordan 6 that will have the sneaker community buzzing. This isn't the first time the artist has debuted a tonal Jordan 6, accompanied by his cat, as he unveiled a Winter Green colorway earlier this week.
By now you have all seen the hilarious "Sad Kanye" memes from his trip to Mexico where he and Kim Kardashian went zip-lining. Along with the incredibly depressing picture, which created a buzz on the internet, new photos have surfaced that reveal Kanye's zip-lining footwear.
The 2015 Jordan Brand lineup continues to reveal itself, and it includes a number of 30th Anniversary Js in celebration of the Jumpman's milestone year.
Jabari Parker doesn't exactly know which team he will be playing for in the NBA, but he knows which team he'll be repping for. The former Duke Blue Devil has officially signed with Jordan Brand.
Howard Stern Blasts Jeff Van Gundy For Saying He Left Knicks Game Early Apr 9, 2014 at 02:40pm 1 View
Howard Stern was in attendance for last weeks Knicks vs. Nets game at the Garden, and apparently he left early during the blowout win. "Even Nick Lachey stayed!"- Jeff Van Gundy.
Kevin Garnett Has Been Traded Back To The Minnesota Timberwolves Feb 19, 2015 at 02:50pm 5,735 Views
Kevin Garnett has waived his no-trade clause and will be returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
One of the biggest female sneakerheads in the game is celebrating her 24th birthday today.
Michael Jordan autographed the Air Jordan 11 that he wore during game 3 of the 1996 NBA Finals. Those same sneakers are now up for auction and you can expect an outlandish bidding war to ensue.
The Supreme x Nike Air Foamposite One were scheduled to drop at the Supreme NYC store today, but due to the swarm of people lining up outside, the NYPD shut it down. The kicks will still be releasing on-line, but the campers were out of luck.
Lance Stephenson is slaughtering the internet meme game once again, this time for blowing in LeBron James' ear. LeBron was only on the floor for 24 minutes last night, but Lance tried his best to get under his skin while he was on the court.


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SOUTH AFRICA – South African food manufacturing giant, Tiger Brands has reported a 4% rise in revenue for the year ended September 30, 2020 from R28.5 billion (US$1.85 billion) registered in 2019 to R29.79 billion (US$1.93 billion).
However, its profit for the year fell from R3.8 billion (US$246.6 million) to R1 billion (US$64.8 million) due to SA’s strained economy, the national lockdown and the impact of Covid-19, reports Fin24.
“The results for the year have been disappointing, reflecting the challenges faced by the company in maintaining margins in what was an already difficult consumer environment before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said its CEO Noel Doyle.
The food group’s operating income declined by 18% to R2.6 billion (US$168.72 million), from R3 billion (US$194.68 million) of the previous corresponding period and its headline earnings per share decreased by 29% to 940 cents from 1 322 cents in last year.
The company’s sales and distribution expenses, marketing expenses and cost of sales were also on the rise, reducing its earning margins.
In the year ahead, the JSE listed firm is targeting cost savings of R500 million (US$32 million), as revealed by Noel in an interview with Reuters.
To this end, the owner of popular brands Jungle Oats and Tastic rice said it had concluded a sale agreement for some of its brands as it intends to focus its investment behind some core brands.
“The results for the year have been disappointing, reflecting the challenges faced by the company in maintaining margins in what was an already difficult consumer environment before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.”Tiger Brands CEO – Noel Doyle
Outlining a brief growth plan, Doyle said Tiger Brands will look at different models that include joint ventures, venture capital and earning revenue from licensing its brands.
Recently, the company finalized the sale of its value-added meat products business, Enterprise to Silver Blade, a subsidiary of Country Bird Holdings.
Other than the sale of the Vamp business, the food company also entered into a deal to sell its abattoir business at Olifantsfontein to Molare Proprietary Limited, one of South Africa’s largest pork processors.
The firm is also looking at e-commerce opportunities to monetise on the demand and will start with a pilot project to sell one of its products directly to consumers via online shopping as opposed to retail clients.
Doyle said that a lot of the savings for the 2021 financial year, which began in October, are expected to come from improved efficiency in factories, utility costs, negotiating better terms with suppliers and from alternative sourcing.
So far, the group has cut its staff by 400 to reduce costs.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE


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Ericsson revealed consumers are driving smart city deployments by demanding more information on key areas including congestion, air and water quality.
The Swedish vendor's Consumer Labs research division said a global study of 9,030 iPhone and Android smartphone users aged between 15 years and 69 years old revealed that most consumers (76 per cent) want city authorities to install congestion sensors on roads and pavements, and 66 per cent would like real-time information on the quality of drinking water.
Ericsson conducted the study in September, using consumers in London, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Beijing, Delhi, New York, São Paulo, and Tokyo.
The company said the survey shows that consumers want to use their smartphones more when navigating their way around cities. Some 74 per cent said they would like to see interactive street signs and bike or car sharing in their city, while 29 per cent said they would be comfortable using a unified biometric identification service to access public services on a daily basis.
Michael Björn, head of research at Ericsson ConsumerLab, hinted that European cities lag behind those in Asia Pacific and south America in terms of consumer demand for potential new services.
"Delhi, Beijing and São Paulo score very high on usefulness ratings for all concepts we tested--whereas Paris, London, and Stockholm score significantly lower," Björn said, noting that 41 per cent of Stockholm residents are concerned with assessing drinking water quality compared to 92 per cent in Delhi.
Traffic volume map services were ranked highly by survey respondents in all cities, and Ericsson notes such facilities would be the most-used services if launched.
However, Björn also noted that demand for services varies depending on where in a city consumers live. "[C]itizens who live in the central parts of the cities are more interested in the concepts than those who live in suburbs," he noted, adding: "Also, the young and full time workers are those with the overall highest predicted daily use of the concepts, and the ones who will most actively push cities to grow smarter."
Ericsson teams up with Tibco for OSS/BSS boost
Ericsson picks up network deals with Telenor, Algeria Telecom
Ericsson profit dips despite year-on-year rise in Q3 sales
Ericsson enables VoLTE for Telefónica Deutschland
Ericsson maintains run of acquisitions with cloud specialist Sentilla


