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Mercedes-AMG One combines a Formula 1 engine with a car designed for street use.
Mercedes-Benz back in 2017 presented its open concept hypercar Project One, which presented a preview of the road-legal hypercar inspired by Formula 1 racing cars. Mercedes-AMG has stated that it wants to make a street car with a capacity of 1,000 hp. with an engine derived from Formula 1. However, demonstrating the concept and actually implementing it are two different things. Mercedes-AMG has shown that it faces many difficulties in building a car.
(Read also: BMW iX Flow uses brain activity to change patterns at a mental fitness event)
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Callenius even joked about approving the hypercar in the first place. He said the automaker team that approved the Project One hypercar was probably drunk when it said “yes” to the project. In an interview with Autocar UK, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz said that the AMG team and the High-Performance Powertrain Formula One came into the company’s board about four years ago and said they have a great idea. It is reported that they offered to put a Formula 1 engine in a road car.
The production version of this car was originally planned to launch in 2019, but the automaker has not yet begun its release. Cullenius noted that at the stage of developing an ambitious project the automaker faces various obstacles, the main of which are more stringent emission standards. However, they also noted that Mercedes-AMG is determined to complete this project, no matter how difficult it may be.
The CEO of Mercedes also said that the German car company is ready to reveal news about AMG One in a couple of weeks. However, he did not disclose any details about the hypercar. The company may disclose details of future Project One specifications and launch dates.
Date of first publication: 10:41, 22 May 2022 IST


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Gurgaon, India, (ANTARA/PRNewswire) - Alt Mobility, a technology-enabled electric vehicle (EV) leasing and lifecycle management platform, has announced that it has raised $6mn in funding co-led by Shell Ventures, Eurazeo, EV2 Ventures and Twynam. The round also saw participation from UC Inclusive, Piper Serica, Pitchright and LetsVenture in a mix of equity and venture debt.
The capital will be used for hiring an engineering team to scale its EV asset management platform FleetOS. The company would also be launching new verticals for fleets including Drive-to-Own model, Parametric Insurance, Fleet Depots (parking and charging), Battery Refurbishment Unit. The company further intends to accelerate its growth plans and embark on expanding its presence in over 20+ cities aiming to achieve an AUM of $100mn in the next two years.
Founded in 2021 by Dev Arora, Anuj Gupta, Manas Arora, Harsh Goyal and Jayant Gupta, Alt Mobility has been a catalyst for the EV ecosystem, enabling rapid EV fleet adoption through asset management for fleets, providing hassle free and integrated experience, and unlocking lowest total cost of ownership and maximum fleet uptime, resulting in business certainty and predictability.
Sharing the development, Dev Arora, CEO, Alt Mobility said, "With their faith in Alt Mobility, investors across four continents are confident in the growth of the EV ecosystem in India and our integrated approach of electrifying commercial fleets. The investors joining our board recognize the immense growth opportunity in the EV sector in India and will bring in their global and India experience in achieving our mission."
"Alt Mobility's vision to further the electrification of fleets in India aligns with our commitment to advance the development of sustainable and efficient transportation solutions in the region," says Christine Vincent, Venture Principal at Shell Ventures. "Today, one of the main barriers for fleets to transition to EVs is the lack of affordable financing options. Alt's model caters to this gap and helps business owners accelerate their electrification journey. We are excited to work with Alt Mobility towards a more sustainable mobility future for India."
Ernest Xue, Director at Eurazeo Venture Smart City said, "The electrification of mobility is significant to the decarbonization of transportation and improvement of pollution in India, all while driving job creation and inclusive economic growth across demographics. Our investment into Alt Mobility signifies our belief that sustainable products emerging from the nexus of mobility, energy and data will be transformative for one of the deepest and fastest-growing markets in the world." Matthieu Bonamy partner at Eurazeo Venture says, "As a global investor that has supported the growth of deep EV ecosystems in both China and Europe, we are committed to partnering with driven entrepreneurs working on unlocking the different chokepoints that hinder such progress and enable more sustainable cities."
General Partner, EV2 Ventures – Karan Mittal said, "Alt Mobility aligns seamlessly with our central thesis by directly contributing towards the advancing of the clean mobility ecosystem, with its innovative approach of offering affordable financing solutions and robust asset lifecycle management."
Jonathan Green, Investment Director at Twynam Earth Fund said, "The team at Alt have delivered on lower cost operating leases, removing friction from the transition to electric for operators. Their tenacity has been clear from day one and we at Twynam are excited to support their journey toward decarbonising India's massive fleet of vehicles."
The company is on track to become the largest proprietary EV fleet provider in the country. By 2025, Alt Mobility is aiming their fleet's cumulatively will offset 400,000 MT of lifetime CO2 emissions, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable mobility.
About Alt Mobility
Alt Mobility is a full stack Electric Fleet Leasing platform that enables transition of urban logistics fleets to electric mobility through leasing. Alt's Fleet Lease solution combines leasing with insurance, roadside service, maintenance, charging & parking hubs for complete lifecycle management of electric fleets. The company started leasing electric vehicles in April 2022 and has scaled to AUM of $12 million (Rs 100 cr) comprising of leased e2W, e3W, e4W and chargers.
Source: Alt Mobility
Reporter: Irvan Ariyana
Editor: PR Wire
Copyright © ANTARA 2024

domain: news


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Developer John Kane has tweaked his planned closure of Hillsborough Street later this month in an effort to ease the pain on neighboring shops.
Utility line moves required for Kane’s Stanhope apartment development will force the closing of a two-block section of Hillsborough to traffic shortly after N.C. State students leave town for winter break. To take advantage of lighter traffic with students gone, the work is scheduled for Dec. 19 to Jan. 5.
But the closing – and the lack of notice prior to the Raleigh City Council’s vote on the matter – upset surrounding businesses, which will become hard to reach in the busy shopping days before Christmas.
After a request from the owner of Cup A Joe, Kane agreed to leave the block in front of the coffee shop and Nice Price Books open until Christmas Eve. The section of Hillsborough between Daisy Street and Dixie Trail will still close as planned on Dec. 19.
“Being developers and landlords of retail, we certainly understand and appreciate their needs, and the Christmas season is the important season for all retailers,” Kane said.
Nice Price Books owner Brian Shaw said the change will make his store more accessible for last-minute Christmas shoppers.
“That’s really good for us,” Shaw said. “It’s still not the greatest thing, but it’s better than it was.”
Customers coming from the east will still have to wind through a residential neighborhood behind the shops. The timing remains a concern, but city officials and Kane said the work couldn’t be postponed because the closing would present a traffic nightmare with students in town.
“Christmas Eve is always huge ... it’s our busiest week,” Shaw said, adding that he’s unsure if sales will drop this year. “I hope not, but there’s no real way to tell.”
Kane’s company met recently with business owners and the Hillsborough Street Community Services Corp. to discuss the closing. The developers also agreed to put up signs at each detour reminding drivers that shops on Hillsborough remain open during the closure. The Hillsborough Street booster group has also provided handbillls to explain the detour to regular customers.
“We’ll definitely work on the signage for sure,” Kane said.
During the closure, customers arriving at the affected businesses by car will want to get familiar with their rear parking lots. To access East Village Grill, College Beverage, Curious Goods or Digitz computers, use Dixie Trail and turn into the parking lot next to East Village. The intersection of Hillsborough and Dixie will be closed from Dec. 19-23, so customers will need to approach from Wade Avenue on those days.
Customers headed to Nice Price Books, Cup A Joe, Guru Guitars or Freedom Auto can reach the parking lots from Daisy Street, which connects to Clark Avenue and from there to Dixie Trail and Faircloth Street. Or they can enter the lot from Hillsborough Street ahead of the barricades by using the alley alongside Pantana Bob’s pool hall.
Getting to the businesses west of Concord Street will be a bit simpler: Just approach Reader’s Corner, Oak City Tattoo and Smoke Rings from the west on Hillsborough. Their customers can ignore signs that the road ahead is closed, because the street in front of those shops will remain open.


