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THIS month brings the one-year anniversary of the law that entitles Americans to get one free copy of their credit report annually. Excited? I didn’t think so.
The reports that once cost $25 or $35 are now free of charge but that hasn’t made getting them, decoding them or correcting the errors you’re likely to find on them one whit easier.
As far as I can tell, the main impact of these freebies is that getting your credit report has now joined the ranks of other dreaded procedures — like mammograms, colonoscopies and regular dental cleanings. You know it’s for your own good, but it sure doesn’t feel that way.
Let’s start at the beginning of the quest for this not-so-holy grail. There is only one Web site—www.annualcreditreport.com—where you can either download or order your free reports by phone or mail (the toll-free number is (877) 322-8228). “But you have to be very careful to type ‘annualcreditreport.com’ correctly,” said Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (Uspirg) in Washington.
“Some studies have found over one hundred fraudulent sites that are misspellings of the correct name,” he said.Continue reading the main story
Even more outrageous is that the three main credit bureaus themselves — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax — have set up competing enterprises with names like freecreditreport.com, which offer you a free copy of your report as long as you sign up for “free-to-pay credit monitoring services,” Mr. Mierzwinski said.
Free to pay? That’s when you sign up for a free trial period of some financial service that ends up being billed to your credit card if you forget to cancel it.
Last year the Federal Trade Commission sued Experian for using the freecreditreport.com site to lure consumers into spending $79.95 on free-to-pay credit monitoring. Experian reached a settlement with the F.T.C. and had to pay $950,000 in ill-gotten gains to the F.T.C.The hurdles only continue once you get your credit report. About four years ago, when Caroline Hwang, a novelist in New York, suspected that some pieces of personal mail had been stolen, she got a copy of her credit report then and requested that several out-of-date accounts be closed.
But when she ordered the report recently, she learned they never were closed. “I couldn’t believe how many accounts were still on there, accounts I’d closed but were still listed as open — and some I’d never seen before,” she said.
According to a 2004 study by Uspirg, about 25 percent of credit reports contain errors, some serious enough to damage your credit score. And a 2002 study by the Consumer Federation of America, a consumer advocacy group, found that because of various errors, there were wide discrepancies among the scores generated by the different bureaus.
“We’re still hearing that the credit bureaus are not adequately addressing the problem of credit report errors,” said Travis Plunkett, legislative director of the group.
IF you find a mistake on your report, it is up to you to contact the credit bureau and the institution that was the source of the error, provide the correct information and clear it up. As time-consuming and irritating as this may be, “you’ve got to keep meticulous records, take it upon yourself to dispute the mistakes,” Mr. Mierzwinski said. “People have to be aware that mistakes can drive their credit score down dramatically.”
When I downloaded the free annual copies of my own report, only two were available; for some reason Experian said I had to contact them by mail. Both the Equifax and TransUnion reports contained numerous errors, including three credit cards and one store card that — as far as I know — are not mine.
There was another puzzle: according to these records, my employment history is full of holes — even though I’ve worked nonstop since college.
It’s beyond frustrating to look at mistakes regarding your own personal information — and know that you have limited control over how and when they can be corrected. Although the online reports allow you to file your dispute on the Internet, the forms I filled out didn’t allow much room for explanation.
Still Mr. Plunkett urges consumers to take advantage of their free reports, however flawed the system may be. “It’s easier than it’s ever been to get your credit report and evaluate the accuracy of it,” he said. “And given that credit scores are being used increasingly to determine your financial fate, we strongly encourage people to look at their report at least once a year and do their best to correct any mistaken information.”Continue reading the main story


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New homes could be built at former car sales showroom site
- Credit: Google Street View
A former car sales showroom could make way for new homes, if plans to redevelop it are given the green light.
Plans to redevelop the former Harvey Lane Car Sales site, in Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, have been submitted.
Unusually, because the site straddles both Norwich City Council and Broadland District Council boundaries, Cambridge-based applicant GH Developments has had to lodge plans with both councils.
The car sales business was dissolved a year ago and the plans which have been lodged propose building eight homes on the third of an acre site.
Four of the homes would be two-storey, three-bedroom townhouses and four would be single-bedroom flats.
Documents, lodged with the councils by the applicant’s Norwich-based agents Anglia Designs, state: “This will provide a nice community mix and make extremely efficient use of a previously developed site.
“Similar schemes have obtained approval in the vicinity and this will provide much needed additional accommodation within an already residential setting.
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“Once the garage has been demolished the dwellings will fill the gap in the streetscene nicely and therefore will not appear overdeveloped.”
There would be 14 car parking spaces for the new homes, which would include two visitor spaces.
The applicant has submitted a preliminary bat and barn owl assessment, which concludes that a small area of the showroom may be suitable for roosting bats.
But the survey says the redevelopment, if permitted, could mitigate for that by providing alternative potential roosting locations.
The documents lodged the councils add; “It is envisaged that the dwellings, if allowed would be available and deliverable now, which means they will be able to make a short term contribution to any land supply deficit.”
Decisions on whether to grant permission will be made by the councils in due course.
• Elsewhere, plans have been lodged seeking permission to extend a Norwich hotel.
Premier Inn has asked Norwich City Council for the go-ahead for an extension to add 16 bedrooms to its hotel at Delft Way, near Norwich Airport.
The hotel chain also wants to modify the entrance and make some car park changes.

domain: news


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When we tap the button “Search for updates” on Android, we always do so with the hope of receiving a new version for the system. It does not always happen, that is true, but that is the original function: to look for a new version and if it is available, to download it and install it. The reality is quite different, and thanks to a Google engineer we know that the system has a failure.
Elliott Hughes, the abovementioned engineer, explained in September that the update button was broken and what they did to fix it. Almost three months have passed since that was posted on Google+. During that time, the button has broken down again, and thanks to a new post from Elliott, we learned that the system is still not working well and that the update will arrive in 2018.
A big flaw that luckily didn’t last long
In this update, Elliott explains, there was a flaw in the android update system, this flaw was caused by a few changes made to the Google Play Services that made the auto download function for the OTA versions stop working, again. If this month you’ve had a notification that there’s a new software version and it hasn’t downloaded you don’t have to worry, here’s what happened.
With information given by a Google engineer, it’s hard to know how long this bug has been going on and even worse: we don’t know when it will be fixed. He says 2018 but a year is a lot of time and this means that it could either be ready for January or it may be ready for December.
It’s a big flaw but, luckily, a lot of manufacturers use their own OTA update system and do not have to rely on Google’s. If you have a Samsung Android, Huawei, Sony, HTC, OnePlus, Xiaomi… it’s very unlikely that this bug will affect you and you’ll receive updates regularly.
If you have a Google device (Nexus or Pixel that are still getting updates), you can be at peace as this bug has already been resolved for these models. Then, what devices are affected? The other devices that aren’t from Google and depend on their update system.
With no more information, everything points to the affected devices being those that use AOSP ROMs or modest manufacturers that do not have the resources or the need of having its own update system.
Does this only affect new updates like the Android 8.0 Oreo? No, it has a bigger impact because depending on Google Play Services also influences any update to Nougat or Marshmallow. Even though the solution may take a while to come it won’t affect that many devices.


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Dunnes Stores and SuperValu now hold an equal share of Ireland’s multi-billion euro grocery market, as the pair battle it out for supremacy among consumers over Christmas.
New figures from research group Kantar Worldpanel show the retailers each have a 22.5pc share of the market.
Dunnes Stores, headed by Margaret Heffernan and Frank Dunne, snatched the title of the country’s largest grocery retailer last month from SuperValu. It was the first time in over a decade that Dunnes had secured the top spot.
But SuperValu, under managing director Martin Kelleher, which is controlled by the Cork-based Musgrave group, will be vying to reclaim the title.
And with shoppers now in the final week before Christmas, there are intense efforts by all the chains to lure customers who are splashing out for the festive season.
Previous figures from Kantar Worldpanel showed that Dunnes Stores had a 22.6pc share of the grocery market during the 12 weeks to the end of November 6. SuperValu had 22.4pc.
The latest figures, for the 12 weeks ended December 4, show that the two retailers now share the number one position, while Tesco has a 21.8pc share.
Dunnes’ share, in value terms, rose by 4.8pc, while SuperValu’s was 1pc higher. Grocery inflation in the period stood at 0.6pc.
Tesco has been focusing on cutting prices to attract more customers. That hits the value of its sales – the figure that Kantar Worldpanel reports on. But the value of its sales was still 1pc higher in the latest period.
David Berry, director at Kantar Worldpanel, said the latest figures are a “real testament” to how competitive the grocery market is.
“Just 0.7 percentage points now separate the three largest retailers as we enter the all-important festive period,” he said.
He added that evidence of Tesco’s turnaround has been seen in the last quarter. Mr Berry said that the chain’s sales have shown positive growth for the first time since March.
“An additional 10,000 households have chosen to shop with Tesco in 2016 and are returning to the retailer more frequently – a clear positive sign for the grocer,” he said.
Dunnes Stores has built its loyalty through its ‘Shop and Save’ campaign, a discounting ploy that has cost it tens of millions of euro.
But it has been also developing its product lines and acquiring businesses, moves designed to help it improve its overall offer to consumers.
Almost 64pc of households visited Dunnes Stores in the latest reported period, spending an average of €39.50 a visit. That’s a €3 increase per trip compared to the corresponding period last year.
Mr Berry said that Dunnes Stores has also seen more shoppers opt to buy branded goods – the only retailer to experience that in the latest period. Branded sales at the chain rose 5.7pc, while own-label goods sales were up 3.3pc.
Lidl increased its share of the market by 4.3pc to 11.1pc. Aldi’s rose by 6.1pc, also to 11.1pc.
Grocery chains are facing increased pressure this Christmas following the decline in Sterling after the UK’s June Brexit vote.
A report yesterday from credit risk analyst firm Vision-net.ie showed that 24pc of Irish shoppers intend to travel across the border to avail of weaker Sterling. “Irish consumers are cognisant of the impact of Brexit and a weakened Sterling, and plan to avail of the knock-on benefits this Christmas,” said Christine Cullen, managing director of Vision-net.ie.
Article Source: http://tinyurl.com/kbwqb42


