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► You’d think a global recession wouldn’t be the ideal time to hike up already pricey discretionary items…
But that’s exactly what the European luxury goods industry did earlier this year: raise the prices of handbags that already cost $2,000 or more.
While luxury companies aren’t always forthcoming in regards to these price increases, one analyst monitoring the market found that luxury giant Kering’s (KER.PA) Gucci took price increases as high as 9% during the May-to-June time period. As industry website Business of Fashion reported…
Jefferies luxury goods analyst Flavio Cereda compared prices in various countries of two Gucci handbags – the $2,290 Dionysus and the $2,980 Zumi – in May and June and found price increases for both in Italy, Britain and China of between 5% and 9%.
Similar market studies by Reuters found that leading French luxury conglomerate LVMH (MC.PA) took price increases on bags and small leather goods in its namesake Louis Vuitton brand in Europe and the U.S. in the spring. Vogue also reported on two price hikes to Louis Vuitton totes in China, occurring in March and May. Together, the two hikes led to a sizable 17% price increase in China on the brand’s signature Alma bag.
While the company never formally comments on price increases, LVMH’s Dior label is also reported to have taken price increases in handbags in the same time period… as did privately held Chanel in May, when it announced the price of it most iconic bags would increase by between 5% and 17%. As a pricing study from handbag blog Pursebop shows, the hikes were concentrated on the higher end of that range…
At the time, Chanel noted that COVID-19 interruptions to the supply chain had caused an increase in raw material costs as well as manufacturing and logistics expenses.
Not mentioned as justification for the price increases were the costs of paying rent and other expenses on a fleet of shuttered stores in some of the most prestigious – and expensive – zip codes in the world, nor the heavy burden that the interruption to cross-border tourism has placed on the global store network, even after reopening. No doubt these pressures also played into the decision to increase prices in an attempt to reduce profit drops.
► The seemingly limitless ability of top luxury goods companies to increase prices is what makes them some of the best businesses in the entire world…
This endless ability to “take price” is also one of the things that made LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault one of the richest men in the world, behind only Amazon’s (AMZN) Jeff Bezos and Microsoft’s (MSFT) Bill Gates.
While only the very top brands can totally get away with it – traditionally Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès (RMS.PA), and the last few years, Gucci – the price increases in handbags have been eye-popping. Using the Classic Chanel 2.55 handbag as a benchmark, luxury bag prices have increased on average over 8% per year since 2009. Apparently, as this chart from Vogue Business shows, handbag price increases are one thing that the pandemic can’t interrupt…
Source: Vogue Business
It’s always easiest for the top tier to take pricing, since the prestige and air of exclusivity seemingly leads to the lack of a ceiling on what certain people will pay for the company’s products. But secondary and tertiary luxury brands are usually fast followers on price increases and take price in the wake of the market leaders doing so, so as to maintain their relative position of exclusivity. Unsurprisingly, July saw handbag price hikes from secondary luxury brands Prada (1913.HK) and Ferragamo (SFER.MI).
Some industry observers think we could see even more price increases before the pandemic ends – the companies have been most aggressive so far with Chinese price hikes, as that country has bounced back from the virus much more dramatically than nations in the West. With luxury boutiques closed yet again in major European shopping destinations, such as Paris – as we head into the holiday shopping season– it wouldn’t be shocking for the brands to take all the price increases they can get.
► Prices for luxury bags have always differed across regions…
Anyone who has ever seen the crush of Asian tourists packing the luxury flagship boutiques dotting Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré knows that luxury boutiques do a big business selling to Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian tourists visiting Paris. But there’s a good reason for Asian tourists to save their shopping for a European vacation… and it is not just about currency arbitrage. Bags and other luxury items really do cost much less in Europe…
Source: Vogue Business
For the past several years, luxury companies had been consciously compressing the price differential between Europe and local Asian markets. At its peak, it had gotten as high as 50%… but in order to spur domestic demand within China, that differential had reduced to around 25%. This left a lot of room to take prices up in China, especially with European vacations temporarily off the table. As luxury analyst Cereda explained to Vogue…
If your brand price differential between Europe and China is around 20% or 25%, raising prices is perfectly acceptable. If the price differential is already around 40% or 50% then it’s more problematic, especially when China, as a geographical region, accounts for one-third of the luxury sector.
Deutsche Bank (DB) analyst Francesca Di Pasquantonio concurred…
There is a possibility this year of getting away with it a little bit more. This year, Chinese consumers don’t travel to Japan or to France and therefore they don’t benchmark. Next year, they might be able to.
Once COVID-19 vaccines are available in 2021 and international leisure travel is back on the menu, the game may be over for pushing through further price increases outside Europe.
► Despite the price increases, the luxury business has bounced back incredibly quickly in China…
Although hit hardest by the virus in January and February, by late in the second quarter, China had largely reopened its consumer economy. And business came ripping back at the top handbag companies… LVMH saw 65% growth at its leather goods division within China during the second quarter, while Kering saw its overall China business up 40% in the same period. Things just got better in the third quarter, with Kering’s mainland China business up over 80%.
Canceled trips and the need to shop at home clearly fueled strength in the mainland China luxury market… but ironically, the price increases themselves may have spurred demand as consumers rushed to get ahead of them. As Vogue explained in September…
Chinese consumers usually hear of price hikes from luxury daigous, or “surrogate shoppers”, who alert their clients via social media like WeChat and Xiaohongshu. Spurred by price increase rumours, last week consumers were seen lining up outside Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and Hermès boutiques at Plaza 66, a high-end mall in Shanghai. Queues were reported in other cities too, including Beijing and Nanjing.
The anecdote speaks well to the dedication of the Chinese consumer to the luxury goods segment.
► Wasn’t the pandemic supposed to be bad for consumer discretionary stocks?
Apparently, only some of them. Not only has luxury weathered the global shutdown well, many large retailers that sell more affordably priced goods are doing just fine. Ironically, the pandemic seems to have put the so-called “retail apocalypse” on hold for many well-positioned – or well-prepared – players.
I’ve written several times about the renaissance at Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT), which have both greatly benefited from prior investments in e-commerce capabilities and the expansion of their grocery departments. Both stocks have recently hit all-time highs, and, after posting a stellar quarter this morning, Target is trading at one today.
Also putting in new all-time highs during the pandemic are many home-related brick-and mortar-retailers, such as Home Depot (HD), Lowe’s (LOW), and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). And the strong keep getting stronger, with pre-pandemic favorites like athletic apparel chain Lululemon Athletica (LULU) and tween/teen dollar store Five Below (FIVE) also hitting all-time highs.
Perhaps most surprising of all, given their reliance on global travel and the big price tags of their products, Kering shares hit a new all-time high today and LVMH is less than 1% off the all-time high it made last week.
A primary factor driving strength at all these very disparate retail winners is that this has been a very uneven recession. It has been catastrophic for those who lost their jobs and have limited prospects for new work, but many people with desk jockey jobs have seen their income unaffected… and even are doing better than before, with stock indexes posting strong gains this year.
On top of that, with so much travel and so many celebratory events canceled, money that might have been spent on plane tickets, catering halls, tickets to sporting events or concerts, and so many other things has been saved… and is clearly being used to buy stuff. This has been a tailwind to both the European firms offering $3,000 handbags around the world, as well as Home Depot when it wants to sell you a new appliance. Even at Target and Walmart, basket size has been on the rise… partially reflecting a consolidation in trips as people avoid public spaces, but there is also an element of people just buying more stuff as they stay home.
Before COVID-19, one of the biggest themes in consumer investing was the ascendancy of “experiences over things.” Spending on travel, dining, and events was greatly outpacing the growth in most material items. And it had been this way for years. The experiences-over-things trend was particularly strong among Gen X and millennials… which indicated it was likely to be a force for some time.
The pandemic has turned that trend on its head… with “things over experiences” ruling the day in 2020. When experiences become a choice again, it will be interesting to see if the trend reverses… and if luxury handbag makers can keep jacking up prices by 5 times the rate of inflation.
► I received so many reactions to the discussion of the drop in sports ratings… I’ll share a few more from that ample collection today and will then move on to other topics tomorrow…
If you’ve ever bought a European luxury good – a handbag, wallet, tie, watch, etc. – have you noticed the big annual price increases? When the pandemic is over, will you shift to spending more on experiences over things? Let me know by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
► “Hello Berna, When sports just stopped, I thought I would go crazy (mainly because my team Leeds United was on the verge of being promoted to the Premiership (English footy) after 16 years). Things were so desperate I even watched a chess match on DAZN!!
“However, once everything came back, there was a palpable drop in emotion and intensity in all the sports that I followed… living in Toronto I merely shrugged when the Blue Jays flopped in the playoffs, then even the Champion Raptors went out and there again was little excitement… last year the whole country went berserk for the Raptors.
“Never in all North American sport history did a team have the amount of support that the Raptors had… every win of the final round resulted in impromptu street parties and rallies! There is only one reason for this… the players need the adrenaline of live fans screaming them on, and this lack of electricity makes most games boring.” – Shaun C.
► “I am a Direct TV subscriber and continue to get the sports packages advertised by Direct TV. However, my nephew in North Carolina has DISH and does not get offered the RSNs. The reason: No contract between Disney and DISH or their affiliates in the area. He also does not receive the local ABC station for the same reasons. He is an avid fan and would watch if he got what he thought he was paying for. Another reason for not getting games are archaic blackout rules. This year, all baseball games were in Texas. Yet ‘home’ Braves games were blacked out. You figure! His residence is 250 miles from Atlanta.” – Michael M.
► “Berna, I’ve been reading your recent articles on themes of cord cutting and sports media. On disrupting trends, need to add e-sports, its pre-recorded videos (on YouTube, twitch, etc.), along with live-streaming – collectively, the new media. Putting aside spotting these trends for investment, we should seriously be mindful of the long-term social/ family bonding implications.
“As typical in many families while growing up, we used to gravitate around the single screen (called TV) in the living room as a family or extended one (at times, 3 generations). Watching sports was normal, as was watching other programs. Ultimately, looking back, it wasn’t the content per se that really meant much. It was the important bonding times and the subtle rubbing off of values and teachable moments.
“I look at kids now, including mine. They seem numbingly absorbed in their own screens with these new media. While still socializing online (alas, sometimes with complete strangers), we seemed to have lost, or at least diluted, the precious closeness of family bonding.” – Michael C.
Berna comment: Michael, I agree and empathize!
► “My sports watching habits have not changed but I’ve drawn a line between my politics and the rest of my life. I have my local team (Houston), my hometown team (Detroit), and sometimes an adopted team (for example, Tampa Bay in pro football). When my teams are good, I follow closely, but when my teams are bad I ignore them; I will probably be ignoring my Detroit and Houston NFL teams for the rest of the year, though I’ll keep track of draft position (the highlight for the Detroit Lions every year).
“While my habits haven’t changed, those I associate with have changed their habits materially. As one person told me ‘_____ games used to be an event, now they are an option’. Several are flat out boycotting and no longer have interest. I’m not saying I agree or disagree with the politicization of sports, but sports have entered the political realm (like masks and COVID) and there has been a price.” – KHL
► “I don’t watch sports to hear and see political views. If the pro and college sports want to make political statements during broadcasts or otherwise, most of us are not going to watch – it is that simple.” – David J.
November 18, 2020


