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Today’s Machining World did an interview in the April issue with David Plitt, the foreman of the U of C machine shop. This video is an excerpt of the interview. He discusses several of the projects that the machine shop has assisted with, including a balloon designed to collect cosmic rays.
Machinery dealer Jim Graff just got back from a Delphi auction in Kettering Ohio. He reported that most machines there were selling very cheaply and that many were leaving the country. The two biggest buyers at the auction were from India and Peru, who primarily bought small production machines such as milling machines, Bridgeports, and Dennison Presses. Most of the Acme multi spindles and Acme repair parts were baught by dealers. Jim also observed that there was a strong presence of online bidders.
This day on March 18, 1662, the first bus service began in France. Blaise Pascal, most famous for his mathematics, physics and philosophical genius, conceived the idea. The system started with seven horse-drawn vehicles running along regular routes. Each coach could carry six or eight passengers. King Louis XIV granted a royal monopoly: Try to compete, and your horses and vehicles would be taken away.
The fundamental problem of the bus service’s business model was that in the feudal society of seventeenth century France only the nobility and gentry were allowed to ride, which they did purely for amusement. The common folks that the service could really benefit, the soldiers and peasants, weren’t allowed to ride, so when the novelty of the new invention wore off, bus service ended in 1695.
The bus concept did not reappear in France, along with New York City and London until early Nineteenth Century – post feudalism.
Most great inventions follow a similar pattern as the bus’s. They start out as a novelty only accessible to the elite. Not until they finally become accessible to the masses do they have the power to change the world. When the first computers were invented only a select group of scientists could use them. People dismissed the idea that they could be useful to the common man. Not until personal computers became affordable to the world’s middle class and easy enough for an average person to operate, did they revolutionize how people communicate and find information. Yesterday, March 17, Tesla Motors began production on its Tesla Roadster, which will sell for a base price of 98,000 dollars. It will look cool, it will be better for the environment than cars with internal combustion engines, it will eliminate the need for its owner to buy gasoline, but until the masses can afford one and reap its benefits the electric car will not change the world.
Sources, Wired Magazine, www.teslamotors.com
A recent story by Frank Langfitton on NPR’s “All Things Considered” reported that rising costs and shifts in Chinese government policy are actually forcing hundreds of smaller Chinese factories to close. According to the story, profit margins are disappearing as a result of the rising Chinese currency value, which has forced manufacturers to move their operations to lower cost countries such as Vietnam.
The story reports that China’s government wants to encourage higher-tech manufacturing, so it is taking away the incentives it used to give to cheap goods manufacturers such as no taxes and cheap rent. China wants to follow the same path as its fellow Asian countries such as Japan and Taiwan, whose products eventually progressed from low-tech to high-tech. This movement to more sophisticated types of production has created the same obstacle for Chinese companies that challenges U.S. companies – finding skilled labor.
Familiar patterns aren’t they.
American Axle has finally sat down at the bargaining table with the UAW since its members went on strike Feb. 26. Since the strike, 10 plants have been shut down and about 20 percent of GM’s workforce has been affected. What makes this strike different from other recent UAW strikes is that GM has so much inventory in its truck divisions that it is not under such urgency to get a deal hammered out quickly. Also, unlike other recent UAW strikes, the company trying to cut wages is not in bankruptcy. American Axle made 37 million dollars last year. It’s hard to convince a union to allow wage cuts for a company which has been so profitable.
In this video Eric Merkle, Vice President of forecasting for consulting firm IRN Inc., discusses the effects of the American Axle strike.
European based industrial auctioneer GoIndustry is on the cusp of buying DoveBid, the largest Internet industrial auction company in the United States.
The industrial auction segment of eBay has suffered of late, as the company appears to have lost touch with that niche customer base.
In this video, machine tool dealers Lloyd and Jim Graff of Graff Pinkert & Co. give their insider’s perspective on the worldwide consolidation taking place in the industrial equipment auction business.
In this video Lloyd and Jim discuss the current state of eBay, addressing where the company has gone wrong in its approach to industrial auctions and the overall experience of its users.
Recently there have been four deaths and 350 significant allergic reactions from a contaminated supply of Heparin sold by the Baxter brand. Baxter outsources a key ingredient for Heparin in China which has been identified as the cause of the health disaster.
The following are two vlogs on the 2008 presidential election by Lloyd Graff, editor and owner of
In this video, Lloyd Graff criticizes a recent article by John Ratzenberger which says “a president should be able to change a tire” in order to represent the common man and demonstrate the importance of keeping manufacturing in the United States. He believes the most important thing for our next president is that he or she can unite the people.
In this video, Lloyd says that he will vote for Barack Obama despite disagreeing with 80 percent of his policies. He believes that an Obama presidency is an unprecedented opportunity for reconciliation among races in the United States, and that is more important than his politics.
In the 2008 January issue, Today’s Machining World did an interview with Dennis Hoff, president of Hoff-Hilk Auction Services, an online auctioneer which sells commercial and capital equipment exclusively. In the interview Hoff gives an insider’s perspective on the online auction business, discussing the effects of auctions on both the buyers and sellers from both a monetary standpoint as well as psychological one.
In this video Hoff addresses how site coordinators for an auction sale often must play “psychologist” to help sellers cope with the pain or angst which often accompanies selling their businesses.
In this video Hoff says candidly that while both buyers and sellers often don’t feel auctions are fair, he thinks that after an online sale the sellers generally feel more satisfied. He attributes this to the convenience of bidding online, which brings more people from far off places to compete in the sale.
Rarely have I ever seen such a dramatic glass half empty, glass half filled story.
The pessimists, the bears, the media based in New York and the economists who work for money center banks see an economy tanking, dollar falling apart, housing dead for a decade, and a stock market shuffling in the mud. Virtually, blood in the streets.
The optimists see a slowdown in housing offset by a surge in exports. They see softening interest rates, a useful fiscal stimulus that will easily pass Congress and be signed, a bottoming residential real estate climate very inviting to speculators, and booming economic growth in the U.S. by late 2008. They also see oil softening to $75 a barrel and refiners keeping gas well under $3 per gallon. The only real inflation is caused by the idiotic ethanol boondoggle which has screwed up the old balances in American agriculture.
When I look at the two scenarios, the glass half full view looks much more likely, particularly in the industrial arena. Wall Street has taken a series of body blows because of the latest derivatives fiasco. The sub-prime mortgage market is unwinding, but the refinancing wave will begin very soon as 5 percent money becomes available to solvent borrowers. If you add this to benign commercial rates, tax cuts for individuals, weak dollar, modest inflation, cheaper gas, a national election, and cheaper depreciation and small business write-offs, it spells explosive rebound. Man on the street confidence is soft now, and business has caught the fear bug because of the shrill, no-nothing New York media claque, but this will turn as the election gets closer. People are tired of Bush. An Obama presidency is both enormously bullish for personal confidence and very scary because of the senator’s leftist rhetoric. A Clinton nomination probably means another Republican in the White House, which means gridlock, which is usually bullish.
So at the end of January, 2008, the year looks very promising – if we are not blinded by the sourpusses.
Comment on this blog at www.swarfblog.com.


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The $ 1 billion capsule manufacturing industry has sat up in surprise on receiving India’s drug controller’s note to them about considering the bringing in of vegetarian capsules in place of the currently used Gelatine based ones. The drug controller informed them that a proposal has been received for the same.
Gelatine ,a pivotal element in capsules, vitamin drugs and chicken fodder, is manufactured by processing the bones, skin and tissue of cattle.
“A proposal has been received to replace Gelatine capsules with cellulose-based capsules which are of plant origin and are safe for use as compared to animal-based Gelatine capsules,” Mr. GN Singh, Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) wrote in a note. “In order to examine the pros and cons of the proposal, science-based suggestions and comments are invited from the stakeholders… within six weeks,” he added. The proposal has come a year after states including Haryana and Maharastra announced a ban on cow slaughter.
As reported by ET, responding to the DCGI’s proposal the capsule manufacturing industry came up with reactions. Mr. Sajiv Menon, Managing Director, Nitta Gelatine, one of the largest manufacturers in India said 95% of the capsules manufactured all over the world used Gelatine .
Gelatine is the standard raw material according to the pharma industry that is widely accepted world wide and used for manufacturing of pharmaceutical capsule shells.
The pharma industry also stated that the proposal to replace gelatin with a vegetarian Hydroxy propyl Methylcellulose capsule as an alternative was not a practical one , as HPMC is not compatible with all drugs.
Ajit Singh, the ACG Worldwide, Managing Director, Ajit Singh also expressed surprise on behalf of the pharma world saying that the credibility of Gelatine was beyond any doubts “There will be chaos in the pharma industry…. The machinery has to be changed. Also, the cost of vegetarian capsules is much higher, so prices of drugs may also go up.” Mr. Singh added.

domain: news


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The Impact of Coding Over 30 Years
CAD/CAM Corner 1/29/2013 21 comments Over the past 30 years or so, coding has transformed the world -- from how it is built to the final software package. AutoCAD, C++, WordPerfect, and the Intel 8008 were introduced in 1982 and have shaped modern technology ever since.
3D Printing for the Home
Blog 1/24/2013 14 comments Mcor and Up 3D USA are just two companies making great advancements in the world of 3D printing. Both are at SolidWorks World 2013 in Orlando this week.
Slideshow: Top Technologies of 2013
Blog 1/18/2013 12 comments It's a new year, and our sister publication, EE Times, has made a list of the overhyped/underexposed electronics technologies that are going to make a splash in the next 12 months. Do you agree?
Slideshow: Gadgets Galore at CES
Blog 1/14/2013 12 comments The Consumer Electronics Show curtain raiser, CES Unveiled, offered a glimpse at consumer market trends and how small and midsized companies are leveraging emerging technologies to create variations on current products.
The company says it anticipates high-definition video for home security and other uses will be the next mature technology integrated into the IoT domain, hence the introduction of its MatrixCam devkit.
Siemens and Georgia Institute of Technology are partnering to address limitations in the current additive manufacturing design-to-production chain in an applied research project as part of the federally backed America Makes program.
Most of the new 3D printers and 3D printing technologies in this crop are breaking some boundaries, whether it's build volume-per-dollar ratios, multimaterials printing techniques, or new materials types.
Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.


