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The technology Channel landscape is forecasted to undergo significant changes in the coming years, with industry consolidation, the rise of new delivery models, and the entry of nontraditional competitors all posing significant challenges. In this rapidly changing environment, it's important that both suppliers and selling partners stay ahead of the curve, so they can beat out their competition and continue to meet their customers' wants and needs.
As we approach the new year, here are some of the key trends that we foresee will impact the Channel in 2023:
1. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will continue to proliferate in the workplace, with more businesses adopting these technologies to automate tasks and improve efficiency.
With the rapid pace of technological development in recent years, the future of work will be shaped by innovations like artificial intelligence and machine learning. Already, we see widespread adoption of these technologies in the workplace, as businesses seek to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency. We can expect this trend to continue, as more and more organizations turn to AI and machine learning to help them stay competitive.
For example, with advances in machine learning algorithms, it will become increasingly easy for different technological machines to perform complex cognitive tasks that were previously thought to be the exclusive domain of humans. This will give businesses the freedom to delegate even their most intricate work to machines instead of relying on human workers. As innovations like automation become more widespread in the workplace, we can also expect this trend to trickle down into other areas of our lives too. Whether we are ordering groceries, hailing a ride from our phones, or managing our finances online, AI and machine learning will have an increasingly significant impact on how we live and interact with each other.
2. 5G technology will become more widely available, providing faster mobile internet speeds and better connectivity.
5G is the next generation of mobile technology, promising faster speeds and improved connectivity. It is already available in some parts of the world, but it is expected to become more widespread over the next few years. This will have a major impact on businesses and consumers alike, enabling new applications and use cases requiring high-speed data transfer and low latency. 5G will also boost the internet of things (IoT) as more devices and sensors are connected to the network. This will create new opportunities for businesses to collect and analyze data in real time, leading to better decision-making and improved operations.
3. The rise of edge computing will enable businesses to process data closer to where it is being generated.
As businesses increasingly rely on digital technologies to run their operations, there has been a growing need for more seamless and efficient data processing. This trend has given rise to edge computing, which refers to the trend of decentralizing data centers so that they are located closer to where the data is being generated. Not only does this allow data processing to be faster and more scalable, it also enables businesses to optimize their workflows in previously impossible ways. Thanks to digital transformation, edge computing is poised to play an essential role in driving innovation and growth in today's global economy. Whether we're talking about retail giants leveraging big data analytics or digital startups changing the pace of research and development, the rise of edge computing underscores how businesses are increasingly relying on data to drive their operations.
4. Blockchain will become more widely adopted as businesses look for new ways to secure data and transactions.
With the ever-increasing rates of digital transformation, businesses have been searching for new ways to secure their digital data and transactions. One technology that has emerged as a potential solution is blockchain, a digital ledger that records transactions in a decentralized and encrypted manner. Despite its relatively recent emergence, blockchain has already caught the attention of many businesses. This is partly due to its many advantages, including improved security, increased efficiency, and reduced costs. As such, many experts believe that over time, we will see an increasing number of companies adopting this innovative technology to transform their digital processes. Whether it's by storing sensitive customer data or facilitating online payments, it seems clear that blockchain will play an increasingly important role in digital transformation strategy in years to come.
5. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will become more commonplace as businesses find new ways to use these technologies.
As businesses continue to embrace digital technologies like virtual and augmented reality, it is clear that these tools will play a growing role in the future of work. Whether used for enhancing training programs, improving communication among employees, or simply engaging customers in new and exciting ways, VR and AR are reshaping the way we think about digital transformation.
6. The Internet of Things (IoT) will continue to grow as more businesses adopt connected devices.
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the growing network of physical objects that are connected to the internet. These devices, which can include everything from cars to thermostats, are equipped with sensors and other technology that allows them to collect and exchange data. As more businesses adopt IoT-connected devices, it is clear that this trend will have a major impact on the future of work.
IoT-connected devices have the potential to transform how businesses operate, increasing efficiency and productivity while also reducing costs. For example, businesses can optimize their workflows to save time and energy by collecting data on how employees use office equipment. Additionally, IoT-enabled devices can monitor employee performance and safety, providing valuable insights that can help improve working conditions. As the IoT continues to grow, it is clear that it will significantly impact how we work and live.
The Bottom Line
Digital transformation is an ongoing process that will continue to evolve in the years to come. As new technologies emerge and old ones become more refined, the way we work will continue to change. While some of these changes may be disruptive, they also present businesses with a unique opportunity to improve their operations and better meet the needs of their employees and customers. By staying ahead of the curve and embracing digital change, businesses can position themselves for success in the ever-changing world of work.


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LG Lifestyle Shoppe opened
Kathmandu, February 16:
K R Kim, president of the South West Asia LG Electronics inaugurated LG Lifestyle Shoppe located at New Baneshwor in the capital today.
The new showroom has been designed with a view to give customers an outlook of future of consumer electronics and appliances from LG Electronics.
Speaking at the inauguration, Kim said, LG is looking forward to premium marketing where good network would be important in selling good products.
“LG offers best premium products in competitive price,” Kim said.
The LG Lifestyle Shoppe spread over the area of 7500 square feet has a display of latest colour televisions, home theatres and other home appliances including advanced technologies such as Tromm - washing machine, side by side refrigerators, green ion refrigerators and round cavity microwaves. Also available are wide arrays of 3G mobiles.
To keep customers abreast of latest products, technologies and its practical usage in daily lives, the new showroom will also be providing facility of live demonstration for every product.
The company is poised for a major leap this year and is planning for one billion rupees turnover continuing to be the number one brand in Nepal, said Sarabjit Singh Anthak, deputy general manager at Goldstar Nepal Pvt Ltd.
LG as a brand is moving towards global leadership in consumer electronics and appliances with its latest design and state of the art technology offered to its customers.
LG has an annual turnover of more than $30 million and has 76 overseas offices in 50 countries.

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Mercedes-Benz Vans, US drone systems developer Matternet and Swiss online marketplace Siroop have started a pilot project in Zurich, Switzerland,
to test a van-and-drone-based system for on-demand delivery of e-commerce goods.
The pilot project is the first time that extensive beyond-line-of sight drone operations, with the use of vans as landing platforms, are taking place in a
major urban area to test a fully automated e-commerce drone network.
During the course of the pilot project, customers will be able to order selected products from online marketplace Siroop that are suitable for transport by a Matternet drone, such as consumer electronics and other e-commerce items weighing up to two kilograms.
The Matternet M2 drones can cover distances of up to 20 km.
Delivery will be made on the same day.
The drones are loaded directly at the merchant and fly to one of two Mercedes-Benz Vito vans equipped with a precision landing technology.
The van stops at one of four pre-defined points, called rendezvous points, within the city of Zurich, where the van driver takes possession of the product and delivers it to the customer, while the drone returns to the retailer.
As drones land on the roof of a Vito van, about two meters above ground, the safety of passers-by is ensured.
The entire logistics chain from order receipt to delivery to the customer will be timed and compared against conventional delivery methods to gain insights into the efficiency of the solution.
The goal of the project is to significantly improve the time and service level associated with on-demand delivery, and consequently create added value for retailers and consumers.
The operation has been authorized by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation, following the Specific Operations Risk Assessment methodology developed by the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems, and was approved by all relevant Swiss air and ground authorities.
Safety is the guiding principle during the project, which will run for seven hours per day, five days a week, in favourable weather conditions only.
Matternet drones are integrated in the Swiss airspace system using the same sense and avoid system used by helicopter operators and other users of the lower part of the airspace, and are equipped with a parachute system that is automatically deployed in case of a malfunction.
The Vans & Drones project was first presented by Mercedes-Benz Vans and Matternet in September last year.
The pilot project in Zurich, with Siroop as the first system user, is the next step in the advancement of the concept.
Mercedes-Benz believes using vans as intelligent, mobile landing stations for Matternet drones offers several advantages, including reduced overall delivery cycle and cost compared with existing courier service operations as packages are delivered faster, irrespective of traffic in urban areas.
Also, the integration of drone systems into the logistics chain requires no change in customer behaviour, as customers will still receive their packages from a van driver in the same way they receive it today.
The delivery system also gives retailers and logistics companies the ability to provide customers a true on-demand delivery solution, without the need for
And, it allows companies with van fleets to further leverage them and add on-demand services.
“We have the great opportunity here to conduct the most extensive testing in an urban environment to date. Validating our concept together with customers and project partners in an early phase will greatly advance the development,” says Mercedes-Benz Vans future transportation head Stefan Maurer.
“We are demonstrating what a practical system comprising drones and vans may look like.”
“We believe that drone-enabled logistics networks will transform how we access goods every day – we will be able to order something online, and like magic, receive it within minutes, for a fraction of the cost and energy expended today,” notes Matternet founder and CEO Andreas Raptopoulos.
“We hope that this pilot will give us greater understanding of how the public perceives a drone-enabled solution for e-commerce today and pave the way toward extensive use of these systems.”


