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Having already conquered the UK and other parts of the Middle East, chocolate shawarma has hit Israel.
The delicious confection combines the nation’s ancient love of food shaved off of a spinning spit and wrapped in a pita, and its relatively new passion for high quality chocolate.
Regular shawarma comes from a large hunk of lamb and beef pieces that roasts on a rotating spit (to ensure even cooking, and allow the rendered fat to marinate the meat). Slices are shaved off and served in a pita with condiments like tahini, hummus, Israeli salad, and others.
Thankfully, chocolate shawarma does not involve fatty pieces of meat or pickled condiments. Instead, a mix of white and milk chocolate is shaved off a refrigerated rotating spit, and served on a thick, freshly grilled crepe. According to Tablet Mag, toppings include “dulce de leche, maple syrup, halva, baby marshmallows, Adashim (essentially the Israeli version of M&M’s), whipped cream, chocolate sauce, nuts, granola, and chocolate sprinkles.”
It seems that the rotating spit isn’t actually necessary–the chocolate really could be shaved in any form. But this is vital to the shawarma branding.
Shawarma can probably be traced back at least to Turkish kebabs in the 18th century. But as another Tablet Mag article notes, fine chocolate is relatively new to the region. For years, Israel had only one main confectioner: Elite. But in 1996, two partners founded Max Brenner chocolatiers. The chain now has more than 50 locations around the world, including five in the US.
Max Brenner offers a “chocolate pizza” with chocolate, marshmallows, and peanut butter on a thin, cakey crust. Perhaps a more authentic take on the same idea will hit it big in Israel.


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Five hundred Aiways U5 electric crossovers have already been exported from China. From July this year, all of them will be included in the fleet of Hertz Corsica, a car rental company on the island of Corsica. At first, the Aiways U5 will be available for rental only. Later it will be possible to acquire ownership and use by subscription. First of all, the model will be brought to Germany, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands and, most likely, to France.
Aiways U5 will be the first electric vehicle made in China to officially enter the EU. The appearance of this model into the European market, originally planned for April 2020, has been postponed to August due to coronavirus.
The Aiways U5 electric crossover is equipped with a 63 kWh battery from CATL which allows a range up to 400 km. It is possible that batteries of other sizes will be available for the model.
The main electronics for the car are made by Bosch. The Aiways U5 is similar in size to the Tesla Model Y and other compact electric crossovers.
Aiways factory, located in the Chinese city of Shanrao, is capable of producing up to 150,000 cars a year. The company plans to independently sell its models in Europe. Partner companies will only perform maintenance and repairs.
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The Aiways U5 is scheduled to go on sale in Europe at the beginning of 2020 and a few months later to the United States. It will not have traditional acquisition formula but a kind of monthly subscription with a fee of about 400 euros. The brand has not said… Continue reading
The Chinese electric car startup Aiways will accept pre-orders from European customers for its fully electric SUV U5 from the end of August. Aiways plans to announce the European pre-sale markets and the required down payment later. The notice speaks of a "… Continue reading
The Chinese start-up electric car start-up based in Shanghai, Aiways starts pre-selling its first fully-electric SUV, the U5, in Germany. Aiways sells the U5 in Germany exclusively through direct sales together with its partner Euronics. You… Continue reading

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GE expands smart home automation technology
Changing your habits could put money in your pocket. By monitoring electric usage in real time, homeowners can manage their energy consumption and save on utility costs. By the time the monthly bill comes, it’s too late to do anything about it.
If you could see how much it costs to leave a light on, or turn up the thermostat two degrees, would it make a difference?
Homeowners can now answer that question. GE announced this week its Brillion suite of home energy solutions offer an intuitive home energy display that provides a continuous audit of household energy consumption in kilowatt-hours and in estimated dollars spent — something everyone in the family can understand.
GE's energy display with Brillion technology communicates with the utility smart meter on the house to provide consumers with near real-time energy data to help them make smarter energy choices. Despite spending an average of $1,400 per household per year on energy, most consumers today are completely in the dark when it comes to their electricity use and the cost of performing their necessary household chores — until receiving their monthly bill.
"This would be analogous to adding food to your grocery cart without having any idea about the cost of each individual item," said Dave McCalpin, general manager, Home Energy Management, GE Appliances and Lighting. "Does washing a load of clothes equal the cost of a pound of steak or a can of beans? Today, consumers just don't know. This display functions like an energy price tag for everything in your home, providing continuous energy usage and estimated cost data to consumers, so they can make smarter choices throughout the day and throughout the month."
The anticipated deployment of approximately 40 million smart meters in the U.S. between now and 2012 makes it possible for consumers to get access to more near real-time energy data. Smart meters will also enable utilities to put time-based, or time-of-use, pricing programs in place — with different prices for electricity at different times of day. Fluctuating rates will make it increasingly imperative for consumers to have a clear picture of their consumption and pricing information in real time.
GE's new Brillion-enabled energy display will receive signals from smart meters and provide continuous energy information in an attractive and intuitive format, including:
- Near real-time energy use and cost information: The near real-time readout will show consumers how much electricity they're consuming at that moment, along with the estimated cost of that electricity.
- Time-based pricing: In areas with time-based pricing, consumers will automatically know what price period they're in based on the display — and will find it easier to remember when it's most important to conserve.
- Historical energy usage: With access to consumption data for the month, day and hour, consumers get a clear picture of their consumption patterns and can make more proactive choices to help them conserve and save.
- Energy analysis: Ever wonder how much electricity you use during the big game, with the flat screen running for nearly half the night, the oven roasting to provide game-time treats, and the outdoor lights on to usher in guests? Analysis tools on GE's energy display with Brillion technology will enable consumers to look at their energy data for a defined period of time — whether it's a few hours or a few days.
- Messages: The communications capabilities of the display will also enable utilities to send messages and reminders to homeowners to inform them of utility maintenance, pricing changes or critical conservation periods.
It’s clear that information is power. A year-long study by the U.S. Department of Energy showed that real-time pricing information provided via a smart meter helped reduce electricity costs 10 percent on average and 15 percent during peak periods.
GE's energy display is part of GE's Brillion suite of home energy solutions that will include a programmable thermostat, Nucleus energy manager and Energy Star-qualified refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and the new GeoSpring hybrid water heater, as well as ranges, microwaves and clothes dryers.
GE's Nucleus and Brillion-enabled appliances are already being deployed in utility pilot programs.
GE’s Nucleus energy manager is a data-storage device that provides consumers with secure information about their total household electricity use and estimated costs so they can make more informed choices about how and when to use power.
As utilities deploy smart meters, Nucleus — which is about the size of an average phone charger — will collect and store a consumer's total household electricity use and estimated cost data for up to three years, and present it to consumers in near real-time on consumers' existing personal computers or on a smart phone. Nucleus is expected to be available for consumer purchase as early as the second half of 2011 at an estimated retail price of $149-$199.
GE's energy display with Brillion technology will retail for approximately $150 and will be available starting in the second quarter of 2011. It can be installed as a stand-alone device or communicate with Nucleus for even greater system capabilities.
Companies: GE Appliances


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|Promise’s new logo reinforces the company’s position as a longstanding leader in the storage market|
In a move that signifies its commitment to evolving with the dynamic storage market, Promise Technology Inc. has unveiled a new corporate brand identity. The evolution of the company is reflected by a new logo, a new website and newly defined business units – and demonstrates its understanding of the market’s need for integrated storage solutions.
Promise’s new logo reinforces the company’s position as a longstanding leader in the storage market, while aligning with what the brand stands for today. The new logo is inspired by an infinity symbol at its core and represents the company’s infinite ambition to pursue leading-edge technology and empower its customers with innovative storage solutions that address the challenges presented by massive amounts of data.
From the big data movement and the Internet of Things (IoT) to high-performance computing and collaborative 4K rich media workflows, Promise is in lockstep with today’s growth markets. In conjunction with the launch of its new logo, Promise has restructured its business units and revamped its website to align with the markets it serves. Promise’s divisions are categorised by the following solutions: IoT, Cloud, IT, Rich Media, and Surveillance.
“This is the most significant change to our brand image that has been made in Promise’s 28 years, and our new image showcases everything that has made us a success over that time – while positioning us for future growth,” noted James Lee, CEO, Promise Technology. "We have been moving toward a stronger focus on complete storage solutions to address specific market segments, including consumer and the Internet of Things. Our new look is a visual representation of our evolution as a company and the fact that we have taken our products from a component level to a solution level.”


