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Product designer Aaron Forth describes how apps can be successful in an increasingly crowded mobile market.
Austin, Texas-- Many people have a friend who has lauded Mint.com for "figuring out where my money was going," but most consumers still haven't given the three-year-old personal finances site a chance. Aaron Forth, director of product design for the Mountain View, CA-based company, and his team have been trying to overcome their resistance with mobile and social marketing efforts.
Fresh from his SXSWi address, Forth talked with ClickZ about what makes a mobile app attractive in an era where cutting through app clutter has become more difficult. He also touched on Mint.com's current "Drop Your Debt Challenge" campaign, which uses Facebook and Twitter to get consumers to encourage each other to participate.
In the video interview below, shot in warm-but-windy Austin on late Friday afternoon as SXSW goers started their "Happy Hour" proceedings, Forth addresses his company's key mobile and social goals.
Want to learn more? Join us at ClickZ Live New York 2015
[ALERT] Super Saver Rates Expire January 30. With over 15 years of experience delivering industry leading events, ClickZ Live brings together over 50 expert speakers to deliver an action-packed, educationally-focused agenda covering all aspects of digital marketing. Quick! - Register today to secure your place at the best rate.
Christopher Heine was a senior writer for ClickZ through June 2012. He covered social media, sports/entertainment marketing, retail, and more. Heine's work has also appeared via Mashable, Brandweek, DM News, MarketingSherpa, and other tech- and ad-centric publications. USA Today, Bloomberg Radio, and The Los Angeles Times have cited him as an expert journalist.
Hong Kong, 20-21 January
Singapore, 5-6 March
Google My Business Listings Demystified
To help brands control how they appear online, Google has developed a new offering: Google My Business Locations. This whitepaper helps marketers understand how to use this powerful new tool.
5 Ways to Personalize Beyond the Subject Line
82 percent of shoppers say they would buy more items from a brand if the emails they sent were more personalized. This white paper offer five tactics that will personalize your email beyond the subject line and drive real business growth.
January 29, 2015
1:00pm ET/10:00am PT


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This year’s Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) Creative Summit is right around the corner, and you might just want to keep an eye on it. Its description promises “some surprises from the Apple product team.”
Is it finally time for the all-new Mac Pro to make its debut?
The FCPX Creative Summit kicks off on November 7 in Apple’s home town of Cupertino, California.
It’s a third-party event, but it is produced in association with Apple, and takes place on the company’s campus. It runs for three days and is aimed at professionals working with FCPX.
Even if you’re not a Final Cut professional, however, you may want to keep an eye on what goes on this year.
There’s nothing like the FCPX Creative Summit
“This unique event is where the Apple FCPX Professionals come together to learn, discuss craft, and get a peek behind the curtain in Cupertino,” reads the event’s description. “The Creative Summit features a variety of programming that includes keynote users, case studies, and education around editorial and post in the FCPX/Apple ecosystem.”
What’s most exciting is the promise of a “special visit to Apple Park’s Visitor Center, with some surprises from the Apple product team.” But just how big might those surprises be?
There’s every possibility they’ll be little more than free Apple T-shirts or something similar. But given that the event mentions the “Apple product team” specifically, it could be something bigger.
All-new Mac Pro on the way?
Some suggest the event will see Apple finally confirming a launch date for the all-new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR. Apple promised both would be here this fall, and fans are waiting to splash the cash.
It might seem strange that Apple would make an announcement like this during the FCPX Creative Summit. But as noted by Aaron Zollo, it wouldn’t be the first time something like this happened:
Last year Apple showed off new Mac hardware and software at the FCPX creative Summit. This years summit is in two days on the 7th of November. Will we see the Mac Pro and even the new MacBook Pro this year?— Aaron Zollo (@zollotech) November 6, 2019
The hardware showcased at last year’s event was the latest Mac mini, updated MacBook Pros, and the Blackmagic eGPU Pro complete with an AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics card.
Of course, Apple had already announced these things prior to last year’s FCPX Summit; this wasn’t their first reveal. So it’s unlikely we’ll see something brand-new, like that 16-inch MacBook Pro.
But it is feasible Apple will provide another look at the already-announced Mac Pro — a machine built for video editors and other creative professionals — and finally confirm a launch date.
Keep your eyes peeled
This could be wishful thinking. Fall doesn’t officially end until late December, so Apple could keep us waiting a while longer yet.
But just in case something big does happen, keep your eyes peeled for news from the FCPX Creative Summit. The new Mac Pro was just approved by the FCC, which suggests a launch is imminent.

domain: news


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, a fresh meal delivery service that puts paleo food in the hands of the people at Crossfit gyms, has joined forces with Mindful Chef, a similar business that focuses on serving the yoga community.
The combined companies will run under the Power Supply name and will serve 44 locations in Maryland and Virginia, including Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, Annapolis and Alexandria. According to Robert Morton, cofounder of Power Supply, the merger will bring new flavors and new drop-off locations. In Greater Baltimore, Power Supply serves South Baltimore Crossfit, Crossfit Revamped in Columbia and Crossfit BWI in Glen Burnie.
Before starting Mindful Chef, co-founder Jeff Kelley ran a food truck called Eat Wonky. Morton says that Kelley's lessons from the food truck industry, combined with the audience Mindful Chef serves and the foundations of the business, made the merger a good fit.
A new ordering system
that allows users to manage multiple orders was just rolled out. For example, let's say Fred is set up with five extra-large lunches and dinners per week in the system, and Wilma is set up with three regular lunches. Both are on the same account as recurring subscriptions. But if Fred goes to Slate Construction's annual retreat out of town and needs to stop his meals for the week, Wilma can still get hers.
Morton says that the companies are "still working on bringing their [supply] lines together"; in the fall he anticipates users will be able to choose from classic paleo meals, a paleo-inspired "middle of the road" option, vegetarian fare and potential third-party lines that can be "built as a subscription under us. It will be easy for customers to access a fellow local company that fits with what we want to offer." There is no word yet on which companies might be offered.
Writer: Allyson Jacob
Source: Robert Morton, Power Supply


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NMMA Recognizes Hurricane Deck Boats with Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index Awards
ELKHART, Indiana —March 1, 2017—The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) today announced the recipients of the 2016 Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Awards for excellence in customer satisfaction. Award recipients were acknowledged during the Innovation Breakfast at the 2017 Progressive® Insurance Miami International Boat Show® in Miami.
The Marine Industry CSI Awards honor boat and engine manufacturers who actively measure customer satisfaction and pursue continuous improvement to better serve their customers. Award recipients achieved an independently-measured standard of excellence of 90 percent or higher in customer satisfaction over the past program year, based on information provided by customers purchasing a new boat or engine during the period between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. Participating manufacturers must survey all new boat buyers during this period. For this reporting period, the program surveyed more than 122,000 customers.
“Fostering a culture of excellence in customer satisfaction not only builds exceptional brand loyalty, but creates an outstanding boating experience, ensuring that today’s boater remains the boater of tomorrow, and promotes industry growth by de veloping boaters into lifestyle advocates,” notes Robert Newsome, vice president of engineering standards and membership for NMMA. “We congratulate Hurricane Deck Boats for their commitment to their customers and for creating an incomparable boat ownership experience.”
“Every day is approached with the mindset of how can we improve; how can we make the everyday boating experience better for the people who support our brands,” stated Chip Gerlach, President and General Manager at Hurricane Deck Boats. “Hurricane was the creator of the deck boat market, and has been the industry leader for decades. We owe it to all of our dealers, consumers, and employees – to never settle for acceptable. We are dedicated to being extraordinary.”
Godfrey Marine, which includes Hurricane Deck Boats and Godfrey Pontoon Boats is the most decorated manufacturer in the industry having received 34 total CSI awards since the inception of the award in 2003.
About Godfrey Marine:
With industry-leading products including Hurricane Deck Boats, Godfrey Pontoon Boats (Sanpan, Aqua Patio and Sweetwater), Godfrey Marine is one of the largest boat manufacturers in the U.S. For more information on the company and its brands, visit www.GodfreyMarine.com


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Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley Disagree on Bitcoin
A commodity and derivatives strategist at Merrill Lynch says Bitcoin may one day become a legitimate currency, likening it to gold, the Cointelgraph writes. But Morgan Stanley analysts say digital currencies aren’t likely to ever become more than investment vehicles, according to Business Insider.
Merrill Lynch’s Francisco Blanch writes in a new report that Bitcoin may be the continuation of the evolution of money from salt to silver to paper money, according to Cointelgraph. But Bitcoin and other digital currencies still face issues of safety, liquidity and return, Blanch writes, adding that no major institution currently accepts cryptocurrencies as collateral, according to the website.
Such currencies still pose risk in terms of hacking and identity theft, Blanch writes. Bitcoin is also far more volatile than the euro or gold, but Blanch writes that during two periods in 2016, Bitcoin’s volatility was actually lower than that of silver, used for centuries as a legitimate currency, according to Cointelgraph. And while liquidity in Bitcoin remains low, it has grown to $2 billion a day in trading volume, Blanche writes. What’s more, the difficulty in mining Bitcoin is behind its value, he writes, adding that it has doubled this year, according to Cointelgraph. Ultimately, Blanch writes, it’s the faith put into digital currencies by institutions and individuals that will determine Bitcoin’s future.
And at least one Swiss wealth manager is embracing the digital currency as a legitimate asset on the heels of a recent approval by the Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority for use of Bitcoin in asset management, InvestmentNews writes. Falcon’s clients will be able to use their cash to trade and hold Bitcoin, according to the publication. The firm also put up a Bitcoin ATM in its Zurich headquarters for use by the company’s clients, InvestmentNews writes.
But according to Morgan Stanley analysts, Bitcoin will never become more than an asset, Business Insider writes. That’s because the value of cryptocurrencies is too volatile and they’re harder to use than, say, a debit or credit card, the analysts say. They also find Bitcoin’s soaring value puzzling, considering the SEC’s rejection of a bitcoin ETF, falling trading volume and the Chinese government’s clampdown on Bitcoin mining, Business Insider writes.


