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Volta (VLTA) is an electric vehicle charging company based in California. The company recently marked a milestone of delivering 100 million miles to electric vehicle drivers across the U.S.
Volta has secured a deal to set up charging locations at Six Flags Entertainment’s theme parks across the country to serve the parks’ guests. It has also launched an artificial intelligence-powered infrastructure planning solution that Southern Company has agreed to use for multiple years for its transportation electrification programs.
With this in mind, let’s look at the company’s financials and understand what has changed in its risk factors. (See Analysts’ Top Stocks on TipRanks)
Q3 Financial Results
Volta’s Q3 2021 revenue of $8.5 million increased 77% year-over-year but missed the consensus estimate of $10.1 million. It posted a loss per share of $0.58 during the quarter, which was narrower than the loss of $1.56 per share in the same quarter last year. Volta ended the quarter with $331 million in cash. (See Volta stock charts on TipRanks).
According to the new TipRanks’ Risk Factors tool, VLTA’s main risk category is Finance and Corporate, which accounts for 40% of the total 70 risks identified for the stock. The company has recently added 65 new risks to its profile.
Volta cautions investors to brace for fluctuations in its financial results. It has mentioned that changes in government incentive programs that impact the demand for electric vehicles could cause its revenue and expenses to fluctuate sharply on a quarterly basis. It warns that the fluctuations could also adversely affect its stock price. Further, it says, fluctuations in cash flow could lead to liquidity problems.
The company cautions that its market opportunity estimates and growth projections are subject to significant uncertainty and may prove to be inaccurate. It mentions that electric vehicle adoption rates, market share capture, and charging demand and pricing are difficult to predict. The company further cautions that even if the market develops as projected, its business may fail to grow at similar rates.
Volta informs investors that it may need to raise additional funds in the future to expand its operations. However, it says that the funds may not be available when needed. Further, the company observes that fundraising through debt securities would require interest payments and may subject it to unfavorable terms. Additionally, the company says that fundraising through equity securities could cause dilution to existing shareholders.
Volta warns that its products and services may become obsolete if it fails to keep pace with the constantly changing electric vehicle charging technologies. The company acknowledges that upscaling its infrastructure to align with the latest charging technologies could involve significant costs that would adversely impact its financial condition.
Most of Volta’s risk factors come under the Finance and Corporate category and are in tandem with the sector average at 40%. Shares of the company have gained 14% year-to-date.
Following Volta’s Q3 earnings report, Needham analyst Vikram Bagri reiterated a Buy rating on Volta with a price target of $13. Bagri’s price target suggests 7.44% upside potential.
Consensus among analysts is a Strong Buy based on 4 Buys. The average Volta price target of $13.63 implies 12.64% upside potential to current levels.
Accenture Acquires T.A. Cook; Street Says Buy
Lucid Reports Q3 Results, Orders Rise
CIBC Launches The CIBC Foundation


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Wearable technology is the big thing at CES 2014 in Las Vegas this year and Sony is eager to jump on the band wagon with the launch of the SmartBand, a fitness tracker which promises to be the first in range of products in Sony's SmartWear line.
Earlier on Monday we say LG launch it's first fitness tracker then Lifeband Touch, which aims to combine an activity monitor with some smartwatch features.
The SmartBand works in basically the same way as any other fitness tracker by tracking your daily activity and then displaying this visually in a new app from Sony called Lifelog.
Sony says that its wearable technology is about more than "just the steps you take" but is about "emotion as well as motion."
Sony says that it is working on "forging new in-market partnerships" though details of these were scant, with Sony saying more details would be available in the coming weeks.
Pricing and a release date for the SmartBand have yet to be announced.
SmartWatch 2 Selling 'Beyond Expectations'
The Japanese electronics giant also announced updates for its SmartWatch 2 which it said was selling "beyond expectations." Along with the updates to the phone's own software, Sony announced that there were now over 300 compatible applications for the SmartWatch.
The final piece of wearable technology which Sony announced was a new Bluetooth headset, which is designed to be worn while outdoors or exercising.
The SBH-80 features a splash-proof neckband and also uses Sony's one-touch technology for pairing with your phone via NFC.
It will be available from March and cost £99.

domain: news


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The TicketPro Dome, used to hosting the likes of Ed Sheeran and Katy Perry, will now be converted into something entirely different, after a private buyer secured the rights to the venue in Northgate, Johannesburg.
Previously known as Coca-Cola Dome, it opened on 8 April 1998 with a concert by Diana Ross. The late Nelson Mandela made an appearance at the concert, which was attended by over 15 000 people. Rapper Cassper Nyovest was the first local artist to sell out the venue, as he succeeded in his attempt to ‘Fill Up The Dome’.
Swapping stars for cars: TicketPro Dome set to change hands
The WeBuyCars company – a second-hand car dealership and exchange outfit – will now take control of the facility. The acquisition will be a massive departure from the TicketPro Dome’s current use, and musicians will be swapped for motors. Here’s what we know about the future of the large public space so far:
- The TicketPro Dome will be able to store approximately 1 500 vehicles going forward.
- The facility, once fully converted, will become one of the world’s biggest second-hand car dealerships.
- WeBuyCars currently has eight branches in SA, but they are not on the same scale as this ambitious purchase.
- No official opening date has been confirmed yet, but CEO Faan van der Walt hopes it’ll be sooner rather than later.
- Visitors will be able to test drive cars at the venue, too…
"WeBuyCars has confirmed it has purchased the TicketPro Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg, which it will use to create one of the biggest second-hand car dealerships in the world."— WeBuyCars (@WeBuyCars_SA) July 20, 2021
Read the full statement below:https://t.co/64TwPXq9NZ#WeBuyCars #ClickYourNext pic.twitter.com/5OM9BrxOeK
WeBuyCars set to establish ‘world-beating’ car dealership
Faan van der Walt believes that WeBuyCars can help stimulate both the local and national economy by the time it’s up and running. He trumped up their commitment to the South African vehicle industry, and as the TicketPro Dome changes hands, stars will be replaced by cars under the iconic roof of this building.
“Apart from cementing our presence in northern Johannesburg, we are confident this growth path will have a positive impact on the economy. We have always been proud of our roots, and this next step in our expansion plan demonstrates our commitment to the South African car market, which has significant growth potential.”Faan van der Walt


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Crate & Barrel to invest $4 million in its first Costa Rica store
The first Central American location of the U.S. chain of retail stores Crate & Barrel will open in Costa Rica early next year at Avenida Escazú, a business complex west of San José. The opening of the new department store represents a $4 million investment for local franchisee Inversiones CBCR S.A.
The 2,200 square-meter store will employ approximately 40 people, Costa Rica manager Mónica Fonseca said in a news release.
Fonseca said the investor company chose Costa Rica “thanks to its political stability, its workforce availability and the competitiveness of the local market.”
The local store will offer the traditional line of products at its U.S. stores, including housewares and furniture (indoor and out), with specialized kitchen, bathroom, decoration, lighting and bedroom departments.
Within the Tico market, the store will compete directly with stores with a strong local presence such as Euromobilia, Cemaco, Altea and La Artística, among others. The U.S. company opened its first store in December 1962 in Chicago, Illinois, and now has 80 retail locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Its international expansion started in 2008 and is currently targeting Latin American markets through a franchise model that includes stores in Mexico, Peru and Colombia.
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FCF co-hosted the “ACCESS CHINA Partnering Day” – the largest online corporate access event between China and Western Biopharma Industry – on May 15th, 2020.
ACCESS CHINA is the most effective deal-making platform for Western pharma and biotech leaders looking to enter or expand into the Chinese market. The event will help western biopharma companies to efficiently present their assets online in front of 500+ biopharma companies and healthcare VCs in China. It creates invaluable BD opportunities by directly connecting and meeting with the right partners for development, licensing or commercial collaborations. Over 1,000 attendees participated to the event and more than 20 partnering opportunities were presented from the U.S., Europe, Japan, Korea, and China.


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Pfizer Settles $345M EpiPen Consumers Suit, But Viatris Marches On
After four years of litigation, Pfizer has reached a preliminary settlement over allegations that it devised an “illegal scheme” with Viatris’ Mylan establish a monopoly for the EpiPen autoinjector device.
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President Biden’s pick for FDA commissioner should remember many of the hot-button issues that he would face if confirmed to a second stint as the nation's top medtech regulator.
US DoJ collected more than $1bn in penalties from device manufacturers this year, chiefly on false claims and manufacturing violations. Here is a roundup and sortable table of the payouts.
Generics Bulletin looks back at a selection of the most significant legal stories from 2022, including a major victory in the UK on the Eliquis blood thinner giant and continued action on generic label carve outs, which has the potential to reverberate through the US industry.


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While our attention has been focused on Geneva this past week, time hasn’t stood still on models that didn’t make the show, such as this modestly upgraded Land Rover Freelander. Better known to our US readers as the LR2, for 2015 Land Rover has announced a series of updates, including a new premium HSE Luxury spec. Dubbed the Metropolis in the UK and Russia, the luxury trim level includes body-colored sills, door handles and mirror caps, Atlas-colored grille and vents, and a set of 19-inch Sparkle Silver alloys.
Inside, adjustable Windsor leather electric seats and Grand Black lacquer trim give the cabin a more premium feel. The Freelander XS receives similar upgrades as well as Dark Atlas grille bars and side vents, 17-inch Anthracite alloys, Partial Leather/Dinamica electric seats available in Ebony/Lunar or Almond/Nutmeg, and a new ‘upgrade pack’ that offers a Meridian sound system, sat-nav, automatic headlamps and rain sensing windscreen wipers. Finally, Land Rover has introduced a new Dynamic Exterior pack that adds a tailgate-mounted spoiler, 19-inch ten-spoke alloys, gloss black trim and bright exhaust finishers. Inside, upgrades include two-tone power-adjustable Dynamic leather seats.


