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EXCLUSIVE: England to be kitted in Nike as American giants agree deal to replace Umbro
American sportswear giant Nike are on the verge of signing the deal to be the official kit provider for the England football team.
Nike are believed to be launching a new England away strip as early as next spring, despite the fact the existing deal with Umbro was supposed to run until 2018.
Consumers eager to wear the current strip may have to fork out for another new England kit, though Nike's plans are not yet clear.
Change strip: How the England kit may look with the Nike swoosh
New order: Rooney and Co are set to be kitted in strips by Nike instead of Umbro
The move, which will earn the FA millions, will be seen as a fightback after German rivals adidas dominated the Olympics by supplying Team GB.
FA officials were last week ready to announce that a relationship with Manchester-based manufacturer Umbro was about to be terminated.
And while the FA refused to comment last night, Sportsmail understands an agreement has been reached for Nike to take over.
Done deal: An agreement has been reached for Nike to take over
Umbro's link with England dates back to the 1950s, and their £20million a year deal runs until 2018.
It stipulated that only Umbro could supply the England team. But Nike announced in May their plan to sell Umbro - having bought them in 2007 for £285m - and made a proposal to the FA that the governing body seem ready to accept.
In a move first mooted in Sportsmail's Sports Agenda column, Nike offered the FA the chance to sign a lucrative new deal or stay with a company facing an uncertain future, given how important the England contract has been to the brand for so many years.
Tradition: Umbro's current £20m a year deal runs until 2018
Nike have also taken over the contract Umbro had with Manchester City. It was only in 2009 that the English champions signed a 10-year deal with Umbro, worth £6m a year.
City will wear Nike shirts from next season, and Nike England away shirts are due in spring.
The home strip was launched only in February and for two years, but the Nike 'swoosh' is likely to replace the Umbro badge on that kit as well next spring, which may not impress fans.
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However, AI and AR have been around for much longer than you may be aware of. Self-driving cars and cancer detection through AI and computer vision may seem like the future; but in reality, these are concepts which have been around for years and only advancing each day. Luckily, Dashmote is here to disclose the newest trends you may not be aware of in the AI/AR/Computer Vision and Visual Tech sphere. These are trends that every marketer, tech-feign, business owner, and entrepreneur should know about if they plan on staying up to date and making money in 2017. So read up and let us know your thoughts:
As addressed by Evan Nisselson at the LDV Vision Summit this May in New York City, cameras will eventually be everywhere. What Evan refers to as “The Internet of Eyes” will encompass more than the Internet of Things with a goal of visually communicating and understanding each other better. With 90% of our daily interaction being visual; the reason why it’s only becoming such a mainstream and fundamental element to the business world now is because of real time access, computer vision, AI, machine learning, and cloud infrastructure that allows us to scale as quickly as we want. Things have changed drastically--requiring us to change the way we think drastically.
So what do we mean by visual technology? Don’t be shy to wonder, this is a trending topic in the business, tech, and marketing world but there is not always a concrete explanation behind it. According to Nisselson, visual tech is defined by any technology that captures, analyzes, filters, monetizes, displays visual data. Why is this critical to our lives and how we conduct business? Nisselson gives a practical example of the importance of images and visual concepts. We can look at a couple of pictures, it takes a few minutes. However, computers can look at millions and billions of photos in seconds--combining computing with visual aspects is not only an opportunity for many business, but it revolutionizes all businesses.
Recently, Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Facebook would adopt its first ubiquitous augmented reality platform during its F8 Conference in California. If you think this is just an attempt of following in Snapchat’s footsteps, you may be a little off in terms of its capabilities. The foundation of the AR camera platforms consists of two apps: AR Studio and Frame Studio. Zuckerberg states that “the first augmented reality platform that becomes mainstream isn’t going to be glasses, it’s going to be cameras.” This theory goes hand in hand with Nisselson’s presentation on “the internet of eyes”. As Evan mentions, the most important feature on a phone today is the camera. The data we capture now and organize and filter, as well as the data of having cameras everywhere will exponentially grow, every inanimate object will have something of a camera, it will take visual data and deliver signals to us for better understanding.
With a similar concept to Snapchat, Facebook takes it a few steps further. The Facebook Camera Feature is part of a Camera Effects platform which intends to be compatible with future augmented reality hardware--i.e. glasses for instance. The tools are designed for artists and developers, and allow for users to instill AR effects through templates and other functions. All users can access Facebook’s Frame Studio to upload any images and then add image filters and overlays that will appear in Facebook Camera to their friends or a Page’s fans. Facebook ensures that the user receives credit for the image as your name appears on the Frame’s preview and News Feed post. Zuckerberg also revealed how information cards will work within Facebook’s AR platform, showing information relevant to a given object or landmark. User’s will be able to save time by knowing which stores have promotions and items of interest on sale prior to even leaving their homes.
Good news for developers--Facebook allows you guys to apply for access to the closed beta of the platform’s AR Studio Tool. Facebook takes recognition software to the next level by allowing developers to use specific location, object recognition, and depth detection in order to most effectively create their effects. Zuckerberg explains that this gives them the ability “to make informational tools like overlaid suggestions from experts on businesses, interactive games and mind-bending art that would be impossible to create in the real world.”
As Nisselson mentioned at the LDV Summit, in order to have VR and AR work, we need content. Content is still king. However, VR and AR content is extremely difficult to create. Luckily, here are the three categories of AR content we are glad to share with you according to Mark Zuckerberg:
Augmenting objects in the physical world with additional information like putting directions atop the street or a restaurant’s reviews on their storefront
Layering new virtual objects onto reality like a chess board or working television
Enhancing objects that are already there with extra effects, like giving you a glitter beard or adding a castle turret to your apartment building
Zuckerberg explains that the previous computing platforms were entirely digital and accessible to anyone connected to the internet. Thus, the advantage in this is that Facebook doesn’t need to build everything by itself. This developer platform allows for many more consumers, developers, etc to utilize and re-appropriate AR in much bigger and more advanced experiences.
In Nisselson’s “Internet of Eyes” presentation, he expands briefly on what he describes as the “satellite selfie.” He implies that the grieving process will soon commence as we accept the gradual death of the selfie stick. He explains that eventually you will be able to touch a button on your phone and take a satellite image of yourself from above--there will be no need to carry cameras anymore. In fact, DSLR’s trend of megapixels has already made the transition to camera phones as well--3D will be the final nail in the coffin of 99% of DSLR’s. An example of this is the Google phone, which is called Pixel--reiterating this concept. With 12.3 MP, 1.55 μm for capturing shots in any light, and f/2.0 aperture for bright, even photos--essentially this is a DSLR camera. Not to mention the cherry on top, Google made sure users would have unlimited storage for all their photos and videos as well as 7 hours of battery life in 15 minutes of charging. Say goodbye to big, heavy cameras, fancier cameras meaning shorter battery life, and frustration when your memory card is full.
Nisselson touches base on the importance of visuals and photos in general. There is so much data in a photo through it’s different layers, such as; location, colors, destination, where the satellite images are--which, in essence, help us be healthier, make our businesses evolve, and allow us to get closer with customers. Nisselson emphasizes that visual technology is fundamental to computers. “Without any eyes on that computer, he says, a robot doesn’t know what’s out there.” Likewise, he says that a camera without computer visuals, AI, and machine learning has absolutely no value.
Fei-Fei Li, one of the presenters at LDV Summit, and Director of the Stanford University Artificial Intelligence Lab and Chief Scientist AI/ML at Google Cloud states: “The only path to build intelligent machines is to enable it with powerful visual intelligence, just like what animals did in evolution. While many are searching for the ‘killer app’ of vision, I’d say, vision is the ‘killer app’ of AI and computing.”
With Amazon arguably being the most powerful retailer online, it’s not entirely shocking that the company recently bought over Whole Foods for over $13 billion. According to Forbes, the grocery business is enormous, about $675 billion per year in the U.S. alone. However, this isn’t the first time that Amazon tries to flourish in the food industry. Amazon has struggled for some time now to scale with brick-and-mortar bookstores and grocery stores. Currently only open to Amazon employees in the Beta program, Amazon has opened a convenience store in one of its many offices in Seattle which does not require cashiers. They claim that their checkout-free shopping experience is made possible by a combination of AI technology, computer vision, sensors, and deep learning that automatically detects when and what products shoppers remove or return to the shelves. The “Just Walk Out Technology” keeps track of what you take in a virtual cart, and when finished, the customer can freely just leave the store without visiting a cashier. Reminiscent of the Uber app, all that is required is an Amazon account, a smartphone, and the Amazon Go app. If this trial run of the automated checkout process becomes successful enough, more than 3.4 million employed cashiers in the United States could face serious unemployment issues, as every other retailer would attempt to integrate it. You can watch the video on Amazon Go here.
However, what can be observed from Amazon is their realization and domination of combining online and real-life retail as one concept, rather than separating as two entities. More retailers need to understand that consumers do not consider the two as separate channels, they reflect one another and must work together in order to help a business thrive to the fullest. With Amazon opening its fifth physical bookstore in Chicago, as well as an additional five upcoming locations--there is no telling where they plan to take the grocery industry as well. They are dominating the retail and online sphere with AI and AR capabilities as well as making the availability of their merchandise almost effortless.
Now, Amazon is integrating visual technology with appliances and furniture. Although this is a not an entirely brand new concept, Amazon’s plan seems to intentionally expand to businesses and opportunities with physical locations--instead of solely relying on its web-based venture for revenue. The popular home improvement store, Lowe’s, has already incorporated a virtual space called Holoroom--which uses an HTC Vive to show customers how to use its products for home improvement projects. They have also recently introduced a new app which uses AR to help customers navigate through their stores.
IKEA also released an AR app about four years ago which allows you to use a tablet or smartphone to virtually overlay or superimpose their furniture into various rooms of your home to get a virtual feel for how it would look prior to purchasing. Amazon, however, would like to take it one small step further. They intend to use AR and VR technology to help consumers make purchase decisions by showing them what products would look like in their homes. The company is exploring the idea of opening stores that sell furniture and home appliances, that serve as showcases where consumers can see the items in person. The significance of their strategy lies in the fact that many consumers are reluctant to purchase things like refrigerators, large cabinets, ovens, etc. over the internet without seeing them first. Amazon attempts to conventionalize this by using forms of AR and VR to allow customers to virtually see how couches, tables, stoves, etc will look in their homes before buying.
Visual technology and visual computing is becoming the number one trend in the market because of society’s constant desire to capture EVERYTHING in their lives and visually share it. From food to outfits, to vacation spots, to tagging who they are with; this desire comes with a purpose of essentially serving to communicate. This visually communication is becoming the primary source of our communication--thus, spreading to much more than business, healthcare, shopping, driving, etc.
As LDV successfully reminded many of us, incorporating and utilizing visual insights and technology isn’t the difficult part; the challenge lays with unraveling and comprehending the valuable insights and signals that photos and visuals provide us by availing the correct AI algorithms. There are constantly new trends emerging that come and go, but visual technology and visual computing will not be budging anytime soon. If anything, this is only the beginning of the future as we know it; implying both--business sectors and the human race.