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This week 20 startups received funding, out of which 15 were disclosed, who in total made a sum of about $88.5 million. Among them, Nazara Games raised the highest investment of $27 million, followed by Veritas Finance which raised $18.6 million.
Meanwhile, five out of the total funded startups remained undisclosed.
Below is the summary of deals closed this week:
List of disclosed funding deals this week
Bira 91: New Delhi-based craft beer brand B9 Beverages, the maker of Bira 91 beer, has raised $3.9 million (Rs 25 crore) by issuing debentures to Anicut Capital.
HomeLane: Bengaluru-based online home interiors startup HomeLane has raised $10 million from Accel Partners, Sequoia Capital, and RB Investments.
Clip: Bengaluru-based digital media video startup Clip has raised an undisclosed amount of funding in a series A round led by Matrix Partners India. Clip did not disclose the size of funding but a person aware of the funding said it raised $6 million.
Teabox: Siliguri and Bengaluru-based Teabox, an online seller of premium tea has raised $7 million in its series-B round of funding from Singapore-based investment firm RB Investments, with existing investors also taking part.
DocsApp: Bengaluru-based digital medical consultation platform DocsApp has raised $7.2 million in a Series-A funding round from Bessemer Venture Partners and Japanese firms Techmatrix Corp. and DeNa Networks.
Nazara Games: Veteran investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala has invested $27 million (Rs 180 crore) in mobile game publisher Nazara Technologies. He also acquired a minority stake in the company which is eying IPO by early next year.
Shopholix: India’s first fashion and lifestyle couponing platform for brick and mortar stores Shopholix has raised $0.23 million (Rs. 1.5 crore) in a Pre-Series A round of investment led by Munesh Khanna.
Chai Break: Kolkata-based café chain startup Chai Break has raised $0.78 million (Rs 5 crore) in an angel funding round in lieu of 10% stake from Venture Catalysts of Mumbai.
Furlenco: Online furniture rental startup Furlenco has raised $1.2 million in a debt funding round from Bollywood perfectionist Aamir Khan and four others individuals.
Vahdam Teas: Delhi-based premium tea e-tailer Vahdam Teas has raised $1.4 million in its second round of funding led by existing investor Fireside Ventures.
icanstay: Delhi-based First Time Travellers Ltd, which operates luxury hotel aggregation startup icanstay, has signed an ad-for-equity deal worth Rs 12 crore ($1.8 million).
Veritas Finance: CDC Group, the UK government’s development finance institution and Lok Capital have invested $18.6 million in Veritas Finance, which lends to micro and small enterprises
Curofy: Gurugram-based Curofy, has raised $0.25 million (Rs 1.6 crore) in a fresh round of investment from RoundGlass Partners.
Purplle: Mumbai-based Purplle has secured $0.53 million ( Rs 3.44 crore) in a fresh investment round from a clutch of investors.
Cash Suvidha: Delhi-based online microlending platform Cash Suvidha, has raised $2.7 million in debt round of investment.
Undisclosed deal this week:
Delhi-based drone startup WeDoSky, Mumbai-based multi-cryptocurrency exchange Koinex, fintech startup CapitaWorld, 3D printer startup Fracktal works, and property tech startup BuildSupply did not disclose their funding amount.
*Every week we round up startups that have received or announced fresh funding. Stay tuned for next funding weekly.
(Keep reading and visiting Entrackr to stay updated with all the start-ups and latest technology news and Indian Startup Funding news weekly)


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According to a recent report from Dealabs, the Nothing Phone (2) is expected to launch with a starting price of €729 in France, representing a staggering over-50% price increase compared to its predecessor. It remains uncertain whether the price hike will be consistent across different regions, leaving potential customers in the UK, US, and other parts of Europe eagerly awaiting official pricing announcements. The quoted price corresponds to the base model of the Phone (2) with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. Additionally, a higher-end variant boasting 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM could be available at €849.
While the significant price increase may be a tough pill to swallow, the Nothing Phone (2) does promise noteworthy upgrades that justify the elevated cost. One prominent enhancement lies in the device's processing power, as it will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. This marks a substantial leap in raw performance when compared to the Snapdragon 778 used in the Phone (1). This boosted processing power is expected to deliver a seamless user experience and improved multitasking capabilities.
In the midst of the Nothing Phone (2) buzz, speculation has also arisen regarding Nothing's potential entry into the smartwatch market. Noted technology insider Mukul Sharma, known as @stufflistings, recently uncovered a trademark filing from Nothing that hints at the company's foray into the smartwatch segment. While details are scarce regarding the timeline or seriousness of this venture, a smartwatch release would align with Nothing's ambition to offer a comprehensive ecosystem akin to the "iPhone of Android." The potential addition of a smartwatch to Nothing's lineup adds an intriguing layer of anticipation for tech enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the brand's next move.


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Betabrand and Norton Antivirus teamed up to create this high-tech garment.
Pickpocket-proof jeans. Try saying that three times fast.
No, it’s not some sort of high-tech chastity belt, but a new version of Betabrand’s popular READY activewear jeans will prevent thieves from digitally stealing radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged passports or any type of contactless payment cards from the comforts of your trouser pockets.
This futuristic-sounding garment will be available for purchase in February, and came to fruition thanks to a partnership between e-retailer Betabrand and antivirus software company Norton.
According to a video from Betabrand, RFIDs can be stolen from up to 30 feet away, making it possible for identity thieves to go completely undetected. But the front two pockets of these new pants are lined with material than shields your credit cards and other sensitive items within from theft.
The READY Jeans Protected by Norton will retail for about $150 per pair, a small price to pay when you consider how often you wear jeans and how annoying it is to have your identity stolen. Right now they’re only made for men, but women can buy this smart activewear blazer, which also features pockets with the same technology.
Prepare to practice safe dressing.
Photo via Betabrand
Marisa Kabas is a lifestyle reporter and activist. Her work has been published by Fusion, Fast Company, and Today. She’s also served as an editorial campaigns director for Purpose PBC, a social movement incubator.


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It’s official: Samsung is holding its next virtual Galaxy Unpacked event on August 11 at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT. The media invite the company sent along strongly suggests the company will announce the heavily leaked Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable phones.
As usual, Samsung is jumping the gun a little bit. Even before making both foldable phones official, Samsung is letting customers reserve early for the unannounced devices to score trade-in credit and discounts on Samsung Care+. Specifically, according to a Samsung spokesperson:
- 12 free months of Samsung Care+
- Up to an extra $100 trade-in credit
- A special pre-order offer
What we’re expecting — There’s very little that we don’t know about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 that hasn’t already been spoiled by leakers over the past few months. For the Z Fold 3, we’re expecting a foldable that’s similar to the Z Fold 2. The new model will likely have a tougher foldable glass screen and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chip. It’ll come in several new colors including a military/olive green. Leaker Ice Universe has hinted that the cameras might not get an upgrade and will lag behind the S21 Ultra. The Z Fold 3 might also be slightly more affordable this year.
As for the Z Flip 3, we’re expecting a tweaked Z Flip (Samsung is skipping the Z Flip 2) with rearranged cameras and upgraded internal specs such as a more powerful chip and faster 5G. The smaller foldable might also sport a larger exterior display.
Smartwatch upgrades — In addition to the two foldables, leaks claim Samsung will also use the event to announce new Wear-powered smartwatches — the Galaxy Watch 4 in two models (regular and “Classic”) and the Galaxy Watch Active 4. Those got leaked in full via Amazon Canada last week.
New earbuds — And finally, Samsung is probably going to drop new Galaxy Buds wireless earbuds — allegedly “Galaxy Buds 2” which are successors to the Galaxy Buds/Buds+ (not to be confused with the Galaxy Buds Live or the Galaxy Buds Pro).
Fall is coming — Samsung’s second Unpacked event is always a signifier that the lull in product launches during the summer is coming to an end and fall and the holidays are on the horizon. Samsung looks set to make quite a few announcements come August 11. As always, Input will be covering the news with insightful commentary and analysis. Enjoy the next three weeks, because fall is coming.