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The pandemic worsened food insecurity for many people in the U.S., putting more people at risk not only of hunger, but also of chronic diseases that can be managed with access to nutritious, fresh food. In Helping SNAP Consumers in Economic Disadvantage From Numerator, we get a current read on the closely related challenges of food security, the SNAP program, and chronic health management.
The first chart, shown here, reports profiles of people enrolled in SNAP programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, part of the USDA. Numerator, a consumer market research firm, profiled SNAP recipients in late 2022, finding that 61% of enrollees were in the bottom 30 percent of America’s income bracket. Nearly one in two SNAP households had children, compared to 28% of non-SNAP households. And SNAP households are twice as likely to be Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino by race/ethnicity compared to non-SNAP households.
This study examined the “adverse” household faces of SNAP consumers, recognizing that the COVID-19 stimulus package helped provide for food-insecure households for many months. However, when those funds ran out and ended, the era of inflation began in the United States. economy SNAP households are now more likely to be “burdened” with financial burdens, the Numerator noted. The study found that these people greatly outperformed struggling households compared to other US families. One in four cannot buy enough food to feed their family, and most have low confidence that the economy will improve over the next three months.
There are four topics for SNAP benefits and enrollees in 2023, explained in the second table here: brands need to understand how SNAP recipients refine their shopping carts in search of value and lower prices; SNAP consumers buy more private label products (which are lower priced); Health and wellness are central to the shopping behavior of SNAP recipients, which challenges the time constraints in their daily lives; and brands should segment consumers by looking in part at their occupations, heavily indexed to health and home care, housekeeping, childcare/daycare, transportation and other work categories.
Keep these occupational types in mind when considering the health and wellness goals and challenges of SNAP enrollees. These people are nearly 4 times more likely to be disabled than consumers not enrolled in SNAP benefits; these conditions include respiratory health (COPD, asthma, and bronchitis), back pain, and migraines, among other issues.
We know that people who deal with one socially determined risk tend to have more than one, and in this case it’s a higher burden of health costs over a year.
These chronic condition management challenges are exacerbated in terms of risk due to the fact that SNAP members tend to be time-strapped and, of course, financially as well as food-insecure. 56 percent of these consumers are less likely noactively manage their health.
One factor identified by the numerator that may limit people’s ability to self-care is that SNAP recipients are time-strapped, as they are twice as likely to be a caregiver for more than 9 hours per week. One in three SNAP recipients reported shopping at least twice a week as a caregiver, and one third had someone they cared for living in their home (1.2 times more likely than non-SNAP recipients).
Hot spots of Health Populi. “Supply and demand for basic human needs have serious implications,” said the brief, co-authored by Quest Diagnostics and Pack Health.
The essay “Just Eat Healthier” asks why improving diet as a chronic condition management strategy has not been effective for people with food insecurity. The pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity in the United States, as demand has greatly outstripped the supply of food at food banks.
And food insecurity increases people’s risk of chronic disease, the straight line graph shows as a direct correlation. As Pack Health and Quest point out, “lack of resources is not just about food. Those who are food insecure are also more likely to be affected by other social determinants that contribute to poor health.”
Pack Health pairs grocery and meal delivery services with nutrition education and digital learning to address food safety risk for chronic health conditions. Think: telehealth eating meat on wheels meets nutritional education.


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Target Wrestling have announced a second contest for their September 8th event at the Lockerbie Town Hall in Lockerbie, Scotland.
It has been confirmed that Sienna will face Jokey in singles competition in Lockerbie on September 8th.
Photo Credit: Target Wrestling
The announced match card is as follows:
Ivy Mist vs Karnage
Sienna vs Jokey
DCT Confirmed To Appear
Doors Open: 6.00pm. Bell Time: 6.30pm.
Tickets: Available now through the official Target Wrestling website, here. Also available on the door, on the night (dependent on availability).
Source: Target Wrestling


