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We know how mobile phones are increasingly turning into the main shopping tool of online shoppers, but news of eCommerce sales growing by means of these devices still never fails to amaze us.
It clearly validates the value of a responsive website design that’s easy to view and navigate, especially on devices with small screens.
The latest scoop from online smartphone retailer Mobiles.co.uk revealed that the total eCommerce sales made via smartphones increased by 19% in December 2017 compared to the previous year.
Orders made from desktop computers, meanwhile, fell from 47% to 45% while sales from tablets dropped to 14% from 17% in the same period.
The report also disclosed that 88% of consumers conduct product research on their mobile before buying, which ties in with Google’s data: 76% of people who search for something nearby on their phone wind up in a related business within a day, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase.
In addition to that, the report found that those who search for products on a smartphone are more likely to be using mobile-optimised sites than shopping apps.
Who would’ve thought the thing that only transmitted text messages and connected calls once upon a time would evolve into an indispensable instrument for eCommerce success?
As to how online retailers like you can take advantage of society’s mobile addiction to improve their business, Andrew Cartledge, mobile expert at Mobiles.co.uk, said:
“Smartphones have changed shopping habits, and we believe for the better. They allow consumers to shop 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our own results showing that while orders on smartphones have increased, which is in-line with general trends of smartphone use. The way consumers use smartphones has influence across the research, consideration and order touch points of a consumer’s journey.”
How ready are you to accommodate the growing number of mobile-based online shoppers? We hope to hear from you in the comments below.
As always, to your continued success,
Dave & Matt


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"Women are at the heart of our economic future"
Business quote of the day.
Women are at the heart of our economic future
Minister for women and equalities Maria Miller, who will outline plans today to boost the national business mentoring scheme by £100,000 to target female entrepreneurs. The coalition government will also look to update rules which hold back new businesses, particularly start-ups based online or those which use technology that didn’t exist when the regulations were created.

domain: news


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TASER Technologies (NASDAQ:AXON) is locked in a war with tiny rival Digital Ally -- a battle to control the market for police body cameras. And in war, if you want to distract an enemy from your main attack, it never hurts to open a second front -- which is just what Digital Ally has done.
Earlier this month, we told you all about TASER's attack on the validity of a Digital Ally patent on "auto-activation" of remote recording devices linked to body cameras. Digital Ally quickly dismissed TASER's challenge as "simply more of the same" arguments it has already made in the past, insisting its patents will hold up to scrutiny.
Now, Digital Ally is following up that riposte with a new attack of its own, announcing its entry into "the non-lethal weapon market" that TASER pioneered.
TASER's stunguns, as you know, fire projectiles, and then electrify them by running current from the stun gun to the projectile along thin wires -- stunning the target. In contrast, Digital Ally says it has invented a "wireless long-range electroshock weapon" that will "fire a wireless direct contact projectile from a launcher." The projectile incorporates a charge-delivery device, eliminating the need to run current along a wire from stun gun to projectile.
Essentially, it's a gunpowder-thrown cattle prod.
Digital Ally touts its new product as an "innovation" in the market -- not just because it works without wires, but also because it fires projectiles at a low muzzle velocity less likely to injure the target on impact. Also, once the projectile strikes its target, the user can dial the intensity of the charge up or down through a radio controller.
Why that's significant
Digital Ally's innovations are significant -- because they specifically target aspects of TASER's own weapons. By cutting the cord, so to speak, Digital Ally aims to create a weapon more versatile than TASER's ubiquitous stun guns. By reducing the velocity of the projectile, Digital Ally addresses criticisms of TASER's own attempt at creating a wireless stun gun.
That's right. About a decade ago, TASER itself invented a wireless stun gun called the XREP, which fired a self-electrifying charge from a 12-gauge shotgun. Upon impact, XREP would pierce its target's skin and then hang there, electrocuting its target for 20 seconds before running out of juice. Amnesty International, however, criticized the device, calling XREP "horrible," "horrific," and "a seriously dangerous weapon." TASER no longer actively markets XREP -- and hasn't tried to sell anything similar since pulling the old product -- but now Digital Ally will.
What it means to investors
Digital Ally estimates the value of the global market for "non-lethal weapons" at $8.5 billion and casts its new stun-gun concept as its opening volley toward capturing a piece of this market. It could succeed. After all, while Digital Ally is still working up the technology to develop its "product prototype," TASER itself -- with about $160 million in annual stun-gun sales -- still controls less than 2% of this market after nearly a quarter-century in business. The market remains fragmented and offers plenty of room for a new entrant.
That said, unless Digital Ally can both perfect its new weapon and simultaneously address the criticisms that doomed TASER's own effort in this direction, its new weapon may meet the same fate a TASER's XREP. Until it does this, TASER's tech remains the one to beat.


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Samsung and Intel are working together on the development of the Linux kernel based open-source mobile platform – Tizen. Just days back The Mobile Indian reported about Samsung’s attempts to delay the launch of Tizen mobile OS based products. Now a blog (Tizen Indonesia), quoting Korea based mobile industry sources, claimed that a Tizen based smartphone will be launched in October this year.
Samsung and Intel backed Tizen project has been more than a side project for both companies. While the other open source mobile operating systems like Ubuntu for phones and Firefox OS are rampaging through the development process, reports about Tizen testing remains little lukewarm.
Despite of the speculations about Samsung dropping the Tizen platform, the company has confirmed of supporting the project. In fact, Samsung is planning a big developer conference on October 27 in San Francisco, USA and the registration will open in two days.
Samsung is expected to give a sneak peak on the Tizen development so far and might just announce the first Tizen smartphone at the conference. The first smartphone is promised to pack high-end features but the major concern is the app eco-system to attract the users to this platform.


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While the U.S. gave Huawei a 90-day reprieve, allowing American businesses to keep selling specific products to the Chinese firm, it also added more affiliates of the...Technologyread more
The attacks come after state and local ransomware attacks in New York, Louisiana, Maryland and Florida resulted in the loss of significant sums.Technologyread more
China's pursuit of the Middle East may spur growth in the Islamic finance sector.World Economyread more
Twitter and Facebook have suspended accounts believed to be tied to a state-backed disinformation campaign originating from inside China.Technologyread more
United States Steel Corp will temporarily lay off hundreds of workers at its Great Lakes facility in Michigan in coming weeks, according to a filing the steelmaker made with...US Marketsread more
The report comes as Trump in recent days has lashed out over media reports about growing recession fears.Politicsread more
Beijing will lower borrowing costs for companies, but that may not boost the economy as much as some hope.China Economyread more
Stocks are bouncing higher but could be trapped in a range longer term, until there's a resolution of the trade wars.Market Insiderread more
Stocks in Asia mostly traded higher Tuesday afternoon as minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia's July meeting were released. The People's Bank of China also published its...Asia Marketsread more
Powell will have the opportunity if not to walk back the "midcycle" assessment then to at least provide some further explanation about what it means.Economyread more
Apple has spent more than $6 billion on original TV shows and movies for its forthcoming Apple TV+ service, according to a Financial Times report on Monday.Technologyread more
He told CNBC's "Fast Money: Halftime Report" he thought seriously about selling his stake in the drugmaker, but decided he could "fix it." Ackman's holdings have endured a dismal year, hit in particular by the stake in Valeant.
His Pershing Square Capital Management portfolio had a return of -17.5 percent this year as of April 26.
Valeant shares had lost about 9 percent Monday but cut the losses in half as Ackman spoke. He touted changes in the company's structure and leadership, like its new CEO Joseph Papa.
Ackman said he aims to create a "meaningful" turnaround for the company. He added he believes Valeant has "made appropriate changes in personnel."
Ackman noted that Valeant is not considering selling any "core" assets, despite interest from buyers.
The drugmaker on Friday filed its long-delayed annual report, helping it prevent a default on its $30 billion in debt. It pointed out misstatements that would cut some of its previously reported sales.
During a Senate hearing last week on Valeant's drug pricing, Ackman said his first priority was to make sure the company did not go bankrupt.
Many politicians have recently looked to take more action on reining in increases in the price of drugs that aren't widely available. Ackman noted that price cuts at Valeant are "absolutely" on the table.
— Reuters contributed to this report.


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The crypto exchange Bullish could announce a SPAC deal soon, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
What Happened: Bullish is in talks to go public via SPAC Far Peak Acquisition (NYSE:FPAC). The deal could value Bullish at up to $12 billion.
Peter Thiel is an investor in the company along with Richard Li, Nomura Holdings and Galaxy Digital (OTC:BRPHF).
Bloomberg reports that Bullish has received interest from potential investors that would take part of a PIPE that could be in the “hundreds of millions of dollars” range.
Related Link: 7 SPACs To Play The Rise Of Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency Stocks
Why It’s Important: Bullish was capitalized by Block.one earlier this year, according to Fortune.
This funding included $10 billion in digital assets and cash made up of 164,000 Bitcoin valued at $9.7 billion, $100 million in cash and 20 million EOS tokens powering the Block.one transactions.
Bullish seeks to leverage blockchain technology with DeFi architecture.
The fall of the price of Bitcoin has decreased the value of the assets held by Bullish, which Bloomberg said could impact the valuation of the company as part of the deal.
Far Peak was launched by former New York Stock Exchange President Tom Farley and raised $550 million in a December listing. Farley was with NYSE when it invested $75 million in Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN).
The investment in Coinbase at the time was the largest investment ever made in a Bitcoin related company. The NYSE also launched a Bitcoin Index in 2015.
Farley called Bitcoin a “growth market” in 2015 and has been bullish on the cryptocurrency market.
FPAC Price Action: Shares of FPAC were up 2.06% to $9.92.
Disclosure: Author is long shares BRPHF and FPAC.


