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Update on Agency’s beef product survey - 9 April - FSA
The FSA has confirmed results for four of the remaining five samples relating to the Agency’s UK-wide sampling programme of beef products. All five of the products were withdrawn from sale following receipt of the first test results.
Slaughterhouse suspension lifted - 8 March - FSA
On February 12, the FSA announced that it had suspended operations at Peter Boddy Licensed Slaughterhouse, Todmorden, West Yorkshire as part of its ongoing investigation into the mislabelling of meat products. The FSA has now decided to lift the suspension of the approval of this slaughterhouse, which means it will once again be allowed to operate.
Update on progress of FSA beef product surveys - 8 March - FSA
Sampling of the first and second phases of the Food Standards Agency's UK-wide survey of beef products has been completed and the initial test results published today. The results show that 212 of the 224 samples taken in phase one are negative for both horse and pig DNA at or above the 1% threshold.
EU agencies to advise on risks from phenylbutazone in horsemeat - 7 March - EFSA
The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to carry out a joint assessment of the risks to human health from the presence in horsemeat of residues of the anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone.
Third FSA update on testing of beef products for horse DNA - 1 March - FSA
The FSA has received the third set of test results from the food industry, which has been checking for the presence of horse DNA in products that are labelled as beef.
Update on EU sampling programme - 28 February - FSA
The FSA is has published further details of the European Union sampling programme that was agreed by member states and announced by the FSA last week
Owen Paterson statement following EU Council meeting on horsemeat – 25 February - Defra
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson releases a statement following the EU Agriculture Council where the European-wide horsemeat fraud was discussed
Horsemeat test results: Environment Secretary Owen Paterson statement - 22 February - Defra
Following the Food Standards Agency’s second publication of industry test results of beef products for the presence of horse DNA, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has released a statement
Burger company withdraws products - 21 February - FSA
Testing carried out by Powys County Council, as requested by the FSA, has shown that three samples of beef burger products made by catering supplier, The Burger Manufacturing Company (BMC), have tested positive for at least 1% horse meat.
FSA meat testing survey expanded - 19 February - FSA
The Food Standards Agency has expanded its UK-wide survey of food authenticity in processed meat products being carried out through local authorities. The survey, expanded to ensure that a wider range of products are sampled, will include a total of 514 products.
Horsemeat contamination: Owen Paterson statement following meeting with food businesses - 18 February - Defra
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson met with representatives of food businesses including retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and trade associations to discuss the response to the presence of horsemeat in some processed beef products.
Owen Paterson statement on FSA publication of first industry horsemeat test results – 15 February - Defra
Following the Food Standards Agency’s publication of the first set of industry results from tests of beef products for the presence of horse DNA, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson issues a statement.
Update on police investigations into horse meat - 15 February - FSA
Further to the arrests made on 14 February in Wales and West Yorkshire in relation to suspected fraud, there have been seizures of evidence in Hull and London
FSA publishes industry test results on beef products - 15 February - FSA
The Food Standards Agency publishes the first set of industry results from beef products that have been tested for the presence of horse DNA.
Arrests made at meat plants - 14 February - FSA
Dyfed-Powys Police have today made arrests at both meat plants inspected by the Food Standards Agency on Tuesday
Owen Paterson statement following Europol meeting in the Hague on horse meat – 14 February - Defra
Latest bute test results on horse carcasses - 14 February - FSA
The Food Standards Agency's most recent tests on the presence of phenylbutazone (bute) in horses slaughtered in the UK checked 206 horse carcasses between 30 January 2013 and 7 February 2013. Of these, eight tested positive for the drug.
Statement from Minister of State David Heath following meeting with food industry - 13 February - Defra
Minister of State David Heath issues a statment after his meeting with major retailers, food distributors on a plan of action to deal with the problem of horsemeat in processed beef products.
Written Ministerial Statement on horsemeat investigation – 13 February - Defra
The Environment Secretary Owen Paterson issues a written ministerial statement to Parliament, which includes an update on the audit of all horse abattoirs in the UK and ongoing investigation into the mislabelling of meat products.
EU debates tighter food labelling rules after horsemeat scandal – 13 February - EurActiv
EU ministers in charge of agriculture and food safety are meeting in Brussels on Wednesday (13 February) to consider the wider implications of the recent discovery of horsemeat in beef products.
FSA raids meat plant involved in alleged supply of horse meat – 12 February – FSA
As part of its ongoing investigation into the mislabelling of meat products, the FSA and police entered two meat premises, one in West Yorkshire and the other in West Wales.
Testing for horse DNA – advice from the labs – 12 February - RSSL
Having offered a DNA test for horse for more than ten years, RSSL is advising the food industry to understand the limitations of testing before rushing to test. With so many companies in the food chain under pressure to publish results, there is a danger that companies may make the wrong choices in testing.
Horsemeat in UK food chain: statement from Chief Medical Officer - 11 February - DoH
The Chief Medical Officer notes that they are working closely with FSA and Defra to investigate how horsemeat got into the UK food chain stating there is nothing to suggest a safety risk to consumers who may have eaten the products. All of the retailers involved so far have removed potentially affected products from their shelves.
Oral Statement to the House on food fraud – 11 February - Defra
Owen Patterson provides an update to the House on recent developments on horsemeat and food fraud. He reiterate that he completely understand why people are so concerned about this issue. It is unacceptable that people have been deceived in this way. There appears to have been criminal activity in an attempt to de-fraud the consumer. The prime responsibility for dealing with this lies with retailers and food producers who need to demonstrate that they have taken all necessary actions to ensure the integrity of the food chain in this country.
Horsemeat in the EU food chain – 11 February - EFSA
EFSA is aware of the contamination of beef products with horsemeat in the EU food chain. The source is currently being investigated by risk managers across Europe, who have requested extensive testing to be carried out.
Tesco finds horse meat in some Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese – 11 February – FSA
Tesco has this evening announced that it has found horse meat in some Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese.
FSA statement on horse testing - 11 February – FSA
Following tonight's announcement by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Owen Paterson, the Food Standards Agency has announced that it has begun a system of 'positive release' for horses slaughtered in the UK. This means that horse carcasses will require a negative phenylbutazone (bute) test before they are allowed to enter the food chain.
FSA issues advice to public institutions on meat products – 10 February – FSA
The Food Standards Agency is issuing interim advice to public institutions, such as schools and hospitals, caterers, and consumers purchasing from caterers, in the light of the developing horse meat issue
Statement from Environment Secretary Owen Paterson following the meeting with food businesses – 9 February - Defra
FSA statement from meeting on contaminated meat – 9 February – FSA
Following today's meeting between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Food Standards Agency, and representatives from the food industry regarding the ongoing contaminated meat incident, it has been agreed that the industry will deliver meaningful results from its testing programme by Friday 15 February.
Listen to a podcast of Barbara Hirst from RSSL talk about Species Identification - 8 February – on BBC Radio 4 PM Programme (35:15 minutes in)
Statement from Environment Secretary Owen Paterson on contaminated meat - 8 February - Defra
Aldi withdraws beef products due to horse meat – 8 February – FSA
Aldi has withdrawn two beef products tonight after its tests found horse meat in samples; the Food Standards Agency has issued advice to other retailers or producers that have sourced beef products from the French company Comigel.
FSA statement on horse meat investigation – 8 February – FSA
The FSA has, this morning, issued a further statement about the horse meat issue.
Update on FSA and industry testing programme – 7 February – FSA
The Food Standards Agency has announced it is demanding a more comprehensive meat testing programme from food businesses.
Findus beef lasagne products found with horse meat – 7 February – FSA
As part of its ongoing investigation into mislabelled meat, the Food Standards Agency has confirmed that the meat content of beef lasagne products recalled by Findus has tested positive for more than 60% horse meat.
Meat testing protocol published by FSA – 6 February – FSA
The Food Standards Agency has published the protocol for the UK-wide survey of food authenticity in processed meat products. This has been drawn up in collaboration with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the devolved rural affairs departments and local authorities.
NI cold store tests find horse meat – 4 February – FSA
As part of its ongoing investigation into mislabelled meat, the FSA has tested a quantity of frozen meat currently detained in a cold store on the premises of a company called Freeza Meats in Northern Ireland, which is potentially linked to the Silvercrest factory in the Republic of Ireland.
FSA issues statement following Ministry of Justice announcement about non Halal meat - 1 February – FSA
The Food Standards Agency has been informed that a number of meat pies and pasties supplied to prisons in England and Wales were labelled and served as Halal but contained traces of pork DNA. The local authority is investigating how this contamination came about and whether these products have been distributed further across the UK.
Third update on investigation into horse and pig DNA in beef products – 25 January - FSA
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today received the results of tests conducted on samples taken from the Dalepak plant by North Yorkshire Trading Standards.
FSA issues statement on bute in horse meat – 24 January - FSA
The Agency has updated its statement on bute in horse meat. In 2012, the FSA identified nine cases where horses tested positive for bute. Seven were exported for the food chain.
Second update on investigation into horse and pig DNA in beef products – 18 January - FSA
The retailers and UK processor that were named in the investigation by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) into horse and pig DNA in beef products have provided additional information to the Food Standards Agency.
FSA investigation into horse DNA found in some burgers – 16 January - FSA
As the next step in the investigation into the results of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland survey of beef products, the Food Standards Agency has met this afternoon with representatives from the food industry (producers, processors and retailers) from all parts of the UK.
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Washington, DC, USA – A delegation of Vietnamese government officials has been visiting the United States to gain insights into the US customs bond system as part of a pioneering trade facilitation initiative.
The project, which is being led by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the Alliance), aims to speed up the release of goods at Vietnamese ports by introducing a modern customs bond system, similar to that used in the US. Vietnam will be the first country outside the United States with such an all-encompassing system.
Delegates from Vietnam’s customs agencies and a number of other government ministries were hosted by US Customs and Border Protection for a week of knowledge sharing meetings and visits. The delegation met with representatives of US government agencies, insurers and traders who have experience of working with the US system. The trip included a visit to the Port of Baltimore, allowing delegates to see how the US system works in practice for customs officials and importers.
The customs bond system allows traders to purchase bonds issued by insurers to guarantee that they will comply with government regulations, pay all applicable duties and taxes, and submit all required permits and certificates. In exchange, customs expedites release of their goods. The release is conditional pending completion of all customs clearance formalities, and if the trader defaults, the bond is called.
Tackling Vietnamese customs delays is set to spark major change for the country, making international trade simpler, faster and more cost effective. The new system will help ensure compliance with Vietnam’s regulations and reduce administrative burden on border agencies, while making trade more predictable and efficient for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. Ultimately, it will help to make Vietnam more internationally competitive as a trading partner and more attractive to foreign direct investment, strengthening its position as a regional manufacturing powerhouse.
The Alliance is a not-for-profit venture which brings together governments and businesses as equal partners to identify trade facilitation issues, such as customs delays and unnecessary red tape at borders, and implement targeted reforms to address them. It was set up to help governments implement the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and to encourage sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Vietnam ratified the TFA in 2015 and has made improving trade facilitation a government priority.
Philippe Isler, Director of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, said: “The delegation this week has been a major milestone for the Alliance project in Vietnam, and we are grateful to all those organisations in the public and private sectors that made it possible. “One of the main things we aim to do at the Alliance is encourage the sharing of best practice – all countries that trade are grappling with similar barriers and bottlenecks at borders and there is a real opportunity to learn from each other. We hope to now be able to reflect on the learnings from this week and move ahead to pilot the new system for Vietnam in the coming months.”
The Alliance’s unique approach to trade facilitation is to bring the public and private sector together as equal partners in the reform process and, in particular, leverage the expertise of the private sector.
Robert Kielbas, Vice President of Global Development at insurance group Roanoke, who has been heavily involved in the project said: “As a market leader of customs bonds in the US and with our extended experience introducing customs bond programs into developing countries, we truly appreciated the opportunity to partner with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation as their private sector foreign expert. It has been a pleasure working with the Vietnam delegation as they have been fully committed to this program. The next steps of the pilot program will be rewarding to everyone involved with this very special and unique initiative.”
The Alliance hopes to work with the government and private sector to launch a one-year pilot customs bond system for Vietnam later this year.
For more information, contact:
Ailsa Nicol, communications manager, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation
Tel: +33 1 49 53 30 72, ailsa.NICOL@iccwbo.org
About the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation
The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation is a public-private partnership for trade-led growth. We believe that international trade should be simpler, faster and more cost-effective, creating new business opportunities, enabling greater economic and social development and reducing poverty. The Alliance is redefining the way trade facilitation reforms are implemented. We bring together governments and businesses as equal partners to identify trade facilitation issues such as customs delays and unnecessary red-tape at borders, and design and implement targeted reforms that deliver commercially quantifiable results.
Our work is designed to help governments in developing and least developed countries implement the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
We are jointly led by the International Chamber of Commerce, the World Economic Forum and the Center for International Private Enterprise—in cooperation with our implementing partner Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The Alliance is supported by the governments of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany.
About the Trade Facilitation Agreement
The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) is a binding multilateral trade agreement between members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The TFA was concluded in December 2013 and officially entered into force in February 2017. By signing up, countries commit to tackling the barriers to trade posed by burdensome border requirements. These barriers make it harder for businesses of all sizes to trade internationally but hurt small and medium-sized enterprises the most. The TFA is a unique opportunity to further development goals such as sustainable growth, poverty reduction and gender equality. Taken together, reforms have the potential to reduce trade costs by 14.3% on average and create around 20 million jobs, mostly in developing countries.

