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U.S. wins WTO chicken case: U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Aug. 2 that the U.S. won a major case at the World Trade Organization on behalf of U.S. chicken producers, proving that China's imposition of higher duties on broiler products — which was precipitated by an 80% drop in exports of those products to China — is unjustified under international trade rules. A WTO dispute settlement panel found that China violated numerous WTO obligations in imposing antidumping and countervailing duties on chicken imports from the U.S. "Farm exports in fiscal year 2012 reached $135.8 billion. ... More than $23 billion worth of those agricultural products went to China alone, but China's prohibitive duties on broiler products were followed by a steep decline in exports to China, and now, we look forward to seeing China's market for broiler products restored," Vilsack said, calling the WTO decision "an important victory today for the U.S. poultry industry."
Senate advances drought info bill: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation passed the Drought Information Act of 2013 (S. 376), which reauthorizes the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Initially authorized in 2006, NIDIS provides vital drought information to farmers, ranchers and other industries affected by drought-related weather conditions. Since then, government agencies have worked to develop a long-term plan for drought monitoring, forecasting, research and education. S. 376 would extend this program for five years and support an improved early-warning system of timely and accurate drought information. By increasing coordination with existing partners, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the private sector, this bill would also boost the agriculture industry's involvement in the program. "NIDIS is a critically important tool that provides agricultural producers with early-warning information they need to prepare for drought conditions," ranking committee member Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.) said. "The financial stress and uncertainty created by droughts make tools like this vital for farmers and ranchers to prepare for drought occurrences, such as the widespread drought of 2012. I ... hope it will receive floor consideration in the Senate during this session of Congress."
Sheep, goat industry improvement: The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center's (NSIIC) board of directors announced that it is accepting proposals through Sept. 30 that are designed to improve the U.S. sheep and goat industries. NSIIC, established as part of the 2008 farm bill, currently has budgeted up to $300,000 for grants that will support projects to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and goat products in the U.S. through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development and market and environmental research. Financial assistance provided by the center must accomplish one or more objectives: (1) strengthen and improve the long-term sustainability of the goat and/or lamb and wool industry's infrastructure, (2) provide leadership training and education to producers and packers in the sheep and goat industries, (3) improve industry infrastructure through assistance to address sustainable production and marketing of sheep and goat milk, meat and fiber and through related services such as grazing for fire management and pasture improvements, (4) promote lamb and meat goat marketing through an organized method that measures tangible results and (5) enhance the sheep and goat industry by coordinating information exchange and encouraging cooperation among international industries. More information is at www.NSIIC.org.
Japan resuming imports of U.S. wheat: Yoshimasa Hayashi, minister for Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (MAFF), announced at a press conference that Japan will resume importing U.S. western white wheat on Aug. 1 and soft white wheat on Aug. 7. Japan suspended white wheat imports two months ago after the discovery of a volunteer stand of genetically modified (GM) wheat, MON71800, on a farm in Oregon. On July 5, MAFF began testing imported U.S. wheat before the suspension. In addition, MAFF also tested library samples of U.S. western wheat imported from October 2012 through May 2013. All test results were negative. "It is important that we maintain such a (testing) system so we can respond when we discover something that shouldn't be there," Hayashi said. Moving forward, all U.S. wheat will be tested for the GM strain before shipment from the U.S., and all wheat cargoes will be tested again upon arrival. Japan imports approximately 3 million tons of wheat annually from the U.S.
GM wheat update: Since the May 13 detection of MON71800 genetically modified (GM) wheat plants in one field of an Oregon farm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been conducting a thorough investigation to uncover how the GM wheat came to be in the field and to determine the extent of its presence. All of the evidence collected thus far indicates that this single detection in Oregon remains the extent of the presence of the GM wheat. To date, APHIS has no evidence that MON71800 wheat is in commerce or present in any of the other 15 states where MON71800 field tests were conducted.
Caribou's eggs: Calling it a step toward "addressing animal well-being in its food offerings," Caribou Coffee announced July 29 that its most popular breakfast sandwich is now served with 100% cage-free eggs. The coffeehouse's signature chicken apple sausage breakfast sandwich represents roughly 20% of its breakfast sales. "We believe that we can and should ensure the proper treatment of animals throughout our food offering," said Alfredo Martel, senior vice president of marketing and product management at Caribou. "Making this transition to cage-free eggs is naturally aligned with our company's core values of providing quality food at reasonable prices." Martel said the move was one step in the chain's larger efforts at more responsible purchasing practices.
Blumberg invests: Blumberg Grain, in cooperation with the government of Nigeria, has executed a letter of intent for a $250 million investment program in Nigeria's agriculture sector, according to an announcement. The investment includes a large-scale production and distribution facility for Blumberg's food security storage warehouses, agricultural processing and packaging facilities and investments in land and technology to create high-yield, high-efficiency farms. The letter of intent supports Nigeria's goal to increase agriculture production 15% by 2015.
Fuel station: Kalmbach Feeds announced that it contracted TruStar Energy to build a public compressed natural gas (CNG) fast-fill station near its Wyandot County, Ohio, feed manufacturing plants and distribution center. The station is part of a new venture, Kalmbach Clean Fuels, that will support the company's CNG-powered feed distribution trucks. Kalmbach president Paul Kalmbach had tasked the company's distribution team with developing a home-grown fueling strategy for the fleet. Director of distribution Tim Rausch noted that, "with natural gas, we believe we found the right solution. There has always been the discussion of whether to buy CNG trucks or wait until there were fueling stations available. ... Kalmbach is stepping forward to develop that infrastructure to move the industry forward." The station is scheduled to be completed in early November and will allow two vehicles to fuel simultaneously via dispensers that function similarly to standard diesel fuel pumps. The facility will provide 24-hour on-demand fueling to the public. Rausch said the entire truck fleet will transition to dedicated CNG or CNG dual-fuel vehicles over the next decade.


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Xiaomi’s IPO shows a company that has come full circle but still has a long ways to go. Then, Samsung remains reliant on components for profit, and both companies show that the Smiling Curve applies to smartphones more than ever.
Intel is in an increasingly bad position in part because it has been captive to its integrated model. Or, you could simply say they were disrupted.
Morris Change, the founder of TSMC, is one of the most important tech figures in history. Then, follow-up on Microsoft-GitHub, Apple and the App Store, and Facebook and the New York Times. Plus, why Valve is getting platform control right.
An interview with Okta CEO Todd McKinnon on the occasion of the company’s developer conference.
Understanding the differences between aggregators and platforms matters for companies interacting with them and also regulators considering antitrust.
The Moat Map describes the correlation between the degree of supplier differentiation and the externalization (or internalization) of a company’s network effect.
The Facebook brand is, due to Facebook’s strategic choices, about not respecting privacy. That is why the Cambridge Analytica story is such a problem for the company.
A review of why Google bought Zagat, what The Infatuation might do with the review site, and the parallels with the AMP project.
More on Chrome and AMP, and what The Case Against Google gets wrong about Microsoft. Then, why decentralized networks are aggregator kryptonite.
Google gives greater clarity to its acquisition costs, and cloud continues to grow. Amazon, though, still has a big lead, funding the rest of the company (still).

domain: news


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“If you haven’t had the chance to see Mighty Mike, President’s Day weekend is the perfect time for a visit,” said Adventure Aquarium’s spokesperson Kimberly Walker. “Not only can you see the biggest alligator on exhibit outside the state of Florida, you can save big too!”
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Small business legislation allows capital expensing
Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) recently succeeded in passing two legislative measures in the House of Representatives designed to help small businesses.
If passed by the Senate and signed into law, they will expand capital expensing provisions and lower the tax burden of businesses through Section 179 of the tax code, which allows small businesses to deduct the cost of certain property and equipment in the year it is placed into service, rather than deducting its cost over several years.
In April, Musgrave introduced a legislative measure to extend $100,000 in capital expensing for small businesses for two more years (it is set to expire in current law in 2008). The bill is part of the proposed Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act.
Last month, she introduced a measure, part of the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, to assist business owners and workers in the hurricane ravaged Gulf region. The bill would double the amount of capital that immediately can be expensed from $100,000 to $200,000 in this region.
"Small businesses are the backbone of the economy and their success depends on the ability to invest in equipment and employees," says Musgrave. "I've heard from hard working people with family owned businesses in Colorado and other parts of the nation and they have stressed the importance of this type of expensing when it comes to hiring more workers and buying more equipment.
"Also, down in the Gulf region, they need help to fully recover and my provision encourages more business investment and ultimately more jobs."
Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code allows small businesses to deduct the cost of certain property and equipment in the year it is placed into service, rather than deducting its cost over several years. Because money is saved up front, business owners are empowered to hire more workers and reinvest their money in more business related equipment.
The IRS primarily allows small businesses such as sole proprietorships, partnerships and S-corporations to expense items such as machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures, storage facilities and single-purpose agriculture structures.
Currently in her second term, Musgrave is chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment and Government Programs.
Earlier this year, Musgrave held an official congressional hearing in Fort Collins, Colo., to investigate ways to help Colorado's small businesses grow. Local residents, including Ron Lautzenheiser, a Big O Tire franchisee in Fort Collins, and tax experts testified on Musgrave's small business expensing bill, H.R. 1678. (See "Lautzenheiser supports small business legislation on expensing" in News Archives, Aug. 18, 2005.)
"The ability for small business to more quickly expense equipment purchases will help free up funds for more equipment purchases and to hire additional employees," says Lautzenheiser. "I believe this legislation will help and encourage small businesses to invest more in their respective operations and will strengthen the overall economy with an increased demand for employees."