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Lippert Announces Tim Schultz as V-P of Innovation
July 26, 2022
Elkhart, Ind. — Lippert Components, Inc.(Lippert™), a supplier of a broad array of highly engineered components for the leading original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) in the recreation and transportation product markets, and the related aftermarkets of those industries, announces today that Tim Schultz has been promoted to Vice President of Innovation. In his expanded role, he will assume responsibility over the Lippert Corporate Innovation Team to create OEM and aftermarket products for the RV and Marine industries.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with the teams to drive innovation throughout the company and deliver the best products,” said Schultz. “There is a real opportunity to continue to make the experience better for our customers and I am thrilled to be leading the charge.”
Schultz earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. He has 17 years of experience within the RV industry. He started his career with Lippert in 2016 as Director of Chassis Engineering Group.“Earlier this year, we developed the foundation of our four pillars that we will aggressively build this organization out on for the future,” said Jason Lippert, CEO of Lippert. He continued, “Innovation, both through products and processes, is one of those pillars and is something that Lippert has always prided itself on throughout its 66 year history. Tim will most definitely drive this pillar from a product development standpoint. His long history in the RV industry will help innovate products that improve the customer experience. With all of the new RVers and boaters that have entered the industry since the pandemic, it’s paramount that we innovate new products and new features to existing products that make our customers’ experience better and will help make RVing and boating a permanent part of their lifestyle.”
“Tim has proven over his time here at Lippert that he can lead our most important projects from an engineering standpoint,” said Ryan Smith, Group President of Lippert’s North American OEM Markets. Continued Smith, “Putting Tim in this role will help him focus on driving our new and existing product innovation to new levels while still giving guidance to our engineering teams. John Ryhmer will also be staying on with Lippert in a consulting role and will no doubt be a great asset for Tim in this new role.”
With over 120 manufacturing and distribution facilities located throughout North America and EMEA, Lippert is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of highly engineered components and customized solutions dedicated to shaping, growing and bettering the RV, marine, automotive, commercial vehicle and building products industries and their adjacent markets. Lippert also serves a broad array of aftermarket industries, supplying best-in-class products designed to enhance recreational pursuits, both on the road and on the water. From powerful towing technology and automated RV leveling systems to boating furniture and one-of-a-kind shade solutions, Lippert combines strategic manufacturing capabilities with the power of our winning team culture to deliver unrivaled customer service, award-winning innovation, and premium products to every industry and person we serve.
52567 Independence Ct.
Elkhart, IN 46514


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View Here : Black Friday Car Sales
Black Friday is an informal name for the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.The day after Thanksgiving has been regarded as the beginning of America's Christmas shopping season since 1952, although the term "Black Friday" didn't become widely used until more recent decades. ...
Black Friday 2018 will take place Nov. 23. We’ll be covering the top deals and ad scans from the biggest retailers, plus Black Friday store hours and online sales times.
Tally of all the unfortunate deaths and injuries that have ruined the holidays for Black Friday shoppers; violent shootings, pepper-spray accidents and shocking tramplings.
Black Friday 2018. Thanks for stopping by! Black Friday 2018 is now over. Bookmark this page and come back next year to find all the best deals on gifts and popular holiday products.
Black Friday. Walmart Black Friday Deals, Black Friday Ad, and Black Friday Sales. Shop for Black Friday Deals at Walmart.com.
Save money with coupons, cash back and the best Black Friday sales and ads from Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, Overstock, Sears, Macy's, Kohls and many more stores.
Shop our Black Friday 2018 Deals and Sales. Black Friday at Amazon is the time to buy our very top deals at our best prices. Why spend Black Friday at the shops when you can find the best deals right at home online?
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The Black Friday, September 24, 1869, gold panic was caused by the efforts of two speculators, Jay Gould and his partner James Fisk, also called the Gold Ring, to corner the gold market on the New York Gold Exchange.The scandal took place during the Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, whose policy was to sell Treasury gold at weekly intervals to pay off the national debt, stabilize the dollar, and ...
Black Friday is the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season, falling on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. Many retailers offer steep discounts on popular items in order ...


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Apparently impatient and believing that the Chinese were playing a delay game on coming to agreement on a new trade deal, President Trump abruptly signaled a switch to hardball threats. The president issued two linked tweets Sunday, threatening to increase tariffs Friday to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese experts currently taxed at 10%, and to apply a 25% tariff on $325 billion in Chinese exports currently not subject to tariffs “soon.”
For 10 months, China has been paying Tariffs to the USA of 25% on 50 Billion Dollars of High Tech, and 10% on 200 Billion Dollars of other goods. These payments are partially responsible for our great economic results. The 10% will go up to 25% on Friday. 325 Billions Dollars….
….of additional goods sent to us by China remain untaxed, but will be shortly, at a rate of 25%. The Tariffs paid to the USA have had little impact on product cost, mostly borne by China. The Trade Deal with China continues, but too slowly, as they attempt to renegotiate. No!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2019
Stock futures in the United States and around the world immediately plunged:
US stock futures trading
But as Trump well understands, China is far more vulnerable than the US to a downturn in trade. As the Wall Street Journal noted:
U.S. futures pointed to opening losses of 1.9% and 1.8% for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500, respectively.
The Shanghai Composite Index fell 5.6%, while its counterpart in Shenzhen tumbled 7.4%, both registering their biggest single-day declines since 2016.
According to Bloomberg, China is suppressing news of the threats, no doubt hoping to limit the stock market reaction there:


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We’re not talking about the Mach-E.
The Mustang coupe is expected to go fully-electric by then with no ICE alternative.
This means the current Mustang might be 15 years old when it’s replaced.
This story shines a light, albeit a dim one, on the Ford Mustang’s future. The current S550 6th generation Mustang was introduced for the 2015 model year and it was expected to be replaced by a new ‘Stang in 2022 or 2023. Apparently, this may no longer be the case.
The information that states that the Mustang Coupe will go fully-electric by 2028 has a large degree of merit to it. Ford was expected to introduce a 7th generation S650 Mustang at some point soon for the 2022 or 2023 model years. Now, it seems that the S550 will get another update or facelift, possibly as early as this year or next, as it will continue for another seven years.
Autoline Network reports that the next-generation Mustang will not go into production before December 2028. The reason is that Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan plant will need to be heavily retooled in order to build the new EV.
This second electric Pony, to go along with the Mach-E, could possibly spawn a Mustang sub-brand, mush like the Bronco.


