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Enterprise device management startup ManageXR raises $4m seed round to scale XR for business
ManageXR, an enterprise device management platform designed for VR and AR devices, announced it raised $4 million in Series Seed financing from Rally Ventures, with venture partner and previous lead angel investor Jay Borenstein joining the company's Board of Directors.
According to estimates from PwC, nearly 23 million jobs worldwide will be using AR and VR by 2030. As more enterprises turn to extended reality (XR) to train employees, more doctors use XR to treat patients, and more schools use XR to teach students, they face significant hurdles expanding their operations from early-stage pilots to organization-wide solutions. ManageXR serves as the core infrastructure for organizations looking to scale their XR deployments, enabling them to remotely control every aspect of their XR device fleet, including distributing apps and files, customizing the home screen user experience, tracking device health and usage, and more.
Luke Wilson, Founder and CEO, ManageXR: "Device management solutions have been around for years but, until recently, there hasn't been a viable option for VR and AR devices. We're solving that problem for businesses at an inflection point in the industry. Between the recent investments in the space from the largest tech giants and businesses now using VR and AR for everything from employee training to patient care to sales enablement, extended reality in the enterprise is at the cusp of mass adoption and we're thrilled to have Rally Ventures join us for the ride."
This financing will be used to support ManageXR's expanding team and go-to-market strategy, as the company has experienced rapid growth since becoming available to beta users in late 2019 and officially launching in April 2021. In that time, ManageXR has facilitated more than 200,000 sessions-to-date across thousands of VR and AR devices used by small, midsize, and enterprise companies, including XRHealth and Brink's. The company also recently partnered with Pico Interactive, a leading enterprise VR and AR hardware manufacturer, to preload ManageXR on all Pico devices in the U.S. and continues to look for ways to expand its partner network of hardware and software companies around the world.
Lobaki, a company that helps schools across the country implement innovative educational programs with VR, uses ManageXR to grow and scale its business.
Amber Coeur, CEO, Lobaki: "The ability to remotely fix a malfunctioning app enabled us to sustain a 200-device deployment at a school over 1,200 miles away. With ManageXR, we can take on larger projects with confidence."
Jay Borenstein, Venture Partner, Rally Ventures: "XR is set to fundamentally change how we conduct business, collaborate, and experience the world in our professional and personal lives, but as adoption increases, so do the challenges that businesses face in successfully implementing their programs. I am very excited to support Luke and his growing team as they accelerate how corporations can manage and benefit from XR devices at scale and ultimately bring enterprise-wide XR to the mainstream."


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Under Armour to buy MapMyFitness for $150M in first acquisition
Under Armour Inc. will buy fitness technology company MapMyFitness Inc. for $150 million, marking the Baltimore sportswear maker’s first acquisition in its 17-year history.
Austin, Texas-based MapMyFitness has more than 20 million registered users who map, record and share their workouts through mobile apps and websites, such as MapMyRun and MapMyRide.
The acquisition comes as Under Armour (NYSE: UA) is looking to bolster its own fitness tracking technology, including the Armour39 device. It also better positions Under Armour alongside competitor brand Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE), which boasts its own digital fitness tracking system called Nike+.
“This partnership is about Under Armour enhancing our digital expertise to drive the future of performance innovation for the global athlete community,” Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said in a statement. “Innovation has always been at the core of our company, and now we are better positioned to design open, digital products for the athlete of tomorrow and become more proactive in providing solutions that will help people across the world lead healthier lifestyles.”
The deal is expected to close by the end of 2013. Under Armour will finance the acquisition with borrowings from its existing credit line, cash on hand or a combination of the two while the company evaluates longer-term funding options.
As a subsidiary of Under Armour, MapMyFitness will continue to operate out of its headquarters in Austin.
Sarah covers hospitality/tourism, minority business, marketing and new media
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IoT cellular connectivity outlook has never been brighter, says report
The firm expects expects IoT cellular connections to grow to more than 2.4 billion in 2025, with the top three vertical markets (automotive, utilities and security) when combined accounting for over 46% of global IoT cellular connections in 2025. Across the forecast period, the automotive vertical market will not only remain the single largest global consumer of IoT cellular connections, but increase its market share position by 2025.
Andrew Brown, Executive Director of Enterprise and IoT Research at Strategy Analytics, said, “With the industry focusing on the path to 5G and low-power 3GPP offerings, such as LTE Cat M1 and NB IoT, coupled with a variety of established connectivity platforms, there are lots of choices for cellular connectivity in IoT and the outlook has never been brighter. However, the bewildering array of choices also runs the risk of creating confusion for customers with regard to which technologies should be employed in which use cases.”
Matt Wilkins, Senior Analyst IoT Research at Strategy Analytics added, “The growth in cellular connections underlines the importance of cellular networks in IoT, with networks not just being used to facilitate simple connections, but increasingly supporting rich data that will enable new and compelling use cases.”
“Asia Pacific will remain the single largest region across the forecast period, accounting for almost 1 billion connections in 2025; with the top three regions (Asia Pacific, North America, and Western Europe) together accounting for over 75% of global cellular IoT connections in 2025.”
3GPP IoT standards to dominate cellular IoT radio, says report
NB-IoT push will drive cellular M2M module shipments, says report
IoT connected devices to surpass mobile phones by 2018, says report


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The firm has hired Blue Rubicon to lead a corporate PR campaign, encompassing media training, media relations and high-end strategic advice.
Blue Rubicon won the brief after a hotly contested pitch process, which was narrowed down from a long-list of nine agencies to a shortlist of four.
The appointment follows that of Joe Public Relations last November after a two-week pitch for the consumer PR business (PRWeek, 14 November 2002).
Hutchison did not invite incumbent Firefly to repitch. The firm put Firefly on notice last September following a failed boardroom coup at the agency, which saw four senior directors leave (PRWeek, 6 September 2002).
Blue Rubicon managing director Fraser Hardie heads a five-strong account team, reporting to Hutchison's recently appointed director of external relations, Matt Peacock.
Peacock joined the group last September, from his previous job as chief communications officer at AOL UK.
He said: 'It's a fascinating consumer challenge because we're going to be influencing and persuading key opinion-formers about what amounts to a new medium, and doing so in the midst of one of the most sceptical business environments in the history of telecoms.'
'It's one of the most significant consumer launches of the year,' said Hardie.
Hutchison's brand '3' - backed by Hutchison Whampoa, NTT Do Co Mo and KPN Mobile - is set to be the first major entrant in the UK mobile market for several years.
Mobiles launching this year will act as phones, organisers and games consoles and will deliver a variety of news and entertainment services.
Hardie said target audiences include the financial and technology media and analysts, alongside 'a wide range of opinion-formers'.


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Larger shops will have to move alcohol out of sight in the coming years. Retail chains say compliance with the regulation requires them to build opaque partitions that requires short-term investments stretching into millions.
Hiding alcohol to cost millions
The obligation to move alcohol out of sight comes from Minister of Health Care and Labor Jevgeni Ossinovski's alcohol act amendment that was approved by the government last week and is on its way to the Riigikogu. The draft legislation allows stores with a floor area of 450 square meters to sell alcohol only if it cannot be seen from the rest of the sales area. This should reduce the visibility of alcohol in the public sphere and give minors and alcohol addicts the chance to purchase other goods without coming into contact with alcohol.
“There seems to be no other option. Putting up curtains or screens of some sort would hardly be a foolproof solution,” said public relations chief at Maxima Katja Ljubobratets.
Maxima will soon have 75 shops in Estonia the floor area of all of which exceeds 450 square meters. Ljubobratets said that in order to hide alcoholic beverages from view, every store needs a custom solution that would not inconvenience clients, create more work for the staff, or raise questions in the eyes of watchdogs.
“Current calculations suggest installing partition walls would cost at least €3 million. This sum does not include running costs associated with installation and additional equipment,” she said.
Ljubobratets said the sum is colossal seeing as the company's entire investments budget for 2017 is €10 million.
Because the law is set to enter into force next year, stores will have very little time. “Installation of partitions in shops where it is simple will take up to a year. It might take up to 18 months in stores with a more complex layout,” Ljubobratets added.
The obligation of building partitions is also worrying other retail chains. Head of communication at Rimi, Katrin Bats, said that solutions that will be adopted to hide alcohol from view must be pleasing to the eye. “I believe no interior decorator would recommend we opt for curtains,” she said.
Rimi is considering installing partitions that resemble the plastic glass walls of self-checkout units but are opaque.
Rimi has 89 stores all over Estonia only three of which would not be covered by the obligation. While the investment for the partitions would cost in the vicinity of half a million euros, Rimi doesn't know whether the manufacturer of the plastic walls can fill an order of that size in a short time. In addition to partitions, additional investments into security cameras, alarm systems, ventilation, sprinkler systems, and changing evacuation plans would be needed.
The obligation to build walls to hide alcohol concerns more than one hundred stores of Coop Eesti. “The cost is several million euros,” CEO Jaanus Vihand said. “Irrespective of the cost, we still do not understand why something like that is needed in the first place. We have no effects analysis on what the wall would achieve.”
Because the obligation to erect walls only concerns 25 percent of shops in Estonia, whereas smaller shops do not have to change anything, we have a situation where national alcohol policy is discriminating against larger shops, board member of Selver Kristi Lomp found.
“Clients will see alcoholic beverages in most stores, just not in large ones. This renders the measure virtually pointless and distorts competition between shops of different sizes as investments stretching into millions must inevitably reflect in price advance that will not hit smaller competitors,” she said.


