text: Does Michael Jackson need money? That, apparently, is a hot topic in the music industry these days, though on Tuesday one rumor was scuttled by the Gloved One’s record company, Sony Music. Variety reports that Sony denied stories that it was planning to acquire the remaining half of Jackson’s ATV Music Publishing — which holds more than 250 songs from the lucrative Beatles songbook — from the waning superstar. “We are not in discussions with Mr. Jackson over the sale of his share of the ATV catalog. These rumors are completely baseless,” a Sony representative told the trade paper, which noted that Jackson’s record sales have declined of late, just as his legal expenses and living costs have climbed. By contrast, says Variety, in the ’80s, at the time that his LP “Thriller” was breaking sales records, the star could write his own ticket. But that was then. Now, with his CD “Invincible” (reputed to have cost $30 million) failing to live up to its title, having sold just 2 million copies during the past six months, Jackson may look toward hocking some assets. According to industry estimates, the Beatles catalog alone could be worth anywhere from $400 million to more than $1 billion. And, Variety specifies, publishing rights to such classics as “Yesterday” and “Let It Be” alone fetch more than $250,000 per use — making an outright purchase of ATV Music Publishing highly attractive to any prospective buyer, particularly to Sony, which already owns half.


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The chain is targeting 'thinking moms' with a healthier meal. However, the deal might not be as good as it seems.
Theories about why the insects are suffering from a fatal disorder keep surfacing, but the impact on agriculture is clearly becoming acute.
The restaurant chain apologizes after an employee thought plainclothes police officers violated its gun policy.
A Beverly Hills hotspot has started calling out patrons who skip their reservations as the service industry tries to put online pressure on ill-behaved customers.
The popular shellfish is fetching 30% more per pound than it did last year, prompting some eateries to drop it.
The pizza chain is swearing off its reputation for quick service, hoping customers equate longer preparation time with better quality.
The ice cream chain is introducing a permanent low-cost lunch menu, aiming to 'steal share' from much bigger rivals.
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The Fed may start tapering in just a few months. Here are a few of the likely winners and losers.
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
Even those who don't like to shop are probably hitting the stores this month. Here's what to be on the lookout for and here's what to avoid.
The IRS is struggling to combat identify thieves who file fraudulent tax returns in the names of older residents who don't need to file.

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According to Statista, there are 46.4 million smartphones in the UK. In January 2017, the Labour Force Survey found that there were 31.85 million people in employment. When there are 10.55 million more smartphones per user than there are employees in the UK, it becomes clear how and why the smartphone has changed our day-to-day working practices — but is it for better or for worse?
According to research carried out, seven out of ten 18-24-year olds check their smartphone in the middle of the night. This post-digital generation are likely to shape the way smartphones are incorporated into working practices in the future.
We’ve teamed up with United Carlton, visitor management specialists to see why it could be beneficial to let the younger generation use their smartphones in the workplace when reports say that it causes workers to be less productive.
How do employers react to smartphone use?
Survey Software Employers’ views on mobile usage in the workplace isn’t always positive. This could be an issue for the great number of individuals who own one – especially those 18-24-year olds living through the digital age. This is down to the fact that most employers simply view the smartphone as a distraction that reduces an employee’s ability to complete a task by up to 20 minutes at a time.
However, employers of small businesses do feel that they aren’t able to write a company policy on smartphone usage as they are worried that their staff will react badly. To counteract this, it is suggested that employers should educate the workforce and highlight why the policies have been put in place – employees are likely to understand your approach and co-operate accordingly.
Research carried out by the University of Surrey said that 11% of people thought it wasn’t acceptable for people to have their smartphone turned on throughout a meeting – 80% said that couldn’t see why someone would read or send a message when in the company of other workers or even their employer. Although, this may be because employees and employers alike are preoccupied in working practices that discourage the use of smartphones, and don’t yet realise the productivity benefits that a younger generation of smartphone users can accrue for business.
The productivity benefits of using smart technologies
If employees are to bring their own smart device to work, and employers are willing to adopt a BYOD (bring your own device) culture within the workplace, then this could save employers time which therefore helps to boost productivity. When employees are connected to a wireless internet network, they are able to complete tasks in ways that do not limit them to sitting at a desk or having to be in the office.
A study conducted by Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group claimed that ‘the average BYOD user across countries saves 37 minutes per week thanks to using their own device.’ This is because these users are working on the go and between ‘dead-times’ in the office when they aren’t stationed at a computer.
More research suggests that in America, smartphone users saved 81 minutes per week by using smart technologies at work – German users only saved four minutes. Contrary to popular belief, this suggests that globally, smart devices can aid rather than detract from productivity. Furthermore, if smart device users are able to implement their own technologies into their working practices, then they are more likely to take work home with them – as these employees are working an extra two hours and sending 20 more emails every day. For example, many members of staff are now able to use their smartphone as a mobile printing device; when there is a compatible printer in range connected to the network, users can print from their device without the need to install software to do so. This frees up time during the day as users can print from anywhere in the office, without having to be stationed at their desk and printing from a desktop computer. Cloud storage and printing documents that aren’t saved to hardware are also freeing up the flexibility of working practices and allowing employees to work in ways that weren’t previously possible.
Despite the research, many employers have decided to cancel out the idea of a BYOD to work initiative. If companies were willing to incorporate a BYOD culture, then they may see what some research validates as being a 16% boost in productivity over a 40-hour week, a 23% rise in job satisfaction and a 21% rise in company loyalty. If businesses aren’t willing to incorporate change into outdated processes, then perhaps these operational efficiencies may not be experienced by many for years to come.


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Take a look at this mural, painted on the side of one of Whole Foods’ Austin locations: It brags, ‘Nothing Artificial Ever,’ but the admitted GMO ingredients sold on store shelves could never be considered to be anything but man-made freaks of nature. Continue reading
Tag Archives: whole foods
As GMOs infiltrate even Whole Foods, it’s more important than ever to know where and how your food is grown
“(NaturalNews) Genetically modified foods have become so ubiquitous in the US that even the grocery store ‘Whole Foods’ now admits it cannot keep biotech foods off its shelves. A representative for the corporation acknowledged in May of 2011 that the realities of the marketplace have forced a shift in the company’s previous no-GMO’s policy.
(Correction note: The original title of this article has been altered to better reflect the accuracy of this story. As a clarification, Whole Foods does take steps to avoid GMO ingredients, but due to the massive use of genetically engineered ingredients in the food supply, it is currently impossible to avoid GMOs in conventional or “natural” products. As a result, many food products sold at Whole Foods do, in fact, contain genetically engineered ingredients, even when Whole Foods would prefer they didn’t.) Continue reading
“When a team of activists wearing white hazmat suits showed up at a Chicago grocery store to protest the sale of genetically modified foods, they picked an unlikely target: Whole Foods Market. Organic foods, by definition, can’t knowingly contain genetically modified organisms, known as GMOs. But genetically modified corn, soy and other crops have become such common ingredients in processed foods that even one of the nation’s top organic food retailers says it hasn’t been able to avoid stocking some products that contain them. Continue reading
Organic Consumer Association political director arrested Tuesday May 17 at Whole Foods in Chicago over protests regarding the sale of unlabeled GMOs
Alexis Baden-Mayer, political director of the Organic Consumers Association, and other activists were just arrested in Chicago at the Whole Foods Market in Lincoln Park where they were having a Food Dump to protest the sale of unlabeled GMOs.
Can you call the Lincoln Park Whole Foods, request the release of Alexis and her counterparts and ask that the charges be dropped? The number is 312-587-0648. The OCA and these activists would really appreciate your help! Continue reading
“I’d say this is the straw that broke the camel’s back…but I dare not, because I know this is only the beginning. Whole Foods, leader of natural grocery stores nationwide, and other industry leaders in “organic” foods Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farm relented under mounting pressure from all angles Thursday, and gave their approval for the USDA to use genetically-modified alfalfa seed in crops – proving once again that in this world, commodity-driven, profits-based monopoly models are what drive all decisions made in political and legal realms.
And sold the future of real organics and sustainability down the river. Continue reading
Here’s a great video with Mark McAfee, highlighting the readily observable differences between the methods of producing the two kinds of raw milk, along with excerpts from the story that accompanies on the “Campaign for Real Health” blog:
“I still like Whole Foods Market; I really do. But it is getting harder to say that and mean it. The recent decision by WFM to ban raw milk from its shelves has left a bad taste in my mouth and I literally think twice now before going. Oh they talk a great green story. Even their website is colored green. On that site is even a page called Green Action. On that page are found these telling words: Continue reading


