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The search engine giant’s latest excursions into mobile phone patents and entertainment gadgets have the tech world abuzz. Could it be that Google wants to be the next Apple? Does Google have the right stuff to topple the Cupertino giant?
Google has never shied away from dabbling into diverse endeavors. While Google has yet to enter the realm of hardware manufacture, the company’s prolific software programs and buyouts have slowly infiltrated nearly every aspect of digital communications. Some of Google’s products have elbowed out tech giants once considered invincible. Apple is at the top of its game, currently the most valuable company in the United States. Is it any surprise that Google appears green with Apple envy?
Google, Google, Everywhere
Google is increasingly competing with popular consumer products and services. Chromebook has been compared to the nimble MacBook Air. Google+ is the company’s social networking alternative to Pinterest and Facebook. The acquisitions of the popular blogging platform Blogger and video sharing site YouTube wrap up a healthy portion of the Internet’s media community. After the stellar success of the Apple iPhone, Google dexterously wrought their Android operating system, which has become a fierce competitor in the battle for sophisticated smartphone software. This isn’t enough for the king of the Internet. Now it appears that Google has other venues in mind, venues that appear suspiciously similar to Apple devices.
That’s Entertainment, Google Style
Nicknamed “Project Tungsten,” Google has been developing a new entertainment device that looks, smells and acts like an Apple. Used in tandem with a tablet computer or smartphone, Google’s device will play music files stored on digital devices or online at Google Music. The devices will use the Google Android operating system, of course. Sound familiar?
In 2010, Google joined hands with SONY and Logitech to produce Google TV, an interactive web TV device. The device was met with insipid reviews and was criticized for its complex and often convoluted controls and interface. A few months later, Logitech backed out of the deal but the case was clearly made: Google is competing with Apple. Google has not yet given up on web TV and is currently seeking partnerships with LG, Samsung and others to resurrect the device.
Both the European Union and the United States Justice Department have recently approved Google’s $12.5 billion bid for Motorola Mobility, believing the move will not “lessen competition” or “change existing market dynamics” between cell phone companies. Google claims the purchase is to strengthen the Android operating system, but the acquisition of Motorola’s 17,000 patents would certainly shield Google from patent-infringement lawsuits by competing companies, such as Apple.
Still, Google is not a company to sit still for long. Do we really believe that Google will be happy to tinker with Motorola patents and resist the temptation to build a Google-brand smartphone or a Google brand cell company?
No matter how humble the company appears on the surface, we all know that Google loves to be the first and the best. Of course Google wants to be like Apple. Google also wants to be like Facebook and Microsoft.
The million dollar question is this: Can Google produce products on par with Apple products, products that connect with consumers?
Let Me Tell You Why the Answer is No
Much of Google’s production history has been hit and miss, most likely due to Google’s propensity to be the jack of all trades and master of none. Certainly, even Apple has had their bad fruits. Yet Google hasn’t understood the most basic lesson of consumer goods, a lesson that Apple learned early on: you must connect with the consumer.
Consumers do not merely want perfectly engineered gadgets. They want gadgets that improve their life, gadgets that are intuitive and beautiful and feel good. As marvelously engineered as Google products are, there remains an impersonal, automated aura about Google products. Google makes a terrific search engine and a superb Internet browser, but their personal consumer goods tend to lack the intuitiveness and broad aesthetic appeal of Apple products.
What Do You Think?
Of course, Android has been Google’s first real foray into a consumer good that garnered wide consumer appeal. Google realizes this and is attempting to expand their success. Yet Google still needs savvy hardware developers and designers to build the body around the Google engine and a lot of these savvy people work at Apple. As much as consumers appreciate high-powered engines, they overwhelmingly favor a well-designed body. Apple, so far, does both exceptionally well.
Do you think Google is trying to edge out Apple? Do you think Google could succeed?
About the author: Jaime is an avid hiker and skier who loves to write in her spare time for USBundles.com– home of CenturyLink .


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USA, Redwood City, Cal. Impossible Foods is gearing up to start a second shift at its Oakland production facility that will double production of its plant-based Impossible Burger by the year-end, and is planning a second factory at an undisclosed location as it seeks to not only match, but outperform meat from animals in taste, nutrition and value.
In its 2018 impact report, the firm – which has raised a jaw-dropping amount of money ($450 mill. in debt and equity) – says the Impossible Burger is now served at 3,000+ restaurants in the US, Hong Kong and Macau, up from 40 restaurants a year ago.
"We launched our first large-scale production facility in March 2017 in Oakland, California. One year later, we were running the 67,000 square-foot plant at full capacity on a single shift. We are now hiring employees to launch a second shift to double production," revealed the report.
"We anticipate the Oakland plant will ultimately be able to produce four mill. pounds of meat a month. We're also planning a second factory and mapping out plans to scale up our business far beyond where it is today." it added.
In recent blind tests with meat-eating consumers, half preferred the Impossible Burger, "a big improvement from less than 10% five years ago," said the company, which was founded by Stanford biochemist and genomics expert Pat Brown, PhD, MD, who has described industrialized meat production as the most destructive technology on Earth. "By the end of 2018, our goal is beat burgers made from cows decisively in blind taste tests." Pat Brown said.
Despite a growing recognition that animal agriculture is environmentally problematic, the global demand for animal-derived food is surging, added the report: "We're not going to solve this problem by pleading with consumers to eat beans and tofu instead of meat and fish. We need to solve this problem another way – not by guilting consumers into changing their diets, but by making delicious, nutritious and sustainable meats that are better than the meats from inefficient animal-based technology. The surest strategy for replacing the most destructive technology on Earth is to deliberately create foods that deliver greater pleasure and value to consumers of meat fish and dairy foods, then simply offer them as a choice, and let market demand take care of the rest."
Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark – who have no stake in Impossible Foods – recently relied on the firm's life cycle analysis (verified by third-party auditing firm Quantis) to show that replacing 50% of ground beef consumed in the US with Impossible Foods' plant-based beef would be the equivalent of removing all emissions of at least eleven mill. drivers in the US for a full year."
“It would also save at least 3.2 trill. gallons of water, release a land area the size of New England currently being used for livestock and the crops they consume, to healthy wildlife habitat." claimed the report.

domain: news


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Keep an eye on your favorite places year-round with these handy live webcams. Click on one of the links below to start exploring!
- ATM malware is being sold on Darknet market October 17, 2017In May 2017, Kaspersky Lab researchers discovered a forum post advertising ATM malware that was targeting specific vendor ATMs. The forum contained a short description of a crimeware kit designed to empty ATMs with the help of a vendor specific API, without interacting with ATM users and their data. The price of the kit was […]Konstantin Zykov
- Your brain knows when you've just died, researchers say October 21, 2017Researchers from New York’s NYU Langone School of Medicine said in an interview that people are aware that they died, and might be able to hear a doctor announcing their death.


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Apr 30 , 2020
Efficiency is Key
In preparation for coronavirus self-quarantine, many Americans stocked up on essentials like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, tuna, peanut butter, pasta and more. Some even went on a panic-buying frenzy, which wasn’t helpful for a number of reasons, and certain items remain scarce.
To prevent running out of the essentials, you need to strategize. “It’s important to be efficient and smart about how to ration the supplies you have on hand,” explains Vicky Nguyen, an investigative and consumer correspondent for NBC News.
Historically, rationing may be imposed during wartime when demand exceeds supply. That’s not the case today, but it’s worth considering rationing on your own to navigate supply issues (we’re looking at you, toilet paper), limit trips to the grocery store, or simply to save money. Here’s how to make the most of what you have, and find clever substitutions for items you can’t get.


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Since Satoshi Nakamoto’s 2008 Bitcoin white paper, no platform has had a substantial effect in fulfilling the fundamental value proposition of bringing alternative payments into real everyday purchasing experiences for the average customer.
Starbucks (SBUX), Tesla (TSLA), and Microsoft (MSFT) are among the well-known companies that have begun accepting cryptocurrencies in 2021. Many more shops are drawn to cryptocurrency because of its lower prices, faster transactions, and potential to provide customers more payment options. AXA Insurance, for example, began taking cryptocurrency payments after discovering that roughly one-third of those polled had or were interested in crypto investments.
The retail blockchain market is expected to reach $4.6 billion by 2028, as more industry professionals recognise its value and strive to meet customer demands. However, major firms will not be the only ones driving this expansion. Customers and suppliers requesting cryptocurrencies as a payment option increased by 75% in small and medium-sized firms.
With the vast majority of retailers being small firms, which produce 43.5 percent of US GDP and create two-thirds of new employment while holding little liquidity in costs, and 70 percent of which want to take financial help, the argument for crypto is plain. With inflation on the rise, small companies, particularly shopkeepers, should look to cryptocurrencies as a hedge.
Bitcoin’s value rises faster than inflation, making it a viable substitute savings vehicle and allowing firms to have enough funds to meet huge unforeseen occurrences. Though currently, fiat currency and Bitcoin are closely knit, but as trust in the crypto industry grows, the correlation shall cease to exist.
That said, from a financial point of view, it is vital that small companies and shops embrace cryptocurrency as an alternate method of payment.
Last year, cryptocurrency went from specialized to mainstream, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The rise of cryptocurrencies is being driven by a broader societal movement. As older generations retire and younger generations enter the labor field, the purchasing habits of this new generation will determine the future of retail and banking.
Millennials reaching 40 were among the most impacted by the previous decade’s financial crisis, but have worked hard and invested well to lessen the wealth imbalance caused by their disadvantage.
People born between 1981 and 1996 had the highest proportion of digital asset owners, with 45 percent holding crypto in 2022, compared to about 30 percent in the same time the previous year.
And Generation Z isn’t far behind. The popularization of non-fungible tokens (used as profile images on social media) is one example of tech-savvy younger generations searching for new ways to use and display their assets after investing in the digital domain.
Enhancing customer experience:
Every shop wants to keep their consumers happy. One method is to respond to client preferences by offering a variety of payment choices. Accepting just cash in 2022 feels like an intentional throwback.
One strategy to increase customer satisfaction is to accept bitcoin payments. It is especially noteworthy for the 93 percent of crypto owners who say they would consider buying anything using bitcoin (while 57 percent have already made at least one crypto purchase in the last year).
Secure in-store networks, mobile payments, and biometric verification may eliminate the need for standard checkouts altogether. Payment requests sent to a customer’s mobile device make crypto payments as simple as paying with Visa (V), PayPal (PYPL), or any other chosen digital payment option.
Future stores will be built around fluid, mobile-first, and customer-centric experiences, so it’s no wonder that nearly three-quarters of businesses questioned regard accepting new means of payment as critical to their success.
Offering cryptocurrency payments has both advantages and disadvantages for retailers. Accepting bitcoin necessitates some work, whether it is by adapting shops’ existing point-of-sale (POS) terminals or rebuilding their whole shop floor.
Similarly, cryptocurrencies are risky due to their volatility, and they might be subject to complex tax rules and regulations.
This complication frequently compels merchants to be clear in their terms and conditions, as well as to maintain flawless bookkeeping — a standard that should be imposed across the industry.
Crypto isn’t the only currency with structural issues: During the coronavirus epidemic, illicit card payments and identity theft soared by 35%, and small, independent firms were among the most hit. Mobile crypto payments might be a step toward security in this regard: since they are consumer transactions rather than passing via third-party intermediaries, crypto limits the attack vector for fraud chances.
Furthermore, blockchain transactions are irreversible, which is both a benefit and a disadvantage. Retailers may be able to better monitor their cash flow, but they must also take account of how much each consumer has paid in the event of a return.
Retailers can spearhead change:
Early retail adopters who are at the forefront of developing industry standards can contribute to the improvement of current best practises. While some may find it daunting, individuals that invest early are more likely to receive the benefits of a devoted and enthusiastic crypto-customer base.
By refocusing retailers on providing completely immersive customer encounters, cryptocurrency is paving the way for the future of retail payments. Never before in retail has a community been established based on payment type choice, and companies can now engage new customers and connect into crypto communities by building shopping experiences centered on community values.
Crypto is now accepted online and at certain traditional retail locations. Following that, increased demand will force merchants to remodel storefronts and transaction experiences with customers ’ preferences in account.