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Andrew Perroy has been appointed Managing Director for the U.S. region.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (December 17, 2020) Vivino, the world’s largest online wine marketplace and the world’s most downloaded application, adds a key leader to its U.S. team in an environment of record growth. Andrew Perroy is the company’s new CEO for America. It will be based in San Francisco and will work with U.S. management to focus on further growth and profitability. According to Statista, industry analysts estimate the US wine market at nearly $100 billion, with the United States and Canada accounting for the largest share.
Andrew is the right man for the job at the right time, says Haynie Zachariassen, founder of Vivino. We have seen 100% year-on-year growth. It is on this growth that we will build. Sales of Vivino’s Black Friday on Cyber Monday this year were two and a half times as high as in the same period last year.
Zacharias attributes this growth to a combination of circumstances – more people spending more time at home – combined with top strategy and smart technology. We are seeing a fundamental change in consumer behavior, and our technology allows us to effectively adapt to this change in consumer behavior, he added. It’s a change in the way people select, buy, understand and ultimately enjoy wine.
I’m very excited to join this team, especially now. Vivino has been responsible for some remarkable changes in this industry and I can’t think of a better time to be at the forefront of a major upheaval, Andrew Perroy said. Vivino is expected to reach 10 million users in the United States alone, for a total of 17 million users across America. We will use this momentum in consumer behaviour to drive additional growth in the Americas, for example in Brazil, where we believe the opportunity is ideal given the organic growth we have already experienced there.
America is the largest regional market for this 10-year-old company. Vivino’s co-founders, Zachariases and Theis Sondergaard, are more optimistic about the coming years. We are in a perfect place for our development and progress, Zacharias suggested. We are seeing a tectonic shift in consumer behavior and now attribute this to Andrew’s success in managing e-commerce and his early understanding of the business. He is a great addition to Vivino at the perfect time. We’re very happy to have him on board.
The appointment of Mr Perroy follows the appointment of the new management in the United Kingdom last month. Like several other top managers at Vivino, he spent some time at NakedWines.com before taking over the company in 2017.
Vivino was founded in 2010 by Zachariassen and Sondergaard. They were frustrated by the difficulty of choosing a good bottle of wine and knowing which wines to buy. The company has grown ten years in a row. Vivino sold nearly $150 million worth of wine worldwide in 2019 and expects this amount to more than double by 2020, thanks to a community of 48 million wine lovers. The five-star Vivino classification system is currently the largest voice of wine consumers in the world.
Vivino gives people everywhere the opportunity to enjoy wine to the fullest. Vivino is the world’s largest online wine marketplace and the most downloaded application, powered by a community of millions. Vivino’s unique wine buying experience uses community data to offer personalized wine recommendations. This makes discovering and buying wine fun and easily accessible for wine lovers of all experience levels. The Vivino app can be downloaded on Android and Apple devices.
positive disruptor,disruptor personality,organizational disruptor


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Readying to be the next-in-command at South Korea’s biggest technology company, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee is stepping up his public appearance.
The usually media-shy executive has been increasingly spotted by the public meeting with high-profile executives since his father, Chairman Lee Kun-hee, had a heart attack in May and remains in the hospital.
The latest was a meeting with the chief executive of a U.S. sportswear brand Under Armour in Seoul, which appears to have taken place prior to Lee’s meeting with China President Xi Jinping earlier this month. Citing unnamed sources, Yonhap reported Wednesday the meeting took place as Samsung looks to partner with Under Armour in developing wearable products to combat a potential tie up between companies like Apple and Nike.
A Samsung Group spokesman declined to confirm the reported meeting with Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank. Under Armour wasn’t immediately available for comment.
It’s unclear what kind products, if any, the two companies could develop together. A spokesman for Samsung Electronics said: “we don’t comment on market rumors or speculation.”
The report comes after the younger Lee—who is widely described as the international face of the South Korean conglomerate—was also spotted speaking with Apple’s Tim Cook and Liberty Global’s Michael Fries at a media and technology conference in Sun Valley earlier this month.
Samsung has been ramping up efforts to boost its share in the wearable devices market, conducting research over a number of product designs including those in the form of spectacles. The company recently introduced a fitness band, dubbed the Simband, which is not for sale but for development purposes.
Thus far, Samsung’s steps in wearables have been most evident in watch-type devices, with the company boasting in its official blog last month that it grabbed a dominant 70% share in the global smartwatch market.
Apple is expected to release its own smartwatch later this year, which could be a challenge for Samsung’s Gear series of smartwatches, analysts say.
Douglas MacMillan in San Francisco contributed to this article.


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Nissan still has a lot of work to do, if it wants to catch the Porsche 918 Spyder's insane Nurburgring lap record of 6:57, but considering what it's working with, the 2015 GT-R NISMO's lap time of 7:08.69 (with a track pack, which drops 143 lbs.) is still damn impressive (video below).
Ahead of its official debut this week, the first images of the GT-R Nismo were leaked, along with its specs. This new model will push 600 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque (raised from 545 and 463) from its twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter V6, thanks to bigger turbos, and tweaked intakes and exhaust systems. The car rides on 20-inch alloys with 255/40RF-20 run-flat Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 DSST tires, giving it some extra grip.
The ultimate NISMO is coming to Japan in late February 2014, and hits U.S. and European showrooms later in 2014.
[via Motor Authority]


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The country’s two largest delivery carriers reported losses in earnings for the quarter, adding to the long list of companies that have seen revenues increase but earnings shrink due to increased operating costs.
FedEx Corp. reported earnings of $1.26 per diluted share for its third quarter, which ended February 29, compared to $1.35 per diluted share for its third quarter the previous year.
Although revenue increased 10%, from $8.59 billion to $9.44 billion, FedEx’s income fell from $420 million to $393 million, as the company said operating margins declined because of high fuel prices and a weak U.S. economy.
“FedEx faces a challenging economic environment that includes persistently high oil prices, sluggish U.S. growth and continued concerns in the credit markets,” said Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corp. chairman, president & CEO. “We are managing our costs while positioning our portfolio of global transportation solutions to increase our profitability and returns once conditions improve.”
The company’s outlook for the next quarter isn’t much of an improvement, projecting earnings between $1.60 to $1.80 per share compared to last fourth quarter’s $1.96 per share.
UPS also reported increased revenue, growing from $11.9 billion to $12.7 billion from first quarter of 2007 to first quarter of 2008, but earnings declined 9% from $0.96 to $0.87.
"U.S. economic activity deteriorated more rapidly than expected during the quarter," said Scott Davis, UPS chairman & CEO. "While we will be extremely vigilant with respect to costs in this difficult environment, we will not lose our focus on growing the business. We will continue to invest in the infrastructure, new products and services that will enable our customers to succeed in the global marketplace.
"We see no signs of economic strengthening in the second quarter," said Kurt Kuehn, UPS CFO. "As a result, the company expects earnings for the quarter in a range of $0.97 to $1.04 per diluted share compared to $1.04 for the second quarter of 2007."
Logistics provider Ryder System, Inc. did report increased earnings, from $0.84 per share for the first quarter of 2007 to $0.96 per share for the first quarter of 2008, a 14% increase.
Revenues for Ryder fell from $1.59 billion for the first quarter of 2007 to $1.54 billion the first quarter of 2008, due to a previously announced change from gross to net revenue reporting in a subcontracted transportation agreement, the company said.
"The Ryder team delivered stronger than expected results for the quarter despite a soft overall market environment,” said Ryder chairman & CEO Greg Swienton. “Our fleet management solutions segment drove these results through continued contractual revenue growth, improved commercial rental operations and better than forecasted used vehicle sales results. Our team's focus allowed us to expand overall company margins and increase multi-year contractual business by 6% in a soft transportation market.”


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The amount of revenue generated by in-app purchases will pass pay-per-download revenue in 2012, according to a new report from ABI Research. However, the company says Android’s relatively slow adoption of application billing processes could result in this being a short-lived phenomenon.
Mark Beccue, senior analyst for mobile services at ABI Research, said “As a revenue model, in-app purchase is very limited today. The vast majority of current in-app revenue is being generated by a tiny percentage of people who are highly-committed mobile game players. We don’t believe the percentage of mobile game players making in-app purchases will grow significantly, so for in-app purchase revenues to grow, mobile developers other than game developers must adopt it. Google is literally holding back the growth of mobile application monetization. We are keying many of our mobile app revenue forecasts around our guess of Google’s plans.”
Total mobile app revenues from pay-per-download, in-app purchase, subscriptions and in-app advertising are expected to grow from $8.5 billion in 2011 to $46 billion (£29 billion) in 2016.


