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Longevity alone won’t be able to save the written check, which has been around for close to 300 years. Several large department stores and restaurant chains have already stopped accepting personal checks. Recent studies show that checks make up less than 5 percent of all business transactions in America, and that this figure has been dropping year after year since 2006. Meanwhile, the use of checks has completely ended in several European countries including Sweden and Norway, with the UK planning to phase them out by 2018.
The rise of e-mail communications, coupled with social networking sites, has meant a steady decline in the art of letter writing as a means of keeping in touch with friends or family. By 2006, experts estimate 183 billion e-mails were sent worldwide every day, while 80 percent of the world’s population had access to cell phone coverage. The end of the decade could also signal the end of letter writing, as schools prioritize teaching other forms of communication.
VHS & VCRS
The last decade signaled beginnings of the decline of both VHS tapes and VCR players in spectacular fashion. The last major movie to be released on the tape format was 2006’s A History of Violence, while the majority of video stores have ejected the VHS tapes from their stock. Although the Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) remains in many homes, the last standalone VCR produced was in 2008. VHS is unlikely to survive the next decade, with Blu-Ray and DVD now the most common alternatives and the home camcorder market already shifting to digital formats.
It’s hard to see how brick-and-mortar video and DVD rental stores will survive the next decade. In recent years stores have broadened their services to include other electronic goods, and major retailer Blockbuster has tried adding a movie-by-mail service to compete with Netflix. Yet mail-order isn’t the only threat: there’s also online piracy, coupled with legal availability of movies online and dedicated pay-per-view channels. In most states, the majority of independent small video shops have been forced to close, while large chains have changed hands or had to scale their operations back.
Billions of honey bees have disappeared in the last few years and some are now sounding the death knell of honey as we know it, if current trends continue. The bee is being affected by changes in landscape, but also a disease known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The causes of colony collapse disorder are not yet certain, although various factors are thought to be responsible including starvation, viruses, mites, nicotine-based pesticide exposure, GMO crops and climate change. This isn’t just bad news for honey lovers: the decline of the bee could lead to ecological disaster, as pollination is affected.
As the world’s oil stocks recede and minimizing carbon emissions becomes an increasing factor in car manufacture, the next decade could herald a significant shift away from gas-powered cars to those that run to greener specifications, such as hydrogen or electric motors. At present, up to 40 plug-in electric vehicles are being developed by the world’s manufacturers, with this type of vehicle expected to become dominant in the next two decades. With global oil production believed to have peaked, rising prices and carbon concerns could see the gas engine replaced en masse by 2020.
Post 9/11, many governments have used digital technologies to increasingly pry into our personal lives, utilizing everything from CCTV images to credit card purchasing patterns. The definition of what constitutes private information could continue to stretch as the next decade progresses, while the increasing digital trail we leave will make it easier for governments and private organizations to peer into our lives. Civil libertarians will struggle to compete with the war on crime and terror many governments are engaged in, ostensibly on their citizens’ behalf. At the same time, our consumer privacy may be undone by increasingly sophisticated marketing techniques, such as loyalty cards and targeted online promotions.
THE POLAR ICE CAPS
The Arctic ice cover, which has been part of the world landscape for 100,000 years, may have largely disappeared by 2020. Some scientists predict that up to 80 percent of the ice covering the North Pole will vanish in the next decade. In particular, scientists believe the ice cap will disappear completely during the summer months by 2015 and accelerate thereafter. Failure to reach a significant deal at the Global Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen recently has added to dire warnings over the ice caps. Their disappearance by 2020 would drastically and fundamentally change the world in which we live.
From Dilbert comics to films like Office Space, the cubicle is an indelible symbol of the American workplace. But, as technology allows more and more people to do their jobs remotely and as the global recession forces companies to rethink employment strategies, those ubiquitous square partitions could become an antiquated relic. Of course, considering that they’re often associated with corporate conformity and soul-sucking drudgery, this is one endangered species few will miss.
By Brian M. O’Connell. Article courtesy of featurewell.com


text: Nerval's Lobster writes: Forbes offers up a comforting little story about how Nest and FitBit are planning on turning user data in a multi-billion-dollar business. "Smart-thermostat maker Nest Labs (which is being acquired by Google for $3.2 billion) has quietly built a side business managing the energy consumption of a slice of its customers on behalf of electric companies," reads the article. "In wearables, health tracker Fitbit is selling companies the tracking bracelets and analytics services to better manage their health care budgets, and its rival Jawbone may be preparing to do the same." As many a wit has said over the years: If you're not paying, you're the product. But if Forbes is right, wearable-electronics companies may have discovered a sweeter deal: paying customers on one side, and companies paying for those customers' data on the other. Will most consumers actually care, though?

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RBH Appointed To National Hairdressers Federation
RBH Is A Cut Above
RBH Creative Communications Agency has been appointed by the National Hairdressers Federation to deliver a new brand identity.
As the UK’s largest trade organisation for hairdressing, barbering and beauty salons, the NHF recognised the value of RBH’s experience in the hair and beauty industry, and were suitably impressed following a competitive pitch process to award the project to the full service agency.
RBH and the NHF will now conduct research with members and non-members before launching a new brand positioning and visual identity across all channels later in the year. This win marks another major milestone in the agency’s rising creative profile, following the appointment of Creative Directors Craig Wood and Jason Vinciguerra in early 2016, as it enters its third decade as an independent agency.
Agency Partner for RBH, Natalie Griffiths, said “We are delighted to be working with such an established and respected membership organisation, in an industry that we are passionate about. We are really looking forward to creating a strong brand identity to help them reach new audiences and further engage with existing members.”
Hilary Hall, CEO for the NHF, said “Up against strong competition, we selected RBH to work with us because there was an immediate understanding of our needs arising from their track record of working in the hair and beauty industry. In a creative, fashion-orientated industry high quality images will be a crucial part of our brand, so their work on fashion photo shoots gave them a competitive edge. As a full service agency, the breadth of support they can offer for other key areas of our business was also an advantage.”