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Scooter’s Coffee is one of the largest drive-thru coffee chains in the US. Launched in Nebraska in 1998, the company now operates over 500 stores and is targeting 1,000 by the end of 2024. Missy McKinley, Senior Vice President, Operations, speaks to World Coffee Portal about a shift towards convenience in the US and the road ahead for growth
Missy McKinley, Senior Vice President, Operations, Scooter's Coffee
Scooter’s Coffee was founded in Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1998. The drive-thru coffee chain recently reached its 500-store landmark in the US and is targeting 1,000 outlets across the country by the end of 2024.
The coffee chain’s success emphasises the increasing demand for drive-thru stores in the US as customer preference for convenient, on-the-go coffee shop formats continues to gain traction. Drive-thru operators, such as Oregon-based Dutch Bros, and international chains, including Starbucks and Tim Hortons, have seen revenues from the format increase in recent years.
However, the popularity of drive-thru coffee is fairly recent. Missouri-based Red’s Giant Hamburg created the first drive-thru restaurant in the US in 1947, but it wasn’t for another four decades that the format merged with coffee. Oregon’s Coffee People is widely credited with the first drive-thru coffee shop, launching Motor Moka in Portland in 1990.
National expansion proved a bridge too far for the ‘motorist’s espresso bar’ concept and Motor Moka was sold, first to Canadian firm Second Cup in 1998 and then to Diedrich Coffee the following year.
However, the popularity of the format prompted other operators, such as Starbucks, to trial drive-thru stores. The Seattle-based coffee chain piloted its own drive-the model in 1994 and eventually acquired Diedrich in 2003, taking ownership of Motor Moka’s Oregon locations.
The departure of Coffee People and the Motor Moka concept also coincided with the launch of Scooter’s Coffee in 1998. Established by Don and Linda Eckles, who saw a gap in the local market for drive-thru outlets, the first Scooter’s Java Express opened in Bellevue, Nebraska, with the aim of serving high-quality coffee with a speed of service unbeknown to US consumers.
There is a huge demand for specialty coffee in the US, where it is no longer regarded as a treat or a luxury, but a daily habit for an increasing number of Americans
With five stores operational within the first three years, the company began franchising in 2001 and changed its name, first to Scooter’s Coffeehouse in 2005 and then to Scooter’s Coffee in 2011, which was deemed more inclusive of the drive-thru experience.
Scooter’s Coffee is now the fifth largest coffee-focused branded coffee chain in the US and increased its store count by 25% in the 12 months to August 2022 to reach 490 outlets.
Missy McKinley, Senior Vice President, Operations, Scooter’s Coffee since December 2019, said the company has experienced tremendous growth in the last two years.
Having opened 200 outlets in its first 22 years of operations, the company has launched 200 new locations in the last 22 months.
McKinley says there is a huge demand for specialty coffee in the US, where it is no longer regarded as a treat or a luxury, but a daily habit for an increasing number of Americans.
“I think specialty drink coffee is part of the United States DNA today. Ultimately, the evolving drive-thru model, the convenience we offer, and speed of service will continue to drive repeat customers to Scooter’s Coffee,” she says.
Having opened 200 outlets in its first 22 years of operations, the company has launched 200 new locations in the last 22 months
Speed of service
When Linda Eckles operated the drive-thru window at the first Scooter’s Java Express site in Bellevue she conceived the idea of putting smiley face stickers on each cup of coffee sold to symbolise the fast service the company was becoming known for.
The same principle underscores Scooter’s Coffee more than 500 locations across the US today.
“Consumers who are in a hurry can rely on Scooter’s Coffee to give them quick services regardless of a long drive-thru line. The speed of service is truly a game-changer in terms of driving our growth,” says McKinley.
She notes that Scooter’s Coffee prides itself on hiring friendly staff members who can make beverages quickly.
“We call it the window of opportunity at Scooter’s Coffee. It’s amazing to have the opportunity to make a customer’s day in a matter of seconds,” she adds.
Speed of service is enhanced with the Mobile Order Ahead function in the Scooter’s Coffee app. The company’s point-based loyalty programme enables customers to accumulate points to redeem a free beverage. Ordering ahead also enables consumers to customise their beverages, pay ahead, and pick up quickly at the drive-thru window.
“The leadership team believes the drive-thru kiosk model, which focuses on the speed of service, is a catalyst for the brand’s rapid expansion”
The pursuit of quicker service is also reflected in Scooter’s Coffee’s recent executive appointments. The company hired Patrick Coelho to enhance to kiosk concept in May before tapping former Starbucks Vice President Joe Thornton as company President in June.
Scooter’s Coffee has since added Luc Langevin, who previously managed the Circle K network of stores in North America, as Vice President of Development and Jaime Denney as Vice President of Franchise Operations to boost the speed and effectiveness of its drive-thru model.
On the road to future growth
McKinley says consumer habits changed when businesses paused in-store trade during the pandemic, attracting new customers to drive-thrus and online services. However, she also believes that demand for convenience will continue to grow in the next few years as newer generations and demographics become the proponents of US café culture.
To facilitate this, Scooter’s Coffee is focusing on scaling its kiosk model. Most Scooter’s Coffee sites also offer in-store dining but drive-thru channel sales already generate approximately 90% of company turnover.
“The leadership team believes the drive-thru kiosk model, which focuses on the speed of service, is a catalyst for the brand’s rapid expansion. The company expects future franchisees to open more kiosk models because of its low cost, attractive real estate options, and high profit margins,” McKinley comments.
Scooter’s Coffee has set a target of reaching 800 locations by the end of 2023 and operating 1,000 stores by the end of 2024.


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Scotch whiskey makers calmed down on Thursday after the United States agreed to suspend tariffs on one of Scotland’s main exporters after a long-running US-EU trade dispute over subsidizing Boeing and Airbus.
Former US President Donald Trump set a 25 percent tariff in October 2019 as part of a trade dispute over aerospace subsidies. Although the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the EU, it belonged to the bloc when it came to tariffs.
Earlier this week, the United States and the European Union agreed to end their dispute by paving the way for a five-year suspension of tariffs imposed by both sides on a number of products, including olive oil and cheese, as well as whiskey.
The Scotch Whiskey Association estimates that tariffs have contributed to a 30 per cent drop in total US exports, equivalent to around միլիոն 600 million ($ 850 million) in the 18 months to March 18, 2021.
“This deal eliminates the threat of re-registering tariffs on Scotch whiskey next month, allowing distillers to focus on export recovery in our largest, most valuable export market,” said Karen Bates, CEO of the Association.
The warming of US-EU relations was reliably expected after the election of US President Biden, who clearly stated his intention to improve ties. In March, both sides agreed to temporarily suspend tariffs related to the Airbus-Boeing dispute in the negotiation process.
Following the US-EU aerospace agreement, UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss and US Trade Representative Catherine Thai agreed to suspend reciprocal tariffs for five years.
“Today’s deal draws a line through an incredibly damaging problem. Does it mean we can focus on moving our trade with the United States to the next level, including closer efforts by countries like China to challenge unjust practices? The use of free trade to return?” better [coronavirus] “An epidemic,” Truss said.
Thai noted that the agreement, in which the two sides agreed to set up a working group in the civil aviation industry to work together against “non-market practices of third countries”, could be used to “ensure fair competition and meet common challenges”. China – other non-market economies. “
Following the UK’s exit from the EU economic trajectory earlier this year, it has been free to negotiate trade deals with any country it wants. Earlier this week, the UK government negotiated a broad free trade agreement with Australia that would eliminate tariffs on a wide range of goods in the coming years.
Ivan Menezes, CEO of beverage giant Diageo, said the abolition of Scotch whiskey tariffs and other recent developments show the benefits of Brexit.
“At the end of this dispute, a new free trade agreement with Australia, which eliminates the remaining tariffs on UK alcoholic beverages, and the opening of trade negotiations with India, the largest whiskey market in the world, and the UK’s newly independent trade policy are now benefiting greatly. For Scotland համար for Scotland, ”said Menezes, whose company has a single malt whiskey stall that includes Talisker և Laphroaig.
The Scottish National Party, led by the Scottish government, has called for more support from the UK government to help affected businesses.
“While this statement is very welcome after months of campaigning within the party, the scourge on Scotch whiskey exports has been staggering, and it will take time for the industry to recover,” said lawmaker David Linden.
According to an agreement on Thursday, the UK will cut tariffs on 25 percent of US rum and brandy vodka for five years. However, US whiskeys will continue to have a 25 percent tariff in the UK, set by the EU over the US-US steel-aluminum dispute.
The United States Spiritual Welfare Council welcomed the deal on Thursday, saying it hoped a decision could be made soon to cut tariffs on US whiskeys, which it said had boosted a 53 per cent drop in exports to the UK.
“We hope that this positive momentum will also lead to the rapid and permanent elimination of US whiskey tariffs on EU-UK tariffs,” said Chris Swinger, CEO of the group.
His colleague Karen Bates of the Scotch Whiskey Association said he hoped “these too can be resolved quickly”.