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Renault will take its place at the 17th Paris Motor Show, which will take place with the theme of “Revolution Is On” at Porte de Versailles between 23-2022 October 89. MAIS Inc. General Manager Berk Çağdaş said that new models carry us to the future.
Çağdaş said, “Renault carries us to the electric future with its Z4ever, R5 Turbo 3E and Kangoo E-Tech 100% Electric models, which were launched this year at the Paris Motor Show. On the other hand, Scenic Vision reveals its attack in the C segment with its Austral, Megane E-Tech 100% Electric and Arkana models.” said.
Renault CEO Luca De Meo said: “At Renault, we love cars. That's why we're at the Paris Motor Show. Today, I believe we have the opportunity to reinterpret the love of the automobile and the modern automobile with an innovative approach. That's exactly what we did when we created the 4L legend. One of the most emblematic cars in Renault history and a modern interpretation of Renault 4, the 4EVER Trophy gives us clues to the electric future.”
The 4EVER Trophy is an icon reborn as a B-SUV
Thirty years after its production ended, Renault is presenting the 4EVER Trophy, an updated electric version of the iconic Renault 4, at the Paris Motor Show. This light adventurous “show car” celebrates the 4th anniversary of the 25L Trophy Humanitarian Rally. The 4EVER Trophy stands out as the harbinger of the 2025% electric B-SUV model of the future, scheduled to be launched in 100.
The R5 TURBO 3E was born for drifting
The R5 TURBO 3E is an all-electric and unique "show car" designed for drifting. As part of the Renault 5 50th anniversary celebrations, it pays homage to Renault 5 TURBO and TURBO 2, some of the brand's most popular sports models. The model, which performs above its class, is also being transported to the digital world with NFTs.
Renault, which most accurately summarizes its strategy of re-conquering the C segment with its concept cars, “show car” models and new mass production models, reveals that it focuses on innovation more than ever with its expertise in electric vehicles, while remaining true to its own DNA.
Renault Kangoo E-Tech 100% Electric
Renault Kangoo, which created its own class with its sliding side door design for the first time, remains true to its genes 25 years later and still remains one of the pioneers of its class.
With a unique success story, Kangoo has sold 50 million units in 4 countries around the world.
It offers the best to families with its elegant design and spaciousness, and to professionals with its luggage volume and durability. Continuing to develop over the years, Renault Kangoo meets users for the first time in its history with its E-Tech 100% Electric version.
The new high-tech SUV Austral meets car lovers for the first time
The new Austral is the next move in Renault's C-segment breakthrough with the Arkana and Megane E-Tech 100% Electric. Its athletic exterior design embodies the characteristic elements of the SUV world. The new Austral will also be available in Esprit Alpine version for a sportier character.
Official avatar RENO: Renault partners with Cerence
Renault is working with Cerence, which works on artificial intelligence technology for cars, to create a next-generation, humanized digital co-pilot for an easier and improved electric vehicle experience.
Cerence and Renault have teamed up for a solution that proactively drives electric cars and improves electric vehicle use through teaching, explanation, simplification. Aim; Significantly improving the in-car experience with a human-like interaction. Like this; Useful and smart functions will be offered, such as introducing new vehicle functions, making the most of different EV charging possibilities, adjusting the temperature or setting the right driving mode at the right time.
Renault introduced the Scenic Vision concept car as a step in its journey to become carbon neutral at the ChangeNOW summit held in Paris last May. Scenic Vision embodies Renault's commitment to sustainable development and reflects the brand's plan to decarbonize the entire lifecycle. It stands out as the first product with a new pearly white paint, which is dried with ultraviolet lamps instead of infrared heaters, which consume much more energy, and reduces energy consumption by 75 percent during production.
Kangoo Hippie Caviar Motel, electric “show car” made for fun
Renault is presenting the second part of its recreational vehicle product strategy at the Paris Motor Show with the Kangoo Hippie Caviar Motel. Based on the new Kangoo L2 E-Tech Electric, this vehicle is a mobile, versatile and vibrant haven for outdoor adventurers and sports enthusiasts.
R5 Prototype: past meets electric future
The Renault 5 Prototype is an innovative version of its popular, basic and stylish predecessor, demonstrating the brand's approach to popularizing electric vehicles in Europe. The Renault 5 Prototype is a charming small city car that takes one of Renault's iconic vehicles into the future with a modern, all-electric approach.
Megane E-Tech 100% Electric: New generation electricity
The new Megane E-Tech 100% Electric is the first model of Renault's “generation 2.0” electric vehicles and represents a new era in the electric vehicle revolution that began more than a decade ago. Not only is it integrated and connected to the digital world of users with its electric vehicle ecosystem, it also represents the first step in Renault's drive to reconquer the C-segment.
Günceleme: 17/10/2022 14:42


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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) might have conducted a year-long investigation into the new car retailing industry, covering issues such as Australian Consumer Law,... Read More
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Vodafone India has announced a new SuperWeek plan at a price of Rs. 69. The telecom operator is offering unlimited calling and loads of data under this plan. With Vodafone SuperWeek plan, customers can make unlimited calls to any network and get 500 MB data at just Rs. 69.
If we talk about the full benefits of this Rs. 69 pack from Vodafone, users will be able to make unlimited local and STD voice calls to any network in the country. Further, the pack comes with some data benefits as well and users will get 500MB of data for seven days. Moreover, users will have the option of unlimited repeat recharges of the pack.
Earlier, Vodafone had introduced two new prepaid plans of Rs. 181 and Rs. 195 with unlimited calling and data benefits. While the Rs. 181 plan offers 2G data, the Rs. 195 plan is offering 4G/3G/2G data. Both the plans offer unlimited calling but the Rs. 195 plan comes with capped free calling.
Other operators’ weekly plans
If we talk about similar recharges from other operators, India’s leading operator Airtel is offering a weekly plan as well. Airtel’s Rs. 49 plan comes with 250MB 4G data but they do not offer free calling. Also, there is another weekly plan of Rs. 93 under which they are offering unlimited Airtel Local/STD Mobile calls, 100 Airtel to other minutes and 250MB data for 4G Handsets.
Another incumbent network operator Reliance Jio is also offering a weekly plan as well. Reliance Jio’s Rs. 52 plan is the cheapest weekly plan among all. Reliance Jio is offering unlimited Local/STD voice calling, unlimited data capped at 0.15GB per day and 70 SMSs.
Commenting on the new offer, Avneesh Khosla, Associate Director – Consumer Business, Vodafone India said,
“We, at Vodafone, believe in providing the best network, service experience and value to our customers. With SuperWeek, the key objective is to offer a pocket-friendly and affordable unlimited plan that will appeal to all prepaid consumers. This plan will further enable our customers to remain confidently connected and enjoy a worry-free Vodafone SuperNet 4G experience on our best network ever.”


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By Kyra Auffermann, NCA
For today’s consumers, it’s more than “just” a cup of coffee. From extra antioxidants to artisanal craftsmanship, the future of coffee is anything but ordinary.
During the recent NCA webinar, “Coffee Outlook 2017,” Datassential’s Mark DiDomenico shared how the latest food trends are impacting the coffee market:
Based on overwhelming scientific evidence, coffee is officially considered part of a healthy diet. (In fact, according to the 2016 National Coffee Drinking Trends report, 27% of consumers choose coffee when they want an antioxidant boost.)
The perception of “healthy” has changed significantly over the last few decades. From the 1980’s to the early 2000’s, the focus was on low-calorie, low-fat, and low-carb (ex: Atkins). Then, consumers started to shift towards more local and organic options.
The latest trend in healthy eating is functional. Consumers are seeking out so-called superfoods that are specifically marketed to provide additional or enhanced nutritional benefits benefits, like acai or algae. These overachieving, multitasker ingredients are loaded with protein, antioxidants, and other natural perks.
[Ed. note – for related reading on superfoods, check out “Super Confused About Super Foods? An Educated Consumer Is a Healthy Consumer,” via Food Insight]
Coffee’s healthy reputation may offer new opportunities to reach consumers: 59% of people surveyed by Datassential Buzz said that they would drink coffee at later times of day if it offered functional benefits.
One example is bulletproof coffee (coffee blended with clarified butter), which is endorsed as an all-morning energy “health” drink by nutrition bloggers across the Internet. While the claims may be dubious, the drink’s viral popularity is undeniable.
Consumers are embracing a more holistic approach to what they eat and drink, and value nutritious, unprocessed ingredients that were once considered diet taboos (see: avocados, coconut oil).
2. ON TAP
Some beverages, like beer and soda, have always been served tap. But lately, we’re seeing new on-tap options, like wine and (of course) coffee.
This trend “taps”* into two additional trends from the specialty scene:
The nitro phenomenon is the latest development in the cold brew coffee craze, and taps into consumers’ interests in discovering new things and exploring brewing as a craft (more on that later).
“What’s important about [nitro] is that it’s not a one-off,”DiDomenico says. “There are so many iterations. It’s another way to enjoy coffee, but it’s really unique.” And as everyone knows, Millennials love being unique.
Coffee with alcohol
Are two brews better than one? Coffee is an increasingly prominent ingredient in craft-brewed beers. It’s also appearing in cocktails and mocktails.
Alcoholic coffee beverages also tap into the social aspect of coffee shops, creating a hangout that transitions from day to night.
* Ed. note: Sorry ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
We’re seeing localization across menus – it’s not just Italian food anymore, it’s Tuscan (or Sicilian or Roman). There’s a new appreciation for regional variety and variation, even down to particular cities. Consumers want to try authentic items from different ethnic backgrounds, and enjoy experimenting with unexpected flavors and spices.
Examples include intense Turkish coffee, or sweetened Thai iced coffee with cardamom.
Seasonal coffee flavors have gone beyond the infamous PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte).
- Winter Spice
However, even the most popular seasonal offerings rarely crossover into year-round staples, DiDominico says. Demand for these limited-time only flavors is driven by excitement and anticipation.
“Consumers not only want to know where their food is coming from, but that there’s some expertise behind it,” DiDominico explains. With all of the methods available today, the brewing process is elevated into a precise technique.
Education is increasingly important, he adds. People want more authenticity and information about the foods and beverages they consume. And in foodie culture, “coffee is up there with wine in terms of interest.”
Connect with more sophisticated consumers by highlighting your methodology. Emphasize how the right roasting and brewing techniques can help them get the most out of their coffee.
This value of craftsmanship can be seen in the development of new, innovated brew methods and the growth of small batch coffee. Ultimately, today’s consumers are looking for the best possible cup.
What trends are you seeing in coffee consumption – and what do you think will happen next? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
NCA Member Exclusive: “Coffee Outlook 2017” on-demand webinar playback and presentation slides (Not a member? Learn more about the benefits of joining the NCA!)
For more coffee industry insight, check out upcoming NCA Webinars