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Sir David Jones, the former chairman and chief executive of Next, has died aged 76, after living with Parkinson’s disease.
In a statement Next said: “It is with great sadness that [Next] records the passing of its former chairman and chief executive, Sir David Jones CBE, over the weekend. David will be remembered by many of his colleagues as the man whose courage, good sense, kindness and hard work navigated the company through its most demanding moments in the late 1980s until his retirement in 2006. David was a true friend of Next and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Jones joined Next in 1986 from the Grattan catalogue business, and was made chief executive two years later, when the company’s founder George Davies was ousted from the top role. At this time, Next was on the brink of collapse and its stock market value had collapsed from £1.3bn to £25m.
Determined to turn the company around, Jones closed more than 100 poorly performing stores in the late 1980s, cutting around 2,000 staff roles and reducing the number of clothing ranges.
Jones stepped down as chief executive in 2001 and, after a year as deputy chairman, became chairman, appointing former assistant Lord Wolfson as his successor.
Jones was then able to disclose that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a secret he had been keeping since 1982. He resolved to keep the illness to himself, through fear of it destroying his career.
In May 2004, Jones became one of the first non-executive directors of the Morrisons supermarket group. He remained as Next chairman until 2006.
Following this he became a director of JJB Sports in 2007, later serving as chairman until ill health forced him to step down in 2010.
The industry has been paying its respects to Jones.
Lord Wolfson, Next CEO, commented: “David was remarkable. He managed to combine success, humility, resilience, kindness, an accountant’s eye for detail and an extraordinary ability to put all at their ease. A great leader and a good friend.”
Fiona Lambert, former womenswear product director at Next Group, and managing director of new womenswear brand Harpenne, said: “David Jones was a rare combination. He was an incredibly talented retailer, with a sharp, incisive talent for the right decisions, who shaped the Next of today.
“He was also a phenomenally kind person who had real empathy with people and customers. I feel very lucky that I got to work with him.”
Retail analyst Richard Hyman commented: “It is hard to overstate the significance of David Jones in building the foundations of the Next we all know today. George Davies had the genius to invent the brand and build it. David brought the commercial rigour with disciplines that first rescued the business from the edge of disaster and then established the foundations on which today’s company are built. George launched the Directory – a massive disrupter of the old catalogue mail order business. But David had the foresight to retain the (at the time) state-of-the-art automated warehouse when the rest of Grattan was sold off.
“To have achieved all this while coping with an illness none of us was aware of was extraordinary. And along with all of this, David was a lovely, modest man with great personal values. He made an indelible mark on one of our very best businesses and his influence is there today in the company’s continued outperformance.”
A retail visionary and an exceptional leader, Jones will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting him.


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NANTUCKET, Mass. (AP) — President Joe Biden went Christmas shopping on the Massachusetts resort island where he spends Thanksgiving, patronizing smaller independent stores on what the retailer has dubbed “Small Business Saturday.”
Biden, his wife Jill, and daughter Ashley went from store to store on Main Street in downtown Nantucket, stopping at Polo Ralph Lauren, Murray’s Toggery Shop, and The Black Dog, among others.
The president’s son, Hunter, and his wife, Melissa, were also shopping with their 2-year-old son, Beau.
Biden emerged from The Black Dog with a small brown paper shopping bag. The White House did not immediately comment on the president’s purchases.
The retailer came up with the nickname to help independent and local businesses win some of the holiday rush and to counter the markdowns and deeper discounts larger corporate retailers offer to do business the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday.
As Biden went from store to store, a reporter asked what he thought of a dinner gathering former President Donald Trump recently had at his Florida home with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, and Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist.
Both of Trump’s dinner guests have expressed anti-Semitic views. Trump has said he knew nothing about Fuentes’ background.
“You don’t want to hear what I think,” Biden replied. Biden has said there is no place for such views in America.
Biden also shopped downtown Nantucket on Friday for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
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Due to the high cost of petroleum products in the global market, the prices are likely to increase in Pakistan from February 1. The price of petrol will remain at 267.34, while the price of diesel will remain at 276.21. Kerosene oil is Rs 2.19 paise cheaper per liter while light diesel oil is Rs 1.11 expensive. The new prices of the products will be announced on December 31. The reduction in the prices of petroleum products will be applied from 12:00 pm tonight.
Diesel Price in Pakistan Today 2024
In the global market this week, the price of high-speed diesel has decreased by 4 dollars, while the price of petrol has decreased by 5 dollars per barrel. For the next 15 days of December, the price of diesel is likely to decrease by Rs 12 and the price of petrol by Rs 10 per liter. The price of kerosene is also likely to decrease by Rs 7 and the price of light diesel oil by Rs 13 per litre.
Diesel price in Pakistan today
The government may hike petrol prices by Rs 7.85 per liter and high speed diesel by Rs 2.06 per liter in its final adjustment of POL prices from October 1.
Today diesel price in Pakistan
|New Prices w.e.f.
|Increase / (-)
|High Speed Diesel (USD)
|Light Diesel Oil
Petrol diesel price in Pakistan today
A number of variables, such as the drop in the price of oil on the world market and the government’s decision to lower taxes on petroleum products, have contributed to the recent downward trend in the price of petroleum goods. By keeping fuel costs low, the government is dedicated to easing the burden on both consumers and companies. It will keep an eye on the world oil market and take the necessary action to make sure that the cost of petroleum products stays reasonable.


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In a significant development, the caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr Umar Saif announced that the Pakistani government is actively engaged in discussions with global payment giants PayPal and Stripe to bring their services to Pakistan.
The move aims to support the country's burgeoning freelance industry and boost the e-commerce sector.
Dr Saif stressed the importance of bringing PayPal to Pakistan, particularly to benefit the growing community of freelancers in the country.
He revealed that the government's strategy involves convincing PayPal to provide services through a third-party entity within Pakistan, a model successfully implemented in Egypt. This approach would enable Pakistani freelancers to receive payments through PayPal, providing a seamless solution for the country's freelancing community.
Promising start with PayPal
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has already initiated discussions with PayPal, seeking their cooperation in allowing Pakistani freelancers to repatriate their earnings to Pakistan via a one-way service.
These talks are set to commence within the next week, marking a crucial step in potentially expanding PayPal's presence in Pakistan.
Stripe enters picture
In addition to discussions with PayPal, the Pakistani government has also initiated talks with Stripe, another renowned global payment processing platform. These negotiations are being conducted through the Pakistani embassy in Singapore.
Should Stripe decide to launch its services in Pakistan, it could bring substantial benefits to the burgeoning e-commerce industry and offer content creators in Pakistan new monetization avenues.
Optimism for positive outcome
The minister expressed optimism regarding the outcome of these negotiations, citing a strong business case for both PayPal and Stripe to operate in Pakistan.
He anticipates that these discussions will reach a conclusion within approximately two months, potentially opening up new opportunities for financial transactions and boosting the country's digital economy.


