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Alphabet is eliminating 12,000 jobs, its chief executive said in a staff memo shared with Reuters.
The cuts mark the latest to shake the technology sector and come days after rival Microsoft said it would lay off 10,000 workers.
The job losses affect teams across the company including recruiting and some corporate functions, as well as some engineering and products teams.
The layoffs are global and impact US staff immediately, Google said.
The news comes during a period of economic uncertainty as well as technological promise, in which Google and Microsoft have been investing in a fledgling area of software known as generative artificial intelligence.
Sundar Pichai, Alphabet’s CEO, said in the note, “I am confident about the huge opportunity in front of us thanks to the strength of our mission, the value of our products and services, and our early investments in AI.”
Reuters was first to report the news.
Earlier this week, Microsoft said it would eliminate 10,000 jobs and take a $1.2 billion charge to earnings, as its cloud-computing customers reassess their spending and the company braces for potential recession.
The layoffs add to the tens of thousands announced in recent months across the technology sector, which has downshifted following a strong growth period during the pandemic.
The news comes even as the software maker is set to ramp up spending in generative artificial intelligence that the industry sees as the new bright spot.
Customers wanted to “optimize their digital spend to do more with less” and “exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one,” he said. “At the same time, the next major wave of computing is being born with advances in AI.”
Nadella said the layoffs, affecting less than 5 percent of Microsoft’s workforce, would conclude by the end of March, with notifications beginning Wednesday.


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When WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for $19bn in 2014, its revenue model saw users of the app charged an annual fee of $0.99.
That method was scrapped in January of this year, however, as the influence of Mark Zuckerberg – a man on a quest to make the world more open and connected – was showcased. WhatsApp assured users it would remain ad-free, with future revenue to be generated from businesses that want to reach the more than one billion users of the service.
The updated documents have highlighted some of the key features that have been introduced in that time, including secure messaging encryption and WhatsApp calling – the latter of which now generates over 100 million calls a day (1,100 a second).
“People use our app every day to keep in touch with the friends and loved ones who matter to them, and this isn’t changing. But as we announced earlier this year, we want to explore ways for you to communicate with businesses that matter to you too, while still giving you an experience without third-party banner ads and spam,” the company said in a blog.
Read more on WhatsApp:
- After a stint on a beach, this Hero is back to “give small businesses superpowers”
- How to improve the customer experience? Just look to WhatsApp’s one billion user milestone
- The entrepreneurs who fought failures to become billionaire business icons
WhatsApp will work closely with Facebook to get the job done, tracking information such as how often people are using the platforms. Additionally, users who register their numbers to Facebook are set to experience sharper friend suggestions and relevant adverts, based on the contacts that WhatsApp has.
The firm added that communications with businesses via WhatsApp could include things such as shipping notifications, order details, appointments and marketing announcements.
“For example, you may receive a receipt for something you purchased, or a notification when a delivery will be made,” it said.
“Messages you may receive containing marketing could include an offer for something that might interest you. We do not want you to have a spammy experience; as with all of your messages, you can manage these communications, and we will honor the choices you make.”
The IM service was keen to highlight that messages will remain encrypted and no individuals or organisations will receive access to them, while numbers will also be kept from advertisers. WhatsApp said its “belief in the value of private communications is unshakeable”.
Elsewhere, Instagram – another Facebook-owned app – has met the needs of 200,000 advertisers with business profiles and new tools.
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On June 30, 2023, a Superior Court of California (County of Sacramento, case number 34-2023-80004106-CU-WM-GDS) held that enforcement of the California Privacy Protection Agency’s (“CPPA”) regulations cannot commence until one year after the finalized date of the regulations. However, the court declined to delay the CPPA’s ability to enforce violations of the underlying ballot initiative.
In advance of the June 8, 2022 board meeting, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) staff has posted draft rules implementing the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). The draft regulations keep much of the pre-existing California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) regulations intact, but modify certain provisions and propose new regulations. A copy of the proposed…
Last week, Virginia’s Joint Commission on Technology and Science held its second meeting of the Consumer Data Protection Work Group.
Instead of following a detailed rulemaking process for implementation like that provided for in the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) is being reviewed over the next few months by a group of state officials, business representatives, and advocates. This group will publish recommendations by November 1, 2021, which the state legislature can consider if it amends the law before the VCDPA goes into effect on January 1, 2023. A stated goal of the group is to align the VCDPA with other privacy laws that states are enacting around the country.
At the meeting, the group heard public comments as well as a presentation by Deputy Attorney General Samuel Towell on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia (OAG). The presentation covered issues that the OAG sees with the VCDPA’s implementation and proposed a number of recommendations for the group to consider:
Continue Reading Virginia Consumer Data Protection Work Group Holds Second Meeting, Hears Recommendations from the Office of the Virginia Attorney General
Earlier this month the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) held its inaugural public meeting. The CPPA was created under Proposition 24, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which was approved by California voters on November 3, 2020.
Continue Reading California Privacy Protection Agency Holds First Meeting, Preparing for Upcoming Rulemaking


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Batteries Drive China’s Electric CarSector into Future
Prospects for China’s electric car sector received a significant boost earlier this year on the news that German car manufacturing giant Daimler AG and Chinese automaker BYD were teaming up to produce electric vehicles. The main attraction for the Germans to enter into this 600 billion yuan deal was to take advantage of BYD’s experience in making batteries. And, as CRI’s Dominic Swire finds out, it’s this technology which is the key to driving the electric car industry forward.
The race is on across the world for car makers to develop and mass produce electric vehicles. But one of the main factors holding this technology back is the challenge of designing a battery that is sufficiently safe and efficient.
While there are a number of companies making significant inroads into this technology, namely in the United States, Japan and Europe, many investors are now looking towardsChina. Although this country may not have a long tradition of auto manufacturing, some say, rather than a hindrance, this can actually be considered an advantage.
Andre Pietri is a managing partner of CELL Partners, a Europe based investment fund focusing on clean technology.
“Probably the future EV cars are going to be completely different than the ones we know in Europe or in the US today; and, probably it’s going to be a reengineering which is possible only in countries which don’t have this long legacy of knowing what is a good car, where a father tells his son 'this is what a car should look like.”
Pietri says part of the reason electric vehicles, of the future will be so different from the cars we know today is because the energy use of today’s cars are so inefficient.
“Simply, the proportion is crazy. Today you have an average 70 kilo passenger transported by a 1.5 ton car. It would make no sense to have a battery to motorise this kind of weight.”
Pietri was speaking Monday at the 2010 China Cleantech Business Forum in Beijing, which brings together investors and business leaders from China and beyond. One of these was Larry Zhang, a partner at cleantech investment fund Tsing Capital, which is also investing in battery technology. He says the emergence of these new vehicles is likely to be seen in the public sector first.
“The barrier to make electric buses is a little easier compared to passenger cars… if we want to address issue of global warming I think buses will be one of the most important areas to develop.”
With so much resources being poured into the development of this sector, it seems just a short matter of time before Chinese commuters will be hopping into electric powered vehicles.
For CRI, I’m Dominic Swire.


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Target has confirmed that data from about 40 million credit and debit cards was stolen at its stores between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15.
Credit and debit card information of many Target customers may have been stolen during the Black Friday weekend, according to reports.
The Washington Post's servers were recently broken into by a group of unknown origin that gained access to the user names and passwords of its employees, the paper said on Wednesday.
A fake antivirus program in circulation uses at least a dozen stolen digital code-signing certificates, indicating cybercriminals are increasingly breaching the networks of software developers, Microsoft wrote on Sunday.
A new website allows Internet users to check if their usernames and passwords were exposed in some of the largest data breaches in recent years.
New attack campaigns have infected point-of-sale (PoS) systems around the world with sophisticated malware designed to steal payment card and transaction data.
Facebook, LinkedIn and other online services have been resetting accounts after 2 million login credentials, apparently stolen from users' computers, were discovered on a server in the Netherlands.
A new Trojan program that targets users of online financial services has the potential to spread very quickly over the next few months, security researchers warn.
A Boston-based company, Abine, is beefing its anti-tracking browser extension to let users shield their real credit card details, email addresses and phone numbers during web transactions.
Hackers reportedly stole 42 million customer records including email addresses and clear-text passwords from Cupid Media, a network of dating websites.
The vBulletin.com forum was not compromised by exploiting a previously unknown vulnerability as a group of hackers claimed, according to vBulletin Solutions, the company that develops the popular Internet forum software.
A group of hackers claim to have exploited an undocumented vulnerability in the vBulletin Internet forum software in order to break into the MacRumors.com and vBulletin.com forums.
Facebook locked some users out of their accounts after determining that their log-in credentials were exposed as a result of a security breach at Adobe. The company is asking users who used the same log-in credentials for Adobe's online services and ...
A new variant of a Trojan program that targets online banking accounts also contains code to search if infected computers have SAP client applications installed, suggesting that attackers might target SAP systems in the future.
Security experts used fake Facebook and LinkedIn profiles pretending to represent a smart, attractive young woman to penetrate the defenses of a U.S. government agency with a high level of cybersecurity awareness, as part of an exercise that shows ho...
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In this age of Wii, iPod and PlayStation, the doll apparently remains in high demand.
More than 200 manufacturers of the old-fashioned playthings attended the weekend's International Doll Expo at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort in south Orlando. Doll and teddy-bear manufacturers consider the expo the premiere event to display their new creations.
"It is the launch place," said Robert Tonner, one of the industry's well-known designers. "This is pre-Toy Fair."
After pausing briefly as one collector asked him to sign a doll, Tonner pointed out his collections, including a Wizard of Oz set in which the Wicked Witch of the West has been remade into an elegant and attractive -- though still green -- high-fashion doll.
Many of Tonner's dolls end up in adults' collections rather than on children's toy shelves. F.A.O. Schwarz, the fabled toy seller, carries some Tonner Doll Co. products, but they often cost more than $100 apiece. Though he doesn't care much for it, Tonner Doll Co. executive Tom Courtney said there is a phrase to describe them: "They're what the rich kids play with."
No matter what the price tag, International Doll Expo president Susan McCart said dolls encourage children to use their imagination and be sociable. And that's important in today's world, she said, where children have so many electronic gadgets at their disposal.
"They're almost becoming isolationists," she said. "They're looking at their computer screens. They're looking at their GameBoys."
But the doll manufacturers are hardly ignoring technology or current trends.
Take Ellowyne Wilde, marketed as "the newest doll with a mood." She blogs about her therapy sessions on her MySpace.com page. Her manufacturer -- Wilde Imagination -- also plans a marketing video on YouTube.com.
"Scanty clothes and cheerful grin are not the style of Ellowyne," begins a poem written about Ellowyne, posted on her MySpace page.
There was no cheerful grin on Dollfair International's dolls but their clothing was scanty -- lacy lingerie, in fact. Collectors who purchase them can also buy Gothic-styled outfits to cover them up.
Dollfair International's dolls are part of the genre referred to as Asian ball-jointed dolls. They look like characters from anime, or Japanese animation. They have interchangeable wigs and eyes that can change direction.
They also cost hundreds of dollars apiece.
Catherine Sanders, chief executive officer of Dollfair International, describes them as playthings for people who have "resources."
"It's bringing a lot of new people into doll collecting," Sanders said.
But the traditional baby doll still remains a favorite for many. Indeed, McCart said, they seem to be some of the most popular right now, while in the 1990s the high-fashion dolls were more trendy.
Regina Hatfield of Palm Bay, a collector, snapped pictures Sunday of baby dolls she particularly liked.
"I love the baby dolls," she said. "They are so cute and cuddly."
Whether cuddly or sulky, don't go looking for these dolls at Wal-Mart or Toys "R" Us. Most are found at specialty shops, McCart said. While many cost more than a hundred dollars, there are others -- such as the ultra-realistic children by German artist Hildegard Gunzel, that cost thousands of dollars.
Designers' trade show features variety, grown-up prices