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Mumbai / New Delhi: Multi-level parking is emerging as an attractive business opportunity for many engineering and urban infrastructure companies.
These companies say that multi-level parking could well emerge as a Rs1,000
crore industry in the next two years.
Spaced out: A car at the entrance of the basement parking at Palika Bazaar, New Delhi. Organized players are now interested in developing new multi-level parking lots to solve the problem of urban space crunch.
“Opportunities are opening up in cities such as Mumbai, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Lucknow for development. We are working on 8-10 such projects,” says J.K. Valecha, managing director, Valecha Engineering Ltd. The Mumbai-based engineering and contracting company will be bidding for multi-level car parking projects in different cities, he added.
Municipal corporations are opening up car park spaces for realty development in big cities. Infrastructure companies that create multi-level car parking spaces get some additional space for development which can be sold or rented out for commercial purposes. The space provided for development ranges from one- tenth to almost one-third of the size of the car park. And project sizes range from Rs50 crore to Rs150 crore.
Apart from local government bodies, companies developing retail and infrastructure are also interested in outsourcing car park development.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd, the company developing Mumbai’s airport, plans a multi-level car park and Valecha, Atlanta Ltd, Soma Enterprises and DS Construction are reported to be interested in developing this facility.
“It is a good business. Each city may require five-six such parking garages, with possible revenues of Rs30-40 crore (a year) per garage. So, we are talking of thousands of crores in potential revenue,” said M. Goutham Reddy, chief executive officer of the Hyderabad-based Ramky Group.
The garages are typically bid out on 20-30 year concession periods, with operators offering a share of the revenue as royalty to the local governments, said Reddy.
Ramky Group has interests in urban infrastructure, waste management and special economic zones. The group had bid for four multi-level parking garages that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had invited tenders for in 2005, but decided against making a final offer because of the availability of free parking in the city.
“We didn’t see merit in it at the time, because we thought they (the city) were not ready for banning kerbside parking. Now we are considering bidding in other cities,” said Reddy.
“It is difficult to put a number on the business potential of this. With so many new parking space technologies coming up, this is turning out to be a good business to be in. There is a need for such projects. Downtown Mumbai needs 25 new parking projects and New Delhi needs 50,” said Gopal Sarma, managing director of infrastructure advisory division of New Delhi-based Feedback Ventures Pvt. Ltd.


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Microsoft got in trouble for bundling their browser with the OS and for preventing resellers from pre-installing competing browsers. They never interfered with other companies making their apps available. Apple doesn’t let resellers pre-install apps and does prevent certain apps (including third-party browser engines) from even being available.
What Apple has done by locking down the platform is far worse than anything Microsoft ever did with Windows.
It hurts users, it hurts developers, and I think it hurts the platform overall. Imagine how much more powerful our pocket computers could be if, for example, the folks at Panic were afforded the freedom necessary to make Transmit and Coda work on iOS.
How many developers gave up on an incredible idea because they knew it would never be approved by Apple, because the business model just wouldn’t work without the ability to sell upgrades, or because it wouldn’t be feasible with Apple taking a 30% cut of the revenue?


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Posted on October 25th, 2008
Chowking, the 3rd to the largest fast-food chain in the Philippines had surpassed McDonaldsâ€™s in terms of sales and market share. Of course, we all know that Jollibee still remain on the top being the largest fast-food chain in the country.
Interestingly, the two guys behind the Chowking Php10 billion brand are no longer working in the said company. Raffy dela Rosa, Chowkingâ€™s former president is now heading Jollibee Food Corporationâ€™s experiment carinderia food while Jojo Ajero, markerting manager, is putting up his own marketing consultancy business.
The current president of Chowking is Erwin Eliechicon, former Proctor & Gamble man and the new appointed marketing manager is Wendy Quashigah, the companyâ€™s media manager.
Mahan Airways, an Iranian airline, hopes to fly the Manila-Tehran-Dubai route by the end of the year, just in time to bring some Filipinos back to their homeland for Christmas.
The approval to fly four times a week of Civil Aeronautics Board is what Mahan Airways was waiting. The BSP or Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas offers money to the money informants but the Anti-Money Laundering (Amla) Council does not offer such financial incentives to the one who give information regarding text or e-mail pyramiding and scams. The Amla Law was amended in the year of 2003.
So far, Vicente Aquino, executive director who headed the Amla has been able to recover Php900 million in pyramiding scam on annula budget of Php10 million.
The newly installed POEA or Philippine Overseas Employment Administration head Jennifer Manalili is said to renew the Employment Permit System (EPS) with South Korea this month.
Under the memorandum agreement of both government of the Philippines and South Korea, POEA, deals directly with its Sokor counterpart to lessen the pre-departure costs of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and to protect their rights while in South Korea.
But that practice doesnâ€™t quite work out and this was resulted to workers running away from their employers. POEA, itself is slowing down the processing of workers by 40% since in the second half of 2007 because Filipino labor attachÃ©s just canâ€™t cope with the problem.
It is not cheap to get a job in South Korea, the OFW must have up an estimated Php 80,000 even before he leave the Philippines. Documents and miscellaneous fees amounting to Php 30,000 are also needed before they can go abroad.


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Twitter has grand ambitions as an ad platform, and it appears poised to make a foray into the lucrative but fragmented world of local advertising.
Twitter recently rolled out a new map-based feature called Nearby to select users, allowing them to see a map of what people in the vicinity have recently tweeted. While Twitter, which declined to comment, asserts that Nearby is merely one of its many “experiments,” agency execs believe it could help the company compete with Foursquare, Google and Yelp for local advertising dollars. Twitter could easily generate ad revenue from Nearby by allowing local businesses — or national business with local outlets — to promote their tweets within Nearby’s map. A Twitter user could check Nearby and see a promoted listing for a sale at a nearby Macy’s, a coupon to the Starbuck’s around the corner or a listing for a local dive bar, for instance.
This would make Twitter slightly more like Foursquare: a social media utility people use not just to discover what celebrities, friends and media figures are talking about, but for people to discover what’s occurring in their immediate vicinity. (Foursquare declined a request to comment.) Of course, there have been other premature reports of Foursquare’s demise. Facebook Places was hailed as a “Foursquare killer,” yet it never took off.
“It’s definitely a dagger at Foursquare if it does take off,” said Dirk Rients, director of mobile at DDB.
It would also help complete Twitter’s ad package. It already caters to big brands at the national and global level, citing Barack Obama’s use of promoted trends during his 2008 presidential campaign and Marvel using promoted tweets to advertise “Iron Man 3” in the U.K. among some of its largest successes. It has also worked to build out a direct-response business that has helped brands like Arby’s collect consumers’ email addresses. A local ad play would make sense, especially considering how strong Google and Facebook are in local ads.
“Advertisers can market on our platform in a variety of ways, from broad global campaigns to highly-targeted local ads,” Twitter said in its IPO filing. Nearby would help it better realize the latter.
“Nearby opens up local as another advertising channel for Twitter,” said Nihal Mehta, founding partner of Eniac Ventures. “Twitter has just been really national display so far. With Nearby, they can get local small businesses on board.”
If Nearby does become a full-fledged, widely used Twitter feature, it’s not certain whether Twitter will have a meaningful impact on local, small-business advertisers. Foursquare, Google and Yelp have already established advertising relationships with small businesses, many of which are typically reluctant to spend on digital advertising. A March 2013 report from Boston Consulting Group found that small businesses spend only 3 percent of their advertising budgets on digital advertising, 12 percentage points less than the national average.
Alex Jacobs, group director of marketing at DigitasLBi, said Nearby could also be useful for event marketers hoping to lure consumers into venues or a brand trying to promote the opening of a pop-up store. Jacobs was skeptical about Nearby’s potential for success, however. Turning Nearby into a lucrative local and events marketing advertising stream is predicated on people changing their Twitter habits. Specifically, users would have to suddenly become interested in tweets based on location, as well as who they choose to follow.
“On Twitter, if it’s someone who is not personally connected to me, do I really care in that moment what some stranger nearby is saying?” he said. “Unless you’re actually doing something worth talking about nearby, you’re just going to be sticking some message in front of someone,” he said.
Rients disagreed, saying Nearby could have huge implications for consumers and advertisers.
“Nearby sends a stronger signal versus Foursquare,” he said. “With a tweet, there’s more context. It’s more than just location; you can tie location to the mood of the user.”
Image via Shutterstock
More in Media
Meta AI, which first debuted in September, also got a number of updates including ways to search for real-time information through integrations with Google and Bing.
The retail giant paired its insights unit Luminate with Walmart Connect to help suppliers optimize for customer consumption, just in time for the holidays, explained the company’s CRO Seth Dallaire.
In this week’s Digiday+ Research Briefing, we examine BuzzFeed’s plans to pivot the business to an AI-driven tech and media company, how marketers’ use of X and ad spending has dropped dramatically, and how agency executives are fed up with Meta’s ad platform bugs and overcharges, as seen in recent data from Digiday+ Research.


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Like-for-like sales fell 2.6% and total sales fell 0.4% in November, according to the British Retail Consortium today.
The BRC said it was the first time its sales monitor had shown two consecutive months of declining total sales.
October sales showed a decline of 0.1%. The monitor began in 1995.
The BRC said the food and drink sector was the only sector to show sales up on a year ago.
It said, despite extensive heavy discounting, clothing and footwear, furniture and big-ticket homewares fell further below year-earlier levels.
It said discounts and promotions continued but often failed to tempt customers unless they perceived value or really needed the product.
Non-food non-store sales in November were 9.5% higher than a year ago.
As with store sales, this was worse than in October, when sales were 16.6% up on a year ago.