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Things began to deteriorate at Microsoft when Steve Ballmer said in 2006 that he expected the future of Microsoft (and its revenues) to be in advertising(Opens in a new window). Everyone found this to be peculiar, myself included. Things are now changing.
This came after the great Microsoft Freak Out, when the company was convinced that its Windows and Office cash cows were somehow doomed. Redmond had to zig and zag and do anything it could to make up for the huge losses that were surely to come when these product lines dropped dead.
The entire tech business was all-in with the idea that Windows and Office were doomed. I could never fathom the logic because nothing has ever come around to seriously threaten Windows or Office. From the day this assumption was made, sales of Windows and Office have increased and increased—even when howlers like Vista and, more recently, Windows 8, hit the market. Cha-ching.
One reason that the Microsoft-built operating system and the office suite were never threatened was because this notion of doom didn't play out in the rest of the tech industry. Instead of topping Windows, for example, Google built the half-baked Chrome OS, which is only useful to developers, and the Web-based Google Docs.
(As an aside, it should be mentioned that this same sort of screwball logic applied to the microprocessor companies. For some reason Intel got it into its head that microprocessors, as a business, were doomed. So Intel went out of its comfort zone and got involved in networking chips, Wi-Fi, whatever might pick up the slack. I cannot even imagine how much treasure was squandered over Intel's going all-in on WiMax.)
Anyway, notwithstanding the fact that the industry experts cannot seem to understand their own business, it was refreshing to see that Microsoft's new CEO, Satya Nadella, cast aside the bullcrap and rolled out Microsoft Office for the iPad. Instant success. Cha-ching.
Hopefully, for the shareholders, common sense logic will now prevail at Microsoft. Of course, the critical observers out there are worried sick that Office for iPad will hurt sales of the low-selling Surface tablet. How does that work? People are deciding on the iPad for all sorts of reasons! At least get them to put some Microsoft software on the thing.
Does someone have to remind Microsoft that it is first and foremost a software company? How did this get overlooked? The idea is not to keep its software off of other platforms. All that does is hurt sales.
Now some might argue that the real goal is Windows hegemony and not raw software sales. I think Windows is safe where it is. Sorry, it's not taking over the tablet business any time soon, get a grip.
Meanwhile, as iPad users flock to Microsoft Office, what good is the product on a tablet anyway? One rationale you'll hear is that you can now run PowerPoints off the tablet and make corrections to slides and such as needed. Interesting, but most people on the road giving presentations will probably use a laptop. If you want to travel light, put the presentation on a thumb drive and edit it at the presentation site where they run PowerPoint themselves.
Asking, "Can I borrow your machine to make a couple of changes?" is not that odd.
Yes, you can hook a keyboard to an iPad and do real work on the thing. But is this kludge what you really want to work on when given a choice? Of course not. It's a gimmick.
In fact, Microsoft pulled a fast one when it released Office for the iPad. It may have found the single biggest gathering of suckers in the universe. Cha-ching.
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There are some signs of hope emerging for crypto owners who have deposits locked in the Gemini Earn program.
The program, which at one point paid rewards upward of 8% to customers who agree to lend out certain cryptocurrencies, has been frozen for months amid industry turmoil.
But on Feb 6., the Gemini crypto exchange and the bankrupt vendor that operates its Earn program — Genesis Global Capital — said they had come to an agreement that paves the way for customers to recover their funds. Two months later on April 11, Gemini sent a message to users stating they could see the amount they may be getting back by logging in and clicking "pending balance."
Are you affected?
Gemini Earn is an opt-in program, so if you’re a Gemini customer but haven’t moved your crypto into Gemini Earn, you shouldn't be directly affected by these issues. Gemini, co-founded by twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has emphasized that other assets held on its platform remain available for withdrawal.
Nonetheless, assets in Gemini Earn were supposed to be available within five business days of customer request. Instead, they've been inaccessible since November of 2022.
What to do if you have money on Gemini Earn
If you do have funds on Gemini Earn, you may be waiting awhile for specifics on how to get your money back — even in light of the latest developments.
In a message to customers, Gemini urged customers to stand by for more information on "how to participate in the recovery."
One step customers can take right away is to put together detailed records of how much crypto they have, what it's worth and exactly where it's being held. This information can be useful in working out potential disputes.
» Moving your crypto? Check out NerdWallet's picks for the top crypto wallets
In the meantime, the exchange says it will be updating customers about its progress.
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What's happening with Gemini Earn?
Gemini Earn had been giving funds to Genesis as a way to generate the program's promised returns.
But in November, Genesis said it could no longer return customer funds, citing “abnormal” volumes of redemption requests after the collapse of the FTX exchange.
FTX and its U.S. branch, FTX.US, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a spike in withdrawals amid reports that the company had used customer funds on risky investments that left it in a deep financial hole.
And in January of 2023, Genesis filed for bankruptcy as well.
As part of the bankruptcy process, Genesis now says it has hammered out a deal with creditors including Gemini. Overall, Genesis said creditors have claimed it owes more than $2 billion. In a news release, the company said it had arranged to free up hundreds of millions of dollars to take on some of those debts.
In addition, Gemini says it "will be contributing up to $100 million more for Earn users as part of the plan, further demonstrating Gemini’s continued commitment to helping Earn users achieve a full recovery."
How did we get here?
In November 2022, the Winklevoss twins wrote a letter to customers arguing that they had no direct exposure to FTX and that the company had a 1-to-1 reserve backing customer deposits.
“From day one, Gemini has prioritized the security of our customers’ assets. We never have and never will compromise on that point,” the letter said.
By January, the discussions between Gemini and Genesis had grown acrimonious. Gemini, which is facing a potential class action suit over the crisis, published an open letter calling for the ouster of Barry Silbert, CEO of Genesis's parent company.
The letter argued that Genesis was not forthcoming about the risks involved in its dealings with Three Arrows Capital, a hedge fund whose collapse helped add to the turmoil in crypto even before FTX failed.
"Genesis lenders, including Earn users, have been seriously harmed and deserve a resolution for the recovery of their assets," the letter said, alleging that Silbert and colleagues "conspired to make false statements and misrepresentations to Gemini."
In a statement responding to the Gemini letter, Genesis disputed that characterization.
"While we obviously do not agree with everything that Gemini has said, and we are disappointed that Gemini is waging a public media campaign despite ongoing productive private dialogue between the parties, we remain focused on finding a solution for our borrowing and lending intermediation business and reaching the best outcome for all affected Genesis lending and Gemini Earn clients," the Genesis statement said.
» Learn more: What to do if your crypto exchange fails
On a similar note...


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Sedans, hatchbacks, coupes and sports cars are in the noticeable minority at the 2017 New York International Auto Show, where the industry’s primary focus is on utility vehicles, both classic SUVs, such as the big Lincoln Navigator, as well as car-based crossover-utility vehicles like the Subaru Crosstrek and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
As reported by NBC News, it’s no surprise considering the rapid rise in demand for utility vehicles, said Mark LaNeve, the head of sales, service and marketing for Ford — which is introducing several updated versions of its popular Explorer SUV in the Big Apple. As recently as 2006, all forms of utility vehicles accounted for just 28 percent of the American new vehicle market. Last year, the executive noted, that climbed to 40 percent.
Boom Time for SUVs
“We don’t see (the SUV sales boom) stopping,” said LaNeve. “Over the next five to seven years, we see it getting to 45 percent, even higher,” he said at a Manhattan preview of the 2018 Explorer. “It could reach 50 percent.”
According to LaNeve, there are two primary markets for today’s utes:
Millennials, who likely grew up with utility vehicles and, as they grow and start families, are likely to make them their new vehicle of choice
Baby Boomers, who are choosing utes for practical purposes, often downsizing from larger sedans to compact SUVs and CUVs.
For the full story click here.


