text:
If you receive the CrunchBase Daily report in your inbox, you know it's not unusual to find that every day new startups are created, funded and acquired. And if you read the report for any number of days in a row, it's easy to start to spot a few trends.
Recently, marijuana startups have been popping up left and right, and for good reason. It seems with the advent of pot legalization in certain key states in the US, more and more founders (and investors) are rapidly entering the space — there's Serica ("Financial Services for Cannabis"), Billowby ("Zappos for Smoking Accessories") and Nancy ("The Birchbox of Cannabis"), to name a few.
At the time of this posting, a search for "marijuana startups" on AngelList returns 374 companies with an average pre-money valuation of $3.9 million. Many are on-demand delivery companies. A few are hardware startups focused on lighting, tech and other equipment for hydroponic growing systems. And last week, Snoop Dogg announced the launch of Merry Jane, a "Pot-Flavored Lifestyle Media Platform," at TechCrunch Disrupt 2015.
It's safe to say that pot is about to go mainstream in the US, if it hasn't already. The question is, is the US poised to take control of the global market, or will the regulatory climate and restrictions placed on US corporations restrict startups' ability to seize this moment (and a big piece of the pie)?
Dennis Mitzner (@DennisMitzner) of TechCrunch believes that Israel (and not the US) is poised to become the first "global marijuana startup superpower." Already known for its dynamic tech startups, agricultural innovations and security solutions, Israel's regulatory climate around marijuana could be the key to its position as a world leader in the marijuana business — and soon.
“Israeli growers have agreements with companies in USA, Canada, Czech Republic and Australia. Israel has the oldest and largest regulated medical cannabis programs in the world with over 22,000 registered patients. The Hebrew University holds a rich IP bank of cannabis patents. It is easier to conduct cannabis research and clinical studies in Israel than in any other country in the world,” said Saul Kaye, the founder of iCan and CannaTech, a yearly cannabis innovation and investor summit in Israel.
Governments and multinationals are currently flocking to Israel where clinical testing faces fewer hurdles.
Do you know any founders headed for Israel to start their marijuana startups? Share this post and let us know!


text:
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. announced the Cadence Tensilica HiFi 5 DSP for audio and voice, the first IP core optimized for high-performance far-field processing and artificial intelligence(AI)-based speech recognition processing.
This fifth-generation HiFi DSP offers 2X audio processing and 4X neural network(NN) processing improvements versus the HiFi 4 DSP, making it ideal for voice-controlled user interfaces in digital home assistants and automotive infotainment.
Following the popularity of digital home assistants, voice-controlled user interfaces are increasingly important to manufacturers of innovative consumer products.
Advanced DSP algorithms are rapidly evolving to eliminate noise and isolate the speakers’ voice for increased understanding, requiring higher processing capabilities and improved energy efficiency.
|The Cadence Tensilica HiFi 5 DSP for audio and voice is the first IP core optimized for high-performance far-field processing and AI-based speech recognition processing.|
Additionally, NN-based speech recognition algorithms are performing more tasks locally, rather than in the cloud, due to concerns of latency, privacy and network availability.
“To meet the extremely difficult challenge of bringing computationally intensive NN-based far-field processing and speech recognition algorithms to energy-sensitive devices, Ambiq Micro chose to be the first silicon licensee of Cadence’s HiFi 5 DSP,” said Aaron Grassian, vice president of marketing, Ambiq Micro.
“Porting the HiFi 5 DSP to Ambiq Micro’s Subthreshold Power Optimized Technology(SPOT) platform enables product designers, ODMs and OEMs to take the most advantage of technology from audio software leaders like DSP Concepts and Sensory by adding voice assistant integration, command and control, and conversational UIs to portable, mobile products without sacrificing quality or battery life.”
“The dramatic rise in popularity of digital home assistants that feature compelling voice UI experiences has sparked a new wave of innovation in far-field processing algorithms and in neural network-based speech recognition,” stated Larry Przywara, group director of marketing, Tensilica audio/voice IP at Cadence.
“The HiFi 5 DSP addresses both of these high-performance compute concerns with improved floating- and fixed-point DSP capabilities and native support for new data types, saving memory and power. The HiFi 5 DSP maintains code compatibility with the existing HiFi DSP product line, which means a large ecosystem of audio software is already available.”
<저작권자 © IT비즈뉴스-아이티비즈뉴스, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지>

domain: news


text:
Sprint said Tuesday that it had overstated its sales figures for the Sprint HTC EVO 4G, although that will be small consolation to buyers: the phone is still mostly sold out.
Sprint said Monday that the number of EVO 4Gs sold was three times the number of Samsung Instincts and Palm Pres sold during the first three days on the market.
But Sprint said Wednesday that those figures were in error, unfortunately adding to the algebraic complexity of the units sold. Sprint still has not said exactly how many Sprint HTC EVO 4Gs were sold.
Put simply, Sprint has said that, on launch day, the number of EVO 4Gs sold recorded the highest single-day total ever. Sprint said Wednesday that the EVO 4G's launch-day sales were six times greater than those of the Instinct, and twice that of the Pre.
Sprint also updated its oddly complex algebraic formula that it published to give guidance on the number of phones sold over the first three days. Sprint said on Wednesday that the number of EVO 4Gs sold on launch day was in line with the number of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold over their first three days on the market combined, a change from its earlier formula.
Sprint representatives did not immediately return a request for the actual sales numbers. BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk said he was cutting his estimate for EVO sales in the first weekend to 150,000 from his prior estimate of 250,000 to 300,000, Reuters reported.
But the phones, already in short supply, seem to be sold out on Sprint's Web sites, along with partners such as Radio Shack and Best Buy. (Radio Shack was the only retailer to offer a shipping window: 1 to 2 weeks.) Sprint said on Monday that it was working to ship additional phones, even on a daily basis.


text:
John Varvatos is set to bring his rock ’n’ roll-inflected style to the boys’ market.
The designer will launch a range of tailored clothing and sportswear for boys ages 4 to 14 with licensee Peerless Clothing this fall under his John Varvatos USA label. The new line will be carried in 35 doors this fall, including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and Fred Segal.
“It’s mom-friendly, it’s sophisticated, it’s edgy and it’s very much our handwriting,” said John Varvatos, chairman and chief executive officer of John Varvatos. “When you look at the boys’ tailored clothing market, everything is pressed and pristine — and we have some of that in the line for a graduation or bar mitzvah. But we also add that flavor we do in men’s, with a vintage sensibility and a little bit more rustic attitude. It doesn’t look uptight — the tailored jackets can be worn as an outerwear piece with a T-shirt and jeans.”
The deal with Peerless, which is headquartered in Montreal, builds on the license the suit maker already holds for men’s tailored clothing under the John Varvatos USA label. Peerless assumed that business when it formed a strategic partnership with tailored clothing manufacturer George Weintraub & Sons last year.
“John Varvatos represents a look that is young, exciting and different than any other designer boys’ line in the market,” said Ronny Wurtzburger, president of Peerless Clothing. “John believes in boys’ and it gave us an additional opportunity to work with him.”
Boys’ has been a growth area for Peerless, with the division expanding sales at a rate of 20 percent a year, according to Wurtzburger. Additional licenses in the Peerless boys’ portfolio include Joseph Abboud, Michael Kors, DKNY, Elie Tahari and Hickey Freeman, in addition to the owned Tallia Orange brand.
“Peerless really owns the tailored boys’ business, but they haven’t really stretched their wings like they have with us and made it a collection,” said Varvatos. “Ronny and I had a conversation about doing boys’ tailored and I said I didn’t want to do just tailored, I wanted to do a whole lifestyle thing. We really thought about who this kid was, from school to weekend to party and special events.”
Signatures in the boys’ collection include bold linings in the tailored jackets, dagger buttons and skull, peace sign and starburst graphics on T-shirts. The peace sign logo also adorns polo shirts.
The suits in super 110s and 120s wool fabric retail for $285, cotton dress shirts for $70 and skinny ties with peace sign or fleur-de-lis motifs for $55. There are tailored jackets in corduroy, embossed faux leather or crinkled cotton velvet for $160 to $175, stretch five-pocket jeans in black or indigo for $82 to $98, Henleys and waffle hoodies for $65 to $86 and graphic T-shirts for $45 to $50.
Longtime footwear partner Converse has made a special line of its iconic high-tops in black leather or olive suede, with metal zipper details for the collection as well.
Bloomingdale’s will launch the boys’ line in 10 doors, including 59th Street in Manhattan, Short Hills in New Jersey, North Michigan Avenue in Chicago and Century City in California. It will be positioned in the Young World department, adjacent to boys’ lines from Burberry, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss and Scott James, with the latter two new to Bloomingdale’s for fall, as well.
“The line has both casual and dressy offerings, making shopping for everyday and special occasions a breeze,” said David Fisher, executive vice president and general merchandise manager for men’s and kids. “John Varvatos has an edgier, sophisticated aesthetic that will have our boys emulating the men who favor the brand. Over the last several seasons, we have anchored our Young World assortments in brands that have proven successful in men’s and women’s.”
The boys’ license joins other existing John Varvatos licenses, encompassing fragrance with Elizabeth Arden, eyewear with the Basecurve division of REM Eyewear and Converse for the Converse by John Varvatos line of casual sneakers.
The company is in the final stages of negotiations for an underwear license, which will be revealed in the coming weeks, added Varvatos.
The John Varvatos USA men’s line, which uses a star as its emblem, was launched in 2006 as a younger counterpart to the brand’s Collection business. Priced 30 to 40 percent lower than Collection, the USA line emphasizes a preppy-meets-rock aesthetic in its vintage-inspired denim, sportswear, tailored clothing, footwear, bags and leather goods. The men’s line is carried at about 500 doors, including Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Barneys New York.
The boys’ launch is the first major initiative for the brand since it was acquired by London-based Lion Capital in March from VF Corp. However, Varvatos, who retains a minority stake in the company, said the license with Peerless was initiated last year while VF still owned the brand.
“It’s been fantastic. They are very like-minded thinkers in terms of the brand and protecting the brand,” said Varvatos of his new partners at Lion Capital. The private equity firm, headed by Lyndon Lea, has not taken a day-to-day role in the company, added Varvatos. “They’re not operators, they’re investors.”
John Varvatos is aiming to open four to five new stores in 2013, adding on to the nine it currently operates. Potential locations include Chicago, Miami, another New York location, additional West Coast locations and London, which would be the first international store for the brand. Current John Varvatos stores include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Costa Mesa, Calif., Malibu, Calif., East Hampton, N.Y., and two each in Las Vegas and downtown Manhattan.
“What he has done at Vuitton is really exceptional,” said @gameofthrones’ actress Gwendoline Christie on @mrkimjones’ final show for @louisvuitton. “He has rebooted luxury in terms of making it commercial, viable and contemporary. And most importantly artistic. He has never compromised his artistic vision for the sake of commodity.” (📷: @zefashioninsider)
After seeing a demand for men’s wear from its customers, British contemporary women’s wear label @ariesarise has added a men’s wear component and will launch a unisex collection with @mrporterlive. The 20-piece collection includes jackets, denim, logo T-shirts and more with deconstructed ‘90s vibes. Set to launch on January 18, you can shop the pieces on Aries’ website and on mrporter.com. #wwdfashion
“And so spending so much time with a character who thinks like that, inevitability you try and analyze yourself and go back and think about your own demons and dark chapters that you had in your life,” says @thedanielbruhl of his role in TNT’s “The Alienist.” The show, set in the Gilded Age of New York, also stars Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans. Head to WWD.com to read about how 39-year-old Brühl prepared for the role and why he thinks the show is so relevant to today #wwdeye ( 📷: @Eriktanner)
Now that Celine Dion’s collection has topped $10 million in sales, the pop superstar, fashion icon and newly-minted industry player is eyeing growth in Asia. Read the full report by @tiffanyap, link in bio. #wwdnews #celinedion
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
Among the familiar faces at @off____white’s show was a surprise figure: Japanese artist @takashipom, pictured here on Wednesday morning. Other show-goers included @jerrylorenzo, who spoke about his upcoming project: a @nike collaboration for back to school, with designs inspired by his childhood on the West Coast. Sitting in the front row were Future, Don Crawley, @miguel and more. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: Stephane Feugere)
According to @laurentsai, former “Terrace House: Aloha State” cast member, she didn’t know she was auditioning for the Japanese version of “Real World.” “I was telling a couple of my friends and someone’s like, ‘That sounds a lot like Terrace House.’ I was like, ’No it can’t be.’” Turns out, it was. But Tsai isn’t just a reality star — she’s an illustrator who has worked with Starbucks Japan and most recently, she’s dipping her toes into the fashion world. Head to WWD.com to read about her time on the show, modeling and her art. #wwdeye (📷: @danieldorsa)
More changes are coming to New York Fashion Week: Beginning with the spring 2019 collection, @alexanderwangny will move his New York show to June from September, adopting a biannual schedule with collections shown in June and December. Additionally, the @cfda is planning for an official summer/winter fashion season taking place as soon as June and December 2018. Read more about the upcoming changes on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @slovekinpics)