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It's been a long year. After another 12 months of data breaches, software bugs, privacy fiascos, device malfunctions, and big tech companies stepping into controversy, it's time yet again to take stock of the year in tech fails that was.
From Samsung's Galaxy Fold panic and Apple's FaceTime bug to a fresh crop of high-profile hacks and another rough year for Facebook, here's a rundown of Silicon Valley's biggest blunders of 2019.
PCMag's Huawei-FedEx Saga
For one crazy week in June, PCMag found itself unexpectedly in the middle of an international incident. When our UK reporter tried to ship a Huawei smartphone to the US for testing, unclear regulations and trade blacklisting rules from the Trump administration gave a package handler a panic attack. The phone was returned to sender with a message reading: "PARCEL RETURNED BY FEDEX, DUE TO US GOVERNMENT ISSUE WITH HUAWEI AND CHINA GOVERNMENT."
The news went viral, and kicked off a weeklong saga of Huawei and the Chinese government publicly denouncing the move, FedEx and the UK's Royal Mail pointing fingers at one another, and we at PCMag putting the phone back in the mail and tracking its progress as it was once again rejected, then finally delivered. Oh, FedEx also sued the US Commerce Department over the debacle.
Where to begin with maybe the most brazen example of tech startup mismanagement and overvaluation of the decade? In what may go down as a historically botched IPO(Opens in a new window)
and the strangest S1 filing in history, WeWork's attempt to go public resulted in a golden parachute ouster of eccentric tequila-drinking, weed-smoking(Opens in a new window)
CEO and co-founder Adam Neumann, and a quarterly loss of $1.25 billion amid greater scrutiny of primary investor SoftBank, which swooped in with a $10 billion bailout of the embattled, hyper-scaled, and unprofitable real estate startup. Beyond the wild headlines and what I'm sure will be one hell of a book, the ultimate tragedy of WeWork is not the billions lost. It's the thousands of employees(Opens in a new window)
who will lose their jobs in an attempt to clean up the mess.
Samsung's Galaxy Fold Fiasco
The year of foldable phones turned out to be a very expensive dud
. Samsung's $2,000 experimental Galaxy Fold smartphone broke
as soon as reviewers got their hands on them. It turns out the screens came with a protective film layer that was easy to peel off, even though it wasn't supposed to be removed. The botched rollout was a PR disaster
that led to major launch delays and even the "improved" device turned out to be "alarmingly fragile
." Foldable phones may end up being a thing, or they may end up simply as a fad along the way to the next major personal computing innovation. Either way, the Galaxy Fold was not the best start.
Apple's FaceTime Bug
Remember when iPhones could receive a random FaceTime call and before you even picked up, someone could be listening to what you were saying
? Fun times. Apple's major FaceTime bug
was one of the most high-profile security blunders of the year—and it was discovered by a teenager
. Apple did fix the vulnerability, but even the patch took a lot longer than it should've. A big yikes all around.
NordVPN and TorGuard Breaches
are expressly designed to protect your privacy, security, and anonymity. So when two of the biggest VPN providers suffer major security breaches
, it makes for an exceedingly bad look. NordVPN and TorGuard VPN suffered compromised servers attacked via remote access that compromised the data of hundreds of customers. The numbers pale in comparison to larger data breaches, but the principle is more important: if we can't trust that even our online security blankets are safe from attack, what can we trust?
Amazon's Failed Long Island City HQ2
After a yearlong Bachelor-style contest to see which cities would receive the rose of Amazon's second US headquarters or HQ2, Amazon split it between the two least surprising choices: Crystal City, Virginia, across the river from Washington, DC, and Long Island City, Queens, across the river from Manhattan. But as it turned out, LIC didn't want Amazon back.
After protests and criticism from local residents and lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)—who scrutinized the closed-door negotiations, the proposed HQ's effects on the neighborhood, and the generous New York state tax breaks and incentives thrown into the deal—Amazon decided it wasn't worth the trouble. The company canceled its plans for the NYC HQ2. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Facebook's Fraught Libra Announcement
It's getting repetitive to say "it's been another long year for Facebook." But here we are. In 2019, Facebook announced a "pivot to privacy" as Mark Zuckerberg aims to weave Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp more closely together in the face of regulatory scrutiny.
Facebook was also fined $5 billion by the FTC for the Cambridge Analytica scandal as it continues to deal with misinformation on its platforms, including emerging forms like deepfakes, while also weathering criticism about its effect on the coming 2020 elections and refusal to ban political ads.
All of this came to a head in October when Zuck appeared before Congress to answer questions about Facebook's ambitious and controversial digital currency initiative, Libra. While the CEO did field questions about Libra, he spent most of the hearing being berated about all the issues listed above and taking his lumps as Big Tech's most visible punching bag.
At the same time, regulatory pressure and criticism led to several high-profile payment companies dropping out of the Libra Association in the days before the hearing as Facebook presses on with its attempt to launch a global cryptocurrency. Yet despite all the headlines and vitriol, Facebook's profits have gone nowhere but up. (Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WhatsApp Spyware Hack
US Customs Face and License Plates Hack
It's become increasingly clear that no organization holding US citizens' sensitive data deserves the implicit trust we give them. In June, it was reported that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) suffered a data breach involving hundreds of thousands of photos and license plates from drivers crossing border checkpoints, thanks to a third-party contractor based in Tennessee. A few months later, Vice reported that a private company had created an entire surveillance network(Opens in a new window) of license plate scans uploaded by private investigators. At this point you may as well assume that if you drive regularly, your license plate may be in any number of unofficial data troves. (Credit: Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
June Ovens Spontaneously Preheat
I'm of the opinion that you should keep your home as dumb as possible. Our smartphones already compromise our privacy 24/7; don't let the rest of your appliances do the same. But it goes beyond always-on smart speakers or the potential security vulnerabilities of connected appliances; why would you buy a fridge someone can hack? The tech also has bugs. This summer, a smart oven manufacturer
came under (literal) fire after some of its ovens began spontaneously pre-heating to 400 degrees(Opens in a new window)
in the middle of the night. You know what won't inadvertently burn your house down all on its own? A dumb analog oven.
Capital One Data Breach
Asus Update Infects Thousands of PCs
On the hardware exploit front, Asus is nursing a mean black eye after hacker infected thousands of PCs
via a malicious update exploiting the Asus Live Update utility, which is pre-installed on most of the company's computers. The attack was designed to surgically target a certain group of users based on their Wi-Fi and network adapters' MAC addresses
, which you can usually find on the hardware's labeling. According to Kaspersky Lab, which published a report in March, 57,000 of its users installed the backdoored version at some point in time up to when it attacks ceased last November. Millions of PCs may have been affected.
Fake Portal Reviews From Facebook Employees
Facebook Portal is not a bad product; it just suffers from the misfortune of being manufactured by Facebook. To counteract the flood of bad reviews criticizing Facebook for releasing a smart home device in light of its data privacy scandals, Facebook employees astroturfed their own five-star reviews (Opens in a new window)on Amazon expounding on how much they love the devices.
Mark Zuckerberg's own verbal gaffe then made the Portal rollout even more laughable. In February, he said during an onstage discussion(Opens in a new window) that "We definitely don't want a society where there's a camera in everyone's living room"...momentarily forgetting that Facebook Portal exists.
Instagram Phishing Scams
Instagram is beset by all manner of scams and problematic content, too. This year, we saw a phishing scam from Turkish hackers offering users verified badges
if they gave up their login credentials, among many other scams. The app even added a new setting
showing users all official emails sent by Instagram to make sure they don't click on a phishing trap.
'Snake Oil Crypto' Session at Black Hat
At the Black Hat security conference this year, PCMag watched along with booing attendees as a sponsored session peddled "snake oil crypto
" based on dubious math that security researchers called out as a blatant scam. The company responded by suing Black Hat(Opens in a new window)
Browsers were not immune from this year's security bugs. Firefox developer Mozilla urged users in June to upgrade their browsers
Facebook's Onavo VPN Scandal
Facebook just can't stop hoovering up user data (because that's its entire business model.) This time, at least it asked permission. TechCrunch reported that Facebook was paying teens as young as 13 to download a root-access VPN that monitored all their online activity. Facebook's "Onavo" VPN was first banned by Apple's App Store in 2018, but Facebook re-branded it as Facebook Research to skirt Apple's rules.
Apple responded to the deception by revoking Facebook's enterprise developer certificates for a short period, breaking all of Facebook's developmental and internal iOS apps. It was the most heated exchange in an ongoing cold war between the two tech giants, who have traded barbs over data privacy and more over the past year. Facebook shut down Onavo/Facebook Research for good in February.
TheBestVPN.com's Google Search Scam
Bing Recommends Child Porn
Uber's Saudi Arabia Gaffe
Uber's stock (and SoftBank's stake(Opens in a new window)
in the still-unprofitable ride-hailing company) has had a very bad year
. To cap it off, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi had an unfortunate response during an Axios on HBO(Opens in a new window)
interview when he claimed the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "a mistake" by the Saudi government. He then went on to compare the murder to Uber's fatal car crash
that killed an Arizona woman in 2018. The CEO and Uber have tried to walk back since. (Credit: Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty Images)
The Biggest Tech Product Flops of the 2010s
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America's Top Small Business Summit
Join us for an opportunity to network with peers, learn from some of the world’s most successful leaders, and pick up tips for your business. It's also a celebration: We'll be honoring the America’s Top Small Business awards finalists and announcing this year's America's Top Small Business.
Spotlight on Small Business
- Small Business
Rising Crime Impacts a Family-Owned Coffee Roaster in San Francisco
For a real-world perspective on rising retail crime and its impact on small businesses, we spoke with a small-batch coffee roaster in San Francisco serving the community since 1965.
By Rachel Ledbetter
The most prominent drivers are constant shifts in power in Washington, an increasingly partisan approach to lawmaking, and a willingness by both parties to pursue policy changes through regulation rather than legislation.
- Improving Government
Voters Support Helping Businesses Grow Jobs, Strengthen Economy
By Ashlee Rich Stephenson
Understanding America’s Labor Shortage: The Most Impacted States
By Lindsay Cates
Chamber OnDemand Highlights: Navigating Business in 2023
Deep Dives on Workforce Data
We believe in the power of business to improve society and create a brighter future for people, communities, and our country.
- Americans Deserve a Transparent and Accountable FTCThe Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent actions are alarming and pose a serious threat to our economy.
- America Works InitiativeWe are calling on elected officials and the federal and state level to take immediate action to help address this national economic crisis.
- Equality of Opportunity InitiativeThe EOI agenda advances real solutions through private sector initiatives, and policy advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Antitrust Laws: Promoting Competition and Free MarketsCritically important but commonly misunderstood, antitrust laws are meant to promote competition and protect consumers. Here’s everything you need to know.
We Work for You
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization and network. Our members range from small businesses and chambers of commerce across the country to startups in fast-growing industries, leading industry associations, and global corporations.
For all the businesses and associations we represent, we are the only organization that optimizes the relationship between government and business at scale, across the economy, and around the world.
Join the largest community of business leaders in the world. Together, we'll work for government policies that help you run and grow your business, eliminate bureaucratic barriers, and strengthen America’s economy. You'll also gain access to the latest intelligence on issues shaping the nation, premier events for entrepreneurs, and webinars, guides, and other resources to help you grow your business.
- WorkforceTalent ForwardWednesday, October 0409:00 AM EDT - 03:00 PM EDT
- Environment and SustainabilitySustainability and Circular Economy Summit 2023Thursday, October 05 - Friday, October 0609:00 AM EDT - 12:30 PM EDT
- Small BusinessAmerica's Top Small Business Summit: Ready. Set. Scale.Thursday, October 1909:00 AM EDT - 01:30 PM EDT
- TechnologyInformation and news for businesses about the latest advances in technology.
- WorkforceInformation on how businesses can adapt their workforce development and management strategies to deal with the changing labor market.
- Supply ChainInformation and news about the latest developments in the global supply chain.
The 2017 edition of Global Energy Institute’s Index of U.S. Energy Security Risk finds that U.S. energy security is continuing to rapidly improve to one of the best scores in decades, after hitting bottom just five years ago.
UPS is utilizing Truck Trikes to make its delivery practices greener.
Donohue: Work Quickly to Pass Budget Resolution, Unlock the Potential of Pro-Growth Tax Reform WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the following statement today regarding the tax reform framework released by Republican congressional leadership and the Trump administration:
Peloton Techology and Omintracs, LLC have joined forces to introduce gas- and life-saving technology to the trucking sector.
Nearly three months after receiving his nomination, the United States Senate on September 25 confirmed William Emanuel...
Without knowing what the future might look like, business investments are on hold.
In this article, Foster explains that getting expensing right is a key part of improving neutrality regarding business investment.
The U.S. economy grew at a rate of 3% last quarter. We need to listen to America's small and midsize business leaders to further progress.
Fourteen million American jobs depend on trade with Canada and Mexico, which are by far the U.S.’s largest export markets.
Tom Donohue illustrates why a Nafta exit is a bad idea.