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- The spot price CIF China, Japan and Korea for lithium hydroxide rose more than 14% in March.
- There are two types of lithium cells in the market, and the LiFP-based cathode is cheaper and more fireproof.
- Globally, battery makers are committed to increasing the energy capacity of Li-ion batteries to make them more affordable and efficient.
In what shows Australians’ growing love for electric vehicles, the country recently saw 109 Hyundai electric SUVs being sold out in only six and half minutes. Out of nearly 18,000 Aussies who had registered their interest, only 109 got lucky to get their hands upon the AU$80,000 car.
Meanwhile, the state government of California has excluded the largest EV manufacturer Tesla from the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project due to its high price. Rebates are allowed only for vehicles priced up to US$45,000. The cheapest model of Tesla costs around US$47,000. Though Tesla recently hiked its prices, all Tesla cars that will be rolled out in 2022, have already been sold out.
What’s happening in Australia and the USA shows that the craze of EVs is at its all-time high despite high prices.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom government has banned the sale of new petrol cars from 2030, while South Korea will prohibit the purchase of new diesel vehicles by 2025. Several other countries have introduced a series of steps to promote EVs. Though demand for EVs is skyrocketing, the supply side has a long way to go before it catches up with demand.
Earlier in March, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the significant rise in prices of raw materials had forced the automaker to increase its vehicle costs. On 3 March 2022, the spot price CIF China, Japan and Korea for lithium hydroxide stood at US$63.5/kg, which soared 14% to US$72.5/kg on 24 March 2022.
Lithium is a key component of batteries powering EVs. Nickel, cobalt, manganese, and aluminium are also used but in small proportions in Li-ion batteries. Since the war broke out between Ukraine and Russia, the prices of several metals have been on the rise. Nickel and copper are showing a strong upward momentum, making batteries and EVs more costly to manufacture.
What’s the future of EV and lithium batteries?
A global revolution is happening in the battery industry. Everyone is working on improving the energy density batteries to increase their range and life. At present, there are two types of lithium batteries available in the market. One of these use cobalt, nickel, manganese and aluminium in cathodes, while the other uses lithium iron phosphate or LiFP as cathode.
The one with multiple elements is costlier. Cobalt is the most expensive component of these batteries, and research is underway to replace or reduce the usage of cobalt. General Motor’s NMCA cell has succeeded in reducing cobalt usage by 70%.
Image source: Shutterstock
The LiFP cathode-based cells are used extensively by the Chinese battery industry. Industry experience shows that LiFP, despite being less expensive, is more fireproof under extreme conditions.
Tesla plans to use LiFP cells in its vehicles to make them cheaper. The mineral is abundant and has less supply chain complexity with respect to multi-element cathodes.
Research work is also progressing to improve the anode of the battery. The conventional lithium battery uses graphite as anode. On Tesla’s Battery Day in 2020, Elon Musk emphasised on using silicon in the anode part of the battery. Silicon has nearly 10 times higher energy capacity than graphite. The problem with silicon is that it swells on charging, posing serious accident hazards while charging.
There are some breakthroughs in using silicon in anode by treating it with high purity alumina and then including a small percentage with graphite. The work is still in the initial phase but looks promising.
Meanwhile, efforts are being made to replace lithium in the battery. With lithium resources concentrated in a few countries like Australia, Argentina, and Chile, the battery sector fears a monopoly situation to erupt, like what happened in the crude oil space.
Vanadium is another such metal that is being seen as an alternative to lithium. Also, hydrogen cells have been there for quite some time now but so far there have been few prototypes only.
Lithium looks set to continue its dominance in the battery industry for years to come. Technology is advancing at a fast pace, so it is very difficult to predict the future but as per the current set-up, when the world is becoming used to lithium cells, it is unlikely to be replaced in the near future.


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Apple and Verizon started up online iPhone 4 sales Wednesday morning, a day ahead of the official in-store launch. The companies offered iPhone 4 pre-sales to existing Verizon customers on February 3 with plans to offer online sales to the general public starting today.
iPhone 4: Now on Verizon
Customers that prefer buying in person can get their hands on the Verizon-compatible iPhone 4 on February 10 when the combination iPod and smartphone hits store shelves.
Verizon announced it would be carrying the iPhone 4 at a media event in January. Apple built a new version of the phone that supports Verizon’s CDMA cell technology because all other iPhone models support GSM technology used by AT&T and other carriers around the world, and aren’t compatible with the Verizon network.
Pricing for the Verizon iPhone 4 is the same as the AT&T models: US$199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model.


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Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry wireless messaging device, released better than expected third-quarter results Wednesday...
TORONTO — Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry wireless messaging device, released better than expected third-quarter results Wednesday — quelling some fears that an ongoing patent dispute that threatens to shut down the popular service in the United States is hurting the company.
Profit rose to $120.1 million, or 61 cents a share, from $90.4 million, or 46 cents a share. Sales rose 53 percent to $560.5 million from $365.9 million and were above analysts’ forecasts of $549 million.
Adjusted profit of 71 cents a share topped the 65-cent estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.
“The business is really soaring. It’s not just doing OK. It’s soaring,” said James Balsillie, the Canadian company’s chairman and co-chief executive. “A lot of people have said ‘Wow, I thought it was all kind of tough,’ but we’ve been telling everybody sales are fine.”
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RIM said it added 645,000 new subscriber accounts, about 25,000 less than projected after it released its second-quarter results. At the end of the third quarter, total BlackBerry subscribers were 4.3 million, more than double last year.
Dennis Kavelman, RIM’s finance chief, said the uncertainty and publicity surrounding the patent dispute caused the reduced forecast.
“The impact of this has been to create some uncertainty among customers. The timing of any resolution and the removal of this uncertainty is difficult to predict; therefore, taking into account these factors, we believe it is prudent to lower the range,” Kavelman said.
RIM’s stock has been battered by litigation that pits it against NTP, a tiny Virginia firm that lays claim to the technology behind BlackBerry. Though most analysts believe the odds of an injunction shutting down the service are low, some larger customers are nervous.
RIM shares closed at $61.76, down 32 cents, before its earnings were released. In after-hours trading, the shares gained $3.64, or 5.9 percent, to $65.40.