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The Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants are pushing ahead with pay raises for minor league players this season, days after Major League Baseball mandated salary bumps beginning in 2021
The Jeep® brand is breaking new ground with the Gladiator Mojave, the first Jeep vehicle to carry the brand’s newly minted Desert Rated badge. Jeep Desert Rated vehicles represent the ultimate in high-speed off-road capability and performance while traversing grueling desert and sand environments.
The Wrangler is one of the most accessorized vehicles in the world, and seeing one in different flavors is somehow customary now to the nameplate. However, Jeep wants to show off-roading enthusiasts how it's really done with the introduction of the 2020 Jeep Wrangler JPP 20 at the Chicago Auto Show. Mopar has done all the dirty work on this limited edition Wrangler, featuring a wide array of Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) targeted to the off-road enthusiast.
Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio claims his team “had an operating loss” in 2019 but that isn't why the club's projected payroll has dropped nearly $30 million


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KALONDE NYATI, Lusaka
T HE African Development Bank (AfDB) has given Zambia over K330 million for the implementation of skills development and entrepreneurship programmes expected to generate 16,000 jobs.
The K333 million facility, to be injected in the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), will support the implementation of industrial yards in eight provinces, intensify commercialisation of cassava in five provinces and strengthen business development services.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe said the funding was approved by Cabinet last week.
â€œWith the AfDB funding, we are proceeding with the construction and operationalisation of industrial yards in Kasama, Mansa, Lusaka, Kitwe and Ndola,â€ she said at a press briefing on Monday.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said the industrial yards, which are expected to generate 4,000 direct jobs, will provide organised workshops for entrepreneurs involved in woodwork, automotive works, metal fabrication and agro-processing and are currently operating on the street.
The industrial yards will incorporate common facilities such as spray booths, kilns, wood and food, processing equipment.
Under the cassava commercialisation programme, Government plans to enhance the agri-business value chain among cassava farmers and traders in Northern, Luapula, North-Western and Copperbelt, creating about 12,000 jobs.
The initiative will involve the improvement of the quality of planting materials, development of bulking gentries, value addition and market development.
â€œAbout 12,000 jobs are expected to be created, especially among women and youths in rural areas, leading to increased uptake of cassava food products, food security and increased utilisation for stock feed and industrial products such as starch,â€ Mrs Mwanakatwe said.
She also said the business development services and support towards youth development centres projects will result in the effective provision of services to small-scale enterprises.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said the programmes underscore Governmentâ€™s commitment to empowering Zambians.
KALONDE NYATI, Lusaka


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Some HD Radio multicasts are getting a sponsor, though in combination with online brethren.
Verizon Wireless is the first national client to sponsor HD Radio multicasts, according to Clear Channel.
A program called “Verizon New Music” features blocks of songs and interviews with artists on 21 Clear Channel multicast and online stations.
Stations airing the content include the multicasts of WHTZ in New York, KIIS in Los Angeles, WKSC in Chicago and 18 other big FMs.
Clear Channel noted in the announcement that it has been an active HD Radio supporter as a co-founder in 2005 of the HD Digital Radio Alliance and creator of a Format Lab in 2006 to create niche formats that are available to competitors. Earlier this year it said it had coded all its primary and HD2 stations to be iTunes Tagging compliant.


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The staple of every millennial smart-phone, Snapchat’s ability to cater to a dynamic tech-savvy consumer base is nothing short of ingenious. Following the green-brick road, Snapchat is planning to open up its platform to advertisers through its ‘Discover’ option.
This new bid, previously only meant for publications, can revolutionize how ads are consumed. What’s more, it will work in tandem with boosting brand experience and exposure.
Snapchat’s interface balances immersive, full text overlays and animation with the traditional option of flipping past uninteresting content in bite sized chunks. Publishers like CNN, Cosmopolitan and the Daily Beast are already highly popular on the medium and brands will have to understand the demographics of the audiences which they cater to.
Discover is just one of the many revenue-generating areas provided by Snapchat. ‘Live Stories’, which will allow for sponsored filters and lenses to be accessible to users will be launching soon. These could easily be the ones which get the most traction.
Kate Lewis, the owner of Cosmopolitan in an article stated that the magazine’s Discover Stories are shared up to 1.2 million times per day. Ads and links were a part of the stories which users might have swiped across, but would definitely have seen. The impossibility of ads being left unseen is what the app- giant guarantees.
So, maybe it is time for brands to think about engaging their audiences in more innovative ways and reinvent their approach. Perhaps Snapchat might be the most novel way yet.


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Dominic Milan, digital insight and development manager for Posterscope Hyperspace, said the tool compares digital outdoor networks so planners can quickly compare and contrast different digital outdoor options.
The tool turns gross footfall measurements into what Posterscope termed "impact scores", which allows users to plan by environment, region, time of day, screen type or other variables.
Currently, said Posterscope, the industry-wide Postar out-of-home audience measurement survey does not cover digital screens. David Gordon, Posterscope's group insight director, said Prism Screen will now be "a vital link in making sense of this market".
Last week, agencies called for outdoor media owners to provide more information on digital out- of-home sites. Speaking at the digital life Out of Home conference, Greg Grimmer, founder of Hurrell Moseley Dawson & Grimmer and former managing director of Zed Media, said the outdoor industry had to prove digital sites were worth more than static ones.


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Skipping the Black Friday crowds doesn't mean you have to miss out on the best deals. Lots of hot tech products are going on sale on Cyber Monday. We're tracking them all here.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your wallets! Here's a list of my favorite deals, along with some Cheapskate exclusives.
A resolution calls on Europe's competition regulators to consider "unbundling" Google's other commercial services from its search business. The vote sends a signal -- but it's only symbolic.
The "Phantom Menace" trailer wasn't only a treat for fans: it was a coup for Apple and, in 1998, one of the biggest tests the Internet had faced.
Twitter tests new advertising feature that lets retailers tweet special offers that Twitter users can apply directly to their credit card for money-back savings.
The limited offer will net AT&T users 15 gigabytes of data for $100. It's the carrier's latest move to defend its customer base.
Marcelo Claure says he's on a mission to make it clear that Sprint stands for the best value in wireless.
The carrier still managed to post strong customer growth, again driven largely by an increase in tablet sales.
The big carrier plays catchup with offers by Sprint and AT&T to increase the amount of data available on an existing family plan.
Under new CEO Marcelo Claure, Sprint is keeping the pressure on its larger competitors and going directly after AT&T.


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There’s a lot to be said for outsourcing some elements of your business operations. As Matthew Franceschini from Entity Solutions says one in five Aussie workers are independent contractors.
Jacinta Whelan says that contract workers have always been used for providing specialist expertise to project-based work. Today, though, more companies are seeing the benefits of outsourcing ongoing functions too. It’s an approach that can ensure your company doesn’t become too inwardly focused — something that is becoming more important with the increasing openness demanded by the Internet and social media.
Morris Miselowski says many companies are now taking outsourcing to the next stage, to what’s called crowdsourcing. Yvonne Adele runs a company that crowdsources ideas — if you have a problem, she has a team of people ready to help problem-solve.
Another example is Zooppa, a US website where companies can organise contests for amateur, or even professional, video makers to produce advertisements for their brands. Founder Will Merritt says entrants help each other build on ideas. The community that emerges helps strangthen your brand and build an affinity you can’t achieve through old fashioned one-way marketing.
It’s an approach that can apply to all lines of business — ignore it at your peril!


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DENVER — At Blue Pan, they strive to make every pizza excellent.
"Currently, we’re the only Detroit-style pizzeria in Denver. The main characteristic of our product is the caramelized crust," said Co-Founder of Blue Pan Pizza, Giles Flanagin.
Their last five years in business have come with lessons, especially when it comes to using third-party delivery companies like DoorDash, UberEats, or Postmates.
"On the commission side, I see their commissions, at least for us, being extraordinarily excessive. Margins in the restaurant industry are incredibly tight, especially now, and to pay a 20, 30% commission makes absolutely no good business sense," said Flanigan.
So, they’ve completely opted out of working with these companies and manage their own deliveries instead.
But Denver City Councilwoman Kendra Black is working to change the commission cap to 15%.
"It’s very expensive to operate a small business in Denver. We have high real estate costs, commercial property taxes are high, labor costs are high. Our small local restaurants are really, really struggling, and so I just wanted to do something to help them out," said Black.
For Sonia Riggs with the Colorado Restaurant Association, it could also help other family owned restaurants to market their businesses on these apps, where before it was just too expensive.
"It’s something that could really help these small, independent, neighborhood restaurants. We’re really looking at and anticipating a lot of additional closures for restaurants over the winter, and that’s a time when they’re going to heavily rely on takeout and delivery," said Riggs.
But even if 15% is approved by city council, Flangian says customer service issues remain.
"I think that if third party deliveries invested more resources and trained their employees to understand that they are really representing the restaurant that’s paying them their commission. That that might help change some of the negative behavior that we have started to experience on much more frequent level," said Flanigan.
Whether he’ll renew his relationship with the popular delivery apps is uncertain. What is clear for Flanigan, is the current commission scale isn't working out.
If the measure is approved it could be in effect as early as Oct. 9.


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Upsher-Smith Laboratories on Wednesday announced that it has received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its new drug application for Vogelxo (testosterone) gel for topical use CIII.
Mission Pharmacal on Thursday announced that it has begun the promotion of Elestrin (estradiol gel) 0.06% in the United States through an agreement with Meda AB. The drug is a used as a topical hormone replacement gel to help treat hot flashes caused by menopause.
Pacific West Lab & Packaging introduces COOLSPIKES Spiking and Holding products. Sought after and used by the trendy generation Y and Salon professionals to create fancy Mohawks and Spikes, COOLSPIKES is a line of premium blended, Alcohol-Free Gels and Styling aids that deliver maximum hold and shine. COOLSPIKES products are compounded with fantastic, fresh custom fragrances for young men and women. They love it!
After 10 years serving the professional market with products containing ingredients naturally derived from eggs to topically treat severe skin conditions, Fortitude Health has launched its HealFast SkinCare to the consumer marketplace.
Topical BioMedics recently announced distribution through CVS/pharmacy for its Topricin Foot Therapy Cream, a homeopathic topical treatment for pain associated with fibromyalgia and neuropathy that is safe for diabetics.
Fuse Science on Tuesday announced that it has picked up distribution for its EnerJel product — a topical energy product targeting fitness fanatics — to 200 south Florida pharmacies through a partnership with GAT Trading.
Hisamitsu America on Wednesday announced the company shipped a season's supply of their topical pain treatment Salonpas products to Jeremy Lin, the New York Knicks point guard who recently underwent surgery to repair a chronic meniscus tear in his knee and is expected to be off the court for about six weeks.
Mederma, a maker of scar therapy products, has introduced its new Mederma advanced scar gel, which is designed to reduce the overall appearance of scars caused by injury, acne, surgery or burns with one daily application.


