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The Apple iPhone 8 and the Samsung Galaxy S8 are two of the most anticipated events in the smartphone world this year. As expected, Samsung is planning to steal some thunder from Apple by announcing their Galaxy S8 and the replacement to the 'disastrous' Note 7 some time in August.
My readers know smartphones and their increasingly good cameras are taking sales away from point-n-shoot models. Recent figures show camera sales are still declining and the low end segment are in particular disarray. Is the traditional camera's survival threatened by the smartphone?
Below is an excerpt from TechRadar on what to expect from the iPhone 8 :
iPhone 8 possible specs and release date
- Launch date - early September 2017
- On Sale date - mid September 2017
- Curved AMOLED 5.8 inch screen
- No Home button or Bezel
- Curved glass back instead of aluminum
- Built-in Augmented Reality features
- Wireless charging
- USB-C port
- Built-in Iris scanner
- New sensing technology
- Smart Connector
- Runs on iOS 11 software
- U.S. price will be higher than iPhone 7's $769
The big rumor is that the iPhone 8 is going to sport a curved AMOLED display instead of a the usual flat LCD panel, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
We've all seen curved AMOLED displays before in the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and, soon, the Samsung Galaxy S8. iPhone 8's curve may be less dramatic, but still cooler looking than a completely flat phone.
There are other exciting benefits to an AMOLED display replacing the normal IPS LCD. It can deliver better contrast, more vibrant colors and include a battery-saving always-on display. It's also a better suited for VR and AR.
This has also more recently been rumored by sources, claiming that a curved AMOLED display is one of more than ten prototypes that Apple is considering - and that the phone could even have a higher-than-QHD resolution.
Who's going to help Apple push all of those extra pixels? Sharp or Samsung itself could supply the OLED screens. It may depend on who can deliver more in time.
You might not see the fancy, new OLED display on every iPhone 8 model due to supply issues. Thus, Apple may include it on just one iPhone 8 Plus version.
Depending on how it all shakes out with Sharp and Samsung, Apple may reserve the AMOLED display for just the iPhone 8 Plus, or a separate higher-end 8 Plus Edition, luring you into buying the more phone instead of the smaller iPhone 8.
How big will the iPhone 8 screen size be? The rumors for this are all over the place, but everything says it'll be larger at the top end, up to 5.8 inches.
From what we can surmise, there'll be a 4.7-inch, 5.5-inch and 5.8-inch iPhone 8, the latter being the one with a curved AMOLED display. But it won't be too big.
There's been talk of axing the home button and building the TouchID fingerprint sensor into the screen itself. This rumor dates back almost two years.
Doing this would eliminate the otherwise useless bezel around the screen. "The entire face will be the display," claims Apple blogger John Gruber.
"And the Touch ID sensor will be somehow embedded in the display. The front-facing camera will somehow be embedded in the display. The speaker, everything. All the sensors will somehow be behind the display."
An all-screen display is what we've seen from Chinese phone maker Xiaomi and its Mi Max, and the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus may mimic it.
An unearthed Apple patent shows this idea in action, eliminating the phone's bezels in the process. Another patent has since emerged, showing a similar concept, so it's certainly something Apple's at least thinking about.
If Apple ditches the home button, it could replace it with a 'function area,' with virtual keys, similar to the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar, according to one report. Apple tweaked the home button with the iPhone 7, making it no longer physically click when pressed, so this could be the next step.
On the other hand, you could argue that since Apple only just tweaked the button it's unlikely to ditch it so soon. There's also the question of whether it would be able to produce enough of these function area panels.
Apple currently uses Japan Display for many of its screens, and while Japan Display is planning to start building OLED panels they're not expected to arrive before 2018.
No surprise, one rumor suggestions one the higher-end model will have these new screen features, according to the latest supply chain sources.
This third, premium model is currently dubbed "Ferrari", and this model alone may have an embedded fingerprint scanner and an edge-to-edge OLED display.
Looking even further ahead we might see a flexible or even foldable iPhone, as Patently Apple has found a patent for just such a device, and more recently another similar patent has turned up, but this is likely a long way out yet – as in iPhone 10 or iPhone X territory.
TechRadar's take: A move to OLED sooner or later seems inevitable, but Apple might only use the panels for the iPhone 8 Plus in 2017, if it can't source enough. A larger, sharper screen seems likely, but plans to build Touch ID into the screen sound ambitious, and while Apple is seemingly working on this, we're not convinced the tech will be ready for the iPhone 8.
Just when Apple has nearly perfected the aluminum unibody phone with the iPhone 7, it's now expected to be moving onto an all-glass design.
Yes, the tenth anniversary iPhone 8 is heavily rumored to debut a a curved glass back (echoing the front curved display), according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The glass iPhone 8 rumor has since been given more weight, with the CEO of the company behind the iPhone's metal casing claiming one model of the phone "will adopt glass casing next year."
It would still require a metal frame apparently, which makes it sound a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, especially if both panels are curved. That lines up with a claim from a source that's proved reliable in the past that Apple is experimenting with a "glass sandwich design." Delicious, right?
And yet another source also points to a glass back, with a stainless steel frame in place of the aluminum Apple currently uses in its phones.
Here's where the iPhone 8 rumors conflict: Right now, we're unsure if the design is being readied exclusively for the higher-end 5.8-inch iPhone 8 Plus, or if all iPhone 8 models are due for the glass upgrade, like Ming-Chi Kuo suggests.
It could be that the smaller iPhone 8 (or what may be the iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus) designs will remain relatively unchanged other a new color.
The last major iPhone 8 design rumor is that the new phone could get a little more waterproof. It may jump from an IP67 to IP68 rating, notes The Investor.
TechRadar's take: Expect a big change to the design of the phone. It's too early to say if every iPhone 8 size will sport the curved glass look and extra waterproof features, but we think the days of an aluminum iPhone are numbered.
It's almost inevitable. Cook, in its quarterly investor calls, has become captivated with the idea of augmented reality (AR), or what Microsoft calls "mixed reality," (so you should fully expect Apple to call it augmented reality instead).
iPhone 7 Plus
What can Apple do with AR? You may be able to point your iPhone 8 at an object and have it recognized, claims one source “familiar with the matter.” The camera app may be able to recognize and manipulate faces in the future, too.
Let's give you a more concrete example (and source). Former Apple analyst Gene Munster thinks you'll be able to find your seats in a crowded stadium or the groceries you need among all of the aisles by looking at your phone.
AR is supposed to map out where you want to go, and combined with Apple Pay, it could be a big winner for the iPhone 8 on forward, according to Munster.
"Your phone slowly going away and being replaced by AR," he said in an interview with Cheddar. "This is beyond Pokemon."
There's also talk from Korea that Apple is working with LG on a "3D photographing" module for the iPhone 8, which could be used to add three-dimensional effects and work with the rumored augmented reality features.
What about your everyday photography? That could be upgraded, too, with the second lens on the dual lens iPhone 8 Plus gaining optical image stabilization.
But don't expect a bump beyond the 12MP sweet spot that Apple and other phone manufacturers have found, and don't look for the dual lens snapper to come to the standard iPhone 8, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It's likely to once again be limited to the higher-end iPhone 8 Plus and the AMOLED variant.
We don't expect much change from the front-facing camera resolution, as Apple just upped to 7MP iSight camera for the iPhone 7. But as selfie photos become increasingly important, it could include extra camera focusing tricks to make each and every pixel count.
TechRadar's take: Apple is giddy with excitement about the prospects of AR, and that may be the hot new camera feature going forward. We already got a big dual-lens camera upgrade last year. It may get better this year, but not be as dramatic of a change. Instead expect Apple to tout the benefits of augmented reality.
iPhone 8 battery
Apple may have a plan to include extra battery life in the iPhone 8, taking on a stacked mainboard internal design, according to one analyst.
It may fill all of the saved space with additional battery capacity and also finally support wireless charging without that aluminum design blocking the transfer of energy (that's why glass and plastic phones can do wireless charging and metal phones do not).
Foxconn is reportedly looking into the tech for Apple and, after all, without the headphone jack, Apple is one step closer to being free of cables completely. This is surely the next step., even if there are some doubters about these plans.
Apple might go beyond rivals and offer a truly wireless charger that works at up to 15ft, with no contact required between the device and the power source.
There's evidence that Apple has been looking into this tech, with Energous, the company behind it, supposedly working with a "tier 1" smartphone maker. It added that it's "working with one of the largest consumer electronic companies in the world" and it will be shipping a product by the end of 2017.
Energous has also received a $10 million investment from Dialog Semiconductor, according to BGR, and Dialog just so happens to be a company that works primarily with Apple.
We've also heard from an analyst note, obtained by 9to5Mac, that all models of the iPhone 8 will have wireless charging - but it sounds like this will be standard rather than long-distance charging. Apple may also not include a wireless charger in the box.
And when you plug the iPhone 8 in, you might not do so via a Lightning connector, with a report suggesting that Apple could swap that for a USB-C connection - though it's not clear whether the report means a USB-C port will be added to the handset, or whether the other end of the charging cable will be USB-C, instead of USB A, which seems more likely.
Wireless charging and improved battery life are likely – but don't count on being able to charge from a distance, at least not on the iPhone 8. Apple may save this truly revolutionary for the iPhone 9 or iPhone 10, aka the iPhone X.
iPhone 8 internal specs and iOS 11
iPhone 8 is almost certainly going to transition us from iOS 10 to iOS 11, and undergo three months of beta testing following WWDC 2017 in June.
The internal iPhone 8 specs are also undoubtedly going to take another step forward with the Apple A11 chipset that's more powerful than the current A10.
What do iOS 11 and the A11 System on a Chip mean for iPhone 8? We may see finally Control Center customizations and Today menu widgets become refined.
iPhone 8 running iOS 11 is also likely to debut always-on screen settings (what will be displayed?) and an improved Mail app (hyperlinking text, finally?).
The new chipset, either called Apple A11 or Apple A11 Fusion, may stick with a quad-core processor since the iPhone 7 just launched with that.
Yes, octa-core processors is all the rage, but Apple has shied away from touting big numbers and instead focused on boosting performance. It's done just fine.
The same goes for RAM. It may stick with 2GB for the iPhone 8 and 3GB for the dual-camera iPhone 8 Plus. Of Apple's products, only the iPad Pro 12.9 has 4GB.
In fact, the iPhone 8 may go for one smaller number: 10 nanometer. The move from the 16nm A10 Fusion to a 10nm A11 Fusion would make significant gains.
Qualcomm's 10nm Snapdragon 835 chip, for example, requires less energy and exhibits a performance boost on 16nm chips. Apple will want to rival this chip.
While Apple doesn't use Qualcomm's processor, it has used the San Diego firm's modem. But, as of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, it has dual sourced the modem: some from Intel (GSM-only models [AT&T, T-Mobile and almost every other carrier]) and others from Qualcomm (GSM+CDMA [Verizon and Sprint].
There's an ongoing lawsuit between Apple and Qualcomm for overcharging of standard issue patents, so there's a chance iPhone 8 could ditch Qualcomm altogether.
Couple this with the fact that Intel just announced a CDMA-capable modem that makes it compatible with Verizon and Sprint in the US, and Qualcomm may have just exiled itself from the new iPhone for 2017.
TechRadar's take: The iPhone 8 is naturally going to be faster, but its speed boost may be wrapped in another quad-core processor and coupled with 3GB and 2GB of RAM. A lot of the specs depend on whether or not Apple is ready to show us the power of VR and AR. iOS 11 is almost a given, and we fully expect Apple to continue to harness the power of developers for tools like Siri and menu customizations.
It might not just be the screen you'll be interacting with on the iPhone 8, as Apple is also rumored to be working on a "new sensing technology," which would allow the phone to respond when you touch any side of it. Theoretically that could be used for example to change the screen brightness by swiping along the edge, or take a picture by tapping it.
One other rumored feature of the iPhone 8 is an iris scanner, which wouldn't be much of a surprise given that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 had one and the Galaxy S8 is said to get the same.
Facial recognition of some kind is looking ever more likely, as it's been rumored again, and Apple's even acquired a company which works in that area.
The iPhone 8 might tighten up security in other ways too, as an Apple patent details a system that could get a thief's fingerprints and photo, as well as recording audio, video and their location.
We might also see a Smart Connector on the iPhone 8. This was rumored for inclusion on the iPhone 7 Pro – a phone which never launched, but with numerous pictures of a phone sporting the Connector it seems likely that Apple really was considering it, so the feature might be ready by next year.
We've already seen a Smart Connector on the iPad Pro, where it's primarily used to attach accessories, like keyboards.
TechRadar's take: The iPhone 8 might have an iris scanner, but only if Apple can make it fast to use. A Smart Connector is also a possibility, but seems a less useful fit than on an iPad Pro.
iPhone 8 price
The iPhone 8 price may throw us for a curve ball come September since Apple is planning an all-new smartphone design. Here are the price rumors.
The smaller iPhone 8 could cost just as much as the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, running $649 in the US, £599 in the UK and AU$1,079 in Australia. That price really hasn't changed in the US, and it recently went up in the UK (last year) and Australia (two years ago).
The iPhone 8 Plus price is also unexpected to change based on the fact that the iPhone 7 Plus just saw a price hike (even in the US) to $769, £719 and AU$1,269. We don't need another price increase there.
Instead, Apple may launch an iPhone 8 Edition with a curved display with an OLED (instead of LCD panel). That could send the bill of sale (for the parts) up 67%, and that expense may get passed onto you, the consumer.
The iPhone 8 price really depends on three things. Which version of the phone do you want? Is Apple releasing a third, more expensive edition with a fancy OLED display? And which storage capacities remain in 2017? That last question may change dramatically depending on how Apple decides the future of the 32GB iPhone 8.