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No Man's Sky graces the cover of this month's issue of Edge Online. Here's the cover as an animated gif:
Need a reason to learn how to play the electric guitar? YouTube musician FamilyJules7X demonstrates how well mad guitar skills and gaming go together in his triumphant electric cover of Jonathan Coulton's "Want You Gone."
Game Informer has revealed the cover for its February issue, dedicated to Bethesda's recently-revealed The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and while the front is rather classy and subdued, there's a mysterious party going on around back.
Catching up on some E3 news, last week EA Sports put up - then removed - a page depicting Chicago Blackhawk Jonathan Toews in a definite cover art pose. Operation Sports snagged that screengrab before it was taken down.
He's also sharing it with a rookie. Billed as an advertisement of the game's Ryder Cup features, some take the pairing with Rory McIlroy as more fallout from Tiger's inability to abstain from sex with women not named Mrs. Woods.
It's official, God of War III hits stores beginning March 16. (That's a Tuesday for those of you planning illnesses.)


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BitsCrunch raises $3.6M in funding for NFT analytics tools
Crypto and nonfungible token (NFT) ecosystem analytics agency BitsCrunch has secured $3.6 million in a funding spherical led by Animoca Manufacturers, Coinbase Ventures, Crypto.com Capital and others.
BitsCrunch makes use of AI-based analytical instruments to find out the truthful worth of NFTs, establish wash buying and selling warnings and decide whether or not an NFT is a duplicate or forgery of the real asset. The corporate is predicated in Germany and India.
The agency believes that traders within the frequently rising house want higher entry to information that may defend them from fakes and getting fooled by ingenuine buying and selling quantity.
We’re excited to announce that we’ve accomplished an oversubscribed non-public token spherical of $3.6M USD, led by @animocabrands & with participation from @coinbase @cryptocom @polygonstudios & a number of others. An in depth thread pic.twitter.com/a5La2z5jym
— bitsCrunch | #SecureYourNFTs (@bitsCrunch) February 24, 2022
BitsCrunch CEO Vijay Pravin Maharajan informed Cointelegraph on Friday that his firm at the moment helps NFTs on Ethereum (ETH), Polygon (MATIC) and Avalanche (AVAX) however that he plans to make use of funds “to develop the workforce that may deal with securing many outstanding blockchains like Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), Algorand (ALGO) and others.”
The agency stated in a Thursday tweet that it hopes the brand new additions will make the “entire ecosystem extra reliable & safe for the neighborhood.”
Animoca Manufacturers, the spherical’s main investor, has been one of the vital prolific VC corporations investing within the NFT house. Final month, it was valued at $5 billion because of the stage of revenue in its funding portfolio, which incorporates Axie Infinity, The Sandbox and lots of different NFT-based initiatives.
Animoca co-founder Yat Siu said in a Frida announcement that BitsCrunch is in an excellent place to help traders in making knowledgeable funding selections. He added that it may possibly “contribute meaningfully to the protection and safety of the rising open metaverse.”
The quantity of funds raised for NFT initiatives simply over the previous 30 days means that demand stays excessive for growth within the discipline. Crypto fundraising tracker Airtable shows a minimum of 27 different NFT initiatives have raised a collective $251 million since Jan. 25.
Associated: Monster Vitality recordsdata NFT and metaverse trademark functions
Though the all-time main NFT market, OpenSea, has suffered from decreased buying and selling quantity curiosity within the asset class has not pale. A lot of the buying and selling quantity for the preferred asset aside from ETH on Ethereum seems to have shifted from OpenSea over to the LooksRare market due to its decrease charges and better returns for traders.


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The simplicity of mobile issues before, like SIM network unlock PIN and changing themes has definitely escalated into something bigger today. With most phone manufacturers aim to address these sorts of concern, the evolution of high-quality smartphones has consequently changed these portable equipment’s sole purpose – to make communication easier for people.
With that said, it can be expected that the turnover of simple issues like SIM network unlock PIN to camera lens quality has dominated the manufacturers’ checklist of must-haves in a mobile phone. Indeed, this can be seen in the newest and incoming flagship units of well-known brands such as Apple’s iPhone X and Samsung’s Galaxy S9. Here are our few main points in the grandest mobile rivalry of the nearing future.
A Review on iPhone X’s Revolutionary Specs
Whether you have witnessed how the iPhone X turned its loyal fans go wild in its official announcement last September of this year, the final look and feel of the said mobile unit was a definite to go for.
To fill you in with the details, here are the major considerations on why the iPhone X is a must-have:
A bezel-less screen and a notch
In fact, this one is the boldest change Apple has ever implemented on its units. Not only did it make its screen a complete viewing platform, but it also has finally let go of its home button.
It used a water-resistant technology to keep the device from damages water can bring, incorporated a full, Super Retina OLED display (458 PPI) that measures up to 5.8 inches, and retained the True Tone display technology. All of which enabling this futuristic device to better address users’ needs when it comes to their viewing experience.
In addition, it included a notch on the upper part of the phone where a lot of sensors reside, enabling the face mapping technology possible.
As we’ve mentioned above, Apple has finally let go of its iconic home button for swiping gestures, and its Touch ID fingerprint sensor for a Face ID. Indeed, it may seem a little bit messy at first, but Apple is deciding that people have to embrace the future. By that, they meant the iPhone X.
Through the Face ID, users will be able to unlock their phones with just a look at it. Apple made sure to integrate the finest technologies in the notch to make this security feature possible on its anniversary phone. True to their words, the phone is not only able to recognize you during the day, but also even in the night with its flood illuminator that projects light to your face to make the sensor work.
This feature is also applicable for Apple Pay and third-party apps that support Touch ID.
A11 Bionic processor
This processor, as introduced in the iPhone 8, will also appear in the iPhone X. One can expect that an iPhone performance will never be the same again, as it includes:
- 2 performance cores
- 4 high-quality efficiency cores
- exclusive self-designed GPU
Additionally, the most look forwarded artificial intelligence powered animojis. Need we say more?
This thing about dual-lens cameras is prevalent over premium smartphones today. Apple, in turn, has included one for them, but in a really exciting manner. It has equipped the iPhone X with two 12MP rear cameras that both features an optical image stabilization (OIS). These sensors allow the camera to avoid noise and take better high-quality photos in a faster manner. You will never go wrong with Apple’s products when it comes to photos, indeed.
With this information, one can say that the iPhone X is one of the future phones people will finally get to experience. The overall innovation in the said anniversary phone of Apple has opened a whole new level of mobile experience in their newest product.
A Sneak Peek on Samsung Galaxy S9’s Leaked Specs
Just a few months after the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+‘s release, people can’t help but wonder about the S9’s look and feel. Not to mention that Apple has also released the official look of their anniversary model. Here are a few details we collected from the leaked information of Samsung Galaxy S9 as per Trusted Reviews writing.
An all-around curve
According to Trusted Reviews, a Korean news outlet has reported that Samsung’s working on a lamination process to make phone screens curved on all four sides. This particular information goes to show that Samsung is particularly focused on transforming its flagship Galaxy unit’s display to a full edge-to-edge, almost nonexistent bezel, curved infinity display.
The in-screen fingerprint sensor
Along with the four curved edges, Samsung seems to also let go of its signature Home button in place of an in-screen fingerprint sensor. (Why is everyone doing that?) This one’s good news though, since Samsung will also have to let go of the guilt-inducing smudge-prone fingerprint scanner beside its rear camera lens.
The 7-nanometer processor
We have two things here: a Snapdragon 845 chipset (newest of its line, however, not entirely guaranteed) and the 7nm processor. Just imagine how small that is.
The thing about the Snapdragon 845 chipset is that it’ll surely create a new mobile experience out of the device given the speed and a maximum number of applications it can process. Along with it is the 7nm CPU architecture that’s expected to be integrated into the device. This little number defines the distance between each transistor that makes computing tasks to take place. Simply put, the smaller the number, the more transistors can fit on a single chip – which only means a much better performance that you can expect from the device.
The Exynos chipset
What may be a guaranteed part of the new Samsung Galaxy unit is the new Exynos chipset deployed with an LTE modem. As reports say, it is a preparation for the upcoming 5G era of network speed given the emphasized 1.2GBps optimal download speed.
Thus, no more room for SIM network unlock PIN issues, hopefully.
With these points given, despite that of Samsung Galaxy S9’s unconfirmed specs, these two mobile models are definitely moving into the future through integrating the latest phone technologies and solutions. It may need some getting used to, but it’s still coming – whether it’s today or two years after.
Moreover, it doesn’t matter if you are pro Face ID or in-screen fingerprint sensor – what matters now is that you are going to experience a whole new level of convenience through your smartphone unit. You can wait for November to buy an iPhone X or a few months after the official announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S9 on February 2018, feel free to choose!