text:
2020-05-30 at 6:49 PM UTC
when cities around the US along with their public and private properties are burned and destroyed, new purchases and constructions become necessary.
insurance companies are going to pay out big but the Fed already have pallets of new money printed and ready to roll out.
americans who cut back from their credick card spendings and increased their savings during the pandemic will have no choice but draw down their savings and swip their cards if they're unfortunate enough to suffer losses.
looted and torched stores would use their insurance money to restock everything, therefore creating a surge in their respective sectors. if enough vehicles are destroyed in these 'protests' then it would solve the problem of vehicle over supply that started at the begining of april as sales slumped.
from economic perspective, the great chimp out of 2020 appears like a godsend and therefore it is only rational to presume to be the work of hidden hands behind it.
2020-05-30 at 6:57 PM UTC
Will you be able to afford Sunscreen now ?
2020-05-30 at 7:10 PM UTC
Most insurance company's don't pay out if the loss is caused by rioting.


text:
The winner of the competition will have their dish placed at the menu of three participating restaurants along with additional benefits. Fonterra’s foodservice brand Anchor Food Professionals has launched the competition, ‘Baked With Goodness’ in partnership with three establishments – Revo Café at Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate, Sale Sucre Patisserie and The Pizza Company.
The Spanish-based Barceló Hotel Group is setting its sights on the UAE
There are only two weeks left to get your nominations in for the Leaders in Hospitality Awards.
Vanina Yordanova, marketing and PR manager, InterContinental Dubai Festival City is under the spotlight this month
Lava Beach Club at the Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort has launched a weekly line-up of events. With Mediterranean and Asian cuisine on offer, the poolside and waterfront venue can hold up to 600 guests while offering views of the Gulf of Oman and Al Hajar mountains. Their new offerings include a host of weekly theme
Eliza Atriaga, general manager, Vida Downtown is in the spotlight
The GM Leaders Conference 2018 is taking place at St. Regis Dubai on 7 May
The Middle East has overtaken Europe in terms of hotel rooms that are under construction.
Kitchen equipment supplier Welbilt has announced a host of new products
Fairmont Dubai is claiming to have created the region’s leading chocolate egg


text:
Yeah, so this is a little annoying.
I just saw that Target is selling Jason’s new Polaroid photobook, a thousand things, for $25.73, ($29.72 with standard shipping) significantly cheaper than the $44.50 it cost as part of the Ticketmaster pre-sale a while back and the $35 still being charged at the Official Jason Mraz store. I believe the Ticketmaster price included shipping, but the Mraz store does not.
Jason did one of Target’s exclusive “Influences” CDs last year, so maybe he has an ongoing deal with them that allows the lower price – or maybe Target lowered the price on their own in response to the bleak economic outlook for holiday.
But wait… it’s not just Target. Amazon has it for $23.10 ($27.09 with standard shipping).
I’m looking through Ticketmaster and jasonmraz.com and athousandthings.com to see if maybe I’ve missed some significant difference in the books. I’ll let you know what I come up with.


text:
Mr Porter, the UK-based luxury e-tailer, has announced the launch of Super Mart, a standalone on-site marketplace showcasing a curated selection of T-shirts, collectables and streetwear from multiple brands.
Luxury global search engine Lyst said Tuesday that seven key travel destinations are inspiring consumers’ searches for their summer wardrobes and they’re making an impact on their shopping baskets and Instagram feeds.
The Italian luxury label, which closed 2018 with a revenue of €1.2 billion, is busy on a string of integrated communication, distribution and organisational projects, as its CEO Stefano Sassi explains.
Add Jean-Paul Gaultier to the list of design partners of Supreme, the New York skateboard and clothing brand that has become a fashion phenomenon. With the first ideas of Gaultier Supreme starting to sell next week.
A love story, the theme of the latest Valentino collection, but also one between the audience and the house’s designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, who was greeted with ecstatic scenes when he took his bow in Paris on Sunday.
Some two weeks into the fashion season, designers who truly understand the concept of avant garde tailoring and a certain insurrectionary air, albeit with a hopeful tinge, dominated the past two days in Paris.
Two collaborations – one with mass and the other with hyper advanced mode – were the key to the latest collection by the house of Valentino, presented with consummate skill on Wednesday evening in Paris.


text:
Microsoft has yet to announce any updates about their surface phone and their Andromeda project. However, a known leaker noted that the next Microsoft device release may not use the Andromeda project after all. Here’s what we know about this.
According to Steve Troughton-Smith’s Twitter, the Andromeda project is not even in Microsoft’s plan for their upcoming new releases anymore. Troughton-Smith noted that the Andromeda project is made from the Windows Phone system. However, Microsoft has already asked Windows Phone users to transfer to Android and iOS as they’re about to stop supporting the platform by the end of 2019.
The Andromeda project is speculated to be the least of Microsoft priorities as of the moment. Moreover, WindowsCentral’s Zac Bowden also noted that Microsoft is focusing on other projects such as Lite OS at the moment. Potentially, he said that the Andromeda project might be added to the Lite OS device too.
The Andromeda project was expected to be one of the new wave of smartphones to be released this 2019. During CES 2019, the new smartphones seem to have the “foldable displays” as its screen could be bent to enlargen, minimize and change the display style, which could bring new levels of comfort to the user. Samsung, Royole and other developers already have these “foldable display” smart devices to be released later this 2019. The Microsoft Andromeda project was expected to offer a similar innovation, but the developers don’t seem to be ready to show it yet.
Currently, Microsoft hasn’t released any official update about the Microsoft Andromeda. No devices, operating systems or even an official progress updates have been announced for this. For now, all we have is that Microsoft is planning to discontinue the Windows phone support later this year. Potentially, the company may start talking about the Andromeda, Lite OS and their other new releases later this 2019.
For now, we’ll have to wait for more updates from the developers to see if they’re still working on the project or if it has been scrapped completely.