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An insider has stated that Jedi Fallen Order 2 is definitely going to be revealed in May this year, likely at Star Wars Celebration.
Star Wars fans have had a lot to look forward to recently, and there could be even more on the horizon. According to Jeff Grubb, a gaming industry insider, a sequel to Jedi Fallen Order will be revealed at the Star Wars Celebration this year. That means we could be seeing it in May.
This comes after the announcement of even more new Star Wars games. Star Wars Eclipse was announced not long ago, though it might be a long way off. And a new LEGO Star Wars game, The Skywalker Saga, is on the way as well.
May The Force Be With You
A sequel to Jedi Fallen Order was announced back in January. However, we didn’t learn much about it, and there was no footage to be seen. We know it’s being developed by Respawn Entertainment though, the studio who made the original.
Talking about the game, Grubb said “We’re going to hear about that in May at Star Wars Celebration, is when that’s coming, so keep an eye out for that, because that’s where it’s happening – 100%.“
However, he suggested that the game will not be released in 2022, and instead might be released in early 2023. Obviously, take this with a grain of salt.
Are you interested in seeing what Jedi Fallen Order 2 has to offer? Let us know on our social media channels!
Along with the latest games, merch, and accessories, the GameByte Shop has an epic Loyalty Points Scheme – earning you points for every £1 you spend to redeem for huge discounts! Also, sign up to our newsletter to be notified of new-gen console drops, deals, and more. Please note the GameByte Shop is available for UK customers only.
Featured Image Credit: EA


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There are always providers looking to capitalise on a single party's choice on withdrawing a popular service. It's known across the Internet that the search giant is closing down Google Reader, the company's RSS service later this year. Competing services have taken this as a golden chance to expand business and attract those who will be surely looking for an alternative and migrate away from Google. Cue Feedly.
For the moment, Feedly (www.feedly.com) is best known as an RSS plugin for Chrome, Safari and Firefox, as well as an app for iOS and Android. Unfortunately, for the time being the service doesn't currently support Microsoft's Windows Phone and Windows 8 platforms (without going through a web browser). Cyril Moutran, head of product and strategy at Feedly has since confirmed that apps for both Windows Phone and Windows RT / 8 are planned. Good news, folks.
Feedly has claimed the service added an impressive 500,000 new users in the first 48 hours after Google announced the closure of Google Reader - we expect more will follow suit should the service cover Windows and its mobile counterpart. Moutran failed to provide dates for when consumers can expect to see the apps available in respective stores, but it's good to know other services are picking up where Google has left off.
We've also looked at the likes of Nextgen Reader, popular Google Reader apps for Windows Phone, seeking alternative services to keep apps live on the store and provide a service for consumers who still wish to continue using feeds. Social networks are certainly taking some of the shares away from RSS feeds, but it's always handy to be able to pick up news stories from multiple categories without clutter and unwanted content.
We'll continue to monitor the situation and follow the developments of Nextgen Reader and other Windows Phone apps.
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All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.