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Lord of the Rings Online releases Update 16
The Lord of the Rings Online has recently updated with Update 16: Ashes of Osgiliath. This update introduces new instances, new regions, the imbuement system, and more.
Players are challenged to the defense of East Gondor, under siege from the forces of evil. Explore Upper Lebennin, Lossarnach, South Ithilien, and Osgiliath. Battle in The Sunken Labyrinth, the Ruined City, and the Dome of Stars. Imbue and name your own special weapon.
More details on the update are available here.
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On 7-9 June Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) Tourism Department and Riga Tourism Development Bureau LIVE Riga representatives in close cooperation with the Latvian Embassy in Seoul participated in the largest travel expo in Korea HANATOUR International Travel Show 2019.
This was the third time for Latvia to take part in this show by building a national booth equipped with tourism related information in Korean language, videos, knowledgeable staff and Latvian sweets. The booth was well attended and many tourists asked questions about best sites to visit and experience in Latvia, the shortest connections, prices and the most delicious dishes to be tasted in Latvia.
Travelers who have already visited Latvia in previous years asked about tips for the repeat visit. At the same time, Korean tourism industry representatives highly praised direct charter flight program establishment this year in which 3 direct charter flights were executed by Korean flag carrier Korean Air on 24, 31 May and 7 June taking around 700 Korean tourists to Latvian capital city Riga. The program was organized by one the leading tourism agencies HANJIN TRAVEL with the support of LIAA, Live Riga, Riga International Airport and the Latvian Embassy in Seoul.
On 7 June, the Latvian Embassy in cooperation with LIAA and LIVE Riga for the first time organized a special Latvian tourism briefing for Korean tourism media and bloggers. Briefing was opened by the Ambassador Peteris Vaivars who emphasized unique Latvian tourism offers along the rise of Latvia’s awareness in Korea thanks to mutual officials’ visits, cooperation projects, Latvian culture events in Korea and Korean media interest about Latvia.
LIAA Tourism Department project manager Ms. Laila Abena delivered a presentation on Latvian wide tourism opportunities with a special emphasis on the content which has a special interest from Korean media side.
The presenter also underlined previous Korean media visits in Latvia, especially TV programs on KBS and MBC. After travel programs were aired on TV, the name of Latvia was among top searched words on Korea’s main portal Naver. Live Riga representative Ms. Zane Kursīte explained about Riga tourism offers and Riga’s unique culture and historic heritage. Riga is also a place where many interesting culture and sports events take place. Also, thanks to its convenient geographic location, it is easily reachable from Korea and is a great place from where to travel around Latvia and beyond.
Number of Korean tourists in Latvia and Baltic States is increasing steadily. More than 10 000 Korean tourists have stayed in Latvia in 2018 and our aim is to reach 20 000 level in the near future by approaching Korean travelers interested in our region through Korean tourism media and travel agencies. Half of Korean population which consists of 50 million people, every year cross country borders to travel abroad. Until now, the main travel destinations were in the neighboring countries, however recent trend shows that more and more travelers are interested to explore new destinations and we see more Korean travelers opening new travelling horizons in Europe, including Latvia. According to the opinion of the Korean tourism experts and visitors who have already travelled to our country, Latvia is a prospective new travel destination for Korean travelers in Europe.
Latvian Embassy in Seoul would like to extend its gratitude to LIAA Tourism Department, Riga Tourism Development Bureau LIVE Riga and all Latvian tourism industry representatives for active promotion of Latvian tourism offers in Korea and receiving an increasing number of Korean travelers in Latvia.


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WorldStage Newsonline-- The Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) and other sister agencies recently intercepted a 1x20ft Shipping Container loaded with suspected pirated inspirational and educational books belonging to different Copyright owners.
The container was loaded with a total of 1,336 cartons of suspected pirated books amounting to 40,080 copies of various educational and inspirational books, estimated at N20,040,000.
Zonal Manager, NCC Lagos Office Mr. Chris Nkwocha who disclosed this in a statement signed by NCC Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Aderemi Adewusi, said the 1x20ft shipping container numbered MRKU 9506523 was confiscated after Operatives of the NCC in collaboration with other officers drawn from agencies such as NCS, SSS, NDLEA and the Nigeria Police carried out examination of the container.
He explained that the container was discharged and transferred from Tin Can Island container Terminal but was intercepted at Bollere Logistics West African Terminal in SDV/SCOA Kirikiri, Lagos.
According to him, the seized books include best-selling American titles such as Daughter of Destiny by Kathryn Kuhlman; Me and My Big Mouth authored by Joyce Meyer; the Midas Touch by Keneth Hagin, Mysterious Secrets of the Dark Kingdom by J.P Timmons and Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionaries which originated from China.
The Zonal Manager said the Commission in collaboration with Tin Can Area Command of the Custom Services Apapa took custody of the said shipping container on December 18, 2013 adding that investigations have commenced to unmask the identity of the importers with the view to arresting and prosecuting the pirate in line with the provision of the Copyright Act Cap C28 LFN 2004.
He urged the general public to support the effort of the Commission by reporting suspected pirates and their accomplices to Law Enforcement Agencies and warned importers of pirated goods to desist from the heinous act as the Commission is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against piracy.


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Oct 29, 2015 | By Kira
3D printing is taking off—literally. Hardware and home improvement company Lowe’s today announced a major partnership between Lowe's Innovation Labs and Made in Space to launch the first commercially available, permanent 3D printer into space. The Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) will land on the International Space Station (ISS) in early 2016 and allow astronauts to 3D print replacement parts and Lowe’s branded tools on-demand.
While astronauts have access to the most high-tech tools, materials and advanced scientific knowledge in the world, they still have to resort to using duct tape and old toothbrushes to repair parts onboard. Due to space and weight restrictions, the ISS can only carry a limited supply of materials, yet it can take months for additional parts to be sent up by rocket. Not to mention it can be nearly impossible to predict just what astronauts will need once they're in orbit. The microwave-sized AMF 3D printer, however, will allow NASA to email a digital file to the Station so that astronauts can instantly manufacture exactly what they need, from tools to parts to potentially even health and medical devices. Roughly 30% of parts on the ISS can be 3D printed.
"It is the first hardware store in space," said Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe's Innovation Labs, the company’s ‘disruptive innovation hub’. "Lowe's sells tools on Earth, and this way we're going to be able to provide tools in space as well." "For the first time, astronauts can now manufacture what they need, when they need it in space," added Jason Dunn, chief technology officer and co-founder of Made in Space. "We have successfully demonstrated the technology's capabilities in space. And now with the launch of the permanent additive manufacturing facility to the ISS, we are enabling humanity to manufacture things off the planet."
Kyle Nel, executive director, Lowe's Innovation Labs, left, and Jason Dunn, CTO and co-founder, Made in Space, examine a 3D printer in a mock-up of the International Space Station (ISS)
Made in Space was founded in 2010 as the first space manufacturing specialist, with the explicit goal of making 3D printing viable in space. They were contacted by NASA to design and build the 3D Printing in Zero-G Experiment (3D Print) on the ISS, and became the first company to successfully manufacture parts off-Earth, and have since been working on the AMF for the past four years.
Unlike regular 3D printers, the AMF requires special fans and heaters to compensate for different temperature zones, air pressure, and gravitational issues. It also uses a higher-grade plastic than your typical PLA, one that is flame-retardant to avoid dangerous explosions onboard. Though Made in Space built the AMF 3D printer and will retain ownership, the machine itself sports the Lowe’s logo and will be used to make branded tools. This move also makes Lowe’s the first retailer ever to have a presence in space (the company declined to comment on how much it spent on the printer).
As the first fully operational 3D printer in space, the AMF is a giant step forward in extending humanity’s capabilities in outer space, allowing astronauts to explore more freely without being as dependent on supplies from Earth. Though an exact launch date has yet to be announced, the 3D printer is slated to arrive at the ISS in early 2016. At the same time here on Earth, a San Francisco Bay Area Lowe’s retail store will feature a replica of the AMF as well as the section of the ISS that holds it for visitors to explore.
Today’s announcement also revealed that that Lowe’s Innovation Labs are launching the next-generation Lowe’s Holoroom, an in-store and at-home viritual reality design tool uses Oculus Rift optic technology and Google Cardboard viewers to lets consumers envision the room of their dreams in real-time 3D. In the past, the company has also worked to introduce 3D scanning and printing to the consumer market, bringing in-store and online 3D printing and scanning services to local retailer Orchard Supply Hardware.
According to both parties, the partnership between Lowe’s and Made in Space that led to the first 3D printer in space is just the beginning of a long-term relationship that will continue pushing the limits of manufacturing on Earth and beyond the final frontier. "Lowe's and Made in Space share a vision of how 3D printing can revolutionize retail and home improvement, while also changing the way astronauts work in space," said Nel. "This is just the beginning of a broader partnership with Made in Space that will bring tools to space and new technology to Earth." The launch is an exciting development in 3D printing aerospace applications and 3D printing’s presence in the retail market.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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- STEMI: DIY open access spider robot that teaches kids 3D modeling, robotics and code


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Ridge Racer 2 coming to PS Plus Premium Classics is one of the worst-kept secrets at this point with leak after leak. After Sony announced the new games coming to PS Plus Extra and Premium this month, PlayStation Access released a new trailer that featured all of those games in addition to Ridge Racer 2. Unsurprisingly, that video has now been removed.
Will Ridge Racer 2 come to PS Plus Premium?
Ridge Racer 2 is still likely to come to PS Plus Premium as part of the Classics collection, especially as it had also been in a leak prior to today. The PSP racing game was one of three games that were listed on the Italian PlayStation Blog as part of the July 2022 PS Plus additions before being swiftly removed from there. This came after the game was listed on the PlayStation Store prior to the launch of the new PS Plus tiers. The PlayStation Access October 2022 PS Plus Extra and Premium Youtube video has since been removed after the error was pointed out by Dylan Brown VO on Twitter, but not before Wario64 managed to get a screenshot:
PlayStation Access says Ridge Racer 2 is coming to PS+ Premium on their YouTube video for October games (at around 5:17) https://t.co/Npb79nU2xf
via @Barnacle310 pic.twitter.com/S1wmof5FPv
— Wario64 (@Wario64) October 12, 2022
There are currently no PS2, PSP, or Playstation Classics included in the October 2022 PS Plus list, so players are still left waiting for leaked games like Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Logan’s Shadow, Dino Crisis, SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny and Legend of Dragoon to be released.


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10 April 2018
Blockchain: Downfall or the Future of Utilities?
Forbes speaks with blockchain experts about possible directions that the utilities market transformation may take, and the role of blockchain in it. Denis Baranov, Principal Consultant at DataArt, shares the first cases of blockchain-powered energy trade.
"According to Denis Baranov, Principal Consultant, DataArt, ‘Experiments started in early 2016 with a US based company in Brooklyn, New York. The owner of a solar panel sold energy to his neighbour via Ethereum smart contract. This happened on the Brooklyn micro-grid managed by Lo3 Energy. In the same year in Amsterdam, the first European energy trade via blockchain happened.’ He adds, ‘I’m absolutely sure we will have more and more such kind of events happening in the nearest future. The market is already preparing to adapt to new technologies."
View original article.