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A geographic-targeting company slapped Google with a lawsuit this week that alleges the search giant broke a licensing agreement.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, claims that Google improperly used Digital Envoy's geographic-location technology to serve paid listings on third-party sites. The Norcross, GA, company said Google licensed its technology in November 2000, but that the contract let Google use the technology only on its Web site, not other sites.
At issue is Digital Envoy's IP Intelligence, a tool that determines an Internet user's geographic location based on a computer's Internet protocol address. Digital Envoy alleges Google uses the technology to let advertisers target their search listings to specific countries and, within the United States, to 210 regional areas, based on a searcher's IP location.
According to the lawsuit, Google pays Digital Envoy $8,000 monthly for the technology license. At the time of the deal, Google used it to serve paid listings on its own site; later, it began providing paid search for other sites, including AOL and Ask Jeeves.
Digital Envoy alleges the license did not cover its use on such affiliated sites. It claims that Google further violated this restriction with the launch of its AdSense contextual paid listings program, which displays paid links on content pages for thousands of Web sites. According to the suit, the Digital Envoy-Google agreement from November 2000 covered only “information search.” Digital Envoy claims AdSense falls outside this.
Tim Kratz, a lawyer with McGuireWoods, an Atlanta law firm representing Digital Envoy, said the company had the right to cancel the licensing agreement, but that it had not chosen to do so.
“We'll go through the courts if we need to,” he said. “A go-forward, working relationship with Google is something we'd still prefer.”
Kratz said Google offered to increase its monthly license fee to $12,000, which was rejected as insufficient. In its suit, Digital Envoy requests an injunction against Google using its geo-targeting technology on third-party Web sites and unspecified damages.
“We're looking to be compensated for the money they've made using our technology on those sites,” he said.
A Google spokesman said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
Brian Morrissey covers search marketing for DM News.com. To keep up with the latest search marketing news subscribe to our free e-mail weekly newsletter Search Engine Marketing by visiting //www.dmnews.com/cgi-bin/newslettersub.cgi .


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Microsoft 1Q profit tops views, lifting stock to new high
SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft’s focus on business software and online services paid off with a surprisingly high profit in its latest quarter, putting its stock on a trajectory toward its all-time high.
The fiscal first-quarter results released Thursday provided further validation for the strategy that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been pursuing since he took over the reins 2 1/2 years ago.
Investors were so impressed with Microsoft’s progress in the quarter that the company’s stock surged 6 percent to $60.68 in extended trading after the report came out. If the shares trade similarly during Friday’s regular trading session, they will surpass their previous split-adjusted high of $59.97 reached in December 1999 near the height of the dot-com boom and just before co-founder Bill Gates turned his CEO job over to his longtime friend, Steve Ballmer.
Under Ballmer’s leadership, Microsoft Corp. didn’t react quickly enough to the rise of Google’s now-dominant search engine and digital advertising network. It also underestimated the impact that Apple’s 2007 introduction of the iPhone would have on the personal computer market.
When Nadella succeeded Ballmer, Microsoft’s stock was trading below $37.
With sales of PCs running Microsoft’s Windows operating system falling, Nadella has been pouring money and resources into remote data centers that deliver the company’s services online to smartphones, tablets and other devices.
The approach, often called “cloud computing,” has been steadily growing, as it did again in the three-month period ending in September. The services are increasingly being embraced by both big and small companies, as well as government agencies. That helped lift revenue in the operating segment that includes commercial cloud services and online subscriptions by 6 percent from the same time last year to $6.7 billion.
Microsoft’s commercial cloud services are now on pace to generate about $13 billion in annual revenue and should reach the company’s goal of hitting $20 billion during the fiscal year ending in June 2018, Nadella told analysts in a conference call.
Just as encouraging, the cloud computing shift doesn’t seem to be damaging Microsoft’s sales of software maintained on the premises of offices. Those factors offset a 2 percent revenue decline in Microsoft’s largest operating segment, known as “more personal computing,’ that largely stemmed from the company’s retreat from making phones.
Overall, Microsoft’s fiscal-first quarter revenue totaled $20.5 billion, virtually unchanged from the previous year. If not for the deferred recognition for some Windows sales, Microsoft said its revenue would have been $22.3 billion, a 5 percent increase from last year and $600 million above the average estimates among analysts surveyed by FactSet.
Microsoft earned $4.7 billion, or 60 cents per share, in the quarter, a 4 percent decrease from last year. If not for deferred Windows revenue and other accounting items unrelated to its ongoing business, Microsoft said it would have earned 76 cents per share, topping analyst forecasts of 68 cents per share, according to FactSet.
The Redmond, Washington, company is hoping to build on its recent momentum after it completes its $26 billion acquisition of professional networking service, LinkedIn. That deal is expected to close by the end of the year. TVJ


