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Woolworths starts to build automated fulfilment centre
How Dell Precision is bringing ambitious AI initiatives to life
Intel reportedly to list shares in self-driving car unit Mobileye
US says Nvidia-Arm deal harms market for networking, self-driving car chips
Self-proclaimed bitcoin inventor largely prevails in US trial
STATE OF IT
STATE OF IT
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Optus to close Mobile TV app
Content subscription service shuttered.
Sep 26 2013 2:22PM
Photos: Highlights from SAP Sapphire Now 2013
All the keynote action from one of the world's biggest SAP events.
May 20 2013 6:23AM
Toolkits now used in the majority of cyberattacks
Kits allow criminals without hacking skills to engage in cybercrime.
Jan 20 2011 12:48PM
Now that the election's over, holiday season spam begins
Spammers have launched their 2008 holiday season spam campaigns using email to tout pharmaceutical products and casino spam with a Christmas angle.
Nov 10 2008 5:37PM
Supercomputing now dominated by X86 architecture
High performance computing (HPC) may be the pinnacle of the computer speed pyramid, but not its profit pyramid.
Sep 26 2008 9:33AM
Google now owns three quarters of UK search
More than three quarters of all internet searches are conducted by Google, according to market research firm comScore..
Aug 7 2008 7:39AM
Opinion: Mobile Me finally fixed... for now
Apple fans can finally breathe a fruit-flavoured sigh of relief as the Cupertino Collective announces that its Mobile Me fluffy Cloud service is up and running properly.
Jul 31 2008 1:52PM
SAP Tomorrow's never now
SAP is to close its controversial subsidiary TomorrowNow by the end of October. In the meantime customers will be helped move to new support providers, including arch-rival Oracle.
Jul 23 2008 9:09AM
Only two-thirds of Chinese steal software now
China Internet Lab has released its "China Software Piracy Rate Survey 2007" in Beijing.
Jun 11 2008 3:36PM
Firefox 3 RC1 now available
Mozilla has announced the availability to testers of the first Release Candidate (RC1) for the forthcoming Firefox 3 web browser, with features focusing on security, usability and personalisation.
May 20 2008 8:37AM
Networking now 'vital' in consumer electronics
Networking connections are rapidly becoming a "must have" feature for consumer electronics devices..
Mar 27 2008 3:00PM
Microsoft’s Viridian is now Hyper-V
Microsoft has given a new name to its server virtualisation hypervisor technology and said that it will offer a version that does not require Windows Server to be installed.
Nov 13 2007 10:04AM
Vast majority of US now online
A nationwide poll of over 2,000 Americans has found that 79 percent now access the internet, up from barely 50 percent in 2000..
Nov 7 2007 7:29AM
Tenth of junk email now MP3 spam
Anti-spam firm MXSweep has reported that MP3-based pump-and-dump spam now accounts for up to 10 percent of all spam sent..
Oct 31 2007 7:47AM
Kaspersky: Anti-virus community now has upper hand on cybercriminals
The bad guys are in a creative crisis, and unable to conjure up new attacks to target networks, according to Kaspersky Lab's most recent quarterly Malware Evolution report.
Aug 10 2007 9:46AM
Three-quarters of US surfers now stream video
Average American streamer watched 2.5 hours of video online in May. Almost three-quarters of US internet users watched an average of 158 minutes of online video during May, new research reveals.
Jul 19 2007 2:52PM
FeedBurner premium news feed now free
Costs lifted from Stats PRO and MyBrand services.
Jul 9 2007 10:34AM
2008 SC Magazine Awards nominations are now open
Nominations are now open for the 2008 SC Magazine Awards, which salute the security industry's best products, services and professionals.
Jun 27 2007 11:21AM
Storm worm still raging, now with new fake news stories
The so-called storm worm is not letting up, as the gang of cyberthieves behind the mass-spammed trojan attack created new variants over the weekend to elude anti-virus software.
Jan 23 2007 7:51AM
Fibre broadband now cheaper than cable
Price reduction for FTTx services makes fibre more attractive.
Dec 7 2006 9:56AM
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(Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co (KO.N) reported quarterly revenue that came in short of Wall Street expectations on Tuesday, hurt by declines in Europe and Asia where it sold more lower-priced drinks amid economic uncertainty the company expects to continue into 2013.
The world’s biggest soft-drink maker, with brands such as Sprite, Fanta and Minute Maid, also said revenue and profit were hurt by the stronger U.S. dollar, which reduces the value of overseas sales.
Still, earnings were in line with analysts’ expectations and Coca-Cola shares fell only 27 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $37.86 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Coca-Cola gets most of its sales from outside the United States, so shifts in currency can have a big effect. In the third quarter that ended on September 28, the strong dollar shaved 5 percentage points of growth from net revenue and 7 points from operating income.
Aside from currency, results in Asia, particularly China, disappointed some analysts, though Sanford Bernstein analyst Ali Dibadj said it was not surprising, given the softening of consumer sentiment and the slowing of an economy that had been a growth engine for multinational companies in recent years.
“China is slowing down a little bit for the long-term benefit of China. As China will settle, there’s a little bit of adjustment,” Chief Executive Officer Muhtar Kent told Reuters. “Take a plane — when it leaves cruising altitude and is going to land, the ride gets rougher. But it will settle.”
Kent said he expects settling into a lower growth rate will happen within the next few months.
Sales volume rose 3 percent in the Pacific region; JP Morgan analyst John Faucher expected 4.5 percent growth.
In addition, European consumers have been hurt by the debt crisis. In the latest quarter, consumers were buying bottled soft drinks to take home, which is less profitable for the company than drinks sold in restaurants.
“Go to Madrid and look at the cafes. There aren’t a lot of people sitting around drinking Cokes or coffee or whatever,” Gary Fayard, chief financial officer, said on a conference call.
Also, European sales are growing most Eastern and Central Europe where prices are lower, Kent said. This helps volume of sales but hurts revenue.
Third-quarter net income for Coca-Cola was $2.31 billion, or 50 cents per share, up from $2.22 billion, or 48 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, earnings were 51 cents per share, in line with analysts’ average estimate, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Revenue rose 1 percent to $12.34 billion. Analysts were expecting $12.41 billion.
Worldwide sales volume rose 4 percent in the quarter, driven by gains in all regions. Volume rose 1 percent in Europe, 2 percent in North America, 5 percent in Latin America and 11 percent in the Eurasia and Africa region.
Sales volume in the Philippines was flat, due to typhoons. In Japan, soda volume fell 5 percent from the year-earlier period when new products boosted sales. Volume rose 2 percent in China.
Closer to home, North American revenue and profit rose, helped by a recent acquisition and the impact of certain commodities hedges.
Coke is also seeing tougher competition from PepsiCo Inc PEP.N, which is working hard to improve its North American beverage business. It has increased marketing spending with a focus on core brands like Pepsi-Cola and analysts have been saying that the renewed effort is working.
Through Monday’s close, Coke shares were up 9 percent year-to-date, while the Dow Jones U.S. Beverage Index .DJUSBV gained 10 percent and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index .SPX rose 14.5 percent.
Additional reporting by Brad Dorfman in Chicago; Editing by Maureen Bavdek and Phil Berlowitz

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For those of you wondering why Jinder Mahal is getting a push as a top contender for the WWE Championship, it’s because of their expansion plans. WWE is making a heavy push to expand their product in India because they have a massive fan base there that loves professional wrestling. In fact, Impact Wrestling’s highest paying TV deal is from India’s Sony SIX. WWE programming airs on India’s TEN2. By the way, Mahal was actually born in Calgary, Canada but his family is of Punjabi Sikh and he speaks Punjabi.
WWE has appointed Sheetesh Srivastava as VP and General Manager of their office in India. He will be in charge of day-to-day operations for WWE in that region and that will include live events, marketing, sponsorship, licensing and merchandise. Srivastava previously worked for Walt Disney India.
The company opened up WWE Shop in India a couple of weeks ago so you can expect more Jinder Mahal and Bollywood Boyz merchandise to become available in the coming weeks. Most of it will be targeted to the fans in India.
In related news, WWE had approached Olympic silver medalist Sushil Kumar about joining the company but they could not come to terms on a deal.