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Mar. 1, 2015 05:0021
The musical Live Spectacle Naruto, based on Masashi Kishimoto’s incredibly popular original work, will be opening on Mar. 21, 2015. It will be showing in four different locations nationally and three different locations overseas.
Feb. 27, 2015 21:000
The central mecha AV-98 Ingram from The Next Generation: Patlabor made an appearance at Tokyo Marathon 2015, held on Feb. 22.
Feb. 27, 2015 05:0010
To promote the release of the new game Dragon Quest Heroes: Yamiryuu to Sekaiju no Shiro, for a 1-week period between Feb. 23 and March 1, a poster with the theme “Battle to Defeat the 100,000 Slimes in Shinjuku” was unveiled within Shinjuku Station of the Tokyo metro.
Feb. 26, 2015 05:000
Serialized in webcomic magazine ComicWalker, Aoharu Tetsudo, a manga that turns train lines into humans, will be adapted into a musical.
Feb. 24, 2015 08:416
March 9 is a day of thanks for Hatsune Miku!
Feb. 24, 2015 08:180
The second special event for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders will be held on Oct. 24, 2015.
Feb. 20, 2015 13:003
Dragon Ball Z: Fukkatsu no F will be released in Japan on April 18. The film is a completely new story in the nationally popular anime series Dragon Ball. There are likely many fans who can’t wait for the spring release.
Feb. 14, 2015 21:003
The schedule for Babymetal World Tour 2015, the second world tour for the band following last year’s, has been released.


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Van’s Kitchen has established June 10 as the first-ever National Egg Roll Day in honor of the company’s founding in June of 1986 and will donate 90,000 egg rolls (equivalent to 45,000 servings) to a local branch of the Midwest Food Bank.
Van’s Kitchen, the flagship brand of VAN Oriental Food, is a certified Women Owned and minority-owned egg roll company that supplies to thousands of stores nationwide. Van’s Kitchen is a small business whose team is dedicated to creating authentic, delicious products with uncompromising quality.
Throughout the years, Van’s Kitchen has partnered with various food banks to give back and feed the community. Rooted in passion and purpose, Van’s Kitchen has always been committed to their community from providing the best value to their customers to offering excellent benefits for their employees.
“We are thrilled to establish this National Day in honor of our founders, my parents, Van and Kim Nguyen,” said Theresa Motter, CEO of Van’s Kitchen. “My parents’ passion for sharing authentic egg rolls has transformed into a legacy that truly captures the American Dream. We hope that people across the country will celebrate this day with delicious egg rolls.”
Van Nguyen came to the U.S. from Vietnam in the mid 1960s when the U.S. State Department brought him to Washington D.C. as a teacher. Two years later, he was joined by his wife Kim and daughter Theresa. Van and Kim’s work ethic, as well as determination and love for egg rolls, led them through the many challenges of adjusting to a new culture while starting a business.
“Van’s Kitchen’s success is attributed greatly to the strong foundation built by two young Vietnamese immigrants with a goal,” said Carl Motter, CSO of Van’s Kitchen. “National Egg Roll Day is a great way to celebrate our heritage and dedication to creating a product we love.”


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Recognizing the recent response of arborists to the new purpose-built 718 tree care handler, Sennebogen has appointed Darren Sudduth as the firm's first tree care industry manager.
Constantino Lannes, president of Sennebogen LLC, announced the new position in early December to signal the company's commitment to growing the tree care sector. Described as a "game changer" by industry professionals, the Sennebogen 718 is a 21 ton rubber-tired machine featuring a hydraulically elevating cab and equipped with a grapple saw attachment on a 43 ft. (13 m) telescoping stick. Customers have reported up to 10-fold increases in production while significantly improving jobsite safety.
Sudduth comes to Sennebogen with more than 15 years' experience in business development for equipment OEMs and engineered hydraulic products. Since arriving at Sennebogen's headquarters and training center in Stanley, N.C., Sudduth has attended "boot camp" with other application specialists on the Sennebogen sales team. He has also begun touring the customer sites in the northeastern states.
"Most of our machine population is in that area," Sudduth said. "They are in service with customers ranging from municipalities to owner-operator arborists who have taken on the full range of tree care applications."
Focus on Technology and Support
While users are impressed with the productivity and safety of the 718, Sudduth said he was attracted by Sennebogen's technology focus and its commitment to product support.
"The level of service that this company offers to end-users is head & shoulders above others I've had experience with," he said. "Right from the start, I liked the feel of the company. It's a family-owned business, and it maintains a family atmosphere right through the sales and field support group."
Lannes said that Sudduth has ambitious goals for the coming year. His sales target for 2019 is to double last year's deliveries. Plans also are on the boards to launch an upsized version of the 718 later this year.
"The industry is ready for this machine. It really moves the needle in terms of what an operator can produce in a day. Whether you're removing trees, thinning a woodlot, clearing a right-of-way or cleaning up storm debris, this has become the new industry standard in terms of productivity and safety. It takes no set-up or rigging time, but it can grip, cut, stack, and load wood while it keeps the arborist out of harm's way. That also helps to solve the problems that customers have with recruiting enough qualified crew."
Sudduth plans to become a visible participant at upcoming trade shows and conferences.
"My job for now is to get to know all the key players in tree care industry; from owner-operated businesses to larger regional businesses as well as our dealers serving the tree care market."
For more information on the full line of Sennebogen green line material handlers, visit www.sennebogen-na.com.
Today's top stories


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Nicki Minaj is all set to become the star of her own mobile video game. It looks like the singer is following in the footsteps of Kim Kardashian, who already has "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" game in her name that made over $40 million in 2014.
Minaj has really gone places — she's not only created waves with her music by selling multiple gold records, but has also been a judge on "American Idol", and endorsed brands like Pepsi and MAC cosmetics.
And now, the singer has signed a deal with Glu Mobile Inc. for a mobile video game app that will be launched in 2016. Various reports have suggested that Minaj will take a cue from Britney Spears and Katy Perry, who have also signed gaming deals recently.
Though there are not many details about what this game is going to be, Twinfinite reports that it will feature Minaj's likeness and voice. Apparently, the singer will also lend her creative perspective to the game.
The website's report also had a statement by Glu's CEO Niccolo de Masi, who confirmed the partnership.
"I am thrilled to welcome the undisputed queen of hip-hop, Nicki Minaj, to Glu's growing list of celebrity partners. Nicki brings to Glu her audience of over 100 million social followers and a new music category. We look forward to combining Nicki's distinctive style and massive global appeal with Glu's celebrity social gaming expertise," he said.
The report also pointed out that Glu has plans to develop mobile games with Jason Statham, Katy Perry, Kylie and Kendall Jenner and Britney Spears as well.
Now, will Nicki Minaj's video game be as successful as Kim Kardashian's "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood"? Only time will tell.


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On the market for an iPhone? Here's a breakdown of all the currently shipping iPhones from Apple.
Alleged iPhone 6 Batteries Photographed in Production Tray
As the report notes, however, the positioning of the iPhone 6's battery appears to be modified as a metallic section present on current batteries appears to be now integrated along the side. This would indicate a potentially new form factor for the iPhone 6.
A report last month indicated that Apple would begin producing all iPhone batteries on automated production lines starting later this year, allowing the company to shift its supply chain resources towards production efforts on other parts. If real, this new image would indicate that Apple has stepped up its battery production efforts ahead of the iPhone 6's launch.
The leak follows a number of others in recent weeks, including an image from earlier this morning that allegedly depicted the front panel of the iPhone 6 as well as several photos that showed manufacturing molds hinting at a larger-screen iPhone.
Apple's next-generation iPhone is expected to be unveiled this fall and has been rumored to launch in sizes of 4.7 and 5.5 inches. Various reports have noted that the 4.7 inch version will ship first, while the 5.5 inch version will ship sometime afterward due to production challenges.
Both models of the next-generation iPhone are also rumored to include a new A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and an enhanced camera with optical image stabilization. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek also noted yesterday that Apple is negotiating with wireless carriers to increase the price of the iPhone 6 by $100.