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Network Appliance (NTAP) reported strong fiscal 2007 results, but cut its first quarter outlook due to a technology slowdown in March. Network Appliance, which sells storage gear, called March an "air pocket" and said business rebounded in April. However, officials declined to forecast the IT spending prognosis for May and beyond.
Now this March blip has surfaced in many quarters and has been mentioned by numerous technology vendors. Unfortunately, we won't know whether March was a fluke or something worse until companies report earnings again in July.
Worries about IT spending overshadowed any good news about Network Appliance's quarter. For the record, the company reported fourth quarter net income of $89.6 million, or 23 cents a share, on revenue of $801.2 million. The results were strong and for the year Network Appliance reported net income of $298 million on revenue of $2.8 billion.
For now here's what Network Appliance CEO Dan Warmenhoven had to say on a conference call:
It just took longer to close deals in the second half of the quarter, but our fundamentals remain intact with petabytes up, solid system sales, healthy software contributions, new low-end coming, and a competitive position that is as strong as it ever has been. So although our pace for the first quarter doesn't have the benefit of typical backlog going in, our pipeline points toward more normal business levels going forward. What remains to be seen is whether sales velocity is also returning to more normal patterns.
Later in the call, Warmenhoven added:
Through the first half of this Q4, it felt very much like Q4 of last year. We were running a little bit behind linearity but nothing real through a major. In fiscal year ’06, we saw the last six or seven weeks of the quarter get really strong and that never happened here until about the last four weeks. So everything kind of slowed down during the calendar month of March and I know we had a really good bookings activity. I think first time we booked 0.5 billion in the month in April, so it was really strong. But it wasn't enough to recover the shortfall that occurred in our fiscal month of March. And this slightly up selling with some of the other storage vendors, this is not unique to NetApp, right? The entire industry slowed down if you listen to the calls from some of the companies you follow, they referred to the same kind of thing and their growth rates were significantly lower, right?
My take: What caused the reticence in March? Was it the February stock market swoon? Unfortunately we don't know as those CIO IT spending surveys aren't turning up a lot. Meanwhile, NetApp isn't going to be a lot of help since May is when the company reorganizes its sales team. In a nutshell, May is a rough month regardless of the economy.
As the for April bounce, Warmenhoven noted that sales were juiced by incentives. The only thing Warmenhoven was sure about was that competitors weren't taking share from NetApp. "I'll tell you what I believe. It had nothing to do with any competitor. It had nothing to do with anybody like IBM. This is strictly macroeconomic," said Warmenhoven.
Hopefully everybody feels better about the economy now, if the stock market is an indication of that they've certainly recovered from the March periods, but if you'll recall a period of March, every vendor was seeing a slowdown, Greenspan was on the stage talking about probably a recession in the U.S. economy in the second half of the year and everybody was nervous about the impact to the consumer spending of the blow-up in the housing market, etcetera, and it's very clear that the U.S. enterprise accounts got very cautious.


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"future of publishing" entries
Publishing News: The threat of censorship, from a non-government entity
PayPal is censoring, pirates are opportunities, and newspapers are doomed.
PayPal's demand on Smashwords is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Elsewhere, proposals to get publishers past piracy and a newspaper study reports grim results.
Publishing News: Apple's textbook foray may not be as disruptive as it hoped
Apple takes on textbooks, an insider dishes on publishing denial, and how SOPA would affect publishing.
Apple’s big event this week marked the first step in its disruption of education — or did it? Elsewhere, a publishing insider calls it like it is, and (finally) the SOPA/PIPA discussion includes the publishing industry.
Open Question: Is it realistic for publishers to cut Amazon out of the equation?
Charlie Stross argued that publishers are cutting their own throats with DRM. But should we drop DRM or just drop Amazon?
Author Charlie Stross argued recently that Amazon's growing position toward a monopoly can largely be attributed to publishers' use of DRM. A back-channel discussion brewed about whether cutting Amazon out of the picture entirely would be a viable solution.
A war story, a Kindle Single, and hope for long-form journalism
Marc Herman on why he published "The Shores of Tripoli" as a Kindle Single.
Instead of walking his latest long-form story door to door, freelance journalist Marc Herman decided to blaze his own trail — he published the story as a Kindle Single. In this interview he talks about the Kindle Single experience and offers his take on the future of journalism.
Research and restraint: Two more things to add to your digital publishing toolkit
"Breaking the Page" author Peter Meyers on the tools, tech and future of digital publishing.
Since 2009, Peter Meyers has immersed himself in the tools and companies in the digital publishing world. Here he shares what he's learned, who's doing digital publishing well, and what's surprised him.
Exposing content via APIs
Fluidinfo's Terry Jones on the role of APIs in the future of publishing.
APIs enable developers to work with your content like a box of Legos, building solutions you may never have dreamed of. In this TOC podcast, Fluidinfo CEO Terry Jones says the real world is "writable" and describes how APIs can offer powerful publishing solutions.


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End Of The Campaign
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This reference to music is not because advertising as a business is facing the music — though it is a different matter that it is. But the business is seeing familiar concepts disappear as many senior executives, both from advertising agencies and the clients' side, have openly started talking about the move away from advertising campaigns. "From a creative standpoint a lot of people have started talking about the death of a campaign," agrees Sam Balsara, chairperson, Madison World. He finds support from Hemant Bakshi, executive director, home and personal care, Hindustan Unilever, who says: "Do we see the end of the campaign, as we knew it? I would agree."
Before getting into why the campaign is nearing its end, let us first understand what it originally meant. Executive director and CEO of Draftfcb+Ulka, Ambi M.G. Parameswaran, says, "The original idea of a campaign was meant to be like a war campaign, or an election campaign. It has an objective, it has a deadline and it has a budget." That definition still stands. But what has changed is the time frame.
Previously brands ran campaigns around major events (like a sports tournament) or during peak sales seasons in a given year. Now the twin factors of unprecedented choice being offered in the marketplace and the emergence of digital media have changed the rules of the game for marketers. For instance, with consumers getting inundated with more and more choice — in 2011, the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector alone had more than 120,000 SKUs (stock-keeping units) — there are more brands directing their sales pitch at the same set of consumers. For brands, this has become something like striking a conversation inside a jam-packed cricket stadium.
That has taken a heavy toll on time-tested formulas like the 30-second television commercial. "The days of a campaign primarily as a 30-seconder are dead, finished and gone," says Bakshi. However, it is not to say that the television commercial will not exist in the future. But it will be only one of the several components that go into the making of a larger marketing plan of a brand, he adds. "We may have audio-visual advertising, but it may never appear on television, and may be delivered to consumers through hand-held devices," says Parameswaran.
Today, brands have to be present and salient to consumers across a longer period of time than in the past. Jon Cook, CEO and president, VML, a global digital marketing agency, says it implies that brands are moving from responding to bursts of activity a couple of times in a year to being "always on for 365 days".
Rohit Ohri, executive chairman, Dentsu India, agrees. "Being current and salient is so important today. The shelf life of ideas and excitement is so small that you need to have small packets of it throughout the year. So, one cannot aim for one large burst of a campaign. That era is over," he says. To be sure, this is not just a phase. This is the new reality. "If anyone thinks that they can wait for the chaos to subside and then they can navigate this world will be completely wrong. Because this will only get worse," Ohri adds.
What advertisers and marketers have to do is navigate brands through the chaos. "Agencies and marketers understand that the rules that made us successful in the past will not make us successful in the future. It is true for all of us," says Bakshi.
The New Way Of Life
The first of the new rules: "From a ready-aim-fire world it has become a ready-fire-aim world," says Nakul Chopra, CEO, South Asia, at advertising agency Publicis. What exactly does he mean by that? In aiming, people have as much of a role to play as the brand does, explains Chopra. Increasingly, consumers opt to go and stand in place of the target audience, while earlier the target was defined.
It is a much more democratic world of brands. The manufacturer or the agency no longer has the unilateral right to say that the brand can only move in a particular direction. "People have as much of a say in deciding which way the brand is going to go. As long as we recognise the fact, we are okay. Else we will have to suffer the consequences," says Chopra.
Is advertising suffering as a consequence? Maybe not, as the ability of the advertising business to take its ideas to people, too, has increased manifold.
Agencies like Dentsu are of the view that the answer lies in being current. "Currency is the only currency," says Ohri. If brands cannot be connected, current and relevant now, they won't be around two years later. "The only way you can navigate is to try and make your brand exciting every day," adds Ohri. That is where the marriage of technology and ideas take brand engagement with consumers to another level. Technology gives brands a chance to stay connected, quickly alter, change, and be current every day. In comparison, if a brand relied only on that large-budget television commercial, it is there as long as it is on air. Then, the brand is not going to be making another film for six months unless it wants to bust the bank.
That means brands need to take a leap towards what Cook advocates: "We have never put enough of a premium on listening and responding. In an always-on environment we need to be constantly listening, and optimise our message accordingly." He cites the instance of beverage major PepsiCo's sports drink brand Gatorade that has adopted an always-on approach in its marketing efforts. The brand set up a team tasked with tracking brand conversations happening across the world on social media through an effort called "mission control". This was primarily to stem the sliding sales of the sports beverage.
By listening to online conversations that consumers were having about the brand, the team was able to figure out that consumers were moving away from some variants of Gatorade because of the calorie content. One insight was that the red colour of the beverage made consumers perceive it to be heavier. Using that insight, Gatorade launched a clear variant. In an always-on scenario, you need to focus on not just the communication insights, but also keep a lookout for the strategic insights, says Cook.
Others like Coca-Cola say that the current environment means that brands need a "tent pole idea". For instance, in the case of telecom major Airtel, "friends and connections" is the central thought, like "open happiness" is to Coke. Airtel can stretch the central idea through the year in various formats and for different products such as Airtel Money or Airtel Music. "Clients, the owners of the core idea, now have to deal with multiple partners who have to express that idea in a particular way," says R. Balki, chairman, Lowe Lintas and Partners.
The TV commercial might disappear as the primary means of communicating with consumers, but video might not. Says Bakshi, "The thought that went into the making of a fantastic television advertisement will remain unchanged. A great television advertisement is single-minded; it is focused on one message that engages the consumer; it is entertaining and yet branded; those principles will not change. But your campaign will now go through multiple touch points. That will change."
Stretch The Buck
If the touch points are going to be multiple, and if the conversations are going to be ongoing, then media spending patterns will have to be revisited. In some ways they already are. For instance, the spends on digital have gone up three-fold in the past five years. "Spending patterns will definitely change. The stage will come where brands will seed a campaign and then it will expose itself through various media over time," says Shashi Sinha, CEO of media services agency, Lodestar Universal. He adds that this means that brands will need a stronger and broader core thought, which cannot be just a television script. "The connection of freshness, friends or love cannot go away with any single brand story. It has to be enduring," he says.
Balsara agrees that it is time everyone starts thinking actively on how to stretch the media rupee. "From a media point of view, not enough attention is being given to the weeks on air. Given the relative low scale of most brands, it is a fallacy to focus so much more on reach and so much less on frequency. Maximising weeks on air must be important," he says.
That also means that the amount of work has also multiplied, compared to the past, in both traditional and non-traditional media for advertising agencies. Bakshi clearly feels that both clients and agencies should take a look at how consumers at the top end are consuming content, because that's pretty much the way the rest of the market might move. "We need to be a part of that. I personally think that many of us have not completely understood the change that's coming our way," he says.
The advertising industry has certainly evolved from time to time. There was a time when even print advertising was an alien concept, as was radio and then, television. Advertising executives say that this ideas-without-borders is the new way and that somebody needs to step forward and write the new way in which advertising will communicate.
No wonder people like Balki of Lowe Lintas and Partners say that one is seeing the beginning of the campaign as we knew it. "An idea has become more sacrosanct today and the medium is an expression of the idea. The age-old theory of the idea being at the centre of communication is truer than ever before".
(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 06-08-2012)