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Kratom products placed under mandatory recall due to risk of salmonella
05 April, 2018, 01:16 | Author: Hope Soto
On April 2, 2018, FDA issued a mandatory recall order for all products containing powdered kratom manufactured, processed, packed, or held by Triangle Pharmanaturals LLC, after several tested positive for salmonella.
In a statement today, the FDA said it took the action after the Las Vegas-based company failed to cooperate with its request to voluntarily recall the product, after samples of the products tested positive for Salmonella at the Oregon Public Health Division and in tests done by the FDA.
This week's action marks the first time the FDA has ever formally ordered a food recall.
The FDA said two samples of kratom products made by Triangle, sold through a retail store in Orgeon and collected by state health officials, tested positive for Salmonella in OR, as did four samples collected by the FDA for its testing. The plant grows naturally in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
The FDA said it's the third time it has ever initiated the process of using its mandatory recall authority, but the first time the agency has gotten to the step of mandating a recall because a company opted not to conduct a voluntary recall following an FDA recommendation to do so.
Products containing kratom have recently been linked to a multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis from several strains of salmonella, prompting voluntary recalls by various companies. Three other companies have already issued voluntarily recalls, and the FDA has warned consumers not to consume any kratom-containing products.
The FDA said the Salmonella strains found in Triangle's kratom products don't match the outbreak trains, but it added that all Salmonella can cause foodborne illness.
Two samples containing kratom - mitragyna speciosa - sold to a retail location in OR tested positive for salmonella.
Woman Shoots Her Boyfriend In The Head On Facebook Live
The other man involved in the shooting video was not charged in what police for now are describing as an " accidental shooting ". A grand jury is expected to decide on a charge against Damper who reportedly tried to cover up involvement.
"We continue to have serious concerns about the safety of any kratom-containing product and we are pursuing these concerns separately", Gottlieb said.
The most recent FDA announcement follows on the heels of a major kratom recall last month that affected numerous products. Since then the federal agency has flexed its recall muscles with two other companies - Kasel Associates for pet treats and OxyElite Pro for dietary supplements.
The state Health Department and the Tulsa Health Department are investigating the local cases.
"There is strong evidence that kratom affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine and appears to have properties that expose people who consume kratom to the risks of addiction, abuse and dependence", according to the FDA".
It is often advertised as a legal substitute with similar effects to opioids, but in February, the FDA published a notice that their extensive studies had found that it has no medical benefits - a use that the substance is not approved for - and suggested that it should be considered an opioid itself.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection, called salmonellosis, typically start 6 to 72 hours after exposure to Salmonella bacteria.
People under the age of 5 or over 65, and those with weakened immune systems, are most at risk for developing serious illness, according to the CDC. In order to prevent cross-contamination, consumers should wash their hands, work surfaces and utensils thoroughly after contact with these products, and not prepare any food in the area at the same time. Food should not be prepared in the potentially contaminated area until it has been sanitized.
Yet it's unclear how Trump's impulse to pull out could be affected by recent staff shake-ups on his national security team. Syria's conflict has killed more than 350,000 people since 2011, and spiraled into a complex war involving world powers.
The family had been visiting relatives for the celebration in the Shahzaman road area of Quetta, according to Reuters . The bodies of the three visitors reached Lahore today for burial in their native Narangmandi, Sheikhupura District.
In June 2017, he spent two nights in hospital as a "precautionary measure" for the treatment of an undisclosed infection. Prince Philip was also forced to pull out of an event with the British Ministry of Defence at Windsor Castle in March.
Blac Chyna is anxious that she could lose custody of her children with Tyga and Rob Kardashian following her infamous brawl. Instead, the family believes Chyna was "tarnishing" their brand, "damaging to [their] family and a threat to Rob's safety".
Since then, the alliance, which is supported by the US military, has conducted thousands of air strikes targeting Houthi fighters. State-run Al-Ekhbariya television gave no further details but did not report any casualties or damage from the missile.
The numbers for Far Cry 5 will be higher, too, given that SteamSpy doesn't count sales made via Ubisoft's own Uplay service. Along with sales, Ubisoft touted statistics on the game's online presence, specifically pointing to Twitch and YouTube.
Paine suggested both teams shake hands before the test started on Friday, an idea the South Africans agreed with. Maharaj's innings was typically aggressive but ended in typically reckless style, and Bavuma was soon stranded.
Two just-published clinical trials from Israel (where medical cannabis use is legally permitted) further affirm this phenomenon. One, published a year ago , showed that Medicare saved about $ 165 million in 2013 from medical marijuana laws .
Senior Facebook executives have been summoned to appear before MPs in the United Kingdom and Congress in the US. The announcement comes ahead of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's widely anticipated testimony before Congress next week.
He only went so far as to note that the sample they studied is " probably only within the capabilities of a state actor". Earlier on Monday, Russia had claimed that spy's poisoning could have been in the British interests.
Once upon a time, premium phones were often accompanied by smaller, less powerful, and less expensive "mini" or "lite" models. Other specifications are expected to be a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels, and 16:9 aspect ratio.
Ghost Recon Wildlands is getting more free content
And if you haven't grabbed the game yet, PC, PS4, and Xbox OneGhost Recon Wildlands is available for purchase at Amazon on. The update will also add a new PvP mode called Sabotage , with five maps, a new class, and new corresponding perks.
Royals start Queensland visit today
Prince Charles wearing a pale grey suit, headed down the stairs with Camilla in a light green dress. The couple's visit comes during a time when republican sentiment is gaining attention in Australia.
We are not in trade war with China
Soybeans have finally entered the U.S. "We represent 6 percent of the imports but account for 51 percent of the tariffs". Germany's benchmark 10-year bond yield dipped back below 0.50 percent and toward 2-1/2 month lows hit last week.
In the United States crashed helicopter Marines
In 2005, more than 30 people died when another CH-53E helicopter went down in Iraq during a sandstorm, according to AP. The Marine Corps is withholding the names of the victims until their families can be notified.
Malaysia to intercept boat said to be carrying Rohingya
In May 2015, human traffickers abandoned boats at sea carrying thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshi survivors of trafficking. But she remains a heroine inside the Buddhist-majority country that has branded the Rohingya as illegal immigrants.
Walker warns of 'Blue Wave' in Wisconsin
Politically, it will be widely interpreted as a possible omen for November, when Republican Governor Scott Walker, Democratic U.S. Both candidates argue the other can't be trusted to serve as an independent voice on the state's highest court.


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The Best Dressed Celebrities at the 2017 BET Awards
Chance the Rapper, Solange and more of the industry’s biggest names wore some seriously fierce looks to this year’s awards ceremony
Written by Atalie Gimmel
Gucci Mane—in his truest form—wore Gucci. We’ve gone Meta, folks.


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Trivento launches new ad for Private Reserve Malbec
The UK’s best-selling Argentinean wine brand Trivento has launched a new UK ad campaign for its premium tier wine, Private Reserve Malbec, which is being shown on video on demand.
Launching on 15 November, the 20 second ad forms part of a major marketing investment in the UK market to support the brand’s strong position. It is the latest instalment in the ‘Bold Discoveries’ series, which will run until Christmas Eve.
It will run on ITV Hub, All4 and Sky On Demand and is expected to reach 42% AB adults, who are premium ‘Food & Wine Enthusiast’ consumers, during the festive period. The campaign is set to deliver 5.7m impressions on catch-up programmes such as Gogglebox, Mare of Easttown and Bancroft.
The brand also has a partnership with Channel 5, which it says continues to drive strong brand awareness.
Trivento Private Reserve Malbec has seen growth of 34.8% in the 52 weeks to 9 October 2021 (NielsenIQ Scantrack) with growth in the last 12 weeks rising to 68%, making it worth £10M in retail sales value.
Trivento Marketing Manager Preety Johl said there was incredible momentum behind Trivento – brand sales have increased +32% by value, with household penetration at 7.5%.
“We’ve experienced a step-change in our brand awareness over the last 12 months, and with this heavyweight Private Reserve campaign, we’re excited to drive our premium tiers further, at a time where shoppers are looking for a special wine to share with their loved ones this festive season” she said.


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FANCY owning your own private island, set on six acres of scenic woodland, boasting an abundance of wildlife, great for fishing, with its own cruiser jetty - and probably still have change from £85,000?
THE first quarter of the year was 'buoyant' for commercial property sales in the south Down area, with transactions up 80 per cent on last year and more than £1 million in property sold, according to Best Property Services.
THE Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced that an additional £400,000 is available for the second tranche of Tier 1 of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme – Capital (FBIS-C).
LEADING local dairy company Dale Farm has partnered with the Grand Opera House and Belfast theatre company Pintsized Productions to develop a live theatre tour that brings the importance of farm safety to life for primary schoolchildren.
ENVIRONMENTAL Street Furniture (ESF), the Newtownabbey-based supplier of street furniture and solar products, has won the Best Business and Product Innovation award at the prestigious national final of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards in London.


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Microsoft wants Windows 10 to be everywhere, even on low-cost PCs where the licensing cost of its software would eat into all of a manufacturer’s profits.
The company’s solution to this could be ‘Windows 10 with Bing’, a version of the upcoming OS that will cost manufacturers very little or nothing, which has been tipped off thanks to a leaked Intel slide.
As it was with Windows 8.1 with Bing, devices costing under $250 will most likely be the candidates for the subsidised software, while the business model would remain the same.
By pre-loading PCs with Bing, Microsoft could offset the loss of giving away Windows 10 for free from the ad revenues it would earn through customers using its search engine.
While neither Intel or Microsoft has commented on the leak, it’s certain that Microsoft wants Windows 10 adoption to be blistering, which could be made possible with limited period free upgrades and other schemes.


