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Cell phones have become a staple for many Americans, with 78% of adults now having one, up from 21% in 1996. With many cell phone allowing users to have free or low-cost upgrades of phones every 24 months, decisions on new cell phone purchases periodically face users.
In this survey, 39% of adults said that they had bought a cell phone in the previous year. Some 26% of adults were directed to the cell phone module of questions in the survey that asked about the decision-making process in buying a new cell phone. A range of reasons were cited as to why people bought a new phone.
- 27% said their old cell phone failed or broke.
- 14% simply wanted a new phone.
- 13% wanted a better phone, or one with more features.
- 13% said they were offered a good deal, got a free or low-cost upgrade, or got a new service plan.
Remaining responses, all in the low single digits of incidence, included people getting their first phone, losing their old one, or buying a phone for someone else.
Survey respondents who received the cell phone questions differ from the general population in several respects. They are more likely to be internet users than average (86% to 73%) and more likely to have broadband at home (62% to 50%). And they are slightly younger than the sample of the general population: the median age is 44 for respondents in the cell phone sample versus 45 in the general population. The racial composition of the cell phone module recipients is about the same as the general population.
As noted in the Methodology section at the end of this report, the sample for this survey included cell phone numbers. Some 129 respondents in the sample of 2,400 were cell phone users, with about half of respondents reached by cell phone reporting they use only a cell phone for telephone communication and do not have a landline phone at home. In the cell phone module, one-third of respondents were contacted on their cell phone and 6% identified themselves as “cell phone only” users.
A salesperson and a visit to a store take the prize as to how people gather information about a cell phone.
The information-gathering process involved with buying a cell phone has a number of steps and stops:
- 59% ask an expert or a salesperson for advice.
- 46% go to one or more cell phone stores.
- 39% use the internet.
- 37% ask friends, family, or co-workers.
- 19% consult newspapers, magazines, or books.
- 19% use the television and radio.
- 10% use a source not mentioned.
Nearly all (93%) of cell phone shoppers sought out one of the people or sources listed above, two-thirds consulted at least two, and 41% at least three.
The 39% of those who consulted the internet before buying a cell phone took advantage of several different kinds of online resources.
Some 88% of those who used the internet to investigate a cell phone purchased used at least one of the resources in the table above, and the median number of sources explored was 2.
Online information influences the brand cell buyers choose, the money they spend, and the features they choose.
Online information has meaningful impacts on purchasing decisions of those who use the internet for background research. Among the 39% of respondents in the cell phone module who use the internet for research on their cell phone buying decision:
- 27% said that online information had a major impact on their decision.
- 46% said it has a minor impact.
- 27% said it had no impact at all.
When asked to focus on the importance of online versus offline sources of information in the cell phone purchase, half (49%) of this same set of online users said that online information was most important, with 46% saying something found offline was most important.
The specific impacts of online information pre-purchase unfold as follows among those who have availed themselves of the internet for their cell phone research:
- 48% said it changed the model or brand of cell phone they bought.
- 43% said online information led them to get a phone with more features than otherwise would have been the case.
- 41% said online information helped them spend less on their cell phone.
- 31% said it changed the cell phone service plan they intended to purchase.
- 14% said it changed the phone company they planned to use.
Point of purchase
The overwhelming majority of cell phone buyers make the purchase in a store – some 78% do, with 12% buying online and 9% by some other means. Among the narrower set of those who use the internet in their cell phone research, 26% bought their device online.
Three-quarters of those who bought online could have bought their phone in a store if they had wanted. Likewise, most (61%) who bought their phone in a store could have bought online, though nearly one-third (30%) said they could not have done that.
With the sizable influence online information exerts on 39% of cell phone purchasers, it is understandable that this group is more likely to buy their phones online. Some 26% of this group bought a cell phone online, although 70% still go down to the store.
All in all, people who have bought a cell phone in the past year come away satisfied. Fully 78% say they had the right amount of information in making their choice, with just 7% saying they had too little information and 11% too much. And 87% are satisfied with their phone and their service – 52% describing themselves as “very satisfied” and 35% as “somewhat satisfied.” About half (46%) say they have recommended to others that they buy the phone they purchased, with most of the rest (44%) saying they have offered no advice to others on whether or not to get the particular phone they bought.
87% of those who bought a cell phone in the prior year are satisfied with their phone and their service.
Those who consult the internet before purchasing report the same levels of satisfaction with their purchase compared to those who do not. A modest difference emerges when focusing on those who say they are “very satisfied” with the cell phone they bought. Some 56% of those who used the internet to do pre-purchase research were “very satisfied” with their choice and 51% who did not use the internet were “very satisfied” with their cell phone.
After they buy a phone, few internet users turn to the internet for troubleshooting, posting a rating, or sharing experiences.
Cell phones are feature-rich and reasonably complex electronic devices that often require a user to spend time with a new device to figure it out and, perhaps, to troubleshoot kinks encountered. Most people (68%) take to the owner’s manual to figure out the new device. Some people will go further, especially if they meet a problem that they can’t address themselves. Here is what cell phone buyers said they did when they encountered problems with their cell phone:
- 23% visited a cell phone store.
- 18% called their phone carrier.
- 9% called the cell phone manufacturer.
- 7% (of internet users) went online for information or help.
- 4% discussed the cell phone in an online forum or community.
In terms of sharing general opinions about a new cell phone, most people (60%) say they have talked about a new device with friends, family, or co-workers.
The internet, however, does not play a large role in after-purchase chatter or inquiry:
- 11% of internet users in the cell phone module looked online for information on how to use the phone.
- 7% looked online for others’ experiences with the same phone.
- 4% posted a rating or review of the cell phone on a website or blog.
Some 13% of internet users who got a new cell phone in the past year did at least one of the three after-purchase online chatter activities. When including post-purchase online activity relating to troubleshooting (i.e., going online for help or consulting an online forum), some 19% of internet users who bought a phone in the prior year turned to the internet after their purchase regarding something relating to it.


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The Food and Drug Administration approved a breakthrough medical device last week for patients suffering from chronic, hard-to-treat heart failure.
The Optimizer Smart System, created by Impulse Dynamics, monitors heart activity and delivers non-excitatory electrical signals to the right ventricle.
The system allows for patients to seek treatment for moderate-to-severe heart failure after standard treatments failed. In the U.S., about 5.7 million people suffer from heart failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About half of those diagnosed die within five years.
"These are patients who have a marked limitation of physical activity and who remain symptomatic despite receiving optimal medical therapy," according to an FDA release.
Impulse Dynamics did not respond to requests for comment.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy is a common treatment, aside from medications and lifestyle changes, but isn't suitable for about 70 percent of patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure, according to a release from Impulse Dynamics.
The OSS includes a pulse generator that's implanted under the skin, a battery charger, programmer and software. The generator then "delivers electrical impulses to the heart during regular heartbeats to help improve the heart's squeezing capability," according to the FDA.
It's similar to a pacemaker but different in function. Unlike a pacemaker, which regulates the rhythm of the heart, the OSS strengthens the muscle contractions. As a result, the device can improve the patient's quality of life, their performance on a six-minute hall walk distance test and their functional status compared with those who only took medications.
"(It) represents a real game-changer for these patients," said Dr. William Abraham, professor at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, in a statement for Impulse Dynamics.
The company is expected to launch the device in the U.S. this year. It's currently implanted in over 3,500 patients in Europe, China, Brazil and India, according to Impulse Dynamics.
Correction: The Optimizer Smart System delivers non-excitatory electrical signals to the right ventricle. A prior version of this story misstated the portion of the heart receiving the signals.