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Virtacore Offers Cloud on Demand
Virtacore recently announced a new on-demand service based on the VMware cloud tool, vCloud. With vCloud Express Virtacore built pools of virtual servers, with users renting capacity on a monthly basis. Plus, customers can ratchet up or down their capacity and simply pay for what they use. According to the company, the service is well suited to two different scenarios: companies that are simply running out of server capacity, and those looking for a quick and easy way to develop and test applications.
The vCloud Express service is built on a public cloud. Virtacore also has another service, Virtacore Private Cloud, which it aims at small and medium-size businesses.
Posted by Doug Barney on 03/22/2011 at 12:47 PM


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DALLAS — Dresses are the subject but not the theme of “American Brides: Inspiration and Ingenuity,” on view through Oct. 24 at Patterson-Appleton Center for the Visual Arts in Denton, Tex.
“I wanted to present the emergence of American style through bridal gowns — those subtle changes from 19th-century to 20th-century modern dress,” explained Myra Walker, curator. “My favorite thing in fashion history is not the obvious but the transitional time, and those are the hardest moments to capture and define.”
Bridal’s evolution — and abrupt changes — are on display from nearly every decade since 1840. Most of the 45 gowns came from the voluminous Texas Fashion Collection at the University of North Texas, where Walker is a professor and director of the 18,000-piece fashion archive. Others were borrowed from local women, including Stanley Marcus’ granddaughter, Allison V. Smith.
“These are really special artifacts,” Walker reflected. “A wedding is the most formal occasion that any one woman may have in her life. A person of any economic stratum— it doesn’t matter — wants to dress the best she can. Often, it’s the best she will ever look.”
The exhibition is a charming and informative walk through 170 years of bridal fashions, from detailed, ecru silk satin dresses with shockingly narrow waistlines to Smith’s cropped navy jacket over a slim white jersey column, which designer Matthew Earnest sheared to cocktail length before the reception.
“My focus is American brides and the essence of their fashion energy,” Walker explained. “It’s a different lens to look at fashion when you have this one type of gown, and it has more back and forth from one century to another, and reinterpretation. It’s formality and decorum and all the things that are less valued these days.”
Walker chose to begin the show with a candlelight full-skirted classic from 1844, four years after Queen Victoria donned the influential white wedding frock that bucked tradition for royals to wear metallic silver or gold.
“She had just gone through all that pomp of coronation and she was done with it,” Walker explained. “She wanted a dress that showed off lace and showed her individuality, her personality.”
As would succeeding brides — to a degree. All the dresses in the main gallery are ecru, candlelight, cream or white, reflecting Queen Victoria’s ongoing influence. Dresses of color stand in a smaller gallery that presents a 19th-century plum satin and velvet gown along with a hot pink bustled number by Victor Costa. Simple cotton prairie dresses from the Seventies — including a purple calico frock — are among the most surprising.
“The American attitude is more athletic, sporty, jaunty, and that’s what’s fascinating to me,” Walker pointed out. “It’s a regional focus, but we’ve covered a lot of ground in terms of fashion history and social history. I planned this show for more than 10 years.”
Previously, Walker curated the “Curious and Treasures” fashion exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1999, and cocurated “Rock Style” at the Met in 2000. In addition, she curated “Balenciaga and His Legacy” at Dallas’ Meadows Museum in 2007, which was one of the gallery’s most popular shows. She has also done exhibitions at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Next up: a Mariano Fortuny show at the Meadows Museum in 2016. She’s already completed “the bible” — selections of art, fashion and objects for the exhibition.


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|Nautical fashion stems from a sailor-inspired look. Seniors Tiffany Davis and Glennda Bivens both wear horizontal striped shirts, a common fashion staple found seaside. Navy blue, white and red are traditional colors for these striped nautical shirts and other nautical apparel.
Brass buttons, chunky stripes, navy and white clothing – all things you would associate with nautical fashion, and this spring the chic trend is sailing into stores.
Already spotted on the catwalks of Jean Paul Gaultier and Luella, the trend includes horizontal striped shirts, white capri-pants, brass accessories, canvas shoes and rope belts and bags.
One fan of the nautical style is sophomore public affairs major Michelle Ajemian.
“I love nautical,” she said. “It is very fresh and clean; very summery. It reminds me of sailing and the water. I love all the colors — the blues and white and red and gold.”
The nautical trend can be worn many ways this season.
Chunky navy and white striped shirts can be found at retailers like Nordstrom and Forever 21.
Nordstrom also stocks a variety of boat shoes – canvas flat-soled shoes in navy and white.
Ajemian, however, bought her boat shoes from Payless Shoe Source.
“I have lots of nautical clothes,” she said. “Striped shirts, an anchor necklace—lots of accessories. The nautical style is a twist on the preppy look, where you can express yourself a bit more.”
Hints of the nautical look can be mixed in with your regular clothes if you’re not keen on going all-out sailor.
“Nautical doesn’t necessarily mean looking like a sailor,” said Phanny Lun, senior international business and Japanese major. “Try capris or over-the-knee shorts with a striped, colored shirt. The shoes should be light color, no matter what style – loafer or tennis.”
Ajemian agreed: “It’s important to wear one nautical piece, like an
accessory, rather than wear lots of nautical clothing together, because that can look like a costume. Keep it simple.”
Fresh whites are always popular this time of year.
When spring merges with summer, people look to lighten up their wardrobe, and what better way to stay in style than by adding some nautical pieces to their collections?
Espadrilles and other types of wedge sandals with ribbons that tie at the ankle follow the nautical trend and can be found almost anywhere.
Nordstrom stocks a wide selection of this style of shoe, by brands such as Betsey Johnson, BCBG and Marc Jacobs.
If your wallet has difficulty parting with $300 for a new pair of summer shoes, Target sells its own versions at a tenth of the price.
Nautical fashion is one trend that isn’t exclusively for women either. Lun explains that when men wear nautical, it is a sign of class.
“Wearing nautical shows that you have money,” he said. “It is associated with the elite, yachts, fine dining, the whole Hamptons scene. It will never lose its fashion.”
Lun has many nautical items himself – from white capris and loafers to blue shirts and driver hats.
“I used to have a white hat,” he said. “I looked like I was getting off a yacht every time I wore it, or like I was about to go buy a boat.”
This isn’t the first time that the nautical trend has been popular.
It is commonly a spring and summer style, because of its association with sailing and the beach. Ajemian, however, wears it throughout the year.
“Trends come in and out, but it’ll stick around – I’ll keep it going,” she said. “I predicted nautical would be in last fall. It’ll stay for the summer then will come back in again. I’ll always be wearing it.”
However fashionable nautical apparel may be, it isn’t for everyone.
Senior photojournalism major Jenna Campbell doesn’t see the attraction.
“It’s a little extreme,” she said. “I do have a v-neck shirt with white and navy stripes, but everyone calls me ‘Pirate’ when I wear it.”
Campbell noticed a sailor-inspired shirt in American Eagle Outfitters in the Montclair Plaza but decided against it.
She admits that she isn’t a big follower of fashion.
“I’m extremely picky,” she said. “If I see something that’s cute and fits me nice, then I go for it. I’m not into trends.”
Stores that often carry nautical-inspired wear include Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren.
Both of these stores can be found at Ontario Mills.
Victoria’s Secret Online (www.victoriassecret.com) also has a nautical line as part of its spring/summer collection.
Whether you decide to do the nautical thing or not, one thing is for certain: Don’t go overboard.
Rhian Morgan can be reached at email@example.com.


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Bungie has shared with us some pretty good news during their first reveal stream for Age of Triumph. First of all, Raids! That’s right, all my speculations have been confirmed by DeeJ. All raids are remastered and brought to current light level. This is a huge task that Bungie has delivered for us to enjoy
So we all know that voice acting in video games can end up being quite funny, especially if you’re not really listening. Pauln6 has been playing Horizon Zero Dawn tonight and we both misheard the exact same line said by a nearby NPC who was repeating some kind of chant. What we heard:- I had
Bungie is teasing us with yet more information of what is coming in the Last Update to Destiny 1 and it looks amazing! The video itself focused on Vault of Glass raid and the biggest yet Record Book! As I mentioned in my previous post, two of our expectations are actually happening and it seems
So excitement is growing! We know that Destiny’s last update is to drop at the end of March, to be more precise 28th March. As stated by DeeJ in the announcement (link) the Age of Triumph will be: fun and memorable celebration that will bring the first major chapter of our Destiny adventures to a fitting
Destiny has been my favourite game that I can admit I have been addicted to for quite sometime now. From time to time guardians get to the stage of content draught but the time has come for the new Spring Update to soon hit our consoles! As stated by DeeJ in his weekly update (link)
Evening all. Today is the release of Guerilla Games’ latest – Horizon Zero Dawn, a highly anticipated game since E3. I remember I was in the GAME store about 2 months ago now and I pre-ordered Mass Effect 4, but the store assistant behind the counter who served me was raving about Horizon Zero Dawn.


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Written by: Roshan Dwivedi
The figures, contained in recent Television Audience Measurement (TAM) ratings from Nielsen, show sharpest viewership falls in the key advertising demographics of 15 to 34-year-olds and housekeepers with children. The TV advertising market is worth an estimated €200m a year in Ireland.
The figures measure the period between 2013 and 2015. They indicate that Irish people may be moving away from live scheduled TV to devices such as phones, tablets and smart video players in escalating numbers.
The figures come in the same week that telecoms firm Eir paid an undisclosed sum for Setanta Sports to boost its rivalry with Sky and Virgin in Ireland. Also, recent research from the Irish telecoms regulator Comreg shows that a majority of the estimated 150,000 new subscribers to VOD service Netflix have switched off scheduled television or lessened their viewing.
Source : Independent


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MSNBC reports that more than 1 million websites have been hit by a hacking attack that injects code into sites that redirect users to a scam-looking software sales operation. Experts claim that this attack is the largest of its kind ever seen.
The “mass-injection” has managed to insert unfriendly code into websites by gaining access to the servers running the databases, according to the technology company that discovered the attack.
Users trying to enter an infected website will be redirected to a page where they are shown a warning from ‘Windows Stability Center’, which is supposed to pose as a Microsoft Corp security product, and they are told there are problems with their computer, and then urged to purchase software to fix the issue. If you come across this message, or if you notice that you are being redirected to suspicious URL, you can close your browser window with no ill effects.
It is still unclear if the fraudsters will try to plant software on your computer after purchasing the “fixing software”, or if the operation is linked to an identity theft scam.
Barefoot recommends anyone that comes across a suspicious looking URL to close your browser window, and never to purchase anything on the Internet unless you are absolutely sure of what it is that you are paying for. Unfortunately, scammers are trying to take advantage of the rapid growth of e-commerce by implementing different types of scams and frauds.