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Editor’s Note: This the GameSentral Rewind, a daily look at the top gaming headlines.
PC gaming getting its own E3 2015 press conference
PC gaming will have a stage spot at E3 2015 with the PC Gaming Show, held Tuesday, June 16 from 5-8PM PT (8-11PM ET), at Los Angeles’ Belasco Theater.
The event will stream live on Twitch. Speakers include Cliff Belezinski and Dean Hall, as well as developers like Blizzard, Square Enix, Devolver Digital and Bohemia Interactive.
“PC gaming is in a golden age, with more powerful and affordable hardware than ever before, thousands of games available through Steam, Origin and other platforms, and millions of viewers regularly watching eSports online. Now, for the first time, the PC platform will have its own event during E3, where the community will be able to celebrate this era with some of the biggest names in PC gaming and see the innovations that lie ahead.”
Dota 2 buzz
Crowdfunding drive has $15M in stretch goals
Every year, Valve puts together a digital compendium for the International Dota 2 tournament, which will be held in August at Seattle’s Key Arena, which sells for $9.99. The digital compendium helps players and fans from around the world celebrate the tournament, but also fuels the prize pool for the finals and gives away Dota 2 rewards.
Rewards are unlocked through stretch goals and by leveling up your compendium through play. These unlockables include loading screens, emoticons, music and announcer packs, special couriers, and a special Axe Immortal and Longform comic if it brings in $15 million.
Major changes come in 6.84 patch
Dota 2’s 6.84 patch gives several popular heroes nerfs (reductions) to their ability, attributes and/or skills, which were made in part because of their abnormally lopsided win percentages in public match play and their appearances in competitive games. Juggernaut, Sniper and Troll are prime examples, each of which are picked in approximately 26, 42 and 26 percent of all Dota 2 matches, respectively, according to stat tracking service Dotabuff. Sniper players won an average of 54.58% of their matches, while Troll Warlord players won over 57 percent of their matches.
While some heroes had their abilities reduced, numerous others got new abilities or had their existing powers retooled, continuing trends set with the 6.81 update.
Valve had also added eight new items to the in-game item shop, with an apparent emphasis on new kinds of item progression for games that go longer. This is likely in response to the increase of game time presented by the last several Dota 2 updates, which has exposed certain characters to lower power ceilings in comparison to others.
Valve’s changes also include a scaling back of the “comeback mechanic,” a set of formulas that change the amount of gold and experience awarded to heroes depending on their levels and the value of their in-match gear.
Yooka-Laylee blasts through Kickstarter target
Hours after launching a Kickstarter campaign for its new game, Yooka-Laylee, U.K.-based Playtonic has passed its $270,000 goal.
Yooka-Laylee is planned to launch for Windows, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Wii U.
In Yooka-Laylee, two characters form a symbiotic relationship, platforming and puzzle-solving using each’s special powers. Yooka is a green chameleon who carries jokester bat Laylee on its back. The 3D game is set across five worlds with items to collect. Yooka’s special move is a tongue grapple while Laylee utilizes a sonar blast.
The Kickstarter campaign also features soundtrack samples that will take you right back to Banjo-Kazooie.
YookaLaylee is a “3D platformer from the creative talent behind the Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country games, according to Playtonic.


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Start-ups get an extended window of benefits from the government
The NDA government has now rehashed the definition of a start-up under its 'Start-up India' scheme.
This move is aimed to promote ease of business and eliminate hiccups for budding entrepreneurs in receiving incentives slotted for start-ups.
Enterprises will now be considered as a start-up for seven years from the date of their official incorporation.
Here's all you need to know.
Significant changes made
From now on, a start-up would mean an entity, which has been operating officially for 7 years or less; the previous limit was 5 years.
In case of start-ups in the bio-tech sector, the window has been pushed up to 10 years.
Furthermore, start-ups will no longer need a letter of recommendation from an incubator or industry association to avail the tax sops.
Creating more job opportunities
This extended period of tax benefits and incentives will help start-ups to solidify their stance and create more jobs.
Department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), which is the nodal body for Start-up India said, "These changes are an effort to ensure ease of starting up new businesses to promote the start-up ecosystem and build a nation of job creators instead of job seekers."
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Karnataka government extends a helping hand for start-ups
The Karnataka government, through its "Elevate" initiative, is now going to identify and aid 100 of the most innovative start-ups in the state.
"We're trying to identify the top 100 innovative companies and see how we can help them. Whether in the form of funding, mentoring, legal help or anything else they would want," said Priyank Kharge, minister for information technology and tourism.
Bangalore is currently the dominant hub of IoT start-ups
According to a study by Management Consulting firm Zinnov, Bangalore currently accounts for 52% of the total IoT (Internet of Things) start-ups in India.
The release said, "A wide availability of talent, thriving ecosystem of investors, access to industry experts and the presence of start-up accelerators are contributing to Bangalore's dominance."
Six Indian start-ups chosen for Google's Launchpad Accelerator Programme
Indian start-ups EdGe Networks, Fastfilmz, Indialends, RailYatri, RecipeBook, and SigTuple have been shortlisted by Google for its fourth edition of the Launchpad Accelerator Programme.
Google India Programme Manager Paul Ravindranath said, "The start-ups were short-listed for their unique value proposition and use of AI and ML to build high-impact solutions for internet users and the government's flagship initiative Digital India."
Google India Programme
Google India Programme Manager Paul Ravindranath
Launchpad Accelerator Programme


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Coca-Cola (KO) on Tuesday announced it has taken a 10% stake in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ: GMCR) worth $1.25 billion and will use its powerful global brand to market a new at home beverage system created by the coffee roaster.
Continue Reading Below
Green Mountain’s shares soared nearly 40% to $112 in after-hours trading once the deal was announced. Coke’s shares rose modestly in the after-hours market.
Coke’s CEO Muhtar Kent said: "This agreement demonstrates our creative approach to partnerships and ability to identify and stay at the forefront of consumer trends driving the industry.”
The 10-year agreement will allow the companies to collaborate as Green Mountain introduces its Keurig Cold at-home beverage system, the companies said in a joint statement released after the close of markets.
Under the terms of the 10% equity agreement, Coke will acquire 16,684,139 newly issued shares in GMCR for approximately $1.25 billion, which represents an approximate 10% ownership in GMCR.
The newly issued shares have been priced at $74.98, which represents the trailing 50-trading-day volume weighted average price as of market close today.
As part of collaboration, GMCR will be Coke`s exclusive partner for the production and sale of The Coca-Cola Company-branded single-serve, pod-based cold beverages. The two companies also will explore other future opportunities to collaborate on the Keurig platform, according to the statement.
“With The Coca-Cola Company as a global strategic partner in our multi-brand at-home Keurig Cold beverage system, we believe there is significant opportunity to premiumize and accelerate growth in the cold beverage category by empowering consumers with an innovative, convenient way to freshly prepare their favorite cold beverages at the push of a button,” Brian P. Kelley, GMCR’s CEO said.
GMCR`s Keurig Cold single-serve beverage system is currently under development and is expected to be available to consumers next year. Keurig Cold, according to the company, will use single-serve pods to dispense fresh cold beverages including carbonated drinks, enhanced waters, juice drinks, sports drinks and teas.
GMCR has a similar single-serve system for hot beverages.
The companies said the investment is expected to close in March 2014, subject to closing conditions.
GMCR said it will use a portion of the proceeds to initiate a share buyback program. Other funds raised in the deal will be used on capital expenditures related to the Keurig Cold system.


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GERMANY: Aryzta to buy baker Klemme to boost retail listings
Aryzta wants to boost business with Europe's retailers
Swiss bakery giant Aryzta is to buy German peer Klemme in a bid to expand its business with the country's retailers.
Aryzta said the EUR280m (US$376m) deal, which remains subject to Germany's competition authorities, would make it a "leading player" in the country's "growing in-store bakery sector".
However, Aryzta also sees benefits across Europe. The company said it was "under-represented" with large retailers in the region.
The company said acquiring Klemme would make it a "leading partner manufacturer" for "well-established" European retailers in the specialist bakery category.
Klemme, which has seven bakeries that make products including ciabattas, croissants and pretzels, had sales of EUR229m in 2012, Arytza said. It did not provide a profit figure.
Click here for the full release from Aryzta.
Oils & Fats in Ireland industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market size (value 2007-11, and forecast to 2016). The profile also contains descr...
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2013 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero 1700 Vaquero on 2040-motos
Kawasaki Vulcan description
2013 KAWASAKI Vulcan 1700 Vaquero???, Rakish Good Looks for the Long Haul The Vulcan 1700 Vaquero has an impressive presence that lets everyone know this big, stylish V-twin bagger excels on the open road. Engineered and built for long-term dependability the Vaquero also brings a healthy dose of practicality in addition to its dominating presence. Its roomy cockpit and long list of standard features like electronic cruise control and a high output audio system make this much more than just a powerful cruiser, they give the Vaquero the impressive ability to handle a night on the town or a week on the road with an equal measure of grace and style!
Kawasaki Vulcan for Sale
Moto blogTue, 14 Aug 2012
Early this year, thousands of drag racers chased the dream and entered Kawasaki’s nationally-promoted “Zero to Hero Challenge,” hoping for the opportunity to face-off against multi-time champion Rickey Gadson and take home a new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R. Beginning this week, Speed and Fuel TV will broadcast the Zero to Hero Challenge across several time slots. Both cable networks will treat viewers to an inside look at the process all contestants went through on their way to challenging Gadson on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway drag strip in May.Mon, 11 Aug 2014
Kawasaki has chosen the 2014 American International Motorcycle Expo as the venue to make the world debut of a yet unannounced motorcycle model. The model launch will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, this October 16-19. “AIMExpo demonstrated last year that it can serve as the ideal platform for media and brand activities and Kawasaki will leverage this grand stage to reveal new products, as well as interact closely with dealers and consumers,” explains Kevin Allen, Kawasaki Manager, PR + Brand Experience. “We have some very exciting new product to share and AIMExpo is the perfect place to make these announcements.” Attendees will also witness the North American introduction of all-new vehicles in several categories from Kawasaki. Following the unveilings, all products will then be on full display for all to see inside Kawasaki’s booth (#2165) out on the AIMExpo show floor. “Kawasaki joins an expanding list of key companies that sees AIMExpo as the perfect means to infuse energy into the powersports business in North America,” says Larry Little, Vice President and General Manager, Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group.Tue, 10 Jul 2012
Spotted on Kawasaki's Facebook page, this 'Limited Edition' ZX-10R has been created by none other than double-F1 World Champ Emerson Fittipaldi, who is - amongst other things - a Kawasaki dealer in Brazil and who also happened to win his first World Championship in 1972 in a JPS Lotus that had a very similar colour scheme. Fittipaldi started his motorsport career on a motorcycle, aged just 14, before heading to hydrofoils (surely no-one else at world level has ever raced these?!) and then the more traditional route of karting. Question is: what do you think to the paintjob?
Kawasaki Vulcan by State
Kawasaki Vulcan by City
Kawasaki Vulcan by Color