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The “Whiskey Live Warsaw” festival has been held in the capital of Poland – Warsaw city, during which the Azerbaijani-made alcoholic beverages have been demonstrated at the “Made in Azerbaijan” stand, the Ministry of Economy said.
The wines and various types of fruit vodkas, brandy, whiskey, presented at the Azerbaijani stand, being the most visited stand during the festival, have been met with great interest by the visitors of the exhibition.
During the opening ceremony, the trade representative of Azerbaijan for Central European countries Nemat Nagdaliyev spoke out, emphasizing the importance of the “Whiskey Live Warsaw” exhibition in terms of popularization of Azerbaijani products and building links with potential buyers. (Trend/Business World Magazine)
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Did you know?
That 1/3 of Minnesota children 3 and under don’t have consistent access to clean diapers? That’s more than 75,000 babies and toddlers in our state whose parents aren’t financially able to buy enough diapers.
Everyone suffers when parents can’t purchase enough diapers
Parents who aren’t able to purchase enough clean diapers often suffer from mental-health problems like depression and anxiety related to not being able to comfort their little ones.
The diaper market caters to
Bulk diapers are much less expensive. It’s a fact. The more diapers are in a package, the less each diaper costs. But you have to be able to afford a $25 box of diapers instead of the $10 package with this week’s paycheck.
Public policy doesn’t help
Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois has agreed to introduce End Diaper Need Act of 2019 legislation mirroring the Representative Lee-DeLauro End Diaper Need Act (H.R. 1846). “As you may know, Senator Duckworth is the mother of two young children and the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office. She is understands the impact of clean diapers on the health and well-being of babies. We expect her bill to be introduced on Thursday, May 9 in advance of Mother’s Day. ”


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Halfords interim results for FY17 have revealed a total group revenue increase of 2.2%, something largely lead by the performance of its cycling businesses.
Having acquired Welsh bike companies Wheelies and Tredz in May, Halfords has continued to enjoy strong performance across the two businesses, which have increased revenues by 25% year-on-year.
Sales across the cycling portfolio rose 15.4% on a like-for-like basis, pushing the division’s revenues up 4.6%.
Online proved a strong performer during the period, with group sales up 30% like-for-like.
Jill McDonald, Chief Executive, commented: “The first half sales performance was strong, improving through the period, with growth across all areas of our business. Our service-led offer is a key point of difference for Halfords and continued investment in this area has led to good progress in service-related sales. I’m pleased with the momentum that is building as we implement our strategy. There is demonstrable progress across the plan, with more to come in the year ahead, and the benefits for colleagues and customers are starting to come through. The depreciation of Sterling brings cost headwinds. However, we have developed a number of initiatives to mitigate the profit impact and remain confident in the underlying performance of the Group.”
Halfords now operates 460 branches, as well as 12 bike-specific Cycle Republic branches. Customers can also shop at three Tredz stores and a Giant store in South Wales.
On the results David Cheetham, a market analyst at London broker XTB.com told CyclingIndustry.News:
“A 2.2% increase in like for like sales for the first fiscal half of the year will be seen as a positive development for Halford’s shareholders, but the fall in sterling continues to weigh on profitability.
“The average hedged US dollar rate has fallen from $1.56 to $1.46 which will translate to a circa 100 basis point improvement for the gross margin, however with the market currently trading sub $1.25 it’s not hard to see that this hedge has proved an expensive mistake in light of the rapid depreciation in the pound following the EU referendum.
“Largely due to this the basic earnings per share after tax, before non-recurring items has fallen by 13.5%.
“Despite this fall in the bottom line the decision to raise dividends by 3% to 5.83p will likely please investors who will hope that CEO Jill Mcdonald’s “moving u a gear” strategy is starting to bear fruit with a 4.6% increase in cycling sales over the past year boosted by the success of team GB in the summer Olympics and and a prolonged season due to warm weather at the start of Autumn.
“Whilst the share price remains 20% below the level it traded at a year ago there’s been a jump of more than 6% in the past month and shareholders may think on balance that the positives outweigh the negatives in this latest trading update and look forward to higher prices in the not too distant future.”


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Most Commented Content posted in September 2012
Experts Split on New 54.5MPG Rule
Automotive News 9/11/2012
Experts disagreed last week on the long-term outcome of the government's recent 54.5-mpg rule, with consumer advocates hailing the new mandate, and engineering consultants warning that it would send costs skyrocketing.
Ethanol Ate My WeedEater
Made by Monkeys 9/19/2012
A simple part on a WeedEater failed, simply because it was not designed to withstand the corrosive effects of ethanol.
Robotic Solar Panels Produce More Electricity
A Silicon Valley startup has designed an innovative new monorail system of robots for tilting solar panels toward the sun, increasing the amount of electricity produced by up to 15 percent and changing the game for the future management of solar-energy systems.
Survey: Battery, Engine, Materials Are Top CAFE Techs
Engineering Materials 9/19/2012
A DuPont-sponsored survey to track the impact of the 2025 CAFE standards has found that automakers are focused almost equally on improving battery performance, breakthroughs in combustion engine performance, and lighter materials.
Swarming Robots Rescue Coral Reefs
Scotland's coral reefs, which are currently healthy but threatened, may soon get some help from groups of swarming underwater robots being developed by a Scottish university research team.
Slideshow: Kindle Fire HD Teardown
Amazon is not only introducing a new version of the Kindle Fire, but three other tablets meant to further establish the company as a viable competitor to Apple’s iPad family and Google’s foray into the tablet space, Nexus 7.
Thoughts Control Avatar-Like Robot
Like the movie Avatar, researchers use functional magnetic resonance imaging to scan the brain of a subject who uses thought to control a robot thousands of miles away.
Send Kids to College With Tools
Contributing Technical Editor Jon Titus taught his kids how to fix things at a young age. Not only did it give them a little independence, it also helped them make friends later in life.
We Want the Top 40 Under 40
Design News, in partnership with Mouser Electronics, is asking for your nominations for engineers who are ahead of the trends and are significantly performing in the industry.
IMSI/Design Brings Markup to a Mobile Platform
CAD/CAM Corner 9/20/2012
The new TurboReview app for both iOS and Android mobile devices lets engineers do both 2D and 3D markup when out in the field while delivering what it claims is the industry's first support for 3D PDF.
Game On for 3D Printing
CAD/CAM Corner 9/24/2012
Ill Gotten Games turned to open-source 3D CAD tools and 3D printing to fast-track the development of its Pocket-Tactics strategy board game.
Slideshow: SolidWorks' 2013 Upgrade
CAD/CAM Corner 9/14/2012
Amidst the nearly 200-plus user-requested enhancements in SolidWorks 2013 are new 2D/3D electrical CAD capabilities, along with analysis capabilities for optimizing the design of plastic parts.
Slideshow: Sights, Sounds of an IndyCar Race
Technology deep dives, trackside insights, scorching heat, pictures, memories, and a spectacular race that saw the season's points leader crash early and later return to the track, highlighted the last Speed2Design event of the 2012 IndyCar season.
Video: You Can Teach a Robotic Mule New Tricks
The DoD’s robotic pack mule can now play follow the leader and walk backward for a considerable distance over rough terrain, bringing the robot closer to serving as a sophisticated mechanical companion for US soldiers in the field.
A study by the Swiss government determined the type of human errors that lead to engineering disasters and ranked those errors by percentage.
General Motors’ growing commitment to electric cars took a new turn last week, as the giant automaker said it would use EV batteries in the future to help boost its use of renewable energy.
A fabric designer and chemical engineer have teamed up to design fabric woven with solar panels for the future of wearable, autonomously powered technology.
A new linear encoder will offer measurement resolution of about 31 picometers -- less than the diameter of an atom -- when it hits the market in prototype form later this year.
Apple made some controversial decisions with its new iPhone 7 models, so what did they do with the extra space? The latest teardown from iFixit digs under the hood of Apple's new sensor-heavy phone.
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You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived.
So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.
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Pocketlint.com has a source very close to the Playstation phone. Their source is telling them that the Playstation phone will be announced the Sunday evening of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February and is expecting an April release. A few months ago Sony Ericcson Chief Bert Nordberg said “There’s a lot of smoke, and I tell you there must be a fire somewhere” and then a barrage of spy shots began showing up. Pocketlint.com has a good track record when it comes to leaks like this.
We’re still curious to see what kind of games end up on the playstation phone. Electroic Arts (EA) is reportedly working on an app store of their own more geared towards iPhone. We can’t see Sony putting out a playstation phone without partner EA on board in some respect. It looks like we still have to wait a few more months.