domain: news


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Home > Business > Interim Budget 2004-05 > Report
Auto makers upbeat on peak duty cut
BS Corporate Bureau in Mumbai |
January 09, 2004 08:44 IST
Last Updated: January 09, 2004 08:47 IST
The cut in the peak customs duty rate from 25 per cent to 20 per cent and the abolishment of the 4 per cent special additional customs duty is expected to have a positive impact on manufacturers of passenger cars and utility vehicles.
The cut in the peak duty rate will result in a drop in the cost of steel, which is likely to reduce the cost of domestic auto components.
According to CRIS INFAC, a large part of the benefit of this reduction is likely to be passed on to original equipment manufacturers, resulting in a reduction in the input costs of local manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Hindustan Motors and M&M as well as foreign manufacturers such as Toyota Kirloskar Motors and Hyundai Motors.
"The reduction in peak custom duties will benefit auto assemblers more than auto manufacturers. Manufacturers who have a high level of inidigenisation like Maruti, Tata Motors and Hyundai will see a very marginal impact. I would peg the total cost reduction it at around 1 per cent for a company like Hyundai after factoring in the difference in the cost of inputs like steel etc," said BVR Subbu, president, Hyundai Motors.
The cut in duty is also expected to result in a drop in the cost of imported completely knocked down kits, imported completely built units and critical components such as engine parts and parts of the transmission systems which are imported by most foreign OEMs.
As a result, this will benefit mainly foreign OEMs such as Toyota Kirloskar Motors, SkodaAuto India, General Motors and Honda Siel Cars India.
As per CRIS INFAC, if the drop in steel prices will be around 10 per cent and this is largely passed on to the automobile OEMs, the benefit to passenger car manufacturers will be in the range of 1.6 per cent per unit or Rs 4,000 to 6,000 for a compact car and around Rs 7,500 -Rs 9,000 for a mid-size segment car.
Analysts feel that though they don't see any of the auto-makers lowering prices immediately, most manufacturers will at least put off the impending price increase that they have been contemplating for some time now.
The pressure of the increasing costs of inputs will ease considerably. The overall impact of the peak duty cut and the abolishment of the 4 per cent SAD will have a neutral impact on manufacturers of automobile components. This is for two main reasons, according to CRIS INFAC.
The reduction in the prices of steel will result in a decrease in the input costs of auto component manufacturers.
However, a large part of the benefit will have to be passed on to OEMs due to competitive pressures, resulting in a marginal benefit to component manufacturers such as Bharat Forge, Wheels India, India Pistons and Automotive Axles.
Secondly, the reduction in peak duty will also result in a 7-8 per cent decrease in the cost of imported components, which will increase the competition for local component manufacturers, especially for critical components such as parts of engines and transmission systems and some electrical parts. This will have a marginally negative impact on companies such as MICO, Ucal Fuel, Bharat Gears and Lucas-TVS in terms of higher competition from imported components.


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In Germany near Bremen discovered a huge cemetery of Mercedes-Benz. About 9,000 vehicles are for months on an abandoned airfield Ahlhorn, according to Radio Bremen. Cars so many that they filled the 2.5-kilometer runway. Most of them – the new crossover Mercedes GLE and GLS, as well as sedans C-Class, E-Class and CLS. No, we… More
Racing team Racing Cyan stated that their Chinese sedan Lynk&Co 03 broke two record “Northern loop” Nurburgring, driving the 20.8-kilometer track in 7 minutes and 20,143 seconds. Thus, the car became a leader among front-drive and four-door cars. During the record-in a sedan ran the Swedish driver thed björk – winner of the touring car… More
The Japanese company may be planning another large Alliance for the sake of creating another “old-new” sports car. On account of Toyota already has a partnership with Subaru, which resulted in the appearance of the GT 86 coupe – this dvuhdverka consider the ideological successor of the famous “hachiroku”. The collaboration with BMW has given… More
Amid the frenzied sales of the sedan Tesla Model 3 electric hatchback, the Chevrolet Bolt EV has experienced technical upgrades in which its power reserve on one charge has increased from 383 to 417 km. The Chevrolet Bolt EV entered the U.S. market in late 2016 and was then considered a very promising model with… More
New Brilliance V9 tested for the second year, however, today appeared the first details about the model. As reported by “Chinese cars” Brilliance V9 will be the first car in the world, which will combine the technology of BMW, with whom the Chinese have long established partnerships, and Toyota. Moreover, the contribution of specialists Toyota… More
In Moscow took place the opening of the first showroom Aurus. In the framework of the solemn event was announced the cost of the Senat sedan, and it was more expensive than expected. The initial cost of the model will be 18 million rubles ($274 300). // Before the official launch of the Aurus Senat… More
In July, 2019 in San Martino di Castrozza, Italy was an important event, which was organized by the Jeep Owners Group (J. O. G.) The territory of the Camp Jeep was created by using a 100 square meters of the trunks of trees damaged during the hurricane in October 2018, a total quantity of 250… More
The press service of the German brand released a couple of pictures showing the interior of the new electric sedan Porsche Taycan. Do you like the displays in the interior of the car? No one would argue with the fact that it looks very stylish, and more comfortable to press on the keys (although as… More
At the site Bring a Trailer came the announcement of the sale of the unit is interesting: “oppozitnik” Porsche Type 547/1 Fuhrmann Four-Cam. These motors were installed on the model 356 Speedster Carrera 1500 RS and racing cars of the brand in the middle of the last century. What is on offer there is still… More
Lamborghini is already preparing for the next big debut, dedicated to the presentation of Aventador Roadster and the SVJ 63 Huracan Evo GT Celebration. The Italian supercar manufacturer has posted on his page in Instagram the teaser for a mysterious new model with even more mysterious inscription. It shows the car is illuminated by three… More
Automobile portal FineAuto.info is an inexhaustible source of news, novelties and premieres, professional test drives and automotive-related articles.
New materials are released every day seven days a week, and the news Department works around the clock, promptly selecting for you all relevant, interesting and important events of the global wheel industry.
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Our experts will help you not only with the choice of cars, but also with its correct content, and in addition, will tell you about the experience of owning the most interesting copies of the automotive world.


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Industrial demand in Redditch remains strong as its position in the centre of the country continues to attract technology firms and manufacturers, according to property agents John Truslove.
In a review 2012 they point to the sector’s resilience and ability constantly to reinvent itself.
Ben Truslove, of John Truslove, highlighted the firm’s experience whereby Industrial is up ten per cent on 2011 which itself was ahead more than 20 per cent on 2010.
He said: “Redditch continues to attract a broad variety of industrial sectors including design, manufacturing, assembly and distribution.
“These have included a decent number of lettings of more than 10,000sqft such as the high-spec units at Threadneedle’s Trafford Park scheme, where we were sole agents, and which is now fully let. To accommodate their continued expansion, Multi-Automation, who design and build machines for production line manufacturing, took one of the last remaining units.
“We see successful expanding local businesses through to big regionals and international companies who are looking to utilise the dedicated and skilled workforce that is available in the Midlands as well as its excellent communication links.
“It is primarily these two factors, along with some excellent industrial parks, which is the basis for Redditch thriving.”
So much so that there is now a very limited supply of vacant industrial stock less than 20 years old in the Town.
The Office sector, said Mr Truslove, had also picked up – with the take-up figures for 2012 being more than triple those of 2011, both in terms of sales and lettings.
“Again it is down to a spread of business activity including successful start-ups and niche operators as well as the larger established companies.”
John Truslove was responsible for one of the biggest office lettings in the Midlands during 2012, which has seen Ravensbank House in North Moons Moat fully let. Swiss packaging machine manufacturer Bobst Group announced a major expansion, taking more than 10,000sqft of high specification space to provide a showroom and offices.
Unfortunately, Retail is not matching the Industrial and Offices performance.
Mr Truslove said: “To put it bluntly the High Street continues to be difficult. “Think of all the national chains like JJB which have hit big problems – the whole sector is struggling. “With the economy proving problematic, consumers have been keeping a close check on their spending.
“Which is why it is so important for towns and cities to offer the welcome mat in every way possible. Unfortunately that is not always the case.”
Making it easy and inexpensive to park is one vital incentive, with Redditch town centre in particular need of attention.
Mr Truslove noted: “I am pleased to hear that Redditch Council are considering providing on-street parking in the Town Centre; whether or not this comes to anything is another matter though. Positive action is essential if they want to breathe life into the Church Green business and shopping district, which forms the traditional hub of the Town. “It appears that the message is finally getting through that a lack of short-term parking combined with the use of aggressive parking wardens is killing local businesses. Understandably, it puts people off visiting the Town when they have more convenient options such as out of town retail parks, which offer free parking, or staying at home and shopping on line.”
As for 2013, Mr Truslove is hopeful that the property market will develop further.
He said: “The figures for the past three years show that the demand for industrial and office space in Redditch is steadily improving but the big question mark remains retail. Whilst we are very much hoping for a turnaround I fear that the retail sector will remain tough for the foreseeable future.”