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TOKYO--Sharp Corp. (6753.TO) said that it does not expect an immediate investment from Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (2317.TW), citing an inability to gain regulatory approval, and it said that it will consider other methods of fundraising while continuing talks with the company.
Sharp, a supplier to Apple Inc AAPL, +1.08%, has been fighting to keep afloat amid weak demand and brutal competition from its overseas rivals. In March last year, Hon Hai, commonly known as Foxconn, pledged Y66.9 billion to Sharp in exchange for a 10% stake in the Japanese maker of liquid crystal displays.
But the deal stalled following a drop in Sharp's share price, prompting Sharp to look elsewhere. South Korean electronics conglomerate Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE) and U.S. chip maker Qualcomm Inc. QCOM, +0.83% have agreed to invest about Y10 billion each for stakes of about 3% in the company.
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


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Designers in Africa birth of new boom industry: Africa is brimming with design talent and expertise. Many African-designed products have been international hits and more are on the way. Fayruz Hamed looks at some of the strides made to date.
For example, take South African Colin Vale, who developed a paraffin stove that extinguishes itself when knocked over, reducing the chance of shack fires. Or Malawian William Kamkwamba, who created a wind turbine from scrap and bicycle parts to light up his house at night. Then there is Azemeraw Zeleke from Ethiopia, who transforms artillery shells into coffee machines.
Simple, inexpensive design solutions have proved both functional and transformational in Africa. But design does not begin and end with pragmatic innovations.
Consider, too, the Africans who have been making waves in design circles all over the world: Tanzanian-born architect David Adjaye, for one, and South African fashion designers Gavin Rajah and Nkhensani Nkhosi. In truth, design - from humble solutions to great, visionary projects - is big business. The design economy has been growing worldwide, economic recession notwithstanding, and Africa is set to apply itself in terms of developing a creative design culture.
The challenges are great, of course. Africa cannot compete on a global scale in terms of product output and trade limitations mean that export is often restricted or simply not viable. But there has never been a better time for Africa to take advantage of new technology and the support of educational institutions.
To become truly competitive though, the continent must do things in its own way, with its own brand of excellence and innovation. Africans can grasp the best of design worldwide, as well as the best the continent has to offer and transform it into something new, compelling, beautiful and sustainable.
Small pockets of success show that African design development has reached the point at which it can play a very real role in addressing poverty and unemployment throughout the continent.
From craft initiatives in rural villages to multi-disciplinary industrial projects that boast global collaboration, design can boost a nation's GDP.
There is little doubt that South Africa is at the hub of African design initiatives. "South Africa leads the way in promoting design across Africa and within South Africa. Other countries can learn from South Africa," says Dr Richie Moalosi, a lecturer in industrial design at the University of Botswana.
"In Botswana, the government has recently set up the Botswana Innovation Hub of Design, which will play a very important part in promoting design," he says.
Moalosi believes that innovation is crucial to helping Africa's small and medium micro enterprises (SMMEs) to stay ahead of local and global competition. "If governments can help SMMEs to register their designs, intellectual property rights owners will reap rewards from their innovations," he says.
Key growth area
Former South African president Thabo Mbeki named the creative industry as one of the key growth areas in South Africa -and he also underlined a crucial factor in terms of the success of creative projects: government buy-in. Without the support of governments, many design projects will never reach fruition.
Then again, as Ravi Naidoo, founder of the Design Indaba conference in South Africa, has pointed out, governments cannot do it alone. Collaboration is key.
Success stories have inevitably involved political will, private sector initiative and innovative individuals working together to create bright design solutions in Africa for Africa. Take craft workers, for example, whose traditional art and handicrafts can support whole families. South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry has pointed out that the country's sub-craft sector contributes about R2bn ($200m) or 0.14% to the country's GDP each year.
The craft sector empowers rural women. It can contribute $500m and 20,000 more jobs by 2015 if given the necessary financial backing. South Africa's handicraft sector has gained a sophistication that is now gaining currency abroad, which can only be good news.
The South African Bureau of Standards agrees that design is one of the most important tools for competitiveness in the new economy. Functional and well-designed products will be globally competitive, while moving South African exports up the value chain and drive economic growth.
Raw commodities like platinum can be used to create award-winning jewellery. On the recycling front, recycled bottle tops and bath-plug chains can be used to make mats or chandeliers - and become hot property in the process. It is all about transformation, which lends sustainability to design initiatives.
While government and private sector initiatives exist, there are two ways to showcase the creativity on the continent. One is to recognise design excellence in Africa, such as the Design for Development Awards that look at innovative products designed and developed on the African continent.
The other is to promote more exhibitions that showcase what Africa is capable of. One strong example of this is Design Indaba Expo, now in its fifth year.
Adrienne Viljoen, manager of the SABS Design Institute and originator of the Design for Development Initiative, feels that design is making strides onthe continent.
"The concept of designing for development is now so embedded in the South African designer mind that products which would have been selected previously for the Design for Development Awards are now part and parcel of our Design Excellence Award entries and winners," she explains.
In October 2008, a total of 14 of South Africa's top product designs were recognised with Design Excellence Awards, proving that industrial design has achieved a level of sophistication and distinction in South Africa that should be emulated.
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|Comment:||Designers in Africa birth of new boom industry: Africa is brimming with design talent and expertise.|
|Date:||May 1, 2009|
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Kohl’s to add new solar energy installations – Chain Store Age
Kohl’s Corp. is continuing to develop its renewable energy program.
The department store chain is launching a program to equip 15 of its rooftops across Arizona and Illinois with solar arrays within the next year, bringing the location total to 178. The 15 new projects will increase Kohl’s installed solar capacity by 10.4%, to a total of 56.97 megawatts (MW).
According to Kohl’s, the solar energy generated from these new systems is the equivalent to the amount of electricity used to power 924 homes annually. On average, systems will provide 75% of each store’s electricity needs. Relative to each state, 11% of Kohl’s Illinois operational electricity usage and 9% Arizona operational electricity usage will come directly from solar once the new installations are complete.
In 2007, Kohl’s started out with about 38,000 solar panels on the rooftops of 19 California stores. Today, the company currently has163 rooftop solar arrays around the country, totaling more than 200,000 solar panels, including two large solar trees (ground-mounted solar systems with poles supporting many panels) at its corporate headquarters.
Kohl’s is also contracting to support the development of 23.4 MW of community solar projects across New York in 2022. Kohl’s will subscribe to a share of four community solar projects that will generate clean, renewable energy and are designed to provide economic and environmental benefits to local area residents. The projects will also provide energy credits to 18 Kohl’s store locations throughout New York.
Kohl’s has long been active in efforts to promote energy efficiency. Earlier this year, the retailer received the 2021 Energy Star Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. It is the 10th consecutive year that the EPA has recognized Kohl’s with the award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the program.
More than 90% of Kohl’s stores are Energy Star certified, including two locations that were newly certified within the past year. The company continues to retrofit its stores with high-efficiency lighting to reduce emissions and save electricity. In 2020, Kohl’s converted 45 stores to lighting fixtures with LEDs, which will help save more than 10 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year.
In addition to the Energy Star award, Kohl’s has been recognized with a SmartWay 2020 Excellence Award from the EPA as an industry leader in freight supply chain, environmental performance and energy efficiency. Kohl’s was also named to the 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America by S&P Global, marking the third year in a row the company received this recognition based on financially material ESG factors. The DJSI helps to evaluate a company’s impact on people, communities and the planet for socially conscious investors.
“As Kohl’s advances in expanding our renewable energy footprint, we are excited to begin developing the solar arrays across Arizona and Illinois, while also supporting the New York Community Solar Program,” said Steve Thomas, Kohl’s executive VP, chief risk & compliance officer. “These projects are fully aligned with Kohl’s mission to leverage sustainable initiatives that empower the company, the climate as well as our customers.”