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The global retail giant is requiring all their home products suppliers to utilize RFID technology for tagging and tracking items no later than September 2022.
Walmart has announced that effective September 2, 2022, they will be mandating the utilization of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for many of their suppliers within various departments including: home products, hardware, automotive, entertainment, and toys.
The retail giant’s deployment of UHF RFID technology began in 2020 with the implementation of RFID tagging for tracking their goods through the inventory cycle. The organization opted for the usage of a passive UHF RFID labeling solution, meaning that the RFID labels are assigned to each item, creating a uniquely tracked identity which is easily captured via handheld or fixed RFID readers.
As each of these RFID tagged items are received, displayed, and purchased, Walmart has full visibility, capturing real-time data that serves as the key to maintaining sufficient stock levels, timely inventory replenishment, and efficient operations. Given the tremendous success that Walmart has experienced in earlier phases of RFID adoption, they’re now taking the technology expansion initiative a step further with this new supplier-oriented mandate.
“We have seen dramatic results in our ability to ensure product is available for our customers, leading to improved online order fulfillment and customer satisfaction.”
– Shelly McDougal, Walmart’s Sr. Director of Merchandising, told RFID Journal in January of 2022.1
While many of their suppliers already have RFID systems in place and are familiar with the technology, Walmart will be hosting training sessions to ensure companies comprehend and are in full compliance with the mandate’s technical criteria.
Looking to the future, discussion of additional mandates is already a possibility. McDougal adds, “We look forward to expanding the [RFID] technology into more categories to further improve inventory accuracy across the business, provide a better in-store shopping experience for customers and drive more online and pick-up-in-store capabilities.”
The Mandate’s Anticipated Effects on the Retail Industry
As one of the world’s largest retailers, Walmart’s influence may prompt widespread adoption of RFID technology within the industry. Sandeep Unni, Senior Director Analyst within Gartner’s retail industry research practice states, “A mandate coming from them could just be the tipping point for other retailers to further adoption.”
Expert analysts are in agreement that the impact Walmart’s mandate will have on the retail industry will be significant and, given the current climate of the supply chain, is a timely solution for widespread industry challenges. According to research conducted at the Auburn University RFID Lab, RFID is proven to increase visibility and stock-keeping-unit (SKU) accuracy up to 99 percent for brick-and-mortar retailers. Research also indicates that RFID provides up to an 80 percent improvement in shipping and picking accuracy as well as improving receiving time by 90 percent.
Now is a better time than ever to deploy RFID. For example, the cost of an RFID solution has drastically reduced as the technology becomes more widely adopted. A report from McKinsey & Co. reveals that the cost of UHF RFID tags has decreased by up to 80 percent over the past two decades, bringing the price down to about 3 to 5 cents per tag (if purchased in large volumes). In addition to cost-effectiveness, the technology itself has undergone continuous improvement in read sensitivity and accuracy over the years. Companies are still learning how to cope and adapt to the unprecedented supply chain issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the fact that RFID has been shown to deliver better than 97 percent inventory accuracy, it is undoubtedly a well-timed decision for organizations looking for a reliable and justifiable return on investment.
Regardless of whether or not retail suppliers are being directly impacted by this new Walmart mandate, this innovative initiative serves as an important signal that it is time for the supply chain to explore or reexamine RFID technology as the backbone for efficient and accurate retail operations.
Are you a Supplier Impacted by Walmart’s Tag Mandate?
If you’re affected by Walmart’s mandate or interested to learn how RFID can benefit your business operations, contact RMS Omega’s RFID solutions team. Our RFID Pros can help you select the appropriate tags or inlays, and offer supply chain availability to ensure your business meet Walmart’s deadline. RMS Omega has premier level partnerships with the industry’s leading RFID hardware, software, tag, and inlay manufacturers. Contact us today!


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Last year was a very good year for many venture capital companies in our region.
“Lots of really exciting stuff is beginning to bubble to the surface,” says Terri Glueck at Innovation Works. Last year alone, Innovation Works
invested in 17 new companies, more than any other year since the first year, making it one of the most active seed companies in the U.S.
“The good news about Pittsburgh is that all the years of effort in this region and early technology successes have really created much more fertile ground for growing new companies,” she adds. “While starting a tech companies is still a risky business, entrepreneurs have a lot of support and funding services in the region, people who understand the challenges of tech start ups and can help to point them in the right direction.”
That said, here’s the Pop City list of the Top Exciting Companies to Watch in 2008 compiled through an informal survey of the prevailing
wisdom of local venture capital experts. Akustica
, South Side, is one of two leading digital microphone companies in the world. So far Akustica has delivered two-thirds of its award-winning, pencil-point sized high definition microphone chips to popular portable PC makers where the tiny mics are solving the problem of low to no quality audio. By the end of 2008, Akustica
hopes to have its chips embedded in cell phones too as handhelds get ever smaller. While the company did not raise money in 2007, it’s rapidly growing and currently employs 50.
, based in Sewickley, is the maker of smart grid technology for utility companies. BPLG raised $26 M last year from Morgan Stanley, Novitas Capital (formerly PA Early Stage), and other strategic investors is one of the largest VC deals in the region. Most of its business comes from sales of smart grid solutions helping utlity companies to deliver electricity more reliably and efficiently at a lower cost.
This past month, BPLG announced its acquisition of Serveron
of Portland, Oregon, which will allow it to expand its smart grid presence from the customer’s premises back through the substation. The company employs 75 in 8 offices around the world. Knopp Neurosciences
, South Side, is building the drug discovery and development industry in Western Pennsylvania through its innovative treatments for neurological disorders. Current research focuses on a promising new drug for the treatment of ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Knopp received $12 M last year and initial trials are going well. The company currently employs 14 and plans to hire 4 more in 2008. Landslide
, located in Findley Township, is a pioneer in sales automation software having developed the industry's first software product that addresses the individual workstyle needs of salespeople. Landslide’s
system helps companies to achieve revenue objectives and salespeople to close deals faster. Founded in 2004 by Razi Imam and Anupam Singh, Landslide currently employs 35 in the U.S. and plans to hire 30 more in the coming year. Plextronics
, based in Harmar Township, remains a local favorite, the world leader in developing active layer technology for printed electronic devices. Plextronics turned a big corner this year when it announced a $20.6 M round of funding through lead investor Solvay North America Investment of Brussels, Belgium. The company raised $41 M in equity capital over the last five years and continues to grow, currently at 50 employees with the hope of doubling its size in the next year. Plextronics is mapping the future of the print industry with its organic photovoltaic cells that may be used in everything from cell phone chargers to windows that generate solar power. Medrad
in Warrendale, makers of medical devices used in diagnostic imaging, just opened its second major plant in a year, a $45 M, 120,000 sf manufacturing facility in Clinton Township. Medrad is the largest source of high tech manufacturing jobs in our region, bringing another 450 to 500 jobs in the coming year.Meakem Becker Venture Capital
“Stealth Company.” Okay, we don’t know the name or much about this except that, according to Glen Meakem, MBVC funded a series A round for the company. The company has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, it’s a consumer web company with “very, very exciting growth prospects,” it has ties to CMU
and it deserves mention on the list. No one in Pittsburgh knows about it or has written about it yet, says Glen. Until now, sort of.Redpack Logistics
, South Side, has taken a brilliantly innovative approach to the service pick up and delivery industry. Started in 2005, Redpack has created a nationwide network where field technicians can
pick up and drop off needed parts and pieces, servicing everyone from IT and office equipment technicians, home appliance repair and installations and telecommunications technicians. Their wide selection almost guarantees that Redpack has what a company needs closer to the technician than the technician's company warehouse. Redpack received $1 M last year from private investors and a $300,000 round from Innovation Works. They currently employ 11 and are hiring.
in Cranberry Township has paved the way for the future of the sciences industry in the region as one of the region’s most successful medical device companies. A provider of products and services to treat chronic and acute renal failure, RS was acquired by Fresenius Medical Care of Germany in November for $200 million, earning its spot in the Pittsburgh Life Science Greenhouse’s
future Hall of Fame as one of the first companies funded by the a local incubator and the first to exit successfully. Renal will remain in our region as will its 40-50 employees.Respironics
in Murraysville is another highly successful medical company and the maker of sleep disorder treatment products. Late last year Respironics was sold to Philips Electronics NV, Netherlands, for $5.2 B but Respironics plans to keep its headquarters here. The company broke ground on a $32 M, 165,000 sf manufacturing facility last October in Lower Burrell. Talkshoe
in Wexford is the leading provider of Internet community calling
services, connecting people through audio via cell phones, land lines, Skype and VoIP. TalkShoe
raised $2 million in venture capital last year and is seeking another $5 mil from venture capitalists and angel investors including Pittsburgh-based Blue Tree Allied Angels
, which has already invested. Founded with the help of former FORE Systems employees, Talkshoe employs 14 people.Tiversa
has quietly been working its software security magic in Cranberry Township and garnering attention in the national press this year, especially the Wall Street Journal
, for its cutting-edge technology that prevents data leaks that may result from peer to peer file sharing. Local and foreign governments are its biggest customer but Tiversa
also offers a consumer product that monitors file sharing for an annual fee.The company currently employs 36 and has posted a 400 to 600 percent growth rate for the past four years.Vivisimo
in Squirrel Hill, synonymous with its personable search engine Clusty, took growth to a new level and quadrupled in size to 80 strong, with plans to hire more this year. It also extended its reach into Latin America and Europe. A CMU startup, Vivisimo’s Velocity Search Platform has attracted global attention and customers by providing enterprises with a state-of-the-art search solution that allows users to access the vast wealth of a company’s information through a single search box. Just this month Vivisimo was named 2008 Technology of the Year for the third year in a row for the best Enterprise Search Solution by InfoWorld
Stay tuned to Pop City for more on these exciting Pittsburgh companies in the coming year.
is Pop City's innovation/job growth news editor.
Thorne King, BPL Global
Glen Meakem and David Becker
Andrew Hannah, Plextronics
Juan Sotolongo and Ralph Goetz, Redpack
Raul Valdes-Perez, VivisimoAll photographs copyright Brian Cohen


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Just a few days ago, Apple was granted a patent for a dual-sided trackpad, which is intended to replace the traditional mouse on the company’s MacBook line of devices and feature some innovative technology. Another interesting MacBook-based patent application is currently seeking review, however. According to CNET, the Apple submitted a patent application named “Combined Input Port.” This proposed port appears to be a combination of both an SD slot and a USB dock, with technology that would allow both of these connectors to exist within the same port.
If this patent is approved, and the design works, it could save a lot of space when crafting a new MacBook. The prospect of combining these two types of ports poses some challenges, but Apple seems very serious about making its creation work, and the technical specifications within the patent application suggests that the company found a way to ensure that this port functions as intended.
If the USB/SD slot yields a usable blueprint, there’s also the possibility of other pairings. We may see USB/Thunderbolt combinations in the future as well. If that’s the case, Apple products may become even thinner as the company finds ways to combine all of its real estate-consuming ports into one cohesive space-saving design
Photo via CNET


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Mortal Shell, the anticipated RPG that borrows heavily from the Souls franchise, has recently wrapped up its open beta and developer Cold Symmetry has shared some interesting figures about it:
- More than 350 000 beta players
- More than 5 million views across Twitch and Youtube
- More than 150 000 cat strokes
“We have been overwhelmed by the response to our beta. Thank you to everyone who jumped in and gave feedback and reports on the game. We can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on Mortal Shell later this year!,” the official Mortal Shell account tweeted out.
For those angered by the amount of people who played versus the lower number of those who pet the cat, it’s likely because they simply missed the prompt to do so. That’s exactly what happened to us, so please forgive us and the 200 000 odd people who did the same.
Unfortunately right now we don’t know if that 150 000-plus number includes players who pet the cat more than once.
We have to imagine that this inclusion was spurred on by the now famous @CanYouPetTheDog Twitter account that has since gone on to encourage developers to include some kind of animal interaction in all games.
Mortal Shell releases on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One later this year. The official release period is Q3, which is between July and September.