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Thank you to everyone who submitted an application for the Edelson PC Consumer Scholarship. We were thrilled by not only the large number of applications received, but more profoundly, by the level of thought given to consumer privacy issues by applicants.
The scholarship was created to encourage and support law students who are passionate about consumer privacy issues. In choosing the recipients, we took into consideration each applicant’s written submission, as well as his or her demonstrated commitment to consumer privacy interests.
After careful consideration, we are extremely pleased to announce that the following individuals are winners of the 2016 Edelson PC Consumer Privacy Scholarship:
The first place winner, who will receive $10,000 towards law school tuition and expenses, is Christine Bannan. Christine is a 3L at the University of Notre Dame Law School. In the privacy context, she spent her 2L summer as a legal intern at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She is also an International Association of Privacy Professionals Certified Information Privacy Professional. Christine wrote about the rise of the Internet of Things and how the security of wifi-enabled consumer products be the next major issue for consumer privacy.
The second place winner, who will receive $5,000 towards law school tuition and expenses, is Kristina Semeryuk. Kristina is a 2L at the University of Notre Dame Law School where she is treasurer of the Intellectual Property Law Society and a member of the Business Law Forum. Kristina’s submission focused on big data. She proposed a regulatory scheme for data brokers similar to FCRA for credit reporting agencies that would give consumers the right to access their own data from data brokers and correct any inconsistencies.
The third place winner, who will receive $2,500 towards law school tuition and expenses, is Matthew McCoy. Matthew is a 3L at the University of Washington School of Law. There, he is a member of the Tech Policy Lab and the Tech Law and Public Policy Clinic and the founder of the Privacy Law Society. In the privacy space, Matthew spent his 2L summer as a legal extern at the Federal Trade Commission focusing on data breach, security, and malware cases. Matthew wrote about the current state of data breach notification statutes and argued against the enactment of a federal data breach notification statute.
Please note that the firm’s selection of these recipients is not an endorsement of any specific idea they proposed. Rather, we understand that the issues surrounding consumer privacy are complicated and deserve a robust debate. Thus, we were looking for thoughtful submissions rather that entries that simply mirrored our views.
Congratulations to our winners!


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With society’s growing obsession with mobile technology, many find it difficult to put it down. Such devices, particularly mobile phones, are used everywhere from the car to the classroom, and for some, the dinner table.
It’s a growing trend taking over households throughout the world, going against the traditional belief that using phones—or not actively participating in conversations—during social gatherings is just plain rude.
“Dinner, for my family, is more of a tradition and silent bonding time,” Sacred Hearts Academy sophomore Sally Do said. “When we have our phones out, it completely deters us from that goal.”
Results from a recent survey echoes Do’s beliefs. The survey by Pew Research Center found that 88 percent of people believe cell phone use at the dinner table is not OK.
Pew, which surveyed more than 3,000 adults in 2015, also found that 82 percent of respondents say that using a phone in a social setting hurts conversations.
“What I have experienced from family dinners has become irreplaceable for me,” Do said.
Families, who use mobile phones during dinner, tend to be uncommunicative and isolated from each other, she said. Non-phone users interact and engage in conversations more easily.
Another study by Tech Timeout states that 61 percent of America thinks society uses electronics too much. Parents are supposed to be role models for children, the study says; therefore, when adults are seen multitasking, it could leave a negative impact on children.
Sophomore Lauren Chun partially agrees.
“I prefer going on my phone (during dinner) sometimes, especially when there’s a conversation I want to avoid,” said Chun, who often texts and goes on social media while eating a meal with her family.
She said her family also uses their phones at the table but still manages to have verbal conversations with one another.
Sometimes people forget how powerful and distracting modern technology can actually be. Phones help others, who are far, seem close, but make the ones, who are close, seem far.


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Adam Ashmore, co-founder of online retailer Ebuyer.com, has departed the business after 14 years at the firm.
He was one of five co-founders who started the etailer back in 2000.
Ashmore, who was co-founder, web developer and IT director at the company, said: "Ebuyer has been my life for the last 14 years.
"From a small startup with just a handful of people working out of a garage, to one of the UKs largest e-commerce websites – Ebuyer has been an amazing journey.
"It has taken an enormous amount of hard work and passion, but it has been an incredible experience and often lots of fun.
"Some days we achieved great things, some days we made mistakes. You learn whatever you can from each new challenge and you try to surround yourself with brilliant colleagues who are willing to do the same.
Massive thanks to all of these friends – I’ve enjoyed working with you so much, and I’m proud of what we have created together.
"It’s been a difficult decision to leave Ebuyer, but it’s time for me to take a well earned holiday, then see what comes next… I especially owe thanks to all our customers over the years for helping to make Ebuyer such a huge success."


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Intel will stop adding to tablets. Are we facing price increases
Intel will stop adding to tablets. Are we facing price increases?
A few months ago, we informed you about an extremely cheap tablet, which was to be priced at just $99. Indeed, the equipment debuted on the market, and in our country there were even several auctions where you could buy the device. Unfortunately, perhaps such occasions will become a thing of the past, all thanks to Intel’s plans.
Intel is a tycoon in the market of processors designed for PCs and laptops. For many years, the position of the American giant has been strengthening, but this does not apply to the broader mobile industry. The company has been trying for some time to improve its presence in the mobile market.
At this point, it’s pretty much the only sensible way forward, and the heads of the world’s largest chipmaker are well aware of it.
As early as 2007, the first rumors about Apple’s use of an Intel-made SoC chip surfaced. Intel Silverthorne, as the chip was called at the time, was expected to provide computing power for the first-generation iPad. However, it turned out that the Cupertino corporation has its own chip, which it decided to use.
In this way, Intel was deprived of a huge opportunity to enter the tablet market.
Competition is not sleeping
Several years have passed, during which the situation has not changed significantly. Of course, Intel has been working on more chips. However, at the same time, companies such as Qualcomm (maker of Snapdragon chips), Samsung (maker of Esynos), Nvidia (with its mobile Tegra), and, in recent years, smaller manufacturers (Mediatek or Marvell processors), have managed to divide this sector of the economy between themselves.
In 2012, Intel unveiled a processor family called Bay Trail, which was to become the basis for many devices (mainly tablets) running Android and Windows 8. The $99 tablet, mentioned at the beginning of the text, is one of many examples of the use of Intel’s new processors.
While Android-equipped devices can’t speak of a flood of devices equipped with the American giant’s new chip, in the case of tablets running Windows 8, Intel’s new platform has become dominant. What methods were used to achieve this?
Subsidy – an expensive way to fight competition
Primarily through a system of subsidies and rebates for tablet manufacturers. Intel offered help in marketing efforts as well as reimbursements for costs incurred in redesigning motherboards, adapted to work with chips from other suppliers. However, the most important factor for which companies were able to reach for Bay Trail chips was the $51 subsidy for each tablet. That’s a pretty significant amount. However, in recent days there have been claims that from next year Intel will stop adding to the business.
The end of a good?
Of course, the primary reason for such a decision, is the desire for profit. According to analysts, processor sales at a discount of $51 are on the verge of profitability. Moreover, Intel’s mobile chip division generated as much as 7 billion.
The $ loss in the last two years (in 2013 and most likely in 2022).


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Top cryptocurrency scams of 2019 — and how most hackers got away with it
- This year cyber criminals were able to siphon away $4.26 billion from cryptocurrency users and exchanges.
- One of the biggest scams was the hacking of BITPoint, a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange, who lost $30 million.
Hackersare also suspected to be behind the Kraken BitcoinFlash Crash though the perpetrators are still at large.
Like any heist, pulling off a successful scam in only part of the story. A truly successful cryptocurrency hack is when the thieves can steal the money and also make a clean getaway.
That means stealing cryptocurrency from unsuspecting users, avoiding the long arm of law enforcement, laundering that money and finding an exit so that the hackers can actually spend it in the real world.
But, that’s not how it always plays out.
Here are some of the biggest
Japanese Exchange BITPoint Hacked for $30 million
Hackers Steal $40 Million in Crypto from Binance
Two Israeli Brothers Steal Tens of Millions in Typosquatting Scam
Six Arrested in UK and Netherlands over $27 million Typosquatting Scam
Hack Suspected as Cause of Kraken Bitcoin Flash Crash
$10 Million in XRP Stolen from GateHub
Singapore Exchange Bitrue Hacked for over $4 million
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On Tuesday, Ferrari unveiled its new Purosangue, the 75-year-old sports car maker’s first-ever four-door production car.
The Purosangue looks like an SUV similar to other luxury sport utility vehicles from brands like Porsche and Maserati. But despite its size, shape and high seating position, the company insists that the Purosangue – which means “thoroughbred” in Italian – is a sports car designed from the ground up like a real Ferrari.
The Purosangue may not have the traditional Ferrari shape, but it will sound like a Ferrari. The new model is powered by a 715-horsepower 6.5-liter V-12 engine that sits behind the front axle rather than above it like most SUVs and crossovers.
Ferrari said the rear-mounted Purosangue’s engine and gearbox distribution almost evenly distributes the car’s weight between the four wheels, improving handling.
While Ferrari is best known for its two-seat sports cars, the company has been producing four-seat models since the early 1960s and all-wheel drive models since the introduction of the FF coupe in 2011. But even Ferrari admits that Purosangue is pushing the legendary brand forward into new territory.
The Purosangue will start at €390,000 in Italy, Ferrari said, making it the company’s second most expensive production model after the €440,000 SF90 hybrid sports car.
Deliveries will start in the second quarter of 2023 in Europe, in the third quarter in the US and by the end of next year in other global markets, the automaker said.
Despite the high starting price, the Purosangue is likely to be popular with wealthy Ferrari customers.
Porsche’s two rival SUVs, the Cayenne and Macan, together accounted for about 55% of Porsche production in 2021. But Ferrari won’t let the Purosangue become that popular: The company plans to limit Purosangue production to no more than 20%. of its total annual production, or only about 3,000 units per year.