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“Imagine the possibilities in a world of unlimited immersive experiences. We’re talking about tapping into [new] hyper-personalized and hyper-contextualized 3D experiences generated by AI and used by businesses both ethically and responsibly.”
– John Licata, innovation foresight strategist at SAP.
The groundbreaking fusion of Generative AI and Digital Twins could pave the way for the next big thing — i.e., the “Unlimited Immersive Experiences” that we are all looking forward to. This combination is a rapidly developing and emerging field that is already attracting the attention of some of the world’s biggest corporations.
Prepare to be captivated by the potential for revolutionary breakthroughs as generative AI and digital twins unite, paving the way for unprecedented advancements and transformative possibilities in various domains.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the fusion of generative AI and digital twins from different perspectives.
The Rise of AI Imagination
As per PWC’s global AI study, the generative AI market is projected to achieve a $15.7 trillion market size by 2030, with a 35.6% CAGR. The rigorous amelioration in the areas of generative AI is also expected to impact the tech world, where it creates a new ecosystem.
Generative AI leverages machine learning methods like GANs, transformers, and VAEs to analyze extensive visual or textual data and generate output accordingly.
According to Gartner, by 2027, around 30% of manufacturers are expected to integrate generative AI technology to optimize product development.
Generative AI is a visionary companion that transcends human creativity.
According to the research paper published in TechTarget, AI-based tools like Dall-E 2, Midjourney, Deep Dream Generator, and Big Sleep generate images from text descriptions. ChatGPT and Bing AI find applications in the education, finance, advertising, and healthcare sectors. Generative AI also fuels innovation by breaking free from the bounds of traditional programming. This frees programmers from making discrete steps and allows them to take a new approach.
Besides, AI-based generators work well in the context of generative art as they can create an infinite number of things in an unlimited amount of time.
The Digital Universe Unveiled (Digital Twin Perspective)
Digital twins are captivating virtual realms where reality and imagination converge. They blend the real and virtual worlds, enabling immersive simulations and unlocking boundless possibilities for innovation, creation, and exploration. The global digital twin market was valued at USD 11.12 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 37.5% from 2023 to 2030 (Grand View Research).
Opening the doors to the infinite possibilities of the digital universe, digital twins introduce reality into simulations and open up endless possibilities for innovation, creation, and exploration. Real-time examples of digital twins include monitoring and optimizing industrial equipment, managing smart cities, and enabling personalized healthcare.
Digital twins are set to drive progress in data exchange, generative AI, medical testing, communication, and other domains in 2023. They can also empower marketers to improve their customer experience by analyzing user behavior data.
A Synchronized Symphony – Generative AI and Digital Twins
Merging generative AI and digital twins to create a harmonious symphony of innovation can have a massive impact on society. Emphasizing the union of generative AI and digital twins, we can see the possibilities for numerous innovations across industries. We’re talking about revolutionizing manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, energy, and more with unprecedented efficiency, innovation, and optimization.
As per CNBC, Rolls Royce employs digital twins in its manufacturing process, where virtual replicas of jet engines are enhanced with sensors. These can do well with generative AI that can provide real-time data for analysis and optimization. Besides, the combination of generative AI and digital twins enables the creation of customized educational journeys tailored to individual learners. In the same vein, according to a global trade magazine, the aviation software of 2023 integrates digital twinning, AI, and IoT for immediate insights.
Ahmed El Adl, who coined the term “Cognitive Digital Twin,” suggests that by integrating generative AI and digital twins, cognitive digital twins can be developed with support from digital threads, leveraging the advancements in generative AI frameworks.
Unveiling the ability to imagine and produce infinite possibilities, generative AI helps seamlessly blends the real and virtual worlds. It can emulate images, videos, and textual content — simulating a vast number of possibilities in a very short amount of time.
The Way Forward
The fusion of generative AI and digital twins unlocks awe-inspiring possibilities, empowering innovation, optimization, and real-time decision-making across industries. The advancement in the fusion of digital twin and generative AI is leading to a new horizon in the field of digital technology and presenting a new way of problem-solving.
At Pratiti Tech, we have deep understanding of digital twin technology, a team of subject matter experts with expertise in various digital twin IoT platforms and in-depth knowledge of critical processes across industries (including telecommunications, utilities, healthcare, and automotive). We help our clients create digital twins that seamlessly integrate with existing enterprise systems to automate business processes and ensure better decision-making capabilities. Connect with us here to learn more.
The power of generative AI-digital twin synergy can be used to create virtual worlds that mirror reality with detailed simulations and get real-time information about the world. This can improve business outcomes across industries by enhancing decision-making.


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Huobi to Clarify its Crypto Business is not “Reopening” in Mainland China
Earlier this month, Huobi Labs, Chinese cryptocurrency exchanges Huobi’s blockchain incubator, has announced plans to set up a $1 billion global blockchain industry fund in Hainan Province, China. After that, some Local media and insiders have speculated that Huobi Pro has had a licence from Hainan local government and the exchange would move to Hainan in the near future.
In this regard, Huobi official has clarified that this is fake news. Huobi Pro is not going to move to Hainan and they haven’t gotten a licence so they won’t be able to reopen the exchange in mainland China.
The fake news came from Wechat Groups after Li Lin, the chief executive and founder of Huobi Group, post 5 initiatives for this year in his WeChat Moments:
1. Huobi China will relocate its China’s headquarter to Hainan Island, to be settled in Hainan Econogical Software Park.
2. Partner with top blockchain startups to build 10 Global Blockchain+Labs;
3. Cooperate with world-class universities to set up a blockchain research institute;
4. Build a 40,000-square-meter blockchain incubator;
5. Launch a one billion-dollar blockchain fund.
Some speculators confuse the concept of Huobi Group with Huobi China and intended to use this fake news to bidding up cryptocurrency prices.
Huobi Group is founded in 2013 and known as the leading cryptocurrency exchange, but it is consisted by many sectors such as Huobi OTC, Huobi Autonomous Digital Asset Exchange, Huobi Pro, Huobi China, Huobi Mining Pool and so on. Huobi China is more like a blockchain technology research sector and not involved in any cryptocurrency trading related business.
After the ban in Last October, Huobi closed its Chinese trading platform and launched its international trading platform Huobi Pro in Singapore. This time, Huobi China’s initiatives in Hainan can be seen as an active response to the China’s national strategy of developing blockchain technology and it will use its resources, talents and capital in blockchain industry to contribute to the development of Hainan Special Economic Zone. Houbi’s exchange business is not going to reopen in mainland China at present.
Mainly translating latest bookchain, cryptocurrency and mining news in China, as well as related Chinese regulatory policies for this industry.
#Huobi to Clarify its #Crypto Business is not “Reopening” in Mainland Chinahttp://news.8btc.com/huobi-to-clarify-its-crypto-business-is-not-reopening-in-mainland-china …
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Sergio Garcia is a "good guy", the head of his sponsor Adidas said, indicating the company would not drop the Spaniard over a jibe directed at Tiger Woods.
Cricketer Suresh Raina, along with Arun Bhardwaj, India's first ultra-marathon runner, today launched Adidas' new running shoe with built-in bounce, 'The Energy Boost', at the footwear giant's Sports Performance Centre, here.
Sports retail giant Adidas on Thursday said the company took a hit of 153 million euros (over Rs 1,086 crore) on its balance sheet due to "commercial irregularities" discovered at the Reebok India unit early last year, besides a loss of around 60 million euros in the form of net income attributable to shareholders.
Adidas AG has said it will revive the troubled Reebok brand even as the German sportswear group increased the quantum of hit it took due to a financial irregularity in Reebok India almost 70% more than it previously estimated.
It was almost 24 years ago when Sachin began his career. TOI takes a look at how everything else around us has undergone a transformation since then.
Two students in ESADE’s MBA programme have got the first prize in the 2013 Adidas Case Competition. Calphurnia John of India and Robert Mayer of Hungary rose to the company’s challenge and took home the award for ‘Best Individual Idea.’
IMF chief Christine Lagarde avoided immediate charges on Friday but was named an "assisted witness" after French prosecutors grilled her for two days over a state payout to a disgraced tycoon when she was finance minister.
Investigators opened an inquiry in 2011 into possible charges of "complicity to embezzlement of public funds'' and "complicity to forgery.
Adidas group today announced a top management change in India with Erick Haskell, ex-COO of its China operations, coming in to head the business here as it looks to move on after last year's alleged Rs 870 crore fraud at its arm, Reebok India.
Adidas Group on Thursday appointed Erick Haskell as its new India head. Haskell takes over the responsibilities from Claus Heckerott.


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Groups Warn TN Could Become Dumping Ground for Dangerous Cars
Monday, January 22, 2018
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There's one more reason to read the fine print when buying your next car in Tennessee.
A new law in the Volunteer State allows used car dealers to sell vehicles that are under a safety recall, as long as the buyer signs a disclosure form.
The Motor Vehicle Recall and Disclosure Act is the first and only one of its kind in the country – after similar bills failed in four other states.
Andy Spears, executive director of Tennessee Citizen Action, is concerned about the potential impact on consumers.
"Dealers are incentivized to send their cars they know are dangerous to Tennessee, because if you're making a car deal and you can convince someone to sign this form, and there's no requirement that this has to be done at any time in the process,” Spears states. “After you've already agreed to everything and you've worked out the financing – and then, they hand you a form and say, 'Yes, sign this form' – and most people don't read those documents."
Spears says his isn't the only group concerned that the state will become a dumping ground for dealers in other states to send cars they're unable to sell.
He cites the Takata airbag recall as one example of serious potential problems. It affects more than 1 million cars.
But the Tennessee Automotive Association supports the new law, and points out it does require dealers to notify consumers about recalls.
While many people may opt not to sign such paperwork and buy a car they know is under recall, Spears says some may have no other choice.
"You're on the lot with a car dealer, and maybe you can walk away from the deal if you have resources,” he points out. “But if you need a car to get to work and you don't have a whole lot of money, and someone is willing to sell you this car, maybe you'll sign the form because your options are limited. Your ability to travel from dealer to dealer is limited.
“So definitely, lower-income consumers are the most likely to be punished by this law."
Supporters of the law say dealers should still be able to sell cars that otherwise will work properly after undergoing the recall repairs.
Spears says anyone considering a used car purchase should also run the vehicle's VIN number through the database safercar.gov.
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Users picking up their PlayStation 4 pre-orders next week won’t get just the console, its controller and all the necessary cables. Sony’s also throwing in gift cards for three of its online services absolutely free of charge.
According to a blog post today by Sony, users buying the PlayStation 4 this holiday season will receive a free month of the service’s PlayStation Plus online service, a free month of Sony Music Unlimited and $10 worth of credit to purchase whatever content they want from Sony’s PlayStation Store. While each of these gifts might seem small, each are also very important in their own way.
For example, the PlayStation 4 now requires that users have a PlayStation Plus subscription before they can play multiplayer games online, which wasn’t the case for the PlayStation 3. By including free access, it seems like Sony is trying to ease the transition for users who are upgrading. As the PlayStation 4 doesn’t allow users to play CDs or stream music and video from their own content libraries, a free month of Sony’s Music Unlimited service should keep buyers content while Sony introduces new entertainment apps to its services and hopefully adds that functionality in a later update.
Unfortunately, the offer is limited to PlayStation 4 buyers in the United States and Canada, and Sony hasn’t announced any plans to expand availability of the promotion to users in Europe or Asia.
Of course, this isn’t as flashy as the Thank You that Microsoft rolled out to users this week. That program included free copies of Killer Instinct, Xbox One consoles with launch titles, a year of Xbox LIVE and a year of Xbox Music. However, only a limited number of users received anything as part of that promotion, which Microsoft says was based on luck and other factors. Sony says all users can expect a voucher for these services inside of every PlayStation 4 box in the territories where it is offering them.
The PlayStation 4 launches on November 15th. At this time pre-orders remain sold out.
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Vue Entertainment Inks Deal to Install Sony's 4K Projectors
LONDON –-- U.K. cinema chain Vue Entertainment has inked a deal with Sony to install Sony 4K projectors across its entire circuit of 68 cinemas and 657 screens here and in Ireland.
Vue said the conversion process will start immediately and is expected to take 18 months to complete.
The 4K format offers a four-times increase in resolution over 2K projectors.
Vue is the U.K.’s third largest circuit of movie theaters.