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Speaking today (Thursday) at the Apprenticeships Conference in London, Jane Gratton, Head of Skills at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), will warn about the need for reform of the Apprenticeship Levy to make it workable for business.
One year after the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy,...Read More »
Commenting on the inflation statistics for March 2018, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
Inflation slowed again in March, confirming its downward trajectory. The largest downward pressure came from clothing and footwear...Read More »
Commenting on the labour market figures for April 2018, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“The continued rise in employment, coupled with a further drop-in the unemployment rate, is further evidence that the UK jobs...Read More »
Based on the responses of over 7,100 businesses, the survey shows that UK economic growth remained subdued in the first quarter of 2018, despite a strong export performance.
In the service sector, a key driver of the UK economy, the proportion of firms reporting improved export sales and orders...Read More »
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is today (Wednesday) intensifying its call for the UK Government to establish a formal, permanent dialogue with business, consumer and civil society organisations to ensure that trade negotiations – including those on Brexit – draw on the detailed knowledge, expertise and...Read More »


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Newspaper advertising rebound expected in Hong Kong
03 Mar 2010
By Don Gasper
Hong Kong's advertising industry has bounced back after a difficult year in 2009, with newspapers expected to see a comeback in advertising revenue, driven by the banking and real estate sectors.
Speaking at the end of February at the 2009 review of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of Hong Kong (HK4A), Tsang


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One of the most trending stories in the casino world last year was Red Tiger Gaming’s acquisition by NetEnt. There had been no prior rumours the merger would happen. But toward the end of September, the Swedish software giant splashed £197 million to own majority shares of RTG.
It’s been six months since the purchase happened. But many casino players have been asking, why Red Tiger Gaming? Wouldn’t a closer rival like Microgaming be a better idea?
Red Tigers’ explosive growth
Established in 2014 and registered in the Isle of Man, Red Tiger has been in the industry for less than a decade. Still, that didn’t stop NetEnt from spending nearly £200 million on the company.
Red Tiger Gaming has been of the fastest growing software providers in the past couple of years. Unsurprisingly, it enjoyed revenues worth £18 million in 2019, ranking it amongst the best performing software providers last year.
With such an incredible performance for a company launched six years ago, it’s not surprising NetEnt acquired it. Red Tiger’s mushrooming growth means NetEnt could profit from the new company further by bringing its resources onboard.
On-demand casino lobby
Casino games are what drives growth among software providers. NetEnt, for example, has a portfolio of over 500 slots and table games. Some of its slots are considered classics or pioneers other developers can only copy.
Red Tiger’s casino lobby consists of over 200 unique games. They include Mystery Reel Megaways, Dragon’s Fire Mystery, Plenty: Battle for Gold and Dragon’s Fire: Pirate. These games feature the latest in casino innovation: realistic graphics, high RTP rates, auto-play, bonus rounds and mobile gaming to name a few.
Red Tiger’s daily jackpots are however the company’s signature innovation, and one of the reasons for the company’s exponential growth. The jackpot network is designed in such a way that you can win the daily cash prize regardless of which casino you use.
All you need is to play Red Tiger’s jackpot games at your favourite online casino. Of course, that will soon also mean playing at NetEnt casinos. You can search through a casino’s lobby to find Red Tiger games. After that, bet as you watch out for daily jackpots.
- A maturing business
Red Tiger’s ability to make £18 million per year after five years in the industry meant it was doing something right. And for a larger business like NetEnt, Red Tiger was a business ripe for acquisition.
Large companies generally favour upcoming startups over equally established corporations. That’s because the smaller businesses still have plenty of potential to increase their revenues and capture new markets.
With the introduction of more financial resources and the human resource from NetEnt, there’s only one direction for the merger: growth.
- Eliminating competition
Red Tiger’s tremendous growth rate in the last several years must have frightened some of the industry’s heavyweights. It’s been partnering with dozens of casinos nearly every month, posing a lot of threat to NetEnt and similar businesses.
It wouldn’t be surprising that one of the reasons NetEnt bought Red Tiger was to turn a rival into a partner. And in doing so, the Swedish developer now also has a new target audience.
Of course, NetEnt wasn’t the only company Red Tiger has been competing with. But being a forward-thinking developer, purchasing the Isle of Man company solved two essential challenges: competition and expanding its market.
- Robust management
As mentioned, Red Tiger was not a struggling business in need of a bailout at acquisition time. Quite the contrary, it was a business on the rise thanks to a talented team of managers, marketers and developers.
RTG has always had a reputation for being a model software developer. Precisely, it’s always prioritized quality when developing games and offering 24/7 customer support to casinos.
As a result, it’s been able to work with some of the most famous online casinos: Betfair, Betsson and Paddy Power to name a few. Unsurprisingly, NetEnt didn’t change the company’s management, including CEO Gavin Hamilton.
In the general business world, it’s not uncommon for large businesses to buy smaller companies just to change the existing management. In many cases, they usually have researched and realized they could turn around the company with better executives. Luckily, that was not the case with RTG.
- Upcoming table games
Red Tiger’s success in an industry full of failing software providers is only the tip of its iceberg potential. The fact that that’s also been recording over £10 million in gross earnings through slots shows t could explode if it invests more in table games.
RTG had already announced it was considering to develop a comprehensive library of poker, blackjack, roulette and baccarat games. But when or if that will happen now that it has new owners is in limbo.
- Two strong forces
Both NetEnt and Red Tiger Gaming are competing for the same market. But instead of competing, they now have a chance to work together to have an edge over other businesses.
NetEnt will bring its financial powers, talented team of developers and marketers to help improve things over at RTG. Of course, the Isle of Man won’t need much help being a futuristic provider.
The two companies tend to excel at slot machines. So, by combining, they are only going to introduce more innovative games to the industry.
- Low risk, high reward acquisition
If NetEnt’s deal with RTG could be summed up in one sentence is that’s it’s a relatively low-risk high rewards investment. It’s not a low risk in the sense that nothing could go wrong with RTG.
However, Red Tiger is one of a few new software providers that have been performing exceptionally for the last several years. It’s annual income, the number of partnerships with casinos and proper management all say it could be a global brand in the next decade.
Of course, NetEnt will need to step up to steer Red Tiger is in the right direction. Whether it’s the introduction of table games or managing its existing portfolio, it will be up to the Swedish giant to determine how successful RTG becomes.


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Varanasi: Even after the delivery boy was found to be Corona positive in Delhi, the administration does not seem to be taking lessons in PM Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi. This is the reason why there is no corona investigation of more than 450 delivery boys fitted for home delivery of various goods, which has now become a cause for concern. At the same time, officials say that they will get an inquiry done in a few days.
During the entire lockdown imposed in the city for the last few days, the shops of essential commodities have also been closed by the administration and supplies are being made only through home delivery. But surprisingly, no corona investigation of any kind has been conducted so far for 461 home delivery boys installed by different shops.
Giving information, ADM (supply) Nalinikanth Singh said that no arrangements have been made to investigate the delivery boys. But they will be investigated in future. ADM further said that there is no problem in making near home delivery. More than 400 passes have been made in the last 3 days. He said that the Varanasi administration has pushed the Supply Friend website on behalf of the government. On this website, 461 shops will be available according to different neighborhoods. Their goal is to deliver the goods to more people through home delivery.


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Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. ( SWK Quick Quote SWK - Free Report) have gained notably in the past three months. Tailwinds supporting top-line growth, cost-reduction measures and sound shareholder-friendly policies — evident from a hike in the dividend rate amid the pandemic — seem to have boosted sentiments for the stock. The New Britain, CT-based company belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing – Tools & Related Products industry. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see . the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here In the past three months, the company’s shares have gained 22.6% against the industry’s growth of 1.5%. Notably, the S&P 500 has risen 8.2% and the sector has grown 15.1% during the same period. Factors Influencing the Stock
In the past three months, Stanley Black has reported results for second-quarter 2020, with an earnings surprise of 26%. Also, sales in the quarter surpassed estimates by 3.8%. For 2020, the company kept its financial projections suspended due to the pandemic-related worries.
Despite the prevalence of pandemic woes, multiple factors seem to be creating a healthy operating environment for manufacturing companies like Stanley Black. Manufacturing activities are reviving gradually — as evident from increasing manufacturing output (1% monthly gain recorded in August as compared with a 16.1% fall in April) and rising ISM Purchasing Managers' Index (from 41.5% in April to 56% in August). In addition to improving manufacturing activities, the overall revival in the country’s stock market might have supported the company’s price improvement. Also, Stanley Black’s cost-reduction measures are expected to help it tide over the pandemic-related financial difficulties. Notably, it anticipates realizing $1 billion in savings (including $500 million in 2020) from its cost actions taken in the past few months. Further, cost measures taken in October 2019 are likely to generate $180 million savings in 2020. Further, solid product offerings, a surge in the e-commerce business, innovation efforts, synergistic gains from buyouts and rising demand for do-it-yourself as well as health and security-related products are other tailwinds that are expected to have contributed to the share price increase. Moreover, the company’s board of directors’ decision to hike the quarterly dividend rate by 1.4% or one cent per share reflects its commitment toward rewarding shareholders handsomely. The July-decision has significance as the hike was announced amid the pandemic. Currently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s earnings is pegged at $7.68 for 2020 and $8.68 for 2021, marking an increase of 29.3% and 16.8% from the respective 60-day-ago figures. Notably, eight upward revisions in earnings estimates were recorded for 2020 and seven for 2021. There was one downward revision each for 2020 and 2021. Also, earnings estimates for the third quarter have improved from $1.75 to $2.53 in the past 60 days. Such an upward revision in earnings estimates is reflective of improving operating conditions for the company. Stanley Black’s Performance Versus Industry Players
The company outperformed three companies in the industry — including Kennametal Inc. (
KMT Quick Quote KMT - Free Report) , Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. ( LECO Quick Quote LECO - Free Report) and Enerpac Tool Group Corp. ( EPAC Quick Quote EPAC - Free Report) — in the past three months. During the period, Kennametal, Lincoln Electric and Enerpac Tool’s shares have gained 16.8%, 11.8% and 21.5%, respectively. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>