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1. Vocal for Local
In these strange times, the Dutch have wanted to keep close to home when it comes to purchasing goods and services. In a COVID-19 Barometer survey conducted in April 2020, some 69 percent of Dutch consumers said they preferred or strongly preferred buying products that had been produced in the Netherlands, followed by products that had been produced in other European countries. Services and goods produced in the USA and China, by contrast, were significantly less preferred.
2. 5G is here
The Netherlands’ largest telecom providers began to roll out 5G service in major metro areas in mid-2020, with a goal achieving of nationwide service in 2021. This should be a boon for personal data usage in a country that already boasts Europe’s highest internet connectivity and smartphone usage. But beyond providing ordinary people with higher download speeds, 5G could also mean huge advances in a number of industries and project categories – for the way that it promises to finally make the “Internet of Things” a widespread reality by allowing devices to talk to each other near-instantaneously. In one creative application of 5G’s potential, T-Mobile Netherlands held a demonstration where a tattooist remotely inked a design on a woman using a “smart pen” connected by 5G to a needle-wielding robot.
3. Helping the elderly
Much of the rhetoric around wearing a facemask has centered around the importance of coming together to help the Netherlands’ most vulnerable people. In this way, the pandemic has reminded people about the importance of the country’s elderly population: not only are they beloved family members – they are the country’s institutional memory, people worked hard in decades past to give today’s young Dutch people a good life. This is an especially opportune time for brands and businesses to focus on reaching and helping the country’s mature citizens. Innovations like contactless delivery, dead-simple online shopping interfaces, and easy-open packaging may be conveniences for younger consumers in a time of social distancing – but they are real lifelines for older Dutch shopprs.
4. Employee welfare
At the height of the Spring 2020 coronavirus outbreak, when surveyed by Kantar’s COVID-19 Barometer, a majority of Dutch consumers said that the most important thing companies should be doing for society was “protecting employees’ health.” Now more than ever, brand image in the Netherlands is shaped by the way a company treats not just its customers, or the environment, but also its own employees. Labor relations has become more important than ever to a brand’s reputation. When companies fall short of their responsibilities to workers – for example, in the cases of inadequate protections at a number of Dutch meatpacking plants in mid-2020 – consequences could be swift. By contrast, companies that go above and beyond to care for employees at difficult times – by looking after employees’ mental health, say, or supporting their families – can boost their overall brand reputations in lasting ways.
5. Room for optimism
Temperamentally, the Dutch have responded to the coronavirus crisis in ways that were quite distinct from the rest of Europe. By July 2020, a significant proportion of Dutch consumers – more one in five – wanted brands to “be optimistic and think unconventionally” as their main reaction to the ongoing pandemic. This desire was almost totally absent in other countries. Relative to other markets in 2021, then, there is room for brands in the Netherlands to strike a more positive and proactive tone in not just their messaging, but also in their offerings to consumers. Kantar consumer testing has also shown that Dutch consumers are in no way “bothered” by advertising that doesn’t mention or allude to coronavirus in any way.
6. Reducing leftover waste
As part of its emergence as a leader in next-gen global sustainability, the Dutch have become especially ingenious in using mobile platforms to reduce waste and use up excess production – most notably in the leftover food platform Too Good To Go. This year, the Dutch startup Otrium raised €24m for its platform aimed at selling fashion merchandise that’s left over in stores at the end of a fashion season. Typically this unsold stock languishes in warehouses – or worse, heads to landfills or incinerators. And the volume of unsold clothing has soared to an all-time high of late, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Otrium wants to change that, and to that end it currently has over a million registered users and 200 brand partners. It is shaping up to be a major player in the world of “circular fashion.”
7. Finding a new balance
While “stay at home” recommendations led to ample hardships and difficulties, for some Millennial and Gen Z Dutch people, it also provided an opportunity to step off the treadmill of work stress that has characterized much of their adult lives. A May 2020 Kantar qualitative study features stories from young Dutch people about finally finding the time to cook healthy food, plan for the future, and take care of mental health: as one female Millennial put it, “The lockdown gave me time to finally calm down and [prevented] me from having a burnout.” Going forward, these young citizens will reward brands and employers who help them to protect this newfound sense of balance.
8. Transparent sourcing
Dutch consumers are increasingly interested in understanding the provenance and supply chains behind the products they buy. In part, this is due to a “shop local” desire to support one’s compatriots during tough times. In part, it’s because in the quest for health and safety, knowledge is power – and consumers want to avoid sourcing products from faraway areas where less is known about safety risks. The desire for transparent sourcing is especially strong in the food and beverage space. Many startups in these categories, such as the online grocer Crisp, have publicized their connections to local farms as a strong selling point for their brands; established grocery player Albert Heijn, meanwhile, has launched a new online tracker that illustrates the sourcing journey for all of its own-label products.
9. Reclaiming public space
The importance of fresh air and abundant outdoor public space became clearer than ever in Spring and Summer 2020. In April, more than half of Dutch respondents in the COVID-19 Barometer reported that “catching sunlight” was one of the main ways they were trying to manage their mental health. As the country begins to envision its “New Normal,” there is ample opportunity for businesses and government to gift a grateful public with new types of public space and al fresco infrastructure. Witness, for instance, the happiness with which Utrecht residents met the 2020 reopening of the full Catharijnesingel canal, parts of which had been converted into a highway in the 1970s.
10. Rural Netherlands in transition
The Netherlands’ rural areas have always been a vital part of Dutch identity and culture; in 2020, for instance, the novelist Marieke Lucas Rijneveld’s raw portrait of life on a farm, “The Discomfort of Evening,” won the prestigious International Booker Prize. Now, however, in the wake of the 2019 Urgenda Foundation ruling, the coming decade promises to be a transformative one for the Dutch countryside. The government has announced schemes to phase out many high-emissions forms of agriculture – and while some types of farming will persist, there’s nevertheless a sense that rural Dutch communities will need to redesign what it means to live with, and off, the land. Are there waysways for rural life to simultaneous become more high-tech and more traditional? More proud, yet also more inclusive? Should the goal be to preserve as much of the old ways as possible, or to build a new vision of the Dutch countryside? These are the questions that lie ahead.
11. Encouraging travel dreams
No category has more pent-up demand at the moment than travel. In August 2020, more than half of Dutch people surveyed in Kantar’s COVID-19 barometer said they were planning to wait a month or more before they felt safe travelling for pleasure domestically and internationally – and then, in September, a renewed wave of coronavirus infections hit the Netherlands and delayed many travel plans even further. Going forward, consumers are eager for solutions to help them manage risks around travel – from hygienic products they can take with them on their trip, to flexible financing solutions that make it easy to cancel or postpone a booking. In the meantime, people are also eager for products and experiences (from transporting foods, to immersive entertainments) that can give them the kinds of escapism and discovery that are the next best thing to a real vacation.
12. Private transit
2020 marked a retreat from the Netherlands’ embrace of public transit, as safety concerns and work-from-home protocols led many to let their train and bus passes lapse. Over the next few years, the famously bike-loving Dutch may see increased interest in car usage and road trips: both for the sense of freedom that cars represent, as well as the way they offer a kind of “personal sanitary bubble” unique among forms of long-distance transportation. This is not to say that the Netherlands will become a country of widespread car usage – but there will be more opportunity for solutions geared around car rentals and partial ownership, as well as new codes of culture and consumption geared around the appeal of “the open road.” For instance: drive-throughs, drive-ins, and car camping.
13. Child enrichment
Although in-person Dutch schooling was not suspended for as long as in other countries, there is still a desire on the part of adults to help children “catch up” and “make up” for the disruptions of 2020. This can take the form of extra educational enrichment - or even more simply, it could mean providing young citizens with fun experiences that help them regain the experience of being a normal kid. Parents appreciate any help they can get in this regard - for instance, Bol.com’s pandemic-era promotion that offered children’s books and stories for just a cent.
14. Inequity and inclusion
Spurred in part by global “Black Lives Matter” protests, in 2020 the Netherlands’ has taken a step forward in publicly grappling with issues of racial equity. Annual debates over the “Black Peter” character have now broadened in scope to include a wider reckoning with symbols of Dutch colonialism, as well with the barriers to inclusion that many people of color still face in modern Dutch society. Although led by young people and activists, these efforts have also gained support from leading athletes and celebrities. This is not a moment – it’s a lasting movement.
15. Climate adaptive design
Thanks to low-lying geography, the Netherlands has long been at the forefront of using architecture and design to minimize the impact of environmental threats like rising sea levels. Now, as the effects of global climate change begin to accelerate worldwide, the country has an opportunity to export that design expertise to help the world confront a new wave of climatic damage. The resilient cities of the future will need to guard against not just against floods and storm surge, but also heat waves, fires, tornados and hail. In 2020, for instance, the Dutch town of Arnhem launched a 10-year construction plan to prepare for the effects of extreme heat – an overhaul that includes replacing 10 percent of existing asphalt with grass, the better to disperse heat and capture water.