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Arc Alchemist graphics cards in the midrange and affordable category could be available in a matter of weeks.
According to new speculations, the first Arc Alchemist desktop graphics cards could be available by the end of May.
This information comes from Wccftech, which claims to have heard from people in Taiwan who are familiar with Intel’s newest supply chain and upcoming Arc GPU launch.
If this is true – and we should proceed with caution – the theory is that Intel has three Alchemist desktop cards in the works, two of which will be released first, followed by a third model a few ‘weeks’ later.
The flagship (A780) will not be one of those three, with the Arc A750 and A380 models — the more powerful mid-range and budget offerings, respectively – arriving first, followed by the A580, the lower-end of the mid-range.
The A750 and A380 graphics cards will be available in late May to early June, and the A580 in July (tentatively).
Pricing to compete with Nvidia?
We already know that Intel has confirmed Arc desktop cards for Q2 of this year, which suggests they’ll be available in May or June, which matches what we’ve heard so far. Perhaps a Computex debut later in May would be more appropriate…
Given the way Intel has handled things thus far (with the initial Arc launch for laptop GPUs coming exactly at the end of March when it was scheduled for Q1 – thus just squeezing into that period), we – and many others – were expecting a last-minute release late in June.
Of course, despite this story, there’s no way of knowing if we’ll still have to wait until late June, because even if it’s accurate and these launch targets reflect Intel’s current plans, things might still go wrong. After all, this is a launch that Intel must get right the first time, which includes not only the hardware but also the software (driver quality is going to be crucial).
In terms of how powerful these graphics cards will be, Wccftech believes the Arc A750 will be the equal of Nvidia’s RTX 3060, with pricing expected to be around $350 in the US (which is a little more than Team Green’s recommended price for the 3060).
The A580 will reportedly be able to match the power of an RTX 3050 for roughly $280, while the A380 will be able to match the GTX 1650 for around $150, according to the tech site — large, large piles of condiments should be applied here, naturally.
The best prediction, then, is that price tags will be broadly in line with Nvidia’s, which is at least better than prior indications of higher-end versions that may reportedly even exceed Team Green’s prices. In some ways, the prospect of Intel going for broke with its launch pricing by undercutting the competition appears to be receding, but we can’t rule anything out just yet.


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* Q3 EPS before items $0.09 vs Wall St view $0.07
* Q3 rev $3.05 bln vs Wall St view $3.07 bln
* Sees FY EBITDA at top end of forecast, cuts capex
* Qwest shares rise 3.5 pct (Updates with stock price activity)
By Sinead Carew
NEW YORK, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Qwest Communications International Inc Q.N posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and boosted its full-year outlook as it planned more cost cuts, sending its shares up 3.5 percent.
The results were the fourth consecutive quarter in which Qwest’s profit beat Wall Street views, but analysts were quick to note the telephone carrier’s quarterly revenue fell 9.6 percent, slightly steeper than expected.
“They’re shrinking their way to greatness here,” said Stifel Nicolaus analyst Chris King. “It continues to be a cost- cutting story.”
Like bigger telephone companies AT&T Inc T.N and Verizon Communications Inc VZ.N, Qwest, which serves 14 mostly Western states, has been losing home phone customers to cable rivals and to wireless as some consumers forsake landlines to depend entirely on cellphones.
Qwest reported a third-quarter net profit of $136 million, or 8 cents per share, compared with $145 million, or 8 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding unusual items, earnings per share would have been 9 cents compared with the average analyst estimate of 7 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
In the quarter, Qwest’s cost of sales fell to $932 million from $1.23 billion a year ago.
Revenue fell to $3.05 billion, compared to the average Street estimate of $3.07 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company said “wireless substitution, increased unemployment, low business formation and soft housing trends” in its 14-state operating region cut into revenue.
But Qwest forecast full-year adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization would be at the upper end of its previous target of $4.25 billion to $4.4 billion.
Qwest also cut its capital spending target for the year to $1.6 billion or lower, from its previous budget of $1.7 billion or lower, and raised its estimate for full-year adjusted free cash flow to a range of $1.6 billion to $1.7 billion from the previous target of $1.5 billion to $1.6 billion.
“Qwest’s numbers were generally in line and slightly better on the outlook,” said Piper Jaffray analyst Christopher Larsen. “The name of the game for Qwest this quarter and for the rest of the year is strong cost cutting.”
Total access lines fell about 11 percent in the quarter, with the biggest decline coming in its consumer business, the Denver-based company said.
“We are optimistic about our prospects as the economy begins to improve in the quarters ahead,” Qwest Chief Executive Edward Mueller said in the earnings statement.
Qwest shares were up 12 cents at $3.57 in early afternoon trading on Wednesday. (Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Derek Caney and Andre Grenon)


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Sony defends response time to hacker breach
By Liana B. Baker
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sony Corp's CEO was unapologetic about the company's delay in informing the more than 100 million customers of its PlayStation Network whose account information was stolen by hackers last month.
In a stark departure from the remorseful tone struck just two weeks ago, when senior executives including heir apparent Kazuo Hirai bowed in apology in Tokyo, Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer fired back at critics who say the company was too slow to notify consumers once the attack was known.
"This was an unprecedented situation," Stringer told reporters on Tuesday, speaking publicly for the first time since the April breach.
"Most of these breaches go unreported by companies. Forty-three percent (of companies) notify victims within a month. We reported in a week. You're telling me my week wasn't fast enough?"
The attack, considered the biggest in Internet history, prompted the Japanese electronics giant to shut down its PlayStation Network and other services for close to a month.
Critics slammed the company for waiting up to a week before telling its customers of the attack and the possible theft of credit card information, prompting lawmakers and state attorneys general to launch investigations.
Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Sony on Tuesday, urging it to respond to questions about its security strategy and reveal more details about the data breach.
In the letter, Representatives Mary Bono Mack of California and G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina said they had contacted Sony on April 29 but all of their questions had not been answered by the company. The lawmakers asked Sony to respond to questions by May 25. Continued...


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EVs are getting big — too big, some say — so it’s refreshing to see Volvo trend in the other direction. The Swedish automaker’s next EV, the compact EX30 SUV, is powered by a modest battery that nevertheless manages to churn out a decent amount of range.
But more compelling than that is the starting price tag of $34,950, which is impressive when you consider how expensive EVs have gotten in recent years. Volvo is leaning into the “small” motif, referring to today’s announcement as an “unboxing” event. An early teaser image featured a giant hand coming down from the sky to pick up the EX30.
“We like to say the EX30 is small yet mighty, because it delivers on everything you’d want from a Volvo but in a smaller package,” Volvo CEO Jim Rowan said in a statement.
Of course, Volvo hasn’t shied away from big vehicles; its upcoming EX90 SUV is a luxury three-row family mover based on the automaker’s popular XC90 SUV. But in a market where bigger vehicles tend to require bigger batteries with bigger carbon footprints, Volvo’s effort to offer an affordable EV in a smaller category is downright quaint.
To be sure, Volvo is skimping on the specs. The EX30 will come in two trims: a single-motor extended-range model and a higher-performing dual-motor version. Both will feature a 69kWh battery with 64kWh of usable power. That battery can accept up to 153kW of DC fast charging for a zero to 80 percent charge time of 26.5 minutes.
The EX30’s extended-range motor is in the rear axle and can put out 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-motor version adds a 154-horsepower motor to the front axle as well for a total of 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The single-motor model can leap from zero to 60mph in 5.1 seconds, while the AWD version can do the spring in 3.4 seconds — Volvo’s fastest accelerating car ever.
Range-wise, the single-motor version will get an estimated 275 miles, while the dual-motor trim will stop short at 265 miles. Both are just estimates, though, and the EPA’s final rating is likely to be slightly less.
Volvo’s emphasis on small is all relative when you dig a little deeper into the specs. The EX30 has a slightly shorter wheelbase (104.3 inches) than the Volkswagen ID.4 (108.9 inches) and the Tesla Model Y (113.8 inches) but a little more cargo capacity (31.9 cubic feet versus the ID.4’s 30.3 cubic feet and the Model Y’s 30.2 cubic feet). Overall, the EX30 is 166.7 inches in length, 61.1 inches tall, and 80 inches wide.
Volvo is also producing a limited-edition Cross Country variant of the EX30, which comes with “a range of bespoke features, such as more ground clearance, 19-inch black wheels and the option of 18-inch wheels with bespoke tires.”
While the EX30 won’t have some of the more expensive sensors that can be found on the EX90, like lidar laser sensors to aid the driver in avoiding objects on the road, it will have some cool safety tech of its own.
It will be Volvo’s first car to include the next-generation version of Park Assist Pilot that purports to “handle all types of parking spaces, including parallel, curved, perpendicular and diagonal fishbone-style.” It will also have a special safety feature that sounds an alert if a cyclist or pedestrian is passing right as you’re about to open your door — to avoid “dooring” them.
Like other Volvo vehicles, the portrait-style touchscreen runs an operating software that features native versions of Google apps, like Maps, Assistant, and Play. Other software suppliers, like Apple and Qualcomm, will also be involved in helping deliver the EX30’s user experience — as well as Ecarx, a connected car startup owned by Volvo’s parent company, Geely.
Still, the EX30 is likely to have a lot of competition when it comes out next year. In addition to the compact two-row electric SUVs currently dominating the market — Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6 — there is also a slew of new models coming out that Volvo will need to contend with, including the Chevy Equinox and Blazer EVs, Polestar 3, and Honda Prologue.
Volvo has said it plans to sell 600,000 EVs by the middle of the decade and will build a battery manufacturing facility in Europe by 2026. The company is working with Swedish partner Northvolt on a new generation of batteries with higher energy density designed to be integrated as a structural element of the vehicle. The new batteries, due after 2025, will enable a longer driving range between charges — up to 625 miles (1,006km) — and much faster charging times.
To date, Volvo has released two long-range EVs: the XC40 Recharge, which went on sale in 2021, and the C40 Recharge, which was released this year. The EX90 was delayed until early next year as a result of software snafus.