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Honda is to release 30 electric vehicle (EV) models by 2030 in new plans announced yesterday. According to the Japanese manufacturer, it wants to bring 30 electric models onto the market worldwide and achieve a sales volume of more than two million electric cars per year with these by 2030.
As the world’s largest power unit manufacturer, with annual sales of approximately 30 million units of mobility products including motorcycles, automobiles, power products, outboard motors and aircraft, Honda is aiming to realise carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050, striving to eliminate carbon emissions from power sources of a wide variety of products. To this end, Honda believes that a multifaceted and multidimensional approach is needed, not a mere replacing of engines with batteries.
Including the utilization of swappable batteries and hydrogen as well as electrification of vehicles, Honda will offer a variety of solutions for all of its mobility products, according to how its customers use the products in various countries and regions.
In the past, Honda has divided its organisation by products, namely: motorcycle, automobile and power products. However, starting this fiscal year, technology areas that will become the core of the future competitiveness of Honda have been moved from their respective product-based organisations and combined under the newly created Business Development Operations.
These core areas are electrified products and services, battery, energy, Mobile Power Pack, hydrogen, and software/connected technologies that connect all core areas. With this change, Honda plans to accelerate the speed at which it can move and enhance the “cross-domain” synergy effect among Honda products.
Honda notes that the key challenge in the EV era is the global procurement of batteries. Moving forward, the company has two basic approaches for its battery procurement strategy.
Now and for the time being, Honda will ensure stable procurement of liquid lithium-ion batteries in each region by strengthening the external partnership. In North America, Honda will procure Ultium batteries from GM. Separately, aside from GM, Honda is exploring the possibility of creating a joint venture company for battery production. In China, Honda will further strengthen its collaboration with CATL. And in Japan Honda will procure batteries for mini-EVs from Envision AESC.
In 2026, Honda will begin to adopt Honda e: Architecture across its operation.
After 2025, Honda plans to further accelerate its independent research and development of next-generation batteries. For the all-solid-state batteries it currently has under development, Honda has decided to build a demonstration line, investing approximately 43 billion yen, with a goal to make it operational in Spring 2024. Honda aims to adopt its next-generation batteries to models to be introduced to the market in the second half of the 2020s.
Introducing more electric vehicles
To begin with, Honda says it plans to introduce two mid- to large-size EV models in 2024, currently being developed jointly with GM, in North America. In China, however, it will introduce a total of 10 new EV models by 2027, while in early 2024 Japan will see a commercial-use mini-EV model. At that time, Honda then plans to begin introducing personal-use mini-EVs and EV SUVs.
The second half of the decade, however, will see Honda ramp up and expand its electric operation. In 2026, Honda will begin adopting Honda e: Architecture, an EV platform that combines the hardware platform and software platform. Through its alliance with GM, Honda is also planning to introduce more affordable EVs in 2027, with a cost and range that will be as competitive as gasoline-powered vehicles, starting from North America.
Through these initiatives, Honda is planning to launch 30 EV models globally by 2030, with a full line-up from commercial-use mini-EVs to flagship-class models, and is planning for production volume of more than 2 million units annually.
To support these plans, Honda intends to build a dedicated EV plant in Guangzhou as well as Wuhan, in China, as well as a dedicated EV production line also in North America, although it did not specify a location.

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Google's teeny UK tax bill 'just not right', thunders senior MP
Hodge on Schmidt: Aiding the economy and paying corp tax is NOT an 'either/or'
Top Labour MP Margaret Hodge has told The Register that it's "just not right" for Google to get away with paying so little corporation tax in the UK.
Hodge, who heads up Parliament's influential Public Accounts Select Committee, rejected the advertising giant's executive chairman Eric Schmidt's defence of his company's tax record in Blighty. The search supremo claimed Google was "driving a lot of economic growth for the country".
But Hodge said this cannot make up for shifting profits around the globe to avoid paying taxes. Google's UK sales reached £2.5bn in 2011, according to its financial filings, but it paid just £3.4m in corporation tax. In 2012, the web giant globally banked an operating income of $12bn (£7.9bn) on $50bn (£32bn) revenues.
“I accept that Google create jobs and invest in our economy, but this is not an ‘either/or’. The majority of businesses contribute to our economy and pay their fair share in tax," she told El Reg.
"And let’s not forget that one of the reasons Google is so successful in this country is that they benefit from public goods funded by the British taxpayer, like the talent produced by our education system and a functioning transparent system."
The barb-trading is the latest in the row over multinationals' tax bills, stoked by austerity measures in Blighty's public sector following the global financial meltdown. Huge companies are accused of basing their regional headquarters in tax havens in order to cynically but legitimately avoid paying levies.
The select committee's members conducted an investigation of the weeny tax bills of the likes of Google, Amazon and Starbucks last year and concluded that while the tech giants were sticking to the letter of the law, their money-shifting shenanigans were "immoral".
Hodge stood by that stance today.
"All we are saying is that multinational companies should pay an appropriate amount of tax relative to the profits they make from their economic activity in this country," she insisted.
"Instead companies like Google are creating artificial structures and abusing current tax legislation to move profits offshore in order to avoid tax. That is just not right, and people like Eric Schmidt need to understand the legitimate public outrage that behaviour generates.”
Schmidt said yesterday that his company behaved just like everyone else and this is just the way taxes are done. He had said last year that he was "very proud" of Google's corporate structure, adding rather remorselessly: "It's called capitalism." ®


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This content was written and submitted by the supplier. It has only been modified to comply with this publication’s space and style.
MRP Solutions opened its new MRP Solutions Center and corporate offices in Lake Forest, Ill. The June grand opening event kicked off with the official ribbon cutting in the Solutions Center space where MRP Solutions President and CEO, Jim Fitzgerald, welcomed guests and shared appreciation for their business and partnership. “Our mission is to recognize that industry trends continuously change, and customer needs are always evolving,” notes Fitzgerald. “This innovation center will foster the MRP consultative approach to uncovering customer needs, while implementing its strategy to expand capabilities and customize smarter, safer, and more flexible packaging solutions that reduce cost and increase speed to market. This new Solutions Center is a space where collaboration can spark innovation and create solutions to even the biggest packaging challenges.”
Attendees had the opportunity to attend educational sessions presented by the MRP team, focusing on design and ideation opportunities within the Solutions Center, an introduction to injection molding and lining, the MRP manufacturing process, and the latest market trends.
Following the morning sessions, guests then attended a Supplier Showcase where they had the opportunity to meet MRP’s supplier partners and discuss how their products combine to create MRP's Packaging Solutions. Supporting suppliers for the event included the following: Tekni-Plex Consumer Products, Selig Group, Enercon Industries Corp., and Badger Color Concentrates.
The day ended with MRP's Second Annual Sustainability Summit, where a panel of experts shared the latest industry updates. During the summit, panelists reviewed the state of sustainability challenges, technology advancements to offer alternative sustainable solutions to minimize waste and reduce carbon footprints, identified industry drivers and reviewed creative channels for promotion and education.
The day's events concluded with Jim Fitzgerald announcing that MRP Solutions will match the funds donated by the event’s sponsors to provide a $5,000 donation to The Foundation for Plastic Recycling in support of the organization's efforts to expand recycling and advance the circular economy.
“We’re excited about our future and look forward to working with companies in our Solutions Center to develop new and innovative ways to deliver more value across the packaging supply chain in health and wellness, specialty foods, and other technical applications,” adds Fitzgerald.