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More than 3.5 million tonnes of new season grain from SA growers has found its way to international markets, through the Viterra network.
That equates to 750,000t each month since December.
Viterra chief operations officer - Australia James Murray said the strong demand for new season grain from the Viterra network was reflected in a bumper shipping program, increased number of destinations and more exporters compared with previous years.
"Our focus is connecting growers with buyers and international markets, so it's fantastic that we are able to provide growers with access to even more destinations," he said.
Two new export markets have emerged this year with South Australian malting barley recently shipped to Peru and Ecuador.
Durum wheat headed to Algeria for the first time in five years, while wheat has been sent to Korea.
"We also have an increased number of exporters as well," Mr Murray said.
"Among the 40 buyers in our network, 13 are exporters sending grain globally."
Exporter Commex International has recently transitioned to the bulk export market utilising Viterra's supply chain to load its first bulk cargo with faba beans.
"We're working closely with each of our customers to adapt to their needs in a complex and challenging environment so they continue to source South Australian grain from our network," Mr Murray said.
"The huge benefit of this for growers who deliver to Viterra, is they have a great deal of choice and flexibility when it comes to selling their grain and working with different buyers."
Across Viterra's six terminals, wheat, barley, faba beans, lentils, and canola have all headed offshore.
Viterra's Port Lincoln terminal has reached its 1mt milestone, with Outer Harbor expected to achieve the same later this month.
"It's a significant achievement to be reaching these high volumes and most importantly, doing it safely and efficiently," Mr Murray said.
"We are continuing to work closely with our buyer and grower customers during this solid shipping programme, and planning for the next harvest, to create added value wherever we can."
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
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Revenue-intelligence solutions provider cVidya Networks says its fraud management solution detected a large bypass fraud scam in the Asia Pacific region and helped police catch the perpetrator.
Israel-based cVidya says FraudView detected and located the person behind the fraud ring using its bypass fraud system. The unnamed operator filed a complaint after discovering a very high volume of international calls made from a single location where the suspect lived. The fraudster was found with various types of sophisticated telecom fraud equipment in his home. That gear was seized by authorities.
Bypass fraud allows for an international call to look like a local call so that telecom operators are not able to receive long distance charges and other fees. This FraudView solution covers 40 million subscribers and detects thousands of bypass cases daily. Gone unchecked, this type of fraud could cost operators tens of thousands – if not millions – of dollars over time.
“We are proud to see that our clients are benefitting from our solutions and that justice is prevailing," said Alon Aginsky, CEO and president of cVidya.
FraudView identifies traditional and next-generation fraud patterns and performs real-time subscriber risk management to prevent fraud losses across all business lines and services. FraudView introduced the first 3G and VoIP fraud solutions as well. It identifies all types of fraud patterns including bypass fraud, internal fraud, and subscription fraud, and has been shown to consistently reduce fraud by as much as 90%, cVidya said. In addition, FraudView identifies mobile-money fraud and is capable of enhanced link analysis over social networks as well, all with location-based fraud detection.


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Tesla Inc. is expected to report second-quarter results after the bell Wednesday amid a rally for its battered stock fueled by better-than-expected quarterly sales.
Investors will zero in on Tesla’s
“The ability of the stock to move higher will really depend on the (sales) guidance,” said Garrett Nelson, an analysts with CFRA Research. “We are still skeptical that they will hit that goal.”
Tesla earlier this month reported second-quarter sales that were above Wall Street expectations (and a record for the company, it said.) That has buoyed the stock in recent sessions and primed investors to expect a smaller quarterly loss next week.
The story of the second quarter changed with that sales beat, said Bill Selesky, an analyst with Argus Research. Selesky is expecting Tesla to lose an adjusted 18 cents in the second quarter, which is less than the Wall Street consensus.
“We are still hearing that demand trends bode well for Tesla,” he said. What remains to be seen is whether Tesla will rein in its costs and expenses and improve its margins, he said.
Tesla has reportedly embarked on “hardcore” penny pinching, with Chief Executive Elon Musk and Chief Financial Officer Zach Kirkhorn scrutinizing expenses big and small.
Kirkhorn in April promised a return to profitability by the third quarter.
Here’s what else to expect:
Earnings: Analysts polled by FactSet expect Tesla to report an adjusted quarterly loss of 35 cents a share. That would compare with a loss of $3.06 a share in the year-ago quarter.
Tesla was in the black for the third and fourth quarters of 2018, but swung back to GAAP and non-GAAP losses in the first quarter. Wall Street expects a return to non-GAAP profitability by the fourth quarter.
Estimize, a crowdsourcing platform that gathers estimates from Wall Street analysts as well as buy-side analysts, fund managers, company executives, academics and others, is expecting an adjusted loss of 31 cents a share.
Revenue: The analysts surveyed by FactSet expect Tesla to report sales of $6.5 billion in the quarter. That would compare with sales of $4 billion in the year-ago period, and $4.5 billion in the first quarter.
Estimize projects sales of $6.5 billion for Tesla in the quarter.
Stock movement: The stock is enjoying a bit of a reprieve in July: it has gained 14%, which follows a 21% gain in June. In the first three months of the year, however, losses were steep, and as a result Tesla shares are down 23% for 2019. That contrasts with gains of 19% and 17% for the S&P 500 index
What else to expect: Tesla’s plans for China are always high on the list of items investors care about.
Earlier this week, analysts at Morgan Stanley said that Tesla could ramp up production in China faster than anyone has realized, putting it on track to become a leading luxury electric-vehicle maker in that country. Tesla’s Shanghai factory is still under construction.
Investors would also like an update on the Model Y, Tesla’s next vehicle, a compact SUV, that was unveiled in March. It’s the first Tesla vehicle since the Model 3, unveiled three years ago, and one that Tesla hopes will allow it to cash in on U.S. drivers’ appetite for SUVs.
Tesla recently simplified its vehicle lineup and yet again tweaked its prices, getting rid of cheaper versions of the Model S and Model X and lowering the price of the Model 3.
Tesla hasn’t disclosed whether it will build the Model Y at its California plant or at its Nevada gigafactory, although Musk is reportedly leaning toward the California plant in Fremont.
Musk has kept a low profile in recent months, but earlier this week made headlines, when his startup Neuralink Corp. showed what it billed as an advance toward a therapeutical device to connect human brains and computers.
Cue the questions about time spent at Tesla, his only publicly traded company, versus his other endeavors, which include rocket maker Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or Space X.


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For Immediate Release
For more information, contact: Stephanie Shirley, Stephanie@millirongoodman.com
Imposing Sales and Use Tax on Commercial Storage Services Will Hurt PA Economy
Adding sales and use tax to commercial storage services will result in the substantial loss of jobs and revenue for the Commonwealth and pass double taxation on to PA consumers.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —Governor Tom Wolf has proposed a 6 percent sales and use tax on commercial storage services in an attempt to help close a $3 billion deficit in the state’s 2017-18 budget. This would cause an average of a quarter-million dollars per warehouse in lost annual revenue, resulting in layoffs or businesses leaving Pennsylvania altogether
The proposed tax model has shown to be detrimental to other states’ economies. A 2007 Michigan State University study showed that when the state of Michigan proposed a warehouse tax, there would be a resulting 33 percent labor loss over just a few years in the warehouse industry. This amount is equal to approximately 7,000 jobs lost in that sector. A similar study relative to Pennsylvania, currently being conducted by Penn State University, estimates that the implementation of this tax would result in the loss of 9,000 jobs. Seasonal temp jobs would be in addition to this number, further adding to the impact.
Additionally, a recent KPMG study shows that 90 percent of states that attempted commercial storage taxes have ultimately chosen not to, or have repealed them. When looking at the full impact of such a tax, states clearly see that it translates to an actual loss of tax revenue, caused by a loss of economic activity, a loss of population, and a loss of income/sales taxes. Communities often end up with large, empty warehouse buildings that are not leasable for long periods of time, creating real estate taxation issues and revenue issues for local government and schools.
“Not only will the added roadblock of yet one more tax incentivize existing businesses and customers to leave the state, but the anti-business climate that this tax creates will deter further job creation and keep businesses from moving to Pennsylvania,” explains Steve DeHaan, president and CEO of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA).
Most troubling, the implementation of this tax constitutes double taxation on the PA consumer. Not only will consumers have to pay state sales tax when purchasing goods at the store, but they will in effect be paying this “commercial storage services” tax as well when warehouse customers pass along the cost of the tax into the retail price of the product.
“I’m confident that when Pennsylvania lawmakers see what has happened in other states that considered or enacted similar taxes, they will realize the negative impact this could have in the Keystone State,” DeHaan says. “I encourage them to tread carefully, and closely consider the real and substantiated implications of imposing this commercial storage services tax. The solution to the budget shortfall should not come at the cost of jobs and business growth in the Commonwealth.”


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Facebook’s Reality Labs has announced a staggering $4 billion loss in its earnings report for the first quarter of 2023. This comes after a $14 billion loss in 2022. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, has stated that the company expects to suffer more losses in this division for the remainder of the year.
Reality Labs is responsible for developing virtual and augmented reality products, such as the Oculus VR headset. Despite the significant losses, Zuckerberg maintains that the company will continue to invest in this technology. He believes that virtual and augmented reality will be the next major computing platform, and Facebook wants to be at the forefront of this innovation.
While the losses are undoubtedly significant, it’s important to note that Facebook’s overall revenue for the first quarter of 2023 was $26.2 billion. This represents a 33% increase from the same period last year. The company’s advertising revenue, which accounts for the vast majority of its earnings, also saw a 30% increase year-over-year.
Facebook’s revenue growth is impressive, especially considering the ongoing scrutiny and regulatory challenges the company faces. The social media giant has been under fire for a range of issues, including data privacy concerns, the spread of misinformation, and antitrust allegations. Despite these challenges, Facebook has continued to see strong financial performance.
The company’s success in advertising revenue is particularly noteworthy. Facebook has faced criticism for its data practices and the way it handles user information. However, this has not deterred advertisers from using the platform to reach their target audience. Facebook’s ability to deliver targeted ads to specific demographics has made it an attractive option for marketers.
It’s worth noting that Facebook is not the only tech company to invest heavily in virtual and augmented reality. Competitors like Apple and Google are also exploring these technologies. However, Facebook’s acquisition of Oculus in 2014 has given it a head start in this space. The company has already released several VR products and has plans to expand its offerings in the future.
Despite the losses in Reality Labs, Facebook’s overall financial performance remains strong. The company’s advertising revenue continues to grow, and it’s clear that Facebook sees virtual and augmented reality as a key part of its future. As the technology continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how Facebook and its competitors navigate this space and what new innovations they bring to the table.