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April 19 (Bloomberg) -- Akzo Nobel NV, the world biggest paintmaker, reported first-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates as a savings program instigated by departing Chief Executive Officer Hans Wijers took effect.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization before one-time items declined to 423 million euros ($554 million) from 437 million euros a year earlier, the Amsterdam based company said today. Analysts predicted 413 million euros.
Incoming CEO Ton Buechner, the former Sulzer AG chief, inherits a broad revamp that spans coatings, paint and specialty chemicals. Analysts including Laurent Favre of Bank of America Merrill Lynch have highlighted the looming decision over what to do with Akzo’s under-performing U.S. decorative paint business as among the challenges Buechner faces.
“These are fine results, with better than expected price increases, particularly in Decorative Paints,” ING analyst Fabian Smeets said by phone. “With the impact from restructuring measures going forward and Buechner taking the helm next week I think we can have a nice ride with the share price in the rest of the year.”
The earnings beat mean Wijers exits his nine-year stint at the helm on a high, with shares of the company trading 3.5 percent higher at 44.64 euros as of 9:05 a.m. local time. Prior to today, Akzo had climed 16 percent this year, raising the market value to 10.2 billion euros.
Wijers’ plan for Akzo outlined annual savings of 450 million euros to help mitigate the effects of higher raw-material costs like titanium dioxide, used as a whitener in paint. The maker of Dulux-paints has set a target to boost Ebitda by 500 million euros for 2014 as it improves manufacturing as well as adding plants in India and Brazil.
Sales in the quarter increased 6 percent to 3.97 billion euros as cost cutting helped counter weaker volumes in markets like Europe and North America. Asia and Latin America have become key drivers of household paint sales. Volumes were down slightly, reflecting the volatile nature of the economic conditions, Wijers said.
“I have not given up on the ambition to get U.S. paint to a break even level in 2012, but this will remain a significant challenge,” Chief Financial Officer Keith Nichols said on a conference call.
Volumes in Decorative Paints in North America were down in the first quarter primarily due to a prior year customer load-in, and operating costs were higher as a consequence of investments in distribution channels and restructuring measures, Akzo said today.
Sherwin-Williams Co., the largest U.S. paint retailer, reported preliminary first-quarter earnings that exceeded its guidance and analysts’ estimates amid rising demand and prices. A mild spring and improved pricing helped bolster demand.
Earnings fell 2 percent at Akzo’s specialty chemical division because of “difficult trading conditions in certain businesses,” the company said. Rob Frohn, who ran the specialty-chemicals division following a four-year stint as Akzo’s chief financial officer, is leaving in the wake of Buechner’s appointment. A replacement is still being sought.
Buechner will also have to decide if Akzo will take part in an auction for DuPont Co.’s auto-paint division. The Delaware, U.S.-based company is exploring the sale of the performance coatings division, which could fetch as much as $4 billion, people familiar with the process have said. DuPont will report earnings later today.
To contact the reporter on this story: Maaike Noordhuis in Amsterdam at firstname.lastname@example.org
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Benedikt Kammel at email@example.com