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It has been a tough year for the retail sector so far in 2019, and the upcoming festive spending will likely do little to change that underwhelming result according to Deloitte Access Economics.
Weak wage growth, high debt levels and increasing price pressures are hurting demand, while tax returns and interest rate cuts have yet to fully come through. There is some positive news, with 2020 holding more promise.
According to Deloitte Access Economics’ latest quarterly Retail Forecasts:
- Retail sales in September posted the weakest result since the 1990s recession, falling 0.2 per cent over the year
- Retail price pressures remain strong, eating away at volumes growth as households struggle with weak wage growth and high debt levels
- Tax offsets and lower interest rates provided limited support to consumer spend to date
- The outlook for 2020 is more positive with retail spending expected to grow 2.6 per cent over the year.
Nominal and retail Australian retail turnover
Deloitte Access Economics partner and Retail Forecasts principal author, David Rumbens, says retail sales look to be ending 2019 on a relatively soft note as consumers face increasing budget pressures.
“Stagnating wage growth and weak house prices have limited consumer willingness to spend, while tax offsets and interest rate cuts have yet to translate to sales. And with retail prices increasing, spending volumes have taken the hit posting the weakest growth since the 1990s recession.
“The start of the Christmas season looks to hold little cheer for retailers after a tough 2019 to date, and according to Deloitte’s recent Retailers’ Christmas Survey, only 21 per cent (down from 41 per cent last year) of respondents expect a growth above five per cent this year.
Retail prices are surging on supply factors
Mr Rumbens said retail price growth has been accelerating over the past year, with prices growing 2.6 per cent in the year to September quarter.
“This is the first time since 2009 that retail prices have consistently outpaced general price pressures in the economy,” he said
“Unfortunately for retailers, price growth is not reflective of stronger demand, but rather increasing cost pressures from a weaker Australian dollar, the increase to the minimum wage, and supply disruptions from droughts and floods.
“With retailers being squeezed on both sides from weak sales volumes and increasing costs, margins are coming under pressure.”
Looking to 2020 for a turnaround
“We expect to see a much-needed improvement in the drivers of spending, providing the environment for a turn around the weak retail demand profile in 2020,” Mr Rumbens said.
“Stronger wage growth, a reinvigorated housing market and moderating prices pressures are expected to support a much stronger growth outlook in the year ahead.”


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Los Angeles — The Wonderful Co. is celebrating World Pistachio Day today with the addition of two flavors — BBQ and Sea Salt & Vinegar — to its Wonderful Pistachios No Shells line. The product is currently available at select retailers and will go into national distribution in the U.S. and Canada in April. To kick off the World Pistachio Day, the company is offering the first 226 people on 2-26 to direct message (DM) @WonderfulPistachios on Instagram a complimentary package of each of the new flavors before they hit store shelves.
According to the company, the BBQ variety has a hickory-smoked flavor with a dash of garlic, paprika and salt, while the Sea Salt & Vinegar variety is a combination of sour and savory.
“If you crave the classic and beloved flavors of barbecue and salt and vinegar, but you want a healthier way to indulge, Wonderful Pistachios has you covered,” says Adam Cooper, senior vice-president of marketing for The Wonderful Co. “BBQ and Sea Salt & Vinegar join our lineup of No Shells — now featuring six flavors in total — that gives people even more choice when it comes to selecting a healthy and delicious snack.”
The brand is also offering virtual meeting background images that showcase the World Pistachio Day holiday in festive and humorous ways for consumers to download on its Twitter account @WonderfulNuts on February 26.


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European consumer goods manufacturers are waking up to the challenges of cutting costs and moving to collaborative IT environments.
According to analyst IDC, the pressure is on for these firms to reduce complexities and improve the overall efficiencies of the industry.
This ranges from the processing of raw materials and the development of products, to the sale of the end product through multiple channels.
IDC's latest study, IT Priorities in the Western European CPG Industry - An Industry Update, highlights how the move towards a collaborative environment will be a key driver of IT systems adoption.
Over the past year, the consumer goods and retail industries have made "significant progress" in establishing a common platform for electronic collaboration, involving the use of internet-based technologies to allow continuous automated exchange of information between trading partners.
Jennifer Thomson, manufacturing programme manager at IDC's European vertical markets research group, said in a statement: "Although until now much of the activity has been taking place in the US, Europe is now starting to see the increased use and application of data synchronisation solutions.
"And initiatives such as the efficient consumer response are really starting to take effect."
The study identified the need for advanced planning - including demand planning, production planning and inventory management - as the major driver for strategic IT purchasing in the sector.
Moon's dark side is mountainous, rugged and never visible from the Earth
The groundwater basins in some areas of Tehran have been damaged irreversibly
This is the first time that any spacecraft on Mars has recorded air vibrations on the planet
Arctic sea ice is thickening at a faster rate during winter, thus slowing down long-term decline: NASA
But, the seasonal ice growth could only delay the demise of the Arctic ice cap for a few more decades


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Priyanka Chopra has often brightened up the red carpets with exquisitely designed saris and has voraciously expressed her love for them. Taking this love to the next level, Chopra is going to drape these nine-yard wonders and step out for the world to see, in the capacity of a proud ambassador.
It has been officially announced by the ministry of textiles that the national award-winning actress has been roped in as the brand ambassador for Banarasi saris. The decision was made in the wake of fund allocations made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the handloom sector in the Union Budget. During his electoral campaign, Modi had promised Banarasi silk sari weavers that he would make a brand of the saris, which are representative of the Indian culture and heritage.
With an undeniably popular star with a global fan following like Priyanka Chopra endorsing the Banarasi saris, the demand for them is sure to increase.
It would be some time before the entire promotional scheme takes shape, but "it is likely to include ad campaigns, putting up hoardings at vantage points and other measures for promotion of the Banarasi saree. The idea is almost similar to that of Amitabh Bachchan being roped in for Gujarat Tourism," said assistant Director (Handloom and Textiles), Varanasi Division, Ministry of Textiles, K.P. Verma to The Indian Express.
The weavers of these saris have often complained that they do not enjoy exposure to bigger markets. The tradition of weaving these saris is almost 800 years old, and they have been in demand for centuries from almost all parts of India. However, during the past two decades, this art and industry have declined rapidly in the face of increased competition from cheaper alternatives.
"Priyanka won't only be the brand ambassador but will also help Banarasi saris gain prominence in the fashion world," Union textile secretary Zohra Chatterji said during an interaction with media persons in Varanasi on Wednesday, News18 reported.
While the Bararasi silk saris would be at the forefront of this branding, the larger branding by the actress would be for the Indian handloom industry.
The Union government is also supposedly toying with the idea of opening a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in the temple town after which the products of the weavers in the city would be "integrated and upgraded" with the help of the institute, officials informed.


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Apple Rumored To Be Developing Smart Watch
The concept of a smart watch is nothing new. Sony offers one and the startup company Pebble blew up Kickstarter with its concept e-paper smart watch that can connect to either iOS or Android devices. Ne’er to be left behind, Apple may be developing its own smart watch that uses Bluetooth technology to connect to the tech giant’s devices. Chinese Web site Tech.163 recently reported Intel is working with Apple to design the smart watch with a 1.5-inch PMOLED display made by RiTDisplay with ITO-coated glass.
It’s not that Apple doesn’t offer a form of a smart watch already. The iPod Nano can attach to a wrist band and be used as a watch. Still, as users seek more ways to stay connected, the Bluetoothless iPod Nano has become less appealing.
Tech.163 sources claim the Apple smart watch could be released in the first half of 2013. But as tech watchers are well aware, Apple rumors must be taken with a grain of salt. We’re still waiting for that television.
Should the product come to fruition, however, questions have already been raised about its usefulness in the market. Few actually wear wrist watches anymore as the timepieces have been replaced with smartphones and other handheld electronics. Furthermore, where does Intel fit into the picture? Apple has never needed the company’s microprocessors for its phones or tablets, so why start with a watch?
[Image via Apple]


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More than 100 thousand merchants and organizations worldwide accept bitcoin as a payment currency. This number comes from digital assets management firm Grayscale, which has 2.6 billion dollars worth of digital assets. The firm is very bullish on bitcoin, proven by the infographic they released.
Grayscale praises the accessibility, lack of censorship and speed of bitcoin transactions. They believe Bitcoin can be a store-of-value, but also a way to break borders, or do payments anywhere in the world.
Currently bitcoin is accepted for payments at online retailers like Overstock and Newegg, and travel companies like Expedia. There are also plenty of solutions that allow consumers to pay in bitcoin while merchants receive euros or dollars. Fintech companies like Bitpay and Flexa are among the biggest in this field. Bitpay is being used to allow American citizens to pay their taxes in crypto, while Flexa allows users to pay for their coffee at Starbucks.
Also published on Medium.


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Manchester-based Beech Holdings won an advertising package with the Manchester Evening News as well as one-to-one mentoring sessions with Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden.
A Manchester-based property developer has received one-to-one mentoring sessions with Deborah Meaden.
The renowned entrepreneur heaped praise on Beech Holdings after meeting with its boss Stephen Beech.
It comes after the firm was crowned overall winner of the 2016 Local Business Accelerators scheme earlier this year.
As part of beating 11 other shortlisted businesses to the national prize, Beech Holdings won an advertising package with the Manchester Evening News as well as mentoring sessions with Dragons’ Den star Deborah.
Following Deborah’s meeting with 38-year-old Mancunian Stephen, she hailed Beech Holdings as an innovative and creative outfit.
“When he was young Stephen was selling lollipops in the school playground,” she said, “and now he has a multi-million-pound business.
“I love what I do and there’s nothing more motivating and invigorating than people who create something – and that’s what Stephen and the rest of the staff at Beech Holdings have done.”
Beech Holdings boasts £65m worth of residential housing stock in Greater Manchester and is passionate about bringing unloved historic buildings back to life by creating environmentally sustainable and efficiently designed apartments.
The company owns 17 significant buildings in Manchester city centre in addition to another 100 properties in Greater Manchester.
Earlier this month Beech Holdings was joined by more than 100 business leaders – including Manchester council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein – as it launched its new £1m headquarters on Oxford Street.
The Local Business Accelerators scheme is in its third year and is organised by Local Media Works, the marketing body for the local press industry.
Deborah, who recently released a book entitled, ‘Common Sense Rules – what you really need to know about business’, said it was ‘refreshing to speak to a business that knows exactly what it’s doing’
She also described local newspapers as “a friend in any household” and said winning the Local Accelerator Award and free newspaper advertising will give the company massive exposure.
“It was great to meet with Stephen, get to know him and provide some mentoring – not that he needs mentoring,” she said.
“Beech Holdings is a grown up and successful business. But it’s also a business that has become very successful, very quickly. It knows itself very well as a company, has a lot of smart people working within it and there is a lot of clarity in what it offers.”
She added: “During the meeting we discussed the best way to go forward. Myself and Stephen have also agreed to do more things going forward. We will stay in touch and I shall be following the company’s progress with interest.
Stephen said it was fantastic to spend time with such a successful entrepreneur.
He said: “Deborah was very pleasant and took a lot of time to listen to the Beech Holdings story.
“It’s great that we have this chance to work with her after winning the Local Business Accelerators scheme. When you meet people like Deborah you tend to remember everything they say as their time is precious.
“It’s also good to know that she thinks a lot of us as a company – it certainly gives us extra confidence going forward.”