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FTSE CLOSE: Sterling volatile as Boris is confirmed as 77th Prime Minister; Fever-Tree's UK growth slows; Supermarket sales fall for first time in 3 years
- The FTSE 100 closed up 0.6%, or 41.93 points at 7,556.86
- Pound down 0.3% at $1.244; up 0.2% against the euro at €1.1156
- Fever-Tree sales in the UK rose by only 5% amid 'unseasonably poor weather'
- UK supermarket sales slipped 0.5 per cent year-on-year, according to Kantar
The pound has been volatile as Boris Johnson was announced as the winner of the Conservative Party leadership race, becoming the next UK Prime Minister.
Towards market close, sterling was down 0.3 per cent against the dollar at $1.244. And against the euro it was 0.2 per cent higher at €1.1156.
In company news, tonic maker Fever-Tree fizzed to sales and earnings growth in the first half of the year, but the firm was weighed down in its domestic market by gloomy weather.
And supermarket sales declined for the first time since June 2016, Kantar figures show, on the back of record sales during last year’s hot summer.
UK stocks were in the green at the open, at 7,559.44, while sterling continued to flash red
CMC Markets analyst David Madden on the markets today:
Equity markets in Europe are higher today as traders are banking on a dovish update from the European Central Bank (ECB) this week, and dealers are also predicting the Federal Reserve will cut rates next week too. The fact the IMF maintained their 2019 eurozone GDP forecast could be viewed as an argument that ECB should move to a more dovish position. The ECB would like a softer euro, and seeing as the Fed are tipped to lower rates later this month, the ECB might pip them to it and trim rates first.
Fevertree shares have sold-off today as the group revealed a slight cooling in gross margin, as the gross margin rate dipped to 51.9%, from 53.2%. The margin was the only weak part of the report as first-half revenue and adjusted earnings increased by 13% and 8% respectively. The drinks company confirmed that growth across all regions was solid, and the dividend was increased by 23%. The gin boom has helped Fevertree, but there are concerns the market was over hyped to begin with, and that is why the stock was driven throughout 2019.
Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrissons shares are all in the red today after Kantar said UK grocery sales in the 12 weeks until mid-July dropped by 0.5% - its first drop in three years. We have seen evidence of a fragile consumer climate from retailers reporting their figures, but it is worrying when the shoppers curtail spending on groceries. Within the supermarket sector, Aldi and Lidl, registered sales growth of 6.7% and 7% respectively, while the ‘big four’ all lost ground of between 2% and 2.6%.
Read the full story below...
SpreadEx explains why the pound has seemingly picked up against the Euro this afternoon...
'It appeared that Pedro Sanchez’s inability to form a new Spanish government was more of an issue than the confirmation that Boris Johnson will indeed be the UK’s next Prime Minister.
Both sterling and its single currency cousin fell against the dollar, slipping 0.2% and 0.5% respectively; against each other, however, GBP came out on top, climbing 0.3% to hit €1.1164, its best price in a week and a half.
'The pound may not enjoy the upper hand for long, however; once Johnson officially takes office sterling will face the formation of a hard-Brexit-leaning Cabinet AND the subsequent Commons backlash from inside and outside the Tory party.'
De La Rue, the company that lost the contract to print the new Brexit blue passports to a French company, is being investigated over 'suspected corruption' in its business in South Sudan.
In a short update to shareholders, De La Rue said: 'The UK Serious Fraud Office has informed De La Rue that it has opened an investigation into the De La Rue group and its associated persons in relation to suspected corruption in the conduct of business in South Sudan.
'Given the early stage of these matters, it is not possible to predict reliably what effect their outcome may have on De La Rue.'
Shares are down 13 per cent at 258.50p.
US stocks have opened higher today thanks to upbeat updates from blue chip companies like Coca-Cola and United Technologies.
The Dow and S&P 500 are 0.3 per cent higher, while the Nasdaq is up 0.2 per cent.
The principal risk factor to the global economy is that adverse developments - including further U.S.-China tariffs, U.S. auto tariffs, or a no-deal Brexit - sap confidence, weaken investment, dislocate global supply chains and severely slow global growth below the baseline, the IMF said.
Howard Archer, chief economic advisor to the EY ITEM Club takes us through today's reading...
'The July CBI industrial trends survey points to the manufacturing sector struggling hugely early in the third quarter. This follows a torrid second quarter for the sector when activity was hit by an unwinding of the stockpiling that had occurred in the first quarter amid Brexit concerns as well as weak domestic and foreign demand.
The total orders balance slumped to -34% in July from -15% in June. Overall order books were considered to be below normal levels to the largest extent since 2010.
The further deterioration in overall orders in July was reported to have been the consequence of both weaker domestic and foreign demand. Indeed, they were both reported to be at the weakest level since the financial crisis.'
The CBI's latest industrial trends survey does not look good.
It recorded a sharp decline in new orders during the quarter to July, with both domestic and overseas orders falling at their fastest rates since the financial crisis.
Miles Celic from TheCityUK said: 'Ongoing Brexit uncertainty is depressing business activity, but the financial and related professional services industry remains very clear that a no-deal Brexit is still the worst of all outcomes.
'We hope the new Prime Minister can find an economically viable way through the ongoing political impasse in Parliament and with the EU27.
'As a prominent advocate for this industry during his time as Mayor of London – and a key figure in the founding of TheCityUK during that time  - he will not need to be reminded of the tremendous value and contribution it makes to the economy and society.'
XTB says: 'There has been a sustained weakness in sterling of late with the currency depreciating for much of the past few months largely due to concerns surrounding Boris’s victory and the subsequent approach he will take on Brexit.
'His bluster on delivering Brexit is arguably the main reason for his victory, but it would not be too surprising if he softens his stance now he is in power.
'The fate of the new PM’s tenure and of the pound for the coming months will be almost solely determined by Brexit developments but in the coming days it would not be too surprising to see some sort of relief rally now that the news is out.'
Oanda says: 'The initial response to the announcement has been rather subdued given the build-up to the event but then, it was so widely expected and heavily backed that it's perhaps no surprise.
Johnson comfortably led from the outset and clearly appealed more to the Tory membership when it comes to Brexit which is why few people ever gave Hunt a chance.
The question now is whether the pound can recover from its slump in the near-term or whether the risk of no-deal is just too great and every passing week is seen to take us one week closer to the cliff-edge.'
UK house sales slumped abruptly last month to their lowest level in more than six years, as buyers and sellers put plans on hold amid Brexit uncertainty.
In just another sign that the housing market is loosing steam, 84,490 homes were sold in June, some 16,660 fewer homes than in June last year, when transactions stood at 101,150, according to the latest official figures by HMRC.
That's a decline of 16.5 per cent compared to last year and 9.6 per cent compared to May - and although it's just one month's figures, it is a sharp fall compared to the rest of the year. It is also the lowest monthly number since April 2013.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: 'There are many pressing issues in retail and the wider economy, such as rising costs and weakening consumer demand, and we look forward to engaging with Mr Johnson and his team to promote constructive solutions to these issues.
'Retailers employ three million people across the UK, making the industry the UK’s largest private sector employer, and the burden of business rates and other public policy costs put these jobs and our high streets at risk.
'With retail conditions the toughest they have been for a decade, the new Prime Minister must act to support the successful reinvention of retail locations and local communities.'
Jeremy Hunt received 46,656 votes, while Boris Johnson got nearly double - 92,153.
'Oil prices are trading a little flat on Tuesday,' points out Craig Erlam from Oanda.
'We have seen some marginal gains on the back of another escalation in the Persian gulf but it's hardly rocked the oil markets.
'The acts of aggression that we're seeing from all sides are worrying but not severe enough to justify a more serious conflict.
'None of this is to say it couldn't spill over into something more serious - accidentally or not - but right now markets are relatively relaxed.'
More on the events in the Gulf here...
Challenger bank Paragon said new lending jumped by 20 per cent in the first nine months of 2019, despite the UK housing market slowdown.
Paragon stuck by its financial guidance for the whole year, but also said it was keeping a tight rein on risk due to political uncertainties.
Shares rose 1 per cent to 449.46p.
Convenience store chain McColl's has admitted it needs to focus on product availability in its shops and close under-performing sites, as profits were almost wiped out in the last six months.
The announcement came as the company revealed it had closed or sold 41 newsagents and smaller stores, but opened three new stores and rolled out 10 revamped Morrisons Local sites.
Profit margins were also under pressure, as the McColl's continues to feel the effects of the collapse of its supplier, Palmer & Harvey, last year, although sales of alcohol and tobacco were strong.
British lifestyle brand Joules has reported a bumper performance as it reaches more customers overseas and launches new products.
Full-year sales rose 17.2% to £218million. This included especially strong international growth, with sales from outside the UK - primarily in the US and Germany - up by 43.5% to represent 16.1% of group revenue.
Meanwhile, profit before tax increased by 14.9% to £12.9 million
It comes at a time of change for the company, with longstanding chief executive Colin Porter set to retire at the end of this year and hand over to Asda executive Nick Jones.
Brexit might stop the Bank of England from raising interest rates, said Michael Saunders, one of the Bank's policymakers who in recent months has been in favour of hiking rates.
Talking to Bloomberg, Saunders said the Bank's forecasts assumed Brexit would be smooth, but in fact that was still very uncertain, which meant that the BoE’s official outlook might not be 'a key driver of people’s policy vote'.
'The economy right now is clearly not overheating - the underlying pace of growth, stripping out all of the funny effects, inventories, car shutdowns and so forth, is weak and below trend,' Saunders said.
PZ Cussons, the maker of Carex soap and Original Source shower gel, posted falling sales and profits and said ongoing troubles in Nigeria are likely to weigh on its full year results.
The company said this had been a 'transitional' year and was planning to focus on its core brands, while selling others, in order to return to sustainable growth.
Revenues for the year to May 31 dropped 6.8 per cent to £689.4million, with pretax profits falling 37.5 per cent from £59.2million to £37million, after writing off £24.8million against its Nigerian Nutricima drinks brand and its Australian yogurt business five:am.
In the UK, PZ Cussons said sales had been strong, with its Carex soap now accounting for 36 per cent of the market, and its Original Source shower gels now having nearly 20 per cent of the market - although profits were offset due to high marketing spends.
Fevertree Drinks’ first half results are either good or bad depending on which side of the coin you’re looking at, says Russ Mould at AJ Bell.
The UK and mainland Europe operations are worse than expected and the US and rest of the world interests are better than expected.
Ultimately Fevertree has become a victim of its own success. Soaring growth rates in recent years have raised expectations for its performance and failure to deliver anything but superior rates leaves it open to fierce criticism.
Yet the latest set of results still show a business that continues to grow earnings and make progress with geographic expansion, which has to be applauded.
It might be perfect gin and tonic weather this Tuesday, but investors were opting for a different mixer after FeverTree’s full year results, Campbell adds.
The AIM stock fell 6% as it warned it was facing ‘tough’ annual growth ‘comparators over the remainder of the summer in the UK’.
This as it missed revenue expectations due to ‘unseasonably poor weather’ during the half year period.
SpreadEx analyst Connor Campbell takes us through it...
'On a day that will see Britain’s next prime minister revealed the European markets bounded out of the gate, while the pound displayed its nerves.
Held aloft by its commodity stocks, the FTSE rose 0.6%, mounting its latest challenge to 7550.
Ahead of the Tory leadership results – a formality at this point, with Boris Johnson set to switch from MP to PM – the pound took a tumble, falling 0.4% against the dollar and 0.2% against the euro.
Sterling might not actually react too much to the announcement itself, given how locked on a Johnson premiership appears to be; the currency may save its bigger movements for later in the week, as the former Mayor of London’s Cabinet starts to take shape. (Of course, this all changes if Jeremy Hunt somehow pulls off a shock win).'
The latest grocery market share figures, published today by Kantar, show year-on-year supermarket sales fell by 0.5% in the 12 weeks to 14 July 2019.
This marks the first overall decline in the supermarket sector since June 2016.
However, on the back of record sales during last year’s hot summer, the tough period was 'not unexpected', Kantar said.
'As in politics, nothing is certain in retail, but it is anticipated that the market will return to growth once the comparative highs of the 2018 summer pass.'
Convenience store chain McColls said May was a particularly bad month for sales, as customers stayed away due to the poor weather, while cost pressures hit profits.
Bosses revealed sales in the six months to May 26 were up slightly - 0.1% - at £611.1 million, but pretax profits for the period dropped from £2.3million to £0.2million.
McColl's boss Jonathan Miller said the rate of growth in May fell "significantly" but sales of tobacco helped, along with growth in beers, wines and spirits, following recent range overhauls.
Half-year profits at Santander's UK business have plunged by more than a third on the back of pressure on its mortgage book and investment costs.
The Spanish-owned lender saw its profits continue to be weighed down by intense pressure in the UK mortgage market, which saw it post a 35% profit slump in the first quarter.
The UK business was also under pressure from restructuring costs after the group announced earlier this year that it is to axe 140 branches across the UK, putting more than 1,200 jobs at risk.
Mixer-maker Fever-Tree fizzed to sales and earnings growth in the first half of the year, despite being weighed down by gloomy UK weather.
The company saw sales jump by 13% to £117.3 million in the six months to June, as it was lifted by fast-growing global markets.
Sales in the UK, which account for more than half of its total business, rose by only 5% as the brand was affected by "unseasonably poor weather".
A damp spring and wet start to summer has put pressure on a number of other soft drinks business, including Irn Bru maker AG Barr, which warned over profits last week.
Fever-tree said the poor weather "dampened" growth rates against a strong performance in the summer of 2018.
The pound is on the decline again today. £1 currently buys $1.2440 or €1.1120 as the currency slides back towards the lows it hit last week.
Markets.com's Neil Wilson said that today's announcement of the new Prime Minister (most likely Boris Johnson) will have little impact on sterling and UK assets as 'so much is priced in'.
'However we are yet to find out what all shakes out in terms of the regime shift. Remember this is not just a new leader, but an entire new regime.
'The content, tone and emphasis from Number 10 will be very different to what we had under May. We would reiterate that there is a heightened prospect of no-deal under Johnson, yet when faced with the realpolitik of it all, a compromise may well be found.
'The worry for sterling bulls is that faced with an existential threat to the Tory party, the only option is to leave on October 31st, come what may. Who dares wins.'
The FTSE 100 is in the green in early trading, up 0.55 per cent at 7,556.24.
It has been boosted by firm stocks in the US overnight and the continuing plight of sterling as the UK lines up its 77th Prime Minister.
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Bon-Ton Stores Inc. bont said it will begin Cyber Monday promotions on Sunday, Nov. 29 and extend them through Monday, Nov. 30. Customers spending $100 or more will be eligible for a $50 discount with certain exclusions, there will be a 25% off savings pass for sale-priced merchandise, and everything is eligible for free shipping. Bon-Ton shares are down 83.1% for the year so far while the S&P is up 1.3% for the same period.
Bon-Ton Stores extends Cyber Monday deals an extra day
Olaplex Holdings Inc. on Tuesday hiked the estimated price range of its upcoming initial public offering to $17-$19 a share, from $14-$16 a share. The Santa Barbara, Calif.-based hair-products maker kept the size of the offering at 67 million shares. At the midpoint of the higher price range, the company will raise $1.2 billion with lead underwriters Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Barclays. The IPO is expected to price later this week and trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol OLPX. After the IPO, investment funds affiliated with Advent International Corp. will own about 78.2% of the company's shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock.
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Tonya Garcia is a MarketWatch reporter covering retail and consumer-oriented companies. You can follow her on Twitter @tgarcianyc. She is based in New York. Tonya joined MarketWatch from Moguldom Media, where she was business editor for MadameNoire, a website targeting African-American women with a range of content from personal finance to economics, politics, education and lifestyle and entertainment. She also worked at Mediabistro, and previously handled media relations for MSLGroup’s consumer practice.