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An East Yorkshire brewery is celebrating its 15th anniversary with the launch of a limited-edition version of the first beer it produced.
Great Newsome Brewery, based at South Frodingham in the Holderness countryside, was founded in by fourth generation farming family the Hodgson’s in 2007.
Starting out brewing just 20 casks a week, the business has since grown significantly and is marking the milestone by producing a special edition of its flagship Sleck Dust beer, a light-coloured, easy drinking ale, which is dry-hopped to showcase the flavour and aroma of the hops.
Great Newsome’s Director Matthew Hodgson said: “We set the business up at a time when farmers were being encouraged to diversify and create new income streams to secure their future.
“We’d noticed a growing interest in real ales and in locally produced food and drink, so after a lot of careful research and with the help of a small grant and a business loan, we set the brewery up with a plan to see where we could take it in five years.
“It’s been hard work, with some challenging times along the way, but we couldn’t have imagined 15 years ago that we would be where we are today, with 11 employees and production as high as 400 casks a week.”
Great Newsome’s range now includes stouts and dark ales as well as golden and paler brews, which are available on tap as regular or guest ales in over 150 independent and chain pubs across the north of the UK as well as being stocked by major retailers and independent shops nationwide.
The team has also seen international success, with growing sales in northern Italy, where their style of traditional British beer is particularly popular.
As well as building on their online sales, particularly during the Covid lockdowns, the business has enjoyed the growth of their annual ‘Festivale’ event, which this year attracted 800 visitors, enjoying live music, street food and Great Newsome beer in a field next to the brewery across two days in June.
Matthew continues: “I’m really proud of all we’ve achieved so far and I’m looking forward to building on that and to brewing more great beers in the next 15 years.”
Bottles of Sleck Dust Limited Edition are available on the Great Newsome Brewery website, together with limited edition 15th anniversary stemmed pint glasses.
For more information visit www.greatnewsomebrewery.co.uk


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CogniSaaS Raises Undisclosed Amount In Seed Funding The Bengaluru-based company is a customer onboarding tool for enterprise SaaS companies. The round was led by Arali Ventures, among others
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
Bengaluru-based CogniSaaS, a customer onboarding tool for enterprise SaaS companies, has raised an undisclosed amount in Seed funding from Arali Ventures, among others.
"The current tools for customer onboarding and legacy project management are mostly task tracking tools. For historical reasons, these tools were not designed to track the value delivery by tracking customer business outcomes and use cases. CogniSaaS was built to automate the tracking of customer-centric value delivery with structured data that includes use cases, associated product dependencies and implementation task dependencies – in a single source of truth'," said Rupesh Rao, founder and CEO of CogniSaaS.
"The Indian SaaS industry has now matured to the next level with companies focusing on nuanced problem statements. At Arali Ventures, we are keen on partnering with such founders and companies. CogniSaaS is one such company that enables enterprise software/SAAS companies to deliver real time visibility of value delivery. The product orchestrates and enhances the level of collaboration amongst internal teams and the visibility of senior leaders across the business, which is the need of the hour," said Rajiv Raghunandan, managing partner, Arali Ventures.
CogniSaaS is a customer onboarding platform that enables enterprise SaaS companies to deliver faster time-to-value for customers.


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University Will Pay You $3,500 to Eat Only Fast Food for 3 Months
A new study at Washington University in St. Louis is looking for participants who would be willing to eat only fast food for 3 months! And they’re paying folks $3,500 to do it!
The researchers want to study obesity and why some overweight people develop certain diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular conditions.
This seems like a really bad idea, but if you’re interested, I’ve got all the details:
You’ve got to be between 18 and 65 years old, a non-smoker, and non-diabetic. Lastly, you must already be at least 30 pounds overweight.
During the study, the participants can only eat at McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell and Burger King. Plus, you have to gain at least 5% of your body weight during the study.
I think I could live off of those 7-layer burritos at Taco Bell for a few days, but after that I’d be screwed.
I suppose the one positive aspect of the study is that they will enroll you in a weight loss program after the study has been completed.
Between this and the NASA study that is paying people $5,000/month to not get out of bed for 90 days, we think the “Wall-E” version of the human race’s future might not be that far off….
Good luck Penny Hoarders!


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Lululemon is coming to town! I’m SOOOO excited.
The popular retailer will be opening its first permanent location in Regina in the Cornwall Centre early next year. Can’t wait! The only thing that would have been better would have been an opening in time for Christmas shopping. But I look forward to the opening — when ever it happens.
“We are incredibly excited to be opening a store in Regina, and look forward to sweating with the community and building relationships with the local studios,” Lindsay Claydon, Vancouver-based public relations representative for lululemon athletica, wrote in an email announcement.
When lululemomn opened a pop-up container store in Victoria Park for three day in September, I asked Claydon when we might get our own store. She promised to keep me posted. Today, she shared the good news.
Not that I don’t like the Saskatoon location, but making the trek to the Bridge City isn’t always convenient. Besides, Regina lululemon enthusiasts deserve their own store!
Last November, the yoga and athletic wear retailer set up a temporary location in downtown Regina. They signed a three-month lease.
“We were overwhelmed by the support we received at a pop-up store over the holidays last year and can’t wait to be back in the community,” Claydon said in a telephone interview before coming to Regina in September.
Spread the word!