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We usually don’t cover non-car related Subaru stories, but this one explains why cars like the new 2017 Impreza compact, Subaru Forester SUV, Outback wagon and Crosstrek crossover will remain top-s
Subaru Canada announces pricing and a new special edition 2017 Subaru Crosstrek. It’s called Crosstrek 火山Kazan Edition available only in 2017.
What makes this model special?
Subaru did it when they pursued the Lesbian community in the Northeastern US in the 90s. It worked well for the Japanese automaker in North Åmerica.
Subaru just announced the winner of the 2016 National Technician Competition. What does it mean when you take your Forester, Outback, Crosstrek or WRX/STI in for Service?
Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru’s motorsports partner, brought an exclusive vehicle showcase for the fans at this year's Subiefest.
Automakers are talking about their Active Driver Assist (ADA) safety systems in their vehicles these days. Tiny Subaru started the revolution over 17 years ago.
Subaru puts their money where their core values are. Why did they just spend $1 billion dollars to give the new 2017 Impreza a makeover?
Team Offtrax has pulled off another impressive win in the grueling Maroc Challenge. What is it? It takes place over 2,800 km of the harsh Moroccan desert.
It’s been an incredible ride for Subaru and Team BMR in their first BTCC championship season.
How a Tangerine Orange Subaru Forester Connects a Global Generation With Environmental Sustainability
Subaru Japan is out to help preserve the planet and it isn’t just in the U.S. National Parks they do this.
Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), maker of Subaru vehicles has issued a global recall of the Subaru Legacy sedan. According to Reuters, FHI will recall 935,000 Legacy sedans around the globe.
Subaru Rally Team USA has announced a new driver for the WRX STI GRC supercar for the final round in LA. He’s a Japanese rally legend and his name is Toshihiro Arai. His fans call him “Toshi”.
2017 Subaru Crosstrek Gets Small Price Bump, a Special Edition and One Model Gets Axed from the Lineup
The 2017 Subaru Crosstrek gets a small price increase, a new special edition variant and one model gets axed from the lineup.
If you like to drive your Subaru WRX STI fast in real-world conditions, you’ll love the new Forza Horizon 3.
Subaru Quietly Drops a Key Feature on the New 2017 Impreza After 23 Years What’s Behind their Decision?
When the 2017 Subaru Impreza arrives, it will not have a key mechanical feature it’s had since it was first launched in 1993.
Let’s make it clear. The new 3-Row, 7 passenger SUV is not a replacement for the discontinued Tribeca. This will be an all-new multi-purpose vehicle from Subaru for the US market only.


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The rumours appear to be true. HTC will apparently launched a version of its flagship HTC One M8 smartphone running the Windows Phone operating system.
Following reports earlier this week claiming the device would be on the way, a press render of it has been spotted on the server's of U.S. mobile network Verizon, who will presumably be stocking it.
Previous reports which dubbed the phone the 'One M8 for Windows' had suggested it will go on sale shortly after the reveal on August 21.
Speculation had suggested the device would come in silver and would be identical to the Android version, aside from the obvious OS differences.
The Windows Phone 8.1 device will also support smart cases like the innovative Dot View cover and would offer voice over LTE in the United States.
Should the device launch, it'll be HTC's first Windows Phone in over a year. Both Microsoft and HTC have declined to comment.


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Migrating to SKAN 4 led to a reduction in the cost per acquisition and an increase in conversion rates, according to a new report from Adjust in collaboration with TikTok, which sheds light on the impact of iOS SKAdNetwork (SKAN) campaigns for mobile marketers.
SKAN 4 reduces cost per acquisition
The reduction in acquisition cost leads to greater scalability on iOS to benefit marketers aiming to refine their optimisation strategies.
Adjust’s SKAN 4 was officially launched in October 2022, introducing features like conversion mapping, value optimisation, and enhanced privacy measures. This launch coincided with a growing emphasis on user and data privacy in the tech world. Consequently, post-ID attribution on iOS has been gaining traction, as Apple has gradually reintroduced analytics opportunities.
The new report by Adjust offers practical tactics to maximise success on iOS and provides valuable insights for mobile marketers aiming to enhance conversion rates for their apps. The study involved collaboration with TikTok and examined 37 apps in TikTok’s beta testing phase across the UK, US, and Japan. It focused on understanding how SKAN 4’s extended 35-day attribution window impacted conversions.
Conversion rates surge 220% on TikTok
The results of the study were impressive, with TikTok’s overall cost per acquisition improving by 37%, and conversion rates surging by a substantial 220%. These outcomes represent significant advantages for mobile app developers and marketers utilising SKAN 4. Additionally, these improved metrics enable more precise evaluations of campaign effectiveness.
Out of the 37 apps analysed in the beta test, TikTok confirmed that 17 were from mobile gaming clients.
Katie Madding, Chief Product Officer at Adjust, commented on the findings, saying: “Mobile app marketers are eager to refine their iOS campaign measurement and optimisation strategies with privacy-centric attribution, but there’s still hesitancy about moving to SKAN 4. With the continued industry shift toward prioritising user and data privacy, now is the time for a shift in mindset toward the possibilities of post-ID attribution on iOS. The data-backed insights detailed in our guide empower growth marketers to dig into and embrace SKAN 4’s functionality.”
Adjust’s comprehensive report delves deeper into optimising campaigns and enhancing their performance on iOS. It also offers a sneak peek into SKAN 5.
The introduction of SKAN 4 last year coincided with Android’s dominance, accounting for over 70% of ad creatives. Apple aimed to simplify iOS campaigns in response to this trend.
- Migrating to SKAN 4 lowers cost per acquisition, benefiting iOS marketers’ optimisation efforts
- The study reveals impressive results with increased acquisition cost and soaring conversion rates
- Adjust’s report highlights the shift towards post-ID attribution on iOS for privacy-centric campaign optimisation


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Apple released iOS 12.5.1 on Monday, an update for older iPhones not compatible with iOS 14. The update provides a bug fix for COVID-19 exposure notifications.
Users with compatible devices can download the iOS 12.5.1 update as an over-the-air update on eligible devices in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to “Settings” -> “General” -> “Software Update”.
Apple released an iOS 12.5 update in December, which enabled use of the exposure notification system for older devices.
Today’s update fixes a bug that could cause exposure notifications to appear incorrectly in the enrollment profile language.
Apple’s Exposure Notification System is now available in multiple US states and numerous countries. States that adopt the system include North Dakota, Arizona, Delaware, Nevada, Alabama, Colorado, Wyoming, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Washington, Connecticut, Nevada, the district of .. .
- According to this source Apple’s iOS 12.5.1 update includes exposure notification bug fixes for older iPhones
- Check the more updates related to Apple Tips and Apple news now.
I hope you love this news please Share your love by following us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest apple news informationon and updates like Apple’s iOS 12.5.1 update includes exposure notification bug fixes for older iPhones
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With the recent unprecedented advancements in our technologies, at SwissCognitive, we feel responsible for further intensifying the discussion between AI
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the sales automation industry, it is essential that these systems are not only
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group-Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has pledged to collaborate with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
By Royal Ibeh, Lagos Helicobacter Pylori, popularly known as H. pylori, are bacteria that can cause an infection in the
Save your future self some hassle by picking up these day-to-day saviour products We hope you love the products we
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) working group of experts classified Glyphosate (Roundup) as a probable
You’re reading Move, the nudge we need to get active, however makes us happiest and healthiest. If you want to feel
Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock With omicron having rapidly driven up COVID infections, attention is once again focusing on antibodies, and reasonably so.


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Toshiba Corp. and Fujitsu Limited today made official what has been long rumored — Toshiba will take over Fujitsu’s hard disk and solid-state drive business.
Toshiba will first take an 80% stake in a new company to be created by Fujitsu, while Fujitsu will maintain a 20% stake. The business will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba. The deal is expected to close this quarter, according to Scott Maccabe, vice president and general manager of Toshiba’s storage device division as well as a former senior manager with Fujitsu.
Maccabe said the down economy had Fujitsu looking to cut out non-profitable businesses. It has sold off its media businesses, including R&D and global sales organizations, to Toshiba, and has plans to sell its drive head business to Showa Denko K.K. (SDK). Fujitsu will now be focused on its systems and services businesses in storage, Maccabe said.
According to a Toshiba press release:
The consolidation of the two companies’ HDD businesses will enable Toshiba to reinforce its already strong position as a leading vendor of small form factor HDDs…widely used in notebook PCs, mobile devices, automotive and consumer electronics. It will also give Toshiba entry into the enterprise HDD market for server and data storage system applications, where Fujitsu is currently a leader…entry into the enterprise business will allow Toshiba to further enlarge its market-leading solid state drive (SSD) business by developing SSD products for servers and enterprise storage systems, fusing Toshiba’s NAND flash memory technology with Fujitsu’s enterprise HDD technology.
According to a note sent to investors by Jayson Noland of Robert W. Baird & Co. today, “The acquisition reduces mobile HDD suppliers to five from six, which should reduce industry capacity and improve pricing behavior … though we do not expect competitive dynamics in [the] enterprise to meaningfully change as a result of the merger.”