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Team Fordzilla P1: This is What Happens When Gamers Design Cars
Okay, imagine this – you have a fantasy about a tech gadget. You can picture it in your head; its look, its function, its benefit, you can imagine everything. But the problem is that it hasn’t been designed yet, and there’s no way you can make your imagination come alive.
Now, what would you do if leading manufacturers in the segment of that tech gadget actually consulted you and designed that same product just as you pictured it? Won’t you be mesmerized? Won’t it make you go, Wow!
Well, guess what! That’s exactly what happened when Ford sought the opinions of gamers from around the world to design their latest car model. We know you’re dying to know more, so let’s not waste any more time.
Ford’s virtual racing car project
In a massive milestone for Ford and its virtual gaming outlets, the automotive giant launched the Team Fordzilla project in 2019. In a first for the company, this team was set to work on real-world racing heritage and comprised of top gamers from the UK, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy.
After a year of brainstorming and designing, the gamer-team has now developed the polygonal prototype called Fordzilla P1. This is a new car that’ll feature in Ford’s future racing game, and Ford’s European division and its e-sports team did the unveiling of the P1 at the Gamescom 2020 tradeshow.
Say hello to the gamers behind the design
Though the major work on Fordzilla P1 was done by Ford designers, the designs were sourced from social media, particularly Twitter. Over 200,000 Twitteratti decided on the kind of drivetrain, seating position, and cockpit-style that the car would have. And it’s no surprise that the car looks like a Grand Touring (GT) racecar!
Fordzilla P1 is supposed to be armed with a morphing feature, which has led to it getting the name, the shape-shifting car. This will allow the car to change its configuration for different tracks. The vehicle will be able to swerve into sharp corners with ease at high speed with this shape-shifting ability. Moreover, it will feature a full glass cockpit and a distinguished rear wing.
Commenting on his achievement, Arturo Ariño (the primary designer whose design got 80% approval) said that the reason he became a game designer was to design a car that has never been seen before and has incredible features. And that’s exactly what will happen with the P1. He said that the Fordzilla P1 will be super-attractive and will help gamers to focus and work on their reflexes.
Wrapping it up
While the car’s design really is wow-worthy, one question that’s yet to be answered is, will Ford transform this prototype into an actual vehicle? Fingers crossed, right! The Fordzilla P1 is expected to be seen in video games soon.
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GM Recognizes Dana as a Top Supplier for Performance, Quality, and Innovation
Apr 24, 2018
MAUMEE, Ohio, April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Incorporated (NYSE: DAN) was named a GM Supplier of the Year by General Motors for Powertrain Cooling during its 26th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony held Friday, April 20, in Orlando, Florida.
GM's Supplier of the Year award is reserved for suppliers who distinguish themselves by meeting performance metrics for quality, execution, innovation, and total enterprise cost. Award winners represent companies who provide products and services to General Motors in the areas of vehicle components, supply chain and logistics, customer care and aftersales, and indirect services.
"This is an opportunity for General Motors to honor those suppliers who are truly the best of the best," said Steve Kiefer, GM senior vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. "The automotive industry is transforming at an incredible rate. The relationships we have with our supply base means everything when it comes to delivering a strong vehicle lineup today and the cutting-edge vehicles and mobility services of tomorrow."
The award covers many of the power cooling technologies that Dana supplies to GM. Those technologies include auxiliary transmission oil coolers for Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups; diesel fuel coolers for heavy-duty pickups; and Long® internal battery cell coolers for the Chevrolet Volt, which Dana has supplied GM since the first-generation of the Volt launched in 2011. The battery coolers enable efficient heat transfer between the battery's cells, improving battery life and performance.
"It is an honor to be presented with the 'Supplier of the Year' award from GM. Supplier awards are the culmination of great people coming together to create exceptional solutions for some of the toughest challenges in our industry," said James Kamsickas, Dana president and CEO. "I can't be more pleased with the effort of our world-class engineers and sales team, who have worked to build such a strong partnership with General Motors."
GM recognized 132 of its best suppliers from 17 countries who have consistently exceeded GM's expectations, created outstanding value, or brought new innovations to the company. The announcement represented the most suppliers GM has recognized since debuting the Supplier of the Year event in 1992.
To learn more about Dana's power cooling technologies, visit dana.com.
About Dana Incorporated
Dana is a world leader in highly engineered solutions for improving the efficiency, performance, and sustainability of powered vehicles and machinery. Dana supports the passenger vehicle, commercial truck, and off-highway markets, as well as industrial and stationary equipment applications. Founded in 1904, Dana employs approximately 30,000 people in 33 countries on six continents who are committed to delivering long-term value to customers. The company reported sales of more than $7.2 billion in 2017. Based in Maumee, Ohio, the company's operations in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan were selected as a Top Workplace for the last two years by The (Toledo) Blade and its research partner, Energage. Dana is ranked among the Drucker Institute's listing of the 250 most effectively managed companies. For more information, please visit www.dana.com.
About General Motors
General Motors Co. and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com
SOURCE Dana Incorporated
For further information: Jeff Cole, +1-419-887-3535, firstname.lastname@example.org


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US growth slows in fourth quarter
The world's largest economy expanded less than expected in the final three months of 2014 despite lower fuel prices boosting consumer confidence.
The US posted annualised growth of 2.6% for the fourth quarter - lower than the 3% projected by economists.
The figure was weaker than the 5% growth in the third quarter of 2014.
However, the dramatic slide in fuel prices in recent months has put more money in consumers' pockets and allowed them to spend more.
Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose by 4.3% in the fourth quarter - the fastest rise in nearly nine years - and higher than the 3.2% for the third quarter.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, said: "It took us a while to get here, but I think the economy is finally off and running.
"We are seeing a number of positive developments. Businesses are hiring aggressively and the big drop in gas prices means that people have more money to spend on other items."
The near-60% slide in oil prices in the plast seven months has cut the price of petrol to about $2 per gallon, or the equivalent of £1.32 for 4.5 litres. That is little more than British drivers pay for just one litre of petrol.
The fall has saved Americans about $175bn, Mr Zandi said: "A big part of growth this year will be people spending their gas savings."
For 2014 as a whole, the economy expanded by 2.4% - better than the 2.2% for the previous 12 months.
The report came two days after the Federal Reserve said the US economy was expanding at a "solid pace", but said it will "remain patient" in determining when to raise interest rates. The main rate has been held at close to zero since December 2008.
Some economists believe an increase could come in middle of the year, but Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said Friday's data could delay a rise until late this year or even early 2016.
He feared that the US economy was too reliant on consumer spending given that business investment fell by an annualised rate of 1.9% - the biggest decline since the second quarter of 2009. "Ideally, a sustainable economic upturn requires business spending to be rising alongside consumer expenditure."
"While Markit's Flash PMI survey data signalled a further robust expansion of private sector business activity in January, the latest reading was the second weakest for 11 months and points to GDP growth sliding to 2% in the first quarter," Mr Williamson added.
"Companies also reported the weakest monthly increase in new orders since the recession, suggesting the pace of economic growth could weaken even further in February."