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IKEA Confirms Milwaukee-Area Store
The rumors about IKEA coming to Milwaukee started earlier this week, and now the home retailer is confirming a store will come to the Milwaukee-area in a press release sent out Wednesday night.
There are only 41 IKEA stores in the U.S. The Milwaukee-area store would be the 42nd. There are no IKEA stores in Wisconsin and the closest stores are in Bolingbrook and Schaumburg, IL and Bloomington, MN.
The Ikea will open the Summer of 2018 in Oak Creek.
Ikea has already 206,000 customers in the Milwaukee area.
The store will be 295,000 square feet with 1,200 parking spots. It will be one level.
Ikea will employee 250 employees. Oak Creek's mayor said roughly 500 will be employed in the construction of the Ikea.
The store will be built on 30 acres of land on the east side of South 20th Street, just north of Drexel Avenue, along the west side of I-94.
Oak Creek Mayor Stephen Scaffidi has been dropping hints about the store on his Twitter account all week.
Everybody knows green and gold are my favorite colors, but gotta say blue and yellow are a close second...— Stephen Scaffidi (@OCMayorSteve) May 4, 2016
Oak Creek's Mayor said the coming of Ikea will bring a lot of jobs to the area, "We are talking about thousands and thousands of jobs created in the last three years, and probably an equal amount going forward. So that's what I'm really excited about."
But not everyone is excited, Stacy Potter lives across from the store. She says it will create a lot of traffic and ruin the peace of her two acre home, "I'm not too happy about it, I'm a fan of Ikea but I'd rather have to drive to Chicago, not have it right in my front yard."
Ikea representatives say they are putting in an application with the city this week to get the construction approved.


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Your prescription drug is “FDA approved,” but what does that mean? For starters, where was that pill actually made? Who monitored or inspected the drug manufacturing facility? Who tested the quality, purity and safety of the pill you’re about to swallow? Did anyone?
About one-fourth of generic drugs sold by volume in the U.S. come from facilities in India, according to a report by Bloomberg’s Ketaki Gokhale and Adi Narayan, Flies Found By FDA Threaten Indian Town Built on Generics. The FDA is obviously is unable to effectively monitor the production of drugs throughout the entire world. However, in January, the FDA made a surprise visit to a drug producing facility in Toansa in a rural area north of New Delhi, India. The results of that visit and inspection are important to anyone who will have to trust that the next “FDA approved” pill they swallow has been properly produced.
The owner of the factory complex that the FDA inspected in Toansa is Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.. Ranbaxy is one of India’s largest drugmakers and has for years produced ingredients for dozens of pharmaceuticals sold to Americans, including AstraZeneca Plc’s top-selling heartburn medication Nexium, as well as its own generic copies of drugs including Pfizer Inc.’s Lipitor.
The FDA’s inspection identified “significant” violations of FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices. According to the FDA, the violations included Toansa staff retesting raw materials, intermediate drug products, and finished API after those items failed analytical testing and specifications in order to produce acceptable findings, and subsequently not reporting or investigating these failures. The FDA found broken equipment, windows stuck open and flies “too numerous to count,” according to the FDA’s report of its inspection.
On January 23, the FDA notified Ranbaxy that the company is prohibited from manufacturing and distributing active pharmaceutical ingredients from its facility in Toansa for FDA-regulated drug products. Following that ban, Ranbaxy announced it was voluntarily stopping production at a second facility, a plant in Dewas, India. The Dewas facility was the subject of an FDA warning letter in 2008 that expressed concern that penicillin-based and non-penicillin-based antibiotics could become mixed due to lax cleanliness standards shown by workers there.
Last year, Ranbaxy agreed to a $500 million settlement in the U.S., in which it admitted it sold batches of drugs that were improperly manufactured, stored and tested. It also pleaded guilty to four felony counts of knowingly making false statements to the FDA.
The Bloomberg report notes that Indian companies sold about $5 billion worth of generics to the U.S. in the year that ended March 2013. Drug manufacturing in India costs about half as much as in Western industrialized countries and India’s wage costs are about one-fifth of the level in the U.S., according to Bloomberg. Although Ranbaxy supposedly requires a month of training for workers who handle chemicals, Gokhale and Narayan quote workers who received only a few days of training before performing such work.
There are more than 11,000 FDA-regulated drugs on the market and nearly one hundred more approved each year. If you think the FDA has tested these drugs and determined the drugs are safe and effective before approving them, think again.
FDA approved drugs have actually been tested only by the same drug companies that plan to profit from selling the drugs they test. The FDA does not test the drugs. One more time: the FDA does not test the drugs. You can read more about “The Myth of ‘FDA Approved’ and Drug Safety” here.
At Heygood, Orr & Pearson, we believe when a drug company sells a drug or medical device that is dangerous and unsafe they should be held responsible for the damage caused by doing so. We have spent years holding drug companies and medical device manufacturers responsible for the injuries and deaths caused by their reckless conduct. From dangerous fentanyl pain patches to defective hip and knee implant devices to dangerous prescription drugs such as Yaz, Actos, Avandia and Accutane, we have made it a career priority to hold drug manufacturers accountable and responsible for their actions.
The lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson are trial attorneys in the truest sense. We are as comfortable before a judge and jury as we are drafting a legal brief. In fact, every one of our attorneys has trial experience, ranging from auto accident cases to commercial fraud cases to pharmaceutical liability cases. Our attorneys have tried over 200 cases to verdict and we have achieved verdicts and settlements for our clients totaling more than $200 million. Most importantly, we are all committed to bringing the highest standards of ethics and a passion for justice to every client and every case.
Heygood, Orr & Pearson has the resources and experience to protect your rights against irresponsible pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. If you have been injured or have lost someone you care about because of defective or dangerous prescription drugs or medical devices, you deserve to have the manufacturer held responsible for such and deserve proper compensation. Contact us for a free consultation to find out more about your legal options.


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Altria Group, Inc. : Altria to Host Webcast from the Barclays Back-To-School Consumer Conference on September 5, 2012
08/29/2012| 11:05am US/Eastern
Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) (NYSE: MO) will host a webcast of its
business presentation at the Barclays Back-To-School Consumer Conference
in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at
approximately 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time.
The webcast will feature presentations by Marty Barrington, Altria's
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Howard Willard, Altria's
Executive Vice President and CFO. The webcast will be in a listen-only
mode. Pre-event registration is necessary; directions are posted at
altria.com. An archived copy of the webcast will be available until
December 31, 2012, at altria.com.
Altria Client Services
© Business Wire 2012


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Following up on word last week that the version 1.4 patch for Battlefield 2 would be released today (story), EA Europe announces that this will not happen as planned, as some problems were discovered as the patch was being reviewed. They expect to have an update on when the patch will be available sometime tomorrow.
All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
News CGI copyright © 1999-2016 James "furn" Furness &
All rights reserved.
Chatbear v1.4.0/blue++: Page generated 13 February 2016, 21:22.