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GE Posts In Line Earnings; Boosts Share Buyback from $12 to $14B
GE said Friday morning its net profit climbed 12.5%, bolstered by strong performances from its infrastructure and finance units. It reaffirmed its 2007 guidance ($2.18-2.23/share), and raised its share buyback program from $12 to $14 billion. Q2 earnings per share from ongoing operations were $0.52 ($5.4 billion), in line with analyst estimates. Sales revenue increased 12.2% to $42.3 billion, outdoing analyst forecasts of $42 billion. Total orders rose 32% to a record $25 billion, while the company's backlog was up 42% to $18 billion. "Infrastructure and Commercial Finance, which account for 56% of segment profit, led our strong performance this quarter," CEO Jeff Immelt said. NBC Universal growth was a milder 2%. "Strength at infrastructure will likely offset weak sales in growth at NBC and health care," said Citigroup in a July 10 note. GE sold its plastics unit to a Saudi company in May, and Thursday said it was selling WMC mortgage, its subprime lending unit (see full summary). Also this week, on July 11 GE dropped its planned acquisition of Abbott Laboratories' medical-diagnostic units for $8.13 billion because they couldn't agree on terms. Shares are up 4.81% YTD after gaining 2.1% Thursday, and have risen 17.1% over the past year.
Sources: Press release, MarketWatch, Bloomberg
Commentary: What Is CNBC.com Thinking? • General Electric: The Dividend Champion • General Electric's Ecomagination: A Panacea?
Stocks/ETFs to watch: General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE). Competitors: 3M Company (NYSE:MMM), Eaton Corp. (NYSE:ETN), Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON). ETFs: PowerShares Industrial ETF (PRFN), iShares S&P 100 Index ETF (NYSEARCA:OEF), iShares NYSE Composite Index ETF (NYSEARCA:NYC)
Conference call transcript: General Electric Q1 2007
Related: CNBC's GE earnings tables
Samsung Electronics Up 6% on Rumor of Icahn Hostile Bid
Samsung Electronics jumped 6.4% to 687,000 won ($750), its highest close in more than two years, on a report of a possible hostile takeover bid by Carl Icahn and other hedge funds. South Korea's daily Chosun Ilbo broke the news, but Samsung's executive VP of investor relations told analysts he is unaware of a hostile bid by Icahn, adding that Samsung "has an appropriate set of strategies in place that we'll implement." The Samsung Group owns 30.4% of Samsung Electronics, of which 3.2% is controlled by chairman Lee Kun-hee. Foreign investors are said to own a 49% stake. Samsung Electronics has a market cap of 101.3t won ($110b) based on Friday's close, meaning a hedge fund would need about $33b to achieve at least a 30% stake in order to gain managerial rights. Separately, Samsung reported better-than-expected Q2 earnings Friday, on strength in its LCD business, despite a 5% decline in net income on weakness in chips and mobile phones.
Sources: Chosun Ilbo, Associated Press, Forbes.com, Reuters
Commentary: Samsung Headlines Korea's Top Heavy ETF • iPhone Unpacked • Samsung's 1Q Spending Supports Thesis That Capex Spending Will Slow
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Samsung Electronics is not traded in the U.S., however it is a sizable component of iShares MSCI South Korea Index (NYSEARCA:EWY) [14.7% of assets as of 6/30 per Morningstar] and the closed-end fund Korea Fund Inc. (NYSE:KF) [12% as of 3/31].
Paychex Hikes Dividend 43%, Announces $1B Buyback
Shares of Paychex Inc., a provider of human resource and payroll services, climbed 4.5% to $43.30 in light after-hours trading, on news the company's Board of Directors increased its quarterly divided 43% to $0.30/share (previously $0.21) and announced a $1 billion share buyback. The dividend is payable August 15, to shareholders of record August 1. "The dividend increase, combined with the stock repurchase program, reflects the Board's confidence in the ability of Paychex to continue generating superior cash returns for our shareholders. We don’t believe there's any better investment than ourselves," said Jonathan J. Judge, president and CEO of Paychex. This is the company's first share repurchase. In a press release, Paychex said the buyback "will be executed in a manner to be determined by management." Paychex gained 1.1% to $41.44 during normal trading and has traded in a range of $32.98 - $42.50 over the past year.
Sources: Press release, TheStreet.com
Commentary: Paychex Net Up 12%; Weak Guidance • Unlucky Number Seven: Sideways Performers Since 2000 Who Stand To Gain • 32 Big Dividend Payers: Buy Now, Profit Later
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX). Competitors: Administaff Inc. (ASF), Ceridian Corporation (NYSE:CEN), Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADP)
Earnings call transcripts: Paychex F4Q07
Energizer Buys Hygiene Products Maker Playtex For $1.9 Billion
Thursday night U.S. #2 battery maker Energizer Holdings announced it had agreed to buy hygiene product maker Playtex Products for $1.2 billion in cash, or $1.9 billion including debt. The buyout offer, which works out to $18.30 a share, adds an 18% premium to Playtex's closing price Thursday of $15.52. Both companies' boards have already unanimously approved the merger. Energizer CEO Ward M. Klein said in the press release the companies have "similar customers and distribution channels in the U.S. and Canada," adding the acquisition may lead to others. In the hygiene department, Energizer already owns Schick-Wilkinson Sword men's shaving; the Playtex acquisition gives it several household names including Playtex brand tampons, Wet Ones baby wipes and Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen. Despite seeing its share price increase 89% over the last year, Energizer reported last quarter that rising Zinc prices, used widely in the manufacture of batteries, had cut into its profit margins. The Playtex acquisition is expected to close by year's end.
Sources: Press Release, Reuters, Bloomberg, Financial Times Alphaville
Commentary: Cramer's Take on ENR • Energizer Holdings: Worth at Least $7.5 Billion
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Playtex Products (PYX), Energizer Holdings (NYSE:ENR). Competitors: The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:KMB), Spectrum Brands (SPC). ETFs: PowerShares DWA Technical Leaders (NASDAQ:PDP), PowerShares WilderHill Progressive Energy (NYSEARCA:PUW)
Related: Playtex Products
Target Shares Surge on Report of Ackman Stake
Shares of discount retailer Target Corp. rose 6.8% to close at $70.04 Thursday, their biggest gain in over three years, after Bloomberg reported that activist investor William Ackman has taken a stake of more than 5%. The holding will be disclosed next week in a filing with the SEC, according to an unnamed individual "with direct knowledge of [Ackman's] plans." The source did not disclose Ackman's plans for the company. Ackman, general partner of the hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, has prodded several companies to cut costs, sell off divisions and make other changes to bolster shareholder value. Together with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, he pushed Wendy's to spin off its Tim Hortons coffee shops, and he urged McDonald's to use the proceeds of the sale of its Latin American restaurants to pay dividends and buy back stock. Last Friday, Target's shares gained 6.1% on rumors the company might sell its credit-card unit, which represented approximately 20% of the company's operating income in Q1. "Target's been pretty adamant that they see it as a key asset to keep," said Piper Jaffray analyst Jeffrey P. Klinefelter. Money manager Patricia Edwards speculates that Ackman might urge Target to sell its real estate and lease it back.
Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg
Commentary: Ackman's Pershing Square Allegedly Accumulates a 5%+ Stake in Target • June Retail Same-Store Sales Roundup • Why Target is an Investment and Wal-Mart is a Trade
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT). Competitors: Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST), Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT). ETFs: Retail HOLDRS ETF (NYSEARCA:RTH), SPDR S&P Retail (NYSEARCA:XRT), PowerShares Dynamic Retail (NYSEARCA:PMR)
Earnings call transcripts: F1Q07
Nordstrom Near Agreement to Sell Façonnable Line -- WSJ
Nordstrom is close to signing a $200 million deal with Lebanese private equity firm M1 Group to sell it its Façonnable apparel and retail line, according to the Wall Street Journal. The divestiture is intended to allow Nordstrom to sharpen its focus on more upscale luxury goods. The agreement is not final and may still collapse. Nordstrom bought Façonnable for $169 million in 2000 and operates four namesake boutiques in the U.S. and 36 in Europe. It also sells Façonnable apparel at most of its 98 U.S. department stores, where it will continue to sell some of the label's merchandise following the transaction. The M1 Group, founded by Taha Mikati and his brother Najib, a former Lebanese prime minister, established itself through investments in construction and mobile telecommunications.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch
Commentary: Nordstrom to Sell Façonnable Chain to Lebanese Firm -- NY Post • June Retail Same-Store Sales Roundup • Number One Retail Category: Online Clothing Sales
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN). Competitors: Macy's Inc. (NYSE:M), Saks Inc. (NYSE:SKS), Jones Apparel Group Inc. (NYSE:JNY), AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (NYSE:ANN). ETFs: Consumer Discretionary SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA:XLY), PowerShares Dynamic Consumer Discretionary (NASDAQ:PEZ), Vanguard Consumer Discretionary VIPERs (NYSEARCA:VCR)
Earnings call transcripts: Q1 2007
FTC Case Strong Against Whole Foods/Wild Oats Merger -- Analyst
Bear Stearns analyst Robert Summers said Thursday the FTC appears to have ample evidence to mount a successful challenge to the pending merger between Whole Foods and Wild Oats. The FTC posted its case against the $565 million deal on its website earlier in the week (see link below). After reading the document, Summers concluded, "the FTC case against the merger appears solid and [we] are now leaning more toward the FTC prevailing in its injunction." The FTC is basing its case on the premise that Whole Foods is "obsessed with running Wild Oats out of business" by buying it and then taking it apart. Part of its evidence is eight years' worth of postings placed anonymously by Whole Foods CEO John Mackey on a Yahoo Finance message board that touted his own company's stock and spoke derisively of Wild Oats. That evidence supplements material disclosed by the FTC in June, including an email written by Mackey to company executives advocating the "elimination" of Wild Oats as a means of preventing a price war and barring competitors Kroger, SuperValu and Safeway from entering the natural/organic space. Summers classifies the anonymous Yahoo postings as a "distraction for the company as it tries to improve investor sentiment that its growth prospects have rebounded."
Sources: MarketWatch, Business Week
Commentary: Whole Foods CEO Mackey Is Out Of His Organic Mind • Whole Foods CEO John Mackey Makes a Mind-Boggling Mistake • Whole Foods' CEO Found Anonymously Touting His Own Stock
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFMI), Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (OATS). Competitors: The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), SuperValu Inc. (NYSE:SVU), Safeway Inc. (NYSE:SWY). ETFs: Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSEARCA:XLP), Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEARCA:VDC), PowerShares Dynamic Consumer Staples (NASDAQ:PSL)
Earnings call transcripts: Whole Foods Market F2Q07
Related: FTC's motion for restraining order and preliminary injunction against Whole Foods and Wild Oats
ENERGY AND MATERIALS
Alcoa Concedes Alcan; Traders Think It Could Be Next
Alcoa Inc. announced Thursday it has withdrawn its $27 billion hostile bid for Alcan Inc. following Rio Tinto's higher offer, bringing to a close its two-year attempt to acquire the company. Rio's bid, worth $38.1 billion ($101/share), was a third higher than Alcoa's $28.8 billion ($76.03/share). "[A]t this price level," said Alcoa CEO Alain Belda, "we have more attractive options for delivering additional value to shareholders." Alcoa will now restart its share buyback program, which it suspended May 7 when it submitted its bid. Alcan finished Thursday's session up almost 9% at $98.45 following news of Rio's bid. Shares of Alcoa also closed up 6.7% and tacked on another 1.6% in AH trading on speculation that it will now be taken over. "The deal rips Alcan from the jaws of Alcoa in what had become a nasty spat," said Interactive Brokers Group market analyst Andrew Wilkinson. "Traders are now focused on the likelihood of a bid from Australian mineral producer, BHP Billiton." Other possible suitors include CVRD or Xstrata plc. A total of 259,552 Alcoa calls and 55,738 Alcoa puts were traded Thursday, well beyond Alcoa's normal options volume of 64,948 contracts all together.
Sources: MarketWatch, Bloomberg, Reuters, Wall Street Journal
Commentary: Alcan Acquiesces To Cash Deal With Rio Tinto • Rio Tinto Trumps Alcoa with $38.1 Billion Offer for Alcan • Alcan, Rio Tinto Engaged in Formal Merger Negotiations
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA), Alcan Inc. (NYSE:AL), Rio Tinto plc [ADR] (RTP), BHP Billiton Limited [ADR] (NYSE:BHP), Companhia Vale do Rio Doce [ADR] (NYSE:RIO). ETFs: Materials Select Sector SPDR (NYSEARCA:XLB), iShares Dow Jones US Basic Materials Index (NYSEARCA:IYM), Vanguard Materials VIPERs (NYSEARCA:VAW)
Earnings call transcripts: Alcoa Q2 2007
GE Plans To Shop Its WMC Subprime Mortgage Unit
Reuters reports General Electric plans to sell its subprime mortgage unit, WMC Mortgage, essentially taking the mega cap conglomerate out of the U.S. mortgage business. WMC President and CEO, Laurent Bossard, sent a memo to employees yesterday saying, "The mortgage industry has greatly changed since the purchase of WMC. The current subprime market environment has made a significant negative impact on the business." During the first quarter, GE took a $500 million pretax charge on subprime loans, with additional subprime losses likely for during Q2. According to A.G. Edwards analyst Christopher Kotowicz, "You can't gloss over a $100 million or a $200 million write down," adding that each $100 million write down affects EPS by $0.01. GE laid off 450 WMC employees during the first quarter, in addition to selling off $3 billion in subprime loans. It still holds another $1.5 in subprime mortgages. Credit-default swaps on $10 million of GE debt have jumped this week, from $2,000 to $16,875, signaling a deteriorating perception among financial institutions of GE's credit quality.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, MarketWatch [check back later today for GE's latest conference call transcript]
Commentary: GE May Ditch Subprime Loan Unit • Housing Bubble and Real Estate Market Tracker • Is This the Bottom for Submerging Prime?
Stocks/ETFs to watch: General Electric (GE)
Earnings call transcripts: General Electric Q1 2007
Dutch Supreme Court: ABN Amro Can Proceed with LaSalle Sale
The Dutch Supreme Court announced Friday that banking giant ABN Amro can go ahead with its $21 billion sale of LaSalle Bank to Bank of America, a precondition of ABN's own sale to Barclays for €64 billion ($88.2 billion) in stock. The Court has "dismissed irrevocably" a request for an injunction to suspend the sale, in line with advice given the Court two weeks ago by the Dutch Advocate General that a shareholder vote is not required for the sale to go through. ABN is the subject of a contest between Barclays, whose offer ABN has accepted, and a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland [RBS], which offered a €71 billion counterbid -- provided LaSalle was included in the deal. Angry investors, who viewed ABN's sale of LaSalle to BoA as a poison pill designed to thwart RBS's higher offer, sued to freeze the deal. Pali International analyst Bruce Packard said he considers it "very likely that the RBS-led consortium comes back with an offer ex-LaSalle." "I don't think giving up is in [RBS CEO] Fred Goodwin's vocabulary," said Oriel Securities analyst Mike Trippitt. BoA, which had threatened to sue ABN if the Court ruled in favor of freezing the sale, is "extremely happy" with the decision and plans to complete the LaSalle takeover as soon as possible.
Sources: Reuters I, II, Bloomberg, Alphaville [Financial Times]
Commentary: Dutch Advocate General: ABN's Sale of LaSalle Does Not Require Shareholder Vote • Atticus Capital: We Can Block Barclays' Bid for ABN • Bank of America Postpones ABN Amro Suit
Stocks/ETFs to watch: ABN Amro Holding N.V. (ABN), Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC), Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc [ADR] (RBSPY.PK), Fortis NV [ADR] (FORSY). Competitors: HSBC Holdings plc ADR (HBC), Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB), UBS AG (NYSE:UBS). ETFs: iShares MSCI Netherlands Index (NYSEARCA:EWN), streetTRACKS KBW Bank (NYSEARCA:KBE), HOLDRS Regional Bank (NYSEARCA:RKH)
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Idris Elba joins the cast as Solomon Reed, an FIA Agent for the NUSA.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is set to launch in 2023 and CD Projekt Red has revealed the first few details about the game. While we already knew Keanu Reaves will return to reprise his role as the late rockerboy Johnny Silverhand, CDPR also revealed their newest Hollywood cast member, Idris Elba.
The English actor will join the rest of the cast in Cyberpunk 2077 as a new character, Solomon Reed. Reed is an FIA Agent for the NUSA and will be an integral character in the story. The DLC is essentially a spy-thriller set in a new district of Night City and will likely involve all sorts of political intrigue and skullduggery.
The DLC will be available only on current-gen consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X/S) and PC. This means players on last-gen consoles will not be able to play the new DLC. The pricing of the DLC has not yet been revealed and it has been confirmed it will not be available for free.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Set to Release in 2023, Price Not Yet Revealed
CD Projekt Red has been known for delivering exceptionally well-made DLCs, as is evidenced by The Witcher 3’s Hearts of Stone and Blood & Wine. Both DLCs added significant amounts of content to the game, including new quests, mechanics, and storylines. The standard has been set incredibly high and appears to be quite the imposition for the studio.
Cyberpunk 2077 has redeemed itself in the public eye on the back of quality updates and patches over the last couple of years. Its redemption was also helped by the release of the Netflix show Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which helped bring new players to the game.
The game is back on track to be one of the more celebrated titles in the studio’s catalog. The Phantom Liberty will be an extremely significant launch for CPDR as its state on Day 1 will likely set the tone for how the game will be received henceforth. Additionally, it might even help the game appear much better in retrospect.
CDPR is currently firing on all cylinders with multiple projects being worked on simultaneously. The studio recently put out the next-gen update for The Witcher 3, and soon enough next year, The Witcher remake will be set for release. However, perhaps the most exciting project from the Polish developer comes in the form of a new Witcher game built on Unreal Engine 5.
The developer has chosen to pivot from the use of their proprietary REDEngine to Unreal Engine 5. This will be massively significant as there is a good chance that the game will be dramatically different from anything else the studio has put out up to this point. The future is incredibly exciting for CD Projekt Red and fans cannot wait to see the new DLC.