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March 06, 2014 -- CannaJuanaBuy sponsors Web Conference on the importance of Credit Card Processing for Cannabis Businesses
March 06, 2014 -- After Party Featuring DJ Questlove, Auctioneer Nicholas Lowry
March 06, 2014 -- The Firm is representing numerous DePuy ASR lawsuit clients who may be eligible to participate in the DePuy ASR settlement program.
March 06, 2014 -- Recently, iFitDress.com, a leading online supplier of wedding dresses and women’s special occasion outfits, has released its new selection of evening cocktail dresses.
March 06, 2014 -- Recently, UWDress.com, a leading provider of women’s dresses has unveiled its new designs of knee length party dresses and launched a site-wide promotion.
March 06, 2014 -- Recently, Bridal-Buy.net, a famous dressmaker in the world, has happily announced its new collection of wedding gowns.
March 06, 2014 -- Recently, Fadhits.com, China’s favorite wedding dress store, has introduced its new selection of lace bridesmaid dresses.
March 06, 2014 -- Recently, RFcnn.com, an expert company of various kinds of high-end devices, has released its semi rigid cable assembly collection and launched a special offer for March.
March 06, 2014 -- 4leafcity.com is a top brand of men’s and women’s fashionable clothes. Recently, the company has announced its new arrivals of long sweater dresses.
March 06, 2014 -- Aveya Beauty is currently offering a huge discount on its Salicylic Acid Peel, which is available to purchase online via Amazon
March 06, 2014 -- A specialist in the non-invasive removal of body fat, Bodisculpt is now offering complimentary consultations for those who want to benefit from the effectiveness of Coolsculpting.
March 06, 2014 -- With the launch of Frost Technology's highly popular Unity2HTML5 Developer Partner Program, Frost announces the accompanying Kickstarter campaign to give all developers a chance to access and...
March 06, 2014 -- Logipace, an iPhone app specifically designed and proven to instantly improve athletic performance, is offering the full version of the app for free download from the Apple App store.
March 06, 2014 -- Seven New Escorted Turkey Vacation Packages Priced from $1,478 Per Person
March 06, 2014 -- Eco-Bags Products announces the latest and most stylish addition to the ECOBAGS® Product Line. Flaunt-ready for the warmer weather.


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As I noted in my first post on augmented reality here on ClickZ, the real world and the virtual world are increasingly merging into one. This trend is quickly moving from a novelty, to an expected and relied upon experience to make informed decisions and enhance user engagement. Optimization is integral to augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and it is going to require a revisit of method and procedure to ensure discoverability.
What’s clear with the transition from desktop to mobile is that so many were caught off guard with the dramatic impact on the competitive landscape. As a result, every tech and media company is going to have to prepare for the possibility that VR and AR will become the next big platforms.
In the past few months:
- Apple acquired Metaio, an AR startup.
- Google’s I/O conference highlighted Cardboard, a VR platform for mobile phones.
- Google led a $500 million investment in Magic Leap, an AR company.
- Facebook’s Oculus Rift debuted the VR film Henry.
- Microsoft HoloLens is now a fully untethered holographic computer.
Let’s examine the horsepower behind AR and VR right now. Google is conducting advanced experimentation with the tools needed to make VR and AR real today. Their Project Tango tablet development platform is enabled with a number of cameras and motion sensors, enabling it to track and map its surroundings in real-time. It’s capable of area learning, motion tracking, and depth perception, all on the fly. According to Forbes, “Developers can achieve some amazing effects and address certain use cases that were previously not possible. From virtual, guided tours of buildings for real estate and other applications, to simulation environments that offer a natural user view with panning and control that can be achieved just by moving the tablet in space.”
So, what’s the SEO and general marketing upheaval linked to augmented and virtual reality? David Amerland, author of Google Semantic Search, states that “augmented reality uses semantic technologies to introduce a structured, information-rich layer into the real world environment.” It must all be keyword-researched, and discoverable by search engines and the searcher. We also must give the user the ability to leave their own mark in the augmented world via content insertion. According to Amerland, whether this appears as extra information, 3D models popping forth from projectors inside devices, or immaterial overlay generated from AR or VR visors, what matters is that the fundamental functions that render semantic search – Object Recognition, Entity Extraction, and End-User Intent Awareness – are at work.
VR is a much more difficult technological nut to crack than the traditional web. Since VR is an exercise in making the digitized world appear like the real world, you can actually use today’s search and SEO processes to, once new platforms will support it, insert organic and paid advertising plus marketing messages to drive lead generation.
While AR and VR are not prominent today, I wouldn’t rule out a near future in which AR and PR platforms rule the digital universe. Think about passionate marketers who want to deliver amazing and personal content to their customers; what could be more incredible than being in a virtual reality environment, engaging with relevant content and movie-like stories? Imagine the mobile apps that will be generated for AR/VR – who wouldn’t download and use them? A panel of AR/VR experts gathered at the Neurogaming Conference this past May had the combined opinion that, “The rapid rise of VR technology, the sheer number of companies developing AR devices and applications, and the potential it has to replace other forms of computing (a lot of dollars to be made as a form factor is replaced) suggest AR has a significant role to play in our future. All things considered, the burning question is not whether AR devices will become mainstream, but when.”
How does your mobile strategy stack up to the impending rush of AR and VR software and tools? You might want to give it some thought.
Video consumption keeps increasing and Facebook is serious about a video-first world, encouraging us all to explore its full potential. Ian Crocombe, ... read more
Update: Google’s Rudy Galfi, Google’s lead product manager for AMP, has revealed to Greg Sterling from Search Engine Land that the global rollout of ... read more
Mike Andrews Ph.D is Chief Scientist (Forensiq) at Impact Radius, and is carrying out some fascinating work around digital marketing and ad ... read more