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Good for the Obama Administration, pursuing a trade case against China's duties on U.S. car exports
No matter that China allowed only 106,000 U.S.-made cars into its market last year while Chinese consumers purchased roughly 18 million vehicles overall.
And no matter that China has virtually unlimited access to the U.S. market.
Despite all of that, Beijing constantly tries to block the entry of U.S.-made goods. Their imposition of duties on U.S. cars makes is brash and improper.
White House press secretary Jay Carney explained the WTO case, saying that the duties imposed by China "disproportionately fall on General Motors and Chrysler products." He said that this is the seventh such action taken against China:
"The previous six have all been successful." And he said pace of actions was double that of the previous administration.
"I think it underscores the president's commitment to American companies and American workers." He also noted that the Chinese were given a routine courtesy heads up.
It's great that the Obama Administration is tackling this protectionist market barrier head on.
Since we're talking autos though, the Administration needs to go a step further. At the same time that Beijing is blocking U.S. auto exports, it is also happily flooding the U.S. market with auto parts that are manufactured via massive, illegal subsidies.
The U.S. auto parts sector comprises 3/4ths of the nation's automotive employment, which means that 1.6 million jobs are at risk if China keeps hammering away at U.S. auto supply chain.
Exports of subsidized auto parts from China have already contributed to the loss of more than 400,000 jobs in the auto parts sector. And Chinese auto parts imports have skyrocketed by almost 900 percent since 2000.
The next step for the Administration seems pretty clear since the catalogue of China's unfair trade practices is growing. Simply put, China needs to be called on the carpet not only for its predatory dumping of auto parts, as well as its currency manipulation and rampant industrial subsidies.
Keep filing these cases, Mr. President. We have more work to do to restore a level playing field for U.S. manufacturers and their workers.
Related recent Blogs
- The Big Three set the stage for a manufacturing renaissance • by TGarland • 12/10/2013
- Pharmaceutical companies' interests are covered in the TPP -- as for everyone else? Ehh ... • by mmcmullan • 12/09/2013
- A swing and a miss for Biden in Asia • by TGarland • 12/09/2013
- Kickstarting a manufacturing renaissance • by TGarland • 12/06/2013
- U.S. Manufacturing Gains 27,000 Jobs in November: Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) Statement. • by scapozzola • 12/06/2013
- Indiana manufacturing program expands • by TGarland • 12/05/2013
- Scott Paul: Keep skilled jobs for skilled workers in Washington • by mmcmullan • 12/05/2013
- A bad time to sideline trade talks • by mmcmullan • 12/04/2013
- Infrastructure investment means job creation • by TGarland • 12/04/2013
- China trade deficit on pace for new record, but will anyone notice? Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) Statement. • by scapozzola • 12/04/2013


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The developers of the Get Even game have shared some good news for the PC owners. According to the project’s lead designer - Wojciech Pazdur, - Farm 51 company has chosen PC as the main platform for the release of the upcoming shooter.
Last week we reported about the new third-person shooter- Get Even, - which is going to have a very realistic and beautiful graphics. Today we would like to present you the video from the upcoming game, which proves that Get Even will really get the innovative visual effects that impress.
While the year has just begun, the game developers have already started to present the titles that will be released in 2015. Today The Farm 51 has published the first Get Even trailer and revealed some details of this upcoming and intriguing shooter for PC and next-generation of consoles.


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*Liberty makes another attempt to buy Ziggo. BRUSSELS, Dec 12- U.S. cable group Liberty Global is in takeover talks with Dutch operator Ziggo, its latest move to consolidate the sector in Europe with a deal analysts say could cost around 5 billion euros.» Read More
CNBC's David Faber has the story on whether the billionaire investor is bluffing when he says there's no question he'll be able to raise $7.8 billion to buy the company.
Analysis of billionaire Carl Ichan's bid for the company and whether the stock has room to run, Bill Schmitz, Deutsche Bank Securities, and Javier Escalante, Weeden & Company.
CNBC's David Faber with the latest details on the Williams/Southern Union takeover bid.
CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports International Paper offering $30.60 a share for Temple-Inland.
NBC's Stephanie Gosk has the details on whether News Corp's plan takeover of BSkyB violates anti-monopoly laws.
CNBC's David Faber reports Williams may increase its offer for Southern Union when the board meets this weekend.
Global deal-making fell in June but more tech and retail names are in the pipeline and ripe for acquisitions , with Marshall Sonenshine, Sonenshine Partners chairman/CEO.
A look at likely suitors on the high tech merger scene, with Nat Burgess, Corum Group president, and CNBC's Herb Greenberg.
CNBC's Brian Shactman reports a takeover battle for the natural gas company has sent its shares higher.
A look at M&A activity and where to find investment opportunities, with Joseph Perella, Perella Weinberg Partners CEO; Terry Meguid, Perella Weinberg Partners; and Peter Weinberg, Perella Weinberg Partners.
The Williams Company raises the stakes in its takeover bid for Southern Union, reports CNBC's Tyler Mathisen.
The online video service may put itself on the auction block after receiving an unsolicited takeover bid. A look at potential buyers, with CNBC's Julia Boorstin.
CNBC's Herb Greenberg with a look at a takeover bid for China's Harbin Electric.
CNBC's David Faber reports the hostile takeover bid of Temple-Inland by the giant paper company could turn out to be long battle.
Weighing in on International Paper's hostile takeover bid of Temple-Inland for $30.60/share, and the outlook on the markets, with Keith McCullough, Hedgeye Risk Management; Robert Froehlich, The Hartford, and CNBC's Brian Sullivan.
CNBC's David Faber reports risk arbitrageurs have hit a rough spot, including Lundin Mining's failure to find an acceptable takeover bid.
CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports latest details on the takeover bid for the big box store.
Reaction to Wal-Mart's earnings release and a preview of BJ's & Target', with Daniel Binder, Jefferies & Co.
CNBC's David Faber with latest details on two takeover bids; european biotech company, Actelion and U.S. company, Ralcorp Holdings.


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If your firm hasn’t installed positive pay, you should seriously consider doing so. That’s one lesson to be learned from a recent case involving Wachovia Bank and its client’s insurance company.
According to this summary of the case by Greg Litster, president of SAFEChecks, and Frank Abagnale of Abagnale & Associates, Wachovia came out the winner in a lawsuit against its customer’s insurer, after the payee on one of the company’s checks – for more than $150,000 – was altered.
Wachovia’s client, Schultz Foods Company, had demanded that Wachovia cover the loss, saying it had processed the check in violation of the Uniform Commercial Code. Wachovia refused, noting that the company had repeatedly refused to implement positive pay, which would have picked up on the altered name. In fact, the company had been a victim of check fraud several times before the incident that led to the suit. Wachovia had covered those losses.
Schultz Foods also had purchased an insurance contract to protect itself against fraudulent checks. While the company was pursuing Wachovia, it also was filing a claim against its insurer, Cincinnati Insurance Company. Cincinnati did pay the claim, and then went after Wachovia.
However, one section of the contract between Wachovia and Schultz Foods proved critical to Wachovia’s defense. That was this:
“You agree that if you fail to implement any of these products or services, or you fail to follow these and other precautions reasonable for your particular circumstances, you will be precluded from asserting any claims against [Wachovia] for paying any unauthorized, altered, counterfeit or other fraudulent item that such product, service, or precaution was designed to detect or deter, and we will not be required to re-credit your account or otherwise have any liability for paying such items.”
Given the prevalence of check fraud – of the respondents to the 2009 AFP Payments Fraud Survey who had experienced payments fraud, 90 percent were victims of check fraud – companies need to seriously consider services like positive pay. What’s more, in light of the outcome of this court case, it’s likely that more banks will include provisions in their contracts that limit their liability when their customers won’t implement fraud prevention services like positive pay.