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Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market. Plugins scored over half a million sales last month, up 23% year over year (YoY), pulling the year-to-date (YTD) tally to over 1.3 million units.
Share-wise, with March showing another great performance, plugin vehicles hit 34% market share! Full electrics (BEVs) alone accounted for 24% of the country’s auto sales. This pulled the 2023 share to 33% (22% BEV), and considering the current growth rate, we can assume that the country’s plugin vehicle market share will end close to 40% by the end of next quarter.
Another measure of the importance of this market is the fact that China alone represented over half of global plugin registrations last month!
Looking at March’s best sellers in the overall market, we see how fast plugins are populating the top 10, with eight plugin models in the overall top 10, and only the #7 VW Lavida, and #8 Nissan Sylphy being pure ICE models. (Not long ago, these two models fought for #1, but now are barely able to keep a top 10 position.)
And to think: in other markets, we celebrate when one EV breaks into the overall top 10….
But looking at the best sellers by category, we see that some still need a heavy dose of electrification:
As we can see, while city cars (A-Segment) and the midsize category (D-Segment) are heavily electrified, compacts (C-Segment) and full size (E-Segment) still have some work to do.
As for the B-Segment (subcompacts), for some reason, the Chinese aren’t really into this category, so the only volume seller in this category is the BYD Dolphin. A golden opportunity for the upcoming Wuling Bingo? At least there aren’t that many competitors to compete against….
Here’s more info and commentary on February’s top selling electric models:
#1 — Tesla Model Y
Tesla’s star model got 54,937 registrations, a new record, which allowed it to win the best seller status in the overall ranking for the third time (after wins in June and September 2022). It seems the price cuts have gone well for the US crossover, with the midsizer being able to beat the BYD pack. Still, watching Model Y sales on an average quarterly basis, thus removing the valley/peak months factor from Tesla’s performance, the Model Y ended the quarter with a 31,500 units/month average, which is far from the 40,000-plus units/month of the leader BYD Song, but allows it to remain ahead of the remaining BYD pack. In a time where Chinese automakers are in peak form (just look at the recent Shanghai Auto Show), Tesla is currently the only foreign OEM able to follow the amazing pace of the domestic carmakers.
#2 — BYD Qin Plus (BEV+PHEV)
Thanks to a recent refresh, and the mandatory price cut, the BYD Qin Plus has surprised many by beating its Song sibling and winning silver in March. The midsizer reached 40,215 registrations in March, with the BEV version alone scoring 8,905 registrations. This placed it in 2nd in the overall market, allowing BYD to place two models on last month’s overall podium (Volkswagen, take notice). With the recent price drop and prices now starting at 100,000 CNY ($15,000), demand spiked again, despite the strong internal competition — the BYD Seal for the BEV version and the Destroyer 05 for the PHEV version. Expect BYD’s lower priced midsize sedan to continue posting strong results, at the cost of its most expensive siblings. It should have no problem keeping its most direct competitors, the Tesla Model 3 and GAC Aion S, at a safe distance.
#3 — BYD Song (BEV+PHEV)
BYD’s midsize SUV has dropped to 3rd in the Chinese automotive market, surpassed by the peak month of its rival Tesla Model Y, and by its sibling Qin Plus, which benefitted from a recent refresh and a price cut. BYD’s current star player scored 40,114 registrations, 6,050 of them belonging to the BEV version. So, will the Song end the year as the best selling model in the Chinese automotive market? Well, it depends on the competition, especially the internal competition. Currently, the Song only has the recently introduced Frigate 07 PHEV as internal competition, but the upcoming Sea Lion (BYD’s take on the Tesla Model Y theme) and the premium car-on-stilts Denza N7 (a car that sits somewhere between the Tesla Model Y and the Zeekr 001) are both set to land this year. This is probably too much competition inside BYD’s midsize SUV portfolio (the Song as the lower priced model, the Frigate 07 & Sea Lion as mid-priced models, and finally the more upmarket Denza N7). Also, the current wave of price cuts, which is spreading through the local market, will be a decisive factor. BYD has margin to reduce prices, just like it did with the Qin Plus, but by how much? All of these factors will be decisive for the Song to continue clocking 40,000–50,000 sales/month, a necessary threshold to continue leading the cutthroat Chinese auto market.
#4 — BYD Yuan Plus
With a record 27,907 registrations last month, BYD’s current star player in export markets is also expanding its sales in the domestic market, allowing it to be 4th in the overall auto market. Will the compact crossover continue to grow, both internally and overseas? If outside China, the answer is a resounding “YES,” with the compact EV just starting its career in several markets and still to land in many more. The answer in its home market is …”Maybe.” Considering the current price war in China and the ever increasing competition (the upcoming Zeekr X being just one of many), I believe BYD will direct production of its crossover to export markets, where competition is far less bloodthirsty and margins are higher.
#5 — BYD Dolphin
Temporarily at the bottom of the BYD lineup (the small Seagull is set to land soon), the small-to-compact Dolphin scored 27,687 registrations, a new record. One can say that the Dolphin has this class all to itself, as its most direct competitors in this category are selling four times fewer sales (the #2 Trumpchi GS3 — an ICE model — had 5,946 sales). The reason for this success? Using a space-efficient interior and competitive specs (not unlike a certain Chevrolet Bolt), the Dolphin adds the cost-saving features of its brand new 3.0 dedicated platform and cost-leading batteries. With more news about the Euro-spec version now available, the price was something of a disappointment — starting at 30,000 euros — but the specs, especially the size, which grew to a C-segment car (a VW ID.3/MG 4 fighter), were a surprise. Maybe they want to leave space in Europe for the upcoming Seagull? Will that be the true EV for the masses?
Looking at the rest of the best seller table, for once the highlight does not come from BYD or Tesla, but from GAC’s Aion S. The midsizer from Guangzhou is on a record streak, hitting 26,392 registrations, its third record in a row. It’s an impressive performance, especially considering that the sedan already has a few years on its back, allowing it to end the month in 6th. Does this mean the veteran sedan can keep pace with the Tesla Model 3 and BYD’s Qin Plus throughout the rest of the year? That would at least bring some extra color to the current BYD–Tesla domination. To be continued….
The Aion Y, the other half of GAC’s dynamic duo, also shone brightly, ending March in #9 with 13,267 registrations. Another highlight in the table is the Geely Panda Mini, the OEM’s answer to the Wuling Mini EV, which ended the month in #12 with 10,550 registrations in only its third month on the market.
This is a Wuling Mini EV–beating performance, because SAIC’s tiny EV had 9,150 units in its 3rd month on the market. Has the little Wuling finally found its match? One thing is for certain: with the SGMW best seller only reaching the 7th spot in March, with a disappointing 23,159 registrations, it sure looks like the cheaper and more cheerful stance of Geely’s Panda Mini is making a dent in the sales of the more bare-basics Wuling Mini EV.
Elsewhere, we see the #13 Denza D9
giant RV large MPV scoring a record 10,398 registrations thanks to record performances from both versions. In #15 we have the return of the sleek Changan SL03, mostly thanks to a record performance from the PHEV version, which had a 8,500 registrations in March. Still on the trend of models with both BEV and PHEV versions, we have a surprise in #18, with the Buick(!) Velite 6 reaching the best sellers table. The station wagon (imagine that, a Buick station wagon!!! :o) reached such heights thanks to a record performance from its PHEV version (5,409 units), allowing it to be the third foreign model in the table.
Finally, let’s give a nod to the return of the BAIC EU-Series to the table, in #16. It seems Beijing Auto has returned from a long hibernation period. Meanwhile, the Li Xiang L7, the startup’s new full-size 5-seat SUV (the L9/L8/L7 are all full-size SUVs) has shot up to #17 right in its landing month — so it seems the hot startup brand has another winner in its hands.
But the L7 was Li’s only model in the top 20, because the other two models dropped to 6,000-something performances in March. No doubt, some cannibalization is at play here, but hey, 20,000 sales per month in the full size category is nothing to feel sad about. After all, that is almost as much as BYD does in that category, adding the Han and Tang together.
Speaking of BYD, not everything is roses in the Shenzhen’s lineup. Last month, neither the Seal (5,201 units) nor the Destroyer 05 (4,136 units) reached the top 20. In fact, the BEV model had its worst score in 6 months, while the PHEV model had its worst performance in 11 months. … Time for a price cut?
Outside the top 20, the highlight is the Smart #1 reaching a record 5,911 registrations, with the Geely and Mercedes lovechild experiencing a surprising success in a market where the Smart brand has no brand recognition. This bodes well for the success of the model in Europe, and for the upcoming (and attractive) SUV-coupé-that’s-really-a-hatchback #3. It also provides a good omen for the career of the Zeekr X, another on trend genre-bending model. The Zeekr X is probably the most forward looking model, spec and styling wise, that the future Tesla compact model will have to deal with. Another SEA-based model set to land this year is the Volvo EX30. That makes four competitive compact EVs from the Geely platform, all ready to score some serious sales volumes.
The 20 Best Selling Electric Vehicles in China — January–March 2023
Looking at the 2023 ranking, the leading BYD Song is well above the competition, resisting quite handily the Tesla Model Y’s peak month. Still, it was a positive month for the US model, which jumped two positions into the runner-up spot. The last place on the podium also has a new face, with the BYD Qin Plus benefitting from a slow month from the Wuling Mini EV to reach the bronze medal position.
Below the podium, the highlights are once again GAC’s Aion S, which was up to 7th, and the Tesla Model 3 profiting from its March peak to reach the 8th position.
In the second half of the table, the highlights are the Denza D9, which jumped four positions to #12, and the Changan Lumin going up two spots to #13. Highlighting Changan’s good moment, the midsize SL03 joined the table in #20. Will the Changan sedan be able to run with the category’s best?
Finally, in #18, we now have the Geely Panda Mini, which joined the table and is now looking to surpass the category runner-up, the Changan Lumin, and hoping to reach the leader Wuling Mini EV sometime in the future.
Looking at the auto brand ranking, there’s no major news. BYD (36.4%, down from 38.8%) remains stable in its leadership position, and not only on the plugin table. In the mainstream market, it again beat Volkswagen in March, but more important are the growth contrasts between the top 5 best selling brands: while the #1 BYD and #5 Tesla are growing fast (+67% for the Chinese make, +28% for the US brand), the best selling legacy OEMs (#2 Volkswagen and #3 Toyota) are in downward spirals (both -22%) and in one case in a life threatening spot (e.g., #4 Honda, down 48% YoY).
The Shenzhen automaker is looking to win its 10th plugin automaker title this year, while Tesla (10%, up from 7.6%) is stable in second place.
The SGMW joint venture slipped again (5.9%, down from 6.6%) and now has the rising GAC Aion (5.9%, up 0.8%) breathing down its neck. Will we see a position change here in April?
Finally, Changan (4.5%, up from 4.4%) is stable in 5th, gaining distance over the #6 Li Auto (3.9%).
Looking at OEMs/automotive groups/alliances, BYD is comfortably leading, with 38.1% share of the market. SAIC (7.8%, down from 8.4%) was again displaced to 3rd due to the rise of Tesla (10%). With the SAIC mothership still in crisis, and the Wuling Mini EV now starting to slow down, the new Wuling Bingo needs to be a success in order to stop the current sales bleeding.
If SAIC doesn’t stop the sales bleed soon, those behind it will surely surpass it, as the most immediate competitors are consistently rising: #4 GAC profits from the brilliant performances of its dynamic duo to jump from 5.4% to 6.1% in March, one step down, Geely–Volvo (5%, up from 4.9%) continues on the rise, thanks to the recent success of the Geely Panda Mini.
With #6 Changan (4.9%, up 0.1%) not too far behind, Geely can’t rest on its laurels. Still, the Chinese Volkswagen Group is still performing better than the original. Volkswagen Group is now nearly irrelevant in China (2.6%, up from 2.5%) — so much so that BMW Group is on its way to surpassing it and becoming the second best selling foreign OEM in China.
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In case you missed it, things have been rather messy ever since Elon Musk took over Twitter. So messy that even thousands of users have already deactivated their accounts.
In the midst of all the confusion for current and former Twitter employees and users of the site, one thing is certain: quite a few advertisers aren’t happy. General Motors, one of the largest automakers in the world already pulled the plug on advertising on the platform earlier this week and several other brands like Pfizer followed suit in the wake of the new ownership chaos.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will decide about next steps depending on its evolvement,”Volkswagen said in a statement.
To add fire to the flame, Volkswagen Group told its family of brands to suspend advertising on the now-beleaguered social media platform. Volkswagen Group consists of not only Volkswagen, makers of cars like the Jetta and Golf GTI, but brands like Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Ducati, Cupra, and Seat. Losing just GM with its four total brands would be a huge blow to any social media platform, now Twitter has to manage losing ads from the additional eight brands under Volkswagen’s umbrella.
Advertisers en masse are seeing Twitter as a potential poison to its advertising revenue, and it’s been about a week since Musk took over. As of now, the advertisements from Volkswagen group are temporarily paused according to Reuters and no timeline has been given for when the group will decide to start ads up again.
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- Articles tagged "z1"
We decided to take an extended look at two of the biggest camera-centric smartphones this season; Apple's iPhone 5S and the Sony Xperia Z1, from a photographer’s point of view. How do the two of them fare when pitted against each other? The results are a little surprising.
Ever since the news broke about the new Sony Xperia Z1, interest has been riding high about its camera's abilities, and rightfully so, the Z1 packs the third-largest sensor that can be found in a smartphone today. So how does it fare while out shooting in the real world?
Sony just announced the Xperia Z1, their latest flagship smartphone with a 20.7MP camera. The camera comes with a 'G Lens' and a large 1/2.3" sensor size which compares to those found in compact cameras. Discover how it compares against the Z and Ultra in our hands-on exclusive.
The HP Z1 Workstation is the only all-in-one system in the world that is user serviceable. In this article, we'll take the workstation apart to give you an inside look of this highly talked about product.
- Apple may be bringing the digital crown to the iPhone and iPad
- Galaxy Note 7 rumored to ship with Samsung Cloud storage service
- Apple Store in Singapore likely to open in November
- NVIDIA will pay GeForce GTX 970 owners US$30 each for misleading VRAM claims
- Tableau announces v10 of its beautiful data visualization software for businesses
- Microsoft releases its new iOS camera app, Pix, and touts its smart capabilities!
- AMD outs official specifications for Polaris-based Radeon RX 460 and RX 470
- Thermaltake announces Toughpower SFX Gold series PSUs for SFF systems