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In a recent article in CNN Money, Victor Matheson, associate professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross, commented on the economic impact of the Powerball lottery, which millions of Americans continue to participate in.
In the last fiscal year, Americans have spent $65.5 billion on lottery tickets, which is a 10% increase from the year before. With 25% of that money going to state governments, allowing states to fund school and construction programs, Matheson contended that such funds are essential to state budgets, and are essential if states are to avoid raising taxes. “It’s difficult to see how you would eliminate that much of state budgets and be able to come up with money elsewhere,” he said.
However, Matheson also noted that state economies would be further bolstered if consumers purchased goods and services instead of lottery tickets. “People spend disposable income on lottery tickets rather than buying a coffee at Starbucks or some gizmo at Best Buy,” he remarked.
This ‘Holy Cross in the News’ item by David Cotrone ’13.
‘Holy Cross Ranks No. 53 on Forbes’ List of America’s Top Colleges’
The College of the Holy Cross ranked no. 53 overall and no. 44 among private colleges on Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges. Forbes partnered with the Washington,...07/15/14
‘Boston student-athlete thrives after early turmoil’
Attacked by her knife-wielding father when still in the womb, Yonetta Harris, a member of the College of the Holy Cross class of 2018, has built a life that touches many. In...06/25/14
‘Sporting cold feet’
Canadian Broadcast Corporation News
With the FIFA World Cup at the center of attention around the world, Victor Matheson, professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross, offers major Canadian news...


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The social news reading experience that is Flipboard used to be the exclusive realm of smartphones and tablets. Back in March, a major 2.0 update brought out the ability to create one’s own custom magazines. Since then, users have created an astounding two million custom publications so today the startup confirmed Flipboard magazines can now finally be enjoyed on the web, through any standard desktop web browser.
The new feature brings Flipboard closer to becoming a viable Google Reader replacement. Google’s web-based RSS client, you’ll recall, allowed you to tag articles and share all the articles tied to a specific tag as a live-updated stream on a specially created web page…
You can now do the same with Flipboard magazines.
“Starting today, when you share a Flipboard magazine via email or social media, anyone who clicks on the link can read it, whether or not they use Flipboard,” a blog post reads.
The surprisingly responsive web app borrows some neat tricks from the mobile client: pages can be flipped from left and right, there’s an an expansive full-bleed cover and the Flipboard signature look and feel.
Web mags play nicely with the popular desktop browsers like Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9, Apple’s Safari, Google’s Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox. It should be noted that the full Flipboard experience continues to be available through Flipboard’s iOS/Android app only.
Curators should think about growing their readership by sticking a link to their own magazine into a web page so visitors can immediately access them outside the mobile app. Indeed, for the first time web magazines give curators the ability to share their custom magazines with people who may not have the Flipboard app installed.
Also announced today: a new Flipboard category called Big Ideas.
This new area features content on important issues, causes and ideas of our day. The nonprofits featured in this category will also have links to their magazines on their websites so anyone can easily find their Flipboard magazines.
This is a backend update so no refresh to mobile apps was necessary.
To browse web magazines, just point your browser here.
As a reminder, you can access other people’s curated content by tapping the menu icon in the top left corner of any magazine.


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Showrooming is the practice of using a smartphone while in store to shop and compare prices online. With 48 million U.S. shoppers expected to use their smartphones will shopping in store this holiday season, the practice of showrooming becomes a major concern for retailers. While big ticket items are most susceptible to showrooming, consumer electronics, apparel and footwear are expected to see the greatest influence of showrooming this holiday shopping season.
According to a report from IDC Retail Insights, showrooming engagement is expected to increase 134% this holiday season. This translates to mobile behavior influencing anywhere between $700 million and $1.7 billion in sales.
Showrooming is only expected to increase over the next several years with the practice expected to reach 59 million shoppers in 2013, 69 million shoppers in 2014, and 78 million in 2015.
Retailers must develop strategies to preempt the showrooming practice. Research shows that nearly 60% of shoppers say they are “more likely” or “much more likely” to buy what they see in store when they are assisted by a knowledgeable sales person. Mobile also plays a significant role in how retailers can retain sales. Consumers are more likely to buy from retailers who offer the advantages of full mobile websites or shopping apps, the ability to purchase in store or online, and the ability to comparison shop via QR codes.
“Things like a Web site that is optimized for a mobile phone, a smartphone app and smart QR codes – these are things that are going to save the sale for the omnichannel shopper,” according to Greg Girard, analyst with IDC Retail Insights.
Stores with strong loyalty programs, superior customer service and those that rely on everyday low prices are less likely to experience the sting of showrooming.
If your business is one of the roughly 70% without a mobile optimized website, now is the time to get one started. Don’t risk sales because you aren’t providing customers with the information they want to make a purchase. Call Qiigo at (404) 496-6841 for assistance establishing a mobile advertising program.


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Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Parker He hinted at the cross-country movement on Instagram.
The couple, who currently resides in Calabasas, California, toyed with the idea in the comments section of an Instagram post featuring their trip to Tennessee.
“I spent my birthday in Tennessee,” Parker captioned the photo series. Drummer Blink 182 turned 47 on November 14.
“Let’s move over there,” Kourtney commented, to which Parker replied, “Yeah.” “
One social media user joined the conversation and wrote, “You should move to Tennessee and get out of Hollywood.”
Parker apparently confirmed plans to move by replying “most likely eventually.”
Courtney and Parker got married In May during a lavish party. The event was held in Italy and was attended by the family, including Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Kris Jenner and more.
The Poosh founder wore a short white lace dress with a silk corset to marry Parker at a medieval seaside castle in Portofino, Italy during the couple’s third wedding.
She walked down the aisle with her mom by her side and wore a cathedral-length veil adorned with a portrait of the Madonna and delicate floral appliqués to match her scalloped hem dress, all designed by legendary fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.
Parker wore a simple white rose pinned to his lapel while paying homage to the No. 1 woman in his life, and showed off his new diamond wedding ring while holding his bride’s hand shortly after the ceremony.
Dolce & Gabbana was responsible for nearly every weekday look for Kourtney, Barker, and all of their famous family, as well as providing the D&G locations, and allowing the wedding party to use Stefano Gabbana’s Regina d’Italia—the luxury yacht believed to be worth $60 million.
One month ago, they had a “training” wedding at guy in Las Vegasto After the Grammy Awards where an Elvis Presley impersonator acted as their officiant.
“Yeah, they got married after the awards show at 1:45 a.m. at One Love Wedding Chapel. They called around 12:30 a.m.,” One Love Wedding Chapel owner Marty Frierson told Fox News Digital at the time.
“I prayed 24 hours, and they wanted to make sure I could get Elvis Presley,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if I could get an Elvis so I said let me check and I got an Elvis, they paid online and got in and got married.”
Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
. “Friendly writer. Unapologetic student. Typical internetaholic. Social media ninja. Communicator. Music fanatic.”


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The American worldwide supplier of powertrain components, Dana Holding Corporation, ranks No. 39 on the list of the top 100 global part suppliers. The company works to develop the most innovative technologies. Yesterday it reported a 10 percent decline in second-quarter net income to $53 million on lower sales in its commercial vehicle and off-highway driveline units.
The Maumee, Ohio-based powertrain supplier reported sales of $1.55 billion. This is a 4 percent decrease from the second quarter of 2015. The number of sales dropped as reduced demand in the commercial vehicle and off-highway driveline units offset gains in the light-vehicle driveline and power technologies divisions. Commercial-vehicle driveline sales plunged 19 percent year-over-year. The company is confident that this is due to weaker production in North America and weaker demand in Brazil this year. Light-vehicle driveline sales rose 4.3 percent from the year-earlier period to $669 million on strong production of light trucks. These vehicles are very popular in the US market and this is because the gas is cheaper and the economy is stronger.
Find more here: Dana Q2 net income falls by nearly 10 percent


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Good news for Apple and co. after new research predicted that tablet sales will surge by 200 percent over the next two years
The fundamental seachange brought about by the arrival of tablet computers has been underlined in a new report that suggests a very bright future for the portable form factor.
Global tablet sales exceeded 64 million units in 2011 and are now on track to soar to 232 million units in 2016, according to the latest Tablet Technology and Markets report from Futuresource Consulting.
Futuresource said tablet ownership in the consumer market will increase by 200 percent across the United States and Western Europe over the next two years. The two regions reached an installed base of nearly 52 million tablets in 2011, with the market on track to exceed 153 million units in 2013. Ownership will be highest in the United States, with Western European markets showing significant opportunities for growth.
The report notes that tablets have cannibalised the demand for netbooks, but consumers still see the tablet device as an addition to conventional PCs or Macs rather than a replacement. As a result, consumer tablet sales dominated the overall tablet market in 2011, accounting for more than 90 percent of tablet shipments.
In addition, tablets are a significant force in the growth of the app market, accounting for 10 percent of total mobile app downloads in 2011, Futuresource said. And as the tablet continues to become a more attractive platform for developers, Futuresource said it expects tablet apps to account for nearly 20 percent of total mobile app downloads in 2016.
More importantly, says Futuresource, tablet owners are more likely to pay for apps, particularly within the United States. This data comes from a new consumer research report in the “Living with Digital” series from Futuresource.
The Futuresource report also indicates that tablet owners tend to be savvy media users, which presents a lucrative opportunity for content owners to develop major added-value services to complement existing offers. Yet, it is unlikely that tablets will displace large screen TV sets, though tablets will drive full-length online video growth, with key applications allowing content to be played out from one screen to another, providing users with high-quality mobile viewing.
The report also notes that although Apple has maintained its dominance in the tablet space since the launch of the first iPad, Android-powered devices from Samsung, Amazon and Asus have begun to gain traction and increase in popularity. Indeed, a notable rise in market share is anticipated from other brands as more advanced devices are launched and content platforms develop, providing the option to move content across multiple devices, the report said.
Tablets have also revolutionised the world of news publishing, with the majority of publishers now selling digital editions, and together with dedicated e-readers such as Amazon’s Kindle, these devices have triggered a shift away from printed books to ebooks, the Futuresource report said.
Annual trade for digital book sales is forecast to achieve significant growth, with digital downloads in the United States expected to account for almost 70 percent of book sales by 2016, a substantial rise from 20 percent in 2011. Similar progression is expected in the UK, with digital sales reaching almost 40 percent.
How well do you know your tablets? Take our quiz.