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NEW YORK — Despite a surge in consumer spending last Christmas, 1989 will be another lackluster year for retail sales, analysts predicted Monday at the opening session of the National Retail Merchants Association convention.
Addressing the opening day of the annual session, analysts said sales in the first half of the year will be brisk but will taper off in the second half, probably in time to coincide with the crucial Christmas selling season. ``We would expect more of the same kind of muddling along with a strong economy early and a potential slowdown later on,`` said Stuart M. Robbins of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp.
``Consumer demand will be moderate in important, sensitive areas such as apparel and autos,`` said Rosalind Wells, chief economist for the retail merchants association.
Wells said consumer confidence is high but that`s not necessarily going translate into sales gains. ``The inflationary pressures that you heard so much about in 1988 will still be with us in 1989,`` Wells said.
And, she said, with consumer debt remaining at record levels, people are likely to be even more conservative with their spending.
The concern about debt coupled with expected increases in interest rates will have the most impact on big ticket items such as cars and major appliances, she said.
Wells warned retailers to mind their inventories and not be fooled by first-quarter performance. Sales for the year will be around 6 percent, which is in line with last year`s gains.
The major economic issue facing the industry is the federal budget deficit, said Lyle Gramley, chief economist at Mortgage Bankers Association of America and a former member of the Federal Reserve Board.
``I think economic growth will slow in 1989 but I think that is both necessary and desirable to avoid a considerable worsening of inflation,`` he said.
Gramley said he thinks inflation will increase moderately in the coming year and that there will be a slight rise in consumer price increases to about 5 1/4 percent from 4 3/4 percent in 1988.
Overall, despite expected increases in economic growth, the indicators point to another uphill year for retailers, said Robbins.
Robbins estimates the industry will see an increase of about 1 to 2 percent in the number of new stores. General merchandise prices will increase about 3 to 4 percent, resulting in single-digit overall gains, he said. Results for women`s apparel could improve, but he said much of that increase will be fueled by price increases.
``We expect this to be the first year in a while where inventory increases through most of the year might exceed the sales gains,`` Robbins said.
``We would expect inventories to, perhaps, be up as much as 5 percent to 8 percent, suggesting to us some increases in promotions by you (retailers)
later this year.``
Last week the Commerce Department reported that for all of 1988, retail spending was up 6.7 percent, the fastest pace since 1984 when it was up 9.8 percent.
This year about 14,000 retailers from across the U.S., as well as from a number of foreign countries, are attending the conference.
The restructuring of the last several years is not over, Robbins said. He predicted that the industry will see the players change with smaller, growth companies becoming targets for takeover or restructuring.
In the next five years things are going to get tougher as retailers face major concerns about things such as labor shortages, increases in minimum wages and increases in operating costs as shopping center rental rates are increased.