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Twitter, Facebook, Dropbox, and nearly everything that Google produces — all blocked in China. But that’s not discouraging some US startups from entering the notorious tricky and divergent Chinese market.
Let’s take a look at the fate of seven American ventures in China — including Evernote, LinkedIn, Uber — and see if their progress holds any lessons for other overseas apps and services looking for a slice of the Chinese web.
We’ve ranked these seven U.S. startups on their performance so far in China and given them a score out of 10 for their ability to (so far) cut it in a tough, unique market. Using a mix of user numbers where available, app store ratings and comments, and the gut feeling from someone who likes to peek at what other people are using on their phones whilst on the subway (yes, not exactly scientific), we’ve put the list in order of which US firm is making the best job of their Chinese expansion. First places goes to…
Official China launch: May 2012
Success rate thus far in China: 9.2 / 10
Having already accrued some Chinese users over the course of 2011, Evernote arrived in China in May 2012 with local staff and a new brand name. Indeed, operating in China necessitated a whole different service that’s disconnected from the international version of Evernote. In China, it’s branded as Yinxiang Biji.
Upon launch, the Evernote blog cautioned people: “[U]sers of Yinxiang Biji should be aware that Chinese authorities may have the right to access their data according to current regulations.” That’s why a spin-off service was needed. The Chinese service lacks collaborative notes.
Evernote’s main rival — indeed, its larger competitor — is Netease’s Youdao YunBiJi. The Chinese web giant hit 15 million users for its note syncing app last summer, shortly after Evernote grew to four million Chinese users. But since then Evernote managed to double its China user-base to eight million as of November last year.
Netease is being aggressive with pricing, offering 80% of Evernote’s premium features for free. Netease also has the advantage of being able to cross-promote its notes app in its popular news-reader apps — effectively giving it free advertising. In contrast, Evernote is on its own.
While the Youdao Yunbiji app is more popular than Evernote’s Chinese app in the local app stores, Evernote is holding up well with plenty of comments and five-star ratings on the China iOS store, and over 1,200 ‘likes’ on the Wandoujia store.
Official China launch: February 2014 (in beta)
Success rate thus far in China: 8.9 / 10
LinkedIn is the largest of the American "startups" seeking out a niche in China away from the controversies surrounding broader social media networks like Facebook. LinkedIn, with its focus on business connections, has never been blocked in China. It even managed to grow for years without a Chinese version of its site.
China is the land of business connections, encapsulated in the term guanxi. Who you know — and how well you charm, wine, and dine (and perhaps bribe) — gets you very far. That’s what LinkedIn needs to tap into in China, despite it being a slightly different dynamic than seen among businesspeople in the West.
Due to the strength of China’s tech ecosystem, LinkedIn — like all the other US apps on this list — already has homegrown rivals in this business networking niche. Tianji is larger than LinkedIn in China with over 10 million users back in 2012; LinkedIn recently revealed it has about five million users in China. Tianji is run by a French company called Viadeo, so it’s technically also an overseas startup.
LinkedIn is finally fighting back in 2014. A Chinese version of LinkedIn appeared in beta form in February this year, though many social features are missing at this stage. Also missing are the Groups feature and the option to self-publish articles on users’ profiles as LinkedIn walks a fine line between China’s laws and regulations regarding media content. It’s possible these features will be added in later.
But LinkedIn hasn’t been able to avoid dealing with censorship in China. Just last week, a number of prominent users noticed that their shared links to politically sensitive content were removed. LinkedIn’s official statement on the issue confirmed that its new censorship practices are here to stay. “[I]t’s clear to us that in order to create value for our members in China and around the world, we will need to implement the Chinese government’s restrictions on content,” a section of the statement read. That creates a two-tier system where users inside China — and content viewable in China — are treated differently from the rest of the world. But most Chinese users of LinkedIn won’t even realize this is happening and it’s unlikely to hamper the site’s growth.
The company is hiring in China and is planning to launch a Chinese version of its Pulse news reader app.
LinkedIn’s prospects in China got a huge boost at the start of the year as the phenomenally popular messaging app WeChat added in support for users to bind a LinkedIn account to their WeChat profile.
Official China launch: December 2011
Success rate thus far in China: 8.5 / 10
Flipboard got blocked in China in the summer of 2011. By the end of the year, the magazine-style reader app had figured out a way to overcome the ban — by making a separate version of its app for the China market. The Flipboard China edition arrived first on iPad, and by March 2012 it appeared on iOS, eventually reaching Android in June that year.
The global version of Flipboard got unblocked at some point, but by August 2013 it was once again slapped down by Net Nanny. The Chinese version of the app has never been blocked.
There are numerous magazine-style reader apps in China, such as Zaker, as well as Netease Cloud Reader, so Flipboard has a battle to stand out from the crowd and be seen in China’s numerous third-party Android app stores. Flipboard partnered with two such stores — Wandoujia and AppChina — to ensure the app is as visible as possible.
While Flipboard isn’t as popular as Zaker on the app stores in China, Flipboard is still performing strongly.
Official China launch: August 2013
Success rate thus far in China: 8.3 / 10
Uber first rolled into China on the streets of Shanghai in August 2013. By February of this year, the soft-launch phase was over, and the mobile-connected limo service was ready to drive into the limelight. Sam Gellman, Uber’s head of growth for Asia, said at the hard-launch event that demand in Shanghai exploded, displaying the fastest growth of any of Uber’s markets around the world in its first six months.
Uber is now running in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Beijing too.
The UberBlack service — wherein Uber recruits chauffeurs to join its network exclusively — has plenty of offline rivals in China, as well as one major online rival in the form of Yongche. But Uber sets itself apart by its flexibility and its luxury appeal.
Nonetheless, Uber will have to battle offline limo companies that have years of guanxi (there’s that word again) with companies and can offer lower rates for some companies who bring in a lot of business. Uber is already the priciest option in the market.
Uber’s app is growing slowly on both the iOS China store and Wandoujia — though rival Yongche has had a lot more time to build up users and enthusiasm for its app. On the plus side, Uber is great at doing promotions, and knows its elite customer-base well. The service lends itself to fun promotions, as Uber has done in other markets with things like the on-demand ice cream truck in New York and the on-call dragon dance troupe in Singapore.
Official China launch: April 2012
Success rate thus far in China: 8 / 10
In order to enter the Chinese market officially, TuneIn opted to self-censor its radio streams for users located in China. As we noted upon its China entry in April 2012, attempting to play BBC Radio 4 instead redirected anyone in China to a state-approved radio channel. A TuneIn representative explained, “We are complying with Chinese government regulations to remove aspects of our service in China.”
With only one convincing and good-looking China-made app for streaming radio online, TuneIn seems to be doing well in the app stores. It’s also boosted by other partnerships in China, and comes preinstalled on a number of car entertainment systems.
Official China launch: April 2014
Success rate thus far in China: 6 / 10
Pocket, the read-it-later app, is on an Asian push these days, adding support for Japanese, Korean, and Chinese in March and April.
There are already a handful of homegrown save-it-for-later apps, but they’re mostly a niche preference for geeks. The same will likely be true for Pocket.
Nonetheless, Pocket is starting its China debut with a huge bang, getting more China iOS store ratings than any of these other US apps on the list — a whopping 132 ratings, mostly positive and five-star — and seeing a huge boost in reviews and engagement in the days since its Chinese-language update rolled out.
Official China launch: summer 2012
Success rate thus far in China: 5 / 10
Path founder and CEO Dave Morin said in September 2012 that China is the app’s second biggest country. Indonesia has since surpassed China.
It seems that the idea of Path is more popular than Path itself in China. When the app hit the headlines in 2011, a number of rip-off apps popped up that copied the idea of Path as a mini social network with messaging on the side. Several more popped up in 2012. Sina — the maker of Sina Weibo — even rolled out a Path clone in the form of Sina Meyou.
However, both Path and its clones have since fallen out of favor. Messaging apps are on the rise — mainly just WeChat in China — and that has caused many people to abandon other social apps. Even Sina Weibo is suffering as WeChat becomes a hub for a great deal more than just messaging — for status updates from friends, for photos, reading and sharing news, telling people what you’re listening to. All that should be Path’s speciality, but WeChat is doing it all — and a lot more.
You can survive on the Chinese web, but…
What lessons can be drawn from these American tech ventures? Self-censorship is a running theme for nearly all these US startups entering China. No matter how niche the service, China’s strict media regulations will likely impact in some way, necessitating your startup altering or removing aspects of the app/service. To enter the market, you’ll likely need to create a product that’s separate or parallel from your international app.
We’ve even seen this need for compartmentalization happen for WeChat, which is trying to do the reverse — expand from China to the rest of the world. WeChat app does a lot more in China than it does for overseas users, emphasizing that you cannot roll out the same global strategy when you’re doing business in China.
What else stands out? In a word, enterprise. No overseas company will be allowed to compete in sectors like general media, search, or operate a broad and uncensored social media site. The key to success in China seems to be having a very niche product aimed at China’s urbanites, business people, and most tech-savvy individuals — ones who can appreciate how it stands out from the inevitable flock of local rivals.
It’s also important for overseas startups to iterate quickly with a local product team to stay ahead of local competitors. Engage actively with users via Sina Weibo, WeChat, Youku — and anything else that’s relevant. Learn lessons from Chinese companies like Xiaomi — engage on social media, know what your customers are into, and get your China product manager to speak out and inspire your tech-savvy customers. If you’re too late(like Pocket) or too detached (like Path) you’ll be lucky to gain any meaningful traction in the country.
Where there are exceptions to the rule, it’s worth noting that there are many sites for whom their China survival rests on a knife-edge, on the flick of a censor’s switch. Instagram has survived in China through its startup phase and even into its adoption by Facebook. But such a broad social network could be turned off in seconds in China — just a few photos of a protest happening in a Chinese city and the app will be blocked. It could happen any day now.
We try to avoid the cliché "1.3 billion" figure on Tech in Asia when we write about China because it applies to so few companies that truly have universal products. You should aim at 1.3 billion Chinese consumers only if you sell Coke, or washing powder, or run a search engine. US startups — or any overseas web business — should ignore that landmark number because you’re never going to be allowed to do anything that’ll reach everyone online in China. Instead, find a niche, know how many people in China that sector entails — ten million? 100 million? It doesn’t matter — and go make something that’ll blow their minds.
- Safe data use: Striking a balance between insight and privacy
- Making sense of the senseless layoffs in tech
- Salary vs ESOP?
- GoViet officially rebrands as Gojek Vietnam
This article originally published at Tech in Asia here