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An impressive list of industry heavyweights filed briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court today to back up Microsoft in its bid to change a central standard by which patent-infringement lawsuits are won and lost.
When Microsoft appealed to the Supreme Court in August, in a last-ditch effort to reverse a $290 million award to i4i Inc., the software giant also called on the high court to reconsider how the nation’s judicial system determines the validity of patents.
Today’s amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs — filed by the likes of Google, Apple, Intel, Yahoo, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Facebook, Walmart, Toyota and more — support Microsoft’s effort to make the infringement standard more defendant-friendly and ward off patent trolls.
During infringement lawsuits, courts apply the “clear and convincing evidence” standard to determine whether a patent — one already approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office — is indeed valid. Microsoft, and other companies that deal heavily in intellectual property, would like to see the standard changed to “preponderance of evidence.”
With the “clear and convincing evidence” standard, defendants must clear a high bar to prove a patent is invalid. Invalidity is a key defense for companies who are alleged to have infringed a patent.
Microsoft and friends would like to lower that bar. The “preponderance of evidence” standard, as Corporate Council writer Joe Mullin wrote, is akin to “more likely than not.”
Such a change would make it easier for companies like Microsoft to argue the invalidity of a patent and, hence, make it easier for them to win a patent-infringement lawsuit against them. It potentially would save such companies millions of dollars a year on legal fees and damages awards, and would cut down on the number of frivolous lawsuits levels against them.
But it also would give less protection to holders of legitimate patents granted by the USPTO.
In its petition (PDF) for a writ of certiorari (appeal to the Supreme Court), Microsoft outlined its argument for reviewing the “clear and convincing” standard used by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:
After undertaking a comprehensive review of the Nation’s patent system, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) concluded that the clear-and-convincing-evidence standard of proof imposed by the Federal Circuit on patent challengers tended to hinder, rather than promote, progress. By “distort[ing] the litigation process,” the clear-and-convincing-evidence standard creates “serious potential for judicially confirming unnecessary, potentially competition-threatening rights to exclude.” …
If it is true that the Federal Circuit’s clear-and-convincing-evidence standard jeopardizes the ability of patent litigants to clear the field of competition threatening invalid patents, as the FTC has concluded, then the risk is particularly acute in cases in which the pertinent evidence of invalidity was not considered by the patent examiner. It is in those cases — cases where the PTO was not afforded the opportunity “to do its job” … that the risk of examiner error is at its zenith, and … the justification for the presumption of validity at its nadir.
For this reason, the Federal Circuit’s clear-and-convincing-evidence standard fails even on its own terms. That heightened evidentiary standard supposedly rests on the “basic proposition that a government agency such as the then Patent Office was presumed to do its job.” But whatever the implications of this “basic proposition” as a matter of administrative law, the PTO cannot remotely be “presumed to do its job” when the relevant evidence was never before it.
In fact, there were nine briefs filed today by not just companies, but IP-law professors and professional associations. Here they are, from:
· A group of law, economics and business professors — PDF
· Google, Verizon, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, HTC, Walmart — PDF
· Facebook, Intuit, Netflix, Newegg, Toyota, Trimble Navigation — PDF
· Intel — PDF
· Yahoo — PDF
· Apple — PDF
· CTIA – The Wireless Association — PDF
· Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), The Clearing House Association — PDF
· The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Public Knowledge, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, Apache Software — PDF
Previous i4i coverage:
- Microsoft makes last move in i4i lawsuit: petitioning the US Supreme Court (Aug. 28)
- In i4i v. Microsoft, USPTO does what it said it would: confirm (July 27)
- USPTO to uphold i4i patent in $290M Word infringement case (May 11)
- Appeals court denies 12-judge review of i4i v. Microsoft (April 1)
- i4i fielding questions, concerns about Word injunction (Jan. 12)
- Word injunction now in effect – sales limited (Jan. 11)
- Microsoft asks for rehearing in Word case – but why? (Jan. 8, 2010)
- Microsoft loses i4i appeal; must pay $290M and alter Word (Dec. 22, 2009)
- i4i: Word appeal hearing was ‘repackage’ of trial (Sept. 23)
- i4i-Microsoft battle over Word coming to a head (Sept. 22)
- Microsoft: At least give us a new trial in Word case (Sept. 14)
- i4i: Microsoft cut off i4i after partnership (Sept. 9)
- Lawyer: Microsoft ‘got slapped hard’ in Word case (Sept. 4)
- Court grants Microsoft’s motion to stay Word injunction (Sept. 3)
- Dell, HP support Microsoft in Word injunction case (Aug. 28)
- Microsoft in Word appeal: ‘This is not justice’ (Aug. 26)
- Court grants appeal in Word case, sets expedited hearing (Aug. 21)
- Microsoft tries blocking Word ban; gives appeal notice (Aug. 18)
- Microsoft looked to make i4i product ‘obsolete’ (Aug. 17)
- Trial misconduct cost Microsoft $40M in Word case (Aug. 17)
- Should Microsoft worry about judge’s ban on Word? (Aug. 13)
- Judge: Microsoft can’t sell Word anymore (Aug. 11)


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by titi 7 October 2014 at 11:51 pm
After more than a year in development, the real time strategy game Annex: Conquer the World 4.0 has now been released, boasting nearly twice the game content, including new armies, new modes of play, new maps, new tile-sets, and a much more refined gameplay. As of version 4.0 the game has now also been released under a FOSS license.
by Teal 7 October 2014 at 3:59 pm
"An eerie, surrealistic, first-person game experience by an independent team of developers who helped make BioShock Infinite & BioShock." That's the tagline of one fresh Kickstarter launched by mostly ex-Irrational Games developers.
by Samsai 7 October 2014 at 2:09 pm
We are here once again, aren't we? Liam Dawe has announced his resignation from GamingOnLinux.com and it's once again up to us to figure out where to go from here. The past few months have been quite bumpy and obviously this is going to throw some wrenches into our gears.
by Samsai 6 October 2014 at 5:48 pm
There has to be a conspiracy of some sort against us. I believe someone somewhere is deliberately trying to ruin our productivity by unleashing a storm of awesome games that we (at least I) get hooked on. Here's one of them: Borderlands 2!
by liamdawe 6 October 2014 at 12:04 pm
Reckpunk may not look like much graphically, but looks are often deceiving. Reckpunk is one such title as it's a platform where you control the level elements rather than the character for interesting results.
by liamdawe 4 October 2014 at 2:19 pm
For those that have read us for some time you will probably know I am a big space sci-fi fan, so J.U.L.I.A.: Among the Stars ticks literally every single box for me. Here's my thoughts on the soon to be released Linux version.


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On the heels of launching in more than 50 markets across the country, today we’re bringing a seamless homeselling experience to customers in two more cities: Charleston, South Carolina and Richmond, Virginia. With their rich histories, beautiful architecture, and bustling art and food cultures, Charleston and Richmond bring Southern charm to our roster of cities.
Famous for its cobblestone streets, pineapple fountain, and rainbow colored houses, we’re excited to help people in Chucktown and its surrounding cities (across more than 25 counties) transition to their next chapter with a simple and fast home-selling process. Charleston joins our roster of South Carolina cities: we launched in Greenville in April 2021, followed two months later by offering our services in Columbia.
“There’s a reason why Charleston is constantly ranked as one of the top cities to visit,” says Rhett Damon, our head of industry relations — and coincidentally, a South Carolina native. “From its incredible seafood to its historic downtown and beautiful beaches, Charleston is a fantastic place to call home. “We’re pleased to reach even more sellers in South Carolina with a reliable experience every homeowner deserves.”
Richmond is where modern city meets old school charm. In the River City, you can hop on a trolley and see some of our country’s oldest sights, or enjoy unique eateries in this culinary gem. Our launch in Richmond expands our existing presence in Virginia, helping customers from the northeast to the capital city. With today’s launch, Opendoor will now be available in 65+ ZIP codes from Hanover to Caroline counties.
“Richmond is one of America’s oldest major cities with a growing economy, rich culture and historical significance,” said Jon Enberg, our Northeast-based division manager. “Today’s launch offers a seamless experience to customers in historic Richmond and surrounding areas.”
Sell your home at the tap of a button
We’re changing the traditional real estate transaction with a tech-driven process that makes selling your home easy, fast and stress-free. With Opendoor, selling is easy:
- Request a cash offer through our website in minutes
- Skip decision fatigue when it comes to repainting and replacing floors with no staging, showings, or making repairs
- Select a closing date that fits your moving needs
Our vision is simple: buy, sell and move at the tap of a button. If you’re looking to sell your home, request a free offer today.