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How many New Yorkers does it take to tell the difference between snapper and tilapia?
We found out last weekend, when many of Oceana’s supporters came together for the second annual Hamptons Splash, a fundraiser hosted at the beautiful home of Margie and Michael Loeb.
In addition to showing their support for saving the oceans, guests got an inside look at Oceana’s newest campaign to end seafood fraud. This common practice is hurtful to both oceans and the people who love and depend upon seafood.
Our new report, “Bait and Switch: How Seafood Fraud Hurts Our Oceans, Our Wallets and Our Health,” explains how U.S. consumers are frequently served a completely different fish species than the one they paid for. Seafood may be mislabeled as often as 25 to 70 percent of the time for fish such as red snapper, wild salmon and Atlantic cod, according to recent studies.
How is this possible, you ask? More than 80 percent of U.S. seafood is imported, but only 2 percent is inspected. Fraud can happen at each step of the supply chain – the restaurant, the distributor, or the processing and packaging phase.
Plus, it’s a simple question of supply and demand. As seafood consumption around the world continues to rise, so do the incentives to overfish the oceans and mislabel fish as more expensive species, such as wild salmon and red snapper.
Our new campaign will be working to convince the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to implement a tracking system for fish that can trace seafood back to its original source. The Food Safety Modernization Act, signed into law by President Obama in January, requires tracking systems for high-risk foods, and Oceana believe seafood should be considered a high-risk food.
In the Hamptons, we invited guests to sample two fish dishes and guess which one was snapper.
The result? At least half of the guests picked incorrectly, which is a simple illustration of how easy it is to fool seafood consumers.
As our chief scientist Dr. Mike Hirshfield told the New York Times (in what they proclaimed “Quotation of the day”), “If you’re ordering steak, you would never be served horse meat. But you can easily be ordering snapper and get tilapia or Vietnamese catfish.”
I think you deserve to know that the seafood you’re eating is what you paid for, and I’m sure the people who failed our tests would agree. I’ll be sure to keep you informed as the campaign progresses.


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The initial public offering of Dan Gilbert's Rocket Companies Inc. will likely be the largest of 2020.
Jay Ritter, economist and initial public offering expert at the University of Florida, estimates the valuation of the holding company at approximately $20 billion. Only 21 percent, or about $4.2 billion worth of shares, will be sold at the offering.
Rocket Companies estimated $4.2 billion offering would be nearly twice the size of the second-largest IPO of the year. New York Royalty Pharma plc, which funds clinical trials for future drug royalties, had the largest biotech IPO in history on June 15, raising $2.2 billion.
Warner Music Group Corp. raised $1.9 billion and New Jersey business analytics firm Dun & Bradstreet Holdings Inc. raised $1.72 billion, both in June.
There have been a total of 67 IPOs in 2020, most raising well under $1 billion.
The reason Rocket Companies' valuation is so high is because of its profitability, Ritter said. Most of the year's IPOs are from nascent startups, looking to raise capital to bring a product more widely to market and turn a profit for the very first time.
"They are profitable and that puts in them in the minority of IPOs," Ritter said. "Only 22 percent of operating company IPOs have been profitable (this year)."
Rock Companies is also closely related to the fintech sector as a heavily technology-backed mortgage firm, which is also viewed favorably by investors, Ritter said.
"It is fintech and is consistently profitable," Ritter said. "While the revenue varies from year to year, it is an asset-light company using technology rather than having armies of employees soliciting mortgages. Tech companies disproportionately get most of the attention. Especially a company like that that has a lot of name recognition because a lot of home owners have used them."


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In a jubilant fusion of academia and industry, the prestigious partnership between Mercedes-Benz India and Government Engineering College Barton Hill (GECBH) marks a decade of steering young minds through the Advanced Diploma in Automotive Mechatronics (ADAM) course in Trivandrum, Kerala. This alliance has not only fueled the Skill India initiative but also turbocharged the careers of over 215 engineering aficionados across 13 batches, proving to be a powerhouse of learning, innovation, and collaboration.
Under the hood of this celebratory milestone, Mercedes-Benz revs up its commitment by donating two cutting-edge EV motors and an automatic transmission to GECBH. This generous contribution is set to enrich the students’ hands-on experience with the latest in electric vehicle (EV) and automatic transmission technologies, aligning with the course’s mission to provide a comprehensive understanding of automotive mechatronics and EV drivetrains.
Each year, the course welcomes 40 engineering talents, selected through a rigorous entrance examination, to dive into a year-long curriculum covering Mechanical, Electronics, Vehicle Systems, and EV modules. The course, distinguished for introducing an industry-first specialized EV module, continues to evolve, ensuring its graduates are not just future-ready but are also driving towards a greener automotive horizon.
The partnership’s engine was first ignited in 2012 with a memorandum of understanding between Mercedes-Benz India Limited and the Government of Kerala, leading to the ADAM Centre’s grand unveiling in 2014. Since then, it has been a journey of mutual growth, fostering a skilled workforce adept in the latest automotive technologies.
Santosh Iyer, the Managing Director & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, reflected on the journey, “Celebrating ten years of this fruitful partnership with GECBH underscores our shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and nurturing talent. The ADAM course stands as a testament to our dedication towards creating a skilled workforce, ready to meet the challenges of the future automotive landscape, particularly in the realm of EVs.”
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Shiny G., Principal of GECBH, highlighted the transformative impact of the ADAM course, “This collaboration has been a cornerstone in providing our students with unparalleled opportunities to excel in the automotive industry. The practical, hands-on training has not only enhanced their learning experience but has significantly boosted their employability.”
As Mercedes-Benz and GECBH shift into the next gear of their journey, the ADAM course promises to continue its legacy of driving excellence, fostering innovation, and powering the dreams of aspiring automotive engineers in Kerala and beyond.


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Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors (MYNM) was recently honored with the Regional Best Distributor, among all Hyundai distributors in the Middle East & Africa Region. The Award recognizes excellence demonstrated by the top performing Hyundai Distributors against multiple key performance indicators including strategies and plans for providing outstanding Sales and After Sales Services to Hyundai customers.
Sheikh Mohamed Yousuf Naghi received the award from Mr. Unsoo Kim, President Hyundai Motor India, Middle East & Africa Strategic Region, on the sidelines of the annual Convention in Morocco held by Hyundai for its distributors in the Middle East and Africa. The company, also received a special recognition award from Mr. Sean Seob Kim, Executive Vice President Global Operations Division, commemorating 30 years of Partnership with Hyundai.
On this occasion, Mr. Kim praised the efforts of all Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Company employees and their continued dedication to promoting the company and meeting the increasing customer aspirations in the region. He added that Hyundai Motor congratulates its partner, Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Company, for its excellent efforts and strong results. The company's outstanding performance in the Saudi market and the Middle East remains significant, and we do look forward to further enhancing our objectives together.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohamed Yousuf Naghi said ‘It is an honor to receive the award of the Best Hyundai distributor in the Middle East and Africa on the occasion of our thirty years of partnership with Hyundai and I would like to thank our valued customers for their ongoing support and loyalty and our valued employees for their hard work and dedication
Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Company is the largest Automotive Distributor for Hyundai in Saudi Arabia. The company has continuously strived to be the best Distributor in the region offering excellent sales, customer handling and innovative support service to its customers.


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Honda is facing another lawsuit alleging a “parasitic draining” defect in certain vehicles’ batteries.
Ronald Raynaldo, a California resident, filed a complaint on July 28, 2021, seeking to bring a class action with respect to 2017-2019 Honda CR-Vs and 2016-2019 Honda Accords. He contends the class vehicles suffer from parasitic draining: electrical components don’t shut down when the vehicle is turned off, allowing them to continue draining battery power. This, he alleges, leads to problems such as expensive replacement batteries and repairs, the vehicle not starting, degraded battery performance, or failure of safety features such as emergency hazard lights.
Another previously filed lawsuit, George Jones v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., made similar allegations.
Raynaldo raises claims including breach of warranty and violation of California consumer laws. He alleges Honda “has knowingly sold over two million . . . Class Vehicles which suffer from a serious parasitic draw Defect.” Honda has been made aware of this defect, he contends, through sources such as its pre-sale durability testing, customer complaints, dealership repair records, and post-warranty claims. He seeks remedies including damages and an order requiring Honda to repair, recall, and/or replace the Class Vehicles and extend the applicable warranties.
The case is Ronald Raynaldo v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., case number 3:21-cv-05808, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.