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Former Machinima executives Angelo Pullen and Luke Stepleton (pictured, left to right) are set to officially announce the launch of their new multimedia entertainment company 3BlackDot on Tuesday at Casual Connect USA in San Francisco.
Formed in partnership with YouTube stars Tom Cassell (TheSyndicateProject, 7.6 million subscribers) and Adam Montoya (SeaNanners, 4.5 million subscribers), 3BlackDot will include a production arm that develops games, live-action and animated content and licensed product, as well as a marketing division to promote its products and match brands with online personalities.
Like Machinima, 3BlackDot plans to target young gamers initially.
“The gaming community is one of the first adapters,” Pullen points out. “They’re young and hungry and their ability to share and engage in IP is really fascinating and awesome.
Pullen and Stepleton departed Machinma in April 2013. Pullen served as head of affiliate development, while Stepleton was director of entertainment network partnerships.
3BlackDot soft-launched last fall with the release of the free-to-play mobile game Zombie Killer Squad, featuring Cassell and Montoya as playable characters, which served as a proof of concept for their business plan. Developed with Section Studios, the game had over 1 million installs within the first 9 days of its November debut, and in the months since it has topped 2.6 million installs.
“The most important part of our business is that everything that we do is (YouTube) influencer-driven and we’re legitimately partners with those influencers,” Pullen says. “Being on the same side of the table is hugely important to us.”
On Friday, the partners will be heading to Comic-Con, where they will announce the addition of 2 YouTube personalities to the game as playable characters, Trevor Martin (TmarTn) and Tiffany Garcia (iHasCupquake), as well as debut a live-action Zombie Killer Squad short film.
A trailer of the film will be made available on YouTube with an embedded link that, when clicked, will take users to a player within the game app where they can watch the entire short. If they don’t have the app, it will prompt them to download it before watching the film.
“We’re developing a slate that can live as content on different platforms, whether that’s inside a game or on an OTT,” Stepleton says.
At present, 3BlackDot has 13 employees, including Luke’s older brother Hank Stepleton, former co-executive producer on Duck Dynasty, who is heading production arm of the company.
The company also recently hired Jessica Fischer to head up its marketing efforts. She previously worked at Warner Bros. handling digital integration for such properties as The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
“Jessica will be working with third-party companies and brands to integrate into the YouTube ecosystem,” says Stepleton
As for his brother, Stepleton doesn’t anticipate any issues with sibling rivalry.
“We have a very respectful relationship,” says Stepleton, who also has a younger brother and 5 sisters. “I hope I’m smart enough at this point to appreciate the input of a strong person.”


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Greengates Builders Merchants Accrington, Lancashire Hopes Figures Show The Recession Is Coming To An End.
A discount department store business is planning rapid growth in 2010 after record breaking Christmas figures.
The Original Factory Shop already has 130 stores nationwide, but plans another 600 in coming years to satisfy shoppers’ ‘thirst for bargains.’ The £100million company runs from Burnley by ex-Debenhams managing director Angela Spindler who sees East Lancashire as ‘fertile territory’ as it takes on high street giants and plots its expansion. Bosses believe concentrating outlets in small towns, helping to regenerate shopping areas, is the key to success.
Currently, there are three Original Factory Shop stores in the area, in Clitheroe, Great Harwood and Todmorden. However a buoyant Christmas period, with like-for-like sales up 16% on 2008, has led Mrs Spindler to cast around for new areas to push into, including other parts of East Lancashire. She said: ‘Our stores are about convenience, because they are so local.’ Mrs Spindler continued: ‘There are more than 1,000 small towns in the UK that fit the profile for an Original Factory Shop store. That means they have fewer than 20,000 people living there and so those towns tend to have lower rents. We are confident that there’s an opportunity for another 400 to 600 stores across the UK, and some of those will be in the East Lancashire area.’
The Original Factory Store’s expansion has drawn on shoppers’ desire for discounts on big brands. The company is confident that Britons’ love of value stores will endure, even as the country emerges from recession as people are still worried about the economy.
Here at Greengates Builders Merchants Accrington, Lancashire we hope that figures such as the ones experienced by this company shows that the country is slowly starting to recover from the recession.


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The Beatles and Apple may soon reveal an exclusive deal under which music from the ‘Fab Four’ will be sold through iTunes, a report claims.
A report on Fortune magazine first made the claims, adding that the two firms had hoped to reveal the deal on November 21, when new Beatles album, the Sir George and son Giles Martin-remixed album Love shipped.
However, these intentions were scuppered by the details, the report explains. These include agreeing just how long iTunes would be the exclusive online sales point for tracks from the band, and how many millions of dollars Apple will hand over to the band as an advance on royalties.
In an echo of the entente cordiale between Apple boss Steve Jobs and U2 front-man Bono, Fortune also claims that a new special edition Beatles iPod may also be released.
Despite years of legal wrangling between Apple Computer and The Beatles’ company Apple Corps, both sides are understood to be pragmatic at the opportunity.
Founder Beatle Paul McCartney is known to have handed out iPods as gifts to his cast and crew at the end of his recent world tour.
And former Beatle drummer, Ringo Starr, earlier this year hinted that tracks from the band – the last major act to refuse to release music online – would be made available ‘at some point’.
Apple has refused to comment on the speculation, while local UK Beatles representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.


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In a rare move from what ought to be rival companies, three smartphone companies are coming together to make an app – if it can be described as such. The new initiative is dubbed the “Peer-to-Peer Transmission Alliance”. It is made up of three big smartphone sellers: Xiaomi, and BBK Electronics’ OPPO and Vivo. The new system is marketed as enabling seamless cross-brand file transfer with just one click.
In an official press release by Vivo Kenya, they say the feature will be gradually rolled out on new Vivo products in different markets from February 2020.
The new wireless file transfer system will allow consumers of these three brands to easily transfer files between their mobile devices without the need for any third-party applications or network data, supporting a wide range of files, including photos, videos, music, documents and more.
The companies say the move is also in anticipation of 5G adoption, where the average file sizes are expected to significantly increase with the availability of varied and richer content.
Facts about the OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi’s Peer-to-Peer Transmission Alliance:
- Does NOT require internet connection.
- Uses Bluetooth for fast pairing
- Uses WiFi P2P (Peer-to-Peer) technology for the data transfer, bringing together an instant, stable and high-speed connection between devices, as well as low power consumption.
- Delivers an average transfer speed of 20MB/s.
- The WiFi P2P technology DOES NOT interrupt the existing WiFi connection, meaning users remain connected and can continue their activities on the device during the file transfer.
- Users just need to turn on their WiFi and Bluetooth, or turn on the function under “menu”, then select the files that they wish to share.
- If the other party also has the function turned on, an icon will pop-up to notify the user. Once confirmed, the selected files will be transferred.
The companies describe the Peer-to-Peer Transmission Alliance as a collective commitment between the three to drive the next generation of mobile experience. Together, the three brands will continue to openly collaborate to deliver new technological breakthroughs. The Alliance is also looking forward to welcoming more brands to participate and expand the ecosystem in the future.
“Vivo, OPPO and Xiaomi all share a strong user base, and such partnership will benefit even more consumers globally. For vivo, this partnership reinforces our commitment to bringing a fast, secure, first-in-class mobile experience by making it even easier for our users to share files with their friends wirelessly. We will continue to bring more strategic partnerships like this for our users across the globe,” said Spark Ni, Senior Vice President of Vivo.
Questions I have:
- How is the new “system” different from existing apps one can download?
- Will other apps that do the same thing still work on these phones? Especially since OPPO and Vivo Android Skins are in some cases very limiting.
- How will Google take this move given they’ve gone in very hard with their Files App?
- Encryption. And Privacy. I am very concerned about the fact that eventhough no internet is needed, if you’re connected to WiFi, the connection won’t be interrupted, meaning you’ll sort of be connected to the internet during the transfer.
- Will OnePlus and RealMe join in, since they’re also part of BBK Electronics as are Vivo and OPPO?
- Will Huawei also join in? Given it’ll be a bold, kickass move for them ever since the Huawei Ban?
- What are the other things the Alliance will be collaborating on? A new Android Skin that doesn’t use Google Services? With Huawei on board? Yes, no?