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The Bill Rodgers Running Center, one of the first stores to open at the revitalized Faneuil Hall Marketplace in the late 1970s, is closing after a 35-year run. Famed Boston Marathoner Bill Rodgers and his co-owner brother, Charlie Rodgers, will say goodbye to their final customers on Wednesday. Financial and personal reasons factored into their decision, according to Bill Rodgers, whose new plans with his brother include selling running memorabilia online and organizing road races. “We’re kind of sad about it,” Rodgers, 64, said. “The store was great fun.
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Facebook Pages could soon be able to charge users for access to online events, like concerts and performances.
The social network is planning to roll out a wide collection of video-focused features and improvements to its stable of products, and this ticketing system of sorts is one of the more eye-catching prospects.
Related: How to delete your Facebook account
“You’ll be able to mark Facebook Events as online only and, in the coming weeks, integrate Facebook Live so you can broadcast to your guests,” Facebook wrote in a blog post at the end of last week.
“To support creators and small businesses, we plan to add the ability for Pages to charge for access to events with Live videos on Facebook – anything from online performances to classes to professional conferences.”
It isn’t clear what counts as “small businesses”, but hopefully this doesn’t lead to users having to pay to watch anything and everything on Facebook Live.
This won’t be the only potential method of collecting cash via Facebook Live.
“To help you raise money for causes, you can now add the donate button to live videos wherever nonprofit fundraisers are available,” the blog post continues.
Facebook says it’s bringing back Live With too, “so you can add another person into your live video … Bring on a guest speaker, interview an expert or perform with a friend”.
Live With is a co-broadcasting feature that lets you go wild on Facebook Live with a guest, while a small audience watches on, aghast.
“With this feature, you can bring on a guest speaker, interview an expert, or perform with a fellow artist, among other use cases,” Facebook says.
Facebook also announced Messenger Rooms, which can hold up to 50 people, it’s improving the Facebook Dating experience in the coming months to include virtual dates, where users will be able to ask someone out on a one-on-one video call via Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp group video calls are being expanded.


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For almost two years, this site has covered the controversy over Bell Canada’s “relevant ads program” and privacy advocates’ complaints about its deceptiveness and lack of meaningful informed consent (search “CRTC” to find some of the past coverage). In a nutshell: Bell was using consumer information for targeted advertising without opt-in consent and without detailed information that would been necessary for informed consent.
At long last, the Canadian Radio-Television and Communications Commission ( CRTC) issued its decision, and it’s somewhat disappointing. The CRTC basically decided the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the Consumers’ Association of Canada (PIAC-CAC) application was moot because Bell voluntarily withdrew the program in April 2015 (after a finding by the Privacy Commissioner that indicated which way the regulatory wind was blowing).
Embedded in today’s CRTC decision is a reminder/warning, however, about the need for detailed information and opt-in approach for any companies planning to launch a targeted advertising program.


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PHILADELPHIA — Bridgestone Americas Inc. announced that Pep Boys and Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC (BSRO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone, have entered into a definitive merger agreement, according to a press release.
Under the agreement, BSRO will acquire Pep Boys in an all cash transaction for $15 per share, or around $835 million in aggregate equity value, stated the release.
This transaction represents “a premium of 23 percent over Pep Boys’ closing price of $12.15” on Oct. 23, reported the release, as well as a premium of 62 percent “over Pep Boys’ unaffected (prior to market speculation of a potential transaction) price of $9.25 on May 19.”
The release added that the transaction is structured as a tender offer.
“Bridgestone and Pep Boys are two leading companies that share a proud heritage in the American automotive services industry,” said Gary Garfield, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas, in the release. “Our shared expertise and commitment to our customers and employees will help us build an even stronger organization.”
Established in 1921 and headquartered in Philadelphia, continued the release, Pep Boys has more than 7,500 service bays in over 800 locations throughout 35 states and Puerto Rico, and offers auto parts and services.
This acquisition helps to accelerate Bridgestone Corporation’s global growth strategy, informed the release, and will add an additional, approximate 800 locations to BSRO’s network of 2,200 tire and auto service centers, which currently operate under the Firestone Complete Auto Care, Hibdon Tires Plus, Tires Plus and Wheel Works brands.
Furthermore, reported the release, this acquisition represents an “immediate nationwide expansion of more than 35 percent for BSRO.”
“We are excited to join the Bridgestone family of companies to become part of the world’s largest company-owned tire and automotive service retail network,” stated Scott Sider, CEO of Pep Boys, in the release. “This transaction delivers a significant premium for Pep Boys’ shareholders and offers new opportunities for our employees across a bigger business. We look forward to working with the Bridgestone team for a smooth and successful transition.”
The acquisition is expected to close early in 2016, noted the release.
You can find the release here.


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Spanning six time zones and bordering three oceans, Canada is the largest country in North America and the second largest on earth. In 2018 Forbes magazine rated Canada the fifth best country in the world to do business.
Home to a diverse population, Canada has one of the highest per capita immigration rates in the world. Canada is the world’s tenth-largest economy by nominal GDP, and a member of the G8, NAFTA and the OECD. Canada boasts a world-class infrastructure, cutting edge industries and one of the world’s most dynamic economies.
Blessed with abundant natural resources, Canada is one of the world’s energy superpowers: the country is the world’s fourth-largest exporter of petroleum, and the fourth largest exporter of natural gas. Canada has the world’s second-largest petroleum reserves – and it is expected that this sector will witness substantial growth in the twenty-first century.
Canada’s modern economy is dominated by the service industry, which employs around three-quarters of the country’s workforce. Key areas of industry include aerospace,
With offices in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, HLB’s Canadian partners and staff provide dynamic business services for foreign and domestic clients alike.
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The passengers were robbed Thursday during a guided trail excursion, according to a statement released by the cruise line. The cruise line did not provide details of the robbery, saying only that there were no injuries and the tour was suspended on future sailings under further notice.
“Carnival is working with guests to reimburse them for lost valuables and assist with lost passports or other forms of identification,” the statement said.
The robbery comes two weeks after the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning to Americans to avoid all but essential travel to all or parts of 14 Mexican states, including the state of Jalisco. Puerto Vallarta is the sixth-largest city in Jalisco. The State Department also warned travelers to use caution in visiting part of Baja California, Colima and Morelos.
The 3,000-plus passenger Carnival Splendor set sail February 19 from Long Beach, California, for a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise that included stops in Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, according to the ship’s online itinerary.
The travel warnings and reports of increasing violence in Mexico have caused many cruise lines to curb their itineraries, either eliminating and shortening stops.


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There's a Toys "R" Us Revival in the Works!
In only a matter of days Toys "R" locations all over the country are going to close down, but... it may not be forever! It looks like there's a Toys "R" Us revival in the works!
According to Bloomberg, former Toys "R" Us chief executive officer Jerry Storch has been, "working with multiple investors on a plan to reboot the retailer in the U.S., according to people familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private."
Apparently, Storch is also bringing back other former Toys "R" Us executives as well to help with bringing the stores back, and that they are already talking to landlords about lease spaces to set up shop.
The report goes on to say his plan "centers on having several hundred stores that house both toy and baby brands under one roof."
It's going to be really interesting to see how this shakes out. It would be awesome if Toys "R" Us could be saved and it looks like Storch is doing everything he can to do that. There's no word on when Toys "R" Us could make their triumphant return, but hopefully, Storch is able to eventually make it happen.


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A financial startup is drawing a lot of support in India.
Razorpay, a gateway that validates online payments via credit or debit cards, banking sites and digital wallets from end consumers in real time, has raised $9 million in a Series A funding round led by Tiger Global and joined by Matrix Partners, The Economic Times reports.
In announcing the round, Razorpay — which was cofounded by Shashank Kumar and Harshil Mathur, incubated at the Y Combinator accelerator and now has a 15-person team in Bengaluru — also disclosed that it had previously raised seed funding from Matrix Partners, Y Combinator and 33 other angel investors, which the Economic Times story notes includes Ram Shriram (an early investor in Google); Jeff Huber, senior vice president at GoogleX; and Justin Kan, a partner at Y Combinator.
Of his online payments gateway, Kumar is quoted by The Economic Times as saying, “Our patented technology will greatly help in achieving higher transaction success rates and faster checkout time, especially on mobile devices.”
Mathur, who is also the CEO of Razorpay, has stated that the gateway’s ability to support payments at 2G speeds (among other benefits) has led merchants to a 30 percent increase in their success rates. According to Mathur (via The Economic Times), his company’s solution is the only one in India that does not redirect the customer away from the merchant’s website to complete payment.
The Economic Times story additionally reports that, as of March, more than 1,800 merchants had used the Razorpay platform, a number that the company plans to grow past 5,000 by the end of the year.
“Razorpay is revolutionizing the Indian payments space,” Punit Soni, chief product officer at Flipkart, is quoted as saying. “Their focus on easy onboarding, swift integrations and high success rates makes them the first choice for new age businesses.”
To check out what else is HOT in the world of payments, click here.


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Strategy and M&A survey results: Global Capital Confidence Barometer
Our new global Strategy and M&A survey finds that while COVID-19 has created new vulnerabilities and unforeseen challenges, executives are looking forward to a totally recast and reset competitive, economic, geopolitical and social environment.
Lessons learned from this global crisis are emboldening executives to make deep, far-reaching changes to fundamental aspects of their businesses. COVID-19 has led to an even greater focus on transformation, and companies now plan not only to restore performance but also reframe their futures for an improved post-pandemic world. And many are opting to transform through M&A. They are seeking to acquire innovative startups and tech-enabled competitors to get even closer to their customers and enhance the digital channels that have proved vital for leading companies in the lockdown recession.
The strategic reset coming out of this crisis is firmly focused on a new growth agenda. It also provided a clear view of how to get there — reset, realign, restart.
Discover the 2021 Strategy and M&A survey insights and learn why M&A remains an important tool to fuel faster growth in a recovering market.
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Creating a plan to reshape results and implementing a focused M&A strategy can fuel growth into the next decade.
Supply chain reinvention (1:14)
Sharing data in the cloud and directly integrating with suppliers are some of the ways to improve supply chain visibility.
Digital transformation (1:41)
Mergers and acquisitions can help organizations realize their digital strategy and better compete in a disrupted business environment.