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The base metal underperformed other metals during most of 2016, but prices rebounded in the last quarter.
Despite seeing an overall drop in 2015 and underperforming other metals for most of last year, lead prices were on the rise in the last quarter of 2016.
The future for the base metal seems to be bright as demand is forecast to rise to 11.34 million tonnes in 2017, according to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
This year the market will continue to be in surplus but the excess will be less than in 2016, resulting in a more balanced market, the Group reported.
In December, the metal had gained more than 25 percent from the start of 2016, but analysts forecast a slight decrease in prices for 2017.
Lead prices were on the rebound at the end of last year. After starting 2016 at less than $1,600 per metric tonne, they picked up to reach a high of over $2,565.5 per metric tonne late in November, jumping to a five-year high in the first week of December.
CRU’s lead market analyst Neil Hawkes said: “The recent rally has been a little overdone, though there is some fundamental support for lead values to hold on to some of the recent gains.”
The rally was supported by a shortage of the metal in China as a result of mine closures. In total, global mine production declined 7.8 percent compared to the first ten months of 2015.
“Lead, which had underperformed the other base metals for much of this year, has been catching up in the past couple of months, with contraction in lead mine supply and refined lead,” said Caroline Bain, senior commodities economist at Capital Economics.
“Lead prices have taken a dramatic turn, exploding into life, with values chalking up successive multi-year highs, both inside and outside China; leaving the lead industry to work out how much of the price hike is fundamentally justified,” Hawkes said.
For 2017, according to FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast report, analysts expect an average price of $1,977 per metric tonne.
CPM group forecast prices at $2,066 per tonne while Macquire expect prices to average $2,003.
More optimistic are analysts at TD Bank and Societe Generale, expecting prices to average $2,116 and 2,200 accordingly.
Supply and Demand
Lead, the fourth most used metal worldwide, has the largest applications in batteries and communications. The metal can be recycled indefinitely without losing its properties, accounting for more than 60 percent of total production.
Lead depends on lead-acid batteries for about 80 percent of demand in top consumer China and while the world has got all eyes on lithium thanks to Tesla and other electric vehicle pioneers, all of them still need a traditional 12-volt lead-acid battery to work.
According to a Persistence Market Research report, the global market for lead acid battery had revenues of around US$ 46.8 billion in 2015, which are likely to climb up by the end of 2016.
A rising demand for electric or battery-operated vehicles is generating a visible level of demand for battery on a global level, especially in developed regions.
Global demand for refined lead metal is forecast to rise by 2.8 percent to 11.19 million tonnes in 2016 and a further 1.3 percent to 11.34 million tonnes in 2017, according to ILZSG.
“In China, strong growth in vehicle production and sales have helped to balance declining demand for lead-acid batteries in the e-bike sector where sales of lithium-ion batteries are reported to be rising,
“It is anticipated that Chinese lead usage will rise by 2.5 percent in 2016 and 1.1 percent in 2017,” ILZSG reported.
According to BMI research, global mine production growth will continue to slow due to both a subdued price recovery and a weak global project pipeline.
“Globally, China, Australia, the US and Peru will account for more than 75 percent of global lead production over our forecast period to 2020,” they said.
ILZSG anticipated that in 2016, supply will exceed demand in the global refined lead metal market by 42,000 tonnes. In 2017, an even closer balance is predicted with current data indicating that the market will be in surplus by 23,000 tonnes.
But BMI Research remains even more optimistic and said: “The global primary lead market will shift into deficit by 2018 on the back of persistent supply cuts. Mined lead production will be hit by a global slowdown in mining capital expenditure, which will have a knock-on effect on refined lead supply growth.”
It seems lead has a bright future ahead, but this will not happen in the short term. As supply continues to decrease and demand picks up supported by Chinese consumption and worldwide battery demand, the market might tighten and finally balance. Certainly, things are looking better for lead and investors could be surprised by this metal in the next few years.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Priscila Barrera, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.