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Kids learn business ropes at 4-H fair
??We have a dilemma,\" Ron Noakes said Friday. \"Our society is almost broke.\"
The citizens of MiniVille took the news calmly, and none suggested printing more money as a solution. Nor were they willing to pay taxes to the government they created this week in the 4-H mini-society program at the Colorado State Fairgrounds.
\"Why is our country running out of money?\" Noakes asked.
\"The government has no way to get money,\" answered Johnny Stewart, 11, who helped manage the prosperous RDJ's Enterprises Inc., a trading post selling goods and services for hefty prices. A colorful fish tattoo cost $1,500, but promised to resist vigorous scrubbing.
Johnny ran the business like a pro, selling stickers, theatrical makeup, decorated rocks, picture frames, butterfly sun catchers and candy. He rented a hot-glue gun to Shylehn Hartman, 11, who needed it for her crafts business, MiniVille's Knickknack Shop, across the hall.
\"I make little kinds of things like jewelry and decorated clips,\" Shylehn said. \"I love doing things like this. I'm constantly making jewelry and beads. My mom likes to do crafts with me - our whole house is full of crafts that we've made.\"
Caitlyn Darnell, 10, offered service for sale.
\"It's kind of like a job 'temp' business,\" she said. \"If someone wants to find someone to do a job, I can send a person in to do the job. I've had people looking for advertisers and store clerks.\"
Making money wasn't all the kids were doing at MiniVille. Some were keeping watch on all the cash. Treasurer Adena King, 13, totaled up the money printed this week, and reported that $427,050 should come back to the bank at the end of the program.
Adena said $5,000 bills were the most popular, possibly because that's what the treasury department paid a new business owner at start-up.
\"That's what put our government into receivership today,\" Noakes laughed.
That and the $250 each person got paid daily for showing up at work.
Paymaster Heather Herrera, 11, was responsible for distributing some of this money.
\"The treasurer gives me the money to pay the people in my group,\" she said.
The weeklong program was scheduled to end Friday with a record-breaking auction of goods. Noakes said a little 4-H bear brought $150,000 the day before, and he couldn't guess what the remaining bear would fetch.
\"In order to close a society, we have to get all the money back,\" he said.
Noakes said the mini-society program is about 30 years old, but is new this year to Pueblo.
\"It's part of 4-H after-school academic programming,\" he said. \"4-H got together with the Kaufman Center (for Entrepreneurial Leadership), and 4-H has been using it as another vehicle to reach kids, to teach them about entrepreneurship.\"
A grant to the Pueblo County 4-H program paid for supplies and for Noakes, a longtime 4-H leader, to go to Kansas City, Mo., for training.
\"We're trying to teach them a little bit of common sense, along with some of the things they'll need to get along in the world. All these kids have the basic knowledge to go out and start a business.\"
In addition to 4-H members, children from Big Brothers/Big Sisters and from Concerned Parents of Pueblo spent the week as citizens of MiniVille.
Schools that want more information about the mini-society as an after-school activity can get it through the Pueblo County Cooperative Extension office, 583-6566.


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A new version of the Apple Watch is coming soon, according to database filings uncovered on Monday. Little is known about the potential upgrades to the company’s wearables line, but previous rumors suggest a larger display and better heart rate detection.
The filings, discovered by Consomac and translated by MacRumors, show new model numbers filed with the Eurasian Economic Commission. The numbers, A1977, A1978, A1975, A1976, A2007 and A2008, suggest Apple will unveil six variations of watch. This is fewer than the eight models of the Series 3 watch currently on the market, with both 38mm and 42mm models available in aluminum without cellular, aluminum with cellular, steel and ceramic. While Apple could drop the non-cellular model as part of the upgrade, Consomac also speculates that Apple could drop the expensive $1,299 ceramic model dubbed “Edition” — which inherited the same moniker as its $10,000 solid gold predecessor when the second generation launched in 2016.
The Eurasian Economic Commission’s database has a mixed track record for signaling product launches. A July filing showed five new MacBook model numbers, which suggested a new laptop was on the way. Less than a week later, Apple updated its MacBook Pro line with i9-equipped machines. Other filings have been less reliable: a series of iPad models around the same time, and an iPhone filing in April, ultimately amounted to nothing.
The Apple Watch has not revolutionized the world on the same scale as the iPhone (or, to a lesser extent, the iPad) but it has quietly cemeted itself as a leader in the wearables space. It’s sold over 46 million units since its launch three years ago, and IDC found it was the top-selling wearables device of last year. The removal of the gold model and the addition of more workouts may suggest a change in strategy for the watch, but it’s proven popular with consumers.
The commission filing also claimed the new watches will run watchOS 5. This is a new software update for existing watches, announced at WWDC 2018 for a fall release, that includes new features like better third-party app support and smarter “Siri Shortcuts.”
The release could also prove an ideal time for single buyers to get a watch, after an August survey found 67 percent would find it attractive if their date was wearing a smartwatch.


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CEED IS BUILT OF, BY AND FOR ENTREPRENEURS CEED believes that entrepreneurship is the single best tool to support economic development and grow emerging and frontier economies. Entrepreneurs can operate anywhere, but they thrive in an ecosystem of support.
CEED is an organization that we work together in many interesting locations around the world. Congrats to the CEED team for some amazing work.
Entrepreneurship: Morocco agreed to host the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, President Obama’s signature initiative to promote entrepreneurship overseas. USAID, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Global Entrepreneurship Program, recently launched the Center of Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED) in Morocco. CEED will empower entrepreneurs to succeed in challenging business environments and is financed through a grant of $2.6 million for programming in Morocco and Tunisia.


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HONG KONG -- Soft-drink giant Coca-Cola said Wednesday that it has pulled a robot figurine adorned with what appear to be swastikas from a Hong Kong promotion after criticism from a local Jewish leader. The company withdrew "Robowaru" from a promotional set of plastic figurines derived from the Japanese television series Robocon, after Rabbi Yakkov Kermaier of Hong Kong complained, Coca-Cola spokesman Kelly Brooks said. Robowaru has two swastikalike designs printed on its chest.
THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
Copyright © 2021, Orlando Sentinel


text:
Spiralling rents, particularly in London, have been hitting the headlines lately and now it seems a rent hike will force the hand of one of the world’s most famous cycle ...
"The build-it-and-they-will-come crowd ought to realise there is no silver bullet to increase cyclingâ€™s modal share," says Dutch cycling professor.
Shown to press in Austria recently, BikeBiz looks at some 2016 highlights
Landlords are not exceedingly popular at the moment, and with news like this there's no wonder
Who did the trade pick out for this year's cycle industry awards?
Follow us on
Exciting opportunity to join our Saracen Bike Team in Milton Keynes
David Robert has been named as the new editor of Cycling World Magazine.
Distributor Velotech Services has released details of new pricing on a number of lines from the ROTOR brand.
Tannus Tyres has signed Coyote Sports as its UK distributor, with stock available from this month.
Last night saw what's being described as the first time a dedicated women’s cycling lifestyle show was aired on TV.


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In an event that took place last weekend, some of Napoleon Bonaparte’s personal effects were auctioned off in an effort to raise money for palace renovations. Some of these effects included his sword, his stockings, and small medals, but the largest contributor to the auction was his hat. So, how much was Napoleon Bonaparte’s hat worth? At auction it sold for $2.4 million U.S. dollars, around $1.9 million Euros. As the family and auctioneers were predicting to get at least $500,000 for the hat, the price it sold for was far beyond expectations.
History teaches us of Napoleon Bonaparte, “a small man, who left behind a huge legacy,” but with the most recent event, bearing his name, it seems that his legacy continues, even today. He was an ordinary man who quickly rose to power after conquering most of early 19th century Europe. In the military he began as a leader in the French Revolution in the late 1700’s. In 1804 he crowned himself emperor and began waging wars against European nations in order to expand his empire. It went downhill from there as he was exiles a couple of years later, but then returned in 1815 to rule in power during his famous Hundred Days campaign. Then, only to be exiled again some time later, his legacy had already been left behind when he died at age 51.
Though historical items always seem to bring in the big bucks, Napoleon Bonaparte’s things were no exception. In fact, items from the French Revolution have brought in big bucks in the past. Such was the case when his gold-encrusted saber brought in a record $6.5 million in 2007. However, the auction of his hat, with twice the expected amount, was extraordinary. The infamous hat received the final bid and ended up with a South Korean collector. During the auction the delicate item sat on top of a pillow, in its own chair, awaiting the final bid of $2.4 million dollars.
Other items auctioned off went to various collectors, though the final bid prices were not released. Nearly 1,000 objects were released by the Monaco royal family, in hopes that the objects would be given “a new lease [on] life.” Some of these items were portraits of Napoleon, letters written by him, cologne bottles, the stockings he wore, weapons he used, and even a knife used in an assassination attempt against him. Also auctioned off were some of Napoleon’s son’s baby clothes and childhood items.
The auction attracted hundreds of buyers, resulting in a packed auction house. One such buyer, is a huge collector of Napoleon Bonaparte things, as he hopes to create a museum. Owner of the Liberation newspaper, Mr. Bruno Ledoux, was hoping to get his hands on some of Napoleon II’s baby items, though it was not released for certain, whether or not he achieved his goal.
But the star attraction of the event was still his black bicorn hat. Only 19 of those types of hats have ever existed, giving reason to why Napoleon Bonaparte’s hat was worth so much, but even more interesting is the story of how his hat become such a contributor to his legacy. It is said that during his time in battles, the French leader wore his hat with the tips on each side of his head, rather than from front to back, like the hat was usually worn. Many, many years ago when asked why he wore it so unusually, Napoleon said it was so his men could recognize him in battle. Pictures of the infamous French leader wearing the hat the wrong way, can still be seen today.
Since the early 2000’s, prices for Napoleon’s things have been rising exponentially. Especially now, with the Battle of Waterloo anniversary approaching, collector’s are battling over the things that once belonged to Napoleon. The New York Times is calling it, the “New Napoleonic Era.”
By Crystal Boulware


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The week in the run up to Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday saw a record £4 million worth of gold and silver medallions bearing the living icon’s image nearly sell out from the UK and South African-based Scoin Shop stores – the world’s and UK’s only gold coin retail chain.
Scoin Shop founder, international coin dealer and bullion expert Alan Demby commented, “The increased interest in Mandela is part of a general upward trend of consumers investing in commemorative coins due to their limited mintage and rarity. The recent Diamond Jubilee and Royal Wedding saw sales of commemorative coins retail on par with bullion coins for the first time. Few can dispute that Nelson Mandela is a living legend, and with much of the struggle for the ending of apartheid fought from the UK, there will always be significant interest in his life and legacy.”
The collectable Mandela medallions are part of the Nobel Peace Prize commemorative medallion programme, featuring Nelson Mandela and the inscription “A Long Walk to Freedom”. The design of the Mandela medallions, minted by the Mint of Norway, have been approved by the Nobel Institute as well as the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
A percentage of all sales of Mandela medallions and coins are given to The Nelson Mandela Foundation as well as the Nobel Institute.