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[January 09, 2013]
The Coming of Intelligent Green Vehicles [Futurist, The]
(Futurist, The Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A Report from the TechCast Project By Laura B. Huhn, Kenneth W. Harris, and Dexter Snyder While many people simply want to get from A to B, transportation options (and especially automobiles) have to meet a variety of consumer demands: They must be clean, affordable, safe, and increasingly intelligent. Here is an overview of the choices and challenges for carmakers and consumers over the next 10 to 15 years.
Imagine being able to sit back during your morning commute while your car does the driving. Would you move closer to the country Take up the oboe Finally read War and Peace And just imagine the freedom it would bring to those who are disabled. Take, for instance, the legally blind man who earlier in 2012 took a spin in Google's selfdriving car to go to Taco Bell and then pick up his dry cleaning. Following Nevada's recent legalization of driverless cars on the road, Florida has passed a bill allowing tests of selfdriving cars. And legislation has also been introduced to make selfdriving cars street legal in California.
Selfdriving cars may take some getting used to, but we are only at the dawn of a new age in automotive automation.
Ever since the 1939 World's Fair, the idea of autonomous vehicles has captured the public's imagination. Today, intelligent, green vehicles are driving the future of transportation. The looming energy and environmental MegaCrisis has carmakers scrambling to raise fuel economy and develop commercially viable vehicles that limit pollutants.
Enabling technologies such as ad vanced IT systems, artificial intelligence, and speech recognition are giving rise to smart cars that drive themselves and to highway "road trains" or platoons. However, some skepticism remains for the latter, as the rapid installation of intelligent systems in vehicles currently outpaces the level of R&D for platoons.
Drawing on TechCast's work, this article explains how hybrids, electrics, fuel-cell cars, and intelligent vehicles are likely to enter mainstream use. (See the table "Summary of TechCast Results on Intelligent and Green Vehicles.") Hybrids: The All-Purpose Car An industrializing world population, a warming planet, and depleting supplies of fossil fuels are causing rising prices at the pump. Consumers are increasingly looking to save on fuel costs.
Under the leadership of Japanese carmakers, the first mass-produced alternative to the internal combustion engine has been so successful that it seems likely to revolutionize car design. A few different types of hybrids exist, all powered by some combination of electric motor, a small gasoline engine operating at high speeds for efficiency, and a battery at lower speeds, providing fuel economy gains and pollution reduction. And hybrids keep improving. Toyota's third-generation Prius is comparable to a gas-powered Camry in size, price, and performance, and it has a high-tech style that buyers love.
Some manufacturers are also experimenting with solar power. Fisker Automotive has added rooftop solar panels to its Fisker Karma to augment the battery. With enough sunny days, the manufacturer says, the solar glass roof can harness enough energy to extend driving range up to an additional 200 miles annually.
Equipped with high-capacity batteries, hybrids can recharge at night with energy from the grid, costing the equivalent of $1 per gallon. In addition to reducing costs, hybrids could provide storage for intermittent energy like wind; the hybrid car fleet could serve as a source of backup power to the grid.
Although the consumer could get more miles per gallon from their hybrid, the expense of buying one currently means slower adoption. Hybrids still generally cost more than comparable cars in the United States, and they're a hard sell in China, where a 2012 Toyota Camry HEV starts at about $50,000.
Hybrids, though, remain formidable competitors to all-electrics. If present indications hold and cost improvements continue, TechCast estimates 30% adoption of hybrids by 2016 (plus or minus three years), which would easily translate into a global market in the trillions.
Plugging In to Electrics The Obama administration set a goal of having 1 million electric cars hy( including hybrids) on the road by 2015. And China, driven by the need to conserve energy and avoid pollution, plans to have 5 million vehicles powered only by electric motors (allelectrics) on the road by 2020.
All-electric vehicles (EVs) have existed almost as long as gas-engine vehicles, offering advantages of "refueling" with relatively cheap electricity, quieter ride, and simpler mechanisms. They emit no pollutants, require no fossil fuels, and the electricity to power them can be generated from clean sources such as wind and solar in years to come. They can be recharged from 110 or 220 volt outlets at nominal cost and do not require oil changes, tune-ups or emissions inspections. The shiftto electric-powered cars is expected to cause sales of gasoline and diesel powered cars to begin to decline about 2020.
EVs remain limited by range on a single battery charge and time required for recharge. However, significant advances in batteries and capacitors and the emergence of home and public charging and exchange stations are making EVs more practical. Some plug-in hybrids, like the GM Volt, are designed for all-electric drive with on-board charging. Improvements in technology will show up directly as models with increased range for all-battery or all-ultracapacitor mode appear in the market. Auto manufacturers are offering broader selections, and prices are nearly competitive with gas-powered vehicles (after government subsidies).
Ford, GM, Chrysler, and top German carmakers have adopted a new standard connecting system enabling EVs to be fast-charged in as little as 15 minutes. The DC Fast Charging with a Combined Charging System, or "combo connector," is slated for use throughout Europe beginning in 2017. The European Commission seeks to implement a single plug system for recharging and infrastructure. Several Japanese firms, as well, are developing charging standards. Pike Research projects 13,000 U.S. charging stations by the end of 2012, compared with 160,000 gas stations. However, to make electrics comparable to gas-powered and hybrid vehicles, outdoor electrical outlets will be needed at homes, as well as public stations that charge batteries and swap them.
Battery packs cost from $12,000 to $15,000, so EVs are not yet competitive without government subsidy. And while the Mitsubishi i-MiEV retails for around $31,000 in the United States before the $7,500 tax credit, or a net $23,500, a fairly well-equipped Mitsubishi gas-powered vehicle retails for under $20,000. Additional costs for EVs come from the chargers and installation. Moreover, U.S. federal tax credits for the purchase of home and commercial chargers have, for now, expired.
Will costs decrease to the point of affordability It depends. Scarcity of raw materials like lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt used in batteries may prevent costs from declining and may even increase costs.
All-electrics also face tough competition from improved gas-powered vehicles, hybrids, and fuel-cell cars. A 2010 ZPryme Research survey of 1,046 U.S. residents revealed that a majority were either "only somewhat likely" or "very unlikely" to buy an electric car within the next five years. TechCast estimates that electrics will lag in adoption behind hybrids, entering mainstream in the 2020s.
Fuel-Cell Cars: The Final Solution Governments and the auto industry are pouring billions of dollars into hydrogen vehicle research and development. Gas engines in conventional cars are less than 20% efficient, while hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles use 40%-60% of the fuel's energy. Automotive fuel cells are still in the research stage, as no version has durability anywhere near the 5,000 hours required for vehicle use.
Fuel-cell vehicles are considered long-range alternatives to electric cars, and they are also similar to hybrids. They use electric motors to drive wheels, batteries to store energy, regenerative braking to conserve it, and may in time use lighter composite bodies.
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded millions of dollars to innovative hydrogen storage technology projects across the United States to advance adoption of fuelcell vehicles. The U.S. National Research Council states that lowercost fuel-cell cars are likely to be available by 2015, and 2 million hydrogen-powered cars could be operating across the nation in 2020 and 25 million by 2030.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles that used to cost a shocking $1 million to build just a few years ago have dropped to $100,000. Now, more than 100 companies are developing fuel-cell cars, with significant gains in driving range, power density, cost, durability, and weight. Several major automakers, including Toyota, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz, plan to launch limited sales of hydrogenpowered cars in 2015.
But gasoline refineries, gas stations, distribution systems, and the entire infrastructure of auto fuel will have to change. There are a few experimental hydrogen fuel stations in Southern California, where Honda plans to lease about 200 FCX Clarity FCEV vehicles over the next few years.
Methods for extracting hydrogen, too, are still not yet clearly defined nor commercially feasible. Also, some scientists warn that hydrogen from fuel cells could leak into the atmosphere and disrupt the ozone layer. TechCast estimates that fuel-cell cars will enter the commercial market by 2015, eventually creating global demand that may reach several trillion dollars.
Competing Alternatives U.S. consumers and manufacturers are reviving interest in modern diesel cars, which can achieve substantially greater fuel economy than gasoline-powered vehicles, meet strict environmental standards, are competitively priced, and have also taken 50% of Europe's auto market.
Gasoline and diesel engines are becoming more efficient with fuel injection, variable valve timing, and cylinder cutout under part load. EcoMotors company is building a gas engine that's 50% more fuel-efficient at lower cost. Nissan has developed the supercharged, gasoline-powered, three-cylinder Micra, which gets a combined 68.9 miles per gallon. And the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco gets 39 mpg on the highway, compared with 48 mpg for the 2012 Toyota Prius and 44 mpg for the 2012 Honda Insight. Gas and diesel vehicles are being made out of stronger, lighter materials, and they can be powered with liquid biofuels, which wouldn't require significant fueling infrastructure changes.
An innovative engine developed at the University of Michigan uses a wave disk generator that causes "shock waves" to ignite compressed fuel and air, using no pistons, rods, crankshaft, valves, spark plugs, or cooling systems. It's expected to run at 60% efficiency, compared with the typical gas-powered vehicle that runs about 15%. It should also take about 1,000 pounds offof the average car's total weight, improving fuel efficiency and decreasing emissions 90%.
India's Tata Motors aims to produce and sell zero-pollution cars that run on compressed air. And Volvo, Ford, Land Rover, and Jaguar are experimenting with flywheel-powered cars, which store kinetic energy in a spinning wheel to power hybrid electric vehicles, which could reduce fuel consumption by 20% at a third of the price of a standard battery.
Vehicles as Information Technologies Rapid advances in information technology and the urgent need to improve highway safety, relieve congestion, and raise fuel economy are spurring development of intelligent systems throughout the automotive fleet much the same way that nextgeneration airport systems replace tower control with satellite, plane-toplane, and plane-to-infrastructure control.
Intelligent vehicles guide drivers through traffic, navigate to a destination, automate driving, guard against accidents, and perform other intelligent functions in concert with other vehicles or the highway infrastructure. Intelligent cars also reduce wasted fuel, lost work hours, accidents, and other drawbacks of congested roads. The U.S. Department of Transportation projects that the 2.9 trillion U.S. highway vehicle miles traveled in 2005 will increase by 60% to 4.7 trillion in 2030. Computer models indicate that automation would double or even triple highway capacity.
Successful DARPA-funded tests and other experiments are providing a foundation for commercial introduction of fully autonomous cars. A European Research Council project led four driverless vans on a 13,000-kilometer (8,077-mile) journey from Italy to China with only minimal human intervention. Google's self-driving cars traveled more than 200,000 miles (322,000 kilometers) as of late 2011. Volvo is testing a "road train" system in which cars electronically follow a lead car. And Japan has introduced an Intelligent Transport System that enables unmanned pickup and return of cars.
Challenges to smart-vehicle adoption remain, along with doubts about whether they can travel on highways at close intervals without a governing infrastructure. Problems include controlling entry onto onramps and off-ramps, ensuring that vehicles have compatible intelligent systems, setting speed limits, managing accidents, controlling intersections, and optimizing other system functions. In addition, the mix between cars with many gradations of intelligence and those with little or none could cause an important road safety issue for years to come.
Automakers are now steadily integrating and evaluating safety features, such as intelligent brakes and lane following, that will be part of the eventual autonomous vehicle. This trend allows time for truly autonomous systems to evolve naturally and to match the particular needs of different world markets.
The U.S. Department of Transportation launched a one-year pilot study in 2012 with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute in Ann Arbor. Nearly 3,000 test vehicles will be equipped with wireless vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology, which can send signals to another vehicle within a 1,000-mile radius as a dashboard warning to alert drivers of impending danger.
Governments will need to change laws and regulations to make selfdriving vehicles "street legal." Liability for accidents remains an issue, not to mention security. As vehicles become increasingly able to transmit data over the Internet, car manufacturers may face the same kinds of privacy concerns that credit card companies do. Intelligent-vehicle systems also make cars vulnerable to terrorist and criminal hacking.
As these challenges are met, TechCast estimates that intelligent vehicles could enter the mainstream about 2015 or shortly thereafter.
The Global MegaCrisis: An Opportunity in Disguise Recent years have marked some of the hottest temperatures on record, and if greenhouse gases keep rising, a 10°F rise is possible in the next few decades. Greenhouse gases must be reduced by 60% from 1980 levels in order to avoid severe climate change. Not only is this daunting, but it is also costly, leading global leaders, power-producing plants, and auto manufacturers to seek ways to cut carbon-dioxide levels in emissions in order to adapt.
This constitutes a Global MegaCrisis: Multiple threats of worldwide industrialization, energy shortages, climate change, environmental collapse, and other unknown global disruptions could reach critical levels about 2020 (see "The Global MegaCrisis: Four Scenarios, Two Perspectives" by William E. Halal and Michael Marien, THE FUTURIST, May-June 2011).
Technology is creating an electronically unified world that is largely industrialized but faces unprecedented challenges in energy, climate change, the environment, and more. World GDP should double by 2020 and almost quadruple by 2030, producing commensurate increases in the above threats.
Crisis Yes. But automobile manufacturers, seeing an opportunity in disguise, have started a gold rush in the development of clean-energy vehicles. As green practices move into the mainstream over the next five or more years, the decade of the 2010s should prove critical to address global warming, which would also help in the transition to alternative energy by about 2020.
Sustainable practices promise to become one of the most crucial sectors of the economy, while a new form of global order is needed to avert disaster-one that includes pollution control. In Earth in the Balance, Al Gore noted that pollution control was a $500 billion market in 2000 and is expected to reach $10 trillion in 2020-larger than auto, health care, and defense. A rising interest in saving the planet is cutting across global leadership, big business, and consumers who are seeking ways to save at the pump while reducing their future ecological footprint.
The Road Ahead So what might the next few decades bring What will a typical driver experience as advanced vehicles alter life into the future Here's a quick two-stage scenario describing the life of Sue Smith, an average car owner making her way through the year 2020 and then 2025.
2020-Hybrids Rule Hi, I'm Sue Smith, systems analyst at a big telecom firm in Denver. Married with two kids; my husband's name is Brad. We own a Prius and love it, although I really pine for a good all-electric instead of hassling with gas, now at $10.50 a gallon and climbing. With Congress's new carbon taxes due to kick in soon, electric is the way to go, especially now that solar and other alternatives are picking up the slack from oil.
They say that gas could reach $20 a gallon by 2025 if climate change gets worse. But we can only afford one car, so we need the range of a hybrid.
Most of our neighbors own hybrids now for the same reason, although I must admit that Detroit has improved their traditional cars (internal combustion engines) to the point where there isn't a great difference in fuel costs. I know Brad loves the thrill of hearing a big V8 roaring down the highway with mufflers blazing. Too bad for Brad, because I'm against using more oil.
I'm tempted by the new hydrogen fuelcell car that GM just brought out to follow up on the old Volt. With a 300-mile range, and with the hydrogen coming from solar systems that split water, the new "Cell" is really green. Nice to have options.
2025-Smart Electrics and Everything Else Brad and I decided to trade in the Prius for the new version of the old GM Volt-"Volt II." Ultracapacitors hold enough power for a 200-mile trip, and carbon-reinforced bodies only weigh half as much.
I love the new Exxon charging stations that have sprung up everywhere, especially with no more gas smells and waiting for the tank to fill. Hit the recharge switch, and zap-the car is ready for another 200 miles.
My friend's Volt short-circuited out about half of his ultracapacitor, so it could hold less than 100 miles of power. We had to hopscotch across the country on our trip to the coast, stopping every 50-60 miles to recharge. But with the roof-top solar panels we are buying, that car can charge itself while sitting in the driveway most days.
I'm still sweating the self-driving features of smart cars today. Good to be released from the hard work of long drives, and the system does reduce congestion by handling traffic flow well. The big surprise was seeing how self-driving solved the problem with texting, cell-phone use, and other distractions. Now that the car drives itself, it's easy to use the time for other things.
But I hate the way the highway system groups us into caravans roaring along three feet apart at the speed limit. And I don't like the tone of the Virtual Highway Assistant, who sometimes seems to sass me.
What really scares me is the thought of giving up control of the car, even though I know it's really intelligent and safer than relying on other people. I was terrified to see TV shots of that accident in the mountains when the "smart" highway drove a convoy of 46 cars offa cliff, killing 126 people-almost like an airline crash. The courts will be struggling for years figuring out who is liable in this mess.
No, thanks. I'll just continue using manual mode. It's slower and risky in other ways, but I like being in control.
Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt (standing behind car), CEO Larry Page (in driver's seat), and co-founder Sergey Brin pose with the company's experimental self-driving car in 2011. As cars become smarter, they promise to reduce accidents, traffic, and wasted fuel.
Google Car awaits a driverless test drive in Las Vegas, May 2012.
What the driverless car "sees." Hands-free cruise down the famed Strip in Las Vegas. Self-navigating cars like Google's are poised to make a difference in the lives of transportation planners, carmakers, and commuters alike.
Concept electric vehicle gets a public inspection at the New Energy Auto Expo in Hangzhou, China, in August 2012. The Chinese government is pushing manufacturers to produce 2 million energy-saving vehicles a year by 2020, in an effort to lower fuel consumption and reduce pollution.
About TechCast TechCast LLC is one of the world's leading futures research firms that derives longitudinal forecasts from the ongoing input of a large cadre of consulting experts. This "collective intelligence" online Delphi approach is what enables the project to produce authoritative forecasts that are qualified by percentage probabilities. They include market penetration estimates that make the forecasts uniquely valuable to leaders in business, government, and other institutions.
TechCast grew from former Apollo mission aerospace engineer William E. Halal's work in tracking emerging technology trends as a professor of management at George Washington University. The aim of TechCast is to provide unbiased forecasts about technological developments of great potential significance to humanity. The data is presented to audiences in the form of simple tables and user-friendly bubble charts, ensuring accessibility to all.
The forecasts themselves may be "attitude neutral"-commanding neither an optimistic nor a pessimistic view of the future-but Halal remains hopeful about the future. He has cited the Technology Revolution that TechCast tracks as evidence that humanity is developing toward a new Age of Global Awareness, thanks to Technologies of Consciousness enhancing our awareness, emotions, values, beliefs, and states of mind. Among the articles published in THE FUTURIST that have drawn from TechCast's work are: "Major Transformations to 2100: Highlights from the TechCast Project" by Laura B. Huhn and William E. Halal, September-October 2012, pp. 34-36.
"Global MegaCrisis: Four Scenarios, Two Perspectives" by William E. Halal and Michael Marien, May-June 2011, pp. 26-33.
"Emerging Technologies and the Global Crisis of Maturity" by William E. Halal, March-April 2009, pp. 39-46.
"Technology's Promise: Highlights from the TechCast Project" by William E. Halal, November-December 2006, pp. 41-50.
For more information, visit TechCast, www.techcast.org; William E. Halal, www.billhalal.com.
About the Authors Laura B. Huhn provides relevant insights on emerging technologies and social trends to help guide business strategy and marketing communications planning. She has served as TechCast's field editor for Energy and Environment and currently reports on emerging tech issues and challenges.
Kenneth W. Harris is chairman of the Consilience Group LLC and is editor of Transportation and Managing Editor of TechCast. He also serves as a board member and secretary of the World Future Society.
Dexter Snyder is a business consultant with Fulcrum Edge and TechCast E-Commerce Editor, with expertise in advanced automotive, communications, and energy technologies.
(c) 2013 World Future Society
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How Bentley Is Saving Water
Last fall Bentley planted 100 native British trees around its site in Crewe. Now it is getting additional sources of water for them and other uses at its facilities.
#BentleyMotors #Bosch #Continental
In 2019 Bentley Motors delivered—globally—11,006 vehicles, a 5% increase over 2018 sales and the seventh consecutive year above 10,000. (Notably, this is the fourth time in Bentley’s history that it has exceeded 11,000 units—and the company is 100 years old.)
While it might seem that Bentley, refined as it is, would be all about champagne, the company has announced it is implementing a system that will recycle—water.
Lots of water.
Dirty water in, clean water out. (Images: Bentley Motors)
According to Peter Bosch, Member of the Board for Manufacturing at Bentley, “Our projections show that we can expect to capture over 350,000 liters of water in 2020, all of which can now be used to maintain our site. For example, we wash over 16 miles of internal routes every day to ensure that our factory is in immaculate condition – and look after our plants and grounds carefully.”
How It Is Done
The company has installed a reverse osmosis water treatment system for its Pyms Lane paint shop.
There are a series of high-pressure pumps that separate contaminants out of the water used in the painting operation—which is good but insufficient: for every three liters of water going in, only one liter can be used back in paint.
Some water is clean enough for reuse in paint. Some is used to wash the floors.
Even More Water
So Bentley has installed an additional recycling system in the facility that captures the two liters that are not purified to the degree required for the high-quality paint surface that is expected on a Bentayga or Continental GT.
According to Peter Bosch, they’re going to be going after even more water: “Our next focus point will be to capture even larger volumes through rainwater harvesting.”
What This Means
If you have any doubt that global OEMs are now paying keen attention to environmental issues, when a company that makes a comparative handful of cars is now looking at collecting rainwater, it seems there is more than a shift in that direction.
It’s the fifth generation of a vehicle that has been increasing in sales year after year since its introduction in 1997.
Once the playground of exotic car makers, the definition of a niche vehicle has expanded to include image vehicles for mainstream OEMs, and specialist models produced on high-volume platforms.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against General Motors Co. over claimed flaws in the company’s 8-speed automatic transmission used in 2015-2019 model rear-drive vehicles.