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The Federal Trade Commission has been on the march. Over the past month, the Commission has held two “open” meetings, rescinded two major bipartisan agreements by party-line vote, and positioned itself to write regulations for the first time in decades.
In the words of a former commissioner, the current FTC is “Icarus flying without the constraints of history, economics, or law.” He predicts that its “regulatory overreach…will end with the FTC’s wings melting in the courts.”
Facebook filed a petition Wednesday asking for Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan to recuse herself from the FTC’s antitrust case against the company.
The tech giant argued in the petition that Khan’s public statements, in which she suggested Facebook’s conduct constituted an antitrust offense, violated the company’s due process rights.
Tech giant Amazon recently demanded that the chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission be recused from any antitrust investigations into the company, according to the Daily Caller.
Amazon filed the petition with the FTC on Wednesday, accusing Chairwoman Lina Khan of being biased due to the fact that she “has, on numerous occasions, argued that Amazon is guilty of antitrust violations and should be broken up.” The petition continued by declaring that “these statements convey to any reasonable observer the clear impression that she has already made up her mind about many material facts relevant to Amazon’s antitrust culpability as well as about the ultimate issue of culpability itself.”
The FTC is already conducting several antitrust investigations, including against Amazon; their most recent efforts are focusing on Amazon’s possible acquisition of the film studio Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), a purchase of nearly $9 billion announced last month.
The Justice Department on Tuesday sued Google for antitrust violations, alleging that it abused its dominance in online search and advertising to stifle competition and harm consumers.
The lawsuit marks the government’s most significant attempt to protect competition since its groundbreaking case against Microsoft more than 20 years ago. It could be an opening salvo ahead of other major government antitrust actions, given ongoing investigations of major tech companies including Apple, Amazon and Facebook at both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission.
by Peter Hasson and Chris White Department of Justice investigators who are conducting an antitrust probe targeting Google do not appear to be scrutinizing claims that the tech giant manipulates its search function, leaks about the probe and a source familiar with it indicate. Google critics argue that Google…
by Norbert Michel The Trump administration has nominated Kathy Kraninger to be the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Roll Call reports that her confirmation hearing was “as politically contentious as it’s gotten in the last year and a half” on the otherwise “senatorial Senate Banking Committee.” Ignore the…