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Analyst: Apple is Involved in 60 Percent of Mobile Patent Lawsuits
July 11, 2012 2:04 PM
comment(s) - last by
Phonemaker plays both a bully and a victim amid countless lawsuits
If some tech readers tire of constantly seeing Apple, Inc.'s (
) name in the news regarding patent lawsuits, understand that those stories are hardly coincidence or the product of a newsperson's overactive imagination. Apple simply is in a swirling, whirling, ever-growing maelstrom of lawsuits, some filed by it and others filed against it.
I. Some of Them Want to Abuse You...
According to consulting firm Kanzatec IP Group, 60 percent of active lawsuits in the mobile industry involve Apple.
These lawsuits generally fall into two categories. The first category is suits filed
Apple by smaller intellectual property holders, such as Elan Microelectronics Inc. (
successfully sued Apple
"stealing" its multi-touch technology
world's most profitable company
a juicy target
for small IP holders. And Apple's large all-inclusive hardware-software-sales ecosystem offers many levels to hunt for infringements.
A graphic by Kanzatec depicting who is suing who. [Image Source: Kanzatec]
Feisal Mosleh, a senior vice president at Kanzatec, comments, "I would speculate that Apple will continue to be at the center of the litigation map of large mobile IT companies for as long as it maintains its dominant place in the market"
II. ...Some of Them Want to be Abused
On the other hand, Apple has also been a student of these firms and take a page from their playbook, initiating suits with rivals. When Google Inc.'s (
) Android moved into the passing lane, late Apple CEO Steve Jobs' feelings on the OS changed from it being a tolerable nuisance to being
an intolerable "thief"
Despite his firm borrowing multiple innovations from Android -- true multi-tasking, notifications, copy and paste, etc. (innovations that were present in Windows Mobile, of course, long before that even). -- Mr. Jobs claimed that Android phonemakers were "stealing" his company's intellectual property.
Apple initiated a
suit against top rival Samsung
Electronics Comp., Ltd. (
) in April 2011, after first suing smaller Android phonemaker HTC Corp. (
have filed countersuits against Apple in several regions, claiming Apple stole their intellectual property.
Apple has also looked to
bully now bankrupt Eastman Kodak
Corp., the company that invented the digital camera. Apple tried to
stop a sale
of the bankrupt firm's intellectual property.
Steven P. Jobs' dying wish of "thermonuclear war" with Android has been fulfilled.
Google has fought back against Apple, initiating a preemptive strike with
subsidiary Motorola Mobility
in Oct. 2010. That barrage was countered by Apple, which
the same month. Those lawsuits
appear to be dead in the U.S.
, following a landmark ruling by a veteran Chicago-area federal judge.
Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple also has been battered by lawsuits from Nokia Oyj. (
). The veteran Finnish phonemaker successfully
forced Apple into one licensing settlement
and is actively pursuing a new infringement lawsuit.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
7/12/2012 1:03:28 PM
Pot, meet kettle.
You are unable to rationalize any of your arguments without using half-truths and blatant lies. Drink your cyanide-flavored Apple kool-aid and stop breathing.
7/15/2012 6:56:47 AM
'Pot, meet kettle'
If any insults are actually more insulting to the person who said them, it's these.
What's ironic is I posted the exact same structure of sentence you did, and you describe it as 'unable to rationalize' and 'half-truths', 'blatant lies', 'kool-aid' and suggested I 'stop-breathing'.
I suspect the irony of the advice you are therefore providing yourself is lost on you.
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The business unit of German conglomerate Siemens has made a foray into 3D rendering and VR with its latest acquisition of Lightwork Design.
The Sheffield-based company works across computer software and technology licensing with a focus on 3D rendering software and virtual reality (VR).
Having been acquired from Mobeus Lightworks will now join Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of Sieman’s Digital Factory division.
Siemens PLM Software chief executive Tony Hemmelgarn said: “With this acquisition, we increase the accuracy of the digital twin by adding advanced visualisation, rendering and virtual reality technology into all phases of the virtual product development process.
“The visualisation and virtual reality space is continually changing and growing, and Lightwork Design has the advanced 3D data visualisation, rendering and virtual reality technology required to help keep us in the forefront of the marketplace.”
Mobeus previously made a £1.9m management buyout of Lightwork Design in 2006, along with Machineworks, at which point the two companies were grouped together as VSI Ltd.
“The demand for high-end, interactive and consistent product visualisation in design and manufacturing is growing quickly,” said Lightworks chief executive David Forrester.
“Combining our Iray+ technology and virtual reality collaborative design review software with Siemens PLM Software’s business will enable us to provide world-class solutions to the design and manufacturing industry on an even larger scale.
“We look forward to the opportunities for further development and integration of our visualisation technology with existing Siemens software to contribute to Siemens’ broader digitalisation strategy.”
Siemens’ 3D design application NXTM software already leverages Lightworks’ capabilities are already embedded into and there are plans to expand the tech across the Siemens portfolio.


text:
It was rumoured that Apple would indeed have another keynote planned this year, and it seems like the rumours were true for once.
As for what Apple is going to debut, nothing is confirmed for now, but the company will be holding their event in New York at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as 16:00 local time. Whether or not more can be read into the venue is unclear, but we’re pretty sure that no music-specific offering is on the cards.
That said Apple could surprise us with something completely different (fingers crossed).
What is more than likely to appear is a new series of iPad Pros, along with a refreshed version of the MacBook Air.
The latter is the more intriguing one for us, as it has long been the go-to option for Apple fans unable to handle the price tag that a MacBook Pro commands.
With a little over one week to go until the Apple Event happens, there will probably be a few leaks to come.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — Chipotle says it stopped serving pork at hundreds of its restaurants after suspending a supplier that violated its standards.
Chris Arnold, a spokesman for the Mexican food chain, told The Associated Press it’s the first time the company stopped serving a topping for its burritos and bowls. He said Chipotle learned of the violation by the supplier on Friday through a routine audit, and did not have a timeline for when carnitas would return to affected stores, about a third of its total base.
“It’s hard to say how long it will last,” he said.
In New York City on Tuesday, a sign on the door of a Chipotle location stated, “SORRY, NO CARNITAS.”
Arnold said most of the issues related to the violations concerned the housing for the pigs. Chipotle demands that its suppliers raise pigs in humane conditions with access to the outdoors, rather than in cramped pens.
On other occasions, Chipotle customers may have noticed signs saying a restaurant is serving meat that doesn’t meet the company’s “responsibly raised” standards. That’s typically because Chipotle has trouble securing supplies of beef raised without antibiotics or hormones, Arnold said.
The company then serves beef that was “conventionally raised.”
That is not happening with the carnitas, however.
“In this case, we won’t make that kind of substitution,” Arnold said in an email.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. had 1,724 restaurants as of Sept. 30. The Denver-based chain has enjoyed strong sales growth, in part by positioning its food as a higher quality alternative to traditional fast-food restaurants. In the latest quarter, sales surged 19.8 percent at established locations.
Paul Shapiro, vice president of farm animal protection for The Humane Society of the United States, said that most breeding pigs in the country are kept in gestation crates with concrete floors. Pigs that are raised with access to the outdoors or bedding represent a “very small portion of the pork industry,” he said.
Even among farms where pigs have better conditions, Shapiro said access to the outdoors can vary.
“It doesn’t mean these animals are living in ideal conditions on Old MacDonald’s farm,” he said.
As for Chipotle, Arnold said the company is looking at a variety of ways to remedy its carnitas shortage, including the use of different cuts of pork or increasing orders from other suppliers. He said he hopes the supplier in question will fix its issues and eventually come “back on board.”
Arnold said the carnitas topping typically accounts for about 6 to 7 percent of entree orders; chicken is the most popular topping.