text:
WPA3 will also eliminate the possiblity of brute-force dictionary attacks.
He noted that WPA3 should formalise the use of stronger security methods that are already in place on many networks.
Altice to split into separate U.S. and European companies
As part of this separation €1.26 billion ($1.5 billion) will be returned to shareholders, with €900 million going to Altice Europe.
The next generation of WiFi or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) equipped broadband ISP routers and devices will benefit from a new security protocol called Wi-Fi Protected Access III (WPA3), which should eventually replace the WPA2 standard that has helped to keep networks encrypted since 2004. The most notable problem for WPA2 was the recent discovery of several key management vulnerabilities in the 4-way handshake of its security protocol (aka - KRACK or Key Reinstallation Attacks).
The standard will replace WPA2, a near-two decades-old security protocol that's built in to protect nearly every wireless device today - including phones, laptops, and the Internet of Things. This is a basic feature found in many web or software authentication systems and makes ideal sense to be deployed with WiFi networks, which are most often subject to dictionary brute-force attacks.
Cider brand Aspall bought by USA beer giant
The company also produces and sells a line of organic hard ciders and vinegars, which Molson Coors plans to continue producing. The UK is the largest cider market in the world: a "substantial industry" that is enjoying value growth.
The Wi-Fi Alliance, backed by industry giants including Apple, Cisco, Intel and Microsoft, said this year will see the introduction of a new version of the WPA set of security technologies used in all Wi-Fi certified devices.
In addition, there will be a 192-bit security suite, consistent with the the Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) Suite from the Committee on National Security Systems, for Wi-Fi users with high security requirements, such as government organizations and businesses.
Razer Project Linda Laptop Body for Smartphone Review: Hands On
For more information on Razer's Project Linda concept and to register for announcements, visit razerzone.com/projectlinda. The 13.3-inch Quad HD touchscreen display can allow the Android platform to scale into a true laptop style experience.
The third security-related improvement is an improved cryptographic standard. "But now devices are *required* to support them, otherwise they're won't receive the "WPA3-certified" label". Bleeping Computer had a chance to talk to Mathy Vanhoef, the researcher who discovered the KRACK attack on WPA2. "With fixed operators using their own Wi-Fi networks to better control customer experience, managed network features typically associated with stadium, airport, or hotel environments are increasingly making their way into the home", WFA said, adding, "Wi-Fi Alliance is actively working on a program that will enable Wi-Fi networks to become more sophisticated, bringing a standards-based approach to networks that organize and manage themselves and allowing for greater flexibility and choice in the way Wi-Fi networks are deployed". Devices that support WPA3 will work with WPA2 devices. Such change usually happens through new hardware purchases, rather than firmware updates.


text:
At the center of debates online about Stanley products — insulated steel beverage containers sold in various colors like pink, green, blue, and white — is whether they contain lead. Now, the company is offering some clarity.
Stanley PMI says on its website the products contain a sealing material that uses "some lead" but that no lead touches any surface of any Stanley product and the chemical does not come into contact with any beverage placed inside.
"At Stanley, one of the key features of our products is our vacuum insulation technology, which provides consumers with drinkware that keeps beverages at the ideal temperature. Our manufacturing process currently employs the use of an industry standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of our products; the sealing material includes some lead," Stanley PMI said in a statement. "Once sealed, this area is covered with a durable stainless steel layer, making it inaccessible to consumers."
FILE - A few 40oz. 'Quenchers', the Stanley insulated steel tumblers, remain at a Target store on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Woodland Hills, CA.
The product would need to be damaged, used in a way it is not intended or become exposed to extreme heat to expose the lead, the company explained.
"Our engineering and supply chain teams are making progress on innovative, alternative materials for use in the sealing process," a spokesperson told Today.com.
In a separate statement to WCNC, Stanley PMI reiterated "no lead is present on the surface of any Stanley product that comes into contact" with consumers or the contents of their container.
FOX Business reached out to Stanley PMI for additional information, but a response was not immediately received.
According to the statement, PMI says all of its products "meet all US regulatory requirements," including California’s Proposition 65, which requires businesses to notify consumers of certain heavy metals and chemicals.
"PMI tests for and validates compliance on all products through FDA accredited 3rd party labs that verify our products follow strict guidelines including but not limited to BPA/BPS, PFOS, and phthalate regulatory requirements," it continues.
FILE - A shopper passes empty shelves once stocked with Stanley insulated steel tumblers at a Target store on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Canoga Park, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Stanley recommends consumers regularly clean their cups, formally called "Quenchers" or tumblers.
"All Quenchers are dishwasher safe," the company says on its FAQ page. "To preserve the mirror-like finish for years to come, transport or pack your Quencher with care."


text:
Having a social media presence is a necessity, not a selling point
Tom Dougherty, CEO – Stealing Share
20 July 2012
Social media is a tactic, not a strategy
You’ve seen it before — countless times probably — the banal phrases: “Visit us on Facebook” or “Friend us on Twitter.” You must have a social media presence!
These days, marketing should run hand-in-hand with a strong social media presence. But having a profile on Facebook or sending tweets on Twitter are table stakes, not (as we see over and over again) the closing exclamation point for a television commercial or a radio spot.
“Having a social media presence is an intangible for businesses, but sharing that you have it is not a means to steal market share.”
Consider this: The most vital brands – Apple, Amazon and Nike – never advertise their existence on Facebook. It’s a given that Amazon has a group page on Facebook and that Nike is sending out frequent tweets on Twitter. As consumers in an evolving marketplace, we should assume this and companies should act accordingly.
Brian Stelter, a media reporter for The New York Times, who was highlighted in Page One, a documentary on the changing landscape of the newspaper industry, provided interesting insight on this topic.
“Twitter makes us faster and smarter,” Stelter said in a recent interview. “It doesn’t change my day, but it probably changes how aware I am of the news. It makes me respond to the news faster.”
While this blog isn’t about focusing on the positive facets of Twitter and Facebook, it is about reminding companies that using these social media tools isn’t “big news.” Stelter reaffirms the necessity of these social media avenues for businesses.
Having a social media presence is an intangible for businesses, but sharing that you have it is not a means to steal market share.
Just as banks offer free checking or fast food restaurants offer quick service, every vital company should have a Facebook and Twitter identity.
A word to the wise: Please stop wasting your time telling us you have these options.
Walmart grocery delivery Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 19 February 2019 Walmart grocery delivery to overtake Amazon? I hate grocery shopping. Let me say that up front. Every Saturday or Sunday, we trek to the nearest Harris Teeter and pile our cart...
TV Advertising Effectiveness Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 18 February 2019 Measuring TV advertising effectiveness I found a new study utterly hilarious as it says as much about the state of TV advertising effectiveness as it does about attention...
Toys R Us return Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 13 February 2019 How feasible is the Toys R Us return? It appears the rumors of Toys R Us demise are greatly exaggerated. Tru Kids Brands announces that it has begun the Toys R Us return by reopening...


text:
The Amazon Kindle DX will follow its smaller sibling, the Kindle, overseas.
Amazon.com announced that Kindle DX is available for the first time globally. The DX features a 9.7-inch screen and was built to support graphic-rich content, such as newspapers, magazines and textbooks. The smaller Kindle features a 6-inch display,
According to a press release, the Kindle DX with Global Wireless is available for pre-order starting today for $489 online from the U.S. version of Amazon.com and ships Jan. 19.
Kindle with Global Wireless, Amazon’s 6-inch purpose-built reading device, was released in October 2009 and has already shipped to more than 130 countries. Concurrent with the release of that device, the company swapped carrier support for the device from Sprint to AT&T.
An Amazon spokesman said the Kindle DX with Global Wireless uses 3G GSM technology to power Amazon’s wireless delivery system over the AT&T Global Network.
AT&T could not be reached before press time to confirm which roaming partners will support the device.
The Kindle Store currently offers international customers more than 300,000 English-language books and more than 100 newspapers and magazines.


text:
Experts explain how Thailand can use Metaverse for tourism, business and education
He said that initially a pilot project will be created to promote two minor provinces, adding that the picture will be clearer in two months.
Pathom Indarodom, vice president of the Digital Council of Thailand, said that although the country’s digital infrastructure is as good as any other country, Thailand is still ranked 53rd out of 65 countries when it comes to preparing for the future.
He blamed this on Thai people’s lack of interest in learning new things and adopting new technologies for application in the business sector.
Pathom said Thailand was still in the Metaverse 1.0 era where we had to wear heavy virtual reality (VR) glasses, but companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink broke barriers by creating an interface between the brain humans and computers.
He said that very soon everything in the real world will be available in the virtual world and people will be able to enter the metaverse without any equipment.
However, he said, he was concerned about Thailand’s inability to compete with other countries due to local people’s attitude towards the digital world.
Blockchain Prime Holding co-founder Pongbol Iemvicharana hailed the development of the Social Bureau: Decentralized Justice System, saying the metaverse will make it difficult to identify people and open the door for hacking. With this judicial system in place, the bureau can track down the culprits and punish them, but he said the information should also be made available to the public. That way, he said, the public can have data in hand and protect themselves when making transactions.
Trikun Srihongse, Country Director of Zipmex, said his company’s goal is to revolutionize investing in digital assets for decentralized financial services. They will apply blockchain and crypto technology to access finance more easily, while NFTs (non-fungible assets) will play a bigger role once the metaverse grows.


text:
When Ford Motor Company announced that it would be ending its manufacturing operations in India back in September of last year, that also somewhat spelled the end for the Ford EcoSport, which is currently produced at the automaker’s Chennai Assembly plant. Previously, Ford EcoSport production was slated to end at the conclusion of May, but an ongoing strike at the Chennai plant extended that timeline by a couple of months, though that strike has now ended, as Ford Authority reported earlier today. Regardless, with its workers back on the assembly line, Ford plans to build 1,500 more EcoSports before the plant closes and production of the crossover comes to an end in that country, according to Economic Times India.
An anonymous source revealed that little tidbit of information, and also noted that the Chennai plant is currently building around 130 vehicles per day. However, the plant is also operating on just one shift, and only half of the facility’s employees – 1,300 of 2,600 – are currently on site. The rest remain on call in case Ford needs them to wrap up operations at the plant, which is scheduled to close at the end of July.
A refreshed EcoSport was reportedly in the works for India with plans to launch last year, but FoMoCo’s decision to shutter production at the Chennai plant this year effectively ended those plans. Ford previously stated that it will continue to produce the crossover at the Craiova Assembly plant in Romania for the European market, but recently transferred ownership of that facility to Ford Otosan, which will build the next-generation Transit Courier there starting in 2023, an all‑electric version of that model following in 2024, and the Puma EV in 2024 as well.
In the meantime, the EcoSport received a few notable changes for the 2022 model year. The crossover dropped the turbocharged Ford 1.0L I-3 EcoBoost powerplant from the lineup, making the 2.0L I-4 the EcoSport’s sole engine option, and it also now comes standard with all-wheel drive, as Ford Authority reported last September. Meanwhile, the 2022 EcoSport also received a minor price increase of $50 across all trims, as Ford Authority previously reported, while destination charges also increased by $50 – from $1,245 in 2021 to $1,295 for the 2022 model year.