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Live Commerce is a trend that emerged in China and has been growing around the world. For agencies and brands, it presents an exciting and lucrative opportunity as well as a structural challenge, as content and production teams have to work closer than ever before with ecommerce, logistics, inventory and distribution teams. So how can brands make the most of this growing space?
First things first, why would you want to get into live commerce in the first place? Since Taobao launched in China in 2016, it’s become a mainstay of the country’s commerce landscape, booming throughout the pandemic, with McKinsey estimating that live commerce has the potential to make up between 10 and 20% of e-commerce globally
by 2026. And while we might leap to comparisons with QVC, this is fizzing on social media platforms with the likes of TikTok and Meta coming forward with offerings.
"It’s clear that live commerce is taking the world by storm and as more marketplaces and apps begin to adopt the trend and capitalise on the opportunity, brands need to think about incorporating a livestream strategy into their sales funnel," says Chloe Cox, social strategy and insights consultant at Wunderman Thompson. "Customers crave human interaction and an immersive experience, which can certainly be achieved through livestreaming and live commerce with the right content, the right products and the right people, providing there is an authentic message and connection back to a brand. If brands don’t join the movement, they may risk being left behind – so think about how you can incorporate live commerce into your wider social media, content and overall commerce strategy."
Look to China but Be Mindful of Cultural Differences
With all that in mind, the first thing to do is to look to China. As alluded to above, Live Commerce may be a relatively new beast in the West but agencies and brands in China have already had a good six years to get their head round the opportunity, innovate best practices and develop case studies. While it’s unlikely that what worked in China will - in all cases - be directly transferable to other markets, it’s definitely worth catching up with your colleagues and contacts in the Middle Kingdom.
Debbie Ellison is global chief digital officer for VMLY&R Commerce and she says that there is plenty of inspiration to be found in China’s live shopping success.
“We’ve got to look to China for the biggest successes as that’s where live commerce is most mature,” she says. “In a 2020 survey, two-thirds of Chinese consumers said they had bought products via livestream in the past year. The value of China’s live commerce market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 280 percent between 2017 and 2020, to reach an estimated $171 billion in 2020. This growth spurt has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Chinese sales are expected to reach $423 billion by 2022. Alibaba’s Taobao is China’s biggest live-commerce platform and Li Jiaqi is the top livestream salesman - known as the 'lipstick brother', he sold $1.9 billion in goods on the first day of Alibaba’s annual shopping festival.”
But while it might be tempting to just cut and paste what has worked in China and assume it will work in Italy or Mexico or Norway, Taylor Siegel, global commerce strategy and partnerships at MRM Commerce, cautions that a more balanced approach is warranted.
“China has paved the way, illuminating live shopping as an untapped potential channel to drive unprecedented revenue. They are set to hit almost $300 Billion in live shopping sales in 2022! Though live shopping has already taken off in China, it’s still relatively new in other markets,” she says. “The US and Europe can look to Asia for inspiration but should remember that their audiences, social networks and commerce journeys are different. That’s why it’s so important to test, learn and repeat. Businesses should build relationships with creators, try various platforms, experiment with different types of content to understand what works best for their specific brands and customers to drive results.”
Adrian Whitehouse, VP solutions EMEA at MediaMonks, also advises looking at what is happening inside and outside of China. The Alibaba-owned Taobao has, he argues, expertly woven aspects of gamification into its live shopping experiences while Western platforms are still getting to grips with the levers and levels of possible interactivity.
“Live commerce in the Chinese market is huge. Live commerce in North America and Europe seems to have been less successful, but the investment outside of China is much less (so far),” he says. “Brands should research existing forays into live commerce, whether that’s looking at TaoBao, Amazon, or looking at brands that have tried to build their own live commerce experiences (e.g. Tommy Hilfiger) and see what’s right for their products and services.”
How to Take a First Step
“Test, learn, repeat!” urges Taylor Siegel. The thought of getting into live shopping might seem overwhelming, but Taylor says that brands that are completely new to the live commerce space can keep things small and contained by focussing on a single event rather than trying to develop a comprehensive, long term strategy.
“As a starting point, first try a live event for a holiday or big shopping event, showcasing minimal products and using an influencer to entice a larger audience,” she says. “Keep lives short and sweet (around 25-30 minutes). Shoot in a location that’s quiet and leverage a production team to ensure clear and audible video throughout the event. Paid media is also important to promote the event to your target audience. After the event, brands should deep dive into insights and feedback to tweak and update for the following event. By being experimental and early adopters of live commerce, US & European brands have the opportunity to be leaders in this category."
Debbie Ellison recommends that before investing in a costly, bespoke live shopping platform of your own, start by reviewing any existing data you have on live streamed events generally and think about carrying out tests and trials with existing off-the-shelf products: “If you’ve done any live streaming before, review the data and extract any insights you can. For example, what talent has worked best in the live format? Which topics of conversation gained the most interaction? Days and times in the week that worked best in terms of engagement? Drop off points that might hint to where audiences lost interest.”
She recommends: “Once those insights are available, begin by adopting a test-and-learn approach, using an off-the-shelf tool and a key moment that’s relevant to your audience where your brand has some clear authority and authenticity. Building a fully customised technology can get costly, especially when considering desktop, iOS and Android compatibility (apparently $180-300K). Tools like Lisa and Bambuser provide seamless integration across e-com, apps and social that will allow you to track sales, conversion rates and engagements across multiple platforms.”
Understand Your Audience
As with any new channel, the first thing to really get to grips with is your audience. Why might live commerce be useful to them? What’s likely to turn them off? Where are they likely to be?
“Your shoppers won’t be a homogenous group of people,” says Debbie. “Get to know your cohorts, their cultural influences, the moments that matter to them and how your brand and products play a role in their lives. Feature products and bundles that are limited editions or exclusives to build the hype – think of live commerce as a completely new creative commerce channel that needs differentiation in the eyes of your audience and then ensure you use paid media to target the right people. Debbie points to a live commerce project that skincare brand Kiehl’s did for Ramadan. They carefully created an execution that held appeal to to both Ramadan observers and non-observers. Through a series of 'open house' Instagram Live events featuring Kiehl’s beauty advisors, the brand managed an 8x return on investment.”
Choose Your Influencers Wisely
As much as platforms and tools and clever bits of behavioural design can improve the effectiveness of a live commerce project, the heart of what drives them is the human connection. And that’s as true for live shopping as it is for teleshopping or even in-store retail. However, contemporary influencers, with their parasocial relationships and their communities, can really scale up that human touch to connect with thousands of people at once.
Chloe Cox, social strategy and insights consultant at Wunderman Thompson, says that a yearning for connection is particularly potent after two years of pandemic living: “Live commerce is bringing back that personal and authentic touch to shopping that consumers typically missed throughout the pandemic. Some may argue that it’s a ‘new and improved’ version of teleshopping. In reality it’s bringing the in-person shopping element back to the consumer in their own home, providing ease and convenience in their shopping journey and giving them what they want, when they want and how they want.”
However, the ability to perform well live and over extended periods of time is not a given with all influencers, content creators, or salespeople. Being able to work with the camera and connect through it is a talent in itself, something that MRM’s Taylor Siegel discovered while working on Instagram live streaming content at Bloomingdale’s. “Being the top influencer, creator or store associate does not mean you will be good on camera,” she says.
Because connection is key, it might also be worth delving deeper into the world of micro-influencers, who can connect with audiences according to both shared interests and shared attitudes. “There are no guaranteed formulas of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to audiences, especially younger audiences like Gen Z. Consider engaging micro-influencers that can be matched to the specific interests of the cohorts you’re targeting,” suggests Debbie Ellison. And while this is a trend that has been largely focused on Gen Z so far, we may well see it broaden out to different kinds of audiences and influencers. “[Live shopping is] A new way for audiences to interact with their favourite celebs, influencers and brands,” she says.
“The experience feels more exclusive, intimate, and spontaneous,” continues Debbie. “It creates real time feedback where viewers have the chance to get their comments acknowledged and can influence what the broadcaster says or does. When applied to live commerce, products can feel more exclusive, and the exposure to other shoppers interacting in the feed can increase the hype. We do see a skew to youth because Gen Z are more active and available on social; embrace new features and trends more readily, and have a higher propensity to use social for shopping. However, like many Gen Z-driven trends, we’ll see live shopping becoming much more mainstream as creative commerce experiences are embraced by a wider range of brands and influencers.”
Keep it Real
The tension between creating an aspirational image and connecting with people in a relatable manner has long been a tension in the influencer marketing space. Our experts emphasise the need to keep things real and authentic when it comes to production.
“Consumers' behaviours have shifted in the last few years, accelerated by the pandemic. These new consumers are moved by experiences, engaged by two-way dialogue, and inspired through raw and authentic content,” says Taylor. “Live commerce is an organic next step for how consumers are already shopping, especially for Gen Z, who have been engaged in live shopping events for some time. It combines the ease of online shopping with the in-store experience to create shoppable entertainment at consumers' fingertips. Who wouldn’t love that? From a brand perspective, this type of selling allows brands to further connect, educate and sell products to their consumers in an un-filtered, un-photoshopped environment.”
Debbie underlines the three key values of ‘trust, authenticity, and relatability'. “Live shopping or ‘shopstreaming’ as we prefer to refer to it as, is the antithesis of overly produced and airbrushed creative, carefully crafted eCommerce shots, and size 0 models. Users can see products in real-time to make more educated decisions in a relatable context. When live shopping is curated by micro-influencers or creators who can tap into the minds of communities on an attitudinal level, users can experience products and inventory authentically.”
Timing Is Everything
So when is the best time to drop your live streams? As with most strategic decisions, that’s going to depend on your audience. However, in the home of live commerce, China, things really took off when brands clustered their efforts around big events.
“The narrative around live commerce mostly stems from the success in the Chinese market, with people pointing to the huge revenue spikes around key events like Singles Day,” says Adrian.
And while that can help you ride on a wave of collective momentum, it can be a double-edged sword. Debbie explains that focusing on more targeted events that resonate with your audience, rather than massive mainstream events may be an approach to consider. “Tying in with big events can certainly help focus efforts and generate hype. But do be mindful of events like Black Friday and Double 11, where media becomes expensive, and many brands compete for attention at the same time,” says Debbie. “To capitalise on an event like this, you need significant media budgets and considerable advertising support. However, if done right, livestreaming can be a great way of getting PR and cutting through during seasonal events. For example, Burberry used Twitch to stream their 2021 Spring/Summer show for London Fashion Week, achieving a platform-first and tapping into a younger audience of gamers.”
Although, tying into live commerce events is not the only approach to timing - Taylor recommends balancing that out with a more regular drumbeat, even attempting to use your own time slot. "The right answer here is both. Brands should experiment with owning a regular time, after looking at metrics and conducting tests to understand what works best for their audience. They should also host big one-off events tied to drops, major sale events, and holidays that drives sales due to urgency and exclusivity.”
And, as Debbie points out, a regular schedule can play well with platforms’ algorithms and can help maximise your organic non-paid reach. “For Live Shopping within a social platform, a regular cadence can help the algorithm ‘learn’ and improve organic discoverability.”
From Twitch to Facebook to TikTok, there’s a wealth of platforms coming up with live commerce offerings, not to mention ecommerce platforms and tools moving into the space. So how do brands figure out where to set out their stall?
“As with any new concept, brands should be thinking about what platform is right for them, before considering who to partner with,” says Chloe. “Where is their target market? What do they want? And how can they execute. By answering these questions, a brand can select a suitable platform and thus partner to engage with, deliver content and align their strategy with the overall business goals.”
Speaking to the experts, it seems that there’s a lot of excitement around TikTok, Instagram and Amazon Live. Adrian points out that Amazon has been making use of its own streaming platform Twitch and has been seeking to connect up its commerce platforms with content. “At the start of the pandemic, Amazon has mixed commerce and content with its “Twitch Sells Out” event for Prime Day, enlisting influencers and content creators in the gaming space to showcase items on sale that are relevant to the content they typically put out - for example, listing their streaming setup, gaming equipment or merchandise for a favourite game franchise," explains Adrian. “More than just a one-off event, Amazon employees live stream commerce on its Amazon Live platform, where brands and influencers broadcast content with shoppable listings underneath.”
“Instagram and TikTok are leading the way,” says Debbie, who points out that in the US social ecommerce shoppers grew 25% to 80 million people from 2019 to 2020 and that this figure is set to exceed 100 million by 2023. Social platforms are the key to making live stick: “#TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, where users post what they've bought thanks to recommendations about products on the site, has been used 8.1bn times to date.”
Chloe Cox argues that the gap between the pioneering Chinese brands platforms like Taobao and Western live commerce players is starting to shrink as they realise the potential. “Whilst China has been at the forefront of live commerce for a while now, Western social media networks are starting to catch up. Western brands are watching, learning, and adapting to this highly interactive channel, taking stock from retailers in the East as masters of the livestream trade. Take TikTok and Shopify’s collaboration to creative shoppable video adverts, and Instagram’s Reel feature that integrates shopping functions – albeit limited to geographies with native checkout,” she says. “There are also new and innovative technologies on social media platforms that enable all brands to get a slice of the pie, with Amazon launching its own service ‘Amazon Live’, where a range of demonstrations for products can be watched and interacted with.”
However, some brands are taking a somewhat different approach, hoping that by using third party tools, they can build their own platforms and keep control of first party data that they can harvest. “Other third-party platforms and tools are popping up that allow brands and businesses to go live on their own website with a simple plug in,” says Taylor. “Bambuser, Lisa, and Buywith are some examples brands are using to drive and keep consumers on their site and gather first-party data. Brands using this type of strategy include Clarins, Farfetch, LVMH, and Nordstrom among many others.”
Live Commerce is Just One Part of a Journey
At the end of the day, for brands one of the key draws of live commerce is its purported conversion rates. But if brands really want to maximise that, they need to consider where live commerce sits within the customer journey - and make the path to purchase as smooth as possible.
Debbie has some practical advice on this front: “Connect the product catalogue correctly. Ensure your inventory volume is accurate to minimise friction and maintain a seamless user experience. This will also improve discoverability of related inventory. Finding the platform where your core audience spends time most will also help prioritise effort,” she says. “Consider the entire path to purchase and stitch together platforms that make the journey frictionless, even if users click out or land on different properties. Test the complete customer experience (CX) from the perspective of all your audiences and make sure there are no dead ends or barriers to purchase.”
What that also means for agencies (and brands that have in-house content capabilities) is bringing together content production teams and CX experts with business distribution, inventory and logistics operations like never before. “Brands have a tendency to look at these areas in silos, but that isn’t the reality of how people shop anymore,” says Taylor. “Brands need to think about the total consumer experience across the shopping journey. Content, commerce, user and design experience... even behavioural sciences are, and should be, connected. We created an experiences and business transformation organisation specifically to bring together UX, CX, commerce and behavioural sciences. It’s at the intersection of these skill sets where you make progress on these innovative commerce areas, with the understanding of how people think, shop, feel and buy.”
Ultimately, you need to understand where live commerce fits in with your wider digital presence. “Don’t see this as a standalone part of your digital strategy,” says Adrian. “As with everything, live commerce should be one of the pillars that contributes to your overall business growth. Born in this new era with a digital DNA, I’m proud to say that at Media.Monks we help brands move into the market's whitespace, and show up in a meaningful way - including live commerce.”
Cutting Through the Noise
There’s no point investing all this effort into live commerce if you’re not going to be seen by anyone. Cut-through is crucial. The good news is that there’s hardly a playbook to rip up and there is lots of scope to experiment and try innovative ways to grab and keep attention.
“Make sure that you properly understand how you 'cut through the noise' to make sure your brand and product get airtime,” says Adrian, reeling off questions to ask yourself: “Are you relying on your brand’s mental availability or fame? Do you have to pay or buy your way in? Is it about having a particular type of product, discount structure, or the ability to bundle with particular partner brands? If you get airtime, how do you make sure your brand stands out to shoppers? Who’s presenting your brand? What’s the narrative around your appearance? Have you briefed whoever is presenting with the key points you’d like make?”
Additionally, Taylor says that paid media is an absolute necessity for live commerce, something she discovered during her time as senior social media lead at Bloomingdale’s. “The most important lesson I learned was that paid media is a must, before and after to drive additional eyes and sales.”
Streaming into the Future
Outside of China, live shopping is still in its infancy. With no hard rules and with best practices still evolving alongside the current rise of other developments such as the metaverse and NFTs, it’s a channel with the potential to create all sorts of exciting, immersive experiences.
In the near future, says Debbie, there’s no doubt that platforms will continue to improve their features and do more to connect influencers with brand opportunities. “Social platforms will continue to invest in feature development and promotion of live commerce. We’ll see more brands trying to enter the space, investing in collaborations and influencer partnerships to do so and some brands like Nordstrom will establish permanent live shopping channels,” says Debbie. “Live commerce will be matched with evolving behaviours, led by Gen Z, that will see mainstream adoption of live commerce. Given the number of influencers creating their own content, reviewing products in real time, I’d also like to see platforms provide comprehensive functionality for creators to link their content to commerce opportunities to help them connect their followers to purchase directly.”
MRM Commerce's Taylor is particularly excited about the potential for mixed reality and the metaverse to supercharge the live shopping experience. “VR and AR. This is the next step in the evolution of live commerce,” she says. “Brands and creators have already started experimenting with using AR to sell products using camera lenses on Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram. The digital and physical world will continue to merge. Eventually, live shopping will be hosted by digital avatars or influencers within the metaverse. Consumers will be able to come together to watch, interact and buy both digital and real-world products.”
But while it’s easy to get carried away with excitement and possibilities offered by developing new technologies, nothing is guaranteed. However, brands would be advised to keep a close eye, do their research and get hands-on.
“The future of live streaming and shopping depends on whether Western shoppers are ready to adopt Eastern retail practices,” says Chloe. “However, with platforms already dabbling in this industry and campaigns performing well, my advice would be to watch this space, be ready for the next commerce phenomenon and don’t get left behind.”
Photo by George Milton from Pexels