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Bavaria announces Comrades Marathon sponsorship by celebrating veteran race runner
Issued by Bespoke Consult PR - May 28th, 12:59
Bavaria, South Africa’s leading 0.0% beer brand, recently announced a three-year sponsorship deal with the prestigious Comrades Marathon. In order to celebrate the sponsorship announcement, Bavaria has created an emotional video celebrating Maurice Rosen, a veteran runner of the race who will be competing for his 36th Comrades finish this year – summing up the qualities of tradition, bravery, resilience and tenacity that the race is known for.
The 87km ultra marathon is one of South Africa’s best-loved races and known around the world as ‘the Ultimate Human Race’. It is also the world’s oldest marathon and annually attracts more than 24 000 international runners, along with global interest.
The Bavaria brand ethos aligns seamlessly with what the Comrades representS; a celebration of unity of all walks of life of South Africans come together to conquer this monumental challenge.
The campaign highlights Bavaria’s 0.0% malt products - the ideal drink for those living an active life. The isotonic properties of malt aid post-sports recovery, which is why the category is one of the fastest growing of its kind.
As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month this August, Bavaria magnifies and highlights the vital role that women play in society: the mothers who raised us, and the daughters who continue to bind families together. Women are a source of power and a symbol of progress. Indeed, they are the very fabric that weaves our great nation together.
The 3rd annual Soweto Kota Festival will take place on 7 and 8 September 2019, and SASKO, the experts in milling and baking, is proud to announce it has renewed its sponsorship for a third year.
Blowing the nose frequently, because of allergies, colds or flu, can leave the delicate skin around the nose and lips chapped, red and sore. Letibalm, formulated specifically to protect and care for the lips, nose and the skin in-between, now has an improved formula and there’s a new addition to the family – new Letibalm Junior Nose and Lips Repair Fluid.
KWV Brandy is proud to announce that it cinched another award in a major spirits competition.
Try these recipes
A shot of espresso enhances the chocolate flavour.
Panna Cotta is usually prepared as a dessert, but this recipe foregrounds the savoury, delicate flavours of asparagus and lightly smoked trout which pairs wonderfully with Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc. Recipe provided courtesy of Cathedral Cellar wines. (Serves 4).
A rich, savoury showstopper, perfect with a glass of wine, or as a light meal with well-dressed greens and succulent lamb chops.
A simple curry with the benefit of very little fat and fibre-rich chickpeas!


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Aug. 6, 2015 By Michael Florio
A turf war over parking spaces has broken out in Astoria.
Green taxi’s are parking in the metered spots along 31st Street below the 30th Ave subway station, according to a report from Pix11 News.
The taxi drivers are taking the metered spaces as they wait for potential customers as they get off the subway, according to the report.
This has been irking business owners who want the limited number of spots to be available for store customers.
“This has become a free taxi stand”, Alfred Hansen, the manager of Grand Wine and Liquors, located at 30-05 31st Street, told Pix 11.
“They do not pay the meter and block our customers from shopping,” Hansen added.
The report states that when one taxi drives away, another takes its space, monopolizing the parking spaces.
Hansen told Pix 11 that the city should provide the cab drivers with a spot or two, but not allow them to take up the entire block.
Both sides claim they are just trying to make a living.
The NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission told Pix11 News that they will send their enforcement division to check it out.
The green taxis are also known as borough taxis and are allowed to operate in the city except for certain parts of Manhattan.
Geez, just use Uber people
There should be taxi stand by every subway stop like they have at Ditmars. I am for anything that doesn’t provide parking revenue and parking tickets to the city. The more meters they take away, the better.
The city will give anyone a ticket immediately except these guys. I work on broadway In Astoria and I have missed the meter by a couple of minutes trying to make a living and I have a ticket. This is out of control and the small business owners are always the ones to suffer. To top it all off these green cabs are some of the worst drivers ever. Something needs to be done about it…the working man always suffers!
I meant the hard working individuals that own a business always seem to suffer.
Please send news ppl to 10 street and 35 ave, all of these green cab parking and not movinf i live here and now cant find parking and too many fights


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Nissan Terrano Spotted Ahead Of Launch
As we had reported earlier that the global unveiling of the Renault Duster-based Nissan Terrano is on August 20, but the compact SUV has been spotted two days before the official unveiling. The spotted Nissan Terrano stays similar to the earlier shown sketches by the company.
The Renault Duster-based Nissan Terrano will be the last cross-badged vehicle from Renault-Nissan alliance.
The Terrano gets a new front grille, new bumper including smoked headlights and new alloy wheels. Also the compact suv has opted for straighter lines to define its fenders than rounded wheel arches like Duster.
The rear also remains exactly the same as sketches, which flaunts angular taillight cluster and a reformed rear bumper.


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It’s Daylight Savings Time
WOODBRIDGE – Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday and Central New Jerseyans are reminded to turn their clocks back one hour before going to bed.
But at Fords Jewelers, 449 New Brunswick Ave., in the Fords section, that’s no easy task.
The job, which takes about two weeks to complete, falls to about three or four workers who spend their down time resetting the time on hundreds of watches and clocks.
“They do it until their fingers hurt too much then they stop and rest,” Albert Dahl, store manager said. “We want to make sure they are all done by Daylight Savings Time.”
Dahl said it’s also a good time to make sure all the watches and clocks are in perfect working order.
“We’re very detail-oriented here and we want to make sure everything is set right and working properly,” he said.
Later today (Saturday) just before closing time, Dahl will climb up a ladder and reset the time on the 15-foot high two-faced clock outside store.
Fords Jewelers, owned by Barry Berman, has been a staple in the community for 43 years. The store carries a full line of jewelry, watches and collectibles.
“One of the best things about our store is that we have been selling for so many years that people who have bought their wedding bands and engagement rings, their kids are coming to buy wedding bands and engagement rings and now their grand kids are coming,” Dahl said. “It’s really something.”
Fire safety officials also urge residents to make another change before heading to bed — change the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.


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Proposal to Create the new Office of Cannabis Management to Regulate State Medical and Adult-use Cannabis and Cannabinoid Hemp Programs
Equitable Market Structure to Invest in Individuals and Communities Disproportionately Impacted by Prohibition
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a proposal to legalize and create a comprehensive system to oversee and regulate cannabis in New York as part of the 2021 State of the State. Under the Governor’s proposal, a new Office of Cannabis Management would be created to oversee the new adult-use program, as well as the State’s existing medical and cannabinoid hemp programs. Additionally, an equitable structure for the adult-use market will be created by offering licensing opportunities and assistance to entrepreneurs in communities of color who have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. Once fully implemented, legalization is expected to generate more than $300 million in tax revenue.
“Despite the many challenges New York has faced amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it has also created a number of opportunities to correct longstanding wrongs and build New York back better than ever before,” Governor Cuomo said. “Not only will legalizing and regulating the adult-use cannabis market provide the opportunity to generate much-needed revenue, but it also allows us to directly support the individuals and communities that have been most harmed by decades of cannabis prohibition.”
The Governor’s proposal builds on years of work to understand and decriminalize cannabis for adult use. In 2018, the Department of Health, under Governor Cuomo’s direction, conducted a multi-agency study which concluded that the positive impacts of legalizing adult-use cannabis far outweighed the negatives. It also found that decades of cannabis prohibition have failed to achieve public health and safety goals and have led to unjust arrests and convictions particularly in communities of color.
In 2019, Governor Cuomo signed legislation to decriminalize the penalties for unlawful possession of marijuana. The legislation also put forth a process to expunge records for certain marijuana convictions. Later that year, the Governor spearheaded a multi-state summit to discuss paths towards legalization of adult-use cannabis that would ensure public health and safety and coordinate programs regionally to minimize the cross-border movement of cannabis products.
Building on that important work, the proposal reflects national standards and emerging best practices to promote responsible use, limiting the sale of cannabis products to adults 21 and over and establishing stringent quality and safety controls including strict regulation of the packaging, labeling, advertising, and testing of all cannabis products. Cannabis regulation also offers the opportunity to invest in research and direct resources to communities that have been most impacted by cannabis prohibition.


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It’s Coming Back! Charlotte Russe Gets Set to Re-Open at South Plains Mall
It's coming back soon. The fashion forward Charlotte Russe is getting set to re-open its doors at South Plains Mall, according to the mall's office.
This long-standing clothing store, founded in 1975, filed bankruptcy this past February and closed all of its stores, more than 400 locations. The South Plains Mall location closed its doors on April 30th.
But within weeks, the retailer was purchased by Canada-based YM Inc., who began re-opening and rebuilding, according to USA Today.
It's great to see that the Lubbock store is now one of the Charlotte Russe locations set to re-open, and just in time for Christmas. Part of the re-vitalization of the store includes seriously upgraded website and online shopping. Right now, the store's location in the South Plains Mall is still shuttered, but the vibrant signage remains.
Welcome back to Lubbock, Charlotte Russe!