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Cloud gaming has changed the way we engage with the newest games. Accelerated by the pandemic, the technology's growth has lofty implications.
This week, games industry analyst group Newzoo released a new report examining the state of cloud gaming, and the data points to substantial growth for a market that is expected to generate $6.5 billion annually by 2024.
Helped along by the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of cloud gaming has quickened in recent years, and a number of competing services has provided players with several new ways to enjoy their games. For Guilherme Fernandes, market consultant at Newzoo, these two factors are the primary catalysts for growth in the cloud sector.
“Like what we saw happening in the broader games market, COVID-19 helped accelerate the adoption of cloud gaming by both consumers and enterprises,” Fernandes told GameDaily. “However, there is more to cloud gaming’s growth than just the temporary effects of the pandemic.”
The wide variety of available services means that there is no shortage of options when it comes to streaming games. Microsoft, Sony, Amazon, Google, Nvidia, Tencent, and more all offer cloud-based gaming today, speaking to the tech’s potential as a pillar of the industry. Of course, these services have seen varying levels of success. For Fernandes’ money, the market leader is Xbox Cloud Gaming from Microsoft.
“[It] continues to be the best-positioned service to capture a large share of the cloud gaming market,” he explained. “Microsoft’s direct knowledge of the games ecosystem, growing and popular first-party content lineup, and Azure are all key advantages.”
Aside from the value many consumers and analysts see in Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming addresses another ongoing issue: console shortages. With the majority of games being available to play on PC, Game Pass provides an alternative to hunting down the notoriously hard-to-find Xbox Series X|S consoles. Another option is to use the last generation platform--the Xbox One--to play Game Pass titles, a feature that Newzoo expects to be available by the end of 2021.
Another service that Fernandes touched on is Nvidia’s GeForce Now, which provides subscribers the opportunity to stream games from a high-end PC via the cloud; not only does GeForce Now boast a strong lineup of compatible games, but it also serves as an alternative to shelling out for pricy--and hard to find--PC hardware.
“Faced with the difficulties in buying gaming hardware, many players saw cloud gaming as a way to play the latest titles without having to own the required hardware,” Fernandes said. “After all, this is one of the core value propositions of game streaming.”
As demand for cloud services ramped up at the onset of the pandemic, providers were forced to adapt by quickly increasing server capacity, a prospect also hampered by component shortages. As a result, the market has experienced a perfect storm, of sorts. Still, providers have largely been able to adjust, leading to the immense growth reported by Newzoo.
As cloud gaming subscriptions become more common, it’s worth examining the technology’s relationship with traditional game sales. Fernandes notes that people who subscribe to such services are less likely to make individual game purchases, but there isn’t any concrete research to suggest an overall drop just yet.
One reason for this might be the nature of services like GeForce Now and Stadia, where players need to have paid for a full retail copy of the games they want to play. This, of course, has been factored into the $6.5 billion sum predicted by Newzoo.
“Besides monthly cloud gaming services’ fees, our cloud gaming revenues include one-off purchases in the form of full-priced titles bought on cloud gaming platform stores, or if bought on other storefronts but with the intention to play them mostly via the cloud. We also included in-app purchases made when playing via the cloud,” Fernandes noted.
Of course, the technology is useful in many ways outside of gaming, and many industries have adopted cloud computing as a core part of their business. For developers, streaming provided an avenue for remote work in the face of quarantine efforts amid the pandemic. It’s why companies like Parsec became attractive acquisition targets.
“When the pandemic started, game developers around the world had to suddenly work from home and lost access to the tools they had at their offices,” Fernandes said. “B2B cloud gaming solutions played a big role in allowing developers to continue their work remotely.”
All told, Fernandes said that he’s not surprised at the potential for cloud gaming to bring in more than $6 billion every year--the technology has been spreading in recent years, after all. However, the pandemic has accelerated things a fair bit, which has moved the timeline forward.
“We believe that the pandemic accelerated cloud gaming’s growth,” he explained. “Just like with the broader games market, it triggered a change in player behavior that sparked deeper and renewed interest. Nonetheless, cloud gaming brings many benefits to when and how players can engage with their favorite titles. We believe that it’s not a matter of if the market will ever reach $6.5 billion annual consumer spending. It’s more a matter of when, which our current model forecasts will happen in 2024.”
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In the cavernous North Albany plant that belongs to All-Lifts Inc., a gawky, one-eyed robot reaches out to a piece of steel. Like a chicken hunting worms, it sniffs and pecks at the plate before it. Then finding the right joint, the robot starts steadily welding.
This light-gray, mechanized welder may seem out of place among the plant's stacks of charcoal-colored I-beams. But a company doesn't become 2001's New York State Small Business Development Center's Manufacturer of the Year through muscle power alone. It's the brainy touches in this brawny business that help draw attention and customers, said Steven Dewey, who co-owns the company with his brother Patrick.
The robot was a solution to a problem for All-Lifts, a company that makes and tests equipment that moves everything from 200-ton turbines to105-mm howitzer cannon. All-Lifts' 33 employees twist wire rope into greasy grommets and stitch swaths of nylon into slings that hoist 160,000-pound loads. But last summer, finding and retaining reliable and proficient welders in the tight labor market was tough. After a bit of research, the Dewey brothers decided to try a robot.
"For a small manufacturer in what's considered low-tech business, we tend to try to apply a lot of high-tech to it," Steven Dewey said.
All-Lifts uses the Internet and e-commerce, the tools of the so-called New Economy, to make their old-style industrial company succeed. The company's success was recognized earlier this month when it was named the manufacturer of the year. The award was given May 10 at a ceremony in Rochester.
The company's resilience during the recession was part of the reason All-Lifts drew praise, said Cedric Carter, state program coordinator for the Manufacturing and Defense Development Center, which is a division of the Small Business Development Center. Carter had worked with All-Lifts as a consultant over the last few years. He nominated the company, which reported a 54 percent increase in revenue this year, for the award.
"The Deweys are operating in an industry that hasn't really done too well in the last year," Carter said. "It's great to see a company not sitting back and waiting for things to happen, but being a little more proactive."
For example, one thing the Deweys have done to increase business is concentrate more on servicing existing lift equipment. All-Lifts has outfitted a truck with testing equipment that can perform load tests on customers' sites. That business has been very steady, and the company is planning to add another mobile test vehicle to its fleet. The testing business drives sales, said Steven Dewey.
All-Lifts' efforts are aimed toward diversifying their products and customer base. For years, All-Lifts' largest customer was the Watervliet Arsenal. Business with the arsenal first declined back in the late 1990s. The lifting industry had changed, the growth was in smaller designed and customized jobs. All-Lifts had done work on those kinds of projects before, but they really began to push it after business from the arsenal quieted down.
"We used to say, `we can do everything below the hook.' Now we can do the hook [too]," Steven Dewey said.
Other local lifting companies also find that diversifying helps smooth over economic bumps. This year, several customers of Zinter Handling Inc. in Saratoga Springs were hit hard by the recession. International Paper laid off around 250 from its plant in Corinth and Guilford Mills closed its knitting mill in Cobleskill last September.
"They were customers that we have done a lot business with," said Lawrence Zinter, owner and CEO of the company.
To adjust, the company has driven its sales staff harder and expanded its product line to include more value-added products, including more customized fixtures and lifting equipment.
That's the kind of project that the robot makes easier for All-Lifts. The welding robot experiment has been very successful, Dewey said.
"Does that mean we're going to be laying off people because the robot's doing it? Absolutely not," said Dewey
As the robot busies itself with the repetitive drudgery welding, All-Lifts' human welders can concentrate on the projects that need craftsmanship, Dewey said. The extra output of the robot has enabled the company to take on more projects, which means hiring more workers, he said.


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Pantagraph, for example, believe that companies generating most of their business in the United States offer “wide competitive moats”. Number one in their suggested list is Reynolds American. “Investing in cigarette makers might seem foolish, since U.S. smoking rates have been falling over the past five decades. However, Reynolds offsets those declines by raising prices, cutting costs, and buying back stock.” Also, it is suggested, they have much to gain from the burgeoning vape market and their Vuse brand.
The Motely Fool, another investment website, doesn’t hold the same opinion: “Despite the hoopla surrounding e-cigs, there are limited opportunities available to invest in this segment of the industry.” They contend: “Just as traditional cigarettes have drawn fire from the concerned non-smoking public, e-cigs are inevitably headed toward the same fate.” The writer concludes: “With few viable ‘pure-play’ options available, I think the answer is no. Tobacco companies will certainly take advantage of the growing industry, but it will be to replace lost business and stagnating sales from declines in cigarette use.”
The Fool compares the vape market to the tobacco sector unfavourably. Although there are millions of users in the States, the total sales figure of $800million comes across as small beans when lined up next to the $22.7billion still being achieved from cigarette sales.
Insider Financial point out that money managers considering going into vape stocks ought to consider it an investment for the long haul. It reminds its readers that the worldwide market is predicted to blossom to $32.11 billion by 2021. A rosy future, maybe, but one set against a backdrop: “one of the problems with e-cigarettes is that there’s a debate over their benefits since the effects of vaping on the human body are not yet fully known.” Not just that, but market expectations can be particularly harsh is they are not met: “The bottom fell out from under Electronic Cigarettes International Group Ltd in May after disappointing earnings. Shares then made fresh 52 week lows in early June and have been attempting a comeback ever since.”
Another contrasting opinion is offered up by the Global E-cigarette Market 2016-2020 report: “The analysts forecast global e-cigarette market to grow at a CAGR of 24.33% during the period 2016-2020. According to the e-cigarette market report, a key growth driver is the fact that e-cigarettes are considered to be a safer alternative to tobacco smoking.”
Rather than providing a safe harbour for funds, it seems as though expert opinion on ecig stocks is a varied as those given by public health experts on the product itself.