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With summer weather already on the horizon, it’s time to get backyard pools up and running. So what’s the best way to approach that task and ensure your little slice of paradise performs optimally throughout this summer and beyond?
“First, it’s important to properly clean and store your winter pool cover,” says Kevin O’Brien of O’Brien Swimming Pool Service. “Probably the most common mistake happens when people take their pool cover off, they let a lot of the dirt and debris fall into the pool and then have a big mess to clean up. You have to drain all the water off the top of the cover and remove any debris before pulling it off.” And after it’s been cleaned, it’s just as important to properly store the winter cover.
People also should avoid draining the pool during the spring’s rainy season, says O’Brien, because they run the risk of actually loosening the pool from the ground. “Make sure the pool is professionally drained, because there are precautions to take, like opening the hydrostatic release valve,” he explains. When it comes time to refill the pool, it’s crucial to rebalance the pool water’s chlorine, salt, and pH or total alkalinity. “I’ve heard of people using Chlorox bleach to treat the pool, which has a lot of byproducts that aren’t good for the pool, as opposed to the regular liquid chlorine used for normal pool sanitation,” O’Brien says.
Chris DePaul, service coordinator at Westport Pools, also recommends checking and balancing the chemicals. Besides chlorine, salt and alkalinity, DePaul says people should examine calcium hardness and CYA (another stabilizer). “I would also lean more toward using products from the pool suppliers as opposed to some of the generic products sold at the big box stores or retailers,” he suggests.
According to DePaul, the most common mistake people make is letting their pool equipment run dry. “Often, people don’t know how to properly start the equipment and get the water flowing. Doing so for the first time can be troublesome, especially with the pool having sat all winter long. If it was winterized properly, all the water has flowed out of the pipes to prevent freezing damage; now doing the reverse can be difficult.” DePaul suggests checking that valves are reopened; otherwise, water pressure could build to the point of causing leaks in the system. On the other hand, “One of the other most common mistakes is not having everything plugged that should be. When the pool is winterized, a lot of plugs are taken out in order for it to drain, and sometimes some of the plugs can be missed in springtime, when a person is starting the pool back up.”
If you’re just now contemplating putting in a pool, Patrick McCormick, president of Baker Pool, offers this advice: “You need at least 3,000 square feet of space to put in an adequate pool,” he says. Concrete pools are not more expensive to build than fiberglass pools or those with vinyl liners, he adds. Still, McCormick says, “Expect it to cost at least $40,000.” The volume of water required to fill a pool, between 20,000 and 35,000 gallons, is something to take into account, too. But greener features are being incorporated into pools today, he adds, like more efficient heaters and in-ground chlorine generators. “These are things people already have to do in California that we’re starting to do here, too,” he says.
It may be too late to build a pool for this summer, but it might be the perfect time to start interviewing pool companies. “Fall is a good time to get a project started for next year. Otherwise you’re rolling the dice,” says McCormick. And with an investment as large as a swimming pool, that’s something no one wants to do.


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Xu Xiaoliang Attends 9th Bonjour Brand Forum: Promoting Development and Win-Win Cooperation of Chinese and French Brands
On 8 November 2023, the 9th Bonjour Brand Forum was successfully held in Shanghai. Themed on "The 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and France: Empowering Brand Innovation Through Cultural Dialogues", the forum aimed to take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and leverage the Paris Olympic Games to create a high-level cultural exchange platform for brands, stimulate innovative ideas, and explore future direction of cooperation.
Mr Raffarin, Chairman of Fondation Prospective et Innovation, and Former Prime Minister of France, attended the forum and delivered an opening speech. He said, “Peace is based on mutual respect, and we must respect each other's culture. We may not succeed alone, so long live Chinese products, long live French products, and at the same time, China and France must innovate together. We all have the responsibility to choose cooperation. This is the power of peace. The French and Chinese people both hope for security and peace, and cooperation is the way to peace."
Xu Xiaoliang, Chairman of Shanghai International Fashion Federation (SIFF) and Co-CEO of Fosun International was invited to attend the forum and deliver a keynote speech. Xu Xiaoliang said, "With the further deepening of globalization, fashion and trends, and brands and culture are constantly fostering diversity and inclusion; from the Huangpu River to the Seine, more and more creativity and inspiration converge and integrate with each other. Rooted in Shanghai and developing globally, Fosun has been deeply involved in industry operations for more than 30 years, and is committed to making more contributions to help Shanghai become one of the top six fashion capitals and promoting the mutual appreciation of cultures."
Xu Xiaoliang held talks with Laurent Boillot, Chairman of Comité Colbert at the forum. They exchanged views on topics such as promoting Sino-French cultural exchanges and fostering the high-quality development of the global fashion industry, and reached initial cooperation agreement to enhance interaction and exchanges between SIFF and Comité Colbert, and promote more French luxury brands to open stores in the Grand Yuyuan.
After that, Xu Xiaoliang accompanied Laurent Boillot to visit Yuyuan Garden, Fosun Foundation (Shanghai) and the Bund Finance Center (BFC), and further introduced the Grand Yuyuan.
At the forum, Xu Xiaoliang shared Fosun’s examples and experiences in bringing in its high-quality brands and taking its high-quality brands to go global, as well as his thoughts on building the Grand Yuyuan, based on Fosun’s business development in France and globalization strategy.
A long-standing relationship with France, entering the stage of profound global operations
Since investing in Club Med in 2010, France has been an important region for Fosun's overseas expansion.
"Fosun is now one of the largest Chinese private companies investing in France. Fosun has more than 8,000 employees in France and businesses covering health, wealth, happiness and other fields. In addition to Club Med in the happiness segment, we have Lanvin, a French luxury fashion house, DJULA, a designer jewelry brand, and St-Hubert, a plant-based dairy company; in the health segment, we have Tridem Pharma, a pharmaceutical distribution company and Cenexi, a CDMO company; in the wealth segment, we have PAREF, an asset management platform," Xu Xiaoliang said.
With 15 years of global development, Fosun has established business presence in 35 countries and regions around the world, with 39 overseas brand enterprises and 44,000 overseas employees, accounting for 41.6% of total employees. Last year, its overseas revenue reached RMB77.4 billion, accounting for 44% of total revenue.
Xu Xiaoliang also shared that Fosun has gone through two stages in its globalization journey. The first stage was to look at the world from the perspective of China, and combine China’s growth momentum with global resources; the second stage was to look at the world from a global perspective, and combine global growth momentum with global resources. Today, Fosun has established a global presence and entered the stage of profound global operations.
The launch of world-class IPs and introduction of Chinese brands to the world
Fosun’s globalization is a process of continuous collision, integration, innovative development of brand cultures. "It includes not only the launch of world-class IPs, but also the introduction of Chinese brands to the world. It is about 'bringing in' and 'going global', and the most typical example of bringing in is Club Med," Xu Xiaoliang said.
As a world-renowned IP with a history of 73 years, Club Med has served countless families worldwide and is a world-renowned and long-standing brand with more than 70 resorts around the world. In China, Club Med launched new product lines around urban holidays and city cluster holidays – Urban Oasis and Joyview based on customers’ perception on holiday, length of holiday and habits. Recently, Club Med Urban Oasis Xianlin Nanjing and Club Med Urban Oasis Taicang were officially opened and have been well received by customers.
Moreover, Lanvin is another important French brand that Fosun introduced to China. Founded in 1889, Lanvin is one of the oldest operating fashion houses in France. Known as the "the jewel in the crown" of French fashion, Lanvin has established a global presence in more than 50 countries and regions. After Fosun introduced Lanvin to China, it held its first fashion show in Yuyuan, Shanghai’s cultural landmark, drawing the essence of Chinese and Western cultures and fully demonstrating "Oriental Charm and Western Harmony".
In addition to bringing in brands, many enterprises and time-honored brands under Fosun are accelerating their pace of going global. "The Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival is a great example. As one of the longest-standing, most well-known and most popular lantern festivals in China, it has a history of 28 years and has now become the most festive place in Shanghai," Xu Xiaoliang explained.
The Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival for the Year of the Rabbit held at the beginning of the year was inspired by the traditional Chinese mythology, The Classic of Mountains and Seas, integrating intangible cultural heritage lanterns and immersive China-Chic experience, and innovatively adopting Metaverse AR technology to present a mythical fantasy world exhibiting the elegance of Chinese culture.
This year, the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival will be held overseas for the first time, stepping onto the world stage. The first stop will be in Paris, France and it will be held for 72 days starting from 15 December. The Festival Dragons et Lanternes has been included in the official agenda of China Cultural Tourism Year and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.
At the Festival Dragons et Lanternes, Chinese and Western cultures will meet and collide, and traditional aesthetics and modern art will be combined to present a fun-filled, festive garden showcasing oriental culture.
Promote the construction of the Grand Yuyuan, creating a global fashion and cultural showground
It requires a platform to support and demonstrate the interconnection and diverse expression of excellent cultures globally. Shanghai is an important birthplace of China's fashion industry and China's consumption center. It was also known as the "Paris of the East" back in the 1920s and 1930s.
"Fosun has been rooted in Shanghai for more than 30 years, and has been thinking about how to build a fashion and cultural exchange platform based on its root in Shanghai and China," Xu Xiaoliang said.
The Grand Yuyuan is positioned to become a "global fashion and cultural showground with the charm of oriental lifestyle aesthetics", a main stage for domestic fashion companies and talents to go global, and a bridgehead for overseas fashion industries to expand the domestic market, helping Shanghai to become one of the world’s top six fashion capitals.
Xu Xiaoliang said, “Therefore, we very much look forward to the world’s leading fashion companies establishing, developing and flourishing on this land. On the one hand, fashion companies can customize and build the most unique cultural flagship stores. On the other hand, we hope to work with these brands to build a symbiotic and co-prosperous global fashion ecosystem."


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The entire world, in terms of technology, is built on the sand. Sand is what makes silicon; without which the semiconductor materials cannot be formed. These semiconductor materials made from the silicon microchips are the reason why countries are willingly or unwillingly relying on the US. Owing to the research and development in this field for as many as 50 years, the US now leads in the entire world as far as semiconductor manufacturing is concerned.
One of the reasons that China is highly dependent on the US in terms of semiconductor technology is because semiconductors, by value, are China’s leading imports, surpassing even the crude oil. And it is not easily possible for China or other countries to draw near to the US anytime soon.
It all started with the man himself, William Shockley, co-inventor of the transistor, moving to California where he started a company to improve the manufacturing process of transistors that are silicon-made. Since then, the US has been reaping the benefits. With the rampant growth of technology over the years, demand for semiconductors has shot up and has further benefited the US.
Despite the fact that China and other countries are capable themselves to manufacture, there is a huge gap between the capabilities. Amidst the ongoing tensions between the US and China, it is becoming more difficult for China, even through acquisitions by legal ways, in terms of semiconductor market.
Speaking of semiconductors, the tech giant Toshiba has its hopes on the niche market as far as semiconductors are concerned. The electronic makers in Japan are emphasizing on the production of one of the key semiconductor products that is used in the electric cars. Toshiba is planning to spend as much as $270 million to achieve better energy conservation in case of electric cars.