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"WTVOX Magazine has provided us with unparalleled insights into the fashion industry, from understanding niche consumer behaviours to global market movements. We've interacted with tech-savvy and conscious readers, learned from their comments and demands for innovation in fashion, but innovation with a scope; for a better industry and a cleaner world," said Laurenti Arnault, co-founder and Wardrobe of Tomorrow CEO.
"Wardrobe of Tomorrow is more than just another e-commerce platform for fashion but the first step towards a cleaner, more conscious fashion world. It is the home of both, conscious fashion designers that 'create with a mission', by putting the planet, animals, and the environment at the core of what they do, and fashion buyers that want to be proud of their fashion choices," explained Arnault. "We've pondered a lot on what the best name for such a unique marketplace should be. It had to be both simple for people to remember and comprehensive enough to encapsulate the ongoing innovations in fashion, to reflect the labels we carefully select, to resonate with the conscious consumers and with the choices they make. 'Wardrobe of Tomorrow' signifies the fashion of a never-ending tomorrow, a place of innovative products and brands, better choices, better people, and overall, a better future," said Rueen Amiriara, co-founder and CMO at Wardrobe of Tomorrow. "Wardrobe of Tomorrow is a world's first in so many ways. It is the world's first marketplace to promote only cruelty-free and eco-friendly luxury fashion. It is the world's first platform that gives conscious fashion designers voice on a global scale. We are constantly selecting, vetting and onboarding with great care an elite of cruelty-free and sustainable fashion brands from all over the world, making Wardrobe of Tomorrow their premier destination," Amiriara added. While the decision to host exclusively high-end and luxury labels on Wardrobe of Tomorrow might seem somehow counterintuitive - given the platform's overall construct of doing good by putting sustainability and animal welfare at its core, the choice is based on rigorous market research and years of business expertise. "We envision a world where everybody wears cruelty-free and sustainable fashion. However, the fastest way to accelerate market adoption is through a trickle-down process, as the luxury segment has always been the trendsetter and at the forefront of innovation," added Arnault. (RR)
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Dua Lipa is obsessed with fashion. Whether she’s wearing custom neon Balenciaga bodysuits for the Miami leg of her Future Nostalgia world tour, or head-to-toe Versace straight off the runway on a casual day, the pop superstar has a knack for serving jaw-dropping looks. And of late, Dua has developed a real taste for London brand JW Anderson.
In her latest Instagram photo dump, the 26-year-old wears a red and white tracksuit from JW Anderson’s autumn/winter 2022 collection (look 22, to be exact about it). But this isn’t Dua’s first time wearing pieces by creative director Jonathan Anderson. Just days before, the singer posted a series of backstage shots that featured a slouchy blue pair of trousers adorned with a graphic cartoon print from the brand’s autumn/winter 2022 menswear collection.
Earlier this year, the singer posed in the cutest JW Anderson strawberry knit sweater vest from its resort 2022 collection. Plus, she’s been seen out and about carrying the brand’s Bumper bag, which is fast becoming an It-girl favourite. The verdict? Dua is a JW Anderson fan girl through and through.


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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – ZooTampa’s holiday tradition “Christmas in the Wild” will return this year, beginning on Nov. 26.
The event will take place on 18 select nights throughout the holiday season, complete with light displays, holiday treats, animal mingles and holiday music.
ZooTampa said in a press release this year will be “bigger, better and brighter than ever,” with six new zones of holiday lights and entertainment.
Here’s what’s new to Christmas In The Wild at the zoo this year, in addition to the new light displays:
- The Forest of Fantasy: Two new light shows will illuminate the “manatee circle” at the entrance of the zoo, starting at sunset. Shows are every 15 minutes.
- Photo Spots: Instagram-able photo opportunity areas are posted throughout the zoo, including the chance to snap a picture in front of a 30-foot tall Christmas tree adorned with lights and ornaments.
- Ice Cavern: The Africa tunnel of the zoom will be “transformed into a winter wonderland” this holiday season.
- Wallaroo Wrap Party: Guests can boogy with Santa’s elves and join in some reindeer games with Randolph the Reindeer in the Wallaroo area of the zoo.
- Ticky Tacky Christmas: “See Roaring Springs transformed into ‘Tacky Christmas,’ where holiday decorations get silly,” the zoo said.
- Animal Giving Tree: Guests can give gifts to the animals that call ZooTampa home via a scannable QR code. This opportunity to give back is located next to the Binturong habitat.
Returning favorites include the candy cane carousel, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, visits with Santa at the “Twinkle Town” marketplace, the Kaleidoscope Tunnel, Caribbean Christmas in the Key West portion of the zoo and more.
Christmas in the Wild will take place on select nights from Nov. 26 through Dec. 20 from either 4-10 p.m. or 4-9 p.m. depending on the date.
General admission is $29.95 per person and can be purchased online. Annual members and “Pay for a Day, Come Back All Year” ticket holders will pay a $5 reservation fee, which will be redeemed at the gate in the form of a $5 voucher, valid for food and merchandise on the night of the reservation.
Entry to the event is limited and advanced purchased tickets and reservations are strongly encouraged by the zoo, as it is the only way to guarantee admission.


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Grooveshark’s mascot Pickles – neither grooving, nor a shark. Discuss.
Grooveshark has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2006, when three University of Florida undergrad students founded the music download service in Gainesville, Florida. Since then, the company has become an international online music streaming service/search engine, with more than 17 million users and between 50 to 60 million songs streamed per month.
The Grooveshark staff has consequently expanded to over 70 team members, and the core of that group – including Creative Director/Co-Founder Josh Greenberg and Vice President of Music Industry Relations and Business Development/Full Sail grad Aaron Ford – recently visited campus to talk to students from the Web Development & Design, Game Development, Recording Arts, Music Business, and Entertainment Business programs about the company, its history, and its plans for the future.
Answering questions from students in the Entertainment Business Auditorium throughout the lecture, the Grooveshark presenters shared stories about the trials and tribulations that the site went through in its earlier stages. They also shared some insight about how their business plan has evolved over the years, how they’ve dealt with legal copyright issues that they’ve come across, the company’s philosophy and culture, and their plans to incorporate more elements of social networking in future incarnations of the site.


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Fat cats are still finding the cream
ATTEMPTS to crack down on fat cat excess are faltering with nearly half of the UK's top 400 companies failing to implement measures aimed at curbing overblown pay packages for top directors.
BAE Systems, Airtours and pub chain Wetherspoon are among the 49% of companies that flouted a shareholder recommendation that only independent non-executive directors should set bosses' pay. Critics say the measure is ineffectual, as it did nothing to prevent scandals such as the Marconi and Railtrack payoffs to failed executives.
The Government recently announced steps to give investors the right to vote on boardroom pay in the wake of the Marconi scandal.
The National Association of Pension Funds, representing powerful company retirement schemes, also found that 41% of firms are also disregarding shareholders' wishes by giving contracts to directors with more than 12 months' notice, enabling directors who fail to perform to walk away with several years' money.
Four out of five companies fall short on corporate governance. Other recommendations include separating the chairman and chief executive jobs, and appointing a senior non-executive responsible for spearheading any criticism of the management. The NAPF's Chris Baldry said: 'Examples of mismanagement remain all too frequent.'
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Trivandrum: Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading not-for-profit professional membership association for the project management profession, organized Hatch 2020, The Startup Summit on January 18th at The Hilton Garden Inn, Trivandrum. Hatch 2020 is a unique platform created to boost the startup ecosystem in India and its very first event attracted over 50 startup entrepreneurs. PMI’s objective for organizing this summit is to create awareness around how structured project management techniques can become the key to their project success and emphasize why a startup needs to integrate a formal project management methodology into their work ethos.
The purpose of the summit was also to bring together industry stalwarts from the startup sphere across different verticals to share their successful startup stories. The summit provided an opportunity to budding entrepreneurs for showcasing their startup idea in front of angel investors and HNIs and also to network and collaborate with them. The inaugural session by Mr. Vineesh Kathuria, MD at SenseAI Ventures aptly addressed the most dreaded term in startups – Failure. He related the real-life challenges he had faced while launching his own startup, including raising funds, and finding the right partners.
Commenting on the summit, Dr. Srini Srinivasan, Managing Director, PMI India, said, “We are extremely excited to provide a platform for enthusiastic entrepreneurs to share their ideas and success stories in partnership with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM). Through this initiative, we at PMI India intend to empower startups with relevant project management frameworks and toolkits, which will improve their business agility that being an important element for their success and growth.”
Dr. Krishnakumar T. I., President, PMI Kerala India Chapter, said, “We are delighted with the response and the ideas shared by these young entrepreneurs. We will continue to provide opportunities to them through seminars, open forums and other professional programs that PMI Kerala India Chapter organizes regularly. Also, this initiative will go a long way in establishing strong networks for startup professionals in the future.”
PMI India honoured KSUM team for their recent achievements to support startup industry’s growth. KSUM has been a key facilitator in building the culture of Startups in Kerala, one of the most revered startup ecosystems in the country.
Dr. Saji Gopinath, CEO, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), said, “We are happy to partner with PMI to encourage and facilitate the startup industry in Kerala. With this initiative, we plan to address the typical challenges that startups have to overcome viz. time to market, testing unexplored markets and new products, etc. We believe that in addition to providing the basic amenities, governmental support, and industry connect, the entrepreneurs must be well equipped with project management tools and methodologies to achieve their goals.”
The event’s morning session had startup presentations from Ibis Fresh, Johnson Medicom, Inforich Technology, Significant Online, Jansree, Screen Fuel Productions, to name a few. Post lunch session started with short pitches by startups under KSUM. The startups that showcased their concepts were DaaD.io (Digital Arts Academy for the Deaf), Hirestaar (Kerala’s first integrated job portal), TravelSPOC (One of India’s leading online travel enabler companies). Other exciting startups at the event included pitches from Freelance.DC, Forfit Technologies, Irahloom, Potafo, FlockForge and Dreemsrock.
Another important segment during the event was the panel discussion moderated by Dr. Krishnakumar, President, PMI Kerala India Chapter and joined by panellists viz. Ashok Kurian, Head Business Linkages & Incubation, Nishore C L, Director Engineering Services, CTS and Brajesh Kaimal, Director, Experion Technologies and founder member of PMI Kerala Chapter. The discussion on Startups and Start-ins as the real future encouraged many to clarify their queries on overcoming challenges by startups.