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Gray economy is most present in construction, News
The results of the research on the perception of the economy about the gray economy, which was carried out as part of the National Initiative for Cashless Payments, show that for 83 percent of companies in Serbia, the business results for 2021 were positive. The research “Attitudes of the economy on the gray economy and cashless payment” within the framework of this project was conducted in the period from May to June this year, on a sample of 1,040 business entities that are registered in the Agency for Business Registers, reports Beta.
The results show that for businessmen the main reasons for the existence of the gray economy are the high tax burden on wages and parafiscals (more than three-quarters of the answers) and that it is necessary to implement program measures for the tax relief of wages, especially the lowest, establishing a register of non-tax levies, as well as measures to encourage entrepreneurship and reducing illegal work, strengthening the capacity of inspections and others. The research showed that 49 percent of businessmen accept only cash, which accounts for three quarters of their turnover, and the main reasons for such a situation are customers’ lack of interest in paying cashless and high costs. At the same time, 86 percent of those who accept cards, instant and online payments report that it has had a positive impact on their business. Businessmen believe that the gray economy is most present in construction and that it is growing in craft services, while it is declining in catering and trade. They estimate that every tenth company in their industry is not registered, but the percentage of those who are ready to register them has dropped from 60 to 54 percent.
Businessmen also claim that they pay full contributions for 88 percent of workers and admit that they give them up to 12 percent of their salary. The secretary of the Coordinating Body for Suppressing the Gray Economy, Ana Jović, said that the views of the economy are more important than the views of the citizens, because measures and activities in the program are defined with their help, as well as that the gray economy is present in every state, Politika writes.


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Ingredients Direct Europe Limited, a provider of food supplements, functional food and beverage, and sports science and nutraceutical product ingredients, has reportedly launched its new website, IngredientsDirect.com in response to the increasing trend of businesses turning to online purchases over traditional face-to-face interactions.
The company also opted for the online path since a growing number of organizations started choosing online channels to source and procure products, decreasing the lead time required in purchase and delivery.
IngredientDirect.com provides easy access to the quality-assured supplement, nutritional, sports science, and nutraceutical ingredients. All these products are stored in stock in the European firm’s UK warehouse from where they are delivered directly to clients within 2 working days.
After the successful completion of a new B2B eCommerce trading in October, IngredientsDirect.com now takes orders for firms throughout the UK. With more than 150 ingredients in its stock for quick dispatch, IngredientsDirect.com is considered one of the most rapid ways to obtain bulk ingredients such as herbal extracts, vitamins, sweeteners, proteins, amino acids, and more. All products catalogued on the company’s website are sourced from accredited manufacturers that are FSSC 22000.
The firm also intends on expanding its ingredient portfolio in the coming months. It currently provides quantities between 20-200 kg for most of the ingredients available.
Director of Ingredients Direct, Richard Tidman stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a 17% hike in the number of people choosing to purchase things online. The website was particularly launched to capitalize on this increasing trend, accelerating and streamlining the process for sourcing and buying ingredients online.
The company will enable access to pricing and stock data to registered clients, who will also have the ability to download ingredient specifications for any available ingredient. Additionally, Certificates of Analysis are also provided for an ingredient purchased.
Every IngredientsDirect.com transaction is protected using a 256-bit encryption and they are fully PCI compliant.
Source credit: https://onlineprnews.com/news/50001419-1605266447-ingredientsdirectcom-launches-in-response-to-trend-towards-b2b-online-purchase-of-ingredients.html


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Toshiba has confirmed that it will be spending some 15 billion yen ($160 million) to build a test production line for advanced flash memory chips.
According to Reuters, the NAND flash memory manufacturer has already ordered chip-making equipment from ASML to build microchips with circuitry widths of less than 25 nanometres.
The narrower circuitry is expected to allow semiconductor companies to significantly cut production costs by fitting additional storage capacity on a smaller piece of silicon.
Toshiba – which currently manufacturers NAND flash memory chips with circuitry widths of 32 and 43 nanometres – also to plans to begin producing chips with widths in the lower 20 nanometres by 2012.
In addition, the company is slated to begin commercial production of 20-29 (upper range) nanometre NAND chips by the second half of 2010.


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Her social media videos have been getting raunchier by the day.
And on Saturday, the ‘world’s hottest grandma’ Gina Stewart upped the ante again, this time by sporting a busty bikini before getting naked and posing completely topless in an X-rated Instagram video.
The 47-year-old could barely contain her double-E cup assets in the revealing swimwear, which provided fans with an ample glimpse of her incredible cleavage.
Need a hand? The ‘world’s hottest grandma’ Gina Stewart, 47, shared another sensational video to Instagram on Saturday
‘They’re pretty sexy,’ she said with a smile while playfully tugging on the strings of her bikini bottoms.
The video then cut to the mother-of-four sitting in her living room topless and giving a cheeky wink to the camera.
In another clip, the Gold Coast granny gave fans a rare glimpse into her daily life by sharing a clip of herself shopping at the supermarket.
‘They’re pretty sexy,’ she said with a smile while playfully tugging on the strings of her bikini bottoms
Showing that she isn’t afraid to treat herself, Gina grabbed a box of chocolates and confidently threw them into her shopping cart.
Despite having double-E cup breast implants, the top-heavy model has previously stated that she believes in ‘ageing gracefully’ and has never had Botox or fillers.
She also leads a ‘chemical-free lifestyle,’ which includes never drinking from plastic bottles, using natural underarm deodorant and eating organic foods.
Au Naturel! The mother-of-four sat topless in her living room and gave a cheeky wink to the camera
As for her beauty regime, the stunner swears by coconut oil and rosehip oil.
‘Macro Organics coconut oil is my hair product, my product that I cook with and my moisturiser – $5, all organic, no chemicals,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
The social media sensation is currently planning to have her breast implants removed, after claiming that they’re affecting her health.
A day in the life! In another clip, the Gold Coast granny gave fans a rare glimpse into her daily life by sharing a clip of herself shopping at the supermarket
‘It’s not about the size of my breasts any more. It’s about my health,’ she told Channel Seven’s Sunday Night.
The blonde bombshell also said that she didn’t care about losing Instagram followers, insisting that her health takes priority.
‘They [her followers] will probably delete me. Unfollow me and probably be disappointed. I don’t know, and I don’t really care,’ she revealed.
Gina – who has two sons and two daughters, aged 27, 25, 23 and four – became a grandmother at the age of 46.
Ageless: Gina – who has two sons and two daughters, aged 27, 25, 23 and four – became a grandmother at the age of 46


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LONDON – Global PC shipments will be 415 million units in 2011, up 15 percent year-on-year, predominantly thanks to sales of iPad tablet computers, according to market research firm Canalys Ltd.
Tablet shipments are expected to reach 59 million units in 2011 with 22 million shipping in the fourth quarter. While the iPad will dominate in Q4, the recently announced Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet are also anticipated to impact the US market, Canalys said.
Tablet computer popularity has propelled Apple into second place in the worldwide PC market in Q3 2011 and Canalys expcts Apple to overtake Hewlett Packard as the leading global PC vendor in the first half of 2012.
"Apple has seen its PC market share expand from 9 percent to 15 percent in just four quarters, though iPad shipments in its core market – the United States – are likely to come under pressure in Q4 due to the launch of the Fire and Nook at extremely competitive price points," said Canalys Analyst Tim Coulling, in a statement. "HP and Apple will fight for top position in Q4, but Apple may have to wait for the release of iPad 3 before it passes HP."
Notebook sales also helped fuel market growth in 2011, with total shipments anticipated to hit 211 million, a 10 percent year-on-year increase. Canalys expects ultrabooks, bringing much needed innovation to the category, to drive notebook sales over the next five years. With their differentiated appearance, Ultrabooks should spur some consumers to upgrade their existing notebooks.
On a geographical basis Canalys forecasts North America PC shipments to reach 103 million for the whole of 2011, with 32 million units expected in Q4. Overall volumes in 2011 are anticipated to grow 18 percent year-on-year because of the ongoing popularity of tablet computers. Excluding tablets, the market is predicted to grow at less than 1 percent for the year.
The Europe, Middle-east and Africa market excluding tablets is predicted to contract in 2011 by 6 percent, although volumes will peak for the year at 30 million in Q4.
Canalys expects high growth in Latin America and Asia Pacific in Q4, with total volumes for 2011 predicted to reach 40 million and 153 million. Overall, the BRIC countries will account for 28% of worldwide PC shipments in 2011.
Larry hit it right on. Tablets and smartphones are not quite the same device as a full fledged PC but they are part of the same market, and for many people, they fill the bill such that they rarely, if ever, use their PC anymore because they do the things they need. I find that some things are a little tougher with the tablet or smartphone, but others are much simpler. There are still things the PC is needed for, but most things can be accomplished with relative ease.
It all depends on what you are trying to measure. Want to prove that things are looking down? Separate them and talk about how they are cannibalizing each other. If you want the chart to look up, add them together and throw in smartphones as well. Suddenly you have a bull market! Seriously, it seems to me that there is overlap between those categories. One way or the other, the number of devices per consumer seems to be going up.
Tablet's and PC market seem to be somewhat mutually exclusive to me. At one point, analysts have said the tablet may hurt PC sales because of the similarity of the products. Now, with the estimated sales to 2015, the figure does indicate these 2 products are mutually exclusive. One may help the other to thrive. Yet, there is no indication the tablet will eat a chunk of PC market. Any comments?
January 2016 Cartoon Caption ContestBob's punishment for missing his deadline was to be tied to his chair tantalizingly close to a disconnected cable, with one hand superglued to his desk and another to his chin, while the pages from his wall calendar were slowly torn away.122 comments