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Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released its 2007 Performance and Accountability Report: Saving Lives and Keeping Families Safe, summarizing the agency's steps to improve consumer product safety in 2007. CPSC reports that in recent years, an average of about 28,200 deaths and 33.6 million injuries have been related to (not necessarily caused by) products under CPSC jurisdiction. These injuries, deaths and related property damage cost the American public over $800 billion annually. The 2007 report highlights CPSC's work with the Chinese government to improve import safety, and its efforts to notify the public on lead in children's toys and kids' jewelry.
Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help.


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Growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s, my family – like many others – sometimes went to Iceland for the occasional frozen pizza, ice cream or easy-to-cook party food. It was a low-priced, low-quality store, of which my over-riding memory is Kerry Katona grinning: “That’s why mums go to Iceland.”
Fast forward nearly 20 years, and Richard Walker, Iceland’s managing director, is reflecting on the Katona years. “[That slogan] was very outdated and we won’t be using it again,” he tells me. “It was very effective, but we’ve had to move on with the times.”
Like many millennials, I now find myself shopping in Iceland – popping in the supermarket not necessarily for frozen goods (despite “the power of frozen” PR campaign) but fresh fruit and vegetables, along with products that would have been unthinkable in my childhood – such as the supermarket’s plant-based No Bull Burger, launched earlier this year. ”Veganism is an important growing trend and a big market we want to break into,” Walker adds, hinting at more product announcements later this year. The supermarket has now announced a vegan frozen aisle launching in September, with 13 new own-brand products including vegan chorizo, chicken, burgers and mince.
But fruit, veg and vegan burgers aside, the most unlikely part of Iceland’s recent transformation is that the store suddenly seems to be leading the pack in the environmental stakes. Can someone tell me when Kerry Katona got replaced with Greenpeace?
That moment is in fact fairly easy to pinpoint: in November 2017, about a week after the shocking and now famous episode of BBC’s Blue Planet, which kickstarted the debate about plastic bottles and packaging in the UK, Iceland became an early supporter of Greenpeace’s call for a plastic bottle deposit return scheme. And from that point it has pushed onwards: in 2018, Iceland has already introduced three headline-grabbing schemes: a pledge to make its own-brand products plastic-free, a decision to remove palm oil from its ingredients list, and the introduction of a reverse vending machine that pays consumers to recycle bottles.
Each has come with heavyweight endorsement. The supermarket’s commitment to replace plastic with sustainable packaging on own brand products by 2023 – or “put a freeze on plastics”, as Iceland put it – came backed by Greenpeace who also endorsed Iceland’s decision to ban palm oil from its products.
The supermarket’s plastic bottle deposit scheme – the UK’s first – was backed by marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), and “applauded” by environment secretary Michael Gove; Iceland will also be the first supermarket to use a Plastic-Free Trust Mark.
It is impossible not to be impressed – but what prompted Iceland to suddenly become the supermarket pioneer on environmental issues?
That question might perhaps be better phrased as “who prompted?”. Iceland’s decision on palm oil, for instance, came after Richard Walker visited West Kalimantan in Borneo and witnessed the environmental devastation wreaked by the oil’s production and its affect on the habitat of orangutans.
Walker, the 37-year-old son of Sir Malcolm Walker, Iceland’s founder and CEO, now appears to be the face of the supermarket, taking over more duties from his somewhat outspoken father. (In 2017, Malcolm Walker wrote: “It’s not our fault as retailers that 20% of our customers are too thick or lazy to put their own packaging in a bin”.)
Richard Walker insists that his influence has not changed the supermarket’s approach. “We haven’t started being pioneering. We have been doing it for decades,” he argues, pointing to his father’s decision to remove artificial colours and non-essential preservatives from Iceland’s own brand products in the 1980s (the first major retailer to do so), and to ban GM ingredients from own brand in 1998.
With Iceland’s low price points, customers might question how sustainable its supply chain might be. But the supermarket’s Responsible Sourcing Policy assures transparency, traceability and risk assessment. A spokesperson tells HuffPost UK the issue is high on the agenda, and while the supermarket is working on developing this further, they could not disclose any further details at this stage.
The supermarket is, however, increasingly leading its peers on environmental matters. “There’s a zeitgeist on plastic,” self-proclaimed “keen surfer” Walker tells me, which meant that when Iceland announced its plastic-free initiative, “it really did blow up” in response. “I wasn’t sure how big that would be - but people really care about the issue. We have had thousands of messages of support from the public, many surprised and happy to see Iceland making the move. I am still receiving letters every day.”
That zeitgeist has led some to question whether Iceland really cares about the environment or is it just seeing an opportunity to ride the Blue Planet wave. Walker argues strongly that it’s the former.
“We do this stuff because it is the right thing for the planet,” he argues. “We have five million customers in the UK who dictate what we do through regular dialogue with them. The issues on plastics and palm oil are very important to them.”
Hugo Tagholm, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, talks to me on the phone as he gazes out his office window to the Atlantic Ocean in St Agnes, Cornwall. He is full of praise for Walker, and for Iceland’s new environmental initiatives. “It’s amazing that surfing and Richard’s connection with the ocean has really driven this environmental awareness and most importantly environmental action,” he says. “He has shown this leadership amongst all of the supermarkets.”
Tagholm argues that this is a pivotal moment – a tipping point where the visibility of plastic pollution makes society realise that it is living unsustainably. Iceland’s decision to get on board early is good for the environment, he says, but also for his business.
“[By] leading the charge, Richard is prescient in looking at it as a market advantage – and for that to have been driven by his personal passion for not just the ocean for the environment is a testament to the power of the environment when people are connected with it,” he says.
Walker’s sustainable initiatives also come as the supermarket’s appeal changes. More Iceland customers are A and B socio-economic status (upper and middle class) than “a couple of years ago”, when they were more C and D (lower middle class and skilled working class), Walker claims. The brand is doing well, he says by targeting millennials and Gen Z - “media savvy, idealistic, thinking with their wallets” and “who care deeply about these issues”.
Nick Carroll, senior retail analyst at Mintel, agrees that in the last couple of years Iceland has made “a big departure from frozen foods” and attracted younger customers by rolling out a new store model in London that focuses on fresh products. Following its success, this pilot scheme has also been expanded beyond the capital to towns including Southampton.
The market research firm tracks trends consumers care about as well as noting company around environmental issues and particularly plastics. “We have seen an absolute spike in the last six months to a year,” Carroll explains. That increase came in particular after the high-rating Blue Planet episode.
Earlier this year, Mintel’s Attitudes To Packaging report found that 78% of people expect food companies to ensure all food packaging sold in the UK is sustainable. “So if you are falling outside of that, or particularly if you are leading on that, then that’s a competitive advantage, particularly if you are targeting younger consumers,” says Carroll. “But I think that’s being cynical. I think it’s very important that retailers do lead on this and Iceland has been a particular leader in this area.”
While older consumers care about environmental issues, they tend to be less vocal about them, he argues. “So the fact that a younger influencer [Richard Walker] has come into the business is going to be reflected in terms of their strategy and it also coincides with a time the business itself, in pockets of particularly urban areas, is redefining what it means to be Iceland.”
It is also, perhaps, redefining how the supermarket sector as a whole responds to environmental issues. Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner Elena Polisano is the environmental charity’s spokesperson for its Supermarket Challenge, through which Greenpeace will be holding supermarkets to account on single-use plastic. “[Iceland] are really showing the sector the way forward – they’re the benchmark,” she says.
Are they doing enough? “They’ve certainly set the benchmark and the pace,” says Polisano, arguing that Iceland’s pledges also go further than those of many of their competitors. “They’re looking to remove the problem and not just try and manage it. What we see a lot is other pledges flying around that really just focus on improving recycling.”
Greenpeace hopes that Iceland’s lead, makes other supermarkets reconsider their own policies. “What we’re focusing on is making sure that the rest of the sector is seeing [Iceland] as something to match at least. There is huge public backing for supermarkets to be the place for change and that’s a golden opportunity for supermarkets.”
Iceland clearly sees this “golden opportunity”. Soon after my interview with its MD, Iceland announces it’s going to be the first UK supermarket to sell plastic-free chewing gum. Then comes the announcement about the new vegan range, which, as a predictable millennial leaning towards a ‘flexitarian’ diet, I can’t wait to try next month.
There’s no doubt Iceland has upped the stakes on sustainability (and veganism) and I’m fascinated to find out what it, or indeed other UK supermarkets, will bring to the table in the coming months.