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Econsultancy Live, in association with Marketing Week, returns April 27th-28th to ask “What’s next for CX?”. The virtual conference will feature two days of talks all about customer experience post-pandemic, with tickets now available at our early bird rate.
Speed is often touted as the most important factor in online delivery, but research suggests that aspects like reliability, convenience, and cost are more valuable to today’s consumers.
1. Introduction Why is a disruptive strategy and culture increasingly valuable in an uncertain business climate? What can marketers learn from disruptive thinking and innovative techniques to help deliver their own objectives? This quick version of Econsultancy’s Learning from Digital Disruptors Best Practice Guide covers how disruptive businesses operate, their strategies for success, and their […]
Breaking into the Chinese market is a notorious challenge for many overseas brands, despite the appeal. Here’s how D2C footwear brand Allbirds has adapted to China.
1. Introduction For many brands on the high street, the pandemic has proven one challenge too many, with the collapse of the Arcadia Group late last year threatening the future of brands including Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Burton. However, as this edition of Digital Transformation Monthly covers, four Arcadia brands have been offered a lifeline, […]
The digital transformation of healthcare has been progressing at pace since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic; but in the midst of rapid innovation, earning the trust of consumers is still vital.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues into its second year, many businesses are still reeling. From food service and travel to beauty and elective medicine, the novel coronavirus has left few industries unscathed. Even so, the pandemic will eventually ease and as mass vaccinations get underway, there is a light at the end of the tunnel […]


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More Companies Getting On Board With Self-Driving Cars As Technology AcceleratesMore car companies are getting on board with self-driving technology as they see it to be the way of the future.
A $38K Luxury Car For Only $9K? Police Cite Latest Scam And Victim Warns Potential BuyersPolice in Santa Ana believe there are more victims out there.
VW Offers Diesel Owners $1,000 In Gift Cards And VouchersVolkswagen is offering $1,000 in gift cards and vouchers as a goodwill gesture to owners of small diesel-powered cars involved in an emissions cheating scandal.
EPA: Volkswagen Cheats Again On Pollution TestsVolkswagen’s emission scandal grew as the German automaker was accused of cheating again, this time involving luxury vehicles.
Audi: 2.1M Vehicles Affected In Emissions-Rigging ScandalVolkswagen AG's upmarket Audi brand says 2.1 million of its vehicles are among those with the engines affected by the emissions-rigging scandal.
Victim Of Gay Porn Star's Blackmail Wants $500K, Pricey Audi BackTeofil Brank had a two-year relationship with Donald Burns in which the executive paid him $2,000 per sexual encounter.
1 Dead, 1 Injured In 2-Vehicle Crash On 118 FreewayThe Audi traveled up a south embankment and caught fire.
Gardena Police Investigating Fatal Street-Racing CrashGardena police were investigating a fatal crash they say occurred Tuesday during a possible street race.
Environmentally-Friendly Cars Dominate At 2014 LA Auto ShowAmong the nearly 1,000 cars on display at the 2014 LA Auto Show, a growing number of the most buzzed-about debuts are plug-in hybrids.
Audi Recalling Nearly 102,000 Cars To Fix Air BagsAudi is recalling nearly 102,000 luxury cars because the front air bags may not inflate in a crash.
Man Stabbed During Brawl Over Woman At UC Irvine Police are looking for a 22-year-old man accused of stabbing a college student at a party on the campus of UC Irvine early Friday morning.
DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Katie At The Hollywood Sign“I don’t like it when people call a car a ‘she.’ I just think cars should be more masculine.” - Katie and her Audi A4
DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Jason At Sherman Oaks Castle Park“I wanted an eco-friendly car that had a little bit of luxury.” - Jason and his Audi A3 TDI
20 Stolen Luxury Cars Worth $1.5M Headed For Asia Seized At Los Angeles-Long Beach PortsA shipment of 20 stolen luxury cars, including a $200,000 Ferrari, was seized by Customs and Border Protection officials before they could be shipped off to Hong Kong and Vietnam.
...The 2012 Audi A7...Let's be clear: a 'coupe' is supposed to mean 2 doors. But if a manufacturer wants to squash down the roof of a 4-door and call it a coupe, we wish them well.


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US FDA’s Cosmetics Director Katz Cites Fragrance Allergens, Talc-Containing Products Among Priorities
Linda Katz, director of the US FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, offered insight into priority cosmetics issues at the Independent Beauty Association’s virtual FDA Cosmetic Regulations Workshop.
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The FDA continues working to close cannabidiol data gaps while maintaining that CBD-containing cosmetics cannot be adulterated, misbranded or marketed as affecting body structure/function or treating or preventing disease, including skin ailments. Cosmetics office head Linda Katz revisited the issue during the Independent Beauty Association’s annual FDA Cosmetics Regulations Workshop.
The Executive Summary of an interagency working group's preliminary recommendations on testing methods for asbestos in talc and talc-containing consumer products, released by the FDA in early 2020, does not constitute a formal position taken by the FDA, it says, noting that concerns have arisen recently about misunderstanding among "external parties."
FDA Final Report: Asbestos Detected In 17% Of Talc-Containing Cosmetics, Including Products Previously Under Suspicion
NGOs including the Environmental Working Group maintain that the FDA’s testing results released on 9 March, showing traces of asbestos in nine out of 52 talc-containing cosmetics, signal a need for congressional action to tighten industry oversight. The FDA says the findings are not necessarily representative of the overall marketplace, with further talc testing planned for 2020.


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Is Space Food The Next Frontier For Food Manufacturers?
With the world held firmly in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, the manufacture and distribution of food to feed populations across the globe is seeing an unprecedented increase in demand.
Stockpiling and shortages of certain foodstuffs that we’ve all taken for granted in the past are now hard to come by as manufacturers struggle to keep up, and UK experts have warned that the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables is under threat. This is due to the fact that the labour force needed to harvest, process and pack crops is no longer available due to the state of lockdown.
With this in mind, scientists and food technologists are turning their attention to innovations made in the space sector, where vital nutrients and proteins are created from microbes that harvest energy from CO2.
This technology was pioneered back in the 1960s and was designed to produce plentiful amounts of protein fit for human consumption with a zero-carbon footprint thanks to the use of waste CO2 and water.
Known as hydrogenotrophs, these microbes use waste CO2 in much the same way that plants use sunlight for the photosynthesis process, but as the public consciousness of the damage that intensive farming methods cause for our natural environment wasn’t as widely known fifty years ago, little was done with the discovery.
The science of food production
With poverty and food shortages thrust into the forefront of our minds, scientists are looking to revive these findings and provide a new way of feeding the world without harming our natural environment. This could change the way that the food manufacturing industry operates within our lifetimes.
Many companies are already producing ‘meat’ from air particles and are aiming to kick the impact of climate change into reverse by becoming completely carbon negative. With traditional farming methods a key contributor to greenhouse gases and soil erosion, finding a new solution to feed a growing global population has become imperative.
With hydrogenotrophs requiring only one-tenth of the land space of crop farming or one-hundredth of that needed for livestock farming, the ultimate aim is to restore much of the land presently used for agriculture into forests. These could then act as vital carbon sinks to absorb toxins from the air.
Although it could be some time before we see ‘space food’ reaching the shelves of our supermarkets, manufacturers should keep an eye on the pulse of future food sources as we could be using labs rather than fields to feed the world sooner rather than later.