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The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has upheld an import ban on Arista Networks ethernet switches which it thinks infringe Cisco’s patents.
The decision follows a complaint from Cisco filed in December 2014 about the switches, which are used in computer data centres and servers.
In a blog post on the company’s website on Monday, Cisco general counsel Mark Chandler said the import ban was to start on Tuesday. The ITC said Arista infringed three Cisco patents relating to managing and securing communications networks. The ruling excludes the import of Arista’s network devices, including its 7000 series of switches, which generates most of that company’s product revenue. It also prevents the sale of domestic supplies of the imported products.
Arista’s general counsel, Marc Taxay, said the company has redesigned the software in its switches and believes it is in “full compliance” with the ITC’s orders.
“Our primary focus remains the continued supply of non-infringing products to our customers,” he said.
Arista also said it would appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Arista has not received approval from the ITC for the redesigned products.


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Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost
0.1 percent to 2,901.04 at the close, erasing gains of as much as 0.7 percent. About the same number of shares rose and fell in the 30-member gauge.
The following were among the most active shares in the market. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.
Broadway Industrial Group Ltd. (BWAY SP), a supplier of packaging materials to Apple Inc. and maker of hard disk drive components, rallied 9 percent to 36.5 Singapore cents. DBS Group Holdings Ltd. raised its rating to “buy” from “hold,” saying earnings will recover this year.
Frasers Commercial Trust (FCOT SP), the owner of office buildings in Australia, Japan and Singapore, advanced 1.3 percent to 77.5 Singapore cents. The company said first-quarter distributable income to shareholders increased 22 percent from a year earlier to S$9.6 million ($7.7 million).
Leader Environmental Technologies Ltd. (LET SP), a supplier of equipment used in treating industrial waste, dropped 5.4 percent to 12.3 Singapore cents after saying fourth-quarter profit will be “significantly lower” because of delays in the release of government funds for projects in China.
Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. (NOL SP), Southeast Asia’s biggest container carrier, climbed 6.2 percent to S$1.45, extending gains for a third day, after U.S. economic data spurred optimism about world trade. Morgan Stanley reiterated its “overweight” rating, citing improving cargo rates.
Noble Group Ltd. (NOBL SP), a Hong Kong-based commodity supplier, rose 1.1 percent to S$1.37. Nomura Holdings Inc. maintained its “buy” rating, saying earnings will recover this year amid rising demand for energy and agricultural commodities.
See Hup Seng Ltd. (SHS SP), a Singapore-based shipbuilder, surged 9.8 percent to 28 Singapore cents. The company said a unit won a five-year contract to supply drums to an asphalt manufacturer.


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Published on : Thursday, April 18, 2019
In the first three months of 2019, Jordan tourism earned U.S. dollars 1.3 billion registering a 5.2 per cent rise as compared to 2018 for the same period as revealed by the monthly statistical report of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Wednesday.
The number of foreign tourists, overnight visitors and group-based tourists increased by 33.3 per cent, 36 per cent and 19.7 per cent respectively in the first three months of 2019.
Jordan tourism is growing steadily. In 2018, tourism revenue surpassed the U.S. dollars 5 billion mark, which was an 8 per cent increase from the 2017 numbers of U.S. dollars 4.6 billion.
In 2018 , about 50,449 Brits visited Jordan – an increase of 21 per cent as compared to the same period in 2017.
Jordan’s MICE industry has come of age as per Mr. Rami Qutishat, the state Regional Director.
It has a treasure of meeting space in all the premium hotels, and the opening of the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center in 2006 on the shore of the Dead Sea has added more depth to MICE sector.
Thus, Jordan tourism is firing on all cylinders, to maintain the acceleration of growth. It is improving its airline network as well.


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You are here
Published on 18 October 2017
Interview: The French government recently suggested it would ask landlords to lower their rent by five euros in order to compensate a decrease in government funding for low-income housing. Michel Albouy, a professor of finance at Grenoble Ecole de...
Published on 20 October 2017
The digital revolution is here. Brands must grow to be more than just a name, a logo and a style guide. Is your brand ready to go digital?
Published on 12 October 2017
The number of certifications for businesses continues to grow year after year. While ISO standards have become commonplace for many companies in Europe, few companies question whether such an investment provides a good return on investment.
Published on 13 October 2017
The doctorate seems to have difficulty evolving in Europe. In their new article Valerie Sabatier, Mark Smith and Michel Albouy analyze the avenues of innovation.
Published on 28 September 2017
Policy-makers, researchers and entrepreneurs generally agree that R...
Published on 22 September 2017
Benjamin Powers, 2017 DBA graduate researched the Relationship among Personal-Level Variables, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy, and Entrepreneurial Intention: The Case of Male and Female Adolescents with Dyslexia, for his Doctoral thesis.