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“I and my Ministry shall improve on our export and industry performance further in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s private sector. To fulfil the 100 Day reform program of President Maithripala Sirisena effectively we will move fast” declared Rishad Bathiudeen ,Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka on Friday (16) in Colombo.
Private sector is set to be the driver in Sri Lanka new phase of industry and int’l trade development–and the (new) Minister of Industry & Commerce is ready to move fast on the government’s 100–Day reforms program.
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing immediately after he assumed the office of the Minister of Industry and Commerce on Friday (16). Joining him at the tightly packed ceremony were his Deputy Champika Premadasa (who assumed duties of the Deputy’s office in the morning on the same day) and top officials of his Ministry.
and added: I will, with my Deputy Minister Champika Premadasa here, move fast and activate the Ministry officials and the Departments and give my maximum commitment. President Maithripala Sirisena’s government has now moved the country to a better footing, bringing us ethnic harmony, unity and togetherness, and we will help him to sustain this new peace.”
Sri Lanka’s January-November provisional merchandise (only) exports this year topped $10.108 Bn, rising by 7.5% from 2013 January-November export values. Service exports values such as ICT/BPM exports are not included in Jan-November 2014 totals. Except for ‘export crops’, ‘natural rubber’ and ‘diamonds’, growth has been seen ‘across the board’ in all other export sectors. Thus, 2014 YoY Jan-Nov apparel exports surged by a strong 10.35% to $4.458 Bn, which is 94% of annual apparel exports target set for this year (base formulated in 2011). Also annual targets of such sectors as coconuts, fruits & vegetables, and floriculture have also been achieved by Jan-November ’14 totals. (KH)
Source - news.lk


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A man from Zimbabwe, once thought to have come back from the dead in a South African church, has now been officially confirmed as deceased by his family. His real name is Thabiso Proud Mlanje, not the false name Brighton Moyo that had circulated on social media after the supposed “resurrection.”
The controversy began when a video surfaced showing Mlanje being “resurrected” by Pastor Alph Luka a few weeks ago. However, Mlanje passed away on April 3 and was laid to rest at his late father’s residence in Dandanda Village in Lupane under Chief Mabhikwa. He was 28 years old and left behind a wife and two children.
According to his family, Mlanje had fallen ill even before the staged resurrection with Pastor Alph Lukau. Following the resurrection stunt, he lived in fear of South African authorities, often sneaking out of the hospital when his wife took him for treatment. On March 8, his wife brought him back to Zimbabwe, where they stayed at her father’s home in Village 2 Insuza under Chief Mtshane.
Mlanje’s health continued to deteriorate, and he was admitted to Mbembesi Clinic in Insuza on March 23. Later, he was transferred to St Luke’s Hospital in Lupane on April 1. Sadly, he passed away on April 3 and was buried on April 5.
Thabiso’s brother, Stanely Mlanje, confirmed his identity and expressed regret that he could never ask his brother about the resurrection stunt. Thabiso’s grandmother revealed that he was suffering and vomiting blood before his death. She hadn’t seen him in seven years since he left for South Africa and was heartbroken to only see him as a lifeless body.
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His father-in-law, Bernard Mayendayenda Sibanda, expressed his distress, as he was unaware of the situation in South Africa and had to deal with the police regarding the resurrection scheme. The man’s actions had caused significant trouble for the family, and now they are left with unanswered questions.
Apple event 2023 recap: iPhone 15 price, colors announced; Apple Watch Series 9 unveiled
The standard iPhone 15 will start at $799, while the larger 15 Plus starts at $899. The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999, and the larger iPhone Pro Max starts at $1,199.
All four iPhone models will be available for preorder Sept. 15 and available in stores Sept. 22.
The Series 9 watch will also go on sale Sept. 22 and be priced at $399.
The keynote presentation, which was called “Wonderlust,” was held on Apple’s campus at the Steve Jobs Theater. The event has become an annual staple on the tech calendar, dating back to the debut of the original iPhone in 2007.
Here’s what was announced at Apple’s 2023 event:
Apple debuted the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max Tuesday.
The standard iPhone 15 will start at $799, while the 15 Plus will start at $899. The iPhone 15 will have a 6.1-inch display, and the 15 Plus will have a 6.7-inch display.
The phones will have Dynamic Island, a redesigned notch at the top of the screen that takes up less visual space. The feature was first added to the iPhone 14 Pro models last year as a tool to track ongoing activity, like directions or the music you’re listening to.
The iPhone 15 base models will get the A16 chip used in the iPhone 14 Pro models.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will be available for preorder on Sept. 15, and they will be available online and in stores on Sept. 22.
The standard iPhone 15 models will have an improved camera system that will allow for greater optical zoom, switching from a 12-megapixel main camera sensor to a 48-megapixel version.
The new camera has the same resolution as the camera on the iPhone 14 Pro.
The iPhone 15 will debut in five colors – black, blue, pink, white and yellow.
The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999, while the iPhone Pro Max starts at $1,199.
The iPhone 15 Pro will have titanium sides, which replaces the stainless steel used since the iPhone X. The iPhone 15 Pro models will also have the faster A17 chip that the company claims will improve the mobile gaming experience.
The iPhone 15 Pro models will have three cameras, similar to previous models, and a 48-megapixel main camera sensor.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max camera will have several new and updated features, including 5X optical zoom.
The iPhone 15 Pro models will come in black, dark blue, dark gray and light grey.
Apple also announced the newest model for the Apple Watch: the Series 9.
The primary upgrade comes from a new processing chip, called the S9 SiP, which the company claims will be faster than the one introduced in 2020.
The Series 9 will look similar to previous models, but it will have updated colors including pink, starlight and silver.
The Series 9 will also have a new feature called “double tap.” The feature allows users to answer a call or control any number of actions in an app by tapping their index finger and thumb together, twice.
The watch will go on sale Sept. 22 and be priced at $399.
More about Apple Watch:How to get it
Similar to the Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will also have the “double tap” feature and have the S9 SiP processor.
The Ultra 2 will have on-device Siri, enabling faster, more accurate responses thanks to the S9 SiP.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be $799.
APPLE WATCH ULTRA SERIES 2:OUTDOOR SMARTWATCH BUGALOO
Apple confirmed that its phones will move away from the company’s Lightning charging system to a USB-C port. The changes will begin with the iPhone 15 line and AirPod charging case.
The change comes on the heels of regulations passed by the European Union to standardize the charging ports for electronic devices sold on the continent.
New iPhone 15 will use USB-C chargers:What to know about Apple’s charging cord switch
More than 30 million people watched Apple’s 2022 event on YouTube.
With more than 1.2 billion iPhones sold, Apple has “become a core part of people’s lives around the world,” Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives told USA TODAY.
Apple generated more than $394 billion in net sales last year, and since its January 2007 unveiling of the first iPhone, the company’s share price has risen more than 5,000%.


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- Sep 13, 2019 3:00 pm GMT
- 2262 views
As the fashion industry continues to address its role in the climate crisis, Italy’s most valuable luxury brand has said it has become an entirely carbon neutral company.
Gucci outlined its strategy on Thursday, which stretches from its supply chain to its fashion shows and comprises a mixture of reduction, elimination and offsetting what it calls “unavoidable emissions”.
Maybe now when the kids say something is "so Gucci" they'll be talking about carbon neutrality!


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A Portuguese entrepreneur has developed "an Open Table-like platform that connects shoppers to 300 boutiques" worldwide, reports John Koblin in The New York Times (4/30/14). "When I go to New York, I don’t go to the department store," says Jose Neves. "I go into that tiny little boutique, that hole in the wall, where I discovered a selection that I can’t find anywhere else. But how do you do this at scale?" The answer to his own question is his own creation, Farfetch.com.
The six-year-old site has grown "into a big business" that attracts "well-heeled" customers who spend an average of $650 per visit. Farfetch holds particular appeal among millennials: "For millennial customers it’s beyond comprehension that there’s something available in a physical store that’s not available online," says Jose. "They just don’t get it. It’s like an artist who releases an album but they cannot download it from iTunes … I do think we’re changing the way we shop for fashion."
For retailers, the opportunity, obviously, is to reach a global marketplace. "If you have a store in say, Dallas, or in Chicago, you only have your own local clientele," says Jose. "That clientele is not shopping online as well. This is a huge missed opportunity. These boutiques in these places don’t appeal to the customer just in Chicago or Miami. They appeal to a global audience these days." Farfetch has raised more than $100 million in venture capital, and "had more than $160 million in sales last year."