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Mm-Mania Hits the Stores, and a New Generation Discovers Wearing Marilyn's Dress Is a Breeze
updated 02/21/1983 AT 01:00 AM EST
•originally published 02/21/1983 AT 01:00 AM EST
In an otherwise bleak sales year, department stores like Saks and Macy's have suddenly discovered a new market for fashions popularized by Monroe in the '50s. Bloomingdale's in New York City has launched a "Remembering Marilyn" campaign, jamming store windows and shelves with pedal pushers, circle skirts and vinyl purses. But the fastest-selling item is that dress newly done up in cotton in a choice of four colors (white, black, blue or pink) at prices ranging from $40 to $72. And as eager young Monroe fans tugged and wiggled into it, PEOPLE was there to shoot them.
Meanwhile, out in Hollywood, the designer Bill Travilla, who dressed Marilyn for The Seven Year Itch, is also reintroducing the fabled frock, along with other Monroe designs. "It's very demanding to wear," says Travilla of his most famous creation (Debbie Reynolds has the original, now beige with age, in her collection of Hollywood memorabilia). "Not too many women have the figure for it." No kidding.


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Product placement is nothing new. From television shows to the silver screen, every company is always out to get some not so subtle advertising into the mix. With the highly anticipated Mission: Impossible III set to hit theatres next month, it has recently been revealed that Ford and GM were neck and neck when the moviemakers were looking for a boxy SUV to use in the film. Well, the Ford-owned Land Rover LR3 ousted the GM-owned Hummer.
Of course, there is no guarantee that this will immediately translate into additional sales, if at all, but it certainly doesn’t hurt when a big blockbuster like Mission Impossible is going to have your vehicle left right and center.
Many people may not even notice, still being too distracted by the recent news of Katie Holmes’ new baby Suri (and the eerily silent delivery room), or too caught up in all the explosions and whatnot, but hey, Ford finally won at something. Good for them.


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Suspects face robbery, theft charges
Suspects authorities linked to a string of area thefts between Wednesday and Thursday were booked into jail on robbery and retail theft charges.
Dustin Reed Mills was arrested on charges of two counts unlawful use of a finance card, two counts acquiring a finance card without consent, two counts robbery, fleeing by vehicle, retail theft and on a warrant.
Mills is being held in Purgatory Correctional Facility on $25,000 bail and made his initial court appearance Friday.
Melissa Joy Brooks was arrested on charges of retail theft, two counts robbery, two counts unlawful use of a finance card, two counts acquiring a finance card without consent and on a warrant.
Brooks was booked into Purgatory on $20,000 bail and made her initial court appearance Friday.
According to the probable statement cause filed in the case, a St. George Police detective investigated a Wednesday morning robbery where Mills and Brooks allegedly snatched a 77-year-old woman’s purse.
Brooks also allegedly used the woman’s credit cards at two locations.
Court documents indicated additional incidents on Thursday took place at Target and a gas station on Brigham Road, where Brooks allegedly stole cans of beer.
Officers matched descriptions at the incidents and tied them to Mills and Brooks, who were in the parking lot of the Washington City Wal-Mart, the report continued.
“As contact was attempted with the driver, the suspects sped off in the vehicle onto 3050 East where a Washington City Police (officer) attempted to stop the vehicle using lights and sirens, but the driver refused to stop, speeding into a parking lot and striking a block wall at 1055 Red Cliffs Drive,” the reporting officer wrote.
A search of the vehicle revealed a purse of the victim in the Wednesday robbery, according to the probable cause.
Follow Payton Davis,@SpectrumDavis. Call him at 435-674-6218.
SGPD investigates store lot purse snatch
Suspects in store lot purse snatching arrested


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Zoom Up Partner Program ‘2.0’ Includes Incentives, Support Programs As Company Boosts Channel’s Role
“If you think about the empowerment piece and ease of doing business, this is going to be a never-ending finish line for us … In my mind, we’re never not going to strive to be the easiest company to do business with. That’s a goal for us,” Zoom Channel Chief Todd Surdey told CRN ahead of Zoomtopia 2023.
Zoom Video Communications is “empowering” its partners with a revamped partner program, support, marketing, and customer success programs, the tech giant revealed on Tuesday at Zoomtopia 2023.
The Zoom Up Partner Program, unveiled in 2022, was aimed at unifying all its partners: resellers, distributors, master agents, and sub-agents alike. Zoom Up “2.0” will pave the way for greater rewards, profitability, and access to resources for partners, Todd Surdey, Zoom’s channel chief, told CRN.
“Last year … we knew that we needed to do a lot more on the go-to-market, our products, marketing, and our services, all those things. We now have an incredible base. As we go into this year, [it’s about] how do we tie that empowerment, and really the simplification and the ability for our partners to own their journey,” he said.
The revamped Zoom Up partner program will now include three new levels: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Partners can move up to the Gold level by achieving a product competency. Partners can reach the highest level — Platinum — by proving knowledge and skills across the Zoom portfolio by earning multiple product competencies. Zoom said that existing partners will automatically transition to their corresponding level at the launch of the new program on Tuesday and will have the opportunity to move up the levels immediately.
“These levels will allow partners to demonstrate knowledge with accreditations and multiple competencies on our products,” Surdey said.
Along with the new levels, Zoom also plans on rewarding its partners for making investments with the video provider. The revamped Zoom Up program will offer increased profitability, access to resources, and investment from Zoom. Partner rewards are tiered in accordance with the partner’s Zoom Up level, Surdey said.
Zoom is doing about 30 percent of its business through the channel globally, a figure that’s been rising steadily since the creation of the partner program four years ago, the company told CRN.
“If you think about the empowerment piece and ease of doing business, this is going to be a never-ending finish line for us,” Surdey said. “We have really done a lot around the operational elements [and] deal registration and accelerating that. So, we’re going to continue on that journey, and we cannot stop. In my mind, we’re never not going to strive to be the easiest company to do business with. That’s a goal for us.”
The new Zoom Up program will go in effect in early 2024, Surdey said.
Additional Programming For Zoom Partners
Alongside the updated partner program, Zoom is launching a series of new programs and resources to help partners develop their Zoom practices.
The Partner Customer Success Program will help arm partners with the expertise they need to take on full ownership of the post-sale customer relationship, boost adoption and renewal of Zoom’s services.
The new Partner Support Program will help partners provide their customers with technical support by introducing four support levels based on their level of investment within Zoom to put partners in control of the customer support relationship. The benefits include faster time to resolution and improved customer experience, Surdey said.
The Partner Licensing Program, formerly known as PUDL and now NFR, will give entitled partners more comprehensive collections of internal-use licenses so partners can use Zoom’s offerings and demonstrate them to customers. The new NFR program, which is connected to the Zoom Up program, will grant partners access to incremental NFR packages based on their Zoom Up level. It will also provide near instantaneous awarding and provisioning of licenses, so partners do not have to wait, the company said.
“The NFR program is really about how do we put more of our products in the hands of our partners where they could actually utilize them in a much more aggressive way,” Surdey added.
In addition to the programs, Zoom’s Partner Demand Center now lets partners create AI-generated Zoom content for marketing campaigns in more than 150 languages.
For referral partners, Zoom in April brought on Workvivo, an employee experience platform. Beginning this month, Zoom referral partners are now able to refer leads and receive commissions for the sale of Workvivo, the company said.


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Coinbase Global Inc. fell to a record low as investors fled newcomers to the rapidly growing market.
The largest cryptocurrency exchange operator in the U.S. fell 6% to $256.76 on Thursday, the fourth consecutive day of decline.
It puts the stock slightly above its reference price of $250 for a direct listing in April. Exchange-traded funds, which track the stocks of recently listed companies, plunged for the eighth consecutive day. It is the most extended decline since 2015.
Virgin Galactic Holdings and Opendoor Technologies Inc., which went public through blank checks, each fell at least 3.8%.
Nasdaq has set a reference price of $250 per share for the direct listing of Coinbase on April 13. It is a requirement for the stock to start trading, but it is not a direct indicator of its potential market value.
What could be the reason for Coinbase’s stock price drop?
Let’s talk about the reasons that could affect Coinbase stock. Coinbase is public through a direct listing, which allows insiders to sell shares immediately. They can do It without the usual initial public offering lock-up period that limits the supply of initial shares.
Last year, we also saw a similar trend. The stocks of Palantir Technologies and software maker Asana went public through a direct listing. After the initial public offering, the shares of both companies have been trading sideways or have fallen for several months.
Besides, many analysts consider Bitcoin price change as an influencer on Coinbase. Since the listing of Coinbase, the price of the leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin has fallen by nearly 15%. Most of its traffic comes from Bitcoin transactions. However, the cost of the largest cryptocurrency has fallen into a narrow band for several weeks. Coinbase started trading at US$381 on April 14 and then broke through US$400 at one point. Compared with the closing price of the first day, it is now 22% lower.
Additionally, the transaction fees of Coinbase, accounting for more than 80% of competitive revenue, are facing pressure as competition intensifies. Coinbase charges retail users about 0.50% of the transaction price difference, plus a fee of 1.5% to 4%, depending on how they fund the transaction. In contrast, Robinhood offers a commission-free investment in cryptocurrencies on its app. In some cases, PayPal and Square also provide lower rates than Coinbase cost.
Lastly, highly “hypothetical” cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin and Binance coin attracted lots of investors. However, the Coinbase exchange doesn’t offer these tokens, which we could consider as another reason for the Coinbase price drop.