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Movandi, a leader in new 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) networks, announced the deployment of a 5G extender indoor smart repeater built on Movandi’s innovative BeamXR mmWave technology. Movandi’s BeamXR is the industry’s first smart active repeater solution that amplifies coverage and closes the gap in 5G mmWave deployments. It is designed to penetrate physical barriers in urban environments and amplify mmWave coverage in public spaces and inside buildings.
Movandi has engineered its BeamXR smart repeater solution to address 5G signal propagation challenges by amplifying mmWave signals and extending the range and coverage of mmWave-based networks. BeamXR repeaters boost mmWave signals, enabling them to penetrate walls and buildings and even bend around buildings to overcome line-of-sight issues, a challenge that until now has required bulky, expensive antenna designs. When deployed inside a building, a BeamXR smart repeater amplifies a weak beamed signal and can light up an entire room with a range of more than 150 feet. The smart repeater connects to a 5G base station through beamforming, enabling customer premises equipment (CPE) and mobile devices to access the base station.
BeamXR smart repeaters are based on Movandi’s proven BeamX mmWave beamforming technology, introduced in 2018. The BeamX front-end integrates CMOS-based RF ICs, antenna, beamforming, and advanced control algorithms into a modular 5G mmWave platform solution. BeamXR smart repeaters are more compact, more energy-efficient over a wider power range, more spectrally efficient, and more cost-effective to manufacture and deploy than alternative approaches. Movandi provides customers with complete reference designs and can work with manufacturers to ship products directly to customers.
Maryam Rofougaran, CEO and co-founder at Movandi, stated that the future of 5G mmWave depends on the industry’s ability to make the most out of new 5G infrastructure. Movandi’s BeamXR smart repeater is unmatched in the industry, by combining a fully integrated RF front-end and system-level design – deliver a complete long range and low power solution with unlimited mesh configurations that solve mmWave propagation, blocking, path loss and latency challenges. They are enabling the 5G future by helping Tier 1 operators and partners unleash the potential of 5G technology for billions of users around the world.
“Verizon’s exclusive U.S. partnership with Movandi to deploy their first-to-market 5G repeater technology allows us to continue to provide the cutting-edge solutions and industry leadership that our customers have grown to expect,” said Brian Higgins, senior vice president of consumer products at Verizon.
5G technology promises to eventually offer data rates that are 100 times faster than current 4G networks, and could enable new applications such as self-driving cars, smart buildings and smart cities, telemedicine, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), mobile cloud-based services, and an exponential increase in connected devices for the Internet of Things and industrial IoT (IIoT). Movandi has an exclusive partnership with Verizon to deploy its 5G solution to U.S. consumers


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TalkTalk silenced over anti-BT comparison
ASA rejects value and price not the same argument
BT has scored a minor victory over TalkTalk, after it had a trio of complaints about the latter's advertising upheld.
BT had objected to an ad punting a TalkTalk phone and broadband package, which claimed users could save £154 over 18 months compared to BT.
TalkTalk was not comparing like with like, complained BT. It claimed the BT package cited was not the most similar to the one TalkTalk was pushing, and was based on a higher line charge than BT's best available. None of BT's own promotions were mentioned, it added.
The ad also attracted a complaint from Plusnet, which challenged TalkTalk's "unbeatable value phone and broadband" claim.
On the first two claims, TalkTalk argued the toss. On the third, it said it was "an oversight" not to have mentioned BT's own promotions.
As to Plusnet's claims, TalkTalk said it was pushing a "value" argument, "a concept which, while related to price was not solely assessed on price".
However, none of this washed with the ASA, which upheld all the complaints, and said TalkTalk must not run the ad again in its current form. ®


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LivingSocial is exploring the possibilities of aiming its mobile daily deals offers within a certain time frame. It is running a pilot project in the Washington, DC area that gives marketers leeway to decide what time of day they should run their promotions, according to Mobile Commerce.
The Lunch Time Crowds
Both Groupon and Foursquare have been eyeing the lunchtime crowd as well - or at least consumers who are mobile and open to receiving a daily deal at a certain hour that is set to expire shortly. Groupon is about to roll out an offering called Groupon Now, a service that offers coupons good only during certain hours for nearby consumers. Foursquare, for its part, recently included a recommendation engine in its upgrade to 3.0 that can be tailored to small distances.
Groupon Now is based on two simple buttons - "I'm Hungry" and "I'm Bored" - both which will pull up deals from nearby restaurants, often with a expiration time hours away. Such an offering will be a welcome marketing tool for local restaurants, Groupon Now's president Rob Solomon, Groupon's president, told Business Week, as it will help eliminate perishable inventory such as food ingredients or otherwise idle labor hours.
"If we get this right," Solomon says, "we are going to influence what tens of millions of people are buying at a frequency that we have never seen before."
It is a concept on which LivingSocial has also seized. "This new mobile initiative will help drive customers through the doors exactly when needed," said John Bax, chief financial officer of LivingSocial, Chicago. "Businesses can create a big campaign and pick the time they want to offer the deals. (via Mobile Commerce).


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HP's board of directors has shut down a proposal from Xerox to acquire HP for US$33.5 billion – but it's still willing to talk.
In a letter made public overnight, HP's Chip Bergh and Enrique Lores explain to Xerox vice chairman and CEO John Visentin that although HP is ‘open to exploring' the merger, Xerox's books leave much to be desired.
Bergh and Lores write, “Our board of directors has reviewed and considered your unsolicited proposal dated November 5, 2019 at a meeting with our financial and legal advisors and has unanimously concluded that it significantly undervalues HP and is not in the best interests of HP shareholders.
“In reaching this determination, the board also considered the highly conditional and uncertain nature of the proposal, including the potential impact of outsized debt levels on the combined company's stock.
Xerox pursued the $33.5 billion deal, which would offer HP shareholders $22 per share.
Visentin described some of the potential merger benefits as follows:
“By combining R-D capabilities and financial resources, together we can accelerate the transformation of our businesses and take a leadership role in key growth markets such as: 3D printing, digital packaging and labels, graphics, textile printing, workflow software and iot enabled services.
“It is difficult to conceive of a strategic alternative for either company that delivers superior value,” Visentin adds.
Xerox believes that it could achieve cost synergies of $2 billion over 24 months, including $1.5 billion in cost savings from R-D and corporate functions and $0.5 billion from scale, combined supply chain, and distribution footprint.
HP conducted due diligence and decided not to proceed with the proposal.
Bergh and Lores explain that although the company is open to exploring potential to create value for HP shareholders through a merger, there are serious doubts about Xerox's financial health.
“We have fundamental questions that need to be addressed in our diligence of Xerox. We note the decline of Xerox's revenue from $10.2 billion to $9.2 billion (on a trailing 12-month basis) since June 2018, which raises significant questions for us regarding the trajectory of your business and future prospects,” they explain.
“In addition, we believe it is critical to engage in a rigorous analysis of the achievable synergies from a potential combination. With substantive engagement from Xerox management and access to diligence information on Xerox, we believe that we can quickly evaluate the merits of a potential transaction.
“We remain ready to engage with you to better understand your business and any value to be created from a combination.
HP's board of directors recently announced a cash dividend of US $0.1762 per share on the company's common stock.
The dividend, the first in HP's fiscal year 2020, is payable on January 2, 2020, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 11, 2019. HP has approximately 1.5 billion shares of common stock outstanding.


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Toshiba Matsushita Display is about to mass-produce OLED screens that could be used for a wide range of portable devices, according to a report from Japan’s Nikkei BP. The joint venture between Toshiba and Matsushita (Panasonic) is claimed to be producing as many as one million 2.5-inch organic screens per month starting from Autumn of 2009 and would be the first Japanese company to do so.
The development would be primarily targeted at cellphones, GPS navigators, and other handhelds, the newspaper says, though no specific products have been announced. The screen size is also commonly used for portable media players such as the iPod classic and Zune 80.
OLEDs are currently either under two inches in size and used only in basic players or are else larger and used for TVs, such as Sony’s 11-inch XEL-1. The technology is considered crucial to the future of handheld devices as it’s more color-accurate and thinner than LCDs. It also doesn’t require a backlight and so consumes less power than earlier displays.


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New EU renewable energy target will likely lead to accelerated EV adoption
A new agreement between the European Parliament and European Council is expected to step up the adoption of electric vehicles, thanks to a new EU target for renewable energy. The agreement has been reached by the European Parliament and European Council, after exhaustive negotiations, under the revised Renewable Energy Directive.
According to reports, the new EU agreement seeks a 32 percent bloc-wide target for renewable energy by the year 2030. In addition, the agreement will also apparently result in an expanded use of solar and wind energy; thanks to the inclusion of a number of “citizen energy” measures, like eliminating grid charges for rooftop solar panels of under 25 kilowatts.
Furthermore, the agreement has also led to the setting of a new 14 percent renewable energy target in transport, including electric-vehicle (EV) incentives. It also includes more stringent regulations for bio-fuels used in transport, particularly palm oil and other crop-based fuels.
With regard to the noteworthy agreement between the European Parliament and European Council, Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly said that the agreement will potentially pave the way for secure, cost-effective and climate-friendly energy for Europe.
Kelly, the main negotiator for the European People’s Party, also highlighted the fact that the 27 percent target proposed by the council and the commission “was outdated,” especially because the Paris Climate Agreement is already in place, and costs of renewable are falling.
According to reports, automaker Kia has efforts underway to launch its Niro EV -- a battery-powered version of the Kia Niro -- in Singapore in early 2019.
Ride-hailing service Ola has announced its plan to add 10,000 electric three wheelers in India over next 12 months.
With Germany targeting a figure of 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) cars on its roads by the year 2020, Munich-based EV start-up Sono Motors has efforts underway to launch its solar-powered electric car ‘Sion’ in 2019.
According to the findings of a new study published in the Nature Energy science magazine, one of the key problems which have apparently slowed down the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe is poor shopping experience at car dealerships.
In a new massive energy storage project in the UK, battery packs of BMW i3 electric car have been used for connecting to the UK National Grid.
The potential sales of US electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla could be threatened in China, after a decision by the Chinese authorities to include electric vehicles (EVs) among the US-product imports on which additional tariffs are being levied.