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BigChange shines on industry awards shortlists
In recent months, expert awards panels across our key industries have been recognising what customers are already telling us: trades businesses grow stronger with BigChange.
We’ve been shortlisted for a number of exciting awards, as listed below.
Best use of technology
Leading security industry body, the British Security Industry Association, has shortlisted BigChange for its Best Use of Technology award.
Our customer Securitay told the panel how it was transformed by BigChange.
“When we were looking for a digital solution, we needed something that was robust and rugged,” said Securitay’s Richard Jennings. “We manage some sites out in the sticks and we’re no strangers to inclement weather. Neither was BigChange.”
“We’ve empowered every team member. Now they can do what they’re employed to do, rather than spending time on paper forms and reports, says Richard. “Because everything is automated, there are fewer mistakes and fewer omissions.”
Construction News has recognised BigChange’s major impact on firms in that sector, shortlisting us in its own Best Use of Technology category.
Our entry highlighted how our customer NServ grew turnover from £1.2 million in 2019 to £5 million in 2021, using BigChange to “transform our business and our prospects.”
Sustainability and growth
And the Heating Installer Awards have shortlisted BigChange and Celsius Plumbing and Heating in their Most Sustainable Installer category.
Celsius Director Michael Cairns told the panel: “We used to average six jobs a day but now we are doing seven or eight. Our engineers are often 30 percent more productive and operating in a much more sustainable manner.”
We’ve also been placed on the Northern Tech Top 100. Organised by GP Bullhound, this list of the fastest-growing Tech Companies shines a light upon the leading technology businesses headquartered in the North of England and Scotland.
We’ve featured on the list before and we were delighted to take 26th place in this year’s ranking, after achieving 51% growth over the past year.
Our mission is simple: to make our customers successful. And we couldn’t be happier that key bodies in the sectors we work in think we’re succeeding.