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Russian Model to Debut at LFW
Model Anastasia Kuznetsova, who walked the ramp for international fashion houses like Valentino, Givenchy, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, is set to make her debut on the Indian ramp at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter-Festive 2013.
The Russian beauty has been in the fashion industry for the past six years and modelled for designers such as Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Philip Lim, Kenzo, and Topshop. She was also part of Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2009.
The forthcoming edition of LFW will be held Aug 23-27 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.


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Facebook has set the share price for its initial public offering (IPO) this month at $28 to $35 a share, which will value the company at up to $95bn.
The listing on the open stock market is set to realise the highest value to date for an internet firm, far outstripping Google's IPO valuation of more than $23bn in 2004.
Yet the higher valuation falls short of the $100bn that was predicted when Facebook started talking about an IPO in late 2011.
Facebook is set to start promoting its share offering on 7 May, with shares expected to start trading on 18 May and raise $12bn for the company with more than 10% of the business up for sale.
This is more than the $10bn indicated earlier this year and more than double the $5bn initially indicated, but it is in line with analysts' predictions that the figure would change as the company's financial advisors gauged investor demand.
Although some investors have expressed concerns about Facebook's longer-term growth, there is expected to be a huge take-up of the shares on offer, according to the BBC.
The initial IPO registration forms revealed for the first time that Facebook made a profit of $1bn in 2011 from revenues of $3.71bn, and that founder Mark Zuckerberg owns 28.4% of the company.
It is clear Zuckerberg will remain in control of the company after the IPO, controlling more than 57.3% of the voting power through shares and voting agreements with other stockholders.
Zuckerberg will own 31.5% of outstanding stock, which at the top end of the price range, will put his holdings at $17.6bn, and put him at around 33 on Forbes' list of the world's richest people.
Zuckerberg will also overtake Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who each own shares worth slightly less than $17bn in the search company.


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While E3 is in full swing, the people at Cloud Imperium Games are probably celebrating, as Star Citizen just passed the ten million dollars mark in its ongoing crowd funding campaign.
It's such a promising game, can't wait for the release :)
More excited for this than anything I can see coming out of E3 anyways.
im one of those supporters !
Count me in.
the wait for this game is going to be long and painful, can't wait.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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CNN Invests $40 Million in Digital Studio Great Big Story
The funding will be used to help Great Big Story build a 24-hour streaming network for longform, nonscripted and acquired programming.
CNN is investing $40 million in its digital studio, Great Big Story, as the video start-up looks to build a 24-hour streaming network.
The investment, which will be made over two years, comes as the two-year-old Great Big Story looks to compete in an increasingly crowded online video landscape.
The start-up, which was created to produce shortform videos that weren't tied to the 24-hour news cycle, plans to launch its "always-on" network in summer 2018. The network will combine live programming with long-=form, unscripted and acquired content. Great Big Story will distribute the network on over-the-top services, skinny bundles, linear channels and other digital platforms.
Time Warner-owned CNN launched Great Big Story in 2015 as its answer to the rise of digital video-centric start-ups such as BuzzFeed and Vice. Since then, the news network has also acquired Casey Neistat's Beme app and is planning to launch a daily news show with the YouTube star.
Vice on Monday announced that it has raised $450 million from TPG and CEO Shane Smith indicated that an IPO could be in the company's short-term plans. BuzzFeed, meanwhile, has raised two rounds of funding from NBCUniversal, which recently launched a Great Big Story competitor called Left Field out of its news bureau.
At the company's NewFront in May, CNN president Jeff Zucker touted that Great Big Story has seen 300 percent growth year-over-year.
Great Big Story also is planning a weekend festival, called Great Big Weekend, that will combine food, film, music and other topics. It is set for fall 2018.


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The next generation MSI GS Stealth gaming laptops will feature the latest 12th generation Intel Core “Alder Lake” processors and Ampere “Ti” GPUs. Garreffa, Antoine. MSI is gearing up for CES 2022 next week, teasing its new GS77 Stealth gaming laptop, which boasts plenty of important advancements and technology under the hood. The new MSI GS77 Stealth gaming laptop is powered by the latest 12th generation Intel “Alder Lake-P” series processors, which have up to 14 cores and 20 threads. The GS77 Stealth will be available in a variety of configurations, ranging from the Core i7-12700H + GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Max-Q to the flagship Core i9-12900H + RTX 3080 Ti Max-Q.
Anthony joined the TweakTown team in 2010 and has since reviewed hundreds of graphics cards. Anthony is a longtime PC enthusiast with a hate passion for games built around consoles. FPS gaming since pre-Quake days, where you were insulted if you used a mouse to aim, it’s been addicted to gaming and hardware ever since. Working in the IT retail business for 10 years gave him a lot of experience with custom PCs. Its reliance on GPU technology is unwavering.
MSI’s next flagship, the GS77 Stealth and its Intel Core i9-12900H (14C / 20T) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop graphics processor, are joined by 64GB DDR5-4800 RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD PCIe 4.0 and the option of multiple displays, with all 3 resolutions and multiple refresh rates included – oh, and these are all IPS-based panels too. MSI is also expected to unveil the new GS66 Stealth, which will feature identical specs but arrive with a smaller 15.6-inch panel in 4K, 1440p, and 1080p offerings. We’ll know all of the exact specs when MSI formalizes its new GS77 and GS66 Stealth gaming laptops at CES 2022 next week. * Last prices scanned 12/28/2021 6:16 a.m. CST – prices may not be exact, click on links above for latest price. We can earn an affiliate commission.
Summary of the news:
- MSI GS77 Stealth Laptop features Intel Core i9-12900H processor and RTX 3080 Ti graphics card
- Check out all the news and articles about the latest security updates.


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A British billionaire industrialist is bidding to build electric cars in Australia, perhaps reviving the nation’s car industry in the process.
Sanjeev Gupta looks set to bid for industrial assets at the former Holden manufacturing site in South Australia in a global auction.
According to Reuters, SA treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has discussed with Mr Gupta the possibility of an electric car plant on the original General Motors site.
Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg also told ABC Radio this week that Australia is undergoing a transport revolution with the government’s backing. He told RN Breakfast host Fran Kelly that the transition to electric vehicles is to transport what the iPhone was to communications.
The Energy Minister says he also spoke with Mr Gupta and that the government would support the entrepreneur should he decide to invest in electric vehicles in South Australia.
Build electric cars in Australia: Controversial plans?
The Turnbull Government predicts up to 230,000 electric vehicles in Australia by 2025, rising to one million by 2030.
Yet significant resistance has been voiced by Mr Frydenberg’s Coalition colleagues to further investment in the EV industry, Fran Kelly noted.
Despite this, the government would continue to talk to the Electric Vehicle Council and support the emerging industry where possible, Mr Frydenberg said.
However, issues regarding nationwide EV infrastructure need addressing to ensure fuel availability and reliability on long road trips.
Important link between EVs and solar power
A 2017 report found that up to 40 per cent of electric vehicle owners have their own solar energy systems.
The Clean Technica survey of 2,000 EV drivers spanning 28 countries revealed that 28-40 per cent of respondents have home solar power.
This allows them to charge their vehicles directly during the day, or overnight using solar battery storage.
Meanwhile, Mr Gupta has also announced plans to power his Australian steel manufacturing plant with solar panels.
He recently acquired the struggling Whyalla plant owned by Australian steel maker Arrium. Mr Gupta wants to power the plant using a large-scale solar and commercial energy storage complex.