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Tata Passenger Electric Mobility unveils Generation 3 architecture based ‘AVINYA Concept’
Taking a giant stride toward the next generation of electric vehicles, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM), made a smashing debut with the global unveil of the AVINYA Concept – an expression of the Company’s vision of a pure electric vehicle, based on its GEN 3 architecture. Derived from the Sanskrit language, the name AVINYA stands for ‘Innovation’. The AVINYA Concept introduces a new typology of mobility that liberates enormous roominess and comfort, not restricted by traditional segmentation. It comes packed with new-age technology, software and Artificial Intelligence that work in the background to deliver wellness and tranquillity during transit.
Log9 Materials Partners with Indeanta Ventures, to Deploy 15,000 plus RapidEVs Nationwide
Bengaluru-headquartered advanced battery-technology and deep-technology startup Log9 Materials has announced entering into a long-term partnership, initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing with electric-mobility-as-a-service solutions provider Indeanta Ventures Pvt. Ltd. will supply Log9’s RapidX battery solution (RapidX) to its 2 and 3 wheeler electric vehicle platforms. Log9 and Indeanta have partnered together to jointly deploy more than 15,000 RapidEVs, which include 2-wheeler EVs and 3-wheeler EVs, powered by Log9’s InstaCharge technology. This will take place in India’s cities of Bengaluru and Hyderabad as well as Chennai, Pune, Chennai and Kolkata. A large number of these RapidEVs will be equipped with cargo EV fleets that are used for last-mile delivery and logistics.
Ola Electric Registers the Top Spot in Electric Vehicle Market in India
Ola Electric registers the top spot in the electric vehicle market in India. Ola Electric launched its first electric scooter five months ago and now it has gained the top spot. The company registered a sales of 12,689 units of electric scooters in April. This was a 39% rise in its sales from the previous month. Okinawa Autotech grabbed the second spot with sales of 10,000 EVs. Hero Electric was third with sales of 6,571 units. “Ola market share: No.1! We’re shaking up the incumbents and vested interests. They better focus on their products rather than fake narratives against us! Customers and markets have voted for facts and truth. We’re just getting started,” tweeted Ola Founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal.
Honda Launches India’s First Mainstream Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle – New City e:HEV
Honda Cars India Limited is a top manufacturer of premium cars and launched the much-anticipated New City e:HEV in India. The New City e.HEV, priced at INR 19 49900 (Ex-showroom Delhi), is the first mainstream car to be equipped with Strong Hybrid Electric technology. The City e-HEV is equipped with Honda’s exclusive Self-charging and highly efficient Two Motor Electric Hybrid system. It’s connected to a 1.5-litre Atkinson Cycle DOHC iVTEC petrol engine. This system aims to deliver the best electric-hybrid performance in the world, with an exhilarating drive and a remarkable fuel efficiency of 26.5 km/l. Honda’s Advanced Intelligent Safety Technology, “Honda Sensing”, has been introduced in India for the first time with the City e:HEV. Honda has reiterated its global vision to achieve carbon neutrality and zero collision fatalities before 2050.
ATUM Charge Opens Its First Solar-Powered EV Charging Station In Mumbai
ATUM Charge of Visaka Industries is India’s first 100% Green EV Charging Station. It is powered by our very own ATUM Solar Roof, making it a completely sustainable alternative to existing EV charging units which use thermal power generation, one of the primary sources of pollution. ATUM Charge opens its first solar-powered EV charging station in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The company has around 250 charging stations in India. These charging stations come with a 5.2KW ATUM Solar Roof. Visaka will soon be launching similar ATUM Charge facilities in all metro cities and inroads have already been made for rigorous expansion across the nation.
Tata Motors With Lithium Urban Technologies To Deploy One Of The Biggest EV Fleet In India
With the vision of a clean & green environment and accelerating the transition to sustainable transportation, Tata Motors announced a partnership with Lithium Urban Technologies, an EV based urban transportation service provider founded by Mr Sanjay Krishnan, which will deploy 5000 XPRES T Electric Sedans, an across the country, for employee transportation. Tata Motors will commence deliveries in phases and will complete the deployment by next year. Tata Motors has been revolutionizing the Indian automotive market with its pioneering efforts and is leading the e-mobility wave in India with a commanding market share of 87% in FY’22 and over 24000 Tata EVs on road to date in personal and fleet segments.
Jammu Smart City Limited To Launch A Public Bicycle-Sharing System
Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) will launch a public bicycle-sharing system under its Smart City Mission to boost eco-friendly mobility. It will include mechanical as well as electric bicycles. The official said, “The system will allow users to rent out a bicycle from designated automatic docking stations and deposit it at another docking station located close to the destination.” “It will be a first-of-its-kind initiative in Jammu and Kashmir and will be available to all citizens at a nominal rent. Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) has established 60 automatic docking stations across the city and each one has 10 slots to park and lock bicycles.”


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The launch of this group brand marks the start of a new era of collaboration and innovation within the organisation to further enhance customer satisfaction. While the group’s individual company brands remain, this step unites these brands and its people across land and sea through a shared vision, mission and set of values to build the next generation of maritime services and logistics.
“There is one global ocean, and we are one global group – bringing together the best thinkers and doers to move the world forward,” says Dr Martin Harren, CEO of Harren Group. This is an exciting step for all Harren Group members: Harren Bulkers, Harren Tankers, Harren Ship Management, SAL Heavy Lift, SAL Engineering, Intermarine, Combi Lift, Atheleon, trans-Mar-supply, HeavyLift@Sea and all affiliated service units. As a part of this world-renowned group, they are dedicated to becoming the bridge to the future – and the industry benchmark for what’s possible.
The biggest change to the group is undeniably the evolved group brand identity. A new logo represents the ultimate bridge between all units, inspired by engineering excellence and maritime architecture. This instantly recognisable group image welcomes the world to the future of shipping and freight forwarding: a future that can only be created by today’s and tomorrow’s top talents. This new group brand is designed to attract great candidates, strengthen commercial synergies and leverage the group’s unique maritime service range and depth.
“It is crucial for everyone to know that our commercial brands are still operating as individual group members. The key difference: We will now be united under one strong group brand. Lifting customer expectations, collaborating to achieve what others have not and building a greener tomorrow,” highlights Dr Martin Harren.
The transition to Harren Group kicks off with the rollout of the new brand identity across all communication channels, including the company’s website, social media platforms and marketing materials. The Harren Group rebrand comes at a time when the industry is experiencing significant transformation and demand for carbon-neutral end-to-end solutions is continuously growing. Some call it the ocean, but Harren Group calls it the office. Here’s to what’s next.


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“While speculation has so far centered on digital textbooks, sources close to the matter have confirmed to Ars that Apple will announce tools to help create interactive e-books—the ‘GarageBand for e-books,’ so to speak—and expand its current platform to distribute them to iPhone and iPad users,” Foresman reports.
Foresman reports, “Authoring standards-compliant e-books (despite some promises to the contrary) is not as simple as running a Word document of a manuscript through a filter. The current state of software tools continues to frustrate authors and publishers alike, with several authors telling Ars that they wish Apple or some other vendor would make a simple app that makes the process as easy as creating a song in GarageBand. Our sources say Apple will announce such a tool on Thursday.”
Read more in the full article here.


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Florence-based fashion college Polimoda has announced plans to open ANARCHIVE, an interactive fashion archive dedicated to development and research in fashion studies. The space strives to become a main draw for exhibitions, workshops and conferences, with the intention of attracting industry professionals and anyone with a desire to delve into the study of fashion.
Polimoda’s Villa Favard campus already houses one of the largest fashion libraries in Europe with over 25,000 volumes of rare books, newspapers and 600 magazines, all spanning across the 19th century. This extension in Manifattura Tabacchi, a recent addition to Polimoda’s campus, will provide digital access to electronic resources such as look books, trade catalogs and other multimedia content. Four focal points make up the project: archiving, researching, training and presenting. Open to the city, anyone with experience in research, curation, archiving, styling, designing, or even students can come and broaden their fashion horizons.
“This is not a museum,” notes Massimiliano Giornetti, director of Polimoda. “Instead, it’s meant to act as a point of reference for fashion history, therefore continuing Florence’s legacy as the birthplace of Italian fashion. Furthermore, ANARCHIVE will act as a space that connects fashion to other cultural realms, such as art, science, music, photography, and cinema and emphasizes the dialogue that all of them have in relation to fashion through the archived pieces.”
An opening date has yet to be announced.


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Market analyst firm Yole Developpement presents its latest next-generation memory forecasts in an interesting new article. The company says that following more than 15 years of development, PCM is finally taking off in stand-alone applications due to strong support from Intel and Micron.
While STT-MRAM is expected to lead the embedded memory race, Yole says that Stand-alone RRAM will try to catch market share to PCM on SCM application. RRAM was actually expected to be the first stand-alone technology to compete with 3D XPoint, but it has suffered repeated delays due to technical challenges. Yole expects RRAM to "return to the race for SCM" after 2020, and possibly start competing with NAND for mass storage applications.
Yole sees "AI on the edge" as the most innovative application for embedded emerging NVM. The company expects that RRAM-based AI devices will enter the market after 2021.
According to Yole, stand alone RRAM sales will grow from around $15 million in 2018 to around $1 billion million in 2023. Embedded RRAM sales will grow from around $5 million in 2018 to over $270 million by 2023.