text:
LOS ANGELES – Fox Networks today announced that Verizon FiOS TV and Mediacom subscribers will have access to FOX on Demand (VOD), and both providers are scheduled to offer FOX’s recently launched online authentication service.
Verizon launched FOX On Demand on October 1, and Mediacom will be launching the service in the coming weeks. FOX On Demand offers viewers an opportunity to easily access and catch up with their favorite FOX programming. Almost all FOX primetime programming, including GLEE, FAMILY GUY, BONES, RAISING HOPE, and THE SIMPSONS, is available for viewing on VOD the day after each episode airs and remains on the service for 28 days. This includes FOX’s new Fall series, such as THE X FACTOR, NEW GIRL, and TERRA NOVA. (THE X FACTOR is available for the three days following air.) (more…)


text:
In response to the long-rumored HarmonyOS mobile phone, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business, admitted its existence in the latest interview and said it will be launched as soon as next year.
Huawei has officially confirmed that at the 2020 HDC Developers Conference on September 10, a new version of HarmonyOS will be released, and a lot of new products equipped with HarmonyOS will be release soon.
It is reported that the new HarmonyOS released this time can be called HarmonyOS 2.0. Compared with HarmonyOS 1.0 (only used on TV), it will be used IN Huawei’s PCs, watches/bands, and car products.
What everyone cares more about is when the HarmonyOS will be used on mobile phones. In response to the long-rumored HarmonyOS mobile phone, Richard Yu admitted its existence in the latest interview and said it will be launched as soon as next year.
In terms of the HarmonyOS, Huawei’s TV has already been used. Richard Yu revealed that this year Huawei’s smartwatch products will also be equipped with HarmonyOS. In the future, all of Huawei’s IoT products, including PCs, tablets, and even mobile phones, may use HarmonyOS.
He said that the HarmonyOS-powered phone has been ready for a long time, just because there is an agreement with Google, so it has to wait. Starting next year. HarmonyOS can be used in mobile phones, smart TV, smartwatch, PC, car, and other products.
According to Richard Yu, HarmonyOS will become a worldwide operating system in the future.
In the face of the continuous upgrade of the US’s ban on the supply of Huawei’s chips, how Huawei will deal with the problem, Richard Yu said that Huawei is currently looking for ways.
Richard Yu disclosed in his previous speech that the Huawei Mate 40 released this fall is equipped with a new generation of Kirin 9000 chips, which will have more powerful 5G capabilities, more powerful AI processing capabilities, and more powerful CPUs and GPUs.
“Unfortunately, under the sanctions of the United States, TSMC only accepted orders before September 15th. By September 15th, it will not be able to produce chips for Huawei. So Kirin 9000 may be our last generation of Huawei Kirin high-end chips. ” Richard Yu said helplessly.
According to the latest news from the upstream industry chain, in order to meet Huawei’s 5nm order demand to the greatest extent, TSMC is producing non-stop 24 hours a day, and it must deliver all of it before September 14, because they will not be able to take orders for Huawei chips after that.
TSMC Chairman Liu Deyin has previously confirmed that it will no longer ship to Huawei after September 14, and will not accept new orders from Huawei after May 15.
In order to rapidly develop the HarmonyOS, Huawei is actively deploying HMS. From Huawei’s internal progress, building the HMS ecology is Huawei’s top priority.
On February 20 this year, Huawei confirmed the establishment of a new secondary department to be responsible for the ecological construction of HMS.
At present, Huawei’s terminal global monthly active users have reached 700 million, Huawei’s global registered developers have reached 1.6 million, and the number of applications connected to HMS Core has exceeded 81,000 worldwide.
At present, Huawei officially announced HMS Core 5.0, which has the ability to open up services in seven areas, including App Services, Graphics, Media, AI, Smart Device, Security, and System.


text:
The Dollar’s Current Situation
In the ever-fluctuating world of foreign exchange markets, the Dollar’s recent sell-off has left many market participants on edge. However, the excitement has seemingly fizzled out, leaving traders and investors searching for fresh impetus to guide their decisions. In this article, we’ll delve into the key factors shaping the Dollar’s path forward, including impending US data releases, supply dynamics, and the watchful eyes of central banks.
US Data Driving Forces
The next significant moves in the currency markets are poised to be driven by a series of critical US data releases. Wednesday’s release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Thursday’s unveiling of Retail Sales figures, and Friday’s Industrial Production report are all eagerly anticipated events that could sway the Dollar’s fortunes.
The CPI Impact
Wednesday’s CPI data, often considered a barometer of inflation, has the potential to wield substantial influence. A surprising uptick in inflation could bolster the Dollar, as it may prompt expectations of tighter monetary policy by the Federal Reserve.
Retail Sales and Industrial Production
Thursday and Friday will bring Retail Sales and Industrial Production data, respectively. These figures offer insights into consumer spending and the health of the manufacturing sector, both of which can significantly affect the Dollar’s performance. Positive reports may encourage Dollar strength, while disappointing results could lead to its decline.
Supply dynamics play a pivotal role in currency markets, and this week is no exception. The influx of supply, in the form of USD35 billion in 10-year bonds today and an additional USD20 billion in bonds on Wednesday, could influence the Dollar’s trajectory. An oversupply of bonds may exert downward pressure on the currency, while strong demand could provide support.
Global Central Banks and Their Concerns
Beyond domestic factors, the actions and statements of central banks around the world can have profound implications for the Dollar’s direction. Notably, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the People’s Bank of China have voiced their concerns about the Dollar’s rapid rally. However, their attempts to convey the need for a substantial policy response have yet to convince the markets.
The BoJ’s Perspective
The Bank of Japan has been particularly vocal about its unease regarding the Dollar’s swift ascent. Yet, despite their reservations, they have not presented a clear and decisive policy action that would alter the Dollar’s course. The markets remain skeptical, awaiting concrete steps from the BoJ.
China, another key player in the global economy, has also expressed concerns about the Dollar’s rapid appreciation. Their reluctance to intervene in a substantial manner leaves uncertainty hanging in the air. Traders and investors are cautious, wary of a sudden shift in China’s stance.
The Dollar’s Near-Term Outlook
As we navigate these influencing factors, the Dollar’s near-term outlook remains uncertain. One of the most pressing dangers lies in the potential strength of upcoming US data releases. Should these reports reveal robust economic performance, the Dollar could surge to new near-term highs, leaving market participants to reassess their strategies.
In the intricate world of currency trading, the Dollar’s path forward is subject to a delicate interplay of factors. From crucial US data releases to the supply of bonds and the watchful eyes of global central banks, market participants must carefully weigh the variables influencing the Dollar’s trajectory. As the week unfolds, the currency markets are poised for potential turbulence, and traders must remain vigilant in their pursuit of profits.


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As many as eight mobile games have generated more than $1 billion in consumer spending so far in 2021.
According to Sensor Tower, the revenue was generated between 1 January 2021 and 14 December 2021 across the App Store and Google Play.
The highest-grossing titles this year were PUBG Mobile and Honor of Kings, both from Tencent, which generated $2.8 billion in player spending each, a rise of 9 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.
The third-highest grossing game was Genshin Impact from Mihoyo, which generated $1.8 billion this year. Since its launch in September 2020, Genshin Impact has generated a total of $2.4 billion on mobile devices alone.
In fourth place was Roblox, which accumulated $1.3 billion in player spending on mobile devices, an increase of 20.3 per cent year-over-year. Similarly, Coin Master from Moon Active generated $1.3 billion placing fifth, an increase of 13.8 per cent year-over-year.
Placing sixth is Pokémon Go from Niantic, which is streamlined for its best year to date at $1.2 billion. In the seven months from November 2020 to July 2021, Pokémon Go generated $1 billion in player spending, averaging its earnings at $1 billion each year.
In seventh and eighth place are Candy Crush from King and Free Fire from Garena, generating $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion respectively.
Three more games passed the billion dollar mark this year in comparison to 2020, with newcomers being Genshin Impact, Free Fire, and Candy Crush Saga.
Before the end of the year the total number of unicorn games may yet reach nine, with Uma Musume Pretty Derby from Cygames generating $965 million since its release in February 2021, despite only being available in Japan.
By the end of the year, Sensor Tower has forecast that mobile games will generate a total of $89.6 billion in worldwide player spending.


text:
While many luxury brands have announced that they’re strongly considering all-wheel drive variants of some of their high performance vehicle line ups to better compete against the likes of Audi and to fulfill demand (such as Mercedes-Benz offering 4MATIC all-wheel drive for the E63 and CLS63 AMG in left-hand drive markets), BMW have reportedly said that they’ll be sticking to rear-wheel drive for the BMW M models.
Check out the Top 10 things you need to know about the 2013 BMW M5.
BMW M’s global head, Friedrich Nitschke spoke to AutoCarUK on the matter last month at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.
“Our philosophy in regards to steering feel and precision is that rear-wheel drive is the best solution,” Nitschke told AutoCarUK. “xDrive brings an 80-90kg weight penalty and the M differential is the industry’s best rear-drive set-up.”
Click here for more news about the BMW M5.
Nitschke was also quoted for saying some alleviating words to those who’ve been fearful of BMW M axing their manual transmission. This notion came after early reports suggested that BMW would be axing the manual cog swapper for the next generation BMW M5 and M6—the generation after the current existing models.
“From a production aspect, it would be much better to only offer the dual-clutch gearbox,” said Nitschke. “But as long as there is demand, we’ll offer the manual.”
Nitschke also commented on some criticism expressed by BMW purists, specifically regarding the current M5 and M6’s changeover to forced-induced engines and promised that “it’s not a change in philosophy, it’s a change in technology. Turbocharging is better for fuel savings and CO2.”
And if anyone were postulating the idea of an M version of BMW’s latest 3-Series GT, Nitschke confirmed that it is currently not on the table for consideration.
“At the moment, we have an M3 coupé, saloon, and convertible,” Nitschke concluded. “We do not see additional variants at the moment. But it depends on market requirements.”
– By: Chris Chin