text:
Actor and Businessman
Mark Wahlberg is Expanding
Film celebrities are no longer just soulless puppets who bring us film experiences, some of them are top entrepreneurs and investors. Today we focused on the legend Mark Wahlberg. Now the actor has announced that he will bring his hamburger chain of big dogs Wahlburgers. While promoting the F45 fitness chain in Australia, Wahlberg reportedly fell in love with the scenery. According to The Daily Telegraph, the actor has signed a $ 50 million deal with United Cinemas owners to locate his restaurants in more than 15 locations across Australia.
The first Wahlburgers Australia outlet is expected to open at Sydney’s Circular Quay, followed by Warriewood and Narellan, Craigieburn in Melbourne, Indooroopilly in Brisbane, and Rockingham in Perth. "I'm very excited about the Wahlburgers' first placement in Sydney, Australia." "I work with (owners of United Cinemas) the Music family and I hope we will not only bring you Wahlburgers but also amazing film experiences," Wahlberg told The Daily Telegraph. after the 10-year success of a reality show in the United States. "When we launched the TV show we had in one store, you know the original Wahlburgers. We were kind of a shipyard in the background of nothing, and people were coming around the door, "Wahlberg told TDT." What we're really focusing on now is creating exclusive content for customers only. the first Wahlburgers restaurant in Circular Quay will open in the coming months.


text:
Bosan asks Belarus to invest in Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan on Monday asked Belarus to set up assembly plants for farm-related machinery and tractors in Pakistan to help decrease their prices.
Talking to Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko, Mr Bosan said most Pakistani farmers prefer Belarus Tractor due to its high efficiency. However, he conveyed the concern of local farmers about its high price to Mr Semashko.
Mr Bosan requested the deputy prime minister of Belarus to consider lowering the prices of tractors and other agriculture-related machinery.
Earlier, the two officials discussed matters of mutual interests, including dairy products, cotton, wool, agricultural machinery, farm mechanisation technology and infant food formula production, in detail.
Both countries share common trends in the consumption of milk and other dairy products. Pakistan’s annual trade with Belarus is worth $56 million, a major part of which consists of agricultural products.
Compared to 44 per cent duty on farm machinery in the past, the current government has decreased it to 5pc only.
The deputy prime minister invited Mr Bosan along with a team of experts to trade exhibition Belagra, which will be held in Belarus in the first quarter of 2017.


text:
Omega releases a Speedmaster built for ocean racing
In a sport where precision timekeeping is imperative to success, watches and yacht racing go together like champagne and Formula One. So it comes as little surprise that a new partnership has been made between the decorated Swiss yacht team, Alinghi, and famed Swiss watchmaker, Omega.
What does come as a surprise however, is the specially produced Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Alinghi piece a reworked version of the watchmaker's Speedmaster watch - famous for being the first watch worn on the moon - as opposed to its more nautically-inclined cousin, the Seamaster.
That said, powered by the Omega Caliber 1865 manual winding movement, this slick model is both a very sporty and highly technical incarnation of the ‘moonwatch’ that any skipper would die to get their hands on.
aking design cues from Alinghi’s state-of-the-art sailing yachts, the AED40,000 piece focuses on lightness and high-tech materials to create a robust chronograph worthy of a championship sailing team.
For starters, the brawny 44.25-mm case is made of black zirconium oxide ceramic, a lightweight, yet durable, high-tech material that is tougher than stainless steel.
This experience and expertise in sports timekeeping, particularly in sailing events, was on display earlier this month when Omega announced that it will serve as the official timekeeper of the 36th America’s Cup yacht race that will be held 6 to 21 March, 2021, in Auckland, New Zealand.
Esquire now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.


text:
Telstra critiques iPhone
Once again, Telstra has proved that they just don't "get it." Apparently, because Apple has never made a mobile phone before they obviously don't know what they're doing. Therefore, they should just let the likes of Nokia and Sony Ericsson do it and not even try.
I seem to remember they'd never made an MP3 player before either, nor had they ever sold music online. Guess they should've stuck to making computers, huh?
From SMH, article here.
blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
1 post • Page 1 of 1
The global conversation around cryptocurrency over the last year has largely centered around big money. High-volume and institutional investors have taken the spotlight ascryptocurrency and blockchain enter further into the mainstream world.
However, the other side of the ‘blockchain revolution’ is still alive and well. Platforms that have been designed to target retail investors in some of the world’s most impoverished regions are providing financial products and services to populations that have never had access to any before.
[url=https://events.financemagnates.com/londonsummit/?utm_source=FM&utm_medium=AUTOLINK&utm_campaign=Article&utm_content=fmls18]Join the Leading Industry Event![/url]
One of these platforms is HelloGold, a blockchain-based gold investment platform that was originally ... (read more)


text:
Various companies inside the tech industry claimed they wanted more cultural and racial diversity within their workforce, but the actual hiring doesn’t even begin to reflect that. As a consequence, Brian Krzanich, CEO at Intel, released a challenge for his own company, and the entire industry, to make a change, asking them to increase the number of positions available for women and minorities. The goal Krzanich set for Intel is of full representation in the personnel by 2020.
In his speech, he stated that he felt it was no longer enough to talk about how much we value diversity. We have to take it a step further and have the workplaces in tech industry reflect the “full availability and talent pool of women and underrepresented minorities”.
This was happening at a gadget show which became public Tuesday, where Krzanich also presented a jacket button sized computer and a wristband that can fly away, changing into a selfie-snapping camera.
Concerning the main issue of his keynote, Intel’s CEO said the company found a way to keep managers accountable for the progress, by conditioning their individual pay to it. Not only that, but Intel is also pledging $300 million for diversity, which encloses programs designed for women and minorities who want to enter the technology field.
Intel’s track record is deficient when it comes to employing women and some minorities, as is the case with most Silicon Valley companies. In 2013, just a quarter of Intel’s U.S. employees were women and 14% of its staff was Hispanic or African American, according to the data revealed by the company. The challenge comes as women still face harassment threats in the tech field, even though companies are releasing more employment-diversity initiatives. As for Intel, Krzanich announced that the company will release public reports on hiring on a regular basis.
Other new technology released at the Tuesday gadget show was the company’s RealSense technology for seeing and understanding depth. The innovations were presented while using hand gestures to scroll a recipe on a tablet while cooking. Also, drones were showed thinking for themselves and maneuvering an obstacle course without human assistance. The main attraction were the RealSense sensors helping a man with visual problems know what’s around him through vibrations in his clothes.
The whole presentation was put on to show Intel’s efforts and progress in introducing machines to 3D, defining the interaction between the screen and input device as the new technology.
Image Source: CNET
Latest posts by Christina Langfold (see all)
- Scientists Discover the Second Fastest Spinning Pulsar In The Universe - Sep 9, 2017
- Coral Reef Damage Scares Florida Keys Researchers and Businesses - Jun 26, 2017
- Nike to Slash Global Workforce by 1,400 - Jun 16, 2017


text:
In a bid to make the iPad as big and mainstream as the iPod, Apple has widened distribution for the iPad to big-box retailers as well as Verizon stores and Amazon. It's a tall order for a device that starts at $499 and tops out at $829 for the 3G version, but Apple will get a lot of promotional support from retailers hoping to get the upper hand. It's requiring retailers that feature the iPad in circulars to devote an entire page to the device; the iPad will also feature in their local TV ads.
Analysts predict that shoppers looking for iPads as gifts will buy where they can knock other items off their lists, and where the iPad is cheapest.
Retailers have no flexibility on the retail price of Apple products, but Target found a workaround, offering 5% off storewide -- including the iPad -- for using a Target -branded credit card.
In expanding distribution, Apple goes from about 300 of its own stores -- clustered in urban, affluent shopping areas -- to 8,000 stores geared to mainstream America. Apple has already sold 7.5 million iPads, and Forrester expects it to sell at least that many in the fourth quarter.
"Expanding distribution to Walmart and Target makes the iPad more accessible to more Americans," said Forrester consumer product strategist Sarah Rotman Epps. But more importantly, "it brings traffic into the stores where touching the iPad is part of the experience."
One problem: Target isn't letting shoppers actually touch the iPad, because they say, the tether chain can't secure it. They'll stay behind the glass "due to the high retail [price] of the item," said Target spokesperson Kristy Welker.
In contrast, Best Buy had demo iPads out, fully smudged. A staffer at Walmart in Secaucus, N.J., said the retailer is planning to put out demo iPads this week. Walmart is also carrying a host of e-readers: Amazon's Kindle, the Sony e-Reader and Barnes & Noble's Nook.
Accessible or not, the question is how much the presence of iPad at retail helps juice sales of other products. Big -box retailers have a history of selling books and DVDs at a loss to bring in the right kind of consumer: those that spend a lot on other things. They also take "slotting fees" from vendors for shelf space, but observers said they doubt Apple is paying much, if anything, for that privilege.
For Target and Walmart in particular, the challenge isn't growing the pie, but taking share from electronics retailers, toy stores, the web and yes, Apple's own stores. "An iPad is one of those devices [consumers] go spear-fishing for; if it's on their list -- they will go to the store where it's available," said Forrester retail analyst Sucharita Mulpuru. "Every incremental visit they can get to the store, people will pick up five to six other items."
What else will they buy while they're there? According to New Media Metrics, those with high brand affinity for the iPad are also fans of other Apple products, but also for Dell Computers (go figure), Xbox and Nintendo Wii. They also have a high brand affinity for Walmart -- higher than Best Buy or Target .
Brand fans will also likely buy plenty of high-margin third-party accessories, such as the $40 iPad covers that seem mandatory for the device. According to Accenture, 4% of consumers plan to buy a tablet as a holiday gift, while 7% plan to purchase an e-reader and 10% have a laptop or netbook on their holiday list.
Among other retailers stocking iPad, don't expect Verizon stores to have much of an impact. Both the iPhone and 3G version of the iPad are exclusive to AT&T, though Verizon versions of both have been long-rumored.
Amazon carries the iPad, but is heavily promoting the Kindle, and is expected to sell 1 million of them in the fourth quarter, bringing the total to 6 million sold over the past several years. Amazon is putting it front-and-center on the landing page, while forcing iPad shoppers to dig for the device.
However, iPad sales net out for the retailers, the real winner is Apple, which will get loads of free marketing in holiday circulars and local TV and newspaper ads.
'WePads' Take on the IPad
Already, the tablet market is starting to look a lot like iPad vs. the "WePads." And since few competing tablets will be available for the holiday, it seems inevitable that iPad will have that market to itself.
BlackBerry's PlayBook and Cisco's Cius, both aimed at business users, as well as Hewlett Packard's consumer pad, won't be out until next year, nor, reportedly will be consumer pads from Acer, Lenovo and Asus. However, Samsung's Galaxy and two Dell products -- the Streak mini-tablet phone and the Inspiron Duo netbook/tablet combination -- will be on store shelves before the holidays. HP's Slate, aimed at business customers, was just introduced and its consumer product won't be ready until next year.
Many iPad competitors are crafting campaigns, layering on plenty of bravado about their chances against Apple.
"There is plenty of opportunity," said HP Senior VP-Strategy and Worldwide Marketing Richard Gerstein. "It's not like Apple invented the smartphone business, they were, like, 10th to that business, and obviously were able to come in with a great product."
Dell's tablets, the Streak (already out) and the Duo (coming soon), will be backed by a just-launched umbrella marketing and ad campaign from WPP's Y&R that includes several other Dell "hero" products as it strives to remake itself into a lifestyle brand and a "cool" company.
"A lot of customers don't go with the A company -- they are going with the PC, that's where they want to be," said Paul-Henri Ferrand, chief marketing officer of Dell's consumer and small- and medium-business division, referring to the much larger combined market share of the PC makers vs. Apple computers.
All this "WePad" confidence, however, still has to be proved. "Apple definitely does have an early advantage, and it looks more and more like it will sustain that advantage," said Susan Kevorkian, an analyst with IDC. -- Beth Snyder Bulik
~ ~ ~
Contributing: Judann Pollack