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The demand for electric vehicles is outstripping the installation of new chargers, with a 31% drop in the ratio of EVs to public chargers during 2020.
This is according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which noticed at the end of 2019, there were 11 vehicles for every one EV charger, while that figure had risen to 16 vehicles per charger by the end of 2020.
The slow pace of EV charger installation is even more stark when considering the explosion in demand for electric vehicles. In fact, the figures have reached the point that only one new charger is being installed for every 52 new electric vehicles being registered. That means the ratio is likely to fall even further.
Britain’s ratio of plug-in vehicles on the road to standard public chargers has deteriorated to become one of the worst among the top 10 global electric vehicle markets. South Korea boasts a charger for every electric vehicle, while the Netherlands has a spread of 5:1, China 9:1, France 10:1 and Belgium and Japan have a 13:1 spread. In fact, the UK only just manages to beat out Germany, which has just one charger for every 17 electric vehicles.
However, the ratio of electric vehicles to public charging points is different depending on where you are in the UK. Those in London will find a charger for every 10 electric vehicles, while in the East of England there is just one public charger for every 49 plug-ins.
This regional disparity has been highlighted several times, with councils across the UK remaining unambitious in the installation of new chargers. However, the UK Government is still keen to speed up the roll-out. Through its Rapid Charging Fund, the Government is allocating £950 million to rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints, while also pushing for all new build homes, supermarkets and offices to have chargepoints available.
The SMMT has called this insufficient, however, with the organisation noting that the measures won’t keep up with consumer demand and targets for accelerated market transition, while increased new home charger provision will not provide any incentive for the millions of existing households that do not have a driveway or designated parking.
As a result, SMMT is calling on the Government to take regulatory action to boost public charge point provision, with binding targets for delivery, commensurate with the targets for vehicle manufacturers to deliver products, to ensure installation rates accelerate.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, commented, “Appetite for electric vehicles has never been higher, but making Britain a net zero nation means convincing everyone, wherever they live, that an electric car can meet their needs. Those who can’t have their own home charge point need the confidence that they can still charge as conveniently as they can refuel. A deteriorating ratio of public charge points to cars will drain that confidence.
“Recent Government funding for infrastructure was welcome but more private sector investment in public charge points is needed across the country. The UK therefore needs a framework of regulation that makes it easier to fund, build and operate electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Consequently we need commensurate and binding targets for charge point rollout and reliability so that all those without a driveway or designated parking can be confident of finding a convenient charger, and one that works.
“Decarbonising road transport is essential if we are to address climate change but it needs a framework that compels all sectors to match the investment already being made by automotive to help consumers decarbonise their lives.”


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T-Mobile’s Binge On program has seen its fair share of criticism. The program, which lets users stream video from select providers without counting against their data plans, has drawn the ire of YouTube and the Electronic Frontier Foundation for throttling videos and prioritizing data streams. But one video provider is perfectly happy with customers getting free streaming.
During yesterday’s Netflix earnings call, after the video streaming company announced more than 5.5 million new subscribers, CEO Reed Hastings praised T-Mobile’s program and said users have been streaming more video due to the program.
“The great thing that T-Mo is doing is making unlimited video consumption a possibility with freedom from worrying about the data caps,” Hastings said. “It’s seeing a great reception amongst our users and we are seeing viewing going up and I think T-Mo was seeing some real positive benefits from that.”
He also said that while he doesn’t have enough detail on the new Verizon program that offers data exemptions for certain content, “we hope those kind of programs expand.”
Re/code’s Peter Kafka, who interviewed Hastings during the call, pushed back, wondering why Hastings sees T-Mobile’s plan as OK when he bashed a similar move from Comcast. Hastings defended Binge On because of the user control T-Mobile provides over the system. He also praised T-Mobile for making the program open to any provider.
“They are not charging any of their providers, it’s an open program,” Hastings said. “Many of our competitors such as Hulu and HBO are in the program also. But it’s an open, no-charge program where they are really focused on trying to get the customers some [benefits] and then you get unlimited viewing which, you know, their customers are choosing in droves.”


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Yesterday, Ubisoft revealed the details for the upcoming final season of Rainbow Six Siege’s Year 7, claiming it to be the "biggest season yet."
Rainbow Six Siege’s Year 7 is set to arrive on Dec. 6, 2022. The rollout will bring along a huge array of features and content including a new battle pass, new map, and a brand new Operator — the Columbian Defender Solis.
Solis uses her SPEC-IO Electro-Sensor gadget to gather intel to aid a team's strategy. Solis analyzes and identifies Attacker devices, such as drones, breaching devices, and more. Solis is a medium speed, medium health Operator, carrying the P90 or an ITA 12L as a primary weapon and an SMG-11 as a secondary weapon.
Aside from brand new in-game content, Year 7 also brings crossplay and cross-progression to the game. Using Ubisoft Connect, console players will be able to team up with friends on other consoles, e.g. PlayStation players can team up with Xbox. PC players will be able to team up with those using Luna. Crossplay can be turned off via the Crossplay Matchmaking option in the menu.
After logging into Ubisoft Connect, players progress, currencies, and items will be shared across all platforms. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect account will get one free Alpha Pack.
Brand-new map, Nighthaven Labs, also arrives at season launch. Its interior features multiple access points and plenty of breakable walls. Both Attackers and Defenders could easily be flanked and lose their position, so navigation and strategy is key. Nighthaven Labs will not be bannable during Operation Solar Raid to ensure all players get the chance to learn and play on the new map during the season.
Rainbow Six Siege is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Ubisoft+, and Amazon Luna.


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Ford researching advanced BEV charging cables
By Julian Buckley11 November 2021
Researchers from Ford Motor and Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, have developed a new BEV charging cable design which could support reduced battery pack recharging times.
The cable uses liquid as a cooling agent. The liquid turns to vapour as the charging process continues, dissipating heat from the cable. This allows the charging station to deliver power at an increased rate. Specifics covering the liquid used were not revealed.
Changing the coolant from a liquid to a vapour is the key to delivering the increased charge. It is hoped the design could help deliver a battery pack recharge in the same time as filling a fuel tank.
“Today, chargers are limited in how quickly they can charge an EV’s battery due to the danger of overheating. Charging faster requires more current to travel through the charging cable,” said Michael Degner, senior technical leader, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “The higher the current, the greater the amount of heat that has to be removed to keep the cable operational.”
Ford stated that the technology could deliver significantly more power than today’s leading systems, if ‘vehicle charging and other technology enhancements are made in parallel’.
The cables are expected to enter a testing phase over the next two years to determine more specific charge speeds for various vehicles.
While the new technology is being aimed at Ford’s own BEVs, including the Mustang Mach-E, it is likely the technology could be used in various other applications, including recharging of battery-electric heavy vehicles, off-road machinery and battery gen-sets.


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Jim Buckmaster has just set himself up for a messy court fight. Responding to eBay's lawsuit against Craigslist and its board — the board being Buckmaster and founder Craig Newmark — he has claimed that he and Newmark issued additional shares in the company to themselves "for the sake of protecting the long term well-being of the Craigslist community." Let's leave aside the question of how the community benefits from Buckmaster and Newmark increasing their ownership. Craigslist is registered as a for-profit company; as such, its only legal responsibility is to its shareholders, not its users.
Buckmaster may win points in the court of public opinion. Ordinary Craigslist users may well believe his spin, that eBay is the bad guy in this fight for seeking to protect its rights to a stake in the company it bought fair and square (and at a substantial profit to Buckmaster and Newmark).
But the complaint eBay filed makes clear what happened. Newmark and Buckmaster, upset that eBay had launched a competitive classifieds site, Kijiji, invoked a provision that cancelled a right of first refusal they held over eBay's shares — a right that forced eBay to offer its shares first to Craigslist, should it wish to sell. They landed in trouble with eBay by trying to force it to sign a new right-of-first-refusal agreement.
Newmark and Buckmaster, in short, are idiots. In a snit over Kijiji, they cancelled a valuable power they held over eBay. They are now engaging in what appear to be dirty boardroom tricks to reinstate that power, using means eBay finds questionable. It is understandable that they dislike eBay's competition. But had they just kept quiet about it, Newmark and Buckmaster could have kept eBay at bay indefinitely, and kept raking in the lion's share of Craigslist's profits. The trouble they are in now is entirely of their own making.


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In an innovative leap, prominent auto manufacturers – BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. have come together to introduce ‘ChargeScape, LLC‘. Designed as a unified platform, it aims to seamlessly connect electric utilities, automakers, and potential EV consumers. This venture not only benefits the burgeoning community of EV users in the US and Canada but also extends immense value to the electric grid landscape.
Set to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry, ChargeScape could empower EV consumers to tap into financial gains, thanks to an array of managed charging and energy-sharing options – a feat previously unimaginable with conventional gasoline-driven vehicles. However, before we dive into the nitty-gritty of this energy revolution, a minor caveat: the official establishment of ChargeScape awaits green light from regulatory bodies. Nevertheless, industry insiders forecast its kickoff early next year.
The pioneering platform, resulting from prolonged OVGIP cross-industry synergy, simplifies the process for electric utilities by eliminating individual tie-ups with each auto brand. It offers electric utilities a unique advantage: unobstructed access to energy from a diverse pool of EV batteries. Participating EV owners stand to benefit monetarily by aligning their charging cycles with grid-friendly times. They can also make a more significant impact by leveraging vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, allowing stored energy to be returned to the grid during peak demand periods. With ChargeScape’s genius, EV batteries can be smartly employed, offering vital energy data like aggregated demand response, syncing charging with off-peak hours, and enhancing the role of renewable energy. Given the smooth interaction with automakers and projected high EV user engagement, this energy solution promises cost-effectiveness and operational advantages for utilities.
A Pivotal Moment for Electric Vehicles and Utilities
This transformative opportunity couldn’t come at a better time. With electric vehicle sales skyrocketing, and infrastructure expanding, there’s an urgent need to address the impending electrical grid challenges. The ChargeScape initiative hopes to bolster grid resilience and paves the path for futuristic V2G capabilities, mutually benefiting EV owners and electric utilities.
Moreover, the ChargeScape initiative echoes the global drive towards a greener future. By harnessing power from renewable energy sources, it aims to reduce the carbon footprint for EV owners. And while integration is crucial, the autonomy of EV owners remains paramount; they retain complete control over their energy choices.
The leadership is optimistic. “The reliability and sustainability of the electric grid are pivotal for an EV-dominated future,” noted Thomas Ruemenapp, VP of Engineering, BMW of North America. Similarly, Bill Crider from Ford emphasized the game-changing potential of this endeavor. And Jay Joseph from American Honda highlighted the synergy among stakeholders to harness renewable energy better.
The bigger picture
By partnering with ChargeScape, automakers can bring advanced charging benefits to a broader audience and potentially cut down on marketing expenses for utilities. After all, these automakers already have a direct line of communication with their EV clientele, addressing a significant challenge faced by utility companies. Plus, ChargeScape aims to manage charge schedules via vehicle connectivity, eliminating the need for Wi-Fi-enabled charging hubs. This will be a boon for many EV users who don’t rely on “smart” chargers.
With its innovative offerings, ChargeScape extends a warm invitation to other automakers to partake in this pioneering venture. As the electric frontier beckons, the trio of founding members is eager to share the vast possibilities that ChargeScape promises once it’s up and running.