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June 20, 2008
Ford Sets September Deadline to Start Mondeo Production at Russian Plant
Ford Motor is likely to start the production of the Mondeo sedans at its St Petersburg plant in Russia by September 2008.
The plant near St Petersburg is reportedly the only Russian plant owned by the carmaker, and it presently manufactures the Focus models."We will launch Mondeo in September this year. We don't have further plans but if the market increases we want to participate," Wolfgang Schneider, vice president of Ford Europe, was reported as saying. It is claimed that the carmaker is also likely to produce the Kuga small sport utility vehicle at the plant.
The plan will reportedly involve the production of around 72,000 Focus and 1,000 Mondeo vehicles in 2008. However, the company plans to increase the plant's total annual capacity to 125,000 units.


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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
What do you get when you cross the number 2 wireless communications provider with the number 1 internet search engine? According to the Wall Street Journal, Verizon is hoping to get "a wide-ranging partnership" and "a much-needed jolt for the anemic mobile search business."
The deal would make Google the default search provider on Verizon devices in return for a share of ad revenue. The advantage is that Verizon users could find all the information they are looking for -- from contracts-related ring tones to contracts outlines -- in one spot.
Rumor has it that Verizon phones would eventually come with Google bars on the home screen. Frankly, I'd rather have a phone that came with a mini bar, but perhaps I'm a bit old school.


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New games in 2020 for Microgaming
Microgaming have continued their race towards being the top provider on the market with an announcement about its release schedule going into 2020. During January it’s expected that Microgaming will be putting out a number of new games from the umbrella developers it has under it.
Lots of new games to come
Book of Atem is the first of four releases for this month. The title is an Egyptian themed video slot from All41Studios. It will have plenty of enjoyable features and a maximum win of up to 5,000 times your stake. The game is expected in the early part of January.
JFTW are the second umbrella studio that will be putting out a title for Microgaming. The game from them is Double Lucky Line. This game is expected in the middle of the month and will see players given the chance to create big wins with a double symbol feature.
The third game from Microgaming this month will come from Triple Edge Studios. This title is called African Quest and is expected around two thirds of the way through the month. It will feature plenty of paylines, with 1,024 on offer, as well some high class and innovative features. There will also be the Hyperspins feature included which was invented by Microgaming.
The final title that is coming from Microgaming in January is The Incredible Balloon Machine. This game is expected to be released near the end of the month and is coming from Crazy Tooth Studio. It’s a highly interesting game with multipliers and enjoyable features. It shows just how much effort Microgaming are putting in to creating innovative works in 2020.
These are just some of the titles that Microgaming expect to release during the first month of the year, as is expected most iGaming developers will be trying to start the year off in a positive fashion and Microgaming are no different with the current list of titles it has announced.


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Apple is reportedly close to buying Swell, a personalised talk-radio app similar to Pandora.
According to Re/Code, the iPhone maker could pay around $30 million (£17.65m) for the company.
Swell has defined itself as the "Pandora for talk radio", as it learns your listening habits and provides personalised audio news and information to your taste.
Apple already has its own Podcast app but with just 1.5 out of 5 stars in the App Store - compared to Swell's 4.5 - its offering has not been as well received and lacks the personalisation aspect.
Swell has been in beta testing on Android but is unlikely to be made public if the deal goes ahead.
The acquisition is the latest purchase from Apple, after it bought book recommendation start-up BookLamp over the weekend.


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The noise around large companies shifting their manufacturing bases out of China has gotten shriller with the advent of Covid-19 related disruption. The theme is not new. Since the trade war between the United States and China, much has been written about companies shifting their operations from China to other South East Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. India is hopeful of getting it right this time around and is competing with other South East Asian countries in rolling out the red carpet to companies exiting China. In anticipation of any announcements that may be made by the Government in this regard, this article examines some of the key factors that are relevant for companies contemplating a shift to India.
Continue Reading Goodbye China; Hello India


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Correspondent, AOL Autos
Gary Hoffman has written about the auto industry for most of the last 30 years, primarily specializing in the purchasing and sales processes within dealerships. He has been… editor of a magazine, Chevy PRO, for Chevrolet dealerships and the Ford employee newspaper, Ford World, and has written on automotive subjects for the French news agency, Agence France-Presse, the Detroit News and numerous other publications. Fluent in French and German, he has worked as a translator for major international news organizations, primarily on automotive subjects. He is also an adjunct journalism instructor at Wayne State University in Detroit, teaching investigative reporting, news management and publishing on the Internet.
If you haven't had time to thank a member of the U.S. military lately, you can at least be assured that automakers have. They are saluting the men and women of the U.S. military with hundreds of dollars in extra discounts again this month as a token of their appreciation.
Some enterprising car dealerships are setting a new standard for wackiness with their promotions – and the craziest part of all is that they mostly work to draw consumers in to the showroom, the stores say.
It's Spring. Time to buy a new car. You pull up to the dealership driving your trade-in on a Saturday morning. You are met by an anxious, eager sales person whom you know is trained to try and close the sale that day. But you, the consumer, want to shop around, and take your time. The more you resist an immediate deal, though, the deeper the salesperson digs into their toolbar to "close you."
At one time or another, everyone has lived this nightmare: You are driving along and suddenly a disturbingly loud sound rises up from deep inside your car.
If the U.S. car market hits the 13.5 million units in sales that some analysts expect in 2011, the auto industry and its workers won't be the only ones seeing dollar signs. At that level, state governments will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more than last year, thanks mostly to sales taxes and the dealership "back-end" offices that process them.
As the world seemed to be collapsing around it in 2009, Carlson Chrysler of Concord, N.H., drew on its traditions, got creative, and managed to come up with the right stuff to survive.