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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - With New Year's coming up, liquor stores have been busy. The most popular item, of course, is the bubbly.
'Happy Hour' in Johnson City said their champagne sales are up 400 to 500 percent this time of year.
Employees said they are going to be running specials for the New Year holiday.
"We have the new Korbel line so that's really neat. On Monday we're runnning a twnety percent sale on all champagne and wine. So that's a reason to come out and see us," says employee Jacob McGinnis.
Prices run anywhere from six dollars, all the way to 200 dollars. depending on the type you buy.
- Local recycling practices both benefit and cost their cities
- Johnson County woman recovering after vicious dog attack
- Law enforcement search for dangerous inmate that escaped from local jail
- Johnson City woman honored by Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians
- Johnson City Cardinals may break 20 year attendance record


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For months, PlayStation has ceded ground to Xbox in the race to reveal the true capabilities of next-generation gaming. Now, they’ve well and truly caught up, revealing the brand new design of the PS5 console, a digital disc-less version and a host of new peripherals.
To display the full capability of the new platform, however, we needed to see some games. And on that front, the PS5 didn’t disappoint.
After months of speculation, the design of the PS5 has been revealed. ‘The Future of Gaming’ showcase also showed off new games plus the PS5 Digital Edition.
The event was hosted by President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Jim Ryan and kicked off with a retrospective look on previous PlayStation generations plus a sneak peek at an “expanded and enhanced” version of GTA V that will be heading to the new console.
From then on, all trailers showed footage that was captured on the PS5. The titles included:
- Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales
- Gran Turismo 7
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
- Project Athia
- Destruction Allstars
- Oddworld Soulstorm
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Goodbye Volcano High
- Ghostwire: Tokyo
- JETT: The Far Shore
- NBA 2K21
- Solar Ash
- Demon’s Souls
- Resident Evil Village
- Little Devil Inside
Then, the star of the show—aka, the console itself—made an appearance. Looking unbelievably sleek, there was a handful of matching black and white peripherals, including the PS5 Digital Edition (PS5 sans disc-drive) DualSense controller, HD camera and Pulse 3D wireless headset—designed to take advantage of the PS5’s lauded 3D audio.
All in all, there was a lot to take in. To see the action in bite-sized chunks, check out the PlayStation YouTube channel, or strap yourself in for the full shebang below (skip to around 59:30). It’s gonna be a wild ride until the end of 2020.


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There have been a few companies in the past that have attempted to make a ‘fan-defined’ phone. OnePlus comes to mind also; the company asked its ‘fans’ what they wanted to see on the OnePlus One back in early 2014.
The trend seems to have caught up with Chinese manufacturer UMi, who’re now attempting to have a fan-phone of their own. They’re calling it the UMi Apollo.
According to UMi, the Apollo will be ‘the world’s first user-defined smartphone’, and will be made as per their fans’ recommendations.
Gizchina News of the week
Assuming you’re a fan and want to play a part in deciding the Apollo’s spec sheet, you’ll have to create an account on the company’s forums and let them know what you want to see on the phone.
Besides that, UMi is also accepting donations of $1 for the phone. UMi promise to give ‘backers’ (i.e., people who donate) a discount (amount unspecified) when the phone goes on sale eventually.
The project starts January 2016.
More and more Chinese companies are taking to non-conventional ways of marketing, and this seems to be UMi’s take on that. Nonetheless, this is something that could bear fruit — both for UMi and for its buyers — but that will require some meticulous planning and execution.


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The recent tension between Clinton and Obama's team invokes memory of their 2008 battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, when the two candidates butted heads over foreign policy.
David Axelrod, former adviser to President Barack Obama, hit back Tuesday against Hillary Clinton's recent criticism of Obama's foreign policy.
David Axelrod knocks Hillary Clinton in tweet
militants taking over swaths of territory in the region.
The former secretary of state also took a swipe at an oft repeated phrase Obama uses to sum up his foreign policy choices "don't do stupid stuff."
"Great nations need organizing principles, and 'Don't do stupid stuff' is not an organizing principle," Clinton said. senator in favor of the Iraq War. (Of course, his tweet can also be Blue Air Max 90 Ultra
"Just to clarify: 'Don't do stupid stuff' means stuff like occupying Iraq in the first place, which was a tragically bad decision," Axelrod tweeted.
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"I thought I had acted in good faith and made the best decision I could with the information I had," Clinton writes in her new book. "And I wasn't alone in getting it wrong. But I still got it wrong. Plain and simple."
aimed at Republican hawks who support a harsher response to the current situation in Iraq.)
In an interview with "The Atlantic," which published over the weekend, Clinton argued the decision not to arm Syrian rebels early on had Air Max Essential 90 Black
The President and his former chief diplomat will have a Air Max 90 Black And Red And White chance to hash things out Wednesday night; the two are expected to attend the same party in Martha's Vineyard.
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At the end of July, lawmakers unveiled a $1 trillion coronavirus relief package that included a bill, known as the “Safe to Work Act,” that would (in part) prevent individuals from suing businesses for coronavirus-related infections and death. Claims arising from “actual, alleged, feared, or potential exposure to the coronavirus” would be subject to the requirements of the bill.
If the bill is enacted, plaintiffs will have to establish that a business was grossly negligent (defined by the bill as reckless disregard of one’s legal duty and the government’s guidelines) or engaged in willful misconduct. For example, if a business fails to require its staff to wear masks despite knowing the risks of failing to do so, this may be grossly negligent behavior by the business. Some plaintiffs have argued that proving gross negligence will be too difficult of a standard to prove in court, which would ultimately allow businesses to unjustly escape liability. On the other hand, proponents have reassured that the standard is fair and undoubtedly possible to meet.
Plaintiffs would also have to establish that a business failed to make “reasonable efforts” to comply with applicable public health guidelines related to the coronavirus. Thus, even if a business has acted grossly negligent or engaged in willful misconduct, it may be able to avoid liability if it can establish that it made a good-faith attempt to comply with guidelines. Again, proponents of the bill reassure that the standard is reasonable, while opponents argue that proving that a business acted in bad faith will be nearly impossible.
All cases arising from the bill would subject the parties to limitations on noneconomic damages, e.g. pain and suffering, unless a plaintiff can prove that the business committed willful misconduct. Advocates for the bill have argued that limiting these types of damages would lower health care and insurance costs for everyone, including plaintiffs not subject to the bill.
Critics argue, however, that limitations on these damages compromise plaintiff’s constitutional rights to recover from a business’s wrongdoing. The bill would also allow prevailing defendants to seek damages if a plaintiff’s claim turns out to “lack foundation” or to have been made in bad faith.
Overall, the bill’s proposed protections could provide businesses with much more security
during the coronavirus’s impacts on the economy. It would allow businesses to focus on reopening, and it would help to support small and medium-size businesses that are struggling disproportionately during the pandemic.
However, advocacy groups have criticized the bill for its likelihood of increasing infection rates across the country, as well as de-incentivize businesses to take precautions if they know they cannot be sued over coronavirus-related infections.