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Stocks gained ground in early trading on Wall Street after oil prices briefly moved higher on more jawboning about production cuts. Investors, though, quickly grew wary of the talk and oil fell back below $30 a barrel, trimming early stock gains.
By midmorning, the S&P 500 was up by 15 points to 1,879, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was ahead 95 points to 16,069 and the Nasdaq was higher by 58 points to 4,396. The S&P Retail ETF rose 1.3 percent to $39.84.
Tailored Brands Inc. said that fourth-quarter comparable-store sales at its Men’s Wearhouse chain inched up 4.3 percent, but that the Jos. A. Bank unit continued to struggle, with comps down 31.9 percent “primarily due to a decline in average transactions per store.” The firm said its 2015 bottom line would be near the bottom of its previous guidance, calling for adjusted profits of $1.75 to $2. Tailored Brands also noted that the Jos. A. Bank chain was likely in for a “significant non-cash impairment charge.” Investors had been primed for bad news and pushed the stock up 3 cents to $13.32.
Bebe Stores, Inc. reported that the company suffered a net loss of $5.5 million, or 7 cents a share, for the second fiscal quarter and said it would stop providing guidance. The highly promotional holiday season clearly hurt the specialty retailer. Net sales decreased 5 percent to $122.4 million. Comparable-store sales declined 2.5 percent versus last year’s increase of 8 percent for the same period. Bebe stock was up 3 cents to sell at 39 cents per share.
Skechers and Adidas’ battle over sneakers heated up. Adidas won a bid to block Skechers from selling what it deemed were knockoffs of a well-known Adidas design. Skechers declared that the shoes in question had already been discontinued and suggested they were minor styles in its “vast footwear collection.” Skechers stock gained by almost 4 percent to $31.55. Adidas stock was down 0.03 percent to 91.11 euros, or $102.
On Monday, H&M or Hennes & Mauritz reported that its group sales for January increased by 7 percent including VAT as compared to January of 2015. H&M also noted that January 2016 had one extra Sunday than January 2015. Total sales for the first quarter for the company will be released on March 15. The stock is down almost 1 percent today to 276 Swedish krona, or $32.48.
Prestige Brands said that it is offering $350 million in senior notes due 2024. The company will use the proceeds to redeem outstanding 8.125 percent senior notes due 2020 and to repay the bridge credit facility entered into in connection with the DenTek Holdings acquisition. Prestige Brands stock is up by 1.8 percent to $48.52.
Sequential Brands laid out a new partnership with ONE Jeanswear group to expand distribution for William Rast, the fashion brand cofounded by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala. Sequential will broaden the retail footprint with William Rast’s 2016 fall collection. Sequential Brands stock is higher by 1 percent to $5.54.
Elsewhere in the market, gold has pulled back to $1,211.50 an ounce for a drop of 2.2 percent. The Empire manufacturing report, which registers New York’s manufacturing health, dropped by 16.6 points, much worse than the consensus call for a decline of 9.9 points.
Asian markets ended the day on a higher note with China’s Shanghai Composite spiking 3.3 percent as Chinese financial stocks popped. Europe’s market are mixed with Germany’s DAX lower by 0.8 percent, the French CAC is flat and the U.K. FTSE is up slightly.


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Polaroid execs created a huge spectacle at CES 2011, featuring the queen of flash: Lady Gaga, who was named the company's new creative director a year earlier.
At the show, Polaroid unveiled three products in its new "Grey Label by Haus of Gaga." The Lady herself described the trio for attendees -- and as The Next Web noted: "I've never heard point-and-shoot photography sound so confusing as I did when listening to Lady Gaga."
The first product Gaga unveiled was the strangest: a pair of face-swallowing sunglasses called GL20 Camera Glasses. They would capture photos and video like a regular camera, then display them on the glasses' LCD screens for others to see. Photos could be sent to a printer via a Bluetooth connection.
The next two products felt more like traditional Polaroid, albeit with modern touches. First up: the GL10 Instant Mobile Printer, which printed 3x4 photos wirelessly from cell phones. Rounding out the trio was the GL30, an instant camera with a retro design that harkened back to the Polaroid cameras of decades past.
The instant camera seemed most likely to be released, as it's Polaroid's bread and butter. But it never came out -- and, unsurprisingly, neither did the Camera Glasses. The GL10 printer went on sale in June 2011 for $170. It's now available for $100.
CES launched some history-making devices -- and several major disasters.
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|Republican governors on Obamacare repeal: Not so fast|
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|This taxpayer-owned bank has lost $74 billion in 9 years|


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First, real GDP grew 4.0% in the fourth quarter versus a year earlier, the slowest rate of growth since the second quarter of 2020. This was down from the 4.9% growth recorded in the third quarter. Moreover, other than during the pandemic, it is the slowest rate of growth since the early 1990s. Notably, real GDP for all of 2021 was up 8.1% from 2020. This high rate of growth reflected the impact of a near collapse of GDP in the first quarter of 2020. The report of slow growth in the fourth quarter was met with a central bank decision to cut two key interest rates for the first time since early 2020. The central bank move was cautious, however, cutting the rates only by 10 basis points. Still, when combined with other recent moves by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), this suggests that the authorities are likely concerned about the economy’s evident weakness.
Meanwhile, the government also reported that retail sales grew a paltry 1.7% in December versus a year earlier. This was the slowest rate of growth since August 2020. Other than during the pandemic, this is the slowest growth of retail sales on record. Some categories of spending saw an absolute decline in year-over-year spending. This included clothing (down 2.3%), jewelry (down 0.2%), home appliances (down 6.0%), furniture (down 3.1%), and automobiles (down 7.4%). Sales were up sharply for oil products (up 15.5%), a reflection of higher oil prices. The weakness of retail spending was likely related to the surge in COVID-19 cases and the resulting lockdowns in numerous locations. The continuation of the zero-tolerance policy regarding the virus will likely limit retail spending growth going forward. There has been speculation, however, that the zero-tolerance policy might be eased once the Winter Olympics are over.
The weakest part of the Chinese economy was the property sector. Investment in real estate fell 13.9% in December versus a year earlier, which was far worse than the 4.3% decline in November. For all of 2021, the floor area of new construction starts fell 11.4% from the previous year. On the other hand, the volume of property sales increased modestly in 2021, evidence that demand continues to grow. The weakness in the property sector reflects the government’s decision to limit the ability of property developers to take on new debt.
Going forward, the head of China’s statistics bureau predicts that property investment will grow steadily in 2022. However, there is reason to expect that the sector will continue to contract in 2022, especially given the government’s efforts to restrict property sector debt. Moreover, if the sector continues to decline, it will have a negative impact on economic growth. While worrisome in the short-term, the decline in the property sector could be seen as a positive development from a longer-term perspective. That is because property had grown in recent years to an unnatural level, fuelled by debt and generating extreme excess supply of residential property. For China to have a normal economy in the future, the property sector will have to be somewhat smaller.
The one positive element in China’s economy is industrial production. It grew 4.3% in December versus a year earlier, up from 3.8% in November. This was the strongest growth in industrial production since August. For the full year, industrial production was up 9.6%. The acceleration of industrial production, which also took place in neighbouring Japan and South Korea, could be indicative of improvements in supply chain efficiency, the removal of bottlenecks, and fewer shortages of key inputs. By sector, there were some significant improvements. For example, automotive production increased 2.8% in December after having declined 4.7% in November. In addition, production of electrical machinery increased 5.8% while production of communications equipment increased 12.0%. The strength of industrial production coincided with strong exports.
The current slowdown of China’s economy, and especially its property sector, is likely to have global implications in the coming year. China imports a great deal of commodities, inputs, final products, and services from the rest of the world. A slower economy means a deceleration of imports, which will surely have a negative impact on China’s major trading partners. The decline in the property sector will mean fewer imports of construction-related materials than would otherwise be the case. This will likely include iron ore, coal, lumber, steel, and aluminium. There will also be a slowdown in China’s domestic production of these items. Lower imports of mineral commodities will put downward pressure on global commodity prices, thereby helping to reduce global inflationary pressures. Also, continued pandemic-related precautions will likely mean limited border crossings. This will hurt both China’s burgeoning tourist sector as well as global tourist locations that had become increasingly dependant on Chinese tourists.
Finally, it is worth noting that the last time prior to the pandemic that China grew so slowly was in the early 1990s when the country went through a political and social upheaval. That upheaval was not unrelated to the economic difficulties. China’s authorities want to shift growth away from property and toward consumer spending. This is a worthwhile endeavour, but it necessarily means a temporary shock. Managing this transition while avoiding an upheaval will be a significant challenge. It is no wonder, then, that China’s government is undertaking new fiscal and monetary stimulus.
The Deloitte Global Economist Network is a diverse group of economists that produce relevant, interesting and thought-provoking content for external and internal audiences. The Network’s industry and economics expertise allows us to bring sophisticated analysis to complex industry-based questions. Publications range from in-depth reports and thought leadership examining critical issues to executive briefs aimed at keeping Deloitte’s top management and partners abreast of topical issues.