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The "internet of things" is continually expanding: By 2023, the global smart home industry is projected to surpass $150 billion. America leads the way in adoption, with over 45 million smart devices currently installed in homes across the country. But if the ubiquity of smart devices seems inevitable, many remain somewhat wary of the impending transition. Recent research suggests that consumers are eager for smart home security but leery of devices that could compromise their data privacy. Moreover, many connected products fall short of the convenience they promise, with 1 in 3 people struggling to operate their smart gadgets.
As the era of automation unfolds, we set out to study how individuals and families are creating smart homes of their own. We surveyed more than 1,000 individuals, analyzing their attitudes about specific technologies and connected devices more generally. Which needs and desires drive smart home adoption? Are users eager for more automation or uncomfortable with inviting more gadgets into their lives? For a deep dive into Americans' attitudes and apprehensions about smart devices, keep reading.
Getting Smart: Adoption and Appeal
Among the respondents surveyed, the majority owned at least one smart home device – and a significant portion owned several. More than 6 in 10 possessed between two and five connected devices, a testament to the appeal of connectivity between internet-enabled products. Indeed, some experts suggest that smart speakers, such as the Amazon Echo or Google Home, frequently encourage further home automation: Consumers enamored by these gadgets subsequently plan to purchase compatible devices. Perhaps smart speakers, which feature virtual assistants such as Alexa, also account for the popularity of voice-commanded devices. Nearly 4 in 5 respondents preferred talking to their tech rather than operating an app.
In explaining their purchase motives, almost 84 percent of respondents cited convenience as essential to smart devices' appeal. More than 43 percent also prized comfort and the ability to track data related to their home. Thirty-seven percent attributed their purchases to a desire for greater security for their family, a particular priority for American consumers. The U.S. leads all other nations in smart home security installations, with internet-enabled systems installed in nearly 1 in 5 households. Analysts project that American demand for smart security devices will expand even further in the coming years, becoming an $11 billion industry by 2025.
Home Is Where the Hub Is
Among our respondents, 63 percent owned a smart hub device – a striking testament to the presence of connected gadgets in American homes. While the smart hub category includes a vast array of products and technologies, most consumers seemed pleased with the particular hubs they'd selected for their homes. Ninety percent of respondents described themselves as satisfied with their smart hub products, perhaps because they engage them in different ways over time. One recent report found that 48 percent of smart hub owners utilize their devices more often after a year than when they initially bought them.
Of course, the smart home technology landscape includes competing platforms, with some of tech's most powerful companies battling for market share supremacy. In this regard, Amazon seems to possess a sizeable lead: 71 percent of respondents reported using an Alexa smart hub. Google's Assistant was a distant second with merely 21 percent. Still, the company has achieved impressive growth in recent months, especially in foreign markets where it now offers voice command functionality in multiple languages.
Top Tech and Timing
In terms of ownership, smart TVs were, by far, the most common form of smart technology: Nearly 73 percent of respondents said they owned one currently. This finding may simply reflect the standardization of smart features across the category. Whereas internet connectivity was once limited to the most expensive TV models, that's far from the case today. Additionally, 35 percent of respondents said they owned a smart speaker (other than a hub). More than a quarter of individuals owned a smart thermostat, and a similar percentage had smart lightbulbs as well.
At the other end of the spectrum, relatively few people owned smart appliances designed to assist with domestic necessities: Less than 10 percent of respondents had smart cooking or cleaning devices or an internet-connected fridge. But if the trajectory of smart device ownership in recent years is any indication, market penetration will surely increase substantially for all of these products. Among respondents with smart devices, over 85 percent purchased their gadgets in 2016 or later – a remarkably rapid rise in prevalence for smart devices of all kinds.
Smart Meets Safety
Concerning home security specifically, which devices have been adopted most widely thus far? More than 3 in 10 respondents said they had a smart camera installed, and the majority of that cohort was satisfied with their purchase. Yet, satisfaction rates were even higher for slightly more sophisticated home security gadgets: 94 percent of individuals who had smart alarm systems and doorbells were pleased with these products. The increasing popularity of these products has not gone unnoticed by the biggest names in home automation. In recent years, Amazon and Google have each acquired companies that make smart alarms and doorbells.
Our data suggest smart home security products enjoyed a surge in popularity after 2016, with a particular uptick in smart camera ownership following that year. And while these products may deliver peace of mind, they seem to cause some individuals to consider safety issues more frequently. Over 4 in 10 respondents said their smart security devices caused them to think more about safety, perhaps because many of these products send notifications or livestreams directly to users' smartphones.
Protection vs. Privacy
In considering home security products, many consumers find two priorities in conflict: They hope to improve their physical security without rendering their most intimate data vulnerable to misuse. Overall, respondents were evenly split on which forms of security mattered more, although opinions varied dramatically by demographic. Older respondents, for example, tended to prioritize data protection, while millennials and members of Generation Z favored physical security. These findings resonate with other recent research suggesting that young Americans are more aware of data privacy concerns than prior generations, yet less concerned their data will be stolen or misused.
Parents were more concerned about securing their home than respondents without children. Having kids in the house could understandably change one's safety calculus, and a recent survey affirmed that children are a leading reason homeowners install smart security systems. Democrats and Republicans tended to prioritize physical safety in similar ways, but over 60 percent of Independents said they were more concerned about potential data misuse. Meanwhile, three-quarters of respondents with no smart device said they were more concerned about data misuse than physical security, a stance that surely informs their resistance to internet of things technologies.
Our data suggest that most respondents acquired their smart home devices in 2016 or thereafter, but many of these technologies existed for years before being widely adopted. For example, the first smart TV debuted in 2008, but most respondents guessed they reached the market years later. A similar pattern emerged for other smart devices: 97 percent guessed that the first smart home hub appeared after 2009 when EnergyHub first brought one to the market. This trend may be attributable to the buzz that later accompanied products made by some of tech's biggest players. Most respondents guessed that smart hubs first appeared after 2014, the year in which Amazon's Alexa first appeared.
Smart refrigerators may seem like cutting-edge amenities today, but the first one appeared in 2000 – a fact known to just 1 percent of respondents. While that gadget, LG's Digital DIOS, boasted some appealing features, its $20,000 price tag severely limited its appeal to consumers. Conversely, 18 percent of respondents thought smart lightbulbs appeared before 2012, the year that Philips actually introduced its Hue line of bulbs. That product line remains quite popular with consumers; the bulbs are compatible with most major internet of things systems, including Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit devices.
In addition to being the most prevalent internet-enabled products in American homes, smart TVs were also regarded as one the best smart home purchases by our respondents. Smart hubs prompted more mixed opinions: 20 percent said these devices were among the best purchases, while 19 percent said they were among the worst. These findings may seem to conflict with our earlier findings suggesting that most smart home users are satisfied with their devices. Yet, negative sentiment toward smart hubs may relate to privacy concerns raised by high-profile incidents, such as the plight of one Oregon woman who had her private conversations inadvertently recorded by her Alexa device.
Smart security devices were generally viewed in positive terms: 12 percent of respondents viewed smart cameras as among the best possible purchases, and just 4 percent deemed them among the worst. Similarly, 8 percent regarded a smart alarm system as a good purchase, and opposition to them was virtually nonexistent. Smart doorbells and thermostats, however, prompted approval and scorn in roughly equal measure.
Resisting Smart Tech: Suspicions and Objections
When we asked individuals without smart home devices why they had resisted the internet of things thus far, most fell into one of two camps. One group of respondents simply didn't seem drawn to the ease of these devices, apparently content to operate appliances around their homes manually. While convenience may not be a priority for this cohort, they might be swayed by arguments regarding efficiency instead: smart home systems can save homeowners hundreds of dollars on their electricity bills through a range of thrifty tricks.
The other category of objections centered on privacy concerns. In this group, the predominant concern was a sense of continuous surveillance – and the notion that collected data could be monetized at the expense of consumers. Indeed, recent research suggests that nearly half of Americans believe smart devices are recording consumers' conversations to target them more effectively with advertising. Beyond data collection by device-makers themselves, many fear their information might be sold to third parties. As one respondent put it, "I also wonder about how the information can be shared and stored."
A smart home of Your Own
Our findings attest to the suddenness and scale of the smart tech revolution: In just a few years, the internet of things has transformed from an intriguing novelty to an essential feature of the modern home. If uncertainty remains regarding data security and privacy, adoption rapidly continues – and few consumers seem to regret their smart home investments. In the midst of this ongoing transition, the major question for American families may not be whether to purchase smart products of their own. Rather, their chief concern will be which companies to trust as they inevitably move toward connected devices.
In embracing smart security technology, consumers should entrust the comfort and safety of their loved ones to companies they can count on. With an unparalleled track record of protecting families across the country, ADT offers the latest in smart technology and time-tested accountability to customers. Our connected home security systems seamlessly integrate data from all your devices, so you can control every aspect of your home in a single app. Learn more about our products and services today to see why trusting us is a truly smart choice.
This project surveyed 1,003 adult Americans. Of this sample, 952 adults owned at least one smart home device. The sample included 471 men (average age was 35.9 years old), 530 women (average age was 37.1 years old), and two nonbinary participants. Respondents answered a series of questions on a survey built via SurveyMonkey and administered via Amazon's Mechanical Turk service. The survey was based on self-reported data and was likely slightly inflated in terms of overall ownership of devices due to the fact that it was collected from an internet sample (and, therefore, assumes access to the internet as a prerequisite for taking the survey). Self-reported data can also be limited by several extraneous factors, such as incorrect/incomplete recollections, minimizing, response bias, or other demand characteristics.
Fair Use Statement
Beyond smart devices, the internet can support a more important kind of connection – the bonds between friends and family members. In that spirit, please feel free to share this content with anyone who might enjoy it. When you do, link back to this page so that others can explore the full project. Please only use our work for noncommercial purposes.
This information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on in making any buying decisions. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
© 2019 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, ADT Always There and 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Third party marks are the property of their respective owners.


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One would think by now the debate has been resolved on which economic model created a better recovery from this Great Recession or Lessor Depression, as P Krugman has called it. But no, Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble keeps pounding the drum for his, and the eurozone's failed austerity policies.
And this is happening with a new Hitler looming on Europe's border who is taking advantage of their weakness and threatening to repeat its history.
"The financial crisis broke out seven years ago and led many countries into an economic and debt crisis," says Schauble in a recent NYTimes Oped. "A pervasive set of myths -- that the European response to the crisis has been ineffective at best, or even counterproductive -- is simply not accurate. There is strong evidence that Europe is indeed on the right track in addressing the impact, and, most importantly, the causes of the crisis."
Really? One has only to compare Europe to U.S. economic growth since the Great Recession.
The U.S. response by the Federal Reserve was to do everything possible to stimulate demand by keeping interest rates as low as possible, as long as possible, to pump more money into the system, rather than hoard it.
It is not even a matter of degree, but of orders of magnitude. The U.S. has grown as much as 5 percent in a quarter, whereas Europe has grown no more than 0.3 percent since 2012. (Does Schauble even bother to look at economic data?)
One thinks that most economists should have learned from the 1930's Great Depression, Roosevelt's New Deal, etc., etc., that it takes a very proactive government to bring back the fallen 'animal spirits', as JM Keynes called the loss of confidence that kept consumers in the 1930s' economy from completely recovering, until WWII government spending brought back fully employed economies.
But no, Schauble, has turned Keynes on his head in maintaining that it is the loss of investors' confidence, not that of consumer spending, which powers 70 percent of economic growth these days. He seems to have absolutely no concept of the meaning of aggregate demand, another Keynesian concept that spells out exactly what drives economic growth
I.e. investors lose confidence in investing when the demand for their products and services declines, as it did drastically during the past two depressions. It is a basic misunderstanding of how economies work. Consumers ran out of money to spend, due in large part to the record income inequality that happened in 1929, and again in 2008.
When almost all wealth flows to the top, the wealthiest enact policies to prevent it from being redistributed downward to those that spend it, where it would encourage and strengthen a recovery.
Then money is hoarded, rather than spent or invested wisely, as is still happening worldwide (particularly in Germany with the largest budget surplus in the developed world). That's why economic growth has resumed in the U.S., but not in Europe, Which is currently teetering on the edge of its third recession since 2008.
But isn't Putin's Russia threatening war, even a nuclear war, if Europe doesn't cave in to its demands? That is a wake up call for Europeans to throw out their austerity policies, if they want to have enough strength to oppose him. Europe is fractured because of their poorly functioning economies. Otherwise history is about to repeat itself. Only instead of a Hitler, we have a Putin.
Harlan Green © 2015


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“The name is Bond, James Bond.”
Luxury British marque Aston Martin is rolling back into production “the most famous car in the world” – James Bond’s iconic DB5 from 1964 film Goldfinger.
The stunning, limited-edition continuation cars are being produced with EON Productions, makers of the James Bond films.
A run of 25 customer examples are being built at the company’s former headquarters in Newport Pagnell, UK - now the site of their Heritage Division. Between 1963 and 1965, nearly 900 original DB5s were built at the same facility, with the last one rolling off the line 55 years ago.
The cars feature a range of ‘Goldfinger’ gadgets. These are developed with the help of Oscar-winning special effects guru Chris Corbould, who worked on over a dozen James Bond films.
Prepare to be left shaken AND stirred at the price, though. Each DB5 Goldfinger continuation car costs $3.39 million, plus taxes. All customers cars have already been sold, with delivery expected later this year. However, owners won’t actually be able to drive them as they are not road legal!
A further three models will be built. One for Aston Martin, one for EON Productions and a third to be auctioned off for charity.
The new models look identical to the original James Bond DB5 driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger – which sold for $6.4 million last year.
James Bond-style gadgets
Each car, which takes around 4,500 hours to build, shows off the famous Silver Birch paint scheme. Most importantly, they carry a host of James Bond-inspired spy gadgets from the film.
Unfortunately, the ejector seat and nail spreader have been disabled. But the cars do feature a rear smoke-screen delivery system and simulated twin-front machine guns, which light up.
The interior features a variety of buttons and switches, including remote controls for activating all of the gadgets.
The new model, which was first announced in 2018, requires meticulous craftsmanship. It involves a blend of old world and modern techniques, used to improve build quality and reliability.
The cars feature original DB5-styled aluminium exterior body panels and an authentic mild steel chassis. Under the hood sits a 4-liter six-cylinder engine that generates 290 bhp.
Aston Martin Heritage Programme Manager Clive Wilson said: “Seeing the first customer car move painstakingly through the intricate production process we have created really is quite a thrill.”
“Obviously we have not, as a business, made a new DB5 for more than 50 years. So to be involved in the building of these cars, which will go on to form part of Aston Martin’s history, is something I’m sure all of us will be telling our grandkids about.”