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Before taping his segment on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno on Thursday, President Obama stopped by an electric-car testing facility in Pomona, Calif., to announce a $2.4 billion grant program to help the development of electric vehicles.
From The Los Angeles Times:
The new $2.4 billion grant program, which would be part of his recovery program, would ask companies to compete for federal money to increase the manufacturing of batteries and parts used in the electric cars.
Before speaking to the crowd gathered on the factory floor of the Electric Vehicle Technical Center this morning, the president spent about 20 minutes touring the center with Edison International’s C.E.O. and a top engineer.
After viewing the company’s model for a “garage of the future” — where an electric car battery would be charged each night with energy drawn from solar panels on the garage roof — Obama toured the battery-testing center and questioned engineers about what government could do to help advance the technologies.
The Mission One electric motorcycle: 150 miles per hour (and per charge).
At the recent edition of the venerable TED (Technology, Education and Design) Conference, Mission Motors rolled out what the company calls the world’s fastest production electric motorcycle.
Didn’t know that was a category? The story is less about the promised 150-mile-an-hour top speed than the estimated 150-mile range per charge.
Mission Motors was founded in San Francisco in 2007 by three engineers: Forrest North, who was a battery engineer at Tesla Motors, Edward West and Mason Cabot. The design was the work of Yves Behar of Fuseproject, noted for his work on the One Laptop Per Child program. Mr. Behar took advantage of the absence of a gas tank to reshape the motorcycle, using a honeycomb skin.
Sound like a world changer? Here’s the fine print (located above the online reservation form): “We are now accepting reservations for the Premier Limited Edition of the Mission One, limited to 50 numbered units to be delivered in 2010 … The deposit amount is $5,000, and the sales price is $68,995.”
An electric Smart Fortwo on display in Detroit. (Rob Widdis/European Pressphoto Association)
DETROIT — Tesla Motors announced that it will supply electric battery packs and chargers to Daimler AG for an electric version of the Smart car.
The companies have been working together for more than a year, said Mike Donoughe, Tesla’s executive vice president for vehicle engineering. The initial contract is for 1,000 vehicles, but Tesla said the deal could grow to tens of thousands.
A fleet of 100 electric Smart Fortwos is currently being tested in London. Those cars are not using Tesla batteries, reports The Los Angeles Times.
As a supplier to Daimler, Tesla will achieve volumes considerably higher than what it is used to. Tesla’s lone model, the Roadster, is an exclusive $109,000 sports car. So far, only 115 Roadsters have been sold, said Tesla, and it has orders for about 1,500 more. Tesla says the Smart contract will help the company revive its five-passenger electric sedan project, as well as plans for a more affordable car.
Until then, Tesla will rely on its roadster line, which begins sales in Europe this spring. A $129,000 Roadster Sport arrives on the market in June. The Sport will go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the standard model.
From our colleagues at Bits:
In the race to make the lithium-ion batteries that will run the electric cars of the future, the United States is losing to Asian countries, and start-ups and big companies need to band together to build a lithium-ion battery industry in the United States, said Jim Greenberger.
Mr. Greenberger, a lawyer specializing in clean technology who organized a new alliance of lithium-ion battery makers made up of 14 big companies, like 3M, and start-ups, like ActaCell.
“The great age of automobiles lies ahead of us, not behind us,” said Mr. Greenberger, who heads the clean-tech practice at the law firm Reed Smith and advises clean-technology venture capital firms and start-ups.
The group, called the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture, took a page from the chip industry’s playbook. It is modeled after Sematech, which in the 1980s raised $990 million in federal grants and private investment to keep semiconductor manufacturing in the United States.
The alliance plans to introduce a proposal in Congress in January to raise $1 billion to $2 billion for lithium-ion battery manufacturing in the United States.
The ultimate goal, according to Mr. Greenberger: “We’re going to start to be able to manufacture cars in the United States again, on a basis that’s competitive with the Asians.” Read more.
A production line in the Think Global factory. (John Hugues/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)
It’s been a wild month for Think Global, the Norwegian electric carmaker. Early this month, the company announced upbeat plans to increase production of its tiny plastic-bodied City from 2,500 to 10,000 cars annually by the end of 2009 and expand throughout Europe and into the United States. The car had already gone on sale in Scandinavia.
But this week it all appears to be crashing down. Richard Canny, Think’s chief executive, held a news conference on Monday announcing that Think desperately needed $14.5 million to $29 million in loan guarantees from the Norwegian government to continue financing its short-term operations. Mr. Canny said that without government money Think would halt production, with the hope of restarting it early next year. He also said up to 70 percent of Think employees would be laid off.
The financing was denied soon afterward.
Rikke Lind, Norway’s deputy minister of trade and industry, told Reuters that many Norwegian companies are in difficulty. “The government cannot go in on the ownership side or provide loans to specific companies in today’s situation,” she said.
But in an e-mail message on Wednesday, Mr. Canny said that events were “changing quickly” and that government funding remained a possibility.
“We are very grateful for the ongoing support of our existing shareholders,” Mr. Canny said. “And we appreciate the encouraging news that the Norwegian government may take actions which would put in place a plan for the ‘clean car’ sector of the Norwegian automotive industry, similar to those recently announced in Sweden and the U.S. Funding for green technology in the automotive sector is an urgent global priority.” Read more…
From our colleagues at Green Inc.:
Whether or not a bailout for Detroit comes through, battery makers are anticipating a rosy future for electric cars.
Lithium-ion car batteries are more compact than the more common nickel-based ones, since lithium is one of the lightest elements. And while few cars on the road are using lithium-ion, acquisitions are in the air.
Panasonic is trying to buy a majority stake in Sanyo, a leading maker of lithium-ion batteries, despite opposition from Goldman Sachs, a big Sanyo shareholder.
Warren Buffett recently decided to buy a 10 percent stake in a Chinese car-battery maker.
Samsung and Robert Bosch announced in September that they would enter into a joint venture to make lithium-ion automotive batteries.
And Andy Grove, former head of Intel, the chip-maker, is advocating for Intel to get into the car battery business, according to a Wall Street Journal story last week. Read more here.
The rising interest in vehicles powered by electricity — either part-time, as in hybrids like the Toyota Prius, or in battery-only cars like the Tesla Roadster — has increased the pressure to develop more efficient devices to store the power. Progress has been steady, but huge breakthroughs have not emerged from the research labs.
The baby-step pace is prompting automakers to move cautiously with their production plans. Toyota, which had been expected to use lithium-ion batteries in the next-generation Prius, announced that the car, which goes on sale next spring, will stick with proven nickel-metal hydride chemistry.
Toyota’s engineers were not ready to adopt the compact high-energy, lithium-ion batteries in a mass-production vehicle, opting to run them in test fleets first. Though the company is optimistic about the potential of lithium batteries, challenges in their durability and operating temperature ranges remain.
While General Motors, Mitsubishi and Nissan have announced plans to employ such batteries in the future, and each has a battery manufacturer as a partner, Honda has set off in a different direction. Last March, Honda’s president, Takeo Fukui, told Automotive News that “lithium-ion batteries are still not usable from our perspective.” Read more…


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Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is touting its "A" grade it received in a report about food chains that don't use antibiotics in its animal products.
The Denver Mexican food chain (NYSE: CMG) was one of only two major restaurant chains to get an "A" grade in the the " 2017 Chain Reaction III Report and Scorecard," which ranks the 25 largest restaurant chains on their antibiotics policies.
Panera Bread also received an "A" grade in the report created by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Eleven chains received an "F" grade, including Domino's Pizza, Dairy Queen, Sonic, Arby's and Chili's.
“We began serving meat from animals raised without antibiotics in 1999 and continue to be a leader in this area today,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and CEO of Chipotle, in a statement.
The company's efforts to report good news comes after a summer of bad news reports, including another norovirus outbreak in July and a video of a mice wandering around a Chipotle in Dallas; and a sexual harassment suit earlier this month in California.
Read more at the Denver Business Journal: http://bit.ly/2wZwBdO


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The cosmetics retailer Sephora has opened a store inside JC Penney department store in Orlando Fashion Square mall.
The 2,200-square-foot store near the first-floor mall entrance, sells makeup, skin-care, perfume and bath products.
The store opened recently, but it is celebrating its grand opening today.
People were waiting in line when the store opened at 10 a.m., authorities said. The retailer gave gift cards to the first 100 customers.