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Sony has been a big name when it comes to cameras and related products however the company hasn’t been clearly living up to its potential when it comes to smartphone cameras. That could possibly change in the near future however. Sony has now developed a new CMOS camera sensor for smartphones that could revolutionize smartphone photography (or videography if that was a thing).
With the stacked high-speed, low power consumption, high-capacity DRAM, the new sensor can read one still image of 19.3 million pixels in only 1/120 second (approximately 4x faster than conventional products), reducing the time lapse for reading each pixel line. This technology minimizes the focal plane distortion in still images that tends to occur when shooting fast-moving subjects on smartphones, which lack a mechanical shutter for controlling exposure time.
The new sensor is the industry’s first 3-Layer stacked CMOS image sensor with DRAM which can shoot 1080p slow-motion video at a blistering 1,000 frames per second. To put it in normal english, Sony added RAM to the image sensor to enable high speed capture, eight times faster than the current competition. High end smartphone cameras such as the iPhone 7, Google Pixel or any other that you think is the best, cap out at 120fps at 1080p or 240fps at 720p so obviously, 1000fps at 1080p is a big deal.
The camera captures two streams one of which is at 1000fps and the other at a regular speed both of which are then stored onto the on-chip RAM (independent of your device RAM) for later processing. The connection between the camera and the smartphone’s chipset is slower and takes about 1/30th of a second to store images while the new sensor can do the same job in 1/120th of a second.
This means that the Sony sensor can capture stills of fast moving objects with less focal plane distortion. Here’s a 64x slow-mo demo – from 960fps to 15fps – captured with the new 3-layer image sensor.
The sensor itself has an effective pixel count of 5520 x 3840 (21.2-megapixels), but still images are shot at 19.3-megapixels in 4:3, 17.1-megapixels in 16:9. The Japanese giant hasn’t offered any timelines or info as to when we’ll see this new sensor implemented in an actual smartphone but I hope it is soon.
Source : Sony


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Actress Elizabeth Hurley has designed a line of bikinis for young girls that’s being called “disturbing” and “inappropriate.” Her website calls the swimwear “fun” and has bikinis aimed at tots under 8 and for girls 8 to 13. But a child protection charity in the U.K. says Hurley is sexualizing children. Claude Knight, the director of Kidscape, told the Daily Mail: “It is very disturbing to see some inappropriate items in this swimwear range.”
A number of parents are also speaking out against the line, saying the clothing makes children look like mini-strippers. A study published online last July in the journal Sex Roles showed that girls as young as six years want to look sexy and consider themselves sex objects. Blogger/mother of a four-year-old girl, Jen M.L. wrote to the Huffington Post that when shopping for clothing for her daughter, “I am horrified by the choices we have for her to wear…there were several dresses that looked like they should come with a complimentary pole and hooker heels!” She says if consumers didn’t buy this stuff, manufacturers wouldn’t make it.
“I don’t know who to punch: the manufacturers of this shit, the stars — like Miley Cyrus — who wear this crap, the retailers who stock it, or the consumers who buy it. I think, ultimately, the blame goes to the consumers — US. If we’d just stop buying this misogynistic whore-wear maybe companies would stop trying to sell it to us and Miley would realize she’s irrelevant and she’d go away.” What do you think? Vote below:


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Published on 19 June 2020
Attica is at the top of many people’s wishlists in Melbourne as they begin to return to restaurants following the lockdown. While the restaurant hasn’t announced an open date yet, that hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of hundreds of diners surveyed by Melbourne Food & Wine Festival during its virtual festival, The Online Edition, who nominated Attica as their top pick for dining out again.
Ben Shewry’s Ripponlea restaurant is consistently ranked among Victoria’s – and Australia’s – finest of diners, but it was also the choice of close to 20 per cent of respondents when asked which restaurant they were most looking forward to returning to.
“Thank you for the support that you have shown us and other restaurants that have done takeaway,” said Shewry in response. “Continue to support those restaurants, as well as the ones that are back open, as that revenue is very much needed and will form part of a recovery for restaurants.
“We are really looking forward to reopening in the future and we are planning for that. Although we don't have a date, we can't wait to welcome people back to our dining room.”
The next most popular restaurant, Vue de Monde, came in with just under 10 per cent of votes, closely followed by Maha. The rest of the votes were split across the full breadth of Melbourne’s dining landscape, from tasting-menu-only venues to reliable favourites and everything in between.
But regardless of which restaurant diners singled out, the enthusiasm to get back into dining rooms was abundantly clear. The survey was done one week before restaurants were allowed to reopen their doors.
“I am most looking forward to an amazing steak that I have not had to prep and cook myself, along with some warm crusty bread and a big deep red,” wrote one diner. “I think Rockpool covers off all of these bases.”
“Atlas,” wrote another. “To not only have amazing food and service again, but to feel like we’re travelling overseas when we can’t.”
Kisumé was another respondent's choice. “Their food is not just for eating, but also for appreciating the beauty of Japanese food. This can be only done while dining in.”
Many people spoke of wanting to reschedule reservations they’d made before the shutdown for special occasions including graduations, post-childbirth dinners, Mother’s Day, anniversaries and birthdays.
Aside from big nights out, pubs, neighbourhood restaurants, hidden gems and cuisines that are difficult to replicate at home, such as Korean barbecue, ramen and Sichuan, were all mentioned frequently in diners’ wishlists.
“Soi 38,” said one respondent. “Because nothing says Melbourne like ducking down a laneway under a carpark and enjoying some of Melbourne's best noodles at a bargain price.”
If you’re looking for information on which restaurants have reopened or which are still offering takeaway, use our map to search by area or venue.
By Emma Breheny
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To get your year off to a great start, we’re offering to pick up the bill when you book a table through New Year Street Feasts. That’s right: one lucky person can win their New Year celebrations on us.


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News By Tag
News By Place
Pompano Beach Green Market Launches Taste of the Market Event
The Green Market Pompano expects their biggest market to date with the launch of the first "Taste of the Market" event. Event attendees can participate in a “Discovery Tour” of the market, sampling foods from vendors and entering various raffles
Pompano Beach Green Market is celebrating its 10th season with a new location and a growing excitement for the “Buy Local. Eat Fresh.” campaign. "We have a million dollar location, for both our vendors and shoppers with plenty of parking and lots of room to grow", says Debbie Moore, Market Manager. "We feel this new location provides a centrally convenient place for neighbors to gather, sample great foods, and buy the freshest local products in town.”
According to Moore, “One of the biggest challenges markets can face is the lack of quality vendors due to so many new markets popping up around town. We’re taking a different approach and not just looking for vendors but the best small family owned businesses and future entrepreneurs, giving them an opportunity to present their best to our community and start the foundation for a future business.” Current vendors include locally harvested produce and seafood, pickles, olive oil, jams, preserves, local honey, delicious baked goods and breads, fresh flowers, gardening supplies, herbs, honey based skin products, homemade soaps and professionally trained artists creating beautiful jewelry and art for sale. You'll also find local restaurants and mobile vendors serving both breakfast and lunch in a fun atmosphere where pets are always welcome!
Many vendors are currently operating under the Cottage Food Industry Act, a State Statute passed in 2011 which allows someone with a great idea to make certain non-perishable items at home and bring them to local Green Markets to sell. “We are very proud of our small local food vendors and do our utmost to support them," says Moore. “Our motto isn’t just to provide them a space to sell their product, but to help them through the steps in creating a better business and more successful market experience.”
For more information call (954) 786-7824.