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No Fear Energy has been confirmed as an exclusive promotional partner to the Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, which will launch in the UK on 20 July. No Fear Energy is launching a promo can with a chance to win a trip to New York, as well as other prizes. The can will be available from 1 June.
- Evian's first new bottle since 1999
- Nestlé invests €44m in Spanish Nescafé factory
- Federal hires John Oliaro as operations manager


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Small businesses know best that the life cycle of certain industries can be abruptly cut short by new developments or changing consumer preference, while others find a way to thrive even in uncertain times. According to data from IBISWorld, while the video game rental business is withering, online gaming platforms are seeing unmatched growth.
Gaming, alongside other hot industries like sustainable construction and self-tanning products are just a few sectors that have seen sustained growth in the last decade, even through the recession. While U.S. gross domestic product is projected to grow by 3.3 percent annually over the next five years, the following industries are far surpassing expectations.
If you've been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, you may want to get your hands dirty in one of these fast-growing industries.


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HTC's Desire 12 and 12+ are cheap mobes aimed at, er, 'Instagrammers'
HTC to announce pricing for Vive Pro
Next Assassin's Creed Could Be Set in Greece, Out 2019
Nimbus Data takes largest-capacity SSD title with its 100TB drive
Sarkozy taken into custody over Libya financing
Razer's first ever smartphone could be coming next month
12 October 2017, 11:07 | Brandon Parsons
Razer set to reveal gaming smartphone on November 1
The gaming hardware company launched a teaser on Wednesday, showing a man holding a phone-sized device. It was a pocket gaming device that ran on Android Lollipop when it launched.
Razer has officially begun teasing something big, its "biggest unveiling", to be exact. Though were placing our bets on a smartphone since the device shown in the picture looks too small to be a tablet.
As far as features go, we will probably be expecting front firing speakers at the very least, along with longer than usual battery life and Razer's own gaming services pre-installed onto the device. Razer's CEO, Tan Min-Liang, said that the project has been in development for years, and he is excited to reveal all to the world soon. However, he had refused to shed light on the phone's specifications and features.
Jay-Z Looking To Buy Harvey Weinstein's Company Share
According to TMZ , Harvey Weinstein's daughter dialed the police Wednesday morning to report that her father had become suicidal. Police were called to the home of film producer Harvey Weinstein's daughter Remy on Wednesday, following fears of "suicide".
Razer is rumored to have started working on the mobile gaming device from previous year. From that and subsequent reports, all fingers point to a smartphone coming from Razer. That all lined up with Nextbit, the folks who put together the Robin smartphone, joining the Razer team back in January.
It also posted a similar tweet, with a link re-directing users to the company's website.
Next Weeks Broker Price Targets For PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL)
On July 27 Raymond James maintained a company rating of "Outperform" and raised the price expectation from $45.00 to $65.00. The stock of Paypal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: PYPL ) has "Outperform" rating given on Friday, January 6 by BMO Capital Markets.
Adrian Peterson believes he has 4-5 years left
Talking to reporters after his first practice with the Cardinals on Wednesday, Peterson declined to comment on the lawsuit. Not to say that wasn't necessarily the case in New Orleans because me and (coach Sean) Payton, we talked.
Russian Federation 2018: Ezenwa reveals his secret
It was perhaps the first time the senior team will play in qualifying series without the perennial agitation for pay rise. "He is fast and I hope he will not get injured before the World Cup in Russian Federation ".


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USA stopped trade and investment negotiations with Russia
The USA stopped the trade and investment negotiations with Russia due to the events in Ukraine, stated the U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman on March 4, 2014.
We stopped the upcoming negotiations on trade and investments with Russia providing the economic connections activation, stated the U.S. Trade Representative.
You should be authorized to post comment
In the second week of January, Russian seaports exported nearly 0.3 mln tonnes of grains
Russia exported over 20 mln tonnes of grains - Ministry of Agriculture
Russia: in 2016, the seaports increased grain shipment volumes
In January-November, Russia exported over 22.8 mln tonnes of wheat - Federal Customs Service
January 13, 15:00
In 2016/17 MY, Russia significantly changed the export dynamics of grains - expert
January 13, 12:50


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German Business Confidence Soars to 30-Month High: IFO
Business confidence in Germany rose to the highest level in 30 months, a sign Europe’s largest economy is gaining traction at the start of 2014.
The business climate index, courtesy of the Munich-based CESifo Group, rose from 109.5 to 110.6 in January, beating economists’ forecasts. January marked the third consecutive month business confidence rose in Europe’s largest economy.
“Expectations regarding future business developments reached their most optimistic level in almost three years,” said Ifo president Hans-Werner Sinn in an official statement. “The German economy made a promising start to the New Year.”
Business expectations among German executives reached their most optimistic level in nearly three years, with the expectations index rising from 107.4 to 108.9. Executives’ assessment of the current situation also improved, with the current assessment index rising from 111.6 to 112.4.
Business conditions improved across Germany’s industrial economy, today’s data showed. Stronger export expectations boosted manufacturers’ outlook, while optimism concerning future business developments rose significantly among wholesalers and construction companies.
A rebounding export market is key to Germany’s growth prospects in 2014, if recent data are any indication. German exports rose at a rate of 0.6 percent last year, compared to 3.2 percent in 2012. In real GDP terms, Europe’s largest economy expanded by a mere 0.4 percent last year.
The Bundesbank believes Germany will rebound “strongly” in the first half of 2014. The German economy could expand by as much as 2 percent in 2014, according to estimates.
The Ifo report marks the first of several important German releases this week. The GfK Institute will report on German consumer confidence Wednesday, followed by official employment and consumer inflation data Thursday.
Sorry. No data so far.


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Latest Debits and credits Stories
Mercator Advisory Group releases new research benchmarking U.K. debit rewards. Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 19, 2015 The future is uncertain for the U.K.
CHANGSHU, China, May 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sutor Technology Group Limited (the "Company" or "Sutor") (Nasdaq: SUTR), one of the leading China-based manufacturers and service
LONDON, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartDebit's training course, 'Direct Debit Made Easy', has recently achieved Bacs accreditation.
MobiLend’s borrowers will now have access to funds in near real time Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) March 30, 2015 MobiLend, a trusted digital lender offering
NASDAQ: NVCN TSX: NVC VANCOUVER, March 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Neovasc Inc.
A "new word" in payment solutions is ready to be said by NUSPAY at the TRANSACT15, San Francisco, April 1. SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- NUSPAY International Inc -
CHANGSHU, China, Feb.
Today e2b teknologies announces a milestone release of the company’s debt collection software highlighted with functionality for business credit management, e-mail alerts, and projected cash
Allows businesses to "go digital" without manually inputing each transaction by hand WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Jan.
Publishers of Anytime Collect accounts receivable software release a 2015 accounts receivable software buyer's guide and a sample request for proposal template for finance and business executives.
- To say in too many words; to express verbosely.
- To express in too many words: sometimes used reflexively.
- The leading idea or a repeated phrase, as of a song or ballad; the refrain; burden.