domain: news


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Recalls happen every day in this country – all sorts of products are either voluntarily recalled by their manufacturer, or recalls are issued by the government to get dangerous items out of the public marketplace. Consider this — this week, so far, the following national recalls have happened:
- Stouffer’s Frozen Lasagna has been recalled by Nestle Food Company because some of its product can make people with fish allergies sick.
- Hospira is recalling some of its Morphine Sulfate Injection because they have more than the appropriate dosage.
- Office Depot is recalling desk chairs because they have a dangerous fall hazard.
It is very good news for all American consumers that manufacturers issue these voluntary recalls of their products when it is discovered that the product can hurt or seriously injure (even kill) someone. Of course, there are those who will point out that this is in the manufacturer’s best interests, since they are legally liable for any injuries that their products cause.
And this is true. Under state law as well as federal statute, manufacturers of products as well as those in the distribution chain (those who had the task of getting the product from its maker to the injury victim) can be held financially responsible for the injuries caused by a defective and damaged product.
This is what is referred to as products liability law. Many recalls have become the basis for major personal injury litigation based upon products liability laws, where state legislatures (like those in Indiana and Illinois) as well as the U.S. Congress, have passed laws for safe products that have been violated. Consider this — this week, the following recalls are now among those making national news as they proceed as major products liability personal injury lawsuits:
- This week, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the parents of a baby whose death inspired a national recall. Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary McNeil PPC have been sued by the grieving parents of their 2-month-old infant son, Markus Cherry, who died after being given Concentrated Tylenol Infant Drops (which was later found to have been defective, as it contained harmful bacteria). Baby Markus’ death led to the national recall of 40 different types of infants’ and children’s medications. This is probably not the only lawsuit that will spring from this recall.
- Yesterday, it was announced that the parents of a 2 year old little boy had settled their wrongful death lawsuit – although at least ten (10) other similar cases remain active – after they filed a wrongful death action against Triad Group and its sister company, H&P Industries, claiming that their son Harry Kothari died because of Triad’s defective product, contaminated baby wipes. Triad and H&P did issue a voluntarily recall after little Harry died from contaminated wipes and swabs containing harmful bacteria. The Food and Drug Administration also shut down the Triad plant after U.S. Marshals entered and seized $6 million worth of products.
- Defective products made and recalled by DePuy Orthopaedics are now the subject of over 3500 different lawsuits, as victims of its defective ASR hip implants are joined together in multi district litigation before an Ohio federal district court, with trial predicted to start soon. We’ve been monitoring those hip replacement product lawsuits for awhile now, see our earlier post that provides details.


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"Every day leading up to Prime Day on July 11 members will find all kinds of exclusive promotions and deals", Amazon said. Prime Day 2017 is officially on July 11, but Amazon is adding six more hours of shopping this year, presumably to cash in on a second lucrative evening shopping spree.
While President Donald Trump has chosen it as his latest Twitter (TWTR - Free Report) victim, e-commerce giant Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) is gearing up for its third annual Prime Day, the company's blockbuster online summer sale that honors the anniversary of its founding on July 16, 1995.
Find deals organised by the most shopped for themes.
Deal watching on the Amazon App expands globally.
Members in Mexico and China will not only get to shop for their local deals, but several deals available in the Amazon Global Store will also be accessible too.
As in the past, Prime members will get exclusive deals throughout the duration of the event, with Alexa-exclusive voice shopping deals for Prime members who have any of Amazon's voice-assistant devices or Alexa-enabled Fire TVs or tablets. While refraining from any specifics, Amazon has emphasised that this year will see big deals on TVs, with the Element 4K Ultra HD Smart LED - Amazon Fire TV Edition which is (you guessed it) the first TV with Fire TV OS built in. Should those items go on sale during the event, Prime members will be notified.
Cubs' Bryant leaves with injury against Nationals
Trainers had to help Bryant off the field, and his teammates helped him down the tunnel to the locker room. "You don't cry. He retired nine of his first 10 batters and struck out the side in the second and third innings.
If you are new to Prime Day, Amazon has published a neat guide on how to get the most out of Prime Day on the Prime Day page. Amazon tells us that Jeremy, Richard, and James have visited Mozambique, Switzerland, and, er, the UK.
Also, on Prime Day members get an exclusive look at The Grand Tour Season 2 that's set to not be available until season 2 launches later in the year.
Amazon has announced that Prime Day will be July 11, 2017. Prime Day in 2016 saw orders almost triple year-over-year for third party merchants offering deals so be prepared, notify your couriers, get your staff prepared for evening or night shifts and speak to agencies if you're planning extra help. Just use any Alexa-enabled speaker like the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot and say "Alexa, sign me up for Prime".
How to prepare? First of all, make sure you are a Prime member. It used to run for 24 hours.
Join the Waitlist for products that say 100% claimed, because people often change their minds and don't buy.
The Prime Day line-up for video is like this: Star Trek - Beyond on July 5, Deepwater Horizon on July 6 Baahubali: The Lost Legends Episode 9 on July 7, Sully on July 8, comedy special Haq Se Single on July 9.


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Talks were held amid the backdrop of a marked growth in the uptake the Windows Mobile™ operating system. In Q1 2004, Windows Mobile™ devices accounted for an 18.3% share of the worldwide smart mobile device market; that figure rose to 23.1% in Q1 of 2005 marking 44% growth. i-mate™ solutions run exclusively on the Microsoft Windows Mobile™ platform.
The relationship with Microsoft® extends back to the inception of i-mate™ in 2001 when the company launched its first smartphone. Today, the handset developer has a range of smartphones and PDAs as well as a unique offering of customizable end-to-end solutions and on-line technical support.
“The ubiquity of the Microsoft Windows™ platform in the business arena made it the obvious choice for a wireless workplace communications solution. While working closely with Microsoft® developing and building the technology behind i-mate™, we decided to take advantage of the ease of use of the Windows Mobile™ platform to create products that suited both business and personal needs of the end user,” said Morrison.
“i-mate’s partnership with Microsoft® has grown from strength to strength, particularly in the Middle East region. With increasing market demands we look forward to further developments in our partnership with i-mate.” commented Abdullatif Almulla, General Manager, Microsoft® South Gulf.
Morrison and Ballmer were in Dubai, operational headquarters of i-mate™, for the Microsoft® Government Leaders Forum – Arabia. i-mate™ will also be sponsoring the upcoming Microsoft Windows Mobile™ & Embedded Developers Conference being held in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 10-12. i-mate™ established itself in North America with the launch of its San Diego operations at the CTIA Wireless show in March 2005.
Wednesday, May 11- 2005 @ 13:04 UAE local time (GMT+4) Replication or redistribution in whole or in part is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Mediaquest FZ LLC.


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Duties on drywall are looking like a much bigger matter than just inches.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on July 21 it is launching an investigation into whether some 54-inch gypsum board originating in or exported from the United States for consumption in Western Canada is being sold at unfair prices, or “dumped” in Canada.
The investigation began after CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc. of Mississauga, Ont. alleged the dumped goods have caused “material retardation to the domestic industry in Western Canada.”
CertainTeed operates manufacturing facilities across Canada, including in Delta, B.C, Calgary, Alta. and Winnipeg in Western Canada.
“U.S. dumping of 54-inch drywall in Western Canada is distorting the Western Canadian drywall market, and preventing new investments and jobs. We believe we have a very strong case that will restore free and fair trade and create new jobs in Western Canada,” said CertainTeed CEO Matt Walker.
The CBSA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) will both be involved in the investigation with the CITT holding a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports harm Canadian producers, with a decision by Aug. 20.
At the same time, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair prices and will make a preliminary decision by Sept. 19.
CertainTeed previously raised concerns about 48-inch-wide boards in the summer of 2016, and in January 2017 the CITT validated the complaint. The CBSA then imposed final duties on U.S. importers who were found to be dumping 48-inch drywall boards into Western Canada at levels of 94.6 per cent to 324.1 per cent.
But since 54-inch drywall was not a “subject good” in the original case involving 48-inch drywall, no duties from that case can apply to the 54-inch boards.
Costs at all levels would have to be handed down so homeowners have to pay more
— Neil Moody
Canadian Home Builders’ Association
“CertainTeed Gypsum Canada therefore continues to face some injury from U.S. dumping of 48-inch wide drywall, but at mitigated levels, and now faces increasing and unmitigated levels of dumping of 54-inch wide drywall,” Walker explained.
“This is resulting in continuing unfair market pricing of drywall in the western Canadian market, where domestic Canadian manufacturing faces the significant economic challenge to rebuild and recover from years of dumping injury.”
While CertainTeed is in favour of duties on drywall products, their view is not shared by everyone in the industry.
“For many years, it is our experience that Canadians support free and fair trade and do not support dumping behaviour. Some drywall distributors and their customers can benefit by the ability to purchase drywall at below fair market prices. Some were active in contesting the last complaint in the previous case which is on the record,” Walker said.
Among those contesting the previous compliant were the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), the Western Canada Alliance of Wall and Ceiling Contractors, and several gypsum producers and importers, both U.S- based with Canadian affiliates and solely Canadian firms.
During the 2016 complaint, some importers of the U.S. material said there would be a negative cost impact from fixed-price drywall contracts and the federal government took precautionary measures such as a relief fund called the Drywall Support Program through Western Economic Diversification Canada for contractors who could provide evidence of financial impact by duties on fixed price contracts. Increased prices for Fort McMurray, Alta. homeowners rebuilding after the massive wildfires were also cited as a cause for the reduction in duties.
This time higher costs will be felt by homeowners across the housing continuum, CHBA CEO Neil Moody said.
“It will affect all areas of housing, and directly affects affordability. Costs at all levels would have to be handed down so homeowners have to pay more. In terms of taxes, provincial coffers would be hit, affecting the overall economy,” Moody said.
Moreover, he said, very little 54-inch drywall board is produced in Western Canada, with most of the product originating in the United States
“It really doesn’t make sense, and particularly in Western Canada, we’ll feel the brunt of it,” he claimed.
While CertainTeed said in a press release the total value of the validated claims by contesting parties was a “tiny fraction” of the claims made in tribunal testimony, the CHBA estimated over $330 million in additional costs for western Canadian builders, renovators and contractors had been saved through these measures.
The currently brewing trade war between the United States and Canada should not influence this particular case, Walker said.
“Our case is separate and will be handled through the normal and well established Canadian legal trade remedy process. Our case is strong and will stand on its own merits,” he said.
Moody said the drywall dispute is its own issue but stands a chance of being lumped in with the current U.S.-Canada trade debate.
“It could be on the coattails on all other discussions taking place, but all that happens is it costs more for homebuilders on both sides of the border,” Moody said.