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Phones & TabletsExplore
OnePlus has inked a deal with Reliance Digital, to sell OnePlus 6T in the offline stores, in various cities across
Apple iPhone XS and XS Max are just couple of weeks old and one of the most fundamental issues have
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. These are the three new models of Apple presented on September 12, some mobile phones with which the firm
The Next Web’s Hard Fork Decentralized event would kick start from December 12 and run till 14 December across London.
Apple is surely looking into ways to make Siri more helpful for the iPhone users. In its latest efforts, the


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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — People all over the country are preparing for a big weekend of super bowl parties. But even if you’re not hosting, its still a great weekend to head to the grocery store.
“Its a super busy weekend for us,” Minnesota Avenue Hy-Vee Assistant Store Director Jason Beal said.
While you may think of the holiday season as grocery’s busiest time, Beal says the super bowl takes the cake.
“Its actually the biggest food shopping day of the year, even bigger than Thanksgiving and Christmas over the weekend,” Beal said.
“In the stores there’s definitely a lot of fun ads and signs and different things for the Super Bowl and football shaped items,” shopper Kathy Rutten said.
Grocery stores are doing everything they can to get more people to shop at their store this weekend.
“Absolutely its very competitive,” Beal said. “The number one thing is taking care of customers, then we just have some fun items, unique items people want to have for their parties.”
One of Hy-Vee’s unique items is a ‘Mahomes Magic Cookie’ in honor of Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who spent some of his childhood in Sioux Falls.
“These are selling like hotcakes, so stop on out and grab them while they’re here,” Beal said.
In addition to the unique items, there are also plenty of sales to help draw people in.
“I’ve seen some pretty good deals,” Rutten said.
“It’s a really good weekend to stock up on all sorts of snack items, whether its chips or dip, we also have very aggressive prices on pop and also wine and spirits, its the biggest wine and spirits sales of the year, great time to stock up on that,” Beal said.
Beal said Friday and Saturday are usually the busiest days of Super Bowl weekend, but there’s also plenty of traffic on Sunday, right up until 5 o’clock when in-store traffic dramatically slows down.


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Kathmandu, September 13
Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) is preparing to sell around 2,000 goats in the Kathmandu Valley at subsidised rate for Dashain this year.
Every year, NFC sells a certain number of goats at discounted rate in the Valley during Dashain as market intervention to control arbitrary rise in price of goats and provide relief to consumers.
“Along with increasing demand of goats during Dashain, we are planning to supply 2,000 goats in the Valley this year,” informed Shankar Sapkota, spokesperson for NFC.
NFC had sold 1,500 goats at discounted rate of Rs 450 per kg last year.
As per Sapkota, NFC has been selling a few hundred goats every Dashain primarily to stabilise its market price.
However, NFC is yet to determine price of goats it plans to sell. NFC is currently collecting goats from producers based in Dang and Hetauda.
Meanwhile, private traders said that they will supply almost 70,000 goats during this Dashain in the Valley against 60,000 goats supplied during Dashain last year.
“The demand for goats in Kathmandu has increased in recent years with majority of people celebrating Dashain in the Valley itself,” informed Deepak Thapa, former president of Nepal Livestock Traders Association (NLTA).
However, Thapa informed that live goats will be slightly dearer this year owing to low domestic production and increased price of goats in the
As per traders, domestic production of goats will cater to less than 40 per cent of the demand during Dashain.
Last year, private traders had sold live goats at an average of 525 per kg, depending on their weight. Traders have said that live goats will cost around 590 per kg this Dashain.
“We are expecting almost 40 per cent rise in the price of goats this year,” said Thapa.
The post NFC to sell 2,000 goats at subsidised rate for Dashain appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
Written by Sandeep
This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/nfc-to-sell-2000-goats-at-subsidised-rate-for-dashain/ under the title “NFC to sell 2,000 goats at subsidised rate for Dashain”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.


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Meijer temporarily asks customers to stop bringing reusable bags
Posted: 12:43 PM, Mar 25, 2020
Updated: 2020-03-25 12:43:43-04
Back to School Meijer (Meijer)
(LEX 18) — Meijer is temporarily asking customers to stop bringing reusable bags into stores.
Meijer officials say unless your are using the Meijer Shop & Scan service, please do not bring reusable bags into the store.
This change is part of the retailer'sefforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
So far, no word when Meijer will go back to their regular policy.
Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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In an effort to enhance the security on pre-Slim PlayStation 3 models, Sony removed one of the system's most versatile features, Other OS, as part of firmware v3.21 in April. With the feature, tech-savvy gamers could install the Linux operating system on the PS3, effectively turning the gaming console into a desktop computer.
Sony's decision has not been looked upon kindly by many Other OS proponents, and the move has already sparked one lawsuit seeking class-action status. Now, two other lawsuits have been leveled at Sony over its removal of the feature, and both are seeking to be elevated to class-action complaints.
The first suit, filed on April 30 in the US District Court of Northern California, notes that Sony engaged in a protracted advertisement campaign promoting the PS3's ability to install Linux by way of the Other OS feature. "Each plaintiff purchased a PS3 with the justified expectation that Sony would continue to support the Other OS function and other features and would not deliberately cripple those functions," the suit notes.
Notably, firmware update v3.21 is optional. However, those who opt out of the update will not be able to play new PS3 games, access the PlayStation Network, or play Blu-ray movies that use a BD Live online connection. The first new suit points out that PS3 owners are forced to choose between the Other OS function and other features that they had paid for. Forcing gamers' hands in such a fashion, the suit claims, is a breach of contract.
The complaint also claims that Sony violated California's Unfair Competition Law by advertising features that were subsequently removed. The suit seeks to be classified as a class-action complaint, as well as be awarded damages, restitution of moneys paid for the system, court costs, and other relief deemed suitable by the court.
The second suit largely echoes the first. Filed on May 5 in the SU District Court of Northern California, the complaint points out that after advertising the Other OS feature, Sony gave gamers a "Hobson's Choice, or a 'choice' between two equally undesirable alternatives: Users would either lose the ability to use other operating systems, an advertised and important feature, or lose the ability to access online, Blu-ray, and gaming features."
"On one hand," the suit continues, "installing firmware 3.21 renders the PS3 inoperable for its use as a computer; on the other hand, failure to install firmware 3.21 basically renders a user's PS3 inoperable for its intended purpose as a gaming and Blu-ray Disc console."
As a result, the suit contends that Sony violated breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, false advertising, and other laws. As with the other two suits, the second complaint seeks class-action status, damages, restitution, court costs, and other relief.


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Devil May Cry HD collection confirmed for 2012
Dante will be come the latest iconic video game character of the last generation of consoles to get an HD makeover.
Capcom has confirmed that Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2 and Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition have been remastered and will be bundled together in an HD collection for Xbox 360 and PS3.
As well as the jacked-up graphics the Devil May Cry HD Collection will feature bonus content and Trophies and Achievements.
The Devil May Cry HD Collection is due for release at the beginning of 2012 in Europeanand North America.
- Battlefield: Hardline beta rumoured to begin next week
- New Heart Of Thorns expansion announced for Guild Wars 2
- Wikipedia arbitration committee bans five feminist editors from commenting on feminist articles over GamerGate
- Ubisoft in the process of deleting game keys fraudulently-acquired by resellers from UPlay
- Gearbox is now recruiting for developers to work on Borderlands 3
- DayZ passes the 3 million sales mark on Steam Early Access
- Planetside 2 sets a new Guinness World Record for the most players in an online FPS game
- Homeworld remasters look stunning, will be released next month
- Riot Games in talks with European ISPs over building a dedicated League Of Legends network


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The wireless device in question would "provide consumer broadband access and networking." Stay tuned for more updates on this one.
CommentaryAccording to a report from Bloomberg, Google is working with Microsoft, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, and Philips to develop a prototype wireless device. The proposed device would, supposedly, use some variant of Wi-Fi. I'm not sure if this is the Google Phone or something else.The companies, according to the article, will submit a request to the FCC to use vacant television airwaves, or white spaces, for wireless spectrum.
Google, Microsoft, And Dell Are Developing A Wireless Device?


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Korean developer Nexon announces a mobile version of TalesWeaver, TalesWeaver M, in game exhibition G-STAR 2016 today (17 November). A commercial video has been released.
TalesWeaver M is based on PC online game TalesWeaver. The release date is yet to be announced.
Follow us on our new English only Twitter: QooApp_En


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Updates from Disney Springs have been coming in at a fever pitch lately. Just last week a new Indiana Jones themed dining experience was announced and in a surprise development, was also confirmed to be opening in just a few months. Fast-forward to this week, and we've got news of several new tennants on their way to for Disney Springs, as well as a key development from The BOATHOUSE many fans have been waiting on, plus the confirmation of a rumor that started way back in 2013!
1. The Edison Restaurant confirmed
We’ve been telling you about rumored restaurant The Edison for more than a year now, and as the months and years wore on (remember, this rumor started way back in 2013) it seemed increasingly likely that this project had been shelved or scrapped. However, several days ago Walt Disney World finally confirmed that this new Steampunk-inspired dining and nightlife location is indeed coming to Disney Springs sometime in the near future.
Inspired by The Edison venue in Los Angeles, this new dining location will have an “Industrial Gothic” theme and will feature table service dining (serving American cuisine), as well as a full-service bar with premium cocktails and nightly cabaret-style entertainment.
2. More retail locations confirmed
Though we recently learned about a few new occupants at Disney Springs (including a jewelry store and a tea shop), several other new retail locations were confirmed this week to be on their way to Disney Springs. Though no opening date for any of these locations have been released, here are the new shops that will be coming to the shopping district sometime in the near future:
Zara: a clothing retailer known for its trendy men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories
Tommy Bahama: A clothing retailer that features island-style sportswear, denim, and swimwear for men and women.
Lilly Pulitzer: An authentic American resort wear brand with fun and positive prints.
UNIQLO: A casual clothing store that sells men’s and women’s apparel that reflects the company’s Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity..
PANDORA: This charm-based jewelry store will sell its Disney beads as well as other items at its new Disney Springs location.
UGG: In addition to selling its eponymous boots, UGGS will also sell loungewear, outerwear, home products, cold weather accessories and handbags.
L’Occitane en Provence: An international skincare and beauty store inspired by the culture and beauty of Provence, France.
Edward Beiner: An eyewear designer that offers both performance and fashion pieces.