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Tag: bull market
BITCOIN’S WONDER WEEK: 10 signs a boom is coming
February 17, 2019
There are plenty of reasons to get depressed during 'Crypto Winter'. But every day we read new stories about Bitcoin and cryptocurrency adoption that...
FRAUD ALERT: Goxtrade caught using stolen photos for staff pics
DUMP OR FAT FINGER? $38.6 million Bitcoin sale sends prices tumbling
BITCOIN ETF: Conference ‘coincidence’ sparks approval rumours
THE PERFECT STORM: Three factors to consider before buying Bitcoin in...
700K Bitcoins at stake as Coinbase and Fidelity compete for Xapo...
‘Insane’ Bitcoin trading volume could signal unprecedented rally
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GM Produce Sales LLC, which is among the larger importers of Mexican mangos into the United States, has added a new retail specialist and expects to increase its volume by close to 20 percent.
JoJo Shiba, who heads the Los Angeles office for the Hidalgo, TX-based firm, announced the hiring of mango industry veteran Tom Argyros as the western retail specialist. Mr. Argyros has been in the produce industry for more than two decades and has been concentrating on mango sales since 1995.
“I worked as a retail specialist for Diazteca from 1995 to 2004,” he said. “Then I was with Splendid Products from 2005 through 2011. Since 2011, I have been with L&M Produce as a product manager and I have just joined GM,” he told The Produce News Feb. 25.
With Mr. Argyros concentrating on retail sales to the larger chains, GM has ambitious plans. Ms. Shiba said the firm’s two labels — “Marathon” and “Finish Line” — have great acceptance with wholesalers and many ethnic retailers, but the hiring of the new retail specialist is designed to go after some business from the larger chains.
Mr. Argyros, who will work out of a new office in Nogales, AZ, believes there is much room for growth.
“Last year, [GM Produce] brought about 1.5 million boxes of mangos through Nogales,” he said. “This year we are looking to do 3 [million] or 4 million boxes. I will be working with JoJo to expand sales to western retailers.”
The industry-wide crossing reports show that GM Produce Sales imported more than 7 million cartons of Mexican mangos in 2012, which was significantly more than the next largest importer. Ms. Shiba said the firm only imports Mexican mangos, which means it is the mango deal for about six to eight months each year: typically from late February into September.
Last year, weather reduced the company’s volume from the previous year, but Mr. Argyros believes this could be a record-setting year for the firm. He said mangos are a cyclical crop and the firm is expecting a bumper crop from most of its packers after last year’s weather issues.
“We probably lost a million cartons last year, but we should more than make that up this year,” said Mr. Argyros.
All things being equal, he said the firm should top 9 million cartons of mangos from Mexico. The majority of those will cross in Texas at the McAllen crossing in the Rio Grande Valley.
Ms. Shiba said that it has been a very busy offseason as the company has been working with all of its packingsheds to make sure they are both GAP- and GFSI-certified.
A mango recall for another importer near the end of last season has many U.S. customers asking for increased documentation. “It is not an easy thing for some of these Mexican packers to do,” said Ms. Shiba.
She said that GM has been working with its packers and all of them appear to be set for certification, but she added that might not be the case throughout the country. She said it is possible that overall supplies from Mexico might be affected as the season wears on.
As always, the mango harvest begins in the most southern states and moves north through the spring and into the summer as the weather heats up. The Mexican landscape is dotted with mango packingsheds as more than a half-dozen states have some commercial production.


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Arts and entertainment
May 27, 2022
Mickalene Thomas’s “Hot! Wild! Unrestricted!” is featured in the edit commemorating Pride Month. Image courtesy of 1stDibs
By Luxury Daily News Service
Online design marketplace 1stDibs is marking Pride Month with a meaningful collaboration with New York’s Leslie-Lohman Museum.
Share your thoughts. Click here


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CHICO — Crafters and shoppers turned out for the Bizarre Bazaar Sunday at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, sponsored by collective art group Chikoko.
Rachel Nelson sells herbal goods for “beauty, medicine and magic.” She does wild harvesting and makes all-natural tinctures for medical purposes as well as salves. She lives in Butte Valley and wild harvests in Northern California.
“My products are all natural and not made with any synthetics,” Nelson said.
Nelson’s wares can be found at www.moonwiseherbals.com.
Morea Martin sells T-shirts, hoodies, bags and dresses inspired by nature. She designs and makes all of her products.
“I have mushrooms and ravens on the T-shirts and hoodies,” Martin said. Martin makes all of her products at her home in Forest Ranch.
“This event is one of my best in Chico,” Martin said. “There’s a wonderful turnout. Chikoko’s great. It’s a creative addition to our community and it is important to support the art and local artists.”
Muir Hughes sells candy which looks like rocks, quilts and textile art. She has been selling and creating for 22 years.
“I enjoy color,” Hughes said.
Shopper Tracey Mceckron looked over the crafts at the booths with a friend.
“I love this event, it’s so unique,” Mceckron said. “There is so much incredible talent displayed here.”
Mceckron does some beading herself.
“I go to little pop up boutiques,” Mceckron said. “I haven’t been to a craft fair in awhile. This one’s my favorite.”
Sten Hoiland makes sculptures out of aluminum and steel. He has been selling his art for 15 years and some of his pieces look like animals.
“I’m inspired by other artist’s designs,” Hoiland said. “I’m also inspired by wildlife and outdoor activities.”
Hoiland sells at 10 to 15 shows a year. He has art galleries in Santa Barbara, Tahoe and Healdsburg.
Hoiland’s art can be found at www.stenwire.com and on Etsy under stenwire.
Heather Rayann crafts hand-painted cards and bath bombs.
“It’s my second year selling here,” Rayann said. “I love it. There are so many amazing artists. It’s good to be a part of the local community. There’s a great turnout today even with the rain.”
Rayann also works as a massage therapist. Her art can be found on Instagram under theloftartclub. She shared a booth with artist Anna Smith at the bazaar.
Smith and her fiance Bob Thomas sell sketchbooks made on linoleum prints and crafted with 100 year old ledger paper from Butte County. She found the paper in a dumpster in Oroville and turned the material into art.
“The books have historical value and a shared local history,” Smith said. She also sells earrings.
Holly Gillespie sells handspun hats, scarves, dryer balls and yarn. She makes her products on a handspun wheel. She has been selling her art for 10 years and has sold at the bazaar for eight years.
“This is a juried event and you have to apply for the event in order to sell,” Gillespie said. “It’s a thrill to get accepted. The work Chikoko puts into the event is unbelievable. This is my favorite craft fair.”
This is Gillespie’s second year at the event.
“It’s exciting to work for the community and support art,” she said.
Shopper Jasmine Vang enjoyed the bazaar with a friend. She lives in Oroville.
“I’m looking for Christmas gifts,” Vang said. “It’s my first time at the event. I like to go to unique fairs. This one seems really unique.”


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12 January 2016Press releasesEric Singler is the author of "Nudge Marketing: how to effectively change behaviours" and "Green Nudge: successfully changing behaviours to save the planet[...]
30 December 2015Press releasesBVA is pleased to accounce the merger of IN VIVO BVA and Perception Research Services, effective immediately.
This merger unites the world&rsqu[...]
14 December 2015Press releasesThe European Brands Association (AIM) recently adopted an open-access support platform to assist marketing managers in encouraging consumers to act in heal[...]
08 October 2015Press releasesThe advertising industry has Cannes Lions, the sports industry the World Cup... and the market research industry has ESOMAR! It was during the recent annual ES[...]
07 July 2014Press releasesThe French Tax Administration is taking up on the Nudge mania. BVA, a leading Market Research Institute in France, has initiated the French Secretariat[...]
05 December 2013Press releasesBVA has launched the BVA Nudge Unit, a cross-functional department combining two areas of expertise: behavioural economics and sector [...]
28 November 2013Press releasesTom Dilley has been appointed President of IN VIVO BVA USA. He arrived in the US team last June as VP Account Manager.
10 July 2013Press releasesOn this occasion, Masters Consultants, a French firm specializing in “mystery shopping” programs joined BVA on May 31 2013, as a fully owne[...]
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26 February 2010Press releasesSandrine Caloiaro, 36, is a graduate of ESCP-EAP business school and former director of qualitative studies at Sorgem.
28 October 2009Press releasesIn Vivo BVA USA is proud to announce the opening of its New York headquarters November 9, 2009 at 900 Broadway (20th and Broadway) in Manhattan.
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The In Vivo BVA experience and methodology are now available in the United-States.
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Within the framework of its new international strategy, BVA entered in 2007 in the international network
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04 February 2009Press releases
Previously Innovation Director, Europe at Kraft Food, Richard Bordenave has fifteen years experience within big international food companies : [...]