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Monsoon has begun the roll-out of a new logo as part of a revamp of the womenswear chain’s branding.
The new logo features white writing in block capitals on a bronze background, whereas the previous fascia featured white, lower-case loopy writing on a purple background.
It has been installed at three stores so far, at London’s St Pancras International railway station, James Street in London’s Covent Garden and Cardiff.
According to a spokeswoman for the Monsoon Accessorize group, which also includes accessories chain Accessorize, the new branding will be rolled out to all Monsoon stores as and when they are refurbished.
It is understood a similar look will be launched for Accessorize.
There are 133 Monsoon stores, 152 Accessorize stores and 114 dual-site stores in the UK.
It is unclear how long the roll-out will take and the retailer declined to comment on the refurbishment plans.
Monsoon Accessorize, which was founded in 1972 and taken private in 2007, reported an eight-fold increase in profits in the year to August 29, 2009. Pre-tax profits jumped from £3.9m to £32.9m during the period.


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Automotive News Europe has proclaimed that the small new Jeep to be produced in Italy will be dubbed “Jeep Laredo,” after some rumors had pointed to the name “Jeep Latitude.” Note: the JackRatchett rendering is based on camouflaged spy shots.
Both Laredo and Latitude are used as trim names for various Jeeps. Some time ago, the Wall Street Journal mistook the trim name “Citadel” as the official name of the Dodge Durango, and something similar may be happening now.
Chrysler CEO told Automotive News in January that the new vehicle would not be named Jeepster, though at least two insiders claim that was the name used when it was shown in Italy.
The vehicle is due to be shown in March at the Geneva car show; its primary markets are expected to outside of North America. A co-developed (but expected to be very different) Fiat version will be shown in Paris, later in the year. Both will be made in the giant Melfi plant, with around 280,000 sales per year expected (divided roughly equally between the two).
Automotive News Europe also claimed that the Jeep will have all wheel drive as an option on the entire range (which is normal practice for Jeeps), while Fiat will restrict it to top models. Most expect the standard models to have relatively poor off-road credentials, while a single TrailHawk model will be equipped with skid plates, more suitable tires and wheels, a higher ground clearance, and other ways to give the Laredo née Jeepster capabilities similar to the KL Cherokee. Original story at Automotive News Europe
Allpar’s informal sources have agreed that there are plans for a new Dodge Viper ACR, debuting for the 2016 model year, possibly replacing the current TA (Time Attack) model. Artist suzq044 provided the following rendering, which uses SRT’s trademark black wheels and a Dodge concept-car semi-rendering. The Viper ACR may have a mild power boost, but will be mainly a suspension and/or airflow upgrade, to increase track [...]
Dodge has released pricing for the full Charger lineup, starting with the V6/eight-speed Dodge Charger SE at $28,990 (all prices include $995 destination for the “49 states”). Charger was thoroughly renovated for the 2015 model year, with a new look, suspension and electronics revisions, a standard eight-speed automatic for ever engine, and other upgrades. The top Charger, the SRT Hellcat, has [...]
The 2017 Jeep Wrangler may leave its historic steel body-on-frame construction and Toledo plant behind, according to Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, as quoted by Automotive News’ Larry Vellequette. The current Wrangler has good mileage for rugged four wheel drive vehicles, but poor economy overall, at around 17/21 mpg (depending on model and transmission). Mr. Marchionne said the Wrangler will need to lose weight [...]
Keeping a years-long tradition, Chrysler today released a number of “teaser images” for concepts to be revealed at the SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Each brand is covered, though Chrysler has but one car — the 200S. That can be explained by the status of the brand’s three cars: the 2015 300 has yet to be launched, and the [...]
Months after unconfirmed reports made it to Allpar’s pages, the power of Automotive News, in the person of reporter Larry Vellequette, pried a key fact from Chrysler executives — that they cast and build “Ferrari” engines for Maserati. As our sister site pentastars.com reported, the engines are actually cast in Kokomo, and machined in the Trenton Engine plant, using a mixture of [...]


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By Staff writer
Phase 1 starts, with farm production set to reduce reliance on imported eggs by 50%, says company
Emirates Modern Poultry Co, also known as Al Rawdah has announced that it is investing AED120 million ($32.6 million) as an initial investment in a new poultry farm in Abu Dhabi's Liwa area.
The company, the first poultry farm in the UAE to receive the Halal certificate from Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), said the investment is a further commitment to the UAE's food security.
Al Rawdah said it has signed contracts with LAE-Anlagenbau for the manufacturing production machinery, Amandus Kahl to design and build the feed mills, and Prompt Contracting for contractual works.
Phase 1 of Liwa has already started, and farm production will reduce Al Rawdah's reliance on imported hatching eggs by 50 percent, the company said.
The 5 million sq m Liwa farm will house six hen houses with 7,000 birds in each.
The development comes as Al Rawdah saw turnover hit AED180 million in 2015, with a 10 percent increase in sales expected for 2016.
"We are very proud to announce the launch of our new Liwa facility, which will be of tremendous long-term benefit to both Al Rawdah's operations and the UAE's poultry sector. The country as a whole will benefit from increased food security and sustainable development through a state of the art facility that can produce its own eggs, hatch its own chicks and guarantee long-term sustainability and excellence," said Al Rawdah's chairman Abdalla Al Owais.For all the latest retail news from the UAE and Gulf countries, follow us on Twitter and Linkedin, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.


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Dubai, 21 February 2012
Digital marketing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is experiencing tremendous growth, according to an Econsultancy report, which has found that 58% of marketers are increasing their digital marketing budgets in 2012.
Econsultancy’s second annual State of Digital Marketing in MENA report looks in detail at the use of different online and traditional marketing channels in the Middle East and North Africa.
The 57-page report is based on a survey of more than 400 B2B marketers in the region, undertaken in partnership with ArabianBusiness.com, and reveals that over a quarter of marketing budgets (27%) are spent on digital, up from 22% in 2011. According to the report, over half of companies (52%) are increasing their digital marketing budgets by at least 20%.
The research findings show that traditional marketing areas are used in conjunction with digital channels. Email (78% of companies) is the most widely used digital marketing channel, but businesses are also using other established digital channels including off-site social media and SEO (search engine optimization).
Social media is also contributing to the high rate of growth in digital. A third (36%) of companies report they have already experimented with social media marketing, while 81% of marketers are planning to increase investment in social media in 2012.
Econsultancy’s Research Manager, Aliya Zaidi, said: “It’s an exciting time to be an online marketer, as the research shows more companies are ploughing investment into digital in 2012. More companies are focused on how to measure return-on-investment, which is a natural sign of the industry’s rapid development.
“Marketers are becoming more realistic about the challenges associated with measuring value from digital marketing and are better at understanding where the gaps are.”
Zaidi continued: “The report also found that a lack of local talent is holding back some companies from making the most out of digital. There’s huge demand for Arabic copywriters in this region, and companies need to address the skills gap by investing in further digital education and training.”
The full results of Econsultancy’s State of Digital Marketing survey are being presented at Econsultancy’s Digital Cream Dubai event on 21st February in a keynote presented by Ashley Friedlein, CEO of Econsultancy.
Key survey findings:
- SMS is the mostly frequently used mobile marketing channel or technology, with 52% of companies reporting that they are using text messaging for marketing.
- Competitions are the most common type of content created on social media in MENA, according to 43% of companies surveyed.
- Just over a third (36%) of companies create corporate blogs as part of their social activity, while infographics are created by 34% of organisations surveyed.
- Companies are failing to focus on the basics of mobile optimisation, with only 6% using mobile- optimised emails or mobile commerce.
About this report
The 57-page report focuses on how companies in the Middle East and North Africa are currently using online marketing and allocating digital spend, and includes sections on:
- Marketing budgets
- Use of marketing channels
- Social media marketing
- Effectiveness and return-on-investment
- Staffing and skills
Download the State of Digital Marketing in the Middle East and Africa report today.
A free report is available to journalists and bloggers. Please email for details.
Aliya Zaidi, Research Manager, Econsultancy
(e: aliya.zaidi AT econsultancy.com)
Econsultancy is a community where the world's digital marketing and e-commerce professionals meet to sharpen their strategy, source suppliers, get quick answers, compare notes, help each other out and discover how to do everything better online. It was launched in 1999 and since then has grown to a dominant position in the digital marketing industry with more than 110,000 members worldwide. Its website and blog attracts more than 300,000 unique users per month and its range of training courses and conferences are attended by more than 5,000 marketers every year.
Econsultancy also provides a range of resources specifically for the Middle East including regionalised reports, such as the Middle East Internet Statistics Compendium, local events, online resources and training programmes. Econsultancy’s 110,000 members make better decisions, build business cases, find the best suppliers, look smart in meetings and accelerate their careers. Find out more at http://econsultancy.com/hello/mena.
For more information, visit http://econsultancy.com or follow @econsultancy on Twitter.
Published on: 11:53AM on 21st February 2012