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The ultimate Christmas pastry! New festive Cronut flavor is made from chocolate, Champagne and GOLD DUST
Made with Champagne and dusted with gold, the new Christmas Cronut is giving traditional holiday desserts a run for their money.
Using 'actual fresh Brut Champagne,' according to Dominique Ansel Bakery, rather than sparkling wine, the Cronuts are filled with Valrhona Caraibe 66per cent dark chocolate.
The queue-making pastry is then dusted with an orange zest sugar and edible gold for a unique festive sparkle.
Get them while they're hot! New York's famous Cronut will appear in LA this Saturday, for a very limited time only, at a pop-up hosted by Barney's at The Grove
'I had always associated Christmas
desserts with pudding and fruitcake, but Dominique Ansel has changed my
view entirely,' said Tara Abe, who tried the new Cronut flavor yesterday morning after braving the line.
'What could be more celebratory than the finest chocolate,
Champagne and gold. GOLD!'
Seven months after the Cronut first launched, demand for the pastries has shown no signs of waning.
Online reservations for the Christmas Cronut are already nearly sold out, with one more batch set to go on sale Monday at 11am.
Using 'actual fresh Brut Champagne,' according to Dominique Ansel Bakery, rather than sparkling wine, the Cronuts are filled with Valrhona Caraibe 66per cent dark chocolate
For one customer, whose first Cronut happened to be the Christmas flavor, the pastry is 'in no way overrated!'
'Once you taste it fresh, its easy to understand what the hype is all about,' she said.
The Cronut - half croissant, half donut - was quietly unveiled in May with a small batch of 50. Now, Dominique Ansel makes 350 each day to keep up with the two-hour-long lines.
The bakery, which opened in New York's Soho in 2011, makes the cronut dough fresh daily in house, as well as the flavored sugars and ganache. 'That's why the batches are limited,' the chef explained.


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88 pc motorists use mobile phones while driving, says reportMar 21, 6:20 pm
Sydney, Mar 21, (ANI): A majority of drivers still risk their lives by using mobile phones while driving, a survey has revealed.Of the 415 New South Wales drivers surveyed, 88 per cent made phone calls while behind the wheel. Sending text messages was the second most common phone misdemeanour, according to the report, with 68 per cent admitting they texted while driving.Two in five drivers (40 per cent) said they use phone applications such as weather forecasts or news website applications, while 25 per cent use social media sites to tweet or update their Facebook status.According to Adele Buhagiar, the spokeswoman for NRMA Insurance, which conducted the survey, the latest results prove that motorists aren't paying heed to warnings about using mobile phones."The research shows that our appetite for technology extends to while we are driving, with one in four admitting that they are updating their status or tweeting while at the wheel...This is up from one in ten last year," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying.She said the number of drivers taking pictures when behind the wheel was the biggest surprise."Losing focus while behind the wheel, even if it is only for a split second, may cause the worst to happen," she added. (ANI)
McDonald's introduces its 'gourmet' menu Aug 3, 12:36 pm
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Washington DC, Aug 3 (ANI): Want your kids to be smart? A new study has shown that joking and pretending with your children gives their development a boost.Full Story »
'Sizzling' Ghost Pepper Ice Cream requires a 'waiver' before eating Aug 3, 12:05 pm
Washington DC, Aug. 3(ANI): To spice up the summer an ice-cream shop in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware is serving its customers with Ghost Pepper Ice Cream, a dessert so hot that customers have to sign a waiver just to try it out.Full Story »
Rohit Bal scores high on 'flower power' on Day 4 of 2015 AICW Aug 2, 4:01 pm
New Delhi, Aug 2 (ANI): Veteran fashion designer Rohit Bal showcased the "flower embroidery" power at his off-site show on Day 4 of 2015 Amazon India Couture Week in the National capital.Full Story »
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JM Eagle has reopened its Pueblo, Colo., plant with eight PVC pipe extrusion lines back in operation following an 18-month shutdown.
Executives from the Los Angeles-based company, which ranks itself as the world's largest plastic pipe maker, flew to Colorado for an April 16 event to mark the occasion.
They also announced a national advertising campaign aimed at getting more municipal utilities and contractors to pick plastic pipes over other materials.
The Pueblo plant produces 4 to 27-inch PVC pipes for water, sewer and irrigation systems. The facility is part of JM Eagle's distribution system for the central region of the United States.
Right now the plant is reportedly operating with 30 employees and at about 50 percent of capacity following $2 million of upgrades, company spokeswoman Isabel Estrada said in a telephone interview.
However, if orders increase, the company will boost capacity and add another 35 workers.
“At a time when manufacturing jobs in the United States are disappearing or being shipped overseas, JM Eagle is maintaining its presence in the industry and taking steps to strengthen its role,” the company said in a news release.
JM Eagle will try to beef up sales of its pipe products with 60-second television commercials that show the advantages plastic has over other materials when it comes to replacing the nation's aging infrastructure.
“The ad campaign is a bold strategy that highlights the obvious advantages of plastic pipe versus alternative materials, not only saving cities up to 70 percent in costs but also offering JM Eagle's exclusive innovative products as well as an industry first 50-year warranty,” said Neal Gordon, vice president of sales and marketing, in a telephone interview.
The Pueblo plant was shuttered in 2012 after orders slowed from city utilities and builders because of the downturn in the economy, according to a story in The Pueblo Chieftain.
Things seem to be looking up on both fronts. Many plastics companies that supply materials for the construction sector are stepping up production. In recent months, Dura-Line Corp announced plans to invest $10 million at three U.S. plants that make pressure pipe and conduit; IV Group is building an $80 million facility to make luxury vinyl plank and tile; and Chelsea Building Products increased extrusion capacity by 20 percent for its door and window profiles.
JM Eagle's ad campaign reportedly will launch this spring, coinciding with the building season. JM Eagle has 20 manufacturing plants and more than 1,000 employees.


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As Sony prepares to launch its next generation PlayStation 5 console, many of the console manufacturer’s first party studios appear to be prepping their recent releases for enhanced support with the PS5 hardware. Sony Bend has now announced that its open world zombie game ‘Days Gone’ will be playable at “Up to 60FPS w/ Dynamic 4K.”
With the PlayStation 5 less than 10 days away from its US launch, Sony appears to be bolstering its launch line-up with enhancements being brought to many of its biggest PS4 exclusives. With games such as Ghost of Tsushima and God of War already promised to see their frame rates doubled to 60fps, Sony Bend has now confirmed that its most recent title, Days Gone will also be seeing improved performance on the PS5.
📺 Up to 60FPS w/ Dynamic 4K
💾 Save Transfers from PS4 to PS5 pic.twitter.com/qP2ugQO4hc
— Bend Studio #DaysGone (@BendStudio) November 3, 2020
In an announcement on Twitter, the studio confirmed that Days Gone on PS5 will benefit from “Up to 60FPS w/ Dynamic 4K” as well as offering “Save Transfers from PS4 to PS5”. Days Gone on the PS4 Pro operated with a checkerboarded 4K resolution at 30fps – so this upgrade would be rather significant.
With games such as God of War, Ghost of Tsushima and now Days Gone offering enhancements on the PS5, it’ll be interesting to see just how comprehensive these end up being. With many of Microsoft’s first party titles, the console manufacturer has promised enhancements beyond just resolution and frame rates. Luckily, we don't have too much longer to wait to experience these upgrades.
Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.
KitGuru says: Do you plan to revisit PS4 games on the PS5? Are these enhancements enough in your opinion? Which other PS4 titles would you like to see enhanced? Let us know down below.


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The Lambeth Business Awards have announced that they have short-listed eight&four for the’Best Small Business 2012′award!
The event, sponsored by Barclays, takes place on the 22nd March 2012. We’re so pleased to be nominated, and can’t wait to attend.
Congratulations to all of the businesses short-listed for all of the awards! For a list of all awards and all businesses nominated, as well as details about the event, visit the website here


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Capcom has been releasing updates for Monster Hunter World at a slower pace than last year (with the PC version catching up to consoles). This is mostly due to the fact that free post-launch content will be winding down. In fact, the last update is supposed to be Arch-Tempered Nergigante for Spring 2019.
Don’t worry – the development team didn’t forget. In a recent official tweet, it was confirmed that the Spring Update would be revealed on May 9th at 4 PM BT/7 PM ET or May 10th, 12 AM BST/1 AM CEST on Twitch. It sounds like a big deal for one Arch-Tempered Elder Dragon reveal, so we can’t wait to see what’s in store.
After this update, Capcom will be focusing on Iceborne, the expansion for Monster Hunter World that takes players to a new continent. Perhaps we’ll hear more about that during the Spring Update reveal? One can only hope. Iceborne is slated to release in Autumn 2019 for Xbox One and PS4, with a PC release date to be confirmed afterwards.
Tune into the Monster Hunter Spring Update straight from the development team on May 9 / May 10. https://t.co/8IzgK7NCNN pic.twitter.com/ajAydeKr98— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) May 7, 2019
Share Your Thoughts Below (Always follow our comments policy!)