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On July 2nd Sony reached an agreement with Gaikai, a cloud game streaming service for $380million (£242 million).
Gaikai (Japanese for Open Ocean according to wiki) is an online cloud game streaming service.
For those who don’t know what this means it’s basically a type of on demand service (like Netflix for games) so instead of downloading the game to your system and using up all your disk space, the company keeps the game on their server and you stream it from them.
This move by Sony had been going through the rumour mill at E3 and has been lighting up the internet too.
As we all know Sony announced a £4 billion loss for the last fiscal year, is this too little too late or will it change the way we play games in the future?


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Honda Motor Co. will be recalling around 489,000 CR-Vs in Europe and the U.S. after discovering that rain water could go in the vehicles' power window switch on the driver's door. This will later cause the switch to overheat and catch fire. A Honda spokeswoman said last Sunday that about 220,000 CR-V SUVs will be recalled in Europe, about 268,000 units in the U.S. and lower than 100 in Africa. The recalled vehicles are from model years 2002 through 2006. The spokeswoman said five switch fires were reported but there had been no crashes or injuries. Honda, the No. 3 biggest automaker in Japan, did not provide estimated costs for the recall. Honda recently had a recall of over 600,000 Accord mid-sized sedans in North America to resolve a potential power steering fluid leak problem that may lead to a fire under the hood.
Gallery: 2006 Honda CR-V


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Lightning To Acquire Key Software Developer JNMedia
As part of an ongoing expansion of its capabilities, Lightning Print Inc., announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for purchase of the assets of JNMedia, a leading developer of software for the electronic book publishing industry.The acquisition of the software company will substantially strengthen Lightning's pioneering "on demand" printing capabilities and pave the way for other eBook digital fulfillment services slated for commercial availability later this year.
"This acquisition is an important step in reaching our vision for the future of digital fulfillment services. JNMedia adds new software, technology, expertise and depth to our current digital capabilities. The addition of JNMedia will strengthen both our print-on-demand (POD) efforts and our development of a comprehensive suite of digital services to meet the changing needs of publishers and booksellers," said Lightning President and CEO Ed Marino.
A key component of JNMedia's software development is the new technology, known as EPODIUM (Electronic Publishing On Demand In Unlimited Media). EPODIUM will be integrated into Lightning's development of a comprehensive architecture for the storage, distribution and display of electronic book content.
"We see this partnership as a chance to fundamentally enhance and improve the publishing industry. Lightning shares our core goals and is uniquely positioned to use this technology to take the industry to new heights," said JNMedia founder and President Jonathan Nathan.
JNMedia Executive Vice President Andrew Weinstein said the company sought out Lightning as an industry pioneer. He stressed that the relationship with Lightning was a logical and easy fit from the very first discussions: "We've witnessed first-hand the difference technology can make in expanding marketplace opportunities and giving publishers and booksellers choices they never thought existed before. By joining hands with Lightning, the possibilities are endless."
As part of the arrangement, Nathan and Weinstein will join the Lightning management team, adding important expertise at a critical time as the company expands its digital service offerings. Lightning Print, a subsidiary of Ingram, currently stores books and other information electronically and prints those books and related products "on demand" in response to orders from booksellers, librarians, and publishers. Lightning is planning to expand its product offerings to include comprehensive eBook digital fulfillment services later this year.


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- Dec. 10, 2019
-- Antera Software USA announces a game-changing development of its integration between PromoStandards and its premier business management system Advance™. Through Advance™, promotional goods companies now have the unique ability to immediately locate and substitute any supplier, whether it's to compare prices or find an alternative vendor to fulfill their order.
This unique feature enables suppliers to substantially reduce time spent on product searches, as well as speed up order turnaround. By putting the ability to compare any price against another at the users' fingertips, the opportunity to reduce costs and increase profitability is dramatically increased. Not being able to do this without considerable effort previously has been the source of a lot of wasted time and money for many organizations in the promotional products sphere.
"Antera is already leading the field in terms of our Advance™ BMS being fully integrated with all eight of PromoStandards' endpoints. This momentous development secures our lead and delivers a significant competitive advantage to our clients.", stated Rick Peters, CEO.
More information on this and the systems' full suite of functionality can be found at https://www.anterasoftware.com


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Food companies offer ‘green’ products instead of building true resilience against climate crisisCDP
- 70% of companies in the global food value chain (FVC) that were requested to disclose their climate change impact to CDP in 2019 did so.
- 75 food value chain companies have committed to or have set science-based targets – a promising number growing year-on-year.
- While nearly 90% of all disclosed emissions originate within companies’ value chains, just 16% of companies report targets to CDP that address value chain emissions explicitly.
- Forest disclosure is lacking. 51% of companies expected to disclose on palm oil did so, and only 45% and 41% did so for soy and cattle, respectively.
- Despite agriculture’s significant contribution to pollution, just 14% of FVC companies have a water quality target, meaning little action is being taken to address discharge, pollution and ensure a water secure future.
November 19, 2020 – New York: Leading companies operating in the global food value chain are underestimating key environmental risks and ignoring opportunities for creating a more sustainable food system, according to a new report published today by global environmental non-profit CDP.
The report, “Hungry for change,” analyzes the environmental disclosures of 504 companies involved in the production, processing and sale of food products – including the likes of Walmart, Nestlé, Pepsi and Target. The analysis takes a comprehensive look at the entirety of the value chain of the global food system, from producers and purchasers, to processers and manufacturers, to retailers. It analyzes the companies’ environmental risks, impacts and future opportunities through the lens of the interlinked issues of climate change, deforestation and water security.
The analysis finds that food companies are responding to growing consumer demand for healthy and sustainable products by producing more foods made from plant proteins (as opposed to GHG emissions-intensive beef and other animal proteins). One third of all business opportunities disclosed to CDP are related to new products & services, such as offering vegan options.
However, the report warns that companies are not sufficiently building resilience against drought and other risks. The analysis suggests that companies see more opportunity in “green” products than in true resilience-building – a potentially grave misstep in a warming world that sees more frequent extreme weather patterns each year, which in turn make it harder to grow ample and nutritious food.
Disclosure is the first step to managing impacts and risks. Encouragingly, of the food value chain companies requested to disclose their climate change impact through CDP in 2019, 70% did so – compared with 67% of non-food companies. Retail companies are the least transparent (38% of those requested disclosed), while processing & wholesaling companies are the most transparent (78% of those requested disclosed). Disclosure on forests lags – just 18% of food retailers and 28% of primary food producers who were requested disclosed in 2019.
One encouraging sign is the year-on-year increase in food value chain companies setting ambitious decarbonization targets (75 companies have committed to or have set science-based targets, which is 16% of the full sample).
However, the report argues that limiting global warming to 1.5°C will not be possible without a rapid transformation of the global food system and all players in the value chain will be required to move away from business as usual. This requires a transition to more plant-rich diets, increased agricultural productivity while protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, increased adoption of nature-based solutions and significantly reduced food loss and waste. In their CDP disclosures, food value chain companies themselves report significant barriers they must still overcome to create a sustainable food system.
“Food is a critical environmental, social and economic issue that impacts us all,” says Bridget Schrempf, Manager, Sustainable Food Systems at CDP. “As the demand for food has grown, so has the resulting surge in emissions, loss of natural ecosystems and forests, increasing water scarcity and pollution and declining biodiversity. But a better future is possible. Companies have a remarkable opportunity to build a just, fair and sustainable food system that meets the needs of the world’s population without exceeding our planetary boundaries.”
In a value chain where the impacts originate and are felt primarily at the production level, it is essential that companies both monitor and fully engage with their value chains – but such engagement is lacking. Only 16% of companies disclosing on climate change engage with all levels of the value chain.
Food value chain companies that disclosed on climate change, water security and forests were more than twice as likely to identify substantive risks like drought, flood and other extreme weather than non-food companies — 38% compared to 16%.
Meanwhile, food value chain companies are underutilizing internal carbon and water pricing – despite growing consensus that internal pricing is the most flexible, cost-effective approach to mitigating climate change and water insecurity. Only 28% of food value chain companies are using or planning to use an internal price on carbon within the next two years (compared to 35% of all disclosing non-food companies), and only half are using an internal water price or plan to implement one (compared to 35% of all disclosing companies).
The report finds that existing market mechanisms are not sufficient to support and incentivize the transformation of the global food sector into a sustainable system. Effective, concrete policy is needed.
COVID-19 has demonstrated that shocks to the economy can have real implications for the global food system. Companies can get ahead of potential future disruptions – including those caused by infectious disease and other environmental risks – by engaging and incentivizing action within their value chains, conducting scenario and risk analyses, setting targets and building resiliency.
The analysis is the first output produced by CDP’s newly launchedSustainable Food Systems Initiative, which aims to shine a light on the key role of agriculture and food sectors in the environmental crisis.
– ENDS –
Notes to Editors
For more information or interview requests please contact:
Anna Clark, Director of Communications, CDP North America
CDP is a global non-profit that drives companies, cities and governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. Voted number one climate research provider by investors and working with institutional investors with assets of US$106 trillion, we leverage investor and buyer power to motivate companies to disclose and manage their environmental impacts. Over 9,600 companies with over 50% of global market capitalization disclosed environmental data through CDP in 2020. This is in addition to the hundreds of cities, states and regions who disclosed, making CDP’s platform one of the richest sources of information globally on how companies and governments are driving environmental change. CDP is a founding member of the We Mean Business Coalition. Follow us @CDP to find out more.
About CDP’s Sustainable Food Systems Initiative
CDP’s Sustainable Food Systems Initiative will develop and disseminate a data-driven economic rationale for action aimed at private sector corporates, their investors and supply chains that will enable the sustainable transition of the global food value chain to support a food system capable of surviving and thriving in a 1.5 °C, water-secure and deforestation-free world.All Press Releases