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From the director of anime flick, OUTLAW STAR, Mitsuru Hongos SHAMANIC PRINCESS will descend onto video on October 10, 2000. In the third installment in the SHAMANIC series, "Guardian World" picks up Tiaras journey to recover her stolen talisman. The English dubbed version will sell for US$19.99 and the subtitled version for $24.99. Early this year, U.S. Manga Corps released the first two titles in the series, "Tiaras Quest" and "The Talisman Unleased."
AWN Headline News
The 15th Saint Gély International Short Film Festival awarded its top animation prize to Bernard Dubliques ADOLF. Objectif Image Saint Gely presents the festival, which features categories for documentary, fictional-dramatic, animation and experimental films. The event took place from Friday, October 6 Sunday, October 8, 2000. Dublique was awarded a 1,000 FF cash award.
From Masaki Kajishima, creator of PHOTON, SPACESHIP AGGA RUTER "Sweet Release" sets down in video stores on October 10, 2000. The AGGA series is an adult adventure set in the future where space pirates fight for domination of the heavens. The new installment will sell for US$29.99. The previous installment, SPACESHIP AGGA RUTER "Troublemaker," was released on August 8, 2000.
Taking place from Thursday, September 21 Sunday, September 24, 2000 in Abruzzo, Italy, the Matita Film Festival (MFF) awarded its grand prize to Britains Ruth Lingfords PLEASURES OF WAR for its courage, stylistic coherence and the quality of animation, included within a strict narrative structure. Marie Paccous ME, THE OTHER won the student grand prize for its harmony, stylistic unity and technical quality of the animation. MFF's goal is to highlight the independent spirit, while not neglecting entertainment issues.
From the screenwriter of PHOTON and RECORD OF LODOSS WAR Katsumi Hasegawa, the newest episode of MAZE is about to debut in video stores. "Whirlwind Showdown" picks up on the bizarre adventures of Maze, who wakes up one day with amnesia and new superpowers. However, Maze transforms into a flirtatious man every evening. The MAZE tapes will retail at US$19.99 each. "Whirlwind Showdown" will hit stores October 10, 2000, with "Evil Labyrinth" to follow on November 14, 2000, "Time Traveling Playboy" on December 12, 2000 and four more titles coming in 2001.
Dotcomix online hit SISTER RANDY will make her TV debut on BBC America, Saturday, October 21, 2000. SISTER is the second Webtoon to be licensed for TV broadcast on BBC America. Earlier this year the cable network began airing Mondo Medias THUGS ON FILM. Like THUGS, SISTER will serve as interstitials between programming. As part of the deal, the Webtoons will also air on bbcamerica.com. "Sister Randy is sure to be habit-forming television.
The 8th volume of BUBBLEGUM CRISIS: TOKYO 2040 hits stores in October. The new release features the 12th and 13th episodes in the continuing series. This time around the remaining members of the ADPolice must fight a losing battle against an army of killer bombers. The tape will be available in an English dubbed version for US$19.98 and a subtitled version for $29.95 on October 10, 2000. The previous volumes are also available for the same retail price.
The hit British comedy program, MR. BEAN, is about to be transformed into an animated series. The live-action series production company, Tiger Aspect, will be producing the US$15 million animated television series, which will air on ITB. Rowan Atkinson, who plays the live-action Bean, will voice the animated character. In addition, Robin Driscoll, who served as the original writer on the live-action series, will be scribing the new toon version. Currently, Tiger Aspect is looking for an animation company to perform the physical production.
* Thursday, October 19 Saturday, October 21, 2000. Babbeck, Canada.
The Baddeck International New Media Festival is a festival highlighting the growing world of new media. The informal event gives attendees a real chance to interact. The event features speakers and participants from across Canada, U.S., U.K., Europe and South America. For more information contact Rebecca MacKenzie of the Baddeck International New Media Festival at: Tel.: (902) 425-0943; Fax: (902) 445-7936; or Web: www.baddeckfest.com.
Director Peter Nydrle of NYDRLE, West Hollywood, California, has transformed Cadillacs into Olympic swimmers for a new commercial. "One of the challenges of the project was to give the cars the personality of an Olympic swimmer," explained Nydrle. "It's an attempt to blur reality in a way you rarely see, particularly in a car spot." "Desert Storm" begins with a fleet of Cadillac cars all bearing the names of Olympic Gold Medal swimmers, such as Weissmuller and Spitz, on their license plates. In front of the cars are Olympic styled swimming lanes.
Black Logic has completed its second spot for Lexmark Printers. The first Lexmark spot was directed by famed fashion photographer Herb Ritts and created by BlackLogic, NYC and Warwick Baker O'Neill, NYC. "This is the second spot we've done for Lexmark," said Black Logic designer/director Patrick Ferguson. "For the Z52, they wanted to maintain the Ritts' style, but point out that this printer is much faster. Essentially, the Z52 is the best of both worlds." The spot opens to the telltale sounds of a jet aircraft preparing for take-off. The camera slowly pans along the Z52.
Sesame Workshop (the Workshop), one of the world's leading producers of children's television programming, announced the appointment of Jennifer Chrein as the company's new vice president of global media. In the newly created position, Chrein will oversee international television sales for the company. Prior to the Workshop, Chrein served as senior vice president of New York-based Telescene Film Group, where she was responsible for negotiating distribution and sales with sub distributors and bringing co-producers, partners and projects from the worldwide marketplace to Telescene.
Rhinoceros Visual Effects and Design has added award-winning director/designer Harry Dorrington to its team of digital artists. London native Dorrington has garnered numerous awards including two Clios, two New York International Awards, one BDA Award, one RTS Craft Award, one British Festival Computer Award and many more. The Dorrington addition complements former R/Greenberg executive producers Michael Miller and Rick Wagonheim's strategy of reuniting a number of digital artists that worked together at the now defunct company.
Blur Studio, a leading animation and visual effects production studio, has completed a major expansion, which added a state-of-the-art motion capture production studio to their facilities. In addition, Blur has gained a digital edit bay and a clean room for networking and digital storage hardware. The expansion comes as Blur Studio is embarking on the production of a 3D ride film for Paramount Studios and Stan Lee Media, entitled STAN LEE'S 7TH PORTAL 3D SIMULATION EXPERIENCE. "Blur is evolving and evolving quickly," said Tim Miller, the company's president.
Eidos Plc, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, announced the resignation of the companys chief financial officer, Jeremy Lewis. Lewis is leaving Eidos to pursue a range of other interests. The company has commenced an external search for a new CFO to replace Lewis. Michael McGarvey, Eidos COO, said, "On behalf of the Board, I should like to thank Jeremy for the positive contribution he has made to Eidos and we wish him well for the future."
Dotcomix, a San Francisco-based animation company, has recently added Beth Sandell as the chief operating officer, Edward Burke as general counsel and vice president of business affairs, Peter Katz as vice president of marketing, and BZ Petroff as head of production. "Dotcomix is committed to presenting the best in online entertainment and animation," said Damon Danielson, CEO of Dotcomix.
On Monday, October 9, 2000, Eidos Plc., the U.K. video game maker, declined a potential takeover after it decided that the terms and price didn't offer a good value to its shareholders. Eidos wouldnt release the names of the bidders, which analysts had rumored were either Infogrames SA, Microsoft Corp. or Electronic Arts. Upon the news, the companys shares fell 11% on the London stock exchange to 261 pence and dropped 14% on the Nasdaq stock exchange to US$3.88.
* Thursday, October 12 Sunday, October 15, 2000. Montreal, Canada. Wednesday, October 18 Saturday, October 21, 2000. New York, New York, U.S.A. Wednesday, November 1 Saturday, November 5, 2000. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Thursday, November 16 Sunday, November 19, 2000. Seoul, South Korea. Friday, November 24 Sunday, November 26, 2000. Tokyo, Japan. Saturday, December 2 Sunday, December 3, 2000. Osaka, Japan.
With Denzel Washingtons football flick, REMEMBER THE TITANS, firmly taking the top spot, the reissue of THE EXORCIST repossessed second place. The classic horror flick, with digital clean-up by Pacific Title Digital, scared up another US$7.21 million, levitating its cume to $17.67 million. Taking third for the second straight week was ALMOST FAMOUS, with a gross of $5.57 million. The rock n roll romp, with primary visual effects by Manex and Pacific Title Digital, raised its cume to $17.83 million.
AWN's stock ticker features the most prominent publicly traded companies in the world of animation. AWN, Inc. makes available certain financial information from third party information providers. AWN does not give advice in any such fields, and has not reviewed, and in no way endorses the validity of such data. This information is provided solely as a means to keep our readers informed of the market performance and trends of certain companies. AWN strongly suggests that one seek advice from a competent professional regarding any investment or financial issues.


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MUNICH — A German bakery chain is hoping to turn a sweet profit by selling NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden-themed treats that pay homage to the U.S. fugitive many here regard as a hero.
The former NSA contractor became an instant celebrity in German when he leaked details of extensive U.S. surveillance programs, including revelations of U.S. programs targeting Washington’s European allies.
It wasn’t long before a bakery chain in Dusseldorf began marketing a new line of delicacies such as “Spy Ring” doughnuts, “Snowdy” rolls, “Insider” muffins and “Facebrot” bread, the German magazine Der Spiegel reports.
The “Spy Ring” doughnuts may be the tastiest treat of the bunch. They include vanilla filling and are covered with white frosting and dark brown stripes that resemble prison bars.
The “Snowdy” rolls, nicknamed after Mr. Snowden, are covered with pumpkin seeds.
“We launched the products this week,” master baker Frank Westerhorstmann, managing director of the Stadtbackerei chain of 20 bakeries in the western city of Düsseldorf, told Der Spiegel, noting the bakery had once marketed President Obama-themed “Yes We Can” goodies. “The customers find it funny and it helps sales.”
Mr. Snowden’s celebrity has become a campaign issue for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has faced criticism from opponents for not criticizing the U.S. spy programs more fiercely ahead of national elections this fall.
Ms. Merkel denied Mr. Snowden’s request for asylum in Germany, even though polls said that many Germans supported the idea. Mr. Snowden was recently granted temporary asylum in Russia.


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Nov. 21 - The $120 billion chipmaker and patent owner is rolling out a Dick Tracy-like watch that may pay big dividends even if consumers don't rush to buy it.
Ever talk about a 120. Billion dollar company that you never really hit a lot of attention to its call Qualcomm. And they're kind of like the pipes in the guts behind a lot of the things exactly. You don't see them when you -- your phone -- -- pretty much the they did the -- fraud Oliphant used for instance. Most their profits come from patents that license which runs three -- -- they'll support you found they'd they'd logging -- properties that pretty much any company apple. You know Motorola they'll pay money to Qualcomm. And there are now kind of again we're kind of going into the consumer -- -- it's probably so yeah it cavaliers the day he was here and so it's. Ever think and I didn't really important bad midlife crisis now they didn't last an ethnic Lou TP news like this. Portable TV could care and everywhere kind of on the watch from the clintons ever want carries them around and obviously Hezbollah action obviously caught on exactly. If they had Big Ten bucks a month from Spain and and -- used it of course and and they ended up getting had a pretty quickly. On the other trees and -- called the that. The talk watch it the Smart watching it doesn't basically it's the second screen career found you know. I I can't really see anyone using this thing so you don't floats he doesn't work talks sounds like they're gonna get eclipsed maybe by apple are not a number the people why why do what even the companies that you know we're only gonna probably still you know it. The couple 10101000. Or something of these things optimistic. I think is that it seems like they're actually doing to highlight their technology for other companies. Because what they're doing is they're putting into -- -- -- near -- which is you know it being currently come. I'm like you Google can you know I think lasting a couple of days. This imagine that but imagine color and looking pretty much just as good as your regular screen only it could last for so at least they're marketing -- it's a way to kind of get noticed by other tech companies and consumers exactly a little bit. They're the pac ten history of the slick there that that TV get to they had a couple of years ago. What it that was kind of an option -- actually they bought a bunch spectrum and they they they knew very well the -- suspect is going to increase these guys are very sad and everything mayors about wireless. So basically bought the Specter and ended up selling for huge profit McCullough actually made it -- made some money on the adventure. Looks like this could be a similar sort of thing -- we see other companies kind of behind the scenes to the Intel tried to get into TV and do some other consumers it means. It's the same thing or is Qualcomm have kind of a different angle is kind of similar with Intel Intel seems more like they do have -- it'd be kind of midlife crisis thing went -- and they want to be on the outside you know they had this whole thing in talents -- to Qualcomm thing. Qualcomm and side you're on your phone they don't really care and it's -- -- we will leave it there we'll keep an eye out for the talk. And about the conduct of corporate news tomorrow.