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Deutsche Post DHL Group addresses challenges in PeP division and lays new foundation for sustainable growth [Integrator]
Program for Post - eCommerce - Parcel division initiated to improve productivity and indirect costs
Annual operating investment budget of EUR 100 - 150 million to continuously enhance productivity and service quality
PeP EBIT guidance for 2018 lowered to EUR 1.1 billion prior to EUR 500 million one-off charges
Group 2018 EBIT guidance lowered to around EUR 3.2 billion
2020 guidance confirmed
CEO Frank Appel: "We are very confident to reach our 2020 targets"
Deutsche Post DHL Group has today decided on a suite of measures to sustainably secure the further earnings growth in the PeP division. To counteract the decline in profitability in the Post - eCommerce - Parcel (PeP) division, which became evident in the first quarter of 2018, the Group decided on a range of measures to safeguard a positive earnings development in 2019 and 2020. The measures mainly target further improvement in productivity, indirect cost and yield management in the Post and Parcel business.
"We are fully focused on achieving our strategic and financial targets for 2020 and on positioning our business divisions for success in future years. In order to deliver long-term sustainable growth, we are now consciously accepting short-term negative effects on our earnings", said Frank Appel, CEO Deutsche Post DHL Group.
As communicated in the first quarter, the structural shift from Post to Parcel resulted in a number of challenges in 2018. In Parcel Germany, the division sees unchanged structural volume growth, but costs inflated with more FTEs and transport capacities needed in unusually tight labor and transport markets. The challenge for Post is the unchanged structural volume decline with stable stamp prices since January 2016 and a high fixed cost base. Additionally, the structural shift with mail decline and parcel growth is currently not adequately reflected in the overhead cost of the division, and the investment into the further development of operations in PeP Germany has not been sufficient over the last years.
Program to ensure long-term earnings growth of the PeP-division
In order to address these challenges, the Group has initiated a comprehensive program to improve productivity, reduce indirect costs and implement yield initiatives.
Productivity: To increase productivity, the Group will lift PeP operations onto the next S-curve through regular opex investments of EUR 100 - 150 million annually. This will include automation and digitalization, continuous improvement, increased last mile productivity and intelligent network utilization. Ultimately, these operational investments will drive better customer service and higher efficiencies, which will lead to an improvement of EUR 150 - 250 million per annum.
Indirect Cost Reduction: In order to reflect the continuous decline in letter volumes, the Group will sustainably reduce the fixed cost base mainly with an early retirement program focusing on civil servants in overhead areas. This will come with restructuring costs of EUR 500 million in 2018 and will be implemented in 2018 and 2019. The Group expects the program to lead to an annual cost reduction of at least EUR 200 million by 2020.
Yield Management: For regulated products in Post, the Group is awaiting the new regulation from the Federal Network Agency as of January 1, 2019. Price increases for unregulated larger-size shipments as of July 1 have already been announced. In Parcel Germany, the Group will focus on a balance between growth and yield. Even in a competitive market, cost inflation requires price adjustments, which will be implemented on a rolling basis upon contract renewal and signing. The future volume growth for Parcel Germany is expected to be closer to the market development of 5 - 7 percent growth.
The measures will only help in part in 2018; therefore, the PeP-EBIT prior to one-off cost is now expected to come in at around EUR 1.1 billion. This includes additional operating expenses for productivity improvements of around EUR 150 million. In addition, a restructuring charge of EUR 0.5 billion will be recognized in 2018 to implement measures.
Starting in the second quarter of 2018 the activities of the recently founded area of Corporate Incubations will be shown as part of the new line Corporate Functions together with Corporate Center/Other. The full-year result of Corporate Incubations is expected to be EUR -70 million.
Including the above described effects, the management board expects in 2018 an EBIT of around EUR 3.2 billion. The PeP division is likely to contribute at around EUR 0.6 billion to this figure while the DHL divisions are still expected to reach around EUR 3.0 billion. The Corporate Functions result is expected to be at EUR -0.42 billion, including the unchanged projection for Corporate Center/Others of a result of around EUR -0.35 billion.
The above mentioned measures result in a confirmed earnings forecast for 2020: Group EBIT is expected to reach more than EUR 5.0 billion. The PeP division is expected to contribute around EUR 1.7 billion of this and the earnings contribution of the DHL divisions is forecasted to reach around EUR 3.7 billion. Corporate Functions is forecast to reach around EUR -0.35 billion.
The reported Group Free Cash Flow for the full year 2018 - excluding the debt-financed renewal of the Express intercontinental aircraft fleet - is hence expected to exceed a minimum of EUR 1.0 billion.
Posted at 16:12 パーマリンク
New DHL Americas Innovation Center to promote future of logistics [Integrator]
DHL Innovation Center in Chicago will spearhead development of future logistics and supply chain solutions in the Americas region
State-of-the-art facility to open its doors to customers and partners summer 2019 providing an inspiring and interactive visitor experience
DHL is shaping the future of logistics, working on the technologies to drive customer-centric innovation
DHL will expand its global innovation footprint to the Americas region by breaking ground for its new Americas Innovation Center in Rosemont, Illinois, which will offer unique insights into the future of logistics. Joining the DHL Innovation Center in Troisdorf, Germany, and the Asia Pacific Innovation Center in Singapore, the Americas Innovation Center will exhibit the technologies and innovations in logistics that DHL is already implementing across the region, and will foster the development of future logistics and supply chain solutions while serving as a regional platform for collaborative innovation. The opening is planned for summer 2019.
"With our third Innovation Center worldwide, we will be able to create a platform for research and collaborative innovation between DHL customers, start-ups, academia, industry partners, and innovation experts in the Americas region," commented Matthias Heutger, SVP, Global Head of Innovation & Commercial Development at DHL. "This visionary innovation center will further promote and nurture our worldwide leading position as the logistics innovation frontrunner in one of our key markets. It will also help us to further build on successful partnerships that we have established with technology leaders and innovative start-ups in the region."
DHL's logistic innovations footprint in the Americas
As a global leader in logistics, DHL continuously evaluates its innovative customer-centric solutions, already implementing advanced technologies in all of its operations to boost productivity and serve the evolving needs of customers.
DHL Supply Chain, the contract logistics specialist within Deutsche Post DHL Group, has seen average productivity increases of 15 percent in trials of augmented reality technology in warehouses, with smart glasses that provide visual displays of order picking instructions and item locations. It has also deployed drones with surveillance cameras to ramp up security at warehousing sites in Brazil and Mexico.
Robotics, ranked the most important physical technology with 63 percent in a recent global survey by DHL of about 350 supply chain and operations professionals, also play a significant role in DHL's innovation activities. DHL Supply Chain uses collaborative robots designed to help with repetitive and precise tasks, such as picking and packing, in a number of its North American warehouses.
DHL Global Forwarding, the leading specialist in air and ocean transport, and DHL Express, the world's leading international express delivery company, also use virtual reality and artificial intelligence in countries like the United States and Chile for employee training programs and to optimize customer service.
Visions, Trends, Solutions - A physical representation of innovation in logistics
The new Americas Innovation Center will house DHL's logistic innovations and robotics, and will offer customers and partners a peek into the future of logistics, showcasing visions of what the world and its transport infrastructure might look like in 2050, as well as the latest technology trends in robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles, the Internet of Things, and virtual reality - all of which are already being tested or implemented by the Group.
"Rosemont is a central destination for businesses to meet and connect thanks to our strategic location between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and the City of Chicago, and we're thrilled to have DHL mark our Village as a new destination for technology and innovation," said Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens. "Companies look for ideas on the newest trends in this digital era, and now they can come here to look into the future of logistics."
On a surface area of 24,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art facility can host trend and innovation events for up to 300 guests with high-tech features, futuristic designs, an impressive foyer and inspiring meeting spaces that will be available to the public.
"Inspire, connect and engage - these are the main goals we pursue with our innovation centers. While inspiring our visitors in a unique environment and connecting them with logistics and innovation experts, we aim to support strategic customer engagement that has the potential to create new business and leverage thought leadership to explore the different ways in which technological development can benefit DHL and our customers in the future. Our new Americas Innovation Center - in close proximity to some of the world's most dynamic technology and innovation hubs - will help us to shape the future of logistics," added Heutger.
Posted at 21:12 パーマリンク
DHL strengthens Latin America presence by acquiring Suppla Company in Colombia [Integrator]
Acquisition is enabling DHL Supply Chain to gain a competitive footprint in Colombia, a country with increasing competitiveness ranking and a favorable environment for foreign investment
DHL Supply Chain, the contract logistics specialist within Deutsche Post DHL Group, has acquired Suppla Group, specialized on providing logistics services in Colombia. Suppla is recognized as a premier logistics provider with local expertise and longstanding customer relationships. With an established products portfolio, including warehousing and packaging services across Life Sciences and Healthcare, Retail, Consumer, and Technology sectors, Suppla has a solid business model with experienced management, stable business principles, and structured governance.
With a longstanding expertise as a national logistics provider, Suppla has a solid local presence in five regions and coverage of 25 cities of Colombia, about 500,000 square meters of storage capacity and around 4,500 employees. This experience in local logistics market is enabling DHL Supply Chain to significantly improve its footprint in Colombia.
"The expansion into the developing Andean region in South America, specifically in Colombia, is key to achieve our Strategy 2020 targets and allows us to unlock further growth potential. With Suppla's proven business results, professional operations and a strong overlap to DHL Supply Chain's culture, products, sectors and customers, we are taking one more step to tap the potentials of a promising market environment and be ready to serve our national and international customers", says Javier Bilbao, CEO DHL Supply Chain Latin America.
DHL Supply Chain's services in Colombia currently include Service Logistics operations, supported by a recently inaugurated warehouse in Bogotá. The acquisition will allow DHL Supply Chain to strategically expand its portfolio in the market: "Colombia has ambitious investment programs in the coming years, and we are confident that this acquisition will strengthen our presence to provide integrated and customized solutions to our local and regional customers", adds Bilbao.
"Becoming part of DHL Supply Chain is spectacular news for us," says Robinson Vásquez Escobar, President for Suppla. "Since our founding in 1944, we have developed people, capabilities and geographies throughout out the country. We are looking forward to merge our local market knowledge with the resources and competencies of a global player, projecting our people in the most global logistics company and giving our customers service opportunities beyond our frontiers."
Posted at 14:58 パーマリンク
【 Last News 】


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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced a downward review of the ex-depot price of petrol from N113.28 per litre to N108 per litre.
Kennie Obateru, group general manager of the NNPC public affairs division, said the review is in line with the new pricing template that allows for an adjustment of petrol to reflect the situation in the global crude oil market.
The corporation, however, did not state the retail price of petrol.
NNPC said the price would be reflected across all its products loading facilities as well as in its through-put operations.
Obateru quoted Musa Lawan, the managing director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), as saying the new price regime would enable PPMC to boost its sales volumes from the billions of litres of petrol it has in storage while providing affordable price to millions of customers.
He said the new price was arrived at after extensive review of market realities by the PPMC internal price review unit.
The PPMC MD, however, pointed out that automotive gas oil (AGO), otherwise called diesel, being already deregulated, its prices are determined by market forces.
On March 18, 2020, the NNPC reviewed its PMS ex-coastal, ex-depot and NNPC retail pump prices.
From March 19, 2020, NNPC ex-coastal price for PMS was reviewed downwards from N117.6/litre to N99.44/litre while the ex-depot price was reduced from N133.28/litre to N113.28/litre.