text:
All of Taylor Swift’s albums have been removed from Spotify and other streaming music services, in an escalation of the artist’s previous policy of “windowing” her new album releases.
When Swift’s new album 1989 was released on 27 October, it was not available to stream on Spotify and its rivals, following the same policy used for its predecessor Red.
As of today, though, that album and Swift’s entire back catalogue have been removed. While Swift and her label Big Machine Music have yet to comment, Spotify broke the news in a blog post.
“We hope she’ll change her mind and join us in building a new music economy that works for everyone,” said the company.
“We believe fans should be able to listen to music wherever and whenever they want, and that artists have an absolute right to be paid for their work and protected from piracy. That’s why we pay nearly 70% of our revenue back to the music community.”
Spotify added that nearly 16 million of its 40 million active users had played Swift’s songs in the last 30 days, while her tracks had been added to more than 19 million playlists on its service.
According to play-count statistics on Spotify this morning, Red’s tracks had been played more than 260m times on the service since the album was made available to stream in May 2013, eight months after it first went on sale.
When 1989 was windowed, Spotify informed its users that “The artist or their representatives have decided not to release this album on Spotify. We are working on it and hope they will change their mind soon.”
Shortly after, the firm’s head of public policy, Jonathan Prince, tweeted in a similar style, asking the artist not to “let down” her fans.
Now those 40 million Spotifiers won’t be able to play, play, play any of her songs unless Big Machine – which the Guardian has contacted for a comment – decides to put it back on.
This has happened before with a high-profile artist: Paul McCartney’s back catalogue was removed from streaming services in 2010, before being made available again in 2012.
One factor in the removal is likely to have been the record-breaking first-week sales of 1989, which in the US looks like it could overtake the 1.319m copies Britney Spears’ debut sold in its first week. That would make Swift’s album the highest selling first week by a female solo artist in US history.
The removal comes days after the New York Post reported that Big Machine’s owner Scott Borchetta was looking to sell the label for more than $200m. The report claimed that Swift has only one album left on her contract with the company, but also that her family owns a stake in the business.
It remains to be seen how today’s news might affect Big Machine’s valuation, although if the result is a bump in sales for Swift’s older albums – Apple’s iTunes store is currently discounting Red and 2010’s Speak Now to £4.99 each – could drive the price higher.
The digital marketing for 1989 has already sparked controversy among British fans of Taylor Swift, who complained that one track, released via Apple’s iTunes store in the run-up to the album’s release elsewhere in the world, was withheld in the UK.
“To all my wonderful UK fans, I realise that you are not yet able to get ‘Out Of The Woods’ due to a new strategy my record label is working on in the UK,” she explained in a post on Tumblr.
“My good friend Ed Sheeran utilised the same strategy with ‘One’ in the UK and he seemed very happy with the feedback from his fans. But, ultimately, it’s down to you. Let me know.”
Those same fans will now be letting Swift know their opinion on the removal of her back catalogue, for better or worse.


text:
NVIDIA announced today that it has named Dawn Hudson, former CEO of PepsiCo's $6 billion North American beverage business and a veteran product-marketing executive, to its board of directors. Hudson, age 55, is vice chairman of Parthenon Group, an international strategy consulting group. Until 2009, she spent 11 years at PepsiCo in top marketing, strategy and management roles.
Previously, she spent 13 years in marketing, advertising and branding strategy, holding leadership positions at major advertising agencies, including DMB&B (D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles) and Omnicom. "We are delighted to have Dawn join NVIDIA's board of directors," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer, NVIDIA. "She has been a senior executive at one of America's great companies and has extensive experience as a company director." Hudson has served on the boards of Lowe's Home Improvement Co. for 12 years; Allergan Inc. for five years; and Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. for two years. She has a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. Her appointment expands NVIDIA's board to 10 members.
Recommended for You
Latest News Posts
- Digital made up 80% of Ubisoft's first quarter sales
- Console gamers to spend more on DLC than games in 2017
- GTA Online earned $1.09 billion, says analyst firm
- Microsoft earned $90 billion last fiscal year
- Xiaomi's upcoming phone to rock dual camera and MIUI 9
- How to upgrade the BIOS to GA-UD23-B3?
- Baby Driver Movie Review
- Asus laptop BIOS does not recognize UBCD-post page is grayed out - can't post
- Bloody AL90 Blazing Laser Gaming Mouse Review
- Cryptocurrency mining deflates, used GPUs hit eBay
- Atari announces Blade Runner 2049 partnership with NECA and Audiowear, launching wearable technology that blurs the line between fashion and future
- BIOSTAR introduces the world's first 8-slot PCI-e mining motherboard with the TB250-BTC+
- HyperX unveils HyperX Alloy Elite and TKL HyperX Alloy FPS Pro mechanical gaming keyboards
- Toshiba Memory Corporation develops world's first 3D flash memory with TSV technology
- ADATA releases XPG GAMMIX line with S10 PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe 1.2 SSD and D10 DDR4


text:
This weekend will again be a busy day for event goers as PSICOM’s otaku lifestyle magazine, Otaku Asia will be hosting its first Japanese-inspired culture event, O-kun Fiesta! this coming Saturday, May 16 at Function Room 1, SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
Themed as a school summer festival, the event will emulate the magazine’s sections of anime, food, fashion, music, games, culture and entertainment into a Japanese school festival.
Attendees can join various competitions such as toy photograpy, drawing, karaoke and cosplay contest. The organizers has also provided three dressing rooms and baggage counters for cosplayers attending the event.
The event will also feature the first kimono fashion show organized by Kimono PH. There will be lectures about afterwards.
The winner of the Golden Ticket Awards for the Best Community Event, Talking Apple’s will be handling the maids and butler cafe of the event. They will be serving various anime-inspired snacks, such as coffee, iced tea, omurice, cookies and chocolate-dipped bananas.
The event will also host Cosplay.ph’s Cosplay Costume of the Year 2014. The top 10 finalists will be featured on Otaku Asia Magazine’s May-June issue.
Tickets are worth Php 100 each and it will be available at the event itself. Do not forget also the house rules being implemented at the event.
animephproject.com is a media partner of O-kun Fiest 2015.


text:
How tech companies are helping with Hurricane Harvey relief
Samsung chief Jay Y. Lee given 5-year jail sentence for bribery
Hearthstone’s Knights of the Frozen Throne expansion will launch August 10
We can now design humans — but should we?
VentureBeat is hiring a strategic account director
Apple issues $1 billion green bond after Trump’s Paris climate exit
Futurist David Brin: Get ready for the ‘first robotic empathy crisis’
Latest iPhone 8 leak looks like crap


text:
Since the start of the Summer, the Air Jordan 1 Low has indulged in a number of new colorways, donning everything from retro gaming-inspired graphics to quilted panels. The silhouette has even gone as far to borrow the signatures of beloved Swoosh collaborators, namely Stussy and their embroidered Swoosh.
As it appeared on the streetwear label’s hemp-constructed Air Force 1s, the embroidered Swoosh threads along this AJ1 Low’s mid-panel, making use of an olive shade just marginally lighter than what’s found on the canvas overlays adjacent. Browns even darker, then, outfit the laces and tread, while white colors in much of the base as well as the midsole and Wings logo.
For a closer look at this upcoming Air Jordan 1 Low, see below. No release date has been confirmed just yet, but we should learn more about its Nike.com launch soon.
In other news, Nike just unveiled the Zoom Freak 4.
A release date is expected on September 2nd, 2022.
Air Jordan 1 LowRelease Date: Sep 2nd, 2022 (Friday)Color: Light Olive/White/Sail
Womens: $120Style Code: DV0426-301
Official Images Of The Air Jordan 1 “Skyline”
Thanks to both sneaker leakers and early obtainers, we’re going into 2023 with near-full knowledge of what will be releasing several months down the road. And while Jordan Brand has evidently saved their best for…
This Multi-Color Air Jordan 1 Mid For Kids Features Recycled, Nike Grind Swooshes
NIKE, Inc. has been cognizant of its environmental impact for decades, but the last handful of year has seen the company move towards a more sustainable operation. One such way that it’s been “going green”…
“Desert Berry” Extends Across This Grade School Air Jordan 1 Low
“Desert Berry” shades have proffered a slew of supple silhouettes across The Swooshes extensive lifestyle offerings. From expanding the brand’s women’s-exclusive offerings to now indulging in toolings fit for the youth, the GS Air Jordan 1…


text:
A Jordan Formula 1 car driven by two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato is currently available at auction in the UK.
This particular Jordan EJ12 is chassis number 1 and was first driven by Sato at Silverstone in January 2002 in preparation for the forthcoming season. It was later unveiled to the world on February 20th. It is also thought to be one of just five examples that remains in existence and chassis #4, which Sato secured a 5th place with, is currently on display at the Honda museum and unlikely to ever be sold.
Interestingly, the EJ12 is fully operational but it is no longer powered by the Honda F1 engine it once had because, according to The Market, Honda removed the engine before the car was first sold privately. Sitting in its placeis a Judd KV8 S3000 Formula 3000 engine that is mated to a five-speed Lola/Hewland transmission with pneumatic paddle shift.
The racer was first released for sale by Jordan as a rolling chassis in 2004 and has been part of the collection of a Swedish owner for the past seven years. While under his possession, it has toured Europe and made appearances at various race events, including the Goodwood Festival of Speed back in 2016.
Adorning the exterior is the same livery the car had at the Suzuka Grand Prix of October 2002. Its front wing was damaged by the previous owner but was soon replaced with a new one.