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May 20, 2013 Since becoming Yahoo CEO last summer, Marissa Mayer has embarked on a takeover strategy: Buy companies to get their talent. As Yahoo reports earnings, we find out if it worked.
Mar 25, 2013 Yahoo spent $30 million today to buy a news-aggregating app called Summly, which was created by Nick D'Aloisio when he was 15 years old.
Mar 7, 2013 Writer and artist Tim Sniffen explains why Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's ban on working from home simply won't work for him.
Mar 1, 2013 Groupon's board of directors fired company's founder and CEO, Andrew Mason, yesterday. But Mason is not the first founder and CEO to get the axe.
Feb 27, 2013 What do you think? Is working from home a dream, or a daymare?
Feb 26, 2013 Maybe, but companies must weigh several factors before reversing the trend toward letting some employees work from home.
Feb 13, 2013 Apple is to respond to a lawsuit claiming it should distribute more cash to shareholders. CEO Tim Cook calls the suit a “silly sideshow.”
Dec 14, 2012 Yahoo has had four different CEOs in quick succession. Now it's changed almost all its directors in a single year. What can that say about a company?
Nov 22, 2012 Investors are agreeing to all sorts of crazy terms in order to put money to work in the bond and loan markets. They're baking risk into the system, and that could be a problem for all of us.


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Switch unveils Indian decker
Switch Mobility has unveiled its electric double-decker, air-conditioned bus, the Switch EiV 22.
Designed, developed and manufactured in India specifically for the Indian market, Switch EiV 22 is heralded as the world’s first standard floor, air conditioned, electric double-decker with wider door on the rear overhang and a rear staircase. Switch EiV 22 has a lightweight, rollover-compliant bus body and is designed to be easy to manoeuvre even in tight spaces and congested traffic conditions.
“It’s an extremely proud moment for us as we bring back the iconic double-decker to India” – Mr. Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman – Switch Mobility
Mr. Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman – Switch Mobility, said: “It’s an extremely proud moment for us as we bring back the iconic double-decker to India. Ashok Leyland was a pioneer among Indian manufacturers when it first launched the double-decker in 1967 in Mumbai and Switch is carrying forward that legacy. With our strong expertise in double-deckers, both in India and UK and with over 100 Switch electric double-deckers in service on UK roads, we are happy to not only bring back this icon to life and look forward to introducing newer electric products for the Indian and European markets, always keeping the customers at the forefront.”
“With our Switch EiV 22 and Metrodecker buses, we are now well positioned to address the global double-decker market and support cities in meeting their net zero targets” – Andy Palmer, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO – Switch Mobility Ltd
Andy Palmer, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO – Switch Mobility Ltd, said: “As a carbon neutral mobility company, Switch is focused on delivering innovative solutions to help authorities and operators decarbonise their public transport systems. The Switch EiV 22 is our latest innovation and builds on our expertise in the electric double-decker segment to deliver a product with class leading efficiency for the Indian market. With our Switch EiV 22 and Metrodecker buses, we are now well positioned to address the global double-decker market and support cities in meeting their net zero targets.”
The architecture of the double-decker uses a 650 V system, the same platform as Switch EiV 12, launched in June 2022, which is also common with Switch e1. Powering Switch EiV 22 is a 231 kWh capacity, 2-string, liquid cooled, higher density NMC chemistry battery pack with dual gun charging system. This enables the electric double-decker to have a range up to 250 kms for intra-city applications.
Switch India has already secured an order of 200 electric double-decker buses in Mumbai.
Bus components are manufactured in India which will enable to achieve FAME II compliance.


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Police: Fitness center parking lot break-ins an epidemic
Updated On: Mar 21 2013 05:26:05 AM CDT
Police across Berks County are stepping up patrols near fitness center parking lots to stop a rash of car break-ins.
The move comes after several cars were targetedTuesday while parked in the parking lots of L.A. Fitness in Wyomissing, Hillcrest Racquet Club in Mt. Penn, and Flying Hills Racquetball and Fitness Club in Cumru Township, among others.
"It's just prolific right now," said detective Michael Godshall, Exeter Twp. Police Dept. "It's kind of an epidemic issue that we're dealing with."
At Gold's Gym, in the 2400 block of Perkiomen Avenue, management says four cars were targeted. Now they are trying to inform members so their valuables will be protected.
"Protocol for me is just to get the word out as much as possible," said Adam Schmidt, general manager. "Immediately, the word goes out on social media, letting people know that these break-ins have occurred."
Police say the thieves wait in the parking lot, mostly for women, to put their purse in the trunk.
"Then they go right from the stolen purse location to local retail establishments, and they're hitting Walmarts, Targets, and stores like that. And immediately using the credit cards, right away," Godshall said.
Police say the criminals have been described as two black males.
They also say the car they were using was a black Ford Explorer with the stolen license plate: DFX-3403.
If you know anything about these break-ins, you can contact Crime Alert: Berks County, anonymously.
Information leading to an arrest could earn you a cash reward.
The number is: 877-373-9913.
Copyright 2013 WFMZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Man killed, woman seriously injured in motorcycle crash
Police seek to interview man in investigation of woman's death
More tests needed on body of woman found in rural Berks
High school, college drug ring busted in eastern Pa.
Firefighters extinguish industrial fire in 15 minutes
Dori the kitten, last of veteran's rescued pets, ready for adoption
Grads hit with defaults when co-signers die
Allentown neighbors don't want to install sidewalks
Drug cartel actions in Mexico force local grocers to increase lime prices
Allentown zoners OK plan for Liberty Street convenience store


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The printing press produces a near endless stream of paper, one page after another, precisely folded; 40,000 copies per hour. The dark background and white typeface race by in a blur. The scene would almost be hypnotic save for the incessant clatter of the conveyor belts. Richard Gray takes a quick look at the printed sections rushing past him, before fishing one out and checking it. The Managing Director of Prinovis UK is holding the new edition of “Weekend,” the Saturday supplement of the “Daily Mail.” It is one of five weekend editions that has been printed by Prinovis in Liverpool since April 2016. “We’re very pleased we were able to win these orders,” he says.
Last year, the publishers of the “Daily Mail” and “The Daily Telegraph,” two of the highest-circulation daily newspapers in the United Kingdom, commissioned Prinovis to produce the weekly magazines of their print-edition newspapers. “Saturday Telegraph Magazine” is produced for the Telegraph Media Group, as is “Stella,” which is included in the Sunday edition. “You” and “Event” are produced for DMG Media’s “The Mail on Sunday,” and “Weekend” is included in “Daily Mail” Saturday edition. Together they have a total print run of six million copies per week and some appear with additional inserts. The printing plant in Liverpool produces a weekly volume of around 2.5 million copies of “Weekend” alone. “For our clients in the newspaper industry, the magazine supplements are important because they support sales of their weekend editions. At the same time, they can sell ads in the magazines,” explains Gray.
70 new full-time jobs
In view of decreasing volumes in the printing market, winning these two large and well-known customers can be considered a coup for Prinovis UK. The Liverpool site is therefore well utilized for the foreseeable future, as both contracts have been signed with five-year terms. To be able to fulfill the orders reliably and with the usual quality, the management has created around 70 new full-time jobs. Prinovis UK now employs 491 people. Machines have been relocated, reactivated, or bought new, such as a Ferag Unidrum saddle-stitcher, to combine sections and add inserts into finished products.
“We’ve invested in several areas to be able to cope with the high print runs,” says Gray, leaving Press No. 2 and crossing the production hall on the green-and-yellow safety routes. Several meters above him, conveyor belts carry the “Weekend” supplements, pegged like a clothesline, across people and machines. They snake among pipes, shafts and struts, on the way to the next station in the finishing process. About a year after the start of production in May 2016, Gray draws a very positive interim balance: “We enjoy what we do and, most importantly, the customers are satisfied.”
At the same time, he makes it clear this is not a standard job, not just because of the size of the print runs; but the above-average size of the “Weekend” title also required adjustments in the work flow and equipment. Even as these tasks are completed, the biggest challenge they bring has to be overcome anew every week: “The supplements are very time-critical productions, where we have to meet tight and precise deadlines. Fortunately, there have been no major difficulties to date. But we have to constantly keep renewing our commitment and concentration so that no mistakes occur.”
Volatile print market
Richard Gray has worked in the printing business for almost 30 years. He has run the Liverpool site since 2007. He knows the situation in the industry very well and knows that quality and customer focus are more important than ever before. The printing market in the UK as well as in other European countries is “very volatile,” in other words, subject to constant change. Many products that were once printed are now only published digitally. On the other hand, in certain areas print runs have remained stable or are even increasing: Flyers, catalogs and brochures play a major role for retailers and traders in promoting their products and attracting buyers. JD Williams, for example, one of the UK’s largest mail order companies and one of Prinovis UK’s largest customers, uses print heavily in its marketing mix and prints most of its catalog and direct mail offers in Liverpool. “The market is declining, but print is definitely still very much alive and indispensable in the media mix,” emphasizes Gray.
However, remaining indispensable as a provider of print products requires thoughtful positioning. Since opening the Liverpool site in 2006, Prinovis UK has established itself as a reliable print partner that combines high quality with comprehensive services. As the last active gravure printing company in the UK, Prinovis occupies a strategically valuable position. Although by now many of the orders are for offset printing, which is cheaper for smaller orders, gravure printing remains the first choice for many customers, especially for high print runs, which need to be produced quickly – like daily newspaper supplements. “In the end, it’s not a question of which printing method a customer prefers,” says Gray. “The overall package of price, performance and service is always decisive. And here, gravure puts us ahead in many cases.” Prinovis UK printed 155,000 tons of paper last year – equivalent to the weight of 560 Airbus A380s.
The high-performance plant-list is another decisive factor for rapid, high-quality production. Prinovis has four roto-gravure presses in Liverpool, along with five saddle-stitchers, two adhesive binders, and eight polybagging lines, which wrap a specific number of magazines in clear plastic film at high speed, creating packages that are ideally suited for transporting on pallets. As he walks alongside one of the polybagging machines wrapping the finished and stapled copies of “Weekend,” Richard Gray explains: “We intend to further expand our finishing and inserting capacity during the course of the year, and will be investing here.”
A solid group
The team in Liverpool benefits from support from its sister sites in Germany. In fact, DMG Media and Telegraph Media Group, awarded Prinovis UK the bid partly because the company operates as part of a powerful network. The German Prinovis sites in Dresden, Ahrensburg and Nuremberg take over parts of the production of less time-critical orders for their colleagues in the UK. The resources freed up by this can be devoted entirely to the weekend magazines. “Without this support, we wouldn’t have been able to cope with the new volumes. This is a very big help for us and shows the value-add that the Bertelsmann Printing Group offers all of us,” praises Gray. Bertelsmann’s commitment to the printing business not only helps in the specific case of this order, but also in general: “Our customers know that we are part of a solid group of companies and can offer vast capacity thanks to the international network.” The message of the most famous soccer anthem in the world, which was first sung in Liverpool’s famous Anfield stadium by thousands of passionate fans, is true for Prinovis UK as well: “You’ll never walk alone.”
But to where exactly is Prinovis UK walking? Winning the two major contracts last year coincided with the site’s tenth anniversary. Now the task at hand is to continuously improve the production processes for these orders, to increase profits for Prinovis UK and keep the customers satisfied, explains Gray. “A renewal of the two contracts in five years’ time must, of course, be our goal.”
There is no question for the Managing Director that the Liverpool site will face changes in the medium to long term: “We are already thinking about what our company might look like five or 10 years from now. Perhaps at that point we will be a hybrid site and offer offset as well as gravure printing.” However, Gray is hesitant about making specific predictions. He is familiar with the great challenges and fluctuations of the print market, and says that it will be crucial to keep up the sales push at a high level, to compensate for declining circulation with new orders. In addition, the team is constantly examining all options for optimally adapting to customer requirements.
No matter what tasks Prinovis UK may face in the future, Richard Gray is optimistic about the future. “We have a strong position in the market, based on which we can further expand our business and hopefully win new orders for Bertelsmann Printing Group.” He leaves no doubt about who has played the greatest part in recent successes: “Our employees are the key to our company. We have a really outstanding team at every level and in all departments. Everyone works very hard and tirelessly caters to the customers’ needs. I’m happy that we have such a strong team here in Liverpool – as well as the backing of our colleagues in Germany.”