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- Far Cry 4 season pass to include five packs of missions and modes
- Bungie’s Destiny breaks sales records during launch month
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection goes goooold, plus pre-load info
- Chivalry: Medieval Warfare gets four new screenshots for 360, PS3
- Guilty Gear Xrd –Sign– shipping Dec. 16, gets DLC launch bonus
Fancy A Date?
Developer- and Publisher-specific Articles: Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War
Sega has confirmed THQ’s recent announcement that they have purchased all shares of THQ Canada Inc., better known as Relic Entertainment Studios, for $26.6 million. In addition to the team, Sega has also purchased some of THQ’s IPs, including, as verified by Eurogamer, Company of Heroes. The press release also noted the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series, but it didn’t specify whether its license was actually part of the sale. This latest purchase by Sega means that Relic will soon be under the same umbrella as another strategy-centric PC developer, Total War creators The Creative Assembly.


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Infiniti's Porsche Panamera Rivaling Flagship Rendered
Finally, Nissan has realized it can't ignore Infiniti. According to an AutoCar report, billions will be invested into a revised lineup, as well as a bunch of brand new models, spearheaded by a flagship 4-door sedan.
This range-topping Infiniti is believed to wear the Q100, just like the Red Bull F1 car. It will rival Porsche's Panamera, probably the most profitable car of its kind.
Theophilus Chin has rendered this new Infiniti model, based on reports that it will be similar to the 2009 Infiniti Essence.
Without knowing if the Japanese automaker will develop relevant technology, would you buy the Q100 just based on looks? Suddenly, the Panamera is starting to look good to us.


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This is good news for existing Infor customers because it takes the public market pressures off of Infor and puts them onto Koch, which is a $100+ billion company.
So now Infor has the freedom to continue to innovate on new products as well as existing applications. They will be able to cut costs and force legacy customers to migrate to their new platform — hopefully.
Infor has made real strides over the last several years to develop industry-specific solutions, and this should help them to continue in that direction.
There is a real strategy for legacy product customers to move to cloud-based solutions that are becoming more proven day by day. Hopefully the acquisition company continues to invest in the cloud platforms, especially given what has happened with COVID-19 and the need to make applications more accessible.


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Usability experts Foviance have produced an exclusive report for Travolution examining the email newsletters at two of the UK’s biggest online travel agencies.
The report examines areas such as the purchasing process, web 2.0 functionality, use of images, third party advertising, and layout.
Mark Gristock, marketing director for Foviance and author of the study, has criticised both companies for a number of areas including how the bulletins link to existing parts of their sites.
He said: “As companies look to become more sophisticated in their online marketing, they often forget the fundamentals.
“One particularly important point to bear in mind is that links should look like links.
“As people scan through pages, bold, underlined text draws the eye particularly well. Both Expedia and lastminute.com fail to do this, forcing the user to do the work to identify what is and isn’t a link.”
The study was carried out following a major study of ecommerce newsletters was produced by Foviance last month.
Download the full report, Effective Email Marketing


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Zimbabwe has announced a ban on unprocessed granite exports through the Statutory Instrument 127 which bans all new contracts.
In June last year, the government gave granite miners 6-months to submit plans to process locally.
According to trade data most Zimbabwean granite is sold to Italy, China, Belgium, and Spain.
There are several mining companies in Mutoko, Mashonaland East, Mt Darwin district in Mashonaland Central province.
Granite contributes about 1.6% of Zimbabwe’s total exports according to official data from Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe.
In 2020, Zimbabwe exported $47.4M in Granite.
The main destinations of Zimbabwe exports on Granite were Mozambique ($18.1M), Italy ($15.3M), China ($5.25M), Poland ($2.7M), and Spain ($2.16M).
In 2020, Zimbabwe imported $37.7k in Granite, mainly from South Africa ($27k) and Hong Kong ($10.8k).


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Catholics and online dating
“I think one of the biggest problems or dangers is that of treating another human being as something you can ‘shop for’ based on a list of traits and qualities,” West said.
We haven’t yet reached the dignity of the person.” Online personal ads “commoditize” people, violating Pope John Paul II’s personalistic norm “that a human being may never be used as a means to an end,” said Dawn Eden, author of .
Using Online Tools Properly Catholic Match discourages members from having a shopping mentality.
“We remind our members that this is Catholic Match, not Netflix, and newest members are not like newest releases.
“Online dating offered them access and advantages that were unavailable through conventional dating,” Barcaro said. In a new book, critic has linked online dating to the “end of courtship” and the sexually casual hook-up culture of the millennial generation.
Similar issues could arise on Catholic dating sites, said Christopher West, a Catholic author and speaker on John Paul II’s theology of the body.


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When Huawei unveiled the MediaPad M3 earlier last month, there was no word on whether or not the device will land in the United States. Well, the good news is that the company has now confirmed that the tablet will indeed be launched in the country.
The confirmation came in the form a reply to a user query on Twitter.
@RanMan954 Hi, yes, the MediaPad M3 will be released in the US. @HuaweiDeviceUSA will have more information. Thank you.
Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) September 29, 2016
Sadly, an exact launch time-frame as well as pricing information for the tablet isn’t currently available, but we’ll keep you updated as and when we hear more on the matter.


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Massachusetts-based battery startup, Lionano Inc., has recently raised $22 million in a Series B funding round led by private equity firms, Helios Capital Ventures, Wave Equity Partners LLC, and NXT Ventures. Sources suggest that the funding will enable Lionano expand its production capacity of high-performance cathodes for lithium-ion batteries used for fueling EVs and various consumer electronics.
According to Bloomberg, Alex Yu, Co-founder and CEO, Lionano Inc., said that the amount raised will be used to expand Lionano’s annual production capacity to about 1,200 tons in early 2018, enough to fuel at least 13,000 Tesla Inc. owned EVs. Moreover, the firm expects additional funding rounds to increase its production yield to approximately 10,000 tons by the end of 2019, Yu said.
For the record, The Woburn, Massachusetts-based company was founded in 2013 and its innovative battery technology has recently been scientifically validated to increase the energy density of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries efficiently. Through extensive R&D, Lionano has invented a proprietary cathode material nano-engineered to create batteries with greater storage capacity and higher cycle life, enabling production of lightweight, low-cost consumer electronics, and long range offering electric vehicles.
As per Siyu Huang, COO and Co-founder, Lionano Inc., the company is pleased with the strong investor enthusiasm for its battery technology at the recent Series B round. The funding will enable Lionano to scale up production capacity of cathode materials, further meeting the growing global demands for high-performance, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, said Huang.
Reliable reports suggest that the global lithium-ion battery market has been speculated to grow at an unprecedented rate with worldwide battery manufacturing capacity set to more than double by 2021. The growth is driven by increasing demand for batteries used in EVs and mobile devices which are rapidly growing markets that are expected to reach approximately $75 billion by 2020.


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A Skechers flagship has opened in Shanghai Disney Resort called the Skechers Kids Brand Experience.
Located at the busiest sector of Disneytown shopping district where more than 11 million people visit annually, Skechers Kids Brand Experience store offers a selection of kids’ sneakers and parent-child clothing.
“This amazing location is front and centre in the middle of the action at Disneytown and offers a unique opportunity to expose a wide range of consumers to our Skechers Kids product,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers.
“Our footwear and apparel collections for boys and girls are filled with innovation and fun styles that continue to resonate within China and around the globe.
“This unique Skechers Kids store illustrates how we adapt to a location so that we can connect with consumers in new and exciting ways to elevate the shopping experience”.
Inspired by the fairytale ambience of Disney resort, the Skechers flagship features a kid-friendly environment where families can enjoy their shopping experience.
Skechers has more than 1000 retail outlets across China and more than 3300 around the globe, including flagship locations like New York’s Times Square, Covent Garden in London, and Harajuku in Tokyo.


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A new vehicle could soon be coming to Shreveport.
General Motors is considering a plan to invest about $70 million into its plant in Shreveport to produce the new vehicle.
The biggest hurdle right now is eliminating the Caddo Parish sales and use taxes for purchases of manufacturing equipment.
GM wants this done by January 1st of 2007.
The Caddo Parish Commission approved the measure in November of 2006, but the Caddo Parish School Board is set to hear a presentation on the request.


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Include pecans in our diet could help protect us from heart attacks.
A Tufts University study shows pecans can improve our insulin sensitivity. Scientists believe that healthier fats found in pecans account for the difference. Pecans also contain a number of bio-active plant compounds as well as vitamins and essential minerals that contribute to their benefits as well.
But the researchers were quick to note that this study has only been done on a small scale so more test are needed and the huge amounts of sugar in a pecan pie cancels out their natural benefits. So NO PECAN PIE.


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After the surprise Brexit vote in June, many financial experts and business leaders warned of tough times ahead for British businesses. As costs for imports rose and the pound fell sharply, many businesses worried about how to deal with the coming months and years as we negotiated our exit from the European Union.
Businesses surviving, but real Brexit affect yet to take shape
However, a recent survey from insolvency trade body R3 has found that three out of four businesses have not yet felt any financial impact as a result of the vote. For many businesses, it is quite literally business as usual as there has been no changes, positively and negatively, on their finances.
R3 found that 16% of the businesses surveyed stated that the vote has had a negative impact on their business finances. Whereas five percent said the referendum outcome had been a positive for their financial outlook.
President of R3, Andrew Tate, spoke about the survey’s findings; “The immediate shock of the referendum result was much briefer than expected, and many businesses – and importantly, consumers – have adopted a business as usual approach since then. That said, Brexit will be causing genuine problems for a significant minority of companies, and it will be benefitting others.”
While those importing goods for sale or raw materials to use in production may be struggling slightly, as they are paying a higher rate due to a fall in the pound, those exporting are revelling in the improved market for their business. As the pound fell, goods may have become cheaper but that means demand for our exports has risen.
Mr Tate mentioned that some important deals may be put on hold due to the uncertainty of future relations between the UK and the EU. However, many businesses are likely to carry on trading with businesses in the EU after Brexit and just make the situation work for them.
Another point to highlight from R3’s survey findings relates to the size of the business as it is mainly large companies, employing 251 people or more, who have seen a negative financial impact on their businesses.
Small businesses were the ones that were thought to be the most likely to take a significant hit as a result of the decision to leave Europe and the single market. However, the opposite seems to be the case and it is larger businesses that may need to think about starting to prepare themselves for Brexit if they haven’t already.
This new research shows plenty of positive news for businesses in the UK despite a difficult six months; however it remains to be seen whether the triggering of Article 50 and our separating from the EU will have a significant effect, negative or otherwise, on businesses and their finances.