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Disney fans, get ready for a thrilling new experience! EPCOT at Walt Disney World has announced its new nighttime spectacular – ‘Luminous: The Symphony of Us.’ Scheduled to debut on December 5th, this awe-inspiring spectacle will showcase a brilliant blend of fireworks, fountains, and Disney music, creating an unforgettable visual and auditory feast.
This announcement was made during the Destination D23 event on Saturday. It’s part of Disney’s continuous efforts to enhance guest experiences and bring fresh, exciting elements to their parks.
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‘Luminous: The Symphony of Us’ promises to be a truly immersive experience, harmoniously blending storytelling and technology. It will feature iconic Disney tunes that have touched hearts worldwide, while the fireworks and fountains will add a dazzling visual element. This combination is set to create a symphony of sights and sounds that will captivate audiences of all ages.


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UK based company, Grenade Energy Ltd UK has recently launched its high-end premium energy drink in Pakistan by the name of EPIC ENERGY.
Packed with the essential nutrients and vitamins, EPIC ENERGY boosts tired body and nerves and promote responsible consumption through its innovative re-sealable can.
Globally available, EPIC ENERGY has a smooth flavor and sleek innovative 330 ML re-sealable black matte finish can.
The USP of the drink lies in its re-sealable packaging that promotes easy on-the-go consumption. The drink is 100% alcohol free and contains no animal ingredients.
Aiming to change the dynamics of the energy drink market, the most exciting aspect of EPIC ENERGY has been its revolutionary re-sealable packaging making it an ideal on the go drink and encouraging responsible consumption in controlled quantities.
Epic Energy Drink is now available at major nationwide outlets in Pakistan and the brand has frequently been spotted sampling at some of the most exclusive events and places across the country to introduce the drink to its target audience.
Speaking about the brand, CEO Omair Mateen states “Epic is a premium, high quality Energy Drink, being manufactured in Austria. 2014 was about developing the fundamentals for the brand, and we had a very successful launch in 4 countries last year. Being the first brand to offer true consumer convenience in the Energy Drinks category, Epic has been a much bigger success than I had imagined, with consumers loving the packaging, resealable convenience, and coming back again and again because of its truly unique flavor. Based on the success, we have already signed contracts to launch Epic Energy in 8 countries, and a further 15 countries are in discussion stage, with Epic on track to be available in more than 25 countries within 2015.”


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As the longest 0% balance transfer deals reach an impressive two years, credit card balance transfer fees have hit a four-year high, according to new research.
The analysis by Moneyfacts found that the average balance transfer fee is currently 2.93%, up from 2.88% a year ago and 2.63% four years ago.
24-month 0% balance transfer deals
Barclaycard has recently hit the two year mark with its longest deal 0% deal. However, many lengthy deals come at a cost. Halifax, for example, currently offers one of the longest 0% deals on the market of 22 months, but this comes with a whopping 3.5% fee. If you wanted to transfer £3,000 to this deal it would cost you £105 in transfer fees.
At the same time that balance transfer fees have increased, so too has the average purchase rate on new credit cards. The average cost of borrowing has increased from 15.74% in October 2006 to 17.3% in January 2012.
A shorter 0% deal can offer better value
Which? credit card expert Bobby Nicholls says: ‘With credit card providers increasing fees on their cards, it’s important to make sure you are getting the best deal on the market.
‘If you’re likely to pay off the balance within a shorter period, you’d be better off choosing a card with a lower balance transfer fee. For example, the Barclaycard Platinum Low BT Fee Visa has a 0% deal of 16 months and charges a handling fee of 1.6% if you transfer a balance within the first 60 days. If you pay off the balance within the 0% period, this deal is much cheaper than cards with a longer 0% period but a higher fee.’


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Japanese blog Mac Otakara was first to report that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 refresh would include a Space Black Apple Watch-like darker color option replacing the existing Space Gray colorway. Tuesday, Mac Otakara published a pair of photos purportedly showing a claimed iPhone 7 SIM tray in Darth Vader-like glossy black finish said to resemble the exterior of the 2013 Mac Pro. Sources told Mac Otakara that the next iPhone would come in a total of five color choices.
But first, check out the image of the leaked part and see for yourself what the rumored new color option might look like. As mentioned, Mac Otakara thinks the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will come in five colorways:
- Rose Gold
- Space Gray
- Glossy Black
As for Space Gray, Mac Otakara had originally called for an iPhone 7 in Deep Blue but later amended the article to describe a refreshed Space Gray colorway as “a much darker” variant of the exiting Space Gray that is “close to black, though not quite black.”
Apple will be holding a media event on September 7 at 10am PT at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. The event is widely expected to serve as a launchpad for 2016’s iPhone refresh and a second-generation Apple Watch, with some fans keeping their fingers crossed for a refresh of the Mac notebook and desktop lineup.


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Fresh off their Caribbean Cruise, 311 has announced their plans for their annual summer tour that will span from July 2nd to August 2nd with 27 shows that will take the group from coast to coast. If it looks like a short summer tour, it comes with good reason as the group plans to head back into the studio for their next album.
What makes this summer so special is that it marks 25 years that 311 has been a band! As a result, we will see 311 release a box-set of 80 tracks, including unreleased songs, b-sides, bonus tracks, pre-production recordings and demos. Plus a book of photos in addition to vinyl re-issues, a poster auction, the launch of 311’s Amber Ale craft beer and 311’s partnership with BK Racing in support of cars #23, #26 and #83 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sporting the 311 logo.
The start of their summer tour will begin in Las Vegas, NV for a special 2 night-stand at the Mandalay Bay Beach over 4th of July weekend! 311 will play their self-titled blue album on July 4th with fireworks on both nights! There will be special hotel discounts as 311 wants you to celebrate America’s Independence with them. Take advantage by visiting www.311.com/shows for your hotel discount! There will be 27 total shows this summer from July 2nd to August 2nd, including a string of dates this spring.
If you’re wondering why there is no 3/11 day concert this year, it’s because the band has reserved 3/11 Day for even years, while odd years will be reserved for the 311 Caribbean Cruise. Instead of 3/11 Day this year they did the 311 Caribbean Cruise where they rocked 3 shows, playing 72 different songs in front of 3,000 fans from all 50 U.S. states and 12 countries between Feb 25th and March 1st.
3/11 Day is still celebrated by the band as they have a Super-Sale going on at their online store from today at 12pm Noon (EST) till Thursday 3/12 at 1PM (PST). All shirts discounted, some as low as $11. Jackets & Accessories are discounted as well. All orders over $30 will get a FREE 25 Year Anniversary Patch with all orders automatically entered into Contest Giveaways for autographed packs and summer tour tickets!
Watch: 311 – “Amber”


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From the mural on the wall to the food on the menu, a combination of cultures is at the heart of a new sandwich shop in Morton Grove.
Cultura Subs, 9432 N. Waukegan Road, is a new venture from business partners Fabian Gonzalez, Jose Luis Vinueza and Khaleel Musa. Its blend of Latin American, Mediterranean and American-style sandwiches reflects the Argentinean, Ecuadorean and Palestinian cultures of its owners, while venturing beyond them as well.
“We want to be known as a Latin American sub shop with a Mediterranean mix to it,” said Gonzalez, explaining that the aim of the business was always to go beyond the “traditional” sub sandwich market. “We’ve got Argentinean sandwiches, we’ve got Puerto Rican sandwiches, Mediterranean wraps, a Brazilian sandwich and Ecuadorean options.”
“We didn’t want to stop at our three cultures,” said Musa, who grew up in Morton Grove. “We want to hopefully be very diverse and give different options from all different parts of the world, offering authentic, cultural foods.”
There’s the shrimp jibarito, a sandwich on friend green plantains instead of bread; the Argentinian milanesa, made with breaded chicken or steak and tomatoes, a sunny side up egg and a salsa “golf sauce;” and shawarma fries, a mix of fries, chicken shawarma, melted cheese, garlic sauce and parsley.
Vinueza, a native of Ecuador, is the restaurant’s chef.
All chicken and meat served at Cultura Subs is zabiha halal in accordance with Muslim dietary and meat preparation practices, Gonzalez said.
Expanding the menu slightly is also being considered, Musa said.
“We want to cater to what our community is requesting, what they like,” he said.
Cultura Subs opened Nov. 11. The response from customers, said Musa, has been “incredible.”
“They’re saying, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this,’” he said. “We’ve had customers come in three times a week since we opened.”
Like the menu itself, the mural painted on the wall of the restaurant by artist Kristine Campbell is also representative of Latin American and Middle Eastern cultures. Colors of the Argentinian, Ecuadorian and Palestinian flags are incorporated into the Latin American dress of the woman in the painting, the scarf around her neck is a traditional Palestinian scarf known as a hatta or keffiyeh, and the birds flying above are Andean condors, the national bird of Ecuador.
Cultura Subs is open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and online ordering is available. A full menu can be found at www.culturasubs.com.