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Maya Hotels says that it will be developing a 138-room Hilton Garden Inn in the Steele Creek area of Charlotte.
The hotel will be a part of a larger master-planned complex in the Steele Creek area, located at the intersection of Steele Creek Road and I-485, Exit 4.
Maya Hotels expects to break ground on the project in the first quarter 2020, with an estimated development cost of $150,000 per room.
The hotel will feature an onsite Garden Grill & Bar, well-appointed meeting space, a 24-hour grab-and-go retail space, a 24-hour business center, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an indoor pool, and an outdoor gathering area with a fire pit.
Maya Hotels recently completed the development of the Hilton Garden Inn Gastonia/Charlotte West in March. In addition, the company has two hotels under construction in Mooresville, a 120-room Tru by Hilton and a 128-room Aloft. Both properties are scheduled to open in the first half of 2020.


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If yesterday's news that online megaretailer Amazon had purchased streaming game footage hub Twitch for $970 million took you by surprise, you're not alone - not by a long shot. However, a recent Time interview with Amazon vice president of games Michael Frazzini and Twitch CEO Emmett Shear...
Posted on Oct 22nd 2014 5:00PM
Posted on Oct 20th 2014 3:30PM
Posted on Oct 20th 2014 12:49PM


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Star Wars: The Force Awakens breaks Jurassic World's box office record for opening weekend
Star Wars: The Force Awakens has broken Jurassic World's opening weekend record.
JJ Abrams new blockbuster took $529 million worldwide in its opening weekend, surpassing Jurassic World's haul of $524.9 million back in the summer.
In a sporting move, Jurassic World producer Frank Marshall took to Twitter to congratulate Star Wars, you can see his tweet below:
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is in cinemas now and is available to pre-order on DVD and Blu-Ray on the right-hand side of the page.


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Manhattanites will no longer have to cross a bridge to sample Cesar Ramirez’s highly acclaimed cuisine — and diners won’t need to battle Brooklyn Fare’s busy phone line to secure a reservation six weeks ahead of time either.
Owner Moe Issa said he has signed a lease for a space at 431-39 West 37th Street and hopes to open by June or July. His Downtown Brooklyn grocery store, with its tiny, three-star Michelin restaurant known as the Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, will be imported to Manhattan’s West Side, just in a different format.
“It’s a supermarket and restaurant but not the same concept,” Issa said in an interview Friday. “We’re in the middle of planning.”
The 11,000-square-foot space includes an outdoor terrace and another 7,000 square feet downstairs. The majority of space will be a grocery store. The 60-seat restaurant will be a la carte and feature small places and have a no-reservation policy.
“We’re going to have seafood,” he said. “We’re going to have a lot. It will be a little bigger menu than we have now.”
The more flexible format for the Manhattan location won’t end competition for the prime attraction. As at the original, the new venue will include a 10-seat table where diners will vie for reservations to be served the celebrated tasting menu. The hard-to-book chef’s table will be in the basement, inside a wine room.
Issa said the Manhattan menu won’t be as extensive as the Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, which has 24 courses. He said they were still working on the menu and prices.
There are no plans to close the Brooklyn location, Issa said. He decided to open up a Manhattan outlet because of interest from landlords and brokers trying to lure them over the river.
“People keep on calling and they keep offering things,” he said. “I thought it was the right thing. I love the space and I love the view from the back.”
Corrections & Amplifications: Brooklyn Fare’s Manhattan location will be at 431-39 West 37th Street. An earlier version of this blog post incorrectly said it would be located on 39th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues


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Need for Speed 2017 supports offline experience
Ghost Games recently confirmed that a new Need for Speed game is currently in the works and will arrive this year.
After the 2015 Need for Speed reboot, we haven’t had a lot of news on the next entry in the popular racing series. In a recent blog post, Ghost Games finally confirmed that a new Need for Speed is getting ready for release and revealed more details about the game’s direction.
Need for Speed new features
The developer confirmed that car customization will still be a part of the game in a new big way, and added that police chases would also make their grand return.
Woop woop…let’s talk about cops. There’s nothing more satisfying than getting into a cop chase and feeling the heat on your tail as you tear it up through the city. Cops in pursuit, racers up ahead and then out of nowhere BAM! They bring a Rhino to a street race. You got this?
Need for Speed now supports offline gaming
The new game will lack the previous game’s always-online requirement. This previous feature was not at all appreciated by the gamers and Ghost Games is aware of this:
So, when release day rolls around for the next Need for Speed, you will be able to play through a single player experience completely offline. Before you ask, and we know you will, this does mean you will be able to pause the game.
The new game does not yet have a name and is expected to arrive sometime this year. Ghost Games promised more information before the Electronic Art’s E3 event, EA Play, scheduled for next month.
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We’re all used to the iPhone and iPad — but what about the iCar?
A new foray into the automobile industry could be on the horizon for tech giant Apple after executives met with with Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk last spring to discuss a possible merger, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Musk met with Apple’s merger and acquisitions chief Adrian Perica, and possibly also with Apple CEO Tim Cook, the Chron reports.
Speculation regarding a link between Apple and the electric vehicle manufacturer has been swirling since tech analyst Adnann Ahmad wrote an open letter suggesting that a partnership between the two companies could be mutually beneficial, going so far as to say that Apple should consider acquiring the electric car company.
The meeting between the two companies reportedly took place shortly after the open letter was published.
As the smartphone and tablet markets become increasingly saturated, Apple could be looking to develop new gadgets with more long-term potential, as well as hoping to excite investors with groundbreaking new products.
Apple already dipped its toe in automobile technology last year, announcing plans to integrate its iOS into car dashboards and a deal with Ferrari for an infotainment system that employs Siri’s voice software.
Apple’s potential move from smartphones, tablets and computers to more expansive industries is also illuminated by their recent exploration into medical devices, including research into sensor technology that could help predict heart attacks.
Regardless of what direction Apple chooses to take moving forward, analysts speculate that the company is looking to take big risks in the near future. Bill Kreher, an analyst with Edward Jones Investment told the Chronicle:
“Apple must increasingly rely on new products to reignite growth…they need the next big thing.”


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Ranchi, Sep 24 (UNI) Union Steel Minister Ramvilas Paswan today said Steel Authority India Ltd (SAIL) would set up a sports academy that of a Tata Football Academy (TFA) for promotion of sports and games in Jharkhand.
Talking to reporters here, Paswan said the state had no dearth of talents and therefore the steel major has decided to estbalish such academy.
Mr Paswan said company would also take the support of India's ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in this regard.
''We hope that the star cricketer would definitely extend his support for this cause'', Paswan said.
He also said the SAIL would be fortunate to make Dhoni as its brand ambassador.
''I am not aware about the procedures of making brand ambassadors and would ask the Chairman to look forwrad in this direction'' Paswan added.
UNI AM PC CS KN1352


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Just because a car is equipped with an air bag is no guarantee the person driving the car is immune to injury or death in the event of an accident. Air bags are designed only to work in head-on collisions, and sometimes they don`t even work then.
Still, many people believe air bags are the answer to automobile safety. Period. Some even believe seat belts aren`t necessary if an air bag is in the car. Wrong.
Many of the people who carry these misperceptions claim they got them from television advertisements. If this is the case, then auto companies have an obligation to educate the public -- or re-educate the public -- about what air bags really can do.
Although none of the advertisements specifically states air bags offer passenger protection from all types of collisions, it would still be a responsible gesture for the companies to clarify the issue as much as possible since there are still so many people who don`t know all the facts.
Consumers also need to know air bags are not the perfectly flawless life- saving device they have been trumped up to be. For the past 1/2 years, consumer complaints detailing one flaw after another have been stacking up. According to federal documents, there have been 289 injuries and eight deaths due to faulty automobile air bags.
Despite the flaws, federal officials have mandated air bags for all new cars by 1997 and staunchly refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem or to conduct an investigation. Instead, they choose to play it down and pretend everything will be fine if only the critics would shut up.
According to Bill Boehly, the safety administration`s associate administrator for enforcement, there has been no investigation because no single style of car has generated the minimum number of complaints to get the agency`s attention. To begin an investigation of a restraint system such as air bags or seat belts, the agency must receive about 25 complaints per 100,000 cars of any one make and model. Just great.
The air bags aren`t the problem. It`s the windbags defending them.
If these people spent half as much time thinking about how to protect people as they do scheming to protect the air bag, then maybe, just maybe, Americans might end up with a safer car.