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Thirty minutes north of the city, Chen waits to meet us for ramen. We're late. Brian's at the wheel of his late-model Audi station wagon, turning the control knob from letter to letter, dutifully twisting-and-clicking the noodle shop's name.
In the passenger seat, I've already got the address and driving directions up on my iPhone.
Welcome to the future of connected cars.
How our cars talk to the internet—and how we talk to our cars—continues to evolve. And it's about to get a lot better. Ford is putting a Wi-Fi router inside next year's Sync-equipped vehicles that will rebroadcast any 3G card's connection. Audi is experimenting with fingertip touch inputs. BMW is already trying to figure out how to put a "monster" antenna on their cars to support the faster next-generation LTE wireless standard "without putting this ugly lump on our cars."
But it's the little ol' iPhone, with its versatile, optional, liability-shifting bundle of apps that may making the biggest difference in how we use the internet in our cars in the coming years.
Drive off the lot today in a new Sync-equipped Ford, pair your Bluetooth phone, and you've got a data connection to the internet—sort of.
Sync uses technology from a company called Airbiquity. Their service sends data over the voice connection of your phone—not a data plan or SMS—using tech similar to an old-school analog modem. It's rather slick, as hacks go, allowing Sync-connected cars to get data anywhere there is cellphone coverage, even if there isn't data service offered by the carrier.
But I can't seem to track down the raw speed of an Airbiquity connection—and given both the nature of the technology as well as the amount of data a current Sync system displays (sports scores, stock prices, simple phone number lookups)—I can't imagine its throughput compares to a modern 3G service. It's a robust platform for basic connectivity, but it's not Real Internet.
The new Sync fixes that—or will as soon as Ford starts taking advantage of the higher-speed connections. Jason Johnson, an engineer at Ford who helped develop in the in-car Wi-Fi system, was cagey when I asked him when we could expect Sync to piggyback on a internet connection from a third-party 3G stick, saying only that "it broadens the horizons for applications in the future." So strangely, while the new Sync will help you get other devices in the car online, it won't be using that connection for its own data, nor use its Wi-Fi router to talk to, say, your home network. Yet.
Upscale automakers have been taking a different tack, offering optional connectivity packages like Autonet Mobile, or, as BMW has offered since 2007, build in connectivity at the factory.
Like a laptop with a built-in 3G modem, however, these cars suffer from a distinct lack of modularity. Want to upgrade when LTE starts to come online next year? Better buy a new car.
And worse, the integrated systems, even though they're connecting to the same wireless internet as every other device, are severely restricted. The $200-a-year BMW Search service can bring down Google Maps, local fuel prices and grades, even weather forecasts—using a "major GSM provider" in the United States which, although BMW would not confirm, is probably AT&T—but there's nary a web browser to be found.
"Texting while driving won't seem like a big deal," laughs BMW's Fran Dance, "when people are YouTubing while driving." Dance (no relation) handles telematics for BMW in North America, so he's been thinking a lot about not just how drivers will use the internet in their cars, but how they shouldn't.
"We can't be searching eBay for my favorite Afghan scarf," says Dance. "I really shouldn't be googling too much stuff or reading too much text. BMW recognizes that the driver is still the most important person in the car."
BMW has been doing car computers for years—the new ones are even, by all reports, good. But it took several years for BMW to balance the utility, convenience, and safety factors in their iDrive system.
We'll continue to see development in this area, with bigger touch screens, faster, more accurate voice control (something on which Sync heavily relies), even biometric measurements like Toyota's eye monitoring system.
But what will our car computers be controlling? More and more, it's looking like iPhones.
For certain, a limited amount of sanctioned applications will be coming from manufacturers to run directly on a car's computer. Ford has let owners add 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report apps to existing Sync systems by copying them over on USB keys. BMW is exploring the idea of map updates that would allow drivers to turn on audio tours of historic places, matching up museum-style guidebooks triggered by GPS location.
"We would be very foolish to create our own version of Pandora or Rhapsody," says Dance. Better to let Pandora build their own BMW client, for instance, which BMW can then vet, sanction, and install.
Or at least that's what I thought Dance meant, until he explained: "You can listen to Pandora in your BMW today on your iPhone." Well sure. I can listen to Pandora in any car that has an auxiliary input. But BMW is working with companies—including Apple—to allow their iPhone applications to interface with a car's iDrive system. Pandora might be running on an iPhone or BlackBerry, but when plugged into the docking station of the BMW, it could be controlled with all of the car's integrated buttons and doodads.
Ford is taking it a step further, going as far funding the creation of iPhone apps, that mesh with the in-car Sync system. Next year, Ford will open up the Sync API to other developers, making it possible for third-parties to write applications like "FollowMe", an iPhone + Sync app which allows "friends to follow a lead vehicle to a location without the need to physically follow each other, thanks to GPS turn-by-turn directions transmitted from the leader to the followers and read aloud to the drivers."
BMW is taking a hybrid route with its Mini brand. The Mini "Connected Buddy" concept, slurping up music data from a connected iPhone and then building its own "Genius"-style visual map of artists. [Pictured above.] There's the requisite Twitter and Facebook apps. But most of the work is being done by the iPhone, not the car. The screen and controls in the Mini become an extension of the iPhone.
In a large portion of the United States, it's illegal to have a television in your car that the driver can see, a regulation that was put in place long before smartphones and GPS units were even dreamed up. There are considerable liability issues an auto manufacturer has to consider if one were to, say, let you run Firefox in your dashboard.
But by tacitly pushing in-car application development to smartphones—even if those smartphones might so happen to be connected to the car—it puts the liability back in the driver's hands.
There's little danger of smartphone literally crashing the car, either. Sync talks to the same telemetric and diagnostic system that the car's other computers do, for instance, albeit in a one-way polling. It can ask for data, but it can't, say, reprogram the valve timing to allow for greater fuel economy or allow your Focus to run on water even though we all know that's totally possible. More conservative companies like Toyota don't even wire the entertainment system into the same telemetric and sensor packages as the car-control computers.
Despite what you might think, I didn't expect the iPhone to play a big part in this story when I first started looking into it. As a music player, sure. Perhaps even eventually as a data option for more modest cars without built-in connectivity.
But using the power of smartphones is clearly where the attention is focused in the connected car industry right now—and I don't think it's such a bad thing. The pace of innovation will be faster for developers if our cars become giant peripherals for our phones, bristling with sensors and data, than if we waited for every manufacturer to make their own monolithic platform. (And while the iPhone is certainly getting the most attention, I have no doubt that BlackBerry and Android phones will get all the attention they deserve if they keep doing well.)
I mean, Sync is built on Windows CE, which may not be the dog in the embedded space it has become on mobile phones, but is still, you know, Windows CE. Jason Johnson was quick to underline how Ford has a healthy relationship with Microsoft (of course) but also how much of the Sync system was engineered on top of Windows CE by Ford.
Yet if Ford does what they're planning to do, that Sync runs on top of CE won't even matter. As long as it plays nice with phones and sends them all the information their apps need, everyone will be happy. And better yet, the cars' capability will be upgraded along with the phones'.
In a couple of years, I won't even have to read the turn-by-turn directions to Brian aloud, because his car will already know exactly what my iPhone knows.
Photo compliments of Mr. Tom Arthur.
Wondering what the future of apps in your car might look like? Jalopnik's own Matt Hardigree imagines what the first 20 apps you download to your car might be.


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Pacaso Expands To Santa Barbara
NOVEMBER 24, 2021
San Francisco-based real estate startup Pacaso, which was founded by former Zillow executives Austin Allison and Spencer Rascoff, said this week that it is expanding its platform to Santa Barbara. The startup helps people co-own and buy luxury second homes. Rascoff is based in Los Angeles.