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Nigeria in depression no longer in recession according to Enugu State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture ECCIMA. According to Vanguard, ECCIMA lashed out at the Federal Government, arguing that Nigeria economy has already plunged into depression contrary to the claims of recession making the rounds in government circles.
Remember, last week I made a post on the Causes and solution to Nigeria economic recession. Please, if you have not read the post, go and read it now.
ECCIMA argued further that unless the Federal Government quickly reshuffle its economic team that is if it ever had any, people’s means of survival may be greatly diminished.
It also regretted the prevailing situation whereby families can no longer afford one square meal a day, adding that it is a clear pointer that the economy is depressed. Nothing that south-east geopolitical zone is the worst hit, occasioned by the abysmal infrastructure in the region which has crippled trade and commerce that forms the bedrock of the regions’ economy.
He maintained that the federal government lack the ability to change the economic situation presently ravaging the country. The federal government economic team does not have a solution to mitigate the recession. He said that there are a good number of Nigerians who can proffer solution to the prevailing problems.
Nigerians no longer care for wellbeing but Survival
According to him, “Most Nigerians now are talking of survival not even investing in the productive sector especially in the Small Medium Enterprises, SMEs. People are talking of how to feed. Nobody is talking of investment because the cash flow is not there.
The purchasing power has not risen while inflation has ripped off all savings you have made. People are eating their savings now because income is stagnant.
Majority of the economic indicators; life expectancy, per capital income and many others are showing red. That is why we have gone into depression. People are suffering badly. Most families now cannot afford one square meal a day.
There is nothing that is happening at the economy. The 2016 budget has witnessed a poor implementation and the year has elapsed. Government needs to spend on critical infrastructure and on recurrent expenditure so that consumption power of the people will improve. For now, everything is stagnant and nothing is moving.
On the issue of depression in the south-east geopolitical zone, he maintained that people are just suffering unnecessary. The cost of living in the south-east region has soared to an all time high, from food stuff to transportation among other variables.
The economy of the south-east for now is bedrocked on trade. If you go to our ports now, I’m sure you have heard that most shipping companies are closing shops. Majority of Nigerians who import goods come from southeast. So, south-east economy has been grounded as a result. It is noticeable when you go to the markets.
South-east economy which is dependent on commercial activities, trade is at a standstill. You won’t talk of the productive sector or industry because the cost of importing raw materials is now unbearable.
You may be wondering why am sharing this on my blog. Recall the post I made on the causes and solution of economic recession in Nigeria, I shared some notable keys problems in Nigeria causing the recession.
Now, ECCIMA argued that the country is already in a stae of depression no longer recession. Though, he was not quick to identify his reason for stating that the economy has plunged into depression.
Depression is a state where there is economic downturn lasting more than three quarters. In order words, a state of negative real GDP growth for close to a year. The country currently is on the third quarters of economics downturn.
The implication is that if the government fail to swallow his pride and call for help or better still reshuffling his economic team the economy might actually land its self in the state of depression. The last report of U-report a United nation data NGO, over 70% of Nigeria said they need job.
Are you surprised? We have witnessed massive layout in the country more than any time in the history of Nigeria. Many businesses have been shut down because of a high cost of doing business and low return on investment.
People no longer have interest in investing in the country, foreign direct investment is gradually dying off. Tax rate ought to be declining but in this case, the tax rate is increasing. I will be sharing with you soon the greatest lesson that Nigeria must learn from the great depression before it is too late. Stay in touch and never miss that powerful post.
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Vehicle Purchases Shift Online
The spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a negative impact on auto sales. The choices made by automakers and OEMs alike have been influenced by supply chain bottlenecks. The industry has been forced to limit production due to a lack of critical raw materials and parts. Fewer new and secondhand cars are available, which raises pricing. E-commerce has also been highlighted by the pandemic as a potential remedy. According to a recent survey of global automotive executives, many of them believe that by 2030, most car purchases would take place online.
How the pandemic impacted the auto industry
According to an international survey of international automotive executives, there will likely be a sizable transition to online automobile sales by the year 2030. According to reports, 46% of these executives foresee a significant increase in automakers' direct-to-consumer sales as opposed to sales through conventional franchised dealerships. According to the survey, 78% of these executives predict that by 2030, most new car sales will take place online.
Starting with worker and consumer safety amid this global crisis, the pandemic caused various issues. It also resulted in supply chain problems, labor, and part shortages. As a result, there were fewer new and used cars available, and costs rose significantly.
The continuing shortage of semiconductor chips has particularly hurt the automotive industry. The issue extends beyond the lack of new cars being sold, claims Car & Driver. Particular automakers shut down whole production lines for some vehicles when the supply became scarce. Others saw production continue while non-essential technological aspects requiring chips were eliminated. It kept people employed and lines moving.
Factory-direct car sales
Because of the coronavirus, unconventional business models have swiftly evolved out of necessity. A decade ago, factory-direct auto sales were unheard of. Online vehicle sales, however, are nothing new, thanks to the growth of electric vehicle start-up firms like Rivian and Tesla. A growing number of people are accepting them. These executives all agree that consumers are tired of the vehicle dealership experience. Businesses that can give customers simple, hassle-free experiences will be most successful.
In August 2021, KPMG surveyed 1,118 worldwide CEOs to learn their predictions for the future of the car industry. According to 84% of them, traditional buys and leases will face competition from automobile subscription services. They claim that as crucial a factor in their purchasing decisions as car branding and amenities will be the assurance of a flawless experience.
According to Gary Silberg, global head of automotive at KPMG International, as more and more people shop online, new companies will enter the market with fresh approaches. Franchised dealers will have no choice but to make an investment in data and analytics in order to comprehend their target market and maintain any semblance of competitiveness.
What it means for the future of the industry
As online vehicle sales grow more commonplace, Silberg predicted that the market would undergo significant consolidation. Larger dealers with financial resources and strong digital capabilities will take the lead very fast. According to the report, most CEOs were optimistic about the future viability of the sector and the shift to electric vehicles (EVs). In a KPMG survey, 53% of car executives expressed confidence in the industry's capacity to expand over the following five years. 38% of those polled expressed worry about the future.
The source of the concern is uncertainty regarding supply chain concerns involving semiconductors and other commodities including lithium, aluminum, and battery-related parts. The contemporary contradiction in the automotive sector, according to Silbert, was depicted by the two points. Long-term hope is compared to immediate concerns.