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In the years following the 2008 financial crisis, the global-billionaire class boomed in both size and aggregate wealth. With that, Mykolas Rambus saw a business opportunity.
Forbes Media (where Rambus served as chief intelligence officer from 2007 to 2010) could repackage the data behind its definitive World’s Billionaire List, and sell it to organizations interested in finding better ways into the pockets of wealthy individuals. Still struggling amidst a recessionary climate, Forbes’s management rejected the proposal. In 2010 Rambus left to create his own company.
“No one really knew, until Wealth-X came along, just how much money was in the hands of the world’s super rich,” Rambus wrote in a company blog post published last year. Describing the untapped opportunity, he claimed “the wind [is] at our backs… and five global wealth trends—Wall Street rebalancing, non-profit urgency, luxury brand segmentation, massive wealth transfer, and global wealth creation—are playing directly into our hands.”
Wealth-X (and competitors like Wealth Insight, WealthEngine, and Relationship Science) are constructing “social maps” of the world’s wealthiest individuals, compiling extensive amounts of personal information—including background details (e.g., education, residences, family history) and associated histories that could only exist for a certain kind of person (e.g. “significant litigation,” “private foundations,” “known associates,” etc.).
Billionaire behaviors and characteristics can indeed more closely resemble that of a company than a person—a twist on the proverbial “corporations as people” debate. Managing massive amounts of wealth turns out to be a life-consuming task, and these individuals rely on an entourage of support staff and allied partners, often employing private offices and outsourced “chief operating officers.” Business magnate Michael Dell established MSD Capital to manage his family’s newfound wealth, and the Walton family’s massive fortune has long been managed through Walton Enterprises LLC.
Wealth-X and its competitors are building this fabric of personal and professional relationships into their social maps, hoping the broader context will prove valuable to interested parties, such as luxury marketers, universities, and major charities.
Dispatches from these industry players offer amusing, and sometimes aggravating glimpses into the dizzying lifestyle of the global-billionaire class. Research from luxury car-maker Rolls-Royce found that billionaires have “on average eight cars and three or four homes… three-quarters own a jet aircraft and most have a yacht.”
Douglas Gollan, founder of Elite Traveler magazine, reported in MediaPost about an internal survey of private-jet owners that found a yearly average spend of six figures on watches, a quarter million on jewelry, and over half a million on home renovations.
“We are catering to a client that can afford anything; [they] want what they want when they want it, and we’re always saying yes,” Bill Fischer, a luxury travel advisor, told Fox Business.
Luxury companies regularly undertake logistical somersaults and elaborate persuasions to court these highly-demanding individuals, an effort that can border on the satirical. Fischer confided a personal experience about a hotel that literally knocked down walls to create a three-bedroom suite for his client (who wouldn’t accept any two-bedroom options). Many world-class brands, such as Hermès and Christolfe, are constantly introducing ever-more exclusive clubs to ensure that their customers feel a consistent, heightened sense of “specialness.”
“The irony but also allure about [these] clubs is that no one knows the exact list of clients (other than the corporate staff), but also no one can ask to be allowed into the club,” writes Thomaï Serdari, a professor of marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business in an email to Quartz. Serdari is the editor of Luxury: History, Culture, Consumption.. “In other words, one may be a member without knowing it.”
Many aspects of the billionaire market defy common sensibilities. In 2013, The Economist reported on the rise of “freeports”—warehouses built in capitalist-friendly urban zones around the world—which exploit legal loopholes by storing high-value assets in a way that is classified as “in transit,” securing numerous tax advantages and anonymity for clients. Wealthy individuals themselves are a peculiar kind of nomad, living not so much in a specific place as within an obscure socioeconomic stratosphere. Executives at luxury goods conglomerate Richemont have described them as “the homeless with 20 homes.”
The sobering reality underlying cartoonish billionaire lifestyles is that this narrow group represents a significant portion of the overall global economy. Data from Credit Suisse (featured in the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda) reveal that the aggregate wealth of the world’s 1% accounts for close to half of total global wealth.
This already-outsized economic influence is expected to grow even more. The Boston Consulting Group’s latest research forecasts that billionaire wealth will increase twice as fast as the global average over the next five years. Research from Oxfam found that the world’s number of billionaires has doubled since the financial crisis of 2008, and Rambus predicts the number will double again over the next decade.
Polarizing inequality means that the biggest opportunity for wealth-intelligence firms is at the tip of the economic pyramid. Wealth-X made this explicitly clear in its early reports, which introduced a newly-defined upper-subset of the wealthy population called “ultra-high net-worth individuals” (UHNWs), whose net worth totals at least $30 million USD (a considerable leap from the $1 million necessary to be a “high net-worth individual,” or HNW. The company has since narrowed its focus even further, rolling out an annual Billionaire Census in partnership with global investment bank UBS.
Such a disproportionate wealth distribution legitimizes the concern that action or regulation against billionaires could have an unexpected impact on the global economy. Wealth-X’s public remarks on inequality follow this line of thought, including its critique of a hypothetical global tax on capital, which was the main antidote proposed by Thomas Piketty’s blockbuster book Capital in the Twenty First Century.
“The rich are getting richer, but taxing them might have dramatic and unpredictable consequences,” the company said in its official response to Capital. Wealth-X instead hopes that, driven by increasing public scrutiny and the peer-pressure of role models like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, the “generous philanthropy” of the world’s billionaires can represent “an alternative to taxation.”
Public awareness around inequality has risen sharply since the financial crisis. While the World Economic Forum in 2010 prescribed inequality as the “most underestimated” global risk, a 2014 Pew report found that a broad majority of citizens across both developing and developed countries now see inequality as a major problem. What this massive shift in public opinion could mean or lead to in practical terms is still unclear, especially given the austerity and political gridlock still plaguing many of the world’s liberal governments.
“The gap of inequality is steadily increasing and one cannot yet articulate the event that will cause the reversal of that phenomenon,” Professor Serdari writes. “[But] it seems that the new [generation] of consumers, regardless of socioeconomic background, is much more grounded and concerned with bigger issues that affect life on the planet.”
Wealth-X identified “massive wealth transfers” as one of its driving global trends, an imminent transaction between generations that will put new money on the table for potential reallocation. As massive inheritances are passed onto younger, arguably more conscientious heirs, there may be an opportunity for Wealth-X to promote its “alternative to taxation” solution by advocating for stronger and smarter philanthropic efforts amongst the ultra-rich.
Even the tiniest contribution from this population could eradicate widespread global disparities. Oxfam’s seven-point plan on inequality (which could have served as a compelling manifesto for the Occupy movement) includes a proposal for a 1.5% billionaire tax (or “donation”) that would raise enough money to put every child in school and fund health services throughout the world’s poorest countries.
The social maps of Wealth-X and its competitors were designed to facilitate commerce amongst the billionaire class, but they can also catalyze philanthropic efforts to help improve the world. Previous generations of ultra-wealthy individuals may have spent their time perusing glossy magazines, filled with advertisements for gold watches and diamond jewelry, while flying in luxury jets to their private islands. But if the Pew polls and analysts like professor Serdari have detected a real shift in sentiment, maybe the next generation will engage in more altruistic pursuits.


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Facebook has unveiled a virtual reality headset that will work without needing an expensive computer, a move designed to kickstart the nascent technology’s slow start.
Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s chief executive, mounted a staunch defence of the company’s bet on virtual reality (VR), and pledged that it would become a service used by billions in the coming years.
Facebook has invested huge sums in VR in recent years and the social network predicts it will become the next big leap in how people communicate online. But sales of its Oculus headsets have been slower than many expected.
“A lot of the most important tech don’t start off mainstream,” Zuckerberg said. “Some people say VR is isolating and antisocial, I actually think it’s the opposite.”
However, he admitted that the high price of existing technology had held back Facebook’s aim of having 1bn people using VR. “If we’re going to get a billion people in virtual reality we have to focus on affordability and quality,” he said.
Last (WEDS) night, the company unveiled a standalone headset called the Oculus Go that will cost $199 (£150) and work without needing to connect to a computer or smartphone and go on sale early next year.
Zuckerberg said the device would be a “sweet spot” between high-end but bulky headsets that require users to invest thousands in PCs and accessories, and cheaper ones, which plug into smartphones but whose performance pale in comparison.
According to IDC, sales of virtual reality headsets grew by 25.5pc to 2.1m in the second quarter of the year, with Facebook selling just under 250,000 headsets. However, the analysts predict that headset sales will pick up as they become cheaper and more powerful, growing from 13.5m this year to 61.2m in 2021.
Facebook also cut the cost of its existing Oculus Rift headset, whose high price had been criticised for making the technology inaccessible.
Today, virtual reality is largely used by video gamers, but Facebook, along with Microsoft and Google, is betting on it becoming the next major computing technology. Earlier this year, the company started testing a virtual reality version of its social network that lets users talk in real time.
“Facebook's commitment to VR as the next big communications platform is clear but it's still very early days. Focus is firmly on broadening the user base and audience,” said Geoff Blaber at CCS Insight.
“Facebook is betting on hardware pricing to broaden VR appeal. $199 for the new standalone headset and $399 for the Oculus Rift bundle is punchy but it's still a tough sell. Getting consumers to just experience VR is the first hurdle.”


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China has recently been experiencing something professionals are referring to as an Ecommerce boom. Not only has online shopping soared in China, but they have also recently broken the world record in ecommerce sales in a single day.
The immense growth of online transactions does bear an unwanted aspect: cyber-attacks.
With large ecommerce growth, China has also experienced a 129% rise in phishing schemes, in comparison to 2012. A total of 49,613 phishing schemes were thwarted by Chinese authorities between January and October 2013, according to the Anti-Phishing Alliance of China (APAC).
“Online payments and financial securities are among the most common targets for the scams,” APAC added on the increasing threat to China’s online shoppers.
6 Trading Styles You Should KnowGo to article >>
China, having the largest population in the world, also has the largest amount of internet connected people, with over 564 million people online. China’s Ecommerce growth is expected to exceed $2.93 trillion by 2015. A side effect of such growth is, unfortunately, an increase in online fraud and cyber-attacks. Due to the growth in phishing attacks and fraud attempts, Alibaba has recently blocked access to users who are referred to its site Taobao via social messaging and payment app WeChat, to help protect its users from falling victim.
Image courtesy of Flicker


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South Korean vehicles you can expect to see at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show.
All Kia vehicles displayed at the 2020 Auto Expo In India.
Kia HabaNiro EV show car hints at the next-generation Niro crossover, due in 2021.
As the calendar rolls over into April, the auto show season is now in full swing. The Geneva and Seoul…
Two new vehicles to be put on display at the Kia Motors’ booth in Geneva.
The Korean auto industry is going through a real boom phase right now, which has generated a lot of interest…
Kia Telluride large SUV concept teased for the second time ahead of its Detroit Motor Show debut!


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Twitter has its sights set on UK-based TweetDeck, looking to acquire the third-party add-on app for the low, low price of $50 million, according to a report published in The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. The rumors are swirling in the wake of sources claiming last week that UberMedia was also planning to purchase to TweetDeck.
Twitter, which has recently announced plans to refocus on product development by third-party developers, is likely seeking to counteract plans by UberMedia to launch a rival site to compete with the microblogging powerhouse. Sources have said that UberMedia is plotting a competing platform that would address common complaints about Twitter, including the limited length of messages.
Since UberMedia already has the apps UberSocial, Echofon and Twidroyd (Android) under its direction, it does not seem out of the realm of possibility to acquire TweetDeck or even launch its own Twitter-like service. Sources cited by CNN said UberMedia has started developing apps and online services utilizing Twitter and other social media sites. Plus, the company already has a strained history with Twitter, as Twitter temporarily shut out three of the company’s apps in February and forced UberMedia to change the name of UberTwitter to UberSocial.
However, the reports of UberMedia’s competing endeavor could be nothing but smoke, as UberMedia marketing head Steve Chadima has previously claimed the company’s “foremost desire is to continue to innovate on the Twitter platform and bring more users and usage to Twitter.” This would be great news for Twitter as it reaches out to developers and simultaneously seeks to bring more new users into the fold.
Conversely to its relationship with UberMedia, Twitter has had a friendly connection with TweetDeck, with the two sharing revenue generated from “promoted tweets.” But whether Twitter or a competitor such as UberMedia acquires TweetDeck, Twitter will be forced to move forward with its previously announced plans to work with third-party developers and expand its mobile app presence.