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The Ford Performance Racing School at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina has attracted roughly 50,000 Blue Oval enthusiasts to its various offerings over the years, which have pertained to a number of high-performance models, specifically. However, the rise in consumer interest in off-roading and off-road-capable vehicles has prompted The Blue Oval to branch out in recent years, hosting the Ford Bronco Raptor Off-Roadeo experience at Mt. Potosi in Nevada, while the newly-announced Ford Ranger Raptor Assault School will take place in Tooele Valley, Utah starting this June. Now, the automaker has announced that it’s also opening up a brand new Ford Performance Racing School facility in that same latter location, too.
The new Ford Performance Racing School is located in Tooele, Utah, in a brand new building that will serve as the base of operations for the outfit’s off-road driving programs in that area. The building itself spans 63,000 square feet and contains a reception/common area, three classrooms, a retail merchandise area, a service garage, and space for vehicle storage.
Those that attend one of these FPRS classes in Utah will receive professional instruction from hosts that have racked up numerous wins in off-road racing events such as the Baja 1000, Baja 2000, and the Mint 400, which should prove to be quite appealing for those looking to take their own skills to the next level.
“I’m as proud of this new building and all the folks who made it happen as I am of being the only school to wear the Ford oval,” said Dan McKeever, president and founder of the Ford Performance Racing School. “This building is purpose-built to deliver all our off-road programs including the Raptor Assault for F-150 Raptor and Ranger Raptor owner programs, as well as the Bronco DR immersion program for racers wanting a deep dive into that awesome race truck and all that it can do. The building will also serve as the headquarters for all our growing operations, including those in Park City, Utah, and Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina.”


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Currently, the Ministry of Economics (EM), in cooperation with specialists from the Ministry of Health, is working on measures to allow the beauty sector to resume work. Asked when it could come in force, the minister said that the situation with the spread of Covid-19 in Latvia is still very serious, there is “little improvement” and the situation in Latvia is “improving very slowly.”
According to the Minister for Health, another two weeks should pass before any measures are adopted to reduce any restrictions. This applies to education, retail and the beauty sector.
Health Ministry's chief infectologist Uga Dumpis also said that "the main thing is to reduce infection rate. When that is down, one can talk about opening beauty salons and other places".
This week and next week, the government will work on how to gradually ease the restrictions.
EM Parliamentary Secretary Jurģis Miezainis, said in an interview to Latvian Radio that on Tuesday, February 16, the EM will present the developed concept for the safe functioning of the beauty sector in the Covid-19 conditions, so that it can gradually start providing services again.


text: Over the weekend Toon Crime has subtly released into open beta ahead of the October 30’th scheduled event. This means you can now go play the game at tooncrime.com for free. It’s optimized for all platforms and runs directly in your web browser. You can sign in with facebook or create a new account. We’ve partnered with facebook’s developer program to make playing the game seamless and secure. On social media we’ve also announced the development of Toon Crime’s mobile app. We’re very excited for the future of this game with plans to iterate on it for years to come.


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Revolut has actually released an enthusiastic function that intends to place the fintech and e-wallet business closer to the cryptocurrency market while assisting inform consumers.
The function called ‘Discover and Make’ wishes to bring consumers up to speed about cryptocurrencies and permit them to make as they determine how cryptocurrencies work.
A last test will be included as part of the knowing products at Revolut which will then result into a $15 payment for anybody who passes it effective.
The business, which is valued at $33bn, is presently looking for to assist bring customers and audiences as much as date with how the innovation works.
An additional growth of the Learn and Earn effort might likewise be boiling down the roadway.
Speaking on this advancement, Revolut crypto basic supervisor Emil Urmashin stated: “There’s a big hunger from our consumers for more information about cryptocurrencies. ‘Learn & & Earn’ will assist them much better comprehend the patterns, threats and possible chances connected with crypto. Our cooperation with Web3 Structure on Polkadot, among the most popular blockchain networks, will assist consumers end up being more knowledgeable about crypto principles.”
More information about Revolut’s roadway to crypto adoption must be upcoming. Nevertheless, in the interim the business has actually described that it has a clear interest in the cryptocurrency and blockchain areas. It has actually partnered with the Web3 Structure as it looks for to keep its eager technological edge.
Revolut currently supports the buying and selling of a variety of cryptocurrencies, consisting of Bitcoin, Bitcoin Money, Doge and lots of others.
We advise utilizing crypto recreationally at video gaming sites such as 1xBit, FortuneJack or Bitcasino.io.


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Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT-Tyres) has introduced a radial OTR tire, the Earthmax, to the North American market. The Earthmax contains a steel casing, a non-directional tread block pattern, a cut- and heat-resistant tread compound and other features.
"Development was done by our in-house research and development team," says Arvind Poddar, BKT's managing director. Production is scheduled to start soon.
BKT, which also manufacturers farm and other specialty tires, hopes to boost its North American sales by 60% this year.
For a full report on BKT's plans for North America, see the October issue of Modern Tire Dealer, available now.


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Wearable, Battery-Free Nicotine Sensor Can Monitor Your Exposure to Smoke and Vape Mist
A team of scientists from Melbourne's RMIT and the University of Arizona, Tucson, have developed a wearable sensor that uses near-field communication (NFC) for battery-free real-time monitoring of nicotine exposure — targeting those who use, or spend time around those who use, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vapes.
"Nicotine, an addictive substance in tobacco products and electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), is recognized for increasing the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders," the team explains. "Careful real-time monitoring of nicotine exposure is critical in alleviating the potential health impacts of not just smokers but also those exposed to second-hand and third-hand smoke."
"Monitoring of nicotine requires suitable sensing material to detect nicotine selectively and testing under free-living conditions in the standard environment."
Actually monitoring nicotine exposure, though, can be a challenge — which is where the team's sensor comes in. Designed to be worn on the skin, the compact device is battery free: A vanadium dioxide (VO₂) sensor reacts with nicotine and alters its electrical characteristics; an amplifier connected to a near-field communication (NFC) chip picks up the change, with the result being sent wirelessly to a smartphone or other NFC-capable device.
While the team's work concentrated on nicotine exposure, the core concept is applicable more broadly — simply replace the sensor material with another to pick up exposure to some other substance. "Collectively, the technique of sensor development and integration expands the use of wearable electronics for real-time monitoring of hazardous elements in the environment and biosignals wirelessly," the team concludes.
The team's work has been published in the journal ACS Sensors, under closed-access terms.


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Online video games have become a popular way of unwinding after a long day, bonding with friends or even making some extra cash. More people are embracing the diverse new ways of earning through the internet, and online games are one of the ways.
In this new era, it is essential to be open-minded and be on the lookout for new ways to improve your life, the options for earning through the internet are endless, you can offer a service or even buy and sell goods to interested clients. One man that has managed to make the art of online video games a benefit not only to the players but other interested persons is Malcolm CasSelle.
Malcolm CasSelle serves as the president at WAX the Worldwide Assets eXchange, and also works at OPSkins, OPSkins is an online platform that provides a platform for people to transact through online video games. According to Malcolm CasSelle, online video games are likely to change digital currencies in the future.
OPSkins are set to be introducing a new platform that will allow virtual trading of assets. WAX is the platform designed to make it easier for buyers and sellers to trade their assets in a safer environment and more conveniently.
After observing that digital currency was faced with insecurity and fraud issues OPSkins decided to provide a solution by introducing WAX in the market, WAX is designed to solve fraud as well as fragmentation by ensuring that users can transact without exiting their games.
The company will also introduce a common currency and will only allow traders sharing a common digital currency to trade this will help to solve geographical issues affecting the buyers and sellers. The use of a standard currency will also eliminate intermediaries, intermediaries at times making the price of commodities higher, in turn, reducing the sales which affect the seller, by using WAX the users will avoid overpayments and misunderstanding with clients.
Another advantage gained from eliminating third parties is improving on security, one of the primary issues that affect online trade is security due to many participants, the new platform will ensure that both buyers and sellers are safe and open transactions will be conducted.
Find out more about Malcolm Casselle: https://www.fastcompany.com/35354/my-favorite-bookmarks-malcolm-casselle