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Although targeted at consumers, Google Drive has plenty of enterprise-type features, that will appeal to business users, say experts.
The Cloud storage wars are well and truly on as Google and Microsoft beef up their free and paid for offerings in a head on collision with the likes of Box and DropBox.
Inevitably Google grabbed the most headlines with the rollout of its much-heralded GoogleDrive, while Microsoft expanded its SkyDrive proposition, offering up to 100GB of storage and adding access for the iPhone, iPad and Windows phones.
Google Cloud already lets users store email and other documents, but GoogleDrive ups the stakes in what is becoming a fiercely competitive space in which both Apple and Microsoft have skin in the game.
"This is really just the next step in the evolution of Google Cloud," said Scott Johnston, group product manager for Google Drive. "It's really letting people live more in the cloud by connecting them more easily with all the devices they have."
According to Google’s PR blurb: "Google Drive is everywhere you are - on the web, in your home, at the office and on the go…So wherever you are, your stuff is just ... there. Ready to go, ready to share."
So what does that mean in practice? Well, five gigabytes of Cloud-based storage is provided free, while users may pay $2.49 a month for 25 gigabytes and higher fees for more. As it’s Google, search functionality is being touted as a major competitive plus with the ability to search through more than 30 types of files, such as Google docs or PDFs.
Users can put a Google Drive folder on multiple computers and access it from almost anywhere. Once a file is stored, the files can be shared with others or discussed online. In addition, Google Drive is open to third-party applications so users can create, open and share files from a variety of other software programs.
Google Drive will launch with an Android app for smartphones and tablets running Google's mobile operating system and in conjunction with 20 third-party apps. It is also available for PCs and Macs, with iPhone and iPad to follow.
Meanwhile Microsoft last week upgraded its own play in this space with a new SkyDrive application that makes files stored in the SkyDrive cloud visible via Windows for machines running Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. In practice this means that files up to 2GB can be dragged and dropped into and out of SkyDrive.
The new version of SkyDrive also upports managing the service from Finder on Mac OS X devices, so any application that uses the file system can access SkyDrive as well. There’s been no mention of an Android option.
SkyDrive comes with 7GB of free storage but more can be bought at annual rates of $10 for 20GB, $25 for 50GB and $50 for 100GB. Microsoft announced it's rewarding its users that were already using SkyDrive as of 22 April by allowing them to opt in to keep the 25 GB of free space. If a user had already uploaded more than 4 GB, they're automatically opted in.
As well as Google and Microsoft, the Cloud storage space also has a number of start-ups, most notablly Box and DropBox as well as Apple with its iCloud offering. There are some positioning differentiators between the various offerings. For example, Box argues that its primary focus is on business rather than consumer users and as such it can be said to see SharePoint as its real competition while iCloud is only available to iOS5 users.
Angela Eager of research firm TechMarketView reckons that Google’s new gambit will resonate well with users.
“Although targeted at consumers it has plenty of enterprise-type features, including collaboration and file sync services, that will appeal to business users,” she notes. “And it is expected to be priced in such as way as to open up a new revenue stream, rather than just more users… Business users are likely to exceed the free limit, thereby generating a new revenue stream for Google."
However, Richard Edwards, principal analyst at Ovum believes that its unofficial use within the enterprise could cause headaches for CIOs.
“Corporate emails systems are notorious for their measly storage quotas and message attachment size limitations, and so the sharing and distribution of large corporate files, such as PowerPoint presentations, engineering drawings, and creative content, are an obvious use case for Google Drive," he says.
“Concerned with data leakage and the loss of corporate intellectual property, the unsanctioned use of Cloud storage services presents a real headache for corporate governance, risk, and compliance managers. Many organisations already block access to popular file sharing Web sites such as Dropbox, but Ovum believes there is an inevitability about the use of these services that warrants further investigation.
“Ovum advocates the evaluation of business-grade Cloud drive and collaboration solutions, such as Box and Huddle. These services deliver user friendly, device agnostic, content sharing features similar to Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft SkyDrive, but they also feature management and administration capabilities that Ovum deems essential from a compliance and audit perspective.”
Nonetheless, Google Drive is already gathering momentum, which could have implications for the tech giant's finances.
Eager adds: “Google Drive’s business model represents a shift for the company – it will be going after revenue directly rather than relying purely on indirect search and display advertising revenue streams. The bottom line is that software and services suppliers will find themselves competing directly with Google for customers’ subscription revenue and that will add a new dynamic to the marketplace.
In addition Google’s entry to the market will accelerate the competition in this space, she argues. “Even though it is coming from behind, by piling on the features and pushing integration it looks like it will differentiate itself from cloud storage competitors like DropBox, Microsoft SkyDrive and Apple iCloud.” she states. “There is a lot a stake – those who can capture the hearts and minds of consumers are well placed to transfer into the enterprise, particularly given the BYOT trend.”
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Back at I/O 2019, Google said it would bring the incognito mode to Google Maps, just like it did for YouTube.
Well, after a few months, the search giant has begun testing the feature. The incognito mode is being released to some users who are a part of Google Maps Beta testing program.
While we were not able to get it running, some users have shared the images of Google Maps Incognito Mode running on their device (picked up by Android Police).
If you have Google Maps Preview v10.26 running, you can enable the incognito mode by tapping your profile photo in the top right corner. But the feature is not available to all users, so you might have to wait for some time.
Anyway, after you enable it, the blue location marker turns its color to gray, and you’ll see “Incognito mode is on” written at the top of the screen.
Also, Google won’t save your browsing activity or send notifications, update your location history or shared location, or use your personal data to personalize Maps.
Coming soon to @googlemaps, when you turn on Incognito mode in Maps, your activity—like the places you search or get directions to—won’t be saved to your Google Account. Just tap from your profile picture to easily turn it on or off. #io19 pic.twitter.com/z7GRkkmDbn
— Google (@Google) May 7, 2019
After viewing the image (at the top), it seems that the incognito mode also works when you’re using Android Auto in your car, which is a really good thing.
So, all in all, the new incognito mode might give users some level of anonymity and privacy when they’re trying to go somewhere using Google Maps. Although, past reports have suggested that the company doesn’t mind taking a look at people’s incognito mode activities. But let’s hope for the best.
As far as public availability is concerned, we will have to wait for some announcement on Google’s part.
Also Read: How To Copy-Paste From Chrome Desktop To Android?


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Yesterday Google launched the second preview for its upcoming mobile OS version Android O, and during the first day of Google I/O the company discussed some of the new additions to the operating system and how it will change the user experience. Two of the topics touched upon by the search engine giant were reboot times as well as application performance. According to Google, Android O will not only cut reboot times by around 50 percent but will also allow applications to perform twice as fast compared to the previous version of Android OS.
The amount of time it takes for a smartphone to reboot might not interest most users, however considering Google’s more recent method of launching regular security updates for the Android platform, there are some benefits to this notion. Furthermore, there is a rule of thumb that smartphones – and nearly every computing device for that matter – should be rebooted on a regular basis in order to maintain performance and avoid unwanted behavior, and some manufacturers including Samsung even went one step ahead by adding an auto reboot option to their smartphones running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher. Having said that, Android O’s capabilities to reboot a smartphone twice as fast compared to devices running Android Nougat will not be unnoticed by heavier users and developers.
In addition to faster reboot times, Google also revealed that Android O will boost application performance considerably. The company gave an example of a standard workflow benchmark in Google Sheets (image above) revealing that the process is more than twice as fast on Android O compared to Android Nougat. However, whether or not these impressive bumps in performance will apply across the board to all applications or only if certain conditions are met remains to be seen. Google didn’t go into technical details as to how Android O achieves these faster reboot times and higher application performance, but hopefully, the company will shed more light on the matter before Google I/O 2017 comes to an end. In any case, it’s worth reminding that Android O Developer Preview 2 is now available on devices including the Google Pixel lineup, as well as the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Nexus Play. Furthermore, Google is launching its latest set of developer tools for Android O, including system images and emulators, an SDK (software development kit) and the latest Android Studio Canary build.


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Though we now know a lot about what OS X El Capitan will be like when it launches, we might have to wait until the fall before Apple announces any new Mac computers. Hence, any hints of what is come are certainly welcome in the meantime – and a few of those hints have already been noticed by developers trying out OS X El Capitan during its beta phase of development.
Let’s cut straight to the chase: Apple looks likely to unveil a 4K version of its 21.5-inch iMac later in 2015. There are a few good signs of this, including that, as observed by 9to5Mac, code deep within OS X El Capitan indicates Mac support for a new display panel made by Apple and with a resolution of 4096 x 2304.
Though Apple already offers a 27-inch iMac with a 5K display, bumping the smaller iMac’s screen to 4K would be a logical progression. There has been other evidence unearthed of a forthcoming new iMac with such a display, and you can read about that evidence by turning to the current issue of AppleMagazine. You can immediately download that issue to your iOS device – just subscribe now.


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axiom redefines the UAE shopping experience with new concept store
Shopping for the latest mobile gadgets in the UAE will never be the same again with axiom telecom’s new concept store, which combines cutting-edge technology with first-of-its-kind personalization capability.
Set to be a trailblazer for consumer electronic retailers in the GCC, the region’s leading mobile reseller, axiom telecom, opened its doors to a refined shopping experience at The Dubai Mall today, offering customers a series of exciting services tailored to meet the demands of the UAE’s tech enthusiasts.
‘Experiential Shopping’ is the new mantra for Millennials, who account for nearly half of the Middle East population, says axiom’s Managing Director, Faisal Al Bannai, adding that the store renovation was inspired by a deep desire to enhance the way customers explore mobile technology.
“Today, UAE shoppers are looking for a more fulfilling retail experience – one in which product selection, value for money, and customer care form the cornerstone of their consumer journey,” said Faisal Al Bannai, Managing Director of axiom. “By being first-to-market with the latest releases, and providing a wide variety of supportive products and services, we ultimately offer customers a one-stop-shop for all their mobile needs. We look forward to expanding this concept to all our stores across the region.”
All-new customization experience with ‘XCustoms’
Responding to the country’s passion for personalization and flair for fashion, axiom has launched a dedicated zone coined ‘XCustoms’, a one-stop-shop for smartphone and tablet customization in the UAE.
From gold plating, engraving, and colorful skins, to UV printing and Swarovski crystals, XCustoms allows gadget owners to express their individuality – whether it is supporting a favorite band or team, or showcasing a unique sense of style. Nearly all services are completed in-store, allowing customers to make a statement with their personalized device in no time.
State-of-the-art mobile accessories
Techies looking to take their mobile experience to the next level can choose from a host of more than 100 accessory brands, including industry leaders Beats, Fitbit, Jawbone, JBL, Monster, Parrot, Sennheiser, and Skullcandy. From the latest in wearables, including the Apple Watch, the Samsung Gear 2, and the Huawei Watch, to smart home solutions, axiom provides a compelling selection of the latest that mobile technology has to offer.
Forgot to switch off the lights or lock the door before going to work this morning? Not a problem, residents can now control various home amenities remotely with their smartphone or tablet. Through the application of smart home solutions now available at axiom, customers can keep an eye on their home no matter where life takes them. Mobile controlled IP cameras and sophisticated drones provide users with hi-res photos and aerial footage, ensuring no area goes uncovered.
What’s more, live demo stations will make it possible for customers to experience some of these exciting technologies and accessories before making a purchase. This includes the largest selection of smartphone cases, allowing shoppers to choose from a wide assortment of protective covers that cater to every taste – be it contemporary, chic, or classic. And with animated LED screens running across the store walls, customers will always feel fully engaged.
Serious about service
“At axiom, we understand that technology needs to be backed with quality service for a truly seamless mobile experience, and that is why we are committed to providing our loyal customers continuous support,” said Fahad Al Bannai, CEO of axiom.
“Our wide range of in-store and value added services ensures that customers have convenient access to assistance, enabling them to truly make the most out of their purchase.”
From subscriptions to topping up existing accounts, the new du service desk at axiom allows customers to stay connected through a host of attractive packages.
Customers can also benefit from axiom’s signature value-added services, which include Extended Warranty, 60-Second Data Transfer, Pick-up and Delivery for phone repairs, Trade-in offers, and the recently launched Damage Insurance service, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.
According to the latest figures from the global research and consulting services firm International Data Corporation (IDC), the Middle East mobile market is continuing to witness robust growth, with nearly 30 million mobile phone shipments in the third quarter of 2015, marking a 4.4% increase on the previous quarter.
The UAE, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia spearheaded this growth, accounting for a combined 30% of the region’s mobile shipments, according to IDC. Smartphones accounted for nearly two-thirds (65.3%) of the region’s mobile shipments.
It was 1997 when Faisal Al Bannai decided that there was a better way to trade and distribute mobile devices and accessories. axiom telecom was born. And now it’s all grown up. Today we’re the largest retailer and distributor in the region with 525 locations and growing, and more than 2,000 hand-picked expert employees across the United Arab Emirates, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
We’re the major authorized retailer and distributor of some of the world’s most recognizable brands including Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Lenovo, BlackBerry and Nokia. We also deal with various telecom operator partners in each of the countries we have a presence.