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Every time your business accepts a credit card transaction, you pay a processing fee.
But did you know, business-to-business transactions incur a higher fee than business-to-consumer transactions.
This is due to a number of factors, including risk and the average transaction size associated with business credit cards.
Recently, Visa and Mastercard made some changes to the interchange fees associated with business credit cards.
Not only will these make many B2B transactions even more expensive, they also hinge on the cardholder’s spending patterns.
The more your client spends on their business credit card, the higher their cardholder rewards will be. And that means more fees for you, the merchant.
The increase in B2B interchange fees is just one of many recent industry shifts.
The payments industry is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult to stay on top of new developments and updates.
Find more breaking news from the experts at Verisave here:
Verisave is a third-party cost-reduction firm specializing in merchant accounts and credit card processing fees.
Verisave is not a payment processor, and is not affiliated with any processors, card brands, or banks.
Verisave has more than 20 years of experience optimizing and monitoring the credit card processing industry.


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Alabama’s automakers are eyeing growth on many fronts in 2022, with plans for new models, additional employees and advanced technology that will help usher in the next era of vehicle manufacturing in the state.
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing will continue to ramp up its auto assembly operations in Huntsville, following a year that saw the debut of its first Alabama-built vehicle, the Toyota Corolla Cross, in September.
Next up is the Mazda CX-50, which is set to start production this month.
“This is truly a unique moment in history for Mazda – the CX-50 was designed specifically for a North American driver and is being produced in North Alabama,” said Jessica Luther, a company spokeswoman. “MTM is thrilled to share these milestones with our parent companies, as well as our stakeholders and supporters in the North Alabama community.”
In addition to increasing production of the Mazda and Toyota SUVs, MTM plans to begin its second shift this year and continue expanding its workforce, Luther said. So far, the company has hired 2,800 employees, with an additional 1,200 left to hire in 2022.
MTM expects to produce up to 300,000 vehicles annually.
Elsewhere in Alabama’s auto industry, another big milestone is expected in mid-March. That’s when Mercedes-Benz U.S. International plans the grand opening of its battery pack assembly plant in Bibb County.
Mercedes, which pioneered the modern auto industry in the state, is launching its long-planned electric vehicle technology and will begin producing electric SUVs at its Tuscaloosa County factory this year.
The planned start for EV production is mid-year, said company spokeswoman Felyicia Jerald.
“We’ve already been running trials for our batteries in Bibb County, and we have trials going on now for our EVs,” she said.
The Bibb County facility is a second campus for MBUSI, which has produced more than 3.6 million luxury models in Vance over the past 25 years. The current lineup includes the GLS and GLE SUVs, the GLE Coupé and the Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUV.
Mercedes also has been in the midst of a new hiring wave, adding several hundred employees across its state operations to meet growing demand and prepare for the upcoming projects.
This year is also historic for Toyota’s engine manufacturing plant in Huntsville, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its groundbreaking. Last year, the facility produced 606,890 engines and plans are in place for additional output.
“We just launched our new twin-turbo V-6 line in October, which will give us the capacity to build 900,000 engines per year,” said Bekah Schmidt, a company spokeswoman.
The event followed a $280 million expansion project at the Huntsville plant. The new hybrid electric-powered twin-turbo V-6 engine and gas-powered twin-turbo V-6 engine will power the redesigned 2022 Toyota Tundra pickup.
Honda’s Alabama Auto Plant in Talladega County closed out 2021 in a big way, launching mass production of the refreshed 2022 Honda Passport SUV, which is hitting dealer lots this winter.
The Lincoln factory also has begun building the first Honda TrailSport models, including the Passport TrailSport and the Pilot TrailSport.
The badge highlights off-road capability, versatility and durability engineered in Honda light trucks, with models that feature a unique grille, 18-inch black alloy wheels and tires with a rugged sidewall.
In November, Honda celebrated its 20th year of building vehicles in Alabama, a global hub of light truck production for the automaker.
Workers have produced more than 5 million vehicles and V-6 engines, and the current lineup includes the Odyssey minivan and Ridgeline pickup, along with the Passport and Pilot SUVs.
In Montgomery, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama also just wrapped up a busy 2021, with the completion of a $410 million expansion and the addition of two new models to its assembly line.
Hyundai also marked a production milestone in completing the 5 millionth vehicle produced at the Montgomery plant.
The new models, the Tucson SUV and the Santa Cruz crossover, are the fourth and fifth models, respectively, in the plant’s lineup, joining the Sonata and Elantra sedans and the Santa Fe SUV.
Because of all that activity, no major projects are planned for 2022, said Robert Burns, HMMA’s vice president of human resources and administration.
“We will focus on improving our production processes to support the five different vehicles we are producing on our single assembly line,” he said.
The work will include replacing old robots or other aged equipment on weekend or during the plant’s annual summer shutdown.
And since Hyundai is entering its 17th year of production in Alabama, Burns also anticipates hiring new employees to replace those who will retire this year.
(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)
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Nintendo of America has announced that the Pokémon Bank application is now available in North America for use with Pokémon X and Pokémon Y from the Nintendo eShop. According to a report by Polygon from Feb. 5, the Pokémon Bank app can be downloaded from the eShop for no charge and comes with a 30-day free trial.
The Pokémon Bank application is a service that allows users to store and maintain up to 3,000 Pokémon from recently released to previous Pokémon games. When used in conjunction with the Poké Transporter application, players can move Pokémon from previous generations to Pokémon X and Pokémon Y for use in the game.
Those who download the Pokémon Bank will also receive Celebi as a free gift to use in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y.
Pokémon Bank was originally scheduled to release in North America on Dec. 27, but was delayed indefinitely due to a service disruption on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShops caused by the merger of Nintendo Network ID accounts and the holiday shopping season.
With the Pokémon Bank now released in North America, the service is available in all major regions worldwide having launched in Europe and Australia earlier in the week.
Pokémon fans can download the Pokémon Bank app from the Nintendo eShop for no charge and test the service using a free 30-day trial. Once the trial ends, users must pay an annual fee of $4.99 to use the Pokémon Bank service.


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Belkin Power Pack 6000 review
Belkin offers a good first step towards 802.11ac Wi-Fi, but its USB and DLNA features need work
Belkin Conserve Insight review: A simple device for measuring the electricity consumption of electronic devices and appliances
This Belkin wireless ADSL2+ modem-router would be absolutely awesome -- except it's very unreliable
Belkin Play Max 802.11n wireless router: Wi-Fi with apps
Owners of WeMo home automation devices should upgrade them to the latest firmware version, which was released this week to fix a critical vulnerability that could allow hackers to fully compromise them.
In yet another testament of the awful state of home router security, a group of security researchers uncovered more than 60 vulnerabilities in 22 router models from different vendors, most of which were distributed by ISPs to customers.
Cybercriminals have developed a Web-based attack tool to hijack routers on a large scale when users visit compromised websites or view malicious advertisements in their browsers.
Linksys unveils a storage companion for its WRT-series routers, and a passel of other devices at CES 2015
Belkin's Linksys division took the wraps off a host of new networking gear at CES on Sunday, including two new Wi-Fi routers, a new NAS box, two new range extenders, antenna upgrades for its existing routers, and--at long last--an open-source Wi-Fi d...
Belkin today announced that it has released more devices for its Wemo home automation system. New Smart LED Bulbs have been added that allow you to replace your existing veiling and lamp lights with new, smartphone-controllable bulbs.
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Global consulting firm Bain & Company officially launched its first physical office in the Philippines as they believe that the country could offer huge opportunities for companies despite global economic challenges.
In a press conference, Bain & Company Philippines Partner and Office Head Patricia Buenaventura Nichol said the country “maintains strong economic fundamentals and remains an attractive market for companies to establish and expand their operations…”
She added that the Philippines has “strong underlying fundamentals” including its rising economy — the third largest in Southeast Asia —, and its largest English-speaking workforce.
Before setting up a physical office in the country, Bain & Company was serving Philippine-based firms from different industries through its Singapore and Hong Kong offices for the past 25 years.
Bain & Company Philippines Chairman Jean-Pierre Felenbok said, “There are stages of development of markets, and I see compared to 30 years ago, the market is actually much more open, ready, and matured in terms of the type of consulting services we can provide… which come with the certain level of development of the markets.”
Bain & Company Managing Director Wade Cruse added the firm’s Philippine operation is a big part of its growth in the Southeast Asian region in the next five years.