text:
Bock Winery Ltd., based in Villány, S Hungary, has implemented developments worth more than HUF 1.5 billion in order to bring premium quality wines, grape juice and cold-dried fruit products to the market, the company informed the state news agency MTI on Tuesday.
The statement said that a 3,700-square-metre raw material processing plant was built within the framework of the HUF 650 million investment from the European Union’s Economic Development and Innovation Operational Program (Ginop), using a similar loan and 25% of own resources.
Quoting the owner József Bock, the press release said that the facility will enable the company to broaden its current product range and raise the quality of its wines, thus enabling it to launch new top-quality products on the domestic and international markets, with even higher prestige than before.
The development will also enable the company to produce grape juice and cold-dried fruit products, in addition to the nutritional supplements made from blue grape seeds, thus expanding its portfolio of products for children and health-conscious consumers.
The new, modern production equipment for the reception of grape raw materials, the phases of grape processing, fermentation, wine treatment, bottling and the introduction of health-conscious products will bring significant quality improvements to Bock Winery Ltd.
According to public company data, Bock Winery Ltd., which employs around fifty people, achieved a net turnover of almost HUF 1.3 billion last year, with a profit of HUF 139 million.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Top 5 Articles
- Hungarian Inflation Rate - the Highest in Europe December 16, 2022
- Sharing Business Experience December 10, 2022
- In Strategic Partnership with the Client January 2, 2023
- Customer Focus Above All January 6, 2023
- Future FM, the Solution Provider January 4, 2023
Articles by Date
- ► 2023 (601)
- ► 2022 (1249)
- ► 2021 (941)
- ► 2020 (899)
- ► 2019 (237)
- ► 2018 (161)
- ► 2017 (310)
- ► 2016 (279)
- ► 2015 (324)
- ► 2014 (229)
- ► 2013 (233)
- ► 2012 (250)
- ► 2011 (303)
- ► 2010 (167)
- ► 2009 (43)
- ► 2008 (3)
No comment yet. Be the first!


text:
TEL AVIV—Israel’s attorney general said he intends to charge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, imperiling Mr. Netanyahu’s bid to become the country’s longest-serving leader in an April election.
The charges are connected to three corruption probes and follow two years of investigations into the premier.
- American Eagle Outfitters:
All Jeans + Pants 25% off! Plus, 60% off clearance with American Eagle promo code
Up to 15% off + free shipping at Wayfair
Save $5 on first 5 orders using Postmates promo code - $25 savings
50% off + free delivery on $20 orders with DoorDash promo code


text:
The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released Thursday, suggest that American diets could use a little work. Overall, the main ideas hold true to what many nutritionists have said for years: eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat free and low-fat dairy products and protein, and cut back on sugar, salt and saturated fats.
“The way it’s framed now it’s more understandable,” said Jaime Schwartz Cohen, a registered dietician and VP-director of nutrition at Ketchum. She noted that the DGA talks more about what to eat rather than what to avoid, and gives examples of healthy dietary patterns. “We know that messages that are more positive in nature are more motivating.”
Food companies are digesting the announcement to determine which products stand to get a boost and which might suffer. While the guidelines do not lead to immediate changes in areas such as restaurant menus or packaged-food nutrition labels, they are used to help craft changes to programs for millions of Americans such as national school lunch and breakfast and WIC, a program for low-income women and young children.
The DGA suggested limiting added sugars to less than 10% of calories per day. That lends more power to the idea that a new “added sugars” designation will appear in the FDA’s updated nutrition facts panel, whenever that is finalized.
“This is a policy document that may impact that but we don’t know for sure,” said Janet Helm, a registered dietician who is the chief food and nutrition strategist at Weber Shandwick. “Manufacturers may be looking at ways to reformulate. I think added sugars are going to be more on the minds of consumers.”
One beneficiary of the new guidelines, she and others said, is likely to be the egg industry. That’s because a prior limit on dietary cholesterol of 300 milligrams per day was removed.
“Eggs got a major boost from this,” said Ms. Helm.
Eggs were also included in recommended healthy eating patterns. The American Egg Board applauded the change, calling eggs an affordable, nutrient-rich source of protein.
While no foods were banned, the guidelines suggest healthy eating patterns limit saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars and sodium.
“Ultimately all foods fit,” said Ms. Schwartz Cohen. “There’s no bad foods, just bad portions.”
Here’s a look at a few more responses to some of the guidelines.
Limit daily intake of sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams per day, a level well below what most adults currently consume.
Spice maker McCormick & Co. Inc. hopes people turn to its spices to come up with new ways to flavor their foods. McCormick Chairman and CEO Alan Wilson said in a statement that his company has more than 450 salt-free and reduced sodium products in the U.S. And company research suggests that when people learn how to flavor their food with spices and herbs they can reduce their sodium intake by almost 1,000 mg per day. The government’s recommendations for lowering sodium consumption included cooking more from scratch to control how much sodium is used, limiting sauces, mixes and instant products, and flavoring with herbs and spices.
Campbell Soup Co. said it supports the recommendations and is reviewing the details of the guidelines. The company, like many other packaged-food makers, has already been working on efforts such as reducing sodium levels in its products. And now it is pushing for federally-led GMO labeling, another hot topic in the industry.
Limit added sugars to less than 10% of calories per day.
Some companies known for sweetened products were quick to stand by the work they are already doing to reduce sugar levels. General Mills pointed out that it has been reducing sugar in kids’ cereals and aims for all of them to contain “single-digit levels of grams of sugar per serving.” In yogurt, General Mills’ Yoplait and its main rival, Dannon, have both been trimming levels of added sugars for years.
Mars, the confectionary company behind M&Ms and Wrigley gum, said it supported many of the findings. In the past, Mars has supported the proposal to include “added sugars” in the nutrition facts panel.
“We’re still analyzing the report, but are pleased to see the recommendations on added sugar, sodium, and the benefits of whole grains,” Mars said in a statement. Still, Mars wasn’t completely pleased. “We’re disappointed that the report does not reflect our recommendation to address the oral health benefits of chewing sugar-free gum after meals, which based on 40 years of scientific research, helps reduce the risk of cavities.”
The American Beverage Association, which represents makers of non-alcoholic drinks, said “beverage companies are doing their part to help people manage their calorie and sugar intake by providing a wide range of beverage choices, a variety of package sizes and clear, easy-to-read calorie information.”
Limit saturated fats to less than 10% of calories per day.
KIND petitioned the FDA for a change on the regulatory definition of the word healthy last year after it came under fire for high levels of fat in its products due to nuts. It applauded the suggestion to limit saturated fat consumption instead of a recommendation tied to total fat consumption. It also commended the limit on added sugars.
A bonus for KIND: it already said it would reduce the amount of added sugar in seven Fruit & Nut bars. Those products should hit stores this spring.
From AdAge.com, 01-08-2016, copyright Crain Communications Inc. 2013