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[Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), full PDF document: (LINK). Extract.]
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT
Week 28, 7-13 July 2013
Hepatitis A - Multistate (Europe) - 2013 outbreak
Opening date: 9 April 2013 Latest update: 31 May 2013
From 1 October 2012 until 11 July 2013, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden reported 104 HAV cases due to genotype IB with two related sequences. None of the cases had travel history outside the EU within the period of their potential exposure.
Epidemiological investigations in Denmark and Sweden point towards frozen strawberries as the vehicle of infection.
On 22 May 2013, the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (SMI) published a press release indicating that frozen strawberries of non-domestic origin are likely to be the source of the Swedish outbreak. Other types of berries are no longer suspected in this outbreak.
On 30 May 2013, the Danish Food Safety Authority confirmed that specific products with frozen strawberries packaged in Belgium and sold in Denmark, have been voluntarily recalled. Both epidemiological and product investigations point towards these specific products of frozen strawberries as the vehicle of infection for the ongoing hepatitis outbreak in the Nordic countries.
Food authorities in the affected Nordic countries have recommended that citizens should boil frozen berries or berries of non-domestic origin before consumption.
The identification of closely-related HAV sequences in four different countries confirms that this is a multinational food-borne outbreak. The source of the multi-country outbreak has not been confirmed, but epidemiological investigations in Denmark and Sweden point towards frozen strawberries as the vehicle of infection.
As control measures have been implemented in the four affected countries and the number of reported cases has declined, ECDC will close this event.
ECDC and EFSA published a joint rapid outbreak assessment on 16 April.
Hepatitis A -Multistate (Europe)- ex Italy
Opening date: 10 May 2013 Latest update: 17 June 2013
Since 1 January 2013, 16 laboratory-confirmed cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection have been reported in Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. All cases have a history of travel to the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano in northern Italy during the exposure period. During the same period, Italy experienced an increase in cases of HAV infection, both in province of Trento and at national level. In the first six months of 2013, Italy reported more than 200 cases in excess of the mean number of cases reported in the same period for the last three years. This increase in cases is likely to be associated with this outbreak.
Additionally, Ireland reported three cases whose isolates share a sequence identical to that of the Italian outbreak, but without any history of travel to Italy or contact with other HAV cases. These cases had onset of illness in April 2013 in Ireland.
As the exposure of the cases occurred in Italy and Ireland, this suggests that cases have been exposed to the same contaminated vehicle of infection distributed in at least these two countries. Epidemiological, microbiological and environmental investigations indicate mixed frozen berries as the most likely vehicle of infection for these outbreaks.
In May 2013, following rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) notifications by Italian food authorities regarding HAV contamination found in a frozen berry mix originating in Italy, with raw berry material from Bulgaria, Canada, Poland and Serbia, the product was voluntarily withdrawn from the national market.
Despite the withdrawal of the incriminated food product, it is likely that additional cases will be identified and reported in Italy and, possibly, in Ireland, because of the long shelf-life of such frozen products. ECDC invites Member States to raise awareness of a possible increase in HAV cases associated with the Italian outbreak strain, to report all new cases in EPIS-FWD, to use the common epidemic case definition and questionnaire to interview recent cases and to sequence a subset of viral specimens in order to disclose possible links with the current outbreak in Italy.
A joint ECDC-EFSA assessment was published on this outbreak on 29 May 2013 and updated on 9 July.


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A hotel in Beadnell is transforming the way it does business thanks to the roll-out of fibre broadband by iNorthumberland.
The Beadnell Towers Hotel placed its order the day the new technology went live and owner Mick Colvin is now enjoying super-fast speeds of around 40Mbps.
Mick said: “Fibre broadband has made a big improvement to the business. I can move around from site to site so much quicker and promote free wifi to guests and diners. Our customers are really impressed with the speeds and how quickly they can send and receive data.
“Keeping guests and staff up to date via our Facebook and Twitter page is almost instantaneous, all of which frees up my time for other work and makes life much easier.”
More than 600 homes and businesses in Beadnell now have access to the high-speed, fibre technology and many have already placed orders with their chosen service provider.
Work to upgrade homes and businesses in the nearby villages of Seahouses and North Sunderland is also underway, with the first customers already connected and more to follow in the coming weeks.
John Woodman, councillor for Bamburgh division, said: “Rolling out fibre broadband will make a big difference to businesses and the economic development of the area so I’m delighted the roll-out has arrived in Beadnell.”


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Although some may argue that piracy is (at least on some level) beneficial, it looks like NBC has taken that sentiment to the opposing extreme with its latest comments. In a purported filing with the FCC calling for enhanced regulation of the internet in an attempt to stifle evil P2P activity, NBC blurted out a string of text that it surely hoped would be overlooked. Alas, hardly any ridiculous claims go unseen these days, so now we're faced with this gem: "In the absence of movie piracy, video retailers would sell and rent more titles. Movie theaters would sell more tickets and popcorn. Corn growers would earn greater profits and buy more farm equipment." There's absolutely no need for us to pick apart the aforementioned quote, after all, we're fairly certain the absurdity shines right through on its own.
[Via TechDirt, image courtesy of Monsanto]


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The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus pandemic has caused severe supply chain disruptions and constraints on economies around the world, including African economies. This has left African Businesses under severe liquidity and cashﬂow pressure, with many on the brink of collapse and in urgent need of cash and liquidity.
To inject liquidity into the market and minimise the economic and social impact of COVID-19, Raindew Trade and Tradeshift, the world’s largest B2B e-commerce platform and global leader in cloud-based supply chain payments, marketplaces and apps, today launched a ZAR25 billion (“USD1.5 billion”) COVID-19 Instant Supplier Payment Scheme (“WePayNow Initiative”) and digitisation drive for private and public sector institutions in South Africa and selected African markets.
Launched on the back of the recent roll-out of Tradeshift Engage and a similar USD55 billion Instant Supplier Payment program with Denmark’s Export Credit Agency, the liquidity support and digitisation program will inject liquidity into supply chains at scale and with speed and build true digital collaboration between suppliers, buyers and financing institutions. Supply chain disruptions, including COVID-19, have been an absolute stress test for global supply chains and have accelerated the demand for liquidity and the uptake of digital solutions, tools and services, speeding up the global transition towards a digital economy.
According to Raindew Trade, the new initiative addresses the cashflow and liquidity challenge African businesses are facing in the current Covid-19 economic environment. Using the Tradeshift platform, the Instant Supplier Payment Scheme will inject USD billions of liquidity into selected African markets, including South Africa, through upfront and early payments to suppliers. Corporate buyers can request upfront payments to pre-qualified suppliers to be made on their behalf, with credit payment terms of 30 to 360 days. Suppliers can request upfront or early payments (“24 to 48 hours after approval of invoice for payment”).
“Supply chain disruptions, including COVID-19, have forced companies to embrace digital transformation of supply chains and business processes,” said Dan Quinn, General Manager, Tradeshift Middle East & Africa Region. “Business leaders across the region are quickly realising they can no longer delay digitizing core operating infrastructure that is essential to business continuity. We look forward to working with Raindew Trade to inject liquidity in corporate supply chains and digitise procure to pay and supply chain processes in South Africa and selected African markets,” added Quinn.
“The demand and availability of liquidity and digital tools to advance global trade is something which will endure going forward, with benefits for those providing capital and technology as well as those receiving it,” said Allan Musona, Founder and Executive Director, Raindew Trade. I’m excited to be part of this initiative to kickstart trading for African companies and governments in the post COVID-19 environment, at a really pivotal moment in Raindew’s journey.”
Tradeshift, which recently launched its MEA headquarters in Dubai, enables enterprise companies that want to access liquidity and fully digitize their supply chain relationships to do it with speed and efficiency.
Tradeshift drives supply chain innovation for the digitally connected economy. As the leader in supply chain payments and marketplaces, the company helps buyers and suppliers digitize all their trade transactions, collaborate on every process, and connect with any supply chain app. More than 1.5 million companies across 190 countries trust Tradeshift to process over half a trillion USD in transaction value, making it the largest global business network for buying and selling. Discover commerce for all at tradeshift.com.
ABOUT RAINDEW TRADE
Raindew Trade is a Trade and Supply Chain Financing and Services Platform providing working capital and supply chain solutions to corporates and public sector institutions in Africa and selected markets in Africa. Raindew solutions include supply chain finance & services platforms, marketplaces, network trade platforms, pandemic mitigation supply chain finance and working capital platforms, digital supply chain and procure to pay solutions, payment systems & solutions, tech-enabled digital logistics and distribution platforms, cloud-based business networks and e-commerce platforms, and apps. Contact Raindew Trade to inject liquidity into your supply chain today. Advance global trade at www.raindewtrade.com