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The U.S. economy expanded at a modest pace since mid-May amid “slight” price pressures and some softening in consumer spending, a report from the Federal Reserve’s 12 districts showed.
“The outlook was generally positive across broad segments of the economy including retail sales, manufacturing, and real estate,” according to the Fed’s latest Beige Book, an economic survey by reserve banks published eight times a year. “Districts reporting on overall growth expect it to remain modest.”
The Fed’s policy-setting panel next meets July 26-27. Investors see a less than 5 percent probability of a rate increase at that meeting, according to pricing in federal fund futures contracts, as officials weigh global risks after the U.K. voted June 23 to leave the European Union.
The Beige Book, released Wednesday in Washington, summarizes comments received from business contacts around the country. It was based on information collected on or before July 1.
Fed officials are weighing progress on their mandate for maximum employment and hope that higher wages will feed through into an uptick in inflation as the economy advances.
“Labor market conditions remained stable as employment continued to grow modestly since the previous report and wage pressures remained modest to moderate,” the Fed said. Several districts reported “strong demand for skilled labor,” and businesses faced challenges in filling positions in information technology, biotechnology and health care services.
Labor Department data released earlier this month showed that payrolls rose 287,000 in June, rebounding from a weak performance in May when just 11,000 jobs were added.
The Beige Book also showed scant inflation, though most districts reported upward pressure in input prices.
The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow indicator estimates that the economy grew 2.3 percent from April through June, which would make it the strongest three-month period since the second quarter of last year.
While the Fed said its contacts saw “signs of softening” in consumer spending, the outlook in the months ahead “was predominantly optimistic” across most of the U.S.
The Fed said manufacturing activity was “mixed” while residential real estate activity “continued to strengthen” since the previous report.


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According to a 2016 study by the Center for Food Integrity, about two out of three consumers express concern for food safety, ranking it among the top five most concerning life issues. In her role as food program manager with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Sandra Walker helped to make sure food made in Michigan was safe to eat.
Since recently retiring, Walker continues to stay current on food-related information and was a panelist at Food@MSU’s Our Table conversation on food safety in May 2018. The discussion was hosted in partnership with the MSU Online Food Safety Program, of which Walker is an alum. Below, she answers some of our questions and dives deeper into some of the topics mentioned at Our Table.
Food@MSU: Why is it important for the general public to understand food safety concepts?
Sandra Walker: There are many regulations in place to help protect the food supply that focus primarily on mandates for the food industry to abide by. Although they do a pretty good job ensuring that the food provided the consumer is safe, food protection efforts must continue all the way through to consumption.
Consumers play a role in food safety once they receive consumables, whether they are ready-to-eat foods or food products in need of further preparation and cooking. Consumers play a key role by maintaining proper temperatures for food through avoiding holding foods too long in the temperature danger zones, adhering to proper cooking temperatures and preventing cross contamination.
Food@MSU: How can scientists, academics, and those who specialize in food safety do a better job of getting this information to the public? How can they bridge the gap with consumers?
SW: I think that public service-type announcements of important issues through all media tools from social media, television and radio should be done routinely, like once a week, instead of food safety reminders only during food related holidays such as Thanksgiving.
Food safety messages can be sent on a regular basis, in addition to providing relevant recall and outbreak notices. The present forms of communication by applicable authorities can be bridged by using social media, such as Twitter and webcasts.
Food@MSU: What is the role of food safety in the larger conversation about food?
SW: Food safety should be at the forefront of food conversations. Many times, it loses traction to other in vogue issues such as genetically modified foods (GMOs) and gluten-free eating.
Food@MSU: What can the public — those who aren’t typically viewed as "experts" — do to be active and engaged when it comes to food safety?
SW: The public has more power than it thinks. Every time a consumer chooses one commodity/product over another, they are “voting” and using their power to communicate to the food industry and others what is important to them.
Food@MSU: What’s the most important thing to know when it comes to food safety?
SW: The most important thing in food safety is to emphasize good handwashing by food employees and consumers.
Food@MSU: In your role, how do you work to ensure that food is safe? What goes into ensuring food safety for the public, from your perspective?
SW: I now am mostly a consumer and on the regulatory sidelines, but that doesn’t stop me from expressing my opinions publicly to all I come into contact with.


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December 9, 2005
The annual toy lift officially got underway in the parking lot at Lowe's Friday morning. Each year the event is held to make the Christmas holiday a bit merrier for local children.
Toy Lift is in its 18th year, and still going strong. Its co-founder, local resident Tom Powell, saw the organization collect only 1,000 toys in the first year, but since then about 10,000 have been collected each year. However, Toy Lift 2005 had to wrestle with 'Old Man Winter' after an ice blanket covered our entire region, so they need you to come out to give more toys.
Go, go, go was the phrase heard most often as residents in Charlottesville donated toys to Toy Lift 2005. While several of santa's elves seem to be counting lots of toys, puzzles, books, and even clothing, the organization's co-founder says it is not enough.
"Last year, at this time, we had almost 6,000 toys. Unfortunately right now, we have just a shade over 1,700, so we really need folks to come out this year and help Toy Lift 2005," said Tom Powell, co-founder of Toy Lift.
There are over 2,300 kids seeking assistance from Toy Lift this year. Touting it's 18th year, the organization's co-founder would love to make it happen. There are many ways to do it.
"They can simply come by here, or go to Crofton Plaza, Lake Monticello, or out to the Crozet Shopping Center," said Powell.
'Old Man Winter' may have put a pinch in your schedule allowing you to drop off toys, but there's still a way to donate money.
"Weather has slowed things down this morning. We're a little backed behind, but you can do a VISA, or Master Card donation. That can help the kids," said Powell.
While the emphasis is on getting more help for our area children, we should note many have already helped.
Toy Lift 2005 met its goal of collecting 11,000 toys in one day.
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT » ARCHIVES FOR
Kate Spade & Company and Reliance Brands Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Group, have announced plans to the bring the kate spade new york brand to India through a long-term distribution and retail license agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Reliance Brands Limited will have the exclusive distribution rights to the kate spade new york brand in the country.
Less than half (41.9%) of merchants who took Multichannel Merchant’s MCM Outlook 2016 survey in January and February said their ecommerce sites are set up for global business. And 37.8% of those who say their ecommerce sites are set up for global business say it’s because they have international payment offerings. But international payment offerings […]
Hudson’s Bay Co. is introducing new robotic technology to its Ontario distribution center for internet fulfillment that CEO Gerald Storch says will put the merchant at the “absolute forefront of Internet distribution technology.”
MercadoLibre said there were 128.4 million items sold through the marketplace in 2015, a growth of 26.8% year-over-year, resulting in a gross merchandise volume of $7.2 billion. Consolidated net revenues for the full year were $651.8 million, a 17.1% increase year-over-year.
PetFlow has rebuilt a state-of-the-art digital pet store, complete with a fresh design and look, to connect consumers to a wide range of specialty pet products, offer personalized advice and enable shoppers to improve the lives of their own pets as well as those of animals in need.
Mobile traffic in the UK made up 65% of all total ecommerce traffic in January, according to a March 2016 SimilarWeb report. Click through and find out how the UK’s traffic compares to other countries, and why you need to keep mobile in mind when you go cross-border.
Shopping on U.S.-based websites can be confusing to cross-border shoppers. So when targeting cross-border customers, sellers need to be conscious of the distinctive needs of shoppers in other countries… including the ecommerce checkout.
Why aren’t more merchants looking to become cross-border sellers? Chuck Whiteman, Sr. VP Client Services at MotionPoint, says one reason is because merchants often are just oblivious to cross-border opportunities. In this Q&A with Multichannel Merchant, Whiteman, who is a keynote speaker at Multichannel Merchant’s Growing Global 2016, discusses the cross-border ecommerce journey
A cap on debit card swipe fees enacted by the Federal Reserve five years ago has helped reduce costs for retailers and consumers but is still higher than intended by Congress and should be lowered, according to the National Retail Federation.
Omnichannel is a big initiative for retailers, and creating a single view of its customer has helped Lenscrafters get a grasp of it, says Samantha Sakemiller Senior Director of Omnichannel, in this video taken in February 2016 at eTail West.