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Intense thunderstorms and tornadoes swept across the Midwest on Sunday, causing extensive damage in several central Illinois communities while sending people to their basements for shelter and even prompting officials at Soldier Field in Chicago to delay
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The US dollar had a mixed FX trading performance as it advanced to the yen but gave up ground to the pound. Against the franc and euro, consolidation was seen. Data from the US economy was weaker than expected, as both headline and core retail sales figures posted sharp declines. The headline retail sales report showed a 0.9% drop instead of the estimated 0.2% gain while the core retail sales figure indicated a 1.0% decline versus the projected 0.1% uptick. For today, PPI figures are due and negative readings are eyed due to the continuous slide in oil prices. Initial jobless claims and the Philly Fed index are also up for release.
The euro struggled to hold steady against the dollar while recovering against the Japanese yen. Euro zone industrial production was better than expected with a 0.2% gain instead of the expected flat reading. For today, only the euro zone trade balance and a speech by German central bank head Weidmann are lined up and might not have much of an impact on euro FX trading movement.
FX Trading News
The pound managed to recover against the dollar and the yen in yesterday’s FX trading sessions after BOE Governor Carney assured that the UK economy will not fall into deflation. He also assured that the UK is more financially stable compared to the euro zone. There are still no major reports due from the UK economy today, which suggests that risk sentiment might be the main driver of pound price action.
The franc held steady to the dollar as the Swiss currency simply took its cue from euro FX trading movements. There have been no reports released from Switzerland then and none are due today. The yen gave up some of its recent gains to its counterparts when risk appetite seemed to return to the markets yesterday. After all, the US printed a weak retail sales report and assured most traders that the Fed won’t be tightening policy just yet. There have been no actual reports released from Japan though and none are due today.
The Aussie was able to make a strong bounce in today’s Asian FX trading session after Australia printed a stronger than expected employment report. Hiring picked up by 37.4K in December versus the projected 5.3K increase while the November reading was upgraded. The jobless rate improved to 6.1% even as the participation rate also improved. There have been no reports released from New Zealand and Canada so far and none are lined up for today.
To contact the reporter of the story: James Brennan at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Ryanair raised its full-year profit forecast after reporting a better-than-expected 152 percent surge in first quarter net income. It comes as rivals have cut their profit guidance. As Hayley Platt reports, the Irish budget airline says it's got a boost from its drive to improve customer service.
Ryanair's move to adopt a more 'touchy feely' image seems to be paying off. Profits in the first quarter more than doubled to 197 million euros, and a jump of 152% from a year earlier. It's largely thanks to an early Easter, which turned out to be better-than-expected. IG's Alastair McCaig. SOUNDBITE: Alastair McCaig, Market analyst, IG, saying (English): "Their figures are pretty impressive, surprisingly so the fact that Mr O'Leary is saying no over exuberance should be obtained on the back of this, in itself is slightly surprising that the whole statement and the whole set of figures has really taken the market by surprise." The stock rose more than 5 percent on opening. And shareholders should be further cheered as Ryanair plans to return 520 million euros to them through a special dividend later in the year. As the Irish budget carrier is boosting its annual profit guidance, some of its rivals are cutting theirs. IG's Alastair McCaig SOUNDBITE: Alastair McCaig, Market analyst, IG, saying (English): "The likes of KLM and Lufthansa are really struggling, profits warnings coming out from them and you've got to imagine that Ryanair are picking up some of the slack being seen there." Europe's biggest budget airline's pledge last year to improve services is well underway. Customers can now pre-book their seats. Restrictions on hand luggage have been relaxed. And penalty charges cut. It says it will continue making changes. And although the company sees traffic growing 3 percent in the first half of the year, it also remains cautious about what it describes as the ongoing difficult economic environment.


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Manufacturing is one of the most important economic contributors to the Irish economy. “At 35.5 per cent of the total economy value added, its impact to Ireland is well above the EU average of 14.4 per cent,” says Enterprise Ireland Technology Centres programme manager Kevin Flynn. “The sector has exports of almost €80 billion with direct and indirect employment of around 400,000 people.”
The sector is facing seismic changes in the coming years with substantial challenges and opportunities being presented by a group of new technologies, Flynn continues. These technologies include the industrial internet of things (IIot), cobotics, augmented and virtual reality, and additive manufacturing or 3D printing.
“When combined, these technologies represent a new manufacturing paradigm known as manufacturing 4.0,” he adds. “This has the potential for the creation of entirely new markets based on new products and services and goes beyond automation on the factory floor, allowing faster development of new products, better integrated supply chains, and more customised products and services.”
Enterprise Ireland has responded to these challenges through a number of initiatives. In 2014, the organisation came together with Irish manufacturers to form the Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) Technology Centre with a vision to enable Irish companies to become global leaders in advanced manufacturing.
Based in technological universities and institutes of technology across Ireland, the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway network aims to highlight the importance and value of design within the innovation process, the benefits involved in engaging with a design process and the role which design-based innovation can play in the success of Irish businesses.
The sustainability agenda is also being addressed. CIRCULÉIRE was established by Irish Manufacturing Research as an industry-led innovation network dedicated to closing the circular innovation gap and accelerating the net-zero carbon circular economy in Ireland. Other partners include the Department of Climate Action and Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency, and EIT Climate-KIC along with 25 founding industry members.
“Scaling up circular economy strategies across all sectors is not only necessary from a climate change perspective but also represents a significant economic opportunity,” Flynn explains.


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Getty Images partners with Embed.ly and Storify, enabling easy access to its embed feature and inspiring storytellers to move the world with images – at no charge
Earlier this year, Getty Images opened up its comprehensive image library—the largest in the world—for easy sharing with the launch of an innovative embed tool.
Today, Getty Images announces a new partnership with Embed.ly. The collaboration provides tens of thousands of developers, online publishers and individual users with seamless access to millions of embeddable images directly within the Embed.ly ecosystem. From premium editorial content showcasing the latest news, sports, celebrity, music and fashion images, to conceptual creative imagery and historical archival content, this new partnership arms online storytellers with the very best visual content to engage their audiences – at no charge, when used for non-commercial purposes.
Users will also have access to Embed.ly analytics about their published content, helping them optimise their communications.
This news follows Getty Images’ recent partnership with Storify by LiveFyre, a social network service that enables the creation of stories or timelines using content sourced online and via social media. The partnership allows storytellers to source and embed Getty Images’ premium imagery via a new, dedicated source from within the Storify story editor.


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Smith & Wesson’s firearms division president steps down
By Christen Smith
Matt Buckingham, senior vice president of American Outdoor Brands, will resign from the company effective Dec. 8. (Photo: Matt Buckingham/Linkedin)
Matt Buckingham, president of Smith & Wesson’s firearms division, resigned last week, according to regulatory documents filed Nov. 24 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Buckingham said he would step down from his top role at the prolific handgun manufacturer effective Dec. 8 to “pursue other interests.”
Smith & Wesson’s holding company — American Outdoor Brands, of which Buckingham serves as senior vice president — said in financial documents CEO James Debney would fulfill the role in the meantime.
The rugged outdoors conglomerate counts Smith & Wesson as its top-earner in a portfolio of more than two dozen brands including Gemtech, Crimson Trace, Bubba Blade and Old Timer.
Buckingham joined Smith & Wesson’s executive management team in April 2016 after more than a decade at the helm of Brownells. In the 18 months since, gun makers and retailers alike have weathered a volatile sales market reacting to competing political pressures.
From the heights of the industry’s biggest year ever pre-election to the lows of a historically weak summer, exacerbated by rock bottom prices and excess inventory, profits are down across the industry.
American Outdoor Brands reported a


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5 billion Tesla Battery Gig Factory to be built in Nevada
It seems that the Tesla leadership has decided on the construction site of its gigafactory of batteries for the same car. On Habré already mentioned this object more than once, and now it becomes more and more real. As indicated in the title, it is planned to spend $ 5 billion on construction.
Currently, according to CNBC sources , the main points of the Tesla agreement with the Nevada authorities have already been agreed upon, and only a small part of the remaining points remains to be discussed. According to the same source, there was only a week left until the official announcement and signing of the contract.
By the way, a press conference of the Governor of Nevada is scheduled for next Thursday, the main point of which is the announcement of "an important event for the economic development of the region." At the same time, a spokeswoman for Tesla did not comment on the conclusion of an agreement on the construction of a battery factory, but confirmed that company representatives would attend the press conference.
Previously, it was announced that, in addition to state authorities, Panasonic will be the main partner of Tesla in this project. The company will be responsible for the equipment used to manufacture the battery cells. Tesla will build the entire factory, including infrastructure networks, and will collect batteries from Panasonic-created cells.
By 2020, as planned, the factory will produce only cells for batteries with a volume of 35 gigawatt-hours per year. Batteries will be produced at approximately 500 gigawatt hours.


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Clasado Biosciences, developer of the prebiotic ingredient Bimuno GOS, has announced a new partnership with Probi, a probiotics company.
The collaboration is set to utilise the scientific portfolios of the two businesses in their respective fields.
Responding to rapidly expanding gut health awareness and global demand for complementary technologies, the collaborative partnership enables Clasado and Sweden-based Probi to leverage their combined knowledge on synbiotic projects targeting specific consumer health benefits.
Per Rehné, CEO of Clasado, said: "It’s an exciting period of growth for the biotics category, and we are delighted to be partnering with Probi to collaborate around our respective areas of expertise. Through this collaboration, we aim to pool our knowledge and scientific research capabilities to build a firmer and credible foundation for synbiotic product development, particularly in priority health areas. In turn, we believe this scientific-led partnership will benefit health and nutrition customers globally, as well as end users.
“Our businesses are an ideal match, with closely aligned values. We believe in the power of scientific evidence that consumers can trust. With Bimuno GOS being the most studied galactooligosaccharide ingredient on the market, backed by over 110 scientific publications, including more than 20 clinical trials. Combining this with Probi’s impressive probiotic library, supported by state-of-the-art preclinical and clinical trials it’s a great match, and, like us, the business works in close quarters with academic institutions. We look forward to developing our new partnership and helping to shape the bright future of synbiotics in commercial nutrition.”
While initially focusing on advancing the collective understanding of prebiotic and probiotic combinations, the collaboration brings future potential for the businesses to research, develop and commercialise an original synbiotic technology.
Anita Johansen, CEO of Probi, added: "As a business that puts research and knowledge at the heart of our activities, we are delighted to collaborate with Clasado. In the accelerating health and wellbeing market, consumers are responding to new scientifically backed products, and our shared commitment to empirical trial-based evidence makes this a partnership with great potential.
“Propelled by consumer demand for better gut microbiome health, the market for synbiotics is expanding at speed, but advanced study and a dedicated research programme could make this growth exponential. Through this partnership, we’ll be exploring how products in our probiotic library can function alongside Bimuno GOS in formulations, and we hope to set the bar for synbiotic collaboration.”