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Aakash tablet maker Datawind seems to be looking to explore various options in the lucrative tech market as it is reportedly prepping a 10-inch tablet with voice calling feature.
A report published by BGR.in which quoted the CEO of DataWind Suneet Singh Tuli said that the company will launch the tablet in June and it is likely to be priced around ₹5000. Datawind is also rumoured to be testing an LTE phablet.
"We would be launching 10-inch devices in the budget category for customers to be able to own these devices for the same price they now pay for a 7-inch device by most of other brands. These devices would be introduced in the ₹5,000 to ₹5,500 category and some of these tablets will also feature voice-calling capabilities. We plan to make an announcement on these products after six weeks from now," Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO, DataWind told BGR India.
The company, which is part of Indian government initiative to link the nation's 25,000 colleges and 400 universities in an e-learning programme, is eying to get a foothold in the market with the roll out of low cost devices. Meanwhile, the company announced the completion of the Aaksh 2 tablet project and said that it has shipped one lakh units of the tablet to the Indian government. The company also added that it has cleared all backlog orders pending for its commercial Ubislate tablets.
"We have supplied all units of Aakash tablets under contract to the government. It will be with the transporter by midnight tonight and will be processed through Letter of Credit documentation by IIT-Bombay," Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli had said earlier.


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“In 2016, when Apple introduced the first MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models, the repair experts at iFixit discovered the notebooks have non-removable SSDs, soldered to the logic board, prompting concerns that data recovery would not be possible if the logic board failed,” Joe Rossignol reports for MacRumors. “Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
“Apple has a special tool for 2016 and 2017 models of the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar that allows Genius Bars and Apple Authorized Service Providers to recover user data when the logic board fails, but the SSD is still intact,” Rossignol reports. “The tool is essentially a little black box that is able to transfer data from a failed logic board to a functioning MacBook Pro.”
“But, unfortunately, it appears the tool will not work with the latest models,” Rossignol reports. “Last week, iFixit completed a teardown of the 2018 MacBook Pro, discovering that Apple has removed the data recovery connector from the logic board on both 13-inch and 15-inch models with the Touch Bar… Multiple sources claim that data cannot be recovered if the logic board has failed on a 2018 MacBook Pro. If the notebook is still functioning, data can be transferred to another Mac by booting the system in Target Disk Mode, and using Migration Assistant, which is the standard process that relies on Thunderbolt 3 ports. The data recovery port was likely removed because 2018 MacBook Pro models feature Apple’s custom T2 chip, which provides hardware encryption for the SSD storage, like the iMac Pro, our sources said. ”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Sounds more secure to us.
We do not want hidden ports to which random people can hook up to little black boxes that siphon off data of any kind from our machines.
As always: Back up often and keep your backups in multiple secure places on- and off-site.
[Attirbution: LAPTOP. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]


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China’s ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing, on Thursday (June 10) filed filed paperwork for an initial public offering in the United States, setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the largest tech debuts globally this year.
Didi which is not only known as the Uber of China, but actually beat Uber in the country and bought out its business there, did not state a targeted amount to raise but plans to list American Depositary Shares (ADSs) on either Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DIDI”.
The company could have a $100 billion valuation at the time of its IPO, according to a Bloomberg report while The Wall Street Journal reported that Didi could receive a $70 billion valuation through the offering, and will seek to raise up to 10% of that amount. Meanwhile, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that it could raise around $10 billion and seek a valuation of close to $100 billion.
The Beijing-based company was founded in 2012 and is backed by Asia’s largest technology investment firms, SoftBank, Alibaba and Tencent. Most recently Didi was valued at $62 billion following an August fundraising round, according to PitchBook data.
Didi does not operate in the U.S., but does operate in 15 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America and has 493 million annual active users, as well as 15 million annual active drivers, according to its filing.
Aside from ride-hailing, Didi also offers bike-sharing services, freight services, food delivery, leasing and maintenance plans for drivers’ cars, and an electric-vehicle charging network.
“We aspire to become a truly global technology company. While our business started in China, we believe we can help make life better for many more people around the world in a similar way,” Didi’s founder and CEO Cheng Wei said in a regulatory filing “What we have learned and built is relevant across the globe – in Latin America, Russia, South Africa or anywhere where affordable, safe and convenient mobility is valuable.”
Didi started 2021 strongly, posting a profit in the first quarter on RMB 42.16 billion ($6.44 billion) in revenue. Some of the company’s profitability this past quarter can be credited to gains on investments of $1.9 billion related to spin-offs and divestments.
Didi is one of several Chinese tech unicorns seeking to go to market on American bourses
amid ongoing US-China tensions. Beijing and Washington tussle over a variety of issues.
“Such tensions between the United States and China, and any escalation thereof, may have a negative impact on the general, economic, political, and social conditions in China and, in turn, adversely impacting our business, financial condition, and results of operations,” the company said in its prospectus.
The company has other concerns such as Covid-19, too.
“If the situation takes a turn for the worse in China, or if there is not a material recovery in other markets where we operate, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected,” Didi said in its prospectus.
Didi stated that it expects to spend 30% of the proceeds of the IPO on improving its technological capabilities, “including our shared mobility, electric vehicle, and autonomous driving technologies”; 30% on growing its international operations outside of China; and 20% on developing new offerings and expanding what the company currently offers. The rest would go to general corporate purposes.
The IPO will be led by underwriters Goldman Sachs (Asia), Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan.


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At a meeting with Sprint Corp. executives in October, the chief executive of parent company SoftBank Corp. lost his temper about the mobile carrier’s advertising, complaining that it wasn’t luring enough new customers. “Are you stupid?” yelled Masayoshi Son, who engineered the Japanese company’s takeover of the No. 3 wireless provider in the U.S. last year for about $22 billion, according to three people in the room. He slammed his fist on a table and suggested that Sprint fire all its ad agencies and start over. One person who was there says some Sprint executives told Mr. Son later that the company couldn’t just cancel its advertising contracts…He has been working on a possible bid for T-Mobile, people familiar with the matter say. But U.S. antitrust officials have expressed strong opposition, saying a takeover could reduce competition. It has been about two years since the Justice Department rejected AT&T’s $39 billion deal to buy T-Mobile. For now at least, that leaves Mr. Son to fix what he calls a “loser” mentality at Sprint and complacency at the mobile carrier’s headquarters in Overland Park, Kan., a person close to him says…Defenders of Mr. Son say he congratulates as often as he criticizes, occasionally hugging employees. [WSJ]
Popularized in films like Limitless, legal smart drugs called Nootropics are becoming more and more prevalent in board rooms and on Wall Street.Keep reading »
Keep reading »
It’s not just doctors and scientists that need STEM education. America’s shifting economy is demanding more trained workers in many different sectors. See how Travis Brooks got the hands-on education he needed to become a technician at the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery. Visit The Atlantic to learn more.
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When Sergio Marchionne said that Jeep posted “XXX” results in Europe in 2017, analysts started to look for the reasons of this timid growth. Jeep competes in the hottest selling segment but it didn’t make use of the booming demand as its range wasn’t competitive enough. Jeep aims to sell 1,9 million units by the end of this decade but the brand needs to address some product issues first.
European situation can be an example of how growth can be affected by the lack of new cars, with consequences not only in Europe but also in other markets. China is one of them. It was already Jeep’s second largest market after USA in 2017, and is set to become the main source of growth in the coming years. Jeep is by far the most popular brand of FCA in China thanks to its SUV range and to the enormous popularity of SUVs among consumers.
The brand has just revealed the all-new Commander, which is part of its strategy of enlarging sales through more products. This new Jeep is not just another launch but something more. It is the first Jeep exclusively developed and conceived for the Chinese market. The Commander aims to expand Jeep’s success in China by sitting above the Grand Cherokee in terms of size and capacity.
It is the fourth locally-produced Jeep after the Renegade, Compass and Cherokee. Even if it is bigger than the Grand Cherokee, its entry price is half the price of the Grand Cherokee. This is because Jeep wants to position the Commander as the full-size SUV which is not necessarily associated to luxury. The new entry is set to rival with the Volkswagen Teramont (aka Atlas), Buick Enclave and GAC Trumpchi GS8.
Sales for the 7-seater mainstream big SUVs are soaring in China. Last year there were around 260.000 units sold, jumping from 25.000 units in 2016. The strong growth is explained by the latest arrivals, which have met the needs of consumers in China. Another fact that positively affects the segment is related to a more relaxing unique-child policy. Size of families in China are expected to grow in some regions and this will have an impact on the size of cars.
So far nothing has been announced regarding the Commander’s commercialization outside China. FCA has said it is a Chinese made product for local market, but the brand could use this model as the base for developing a dedicated model for North America. In fact, Jeep’s range in North America also needs a bigger SUV than the Grand Cherokee. An American version of the Commander could perfectly face competitors such as the Chevrolet Tahoe or Honda Pilot.