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Meet the artisan designers at an upcoming fashion week in Mumbai
Four Indian craftsmen get their due credit with their own collaborative show at the forthcoming fashion week in Mumbai
Shohel Khatri and Mohammed Yusuf. Pics/Dhara Vora Sabhnani
Creating collections by celebrating diverse Indian crafts has become the signature of several big-ticket Indian designers. Few however, have credited the master weavers and craftsmen as co-creators at their glamorous fashion presentations.
Sarfraz Khatri, Vikas Kumar and Lokesh Kumar Chhipa
The opening show on the sustainable fashion day at Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) on Thursday will be a game changer though. Presented by Paramparik Karigar, an organisation that has long been promoting Indian crafts, the #Craftiscool presentation will see five design labels collaborate with four craftsmen and a community welfare project, giving them equal status as designers.
Bherulal Chhipa X Poochki
Bherulal Chhipa is a state award-winner (Rajasthan) who specialises in tie-and-dye, dabu and ajrakh printing. Currently under the weather, we meet two of his five sons, Vikas Kumar and Lokesh Kumar Chhipa at an ongoing exhibition by Paramparik Karigar. “Though we specialise in block printing, I started hand-painting with matchsticks, which is even more difficult. The pieces didn’t sell much; I lost hope and stopped designing. But when LFW approached us and showed interest in my style, I spent three months to hand-paint a saree, and create contemporary geometric prints in our signature hand block craft,” says 26-year-old Vikas. With renewed hopes, he and his father even developed new colours with the Poochki team, and are now raring to take it further.
Mohammed Yusuf X Vineet Rahul
A two-time national award-winner and UNESCO-recognised bagh printer from Madhya Pradesh, Mohammed Yusuf is nonchalant about his newfound designer status. “I have collaborated with designers in the past. But mostly, our name does not get mentioned at the show. The government has also approached us to teach the craft to more people by offering a monthly stipend. But the students should genuinely be interested in the technique to continue it in the long run,” he tells us. His sons, Bilal, Kazeem and Abdul Karim, ably assist him in his work.
Sarfraz Khatri X Verandah
Based out of Mohammed Ali Road in Mumbai, Sarfraz Khatri is the fifth-generation member of his family continuing the tradition of hand block printing through his brand Pracheen. “Participating on a platform which is every designer’s dream is a big achievement. While this is a boost to us, the only way we can continue our practice is if the government provides enough incentive to the craftsmen to sustain their families so their children don’t opt for other professions,” Khatri tells us.
Shohel Khatri X The Pot Plant
“Like many other children of artisans, initially, I didn’t show interest in the profession. I completed my studies and was about to go to Australia to earn an MBA. I changed my mind though, and pursued a design course at Kala Raksha in Kutch in 2008,” says bandhani expert Shohel Khatri. Thanks to this course, he learned about new techniques and has specially created bandhini patterns inspired by the Japanese art of shibori, and the yin and yang concept (creating patterns using negative space) for the show.
Aranya Naturals X Rouka
A project by Srishti Welfare Centre (Munnar), Aranya Naturals works with 35 differently-abled adults to create pieces of naturally dyed fabrics. Sreejith Jeevan of Rouka has collaborated with Aranya for his collection, Into the Lotus Pond.
This season will also see a presentation by Craftmark featuring Phulkari: The Nabha Foundation and Sonal Chitranshi, Patchwork: Purkal Stree Shakti Samiti and Hetal Srivastav, and Lambadi: Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra and Anshu.
You may also like - Photos: Your hunt for top 10 eggless desserts in Mumbai ends here
Watch Video: Youngsters fall to their death at Amboli Ghat
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IronSource at the NYSE
IronSource shares surged nearly 50%. The company lets game developers manage advertising and marketing, and view engagement through dashboards and other tools that show how agame is performing.
In tandem with the merger announcement, Unity reduced full-year 2022 revenue guidance from $1.35 billion to $1.42 billion to $1.3 billion to $1.35 billion, citing the macroeconomic environment and “competitive dynamic” with monetizing. Shares of Unity are down about 76% year-to-date.
IronSource, valued at about $4.4 billion, will merge into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unity via an all-stock deal. Each ordinary share of IronSource will be exchanged for 0.1089 shares of Unity common stock, the companies said.
After the deal completes, Unity stockholders will own roughly 73.5% of the combined company and current IronSource shareholders will keep about 26.5%. An up to $2.5 billion share buyback program will be effective when the transaction is closed, Unity said.
“The combination of Unity and ironSource better supports creators of all sizes by giving them all the tools they need to create and grow successful apps in gaming and other consumer-facing verticals like e-commerce,” said John Riccitiello, CEO of Unity. “This is a step further toward realizing our vision of a fully integrated platform that helps creators in every step of their RT3D journey.”


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Does your company prohibit you from accessing Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube at work? Quite a few do, citing the ability of cute animal videos and status updates to distract employees from the work at hand. But according to the biggest story making the rounds this morning, their concerns may be misplaced. In fact, the study in question suggests that a company’s most “connected” employees may be its most productive!
Don’t get too excited yet — the research, conducted by data analytics firm Evolv, involved approximately 40,000 call center employees whose responsibilities range from sales to customer service, so it didn’t cover the whole business spectrum. But here’s the interesting thing: the employees who counted themselves as members of more than five social networks were also the most valuable! They had, on average, better close ratios for sales and more efficient customer service records based on time per call.


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Drones certainly are a contentious topic, huh?
If you mention how drones are interfering with firefighters and nearly colliding with planes, calling for something to be done, the drone enthusiasts come out of the woodwork and call you a fear-monger.
We certainly don’t want to be alarmists, but you can’t ignore these issues either. Whether you think a drone can take down an airplane or not, we can all agree drones shouldn’t be flying near commercial airplanes with 100+ passengers onboard.
I digress. In reality, drones are doing a lot of good in this world. Everyday researchers across the globe are testing new applications that making the world a safer, better place.
We’ve rounded up six applications – there are many more – that should help subside some of the fear and bad publicity recently surrounding drones. Let us know what planet-saving drone application is your favorite, whether it’s on this list or not.


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Every so often, it’s my pleasure to report on Fine Books’ esteemed team of writers.
Oak Knoll Books
October 8, 2021
September 26, 2016
We at Fine Books were so saddened to learn that Bob Fleck, founder of Oak Knoll Books & Press, passed away last week.
September 24, 2012
Coming up in just a couple of weeks--make your plans now, if you haven't--is the Oak Knoll Fest, a bi-annual celebration of book arts, fine press, and beaut


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Legal & General has agreed the first three lettings at Midsummer Place at Milton Keynes since it bought the shopping centre in December last year.
After paying £216.3 million for the 418,000 sq ft (38,835 sq m) scheme, L&G commissioned Strutt & Parker to come up with a new leasing strategy.
Now Lush has agreed to take 1,189 sq ft (110 sq m) in the East Walk on a 10-year lease at £88,500 a year, reflecting £188 Zone A.
Envy, part of the Alexon Group, has taken 3,430 sq ft (320 sq m) on a 10-year lease at £195,000 a year, reflecting £200 Zone A.
Meanwhile, Abbey National has taken 4,910 sq ft (455 sq m) on a 15-year lease at £250,000 a year, reflecting £243 Zone A.
CB Richard Ellis acted for Lush. Colliers CRE represented Abbey National.


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Schrems II decision: Crossborder data transfer uncertainty
Joan Antokol of Park Legal LLC discusses the implications for US multinationals
On 16 July 2020, the European Court of Justice (CJEU) issued its long-awaited opinion in Case C-311/18, Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland Limited and Maximillian Schrems (Schrems II). The CJEU invalidated the EU-US Privacy Shield framework and at the same time, approved the continued use of the EU Standard Contractual Clauses as a valid data transfer method, albeit with additional conditions. This important decision significantly impacts US businesses and also has broader, potentially global implications for cross-border personal data transfers and trade.
Impact on Privacy Shield certified companies