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The ABC is unwilling to say whether it provides Google and Facebook access to the data of iview users, a considerable number of whom have created accounts to access the service prior to 1 July based on ABC warnings that logins would be compulsory in the new financial year.
The broadcaster had said for some months prior to 1 July that it would make logins to use iview — a service that allows users to see programs that have already been broadcast or, in some cases, which are yet to go to air — compulsory from that date.
But when asked on that day, the ABC said it was putting off the compulsory logins for at least six months. It did not announce this of its own accord, but only revealed the change of policy when asked about it by media outlets.
The ABC is one of the media organisations that has signed deals with Facebook and Google under the government’s news media code, but will not say whether user data is being fed to these two organisations as part of those deals either.
Researcher Dr Vanessa Teague of Thinking Cybersecurity has lodged a freedom of information request with the ABC, asking that all data-sharing agreements signed with third parties who have access to iview data, including Google, Facebook and customer data hub and enterprise tag management firm Tealium, and any other to whom the broadcaster has granted access.
Whether the corporation will agree to her FoI request or not remains to be seen. The deadline for responding is 16 July.
iTWire sent the following queries to the ABC on Monday:
What happens to the data of those who have already registered in response to the information on the ABC site over the past few months that logins would be enforced from 1 July?
Why has the ABC not made a formal announcement about the delaying of logins rather than depending on outside journalists to make this public?
Is the ABC sharing iview user data with Facebook and Google as part of the deals it has struck with the two companies under the news media code?
What about the user data of those who have not registered iview logins? Is that being shared with Google and Facebook?
Why is the ABC reluctant to say why exactly it wants to make logins compulsory? If this is to help users to track programs that they may be interested in, then surely those who have no need of such guidance should be able to opt out?
But the corporation, which kicks up a hissy fit any time politicians refuse to come on its programs when requested, had only this to say in response: “We’ve said all we have to say for now. I’ll make sure you are looped in on future comms.”
This, by the way, is an organisation that is run using taxpayer funds. Yet it does not seem to like being accountable to the public through the media – though it demands that others be accountable. There’s one word for this: hypocrisy.
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Online management challenges B2B’s aversion to plastic
The business to business rewards sector, traditionally a conservative market resistant to innovation, could now be about to undergo major changes.
Asda has become one of the first B2B gift card issuers in the UK to offer to partner companies an online management system for plastic gift cards as a replacement for paper gift vouchers.
The Gift Card Management System (GCMS) implemented by Jordan Media for Asda
Business Rewards plans to make it attractive for paper voucher fixated B2B business professionals to switch to plastic when offering rewards to their company’s employees.
Paper vouchers have long predominated in B2B and the people involved in the industry seemed to like it that way. John Lewis runs the second largest B2B rewards scheme in the UK and its offering is entirely paper-based with vouchers in specific denominations.
Jordan’s Graham Sellors, who is a director of Asda Business Rewards, says of the new system: “It is very simple yet secure and allows funds to be added remotely by an authorised administrator to new or existing gift cards.”
Sellors says the aim is to make GCMS an industry standard, but that there is a lot of resistance to overcome first among the agencies handling B2B schemes.
“A lot of people want to stick to paper,” he says. “If you count out the vouchers you feel in control unlike with cards. The gift card management system puts that control back in. The agencies can manage the funds on individual cards and can control exactly how much they put on the cards. They don’t have to ask anyone else to do it and they can do it securely online.”
The GCMS allows Asda Business Rewards customers to store gift cards initially with no value, and then load and activate them remotely once they have been distributed to the relevant members of the scheme.
Loading value onto the cards is all done by the B2B scheme administrators, and the cardholders themselves do not have any control of the card and are not able to load funds on to it. “There wouldn’t be any point,” Sellors told Loyalty. “The scheme is there to provide an incentive to employees and the person managing the scheme, typically in the HR department, will be the one loading value on the cards.”
Cardholders can decide to put extra funds on the card by opting to join a ‘salary sacrifice’ scheme and putting say 5% of their salary on the card, but the actual topping up of this amount will still be done by the scheme administrator on the internet.
Sellors added that one instant benefit of switching to plastic for B2B scheme organisers will be a reduction in mailing costs. Paper vouchers already have the value on them when they are sent out so have to be sent special delivery. Fraud from stolen/intercepted paper vouchers has been an increasing problem for the industry.
“If the cards are charged up and then lost the scheme organiser can turn the money off,” says Sellors. “We have a list of card numbers and as long as we have the card’s number we have a direct link to the system of First Data [Asda’s gift card processor] and we go in and take the money off that card.”
The fraud problem with plastic gift cards occurs when they are bought online with a credit card. To combat this, for first time purchasers at its website Asda Business Rewards sends a letter to the registered address of the cardholder to check the validity of the transaction. Value is not loaded onto the card until it is confirmed that the registered cardholder carried out the transaction.
Authorised administrators at B2B customers have a user name and password to load value onto new or existing cards via the Asda gift card site.
Asda was the second retailer in the UK to launch a retail plastic gift card after Debenhams. It is ahead of most of its competitors in that it stopped issuing paper gift vouchers as retail products in 2001. In 2008 it issued 4.5 million plastic retail gift cards and around 1.5 million plastic and paper B2B products. Its magnetic-stripe-based cards are supplied by Thames Technologies.
The gift cards can be used to buy more than 30,000 products available in any of Asda’s 340 stores throughout the UK.
Asda still issues paper B2B vouchers as there remains a large demand for them, according to Amanda Farrell, the retailer’s marketing manager for gift cards and vouchers. “A lot of our B2B customers are not equipped to deal with plastic cards yet,” she says.
The demise of paper vouchers in B2B has been predicted for the last two years, but Farrell says that large numbers are still likely to be around in 2012. The current ratio in B2B is around 70% paper and 30% plastic, although recent figures from The Voucher Association (now known as The VA) found that plastic cards only accounted for 10% of B2B scheme revenues. The B2B sector lags the retail gift card market, which itself has been relatively slow to move to plastic. Around 50% of retail sales are now of plastic cards and the emergence of US-style plastic gift card malls at retailers is finally beginning to speed things up.
Marks & Spencer operates the UK’s largest B2B gifting scheme, followed by John Lewis and Sainsbury’s, with Asda in fourth.
High up-front costs
B2B schemes have a high up-front cost for businesses to operate, and Asda offers a 5% discount on the face value of its vouchers/cards to B2B customers. Farrell says absorbing this loss is worthwhile because if Asda did not offer the discount then some of its B2B customers would buy from rival retailers who did offer one – and the use of B2B cards in retail can be extremely lucrative in generating extra revenue.
“The industry average is that people spend around 40% beyond the value of the card,” she says. “The benefits to Asda of B2B are that incremental spend and the potential business we get from new customers.”
Asda is currently the only retailer issuing cards that can be topped up with varying amounts online. Other major B2B schemes including Argos, Sainsbury’s and Tesco issue cards in pre-donominated amounts.
“I think Tesco and Sainsbury’s will have to review their situation,” claims Graham Sellors.
He adds that Asda has been trying to erase its image as a “cheap and nasty” retailer which has damaged it in the B2B market in the past in comparison with the more aspirational M&S. “Asda now provides a complete range of products,” says Sellors. “It’s about value not cheapness.” It is currently offering a gift wrapped wine and luxury chocolate promotion as part of its efforts to attract customers over from its retail rivals via B2B gifting.
There is some evidence of B2B rewards being cut back in the recession, according to a survey on B2B voucher receipt and redemption by P&I and online rewards and motivation provider iPoints. The survey found few dramatic changes in the industry, but the proportion of people saying they receive vouchers as a reward or incentive from work has dropped noticeably, from 30% in 2007 to 15% in 2008.
Andrew Johnson, director-general of the VA, said he was surpised at the survey results and that its own figures for 2007 showed an increase in sales to the corporate sector.
Frequency of distribution has also changed. In 2007, over a third of companies handed out vouchers once a year, and 20% once a quarter. Now, however, 71% choose to give them on an ad hoc basis.
The VA’s Johnson adds that plastic must outpace paper in retailing before B2B will catch up. “There are a lot more complexities in B2B. It requires lots of rigid and secure operating systems,” he says.


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Canadian angel investors have poured about $89 million into startups this year, more than twice what was recorded in 2012, according to a new survey from the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO). In
Our future robotic overlords took one step closer to realizing their future of world domination. In what can only be a page ripped directly from Skynet’s playbook, Deep Knowledge Ventures (DKV), a Hong
The rules posted yesterday by Canadian securities regulators are still being digested, but upon first read, they appear very encouraging for Canadian startups, small business and even public issuers. The regulators have struck
Today's successful tech executives share several traits: a passion for their work, a willingness to take risks, an affinity for hard work, and the courage when facing challenges. These five people are tech
Requisite disclaimer: While this guide has been reviewed by an attorney, this article does not constitute legal advice. You should consult a lawyer about any decisions that you make concerning stock and options.
Story written with notes from Candice So. Toronto-based accelerator Extreme Startups debuted its latest cohort of digital entrepreneurs to the world on Wednesday, showcasing four different startups with web-based digital marketing software products.
Where are the women in Canadian venture capital? Angel investors, and for that matter, where are the women-owned technology startups? Some months ago at the Gaining Momentum: Women In Techology event, Ilse Treurnicht,
"That's alotta green!" was the frequent refrain by celebrity MC Seamus O'Regan and co-MC, Carrie-Ann Bissonette at yesterday's 120mins in the Zone pitch competition at Ryerson University's Digital Media Zone (DMZ). I am not a great fan
Tech businesses will almost invariably need some type of investment to help fuel their business. Two of the most prevalent types of financing tech entrepreneurs seek out are debt financing and equity financing;


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Cablevision has filed suit against Verizon, arguing that its rival used "false, misleading, and deceptive" advertising regarding its Wi-Fi service.
Verizon's marketing materials say that its Wi-Fi service is "the fastest Wi-Fi available" thanks to its FiOS Quantum Gateway router. But Cablevision says it offers its customers the same router—and it's free, whereas Verizon charges up to $199.99.
"Verizon has no public Wi-Fi network," Cablevision said in a statement. "In addition, Verizon's in-home routers are not faster than Optimum Smart Routers and cost Verizon customers hundreds of dollars while Optimum's are free."
"It is not a coincidence that Verizon is making false Wi-Fi claims just as Cablevision is introducing its all-Wi-Fi Freewheel phone, which will allow consumers to avoid Verizon's data caps and excessive data overage fees," Cablevision said.
On Monday, Cablevision announced its new low-cost Internet phone service, with the promise of unlimited data downloads on any Wi-Fi connection. Launching on Motorola's Moto G smartphone, Freewheel (pictured) will be available nationwide next month for $29.95 per month. Optimum Online customers can enjoy a discounted price of $9.95 per month. The Moto G will also be reduced to $99.95.
Google is reportedly prepping a wireless service, too; the offering will rely largely on Wi-Fi, but shift to cellular service provided by Sprint and T-Mobile where Wi-Fi is not accessible.
A Verizon spokeswoman, meanwhile, called the suit "a boldface ploy" by Cablevision.
"A third party has tested and validated the FiOS QuantumGateway Router," she said, referring to a privately commissioned study that is not publicly available. "It offers the fastest in-home Wi-Fi available from any provider. As usual, Cablevision is confusing consumers by using an apples-to-oranges comparison of in-home and public Wi-Fi."
"We welcomed hundreds of thousands of new FiOS customers last year, many of them former Cablevision customers," she continued. "In survey after survey, FiOS customers rank us above the competition. The voices of our customers are much louder than Cablevisions feeble attempt to distract and confuse consumers."
For more, see PCMag's roundup of the Fastest Mobile Networks 2014.