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T-Mobile G1 Is No Longer For Sale: An Android Legend Passes On
At the time of its birth, the G1 was a huge hit, and it meant that the iPhone finally had some decent competition. But the G1 was limited by a 528MHz processor and a 480x320 resolution display, not to mention the tiny amount of internal storage. But the G1 started a revolution that has eventually led to the Nexus One, DROID Incredible, HTC EVO 4G and DROID X.
As of today, the G1 doesn't appear to be available for sale as a new unit from any of the usual suspects, including T-Mobile USA and Amazon. But be sure to take a moment and thank the now-dead G1 for what it did for the smartphone industry.


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As the sunny days of early autumn transition to a crisp November chill, many local tour companies, farms and restaurateurs have wrapped up their outdoor offerings, shifting their focus to the offseason work that demands attention. But while farm stands sit bare and seasonal ingredients disappear from menus, the period from late November through early spring provides lesser-known possibilities for savoring the season’s particular charms.
Those hosting family or friends during Thanksgiving weekend might want to consider the holiday offerings from Asheville Farm to Table Tours. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23-25, participants can tour local farms in Buncombe County, Madison County or Fairview, depending on the day.
When asked what sets her recently launched business apart, Ann Stauss says, “I think the main thing is starting at the place you’re visiting and being able to eat that same food that same day.” Each tour lasts four to 5 1/2 hours and combines visits to at least three local farms with a prepared meal featuring produce or goods from each of them. “The biggest thrill has been seeing people sit down and eat things they’ve just seen growing at the different places,” Stauss says. “People have been really excited and happy about that.”
Many clients, continues Stauss, “have been very surprised with how thrilled they are to experience the source. I’ve had people say, ‘I don’t really care about farms; they don’t really interest me,’ but by the end of the day they have a whole different perspective.”
Another benefit, she notes, is finding out where these items are regularly available, whether through a community supported agriculture program, a tailgate market or a store. Stauss also brings along empty coolers to hold purchases guests make during the tours.
Annie Louise Perkinson, co-manager of Flying Cloud Farm, says the tours “have been wonderful. It’s been really interesting to connect with people from all different walks of life and all different places who are interested in farming. I think when people have a connection to their food, they’re more inclined to support local farms.”
Victor Chiarizia of Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery agrees, saying Stauss is “doing a good job of bringing a diverse crowd of people through, and they really appreciate learning about cheese. We show them how we make the cheese, give them a nice sampling of cheeses, and then they can look in the cave to see what goes on in there. It’s a lot different doing it in an underground cave as opposed to just a cold room.”
Asheville Farm to Table Tours will continue offering some private outings throughout the fall and winter. Contact the business for more information (see box).
Stauss’ business is not the only one keeping the momentum going while waiting for the clocks to spring ahead once again. Creative Mountain Food Tours in Black Mountain will maintain its schedule throughout the winter months, encouraging those seeking an especially festive holiday experience to join either the Thanksgiving weekend Ultimate Foodie Tour or an outing on Saturday, Dec. 3, which coincides with Holly Jolly weekend festivities in Black Mountain.
Eating Asheville walking food tours, meanwhile, will continue offering tours seven days a week. During two weeks of the holiday season, says founder Stephen Steidle, The High Roller tour “is packed to the brim with seasonal food and drink, giving the restaurants an opportunity to show off.”
No Taste Like Home will be running tours by request throughout the winter. The business is currently offering a holiday special on its gift certificates, which can be applied to a private winter tour or saved for use next spring, summer or fall. And finally, Asheville Food Tours’ 3 1/2-hour walking tours, available year-round, feature at least six tasting stops in downtown Asheville.
Food and drink have traditionally been defenses against the scourge of winter, and these local businesses offer diverse opportunities to explore Asheville’s extraordinary four-season food scene.