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It kind of seems like a long time in the making but Activision has finally jumped in on the eSports bandwagon. The company announced today that they have a very specific division dedicated to the company's budding eSports presence.
The announcement was made over on the investor's section of Activision's main website, where former CEO of EPSN and the NFL Network, Steve Bornstein, was named as the division's new president, and the co-foudner and president of Major League Gaming, Mike Sepso, will serve as the vice president of the new eSports division at Activision.
Steve Bornstein commented about the new position and the direction that the company is going in when it comes to the burgeoning market of competitive, electronic sports, saying...
Last year, Activision Blizzard created entertainment that was viewed and played by over 150 million people for more than 13 billion hours, [...] I believe esports will rival the biggest traditional sports leagues in terms of future opportunities, and between advertising, ticket sales, licensing, sponsorships and merchandising, there are tremendous growth areas for this nascent industry. I'm excited to help Activision Blizzard further its leadership position in esports.
According to some market reports from various research firms, eSports is already set to rival some major league sports in the United States, and will catch up to leagues like the NHL by 2018. Activate estimates that eSports will be a $1.2 billion market in just three years time and that globally it will be worth $4 billion, fueled mostly by the Southeast Asian demographic.
Previous reports have also indicated that eSports is already on target to make more than half a billion this year alone. The market is skyrocketing thanks to better internet service utilities and mediums in which to engage in the content, such as YouTube and Twitch.tv.
In fact, YouTube Gaming is a sub-channel from the video Goliath wholly dedicated to live-streaming video games. Market reports indicate that millennials will make up for a large part of driving revenue to gaming through video content and through eSports.
Now does seem to be the perfect time to really start investing heavily into establishing platforms and market representation for brands that are popular within eSports.
Activision also has a very strong library of games at the moment that have undeniable sway on the eSports scene, including Heroes of the Storm, StarCraft 2 and Call of Duty. In fact, Activision recently announced a Call of Duty annual championship with a $3 million prize pool. This followed on Microsoft announcing that Halo 5 would be looking to take the crown from Call of Duty in the eSports arena with its own tournament planned for later this year.
Destiny is also growing rapidly and is claimed to be the most watched console game on Twitch at the moment. Establishing a professional league around Destiny wouldn't be a bad way to go about it – striking the brand while the iron is hot.
It will be interesting to see what Activision does with the division moving forward, but they certainly know that they want to get in on the eSports action in a more legitimate way. The only thing they're missing now is a fighting game and then they'll be able to have a strong presence in the FGC.


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Bridgestone Europe NV/SA, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation in EMEA, has entered into an agreement with TomTom to acquire its telematics business, for a cash consideration of EUR910 million. The transaction is anticipated to be completed latest in the 2nd quarter of 2019, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions such as regulatory approvals.
TomTom is the number one provider of digital fleet solutions in Europe, a marketplace with very diverse in legal, commercial and cultural requirements. Its digital fleet solutions business has successfully demonstrated its ability to operate in complex and demanding market environments and has continued to strengthen its potential to expand globally.
The transaction will bring together the world’s largest tyre and rubber company with the number one provider of digital fleet solutions in Europe, creating a leading data platform for connected vehicles. TomTom Telematics will accelerate Bridgestone on its journey to becoming a mobility solutions leader in the region, and the combination of both companies’ offerings will allow Bridgestone to cross-sell tyres and solutions to a larger customer base. Furthermore, the data access will enhance Bridgestone’s virtual tyre development and testing as well as connected tyre innovation benefiting all customers including OEMs.
New social, economic and technological megatrends are pushing the pace of change in the automotive industry and the future of vehicles is connected, autonomous, shared and electric. In that context, Bridgestone has identified digital mobility solutions and fleet solutions as a strategic priority. This is reinforced by the growing importance of fleets over individually-owned vehicles for transportation of people and goods. Increasing demand in the transportation industry means that fleet owners and managers need to maximise productivity and minimise total cost of ownership more than ever.
This latest investment builds on previous work at Bridgestone to strengthen its digital capabilities in EMEA. Specifically, the company has built capabilities in data collection from sensors, data platforms and analytics. This has resulted in the launch of a range of digital solutions and applications such as Tirematics, Mobox, FleetPulse and Bridgestone Connect.
TomTom Telematics, a front-runner in a double-digit growth industry, fits Bridgestone strategically as it has a large and growing installed user base of 860,000 vehicles of which more than two thirds are commercial. It has a tailored go-to-market system and a premium digital offering including WebFleet and NextFleet. Its strong underlying technologies based on data analytics rely on an open, scalable, secure and cloud-based platform. It handles on average over 800 million GPS positions, 3.3 million trips, and 200 million inbound messages per day.
Its platform enables customers such as commercial fleets, leasing companies or corporate fleets to make their operations more efficient. It also enables partnerships such as with OEMs because of the improved driver experience. TomTom Telematics’ management team has been successful in constantly growing its customer base and maintaining a profitable business year after year. The business is also well-positioned for future growth in fleet solutions and to develop new business models relying on software capabilities.
Bridgestone has the perfect set of assets to accelerate the TomTom Telematics business. It can draw on its strong brand equity, large customer base, preferred supplier status at many of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and fleets, and 2,600 points-of-sale in EMEA. In addition, Bridgestone brings its industry-leading R&D investment, and Rome-based Digital Garage dedicated to the development of digital mobility solutions.


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Does it seem like more people than ever are talking about shows they binged on streaming services compared to what they watched last night on traditional TV? It’s not your imagination. New data released today confirms that more than half of all American adults are consuming over the top (OTT) content like movies, complete seasons of popular series, original content and programs like documentaries, concerts and stand-up comedy specials from services like Netlfix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and now Apple, either to supplement or completely replace legacy cable and broadcast.
As the streaming wars heat up and the mound of cut cable cords continues to grow, a lot of people are asking “how many streaming services are we going to need to get the content we want?” And, more generally, how many services will the market bear?
Today, a newly released survey of over 2000 verified adult users of OTT services, conducted by the Harris Poll and adtech platform OpenX, takes the first major step toward answering those and many other questions. According to the 2019 Consumer OTT Report:
- 61% of Americans own a Smart TV and 52% use OTT services.
- OTT usage is 65% for viewers age 18-34.
- The average OTT customer owns three devices they can use to watch OTT content and subscribe to three different OTT services.
- People spend more time watching OTT content than they do driving a car or talking to friends and family.
From "cord cutters" to cord burners
The poll also contains grim news for the future of cable, satellite and broadcast, especially as the Millennial generation supplants aging Boomers as the primary consumer target.
- Millennials who subscribe to at least one OTT service watch more than twice as much OTT content as they do live TV.
- The top content that people want is movies, then scripted TV shows. Live news and sports – thought to be the killer app keeping broadcast and cable in the game – rank #3 and #4, across all cohorts.
- Millennials spend more than twice as much time watching OTT content than live TV
- Fewer than 40% of Millennial OTT users plan to keep their cable package
- Nearly 2/3 of cord cutters are more like “cord burners”; they say it has noticeably improved their life and there is nothing a cable company could do to lure them back into having a bundle.
“We are clearly at a tipping point where OTT is mainstream,” says Dallas Lawrence, Chief Communications and Brand Officer for OpenX. “These are not passive viewers dipping their toes in. These viewers want lots of content – 2.5 hours per day on average – on multiple services.”
Is the streaming market already over-saturated?
The OpenX survey also sheds light on the question of market saturation. With new streaming services seemingly coming on line every week, Apple having made its move, and more gigantic behemoths – ATT/Warner Media, Comcast/NBC and Disney – poised to launch, it’s reasonable to wonder how wide even dedicated viewers will stretch their wallets to pay monthly fees for their favorite binges.
According to the survey, the answer is “up to $100 per month for about 15 channels/outlets.”
“Consumers are overwhelmed,” says Lawrence. “They want simplicity. Most of all, they want to make their own skinny bundles, picking and choosing across different services through a single interface.”
Lawrence says there is probably still room in the market for more entrants, provided they have a differentiated approach to the content.
“Apple was a day late, but they got there,” he says. “Most of all, they learned that you have to be device-agnostic. To me, the biggest news from their event wasn’t the new content, it’s that they are ditching the AppleTV hardware. When even Apple understands that [you can’t lock audiences in to proprietary hardware], it’s a new day for the market.”
One interesting wrinkle in the data is that, according to the survey, no OTT-exclusive original programming made respondents’ top-10 favorites. “We asked an open-ended question and discovered that, for all the billions that Amazon, Netflix, Apple and the others are pouring into original programs, the viewers’ favorite shows on OTT are things like Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Friends and The Office,” says Lawrence. He observes that specialized content is a good way to get viewers to subscribe to a service, but it’s not enough to keep them around.
Rethinking TV advertising
After cable providers, the industry most likely to be disrupted by these findings is advertising. Last year, brands spent $70 billion advertising to television audiences, mostly using a media strategy that look more like 1995 than 2018. “Only 5% of all ad dollars go to OTT, even though more than 50% of the audience is there,” says Lawrence.
That approach not only limits the reach of advertising, it also leaves huge opportunities on the table because of the differences in how OTT audiences respond to ads, particularly when they are watching on mobile devices. According to the report, 40 percent of all OTT users will pause a commercial on their phone, search for info on the product, and display intent to purchase. That suggests that OTT advertising could yield tremendous benefits if brands can figure out the right approach with good creative and strong calls to action.
Currently, the OTT market is hard to address for advertisers because OTT providers are divided on how to accommodate advertising. Some platforms are ad supported and some are closed, making it difficult to build a strategy that fits the entire landscape. The OpenX survey sheds some light on that as well, finding that:
- 72% of OTT users understand there is a tradeoff between watching free content and having advertisers use their data to serve ads, and most do not find ads bothersome if they are relevant
- 46% of OTT customers are willing to pay $10/month for a service with no ads
- 25% prefer a free service with ads
- 29% want a hybrid model with a few ads and a lower monthly cost
- Consumers are willing to pay up to $24/month for a premium package on a single service
This suggests to Lawrence that regardless of where OTT providers fit on the ad-subscription fee continuum today, most of the major players are likely to arrive at some kind of tiered pricing model with at least one ad supported option to accommodate each of these different customer segments within the next 18-24 months.
You might think that the business model of OTT service, which require users to sign in to use the services, presents a greater opportunity for ad targeting and personalization. Lawrence agrees that this potential promises to “dramatically impact the creative process that ads undergo." Advertisers, he believes, will require a much richer inventory of creatives to appeal to individual audiences and subsegments, and better ways to serve that advertising on platforms that more closely resemble the digital/web landscape than the old broadcast market.
However, Lawrence cautions that there is still some guesswork in the media planning process. The survey found roughly a third of consumers used shared passwords for OTT services. “If the account holder is a 55 year-old married couple, but actual primary user is a 21 year-old college student, there might still be a disconnect,” he said.
Despite the lingering grey areas, the survey helps to quantify some of the changes to the media landscape we’ve been living through. And for those of us wondering how much streaming can we stand before we die of water-torture, we now have a baseline. We’ll see how that data point of 15 “channels”/$100 per month holds up in the face of new entrants and even sharper competition.