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Date Published: January 15, 2018
Similar to other key sectors, disruptive technological trends are revolutionalizing the North American auto industry. Among these transformative trends, growing “connectivity” and integration of software applications (i.e., GPS/mapping) have been the most prevalent to date. Other, more potentially disruptive technologies – notably electric (EV) and fully-autonomous vehicles (AV) – have been making inroads, but remain a number of years away from widespread commercial use. In this report, we address some of the often-raised questions surrounding the impact of technology in the auto industry, beginning with developments in electric vehicles.
How successful have electrified vehicles been in penetrating the market?
Electrified vehicles, which we define as hybrid, plug-in, battery electric and fuel cell, have been around for some 20 years, but consumer uptake of these vehicles has been slow. Although outpacing the growth in overall sales, electric and hybrid vehicles still account for less than 1% of total sales in the U.S. and Canada. Even in China, which makes up roughly 45% of global sales of electric and hybrid vehicles, the EV market accounts for only 1.3% of the country’s total auto market. Within the OECD, Norway has stood out as the most notable exception to the rule, with electrified vehicles accounting for nearly two in five vehicle sales in 2016. Norway’s success has largely revolved around government buying incentives, which are the most generous in the world. A few other nations that have seen a somewhat more meaningful shift towards EV demand include the Netherlands (6.4%) and Sweden (3.4%).
The slow adoption of EVs reflects a number of ongoing barriers. Most importantly, EVs continue to have a high price tag relative to similar vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE). The sticker price of an EV can be $10,000-20,000 more than a comparable vehicle with an ICE. When subsidies and other costs of ownership are factored in, the gap can narrow to under $5,000 depending on a number of factors including vehicle model, gasoline and electricity prices, miles driven and financing costs. But, several comparisons suggest that it would take at least 4-5 years of ownership to make up the difference in cost.
Most governments in North America and around the world provide subsidies for the purchase of EVs as part of their policy tools to address climate change and promote cleaner technologies. However, these grants have generally not been sufficient to eliminate the cost gap.
The challenge with over-reliance on subsidies is that they do not tend to be sustainable. In China, which has particularly generous subsidies, demand fell significantly once they were scaled back. In Norway, the government has signaled that it plans to phase out some of its subsidy programs over the next few years, as the cost of the incentives has not been perceived as exceeding the social benefits.
Range anxiety is another barrier to adoption with respect to pure electric vehicles, as the driving range and charging infrastructure are simply not adequate for many who wish to drive longer distances. More powerful batteries have become available, but those also tend to come at a higher cost.
Cost and charging concerns are perhaps the most important, but not the only barriers. Another challenge is a lack of supply, with no options available in some vehicle classes. As gasoline prices have fallen since their recent peak in 2014, the U.S. has seen a shift in sales toward light trucks, as consumers are “buying as much car as they can”. But there are few electric or hybrid light trucks on the market at present. So even beyond higher price tags, a shortage of product mix is likely a factor that is contributing to a lack of EV traction.
Like many new innovations, EVs suffer from a classic Catch 22 situation. Consumers aren’t willing to spend the extra money for an EV and costs are unlikely to come down until there is sufficient demand and economies of scale in production can be utilized. Further, the incumbent technologies do not remain static. Facing increased regulation around energy efficiency and higher carbon costs, the auto industry continues to invest in improving the performance of the internal combustion engine. In fact, new technology has led some industry players to announce expected efficiency improvements of 30-50% over current performance in the next generation of engines, helping to keep conventional engines alive.
The penetration of EVs may have disappointed analyst forecasts over the past five years, but that has not dissuaded them from their prognostications that EVs and hybrids will “go big” over the next decade. That being said, the forecast range remains wide – from a low of around 10% of the global market to as high as 35% by 2030. Accompanying these forecasts are commitments from a number of automakers – including GM, Daimler, BMW, Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen – to ramp up the number of electric models offered over the next decade, with one OEM (Volvo) announcing that all of its models introduced in 2019 and beyond would be hybrid or electric. Lastly, some governments have announced bold targets. China and several European countries have proposed to ban the sales of vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2030 or 2040.
Forecasts at the upper end of the range see the industry hitting a “tipping point” over the next several years. Particular focus remains on battery innovation. Batteries not only make up the highest part of the cost gap, but are also a root of charging anxiety. On this front, there is reason for optimism. New innovations and increased demand have taken the cost of batteries down sharply in recent years. The industry has set a target of $100 per kwh where battery costs would be considered “affordable” for consumers, and current projections suggest this target could be met by 2020-22. The lower price could also make it more affordable to have a longer range by way of a larger battery.
Efforts are being made to increase charging station networks in North America and around the world. In the US, over 50,000 charging stations were in operation in 2017, up from 5,000 in 2011 and 25,000 in 2014. The charging network is most pronounced in California, which alone has nearly 16,000 stations. It is no coincidence that California also has the largest share of EVs, accounting for 12% of the market in 2015. Such moves to increase the charging network should be supportive of demand, but more is needed in order to eliminate range anxiety. Overall, EV uptake is likely to be more pronounced in areas that are densely populated where drivers would benefit from free parking and use of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes versus more rural areas that require more dependence on driving and are likely to have less charging infrastructure.
All eyes are currently on Tesla Inc. and its recently launched new EV product – the Model 3 – that it hopes can sell on a mass scale, and in turn move down the production cost curve. The rollout has been slower than initially planned, with the company citing “production bottlenecks” as the cause. Production targets have thus been pushed back by a few months. Given the delays, it will likely be a year or so before analysts have a better sense for whether Tesla’s strategy is paying off.
As part of its growth strategy, Tesla has recently opened the world’s largest battery factory – the Gigafactory – which is expected to ramp up production rates to supply 500,000 EVs with batteries per year, and the automaker is talking about building additional Gigafactories. In fact, there are reportedly 12 new or expanded battery factories set to open by 2020. This production scale could help to add further downward impetus to battery prices, but could create other challenges. There are concerns that there will not be enough raw materials to support the number of lithium-ion batteries that would be needed to support an entire fleet of electrified vehicles. In particular, cobalt is costly to mine and the majority of the mineral is found in an unstable country (DRC). However, if demand picks up, cobalt projects in other countries could become economical. As well, research is being conducted to see if batteries can be produced using other metals, or reduce the amount of cobalt in each battery. Further research and development is needed on this front, but if demand is there, batteries should be as well.
Hydrogen fuel cells are another environmentally friendly technology that has been developed. These vehicles use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity to run the motor. The fuel cell is quick to refuel (unlike EVs) and vehicles get a range similar to conventional cars. This could be a clean alternative if battery supply is lacking. However, associated infrastructure such as refueling stations would need to be ramped up.
As part of the their carbon-reduction and environmental strategies, governments in North America and around the world are likely to continue to support both sales of electric and hybrid vehicles as well as R&D activities. For example, in the U.S., EV buyers can currently receive a federal tax rebate of up to $7,500, with some states and cities offering additional incentives. Tools other than purchase subsidies include breaks on municipal parking fees, road tolls, purchase and import taxes, licensing fees and/or charging costs as well as permission to drive in HOV lanes. On the flip side, one negative for the government of a shift toward electric vehicles is the lost revenues generated by gasoline taxes.
However, governments continue to face fiscal pressures from across the gamut, which is likely to limit the extent to which financial support can be ramped up further. And in jurisdictions that face significant budget pressures (such as the U.S. federal level) there could be increasing pressure to reduce or eliminate revenue initiatives. In that case, the success of EVs will boil down even more to the success of auto producers in eliminating the cost gap with ICEs.
To the extent that governments move to price carbon and increase regulations on fossil fuel industries, this will naturally shift incentives towards EVs. Not only will this make EVs relatively more appealing, this will also generate revenue, a share of which could be recycled to supporting incentives for EVs and other clean technologies.
As well, the government can invest in associated infrastructure, including measures to ensure adequate supply and distribution of electricity. As mentioned, some governments have already undertaken such initiatives, but further increasing the network of charging stations throughout North America will be necessary once electric vehicles become more common. And, if done sooner, it would also help increase consumer demand by reducing range anxiety. Consumers need to know that they’ll be able to charge up no matter where they drive. Ideally, governments should invest in fast chargers in order to improve desirability for consumers.
Assuming that battery costs continue to decline, prospects remain bright for EV sales to jump to at least 10% over the next 5-10 years. However, Norway-like shares of 40% appear to be a very tall order. It is clear to us that the industry is still decades away from having a pure electric fleet of vehicles.
Mass adoption of autonomous vehicles is likely much further out on the horizon than EVs, given that EVs are already on the roads today. But, the technology is gradually falling into place. A number of new vehicles now offer a host of technologies that will eventually work together in a self-driving vehicle. These features include: adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane assist, back-up cameras, etc. Right now, these are considered safety features. But, step-by-step, they are bringing the industry closer to fully autonomous vehicles.
Similar to electrified vehicles, these features come with a price tag, so not all consumers are purchasing vehicles with this technology, but some are becoming standard. While there is no requirement for an AV to be an EV, the two are often talked about together given the goal of reducing human input. In addition to less maintenance than a traditional vehicle – which is useful for ride sharing companies – the ultimate goal is that the battery in the EV will also power the onboard technology in the AV.
Predictions vary widely on timing of when fully autonomous vehicles will hit the road without any restrictions, with some automakers making bold predictions that they will have AVs on the roads within the next few years. For example, GM has announced a large-scale fleet of AVs by 2019; Nissan to begin robo-taxi service by the early 2020s; Mercedes to begin selling AVs by 2020 and BMW by 2021. Some industry forecasts suggest that AVs could account for up to 15% of new car sales by 2030. These announcements, however, all came with the caveat that safety comes first and the timing will depend on when vehicles are deemed safe enough. So, these dates may be premature. In fact, Volvo has recently scaled back its experiment for AV testing of Level 4-ready vehicles (in which the driver does not need to be engaged) with regular people in Sweden from 2017 to 2021, as they have found more issues to solve than they had expected. As such, most industry estimates suggest we are at least a decade away from the widespread deployment of fully self-driving vehicles.
But, the testing is underway. A number of US states have already announced legislation for testing autonomous vehicles on public roads in some capacity. Perhaps the most advanced testing is being done in some parts of Phoenix Arizona, where Waymo is testing a Level-4 vehicle with no driver in the seat. The more places that these vehicles can be tested the better, as AVs must experience and succeed in navigating all types of terrains and weather/road conditions before they can be deemed safe for public roads. Few regions require safety incidents to be reported, so getting a clear picture of how AVs are doing on public roads thus far is not easy. Still, automakers are using these experiences – such as when the technology fails or needs to be tweaked to respond to a certain situation – in order to perfect the technology. It will likely take time to ensure there is an appropriate response to any and every type of situation.