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Earlier today The Emperor and Empress hosted a luncheon for The Hereditary Grand Duke. Crown Prince Naruhito held an audience with The Hereditary Grand Duke afterward.
While The Hereditary Grand Duke was visiting with the Imperial Family, Minister Krecké visited the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Discussions at the ministry focused on the the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11th and the Fukushima disaster.
The pair and their delegation visited the e-commerce company Rakuten and the world's largest producer of polyester films, Dupont Teijin Films. They also visited the consumer products division of Sony.
Minister Krecké and The Hereditary Grand Duke also participated in networking and business development events, as well as taking part in the seminar organized by Luxembourg for Business.
Daylife, Getty, Reuters and Belga have photos of the visit.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Chamber of Commerce, NYK Group, The Star, India Times, Luxembourg for Business, Government of Luxembourg.


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The prospect of peace talks and bold reforms expected in the March budget is likely to boost the stockmarket again once it recovers from the current period of consolidation, analysts said.
"We see the market as having turned the corner," said Dushyanth Wijayasingha, head of research at Asia Capital. After the substantial gains in the last three months, there is bound to be a period of consolidation, he said.
"Markets don't go up in an orderly fashion," he explained. "There would be an initial spurt, then a phase of consolidation which we're now going through. We'll see the market moving up after this period of consolidation, with the combination of radical reforms in the budget and starting of peace talks," he said.
Radhika Jayasundera, assistant vice president of research at DFCC Stockbrokers, said they expect to see more activity by local institutions in the days ahead which should help drive the market up. "Once retail players see indications of large funds coming in - that should support retail buying," she said.
Wijayasingha of Asia Capital said it has been "high-net worth" individuals and retail investors who have been driving the market so far. "Now we need local institutions to come in," he added. "They would be the ones to take a long-term view."
But foreign investors were still very much on the sidelines. "We don't see foreign investors coming in at once," said Jayasundera of DFCC Stockbrokers. "They are probably waiting to see some concrete action (in reviving the economy) when they'll feel confident enough to come back to the market."
Wijayasingha said he sees the Colombo bourse rising to the 800 - 850 levels on the All Share Price Index (ASPI) from the current 600 levels towards the third quarter of the year. "That would coincide with the recovery in the global economy which should help revive our exports," he said.
The surge in share prices in the fourth quarter of last year ending with December's unprecedented bull run saw the Colombo Stock Exchange recording its highest annual growth in seven years.
The ASPI rose 38.7 percent during the year, closing at 621 points, while annual turnover increased by 27 percent to Rs. 14 billion.
Meanwhile, market watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is keeping a close eye on share price movements to try to check attempts to manipulate the market during this period of volatility.
The SEC had checked the records of certain trades during last month's bull run following the United National Front victory at the general election but found that they had been mostly retail driven. Market sources said it would be difficult to identify unusual movements because the entire market is volatile.
Consumer confidence is bouncing back after the United National Front government took office, a survey has revealed.
Survey Research Lanka (SRL), a Colombo market research firm, said a survey conducted by the firm on December 29-30 appears to signal a significant reversal in consumer sentiment, which saw falling trends earlier.
SRL's Consumer Pulse was introduced in May 1994 to track consumer sentiment. It said unlike most indexes, this measurement is spread into three indices providing a consumer's present sentiment, future perception and consumer confidence.
Soon after presidential polls in December 1994, the index levels were high but since then the values have fluctuated around a declining trend.
The movement of the three indices over the next few months will reveal whether the current upsurge in confidence is just another 'fluctuation' or whether it is the beginning of another economic boom.
"An increase in consumer confidence would signal an increased willingness to spend, while a decline in confidence suggests that consumers are more inclined to save," SRL said.
Sri Lankan commercial banks are likely to have euro currency notes available for purchase by the public from this week.
The banks are ready to encash euro already available with customers such as tourists and had placed orders with their overseas principals to meet their requirements of the currency, officials said.
"Cash should be available very soon. We're awaiting a shipment," said a Deutsche Bank AG official.
The euro currency became available to the public in the 12 European Union countries that make up the euro zone on January 1.
The move to a single currency in the EU is likely to lead to lower transaction costs, eliminate exchange rate risks and provide easier access and increased sales for Sri Lankan exporters in the member states of the common market.
The EU is one of Sri Lanka's largest trading partners and the second biggest market for garments. Last year, EU countries imported 1.9 billion euros worth of goods from Sri Lanka and exported 1.6 billion worth of products to the island.
By Akhry Ameer
The Japanese partners of Sri Lanka's Dankotuwa Porcelain Ltd (DPL) are threatening to pull out and even discourage other Japanese investors from coming here if a labour dispute at the factory is not quickly resolved.
"The Japanese consortium has told us in no uncertain terms that 'enough is enough' and the company would have to shut down if workers don't abide by the collective agreement," said DPL chairman Sunil Wijesinghe.
The crisis at one of Sri Lanka's best-known ceramic-ware factories broke out in mid-December just as the company launched its widely promoted Tableware show at a Colombo hotel with popular Indian movie star Mandira Bedi in attendance.
Bedi, the star of Indian TV series Shanthi and who is also acting in local drama Damini, has been contracted by DPL to promote its products, here and abroad.
The company, in which controlling shares are owned by a consortium of Japanese companies, has been struggling with a labour dispute since 1993 over bonus and salaries, which worsened last month over demands for a bigger bonus. The Employees Trust Fund has a 19 percent stake in the company.
Wijesinghe said the Japanese partners were disappointed that workers were not respecting the collective agreement they themselves signed. "This is an unfair demand by the unions as they had promised industrial peace after signing a revised collective agreement last year."
He conceded that the workers had been receiving high bonuses as much as eight times their salaries in recent years but that was when the company was performing well.
Last year however, the company was expected to end up in the 'red' with the workers on a go slow while external factors such as the September 11th terrorist attack in the US, high cost of freight and fuel and other factors hit revenues and export markets. DPL also had to face stiff competition in the global market with China and East European countries offering cheaper porcelain. The DPL labour dispute has been an on-off crisis over the years with workers demanding higher and higher monetary incentives. A collective agreement was signed in 1999, which had to be revised in September 2000 after workers revolted.
The employees numbering around 950 are paid some of the best salaries and incentives in the local industry with many other perks and salaries amounting at times to as much as Rs. 11,000 per month, company officials said. The company has offered to pay Rs 2,500 as a bonus but the workers want more.
S. Sarathchandra, president of the branch office of the Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya (SLNS) union said the current campaign was launched by the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) and his group is supporting the cause.
Asked about the picketing during lunch hours and the go slow, he said that they have stopped these activities since the New Year and agreed to join in the negotiation process. JSS branch president Nilantha Gunawardhana was not available for comment.