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📝 Web3 Field Notes #25 - Beijing Loves Web3
Bitcoin best performing asset YTD; Nike meets EA SPORTS; Beijing bullish on Web3; Magic raises $52m; SAP enters Web3; Gen Z loves crypto, not NFTs; AI risks; top charts & more.
Hey, it’s Marc. I write about Bitcoin, Web3, and brands. ✌ Welcome to another issue of my obsessively curated field notes to help you filter out the noise.
⏱ Reading time: 4 min
“Reactivity is enslavement. Responsibility is freedom.” – Sadhguru
📚 Key Reads
The network effects of the metaverse and the economies of Web3 communities. By Claudio Tessone & Andrés Luther. Link
Galaxy research report on crypto Q1. High quality stuff. Link
The sociology of business. Terrific overview of what’s happening with brands & culture. By Link
Kulturindustrie. The best brands are cultural. By . Link
A theory of justice for Web3. By . Link
Regulating crypto. By World Economic Forum. Link
🚨 What caught my eyes
✨ Web3 + NFTs
Nike and video game developer EA SPORTS announced a partnership bringing .SWOOSH (Nike’s Web3 hub) virtual creations to the EA SPORTS gaming ecosystem. This showcases the benefits of open and transparent blockchains and is also a huge win for Polygon, serving as the underlying blockchain. In case you missed it: I just published a case study on Nike, currently at the forefront among consumer brands. Link
Magic raises $52 million to grow crypto ‘wallet-as-a-service’ used by corporate clients like Mattel and Macy’s. This is a big win for the ecosystem to improve the Web3 onboarding and wallet experience. Link
Beijing has released a white paper promoting Web3 development. The local government plans to invest a minimum of 100 million yuan ($14 million) annually until 2025 to promote the local “Internet 3.0” ecosystem and become a national leader. This is significant but I would see this as a local initiative apart from China’s stance on crypto as a whole. Link
SAP is working on an NFT Launchpad (currently in alpha). It aims to make creating, administering, and managing NFTs more user-friendly and web2 compatible. Earlier this year, Salesforce and and Shopify also launched NFT tools. Creating and managing NFTs is slowly turning into a commodity and will likely become a standard tool in marketing software. Link
🌎 Crypto & Macro
Year to date, Bitcoin has been the best performing asset when compared to a range of securities (both equities and fixed income), indices, and commodities (see graphic at the bottom).
Crypto is the most popular investment among Gen Z and millennials. 56% of US Gen Z report owning one or more investments, more than twice as much as NFTs. Data from the Federal Reserve says that about 10% of Americans use cryptocurrencies, and 15% among 18-44 year olds. The top reasons for transacting in crypto are that the receiver prefers crypto, because it’s quicker and more private. Link
The amount of ETH staked surged to over 18% of ETH in circulation, rising from 18.3 million to 21 million since enabling withdrawals on April 12. Nevertheless, the much higher staking ratios of other proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies — between 40% and 60% — suggest it still has plenty of rising left to do. This means: Confidence in Ethereum is increasing and its circulating supply could decline in the coming months. Link
OpenAI and DeepMind executives, Geoffrey Hinton, and 350+ others sign a statement saying “mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority”. Link
A remarkable demonstration of how AI I’ll change gaming by Nvidia. Link
Elon Musk’s Neuralink gets FDA’s approval for brain implant technology. Link
If you’re new here, we welcome you to join 4’150 bright + avid readers by subscribing here:
💡Word on the street:
For the first time, community and culture can be built on a digital, decentralized layer of trust and owned by the users.
Web3 tech will be a tool to supercharge any brand in co-creating brand culture in the digital realm.
The value chain of business models and marketing will shift from linear, top-down, to circular, bottom-up models – from purely social towards socioeconomic.
That’s all for now, folks.
Back to building! 🚀
Thanks for reading Dematerialzd.xyz! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.


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Not long ago, station wagons were the preferred
choice for hauling people, pets and parcels. Then came minivans that could
In a departure from the Mazda of old, and in an effort to expand its appeal, the Japanese automaker has undergone a reinvention.
Read This Article
The 2014 Mazda6 isn't for everyone, but it's a good example of not having to give up on a fun car because you're successful at producing children.
Mazda invites itself to a drag race between top supercars and sports cars.
It's been a tough go for Mazda lately, and the Japanese automaker has announced it will lay off 250 workers involved in its North American and European operations.


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Although James Glickenhaus is known for having one of the most incredible Ferrari collections out there, he has several other extremely rare and storied vehicles in his stable as well. One of the most interesting of the bunch is known as the Baja Boot, a legendary off-road buggy developed by Vic Hickey and raced by Steve McQueen. Not content with simply owning the Boot, Glickenhaus and his team at Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus (SCG)—the carmaker he founded—have plans to reboot the Boot and build a limited run of the dirt-hungry machines.
SCG hopes to launch the Boot with a run of 25 Founder’s Edition models that are modern versions of McQueen’s open-air ride. They would utilize modern engineering but retain a simple, old-school feel. SCG has also mentioned on its Facebook page, where the company has answered numerous questions about the project, that an even more modern four-door model could happen further down the pipeline. Regarding pricing, SCG first said in a post, “Likely less than Ferrari’s and Bentley’s SUV,” and then added later that it hopes to keep the base price near $100,000.
But the most ambitious idea is to build an Expedition variant that would have four doors and be fitted to handle the most challenging conditions. In addition to aiming to set a world record for altitude reached by car, SCG has floated the idea of driving from New York to Paris through the Bering Strait. As to the former, SCG has its sights set at going nearly 7000 meters, or almost 23,000 feet, up a volcano in South America, shooting for an attempt in the spring of 2019. The current Guinness world record was set in 2007 by Gonzalo Bravo and Eduardo Canales, who drove 6688 meters (21,942 feet) up the Ojos Del Salado volcano in Atacama, Chile, in a modified 1986 Suzuki Samurai.
- The 650-HP SCG 004S Has a Central Driving Position
- Wild SCG 003 Supercar Racer Debuts—Plus There’s a Hot Street Version
- Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus’s SCG 003S: The Street Version
Specifications are at a premium as of this writing, but the new-age Boot is said to pack a naturally aspirated V-8, which could mean a road-legal GM powerplant. For the Expedition variant, SCG said it will likely add a two-stage turbocharging system. The Boot will also have 20 inches of suspension travel, heating and air conditioning, and two- and four-wheel drive. There is also mention of military-grade systems, seals, and sensors to deal with extreme hot and cold weather.
Topping these literally sky-high ambitions, SCG hopes to make first deliveries in 2019 to 2020. This may all depend on parts and powertrain sourcing as well as U.S. government approval of the vehicles as road legal, which is far from assured at this point.


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Digest: Take-Two sees Illusion
EmptyTake-Two Interactive Software said Tuesday that it has acquired Illusion Softworks, a Central European-based game development studio. Financial terms weren't disclosed. Illusion Softworks has about 200 employees and will join Take-Two's 2K Games publishing label as its newest studio, 2K Czech. Established in 1997, Illusion is the creator and owner of such video game franchises as "Mafia," "Hidden & Dangerous" and "Vietcong." The studio is working with 2K Games on a sequel to "Mafia."
SPT deal good for Divx
Shares of Divx soared 9.1% Tuesday to $14.01 after the video technology company announced a distribution agreement with Sony Pictures Television. Sony said the deal was part of its attempts to find legitimate ways of distributing its content online. JPMorgan analyst Paul Coster said the deal was a major endorsement of Divx and the first by a top level content provider. He said Divx should benefit from "viral" or rapid distribution of its download system by other users.
Six Flags on fast track
Six Flags expects to slightly exceed its previous financial forecasts after reporting Tuesday that fourth-quarter revenue rose 7%, aided by a 4% increase in attendance. Six Flags, run by CEO Mark Shapiro, a former top executive at ESPN, said revenue climbed from $104 million last year to about $111 million, and attendance rose from 2.7 million to 2.8 million. Analysts expected revenue of $109 million, according to Thomson Financial.


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A pair of Philadelphia beer lovers is suing the makers of Budweiser for selling watered-down beer, Bloomberg reports.
In the suit, Thomas and Gerald Greenberg say Anheuser-Busch InBev is snookering its customers by adding water to its products just before bottling, which leads to a lower alcohol percentage than what's displayed on the label.
"AB's customers are overcharged for watered-down beer and AB is unjustly enriched by the additional volume it can sell," the suit, filed yesterday in Philadelphia federal court, said.
The Greenbergs don't say in the suit how they determined the world's biggest brewer was overstating its alcohol content, which is typically around 4% to 5%, depending on the brand.
But they're apparently experts when it comes to Bud products - they've routinely thrown back as much as a case a week for the past four years, Bloomberg said.
The $5 million suit accused the beverage maker of diluting its products with the help of high-precision density meters that can detect alcohol content to within a hundredth of a percent.