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Three crypto platforms impose restrictions on Chinese users
Beijing's repressive policies towards the cryptocurrency industry have forced several companies to impose restrictions on working with PRC customers. One of them announced it was shutting down.
On 27 September, BitMart banned new users from China. The platform will stop serving existing customers on 30 November 2021.
BitMart will no longer provide any services in mainland China. All affected [restricted] users will be informed by email, text message, etc. Withdraw your assets as soon as possible, the notice said.
Analyst platform Feixiaohao made a similar statement. Service to Chinese users will cease on September 28, 2021, according to a screenshot published by 8BTC.
Cryptocurrency exchange Biki has stopped registering new users from the PRC since September 26. Existing customers can withdraw funds and the platform will cease operations on 30 November. The platform's tokens will be redeemed by October 31.
Earlier, Binance and Huobi exchanges closed the possibility of registering new users in mainland China.
Ethereum's largest mining pool, SparkPool, announced it would stop serving Chinese users and then stop operating outside the country.
Online commerce giant Alibaba has announced a ban on the sale of bitcoin miners on its platform.
According to media reports, Chinese users have lost access to CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap analytics services.
Recall that on September 24, China's State Development and Reform Committee pointed out the negative impact of mining on the environment and its "insignificant" contribution to the country's economy.
The People's Bank of China described as illegal the activities of platforms that exchange digital assets among themselves or for fiat.
Previously, the regulator's spokesman, Wen Xinxiang, called cryptocurrencies and staplecoins a threat to the traditional financial system.
These developments come against the backdrop of the successful launch of bitcoin as a national currency in El Salvador. The president reported the other day that more than two million people in the country already use cryptocurrency as their primary source of payment for goods and services.


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eCommerce giant Amazon is taking EU antitrust regulators to court for allowing Italian Competition Authority (ICA) to pursue a separate case against it.
Amazon has launched a complaint with the Luxembourg-based General Court, Europe’s second-highest, to push for the investigation by ICA to be rolled into the wider EU probe that is currently being conducted against the company. The company’s move challenges the EU decision to exclude Italy from its investigation.
The lawsuit comes two months after the European Commission began investigating the criteria Amazon uses to select merchants for its “buy box,” which lets shoppers add items from a specific retailer directly into their shopping cart, Reuters reported. The EU probe is also examining whether Amazon gives an unfair advantage to marketplace sellers that use its logistics and delivery service and if it gives preferential treatment to its AmazonBasics retail products.
These are some of the same issues ICA began investigating in 2019 pertaining to their impact on the Italian seller and logistics market.
“When the European Commission decides to investigate a matter, European law says that national competition authorities cannot investigate the same topic. This did not occur in this instance, as the Commission’s opening decision attempts to exclude Italy,” Amazon said.


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Apple is considering offering consumers larger sizes of iPad Pro models, with super-sized variants potentially arriving within a few years.
Apple's largest tablet has been the 12.9-inch iPad Pro ever since the product's first release. While Apple has changed the sizes of other iPad models, including multiple alterations for the smaller variant of the iPad Pro, it seems that the largest iPad Apple sells may go under the same treatment down the line.
In Bloomberg's "Power On" newsletter, Mark Gurman was reportedly told that Apple is exploring the idea of a bigger tablet size, with engineers and designers working on versions that could arrive "a couple of years down the road at the earliest."
Gurman further claims the 2022 refresh of the iPad Pro lineup will consist of models reusing the existing 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, which will rule out larger iterations. There is also the advice that such tablets may never actually get released at all.
On June 4, a report claimed Apple is working on adding a glass back to the iPad Pro range for 2022, bringing the product family in line with the styling of the iPhone 12. A wireless charging system similar to MagSafe is also allegedly planned, which would be facilitated with the change to a "glass sandwich" design.
There have also been claims Apple is working on so-called reverse charging, or "bilateral" charging, for the iPad Pro.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast — and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too. If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.


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Samsung and LG to Break OLED TV 70-inch Size Barrier at IFA 2013
OLED TVs have been constraint in size due to cost for years. Samsung has announced a 55-inch OLED TV that is supposed to go on sale soon. LG offers the 55-inch curved OLED TV. Now a report on ET News (ViaOLED-Info) says that Samsung will unveil a 70-inch OLED TV at the IFA 2013 in Berlin. LG is supposed to top Samsung with a 77-inch OLED TV model. Both large OLED TVs are supposed to go on sale end of 2013 or early 2014.
The IFA 2013 will take place in September in Berlin. If the report is true then these two large OLED TVs will be the highlight of this consumer electronics show.
Luigi Lugmayr Luigi Lugmayr (Google) is the founding chief Editor of I4U News and brings over 15 years
experience in the technology field to the ever evolving and exciting
world of gadgets. He started I4U News back in 2000 and evolved it into
vibrant technology magazine.
Luigi can be contacted directly at email@example.com.
The “geek mind” is concerned with more than just the latest iPhone rumors, or which company will win the gaming console wars. I4U is concerned with more than just the latest photo shoot or other celebrity gossip.
The “geek mind” is concerned with life, in all its different forms and facets. The geek mind wants to know about societal and financial issues, both abroad and at home. If a Fortune 500 decides to raise their minimum wage, or any high priority news, the geek mind wants to know. The geek mind wants to know the top teams in the National Football League, or who’s likely to win the NBA Finals this coming year. The geek mind wants to know who the hottest new models are, or whether the newest blockbuster movie is worth seeing. The geek mind wants to know. The geek mind wants—needs—knowledge.


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This story appears in the May 25, 2015 issue of Forbes. Subscribe
In the early 2000s engineer David Caldwell might have missed the chance of a lifetime. While developing touch-sensitive switches for home appliances, Caldwell was invited to Cupertino, Calif. to demonstrate his patented TouchSensor technology to
Sure, replied Caldwell.
But nothing ever came of the discussion, partly because Illinois-based Gemtron, the glass company that controlled his technology, wasn't interested in diversifying beyond its core expertise: selling $100 cooktops embedded with electronics to companies like
Who knows what might have happened if the talks continued? Caldwell, now 58, his round face framed by shaggy bangs and rectangular glasses, tries not to dwell on the missed opportunity. "You can't look back," he says, sitting in a nondescript office-park laboratory in Holland, Mich. "I did okay."
Caldwell holds more than 30 patents, many on touch technology. His TouchSensor switches have been incorporated into millions of control panels, for everything from automobiles to washing machines to beverage dispensers at fast-food joints. Still, when Gemtron sold TouchSensor to another firm in 2007 for just $65 million, Caldwell opted to strike out on his own. Less than a year later he formed a new company, AlSentis, to reinvent touch technology once again.
The result, eight years later, is a potential breakthrough that could transform how people around the world interact with their electronic devices. Called HSS (for "heuristic signature sensing"), Caldwell's patented setup is far more reliable and uses far less energy than today's touch systems. It even works when wet or dirty, and can be operated with gloves on.
"From what I've seen," says Bruce Banter, president of Tech-D-P in Plymouth, Mich., an expert in automotive touch controls, "there's nobody even close."
Most touch-sensitive products, like those used in the iPhone and other personal computing devices, are known as "capacitive" systems. They sense when and where an object--typically a finger--breaks an electric field. To trigger a touch signal, engineers set a very thin threshold, just above the surface of the device, to measure capacitive change. That's why a light touch is all that's needed to operate a smartphone.


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Nexus 7 listing on the Play Store has been refreshed, and it may signal a design shift on the Play Store. Where as we once had to choose the variation of which device we wanted via a series of thumbnails, the Nexus 7 listing now has a drop-down menu and two icons for different memory options.
Tagged: Google Nexus 7
Google showed the world that the best 7-inch Android tablet could be even better. A little over a year after releasing their first 7-inch slate, they are back with an all-new and improved Nexus 7. With their second tablet, Google just outshined all the others on the market, and that includes the lustrous iPad mini. If you've been debating whether or not to buy a small 7-inch tablet you'll want to read on for our full thoughts on this new king of the hill.
over at iFixit have been in a bit of a teardown frenzy, first giving the Chromecast a quick dissection, then heading straight to the newly unveiled Nexus 7 2013 tablet. Despite some glue that makes removing the battery a bit tricky, the tablet is easy to disassemble, and was awarded with a score of 7 out of 10.
Google announced the new ASUS made Google Nexus 7 tablet to replace their wildly popular slate from last year. Simply calling it the new Nexus 7, not the Nexus 7 2, this new device comes packed and ready to rock. With more than 70 million Android tablet's sold to date, the newest member to join the lineup surely is impressive, and will sell by the truckloads. We've seen countless leaks but now we've got our hands all over it, so read on to see what we think.
Nexus 7 2 have been scattered, but today we're hearing again that the release date for their tablet could be the end of July. After being a no-show at Google I/O, the rumors have been circulating almost weekly. We've heard July more than once, and even late August, but the newest report from "insiders" claims it will be here very soon.
Google I/O brought tons of exciting new features and news in the world of Android. Sadly, there wasn't new hardware or that Nexus 7 redux we've been talking about as of late. Many rumors and leaks suggest a new Nexus 7 is coming, but Google didn't unveil anything. However, their new Google+ Hangouts video released yesterday might have just given us our first glance.
Nexus 7 tablet available beginning in July, however the other side to this story may the one that is slightly more interesting. That side is touching on the pricing, and assuming these latest reports prove to be accurate -- it looks like Google will have the Nexus 7 available for as little as $149.
Google I/O will be coming up in a few months and it looks like the announcement rumors have already begun. These latest touch on a new Nexus 7 tablet. Currently dubbed a second-generation model and assuming these rumors prove accurate -- Google is said to be working on the new Nexus 7 tablet with Asus.
Nexus 7. Well, for those who purchase the tablet and also agree to sign a two-year commitment with AT&T.