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With this year's awards proper postponed, the Australian International Beer Awards went online for a special ISO Brewer's Choice Edition. The industry was invited to vote in a new set of categories, with CUB's brands cleaning up.
They're the dictionary definition of work hard, play hard and continue to make an indelible mark on the Melbourne and wider Australian beer community. Behind door 16, it's the irrepressible Kate and Shev.
October 26, 2019, is to become the inaugural Indie Beer Day, with supporters of independent Aussie beer encouraged to raise a glass in support of the local industry.
Familiar faces were among the big winners at the 2019 Australian International Beer Awards, with Balter, Green Beacon and 4 Pines adding to their swollen trophy cabinets and Blackman's claiming a big one too.
Marco Bona, the founder of Libation Army and a hugely popular figure in the SA beer scene passed away suddenly recently. The local beer industry has come together to create Marco Hour in support of his family.
The country's leading beer week and the national body representing Australia's independent brewers have today announced they are to merge with both parties confident the move will help both achieve more in the future.
The Independent Brewers Association has today released an exhaustive set of labeling guidelines for brewers. The aim is to ensure they are compliant and aware of anything that could potentially get them into hot water or hold them back.
Australia's beer judges seem to love them, they're great with an array of cuisines and they have a fascinating history. Yet traditional European wheat beer styles remain unloved. Will Ziebell speaks to brewers, retailers and consumers to find out why.
Mismatch, Modus Operandi, Boatrocker and Moffat Beach were the big winners at the 2018 Indies awards in Sydney, taking out the champion trophies at Paddington Town Hall.
One of the biggest stories to emerge from Australia's biggest beer competition was the success for Beerland Brewing, which operates two brewpubs in Perth. Its head brewer is a man with 40 years experience and his face on cans of Emu Bitter.


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Foreign financial media); next is the warning issued by Guo Mingyu, an analyst who is recognized as the most accurate forecaster of iPhone shipments in the industry: iPhone shipments this year Even lower than in 2014, he believes that even the iPhone 7, which will be released USA Phone Number List this year, will not be able to resume growth in shipments; yesterday, another media broke the news that Apple fired all contract recruits. 2. [India requires all mobile phones including iPhone in 2017 to be equipped with a panic button] On April 26,
According to foreign media reports, the Indian government will issue a new bill requiring all mobile phones, including iPhone, to be equipped with emergency USA Phone Number List buttons from January 1, 2017. An emergency call button and GPS positioning function must be configured to provide emergency calls and positioning services for Indian women in an emergency. 3. [China has become the largest country in chip patent applications, the number of applications has increased by 23 times] There was a saying in the mobile phone circle:
when Apple is "thirsty", other mobile phone brands will starve. In fact, it is said that due to the limited supply of high-end chips, domestic mobile phone manufacturers USA Phone Number List can only "wait a moment" when chip manufacturers choose customers. 4. [LeTV faces three major dilemmas, is it the doomsday madness on the tip of capital? ] On April 10, 2016, LeEco founder Jia Yueting issued an open letter calling for the hardware to enter the free era. 10 days later, LeEco released four new USA Phone Number List products, involving mobile phones, TVs, VR and cars. , this may be the legendary crossover. In recent years, LeEco has been able to mix things up. From the original video .


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Hitachi Vantara seems to have been operating in the background for a while now. On Tuesday, however, the company introduced several new midrange and enterprise packages for its storage portfolio.
The Virtual Storage Platform (VSP) 5000 Series models, Hitachi Content Platform, and VSP E-Series offerings have all reached general availability with new cloud-based management tools, according to a statement by the company.
The Tokyo-based Hitachi company served old-school users for a long time and was not necessarily on board with the new generation of information technology.
The new-age spin-off
When Hitachi Vantara was spun off in 2017, it was a combination of Hitachi Data Systems, Pentaho, and Hitachi Insight Group converged around new-gen storage systems. It operated out of the United States (Santa Clara, California) and not Japan.
The idea was to create a new-generation company in Silicon Valley, where the next-generation hardware and software is created. So far, the plan has worked.
With this new set of storage products, HV’s systems aim to cater to mid-range businesses. According to Chief Product Officer Radhika Krishnan, comes with high-end enterprise functionality included.
Serving the old and the new
CIOs need a unified view of data on a single dashboard to optimize and manage the underlying data infrastructure, Krishnan added. He went on to say that this requires a data fabric that seamlessly extends from on-premises resources into the cloud and which copies the scalability, simplicity, and convenience of the cloud in their own data centers.
Even though the new products may be extensions of older-school storage, there is a large market for them out there and HV is determined to go for it.
For the new-gen companies, HV has certified some of its new systems for Red Hat OpenShift and Google Cloud Platform.


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Organization Tech Reports
Business technology is a control strategy, toolkit and efficiency structures that can ensure that the use of information technology is optimised considering the overarching goal of interacting with customer demands. This includes a wide range of tools and technologies such as seo, VR/AR, and social media marketing.
A man’s predicament for a Tesla that got stuck in his driveway caused the carmaker to release fresh video footage of this rescue procedure. The new footage reveals how the firm’s engineers applied a variety of processes to free up the electric motor vehicle, including hosing it down and jumping the battery.
The tech industry’s press releases now, as curated by PR Newswire.
Neil Cumins may be writing about technology for over 20 years about both sides of this Atlantic. This individual has covered everything from client hardware to enterprise software and is an enthusiastic advocate of open source and small businesses. He lives in Carlisle, England. He has been also an amateur programmer and semi-pro shooter. He’s interested in the potential of AJE to solve world problems and writes on many tech https://hashbrum.co.uk/ blogs and sites. His latest task is a podcast about the future of work called The Bustle.


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When you’ve had a long day in the office, or a particularly stressful week, few things are likely to match the pleasure of that first glass of wine of an evening, or the soothing sounds of a cat’s purr as it stretches out on your lap. Imagine, then, that two of life’s greatest stress relievers had been combined into the ultimate R&R venture. Wine and Felines, one such concept, could soon be launching in Denver, and we’re big fans already.
Cat cafés are nothing new; indeed, they’ve spread around Asia and other parts of the world like wildfire since the idea was first launched in the late 1990s. However, Sana Hamelin, owner of the Denver Cat Company, has decided that cats and coffee need to be replaced by something better suited to those who really want to get out and about with friends during the evenings. The Denver Cat Company, a café that has helped to rehome almost 150 cats since it opened eighteen months ago, is now hoping to raise $60,000 by the start of July in order to fund such a project – with a view to opening early next year.
“Right now we have to find a space, raise some money, and hopefully launch in full force by next March,” Hamelin explained. Where does the idea of a cat bar come from? It has long been documented that interactions with animals can help to lower stress levels and release happy hormones, while relaxing in the company of our friends can have a similar effect. It is thought that the later opening hours of a bar, as opposed to the daytime hours of a café, will enable patrons to take full advantage of their new pet pals – with a view to adoption – while the beverages on offer will entice guests to stay a while.
The project has currently received 10% of its designated target. You can find its Kickstarter Campaign here.


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They may not be fashion moguls, but these top tech titans know how to project confidence (and a little swagger, too).
Kerr announced their engagement via Snapchat (of course) in July 2016.
Snapchat is working with Tagboard on content distribution.
Instagram’s latest update expands augmented reality features with face filters.
Like the Snapchat app, the spectacles are all about fun and sharing.
Users should expect to see in-app changes and “surprises” on the horizon.
Instagram and Facebook have made recent changes to their apps to try and win over Snapchat loyalists, but new polls suggest this may not be effective.
Instagram celebrates 700 million active users today. Here’s how they did it.
The rumors started after a job listing for a senior product manager for hardware was spotted on the company website.
Snapchat’s latest feature makes use of “augmented reality” with live, 3D lenses.
Get the update to send temporary photos and videos.
Augmented Reality is the future of tech, and Apple’s success at the field is key to its future profits.