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German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz on Monday announced opening the bookings of its mid-size SUV, AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe, from September 8.
The GLE-class mid-size luxury SUV, which will be the first AMG 53 series hitting the Indian road, is scheduled to be launched in the domestic market on September 23.
Mercedes-Benz India will open the bookings of the all-new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ Coup, from September 8 onwards, the carmaker said on Monday.
Mercedes-Benz India had displayed the SUV at the 2020 Auto Show at Greater Noida in February this year.
The company's sales volume In India declined 55 per cent to 2,948 units in the first half of the current year against 6,561 units in the first half of 2019 amid the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Mallorcan municipality of Calvia (which includes the popular holiday resorts of Palmanova, Magalluf, Santa Ponsa and Paguera) is the seventh in Spain in terms of tourist importance and social contribution to tourism. This is according to the first 'Municipal Atlas of the social contribution to tourism in Spain', recently published by Exceltur, the association of the most important tourism companies in our country.
The report, in which Madrid, Barcelona and Benidorm occupy the top three positions in the ranking, is a study carried out with data from 2022 among the 500 Spanish municipalities with the largest number of tourist accommodation places and measures the volume and capacity of the diversity of the tourist accommodation offer that each municipality has, the relevance of tourism in the economic and social dynamics and the volume of jobs directly related to this sector.
Calvia, which forms part of the Alliance of Sun and Beach Tourist Municipalities (AMT) together with other destinations which also head this list, has around 60,000 hotel beds, many of them recently renovated and diversified according to the different types of travellers who stay overnight: large chains and resorts, luxury accommodation, hotels specially equipped for sportspeople and more economical and family options. For example, the new mountain refuge of the Finca Pública Galatzó, the Katmandú amusement park, which is located inside a hotel, or the new hotel line that Meliá and Rafa Nadal are going to inaugurate in Palmanova.
It is also worth highlighting the fact that many of the conclusions highlighted in the Exceltur study are commitments that Calvia has been working on for some time, such as the importance of making use of new technologies to make better use of resources, the need for continuous strategies over time or investments that favour mobility and the renovation of the offer.
In fact, Calvia is also demanding from the AMT, of which it currently holds the vice-presidency, a new legal system for those considered "tourist municipalities" with funding to cover the different public services in accordance with the floating population that they host during the busiest months. At present, this budget is transferred according to the registered population, which multiplies for several months each year.
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- The Google Pixel tablet dock may come in the box with the tablet.
- The tablet may have 8GB of RAM and come in four colors.
- We expect Google to launch the tablet at Google I/O on May 10.
Google claimed it was out of the tablet game a few years ago. However, it surprised us all at Google I/O 2022 by announcing that it was coming back with a new Pixel-branded Android tablet. Later, we found out that the tablet will do double duty as a smart display when connected to a speaker device.
Today, we discovered a lot more information about the new Pixel tablet (via 9 to 5 Google). More importantly, we’ve heard that the Google Pixel Tablet dock will come in the box with the tablet. This was one of the biggest questions we had about the device.
Of course, with the tablet and dock combo, this could mean the price of the pair would be a bit higher than we expected. So far, the Pixel Tablet’s specs, design and supposed capabilities present it as quite cheap. However, when you throw the dock into the mix, it can end up being quite expensive.
Outside of the basic Google Pixel Tablet information, we also saw some leaked specs. As expected, the Tensor G2 will be what powers the tablet, and that SoC could be paired with 8GB of RAM, if this new leak is to be believed. To no one’s surprise, Android 13 should be installed out of the box. This combination should make for great performance, as it’s pretty much what we see on the Google Pixel 7.
Other information 9 to 5 Google says it’s confirmed to be the leaked privacy switch we saw last week. In theory, this physical switch could turn off the microphone and camera whenever the user wants some privacy.
Finally, the Google Pixel tablet and dock could come in four colors. First, it’s a beige model with a white frame. There will also be a green model with a black frame. These two colors are indicated by Google itself, so they are practically guaranteed. Today’s rumors, however, suggest that there may be two other options, although we don’t know what they will be. We assume one would be a neutral grey/black, but the fourth could be almost anything.
We expect Google to launch the Pixel tablet at Google I/O on May 10. However, it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase the device anytime soon. It seems that a June availability date would be more likely.


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Samsung managed to keep the Galaxy S5 out of public view until the press got a hold of the 2014 flagship and mistakenly outed it less than 24 hours before its official unveiling. HTC on the other hand, still hasn’t officially announced the “All New HTC One” (One 2014), yet we have seen the device in a 12-minute video and more images than we even know what to do with at this point. HTC sucks at controlling leaks.
In today’s set of leaks, we not only get a new video of the phone in action, but also in a series of photos that shows off its exterior trimmings and how it compares in size to the HTC One Max. (more…)
If you happened to tune in last night for the series premier of Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey, then hopefully you are feeling a bit more like a kid again today. The show was fantastic, and if you can’t get enough, then it’s time to grab the official app from Google Play. (more…)
Competition is a good thing, especially when it comes to smartphone plans. Almost certainly in response to T-Mobile’s doubling of data for entry-level price tier customers last Friday, AT&T announced a price cut for no-contract plans with two or fewer lines.
Single-line Mobile Share Value plans now start at $65, a $15 savings, while two-line accounts are $90. That price will net you 2GB of data, unlimited talk and text, unlimited international messaging in 190 countries and 50GB of AT&T Locker cloud storage. In addition, AT&T is offering a $100 bill credit for activating a new line of postpaid service. (more…)
While in the beta for QuizUp, many of the testers were surprised that when attempting to use QuizUp with Android Runtime (ART), the app would immediately crash. The developers stated there was an incompatibility with the two, and that they would work hard to bring ART support to the app as soon as possible.
While ART is still an experimental feature, found in the Developer options under the settings menu on Kit Kat devices, QuizUp received an update this week on Google Play to support the experimental runtime for everyone who currently uses it. (more…)
Over the weekend, a system dump of the HTC One (2014) was performed by a member on XDA. As we have seen with previous system dumps, the world now has access to all of the wallpapers that HTC has preloaded with the device. Thankfully, they are actually pretty good papers. (more…)
T-Mobile has approved the Android 4.4.2 “Kit Kat” update for its variant of the Samsung Galaxy S4, with rollout expected to start today. The new build number is M919UVUFNB4. In order to update over-the-air (OTA) or through Kies, you’ll need to be on build M919UVUEMK2. (more…)
This afternoon, HTC continued their translation of technical details for features from last year’s HTC One while also teasing the “All New HTC One” for a third time. The spot is as painful to watch as the previous two, but this time focuses on the UltraPixel camera from the original One. After diving through its ability to take shots in low-light situations, the on-screen duo goes into how the “All New HTC One” “has added” a…Well, we don’t know because everything is blurred out after that part. (more…)
A few weeks back, a report surfaced suggesting that Google would unveil a wearables platform some time in the month of March, with a device potentially arriving a couple of months later at Google I/O. That report is now at least half correct, as Android head Sundar Pichai announced today during an interview at SXSW that in two weeks time, his team would launch a new wearable SDK for Android. (more…)


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SicariusMan writes: Looks like warnings and other precautions were not enough to save Buckyballs Magnets. According to this article the Feds are concerned about the increase in children swallowing the rare earth magnets. Amazon and others have already agreed to stop selling the toys.
SicariusMan writes: Answering the age old question, do Guinness and other stouts bubbles really sink or is it an optical illusion? Well some mathmaticians have figured it out. Read the story over at Phys.Org
SicariusMan writes: Don't think your bartender is short pouring you on your pint of beer? Most likely they are and don't even know it. This article is a quick sit down with Chris Holloway, inventor of the The "Piaget" Beer Gauge.


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The boss of Next has described 2017 as the “toughest year” in more than two decades as the retail giant posted its second consecutive fall in annual profits.
In further signs of pain on Britain’s high streets, Next reported an 8.1% drop in annual pre-tax profits to £726.1million, while total sales slid 0.5% to £4.1billion.
Sales were dragged lower by a 7.9% slump in revenue at its shops to £2.1billion, while online revenue grew 9.2% to £1.88billion, helping to soften the blow.
Next, which has six stores across Grampian and the Highlands, pointed to “product ranging errors and omissions” as contributing to the poor showing, a result of the firm failing to provide customers with key items, as well as the shift away from consumer spending on clothing.
Chief executive Lord Simon Wolfson said: “In many ways 2017 was the most challenging year we have faced for 25 years.
“A difficult clothing market coincided with self-inflicted product ranging errors and omissions.
“At the same time, the business has had to manage the costs, systems requirements and opportunities of an accelerating structural shift in spending from retail stores to online.”
Consumers and businesses have also been hammered by rising Brexit-fuelled inflation, with Next having to pay up to 12% more for its products as a result of the pound’s post-referendum slump.
It jacked up shop prices 4% as a result last year, but Next said it expects some relief towards the end of the year as inflation eases.
The firm also warned that 2018 will continue to be tough as the sector remains under intense pressure, saying the “wider economy, clothing market and high street look set to remain challenging”.
George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “The headwinds facing the clothing sector, which include cost inflation, weak high street footfall and tighter consumer spending, are well known.
“However, the fact Next says it’s endured the toughest year since its near-death experience in the early 1990s, underscores the extent of these challenges.”
The figures come at a time of growing concern for brick-and-mortar retailers.