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Taking 7nm process technology to new limits.
This Western-themed roguelike has style to spare, but falls short on ideas.
MSI and EK team up to cool the CPU and power delivery on its MPG Z490 Carbon board
HanbitSoft has announced plans to bring failed RPG Hellgate: London back to the US and Europe.
Bill Roper, the designer of the original Diablo games, has called Blizzard out and said the latest game just doesn't look enough like the original.
Namco Bandai has now announced that it will close all the servers for the ill-fated Hellgate: London, ending the online portion of the game.
Bill Roper, one of the original designers for Diablo II, discusses the closure of his new company and the effect of Hellgate: London.
Flagship Studios, the company behind Hellgate: London has closed up shop and made all staff redundant.
Morale is low at Flagship Studio it seems and after the failed release of Hellgate: London it seems as if plenty of developers are looking to jump ship.
EA has announced that Bill Roper's Hellgate: London will be released at the end of October on the PC.
July 1 2020 | 17:34
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Ever since the Galaxy S22 series was launched, people have been having problems running Android Auto. Many users complained of the phone only getting charged rather than projecting Android Auto UI on their car's infotainment system. Now, the problem appears to have been fixed.
Google has released a new version of Android Auto (version 7.7), which seems to have fixed cable-related issues on the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. This new update is currently in the beta phase, but you can download the APK and install it on your Galaxy S22 series smartphone.
However, the new update seems to have introduced a new problem. Some users are seeing a black screen on their car's infotainment system even after a successful connection. This is not just related to the Galaxy S22 series, though, as even Pixel smartphone owners have started reporting this issue, so it looks like Google is the one who needs to fix it.
Some users have claimed that their Samsung device even rebooted after showing a black screen. While Google has marked this issue as fixed in the bug tracker, people are still facing it. So, it seems that Google still has some work cut out for its Android Auto app.
Are you facing Android Auto-related issues on your Galaxy S22? Let us know in the comments section below.
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By Quinn O’Hara
On Monday, February 5th, Reddit User Maccas75, who identified themself as Rowan, shared a photo of a postcard addressed to Clay Center to the r/Kansas Reddit webpage, asking for more information about the card and its history.
The postcard, sent from Leadville, Colorado, in 1938, was addressed to a Smith Food Market in Clay Center. The card reads:
“Gang- Still going strong, and getting a lot of rest. So far there is no horse to ride. Yours truly, Tom.”
The nearly one hundred-year-old card was found by Rowan in an Australian charity store. Rowan said they don’t have any ties to Clay Center or Kansas and have no idea how the card ended up in Australia. They said they were immediately intrigued by the postcard and its origins, prompting them to post the card on Reddit.
Susan Harvey Hammond, a Clay Center resident and local historian, helped to uncover the history behind the card. Through her research, Hammond found that the Smith Food Market was established on January 18, 1927, at 509 Court Street, between where Java Junkies and Tasty Pastry Bakery are now located. It was founded by O.G. Smith and his son, Laurence Smith. Hammond said she still has one unanswered question, however, about the identity of the card’s author.
Hammond suspects the author could be Tommy Allison, who is listed as an employee of Smith Food Market in a January of 1937 edition of The Economist newspaper. She said many people traveled to Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado at the time in hopes of curing tuberculosis, and it’s possible that Tom was doing the same.
Additionally, Steve McMahan of Central Office and Supply, said Laurence Smith had worked for the McMahan’s family business after selling Smith Food Market to Combs Food Market in 1951.
McMahan said in his youth, he and Laurence Smith often fished together as well. According to their obituaries, Laurence passed away in 1993 at 91 years old, and his wife, Hazel, passed away in 2001 at 101.
After reviewing the gathered history, Rowan said it was fascinating to learn about the address on the postcard and feels they must someday visit Clay Center for themselves.


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The Village would like to remind Island Package Center and Post Office customers of our holiday schedule. Next week, the IPC/PO will operate on extended hours Wednesday, November 23, 2022 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m) and will be closed on Thursday and Friday (November 24 & 25) for the Thanksgiving holiday. We also encourage you to look over our holiday mail and package tips HERE.
REMINDER: If you are expecting a package on the island you can now check to see if it is at the IPC/PO by using the IPC Package Tracker. You can find it HERE.


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JAPAN: Toyota to build trucks and multipurpose vehicles in developing markets
Toyota Motor reportedly is set to locally produce pickup trucks and multi-purpose vehicles for markets in developing regions of Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to published reports.
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With increasing competition in the tech market, smartphone brands not only try to bring upgraded devices but engaging activities and campaigns for their users as well. One of the leading smartphone brands in Pakistan, TECNO, has been at the top when it comes to community engagement and fun campaigns. In the last few years, the brand launched plenty of amusing activities for their young audience but in 2021, TECNO pushed limits by bringing innovative and exciting campaigns for their latest smartphone launches and instantly becoming the youth’s favorite brand.
Recently, for the Camon 17 series which included the Camon 17 and Camon 17 Pro, TECNO launched ‘Born to Stand out Campaign’ which featured the emerging talents of Pakistan who specialize in different areas. This was an immediate success as the main objective was to provide a platform for these young voices to reach the masses and be an inspiration for everyone, motivating them to come forward with their own unique talents.
TECNO also engaged their fans by arranging a five-day Photowalk for the Camon 17 series to Khunjerab Pass. Some photographers not only traveled to Hunza and explored its beauty but also shared their skills on social media using the Camon 17 series which revealing the phone’s brilliant photography features. All these exciting activities hosted by TECNO for their latest series made the devices immensely popular, resulting in a stock-out of the Camon 17 Pro!
In January and February, the brand hosted a Photowalk for the Camon 16 series as well which was a huge success. This event took place in the major cities of Pakistan; Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi where fans got the opportunity to explore Pakistan’s diverse culture and capture the beauties using Camon 16 phone. In March, TECNO offered bumper prize-winning scratch cards with the purchase of Spark 6 Go that gave buyers a chance to win exciting prizes including a new device, gadgets, and even a trip to Thailand, resulting in a huge sale. Later during the PSL season, TECNO conducted the “Cricket Ka Junoon” activities in the major cities of Pakistan where fans got special discounts, gifts, and more.
All this goes to show the effort TECNO is putting in its device campaigns to engage the young audience. The brand does not miss a thing with these fun trips, interactive activities and amazing event launches for their smartphones. With all this in mind, we’re excited to see what the brand brings next.


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The future for the cocoa farmers look bright in the Northern Division as Government intends to establish a main collection centre in Dreketi.
Senior Agriculture Officer (Macuata), Kanito Matagasau said that close to $97,000 has been set aside to assist in the revival of the cocoa industry in the province of Macuata.
He said the current facilities at the Matasawalevu Cocoa project is being upgraded for it to cater for the small cocoa growers in the Northern Division.
“The dryers are being repaired which will assist in the proper fermentation process and maintaining a good quality dried cocoa beans for the markets,” Mr Matagasau said.
“About 3.5 kilometres of roads leading up to the existing facilities are being upgraded to allow for better excess. There are plans to plant more improved variety cocoa trees in this farm.”
Mr Matagasau said that once fully upgraded, the farm will be used as the main collection centre where smaller growers can bring their cocoa beans for processing.
The Matasawalevu Cocoa project is one of the largest cocoa farms in Fiji with all necessary facilities required for cocoa processing.
It is owned by Matasawalevu Cocoa Co-operative group and over the years, production had dropped drastically.
During its peak production time, the farm has the potential to produce 110 tonnes of dried cocoa beans annually but the current production is close to 1 tonne per year.
The whole farm and processing facilities are now being leased by Mr Arif Khan of Cacao Fiji who intends to develop this farm to its full potential.
Mr Khan said that looking at the potential production of the farm, he decided to lease it as there are huge markets available for dried cocoa beans.
“This cocoa farm is one of the biggest farms in Fiji comprising of a total land area of over 400 acres with all necessary facilities. The farm was left idle for 14 years with very less or no production but looking at the potential of this farm, I decided to lease the whole property since there is a huge global market for the dried cocoa beans,” Mr Khan said.
“Recently some fermented cocoa beans were sent to France and we have received positive feedback which seems to be another strong market where we can supply.”
The problem of black pod disease and pests such as rats and parrots also largely hinder production as it is becoming one of the major problems in the farm.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture Hon. Joeli Cawaki and other senior officials from the Agriculture Ministry visited the farm and the facilities last week and promised continued Government support to revive the cocoa industry in the Northern Division.


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Digital agency Magic has added significant firepower to its leadership team by announcing the appointments of Tom Glover to the newly created role of head of SEO and Patrick Robotham (main image) to the newly created role of head of signal.
Glover has been tasked with further applying the agency’s existing mathematical and data-modelling skills, to help create unique, cutting-edge SEO strategies for clients.
Robotham’s primary remit will be to evolve how Australian brands use and store data, using mathematics to interpret, connect and analyse it.
Jordan Taylor-Bartels, co-founder and managing director at Magic, said “Having outstanding people on our team is what makes the magic. We are thrilled to have found this dynamic duo, who not only understand our vision as an agency, but whose combined expertise means we have the ability to push beyond the traditional, by combining mathematics, data, creativity and media to create best-in-class client work.”
Hailing from the UK, Glover’s 10-year SEO & Outreach career includes a successful tenure as head of SEO at DigitalNext Australia and prior to that, leading the SEO team at DigitalNext in London.
With a demonstrated history of working in online marketing, he brings cutting-edge, scale-able SEO practice, and it is underpinned by a solid mathematics and data foundation to Magic.
Glover’s skills and capabilities encompass Technical SEO, On-Page Optimization, Off-Page SEO, E-commerce SEO, SEO Audits, SEO Copywriting and Content Marketing, supported by strong mathematical and data foundations.
Robotham’s passion for turning data into useful products to help consumers has been built on a stellar career, including leadership positions managing complex attribution modelling at Nimble to machine-learning building at Linktree.
At Magic, he is tasked with managing the agency’s ever-growing commitment to change how Australian brands use and store data, by using mathematics to interpret, connect and analyse data.
Shahram Ghaffurian, co-founder and head of media and technology at Magic said: “As clients’ needs change and channels such as TikTok continue to gain traction; Twitter is being reconsidered as a channel, and cookies are taking shape across the majority of iOS devices, it’s the perfect time to have Patrick join the team and solidify this capability into a department chartered with asking and answering new questions for clients each and every week.
“We welcome both Patrick and Tom to our leadership team.”
Both appointments are effective immediately.
Social media companies Meta and X have been ordered to remove videos of a 16-year old allegedly stabbing Orthodox Christian leader Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at his church in Sydney’s west on Monday evening. Lead Image: A still from the stabbing incident that was captured in a live stream on YouTube and shared on X. […]
Tara Ford, chief creative officer of The Monkeys and Accenture Song, is set to serve on the Titanium jury at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The Aussie adland legend said that she “can’t wait” to join the panel of judges and that the Award was particularly close to her heart. “Titanium is […]
Patrick Radden Keefe (pictured), author of global bestseller, Empire of Pain, talked to B&T‘s Nancy Hromin at the Samsung Jaipur Literary Festival about reputation laundering, aggressive marketing strategies and the privilege of still being able to practice pure journalism and be paid for it. Keefe’s in-depth reporting in publications such as The New Yorker and […]