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They scream at show producers and throw tantrums at people who take their seats. They whine about the lines to the bathroom and complain about having to walk two blocks in Manolos. No, no, it’s not Eartha Kitt at a Las Vegas dinner theater appearance, it’s fashion editors waiting for the shows to begin.
But talk to veteran show producers and fashion publicists as fashion week rolls around this season and most will tell you the same thing: Front-row politics have actually gone out of fashion.
Sure, there’s still the teen magazine fashion director who has the unenviable task of explaining to her editor in chief that she didn’t get an invite to Calvin Klein and that she’s going to have to settle for second row at Marc Jacobs. And yes, there are still those poor magazine publishers who, as usual, won’t get invited at all. And, yawn, we’d be lying if we didn’t mention those crafty socialites, like the one whose name was changed in the press from Schifter to Shifter because she kept moving herself up from the second row to the first.
But in the fashion-has-become-more-democratic era of In Style magazine and B-list celebrities, in a time where the media circus covering the shows is likely to be more intense than ever and even Phillip Bloch usually gets to sit in the same row as Anna Wintour, the truth is that the venues are now so big it just gets easier and easier to score a front-row seat. Conversely, complaining about the seats your magazine receives is is not only outre (your junior fashion editors are free to access the collections on Style.com 10 minutes later, thank you very much), it’s also — economic instability and all — bad business. After all, a junior editor yelling at magazine advertisers is likely to wind up a junior editor out of a job.
Ed Filipowski, president of fashion powerhouse public relations firm and show producer KCD, said, “I think that subject is so Nineties. I think it’s very clear who goes in the front row today. I think there’s less politics and less infighting, and there are not the sorts of egos you had previously. In terms of the venues, as they’ve become more organized due to the tents and a very organized fashion week, most show producers and publicists have learned how to plan their shows to accommodate the front rows and the guests who they need to put there.”
So you won’t have editors from Vogue whining about their proximity to Harper’s Bazaar or vice versa.
“I think there’s less complaining, less drama, and the formula is pretty well set,” said show producer Kevin Krier. “We’ve been doing this 20 years, you get to a grid and we’re used to it. There hasn’t been a new advent in media that necessitates putting 20 new people in the front row.”
The reduction in complaints reported by show producers also has to do with the growing level of media attention at the tents: Whining about your seat isn’t likely to get you any closer to the runway, but it might score you a mention in a gossip column…for being a fashion nightmare.
“We still see a couple of temper tantrums here and there or someone lighting up a joint [at Puffy’s] but the really outlandish fashion week behavior is really served up only late night after the shows at somewhere like Lotus,” said Marc Malkin, the gossip columnist who recently joined Us Weekly as its news director.
“The shows are like movie premieres now for our industry,” he said. “The rest of the world doesn’t care what magazine editors do there but every editor in New York really does care and is watching every other editor. So, if someone is cracking gum, someone else is going to tell someone [i.e. a gossip columnist]. Show up in bad shoes and people are going to talk.”
Equally tired, said show producers, is the trend of show seating as class warfare. Which is why Bonnie Fuller, for example, absolutely will get a front-row seat this season, despite currently being the editorial director of a company known for its supermarket tabloids, and why high-profile editors who lose their jobs continue to get good seats even while they are unemployed (this week’s toast at Condé Nast is next week’s crème brûlée at Time Inc.).
And there’s one thing that’s virtually undeniable these days: When front row seats are filled with celebrities, most of them are so positively B-list it’s hard to be jealous of them. Nor can the designers really be blamed. Someone, anyone, has to be photographed in order to justify the extraordinary cost of this ballooning charade.
“You shouldn’t make the outreach to a celebrity if you can’t accommodate them with a front-row seat,” said fashion publicist Paul Wilmot. “That’s it, or you shouldn’t ask.” Plus, he said, “The tents are set up so there are a lot of good seats.”
“I think if you need to ask to be in the front row,” said Filipowski, “it’s obvious that you don’t belong there.”


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The fine jewelry industry is in the midst of a major evolution. With annual sales estimated at $41 billion in the U.S., an industry that is still dominated by mom-and-pop jewelry shops and small manufacturers is struggling to bring itself into the modern era. New rules on diamonds, an influx of new designers and increased fine jewelry sales at low-price chains such as Sam’s Club and J.C. Penney are just some of the many factors with which the industry is grappling.
In recent interviews with retailers and suppliers throughout the jewelry industry, it’s clear that business is more challenging than ever as 2003 gets going. While jewelry saw flush times throughout much of the Nineties, the tide has shifted. The 2002 holiday season was one of the most grueling in recent memory, with many stores taking heavy markdowns before the season even got well under way.
Although jewelry performed better than many other sectors, including apparel, gems and baubles certainly lacked sparkle for many consumers and economic uncertainties are weighing on consumer spending. Tiffany & Co., for example, saw its comparable-store sales slip 1 percent during the holiday season, causing the retailer to lower its earnings guidance for the year.
Fallout from the all-important holiday season, which accounts for up to 85 percent of sales for some jewelry retailers, will likely be felt for months to come. Stores across the spectrum are keeping their inventories lean and cherry-picking their offerings.
Matt Runci, president and chief executive officer of Jewelers of America, the national trade association for retail jewelers, said, “The biggest challenge currently facing the jewelry industry is dealing with the ongoing atmosphere of economic uncertainty, coupled with unease about the possibility of war. Many consumers are holding back.”
Ken Gassman, a former retail analyst and president of the Jewelry Research Institute, similarly said, “There was huge discounting this holiday season. I expect to see more consolidation this year, especially at the supplier level. Also, the wild card this year is the war with Iraq, which could have an impact.”
Much of the jewelry business remains fragmented, and apart from retailers such as Tiffany and Zale Corp., and brands including David Yurman and Robert Lee Morris, there are few jewelry stores or brands that are well known to consumers. At the same time, some big fashion houses such as Chanel, Christian Dior and Gucci have begun to focus more on their fine jewelry business, adding ever more players to feed off a small pie.
Jim DeMattei, owner of ViewPoint Showroom, which represents a number of fine jewelry brands, said: “There will definitely be more consolidation this year. Many people entered this business during the Nineties and those designers will be challenged to maintain their business.”
But the news is not all bad. One trend that has helped the industry in recent years is the rise of female self-purchasers. While there are now no figures available on the number of women buying jewelry for themselves, anecdotal evidence suggests that this trend is on the rise. Women now marry later, are making more money than before and are not resistant to spending money to buy something significant for themselves.
“I think the amount women have self-purchased has doubled for us in the last 15 years,” said designer Steven Lagos of Lagos, the Philadelphia-based jewelry company.
Some luxury retailers are convinced that this year will see positive business trends, especially in the high-end market. Diamonds were one of the standouts of the holiday season, especially three-stone diamond jewelry, which was promoted heavily by the Diamond Trading Corp., the marketing arm of DeBeers Group.
Alfred Molina, president of Molina Fine Jewelers in Phoenix, which sells many high-end jewelry and watch brands, said, “The high-end market is immune to the so-called market fluctuations. There is no question that Baby Boomers are becoming more affluent and are spending, which bodes well for jewelry. They don’t want to save their money for a rainy day.”
Another trend that has had a profound impact on the business in recent years is the rise of the designer jeweler and the move toward branded jewelry and designer names. Designers such as David Yurman, Stephen Lagos and John Hardy have become well-known names, and retail shelves are now brimming with products from designers such as Paul Morelli, Laura Munder, Stephen Webster and Tamara Comolli.
Diamonds are also getting branded, a move fueled by the DTC. Diamond suppliers such as Lazare Kaplan International, Codiam Inc., Kwiat and Schachter & Namdar have introduced branded diamonds, each pushing their own distinctive cut and style.
Heading into the new year, the trends are still focused on colored gems, including stones such as lapis, coral, citrine and chalcedony, as well as mother-of-pearl. Yellow gold has also continued to gain in popularity.
“I see colored diamonds being very popular,” Molina said. “People are buying larger and more valuable gemstones. Jennifer Lopez’s pink engagement ring is generating more interest in pink diamonds.”
Lagos said he “has been very into gemstones,” including amethyst, citrine and garnet.
Fine jewelry has also become a hot category at mass market and national chains. From Wal-Mart to J.C. Penney, stores that are not traditionally known for high-quality jewelry are luring customers and there is less price resistance from shoppers to buying big-name gems at low-end stores. Sam’s Club, for example, has advertised its diamond jewelry in upscale magazines such as Town & Country.
“The discount channel is definitely becoming more important,” said Gassman. “It’s hard to believe someone would bring home a diamond engagement ring in a Wal-Mart box, but a lot of people do. And margins at discount stores are above the average store margins.”
Watches have provided another bright spot for many stores and the category is seeing many new players. The watch arena has benefited from the trend in recent years of watch wardrobing, where people buy a number of watches to suit their various activities.
Watches have seen an influx of new players, many from the designer arena. Prada, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Yves Saint Laurent and Hermès are all stepping up their business in watches, and Italian firms such as Ritmo Mundo, Grimoldi and Locman are also stirring up the pot and increasing their focus on building this business.
Online jewelry sales were particularly robust this holiday season and may be one area poised for more growth. One reason for the increase, this year, according to Gassman, was the anthrax scare last year, which resulted in some people not wanting packages coming to their houses.
The Internet was particularly fertile ground for jewelry companies in the late Nineties, when firms such as Ashford.com, Miadora.com, Adornis.com and Enjewel.com sprung up and caused plenty of ruckus in the jewelry world. By 2000, however, most of these had shuttered and people were soured about the experience of buying online.
Now, it appears that online sales are experiencing something of a renaissance, especially in jewelry. The surviving players are more focused and are creating momentum again.
In November 2002, online jewelry sales exceeded $80 million, nearly 70 percent above the level for November 2001. In the fourth quarter of 2002, online sales were $301 million, up 59 percent over 2001, when sales were $189 million, according to ComScore Networks, which measures Web traffic and sales. In 2002, online jewelry sales were $741 million, up 23 percent over 2001, when sales were $601 million.
According to analysts, Blue Nile is a clear market leader in online jewelry. Blue Nile launched in 1999 and is expected to report sales of about $70 million for 2002, according to its chief executive officer, Mark Vadon. Unlike many other jewelry sites, it caters to men, and much of its sales are from custom-made engagement rings.
“Internet sales have been at record levels,” Gassman said. “We have more people who know how to shop on the Web now.”