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What happens when you combine agriculture, the number-one economic generator in Georgia, with tourism, the number-two? Plenty.
You get an industry that offers leisure fun, education and entertainment for the public, provides a financial opportunity for the agriculture community, and creates a significant economic impact for the state – a $138 million impact in 2011 alone.
From wineries to U-pick farms to grist mills, agritourism in Georgia covers a lot of ground. Creative farmers open up their homes, their land and their minds to establish new ways to engage the public, promote the industry and supplement their income.
“The creativity of the ag community drives the success of the industry,” says Cindy Norton, agritourism manager for the Georgia Department of Agriculture. “There is great growth potential, especially for those who are willing to experiment, to find something unique that they can add to their current operation or to capitalize on what the public is asking for or is interested in.”
For kids, that might be enjoying corn mazes and feeding farm animals. For families, it could be picking apples or riding horses. For couples, maybe it’s a bed-and-breakfast, a farm stay or a wedding on the grounds of a winery. Whatever it is, Georgia agritourism has something for everyone.
Fun on the Farm
Calhoun Produce in Ashburn is one of the many Georgia agriculture businesses that have built a successful niche in agritourism. Primarily a butterbean and pea farm, Calhoun’s added a U-pick strawberry patch in 1996 that began its transformation into a tourist destination. Other additions include a store, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, a goat walk, a honeybee house, a sunflower field, a picnic pavilion and the list goes on.
“Each time we add something new, we get positive feedback from our customers,” says Sheila Rice, a member of the Calhoun family. “We constantly have people on the farm because we have something different for each season. They look forward to seeing what we’ll add next.”
In the midst of all that activity, the Calhouns continue to grow, harvest and process butterbeans and other vegetables. They include a tour or their packing plant as one of the many activities visitors can enjoy.
“We have an opportunity to connect people to agriculture,” Rice says. “While they’re here there’s lots for them to enjoy, but it’s also a chance for them to learn about many different aspects of farming. We host field trips for school groups of all sizes and ages. Teachers appreciate the chance for their students to get hands-on experience with agriculture.”
At Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, visitors can get a glimpse of a large-scale fruit-growing operation and enjoy the fun of picking some themselves.
“We’ve been in business since 1943 but are relatively new to agritourism,” says Tim Mercier. “We were the first to start U-pick apples in Georgia, and it’s become very popular. In fact, we’re looking to have 90 to 100 acres devoted exclusively to U-pick.”
Every weekend from mid-August through October, visitors can walk the orchards and choose ripe, juicy apples off the trees. When other fruits are in season, Mercier adds U-pick opportunities for those as well. And if that’s not enough, visitors can shop Mercier’s full-line farm market, open all but four days a year, and tour other facilities on the 300-acre farm.
“Visitors can see the packing line when they’re at the farm market and the cider production line when they’re in our hard-cider tasting rooms,” says Mercier. “We have a wholesale bakery, where we make 10,000 pies a day, and tours can be arranged to see that process, too.”
The number of visitors changes with the seasons, fall being the busiest time.
“In October, we could have thousands of people a day going through the market,” says Mercier.
This multigenerational farm family doesn’t just wait for people to come to them. They take their agritourism act on the road, driving their mobile pie kitchen to special events like the Kentucky Derby and NASCAR races to promote their business and the agritourism industry.
Norton says that businesses like Mercier Orchards and Calhoun Produce and many more like them in the state have developed a winning formula that appeals to the public.
“More and more people are interested in learning about local food and the farmers who grow it,” she says. “Plus, they are looking for enjoyable, family-friendly activities that are unique and close to home. Georgia’s agritourism industry gives them lots of options.”


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Clinton Donnelly, CEO of Crypto Tax Audit, stated that many U.S. users have not reported their cryptocurrency taxes because they are afraid that the IRS will modify regulations after they submit their tax returns. The IRS has the discretionary power to apply laws retroactively or retrospectively interpret them. It is reported that Clinton Donnelly is also an expert in calculating capital gains from cryptocurrency.
In the IRS's notice on March 25th, the existing general tax principles regarding transactions using virtual currency were described. In this update, also known as Notice 2014-21, the IRS stated that the general tax principles applicable to property transactions will apply to transactions using virtual currency. Although this notice did clarify the IRS's position on cryptocurrency transactions, Clinton Donnelly stated that it lacks the legal binding force of regulations. Prior to this update, the IRS had not expressed an opinion on the taxation of cryptocurrency.


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— Toyota is recalling about 340,000 Prius cars worldwide, including about 92,000 located in the U.S. The 2016-2017 Toyota Prius sedans have parking brakes that could fail, leading to a higher chance of rollaway incidents.
Toyota hasn't released much information and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn't released details, but the automaker says dealers will add clips on the top of the brake cable dust boots to keep the parking brake cables in working order.
Toyota says it expects to start notifying owners in November 2016.
If you own a 2016-2017 Toyota Prius and have questions about the recall, call Toyota customer service at 800-331-4331.
CarComplaints.com will update this page when NHTSA publishes details about the Toyota Prius recall.


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The new year could see a multitude of changes in laws surrounding cannabis. The question on everyone’s lips is, “Will cannabis be finally made legal in the UK?” In December WHO, The World Health Organization moved to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention, pushing the UN to force a vote on the subject, rejected but still progress. In November French high courts in a appeal brought by Kanavape, ruled on hemp including CBD Flower that they are outside the UN single convention on narcotics, an Italian court followed suit the week after. Where will the UK decision fall on CBD and cannabis is the question for 2021!
This is a valid question. Over the past few years, cannabis-related legislation has undergone a multitude of changes. In fact, at this year’s GCI Virtual Summit, we learned that perspectives surrounding CBD are changing.
But what will happen in 2021? Will the British government finally bite the bullet and legalise cannabis in the UK?
At the Extract, we’ve done our research. This is what we think will happen in 2021.
A history of cannabis in the UK
Before we talk about whether or not cannabis will be made legal in the UK next year, we should break down the history of cannabis legislation.
Since we’ve discussed this before, we have also talked about how CBD can help people like those who suffer from panic attacks, how CBD when accompanied with exercise has been shown to help people with Sciatica we’ll summarise what we know here before delving into the meat of our article. Large brands like Nike have been endorsing hemp and its benefits on our carbon footprint per acre grown. UK based research has show the effects of CBD on blood flow in the brain.
Laws surrounding cannabis began popping up in 1929, in line with the Dangerous Drugs Act. In 1971, the growth of cannabis — across the board — was restricted in the UK. Hemp was used in shipping and many industries.
However, in 2001, legislation began to change for the better with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. In fact, 2001 is when things began to change, regarding the legal status of cannabis in the UK.
People were allowed to grow cannabis, provided that they had a license from the Home Office. However, this cannabis could only be used for research purposes.
In 2015, cannabis was finally made legal in the UK — for medical purposes only. Thanks to the Misuse of Drugs (Designation), patients could now be granted cannabis prescriptions by the NHS.
The situation has remained the same since 2015. Thankfully, organisations like Grow Pharma are working to raise awareness surrounding cannabis in the UK.
As the British public become more and more aware of the benefits of cannabis, we believe that making cannabis legal in the UK can only change things for the better.
What does this mean for CBD?
Unlike cannabis, CBD is not a controlled substance. This means that it’s perfectly legal in the UK. However, CBD products must meet certain standards in order to be deemed legal.
For example, CBD products cannot contain more than 1mg of THC. While CBD is not a controlled substance, THC — the psychoactive compound in cannabis — is still very much illegal in the UK.
Therefore, manufacturers must stick to these stringent guidelines when manufacturing their CBD products. While this is not always the case, failure to do this could result in these manufacturers finding themselves in trouble with the Food Safety Association (FSA).
Will recreational cannabis be legal in the UK?
At The Extract, we might not be certain that cannabis will be legal in the UK by 2021. However, what we do know is that things look promising. We aren’t just saying that.
In 2008, Boris Johnson was one of the first Conservative MPs to call for the legalisation of medical cannabis. His reasoning behind this was that medical cannabis could be a game-changer for individuals who suffer from chronic pain.
However, with Boris Johnson as the Prime Minister, we believe that the UK now has the potential to legalise cannabis. According to BuzzFeed, Johnson hired Blair Gibbs as a special advisor.
Mr. Gibbs has called for the reform of cannabis laws for a long time. He held this position at 10 Downing Street for a little over a year. Despite his short stint as an advisor to Boris Johnson, we believe that his beliefs surrounding cannabis could have had a lasting effect. Legislation has opened access for special cases like Charlie Hughes a child patient approved for cannabis.
The impact of the cannabis situation abroad
In addition to this, the progress made throughout Europe, and the discussions in Scotland will no doubt have a bearing on Boris Johnson’s decision.
This is because countries like the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain have decriminalised cannabis.
Furthermore, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic have completely legalised medical cannabis. In these countries, the number of medical cannabis patients is on the rise, proving that relaxed attitudes towards cannabis could be beneficial. Countries like France continue to pass laws on CBD and cannabis.
Closer to home, Scotland also seems to be making moves towards the legalisation of medical cannabis. Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the Scottish National Party, has spoken up in favour of making medical cannabis legal.
Failure to jump on the pro-cannabis bandwagon could make the UK look outdated and archaic. As a nation that has consistently been on the cutting-edge of medical legislation and technology, this is clearly not an angle Boris Johnson wants to be stuck with.
Based on this, we can safely assume that the UK will make moves towards making cannabis legal. However, it might not happen in 2021, as it might take a little more time to get the go-ahead.
What should the UK take into consideration before making cannabis legal?
We believe that there are several factors that the UK should take into consideration, before attempting to legalise cannabis. These factors could potentially positively sway their decision.
Upon considering these factors, the British government could realise that a variety of individuals would benefit from having legal access to cannabis in the UK.
Adding cannabis to your wellness routine can have a host of benefits. Studies have shown that cannabis can provide relief from seizures. Many individuals who cannot take seizure medication have been able to control their seizures with cannabis. The fact that some suppliers even in the US like Diamond have been found to have the incorrect ingredients on there packaging
In addition to this, medical cannabis is a effective treatment for insomnia. A large number of the British population suffers from insomnia. Making cannabis legal in the UK could potentially improve their quality of life.
That’s not all; the anti-inflammatory properties in cannabis can help with arthritis. While reports are mostly anecdotal, the legalisation of cannabis could very well lead to more studies on the topic.
Accessing the supply of medical cannabis in the UK can be difficult. This can be discouraging for patients, who then try and access cannabis in other ways. By doing this, they could potentially end up with a high-THC, low-CBD strain of cannabis.
Making cannabis legal in the UK and regulating it would change things for the better. By doing this, the British government will be able to test and approve certain strains of cannabis.
As a result, British citizens will have access to tested, approved strains of cannabis.
At The Extract, we believe that the British government has a lot to gain by legalising cannabis. The benefits far outweigh the negatives. Choosing to legalise cannabis in the UK could be a game-changer for British citizens across the board.
While we might not see this change in 2021, we believe that this could happen in the near future. After all, legalising and regulating cannabis is an extremely progressive position to take, and the UK does not want to be left behind.
Source: The Extract (Stephanie Fernandez)