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1226 results from all titles
A new international convention centre planned for the Celtic Manor Resort, near Newport in Wales, has been submitted to the city council.
I am pleased to see that the Welsh Government and Welsh bus operators have agreed payments for the Welsh scheme going forward at a... continue
Supermarket chain Aldi used unauthorised ANPR cameras at its store in Mold in Flintshire during a 12-month period, Flintshire County Council has... continue
Some visitors to the Royal Welsh Show will have to pay £20 a day to park at a 500-space car park opposite the showground for the first time in... continue


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Huami is said to be working on introducing new features on its Amazfit brand of smartwatches. With various products under its portfolio, including affordable health trackers, experts are guessing that Huami will introduce ECG and blood pressure monitoring, improvements in AI deep learning, and possible Spotify integration.
This was disclosed in an interview by Zepp Health COO Mike Yeung. Zepp is a separate brand under Huami just like the Amazfit brand, reports GizmoChina. Mr. Yeung hinted that Huami was currently engaging with the US FDA to get its algorithm certified and also working on areas such as ECG and blood pressure monitoring. He also stated that the company was already in partnership with Alivecor in the US.
“We are currently engaging with the US FDA and on areas such as ECG and blood pressure monitoring. While we are getting our own algorithm to be FDA certified, we are already in partnership with AliveCor here in the States,” Mr. Yeung said.
Yeung also disclosed details on a potential Spotify partnership to help bring a standalone app for future Zepp Health devices. The goal of this partnership is to raise publicity and user interest in the US. Another point of focus is getting contactless payments onboard.
In 2018, Huami acquired Silicon Valley-based smart wearable company Zepp. The takeover has helped Huami to elevate further into the smart wearables space with new innovations and technologies.
“Everybody heard about how Apple Watch got FDA approval, but to be frank, almost 18 months before that, we actually had our Health Band certified as a medical device by the China FDA so it can measure ECG accurately as a medical device,” Yeung added.
In addition to the ECG smartwatch, Huami is reportedly working on cuffless blood pressure monitoring and glucose tracking.
“Our biggest achievement is firstly our ECG, and secondly, sleep research. We’re going to continue to refine those further, and then the upcoming is in blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring. We are also quite optimistic now, based on current progress, about glucose monitoring. It’s been a difficult nut to crack, but we are now more optimistic than ever that we can do it,” Yeung disclosed.


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Hanjin Group’s Korean Air Lines (KAL) is under growing pressure from creditors to sell its businesses to solve its cash flow issues.
Samjong KPMG, which is an accounting adviser to KAL, will soon complete valuation of the company’s individual businesses to report the results to both KAL management and creditors led by the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), sources said on June 8.
Among the business units speculated on as potential candidates for sale are in-flight meal services, mileage services and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) services.
Separately Credit Suisse is also estimating the value of KAL’s assets and consulting to the company on the possible sale of them. Attracting attention is the investment bank’s role in the airline’s restructuring efforts.
The official title of the contract between the two parties does not include the word sale but “consulting,” which is at odds with typical practice.This is seemingly because of the difference between Hanjin Group and KDB, the airline’s largest creditor, in their approach to selling the airline’s assets, industry watchers said.
Hanjin Group’s senior management, including chairman Cho Won-tae, is trying to sell KAL’s assets – if they have to be sold – as quietly as possible over concerns about a negative impact on its brand image.
KAL is said to have not included options of selling its business units in a self-rescue plan submitted earlier to creditors. On the other hand, KDB is seeing that selling some of the airline’s businesses is necessary to secure sufficient liquidity.
KAL can externally rule out the possibility of selling its businesses because Credit Suisse is not officially acting as deal manager. But KDB may put pressure on the company through Credit Suisse, of which KDB is one of the key clients.
“KDB will likely press KAL to sell its businesses to potential buyers identified by Credit Suisse,” an industry insider said.
“The pace of a possible sale would depend on how much more power creditors will have as KAL is taking a cautious approach to its asset sale.”
Chances are high that creditors will have a stronger voice in the future because the restructuring plan proposed by KAL has become less practical.
Creditors are demanding that KAL raise at least 2 trillion won ($1.66 billion) of capital by the end of 2021. Interest from investors in KAL’s businesses is also high, which raises the possibility of an actual sale.
“KAL initially planned to sell its land in the central Seoul area and its stake in Wangsan Marina to avoid selling its operating businesses,” the industry insider said. “But now that it has become difficult to execute the original plan, pressure on KAL to sell its businesses is likely to mount in the future.” (Reporting by Ik-hwan Choi)


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A large number of students thronged to the first Startup India bootcamp in Raipur on July 30, indicating how entrepreneurial dreams among the youth are not limited to the metros.
The bootcamp was organised as part of the launch of the Startup India Yatra in Chhattisgarh after the first leg in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. In Chhattisgarh, the yatra will make its way to key cities such as Bilaspur, Raigarh, Dantewada, Kanker as well as travel to remote areas such as Korba, Koria, Surguja, Jashpur, Balodabazar, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Balod, Dhamtari, Kondagaon and Jagdalpur. The bootcamps will be held in government engineering colleges and polytechnic institutes in the respective cities and towns.
These bootcamps aim to promote job creation in tier 2 and tier 3 cities and towns and offer aspiring entrepreneurs lessons on business planning and how to start up . The bootcamps also feature presentations on Startup India and the Chhattisgarh Startup Policy and include intensive ideation workshops. This is followed by a pitch fest where the participants can submit their startup ideas, and shortlisted ideas get a chance to be incubated in the state run incubators.
The only criteria to participate in the yatra is that the aspiring young entrepreneurs have to register on www.startupindiahub.org.
At the bootcamp in Raipur a brochure on Startup Chhattisgarh Yojana was released. The Startup Chhattisgarh Yojana was launched in 2016, under which the state government offers several incentives for startup entrepreneurs and supports the growth of the startup ecosystem in the state. In a span of less than two years, 3,800 ideas were submitted, of which 125 ideas have been selected to be registered and supported under the Startup India programme. The state government has also launched a website www.startupcg.com for this. So far, a total of 19,000 students across 40 districts in five states have benefitted from the Yatra, with over 90 startups and entrepreneurs receiving grants or incubation offers from the respective State governments.
The Indian Government’s Startup India initiative envisages building a robust startup ecosystem in the country for nurturing innovation and providing opportunities to budding entrepreneurs. In tandem with this mission, the programme has been able to gather registration of 10,999 startups, generating employment to 1,09,869 people, according to the official press release.
In Chhattisgarh, the Startup India Yatra will further boost entrepreneurial talents in the state by giving aspirants from rural towns and cities access to important elements of the ecosystem.


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The Sandbox is a gaming platform located in Hong Kong, China, which allows users to use non-homogeneous tokens (NFTC) to create a virtual world.The company told Reuters on Monday that it had raised $93 million from investors led by SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2.
The latest financing was carried out more than a year after its last round of financing, when the company’s monthly active users grew rapidly, and the transaction volume on the platform exceeded $144 million. This also marked the first time Vision Fund 2 invested in a company issuing its own cryptocurrency.
The Sandbox, controlled by blockchain game developer Animoca Brands, allows players to build, own and monetize their virtual gaming experience on the Ethereum blockchain. It provides creators with ownership as an NFT, and also provides tools for creating assets on the platform.
In addition, it has announced collaborations with a number of brands and celebrities, including rapper Snoop Dogg, who will create a digital copy of his mansion in the meta-universe of Sandbox.
Although the company declined to disclose its valuation, the market value of its supported cryptocurrency, Sandbox Coin, is close to 2 billion U.S. dollars. The company stated that it currently owns about 22% of the tokens.
After Facebook announced last week that it would change its name to Meta Platforms Inc, the price of the coin has jumped by more than 200%, which aroused investors’ interest in building a metaspace game experience company. Metaverse refers to the concept of a shared virtual platform, people can enter the platform through different devices and can move in the digital environment.
COO and co-founder Sebastien Borget said in an interview with Reuters that this investment will help promote the economic growth of Sandbox creators as it expands from games to fashion, architecture and virtual concerts.
“We are creating this open meta-universe,” Borget said. “We position Sandbox as a countermeasure against giant technology companies that claim that meta-space is its ownership and provide a user-first alternative.”
In the explosive growth of the NFT market, SoftBank has led a series of financings among NFT-related companies this year. Its recent investments also include the sports NFT startup Candy Digital and the NFT fantasy football game Sorare.


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Apart from this, Oppo also announced the launch of Oppo F5 Youth which it will start rolling out from December onward. You can also catch the live streaming details right here. The OPPO F5 is the successor to the OPPO F3 launched a year ago and comes with a bezel-less design, improved hardware, and enhanced cameras. Now, it is set to launch in India, one of the biggest smartphone markets in the world.
Oppo F5 selfie smartphone has been launched in India, just a week after it was unveiled in the Philippines. It will be interesting to see which RAM variant of Oppo F5 will be launched in India.
OPPO also launched the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage variant in red and black colour priced at Rs 24,99 as well as an F5 Youth edition in black and gold colours - both these variants will be available from December 2017.
The smartphone is powered from the MediaTek manufactured MT6763T silicon chip, paired with 4 GB or 6 GB RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB onboard flash storage with a dedicated micro SD card slot (up to 256 GB). After the R11, the Oppo F5 also gets the minimal bezel treatment - the word minimal being the key point here. Oppo has baked in AI into this selfie camera and trained it with images shot by professionals so that the phone is able to recreate that effect in the selfies. The Oppo F5 is the company's first offering to come with a full-screen display with an 18:9 aspect ratio.
On the back, there's also a nice 16-megapixel camera with a f/1.8 aperture which should provide good low light performance.
Talking about the camera of the Oppo F5, the company said, "With more than 200 positioning spots, the F5 accentuates your facial landmarks and contours to enhance the symmetry between features like your eyes, nose, cheekbones and jawline to create the perfectly refined and natural selfie". After the recent launch in Philippines, the smartphone has, as expected, got official with its 20-megapixel front facing camera and a new aspect ratio on the display. The handset supports dual Nano-SIM cards and packs a separate microSD card slot. It comes in two variants, 4GB RAM with 32GB storage and 6GB RAM with 64GB storage.
The Oppo F5 runs on Android 7.1 Nougat with ColorOS 3.2 skinned on top. The Facial Unlock speed is relatively fast in our test, you may check out the unboxing and hands-on below. The Oppo F5 weighs 152 grams and measures 156.5x76x7.5mm. This entire package is backed by a 3200mAh battery and has support for Oppo's proprietary VOOC charging tech.