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How Investors Can Profit From Tax Season
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” –Benjamin Franklin
Tax season is officially underway.
Already the IRS has received over 14 million returns and has issued refunds to 7.6 million filers for an average of $3,539 each.
And it should come as no surprise that those eager early filers tend to be folks who are expecting a large refund. As we approach the April 15 filing deadline, the size of the average refund should progressively shrink.
In the end, around 20% of filers will end up owing the IRS.
If you’re waiting till the last minute to open up your checkbook, I don’t blame you. But I do have some good news...
There is a way to get back some of the hard-earned cash you’re about to fork over to Uncle Sam. I’m talking about holding shares of a company that profits immensely from tax season…
The E-Filing Revolution
If you’re lucky enough to get a refund, you’ll notice that the IRS has become much more efficient in cutting checks. This is thanks to electronic filing. (Folks who wind up owing Sam: you’ll notice he’s much more efficient at collecting money as well.)
So far this year, roughly 95% of filings were submitted electronically. And odds are, the 136 million submissions yet to come will only further this trend.
Here’s what’s interesting for investors though…
Despite the fact that the IRS lets you file directly on its website, many Americans will opt instead to use software by TaxACT or H&R Block (NYSE: HRB)...
And the vast majority will rely on Turbo Tax.
Profiting From Tax Season
In 2013, 28 million people used Turbo Tax to prepare and file their taxes.
The company behind the software, Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), also created renowned accounting and finance products Quickbooks and Quicken.
As e-filing became the norm over the past decade-plus, Intuit’s Turbo Tax brand took off.
In 2004, consumer tax products brought in $490 million in revenue for the company. Fast-forward to fiscal year 2014, that number has more than tripled to $1.52 billion.
During this same time period, Intuit’s customer products segment has averaged 12.17% year-over-year sales growth. And as a result, shares have substantially outperformed the market - beating the S&P 500’s 10-year return 2.3 times over.
And there is no doubt that now is the most profitable time of the year for Intuit.
As you can see in the chart above, the bulk of the company’s sales come in when it posts third quarter numbers each year. Not shocking since that’s the period covering February through April – the heart of tax season.
(The Oxford Club’s Emerging Trends Strategist Matthew Carr loves charts like this due to their “seasonal saw-tooth pattern.” To learn how he uses these charts to lock in profits like clockwork, you should enroll in his Prime Profits Secrets course. Click here for details.)
Over the last five years, earnings-per-share (EPS) growth in the third quarter has averaged 16.84%. While quarters one, two and four have averaged 9.78%, 1.25% and 6.15%, respectively. Historically speaking, now is a great time to pick up shares of Intuit.
But there are two recent events you should know about first...
Operational Speed Bumps
First, at the beginning of this year, Intuit got slammed by customers when it tried to charge existing users for a more expensive level of Turbo Tax.
After taking a severe scolding on the Web, the company backtracked. It apologized to customers and offered a $25 rebate to anyone who had already been upgraded.
The next speed bump occurred last Thursday when Intuit had to halt e-filing of all state returns. This was after more than a dozen states spotted fraudulent activity through Turbo Tax’s systems. Criminals with stolen identities were trying to falsely claim refunds.
Subsequently, cybersecurity headlines dominated the company’s newsfeed. Of course, Intuit is just the latest victim of what my colleague Rachel Gearhart recently dubbed “America’s Challenge of the Century.”
The company resumed state income tax e-filing last Friday, but the damage was already done to its share price. Intuit ended the day down 4.2%. Year to date, shares are down 3.8%.
But considering this company’s history of taking off in the third quarter, we may just be looking at an opportunity to buy shares at a discount.
Let’s see how the company performs on our Investment U Fundamental Factor Test. This will help us evaluate Intuit’s current financial health and give us a rating on the stock.
Price-to-Earnings (P/E): Intuit’s P/E of 31.85 is well below the industry average of 55.64. It is well priced on an earnings basis.
Debt-to-Equity : Intuit’s debt load of 17.05% is four times smaller than its peer average of 70.38%. Good to see a company that provides accounting software that’s not overleveraged.
Free Cash Flow per Share Growth : In the most recent quarter, Intuit saw a 26.49% increase in free cash flow. That should help fund some of the refunds it recently paid to angry customers.
Profit Margins : Intuit’s trailing 12-month profit margins of 18.31% are well above the industry average of 14.90%.
As Intuit sails into tax season, passing five out of six key metrics, it has earned itself an “A” rating. While we cannot be certain those recent negative events won’t push shares down in the short term, as Ben Franklin famously noted, we can be certain that taxes will be levied. And Intuit will be right there, ready to make the filing process as easy and as quick as possible for millions of users.
*Why did we look at these specific metrics? Find out more here.
Fundamental Factor Test Score
A: Strong Buy (Hits five or more key metrics)
Please note that our fundamental factor checklist is just the first step in performing your own due diligence. There are many other factors you should consider before investing. That’s why The Oxford Club offers over a dozen newsletters and trading advisories all aimed at helping investors grow and maintain their wealth. For more details, click here.
Is there a stock you'd like us to analyze? Leave a comment with the name or ticker symbol below.


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This article titled “Australian farm to hold 50,000 crocodiles for luxury Hermès goods questioned by animal welfare groups” was written by Graham Readfearn, for theguardian.com on Saturday 14th November 2020 19.00 UTC
The high-end French fashion brand Hermès wants to build one of Australia’s biggest crocodile farms in the Northern Territory that would hold up to 50,000 saltwater crocodiles to be turned into luxury goods such as handbags and shoes.
But the proposal has come under fire from animal welfare groups, who say other fashion brands have moved away from using exotic animal skins on cruelty grounds. Advocates told Guardian Australia they had concerns about the welfare of the crocodiles, and that farming animals for luxury goods was “no longer fashionable.”
The territory, a significant global supplier of crocodile skins, is already home to several crocodile farms owned by major fashion brands.
Northern Territory crocodile industry figure Mick Burns is leading the proposal on a former fruit farm near Darwin purchased earlier this year by the company PRI Farming, of which he is a director.
The NT government has already granted development approval for the project, with documents showing the farm would include an egg incubator laboratory, a hatchery, and growing pens, as well as wastewater treatment plants and a solar farm.
According to documents submitted to the territory’s Environmental Protection Authority, the farm would employ 30 people and build from an initial 4,000 crocodiles to 50,000, which the ABC has reported would make it one of the biggest crocodile farms in Australia.
An EPA statement to the Guardian said the project had been granted environmental approval, and that PRI had also indicated it would apply for a wildlife trade permit.
Dr Jed Goodfellow, a senior policy officer at RSPCA Australia, said the society remained opposed to killing of any animal “where the purpose of their death is primarily to produce a non-essential luxury item like fur or skin”.
He said the society was not aware of the details of animal welfare practices on the planned farm.
But he said generally there were many welfare risks raised by crocodile farming in intensive conditions, “including injuries from close confinement, small individual penning arrangements, and the impacts of restraint and slaughter methods”.
He said Australia’s national code of practice covering crocodile farming was “now over 10 years old and in need of review”.
Nicola Beynon, of Humane Society International, said brands including Chanel, Mulberry and the owners of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger had adopted animal welfare policies “against using exotic animal skins such as crocodile”.
“Consumers and fashion houses are walking away from animal cruelty as fast as they can,” she said. “It seems foolish to be investing in an industry that is no longer fashionable.”
A 2017 report commissioned from Ernst & Young by the NT government estimated the crocodile farming industry was worth $106m to the territory’s economy.
It said NT’s crocodile skin producers “are known as ethical providers and have encouraged high-end fashion producers such as Hermès and Louis Vuitton to purchase local NT farms to secure their supply chain”.
The report said crocodile eggs were harvested under licence from the wild, with juvenile crocodiles “nurtured to minimise stress and protect their skins”.
The report said: “Finally, the premium end product, crocodile skins, then often ends up as some of the world’s most expensive and sought-after fashion accessories (handbags, shoes, purses and wallets) being worn in the finest establishments throughout the world with key markets in the United States and Europe.”
Documents with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission show PRI Farming is wholly owned by another Darwin-based company, which in turn is wholly owned by Hermès.
Burns did not respond to a request for comment. Guardian Australia sent questions to Hermès and asked to speak to a representative, but did not get a response.
A 2019 corporate social responsibility report from Hermès said the company owned three crocodile farms and “two hide processing and inspection sites” in Australia.
The report said all the company’s crocodile farms were signed up to a best practices charter, and the company had worked across the industry to improve animal welfare standards which had been reviewed by a crocodile group at the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Hermès has an animal welfare policy which states: “The group has defined and implemented a very strict, science-based, animal welfare policy. This applies within its direct sphere of responsibility as well as for its external partners, with a specific supply-chain based approach.”
In 2015, Burns helped the Northern Territory government develop a strategy to expand the region’s crocodile farming industry.
That report said that in 2015 that Australia accounted for 60% of world trade in saltwater crocodile skins, with the territory responsible for two thirds of traded skins.
Prof Grahame Webb, chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature crocodile specialist group, told the Guardian crocodile farming had helped fund conservation efforts in the region.
Webb said fashion houses had been “mercilessly attacked” by animal rights activists, but he said the companies had a “good story to tell”.
“[Those companies] have to get more and more control over their supply chain so that they can guarantee the highest standards.
“Hermès is a very conservative company – it’s them trying to do the right thing. Australia has an excellent reputation for its crocodile management program worldwide.”
Webb said the scale of the new proposal from Burns suggested it would be able to produce about 15,000 crocodile skins a year. The harvesting of eggs from the wild population was sustainable, he said.
Unregulated hunting of crocodiles in Australia drove numbers dangerously low until rules protecting them were introduced in the early 1970s, Webb has written. He said the number of saltwater crocodiles in the wild was now healthy and stable.
“Our wild populations are full,” he said.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010


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Jim Ryan, the Chief Executive of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is leaving the company after 30 years. Ryan joined the company in 1994 just before the first PlayStation was released in December of the same year. In 2019, he was made the boss of the PlayStation video game unit.
“I will leave having been privileged to work on products that have touched millions of lives across the world; PlayStation will always be part of my life, and I feel more optimistic than ever about the future of SIE” said Mr. Ryan.
Having overseen the great success of PS 5 since its launch in 2020, he will leave Sony in March 2024. It is expected Hiroki Totoki Sony’s Chief Operating Officer will take over on an interim basis. Totoki will continue in his current roles as the company searches for a successor.
Jim Ryan Success and Controversies
PS 5 console has sold over 40 million units across the globe. The leadership of Mr. Ryan has seen the company sales beat that of Microsoft’s Xbox console. During his tenure, first-party games such as Horizon Forbidden West and God of War Ragnarök were launched. These games become instants hits among gamers.
“That extraordinary achievement made by the entire SIE team has been steadily built on and PlayStation 5 is on track to become SIE’s most successful console yet.” said Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida.
Jim Ryan drew some criticism when he labelled Xbox Game Pass “destructive” for the industry. Taking the fight again to Microsoft, Ryan was a critic of Microsoft’s agreement to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. for $69 billion. He actively lobbied against the proposed acquisition with federal regulators.
In 2022, Ryan drew the ire of Sony employees by sending a memo that contained comments about the US Supreme Court’s decision on abortion access. In the same memo there were five paragraphs about his two cats’ first birthday.