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The dense metropolis of Singapore is now home to the world’s first commercial vertical farm! Built by Sky Greens Farms, the rising steel structure will help the city grow more food locally, reducing dependence on imported produce. The new farm is able to produce 1 ton of fresh veggies every other day, which are sold in local supermarkets.
The world’s first commercial vertical farm will provide a fresh new source of sustainable produce for Singaporeans. The tiny country currently produces only 7% of its vegetables locally, driving a need to buy from other countries. But thanks to the new vertical farm, citizens can eat locally produced goodies – available exclusively at the FairPrice Finest supermarket.
The farm itself is made up of 120 aluminum towers that stretch thirty feet tall. Looking like giant greenhouses, the rows of plants produce about a half ton of veggies per day. Only three kinds of vegetables are grown there, but locals hope to expand the farm to include other varieties. The farm is currently seeking investors to help build 300 additional towers, which would produce two tons of vegetables per day. Although the $21 million dollar price tag is hefty, it could mean agricultural independence for the area.
The vertical farm veggies have become a big hit with the locals too. Although the produce costs 10 to 20 cents more than other veggies at the supermarket, consumers seemed eager to buy the freshest food possible – often buying out the market’s stock of vertical farm foods. This innovative vertical farm could help change the way the world eats, giving dense cities an opportunity to grow food in their own back yard.
+ Sky Greens Farms
Via Channel News Asia and io9
Lead image captured from video on Channel News Asia
A geodesic dome would use less material, but would reduce the total growing area per land area...and total land area is Singapore's problem and why they have to import all their food. I think if going for big indoor vertical growing structures, usually that will be in places where land area is an issue, so rectangular structures make sense.
Urban farming is one ofthe keys to feed our planet. No way out! Finally it went from a concept to a reality! Good news! Roger Pilon, Editor The Planet Fixer Digest
Seems to me there is a bit too much shading and material in this design. A dome or Helix spiral(serving dually as trellis) could add light(reflect less) and cut materials use by almost a third for the same structural integrity.


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In the smartphone wars, Samsung tops Apple across nearly every metric, except perhaps the most important one of all: profits.
2013 could be the year when Samsung takes that crown as well.
Samsung already has more revenues and more people – and it spends more on Research & Development and marketing. Oh and it sells more smartphones than Apple does, too. Perhaps most importantly, though, Samsung’s smartphone sales are growing faster than Apple’s.
A new infographic from MBAOnline crystallizes the rise of Samsung and its chances of becoming the undisputed King of Smartphones.


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Don't miss this week
The rapid escalation of fashion technology will have a huge impact on how we shop, with ideas from other sectors such as gaming expected to filter through to retail.
More fashion news
Easy to wear, oversized silhouettes are the premise for new US womenswear label Edit.
Not for the first time in recent years, the nation has been enjoying bright sunshine and warm weather in September.
Maria Morais is managing consultant at digital agency Neoworks.
Latest Fashion News
BT is piloting a new service in the US, called Assure Threat Defence, to help businesses like retailers better identify and react to sophisticated cyber security threats.
Menswear brand Ermenegildo Zenga has taken over the entire front series of Harrods’ windows, starting from today (October 2) and running until October 19.
The British Retail Consortium has refuted claims that a proposed cap on credit card charges for transactions would see extra costs passed on to consumers.
The Meet the Manufacturer conference organised by website Make it British will triple the amount of space dedicated to exhibitors next year as it relocates to Tobacco Dock in the heart of London’s Docklands.
Men’s and women’s clothing brand Ports 1961 is understood to have acquired a showroom and head office in central London, ahead of longer-term plans to open a flagship store.
Clothing suppliers have been hit by delayed, cancelled and reduced orders from high street chains as sales of outerwear and knitwear slump in the UK’s unseasonably warm weather.
Head of sales at young fashion brand Duck and Cover Gareth Jones left the business last week after three years in the role.
UK Trade Show organiser UBM has acquired Advanstar, organiser of Las Vegas trade show Magic, for $972m (£600m).
Sales at Masai Clothing Company Group increased by 19% to 339m DKK (£35.4m) for the year to June 30.
Fashion retailers are facing a “challenging time” ahead with “winners and losers” likely to emerge from a period of continued sluggish wage growth combined with increasing overhead costs, according to a report out this week.
US luxury clothing and accessories retailer Michael Kors has opened its first store in the North West of England, at Grosvenor’s Liverpool One shopping centre.
Profits before tax and exceptional items at Ted Baker increased by 24% to £14.4m, for the 28 weeks to August 9 as international and UK sales delivered a “strong performance”.
George at Asda has launched a post-surgery bra range developed with Breast Cancer Care ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
The N Brown boss has drawn up a new template to get the group’s biggest-selling brand - JD Williams - back on track.
Through its acquisition of distributors and franchise partners, SuperGroup’s global expansion is gathering momentum under chief operating officer Susanne Given.
Lewis leads wacoal’s united front: a new name signals a fresh approach for lingerie group Wacoal Eveden, chief executive Tracy Lewis explains.
Asda’s clothing brand boss Fiona Lambert is not worried by the growing threat from supermarket rivals


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Home > News > Kerala News
Posted on Jan 14, 10:40AM | UNI
Asian School of Business (ASB), Kerala's leading management institute, will organize a seminar on the contentious issue of FDI in multi-brand retail in the state on January 14.
The seminar, with the active involvement of students from ASB and the Kansas University, will feature some high-profile panelists, including Mr K N Balagopal, MP , Mr. G.
Vijayaraghavan, member of the Kerala Planning Board and ASB's member secretary, Anuradha Balaram, Economic Adviser to the Planning Board and Eric Jepsen, a Fulbright scholar and Associate Professor, University of South Dakota.
During the seminar, the students of ASB and the Kansas University will make a presentation on each side of the issue (pros and cons). This will be followed by the panelists providing their perspectives.
Prof. Rajeev S, Director of the ASB, said a major objective of the seminar is to hold a thorough discussion on the FDI policy in its entire gamut, including its impact on economy and supply chain ranging from farmers to retailers, customers and manufacturers.
It would also deliberate on the FDI impact on infrastructure development, inflation management and food shortages.
Some other objectives of the seminar include an evaluation of the need for FDI, its alternatives and their advantages and concerns. An analysis of the impact of large retail chains in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and other Asian countries will also be made.
It will also study the impact of FDI in multi-brand retail on the larger economy, especially in the context of spiralling deficits and slowing growth.
'In particular, the brainstorming session will try to deliberate on the specific impact on Kerala, taking into consideration its social, political and economic aspects.


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AAA AUGER Receives Prestigious ‘Spirit of Success’ Award from SBC Yellow Pages
Company Honored for Integrity, Steady Growth and Community Efforts
San Antonio, Texas, May 27, 2005
AAA Auger didn’t have to dig deep to find the formula for success: Treat customers and employees equally well, and you’ll thrive for decades.
For its longevity, growth and community service, the plumbing service company recently won SBC Yellow Pages’ prestigious Spirit of Success Award.
“What an honor for everyone at our company!” says Doug Cross, owner. “An award like this makes us say, ‘Our way is working. Our customers and our city appreciate what we’re doing.’”
SBC Yellow Pages selected AAA Auger and just four other customers out of 800,000 across its regions to receive the Spirit of Success Award this year.
“This is a perfect award for AAA Auger,” says Joni Arison, vice president-sales for SBC Yellow Pages — Southwest. “The company’s many decades in the community are based on trust, name recognition and involvement. AAA Auger is a name people turn to when in need.”
AAA Auger handles all types of plumbing repairs, remodeling and drain cleaning. The company began operating under its current name in 1997 but has roots in San Antonio dating back to the 1960s. Cross started with nine employees and now has 185. The company has expanded into Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth and will set up shop in Tulsa in December.
Cross and his two sons run the operation, but a handful of other employees have been with the company more than 25 years.
“We love what we do and know the business,” says Cross. “Our service and products are topnotch, and our employees take pride in that.”
The company’s business strategy centers on the value of every phone call, Cross says.
“Every time the phone rings, there is a potential long-time friend calling,” he says. “Use that resource wisely, and always give the customer quality service for the money.
“When customers call our company, they get a knowledgeable person, not an automated device. In fact, I still enjoy answering the phone and taking a service order. I love helping a customer regroup when the bathroom is full of water.”
Cross says most of the changes in the plumbing industry have been for the better. His crew now uses better equipment — such as sewer cameras and locators — and his main office appreciates its complex database to keep track of thousands of customers.
At the same time, he says repair technicians must take extra precautions to prevent contact with AIDS and hepatitis viruses. And a merger, he says, would water down his company’s trademark.
“Many of the larger companies that purchase smaller ones quit specializing,” he says. “You can’t be all things to all people, so we will continue to specialize. It’s good to be the ultimate expert in certain facets of your own industry.”
Cross’s community involvement includes memberships on at least 10 San Antonio school and education boards. He and his staff also donate money and volunteer hours to the Boy Scouts, Juvenile Diabetes Association, Diploma Plus, American Cancer Society, Roy Maas Youth Alternatives, Kingdom for Kids, Rotary Youth Exchange and Catholic organizations.
The community has recognized Cross with: the St. Mary’s Golden Oyster Knife Award, St. Mary’s University Alumni Service Award, Rotary ‘Service Above Self’ Award, Catholic Schools Hall of Fame Award and nomination to Hometown Heroes.
“We’re in an industry that’s a central part of everyone’s life, and we’re well-known in our cities,” Cross says. “We want to be people’s first call when they have a plumbing problem, and we want to leave a good, lasting impression. Every home or business we enter we treat as our own.”
SBC Communications Inc. is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves 50.4 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation’s leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.