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At the end of today’s tally in the Amazon Union elections in Bessemer, Alabama, the “no” vote is ahead by 993 to 875. This is a positive result so far for Amazon, which has managed to completely thwart worker organizing in its fulfillment centers throughout its 27-year history. However, the margin is significantly smaller than last year’s election results, when the retail, wholesale and department store successfully forced a recount, citing multiple concerns about Amazon’s practices.
Tonight’s results aren’t as cut and dry either. In addition to 59 voided ballots, 416 are currently listed as “disputed”. Because that number could turn the tie for the “yes” vote, a hearing will be held to decide whether to include the ballots in the final count. The nature of the challenges is currently unclear. Each party may have objected to inclusion for a variety of reasons.
RWDSU noted in a statement offered to TechCrunch:
Every vote must be counted. Amazon workers endured an unnecessarily long and aggressive struggle to unionize their workplace, with Amazon doing everything in its power to spread misinformation and deception. We will hold Amazon accountable and object to their behavior. The tenacity and courage of these workers have never wavered in this unnecessarily long process. Workers will have to wait a little longer to ensure their voices are heard and our union will be with them every step of the way to ensure their voices are heard before the law. What we do know is that this moment is historic and workers in Bessemer, Alabama inspired workers across the country and around the world to fight for change in their workplaces, including other organizations at Amazon across the country. This struggle is the spark of the 21st century labor movement, and we know it will forever change the way Americans view unions in this country. This union election continues to show that the best way for workers to protect themselves and their families is to form a union.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set, but is expected to take place in the next few weeks.
As with the original election last year, today’s results were closely watched by both Amazon and the union. Amazon has fought fiercely against union organizing efforts, fearing that a RWDSU foothold could mark the beginning of a cascading effect. After early union victories, Starbucks have pushed union campaigns across the country. It’s a sign that views on labor rights are changing, especially among employees considered essential workers during the pandemic.
The count for Bessemer’s nearly two-month absentee ballot coincides with the results of another campaign at Staten Island, New York’s JFK8 fulfillment center. There, the “Yes” vote with 1,518 leads to 1,154. The count is closed for the night and is scheduled to resume tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Similar to the Alabama election, JFK8’s union efforts met significant opposition from Amazon. In February, Christian Smalls, a former staffer-turned-organizer, was among three arrested for trespassing. Smalls denied the allegations, telling the media they were only on hand to deliver lunch to the workers.
Earlier today, CNBC reported that Amazon has hired Global Strategy Group, a firm with close ties to the Democratic Party, to help combat labor organizing efforts.


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BlackBerry has launched into another major market
BlackBerry has continued its recent resurgence with a first-ever deal in the self-driving car market.
The legendary smartphone manufacturer has signed a deal with Ford that will see the American car maker use BlackBerry's QNX software in the development of its automated vehicles.
The two companies will now work together to create and roll out the next generation of self-driving cars within the next few years.
BlackBerry has previously worked with Ford on its in-car entertainment
John Chen, BlackBerry executive chairman and CEO, said, “The future of the automobile is all about embedded intelligence. I believe our expertise in secure embedded software makes us the preferred technology provider to put the smart in the car."
“Ford is an industry leader and the opportunity to contribute our world-class technology to their products is a privilege."
Ford said earlier this year that it was aiming to have a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles on public roads within the next five years.
BlackBerry's QNX software is in around 60 million vehicles worldwide
BlackBerry already works with Ford, as QNX powers the company's in-car entertainment system, but today's deal will see the companies work even closer.
This will see a team of BlackBerry engineers work full time at Ford to help create the next generation of smart cars.
QNX software also powers the 3D navigation systems seen in many modern cars, with BlackBerry saying that it is now present in over 60 million vehicles worldwide.
Blackberry hangs up the phone to focus on selling software and services
BlackBerry has been refocusing its efforts away from smartphones in recent months.
The company has struggled to keep pace with major rivals such as Apple and Samsung in recent years.
Its overall share of the smartphone market has shrunk to a fraction of what it was in its heyday during the last decade, as it now switches its focus towards software and security products such as QNX.
The company released its last-ever smartphone, the DTEK60, last week, as it will now outsource the production of its smartphones to third parties.


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A federal court ruling now permanently bars the Estrella Family Creamery from making and selling cheese outside the state, according to court filings in U.S. District Court.
Judge Benjamin H. Settle granted the government its request for a summary judgment in its case against the Montesano creamery, resulting in a permanent injunction against interstate commerce unless the company takes extensive steps to avoid Listeria monocytogenes. Its cheese was seized in 2010 because testing by the Food & Drug Administration and the state Department of Agriculture showed the presence of the pathogen in various products and facilities.
Estrella recalled a variety of cheeses in February and March 2010 following the test results, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. However, Estrella refused the FDA’s request that it recall all cheese following the August 2010 tests which revealed the persistent presence of L. mono in the production space and aging rooms.
Pursuant to a warrant issued by Settle, the U.S. Marshal’s Service seized all of Estrella’s cheese products on Oct. 21, 2010.
Last week, Settle also ruled that the Estrellas would pay for the cost of seizing the contaminated cheese. He issued a condemnation order against the creamery because after the cheese was seized, the family fed the products to pigs on their farm. Costs to be paid have not yet been determined.
The judge also granted the government “unfettered access” to the Estrellas’ farm to ensure they’re complying with the injunction. The ruling grants greater access than generally allowed by law.
In order to resume interstate commerce, the creamery would need to take steps avoid contamination, including retaining an independent lab and sanitation expert at their own cost to examine their products and facilities. They would also have to implement various employee training programs and food handling policies. If the Estrellas sell or lease their business or dissolve, they must notify the FDA.


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Britney Spears, who has added a new puppy to her pets, spent $3,000 on a Yorkie puppy. The singer bought the puppy on July 13.
According to a report, the singer and her bodyguard bought the dog at Pets of Bel Air in the Glen Center in Bel Air.
A fellow shopper revealed, “She picked up the dog and loved it right away, she was incredibly nice and very pleasant.”
The “Toxic” singer gave her credit card to the cashier and headed out with her new dog in hand after spending less than a half-hour in the store, according to a report.
The recently bought pet dog was reportedly named “London”.
Britney Spears has bought a $19.99 parakeet at Petco last month.


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Company Overview of Beats Electronics LLC
Beats Electronics LLC manufactures and markets consumer headphones, earphones, and speakers. The company offers wireless, noise canceling, on ear, and over ear headphones; wireless earphones; and accessories, including audio cables. It also provides service and warranty support through Apple retail stores or Apple authorized service providers. The company offers its products through authorized retailers. It serves music lovers worldwide. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. As of July 31, 2014, Beats Electronics LLC operates as a subsidiary of Apple Inc.
1601 Cloverfield Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Founded in 2008
Key Executives for Beats Electronics LLC
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation as of Fiscal Year 2016.
Beats Electronics LLC Key Developments
New Premium Wireless, Bluetooth Earphones from Beats by Dr. Dre
Sep 7 16
Beats by Dr. Dre announced a host of exceptional new wireless products, expanding the brand’s premium portfolio to include a new line of wireless earphones called BeatsX along with the next generation of two current best-sellers with the introduction of Powerbeats3 Wireless earphones and Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones. As a collection, these new products include the Apple W1 chip, Class 1 Bluetooth, Fast Fuel charge and the premium sound fans around the world have come to expect from Beats products. Beats was co-founded by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine and is part of Apple.
Beats Electronics Wins in Case Alleging Double Dealing Before Apple Sale
Aug 30 16
A judge has dismissed the key claims in a lawsuit alleging that Beats Electronics duped one of its early partners before negotiating its $3 billion sale to Apple two years ago. The summary judgment issued late August 29, 2016, by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Fahey resolves the heart of a case that accused Beats co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine of double-crossing former partner Noel Lee, founder of video and audio cable maker Monster LLC. The allegations, made in a lawsuit filed last year, had been scheduled to go to trial next week. Now the trial will be limited to Beats' effort to force Monster to pay its attorney fees and other costs. Lee once held a 5% stake in Beats as part of a partnership between the headphone maker and Monster that ended in 2012. The lawsuit alleged Dre, a former rap singer whose real name is Andre Young, and Iovine, a former record producer, orchestrated a "sham" deal with smartphone maker HTC in 2011 that led to the termination of the Monster alliance. The lawsuit had alleged Beats' misrepresentations had caused Lee to sell his remaining 1.25% stake for $5.5 million in 2013. That would have been worth more than $30 million had he owned it at the time of Beat's sale to Apple Inc. Lee's original stake would have landed him roughly $150 million.
Beach Road Music LLC Files Class Action against Apple, Inc., Beats Electronics LLC, Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC, Sony Entertainment Network International LLC, Rdio Inc., and Escape Media Group, Inc. on Behalf of Uncompensated Owners of Pre-1972 Recordings
Feb 17 15
Hausfeld announced that lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Beach Road Music LLC in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Apple, Inc., Beats Electronics LLC, Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC, Sony Entertainment Network International LLC, Rdio Inc., and Escape Media Group, Inc. and its two owners (who operate Grooveshark) on behalf of owners of musical performances that were recorded prior to February 15, 1972. The lawsuits seek to recover royalties and licensing fees from the defendants, who are profiting by operating services that stream pre-1972 recordings without obtaining a license or permission from the recordings' owners. The respective complaints allege that: the plaintiff and proposed class members are legal owners of a library of pre-1972 recordings; the various defendants have been streaming to their consumers in the states of California, Florida, and New York pre-1972 recordings belonging to the plaintiff and proposed class members; the various defendants have not obtained permission from the plaintiff and class members to stream their pre-1972 recordings; the various defendants have not paid royalties or licensing fees to the plaintiff and proposed class members for the use of their pre-1972 recordings; the various defendants have been profiting from the unauthorized use of such recordings; and as a result of the forgoing, the various defendants have violated plaintiff's and proposed class members' exclusive ownership rights in their pre-1972 recordings.
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