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Small and independent craft brewers across the country received the unfortunate news Wednesday that global brewing giant AB InBev would cease sales of hops from its South African Breweries (SAB) hops farming subsidiary. The varieties grown and bred by SAB Hop Farms—Southern Passion, Southern Aroma, Southern Star, and more—will no longer be sold to other independent brewers and will only be available to the breweries owned by AB InBev.
Hops Broker Greg Crum of ZA Hops was the single largest U.S. importer of these South African hops and had worked for years to build a market for them in the United States. While SAB’s hops farming unit grew the hops, the market in South Africa for these unique flavor and aroma hops was limited, and bigger American hops brokers were more focused on the evolving flavor hops of the Pacific Northwest, New Zealand, and Australia, leaving these South African hops “undiscovered” by American brewers.
“I moved back to the states in 2012 and had a sneaking suspicion that brewers in the United States would be interested in what were then a few of their experimental varieties,” says Crum. “I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, from Cape Town, and reached out to brewers including Jeff Erway of La Cumbre Brewing.”
“Greg approached me back in 2012 with these hops,” says Jeff Erway of La Cumbre Brewing. “I’m not going to say they’re the greatest hops in the world, but they were unique. Some of them smelled like the most rank garlic and onion I’d ever smelled in my life, but a couple of them were just absolutely fantastic. That year, we were his only customer, and every year since we’ve bought some.”
La Cumbre’s first order for South African hops, and the entirety of Crum’s first year of business in 2012, was a whopping 220 pounds of South African hops. Last year, that number rose to more than 18,000 pounds (9.1 US tons). His projection for the 2017 harvest was to bring in around 44,000 pounds (22 US tons). While that amount of hops is a tiny fraction of the global yearly harvest, it represented about 10 percent of the hops that SAB Hop Farms’ planned to export to foreign markets in 2017.
La Cumbre’s award-winning beers can claim some of the credit for the growth in popularity.
“All four batches of Project Dank that have won any medals or awards were made with those hops,” says Erway.
But the advent and growth of the New England–style IPA was the turbocharger that accelerated the South African hops “brand.”
“The focus on aromatics, lower bitterness, and softer mouthfeel helps these hops mesh well with that kind of style, and that’s driving interest,” says Crum.
Fallout From the AB InBev-SAB Miller Merger
The current situation that Crum and his small craft-brewer clients find themselves in is a direct result of the merger of AB InBev and SAB Miller, which passed regulatory approval earlier this year. While AB InBev initially stated to the SAB Hop Farm subsidiary that it would take a hands-off approach in regards to their management, according to Crum, that policy changed two months later.
“While I was waiting to get a contract in place [for the upcoming crop year, since South African hops are harvested in March] the InBev merger happened and bunged everything up,” says Crum. “The merger was only finalized in South Africa in January or February, and at that point they were told by the ABI people that they were taking a hands-off approach to the SAB hops farms, and they should carry on just as usual. [That] obviously didn’t turn out to be the case.”
AB InBev Global Hops Procurement Director Willy Buholzer, when reached for comment, attributed the shift in policy to a poor harvest.
“South Africa is not a traditional hop-growing region. SAB’s R&D efforts made it possible to grow hops in South Africa, but it is still less than 1 percent of the world hop acreage and production. This year, South Africa suffered from low yields.
“Previously, SAB has sold a small surplus of locally grown hops to the market. Unfortunately, this year we do not have enough to do so given the poor yield. More than 90 percent of our South African-grown hops will be used in local brands Castle Lager and Castle Lite, beers we’ve committed to brewing with locally grown ingredients. In support of the local industry, we additionally sell hops to South African craft breweries. This means that less than five percent can be allocated to other Anheuser-Busch InBev breweries outside of South Africa.”
From his conversations with Buholzer, Crum believes that other forces, and not the harvest numbers, have driven the decision.
“I had a meeting with the hops director [Willy Buholzer] for ABI, and he was very clever,” Crum says. “In our phone meeting, he said point blank ‘this is going to give our brewers a competitive advantage.’ There is a reason they’re doing it, and that’s it. That’s the only reason they’re doing it. They don’t give a shit about these hops. Giving themselves an advantage and hurting the craft-beer industry—that’s it.”
The numbers seem to back up this argument, as 5 percent of the farm’s output might roughly equate to more than 55 tons of hops distributed to AB InBev breweries outside South Africa, or more than double the amount forecast to be sold to ZA Hops in the United States in 2017.
Crum also questions the validity of the demand from AB InBev breweries.
“Buholzer flew over to the United States and was obviously trying to drum up ‘sales’ within his ten or eleven ABI-owned breweries,” says Crum. “And it didn’t work—they weren’t able to ‘sell’ them—but they don’t care. They’re not going to let craft brewers have these hops, whatever the cost or the long-term repercussions. That is the bottom line.”
This internal “sales” effort to find a home for these hops hit a fever pitch when AB flew U.S. brewers to South Africa to build interest in using these hops.
“It hurts me,” says Erway. “A few weeks ago, I saw a bunch of friends who work for breweries now owned by ABI posting pictures to social media from Capetown, South Africa, and I said to myself, ‘Well, there goes those hops.’ I knew that was exactly what was going to happen—they were going to keep them all for themselves.”
Buholzer, however, claims that the policy this year isn’t an end to external sales of hops.
“Knowing the high demand for South African hops locally and abroad, we are working to expand local hop acreage. Depending on the 2018 crop outcome, we may once again be able to sell more hops to breweries outside of South Africa.”
Few independent craft brewers have built entire brands around these South African hops primarily because of the uncertainty of long-term availability.
“We still have almost a thousand pounds of Southern Passion and Southern Aroma, but we’ve never built a brand around a single variety of these hops for this very reason—we knew the availability was touch-and-go,” says Erway. “SAB down there has always had a monopoly on both the barley industry and the hops industry, so the idea of building a brand around that is not exactly a straightforward thing.”
Other brewers, such as WeldWerks (Greeley, Colorado) had just started brewing with the South African varieties and have had to put future plans around them on hold.
“We were planning on contracting for 500 pounds of each of two varietals,” says WeldWerks Cofounder and Head Brewer Neil Fisher. “That’s not a lot, but enough to do 400–500 barrels of that brand next year.”
“For a freshly harvested 2016 hop at $10 per pound, they’re fairly fruit-forward,” says Fisher. “It’s hard to find any hop like them at that price—El Dorado is pretty much the only one we can get consistently for less than $10 a pound that’s somewhat contemporary. So these were a cool way for smaller breweries to incorporate experimental and lesser-known varietals that were useful in an IPA. And now, they’ve vanished from the marketplace.”
“Southern Passion and Southern Aroma both have played a role in [Project Dank IPA],” says Erway. “Is it going to ruin the beer to not have those hops play a role? Maybe not. But as an IPA brewer, I look at hops like a painter looks at tubes of paint. They’re taking several colors out of my palette. And that kinda sucks.”
One aspect that hits both Crum and Erway the hardest is the work they both put into creating more interest for the hops in the United States. Crum’s sales pitch and Erway’s recommendations, followed by fantastic beers from breweries such as Modern Times (San Diego) and Cellarmaker (San Francisco), got the proverbial ball rolling and created familiarity among craft-beer drinkers. Now, not only do those early proponents of the hops have little to show for it, but they face the added insult of having built the hops “brands” to a point where AB InBev can now exclusively benefit from it.
“The fact that through my use of these hops, and Greg going out to sell them, we got hundreds of brewers from around the country to try using them, and now these brewers from ABI are saying to themselves, ‘now we want them’—I think that speaks to the true colors of who ABI is and what their goals are,” says Erway. “I really hope the Justice Department takes note of this when deciding who ABI can purchase [in the future] and how they can do business in this country. This is just a symptom of who they are and what they’re trying to do to our craft-brewing economy.
“It’s just crazy that Greg and a few of us brewers have built up the demand for these hops—the notoriety of them, or their ‘brand’—and all of a sudden, now that ABI has acquired SAB, they’re going to take them off the market and keep them for themselves. It’s unbelievable, and pretty crappy.”
Crum built his hops brokerage business from the perspective of a former professional brewer, with an ethos to serve brewers with high-quality products, no unnecessary long-term contracts, and prices that made flavorful hops affordable. Now, he has to accept that AB InBev breweries will pay an internal rate that’s far less than what he could charge independent craft brewers.
“The price that SAB Hop Farms proposed to me [for the 2017 crop] would have had me paying $12 per pound,” says Crum. “Now, they’re not going to get $12 per pound from ABI [brands], I can tell you that. It’s cutting off your nose to spite your face. They don’t care if they take a loss on their South African hop growing business unit. They don’t care if they take a loss on Wicked Weed or Goose Island. It’s all about the brand equity for their biggest brands.”
This policy change also spells the end for Crum’s business, ZA Hops. His attempts to secure hops from growers in other countries have been unsuccessful, so he’s faced with the prospect of closing his business.
“The revenue from 20 metric tons of hops is significant. Gross revenue would have been around $900,000,” says Crum. “That’s what I was looking at in 2017. Again, the margins on that are small, but for a one-man operation, that’s a significant amount of loss.”
Crum fought hard with his connections inside of the SAB hop farm to create an alternate case for the business decision makers inside AB InBev, based on the higher rate that non-owned brewers would pay for their hops.
“When SAB Hop Farms and I were putting together a strategy to counter the [corporate] directive, one of the things we discussed was that from an emotional standpoint, the biggest impact on this is the lost relationships [with small craft brewers]. But that’s emotional, and so while we pointed it out, we realized that we’re never going to appeal to bankers—because that’s basically what [ABI management] are—with emotion. It’s all about money. So we presented definitively convincing numbers that they would make a hell of a lot more money from craft brewers than they would selling at a huge discount to their ABI folks—not to mention that demand is way bigger on the craft side. And I think it definitely did have some impact—they took a solid month to make up their minds.”
Future Supply-Chain Constraints
While the impact of 44,000 pounds of hops leaving the U.S. craft-beer market will barely be felt—that represents only a fraction of one percent of the worldwide yearly harvest—the specter of market giant AB InBev buying elements of the brewing supply chain, to limit craft brewers’ access to raw materials, is daunting. Yearly gross revenue for all U.S. hops producers is less than $500 million, and AB InBev makes enough profit in a given year to buy the entire U.S. hops industry, if they chose to do so. Losing small foreign varietals is something American brewers could recover from. Losing in-demand hops such as Citra™ or Mosaic™ could destroy the momentum behind the entire craft-beer category.
“Given this situation and what they’ve just done, I wouldn’t be surprised if [buying out other exclusive hops varieties] isn’t one of their targets,” says Crum. “They have the money to buy out the guys who own the patents [on certain hops varieties]. And if they buy up enough craft breweries who need these hops, they may look to control the [hops] market again.”


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Toyota said it is stopped A global shipment of 10 vehicles has been frozen by one of the world’s largest automakers in recent months after it was discovered that a subsidiary had “irregularities” in the testing of diesel engines used in automobiles. The latest embarrassing problem.
A Toyota unit used software to measure horsepower output, making “values appear smooth with little variation,” parent company Toyota said in a statement. The vehicles “meet engine output standards” and there is no need to stop using the engines or vehicles, the company said. The company named the affected models and engines, but did not say how many vehicles it would stop shipping.
Nevertheless, Toyota decided to stop shipping the 10 models that used three diesel engines. The models that will be temporarily discontinued include the popular Hilux pickup truck.
In December, Toyota was dealt a blow by a series of recalls and production shutdowns. First, it recalled approximately 1 million vehicles in the United States due to airbag problems. Then, it was reported that the Japanese government was investigating subsidiary Daihatsu for decades-old safety problems.
daihatsu said it would halt shipments of all its models due to safety-inspection irregularities. Last week, it said it was recalling 320,000 Daihatsu vehicles and was still not ready to reopen its production facilities.
Toyota said it understood the “seriousness” of the two back-to-back testing problems, which “have shaken the company’s foundation as an automobile manufacturer.”


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All the sessions from Transform 2021 are available on-demand now. Watch now.
Now that capacitive touchscreens have become the standard in mobile devices, many are looking for the next big innovation.
3D is one possibility — smartphones featuring the technology like the Evo 3D are already available. But according to Synaptics technology strategist Andrew Hsu, father of the capacitive touchscreen, the future of touchscreens could more likely lie in haptics, a technology which would allow us to feel individual touchscreen elements.
“Where I see the next frontier of user interface control is that we now want to try and recreate the tactility we lost from traditional hardware interfaces,” Hsu said in an interview with VentureBeat. Refined haptics could bring us full circle in mobile interfaces, allowing us to feel software keyboards and buttons as if they were physical elements from cellphones in pre-iPhone days.
“Now that we’ve gotten dynamic touch and visual interfaces, it’s time to look towards dynamic touch feedback,” Hsu said.
Haptics isn’t exactly a new phenomenon — today many cellphones feature basic haptic feedback by buzzing when you hit a button on their touchscreens. The real key for refining the technology, according to Hsu, would be finding an implementation that would allow for finer localization of haptic feedback. He assumes it could take three to five years before his vision of deep haptic feedback comes to pass.
And what of 3D? Hsu wouldn’t make any final judgements on the technology yet, especially since it mostly seems like an excuse to create and view 3D media on phones at the moment, rather than fundamentally altering the way users interact with their devices. 3D screens could technically work together with future haptic technology. Hsu said he was really impressed with the Nintendo 3DS because it was made specifically with 3D in mind, unlike 3D smartphones and tablets.
Personally, the idea of a fully haptic screen excites me more than just a 3D screen. There’s plenty of potential in mobile gaming (imagine actually feeling buttons and joysticks again), and it would also make modern touchscreen phones more accessible for the disabled and elderly. I’d much rather the mobile industry move towards screens that can dynamically generate braille text for the blind to touch, rather than focusing on making us cross-eyed with tiny 3D screens.
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