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Birmingham property specialists appoint new manager
Birmingham-based intellectual property specialists Forresters has promoted Kirsty Gallagher to the role of marketing and business development manager.
Ms Gallagher, from Dorridge in Solihull, will be leading the legal firm’s business development activity as well as maintaining and enhancing current client relationships.
The new role is an extension to her previous marketing remit, and as well as the Birmingham office she will continue to develop and implement marketing and new business strategies for the firm’s Liverpool and London offices.
Ms Gallagher, a CIM qualified marketer, has been with Forresters for four years and is also a member of the West Midlands Professional Marketing Forum.
She said: “Having helped establish a robust CRM system as well as being heavily involved with events and networking for the firm, it was a logical next step to make business development a significant focus of my role.”
Birmingham office partner Matt Shaw said: “Kirsty plays a vital role, and we have been enormously impressed with her grasp of being able to project our business ethos whilst at the same time using the many modern methods at our disposal to spread our message.
“We’re delighted she is taking this next step to bring that skillset to business development.”


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Lavendon Group, U.K.’s leading aerial rental company, last week said its volume rose 48 percent in the first five months of 2007 over the same period last year, based on organic growth and recent acquisitions. Lavendon’s interim results for the first six months of the year through June 30 will reveal a pre-tax profit higher than analysts’ expectations, company officials said.
In the United Kingdom, volume is 26-percent higher with improved margins. The company’s recent acquisitions of Wizard Workspace and Rise Hire will contribute to the company's performance in the second half of 2007.
In Germany, volume rose 134 percent, primarily as a result of its acquisition of Gardemann, a large German rental firm. Company officials said the German operation is now profitable. Volume has declined in France, however.
Revenues in Spain have jumped 33 percent, with a corresponding improvement in operating margins, Lavendon executives said. Growth in the Middle East continues strong as well in rental and sales of equipment, with an 83-percent revenue hump in the first half of 2007.


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Nintendo Co Ltd. (NTDOY)Nintendo's profit for 2010 declines 66%
Neowin.net - April 25, 2011
Submitted by TheSmilkman (101)
at 6:58AM PST on April 25, 2011
Nintendo's profit for 2010 slumped, despite the fact that the company managed to sell 3.61 million Nintendo 3DS portable systems. The Japanese games company profits plummeted during 2010, with a massive decline of 66% from 2009's fiscal year. As Engadget has reported, Nintendo's Wii sales have dropped between the two years by a quarter, with the console having sold fifteen million units during 2010, compared to the twenty million it sold during 2009.


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Business energy users wanting to compare energy prices might be pleased to hear that they will be able to save money on their refrigeration power bills by following newly released guidance.
The Carbon Trust has published its advice on cutting down energy usage for commercial fridges, which could streamline the budgets of food companies, haulage firms and businesses involved in meat, poultry and fish processing.
Small retailers that use refrigerated cabinets could save up to 70 per cent of their energy by listening to the trust's advice, which is available on its website.
Richard Rugg, director of delivery services at the Carbon Trust, commented: "Any business seeking to cut its costs should be looking at its energy bills and for many companies refrigeration accounts for a large part of those energy costs.
"Savings of up to 20 per cent are possible with simple no and low cost steps. If your business uses refrigeration, it's an opportunity that's too good to miss," he added.
Over the last few years, our customers have saved up to £1,645 a year. Contact us today on 0800 970 26 26 to find how much you can save.
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For Linux lovers the first good news is that Linux Mint has released a new long term support (LTS) version 18 (code named Sarah). The second good news is that this time Mint has got a brand new theme called… Continue Reading →
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Bethesda announces Prey 2
Bethesda Softworks has announced that they will be publishing a follow up to one of the first FPS titles to appear on this generation.
Human Head's Prey 2 will mark the return of the native American-themed gravity-bending shooter this time powered by id's Tech 5 engine.
Prey 2's project lead, Chris Rhinehart said: "We are thrilled to be working with Bethesda on Prey 2. Prey 2 will provide gamers the opportunity to explore a new facet of the Prey universe, one that offers fast-paced action in an open, alien world. We're excited to show gamers the title we have been working on and hope they will be as excited by this title as we are."
Prey 2 will arrive on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC some time in 2012. First details are expected to surface this May.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 after all
- Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third gets a release date
- Adr1ft is coming to PC and consoles at the end of the summer
- EA gives the new Mirror's Edge a name – Mirror's Edge Catalyst
- ZombiU PS4 and Xbox One port reportedly in the works
- Mike Bithell's Volume to be released this August
- Gearbox's new shooter Battleborn gets a pre-E3 trailer
- Steam Controller launches in October, Steam Machines arrive in November
- Gears Of War devs Black Tusk change their name to The Coalition ahead of E3


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The AFL is taking a big step forward to make the footy experience even better, as they plan to eliminate long queues for beer and pie at games. Marvel Stadium in Melbourne will introduce Amazon’s innovative ‘Just Walk Out’ technology, which takes the hassle out of paying. Items will be contactless, which means fans will be able to use their debit, credit card or mobile wallet in order to pay for their items. This will ensure that fans don’t have to leave the game to purchase food or drinks.
Kylie Rogers, the AFL’s customer and commercial executive general manager, has highlighted the importance of bringing a next-level experience to fans. This will allow them to spend more time enjoying the game without waiting in a long line.
The technology is already in use in the US at sports venues such as TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics. People purchasing alcohol will still need to go through age verification but everything else will be contactless. The outlets will be installing sensors for the Just Walk Out technology to recognise purchases which will be charged as customers leave the store.
Amazon is a multinational technology company known for its highly advanced technological applications. The Seattle based e-commerce giant was founded over two decades ago and since then has gone on to become the most valuable company in the world. It’s innovative contributions to the technology world with apps such as Alexa and services such as Amazon Prime have had widespread overnight success.
Kylie Rogers has been working in the AFL’s customer and commercial department since early 2019 and takes great pride in her work. She oversees a team which is dedicated to finding the best ways to improve the fan experience and the Just Walk Out technology was just another step in the right direction for the organisation. The technology provides many advantages for footy supporters and streamlines the process when it comes to purchasing food and drinks as well as giving them more time to enjoy the game.


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Idea Cellular is going all out to take on Reliance Jio and its data offers. Idea has associated with itel, a smartphone brand, to give Indian users 1GB of free data every month for six months.
Idea Cellular is going all out to take on Reliance Jio and its data offers. Idea has associated with itel, a smartphone brand, to give Indian users 1GB of free data every month for six months. The offer is valid on specific variants of smartphones by itel only. The deal is valid from today and is currently available on the following models under Wish series: it1409, it1407, it1508, it1508+ and Power Pro series it1516+. This is a big move by Idea but also targeting the smartphone market, especially since rumours have surfaced that Reliance Jio could be partnering with Google to bring affordable smartphones in the pockets of Indian users. Idea also ventured into another segment where it has now made roaming calls across India free.
If you want to avail the free 6GB data offer, you need to go to https://i4all.ideacellular.com/offers from your itel smartphones using an Idea SIM and click on ‘Let’s Get Started’ button on the main page. The portal will automatically register your phone number and the IMEI of your itel phone. You will then have to click on ‘Show My Offers’ and choose ‘itel 1GB’ offer so that you receive the activation message and then start surfing the web for free. The data offered under the plan will be completely free during the initial month. Following this, users will have to do a monthly recharge of Rs 50 or above for any voice or data pack, in order to continue to avail the 1GB free data per month for up to six months.
Sudhir Kumar, CEO, itel Mobile, on the new partnership, said, “With all aspects of our lives rapidly migrating onto a digital platform, internet connectivity has become a necessity instead of a luxury. The association with Idea Cellular, one of the most popular mobile networks with an extensive service outreach, is aimed at making digital connectivity more affordable and value-driven for both itel and Idea users.” He added, “We are confident that a large number of consumers across the country will benefit from the partnership and the enhanced digital connectivity that it enables.”
Idea, recently decided to make all roaming calls in India free, after Bharti Airtel, India’s leading network provider announced the removal of all roaming charges for outgoing and incoming calls as well as SMSes and data usage in India. These moves by the telcos come after Reliance Jio announced its plans which will come to force from April 1. This new offer by Idea is for its more than 200 million subscribers travelling in the country and outside.