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Clearit.ca's Blog on Customs Brokerage and News Updates
It has been a little over a week since U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. USMCA dominated the news cycle with experts dissecting the deal, and there’s one point that stands out for Canadians. It directly impacts online shoppers in the north — in a good way!
Canadians have always had the benefit of shopping online from foreign countries, but the Canadian duty-free threshold has also always been considered one of the lowest in the world. The limit hasn’t changed since 1985! In comparison, American online shoppers have the luxury of an $800 duty free limit.
The new agreement will raise Canada’s duty free limit from $20 to $150, meaning Canadian consumers shopping online from the U.S. won’t have to worry about paying duty fees for anything $150 or less. The negotiations also raised the sales tax from $20 to $40.
Why is it significant?
USMCA’s duty-free increase for Canadians is significant on multiple fronts, because it reaches into different areas of the Canadian economy.
On the one hand, a new duty-free limit gives Canadian shoppers more incentive to purchase goods from U.S. stores and import them into Canada at preferred rates.
A new duty-free limit also means more income for the Canadian government. Last year, Canada generated $5.5 billion in duty fees compared to Canadian retailers, who made hundreds of billions of dollars.
But while it’s positive for shoppers and the economy, it has left Canadian retailers feeling a bit worried.
Many retailers and businesses alike that are represented by the Retail Council of Canada feel as though the new agreement will cut into their revenue stream. Retailers will have to pay duties and taxes on anything they purchase outside of the country. Meanwhile, the America online retailers benefiting from a new market of Canadians will experience little to no kickback.
The deal will likely be signed in its current state vis-a-vis duty-free rates, so the companies represented by the Retail Council will need to adjust to the new e-commerce world. It isn’t the end of the world for Canadian business, especially as the duty-free rate is still nowhere near the American $800.
Contact a customs broker
The good thing for worried Canadian retailers is that the agreement doesn’t come into effect until 2019. The announcement is exactly that: an announcement. Canadians won’t be able to take advantage of the new deal this holiday season. The Canadian government will need to introduce the agreement into legislation as well, which can take a few months.
This gives business owners within the retail industry an opportunity to prepare for the new duty-free limit.
The best way to prepare for the agreement is to contact a customs broker. Canadian brokers will help retailers and importers become more familiar with current Canadian trade laws, as well as the new laws that will come into effect in the new year. Brokers are also particularly keen on saving and generating the most revenue for their clients.
Get in contact with a broker today, and learn more about the impending legislation on Canadian duties. Visit Clearit.ca for more information!


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McKinsey experts suggest that by 2020, the number of smart cities will reach 600 worldwide according to Bitcoinschannel.
These cities are happening right now with China, UAE, Estonia and the US clear forerunners in the McKinsey analysts’ prediction of 600 metropolia in the next two years.
Dubai, with its high-tech society of unmanned trains and Wifi benches, plans to become the first blockchain megalopolis by 2020. Projects underway involve giants Google, Uber, Amazon, and IBM and, due to the initiation of its Smart City program, 545 city projects are underway which have the capacity to change residents lives.
All documentation in the future will be paperless, goods will be tracked using blockchain and unmanned trucks for delivery of goods is planned for the not too distant future.
Estonia loves its cryptocurrency and has long used blockchain, and is hailed as another crypto haven. DLT has been used in health, judicial, legislative, security and commercial systems in the country since as far back as 2012, making it another forerunner in adopting and utilizing new technology for practical civic purposes.
Estonians are able now to see who has been accessing their personal data through the blockchain, such as medical cards, drivers license or insurance details and can legally challenge any illegal or unauthorized access such information.
Not to be outdone, China plans to establish 1,000 smart cities on its own, again designed to improve the lives of its citizens. Its smart metropolis of the future is reputed to be Yinchuan where payments have been streamlined to the extent that facial recognition has become an accepted ID and shopping is conducted through a smart mobile application.
China has long expressed to the world its scathing condemnation of cryptocurrencies but has adopted blockchain like a long-lost friend. Chinese authorities are now exploring blockchain as a solution to data storage in numerous sectors and in central government. Also after notable scams, banks are starting to use electronic ledgers similar to that employed by Bitcoin to safeguard customer security.
In the US blockchain is being increasingly legislated for at state level and is being increasingly used for organizing record keeping, updating state databases.
US states are increasingly beginning to come on board in order to utilize blockchain tech. The state of Arizona has officially signed into law a bill that allows for corporations to hold and share data on a blockchain. First introduced in February by state representative Jeff Weninger, the bill is intended “to open the door for emerging technologies in Arizona”.
As states line up the new technology, Tennessee signed a bill recently that legally recognizes blockchain technology and smart contracts for electronic transactions. The bill also makes a provision that “protects ownership rights of certain information secured by blockchain technology”.
Nebraska, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Vermont, along with Maine, Hawaii, Illinois, and North Dakota are some of the many US states notably either in the process of presenting bills, enacting legislation or actively utilizing blockchain in state legislation.
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Cynthia Karena 11:45 PM Just download an app and you'll be away laughing.
Cynthia Karena Respond to danger when you're far from home.
Vindu Goel Yahoo is quite late to the world of mobile messaging, but you've got to give the company some credit: The new chat service it finally debuted on Wednesday sure is different from the rest of them.
Cynthia Karena More pictures are taken with phones than with cameras, so here's an app to help you be more creative with your smartphone photography.
Mike Isaac Beme sends video from your phone to your friends, without giving you the chance to preview, review or touch it up.
Cynthia Karena Try walking for a week in the shoes of a Muslim woman, an Aboriginal man or an Indian student.
Hannah Francis Apple has Siri, Microsoft has Cortana. Now Facebook is reportedly naming a personal assistant after a secretary from James Bond.
Cynthia Karena Like a Swiss army knife for your phone, the idea is to have all your useful apps in one place when you need them.
Lucy Battersby Passengers consider the ride-sharing service UberX cool, futuristic and clean. But where is this new form of business taking drivers?
Chad Bray The media conglomerate IAC/InterActiveCorp said Thursday that it planned to pursue an initial public offering for its online dating business, the Match Group.
Tim Biggs Microsoft finally helps Android phones out of the mobile productivity ghetto with the release of new standalone apps.
Esther Han One in four apps on an Android mobile phone is loaded with an excessive number of un-related "trackers" that are funnelling personal information to third parties, a study has shown.
Cynthia Karena Apps can identify objects in the night sky, or help you to organise your closet.


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Stanford University engineers developed a Raspberry Pi-based fitness tracking system with more accuracy and lower cost than most fitness bands.
A passion project inspired on cyberpunk classics Shadowrun and Neuromancer puts a working, Raspberry Pi-powered Cyberdeck in your hands.
Maker Rob Lauer has created a Raspberry Pi speed trap project capable of monitoring traffic and identifying cars that surpass the speed limit.
This maker is using a Raspberry Pi to dispense treats automatically when someone follows a specific Instagram account.
The Raspberry Pi series of boards is missing a Model A, and Eben Upton explains what could be on that board.
Pimoroni's software lead has shared new videos showing the RP2040-powered PicoSystem gaming device in action.
A DIY project sees a Raspberry Pi 4 combined with a UPS and a tiny OLED screen for a headless server
Asus’ track record with single board computers hasn’t been the best, and the Tinker Board 2S is no different.
A curated Raspberry Pi Pico kit designed to spark the imagination of those eager to learn coding and electronics.
PiSugar Kitchen's PiSugar S and PiSugar S Pro promise to power a Raspberry Pi for several hours on a charge.
The eminently customizable Raspberry Pi operating system Twister OS now has a new theme inspired by Windows 11.
Invector Labs revealed a new Wi-Fi enabled board built around the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s RP2040 chip.


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A quick look at this week's most important investments in the tech and startup space
The company will use the proceeds from the latest round of fund raising to expand its presence to New York, London, and Sydney, while also doubling its workforce, with a focus on ramping up its customer success and research and development teams.
Paytm-backed LogiNext is in discussions with large retailers such as Walmart and Sears to sell the enterprise software for field workforce management
Mile provides automated delivery schedules, route optimization, and resource capacity helpibg to reduce the number of kilometres travelled
The stickiness of the need-based nature of business-to-business (B2B) startups and the attendant financial virtues, including negligible cash burn.
Myntra focuses on customer experience as it looks to build its logistics strength
Entrepreneur investors, who put money into other startups, often help fledgling companies dream beyond their immediate survival, help with advice and access.
The mixed cash and equity deal is a business acquisition and YourGuy’s 200 delivery personnel and the team of 20 will be absorbed by Sprintr.
Considered a pain point for large delivery companies as well, last-mile delivery has seen multiple players emerge over the last year.
Existing logistics operators have failed to keep pace with the growth of an industry expected to cross $100 billion in size by 2020.
The investment is a part of Paytm's plan to pump about $150 million in over a dozen startups
The startup uses Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data to optimise delivery networks, internal operations and other logistics services.