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The Future of … Privacy at Risk – How the Internet Exposes You
Your home has always been your safe space; inside those walls, you and your family found refuge and privacy. This safe space is swiftly eroding, thanks to the rise of the home Internet of things. Smart TVs, security systems, fitness and health wearables, and networked appliances may be making life more convenient and efficient, but the Internet exposes you and a growing number of Americans to unwarranted privacy intrusions and cybersecurity risks.
Sources of Privacy Risk
As Americans are increasingly discovering, individuals surrender control over personal data that are gathered through the use of Internet-connected products, from their Internet searches to the streaming programs they watch.
In one study of 81 different smart devices and their data-sharing activities, 72 of the studied Internet of things (IoT) devices shared data with unrelated third parties, some of which were based overseas. The data they shared were fairly wide-ranging, and included location data and usage habits.1
Moreover, of the 81 studied devices, 30 of them shared data without any data encryption, increasing the odds of personal data being stolen by bad actors.2
Another study, conducted by professors at Princeton University and the University of Chicago, focused on smart TVs and Internet streaming devices. They discovered that 97.5 percent of Roku channels had installed Google’s ad tracking software, while 68.7 percent of Amazon Fire TV channels had installed Amazon’s own tracker software.3
Most people believe that they should have the ability to determine what personal information can be collected, and how it is used and shared. Consumers may have accepted business models that provide a service for free in exchange for personal information (e.g., Facebook), but few expect that a company should collect personal data when a product or service, such as an Internet-based home security system or a video streaming subscription, is being purchased with hard dollars.
The danger to personal privacy doesn’t end there. With so much information stitched together (e.g., home PC, smart phone, home monitoring system), it becomes much easier for cyber criminals to access personal networks and view banking information, retrieve social security numbers and passwords, and peek into other private details.
To be sure, it’s unlikely a hacker is going to pick a single home to commit a cyber crime, but with information increasingly stored on the cloud, a hack into that cloud becomes more dangerous than ever to every American’s personal privacy.
Please reference disclosures: https://blog.americanportfolios.com/disclosures/


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Pixinote App Puts Photos, Notes Back on the World's Refrigerator Doors
In today's digital world, many people have stopped sending photos and personal notes via the U.S. Mail. Pixinote aims to bring them back.Social media and the internet connect people instantaneously, but those digital, on-screen messages disappear quickly. Now a new app from Pixinote is designed to change that pattern by giving users a means to capture a photo with a smartphone, add a brief text message and have the photo and message printed out and sent by U.S. Mail to someone special, just like in the old days before email. The process, which costs $2.50 per mailing and takes about two to seven days to be delivered by the post office, aims to bring back hard copies of photo prints and personal notes that seem to have given way to digital storage on clouds and backup drives, according to Pixinote. By using Pixinote, friends can easily send personal photos and brief greetings while traveling, working, having their morning coffee or even when someone just pops into their mind. And when the recipient receives the gift through the mail, they can put it up on their refrigerator door or bulletin board to remember the moment, just like they did before digital photos made actual paper prints less convenient. The idea for the app was inspired by Daniel Kushner, the CEO and co-founder of the company, Pixinote spokeswoman Lillian Kim told eWEEK. Kushner was relaxing with friends in someone's living room about a year ago when he realized that more photo content is stored online and digitally today than is on display in frames and in homes nowadays, she said.
"We don't have as many photos that we set up on our refrigerators and in our living rooms to show who we are relating with," said Kim. With that, Kushner dreamed up the idea for Pixinote, which he saw as a blend between social media and physically mailed postcards and greeting cards. "It's kind of a bridge between online and offline. It feels like social media as you take an image and send it with message via phone, and then it gets sent like a card."


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Humans aren't especially good at counting things. That's why we invented math to make it easier and harder at the same time, then we invented computers to do math for us. Thousands of years of societal achievement have now reached their natural conclusion in the CountThings from Photos app. We're all done here, everybody can climb back into the trees.
What's that, Slack notification?
I still have to actually write this article?
Well fine, I guess. Geez. Read More
Besides industry giants Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, there are a few more niche services on the music streaming market. One of them is Tidal, the platform focused on high-fidelity, lossless audio. The latest version of the streaming service's Android app gains a new ability that's been part of Spotify for ages: You can finally organize playlists in folders. Read More
Amazon Music is just one of many music streaming services out there, but the shopping giant has been pouring some resources into making its offer a viable alternative to Spotify, Apple Music, and Co. The Android app has only recently gained support for behind-the-scenes tidbits and trivia about top songs, and no serious streaming service can go without podcast support these days. Now Amazon has decided to take on YouTube Music with its own catalog of music videos, rolling out to Unlimited subscribers. Read More
Google AdMob is basically the company's equivalent to AdSense, but for mobile apps. Somewhat ironically, the mobile-focused service didn't have an app to call its own. Now Google's finally delivering AdMob app for Android devices, though it’s currently in beta, and the early access seats on the Play Store are full. Read More
Google turned its News app into a great resource, making it easy to pull articles from multiple sources and compare what each outlet is writing. But the app also functions as a rudimentary weather hub, offering you an always-accessible shortcut to the current conditions and forecasts at the top of its homescreen in your briefing overview. The developers have now added a severe weather alert tailored to your location, helping you become aware of any potential weather hazards when you need to head out. Read More
An upcoming version of Google Shopping shows evidence of some new features that will enhance your online shopping. A teardown of version 52 of the app revealed assets relating to AR item previews (similar to those in the Amazon and Ikea apps), dark mode, and a Google Lens shortcut built into the search bar. Read More
You won't find any blood and gore in this life-sized Deadpool head, but it does pack more than 600 jokes, sound effects, and insults inspired by the devilishly handsome superhero. Hasbro Pulse just listed Deadpool's head for sale, in partnership with Marvel Legends. It'll cost you a pretty penny at $100 but will surely make for an eye-catching collector's item. Read More
When Google unveiled its voice recording app aptly called Recorder at its Pixel event last month, we were impressed by its capabilities. Unlike standard run-of-the-mill recording apps that simply make and store audio files, Google's version uses its AI smarts to perform real-time voice transcription into text, and it can locate music and specific words inside the audio file — all without a cloud connection. Initially announced as a Pixel 4-exclusive, a Google employee has confirmed on Reddit that Recorder will be made backward-compatible with older Pixel devices. Read More
Google Playground, formerly known as AR Stickers, has been trickling down to OEM Android handsets ever since its exclusive launch on Pixel phones last year. Up until this point, most of Motorola's current phone lineup have received Playground stickers with Android One variants representing a big glaring exception, but not anymore. A new Moto Camera 2 update finally brings Playground to the Motorola One series. Read More
As the final installment of the latest Star Wars saga prepares to blast off into theaters this December, toy manufacturers are ramping up production of must-have items for the holiday season. Today's announcement from Hasbro includes a replica of the D-O Droid from the upcoming Rise of Skywalker film and an interactive lightsaber, both controlled by dedicated smartphone apps. Read More