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May sales at Chrysler improved to its highest level since 2007, and marked the 26th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains, as consumers purchased 150,041 units in May, a 30 per cent jump from a year ago, the automaker reported this morning.
FIAT brand sales rose 128 per cent from last year, and marked the fourth straight month of FIAT setting sales records.
Meanwhile, Ford sales increased 13%, beating estimates of a 12% increase of surveryors polled by Bloomberg.
GM just posted a 11% increase in sales, missing expectations of 15% of surveyors polled by Bloomberg.
Toyota posted U.S. sales increase of 87.3%. The number looks rather large, but there were very few Toyota sales in April, which makes this latest report look inflated.
Honda sales were up 47.6%, but missed estimations of 53%.
Nissan, Japan’s third largest automaker, reported May sales up 21% from a year ago.
More to come.
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According to an annual study by LexisNexis, called “True Cost of Fraud,” retailers are suffering from the costs of fraud. At the same time, eTail’s bi-annual spending report study, which was most recently conducted in August at eTail Boston, revealed that retailers are not planning to invest in fraud protection in the next year.
The study, which was conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research revealed that retailers incurred $2.70 in costs for every dollar in fraudulent transactions in 2012. The study used the company’s Fraud Multiplier technology, which calculates the “true cost” of fraud, incorporating charge backs for merchandise, fees and interest to financial institutions and payment processors, as well as any replacement, redistribution or restocking fees incurred.
The study also reveals that retailers who offer mobile payments, e-commerce and sell internationally are becoming greater targets for fraud. In addition, the study quantifies the impact that fraud has on customer loyalty.
Findings from the study show the cost of fraud is on the rise compared to last year. This year’s cost of $2.70 per $1.00 in merchandise is up $0.40 from last year’s level, and one of the areas where fraud has grown the most is the mobile sector. This year, mobile merchants paid $2.83 for every $1.00 lost compared to just $2.00 in 2011, an increase of more than 40 percent. The analysis in the study shows that criminals are shifting more attention to merchants that use a broader array of sales interaction methods, including browser, applications, text and evolving near-field communication methods.
The study also found:
· 39% of merchants believe that lower fraud rates can increase customer loyalty; 61% don’t connect fraud reduction to improved customer loyalty, BUT…
· 33% of consumers who fall victim to fraud avoid certain merchants, meaning customer confidence is critical in maintaining and improving reputation
The study was conducted through an online survey completed by a merchant panel comprised of more than 1,000 participants. The full report can be accessed here.
The question I have amid all this is: why do retailers seem to concede that this is not an area they plan to spend on in the coming year? Is it because of a general lack of concern about fraud, or is there just not enough budget to handle more investment in the area? Tell us your reasoning, we want to be enlightened!


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Zimbabwe successfully held its second straight foreign currency auction in Harare yesterday that saw the official rate surging only 10.52 percent to settle at 63.7 against the US dollar during an event witnessed by captains of industry and bankers.
Yesterday’s event saw US$16,3 million applications being funded from total bids of US$18,9 million that were submitted, as more private sector players took part while a reasonable rise of the rate to 63.7 to 1 is expected to see the rate start to stabilise.
The highest bid price at yesterday’s auction came in at 92 to US$1, which was slightly lower than last week’s while the lowest bid of $37,8 to US$1 was markedly higher than the 25 to 1 submitted at the inaugural auction the prior week.
Eddie Cross, an economist and member of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe monetary policy committee (MPC) who attended the auction, said after a week of market based exchange rate determination, which ensures predictability and formal access to Forex, prices should start to fall gradually.
“We had 316 applications and the total sum allocated was US$16,3 million from bids of US$18,9 million. The weighted average bid rate was ZWL$63,7 and quite a large group of people observed the operation including representatives from the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries and the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe.
“I think it was same as last week; very open and transparent and I think we are seeing an increasing appetite by private sector to use formal means of securing foreign currency. If it continues like this I think we will see gradual reduction of the open market rates,” Cross noted in an interview.
The auction system, which started last week, replaced the interbank market introduced in February last year and the fixed exchange rate adopted in March this year for certainty of pricing after the outbreak of Covid-19.
The RBZ said last week that banks had nearly a billion dollars’ worth of forex in foreign currency accounts (FCAs) and healthy inflows to sustain the newly introduced forex auction system.
RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya, said then that the question that had been on the lips of many an observer, was whether the country had adequate supply of foreign currency to feed and sustain the auction, which now determines the official exchange rate.
The expectation is that the weekly Tuesday auction, which had a perfect start, will result in more efficient distribution of foreign currency in the economy among deserving and bonafide importers or users.
The interbank market had not quite worked as expected and eventually the system flopped amid concerns authorities were interfering with the exchange rate.
A fixed rate was then adopted, but lasted for only as long as the margin in between the official and parallel market rates was small, which consequently resulted in drying up of forex on the market as holders of forex withheld the money over claims the rate had become sub-economic, making operations unviable.
It appears authorities may have struck the right codes, subject to other issues that still require attention, after the auction system last week saw bids of US$11,4 million and US$10,4 million being funded on a spread of between $25,4 and $100 against the US dollar.
Dr Mangudya said the inaugural auction was a huge success characterised by transparency, which they intend to maintain in order to ensure a market rate that can then be used in pricing, stabilising the exchange rate, inflation and guiding future foreign currency auctions.
Importantly, Dr Mangudya said the country was receiving healthy inflows of foreign currency running into hundreds of millions of US dollars every month from various sources, including exports, loans from external lenders and remittances enough to sustain the auction.
“The money is there in the market. It’s about efficient utilisation of resources; we have more than US$900 million sitting in FCA accounts. It means holders of those FCAs, when there is stability, will sell their money for their own businesses,” he said.
Dr Mangudya said the central bank was not substituting own sources of hard currency, but supplementing what individual entities may already have while also facilitating the efficient distribution of resources already in or coming into the domestic market.
“We need as a country US$80 million to US$100 million for the businesses in this country excluding fuel and electricity. So, US$80 million to US$100 million includes those with their own foreign currency. So we need to ask, what is the deficit from those without forex?”, he said.
The central bank chief said that on a monthly basis Zimbabwe was exporting US$350 million to US$400 million, getting US$50 million to US$60 million from remittances, US$40 million to US$50 million from artisanal gold miners and US$30 to US$40 million from tobacco exports.
Holders of forex in the country are required to sell their forex for the purpose of funding own operations or must compulsorily sell at the ruling exchange rate the foreign exchange they may not have used after the lapse of a period of 30 days.
Dr Mangudya believes the foreign exchange auction system will stabilise the exchange rate, restore orderly pricing and slow down runaway inflation.
Among key objectives monetary authorities are seeking to achieve through the auction, he said, were restoring confidence in the forex market, stabilising the Zimbabwe dollar exchange rate, stimulating domestic production for self-sufficiency and stabilising prices.
Dr Mangudya said businesses are expected to hold prices or even reduce them while modelling their prices in line with a formal market rate given bids that came showed that the market had been quoting using parallel market rates although not buying forex at such steep exchange rates.
The central bank chief also stated that ordinary consumers had been the biggest victims of a volatile exchange rate, which saw businesses using punitive rates in their forward price model, resulting in prices rising far ahead of low peoples’ incomes.
Amid the absence of systematic foreign exchange price determination, Dr Mangudya said, expectation of higher rates was caused by lack of a market price with most of the inflation being driven by a forward pricing system, which used exchange rates higher than the average.
Dr Mangudya said because the rate that was determined at the auction, being the average, was lower than most of the exchange rates being used by businesses.


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The technical specifications and price of the Hero 10 Black model, which GoPro is preparing to showcase in the coming days, have been officially leaked.
GoPro, one of the first brands that comes to mind when it comes to action camera, is preparing to showcase the highly anticipated new Hero 10 Black model in the coming days. The technical features and price of the action camera, which excites users with its powerful features, were revealed before the launch.
GoPro Hero 10 Black specs and price leaked ahead of launch
A lot of information about the features and price of the Hero 10 Black model, which GoPro is preparing to showcase at the launch on September 15, has leaked. The action camera, which was revealed before the launch by Roland Quandt, who is known for its reliable leaks in the past days, seems to please those waiting with its powerful features.
The biggest innovation that is expected to come with the action camera is undoubtedly on the processor side. According to the leaked data, the GoPro Hero 10 Black will take on a completely different identity with the GP2 chipset. Thanks to this processor, the GoPro Hero 10 Black will offer twice the performance of its predecessor and improved low-light performance.
One of the most striking features of the action camera is HyperSmooth 4.0 technology. Thanks to this technology, the camera stabilization, which is already performing well, is expected to go to higher levels.
Coming to the features of the action camera, the support for shooting images up to 23 Megapixels and 60 FPS video in 5.3K resolution welcomes us in the first place. In addition, let’s say that slow motion videos will be recorded in 2.7K resolution with 270 FPS and 8 times slowdown.
The action camera will use the same 2.7-inch panel as its predecessor on the screen side. This panel will provide a more fluid experience thanks to the increased screen refresh rate. In addition, the action camera is expected to be powered by a 1,720 mAh battery with fast charging support.
Finally, the European price tag of the action camera has also been leaked. According to the information received, the GoPro Hero 10 Black will be on sale with a price tag of 540 euros.