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Quantum’s team raised $4 million from their ICO.
They issued 200 million tokens and sold 80 million of them to investors. With the proceeds from the ICO, they created a liquidity pool of Bitcoin with which they go to cryptocurrency exchanges and provide liquidity for token pairs, lending, and arbitrage. They use the profits to buy back the QAU tokens on the market and send them to a Black Hole address to burn them (take them out of circulation). This creates deflation which in theory, and holding all else equal, is supposed to increase the price per QAU token over time.
One of Quantum’s founders is also the founder of Bitstamp. This is good…another positive? Their beautiful website, the fact that they’ve announced that they are now turning profits, and they’ve already burned QAU tokens twice, delivering on their promise.
So far, they’ve burned about 1% of tokens per month. So the entire deflation thing, and the only thing that is exciting about this project is 1% deflation. That’s all.
On the other hand, they still hold 66% of the tokens, which they claim they intend to distribute later on to get more BTC for their liquidity pool. This means there is a possible upcoming tripling of the QAU tokens in circulation (major inflation). The price has been in a steady decline for the past couple of months, in spite of the deflation, which could be pricing in some of the future distribution.
And since this is a finished product, there will be no more show stopping bullish events (aside from a promised B2B platform set for 2018Q3) anytime soon. All you can hope for is listing on a big exchange.
My goal with these research projects is to find 10x coins and I don’t think this is it – I will stay away.
Read the full in depth report here.


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The BYD production site that caught fire was mainly used for the electronics business. No one was killed or injured in the accident.
A BYD factory caught fire on Friday, but it does not seem to affect its vehicle production, as the plant where the fire broke out is said to produce mainly cell phone and computer accessories.
The fire at a BYD plant in Huizhou, Guangdong province, caught fire at 19:14 Beijing time on November 18 and was brought under control at 21:30, according to a local government bulletin on Friday evening.
The building on fire is a steel frame structure, no one was trapped, no casualties, and no flammable or explosive items at the scene, the bulletin said, adding that the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
(Image from Weibo)
BYD's factory in Huizhou is located in Daya Bay Development Zone and was built in 2007. The production base covers a total area of about 1.7 million square meters and employs about 45,000 people.
The production base has three phases, all of which have been completed and put into operation, and the business involves metal processing, auto parts manufacturing and electronic product parts manufacturing.
The production base is mainly used for its electronics business, where the first phase of the main business includes a precision metal products factory, responsible for CNC, metal processing, according to local media The Economic Observer.
The second phase of the site is mainly used for auto parts production, including gearboxes, shock absorbers and connecting rods. Its Phase III project is mainly responsible for cell phone display gateway, cell phone back shell, cell phone accessories and computer parts manufacturing, according to the report.
The local government bulletin said the building on fire was BYD's Phase III F6 plant.
BYD's revenue in the third quarter was RMB117.1 billion, of which the electronics business contributed RMB 27.5 billion, or 23 percent.
BYD sold 217,816 new energy vehicles (NEVs) worldwide in October, the second consecutive month in which it exceeded 200,000 units. The company stopped production and sales of vehicles powered entirely by internal combustion engines in March.
On November 16, BYD saw its 3 millionth NEV roll off the assembly line, becoming the first Chinese automaker to reach that milestone.


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Bill Introduced in Five States to Legalize “Right to Repair” Electronics
Ron Perillo / 4 years ago
US lawmakers in New York, Massachusetts, Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota have introduced a bill that fights for the right to repair electronics, helping smaller independent businesses, repair shops and consumers in face of the monopoly brought on by the “authorized repair” model that companies such as Apple employ.
The bill seeks to make diagnostic and service manuals freely available to the public rather than to a small anointed group of repair technicians who usually charge significantly more for parts and labour. The bill will also further demystify how certain services are met and combats the rampant price gouging that takes advantage of the fact that consumers are not aware of what is exactly being done to repair their product.
YouTuber Louis Rossman for example has been an advocate and chronicled the fight for the right to repair on his YouTube channel where he has garnered support on taking on Apple in forcing them to provide schematics for repair:
This is a 180-degree turn from how many independent electronic repair shops have been treated in the US, where only a few years ago the Department of Homeland security and Custom Officials have raided several small repair shops for providing unauthorized repair and replacement of Apple smartphone parts using Chinese grey-market electronics.
Proponents of the bill argue that the approach has been heavy handed to smaller business doing such repairs and points out that there is no reason why these enterprising citizens should be treated as if they are drug dealers. Critics also suggest that such heavy handed approach has misled customers to thinking that somehow the lower priced “unauthorized” aftermarket replacement parts are dangerous.


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I believe it is likely that a majority of fans will be consuming the Rio Olympic coverage on their phones. If you remember how the BBC Olympic app worked, allowing sports fans to select news about their team only or even a particular athlete - now overlay this with the ability to get a live feed from all sports all the time and that is probably what normal will look like in 2016.
Well I am off to Brazil in a few days to prepare the trail for this year's UVU Jungle Marathon. Always a hugely exhausting few weeks as the Brazilians in the Amazon region do tend to have the "never-do-today-what-you-can-put-off-until-next-week" syndrome. It's hard to motivate them and often frustrating.
It's been a very exciting and emotional two weeks cheering on the Olympians, but the highlight for me was Cameron leaving a legacy of London 2012 beyond even our exceptional haul of medals by hosting a global hunger event bringing together sportspeople and senior politicians from Brazil, Kenya, Bangladesh and India. When he could have been celebrating his twin gold medals elsewhere, instead the Somalia-born Mo Farah was running up a temporary race track outside Number 10 Downing Street to angle his spotlight towards global hunger.
There is little doubt that the current financial recession affecting so many parts of the world has contributed to a major shift in the global creative landscapes and fashion consumption habits. The leading roles played by North-American and European economies has, over the last four years, slowly been replaced by hitherto secondary characters performed by nations such as Brazil, China, India and Russia, where the emergence of relatively stable economies has allowed for the establishment of a new world order. Slowly, countries such as Italy, France or the United States have lost their key positions as leaders in the fashion and textile and footwear production arenas, having lost their reputation as qualitative producers to be seen mostly as quantitative consumers.


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London - iPhone covers shaped like knuckledusters that sold in their thousands after Rihanna was seen using one have been banned from eBay in case they are used to attack people.
The £25 (about R300) aluminium case became a celebrity must-have after the singer was pictured with hers last year.
But eBay has removed the web pages of sellers, saying the cases are legally classed as weapons and breach its guidelines. However, flimsier plastic versions are still for sale.
One trader who sold hundreds said: “Everyone wanted one.” Another added: “It’s a shame. The profit margins on those little beauties were incredible.” - Daily Mail


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Time Warner bought back Google’s 5 percent stake in AOL in a transaction that values the Internet unit at less than $5.66 billion.
The $283 million purchase price also includes Google’s share of cash distributions from AOL during its investment, New York-based Time Warner said in a regulatory filing. Google completed the sale July 8. Time Warner plans to spin off AOL later this year into a separate, publicly traded company.
When Google bought a 5 percent stake in AOL for $1 billion in 2005, it valued the unit at about $20 billion.