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Enterprise Crowdfunding will help big companies pilot and launch products
Crowdfunding has become a popular way for smaller businesses and independent designers to gain backing for their projects. Now though funding platform Indiegogo is turning its sights on bigger business.
It's launching a new Enterprise Crowdfunding service to provide large corporations with specific services for engaging with Indiegogo's audience of early adopters, entrepreneurs and makers. This will allow enterprises to validate and optimize product concepts, as well as source new innovations.
"We created Indiegogo to empower anyone, anywhere to raise funds for their ideas, from the inventor working out of her garage to the largest Fortune 500 companies looking to create innovative new products that line up with what customers really want," says Indiegogo CEO Slava Rubin. "Some of the world's most successful companies are already using Indiegogo for product development, market research, and to support causes important to them. Now we’re taking that a step further with Enterprise Crowdfunding".
A number of large companies have announced milestone Indiegogo campaigns. Among these are games maker Hasbro which selected the family-friendly card game 'Irresponsibility' as the winner of its first campaign and is planning future challenges for 2016.
Harman International Industries will launch an Indiegogo campaign to evaluate the market potential for a new selective noise cancellation technology for its line of JBL headphones. Also Shock Top helped pioneer Indiegogo's enterprise platform with its 'Shock the Drought' initiative, launched in August 2015 to identify, fund and bring new water-saving technologies to market in response to the California drought.
"We set out to help California during one of the worst droughts in history, and Indiegogo proved to be a great partner and resource for inventions with the potential to make a big impact on water conservation," says Jake Kirsch, Vice President of Shock Top.
You can find more about the Indiegogo program for enterprises on the company's website.


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French food group Danone is planning to enter the baby food market in Mexico, as it seeks acquisitions in fast-growing markets.
Mexico accounts for 5% of the group's sales, and Danone is already present in dairy and in water with its Banafont brand.
Danone chief financial officer Pierre-Andre Terisse said the company is looking at the possibility of entering the baby food market in Mexico.
"It's a priority market," Terisse added.
Danone plans to expand in six markets growing at double-digit percentage rates which include Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, China, the US and Brazil—that represent 37% of group revenue, Reuters reported.
Danone is the world's leading producer of baby food, a sector that represents 20% of group revenue. The group's baby food business has been driven by double-digit increases in the Asia-Pacific region, with Indonesia and China being the key contributors.
Danone, which competes with Nestle and Unilever, owns international brands such as Activia yoghurts, Evian and Volvic waters and Bledina baby food. It had 2010 sales of €17bn and has a market value of €28bn.


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CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) - With such valuable pieces of digital real estate going on sale Wednesday, web experts are predicting an internet land rush.
So if a wedding photographer was too late in trying to register her name with a .com address, she'll be able to buy one with a .photographer address. However, it's not yet clear whether the new names will be embraced by consumers.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake for companies selling these new domains. InformationWeek recommends waiting a week for the price to go down. But of course if you wait, you run the risk that someone will beat you to it and register a new web address you were hoping to grab.


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Industry analyst Dr. Richard Curtin told the RV Industry Association’s (RVIA) market committee members last month the future is bright for RV wholesale shipments into 2019, following a potential “short, shallow recession” sometime in the fourth quarter of that year or possibly in early 2020. Dr. Curtin is the chief economist for the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers and a longtime tracker of RV shipments for RVIA. He spoke during Committee Week in Washington, D.C. in early June.
He forecasts shipments to reach nearly 540,000 units this year and more than 550,000 in 2019, which would be the highest number in a half century.
Source: RV Pro


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Apple Loses Patent War With Swatch Over ‘One More Thing’ Phrase Ownership
“One more thing…”
The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs had a tendency to say these words during his Apple keynotes, feigning a finished presentation. He’d then surprise the audience with some kind of unexpected announcement.
Current Apple Tim Cook also used it when introducing the Apple Watch for the first time in 2015.
Apple can’t, however, claim that phrase as its own, a judge ruled Monday, siding with Swiss watchmaker Swatch in the latest development in a long-running dispute over trademarks (via Patently Apple).
According to the report, Apple argued at an Australian Trade Marks Office hearing that Swatch should not be allowed to use its trademark over the phrase, and in turn applied for its own Australian trademark over the term.
According to Judge Iain Purvis, the Swiss watchmaker’s attempts to register the phrase might have been an attempt to “annoy” the Cupertino company. Apple can’t, however, block Swatch from attempting to register the phrase.
A previous judge riled that “Swatch’s intentions had stepped over the line between the appropriate and inappropriate use of a trade mark,” but Purvis overruled that decision.
Regardless of who owns the phrase officially, those words will always usher in memories of the late Apple founder and his fondness for pomp and circumstance.


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Women must play a great role in the economy
Leaving half the team off the pitch won’t make for a winning team. That was the message at a lecture by ITC Executive Director Arancha González at a lecture on women’s economic empowerment at the Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading economics think-tank.
‘Women’s full participation in the economy is held back in far too many places by discriminatory laws. In 18 countries the law gives husbands the right to prohibit their wives from working outside the home,’ Ms González told the packed auditorium. She said that preventing women from fully participating in the economy was like playing a football match with only half your team.
‘Women entrepreneurs in emerging markets are stifled by inadequate and unequal access to banking services and capital – a gap estimated to total between US$ 260 billion and US$ 320 billion per year. Some budding entrepreneurs here in Sydney might feel the same way: in the global tech sector, only a small fraction of venture capital goes to start-ups led by women.’
During her speech, Ms. González pointed to a shifting global trade landscape, but stressed that more most be done to include women in the economy.
She said: ‘Over the past three decades we have seen the world economy transformed by the emergence of billion-strong China and India as full economic actors. The large number of women currently on the margins of the global economy are like a third billion, poised to transform their own prospects – and ours, too.’
Ms González called on the audience, many of whom belonged to Sydney’s financial and business community, to join the ITC SheTrades initiative that aims to connect one million women entrepreneurs to markets by 2020.
‘Last year, IT launched a web and mobile app for women entrepreneurs. The app, called SheTrades, lets women-owned businesses showcase their goods and services to prospective buyers,’ she said.
‘Not entirely in jest, the head of our women and trade programme calls it tinder for businesses. You can download the app from the Google Play store, or check it out at SheTrades.com.’
Read Arancha González’s speech in full here.
Learn more about SheTrades and register on the SheTrades app.


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Junk Food Industry Ad Decries NYC Nanny State
The Center for Consumer Freedom, an advocacy group funded by food corporations, released this ad decrying the New York City Department of Health's attitude towards junk food by asking "When did the Big Apple become Big Brother?" It's largely in response to the New York City DOH's recent demonizing of sugary drinks by running gruesome posters that depicted human fat pouring out of soda bottles.
It's part of a larger $1 million ad campaign to defend high fructose corn syrup called Sweet Scam — the website offers a myths/facts section — including this commercial that puts three sweeteners (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and honey) on a police lineup, asking a man "Do you see the one responsible for you gaining the weight?"
Video: Sweet Scam Lineup Ad Commercial


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Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy S20 family of smartphones last month at its Unpacked 2020 event, with the new Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra all detailed and showed off to the world. But now? Now we have some teardown action:
The fine folks at iFixit have ripped apart (very carefully), Samsung's new flagship Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone. The teardown video is a nerds BFF, showing off the massive 108-megapixel camera sensor that just on its own is impressive -- it takes up twice the surface area of the 12-megapixel sensor inside of the iPhone 11 series from Apple.
Most of the space inside of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is used up by the required chips -- Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 865 processor and Snapdragon X55 5G modem, as well as the huge array of camera sensors, circuit boards, and more. Joined in that space being used is the huge 5000mAh battery, too.
Last updated: Apr 6, 2020 at 04:34 pm CDT
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- < PREVIOUS STORY: Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer could drop soon, according to fresh rumors


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By GUY WILLIAMS
A professional ice sculptor’s carving it up at Queenstown’s newest ice bar.
Aucklander Victor Cagayat is building a cocktail lounge from 25 tonnes of ice at Future Hospitality Group’s latest venture, Queenstown Ice Bar, at the resort’s Upper Village.
Cagayat’s expecting to pack up his chainsaw and chisels in time for owners James Ace and Bert Haines to throw open the doors early next month.
Cagayat tells Mountain Scene he’s been sculpting ‘‘everything that’s possible to carve’’ — including margarine, chocolate and vegetables — for about 30 years, using skills gained from wood carving.
He got into the line of work for big hotels in the country of his birth, the Philippines, and since emigrating to New Zealand, has been in demand here and in Australia.
Ace says they’d planned to open last month, but Auckland’s lockdown meant they couldn’t get Cagayat down earlier.
With space for up to 50 guests, it’ll be a ‘‘little more plush, with Scandinavian
touches’’ than Minus 5 Ice Bar, which they’ve owned for a decade.
‘‘We know people love the concept, they love the experience, they love Queenstown and exploring and doing new things, and we’re just adding to that.’’