text:
Advertisers in the United States have been able to track the correlation between the online ads and offline purchases, thanks to a deal be
Facebook was reported to announce the Portal device in mid-2018, but plans were pushed in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
WhatsApp is testing the availability of a new sticker pack called Biscuit on Android.
After four months of announcing Facebook's own dating service, the social network has finally released a trial version. However, it is st
Notably, the invite from HMD Global came right in the midst of a flurry of leaks surrounding the Nokia 7.1 Plus.
Facebook-owned image and video sharing platform Instagram on Thursday announced the extension of GIF support into the Direct Messages (DM)
This was the first iOS update that introduced Apple's popular parallax effect and swipe-up control center. WhatsApp announced that they wi
The most feature-rich of the three is the Hero7, with features such as Live Streaming, TimeWarp Video, SuperPhoto, Improved Audio, and Face
Facebook said it could offer assistance to more candidates globally by focusing on offering support through an online portal instead of in
Amazon has introduced a new line-up of Echo devices, and an Echo companion device, to increase their smart speaker portfolio to fit a var
Food videos have become a key ingredient for brands looking to digitally connect with consumers
Facebook Dating includes integration with Groups and Events and draws on other aspects of Facebook to expand the dating pool and encourage
The recent press renders of Nokia 7.1 Plus were leaked online, showing a display notch, Carl Zeiss optics and Android One badging, which ha
The Realme brand has made a name for itself in the smartphone industry within a short period of time. The company has launched two smartph
The Vivo V11 Pro is the latest smartphone from Vivo to launch in India with an in-screen fingerprint sensor. The smartphone is also the mos
Messaging has emerged as the most popular online activity for Indian consumers, with a recent survey revealing that mobil
EU regulators continue their crackdown on US social media giants over privacy concerns.
11 of the 15 most retweeted messages by Indian politicians in the last year have been in Hindi
The smartphone will be officially launched at an event in Malaysia on October 11, where pricing and availability details are likely to be
Facebook may face sanctions because it has yet to comply with EU consumer rules while Airbnb has made the necessary changes in response to
Nokia's Android One device is placed in the mid-range segment. The Nokia 6.1 Plus also comes with a premium glass sandwich design which he
The Mi A2 Red Edition was teased by company chief Manu Kumar Jain on Twitter where he also declared the time for the first sale.
The company revealed the OnePlus 6T name through a dedicated section on Amazon India's website and an advertisement that was aired during
The cheapest model of the new phones, the 64 GB iPhone XR will cost Rs 76,900 in India.
With a transparent back variant and in-display fingerprint sensor, the Mi 8 Pro could be the global variant of Mi 8 Explorer, which is a
The highest number of threats was detected in May, which stood at 74 million, followed by 55 million in April and 51 million in June.
Motorola will be launching the One Power that it first showcased at IFA 2018 in Berlin. The new phone will be an updated version of the Mo
Apple has launched the new iOS 12 update and this new software update will be available for iPhone 5s and later devices. For perspective,
In a complaint filed Tuesday with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the ACLU lists 10 employers that it claims have placed ads o
The Redmi 6A was launched along with the Redmi 6 and Redmi 6 Pro. The other two devices have been available via flash sales for the last t
After the launch of iPhone X last year the Face ID technology has received overwhelmingly positive reviews across the globe there are brand
The agency's moves come in the wake of a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) it registered against the firms after receiving a reference from the Cent
Facebook has launched a pilot programme to expand its existing protections for users associated with US political campaigns ahead of the 20
Powered by the new Picture Processor X1 Ultimate, Sony claims that the A9F Bravia OLED TV can create exquisite contrast, clarity and unpr
WhatsApp launched few new features on its Beta platform that adds convenience for the users. The new features are still in the beta phase
Micro-blogging platform Twitter will now show live streams and broadcasts right on top of your timeline.
The study found that bad grammar and awkward spelling might make toxic social media comments harder for artificial intelligence (AI) detect
Amazon India mobile app rolls out a new feature for select users. There is a new banner on the app showing the Amazon Pay EMI feature. Howe
OnePlus is ready to take the next big step in its brand's evolution. After smartphones, the Chinese company is going to take on the SmartT
A Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 smartphone has reportedly caught fire in a woman's purse in New York. According to a report by The New York Post
Facebook said the new role will include working with product teams to ensure that the company is a positive force for human rights and appl
The new device is placed in Xiaomi's best-selling smartphone series in India and comes with the same value for money proposition as its p
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR launched, WhatsApp for Jio Phone rolled out, Redmi Note 5 Pro gets MIUI 10 update, and Moto G6 Plus.
The Oppo F9 will be available online exclusively at Flipkart, as well as offline at brick and mortar stores at Rs 19,990.
WhatsApp's Swipe to Reply feature allows Android beta users to quickly reply to a message using a swipe right gesture.
Google's senior artificial intelligence scientist, Jack Poulson resigned over the company's involvement in building a special censored ver
Facebook said Thursday it would expand its efforts to scan photos and videos uploaded to the social network for evidence that they've been
Xiaomi's Poco F1 is now available in an open sale. Just two weeks after it first went on sale, Xiaomi has decided to put it up on their we
Zuckerberg, posting on his Facebook page, outlined a series of steps the leading social network has taken to protect against misinformation
A recently leaked hour-long video of a Google TGIF, an all-hands meeting, after the 2016 US Presidential Elections has landed the search


text:
When Topshop, the English fast fashion retailer, decided to sell its products in China, they didn’t open a store but launch their own e-commerce platform first via ShangPin.
But Topshop is not the only example of major brands which decided to launch its brands without opening physical stores.
Costco, the fourth distributor in the USA, operated the same way to hit its Chinese targets by setting up a store on Tmall and launching it on Nov, 11, the “Day of singles”; the equivalent of the Black Friday in the US.
But is that common in China?
Yes, it is! Opening an online store via a platform like Tmall or its own website is actually a way of testing its products without taking big financial risks. In fact opening a shop can be quite expensive compare to an e-commerce platform.
Then, if it works you can still open a store later! It’s also a way of knowing which products your Chinese consumers are looking for and prefer so that you can adapt your strategy and then minimize your costs.
And this practice is not only common for Westerns brands, even several Chinese’s brands first opened their online shop rather than a classical brick and mortar. Xiaomi, a company specialized in making smartphone decided at the beginning to sell its products via Internet.
And that’s true that it’s a good way to be able to reach his target even in the most remote places where almost everybody right now in China have access to Internet thanks to mobile phones. So when you sell you products online you can hit more people than with a usual brick-and-mortar shop in one of the biggest city in China.
The e-commerce is blooming in China
The numbers can make you go haywire. In 2014, the Chinese spent $315,2 billion through e-commerce (compare to $441 billion for the USA).
In 2016, the Chinese e-commerce sales will be greater than the one in the USA.
Then you can consider China as a huge laboratory for experiments.
Is is risk-free?
No, it’s not! You’ll have to make marketing investment if you want to increase your brand awareness. If nobody knows your brand, nobody will buy your products.
When Topshop launched its online boutique, they organized a huge event and invited celebrities (like the singer and actress Wang Luodan) and bloggers.
The event was a huge success as 250,000 people looked up for the brands on their mobile after the event.
What about the retail risks?
Selling online is less risky than opening a store for sure. The rent are becoming super expensive in China and finding a place available in a good location is not that easy.
Some major brands have completely failed before. Best Buy the American electronics retailers closed its boutiques because its prices were too high for the Chinese market (The Chinese market is actually a market where the consumers are very sensitive to prices).
Mattel also failed and shut down its Barbie’s mega-store in Shanghai because of disappointing figures two years after its opening.
Then I would say without any doubts go with e-commerce first, market your brand, adapt your strategy, wait for results and if its works think of opening a store but not before.
No need to rush to succeed!
Stay up to date with our latest news at e-commerce China agency!
For more information on e-commerce in China, check here.


text:
August 12, 2015 |
NEW YORK: Wipro Chairman Azim Premji and HCL founder Shiv Nadar are the only two Indian tycoons in the top 20 richest people in the world of technology, according to an inaugural list by Forbes that has been topped by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates . Premji is ranked 13th on Forbes' first ever list of '100 Richest People In Tech', followed by Nadar on the 14th spot. Two Indian-origin technology czars Romesh Wadhwani and Bharat Desai are also in the list.
August 7, 2015 |
The Saudi royal family recently angered tourists by cordoning off a beach in the French Riviera. But as these cases reveal, the wealthy can afford to throw their weight around Burnt out It wouldn't be surprising if the Bowery Hotel in Manhattan were to have a staff memo that read: beware of flame-haired singer-songwriters. In 2012, an inebriated Florence Welch of the acclaimed Florence + The Hit Machine torched the room where she was staying. "I think I must have had about 17 Dirty Martinis," the singer later explained of the incident.
August 5, 2015 |
Paytm's newest board member, Ruchi Sanghvi , needs no introduction to hyper growth companies. With a resume that boasts positions at Facebook and Dropbox, Sanghvi is an old hand in Silicon Valley. She is also quite familiar with the exhausting grind that startups spawn. That was the reason Sanghvi quit Dropbox, her last company, late 2013. "I've been in the startup world for over 10 years. It was all about working 24/7. I wanted to step back, gain perspective about what was happening around me," she says, speaking over the phone from the US. "There are still tribes out there that practise cannibalism," she adds.
August 3, 2015
Mark Zuckerberg might have 1.49 billion users to his name and a new baby on the way, but he's not going to stop experimenting with what Facebook can d and the newest innovation is live event streaming. As the Wall Street Journal reports, users in the US can visit the Lollapalooza event page to see photos, videos, posts and updates from the festival, both from friends who are there and bands and artists. "This Lollapalooza experience is just one of the many ways Facebook is trying to help people get the feel of an event when they're not there," Facebook told the WSJ in a statement.
August 1, 2015 |
NEW YORK: Facebook's billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan are expecting a baby girl , the social networking site's founder announced, using the opportunity to throw light on the traumatic and emotional issue of miscarriages that the couple had suffered thrice. "Priscilla and I have some exciting news: we're expecting a baby girl! This will be a new chapter in our lives," Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page yesterday. "We've already been so fortunate for the opportunity to touch people's lives around the world - Cilla as a doctor and educator, and me through this community and philanthropy.
July 31, 2015 |
During Facebook's Q2 earnings call, investors focused most of their monetization questions on video, Instagram , and Messenger . But in Mark Zuckerberg's opening remarks, he dropped a new stat that also perked some interest. People now make 1.5 billion search queries on Facebook per day, and the site has indexed more than two trillion posts. Right now, most of those searches are for people or posts, as CFO David Wehner clarified on the call, but that big number glimmers with potential to analysts.
July 29, 2015 |
By Richard Feloni: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 2015 New Year's resolution was to read an important book every two weeks and discuss it with the Facebook community. Zuckerberg's book club, A Year of Books, has focused on big ideas that influence society and business. For his 15th pick, he's gone with "Genome" by Matt Ridley , an exploration of both the evolution of genes and the growing field of genetics. More than halfway through "A Year of Books," Zuckerberg's book list has included expansive histories of power structures, violence, science, sociology, and now the fabric of human life itself.
July 15, 2015 |
By: Matt Weinberger Once a year, engineers at Facebook are encouraged - but not required - to ditch their jobs and try something else out within the company for thirty days, a program it started in 2011 called "Hackamonth. " You know Google's vaunted 20% time, where engineers get a dedicated portion of their workday for side-projects? It's "kind of like that, but on steroids," says Facebook developer advocate James Pearce in an interview with Business Insider. "I've never seen anything like this.
July 10, 2015 |
How's about this for putting a line in the sand? "Facebook will be more valuable than Google in three years. " That's a prediction from David Jones, the former global CEO of the huge advertising agency network Havas. Since leaving that business last year he has gone on to start his own "brand technology group," You & Mr Jones, which has raised $350 million in funding and has already made investments in tech businesses including viral news site Mashable, crowd-sourcing company Mofilm, and content marketing platform Pixlee.
July 3, 2015 |
By Jillian D'Onfro There's been some chatter this week that Facebook could be mulling a Twitter acquisition. Twitter's stock shot up about 6 per cent Wednesday on the rumors. But according to Sun Trust analyst Robert Peck , it just wouldn't make sense. "If you look at what Zuckerberg has done historically, it's been very forward thinking," Peck said on CNBC. Facebook dropped $1 billion on Instagram in 2012, and $19 billion for WhatsApp and $2 billion for Oculus in 2014.