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Apple supplier Quanta Computer is reportedly ramping up production of the long-rumored 15-inch MacBook Air.
The MacBook Air is Apple’s most popular notebook, but only comes in a 13-inch form factor. The company has been rumored to be planning a 15-inch model, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman pegging WWDC 2023 for the release.
According to MacRumors, Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring issued a research note to clients indicating Quanta has been ramping up production of the new model. The analyst says the supplier expects single-digit percentage growth in Q2 2023 in its notebook assemblies, driven largely by the new MacBook.
Given how popular the MacBook Air line is, a 15-inch model will likely be a big hit, giving users a larger screen in an affordable package.


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April 6, 2010
Nestle opens US$15 million dairy and ice cream plant in the Philippines
Nestle Philippines Inc. formally opened its new PHP700 million (US$15.58 million) ice cream and chilled dairy factory in the province of Bulacan.
Nestle Philippines chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) John Miller said the plant--located in the town of Pulilan--is one of the company's long-term investments.
Miller said the new Nestle investment "will be able to help make a positive difference in the lives of our consumers as we stay true to our mission of nurturing generations of Filipino families. We look forward to a successful partnership with the town of Pulilan as we work together for the realization of this mission."
NestlÃ© Ice Cream Factory head Val Dizon said that the speedy completion of the factory was an "organizational feat", considering that while construction was ongoing, production at the old Aurora factory continued, inventories of stocks had to be built up, and 220 personnel were transferred to the new site.
Miller added that the goal for the new factory is to make it the benchmark facility for delivering world-class performance in the production of ice cream and chilled dairy.


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Noritake take the cover for June/July issue
The latest issue of Tableware International is online now. Featuring news, views, trends and more, the June/July 2020 magazine is brimming with things to know.
Noritake Australia tell us about a tableware renaissance in the Antipodes, along with giving us a flavour of some exciting new launches from them. Meanwhile, our trend expert Donna Ferrari â€“ who always has her finger on the pulse â€“ looks at pieces which have been inspired by land, sea and sky.
Likewise, another man with his finger on the pulse is Ambienteâ€™s director of dining Thomas Kastl who speaks to us about the future of HoReCaâ€™s Hall 6 â€“ hint, it is bright! The majority of 2020 exhibitors have already signed on for 2021, he tells us.
Speaking of HoReCa, as restaurants, cafes and hotels open their doors, we bring you some recent releases to keep tables looking fresh. And Valda Goodfellow of G&G Goodfellows is as forward-thinking, practical and positive as ever in her column.
Stepping away from HoReCa, we look at colour trends such as â€˜Terracottaâ€™ and the serene â€˜Blues/Greens and Greysâ€™ which are permanently in vogue. And speaking of blues, Porcelâ€™s gorgeous Adamastor is the focus of our Collection Dissection as we catch up with designer Filipa Ricardo who gives us insight into the inspiration behind the design.
All this and much moreâ€¦


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KUCHING: A woman from Sarawak, who was stranded in Sungai Petani, Kedah due to the movement control order (MCO), has claimed to be the victim of an online cake (kek lapis) ordering fraud.
Zaliha Hassan, a Mirian, has been stranded in Sungai Petani, Kedah since the implementation of the MCO when she went there to visit her grandchildren.
According to Zaliha, after she saw the online sale of kek lapis on Facebook, she placed her order and paid for the prices through online banking.
She waited for her order after paying RM92.80 including postal charges for two types of kek lapis and one cake roll to a company based in Kuala Lumpur.
Zaliha said 10 days after placing her order, she whatsApped the owner of the company but was told that the cakes had been posted to her on April 29.
“Ten days after that, I texted him again, asking for the latest status of the kek lapis and cake roll. I told him the other items we ordered from Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kota Bharu and other places had all arrived.
“He said it might be due to postal and freight issues … bla bla bla,” said Zaliha.
She said she repeatedly asked the owner of the company to forward the tracking number but he was silent and yesterday, he blocked her number and couldn’t be contacted.
Believing that there were also other customers being cheated by the same person, she advised the public not to fall victims to the fraud.
Zaliha said she would lodge a police report on the case soon.


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The National Music Publishing Association (NMPA) is ramping up its battle with Peloton, claiming that more than 1,300 song infringements have taken place on the fitness technology company’s platform. The latest amended complaint follows a March filing against Peloton for infringement of more than 1,000 musical works seeking damages of over $150 million. The plaintiffs included publishers Downtown Music Publishing, Pulse Music Publishing, ole, peermusic, Ultra Music, Big Deal Music, Reservoir, Round Hill, TRO Essex Music Group and The Royalty Network.
Says NMPA President and CEO David Israelite: “Since filing this lawsuit we have now discovered more than double the number of songs for which the plaintiffs’ songwriters were never paid by Peloton. The fact that Peloton has gone this long without proper music licenses is astounding. Peloton has reportedly paid only around 2% of its total revenue for music, and we now know a significant amount of the music it has used hasn’t been paid for at all. We’ve filed an amended complaint adding 1,324 songs to the lawsuit, including songs recorded by Taylor Swift, Adele, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Lizzo, Charlie Puth, Meek Mill, John Legend, Maroon 5 and many more.
“Peloton has let down its customers by failing to pay music creators while selling its memberships at a premium. Peloton’s customers pay for customized workout entertainment and Peloton’s popularity depends on the accessibility of music on its platform. We will continue to fight to make this right for songwriters and Peloton’s users who both deserve better.”
According to the NMPA, Peloton has procured licenses from some publishers but it “has failed to do so with a significant number” of others.
In a statement provide to Variety in March, a rep for Peloton said the company was “evaluating” the claims, adding: “Peloton has great respect for songwriters and artists. In fact, we have partnered with each of the major music publishers, record labels and performing rights organizations, and many leading independents. We have also invested heavily to build a best-in-breed reporting and licensing system to support our partners and provide our members with a world-class fitness experience.”


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DLC Characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Learn about each and every DLC character Nintendo plans to introduce into the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster.
The oft-repeated theme of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is that "everyone is here," and "everyone" in this case includes five upcoming DLC characters. Nintendo is currently offering access to these new DLC fighters through the game's Fighter's Pass, but the company hasn't yet revealed all of the Smash Ultimate DLC characters. We do know of at least one, however, and a few leaked details seem to reveal to a specific contender as the second unlockable DLC character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Smash Ultimate DLC Character #1: Joker from Persona 5
The first DLC character coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was revealed during the Game Awards 2018, and a brief trailer was shown off teasing players with the fact that Joker from Persona 5 would be the latest addition to the Smash Ultimate roster. Check out the reveal trailer below.
For those who might not be in the know, the inclusion of Joker is all the more noteworthy considering that Persona 5 is a PlayStation exclusive game. It's not only interesting to see yet-another series dip a toe into Smash, players now know that characters from other exclusive titles are welcome to join the fray. Even though Joker hasn't appeared in-game just yet, players should be on the lookout for him soon.
Smash Ultimate DLC Character #2: Leaked details
Though Nintendo hasn't offered any sort of specifics about which DLC fighter is set to land in Smash Ultimate after Persona 5's Joker, we at least have one interesting lead. According to a report from ScreenRant, a leaker who goes by the name of Vergeben over on GameFaqs learned about another individual who had lost their job at Square Enix due to a number of leaks. According to that source, the next DLC character will Erdrick from the Dragon Quest series.
Erdrick would certainly be an interesting character to see in Smash Ultimate, though his inclusion doesn't seem quite as fantastic as Joker's. Still, this information should be treated as a rumor for now — until Nintendo announces which fighter will join the Smash ranks next, all we have to go in is speculation.
Beyond these two, the next three DLC characters will be anyone's guess. Still, players who know they'll want access to new fighters the moment they become available can pick up the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighter's Pass, which guarantees access to each fighter and throws in their stages and theme music as a little extra bonus.
The rest of the Smash Ultimate DLC fighters will have to remain a mystery for now, but the one confirmed new fighter and leaked details about the next DLC character at least show that Nintendo is still working on making the latest Smash the biggest crossover game in the series. For more top-tier news and guides, be sure to stop by Shacknews' Super Smash Bros. Ultimate walkthrough and guide.
Kevin Tucker posted a new article, DLC Characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
We'll see if it's legit, but I did call Erdrick/Loto in our last speculation thread:


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A while back, we believed that the OnePlus 2 was scheduled to be unveiled sometime towards the end of the third quarter of this year, but now we know for sure that the device will be launched much sooner.
OnePlus has now made it official that the OnePlus 2 will be launched on July 27 (7PM PT), saying that this is going to be the world’s first product launch in VR. The Chinese company claims that we will ‘be able to experience it in virtual reality,’ suggesting that product launches are quite dull and repetitive. Here’s how OnePlus plans to change that with the launch of its upcoming smartphone:
A VR launch lets you stand right next to our team and our fans as we unveil our new flagship. You’ll be able to look around as you check out the phone in a new way and maybe even find a few hidden Easter eggs. It’s a new way of thinking about a product launch. We aren’t talking at you; we are talking with you.
As it praises the VR concept, OnePlus also said that it will be releasing its own OnePlus Cardboard, as well, and the official webpage implies that it’s going to be made available for free.
The not so great news is that Once the OnePlus 2 is unveiled, you will still need an invite to get one, which is something that’s no longer required for the first-generation. The reason for this is most likely the fact that OnePlus doesn’t have such a complex and mature supply chain as other more established companies, but maybe it will help to wrap the second-generation with an exclusivity veil, as well.
We already know quite a few things about the upcoming device – it’s going to feature Snapdragon 810 SoC and OxygenOS and it will get the newest USB Type-C. Still in the rumor phase are the amount of RAM, its price and the possibility for another design-focused smartphone that will accompany the OnePlus 2.