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With looming lawsuits and the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, disabled people ask whether Uber can do more to ensure they're not refused rides from drivers.
The National Transportation Safety Board releases its final report on the October 31 crash that killed one of two pilots on the test flight over the Mojave Desert.
Microsoft is offering a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.1 users. Can't beat that deal. But you should check to make sure your files, applications and settings remain intact after the transition.
The interim CEO's apology falls on deaf ears after the firing of a key staffer stirs new policies. Poor communication with Reddit users hasn't helped.
A new app from Swappa, a website for buying and selling used smartphones, wants to take the pain out of determining the value of your old smartphones.
The Audiophiliac interviews mastering engineer Dave McNair about who should get most of the credit for great sounding recordings, and his answer may surprise you.
Trying to decide which of the new iPhones will fit into your hands, purse, or pocket? Here's an easy way to find out.
Both are available in Microsoft's new version of Windows, but you can choose which one to work with.
You can find out how old a baby star is simply by listening to it, say researchers at Europe's KU Leuven.
Finally, people born in 1980 have something amazing over those young'ins who came into the world in the year 2000 or on a Leap Day.


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Amazon.com Inc., AMZN 2.33 % which recently began testing delivery drones in the U.K., is warning American officials it plans to move even more of its drone research abroad if it doesn’t get permission to test-fly in the U.S. soon.
The statement is the latest sign that the burgeoning drone industry is shifting overseas in response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s cautious approach to regulating unmanned aircraft.
- Amazon Tests Bike Messengers in New York City
- Delivery Drones Win an Endorsement From London’s Mayor (Nov. 28)
- Those Amazon Delivery Drones? Not So Fast (Nov. 25)
- Drone Flights Face FAA Hit (Nov. 24)
- Amazon Robots Get Ready for Christmas (Nov. 19)
- Amazon Asks FAA for Permission to Test Drones (July 11)
“Without the ability to test outdoors in the United States soon, we will have no choice but to divert even more of our [drone] research and development resources abroad,” Paul Misener, Amazon’s vice president of global public policy, said in a letter to the FAA Sunday reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
Amazon wants to use drones to deliver small packages to customers in 30 minutes or less. But the FAA has effectively banned commercial drone use, including test flights, until it completes rules for unmanned aircraft in the next several years. Companies can apply for exceptions to the ban, but the process has been slow.
The FAA says it is integrating drones into U.S. airspace cautiously because the devices pose a safety risk to people in the air and on the ground.
The FAA policy has riled U.S. drone makers and entrepreneurs who say they are falling behind peers in places like Germany, France and Canada where drone rules are looser. The U.S. has fewer than 10 approved commercial-drone operators while Europe has thousands.
Amazon recently started test-flying its drones above a private field near Cambridge, England. Those flights required no paperwork for U.K. regulators. The online retailer is also advertising jobs in Tel Aviv, Israel, for its drone program. Google Inc., GOOGL 1.42 % which also wants to use drones for deliveries, has tested its devices in Australia.
Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos recently said that regulation, not technology, is the biggest hurdle to drone deliveries. He has suggested that as a result, overseas markets could have drone deliveries before the U.S. “I think it is sad but possible that the U.S. could be late,” he said at a recent Business Insider conference.
Still, some observers have questioned the feasibility of drone deliveries regardless of regulation. There are concerns about the drones’ battery life and their performance in stormy weather.
Other challenges remain, such as how to handle delivery to large apartment buildings and how to navigate electrical wires and obstacles on the ground, such as dogs.
Amazon says it would prefer to keep its drone program in the U.S., where it has been test-flying indoors. In July, it requested permission from the FAA to test drones in a rural area near Amazon’s Seattle headquarters. The FAA responded in October, asking Amazon why it didn’t pursue a so-called experimental certificate, which authorizes manufacturers to test-fly aircraft under development.
On Monday, the FAA said that it has issued roughly 200 experimental certificates to drone makers since 2005 and that such approvals are more appropriate for test-flights than the exemption Amazon is seeking. The agency said it has been working with Amazon on an experimental certificate and is awaiting more information from the company to complete its application.
Amazon’s Mr. Misener said in his letter Sunday that experimental certificates were designed for manned aircraft and likely wouldn’t “provide us with the flexibility we need or at the pace we need it.”
The FAA also asked Amazon why its delivery drones are in the public interest. Mr. Misener responded that they would help deliver packages faster and make the overall transportation system safer and more efficient. “I fear the FAA may be questioning the fundamental benefits of keeping [unmanned-aircraft] technology innovation in the United States,” he wrote.
Most drone makers in the U.S. ignore FAA policy requiring formal approval to test-fly their devices, said the head of policy for a U.S. drone company. “You have the choice of going through a months-long application process and [paying] thousands of dollars in legal fees … or you can just go fly around 20 to 30 feet above the desert,” the executive said.
The FAA’s long-awaited rules for commercial unmanned aircraft, now being reviewed by other federal agencies, are likely to make it even harder to use delivery drones in the U.S. anytime soon.
The draft rules propose requiring commercial-drone flights to remain within view of the operator, according to people familiar with the rule-making process. For drone deliveries to be commercially viable, Amazon and Google have said one operator would have to oversee many largely autonomous drones.
Unmanned aircraft are one of a number of efforts by Amazon to speed package delivery and corral rising shipping costs. The company has been building more warehouses near urban centers, has installed lockers in convenience stores for package retrieval, and has even used taxi cabs for deliveries.
If it used drones, Amazon could potentially take some trucks off the road. The “last mile,” where goods are placed on customers’ doorsteps, is the most expensive part of a package’s journey.
Amazon’s shipping costs have risen annually as a percentage of sales to 8.9% last year from 7.2% in 2009. In October Amazon posted its biggest quarterly loss in 14 years amid a 32% jump in shipping expenses.


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Flappy Bird created a lot of buzz in the handheld gaming industry and Angry Birds creator Rovio has decided to use the hype to create a similar game. Rovio has just launched ‘RETRY’ game that looks like Flappy Bird.
With ‘RETRY’, Rovio is taking us back to the 8bit age and graphics are quite antique. The gameplay trailer suggests that the game is a glorified version of ‘Flappy Birds’. Although there is a Flappy Bird heart, the game has a lot of other things going like collection coins and moving through various different obstacles.
The game has been released under Rovio Lvl 11 name, which is the studio name that will be used for gaming titles not related to Angry Birds. The game is already available in the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad. Just like its previous titles, Rovio is doing a soft launch by making the game available only across select countries and the first launch countries are Canada, Poland and Finland.
The game is soon expected to be available in other countries and is also expected to come to Android devices.


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The Asus Eee Pad Transformer has apparently sold out on BestBuy.com.
Android and iOS may be wildly popular mobile operating systems, but Asus believes there are still a number of consumers who just can't tear themselves away from Windows - even on a tablet.
Asus, one of the biggest companies to embrace the world of netbooks and tablets, has announced the completion of its first tablet to be powered by Android 3.0.
The advent of the netbook market has been great for budget-conscious consumers, as it has opened up personal computers to people who don't have $1000 in their pocket.
These days everyone seems to think improved technology means progress. So will giving netbooks to students and teachers in Detroit improve education for students in one of the worst school districts in the country?
ASUS is the greenest notebook manufacturer, according to Greenpeace, which has released a report on the most environmentally-friendly computers, monitors, phones and televisions.
CES 2011 is definitely the year of the tablet, as more and more companies announce their entry into the lucrative space.
Asus and PrimeSense have teamed up to create a controller-free experience for Windows-based PCs that will be showcased this week at CES 2011 in Las Vegas.
Asus is preparing to challenge Apple’s popular iPad with a slew of Windows and Android tablets.
Nvidia has reportedly clinched a number of lucrative orders for its powerful Tegra 2 processor.
There's a lot of discussion going on about the multimedia tablet market, but most pundits seem to think nothing can kill the iPad. However, a Droid-branded Android tablet from Motorola might be worth a look.
Asustek is prepping a sleek, Android-powered tablet that is expected to cost less than $400.
A sleek Windows 7 prototype phone apparently manufactured by Asus has been spotted in Pakistan.
Remember all those talking heads who predicted that tablets and low-cost laptops would kill off the humble netbook? Well, consumer interest in such entry-level devices has apparently shown little sign of waning.
In what can only be considered a huge coup for Google's Android platform, Asus, which has struck gold with its line of inexpensive netbook computers, has dropped Windows 7 in favor of Android for its first tablet device.
Tired of choosing between Nvidia and ATI? Well, now you can have the best of both worlds - on one kick-ass Asus motherboard powered by LucidLogix's Hydra 200 SoC.
Asus has debuted a sleek Windows 7-based tablet with a 10 hour battery life at Computex 2010.
The new stereoscopic 3D home standard is not just heading to your TV, it's also making its way to the PC market. And analysts predict that as many as 75 million 3D PCs will be sold in the next 4 years.
Intel is reportedly poised to launch its next-generation of Atom-based processors.
Adobe has updated its Flash 10.1 beta with support for Intel GMA 500 graphics and Broadcom Crystal HD chips.


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Mutual funds' 2009 sales outlook is modest, according to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc.
Forty-four percent of respondents to the KBW Inc. unit's semiannual survey on retail investment product distribution trends said they expect mutual fund sales to decline this year.
The firm surveyed 36 "gatekeepers" at a variety of distribution channels in December and January.
The distributors said they still expect moderately healthy growth in mutual fund and managed account sales over the next five years but that they expect exchange-traded funds to grow faster than traditional mutual fund products; 62% said they expect to increase their use of ETFs to some degree.
Thirty-six percent of distributors expect investors to remain more conservative in their asset allocation. Sixty-five percent expect increased demand for products that can generate income growth.
KBW said the survey indicates that demand will remain comparatively better for fixed-income and more conservative equity strategies. Among publicly traded asset managers, Franklin Resources Inc. continued to score the best: 53% of respondents ranked it a top-five fund provider.