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Blockchain is a record-keeping technology designed to make it impossible to hack the system or forge the data stored on it, thereby making it secure and immutable. It is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT), a digital system for recording transactions and related data in multiple places at the same time. Industry experts share Blockchain insights for CIOs, examples and use cases, and how it differs substantially from conventional databases in how it stores and manages information.
Blockchain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system. A Blockchain is essentially a digital ledger of transactions that is duplicated and distributed across the entire network of computer systems on the Blockchain.
Research firm IDC expects Blockchain spending in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) to reach US$307 million in 2021, which represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 77.4% for the 2016 to 2021 period. While various industries are evaluating the use of Blockchain, IDC research suggests the region’s public sector (including government, education and healthcare) will spend an estimated US$120.8 million in this space in 2021, accounting for 39.2% share.
Mohammed Mosam, Director of Product Marketing, Sage Africa, Middle East and Asia, said essentially, Blockchain works as a distributed global and public ledger without a central database that can be tampered with. Mosam said the Blockchain uses software stored on thousands of computers across a global network to facilitate and verify financial transactions or data transfers. “Every time a transaction (or block) is added to the chain, everyone must verify it in that network. Once approved, the transaction is irreversible. No one can change or delete data on the chain,” he said. Mosam pointed out that while the future is uncertain, distributed ledger technology (DLT) could emerge as a key technology across many business processes and early adopters could get a competitive edge. “Some believe it has the potential to revolutionise how we send and receive money and data. It cuts out the middleman such as banks, clearing houses and payments gateways, which means there are no transaction fees,” he said. “There’s also a drastically reduced risk of fraud and corruption, and no processing time delays. What this means is that we can begin to really start digitising and automating financial transactions that today require manual control mechanisms, checks and balances.”
According to Mosam, Blockchain is particularly exciting for business-to-business (B2B) transactions because of the trust, speed and transparency it can bring to business processes. He added that Blockchain could alter how companies record transactions with each other, streamlining invoicing, payments and other B2B transactions. “Using smart contracts embedded in Blockchains, companies could streamline many of the processes in a complex supply chain, such as the one you would find in the automotive industry. Blockchain could also be useful for faster, cheaper cross-border transactions and remittances,” he said.
Blockchain and cryptocurrency
With the terms Blockchain, cryptocurrency and Bitcoin often frequently lumped together, along with digital currency what is the main difference with each term?
Dr Neil Pennington, Senior Advisor, Strategy and Innovation, Idoneus, explained that Blockchain is the software-driven digital network that operates the distributed ledger and smart contract system. Dr Pennington said cryptocurrency on the other hand is one term (digital assets and digital currency are others) to describe the tokens that are used to transfer value and manage transactions and incentives in a Blockchain system. “There are many cryptocurrencies that are ‘native’ to particular Blockchains. Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency associated with the Bitcoin Blockchain system and is by far the largest in value by market cap,” he said.
Ian Jansen Van Rensburg, SE Director, VMware, said by now, anybody who is familiar with the concept of cryptocurrencies would have encountered the term Blockchain. And yet, added Van Rensburg, many still mistake the likes of Bitcoin and Ethereum to be Blockchain or vice versa. “Simply put, if Bitcoin was water, Blockchain is the plumbing that delivers it to you. And from a technical perspective, Blockchain is a decentralised database or ledger consisting of transactions across various network nodes,” he said. “This means that Blockchain has use cases far beyond cryptocurrencies. Today, it is actively being used in logistics, FinTech, insurance, government, pharmaceutical and numerous other industries.”
Van Rensburg said in some respects, Blockchain can be equated to a person’s life on earth. “At birth, this can be called the ‘genesis block’. The genesis block contains the person’s weight, name, ID number, hair and eye colour, and so on,” he said. “Any changes to the person, including life events like (school, graduation, work and marriage) are added in subsequent blocks while maintaining the previous block information. Each of these blocks contains a unique hash in addition to the unique hash of the block before it. This means that when the information on a block is edited in any way, the block’s hash code is changed forever while the hash code on the block after it would not be. This makes Blockchain a very secure technology.”
Jason Wu, Director, SoBitX, said Blockchain is the way to organise the transaction data in a block and chained together in an append-only mode. Wu said normally the data in a Blockchain is stored in a decentralised network instead of the centralised data centre as in a traditional Internet data centre and it’s the essential component of many cryptocurrencies.
“A cryptocurrency is a form of digital asset based on Blockchain technology that owns a network physically that is composed of a large number of computers(nodes),” he explained. “The word ‘cryptocurrency’ is derived from the encryption techniques which are used to secure the network. Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency based on Blockchain technology. It created a new era for digit assets. Without Blockchain, Bitcoin wouldn’t exist, however, Blockchain technology can be used for different operations such as maintaining a transparent record of assets, tracing the ownership of goods to their sources and provide proof of insurance.”
Given the momentum around Blockchain technology, what are some of the common challenges that CIOs and IT teams deploying this technology face and how can they avoid this?
Mosam noted that scalability is still a problem – and Blockchain technology depends on scalability for success. He explained that significant technological, political and regulatory gaps prevent widespread adoption and the ecosystem remains immature. “To fully use Blockchain technology, businesses must transform their core operating models, systems and processes, which could make the traditional centralised business model irrelevant. Many businesses are not ready to take on this kind of risk,” he said.
He said while Blockchain has been synonymous with cryptocurrencies, a large majority on the African continent are still unbanked. “To date, cryptocurrencies have mostly offered opportunities to those who don’t have access to traditional financial services. Governments and institutions within Africa are also harnessing the Blockchain technology in different industries over products to provide more transparency and control to their citizens, customers and other institutions they might be dealing with,” Mosam observed.
According to Mosam, examples within Africa where governments and private institutions have embarked on exploring and implementing Blockchain technology include De Beers, a South African-based diamond company which introduced Blockchain technology to authenticate diamonds across Africa. “This pilot programme using Blockchain is to ensure its diamonds are authentic, conflict-free and natural. Blockchain provides a permanent, unchangeable record for every diamond registered from the moment it’s mined,” he said. “In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country is piloting a scheme that uses Blockchain to monitor cobalt mining. The scheme aims to ensure that cobalt used in Lithium-ion batteries (found in cellphones, electric cars, solar batteries) has not been mined by children. Companies are under increasing pressure from consumers and investors to show that cobalt has come through supply chains free of rights abuses.”
Dr Pennington added that on a practical level, the common challenges are selecting the right Blockchain protocol, the right implementation partners and sourcing the right skills. “Strategically, CIOs often face scepticism at board level to adopt Blockchain technology, as it requires a fundamental redesign of business processes. This is becoming less of an issue when boards see the significant business benefits that can and are being delivered,” he said. “Managing data protection, bridging the IT skills gap, the sustainability factor of the technology itself are some of the challenges that CIOs will have to navigate.”
Kirsten Roy-Reid, Co-Founder, Levels Ventures, said a lot of challenges will face CIOs in the region especially if they have the same challenge of not being able to think of what is working for their IT infrastructure. “Most of the challenges would be in getting the right Blockchain engineers to help in implementing projects, budget to get a third party to help them to implement it,” she said. “Like any other IT project challenges, the integration capabilities and ability to run a public Blockchain or private Blockchain as part of the organisation infrastructure can be a key challenge as well. One can…


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Search results for "Indonesia economic growth"
Indonesia Keeps Deficit High in 2021 as Covid-19 Uncertainties Persist
... 5.2 percent of Indonesia's gross domestic product ... revised down their growth projections. Lastly, domestic economic recovery in the ... to improve connectivity across Indonesia, by equipping all schools ... with the widening deficit. Indonesia's laws cap education ...
29 Jul 2020 | 01:14 PM
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Indonesia FDI Contracts in Q2 as Covid-19 Restrictions Disrupt Projects
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Jokowi Tasks Airlangga, Erick With Fixing the Economy and Defeating Covid-19
... maintaining the economic growth and curbing the novel coronavirus spread as Indonesia faces ... the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso. Indonesia is facing a ... the key for economic reopening, so he targeted Indonesia to be able ...
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... seen several new developments in Indonesia in recent months. The COVID ... due to the pandemic, Indonesia’s economic growth is likely to see a ... a consortium set up by Indonesia’s Research and Technology ... to be an area of growth for Indonesia, with its fertile and ...
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As Money Printer Goes Brrr, The Onus Is Now on Bureaucrats to Spend
... ministries state budget spending. The economic-first president has been lamenting ... policy by not only buying Indonesia's sovereign bonds directly from ... likely to book a zero growth in the third quarter. That ... to a 2.97 percent growth in the first quarter and ...
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... SDGs, according to the Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable ... Shinta Kamdani said that economic recovery attempts should be ... a vital engine for economic growth and job creation. Businesses ... to address the socio-economic and environmental issues. Recently ...
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Credit Card News Chip And Pin Cards Go Missing In The Mail 3435425
Chip and pin cards go missing in the mail
15 September 2004
From January 1st the UK’s shoppers will be asked by retailers to type in a pin number rather than sign a receipt when purchasing goods.
The Guardian reports that thousands of the new cards are going missing, intercepted by criminals
The credit card industry lost a massive £43.4 million to “mail non-receipt fraud” in 2003 and is expecting higher losses this year as the payment system switches over.
Police stations in London are getting “three to four” people a day reporting credit card thefts and many victims were unaware they had been sent a new card initially, as their old one still had months or years to run.
The majority of cards are sent out using Royal Mail’s standard service, which reported the loss of more than 14 million items of post last year.
A spokeswoman for the Association for Payment Clearing Services, the body that polices the industry, told the newspaper: “There is a feeling that there is a concerted effort among criminals to get more money out of the system ahead of chip and pin’s introduction.
“When all shoppers are tapping in a pin number rather than signing for goods, it will make life harder for thieves. Until everyone has the new cards, we expect mail non-receipt fraud to rise even more than the 17 per cent it rose last year.”
© DeHavilland Information Services plc