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“Cybercriminals were quick to realize many years ago that people fall prey to hot topics,” says Costin Raiu, Director of Global Research & Analysis, Kaspersky. And today’s hottest topic is the pandemic.
Chapter 2 of hacker:HUNTER ha(ck)c1ne explores COVID-related phishing attacks, known as spear-phishing. These attacks skyrocketed by nearly seven times between February and March this year.
When the virus took force, and we were all frantic trying to help each other, cybercriminals found a way to wreak havoc. In September, Facebook announced an aid program of $100 million for small business owners affected by the pandemic. When the story was picked up by the media, hackers started fishing (or, more accurately, phishing) with the bait.
Hack the news
Cybercriminals published fake news saying Facebook would be handing out free money to everyone affected by COVID-19. On a site cleverly disguised to look like Facebook, you fill out a form that shares personal data like your address, social security number or a photo of your ID. You get a confirmation message that your application has been accepted and sit back and wait for the money to arrive. It never will.
The worst part? It’s not the false hope, but what cybercriminals can do with this information: tricking friends and family members into sending money, credit card fraud or even identity theft
You’ve got mail
It’s not just people like us who criminals are targeting – organizations are hit too. At work, you get sent an email you think is from someone you know or your manager. But when you click on a link or open an attachment, it downloads malicious software opening the door for hackers to access the corporate network. They download data to sell on the dark web, or encrypt it via ransomware and force the business to pay the ransom to stop it from being leaked.
Keep it safe
Criminals have the resources to hit everyone, from society’s most vulnerable people to lucrative targets like big businesses and government. “Clearly the world is not as safe as we would like it to be. We’re surrounded by all kinds of new and different threats,” explains Zak Doffman, Founder and CEO of Digital Barriers. “The access to COVID treatments is a nation-state wide competitive advantage.”
In the face of this influx of threats, more kudos to the people keeping us and our data safe, like the Cyber Volunteers 19. To keep yourself safe, Kaspersky Daily serves up advice on spotting and protecting yourself from the Facebook grants scam.


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The Caf is decreasing their carbon footprint by switching to eco-friendly bags, but backpacks or totes are the best option.
At the Pat Case Dining Center (the Caf), one doesn’t always have to eat within. The option of grabbing a to-go meal is available to students, and until recently, those who went with this option were offered a plastic bag for transporting their food.
This posed obvious concerns over the University of Tulsa’s carbon footprint. I was somewhat jostled last semester when I noticed all the plastic bags in my trash. I know the blame for that falls partly on my shoulders, but as Resident Dining Manager at TU Trace Kast said, “People are creatures of habit and don’t think much about where the plastic bags come from or where they end up.” We corresponded via email over this issue.He went on, “But once they have that information they will be far more likely to be earth-friendly.”
The Caf has made some degree of effort in educating students over plastic bag usage by way of placing a few statistic-mapped signs outside the entrance to the cafeteria.
Still, I had to search for these to really see them; I only knew they were there because of my correspondence with Kast.
The Caf is making larger strides in the name of sustainability, however, as they rolled out a line of new environmentally-friendly, literally green plastic bags in early March for student use.
“We now have the biodegradable bags in stock,” Kast had to say. “We originally found a supplier that had the bio-bags at a better price, but they were constantly out of stock, and since we needed a reliable steady supply, we are now going through our normal vendor [Edward Don & Company].”
Of course, the known tradeoff with going green is the immense cost. The situation at the Caf is no different, as Kast explained.
“Cost per one thousand regular non-biodegradable bags was $26.55. We are now paying $238.31 per one thousand bags for the biodegradable bags.”
That is an 898 percent increase in price, and I’ve noted my last few times at the Caf that they seem to have run out of the bags, instead handing out generic, normal plastic bags. Kast mentioned in our correspondence that Caf staff was keeping an eye on the stock of these new bags to make sure they purchased only what they needed, “as it doesn’t make good financial sense to have so much money tied up in inventory sitting on the shelf.” He predicted they would put in a new order “every week or two,” but judging on how their supplies seem to be already, these orders could possibly become more frequent.
In any case, Kast assured me that TU students wouldn’t be expected to cover the difference via their room and board payments. These new plastic bags, while a certainly welcome step in the right direction, are an expense I find may be completely avoidable, or at the very least diminished.
TU and Sodexo recently introduced the “Simply to Go” program, in which students could pay a one-time fee for a green plastic box with which to carry food from inside the cafeteria back to their living space, or wherever they desire. This program is popular, Kast told me, with already 85 students utilizing it.
Seeing this new development, I wondered why a similar program could not be put in place for the to-go meals kept outside the cafeteria. Why not, say, offer a one-time payment for a tote bag with TU/Sodexo branding on it? This tote could be used over and over again to grab to-go meals from the Caf, meaning a greater immediate expense for the student but a lesser carbon footprint over time.
Kast had no qualms with my idea, saying, “I do see more people going the reusable tote route in general than in the past, based on my observations at grocery stores and other places where plastic bags are traditionally used … It could have a variety of uses, not just to carry food. I know there are a million different totes already out there from various places, but perhaps the student association could offer a TU-themed one as a giveaway, like they do with T-shirts or blankets at special events. The book store may already offer something like that, or might look into starting to sell them too if they don’t already.”
Kast said the Caf goes through “approximately 75 to 100 bags a day.” At this rate, an order of a thousand bags would deplete within a week-and-a-half, meaning a $238.31 purchase about bi-weekly. By the end of a semester, this would total to somewhere around $1900.
Assuming the 100-students-a-day are repeat consumers, the Caf could make a small one-time purchase of totes at the beginning of each semester. A purchase of 150 custom totes from www.customink.com comes to somewhere under $1400.
Of course, the assumption I made is a large one. There could be someone who gets a bag at the Caf four times a week and someone who gets a bag only once. This would come to five bags between them at the end of the week, suggesting a single person at a rate of one-bag-a-day, when in fact there are two people in the equation. In such a case, a tote would be more expensive, as the Caf would need to buy two totes instead of one. There is no good way of telling just how many cases like this exist, so my calculations remain based on conjecture.
Still, I stand by my case and my suggestion, as I think totes would eventually prove to be more economical, and in any case are a better aesthetic direction.
There is an even simpler way the Caf could decrease both expenses and carbon footprint, however, and that’s through the simple suggestion for students to use their own backpack. As Kast said, hungry college students are creatures of habit. I appreciate the educational signage put in place, but I think a single sign encouraging students to use their backpacks to carry food could work better than showing them statistics over plastic bags.
Kast agreed with this idea in our correspondence, saying, “I think it is an excellent idea to encourage the use of backpacks and reusable/washable totes instead of disposable bags.” As of March 12, the Caf has a sign encouraging such use.
Cutting out plastic bags completely and requiring students to supply their own bags or to use their backpacks would be the most economic decision, if not slightly inconvenient. Still, given the Caf’s presence on campus, it’s not exactly a choice that would drive business away. Due warning of the upcoming changes would be needed, but
I believe adaptation would happen quickly. Dining staff could also opt to not provide bags to students unless specifically asked, as I usually find myself putting my food in my backpack and then having to awkwardly decline a plastic bag.
“The dining department has always welcomed ideas from the student body,” Kast said at the end of our correspondence, “and I think sustainability is at the top of most people’s lists when it comes to helping our planet not only today, but for future generations.” It would seem from the Caf’s decision to switch to biodegradable bags, despite aggressive expense increases, that they do harbor some concern over the University’s carbon footprint.
As I said, the biodegradable bags seem to be a step in the right direction. I think, however, that reusable totes could be an even better step. Or, most simply, remove the foot entirely and just use backpacks.