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The Indonesian government also has high hopes for the country’s car exports , particularly since the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community , which turns the ASEAN region into one single market and production area. The AEC should unlock more opportunities for exporters as it intensifies regional trade. Once technological and regulatory issues have been resolved, up to 15 percent of new cars sold in 2030 could be fully autonomous. Electric starter, a significant innovation in promoting the acceptability of the gasoline-powered automobile.
Others, such as General Motors have come back to Indonesia to tap this lucrative market. However, Japanese car manufacturers remain the dominant players in Indonesia’s car manufacturing industry, particularly the Toyota brand. It is a very difficult challenge for western brands to compete with their Japanese counterparts in Indonesia, known as the backyard of Japanese car manufacturers. Car manufacturers must further differentiate their products/services and change their value proposition from traditional car sales and maintenance to integrated mobility services. We create intelligent sensing and power solutions to boost the race to a more sustainable future.
- Adoption rates will be highest in developed dense cities with strict emission regulations and consumer incentives .
- Our Future Mobility Europe online event brings together more than 1,000 stakeholders to discuss the business models, technologies and trends shaping the future of mobility.
- It is ideal for 3D gesture sensing as well as 2D/3D driver and interior monitoring applications.
- PSA and CK Birla Group have a 50-50% joint venture called PSA AVTEC Powertrain Pvt.
Still, there are no major concerns about this situation as domestic car demand has ample room for growth in the decades to come with Indonesia’s per capita car ownership still at a very low level. Most industry players and experts agree that the four trends will reinforce and accelerate one another, and that the automotive industry is ripe for disruption. Given the widespread understanding that game-changing disruption is already on the horizon, there is still no integrated perspective on how the industry will look in 10 to 15 years as a result of these trends.
Intelligent Image Sensing Technology Leads the Road From ADAS to AV
Ams OSRAM AS8579 capacitive sensor uses novel technique for foolproof, hands-on detection design. It enables sensing placement within the steering-wheel industry’s first completely reliable solution for hands-on detection and offers the simplest way for car makers to comply with the UN Regulation 79. As the first W3C initiative in this space, the Automotive Working Group is designed to address the need for standards in a connected vehicle ecosystem. Accenture, Faurecia and Affectiva are collaborating to innovate driver safety and in-car infotainment for occupants. Transform the customer experience from many disconnected interactions to a holistic and meaningful personalized experience that is founded on purpose. Intuitive, informative, and immersive in-vehicle experiences, enriching travel for drivers and passengers.
While other industries, such as telecommunications or mobile phones/handsets, have already been disrupted, the automotive industry has seen very little change and consolidation so far. For example, only two new players have appeared on the list of the top-15 automotive original-equipment manufacturers in the last 15 years, compared with ten new players in the handset industry. The speed of adoption will be determined by the interaction of consumer pull and regulatory push, which will vary strongly at the regional and local level.
Sustainability in automotive aftersales
The central bank of Indonesia decided to revise the down payment requirements for the purchase of a car in an attempt to boost credit growth . Per 18 June 2015, those Indonesian consumers who use a loan from a financial institution to purchase a passenger car need to pay a minimum down payment of 25 percent . It is estimated that around 65 percent of all car purchases in Indonesia are made through a loan.
This includes policies on industry and trade, energy, tax, safety standards, the use of technology, and environment. In global role, GAIKINDO is a partner of the automotive industry associations in various countries. This is mainly with associations in the countries where automotive industry becomes the backbone of the economy, and in particular with the principal countries whose products enter the Indonesian automotive market. Diverging markets will open opportunities for new players, which will initially focus on a few selected steps along the value chain and target only specific, economically attractive market segments—and then expand from there. While Tesla, Google, and Apple currently generate significant interest, we believe that they represent just the tip of the iceberg. Many more new players are likely to enter the market, especially cash-rich high-tech companies and start-ups.
To overtake Thailand as the biggest car manufacturer in the ASEAN region will, however, require major efforts and breakthroughs. Currently, Indonesia is primarily dependent on foreign direct investment, particularly from Japan, for the establishment of onshore car manufacturing facilities. The country also needs to develop car component industries that support the car manufacturing industry.
Jongkie Sugiarto, Chairman of the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association , said the region east of Jakarta is selected by many car manufacturers for their production base since a decade ago as the area’s infrastructure is good . He added that it has now become difficult to find large-sized land for new factories due to the influx of many businesses over the past years. Currently, this electric motorcycle is in the massive production to produce 50 thousand units and will be in the marketplace in 2018.
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The School Soccer Playoff seems able to develop within the close to future. The four-team occasion may quickly become a 12-team tournament, and that has led to mixed reactions amongst school soccer followers.
Some love the thought. Others hate it.
Among the many latter class are two Connecticut senators who’re apprehensive about whether or not the NCAA has one of the best pursuits of the athletes in thoughts or if the governing physique is simply on the lookout for “one other money seize.”
“The one assured consequence of an expanded playoff subject and longer season is extra league revenue that the gamers received’t see a dime of – it’s simply one other money seize,” mentioned Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. in a press release to USA Today Sports. “I doubt if the truth that this can enhance the danger of participant damage even got here up.”
Blumenthal was backed up by his counterpart, Chris Murphy, D-Conn, who spoke in regards to the athletes not having a say on this resolution.
“That is one other instance of the big-time school sports activities executives and directors making choices simply to extend their very own income, whereas persevering with to place the wants and well being of faculty athletes on the again burner,” Murphy mentioned. “It is loopy that the athletes who create the product have zero say in a choice as large as this, and can get not one of the thousands and thousands in revenue that will probably be created by extra video games.
“That is precisely why I launched laws that might assist these athletes set up and collectively cut price for themselves.”
At present, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is attempting to craft a regulation that might give school athletes an opportunity to revenue from their identify, picture and likeness (NIL). This contains athletes with the ability to signal endorsement offers, signal autographs for pay and earn cash on varied social media platforms, like YouTube.
Thus, it is no shock that Blumenthal, who chairs the committee, and Murphy can be against this kind of playoff enlargement. They wish to be certain athletes aren’t being exploited, particularly given the inconsistent security tips and missing well being protection that student-athletes obtain.
Nonetheless, these senators’ opinions aren’t prone to have an effect on potential enlargement for the School Soccer Playoff. What they’ll do is proceed to debate points involving the NCAA as they appear to create an NIL regulation for athletes and, probably, pursue another laws designed to learn student-athletes.


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Due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, Honor has confirmed that the company’s first smartphone of the year will be announced online.
Surely, Honor isn’t the only Chinese OEMs which will be unveiling their new launches online. Yesterday, a fresh leak appeared to suggest that Xiaomi will also be announcing their upcoming Mi 10 flagship series via online channels on February 13th.
As of now, there still isn’t much details pertaining to this upcoming Honor smartphone. However, it could possibly be the Honor MOA-AL00 smartphone which were recently certified by the Chinese TENAA authority.
Based on it’s preliminary specs, the device is expected to be an entry-level smartphone targeted at the budget segment.
The ongoing Coronavirus outbreak in China had reportedly caused some Chinese OEMs to push back the launch date of their new smartphones.
Similarly, a recent report had also pointed towards a declining smartphone shipments in the domestic market among Chinese OEMs.


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Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Arrived Nigeria Unannounced (Photos)
The ceo and founder of facebook Mark Zuckerberg was confirmed arrived in Nigeria today, his presence in ngeria was cleared to be for a meet up with young tech students in the country
Early this year Mark Zuckerberg expressed excitement at the level of success achieved by African developers and praised Jobberman founders, Olalekan Elude, Ayodeji Adewunmi and Opeyemi Awoyemi for their innovation.
In his statement then, he said
“Today we’re partnering with Airtel Africa to launch Internet.org Free Basics in Nigeria.
There’s a lot of innovation across Africa right now, and Nigeria in particular is home to a lot of talented developers”
More photo’s below:


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Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s innovative Digital Youth Programme was named overall winner of the ‘Digital Skills’ category at the NextGen Digital Challenge Awards ceremony, which took place recently in London.
Enhancing digital skills and increasing exposure to careers in the digital technology, while also facilitating work placements and digital mentors among young people, the programme was officially recognised for its contribution to economic growth, community and entrepreneurship through digital transformation.
Attending the awards night, Vice Chair of the Economic Development and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Colin McCusker said,
“We are thrilled to be officially acknowledged for our pioneering Digital Youth Programme, which highlights council’s dedication and commitment to accelerate the advancement of the digital economy within the borough and in turn drive the growth of our economy.
“We are aware of the growing importance of digital skills and just how that emphasis will continue to mount as our society is tasked with finding new solutions for environmental, economic and social problems. That is why collaboration with schools to engage with young people and increase their awareness of the benefits and prospects that lie within the digital economy is so vital.”
With today’s society and economy facing new and unprecedented challenges, novel and creative measures are needed more than ever to ensure its stability and growth. Council’s Regeneration and Development Strategy 2015-2020 identified the need to promote and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit across the borough to ensure its continued advancement.
By targeting today’s youth and the flourishing digital economy, council developed the Digital Youth Programme, which aims to equip young people with the skills required to grow a digital, innovative and entrepreneurial economy and in turn help the continued growth of our overall economy.
Delivered in partnership with Young Enterprise NI right across the borough, the Digital Youth Programme saw students use their ingenuity and imagination along with digital technology, to come up with solutions to crucial issues faced by today’s society. The programme not only highlighted how imperative digital skills are for overcoming society’s current and future challenges and the array of jobs available in the sector, it also showcased how stimulating, rewarding and fun the sector can prove to be.
Now in their seventh year, the NextGen Digital Challenge Awards celebrate innovation, success and leadership in the today’s digitally transformed economy and since their inception in 2011 they have awarded ground-breaking projects right across the UK and Ireland.


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Drivers of fuel-sipping cars should get special privileges such as priority parking and special lanes on highways, a leading climate change expert says.
Those who insist on driving petrol guzzlers should be shamed through the adoption of a coloured number plate system to show which cars used more fuel, said the professor of Environmental Studies at Standford University, Stephen Schneider.
Prof Schneider said the imperative to cut greenhouse emissions and the world's limited oil supply meant it would soon become illogical to drive the kids to school or travel to the shops in three-tonne four-wheel-drives.
"In 50 years' time we will look back at our inefficient or inappropriate vehicles as four-wheeled dinosaurs - infamous for their excessive use of fossil fuels for the services they provided," he said.
Actively involved with the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change since its inception in 1988, Prof Schneider recently completed a stint as thinker in residence in South Australia.
His report on climate change to the state government includes sweeping recommendations on setting emissions reduction targets, promoting sustainable farming and living, and developing environmentally responsible communities.
Regarding private transport, he said consumers must be given incentives to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles.
He suggested a system of "freebates" giving consumers cheaper stamp duty, registration and other on-road costs for fuel-efficient cars.
Those cars would also carry a green number plate allowing them parking privileges, including access to lower levels in multi-storey carparks and green parking zones throughout the city.
In peak-hour periods, green-plated cars would get access to priority lanes, like existing bus or carpool lanes.
Less fuel-efficient cars would be forced to carry an orange number plate clearly identifying them as bigger consumers of petrol.
Prof Schneider said encouraging people to switch to fuel-efficient vehicles would take time, and governments should be mindful of softening the impact on those less able to afford to change.
It might be easier to achieve a change in buying patterns, based around a sense of social good, if consumers also were offered a cash incentive, he said.
Prof Schneider also called on the local car industry to take note of the growing shift towards fuel-efficient cars by planning now to shift production to such vehicles.
"Failure to recognise that a change towards fuel-efficient vehicles is inevitable will result in long-term harm to the automotive industry," he said.
"Stalling for too long will mean that it hasn't the right kinds of efficient vehicles to sell when the demand for efficient cars soars."