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While technology company Oerlikon is based in Switzerland, their presence is global, with more than 170 locations in 37 countries. In business for a good century now, Oerlikon has comfortably settled into place as a leading provider of solutions to a diverse range of industries from aviation to apparel. They haven’t gotten overly comfortable, though, and are continuing to push and adapt to the changing technological landscape, making sure to stay at the forefront of the industry.
In that vein, Oerlikon has been directing their focus more towards the area of additive manufacturing lately, with the recent announcement of an advanced materials factory to be constructed in Plymouth Township, Michigan as evidence that they’re serious about developing their additive manufacturing capabilities. Now, the company has made another move towards building their additive manufacturing presence with the acquisition of German company citim GmbH.
Specializing in additively manufactured metal components, citim is no small contributor to the market themselves. In 2015, the company generated CHF 12 million in sales, with profitability around the same level of the operating margin of Oerlikon’s Surface Solutions Segment. citim has production sites in both Europe and the United States, and serves as a supplier of functional prototypes and small-series production to the automotive, aviation and energy industries.
“The competencies and team from citim will serve to consolidate our position in the additive manufacturing business, marking the acquisition as an important move for us to drive the industrialization of additive manufacturing and to become an independent service provider for the production of additively manufactured components,” said Dr. Roland Fischer, CEO of Oerlikon. “We will continue to make targeted investments in the additive manufacturing market to solidify our value proposition.”
citim has about 120 employees, and while the companies have agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the agreement, there’s no doubt on either side that the merger will be a profitable one for both teams.
“We are convinced that together we will be driving the industrialization of AM and making our mark as a leader in this industry,” said Andreas Berkau, co-owner and CEO of citim.
Oerlikon already offers a strong portfolio of processing technologies and metal-based materials, including several metal powders qualified for additive manufacturing. With their expertise in powder materials, surface technologies for post-production processing, and industrial component design and engineering, Oerlikon is already well positioned to become an additive manufacturing leader, and the acquisition of citim further solidifies their place as a provider of end-to-end additive manufacturing solutions.
“citim and Oerlikon’s technology and expertise fully complement each other,” said Frank Lehmann, co-owner and CEO of citim. “As part of the Oerlikon Group, citim will be able to offer its global customer base enhanced AM technologies and competencies and a comprehensive range of services along the entire value chain.”
Discuss in the Oerlikon forum at 3DPB.com.
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By John Revill
-Logitech International said on Tuesday it expects the downturn in spending by business customers which hit its third quarter sales to be temporary, after the computer accessories maker reported a sharp drop in sales and profit.
The maker of computer mice, keyboards and video conferencing equipment said its sales fell 22% in the three months to the end of December, confirming its preliminary results.
Chief Executive Bracken Darrell said the downturn reflected the more difficult global economic situation and expected spending to pick up again.
“This is temporary and will eventually come back,” Darrell told Reuters in an interview. “I can’t say when, but growth will continue.
“At the end of the day, this is part of the cycle. We’ve had a long strong growth cycle and now we’re in a cycle of adjustment,” he said.
The Swiss-U.S. company said consumers had also spent less during the quarter and concentrated their purchases on weeks when sales promotions took place.
Darrell declined to say what he thought would happen with consumer spending, saying Logitech would give its latest guidance at its investor day in March.
Still, long-term growth trends which have propelled Logitech, like gaming and hybrid working between the office and home, remained intact, he added.
Other positives included an expected easing of supply bottlenecks in China as the country opens up after Beijing scrapped its zero-COVID policy, Darrell said.
The Chinese market – Logitech’s second biggest – would also recover as the country opened up, he added.
Its shares were up 1.9% in early afternoon trading in Zurich.
Logitech’s sales in the three months to end-December fell to $1.27 billion. The company’s preliminary figures published on Jan. 11 showed its sales had fallen to between $1.26 and 1.27 billion.
Its non-GAAP operating income fell 32% to $204 million from $302 million a year earlier. It had previously reported preliminary operating income in the range of $198 to $203 million.
It still expects sales to drop 13% to 15% in the 12 months to end-March, and generate non-GAAP operating income of $550 to $600 million.


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A post-fabless era?
"These days it's very difficult to build a fabless company making a device with any digital complexity for less than $100 million, and a number have exceeded 200 million," said Rappaport, principal of August Capital and a founding investor in companies such as Actel and Atheros.
Tape out costs can run as high as $20 million, but they are dwarfed by verification costs that can soar five times as high, he said. The payroll for verification teams alone can cost $2 million a month and silicon support teams to serve a couple OEM customers can run another million per month, he added.
Ten years ago, it was not unusual for VCs to fund a startup through a second-generation chip if the market turned bad. Not today.
"It is so expensive to do anything now that no one wants to fund a mulligan," Rappaport said. "What you conclude is the number of chip companies you can fund is a decreasing number even as the overall semiconductor industry continues to grow," he said.
Indeed, Rappaport gave a presentation last year to two groups of executives from fabless chip makers on semiconductor value in what he called the post-fabless era. "No one has disagreed, but there's a lot of frustration in the fact the data is somewhat irrefutable," he said.
Today August Capital has just one silicon startup left in its portfolio, the result of merging multiple companies it has funded. "I think there will be a handful [of chip startups] worth doing over time," he said.
"I tend to agree with Andy," said Mark Stevens, a principal at Sequoia Capital and a member of the venture capital council at the Global Semiconductor Alliance, the trade group of fables chip companies. "We've done just one new early stage startup in the last two or three years, and we've done one later stage deal," he said.
Stevens estimated it takes $40-$100 million and six to eight years to get a major chip startup to a breakeven point. "That's much larger than it was in the '80's or even the '90's," he said.
|Sequoia Capital, Partner|
Making money on such investments is tough because "the IPO window has been largely shut for startups for most of this decade," he said. "When you put nearly $100 million in a company and Broadcom or someone buys it for $200 million, if you are lucky, the math doesn't work," he added
Making matters worse, established chip companies are paying less and less for startups. The average acquisition price for a silicon startup in 2007 was $160 million. That dropped to $95 million last year, and it slid down to $65 million so far in 2009, said Lip-Bu Tan, chairman of Walden International and a veteran investor in chip startups.
Stevens pegs the falling prices on the rise of the Internet.
"The big companies are much more agile than they were, so when there's a new networking or video standard the Broadcoms and Intels and Nvidias can jump on it much quicker," he said. "They are not surprised as much by startups, so the startup window has shrunk," he added.


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Volkswagen landed themselves in hot water when their April Fool's joke went disastrously wrong.
The first rule of April's Fools joke is a pretty simple one- it needs to happen on April 1st but the giant car manufacturer didn't do this.
Today's top videos
The first sign something was up was when a press release on the company's website revealed an entirely new name for Volkswagen's US operations.
The plausible idea was it was designed to promote its shift towards electric vehicles.
In the press release posted a couple of days before April 1st it suggested the change was to 'emphasise the German automaker’s electric vehicle efforts.'
Confusingly the press release was dated April 29, and claimed that Volkswagen will be changing its name in the US to Voltswagen.
The statement called the change a 'public declaration of the company’s future-forward investment in e-mobility'.
It then announced that the new Voltswagen name will be placed on all electric models but petrol vehicles will still be known by the Volkswagen name.
According to CNN, 'Voltswagen' was a bizarre April Fool's joke which was accidentally put out early but the company went with it anyway.
'The renaming was designed to be an announcement in the spirit of April Fool's Day,' the company said.
What began as an April Fool’s effort got the whole world buzzing. Turns out people are as passionate about our heritage as they are about our electric future. So whether it’s Voltswagen or Volkswagen, people talking about electric driving and our ID.4 can only be a good thing. pic.twitter.com/Rzx8mJgxkT
— Volkswagen (@VW) March 31, 2021
The company's stunt left pretty much everyone scratching their heads so much so they put out a Tweet to try and clear up the confusion..again not on April Fool's Day.
The car company wrote: 'What began as an April Fool’s effort got the whole world buzzing.
'Turns out people are as passionate about our heritage as they are about our electric future. So whether it’s Voltswagen or Volkswagen, people talking about electric driving and our ID.4 can only be a good thing'.


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A south-side dental-claims-processing company plans to spend $3 million to renovate space in a building in Southport that last housed a Gerdt Furniture store.
Renaissance Electronic Services, founded in 2002 by Delta Dental Plans of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, is the second-largest dental claims company in the country, processing more than 65 million transactions annually.
The Gerdt store at 2115 E. Southport Road will be Renaissance's sixth location. It hopes to move in by spring.
Renaissance plans to lease 36,000 square feet, or more than half of the 66,000-square-foot building. It housed the flagship Gerdt Furniture store until December 2012, ending a 54-year run for the business.
A Gerdt store in Castleton that opened in 1986 also closed in 2012. A family dispute involving the owners of the furniture store led to a lawsuit accusing them of owing nearly $4 million in unpaid rent and loans.
The building in Southport that Renaissance will occupy now is owned by the real estate firm Randy Faulkner & Associates Inc. in Greenwood.
“I remember shopping that building as a child,” said Erick Paul, 45, president of Renaissance and a Whiteland native. “We were looking at a couple of different properties, and it became available.”
Delta Dental Plans recruited Paul to launch Renaissance from his job as chief marketing officer of Atlanta-based American CareSource Holdings Inc., which operates primary and urgent care centers. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Franklin College in 1990 and an MBA from the University of Indianapolis in 1993.
He started Renaissance from his garage in Martinsville. The company has 230 employees and expects to add 150 jobs in the next four years that will pay an annual salary of $75,000 to $110,000, Paul said. Many of the additions will be software development and programming jobs.
Including all six locations, Renaissance will occupy a total of 80,000 square feet of space on the south side. The company will spend about $1 million to convert the front part of the building in Southport into an application-development center. That’s the original two-story brick part that dates to about 1920, Paul said.
Offices and training and technical support centers ultimately will take the rest of the space and likely will require a company investment of about $2 million, Paul said.
“It’s the largest space that we have so far,” he said. “We usually grow piece by piece until we end up taking over entire buildings.”
Renaissance in the past three years has invested more than $4.4 million in facilities and $4.6 million in data centers. Last year, the company expanded to 6250 S. Belmont St. and added a financial services division and also a “leadership center” at 6007 S. Harding St.
The company grew 17 percent in 2014, lifting revenue to $24.5 million. It expects to grow another 30 percent this year.
Renaissance processes more than 65 million dental claims and related transactions annually. Its application is used by 27,000 dentists nationwide.