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IBM is readying a new wireless certification program for solution providers and beefing up incentives for sales into the SMB market.
The new Wireless Solution Provider certification, slated to be rolled out late this month or in early May, will elevate participating solution providers to the highest priority to receive leads for wireless engagements in the SMB market, said Frank Vitagliano, vice president of distribution channels management for IBM's Personal Computing Division.
What's more, the wireless certification would put solution providers on a priority list to partner with IBM Global Services (IGS) in midmarket opportunities and tertiary markets where IGS lacks resources, Vitagliano said.
"We're trying to provide end-to-end solutions to the customer instead of commodity price and products," he said. "The new certification will make the solution strategy come alive in the SMB space."
Vitagliano said the wireless certification would be followed by new data-migration and security certifications in the second half of the year.
To earn the wireless certification, solution providers must have one employee take a free five- to six-hour Web-based course. The course includes instruction in consulting, deployment and troubleshooting for wireless networks.
In addition, IBM has launched a new rebate program that pays solution providers up to eight points on ThinkPads sold to SMB accounts. Solution providers can earn two points for each SMB sale, an additional four points if the sale is to an account new to IBM, and two points for five or more ThinkPad sales per month. Vitagliano said IBM defines an SMB account as anything below the Fortune 1000.
"The rebate program interests us, but IBM's Achilles heel has always been availability," said John DeRocker, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Nexus Information Systems, Plymouth, Minn. "But our big profit opportunities are in security and storage. If you're not in those two areas, you're in trouble."


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Englewood, Colo. (September 13, 2018) – WellBiz Brands, Inc., a franchise portfolio company operating three distinct health and wellness brands – Elements Massage®, Fitness Together® and FIT36® – announces it has acquired the Amazing Lash® Studio franchise brand.
Amazing Lash Studio, the leading provider of affordable eyelash extensions, was founded in 2010 and operates over 200 franchise locations in 33 states. Amazing Lash Studios are retail salons that apply semi-permanent eyelash extensions with a proprietary, patented process to the client’s own lashes, replicating the curve and size of natural lashes. Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Amazing Lash Studio #5 on their 2018 Top New Franchises list. The brand was also #260 on the Inc. list of America’s 500 Fastest Growing companies.
“I am excited to welcome the Amazing Lash Studio brand, franchise owners and support team to the WellBiz Brands portfolio of companies,” said WellBiz Brands Executive Chairman Joe Luongo. “The addition of the nation’s leading eyelash extensions franchise brand is a natural expansion to the health and wellness businesses we already operate.”
Amazing Lash Studio, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, will be led by Chief Executive Officer Heather Elrod. Elrod joined Amazing Lash Studio as Chief Operations Officer in June 2016 and brings 25 years of beauty and franchise experience to the WellBiz Brands’ leadership team. Elrod states, “I’m thrilled for Amazing Lash Studio to be joining the WellBiz Brands’ portfolio. By doing so, we will be able to build on our extremely strong foundation and continue to accelerate studio growth, product innovation and franchisee support so Amazing Lash Studio remains the category leader in the eyelash extensions and retail beauty industries.”
WellBiz Brands, a leader in the health and wellness industry, was recently included on the Inc. 5000 list. The acquisition of Amazing Lash Studio strengthens WellBiz Brands position by adding beauty to their growing health and wellness portfolio. With its robust shared services platform and infrastructure, WellBiz Brands is uniquely qualified to serve the growing needs of the health-conscious consumer and will continue to pursue investments that leverage this strength. To support on-going growth, the company has significantly invested in its leadership, creating a management team with experience from many diverse and respected consumer companies.
Piper Jaffray served as financial advisor to WellBiz Brands on the transaction. As part of the acquisition, Golub Capital provided WellBiz Brands financing through a new credit facility to fund both this transaction and future growth.
About WellBiz Brands, Inc.
WellBiz Brands, Inc. is the manager of four health, wellness and beauty franchise brands: Amazing Lash Studio®, Elements Massage®, FIT36® and Fitness Together®. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, WellBiz Brands, has over 600 combined U.S. locations across the four brands. Through the WellBiz Brands support staff, the brands strive to uphold these core values: fun, ownership, respect, passion, and integrity. These core values embody all that is important for each brand – from franchise owners to clients – to lead healthy, balanced lives. All four brands offer unique franchise opportunities for entrepreneurs from all walks of life and various investment levels, with a fresh focus on recurring revenue models. For more information about WellBiz Brands and its franchise opportunities, visit WellBizBrands.com.
About Amazing Lash Studio®
Amazing Lash Studio was founded in 2010 with a vision to be the leading provider of affordable eyelash extensions. Amazing Lash Studios are retail salons that apply semi-permanent eyelash extensions with a proprietary, patented process to the client’s own lashes, replicating the curve and size of natural lashes. The concept began franchising in 2013, and to date has over 200 open studios in 33 states and 714 Regional Developer Units awarded. They recently earned the rank of #5 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top New Franchises for 2018 and were ranked #260 on the Inc 500 List. To learn more about Amazing Lash Studio® and franchise ownership opportunities, visit www.amazinglashstudio.com.
Decibel Blue on Behalf of WellBiz Brands


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The Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency will sell the former Campbell Plastics Plant for $500,000 to local developer Robert Iovinella of Go Ahead Realty LLC of Rotterdam, N.Y., who plans a mix of businesses and homes for the site.
Iovinella has a letter of intent from a national company to build a 7,000-square-foot building on the currently vacant site. He declined to name the company, but said it would bring 10 jobs to the area.
The 23-acre former Campbell Plastics site straddles the Schenectady/Rotterdam border. Iovinella plans to develop the Schenectady portion of the site for commercial use and the Rotterdam portion for housing, which could include condominiums, townhouses or single-family homes.
The plastics plant at the site was demolished in 2003 after the partial collapse of its roof created a safety hazard. The city and county have agreed to accept the $500,000 proceeds from the sale as full payment for the $800,000 owed on the site in outstanding tax liens.
"The County nets $160,000 from this sale and we bring a former industrial site back to new life," said Susan Savage, chair of the Schenectady County Legislature, in a press release. "Eyesores are being erased, old debts are being paid, and new jobs and investment are coming to Schenectady County."
Iovinella has developed the Schermerhorn Hollow Village retail plaza in Rotterdam as well as other retail and residential projects in the region. Across from the Rotterdam Square Mall, Schermerhorn Hollow includes a BJ's, Office Max and other stores.
Iovinella said he's interested in the Campbell's Plastic site because it offers the opportunity to "recycle" an existing parcel.
"Schenectady really needs the jobs and tax base," Iovinella said.


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Samsung’s first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold is set to go on sale in the US and South Korea at the end of next month. Ahead of its release, the global variant of the smartphone with model number SM-F900F has been caught on Geekbench.
The SM-F900F listing on the Geekbench benchmark database confirms the presence of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset under the hood. This means all variants of the foldable smartphone will run on Qualcomm’s latest flagship mobile processor. This isn’t surprising, however, as Samsung has already announced that the Galaxy Fold runs on a 7nm 64-bit octa-core processor. Samsung’s latest flagship mobile processor, the Exynos 9820 is manufactured on an 8nm process.
While the presence of a Snapdragon 855 chipset inside the global variant of the Galaxy Fold may not be surprising, it is actually the first time in years that Samsung is using a Qualcomm chipset in the global variant of its flagship smartphone. Snapdragon 855-powered versions of the Galaxy S10 series are reserved for US and Chinese markets only.
Moving on to the actual benchmark listing, the Galaxy Fold SM-F900F variant with 12GB RAM posted a score of 3,418 points in the single-core test and 9,703 points in the multi-core test. The scores are not exactly class-leading but we do expect the final retail versions of the phone to score higher on Geekbench.
As announced at the Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco last month, the Galaxy Fold comes with a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED cover display with 840 x 1960 resolution and a 7.3-inch 1536 x 2152 Infinity Flex Display. As mentioned earlier, the Galaxy Fold will be going on sale in the US and South Korea on April 26. It is slated to be released in Europe on May 3. In the US, prices start at a whopping $1,980. Apart from a 4G LTE version, Samsung will reportedly offer a 5G variant of the foldable phone in its home market.


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Sony has announced that a new firmware update is now available to download for the PlayStation 3, taking it up to version 3.73.
Sony has officially revealed the name of the PlayStation Vita version of ModNation Racers, which was decided by the fans.
Sega has released a new batch of screenshots for Daytona USA, ahead of its downloadable comeback later this month.
Battlefield 3 has received yet another fan made live action reconstruction, this time it's the game's multiplayer that has been given the treatment.
Gamespot has announced a brand new reality series where 12 people battle it out in a real life version of Battlefield 3, with the players as the ...
Capcom has released a brand new trailer for Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3, showing off the game's new Heroes and Heralds mode.
Activision has released a new screenshot of Modern Warfare 3 taken from the recently revealed Iron lady campaign level.