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The Best Pub category in the Western Gazette Taste Awards 2014 has been sponsored by Specsavers in Yeovil.
Somerset pubs have to raise their game
Somerset pubs are ‘enormously important to the local community’, according to the Yeovil Specsavers store director, Jerry Shrubb.
Mr Shrubb says a lot of the pubs have had to raise their game to survive in Somerset because they have to attract customers from a wider area.
Keeping up standards
‘We have some of the best pubs in the country here, serving fantastic food and local ale. It’s no wonder that they all have to maintain a high standard of service as they’re trying to bring in customers from areas such as small villages.
‘I’ve worked at Specsavers in Yeovil for 23 years and we’re proud to be highlighting other local businesses with our sponsorship.’
The Western Gazette Taste Awards 2014 event will take place on Monday 8 September.


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The announcement came in the form of a virtual conference which featured actors like Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan. Varun Dhawan too was part of the virtual conference as host. Along with confirming that the films will be having a digital release, the stars also shared new posters of their films. You can check the new posters out below.
This announcement surely must have got every Bollywood fan out there super excited!


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Suzuki has showcased a dual tone SX4 S cross at the ongoing 2014 Sao Paulo Motorshow. The dual tone brown and white paint scheme is expected to be one of the 3 customization options made available in the crossover when it launches there , early 2015 . India too will get the s-cross in 2015 .The S-cross will be imported to Brazil from Hungary , while local production would be arranged for the Indian version.
The Suzuki S-cross was earlier showcased at the 2014 India Auto Expo
The SX4 S cross will be the first crossover from the Maruti stable to debut in India , and will be one of the 3 SUV based vehicles that Maruti Suzuki plans to introduce here. The other cars that will reach India include the XA-Alpha and the Viatara.
For Brazil , the SX4 S-cross will be made available in 3 variants – The 4X2 variant will come with a manual transmission option, while the all-wheel drive versions will come in both automatic and manual transmission options.The car will be powered by a 1.6 liter petrol mill producing 120bhp of power and 155 Nm of torque. Though no news on a diesel variant has been announced in Brazil , India will almost surely get a diesel and even a CNG model is on cards
The Maruti SX4 S-cross will be produced locally in India at their Manesar plant, Haryana.The car will find chief competition in the likes of the fiat Avventura ,The new Mahinda Scorpio facelift , the Ford Ecosport , the Nissan terrano and the Renault Duster.
Expected Prices : 7.5 to 11 Lakhs (ex-showroom)
Pics via – Revista


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Alibaba made its debut Friday on the New York Stock Exchange as the largest initial public offering in U.S history.
Opening at $92.70 a share–36% higher than its IPO price of $68–Alibaba’s market capitalization Friday morning reached $228.5 billion–higher than Amazon, Facebook, eBay, and General Electric, but still lagging behind Google, Apple, and Microsoft. (Update: The stock closed at $93.89, up 38%.)
The debut got off to a rocky start, with trading delayed by more than two hours due to an imbalance in buy and sell orders. In the first 20 minutes of its opening, more than 100 million shares were traded.
With Alibaba public, founder Jack Ma–who owns 7.8% of the company–now stands as the richest man in China, with an estimated net worth of $21.9 billion, according to Bloomberg.


text: News Jasmine Tookes Debuts $3 Million Fantasy Bra at the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show By Kelsey Glein Kelsey Glein Twitter Kelsey Glein is a Seattle-based writer and editor who covers all things fashion, beauty, and pop culture. She was previously the Digital Editor of InStyle and is currently a Social Media Manager at a cosmetics company. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on November 30, 2016 @ 06:15PM Pin Share Tweet Email Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Could this year's Fantasy Bra be anymore dazzling? Jasmine Tookes hit the runway wearing the one-of-a-kind creation at the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Paris today, and we couldn't look away. The piece—which was designed by jewelry designer Eddie Borgo—is valued at $3 million and adorned with more than 9,000 precious gems from AWMouzannar that are handset with diamonds and emeralds in 18kt gold. The sparkling lingerie item took a whopping 700 hours to create and weighs more than 450 carats in total. When Tookes found out that she was slated to rock the bra during this year's #VSFashion earlier this month, she was no doubt excited. And she looked just as thrilled when she strutted down the catwalk in the City of Light. The 25-year-old even gave us a glimpse at the 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra from the back, and it was almost as breathtaking as the front. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images VIDEO: 15 Unforgettable Looks from This Year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Want more? Click through our gallery now to see all the best outfits from the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. See the Sexiest Looks from the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Tune in to the event when it airs Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS to see the Fantasy Bra in action.


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Stores Give Customers More for Their Dollars
Dollar stores are looking to attract consumers who may not have previously considered shopping in one of their stores.
Chains and independents are spending money on remodels and training employees to raise the level of customer service. Store operators see this as a necessity to attract and retain high-income shoppers. More than one-third of the consumers shopping in the channel have annual household incomes above $50,000, according to Retail Forward.
Major chains such as Dollar Tree are opening larger stores that, according to a Gannett News Service report, “often resemble CVS’s newer stores in their layout, bright lighting, careful organization and wide selection.”
Product selection has become increasingly important with a number of dollar stores expanding their inventory of food products, particularly in the frozen and refrigerated departments, to drive more frequent store visits.
One of the challenges dollar stores are currently facing is the rise in oil prices. Not only do higher prices at the pump reduce the amount of money the core dollar store consumer has to spend but increases in petroleum prices put upward pressure on the costs of goods.
Edward Conte, who owns The $1 Limit in White Plains, New York, said he is seeing more stores selling items for more than a dollar. “Everything anyone sells is connected to oil — the packaging, the plastics, everything,” he said.
Discussion Question: What do you see as the primary challenges facing dollar stores and how do you see the channel evolving in years to come?
- Dollar stores get sophisticated to attract
diverse shoppers – Gannett News Service/Wausau Daily Herald


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LEGO has announced that there will be a North American BeatBit Studio Tour for the LEGO VIDIYO theme. They will be traveling to various cities in what seems to be a pop-up experience for fans to check out the new theme.
Salt Lake City – Thursday, April 8th – Sunday, April 11th Olympic Plaza at The Gateway – 11am – 7pm
Denver – Thursday, April 29th – Sunday, May 1 – Exact location and time to be announced
New York City – Thursday, May 13th – Sunday, May 16th – Exact location and time to be announced
Toronto – June 2021 – Exact location and time to be announced
Vancouver – June 2021 – Exact location and time to be announced
Los Angeles – July 2021 – Exact location and time to be announced
Mexico City – August 2021 – Exact location and time to be announced
LEGO is also giving out free LEGO VIDIYO Backstage Passes at the following LEGO Stores:
Salt Lake City LEGO® Store Fashion Place Mall. Offer valid April 8, 2021 through May 9, 2021, while supplies last.
Denver LEGO® Store Colorado Mills, The LEGO® Store Park Meadows Mall. Offer valid April 29, 2021 through May 20, 2021, while supplies last.
NYC The LEGO® Store Flatiron District, LEGO® Store 5th Avenue (curbside pickup ONLY), LEGO® Store The Mills At Jersey Gardens, LEGO® Store Staten Island Mall, LEGO® Store Garden State Plaza, LEGO® Store Roosevelt Field MallOffer valid May 13, 2021 through June 13, 2021, while supplies last.


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After releasing the Friends Like Zane trailer on Tuesday, 2K have today released the Borderlands 3 Moze Trailer, The BFF’s to their YouTube channel. 2K will be releasing trailers for the other two Vault Hunters, Amara the Siren and FL4K the Beastmaster next week.
Moze is the game’s gunner and she used to be a part of the Vladof Army along with her BFF, who just happens to be a giant bear mech. I can already sense her awesomeness from here. In the trailer we see the duo kicking ass together and enjoying a meal by a campfire.
Check out the official Borderlands 3 Moze Trailer below.
Borderlands 3 releases worldwide on September 13th, 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. It’s available to pre-order now on digital storefronts and from retailers on the high street and online.