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iQOO is gearing up to launch the iQOO Z3 5G smartphone in India. The iQOO Z3 will mark the debut of the iQOO Z series in the country. To recall, the iQOO Z3 launched a couple of months back in China. A couple of days back, iQOO had revealed that the upcoming iQOO Z3 will be an amazon exclusive. Now, ahead of the launch, the micro-site for the iQOO Z3 has gone live on amazon.in revealing some of the key specifications of the device. The micro-sire reveals that the upcoming iQOO Z3 will pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G 5G mobile processor, and 8GB RAM.
iQOO Z3 5G micro-site goes live on Amazon!
iQOO, via amazon micro-site, has confirmed that the upcoming iQOO Z3 5G will pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G mobile processor that is built on a 7nm fabrication process. The smartphone is confirmed to retail in an 8GB RAM variant in the country. The iQOO Z3 will also offer 3GB extended RAM, to learn more about this feature, head over to this link. Over the next few days, iQOO will share more teasers revealing the features of the upcoming iQOO Z3 5G.
iQOO Z3 5G: Specifications, and Features
The smartphone has already launched in China, so everything is known about the upcoming device in terms of specifications. The handset features a 6.58-inch FHD+ LCD display with a 2408×1080 pixel resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate. The handset packs up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, and up to 256 UFS 2.2 storage. The Chinese variant of the Z3 boots Android 11 based iQOO UI 1.0, but we can expect it to run Android 11 based FunTouchOS in India.
The iQOO Z3 features a triple-rear camera setup with an LED flash. The primary sensor on the device is a 64MP Samsung ISOCELL GW3 sensor, that gets accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro lens. For selfies and video calls, the handset offers a 16MP shooter on the front.
The iQOO Z3 gets a 4400mAh battery with 55W fast charging support. The device also offers a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a Type-C charging port. The iQOO Z3 is said to launch by mid-June in the country, and could be priced under Rs. 25,000 mark in India.
Thanks for reading till the end of this article. For more such informative and exclusive tech content, head over to our Facebook page and hit the Like button.


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Although using Facebook on-the-fly isn't as terrible as it was a couple of years ago, that's not to say the service is perfect, and recognizing that the mobile presence of his social network is still in need of some new features, Mark Zuckerberg announced the Facebook Home for Android at a special press event last Thursday. Built for the purpose of offering Facebook users on Android a more immersing social experience, Facebook Home is fairly well stocked with useful features including Chat Heads, a unified interface for both SMS and Facebook messages to reside. Although support is limited at this stage, Facebook Home has just been released to the U.S. Google Play Store, and you'll find all the information you need to know right after the break. Earlier this week, Facebook Home APK was leaked onto the web and it worked on most devices.
Rumors of a “Facebook Phone” have been making rounds in the rumor mill for years, with many believing that there is a gap in the market waiting to be filled for a strong social media-powered smartphone. And today, HTC took the wraps off their HTC First Android powered smartphone which will come laced with Facebook Home right out of the box. We got all the details right after the break.
We're just a couple of days away from Facebook's special press event at its California headquarters, and following on from the earlier report that the social network would be bringing forth its own Facebook-orientated launcher, resident spoiler evleaks has come through once again in producing a render of what is alleged to be the HTC device it will initially be primed onto.


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[Editor’s note: The following letter was issued by Karen Vogelsang, executive director of the Essen Trade Shows].
By now, you have probably read that the Reifen trade show is going to be held in Cologne as of 2018.
This statement is incorrect and I would like to clarify it. The Reifen trade show is organized and owned by Messe Essen. The BRV German Tire Association – was a sponsor of the show and has decided to part ways with Messe Essen and try and start a new show in Cologne in 2018. We thank them for their past partnership, however, the world leading Reifen trade show, which you all know and love, will continue to take place in Essen, Germany in 2018 and on. We ask for your continued support and look forward to many more years of cooperation with you.


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The Biden administration on Friday printed a sweeping set of export controls, together with a measure to chop China off from sure semiconductor chips made wherever on this planet with U.S. gear, vastly increasing its attain in its bid to gradual Beijing’s technological and navy advances.
FILE PHOTO – Hi1710 BMC management chip is seen on a Kunpeng 920 chipset desed by Huawei’s Hisilicon subsidiary is on present at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China Could 29, 2019. Image taken Could 29, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee
Oct 7 () – The Biden administration on Friday printed a sweeping set of export controls, consisting of a level to chop China off from constructive semiconductor chips made wherever within the worldwide with U.S. System, vastly rising its attain in its bid to gradual Beijing’s technological and navy advances.
The laws, a few of which cross into affect instantly, assemble on laws despatched in letters prematurely this 12 months to prime toolmakers KLA Corp (KLAC.O), Lam Analysis Corp (LRCX.O) and Utilized Supplies Inc (AMAT.O), effectively requiring them to halt shipments of kit to utterly Chinese language-owned factories producing superior frequent sense chips.
The raft of measures might quantity to the most important shift in U.S. Coverage towards transport know-how to China given that Nineties. If highly effective, they might hobble China’s chip manufacturing enterprise by the use of forcing American and abroad firms that use U.S. Period to scale back off support for a few of China’s principal factories and chip desers.
“This can set the Chinese language returned years,” stated Jim Lewis, a period and cybersecurity skilled on the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research (CSIS), a Washington D.C.-based completely assume tank, who acknowledged the laws harken decrease again to the tough insurance policies of the peak of the Chilly Conflict.
“China is not going to give up on chipmaking … Nevertheless this might sincerely sluggish them (down).”
In a briefing with reporters on Thursday previewing the laws, senior authorities officers acknowledged the assorted measures had been aimed towards stopping abroad companies from promoting superior chips to China or providing Chinese language companies with gear to make their private superior chips. They conceded, nevertheless, that that they had not secured any guarantees that allied nations would implement comparable measures and that discussions with these international locations are ongoing.
“We perceive that the unilateral controls we’re setting into space will lose effectiveness over time if completely different international locations do not be part of us,” one legit acknowledged. “And we probability harming U.S. Expertise management if fore competitors will not be downside to comparable controls.”
The expansion of U.S. Powers to control exports to China of chips made with U.S. Gear is predicated completely on a broadening of the so-referred to as fore direct product rule. It was beforehand prolonged to present the U.S. Authorities authority to control exports of chips made distant locations to Chinese language telecoms big Huawei Applied sciences Co Ltd (HWT.UL) and later to cease the glide of semiconductors to Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
On Friday, the Biden administration carried out the expanded laws to China’s IFLYTEK, Dahua Expertise, and Megvii Expertise, firms added to the entity itemizing in 2019 over allegations they aided Beijing within the suppression of its Uyghur minority group.
The foundations printed on Friday moreover block shipments of a intensive array of chips to be used in Chinese language supercomputing buildings. The foundations define a supercomputer as any gadget with greater than 100 petaflops of computing energy inside a flooring house of 6,4 hundred rectangular ft, a definition that business property stated might also hit a number of enterprise info facilities at Chinese language tech giants.
Eric Sayers, a protection protection skilled on the American Enterprise Institute, stated the transfer shows a brand new bid via the Biden administration to include China’s advances relatively than truly searching for to stage the taking part in space.
“The scope of the rule of thumb and capability influences are fairly stunning nevertheless the satan will of route be throughout the data of implementation,” he launched.
Corporations across the sector began out to battle with the fashionable U.S. Movement, with shares of semiconductor manufacturing gadget makers falling.
The Semiconductor Business Affiliation, which represents chipmakers, acknowledged it turn out to be studying the rules and suggested america to “put into effect the rules in a centered method – and in collaboration with worldwide companions – to assist degree the playing discipline.”
Earlier on Friday, the US launched China’s pinnacle reminiscence chipmaker YMTC and 30 completely different Chinese language entities to a list of organizations that U.S. Officers cannot look into, ratcheting up tensions with Beijing and starting a 60 day-clock that might set off an entire lot more durable penalties. examine extra
Corporations are launched to the unverified itemizing when U.S. Authorities can’t entire on-web web page visits to determine within the occasion that they are often relied on to obtain delicate U.S. Technology, forcing U.S. Suppliers to take further care whereas delivery to them.
Below a brand new coverage launched on Friday, if a government prevents U.S. Officers from undertaking website online exams at organizations positioned on the unverified record, U.S. Authorities will begin the style for together with them to the entity record after 60 days.
Entity record YMTC might enhance already-growing tensions with Beijing and power its U.S. Suppliers to are searching for hard-to-attain licenses from the U.S. Authorities sooner than transport them even the utmost low-tech objects.
The brand new tips may also sificantly restriction export of U.S. System to Chinese language memory chip makers and formalize letters despatched to Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) and Superior Micro Gadgets Inc (AMD) (AMD.O) limiting shipments to China of chips utilized in supercomputing techniques that worldwide places around the sector depend on to extend nuclear weapons and completely different military know-how.
was first to file key data of the model new restrictions on memory chip makers, along with a reprieve for abroad companies working in China and the actions to increase restrictions on shipments to China of applied sciences from KLA, Lam, Utilized Supplies, Nvidia and AMD.
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Please select the article you were looking for from the list below, or perform a new search to narrow down these results.
With Stefano Domenicali leaving as CEO of Automobili Lamborghini SpA, it seems Stephan Winkelmann will return to become CEO again in 2021
By Mark Smeyers on November 17. 2020 in LamboNEWS.
Automobili Lamborghini participated in the 20th edition of the Modena Cento Ore event from Rome to Italy
By Mark Smeyers on October 21. 2020 in LamboEVENTS.
The very first Lamborghini ever made was the 1963, 350 GTV prototype, after being abandoned for 20 years she was restored to perfection
By Mark Smeyers on January 3. 2016 in Classic_gt.
A celebration of la Bella Macchina Italiana at the famous Expo Autoworld in Brussels
By Mark Smeyers on December 30. 2015 in LamboEVENTS.
A look at the history of Lamborghini, from the founding in 1963 over the troublesome 70s, when Chrysler came and Audi takes over in the late 90s to present day
By Mark Smeyers on September 1. 2015 in LamboNEWS.
An amazing collection to celebrate the late Ferruccio Lamborghini showcasing his many achievements including a helicopter
By Mark Smeyers on July 21. 2015 in LamboNEWS.
The original family museum or Centro Polifunzionale Ferruccio created by Tonino Lamborghini in 1995 as a celebration of Ferruccio's legacy
By Mark Smeyers on January 1. 2015 in LamboNEWS.
The man who gave us the most amazing cars ever made sadly passed away 20 years ago, read all about the late Ferruccio Lamborghini in our biography article.
By Mark Smeyers on February 20. 2013 in LamboNEWS.
Ferruccio Lamborghini made his fortune building tractors before he added super exotic cars to his achievements.
By Mark Smeyers on November 20. 2010 in Tractors.
The Lamborghini LMA002 with a Countach sourced V12 up front, almost ready for production
By Mark Smeyers on April 25. 2010 in Off_road.