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In recent years, Australia has witnessed a remarkable surge in the number of microbusinesses, playing a pivotal role in transforming the economic landscape of the nation.
These small-scale ventures, typically consisting of fewer than five employees, have thrived due to various factors, including improved home internet connectivity, technological advancements, evolving consumer behaviour, favourable regulatory environment and the glorification of an entrepreneurial spirit.
According to the Australian Banking Association, 98% of 2.6 million businesses in Australia are SMEs, and micro businesses are the largest proportion of all Australian businesses, with 1.55 million (60%) of businesses employing no staff. A further 955,000 businesses (37%) employed 1-19 staff.
This article delves into the rise of microbusinesses in Australia, exploring the factors that facilitated their growth and highlighting the significant benefits they bring to the Australian economy.
Improved internet connectivity
One of the key enablers for the rise of microbusinesses in Australia has been the proliferation of improved internet connectivity, particularly through the implementation of the National Broadband Network (NBN) with its focus on fibre to the premises (FTTP) technology.
“With high-speed, reliable internet connections becoming more accessible and affordable, it’s never been easier to start a business, and the rollout is getting faster,” said David Michaels, head of sales and marketing at national broadband provider Swoop.
“Our new Home Ultrafast plan leverages the NBN’s FTTP technology to offer incredibly fast and reliable internet connectivity to homes and businesses. We’re thrilled that NBN is rolling out FTTP across the country and we’ll be able to offer our NBN 1000 plan to more customers this year and to 90% of Australia by 2025.”
This connectivity revolution has eliminated geographical barriers, allowing entrepreneurs to tap into national and global markets with ease.
Rapid advancements in technology have played a vital role in facilitating the growth of microbusinesses. Cloud computing, mobile applications and e-commerce platforms have provided affordable and scalable tools for these ventures to streamline their operations, market their products and services, and reach a wider customer base.
The advent of social media platforms has also been instrumental in enabling microbusinesses to build online communities, engage with customers directly and leverage targeted advertising, all of which were previously reserved for larger enterprises.
And, of course, developments in artificial intelligence have made starting and running small businesses easier and more cost-effective.
One way that Ian Aldridge of Progressive Legal sees this happening is through access to services such as legal support.
“We believe 75% of small businesses in Australia don’t have a lawyer that understands their business, that they can go to any time for advice – or have never had legal advice,” he said.
“AI is going to reduce the barrier to entry for that 75% who don’t have lawyers because now they can go online, not have that intimidation, they get AI giving them the contract or whatever at a much lower cost, and then they can use that or seek legal advice on it.”
In fact, this swiftly changing technological landscape meant that the number of microbusinesses in Australia grew 10% in a year, from 1.41 million in June 2021 to 1.55 million in June 2022, according to The Australian Banking Association.
Evolving consumer behaviour
Changing consumer preferences and behaviours have created fertile ground for microbusinesses to thrive.
Modern consumers increasingly value personalised, niche products and services that cater to their unique needs. Microbusinesses, with their agility and ability to pivot quickly, are well-positioned to respond to these demands.
By offering tailored solutions and personalised experiences, these ventures can differentiate themselves from larger competitors and foster a loyal customer base.
Moreover, the increasing emphasis on supporting local businesses has further boosted the growth of microbusinesses within communities.
Favourable regulatory environment
The Australian government has recognised the crucial role played by microbusinesses in driving economic growth and has implemented policies and initiatives to support their establishment and growth.
Measures such as simplified taxation processes, reduced red tape and streamlined registration procedures have encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap into self-employment. Additionally, targeted grants, subsidies, and access to funding have provided financial support to microbusinesses, enabling them to invest in innovation, technology, and expansion.
For example, as part of the 2023-24 May Budget, the Australian Government announced a new $392.4 million Industry Growth Program for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups.
The rise of microbusinesses in Australia is a testament to the country’s entrepreneurial spirit. The desire for independence, flexibility and the pursuit of passion projects has driven individuals to establish their own ventures.
The advent of the gig economy, with its emphasis on flexible work arrangements and self-employment, has also played a significant role in encouraging the growth of microbusinesses. As more people seek autonomy and control over their professional lives, microbusinesses offer an attractive avenue to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations.
Benefits to the Australian economy
The rise of microbusinesses has had a profound impact on the Australian economy, contributing to its overall growth and resilience. Here are some key benefits:
Microbusinesses have emerged as crucial job creators, especially during times of economic uncertainty. By providing increased employment opportunities, they contribute to reducing unemployment rates and improving local communities’ economic well-being.
Innovation and competition
Microbusinesses foster innovation by bringing fresh ideas, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking to the market. Their agility and ability to experiment with new concepts often lead to disruptive innovations that challenge established industries and drive healthy competition.
Microbusinesses have the potential to revitalise regional areas by providing employment opportunities and encouraging local economic growth. They play a crucial role in diversifying regional economies and reducing reliance on major urban centres.
Microbusinesses, leveraging technology and automation, often have efficient operational models. By adopting digital tools and streamlined processes, they can achieve higher levels of productivity, contributing to overall economic efficiency and growth.
The rise of microbusinesses in Australia has been facilitated by various factors and these small-scale ventures have become a significant force driving economic growth and innovation in the country.
By creating jobs, fostering competition, supporting regional development, and enhancing productivity, microbusinesses are making a substantial contribution to the Australian economy.
As their influence continues to expand, it is vital for policymakers and stakeholders to support their growth and provide an enabling environment for their sustainable development.


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A new report by the French Agency for Food Safety (AFSSA) has found that organic foods are better for you and contain less pesticides and nitrates, which have been linked to a range of health problems including diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Andre Leu, Chairman of the Organic Federation of Australia, says the up-to-date exhaustive and critical evaluation of the nutritional quality of organic food and has found organic foods have higher levels of minerals and antioxidants.’
“The AFSSA study has been published in the peer reviewed scientific journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development ensuring that it has met rigorous scientific standards,” Leu said.
The major points of The French Agency for Food Safety study are:
1. Organic plant products contain more dry matter (more nutrient dense)
2. Have higher levels of minerals
3. Contain more anti-oxidants such as phenols and salicylic acid (known to protect against cancers, heart disease and many other health problems)
4. Organic animal products contain more polyunsaturated fatty acids (protect against heart disease)
5. Carbohydrate, protein and vitamin levels are insufficiently documented
6. 94—100% of organic foods do not contain any pesticide residues
7. Organic vegetables contain far less nitrates, about 50% less (high nitrate levels are linked to a range of health problems including diabetes and Alzheimer’s)
8. Organic cereals contain similar levels of mycotoxins as conventional ones
In 2001, the French Agency for Food Safety (AFSSA) set up an expert working group to perform an exhaustive and critical evaluation of the nutritional and sanitary quality of organic food.
The AFSSA says they aimed for the highest quality scientific standards during the evaluation. The selected papers referred to well-defined and certified organic agricultural practices, and had the necessary information on design and follow-up, valid measured parameters and the appropriate sampling and statistical analyses.
After more than two years of work involving about 50 experts from all specific areas including organic agriculture, a final consensus report was issued in the French language in 2003.
The current study published in the peer reviewed journal, in English, is a summary of this report and the relevant studies that have been published since 2003.
The conclusions of this study are different from the recent UK Food Standard Agency Study that was widely criticised by international experts for using flawed methodology and a conclusion that contradicted its own data.
The full scientific report can be found at https://swroc.cfans.umn.edu/organic/ASD_Lairon_2009.pdf


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Within just two years it will be cheaper to buy an electric car than a petrol or diesel model according to new predictions from Bloomberg’s research arm, which suggests Covid-19 will not torpedo the switch to greener driving.
In Europe large electric cars will be cheaper than their fossil fuel counterparts by 2022, BloombergNEF (BNEF) predicted on Tuesday, with the same “tipping point” for smaller cars following a few years later.
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Sales of petrol and diesel cars peaked in 2017 and are already in “permanent decline” the researchers said.
As electric vehicle (EV) driving ranges increase and price tags fall the demise of fossil fuel cars is set to accelerate, they added.
‘Bumpy’ road ahead
However, the economic fallout from Covid-19 does spell a “bumpy” few years for the global car market, with sales of new cars expected to drop 23 per cent in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.
Electric vehicle sales will hold up better than other vehicle types, but will not escape unscathed, BNEF predicted. Global EV sales are set to fall by 18 per cent in 2020 under the forecast, their first ever fall.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is set to cause a major downturn in global auto sales in 2020,” said Colin McKerracher, head of advanced transport for BNEF. “The long-term trajectory has not changed, but the market will be bumpy for the next three years.”
EV adoption rates to grow
Covid-19 could threaten carmakers’ ability to finance the restructuring of their business for an electric future (Photo: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
But some markets will continue to see EV adoption rates grow despite the market malaise, driven by supportive government policies, and concern over air pollution and climate change. In Europe, EVs will make up five per cent of new car sales in 2021, compared with 3.6 per cent in 2019, BNEF predicted.Read MoreSwitching to an electric vehicle will ‘cut emissions’ as EVs are better for the environment than petrol cars
And long-term, electric vehicles are still set to take over the motoring market. By 2040, 31 per cent of passenger cars in the world will be electric, two-thirds of busses, and almost half of all scooters, motorcycles and mopeds. However, to charge all these electric vehicles, the world will need to install 290 million charging points by 2040, including 12 million public chargers, BNEF pointed out.


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Nintendo is one of those companies that seems to have been around forever. One of the downsides to that is eventually products become obsolete, and it ceases supporting them, such as when it ended repairs for the 3DS and 3DS XL earlier this year. Sadly, it looks as though another aspect of the Japanese company will be going as well.
According to a post on Reddit, Nintendo may be shutting down its support forums for good. The service has been going for more than a decade and while the company has yet to make an official announcement, there have allegedly been some emails that have been sent to "top members" regarding some upcoming news, which could be related.
The post itself contains a lengthy email message to one user which talks about the decision to shut down the forums offering the user a free download as a "thank-you." The message goes on to say the reason for the decision is due to there being many other ways for players to "easily contact Nintendo." Reddit is no stranger to Nintendo, so it's difficult to know what to make of this post.
Time will tell whether it turns out to be true, but the Japanese giant tends to shine when it comes to online support for Nintendo products. At this stage, all people can do is wait to hear the official word, and if the forums do go down, fans will have to seek out other ways to get help in the future or find a new place to hang out with their Nintendo family.
Pyra and Mythra recently came out as a tag team for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s Fighters Pass 2. The community has received the duo warmly, as they both appear to be strong apart and together. Pyra specializes in damage and range, while Mythra specializes in speed — and also range, thanks to being a sword-user with giant special moves. Even though Mythra seems more conventionally good when considering Smash Ultimate’s usual meta, Pyra can still switch in quickly to deliver the coup de grace.
Being the first tag team fighter introduced since Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pyra and Mythra are fairly complicated. Even though they have the most similar movesets between the three previous tag team characters (Zelda and Sheik, Samus and Zero Suit Samus, and Pokemon Trainer’s three Pokemon), they still play differently enough that they can’t be approached the same way. While specializing in one can bring a fair amount of success, players who master switching between both characters will truly go on to dominate the competition. Being some of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s more technical fighters, Pyra and Mythra deserve some close analysis.
Pyra and Mythra are a sword-fighting tag team that can handle opponents at mid and close range. Their normal movesets come off like re-balanced Echo Fighter versions of one another: Where Pyra swings once for a lot of damage, knockback, and a bit of extra range, Mythra can swing several times per input, and has an easier time moving around to keep combos and pressure going on for longer. It does bear mentioning that Pyra is far from the slowest member of the cast, and her damage makes her single hits more than worth using.
- It can be thoroughly documented that when minimal ones establish good looking at techniques early on, they are much extra attainable for currently thoroughly .