It is clear that autonomous vehicles are still in the very early stages of testing and there are a number of kinks that will need to be worked out before they are safe to put on the roads. But, even once they are ready, public appetite for self-driving cars is still unknown. Surveys indicate that the majority of respondents would not consider riding in a fully self-driving vehicle. Comfort and acceptance is likely to grow as these vehicles are further developed and marketed, but it will likely be a gradual process. Perhaps introducing these vehicles first within mobility services such as driverless taxis – as some companies have indicated the intent to do – will allow consumers to experience and become more accustomed to the technology before they are ready to own one.
Once the technology is ready, there are other serious issues that will need to be addressed. Regulations, guidelines and vehicle licensing relating to requirements that vehicles will need to be allowed on public roads will be key. For example, there are multiple levels of autonomous driving capabilities, so regulations on which level(s) will be permitted will need to be determined. Ideally this should be done at the national level so that rules are consistent across a country.
Self-driving cars will also fundamentally change the insurance industry, as insurers will be covering the technology rather than the drivers. This raises the question of whether it will be the OEMs that will be insured similar to cruise lines and shipping companies or if vehicle owners will have to be insured as well. Determining who is at fault in an accident may also be difficult depending on the situation.
Mobility has been another area that automakers have been focusing on in recent years, with a number of ride sharing, delivery service and transportation programs popping up. Uber has been widely successful in disrupting the taxi industry, spurring taxi companies to move towards online or app-based technologies in order to remain competitive. Ride sharing programs have replaced vehicle ownership for some who live in densely populated areas where these services are most effective. Autonomous vehicles could enhance this mobility, as it removes the human element. Indeed, the concept of robo-taxis would use driverless cars to transport passengers around, picking them up and dropping them off in convenient locations such as their homes.
Moreover, self-driving vehicles could perform simple delivery services such as food delivery, eliminating the need for an actual delivery person. Self-driving trucks are also being tested in the trucking industry, which would allow transport trucks to transport goods without requiring a driver. Public transportation such as city buses could also shift to autonomous vehicles.
Given the development of artificial intelligence, vehicles should be able to drive on many existing roads. But, with autonomous vehicles on the roads, there are a number of ways in which infrastructure and city planning will change. For example, repainting lane stripes, improving/digitizing traffic signs and lights, and widening highways will become important as infrastructure is upgraded. Hence, city planners will place more emphasis on computing systems and digital technology that is embedded in roads, signs and traffic lights rather than focusing on the roads themselves which shouldn’t need as much work. Weather information, speed center, and traffic management systems will also be a focus and is likely to become digitized.
Increased mobility services would require adding curb space for drop off zones, although to some extent, these services would reduce demand for parking and parking lots, potentially opening up land for other uses.
Governments at all levels will have to work together to develop plans for infrastructure, licensing and guidelines for autonomous vehicles, and figure out which jurisdiction each of these will fall under. While self-driving vehicles aim to make roads safer, they will also be trained to follow the rules of the roads. Hence, government revenues generated from traffic and parking violations will likely be reduced. Moreover, given that autonomous vehicles should reduce the amount of accidents, government resources could be shifted away from accident management, and toward technology and cybersecurity. As well, resources could be spent annotating the mass amount of data that is collected from vehicles, in order to turn it into useful information.
Another issue that will need to be addressed is privacy. With all the data that will be collected and shared in these high-tech vehicles, passengers will be watched constantly, with personal information and daily routines easily obtainable. Governments must set out rules on use of this data and help automakers ensure that it is used in a way that adheres to privacy legislation.
Even if the shares of electric and autonomous vehicles on the roads don’t change dramatically overnight, the push towards these vehicles is definitely underway and could accelerate substantially alongside technological development. As such, economic and sectoral impacts could become increasingly visible in the coming years.
The ultimate goal of electric vehicles is to reduce the carbon footprint. This would clearly have negative implications for oil demand. However, the reduction in oil demand will be quite gradual for a number of reasons. First, we are still years away from sales shifting to electrified only vehicles. Second, “electrified” includes hybrid vehicles, so the internal combustion engine will be around for some time still. Third, the stock of vehicles on the road today is heavily reliant on gasoline. And even if sales were to become solely electric, it would take decades before the current vehicles in operation were taken off the roads. According to the EIA – which expects EVs to account for 14% of global sales by 2040 – electricity consumption in light vehicles is expected to rise by 80% by 2040 versus 2016 levels. Even with this increase, petroleum based fuel consumption of light vehicles is expected to increase slightly by 2040.
The bigger issue for oil demand will be increased fuel economy standards (including improved efficiency of the internal combustion engine) and policies to reduce miles-driven (addressing congestion and pollution) and lower transportation linked to industrial production.
This will have implications for oil producing regions, including the U.S., with spillover effects on the refining industry. Eventually, demand for gasoline stations could be reduced, although we are still decades away from that. All told, oil will still be the primary fuel used over at least the next decade, but growth prospects continue to be capped.
With all the new technology being developed, automakers have to ensure that they don’t fall behind and become uncompetitive. Some have been late to the electrification game, choosing to let others spend the resources on developing the technology while others are striving to be market leaders. Either way, the selection of electrified vehicles has slowly ramped up in recent years, and is likely to accelerate going forward given the plans announced thus far.
With respect to automation, automakers have to decide how to package and price the advanced safety features, while remaining competitive on which features are offered and at what cost. While not all automakers have jumped into AV development, eventually, once the technology is ready, they are all likely to offer it.
Given the complexity and cost of developing fully autonomous vehicles, automakers have increasingly been looking to parts makers to help generate new innovative features. And, some have begun to form alliances. Not just with other automakers, but with parts producers as well as tech companies. Some are working with auto sharing companies or creating their own. It will take a collaborative effort to bring these vehicles to market and more alliances or partnerships are likely going forward.
The shift toward more electronics in vehicles means that upgrades will be required at some point. Automakers must also focus on building vehicles that can easily be upgraded without having to go to a dealership. Moreover, more electronics means that automakers must allocate some resources to cybersecurity, in order to ensure that vehicles cannot be hacked into and taken over remotely.
While much of the electronics manufacturing may be done in lower cost regions, the design and engineering of these vehicles can be done closer to home. All of this collaboration and innovation presents great opportunities for tech and engineering firms.
All the new technologies that have been introduced in recent years have attracted consumers to showrooms, helping to prop up sales. This is set to continue so long as new innovations that increase safety and connectivity make their way into cars.
Increased mobility such as auto sharing could eventually lead to lower ownership rates, which would reduce retail sales of new vehicles. Demand for fleet sales would provide some offset as these auto sharing companies would need to ensure enough vehicles to keep up with demand. Moreover, cars that are shared – including taxis and car sharing vehicles – tend to rack up the miles quicker than privately owned vehicles and thus wear faster. Hence, these vehicles will need to be replaced sooner than privately owned ones typically would, increasing the sales cycle.
However, despite being available for years, ride sharing accounts for less than a tenth of a percent of all vehicles on the roads, suggesting that consumers still feel the need to own their own vehicle. As such, auto makers should still focus on retail sales, as private ownership will continue to be the key driver of auto sales for the foreseeable future.
For dealerships, there has been some concern that technology that allows for online shopping and no haggle pricing could eventually eliminate the need for showrooms. However, many consumers prefer to test drive vehicles before purchasing them. Of course, there are some examples in which the vehicles pick consumers up at a certain location such as their work or home and allow them to take the test drive without ever having to visit the dealership. Autonomous vehicles could advance such a system. Still, many – particularly those that are not so tech savvy – prefer the dealership experience and find it beneficial to have a salesperson demonstrate some of the features of the vehicle in order be able to fully utilize them.
It follows that salespeople will have to have more of a technological background so that they are comfortable explaining and promoting some of these features. Some automakers have a specialist in each dealership for such purposes. This could become more common as vehicles become more technologically advanced.
To the extent that ride sharing were to rise to the detriment of private ownership, auto lending would similarly shift from a focus on retail to more commercial lending, to meet the financing demand from fleet sales.
Electric vehicles generally do not require as much maintenance as those with an internal combustion engine, as oil changes, spark plugs, and air filters for example are not found in these vehicles. However, with the rise in electronic components in newer vehicles, service centers will increasingly have to shift toward a workforce with more of a technology background rather than a mechanical background. Moreover, should something breakdown on an EV or AV, “do it yourself” repairs will not be as easy for drivers, and repairs are likely to be more costly.
Traditional body shops are likely to see a drop in demand, as all the enhanced safety features and eventually self-driving vehicles will result in less accidents, and hence less demand for body repair.
Suppliers are increasingly being looked to by automakers to play an active role in developing new innovative technologies. Indeed, new products from parts makers have contributed to the safety features and fuel efficiency measures already available in vehicles today and those that are forthcoming.
Moreover, with components becoming more complex, demand has grown faster than capacity in some instances, leading to longer lead times. Over time, suppliers are likely to adopt automated smart distribution technologies which could lead to leaner supply chains and reduce labour costs while boosting productivity.
With electronics becoming a more integral part of each vehicle, a great deal of design and engineering will be required. As such, in addition to traditional parts manufacturers, suppliers will also consist of technology firms, including those involved in hardware and software engineering, artificial intelligence, communications, and big data.
The bottom line is that disruption will continue in the auto industry for some time to come. How quickly new technologies such as EVs and AVs become adopted by the masses remains to be seen, but it is likely to be a gradual process with several speed bumps along the way. The impact on the number of auto sales is unlikely to be substantial, although there will be a shift in which vehicles are sold. Industry players – OEMs, suppliers, tech firms, insurance providers, governments – will all have to remain on their toes, and keep up with the evolution of the industry. Five years from now the industry may look largely similar to the way it does today. But that won’t always be the case. Determining exact timing on when major shifts will take place is impossible, but decades from now, the industry and how we get around will likely be very different.
This report is provided by TD Economics. It is for informational and educational purposes only as of the date of writing, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The views and opinions expressed may change at any time based on market or other conditions and may not come to pass. This material is not intended to be relied upon as investment advice or recommendations, does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered specific legal, investment or tax advice. The report does not provide material information about the business and affairs of TD Bank Group and the members of TD Economics are not spokespersons for TD Bank Group with respect to its business and affairs. The information contained in this report has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. This report contains economic analysis and views, including about future economic and financial markets performance. These are based on certain assumptions and other factors, and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. The actual outcome may be materially different. The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its affiliates and related entities that comprise the TD Bank Group are not liable for any errors or omissions in the information, analysis or views contained in this report, or for any loss or damage suffered.