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If you’ve been working hard to eat more broccoli or blueberries, headlines like “Fruits and vegetables don’t lead to weight loss, study says” can drive you crazy. You may wonder if it’s worth the effort. I certainly hear from people questioning whether they can trust any nutrition and weight loss messages when they see headlines like these.
Make no mistake about it, fruits and vegetables are a key part of a cancer-preventive diet. And they can play a role in getting to and staying a healthy weight – important for lowering risk for eight cancers and other chronic diseases. Even the authors of that recent study acknowledge that in their paper. So why the confusing messages?
Here’s what that study was about: The authors say that health organizations promote increasing veggies and fruit for weight loss without explaining the need to also decrease overall calories. So they looked for studies that tested the idea that simply adding vegetables and fruit to your diet will lead to weight loss. Continue reading
If you spot calorie information on your restaurant menu, does it help you decide what to order?
For about six of every ten adults living in select states, that calorie information does help them decide what to order. At least sometimes, that is, with about one of every ten diners using that nutrition information for every purchase, according to a new government survey.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study comes from residents of 17 states that have menu labeling and completed a 2012 phone survey about it. In 2010, a federal law required chain restaurants to display the calories of their menu items, and some states started those requirements quickly. Given that some studies show Americans eat up to a quarter of our calories at restaurants, using calorie information may help restaurant-goers make healthier choices. That, in turn, can reduce cancer risk.
Respondents were only counted if they visited fast food or chain restaurants and noticed the menu labeling. Among the findings: Continue reading
With all the weight loss support groups out there, it’s no surprise that having support can make a difference when it comes to eating healthier and exercising. A new study now suggests that coworkers, friends and family can undermine weight loss or increase it over two years, depending upon their support.
The study is important for cancer prevention – along with overall health – because overweight and obesity increases risk of eight cancers, including colorectal and postmenopausal breast.
Published in Obesity, the study included 633 high-school employees who were participating in a weight gain prevention study. About a third of the participants were overweight and another quarter were obese.
At the start, participants were weighed and then answered questions about how supportive or unsupportive their friends, family and colleagues were about their diet and exercise behaviors. Continue reading


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Volkswagen is under pressure to cut ties with China due to allegations of forced labor in its supply chains. US Customs impounded VW vehicles at ports because a Chinese subcomponent was believed to violate forced labor laws. VW is seeking a replacement part. China's treatment of its Muslim Uyghur population has led to growing concerns among Western firms. The US has enacted the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Amid collapsing faith in China, India is seen as a new manufacturing hotspot. Western companies are also concerned about intellectual property theft and tariffs.
FAQ | VW Auto Supply Chain Falters as US 'Forced Labour' Law Delays Imports
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why has the VW auto supply chain faltered in the US?
Answer: The VW auto supply chain has faltered due to the U.S. enforcing a 'forced labour' law that delays imports. Specifically, U.S. Customs has impounded several thousand VW vehicles that arrived at ports because they contained a Chinese subcomponent suspected of being produced with forced labor.
2. What vehicles are affected by the US Customs' actions?
Answer: The vehicles affected include various models from the Volkswagen Group, such as Audis, Bentleys, and other VW vehicles that incorporated the Chinese subcomponents under scrutiny.
3. What is the legislation that has led to the import delays?
Answer: The import delays are a result of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act that Congress passed, prohibiting the importation of goods made in Xinjiang, China, due to concerns over forced labor practices in the region.
4. How does this law impact international auto manufacturers like Volkswagen?
Answer: The law impacts international auto manufacturers by creating supply chain disruptions and legal issues. It forces companies to scrutinize their supply chains and ensure no components are sourced from regions associated with forced labor, which can lead to reputational risks and legal challenges if not properly managed.
5. Are any other auto manufacturers affected by this issue?
Answer: Yes, other auto manufacturers, including BMW, Mercedes, and Tesla, have also faced scrutiny and challenges related to forced labor allegations in their supply chains, especially concerning components sourced from the Xinjiang region of China.
6. Have any actions been taken to investigate these forced labor allegations in auto supply chains?
Answer: The Senate Finance Committee and other entities have expanded investigations into auto supply chain links to forced labor in Xinjiang, China. There is increasing regulatory and legislative attention to ensure that forced labor does not taint automotive supply chains.
Please note that these answers are provided based on the content of search results up to early 2023 and updates on this subject may have occurred since then. For the most current information, you should refer to the latest sources.


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The Derry branch of high street clothing store Bon Marche is to close.
The eleven staff of the store in the Richmond Centre are said to be devastated by the impending closure, as they had believed their jobs were safe when Bon Marche was bought out of administration at the start of this week.
However, the ‘Journal’ understands staff received a call a short time later to tell them the store will be closed.
A spokesperson for the new owners of Bon Marche, Sun European Partners, said that 230 shops across the UK would remain open, but between 100 and 160 stores would close.
The spokesperson added that the closures will occur within the next few months.
Signs announcing a closing down sale were put on display earlier this week but it is understood local employees don’t have full details of when the store will cease to trade.
The news about Bon Marche’s closure comes just days after staff at Gamestop turned up to work to be told the Foyleside store would be cease trading immediately.
A spokesperson for the American based Gamestop said they had announced their intentions last year to “exit the UK market.”
She confirmed that the four remaining stores in Northern Ireland, including the one in Derry, have closed and customers can redeem outstanding trade credits and gift cards online.
Sinead McLaughlin, chief executive of the local Chamber of Commerce said they are working closely with retailers in Derry “to protect and expand the retail sector in the city.
“Next month the Chamber is organising and hosting a workshop that will support retailers and statutory bodies to brand the city as a retail destination; that will bring in retail experts to advise on in-store layout, design and retail atmospherics; and will help retailers to grasp the opportunities of online retailing.
“While retailers face tough times, when they work together, with the Chamber and with statutory bodies, we can do much to help retailers survive and then to thrive.
”The Chamber also believes it is absolutely essential that statutory bodies and businesses work together to improve the city’s environment to attract more shoppers and visitors to the city centre.”
Ms McLaughlin added: “Derry has marvellous opportunities ahead. City of Culture has the potential to transform Derry’s fortunes not just for one year, but permanently. We must ensure that we build on this opportunity to protect Derry as the major retailing and tourism destination of the North West.”