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New details have emerged about Amazon's late 2017 acquisition of smart home camera maker Blink, Reuters reports.
The e-commerce titan purchased Blink for a previously unreported sum of $90 million, and, contrary to popular belief, Reuters reports that Amazon bought the company largely for its microchips.
It had previously been widely speculated that the e-commerce giant bought Blink to build its own Alexa-compatible smart security camera or video doorbell for its remote delivery pilot service, known as Amazon Key.
These details suggest Amazon could be looking to build more of the technologies in its Echo in-house, even as it maintains an open ecosystem for third-parties to work with its Alexa voice assistant.
- Amazon could build Blink's chips into the Echo smart speakers to lengthen their battery life and potentially lower its own production costs. Blink's products don't need to be plugged in — they can operate for two years on just two AA batteries, thanks to Blink's chip technology. Amazon may be looking to build those chips into its Echo products, potentially eliminating the need to plug them into a wall outlet. Adding such capability could, at least temporarily, give the Echo a key portability advantage over other smart speakers, the vast majority of which also rely on wall outlets. In addition, building chips for the Echo in-house could potentially reduce Amazon's production costs for the popular devices.
- The company also appears committed to its "Alexa anywhere" approach, despite potentially tightening control over Echo devices' manufacturing. The company released Alexa Voice Service back in 2016 to enable third-party hardware companies to build Alexa into their products. Since then, companies have built the popular voice assistant into thermostats, cars, refrigerators, and more. At the same time, the e-commerce giant has permitted developers and businesses alike to create their own applications (called skills) for the voice assistant since early 2016, and it counts over 25,000 to date.
This approach mirrors what Amazon has done with many of its other businesses, including its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing unit and its e-commerce marketplace. The company largely built both of these businesses leveraging much of its own data, software, hardware, and other services, and using its control over those different components to drive efficiencies. In both cases, it opened them up to other businesses to either sell goods or use excess computing infrastructure. The latest news on Blink suggests it could be taking the same approach to its Echo devices to lower costs and keep iterating to add new features, while also maximizing the monetization potential of the speakers and Alexa voice assistant by making them easy for third parties to work with.
- Analyzes current consumer demand for smart home devices based off results from BI Intelligence's proprietary survey.
- Forecasts future growth in the number of smart home devices installed in American homes.
- Analyzes the factors influencing the proliferation of voice control devices in the homes.
- Identifies and analyzes the market strategies of various companies that have integrated voice control into their smart home ecosystems.
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With dining rooms reopening across the country, Pie Five Pizza, known for handcrafted personal pizzas made with fresh ingredients, has created several new operational procedures to ensure the health a
RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc., the parent company for Pizza Inn and Pie Five Pizza, has just launched “Feed Essential Workers” programs at both brands to donate meals to healthcare, grocery, fire depart
A buffet chain pivots to curbside service as it fights to stay open during coronavirus outbreak.
Sales continue to slide at the retracting fast casual.
RAVE Restaurant Group, the parent company of Pizza Inn and Pie Five Pizza Co., announced the hiring of Clint Fendley as its vice president of finance, effective immediately.“We are very excited to wel
The category pioneer has designs for a comeback in 2020.
RAVE Restaurant Group announced October 21 that its board of directors has named Brandon L. Solano chief executive officer, effective immediately.
For a long time, fast-casual brands rejected drive thru as a hallmark of fast food. But that’s starting to change.
Pie Five Pizza announced that Pizza Inn’s “Franchisee of the Year” is opening a Pie Five restaurant in Lubbock on May 13.Located at 2912 W. Loop 289, Ste.
Pie Five Pizza is continuing its commitment to menu innovation with the debut of three flavor-forward Calzones.Perfect for enjoying on-the-go, Pie Five guests can indulge in these new oven-baked, fold


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Konami Digital Entertainment-owned 4K Media has revealed that a new Yu-Gi-Oh! movie is currently in development in Japan.
As fans and retailers alike enjoy the resurgence of popular anime brand Yu-Gi-Oh!, the characters from the animated series and trading card game are heading back to the big screen in a new movie.
While there is no set release date for the film, 4K Media has confirmed that the movie is now in development.
The Yu-Gi-Oh! series is currently in its 14th year of broadcast in the US and most major markets worldwide. The animated series and brand holds particular favor with boys through its popular trading card game, its animated series and previous films.
The series is enjoying a major brand resurgence, with 4K Media signing new licensees earlier this year for a Yu-Gi-Oh! housewares line in North America.
Along with new licensees, 4K Media announced last year that it was bringing the hit series back to North America. 4K Media and Cinedigm launched the home entertainment program last year, with plans to release all 600 episodes of the series in the US and Canada, on DVD, digital and VOD platforms. The first DVD release, Yu-Gi-Oh! Classic Season 1 Boxset, is set to launch in September 2014.
4K Media is currently on the hunt for a distributor for all territories outside of Asia.


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Taiwan-based electronic chip firm MediaTek’s Chairman MK Tsai on Friday met Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and expressed keen interest in expanding presence in the country.
“MediaTek chairman (MK Tsai) shared its commitment to make technology more accessible for people. It was encouraged by the great market potential that India holds in the field of technology and high tech services. We shared with the Minister that MediaTek is keen on expanding its presence in India,” an official statement said.
MediaTek makes electronic chips that are used mostly in low-priced phones. It does not own any chip manufacturing facility but designs chips and gets product made from vendors.
In the meeting, Prasad shared with Tsai the government’s ‘Digital India’ vision and the way it has opened up new avenues and opportunities in the field of technology.
Initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and Smart Cities coupled with liberalisation of defence manufacturing has created a great demand for technology solutions and hardware in India, the statement said.
The Minister also shared the government’s vision to create more IT hubs in small towns and the vision of opening BPO centers in rural areas.
“This would propel the growth of India and bring prosperity to the lesser developed parts of India,” the statement said.


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They are apparently working on other things that are of a higher priority.
September 3, 2020
A hacker purporting to sell the user databases of three top hardware wallet manufacturers is actually a scammer, according to Trezor
May 25, 2020
Newly found security flaws affect most devices, TREZOR confirms its products are unaffected. #NEWS
January 4, 2018


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The availability and accessibility of affordable nutritious food play a vital role in any household. With South African consumers under pressure, food price inflation is expected to average about 5% during 2019 and is unlikely to rise significantly.
The main challenges faced by farmers are drought, which means poor harvests and reduced incomes, and consequently, problems in repaying bank loans. Higher interest rates amid a weak economy could worsen the situation for those still grappling with drought, especially in parts of the Northern Cape, the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and the North West.
Climate change remains a great concern to farmers, and affects everyone because of the relationship between global commodity markets. Severe weather in one country or region can affect the supply-and-demand equation, and with it, prices, across the whole world.
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) coordinates industry interventions and collaboratively manages risks in the value chain to enable the sustainability and profitability of pork producers in South Africa.


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|XDATA – June 12th 2017|
|Not to be confused with Utility.com as on Crunchbase.
Utility raised $6.6 million from three financial backers on May 22nd according to information disclosed by the company. The non-brokered equity offering was fully subscribed. No offering was previously initiated by the company under a registration exemption with the SEC.
|Utility markets and develops an intuitive platform for effectively capturing, managing and releasing video evidence. The company’s BodyWorn camera and Rocket IoT in-car video system incorporates real-time communications and policy-based automatic recording functionality for the best situational awareness possible during critical times, while it’s AVaiL Web cloud-based digital evidence management solution securely stores captured evidence and offers Smart Redaction – an automatic video redaction software.|
|The company is headquartered in Atlanta GA. Utility elected to keep its revenues undisclosed.
The executive team includes Robert S McKeeman and Ted M Davis.
Utility is registered under the name Utility Associates.
Industry: Other Technology
Amount offered: $6.6 million
Amount placed: $6.6 million
SEC filing: Source
First sale: 05-22-2017
Data as of: 06-12-2017