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Just because the holiday is remote this year, doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable. Here’s how to plan ahead.
The tech giant has released its best Mac laptops ever, writes columnist Joanna Stern. After testing both for a week, she says the question shoppers should ask is how much performance and battery life they want to pay for.
Elaborate ideas, such as constructing a boat from toy building blocks and then trying to sail it, take time and money. A collective of content creators spends weeks of work for seconds of content.


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Ulster Fleadh expected to boost the economy of Castlewellan by £2.25m
A Co Down town is set for a £2.25m economic boost when it hosts the Ulster Fleadh later this month.
Castlewellan will be the venue for the traditional Irish music festival from July 23-29, with 25,000 visitors expected in the area over that period.
It's the third year running that the Ulster Fleadh will be in Co Down. Bangor hosted the event in 2016 and 2017.
Bangor's hospitality industry said it considered last year's event in particular to have been a major success for the seaside town.
Comhaltas, the organisation that promotes traditional Irish music and culture around the world, said the 2017 festival had also reached new audiences.
Martyn Wolsey, who runs The Rabbit Rooms bar and restaurant in Bangor, said that the festival had brought a significant boost for businesses.
"It was probably the best week we've ever had, to be quite honest, for trade and tourists, and that includes Christmas. It was just all-day trade, it was brilliant."
He said the success of the event in Bangor in 2016 and 2017 had created an appetite for more traditional music events and festivals in the town.
"Certainly the Fleadh helped us an awful lot, the whole town got a lift. We were the base of the Fleadh so we probably got the biggest boost, but every other bar in Bangor got a good lift from it."
Castlewellan business owner Caitriona McCabe, who runs Urban Coffee on Main Street, said the buzz was already building ahead of the 2018 festival.
She said the business community in the town had enjoyed a good level of communication with the organisers at Comhaltas.
She added: "We definitely feel well informed and actually feel like a part of something really exciting. The buzz is going to be something we haven't experienced before as 25,000 people descend on our little town."
The cafe wasn't in business when the town last hosted the Ulster Fleadh in 2010.
"We are super excited for the economic boom it will bring local business, but also to showcase our stunning town, forest park and history.
"I'm sure without doubt a large portion of the visitors will want to come back after the fact for a day trip or weekend once they experience our hospitality and community spirit."
Urban Coffee will be among the businesses which will host Fleadh-related events.
The cafe will the venue for the Irish conversation and coffee morning at 10am on Wednesday, July 25.
"We have been planning and scheduling already and have hired in some extra hands in the hopes of providing our excellent service and maintaining our high quality that we are known for," said Ms McCabe.
"Its going to be a very special week for all ages and families and we hope everyone has an amazing time and enjoys all the events, there's something for everyone."


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President-elect Donald Trump is taking credit for consumer confidence in the U.S. economy reaching its highest level since August 2001.
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index hit 113.7 for December, Bloomberg reported, prompting Trump to tweet, “Thanks Donald!”
The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index for December surged nearly four points to 113.7, THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN 15 YEARS! Thanks Donald!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016
“The post-election surge in optimism for the economy, jobs, and income prospects, as well as for stock prices which reached a 13-year high, was most pronounced among older consumers,” Lynn Franco, the board’s director of economic indicators, said in a statement. "Looking ahead to 2017, consumers’ continued optimism will depend on whether or not their expectations are realized.”


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The Boston-based bitcoin startup, Circle Financial, announced last year they would stop buying and selling bitcoin from users, but the company claims to still be the “second largest crypto asset trader in the world,” according to CEO Jeremy Allaire.
Circle Financial Claims to be the ‘Second Largest Crypto Trader Worldwide’
Last December, the company Circle Financial announced that it
Read More https://news.bitcoin.com/circle-financial-ceo-we-trade-over-1b-in-crypto-per-month/
The post "Circle Financial CEO: “We Trade Over $1B in Crypto per Month”" appeared first here news.bitcoin.com


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Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. said its second-quarter losses widened despite an increase in revenue as advertisers returned to the companys flagship magazine.
The Manhattan media company reported a loss of $33.5 million, or 65 cents a share, in the quarter, compared with a loss of $17.8 million, or 36 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding $20 million in charges, the companys loss narrowed to 26 cents a share. That beat analysts average forecast for a loss of 28 cents a share.
Revenue rose 4.3% to $46 million, beating analysts estimates of $43 million. Publishing revenue jumped 34% to $31.7 million, driven by higher ad sales at Everyday Food and Martha Stewart Living. Ad pages grew 65% at Everyday Food and 43% at Martha Stewart Living.
Meanwhile, television revenue declined 72.2% to $1.8 million, mostly due to the absence of company founder Martha Stewarts daily syndicated show, which stopped airing last September. Ms. Stewart is finishing five months of house arrest after serving a five-month prison sentence for lying about a stock sale.
The company has been making deals to breathe new life into its business. On Tuesday, it unveiled a deal with Discovery Communications to develop a home-improvement show focusing on troubled women who are trying to rebuild their homes and lives. Discovery also agreed to rebroadcast Ms. Stewarts upcoming daytime talk show, called "Martha," on The Learning Channel.
In addition, the doyenne of domesticity teamed up with reality-show producer Mark Burnett to create a Martha Stewart version of "The Apprentice." The company also signed a four-year deal in April with Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. to create a 24-hour radio channel called Martha Stewart Living Radio.
The company now forecasts a third-quarter operating loss of $25 million to $26 million, and a fourth-quarter operating loss of $1 million to $2 million. Both quarters will include noncash charges estimated at $13 million, the company said.


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LAWRENCE — A century-old retailer may be moving out of the neighborhood, but it’s not leaving the county.
Hamilton Jewelers will officially shut down operations at their Lawrence Township location at the end of June in order to expand their selection of offerings at their flagship store, located on Nassau Street in Princeton.
“Emotionally this is a very difficult decision, but at the end of the day it is a client-focused decision and we have to continue to operate that way,” said Hank Siegel President and Chief Executive Officer for Hamilton Jewelers.
The company has been rooted in Mercer County since 1912, when the original group of owners, Geo. Marks Inc, opened the first location on South Broad Street in Trenton. Fifteen years later, Siegel’s grandfather, Irving Siegel, purchased the rights to the company and later moved the business to a Broad and Hanover streets location in Trenton.
In 1973, the Trenton store was relocated to Lawrence and then the retailer further expanded operations into Princeton.
The legandary jeweler has been the target of violent robberies, including one in April 2011, when three men held up the store at gunpoint and stole over $20,000 worth of Rolex Watches, and more recently, in August 2012, robbers entered the store just before 12:30 p.m., smashed several glass cases filled with jewelry and fled on foot.
But the owner did not sight crime as a reason for shutting down the location.
“This decision to close the Lawrence store was in response to market research,” said Siegel. “Our customers shop in both stores, but what we heard was that they would prefer to see a larger selection of jewelry offered in one location instead of two.”
The family owned and operated business sells a variety of fine pieces to fit the needs of any budget, from charms and pendants at lower price points, to exclusive high end designer diamond jewelry. According to Siegel, by providing a larger array of items out of the Princeton location, he is actually making it easier for his loyal customers to shop in the comfort of a newly expanded location.
“The location itself will not be expanding, but we will remodel the inside of the store to increase the selling space,” said Seigel. “By putting everything under one roof, we now have the ability to offer a larger selection of designer pieces, and to offer the best quality of merchandise at any price range.”
In an attempt to consolidate inventory, Hamilton Jewelers has done something it rarely ever has done before, offer deep discounts on select merchandise.
The company has identified a collection of fine jewelry, time pieces, precious gems, and home décor that is currently being sold during the multi-million dollar sales event in the Lawrence location.
“We went to each of our five locations, combed through the inventory, and we are now offering over 4,000 items at extraordinary values,” said Siegel.
After 40 years of service in the Lawrence area, the owners believes the integration of the two stores will also streamline operations at their other locations, including their Red Bank store and the Palm Beach, Fla., location.