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The company announced the plan as it works to avoid EU tariffs
Donald Trump has expressed surprise that Harley-Davidson is moving production of EU-bound motorbikes out of the United States.
The US President accused the company of 'waving the white flag' amid a trade dispute between the US and EU.
Harley Davidson motorbikes were among dozens of US goods - also including the likes of Levi jeans, bourbon whiskey and orange juice - hit with 25% import tax from the EU last week.
The European duties were in retaliation to the Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs on aluminum and steel imports.
Harley-Davidson says European customers would be paying almost €1,900 more on its bikes if it did nothing.
In an official filing, the company said: "Harley-Davidson believes the tremendous cost increase, if passed onto its dealers and retail customers, would have an immediate and lasting detrimental impact to its business in the region, reducing customer access to Harley-Davidson products and negatively impacting the sustainability of its dealers’ businesses.
"Harley-Davidson will be implementing a plan to shift production of motorcycles for EU destinations from the US to its international facilities to avoid the tariff burden."
However, Donald Trump has tweeted urging the company to 'be patient' - claiming that taxes are 'just a Harley excuse'.
Surprised that Harley-Davidson, of all companies, would be the first to wave the White Flag. I fought hard for them and ultimately they will not pay tariffs selling into the E.U., which has hurt us badly on trade, down $151 Billion. Taxes just a Harley excuse - be patient! #MAGA— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2018


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A crippling and “historic” snowstorm appears set to bear down on most of the Northeast this week — a fact that has not escaped the attention of brands on Twitter. But before you prepare your workplace exit strategies, rush to the supermarkets for supplies and break out your Slankets, check out the smart, the servicey and the just plain stupid from brands on Twitter today:
The pizza purveyor tends to get social media right (with one notably regrettable exception). This brand-on-brand action is a little cute and a little pandering, but they clearly know their audience.
— DiGiorno Pizza (@DiGiornoPizza) January 26, 2015
A nation in the throes of “Game of Thrones” withdrawal sees what you did there, car company.
A very savvy marketing maneuver on behalf of Orbitz. One problem though: storm-slammed cities are seeing flight cancelations in droves. Saving for future flights is nice and all, but for now we’ll have to settle for a Mexico of the mind.
Clearly this isn’t a stock photo or hackneyed Photoshop job. Sony appears to actually live up to its “always ready” claim with this one.
A bit of a stretch here: It’s hardly house painting season. Still, this is a decent sentiment and serves equally to promote its “Snowfall” line of paint.
This is a great tip from an organization that does excellent work. Bonus points for the proper deployment of multiple relevant hashtags.
A helpful reminder from CVS to stock up. Though we can think of a few “essentials” glaringly omitted from this roundup. We might be talking about beer and other boredom, um, prophylactics.
— CVS/pharmacy (@CVS_Extra) January 26, 2015
Often at the top of its social media game, Chobani tweets this drool-worthy recipe for all of us future shut-ins.
A botched attempted at making light of a botched hashtag. Self-aware, maybe. But mostly an awkward and, well, not especially germane to blizzard life.
At least the shoemonger has moved on from trolling and being blatantly offensive. Sad that plain old groan-inducing puns mark an improved look, though.
Using a massive pop-culture hit is a good look and on brand — especially for a youth-oriented network. But using last year’s massive pop-culture hit? More AARP than MTV.
Can Snap make it as an AR company?
The real question Snap faces is whether adding AR elements to its platform will help it continue growing in the face of competition and uncertainty.
How NFTs could evolve for brands — now that marketers know what they actually are
NFTs are finally growing out of crypto novelty into next-gen loyalty tools. Tyler Moebius, founder and CEO of SmartMedia Technologies, explains where else they can go.
Why digital clutter is driving brands to rethink the value of newspapers advertising
GE, Equinox, Take 5 Oil and agency TBWA New York are among those investing in newspaper ads to generate social media buzz in an ever-more cluttered digital environment.
SponsoredHow ad tech is tackling waste by optimizing supply chains
Sponsored by Bidtellect The programmatic and digital advertising industry is well aware of the inefficiencies in buying and selling — from auction duplication and volume bias to multi-integrations and reselling — but how did it get this out of control? How can we fix it? A redundant, multiple-step process to ad delivery has become the norm, […]
The ‘retirement’ of M&M spokescandies raises questions about viral marketing, edgy content
Marketers have mixed feelings and questions about the value of viral, stunt marketing after M&M's "retirement" of its spokescandies.
With TikTok’s growing list of issues, should marketers think twice about the platform?
There is a growing list of issues that TikTok needs to resolve, but marketers seem unfazed and continue to be enthralled by the platform.


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A monthly survey shows consumers’ confidence in the economy in December surged to the highest level since April and is near a post-recession peak.
The surge builds on another big increase in November, when the index rose almost 15 points from the month before.
Improving confidence is in line with retail reports of a decent holiday shopping season. Still, the December confidence reading is below the 90 level that indicates an economy on solid footing.
Economists watch the confidence numbers closely because consumer spending — including items like health care — accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.
More breaking news
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- 7 LI businesses receive low power allocations
- Orders for durable goods plunged in June
- MTA seeks proposals for ‘re-imagined’ subway cars
- As Fed ends meeting, few expect much clarity on next hike
- Priciest home sales in Northport
- The big screen