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75 percent of Black business owners have seen an increase in business and searches for Black-owned businesses on Groupon have also increased by more than 300 percent in that time.
41 percent of Black small businesses were forced to close permanently due to COVID-19 compared to just 17 percent of white-owned businesses and only 5 percent of those that applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan received one.
Black business owners account for about 10 percent of U.S. businesses and about 30 percent of all minority-owned businesses.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate Black Business Month as this community has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and traditionally suffers from a lack of access to adequate capital and resources,” said Aaron Cooper, Interim CEO, Groupon. “One of the many ways that we’re translating our support for Black Lives Matter into meaningful action is by highlighting and championing the success of Black-owned businesses and looking for more ways to connect them to our diverse customer base. We hope that everyone will join us in supporting the more than 2 million Black-owned businesses in this country at a time when they need us the most.”
Groupon is also partnering with Kiva.org, a nonprofit that allows people to lend money via the Internet to low-income entrepreneurs and students.
Photos by Getty Images


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Boston, Jul 20 (PTI) Harvard scientists have identified a new class of high-performing organic molecules, inspired by vitamin B2, that can safely store electricity from energy sources like solar and wind power in large batteries.
The development builds on previous work in which the team developed a high-capacity flow battery that stored energy in organic molecules called quinones and a food additive called ferrocyanide.
That advance was a game-changer, delivering the first high-performance, non-flammable, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and low-cost chemicals that could enable large-scale, inexpensive electricity storage.
While the versatile quinones show great promise for flow batteries, researchers continued to explore other organic molecules in pursuit of even better performance.
"After considering about a million different quinones, we have developed a new class of battery electrolyte material that expands the possibilities of what we can do," said Kaixiang Lin, a PhD student at Harvard University.
"Its simple synthesis means it should be manufacturable on a large scale at a very low cost, which is an important goal of this project," said Lin.
Flow batteries store energy in solutions in external tanks - the bigger the tanks, the more energy they store.
In 2014, researchers at Harvard replaced metal ions used as conventional battery electrolyte materials in acidic electrolytes with quinones, molecules that store energy in plants and animals.
Last year, they developed a quinone that could work in alkaline solutions alongside a common food additive.
In the current research, the team found inspiration in vitamin B2, which helps to store energy from food in the body.
The key difference between B2 and quinones is that nitrogen atoms, instead of oxygen atoms, are involved in picking up and giving off electrons.
"With only a couple of tweaks to the original B2 molecule, this new group of molecules becomes a good candidate for alkaline flow batteries," said Michael J Aziz, professor at the Harvard John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).
"They have high stability and solubility and provide high battery voltage and storage capacity. Because vitamins are remarkably easy to make, this molecule could be manufactured on a large scale at a very low cost," said Aziz.
"We designed these molecules to suit the needs of our battery, but really it was nature that hinted at this way to store energy," said Roy Gordon, also a professor at Harvard.
"Nature came up with similar molecules that are very important in storing energy in our bodies," he said.
The research was published in the journal Nature Energy. PTI MHN MRJ


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Two of Seaport Village’s longstanding restaurants are set to exit the waterfront retail center next year with newcomer brands selected to reinvigorate the center’s marquee dining venues.
Tuesday, the Port of San Diego OK’d 10-year leases with two new-to-San-Diego, anchor operators: WildThyme Restaurant Group and Gladstone’s.
WildThyme will bring its California coastal-inspired restaurant concept Shorebird to the Pier Cafe venue, which is a 2,272 square foot, two-story structure that sits directly over the bay. Gladstone’s, a Malibu restaurant, will move into Edgewater Grill’s 9,684 square-foot, highly visible space alongside the promenade. Both eateries are expected to open in late 2022.
“These are celebrated tenants. … These truly are the kind of tenants you see in the very best areas,” said Port Commissioner Dan Malcolm, referencing the entire lineup of operators that the agency has secured since taking over the facility from Terramar Retail Centers three years ago. “The Port of San Diego does not have a history with managing properties like this. In fact, this is the first time we’ve done this. We’ve had many, many naysayers. … I think that this shows that we definitely have the talent and the people equipped to do this kind of thing.”
Opened in 1980, Seaport Village consists of 90,000 square feet of specialty retailers and restaurants on a 14-acre site at 849 West Harbor Drive. In 2018, the San Diego Unified Port District took over the operation of Seaport Village. It has since spent nearly $8 million improving the coastal tourist destination. The revival effort includes a leasing strategy designed to attract trendier restaurant concepts and stores.
The refreshed tenant roster includes Mike Hess Brewing, Mr. Moto Pizza, Louisiana Charlie’s, Zytoun Gourmet Mediterranean, Malibu Farm and Crack Taco, although some of the newcomers won’t open their doors for several months.
Meanwhile, developer 1HWY1 is working to secure the board’s approval on a $2.5 billion mega-project that would redevelop the entire Central Embarcadero region that includes the outdoor retail center. The firm has until the end of the year to submit a final project description. The developer has said previously that it expects to break ground in 2024 to 2025.
Shorebird is expected to offer patrons a “first-class” dining experience, with the venue featuring a rotisserie, fresh fish, sushi and a full bar, according to a port staff report on the negotiated agreements. Per the negotiated lease, WildThyme will pay minimum annual rent of $204,408 in year one. Its rent will increase annually, and the operator is on the hook for percentage rent, meaning it will be charged 6 percent of gross sales over $3.4 million in each year. In exchange, the port will give Shorebird a $227,500 allowance for venue improvements, although the operator must spend a minimum of $750,000 on upgrades to the over-the-water restaurant.
Gladstone’s at Seaport Village will be the San Diego extension of the original Malibu beachside restaurant, founded in 1972, and will serve the brand’s classic seafood dishes. Annual rent payments start at $338,940 with a 6 percent fee that kicks in after $5.6 million in gross sales. The lease with Gladstone’s includes an improvement allowance of nearly $1.3 million, but requires the operator spend at least $2.3 million.
Together, after subtracting improvement allowances and broker fees, the port expects to collect $3.7 million in net revenue over the lifetime of the 10-year leases. However, both operators are entitled to fees — as much as $100,000 for Shorebird and $750,000 for Gladstone’s — should the port elect to terminate their leases early, starting in year six, to accommodate the redevelopment effort.
Pier Cafe and Edgewater Grill are owned by Water View Restaurants. The operator, which has done business at Seaport Village since it opened, recently signed short-term leases for both venues, meaning the familiar restaurants are expected to remain open through the spring of next year or until the replacements secure permits.