text:
Whatever the downsides of the use of petrol and diesel to power the UK’s 40 million vehicles of all shapes and sizes – and clearly there are several, from local air pollution to climate altering carbon emissions – the relative convenience of filling up with fossil fuels means their attractiveness to consumers is not to be underestimated.
Not only can you find a forecourt round, almost, every corner – according to the Petrol Retailers’ Association there are 8,400 petrol stations in the country – but many are open 24 hours a day, the products they sell are of a universal standard, broadly similar in price wherever you are, can be put into any make and model using standard equipment, and be paid for in the method of your choosing.
It’s a situation the electric vehicle (EVs) industry, and their customers, can currently only look on at with envy.
For when it comes to recharging infrastructure for EVs there remains a varying and potentially confusing range of plugs, tariffs and payment options, and geographical availability (when it comes to public charge points).
In part this is unsurprising given the relatively new nature of the technology. Car firms and electricity suppliers will be adjusting their offers as the tech advances. Clearly it would be a misjudgement to standardise the system before it has evolved properly.
But equally – as the government-commissioned EV Energy Taskforce recommends in its report – a large degree of universality at the point of use must happen quickly if the electric car revolution isn’t to stutter. As it is, there are 234,000 plug-in cars in the UK, 85,000 of them pure battery-electric, the rest plug-in hybrids.
Of course, one big advantage EVs have is the ability to be charged at home, but even here there are concerns about the impact on the grid of when drivers decide to plug their cars in to top up the batteries. The taskforce concludes that smart meters, operating autonomously or at the control of third parties, are essential to help smooth electricity demand and supply, and try to match recharging periods with the cheapest tariffs. The RAC Foundation has firmly logged the point that any such approach needs to come with guarantees to protect consumers’ interests.
Ultimately though time is of the essence. The taskforce recommends that of its 21 proposals, 20 should be implemented and making a difference by 2025 if we are to make a sizeable dent in both the volume of greenhouse gas emissions generated by road transport and its proportion (25%) of the overall national total.


text:
Moda Operandi’s announcement this morning that it would be selling designer gowns seen on celebrities and society mavens direct from next week’s New York Met Ball has really lifted the veil on the extent of the commercialisation of the 21st century red carpet.
The three-year-old company, which made its name offering high fashion looks straight from the catwalk and has widely been touted as one of the few e-commerce start-ups with a real shot at competing with queen bee of the pack Net-a-Porter, first made waves earlier this year by announcing its sponsorship of the “Punk: Chaos to Couture” themed event. Read more
Following Vanessa’s blog post on the topic last week, a great conversation unfolded both here and on Twitter contemplating the validity of fashion as art – and vice versa.
Whilst definitions centred largely upon the design and craftsmanship components of garments, plus shared characteristics of the two forms like innovation, self-expression and artisanship, another major part of the debate – the increasingly prevalent use of fashion logos within art works and how big luxury brands react to it – didn’t really get a look in.
Perhaps it should. Whilst the use of commercial branding in art as a mode of social commentary is hardly new – take a bow Andy Warhol and other assorted members of the Pop Art massive – it’s currently a seriously hot topic, particularly for the legions of draconian lawyers employed by the industry A-team to take many of the artists in question down, often with heavy-handed accusations of defamation and trademark infringement. Read more
Financo – a New York-based boutique investment bank that specializes in consumer retail – held a seminar yesterday with a CEO panel that showcased some of fashion’s most successful kingpins. Coach chief executive Lew Frankfort gave his two cents to the assembled suits, as did Juicy Couture and VF CEOs Paul Blum and Eric Wiseman, plus hospitality supremo Danny Meyer.
But the most vocal man in the room by far – J Crew’s chief executive Mickey Drexler – wasn’t sitting on the stage.
In a rather unexpected (and uninvited) twist at the tail end of an otherwise predictable dissection of retail strategy, lifestyle brands and the importance of the emerging markets, Mr Drexler sensationally hijacked the discussion from the floor, to the acute embarrassment of Financo’s head honcho Gilbert Harrison. Read more
Those international Vogues are fast becoming the action heroes of the fashion world.
Only last week they banded together to declare war on underage models, and now Vogue India has now announced it is following in the footsteps of American Vogue, British Vogue, and Italian Vogue and creating its own Fashion Fund initiative to promote the businesses of young Indian designers. Go team! Read more


text:
Audi has finally made announcements about setting up a production facility in Mexico. Although Audi has not divulged into details, the German car maker has made it clear that the factory will be ready for production by 2016.
Reports reveal the company will be producing a line of SUVs from the plant in Mexico. The company’s parent brand Volkswagen has a strong presence in Mexico and has production facilities in cities of Silao and Puebla. In a report Audi officials have revealed, that the company is on the lookout for the right location to start a production facility in Mexico.
According to Rupert Stadler, Chairman Of Board Of Management, Audi AG, the facility that comes up will have the latest machinery to ensure efficiency in production output. He also added that Mexico is a strategic location with excellent resources that will facilitate demand in U.S and Europe.
- Supervisory Board welcomes plans for Audi plant in Mexico
- Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG: “Excellent basis for sustainable growth”
“As an established carmaking location, Mexico offers an excellent economic basis for Audi production operations,” declared Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. Mexico is one of the world’s top ten automotive locations and offers a blend of tradition and experience. The group parent Volkswagen already has an automotive plant in Puebla and an engine plant in Silao. “Good infrastructure, competitive cost structures and existing free trade agreements played a significant role in the choice of Mexico,” emphasized Stadler. “This trailblazing move will help us safeguard our position on the world market. Our German locations, too, stand to benefit from it.”
“The new plant will become a fully fledged member of the Audi production network and will implement the very latest standards in terms of resource efficiency and production processes,” stated Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Production. “Audi is all about premium quality no matter what the location.” Following on from the policy decision, the next step will be to conduct a detailed examination of various locations in Mexico. AUDI AG aims to choose the exact location within the course of the year. “The factors that we will take into account include not just the specifics of the real estate and its logistical links,” emphasized Thomas Sigi, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Human Resources. He also cited quality of life as a decisive criterion. “It is important for us to be able to find well-qualified employees there,” continued Sigi, referring to the need for an effective infrastructure of schools and universities.
Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG, added: “Stepping up production capacity safeguards our growth and at the same time guarantees the capacity utilization of the main plants, which we envisage will increasingly take on the role of lead plants for our technologies. That means developing modern production methods and strategies, using new materials and joining technologies, and addressing the field of electric mobility. For the employees, this offers attractive, secure jobs and additional career prospects. An employment guarantee will also be agreed.”
“It will be possible to supply customers worldwide with cars built in Mexico to Audi’s renowned standard of quality,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Marketing and Sales, emphasizing the importance of an international presence for international success. Schwarzenbauer added: “In launching production operations in Mexico, Audi will enhance its own competitiveness and move significantly closer to its sales target of two million units per year by 2020.”


text:
Microsoft was recently granted a license by the U.S. government to export software to Huawei.
In a report by Reuters, the U.S. Department of Commerce has granted Microsoft’s request for a license to export “mass-market” software to Huawei. Microsoft didn’t comment on what products were approved, but an analyst said that it is likely for the company’s Windows operating system. The U.S. Department of Commerce also confirmed that it had begun issuing licenses for some companies to sell its products to Huawei.
The U.S. government imposed a trade ban on Huawei six months ago over national security concerns. The blacklisting also prevented Google from doing business with Huawei. As a result, the Chinese tech giant cannot use Google Mobile Services in its new mobile devices, including the Huawei Mate 30 series.


text:
Perth-listed Neometals are making the transition from Lithium miner to battery materials technologist. The company have lodged a patent in the US to protect their unique technology that extracts Cobalt and other materials from old laptops, mobiles phones and consumer electronics at prices that would make a miner’s eyes water.
Mt Marion Lithium producer Neometals is transitioning itself from Lithium miner to battery materials technology specialist.
The Perth based company announced this week it had filed a patent application for its unique battery recycling technology in the USA.
In a statement to the ASX on Wednesday, Neometals reported it had lodged three provisional patents in the US for battery recycling technology co-owned through a dedicated subsidiary, Urban Mining, with a Canadian partner. Neometals has exclusive worldwide rights to commercialise the technology which yielded stunning results earlier this year in lab-scale test work in Canada.
In that test work, Neometals was able to recover cobalt with a purity of 99.2% from spent Lithium-ion batteries extracted from laptops, mobiles phones and other consumer electronics.
Interestingly the recovery was achieved with operating costs that could put Neometals in the lowest quartile of Cobalt producers. An engineering study by Sedgman concluded that a small plant producing 666 tonnes of Cobalt per annum could operate at a cost of US$9,852/t — about one fifth of recent spot prices. Cobalt prices have doubled since the start of 2017 to the highest level in more than a decade.
Neometals is stepping up development with the construction of a pilot plant in Canada capable of processing 100kg per day. The pilot program is due to be completed in the September quarter and will yield even more robust data on recoveries and costs for Cobalt, Lithium, Nickel and Copper.
Neometals Managing Director, Chris Reed, said: “The lodgement of these patent applications is consistent with Neometals’ IP strategy to protect its competitive advantage once the commercial viability emerges. We will continue our disciplined evaluation of the technology through piloting before undertaking an engineering cost study to satisfy the industry demand for a commercial, environmentally and ethically responsible, end-of-life solution for lithium batteries.”
With exponential growth in Lithium-ion battery production and less than 5% of batteries currently being recycled, Neometals might be onto something here.