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Ottawa-based last-mile logistics platform GoFor just keeps delivering when it comes to racking up industry accolades in 2021.
The five-year-old startup that provides just-in-time delivery services for the likes of home reno giant Home Depot and paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams ranked 10th on the Globe and Mail’s annual list of Canada’s fastest-growing firms released Friday.
GoFor was the highest-ranked Ottawa company on the list with three-year revenue growth of 3,744 per cent. It’s the first appearance in the Globe and Mail rankings for GoFor, which also topped OBJ’s list of the city’s fastest-growing companies earlier this year.
The company has positioned itself as a dominant player in what it believes could soon be a trillion-dollar industry thanks to its lean operating model, which relies on freelance drivers the same way Uber employs independent contractors in the ride-hailing space.
“GoFor, without a doubt, has the potential to be a many-billion-dollar company,” founder Brad Rollo told OBJ earlier this year.
Now operating in more than 85 cities in Canada and the U.S., GoFor has tripled its headcount in the past 12 months to more than 125 full-time employees. The company has raised nearly $30 million in venture capital to finance its scaleup push while adding auto industry heavyweights such as former BMW executive Stefan Krause to its advisory team.
Firms from the National Capital Region have been steadily growing their presence in the third annual rankings, which rely on companies to voluntarily submit applications with supporting financial documents.
GoFor was one of 28 locally based companies to make this year’s list of 444 firms, up from 19 last year and 16 the year before.
For the first time, two Ottawa-based companies cracked the top 20. RV online rental platform RVezy came in at No. 18 with three-year revenue growth of 2,768 per cent.
Not surprisingly, tech firms once again formed a large chunk of the local contingent. But the list also included such diverse entries as home-care provider Assurance Home Care, which ranked 67th overall with three-year growth of 865 per cent, D-Squared Construction, which is making its third straight appearance (No. 146, 302 per cent), and staffing and recruitment firm Keynote Search (No. 226, 177%).
Here is the full list of Ottawa-Gatineau firms on the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business ranking of Canada’s top-growing companies:
- 10. GoFor (3,744%)
- 18. RVezy (2,768%)
- 67. Assurance Home Care (865%)
- 81. Food Cycle Sciences (740%)
- 84. Lightship Security (723%)
- 85. Feenics (715%)*
- 93. Fullscript (607%)
- 98. Inflector Environmental Services (574%)*
- 107. Knak (521%)
- 134. CanadaWheels.ca (341%)*
- 146. D-Squared Construction (302%)*
- 148. Martello Technologies (297%)*
- 175. Sampford Advisors (246%)
- 192. NewFound Recruiting (212%)*
- 208. Orangutech (197%)
- 226. Keynote Search (177%)
- 233. Giatech Scientific (168%)*
- 245. Envolta (154%)
- 271. Napkyn Analytics (135%)
- 273. HostedBizz (134%)
- 311. Seoplus+ (107%)*
- 352. DLS Technology (87%)*
- 371. Lim Geomatics (80%)
- 373. ProntoForms (79%)
- 392. CloseReach (69%)*
- 401. RBR (67%)*
- 418. Thermal Energy International (62%)*
- 429. Fully Managed (57%)
*Also appeared on last year’s list


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According to archival data from Wikipedia, the series will highlight key milestones from the club’s 122-year history, which features a trophy display of 95 domestic and international successes, including 26 national league crowns and five UEFA Champions League titles.
The digital assets will be made available through Ownix’s marketplace, which is planned to be live in the last week of November and will use the platform’s native ERC-20 token ONX.
In an interview with Guy Elhanani, the CEO of Ownix, he elaborated on the partnership.
Will the NFT collection be available to all of Barcelona’s fans right away?
NFTs are quickly gaining traction in the athletic world. Not only because of their rich financial appeal, but also because they provide a way to engage fans and supporters all over the world in more immersive and intimate encounters. Dapper Labs, Sorare, and Socios, to mention a few, have all made significant progress in this emerging field. Cooperating with some of the world’s best professional leagues, teams, and athletes.
Sorare, an Ethereum-based NFT marketplace, has announced partnerships with La Liga, Spain’s top-tier soccer league. In order to debut digital player cards, as well as the Bundesliga, Germany’s equivalent level, to provide digital moments.
Throughout 2021, the platform reported trade volumes of more than $170 million. And it intends to double that amount before the end of the year.
How will the assets be available on the market?
The first five NFTs will be available in the coming weeks at FCB facilities at a minting ceremony. Moreover, the site will provide unique things as NFTs in the first few weeks after it launches. Limited editions and sets will be up for auction in the future as well.


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Saturday 25 Oct 2014
Samsung To Open Source Its Bada OS
September 20, 2011
Samsung has been looking to strengthen its offerings outside of Android since Google decided to…
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Android Is The Least Open Of Open Source Mobile PlatformsAugust 6, 2011 · No comments
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Windows Phone 7 was only launched eight months ago, but it has already reached the...
Iran Building Its Own Internet And Operating System For Easier CensorshipJune 6, 2011 · 2 comments
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If you were hoping to get your hands on a Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro this quarter, it looks like it’s not going to happen.
Sony Ericsson has reportedly confirmed to SoMobile that the Xperia Pro will not hit the market until the fourth quarter of the year.
Furthermore, The Carphone Warehouse says the handset will be shipped in October.
However, Sony Ericsson UK’s official online shop still lists the Xperia Pro as being available starting this month. But they probably didn’t get the chance to update the website.
I’ve checked out the Xperia Pro back in February at MWC 2011 – when it was officially announced – and I can tell you that it’s definitely a smartphone to consider if you’re looking for a new QWERTY device (of course, no one will blame you if you can’t wait ‘till October). Keyboards aside, the features of the Xperia Pro are similar to the ones of the Xperia Neo: Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 3.7 inchFWVGA display, 8MP autofocus camera, and so on.
In other Sony Ericsson news, the recently announced TXT Pro (which isn’t a smartphone) will cost about €120 in Europe. At least that’s what Amazon Germany suggests, as it has priced the phone at €117 (with no mention on when it will launch it).


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BP, the British oil company, announced today an investment in a US-based electric vehicle charging station manufacturer in order to trial charging technology at its own retail sites by the end of the year. expand full story
electric vehicle charging Stories January 30
electric vehicle charging Stories January 17
California is already leading the U.S. in terms of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and are likely going to keep that lead at the pace they are installing stations.
Now, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a major electric utility in the state, is launching a new program to significantly increase the number of stations. expand full story
Home Solar Power
electric vehicle charging Stories November 13, 2017
A few days after announcing its massive electric vehicle charging infrastructure expansion, European electric utility E.ON elaborated on its actual plan to rollout charging stations across Europe – including an ‘electric highway’ of ‘ultra-fast charging stations’ that will connect Norway to Italy. expand full story
electric vehicle charging Stories April 11, 2017
The batteries in EV’s are heavy, expensive and in many cases slow to charge, this results in many affordable EV’s having a limited range. Obviously, this reduces the usefulness of EV’s for many potential buyers. For EV’s to really take off, we need an extensive network of public fast charging stations (DCFC’s). However, the current fee structure of utility companies, especially the additional peak demand charges during hot summer months, can make up a substantial part of the electricity costs of a charging location, forming a significant roadblock for the future of EV’s.
In a recent study for EVgo, analyzing data from every charging session in 2016 from all 230 of EVgo’s DC fast charging stations in the state of California where half of all the nation’s EV’s are being used, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) found that with today’s EV market penetration and current public DCFC utilization rates, demand charges can be responsible for over 90% of electricity costs, which are as high as $1.96/kWh at some locations during summer months.
electric vehicle charging Stories September 8, 2015


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Stocks spent most of the trading session in negative territory but ended the day almost exactly where they started. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) shed 12 points, or 0.1% and the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) lost 1 points, or 0.1%.
In economic news, the government announced that 3.1 million people quit their jobs in December (for a "quits rate" of 2.1%), setting a nine-year high. Rising quit figures correlate with an improving labor market since they suggest increasing confidence on the part of employees who choose to voluntarily separate from their employers. .
Coca-cola's U.S. pop
Dow giant Coca-Cola ticked higher today after announcing surprisingly strong fourth-quarter earnings results. The beverage king booked a 3% global volume improvement, which helped sales stay roughly flat after adjusting for currency fluctuations. Earnings also outpaced expectations at $0.38 per share, compared to consensus estimates of $0.37 per share .
Coke's management was pleased with the results. "Our fourth quarter performance was a testament to the action we took as the Company continued to deliver solid pricing and unit case volume growth," CEO Muhtar Kent said in a press release.
Executives were especially encouraged by sales growth in the U.S. market, which logged its strongest performance in three years thanks to brisk demand for the Coke Zero, Sprite, and Fanta brands making up for continued weakness in Diet Coke sales. The U.S. market managed 4% organic growth this quarter, compared to 3% in the prior quarter.
Looking ahead, the company said it will speed up its refranchising initiative, which should boost cash flow and profitability this year. Beyond that, a challenging global economy will likely keep pressure on sales, but Kent and his team believe they can deliver 5% higher profits this year on continued positive momentum in the U.S. market.
Viacom's media slump
Viacom shares plunged 21% lower after the media giant reported a double-digit drop in fiscal first-quarter earnings as advertising sales and film receipts both slipped. Overall revenue fell 6% and expenses rose by 4%, which pushed operating margin down to 27% of sales from 28% last year.
CEO Philippe Dauman admitted that Viacom's results reflected "significant industry disruption" in the media business. But he saw improvements coming as the year progresses, thanks to rising ratings in its VH1, Spike, and Nickelodeon networks and growing affiliate fee revenue. "Although our industry continues to face headwinds, we expect our positive momentum to continue and build throughout the year," he said .
In reacting to the news a Wall Street analyst with Bernstein put out a research note asking how the slumping sales, income, and margin figures don't all point to a business in decline. "We continue to hold the view that the old business of serving kids/teens with linear TV networks is doomed, and the new business of serving kids/teens with on-demand, digitally delivered entertainment is unlikely to be won by Viacom," the analyst said.
That type of criticism could be just what Dauman was referring to in today's conference call when he said, "our outlook and the facts have been distorted and obscured by the naysayers, self-interested critics and publicity seekers." But Wall Street is apparently moving toward that bearish reading today, as Viacom's daily drop left shares at roughly 50% lower over the past year .


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Charter & Fractional
News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.
Bromma Jet is part of a sales partnership with TAG Aviation.
Fractional operator has brought the latest addition to its fleet, with the first European example from a large order placed in 2012.
The booking platform secured the funding from a round of investment and also generated two million flight quotes in 2016.
The Farnborough-based company has a growing worldwide presence.
Private aircraft online broker says 34 percent of recent booking were made by people who had not used business aviation before.
Fly Comlux will fly passengers on luxury tours for Crystal AirCruises
Mexican charter operator Across is buying 23 Embraer business jets for $260 million.
Announcement brings the total number of Flexjet-ordered Challenger 350s to 60.
Raymond Jones will head Flexjet’s non-U.S. operations as managing director for international.
Amstat’s latest report shows Business Aircraft Transaction has stalled while Business Jet Asking Prices and Business Jet Inventory has increased