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In what has got to be the worst parenting nightmare ever, a mom and dad in China are being sued by an Audi car dealership after their toddler drew some pictures on 10 cars with a rock.
According to an Australian news source, a couple got the shock of a lifetime when they received a bill for $41,000.00AU after their toddler daughter used a rock to draw pictures into the paint of 10 brand spanking new cars, one of which was a coveted Audi Q8 worth $41K AU.
The couple had accompanied a friend on November 24th to the fancy dealership and they brought their toddler daughter with them. What happened next is fuzzy in detail. It is possible the parents just didn’t know the girl had a rock in her hands. But also, who brings a toddler to an expensive dealership and then doesn’t pay attention?
The Australian news source reported that the Lingui People’s Court the dealership sued Mr. Zhao (the toddler’s dad) for 200,000 RMB (or $41K AU) but the family rejected the deal and instead apparently settled for $14,000K AU.
The dealership now has a problem on their hands. They told the court that they cannot sell these 10 cars for their full value once a repaint job is done. If they do, they could violate Chinese law, which says that it would be false advertising to call the cars new when repair work had been done to them. Therefore, the dealership argued, they must sell the cars for marked down and that is why they are owed the $41K AU. The Australian news source reported that if the dealership were to charge the full price for the cars and they were found guilty of fraud then they would be liable for paying three times the value of each car sold to the customers they cheated.
Talk about quite a pickle.
As a mom of three little kids, I am both horrified and sympathetic toward these parents. Anyone who has ever spent more than five minutes with a toddler knows how much trouble they can get themselves into. They break things, I get it. My own toddler once knocked a full can of paint over onto the newly refinished floors in my mother-in-law’s kitchen. I didn’t know the paint was there and my mother-in-law didn’t think to childproof her kitchen in the rare opportunity that we stop by. Total destruction happened but we survived.
But 10 cars damaged? How did this child manage to “draw” on 10 different cars without anyone noticing? Whatever the details of this story turn out to be, I’m feeling pretty sorry for those parents and also the dealership.


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A final mile delivery trailblazer apprenticeship was given the green light at the end of last year, backed by the Institute of Couriers (IoC). The level two apprenticeship will follow a year-long programme, training future final mile drivers , covering topics such as customer service, returns and failed deliveries. The scheme joins the other apprenticeships developed by the IoC last year, including a five-year programme to become an express delivery manager. IoC chairman Carl Lomas said the scheme was a […]
Training company Merlin Supply Chain Solutions is attempting to tackle the problem of the HGV driver shortage by launching a course aimed at helping transport and line managers retain their driving staff.
Hermes will shortly be opening a temporary parcel sortation hub in Bradford to accommodate a forecast 15% rise in parcels volume this year.
The government has rejected the idea of extending student loans for funding licence acquisition, saying it was “not appropriate”.


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September 2004 news and reviews
In conjunction with the announcement of the E-300 Olympus has also today announced three new Four Thirds System zoom lenses; ED 7 - 14 mm F4.0 (2x), E 14 - 45 mm F3.5 - F5.6 (3.2x) and E 40 - 150 mm F3.5 - F4.5 (3.8x). On the E-1 or E-300 these lenses will produce an equivelant field of view of 14 - 28 mm, 28 - 90 mm and 80 - 300 mm respectively. In addition Olympus has also improved the as yet to be released ED 150 mm F2.0 by fitting a faster AF drive unit.
Fuji and Olympus have announced a 1GB xD-Picture Card. The M1GB will be available at the beginning of next year. The new card uses high density MLC (Multi Level Cell) memory technology to make it possible to pack 1GB into an ultra-compact card.The new technology will allow for xD-Picture Cards up to a capacity potential of 8GB. The ultra-compact card was first launched two years ago and up until now has only been used in Fuji and Olympus cameras. Kodak has just announced that its latest camera, the LS755, uses xD-Picture Card storage media.
Kingston Technology has today announced expansion of its Elite Pro range with the addition of a 2 and 4GB CompactFlash cards. They offer data transfer rates up to 10 MB/sec (read) and write speeds of 8MB/sec. It is expected that the 2GB card will cost $219 (approx £143) and the 4GB card will cost $500 (approx £329).


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Do you have a picky preschooler who's avoiding their veggies? A new Cornell University study, funded by a Healthy Eating Research Grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that giving vegetables catchy new names - like X-Ray Vision Carrots and Tomato Bursts - left preschoolers asking for more, reports Medical News Today.
When 186 four-year olds were given carrots called "X-Ray Vision Carrots" they ate nearly twice as much as they did on the lunch days when they were simply labeled as "carrots." Even more notable, the study also showed the influence of these names might persist. Children continued to eat about 50 percent more carrots even on the days when they were no longer labeled.
"Cool names can make for cool foods," says lead author Brian Wansink. "Whether it be 'power peas' or 'dinosaur broccoli trees,' giving a food a fun name makes kids think it will be more fun to eat. And it seems to keep working - even the next day."
Lest you think it’s only children that love catchy names, similar results have been found with adults. A restaurant study showed that when the Seafood Filet was changed to "Succulent Italian Seafood Filet," sales increased by 28 percent and taste rating increased by 12 percent. "Same food, but different expectations, and a different experience," said Wansink, author of "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Eat More Than We Think."
Although the study was conducted in pre-schools, the researchers believe the same naming tricks can work with older children. "I've been using this with my kids," said researcher Collin Payne, "Whatever sparks their imagination seems to spark their appetite."


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This week: Are investors growing wary of Pandora? The 300-year-old pearl for sale. And YouTube’s dirty little diamond secret. All below.
Tiffany sees stronger than expected sales in first quarter.
– Earnings call transcript.
– Bloomberg: It’s “embraced youngsters.”
– Analyst: Sign consumers are returning luxury brands.
Last year was good for diamonds, gold, and especially platinum.
– Paul Zimnisky: Why rough diamond prices are at a 52-week high.
– Avi Krawitz’s state of the industry presentation (video).
Survey casts doubt on “realness” of lab-grown diamonds.
– Physicist grows synthetic diamonds in a day.
Parag Diamonds’ bid for A. Jaffe on hold.
– My thoughts.
– Is Nirav Modi in New York?
– Modi charged with diverting money to family.
– Extradition lawyer is Modi’s “last hope.”
– Modi store in Hawaii closes.
– Modi fallout hits Gemfields.
GIA testing digital grading reports, backed by blockchain.
– GIA also using IBM blockchain verifier.
– Signet joins De Beers blockchain pilot.
Bonhams auction house may be up for sale.
A department store renaissance? Not so much.
Breitling partners with Mr Porter on watch release.
Saks Fifth Avenue opens new Jewelry on 2 concept.
Forevermark unveils new retail concept in China.
Bucherer’s new store gives insight into Tourneau’s direction.
Sears CEO: We’re fighting to stay alive.
Pandora losing confidence of analysts, investors.
Petra wants to raise $178 million to lower debt.
Albert Robinson: De Beers–Botswana talks will be “tough.”
Israeli bank merger halted as both are players in diamond industry.
New York jewelry company sues Orlando, Fla., jeweler over alleged nonpayment.
Baselworld managing director steps down.
J.C. Penney CEO Marvin Ellison goes to Lowe’s.
Ulysse Nardin Americas appoints Hotier president.
Three former Gregg Ruth employees join Beverley K.
Phillips appoints Eva Violante to New York jewelry department.
Longtime Nevada jeweler Theodore Blohm dies.
Robert Mugabe skips diamond hearing, as 9 a.m. is “early.”
Man breaks into jewelry store, cuts himself, and bleeds a lot.
There’s a 300-year-old pearl up for auction.
Royal wedding jewelry rundown.
– Markle has already helped gold sales.
– One of Harry’s ex-girlfriends owns a jewelry company.
Mindy Kaling annoyed when reporter asks how she knows about diamonds.
Bucherer creates diamond-covered Harley.
Cartier re-creates Ocean’s 8 necklace.
YouTubers hide soft-core porn behind fake diamond ads.
From the Blog
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It’s 2017 and the two goliaths of the smartphone market are yet again going at each other’s throat. Based on the benchmark set by Apple and Samsung, it is fair to say that both the companies had a quiet market session last year. After galaxy note 7’s fiasco, the Seoul-based electronic giant was in all sorts of disarray, several cases of battery explosions in the flagship model made a huge dent on the brand’s image globally. Meanwhile, iPhone 7 didn’t do much to meet the expectation of Apple fanatics. Apart from the size, nothing else was significantly altered in the device from the previous version. Well, that is all in the past now and both the brands aim to reestablish their authority with new flagship products.
Samsung s8 and iPhone 8 are expected to go head-to-head in the market. Currently, all eyes are on Samsung s8 as it makes its way into the market. The pressure it on Samsung, as this could possibly be a do or die situation for the company. The company not only has to add newer and more unique features but also ensure that the phone doesn’t catch fire.
So what’s new in Samsung s8? A curved screen, deeper display colours, encrypted facial recognition, a desktop mode, system-wide voice control and the traditional home button is also missing. S8 will be available in two sizes, a new Plus version with a 6.2-inch display and the standard 5.8-inch screen. Both the models are larger than Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus and are currently lined up to compete with these two models — until the Cupertino-based technology company rolls out its 10th-anniversary iPhone tentatively by July or August. Samsung is betting high on S8 and expects to gain back some of the lost trust after the Note 7 disaster. The company made a hefty loss last year as it was forced to offload the combustible phone to ensure that no cases of device flare-ups occur anymore in future.
Currently, Samsung is placed second in the global smartphone market and faces fierce competition not only from Apple but few other fast-growing brands such as Oppo and Huawei. China, which is one the largest smartphone market in the world is a major playground for these companies who continue to strive for more market share. What happened last year would have been enough to dismantle Company’s smartphone market ambitions, but thanks to the flourishing semiconductor business, Samsung’s shares are trading at significant highs.
Lastly, the company has added a voice assistance technology in the S8 going in the same direction of Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri. The company has named it Bixby, which will assist users in their daily tasks and activities. The technology has two modules, one that will list user’s forthcoming calendar reminders and appointments and the other will offer voice control and one-on-one interaction with the device. The technology is integrated with the camera for the purpose of identifying objects such as buildings, vehicles and other goods. Users can control several of the phone’s features through voice command.