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March 27, 2012
A man will be charged with aggravated robbery after allegedly using a knife to demand cash from a woman at Florey shops last night, police say.
ACT police issued a statement this morning saying a 28-year-old man would face court today after the incident last night.
“About 7.30pm a woman was leaving the Florey shopping centre when she was approached by a man. The man demanded cash while pointing a knife towards the woman. The woman handed the man a sum of cash after which he walked back towards the shopping centre,” police said.
“A short time later police attended the Florey shopping centre and located the alleged offender. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the ACT Watch House.”


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RockStar Games have unleashed their bad-ass GTA trilogy Kubrick Collectibles into the wild terrain of the Rockstar Warehouse. In the new collection is the rare San Andreas set, which will be available for the first time in the sale and a special new anniversary reissuing of the Vice City set.
GTA fans and Kubricks collectors can also purchase the San Andreas Kubrick Box Set directly from the Rockstar Warehouse. Featuring Carl “CJ” Johnson, Officer Tenpenny, Big Smoke, Ryder, and straight from “The Mothership,” The Truth. The special anniversary set is also back in stock, which includes Tommy Vercetti, Candi Suxx, Lance Vance, Ricardo Diaz, and that bonkers ambulance chaser, and Ken Rosenberg.
You can also pick up the previously released Grand Theft Auto 3 Kubrick Box Set featuring 8-Ball, Claude, Donald Love, Misty and Salvatore Leone. Only 3,000 units were ever released worldwide, and Rockstar are down to less than 200 pieces currently, so you better grab these bargains while you can. After all, who could resist these awesome GTA figures?
Via Rockstar Games


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To bolster public confidence in on-line commerce, two associations have joined forces to establish the Internet equivalent of the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.
The groups, CommerceNet and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have given their effort a name - ETrust - and have created three logos to signify different levels of privacy offered by the Web pages on which they are conferred.
Companies that abide by certain privacy and security standards - agreeing, for instance, not to make customer information available to other companies - can license the Etrust logos and post them on their Web sites.
Currently in a pilot phase, ETrust is intended to boost electronic commerce by giving consumers, banks, and other companies reason to trust vendors selling goods on-line.
Several banks, including Wells Fargo & Co., have expressed interest in sponsoring the effort. Two auditing firms, Coopers & Lybrand and KPMG Peat Marwick, will conduct periodic checks to assure compliance with ETrust standards.
Consumers just coming on-line "need some very easy way to identify trust with the various Web sites and the merchants," said Asim Abdullah, executive director of CommerceNet. "Having a logo system like this could be a very powerful means to accomplish that."
The group organized around this effort is a mix of nonprofits and Internet-oriented commercial ventures.
Together they hope to rally not only the business community but also foreign and domestic government agencies around their cause, so the trust marks can gain international recognition.
ETrust participants said Vice President Gore has privately endorsed it and soon will go public expressing support.
One trust mark - "No Exchange" - means the site operator does not gather or record any information about the visitor, other than what is necessary for billing and system administration.
A second mark - "1-to-1 Exchange" - means the operator does not disclose information about site visitors to third parties.
The third mark - "Third-Party Exchange Guidelines" - indicates the operator may share visitors' personal or transactional data with third parties, but only if the operator discloses the information gathered, what it is being used for, and who is receiving it.
"What we're doing is creating a way to identify quickly on-line what kind of privacy practices are used," said Lori Fena, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit champion of electronic civil liberties.
"Informed consent is the name of the game here. It's a way of giving consumers a choice," Ms. Fena said.
Certified ETrust site operators would have to adhere to certain cryptographic guidelines, and would need to own an accredited digital certificate.
From time to time, the projects' accountants plan to visit the companies and view their Web sites to confirm that policies are being upheld, project members said.
The project has its own Web site - www.etrust.org - where it is showcasing models of the proposed logos. About 100 on-line merchants have volunteered to test the marks on their Web sites in the next month, and plans call for a general launch in early 1997.
Meanwhile, the coalition will conduct focus groups with consumers to see if the trust marks do indeed calm security and privacy fears.
"We want to make sure that the Internet winds up growing in a healthy fashion, with consumers trusting it as a medium," said Tim Dick, president of World Pages, an on-line telephone directory service. "If we don't collectively instill trust in consumers, then the medium will not continue to grow."
Mr. Dick, who is on the steering committee of ETrust, said he previously led an effort called Privacy Assured, in which companies pledged to adhere to certain on-line privacy conditions. In his own company's case, that meant, among other things, forbidding users from conducting "reverse" telephone directory searches, locating people's names by their telephone number or address.
The ETrust team is trying to form a partnership with the Better Business Bureau, which already sponsors a Web site certification service, BBB on- line.
"Our belief is if we can consolidate all these types of trust marks into a common system, it will end up benefiting the user more," Mr. Abdullah said.
"As opposed to going to a Web site and seeing 25 different stickers, what you want to do is identify one sort of brand for trust, and then perhaps have value-add rings around it that focus on certain specifics."
A ring might be specific to a certain industry or a certain type of security, he said, or it could denote whether or not the site is appropriate for children.
Mr. Abdullah said the ETrust pilot will help project leaders determine what the logos should look like, how they should be disseminated, and how much businesses should have to pay to acquire them.
Gigi Wang, executive director of ETrust and a staff member at CommerceNet, said the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has shown support for ETrust and has asked representatives to participate in a January forum, which will address whether government intervention is needed to ensure on-line privacy and security.
"They're trying to determine whether there can be self-regulation instead of government regulation," said Ms. Wang.
The ETrust consortium is also trying to gain approval from government and industry groups in Europe, Japan, and Singapore.
For the moment, public misgivings about commercial dealings in cyberspace persist.
Ms. Fena of the Electronic Frontier Foundation illustrates this point with a story about informal surveys she conducts when giving talks about on-line commerce.
First, she asks how many listeners leave Web sites immediately upon being asked to register personal information. About 50% of people raise their hands, she said.
She asks the rest if, when they register, they type in false information or information that could let them track what the site operator does with it.
"Everybody else raises their hand," she said.


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Yesterday we told you about the mobile announcements at WWDC 2015. Today let’s look at other news from the keynote.
Just ten days after Google’s I/O event, Apple held its annual World Wide Developer Conference today, offering previews of what’s next in its desktop, mobile, wearable, and music products.
As usual, this was purely a software shindig – no new hardware was shown off. All current Apple hardware will be eligible for upgrades, however, with new versions of operating systems and the debut of Apple Music.
Yesterday, we summarized Google’s plans for Android M. Today, let’s take a look at some of the many other topics the company addressed in its I/O conference keynote address.
It’s software announcement season, and Google kicked it off May 28 with the keynote at its annual I/O conference.
Information from Google execs covered a dizzying array of products: Android Wear, Android Auto, Android TV, Chromecast, Google Now, Google Photos, Google Play, and developer tools. But the next version of the mobile operating system, Android M, took center stage.
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The U.S. auto industry is slowly returning to life, with vehicle assembly plants scheduled to reopen on Monday and suppliers gearing up in support as the sector that employs nearly 1 million people seeks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) all have been preparing for weeks to reopen their North American factories in a push to restart work in an industry that accounts for about 6% of U.S. economic activity.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
For the automakers and their suppliers, many of which began reopening their plants last week, the restart is critical to ending the cash drain caused by a two-month shutdown that was forced on them by COVID-19. The emphasis will be on getting assembly lines again producing such profitable vehicles as the Chevrolet Suburban SUV, Ford F-150 pickup truck and Jeep Wrangler SUV.
“Ultimately we’re in this together. Because if we don’t build trucks, Ford Motor Company is gone,” said Todd Dunn, president of UAW Local 862, which represents more than 14,000 hourly workers at Ford’s two Kentucky assembly plants.