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In a recent update, TVS Motor has officially announced the dates for its flagship event MotoSoul. It is a global event for performance motorcycle enthusiasts, that will also provide the visitors with an opportunity to experience the brand’s products. TVS MotoSoul will also act as a platform for the brand to be able to engage with their customers. The motoring event has been scheduled to be held on 18th and 19th October this year at Vagator, Goa.
With the organisation of this mega event, TVS Motor is aimed at establishing a positive business connect with the Apache Owner Group (AOG). The MotoSoul will be an annual event about which the Head – (Marketing) Premium Motorcycles, TVS Motor Company, Meghashyam Dighole said:
“MotoSoul is our flagship initiative to create a differentiated platform for our global brand – TVS Apache. The brand has built a strong community of over 3.5 million customers across the globe with our differentiated customer experience initiatives such as Apache Owners Group, Apache Racing Experience & Apache Pro Performance. MotoSoul is a culmination of the Apache Owners experience as well as an opportunity for global performance motorcycle enthusiasts to experience our products, interact with our racers, experts, and be united by their passion for motorcycling.”
The annual event will go live for two days and will be packed with gala nights, racing and adventurous activities. The event will also have interactive sessions with national and international motor enthusiasts, racing champions, and the company’s R&D team. We can also expect an exclusive showcase of TVS products at the motoring event.
In the upcoming updates, the company is keenly working upon rolling out BS6 versions of TVS motorcycles and scooters. The updated BSVI-compliant versions will soon hit the market somewhere around the end of October 2019. As soon as the BSVI emission norms will come into effect on April 1, 2020, the company is expected to roll out its all-new electric vehicle. The brand is also expected to launch the production-spec model of the TVS Zeppelin cruiser at the Auto Expo in February 2020.


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The five main shopping malls across the Island have, this week, joined forces and written to various governmental departments, party leaderships and other key stakeholders in support of their respective tenants and the retail sector as a whole
The letter, supported by MYMALL Limassol, Kings Avenue Mall, Nicosia Mall, Mall of Cyprus and Mall of Engomi highlights the significant employment that mall retailers provide, employing well over 4,000 shop salespeople and a considerable number of additional catering employees across the sector, many of whom have already seen their employment suspended as a result of the Malls being closed due to the closure of the Malls due to the outbreak, necessitated by the outbreak of the corona virus in Cyprus.
Furthermore, the group pointed out the significant turnover generated by the Mall retailers, providing valuable VAT revenue to the economy of in excess of €80m annually, in addition to taxes and municipality charges paid by the respective operators locally.
As a final note, the Group added: “The sector requires full support in order to protect employment. A increase in unemployment will have detrimental effects on the people. The effect of a possible economic deterioration will prevent both tenants and the Malls to meet their financial obligations, worsening thus the economic conditions of the country even more. We welcome the recent Support Measures introduced by the Government. Additional measures for the support of the retail sector will safeguard its survival, reassuring the immediate recuperation of the economy and supporting the efforts for further growth.
Recognising the enormous efforts being made by everyone in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the group went on to say that they would welcome further dialogue on this matter at the appropriate time and hope that the measures taken to restrict the spread of the virus will ensure that the retail and food sectors can return to normal trading as quickly as possible, with the health, safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders remaining the highest priority.


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Thanks to a strengthening economy, low gas prices and pent-up demand following the recession, auto sales hit a record level in 2015.
The industry sold 17.47 million new cars and light trucks last year, marking the best year in terms of volume for 15 years, according to The Wall Street Journal. The average vehicle sold for $34,428 in December 2015, a record high.
One other thing that’s fueling those sales: debt. Consumers are turning to leases and longer-term loans to help finance their purchases. Total auto loans in the U.S. hit $1 trillion for the first time in 2015. Nearly 75 million consumers have outstanding auto loans.
Interested in purchasing a new vehicle in 2016? We combed through all the “Best of 2016” lists out there to compile an ultimate best of the best list. Every car here made appearances on at least three other lists. Click here to see which vehicles made the cut.


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Richard Bacon, the inventor behind the concept of powering aircraft with dissimilarly sized engines, says that his 3X Jet Aircraft company has held "major talks" with an interested powerplant manufacturer.
Golden, Colorado-based 3X Jet hopes to persuade the unnamed engine supplier to champion the 3X configuration in subsequent discussions due to be held with business aircraft manufacturers on funding a proof of concept programme.
The 3X Jet concept combines an engine sized for high-altitude cruise with a smaller powerplant designed to provide short-term emergency power, both mounted on the centreline. Bacon says the design combines the efficiency and lower cost of a single-engined aircraft with multi-engined design performance.
While 3X Jet hopes to license its design to existing manufacturers, Bacon says that seeking investors to fund development is an option. He estimates that an initial concept development phase would take a year and cost $1 million, while a two-year proof-of-concept stage would cost around $10 million, including construction of a flying prototype.
Source: Flight International


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Stores and restaurants didn't add much new space in Greater Hartford in the past year, but there was an unexpected bright spot: the city of Hartford itself.
"Greater Hartford appears stuck in the mud at the moment, with only the city of Hartford making significant strides in the right direction," according to a new report Friday released by KeyPoint Partners Inc., which tracks retail vacancies in New England markets.
Hartford's retail vacancy rate stood at 13.7 percent as of July, down from 18.5 percent in July 2012 — the decline driven primarily by leasing at the Front Street entertainment district. In the past year, Front Street has added three new restaurants and Infinity Music Hall & Bistro.
Even with the improvement, Hartford still has the highest vacancy of the five submarkets in Greater Hartford tracked by KeyPoint, comprising 26 towns and cities. The other markets are northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast.
Overall, vacancy in Greater Hartford stood at 11 percent, compared with 11.3 percent in 2013 and 13.1 percent in 2010. The vacancy in 2014 amounts to 4.1 million square feet, enough space to fill three malls the size of Westfarms in West Hartford. The Greater Hartford market has a total of 37.2 million square feet of store and restaurant space.
Healthy levels would be closer to 6 percent to 8 percent, Bob Sheehan, KeyPoint's vice president of research and author of the report, said Friday.
The biggest holes are in spaces of 2,500 square feet or less — typically occupied by "mom-and-pop" retailers — with an 18 percent vacancy, down from 19 percent in 2013.
Of all the Greater Hartford submarkets, only the northwest had a vacancy in the single digits, coming in at 8.7 percent, which "is a bit disconcerting," the report said. The northwest market contains Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, Farmington, Plainville, Simsbury, Suffield, West Hartford, Windsor and Windsor Locks. The market has a total of 11.5 million square feet.
Sheehan said Greater Hartford's retail leasing recovery from the most recent recession, which ended in mid-2009, is lagging other areas tracked by KeyPoint. One, eastern Massachusetts, came in with a vacancy of 8.5 percent.
One reason is the sheer amount of retail space in Greater Hartford, Sheehan said. There are 46.2 square feet for every resident, compared with 38.6 square feet per resident in eastern Massachusetts.
"Greater Hartford may be one of the most 'overstored' metropolitan areas in New England," according to the report.
Although there was little improvement in the past year, the report noted the vacancy in 2014 was the lowest in five years.
The report also found:
— A 10.3 percent vacancy in the northeast market out of a total of 5 million square feet of store and restaurant space. The market comprises East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield and South Windsor.
— A 13.1 percent vacancy in the southeast market out of a total of 10.2 million square feet. The market comprises Bolton, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Manchester and Vernon.
— An 11.4 percent vacancy in the southwest market out of a total of 7.6 million square feet. The market comprises Berlin, New Britain, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield.
Sheehan said Greater Hartford is expected to continue making progress whittling away at vacancies. Development should be focused on redeveloping vacant space or conversion for uses other than retail, he said.


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When they’re paired with exclusive carrier deals, smartphone release cycles can present a challenge, particularly if you want the latest and greatest handset.
Take the Lumia 930,(s msft) for example. It launched in February as a Verizon(s vz) exclusive dubbed the Lumia Icon and is just now becoming available in the U.K. on July 17, says Engadget. Nokia had said as much back in April, saying the Lumia 930 would arrive overseas in June for around $599 off-contract, but that hasn’t made the long wait any easier to digest. Since then and now, several flagship phones have launched, which could leave Microsoft with fewer Lumia 930 sales than originally planned.
There’s little difference between the 930 and the Icon, which is actually a great handset — the best Windows Phone to date, per our review in February. I also used one to test Windows Phone 8.1, which…
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