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SDCC 2012 – comiXology Heads to San Diego
Celebrating their 5-year Anniversary and 3-year App-iversary, comiXology is heading to San Diego Comic-Con 2012 with events, panels and giveaways planned. You can find them at booth #2547, check out what they have planned for the show.
Along with a “Tweetup,” two opportunities to win a free iPad, publishing partner promotions, the digital platform has numerous panels going on.
All comic fans are invited to have a hands-on look at their leading digital comics platform and all fans that register for comiXology’s newsletter at the booth will have a chance to win a brand new iPad! Each day from Thursday to Sunday, one of comiXology’s many publishing partners will be giving away one of four limited edition postcards that has a promo code for a free comic or graphic novel. Once all four cards are collected, a larger image is revealed celebrating comiXology’s anniversary!
How do you collect them all? First up on Thursday, Image Comics will be giving away the Fatale #1 promo postcard at their booth (#2729). Then on Friday, IDW Publishing will be giving away the Locke & Key Vol. 1 promo postcard at their booth (#2643). Saturday, the promo postcard giveaway continues as Oni Press hands out the Sixth Gun Vol. 1 promo postcard at their booth (#1833). Last but not least, on Sunday, Archaia will be giving away the Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Vol. 1 promo postcard at their booth (#2635). Each postcard is limited to just 1,000 copies and is available only at these publishers’ booths and only on the days listed above.
On Thursday July 12th from 4pm to 6pm, all comiXology fans and new users alike are invited to their team for the official ComiXology Tweetup at the Hilton Bayfront Odysea Bar where attendees can meet and mingle with the folks behind the award-winning digital comics platform — comiXology co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts as well as team members Matt “Slim” Kolowski, Bronson Lingamfelter, Chip “Cuddles” Mosher, Kevin Pearl and Elizabeth Yulianto. As a sincere “thank you” to their fans, one lucky attendee will win an iPad during the Tweetup! (Let them know you are coming on Facebook here!)
If that’s not enough for you, then make sure you don’t miss any of the six panels that comiXology will be present at, including two comiXology focused panels! Join co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts with Power Play artist Reilly Brown for the “Creating Comics the ComiXology Way” panel on Thursday July 12th at 2pm in Room 11AB to discuss how comiXology is transforming not only how people read comics, but how people create comics. Then on Saturday July 14th in Room 23ABC don’t miss the “ComiXology Open Discussion: Everything Digital” where comiXology co-founders Steinberger and Roberts talk about the first five years of comiXology and field your questions about anything and everything under the digital sun!
On top of all of that, comiXology has numerous panels planned.
Thursday July 12th
2:00pm – 3:00pm — Creating Comics the ComiXology Way— From early experiments like Box 13, Valentine, and Power Play to more recent efforts like Marvel’s Infinite Comics, comiXology’s Guided View has ushered in a new era in comic book creation. Join comiXology co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts and Power Play artist Reilly Brown as they show you the ins and outs of creating comics using the Guided View tools and discuss comiXology’s plans for these tools. – Room 11AB
7:00pm – 8:00pm — Indie Comics Marketing and PR 101 — Some of the best and brightest reveal all the secrets of doing marketing and PR for your comics. ComiXology’s marketing and PR maven Chip Mosher is joined by Dark Horse’s Director of PR Jeremy Atkins, Image Comics’ PR and Marketing Director Jennifer de Guzman, IDW Publishing’s VP of Marketing Dirk Wood, Archaia’s Marketing Manager Mel Caylo and comics writer David Gallaher. – Room 8
Friday July 13th
1:30pm – 2:30pm — Comic Book Entrepreneurs — Get a rare look behind the scenes of building successful businesses around the love of comic books. Author and futurist Rob Salkowitz, CEO and co-founder David Steinberger of comiXology, Mike Richardson of Dark Horse Comics, Peter Levin of Nerdist Industries, and comic retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics, founder of Free Comic Book Day and WonderCon. – Room 8
6:00pm – 7:00pm — Are Digital Comics Expanding the Market? — Author and futurist Rob Salkowitz leads a provocative, no-holds-barred discussion with the leaders of the digital comics revolution: comiXology co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts, Dark Horse Publisher Mike Richardson, and IDW Publisher Ted Adams. – Room 9
Saturday July 14th
11:00am – 12:00am — ComiXology Open Discussion: Everything Digital — With over 75 million comics and graphic novels downloaded since its debut, comiXology has revolutionized how people read and buy comic books. Recently hailed by the New York Times as the iTunes of comics, here is your opportunity to discover what is next! Join comiXology cofounders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts for an open discussion on everything digital. All topics are game! Don’t miss out! – Room 23ABC
Sunday July 15th
11:00am – 12:00pm — Digital Comics Price Fight — Join Mark Waid, Scott Kurtz, IDW Publishing’s ePublishing Director Jeff Webber and Top Shelf Productions Director of Digital Chris Ross, for a lively discussion on the price of digital comics. Moderating this fight is comiXology’s Chip Mosher – Room 7AB


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In what could so far be the biggest initial public offering in the technology industry this year, Japanese messaging app Line priced its IPO at the top end of its range due to high demand, and is now expected to raise as much as 115.5 billion yen, or about $1.14 billion.
The pricing for the Line Corp.'s dual Japan-United States IPO was pegged at 3,300 yen per share, which is equivalent to just less than $33, after Line has initially set an indicative price of only 2,800 yen per share, or just less than $28 each.
The initial range for the IPO, which was between 2,700 yen and 3,200 yen, was increased last week due to high demand, up to 2,900 yen to 3,300 yen.
Line is now set for a dual listing in Tokyo and New York this week, as the company looks to grab a firmer hold in its core Asian markets while raising awareness of its brand overseas. The funds that Line will be raising through the IPO will be put in the company's expansion plans outside of its key markets of Japan and Southeast Asia.
Line is offering 13 million new shares through the Tokyo Stock Exchange's first section and 22 million shares through the New York Stock Exchange. The company will also be selling an additional 5.25 million shares through a green-shoe option, which will allow more shares to be issued in case of massive demand.
The IPO, if all the shares are sold, including the additional ones through the green-shoe option, will be valued at up to 133 billion yen, which is equivalent to $1.31 billion.
The messaging app, which is popular for its cute and expressive emoji-like stickers, is owned by Naver, an internet company based in South Korea. Line has reported a monthly active user base of 218 million from all over the world, with two-thirds of this figure coming from the counties of Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia.
Line made revenues of $1 billion for 2015, which is the first time that the app raked in such a figure. However, it should be noted that the app is not profitable, with 90 percent of the company's revenue coming from Japan and more than 60 percent of its income coming from games. The stickers, which the app is known for, only make up one-fourth of Line's sales, which was equivalent to about $270 million last year.
Line was included in 2015's list of 50 smartest companies by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coming in at 37th place.


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Canadian entertainment and media company Cineplex has announced the expansion of several of its entertainment concepts, bringing a range of leisure activities to new locations in the country.
The first is Quebec's first The Rec Room ‒ a venue for "food and fun", featuring amusement gaming experiences, live entertainment and multiple dining options.
The 40,000sq ft (12,200sq m) site at property company Carbonleo's Royalmount development on the Island of Montreal will include classic amusement games such as air hockey, pool, table tennis and ten-pin bowling, as well as immersive virtual reality experiences. There will also be a live performance space for music and comedy acts, DJs and karaoke.
Cineplex already operates seven The Rec Rooms across Canada, with a further four due to open soon.
In addition to The Rec Room, the Royalmount will also have a VIP Cinemas ‒ Cineplex's adult movie-going experience, which includes fully licenced beverage and foodservice direct to the plush recliners where guests are watching their chosen film. The new theatre at Royalmount will have five auditoriums and a fully-licenced lounge for pre and post-movie food and drinks.
Construction on both The Rec Room and VIP Cinemas at Royalmount is due to begin in 2021, with a target opening of 2022.
"With its dynamic culture and selection of best-in-class attractions, including The Rec Room and VIP Cinemas, Royalmount will be an urban hub that beautifully complements the city's already dynamic profile," said Claude Marcotte, executive vice president at Carbonleo.
Cineplex has also announced the opening of the first of its "reinvented" Playdium entertainment complexes at a 41,000sq ft (12,500sq m) site in Brampton, Ontario. The complex is a mix of gaming and attractions, with video games, 20-ft-high rope courses, a 60-ft zipline, bowling and virtual reality e-sports, alongside multiple food options. Gamers can earn credits on RFID wristbands that can be redeemed for prizes such as board games, toys, drones and GoPro cameras.
The company said it plans to open up to 15 Playdium complexes in mid-sized communities across Canada, with one further site planned for this year in Whitby, Ontario, and a third in 2020 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia already announced.


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A new line of BlackBerry 10 devices will provide Research In Motion with a framework for growth over the next decade, and the smartphone maker is well on the way to meeting its cost-cutting promises ahead of the January launch, Chief Executive Thorsten Heins said on Wednesday.
BB10 is set to offer long-term value
Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Heins said RIM had identified $800 million of the $1 billion of savings it promised for the financial year ending in early March, and was confident of finding the rest as it gets ready to launch the new phones.
RIM, based in Waterloo, Ontario, is betting the new smartphones will help it claw back the market share it has lost to the likes of Apple Inc's iPhone and devices powered by Google's Android operating system.
"The message to our shareholders is that we understand this is and has been a difficult time for them and for us. But with the development of the BlackBerry 10 platform we are truly convinced that we will create long-term value for RIM's shareholders and investors."
Published Date: Nov 15, 2012 10:23 AM | Updated Date: Nov 15, 2012 10:23 AM


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Pokemon games were incredibly popular while we were children, and this is something that hasn’t changed during the years. While games did evolve a lot in time, Pokemon still have a loyal fanbase. This might be one of the reasons why Nintendo continues to “exploit” them.
Recently, the company made an announcement that let us know about the launch of two new Pokemon games for the Switch console. Pokemon Shield and Pokemon Sword should soon become available on Switch.
The Pokemon brand
Pokemon sells well, and by releasing two Pokemon games on Switch, Nintendo is trying to increase profits for the gaming device. Switch was released two years ago, but the sales went down in time. Michael Patcher is a financial analyst, and she shared some of his thoughts with us.
“The thing that’s impressive about Switch is that in the first two years, they have four of their biggest brands available on it,” he said. “Nintendo is like the Disney of games. It’s like bringing out a new Marvel or Star Wars movie — it’s guaranteed to do well because people love the brand.”
Pokemon games take us back to out childhood, and nostalgia is one of the factors while we still love them. Meanwhile, the new generation had Pokemon GO, which made Pokemon just as popular. Therefore, when it comes to Nintendo, “Pokemon is absolutely their sweet spot,” Pachter said. “They’ll sell 12 to 20 million [games]. It’s something that Pokédads will buy because they remember and love the Pokémon brand.”
In fact, Shuntaro Furukawa, the Nintendo President, did mention in the past that the company will focus on successful franchises in order to “enhance the allure” of the Switch. Pokemon is one of those franchises, as well as the Mario and Legend of Zelda series.
Nora Reynolds is a major in biology and a minor in Biological Basis of Behavior, writing about science in general. She also likes to try new gadgets and sports about the AI new era.