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Textual content measurement
One other quarter, one other document.
is rising quickly, regardless of a world automotive semiconductor scarcity roiling manufacturing.
The electrical car pioneer on Saturday reported a document quarter with deliveries up greater than 70% 12 months over 12 months. Calling the inventory response on Monday is a coin flip, however in the future’s inventory efficiency doesn’t actually matter. Sturdy deliveries, nonetheless, normally imply excellent news for Tesla bulls down the highway.
Tesla (ticker: TSLA) delivered 241,300 automobiles within the third quarter of 2021, up from about 201,000 delivered within the second quarter of the 12 months, and up from about 140,000 delivered within the third quarter of 2020. Wall Road was on the lookout for roughly 225,0000 to 230,000 car deliveries.
Tesla produced nearly 238,000 automobiles within the third quarter. Manufacturing and deliveries—to prospects—are typical shut to 1 one other.
Yr so far, Tesla has delivered greater than 627,000 automobiles, up nearly 100% in contrast with 2020.
The outcomes must be adequate to maintain the inventory secure Monday. The larger response to sturdy deliveries usually come within the weeks following the discharge of the figures.
Tesla inventory has outperformed the
six out of the previous eight instances within the span between reporting deliveries and reporting quarterly earnings. Quarterly earnings come about three or 4 weeks after supply outcomes.
Quarterly deliveries have set new information seven of the previous eight quarters. That’s unsurprising for a progress inventory resembling Tesla. However document deliveries don’t all the time imply Tesla inventory jumps instantly following any quarterly launch. Expectations, after all, matter greater than the precise quantity. And expectations for third quarter deliveries have been rising.
Expectations for third quarter deliveries have migrated up from roughly 220,000 to 225,000 to 225,000 to 230,000 over the previous couple of weeks. The truth is, rising expectations are a giant cause Tesla inventory has outperformed just lately.
Tesla inventory has seemed remarkably secure within the face of latest market volatility. Shares are up 0.1% over the previous week. The
dropped 3.2% over the identical span. The S&P 500 is 2.2%. What’s extra, Tesla inventory rose about 5% in September. The Nasdaq dropped 5%. Inventory in Chinese language EV maker
(NIO) dropped 9%.
Buyers get inured to excellent news, too. Tesla inventory rose 4.4% after first quarter 2021 deliveries have been reported. Shares rose solely 0.1% after second quarter deliveries have been reported. The second quarter determine, one other document, was the primary time Tesla cracked 200,000 car deliveries.
Total, Tesla has seem to have handed the third quarter supply take a look at. And extra vehicles delivered ought to imply analysts take earnings estimates up for third quarter earnings. That could be the rationale Tesla inventory is robust following earnings.
However excellent news may also be simply excellent news.
Earlier than earnings, Tesla hosts its annual assembly on October 7. At that occasion, traders will need to hear about manufacturing ramp ups on the firm’s two new amenities in Texas and Germany.
Write to Al Root at email@example.com


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In a huge announcement today, GPS-giant Garmin, has acquired Tacx, the privately-held Dutch maker of indoor training systems, software, and accessories. Headquartered in Wassenaar, Netherlands, all ~200 Tacx employees will become part of Garmin’s global team. We’ll follow the story as it develops, and are among the many who are excited about the possibilities. For now, check out the press release below.
PRESS RELEASE: Schaffhausen, Switzerland/February 12, 2019/Business Wire — Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced that one of its affiliates has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Tacx Onroerend en Roerend Goed B.V (“Tacx”), a privately-held Dutch company that designs and manufacturers indoor bike trainers, tools and accessories, as well as indoor training software and applications. The completion of this acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
The market leader with more than five decades of experience, Tacx is best known for its innovative line of indoor smart trainers, including the highly-regarded NEO 2 and the revolutionary NEO Bike, that measures speed, power and cadence. Offering a highly realistic and accurate ride simulation, Tacx trainers allow cyclists to experience lifelike conditions, no matter the weather. For the most interactive and immersive indoor experience, the Tacx smart trainers connect wirelessly to popular training apps to help cyclists get more from their workouts, as well as the Tacx software/training app that offers training plans, data analysis, films of scenery all over the globe, live opponents and much more.
“Tacx brings an entirely new product category to Garmin’s fitness portfolio that expands our reach into the indoor training market,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin president and CEO. “Together with Tacx, Garmin will offer a seamless, enjoyable and motivating indoor and outdoor experience for cyclists all year long.”
“We are excited to have the support of a technology leader like Garmin,” said Koos Tacx, CEO of Tacx. “With Garmin’s extensive R&D capabilities and global distribution network, we look forward to working together to further enhance our indoor training products and technologies, and bring them to cyclists around the world.”
A vertically-integrated company with in-house R&D and production, Tacx is headquartered in Wassenaar, Netherlands with a distribution center in Vogt, Germany. The company employs nearly 200 associates, who will become part of the global Garmin team. To further leverage the growing market for indoor bike trainers, Tacx is currently undergoing a capital investment project to expand its R&D and production capacity.
The completion of this acquisition, which is subject to customary conditions, is expected to occur in Q2 2019. Financial terms of the acquisition will not be released.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary markets, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, instagram.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.
Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.


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Anti-social behaviour concerns Sidmouth residents and more news
Anti-social behaviour is still a top concern for Sidmouth residents, according to police. Read this and more.
BEHAVIOUR BLIGHT: Anti-social behaviour is still a top concern for Sidmouth residents, according to police.
Townsfolk want officers to particularly tackle the rowdy exploits of people under the influence of alcohol. A police spokesman said members of the Local Policing Support and Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been tasked to patrol areas of concern.
COFFEE: Sidmouth branch of the Royal British Legion will hold a coffee morning and table top sale at St John Ambulance hall, Blackmore Drive, from 9am on Saturday, February 18, in aid of branch funds.Chairman, Dave O’Connor, said: “If anyone would like to book a table (�5) they should call 01395 516160.”
LIVE MUSIC: Sidford Methodist Church is inviting people along for an evening of music from the Swing Band of Queen’s College Taunton. Starting at 7.30pm on Friday, March 9, tickets cost �7 and are available from Paragon Books in Sidmouth, call 01395 514516.
- 1 Body of woman found near Sidmouth
- 2 Ottery St Mary - a shopping paradise
- 3 Retailers need to be on high alert against new scam
- 4 Hospice at Home moves into new premises
- 5 Photos: Sidmouth's latest cliff collapses caught on camera
- 6 Property of the Week: Heaven's Gate, Ottery St Mary
- 7 A flying visit to a bird reserve and a view on Sidmouth's charity shops - Toto's latest woofings...
- 8 'Like a moth to a flame...'
- 9 Product sold at Tesco recalled due to risk of disease-causing bacteria
- 10 Great to see the sunshine as Folk Festival returned
JUBILEE COFFEE: To raise money for diamond jubilee celebrations, there will be a coffee morning in Colaton Raleigh Village Hall on Saturday, February 25. There will also be a cake stall and bric-a-brac on sale. Admission is �1, for more information call 01395 568074.
COUNCIL: As there is a pantomime rehearsal going on in Newton Poppleford village hall, the parish council is moving its meeting on Monday, February 7 to Harpford village hall, starting at 8pm.


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QUINCY, Ill. (June 10, 2014) — Titan International Inc.’s board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $.005 (one half cent) per common share for the second quarter of 2014.
The cash dividend is payable July 15 to stockholders of record on June 30, according to Quincy-based Titan.
The holding company owns subsidiaries that supply wheels, tires, assemblies and undercarriage product for off-highway equipment used in agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer applications.
More information about Titan is on its website. www.titan-intl.com
With the threat of more tariffs looming, how concerned are you about a trade war?
|Very. It could lead to another recession.||
37% (53 votes)
|It will be good for the U.S.||
19% (27 votes)
|It’s too early to tell.||
31% (44 votes)
|We have bigger problems than this.||
13% (19 votes)
|Total votes: 143|


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Maquiladora workers in Ciudad Juarez protest pending tax reform bill
On Tuesday, October 22 a crowed of about two thousand maquiladora workers in Cudad Juarez to the streets to protest the pending legislation that would result in significant changes to Mexico’s tax regime. Some of the more contentious provisions will have a direct affect upon the maquiladora industry and its ability to generate sources of employment, as well as compete internationally.
The estimated number of maquiladora workers in Ciudad Juarez that left their plants to express displeasure over the legislation was in the vicinity of two thousand. It was also reported that the workers were came from fifteen of the over three hundred maquiladoras, or ‘twin plants,’ that are located in Ciudad Juarez. Additionally, a number of commercial drivers joined the street protesters with their rigs.
Of particular importance to the maquiladora workers in Ciudad Juarez is the provision that increases the value-added-tax for items purchased on the border from eleven to sixteen percent. The measure’s detractors point out that this could do do damage to retailers in Ciudad Juarez by providing a greater economic incentive for residents to cross the border in order to do more of their shopping in El Paso, Texas.
From the standpoint of border industry, the percentage increase in the VAT is not the issue, the issue is payment of the levy. Until this point in time, factories producing for export under the IMMEX, or maquilaora program, have been exempt from paying the Mexican value-added-taxe on imported machinery, equipment and materials used in the fabrication of their products. Some industry insiders, such as Claudia Troitino de Gonzalez, believe that the over two hundred and twenty-eight thousand maquiladora workers in Ciudad Juarez will be negatively affected, since this will be the first time that the VAT tax will be paid. This could hamper industry growth, and the job creation that results from it. Troitino de Gonzalez is the president of the Maqiladora Association of Ciudad Juarez, known by its Spanish acronym, AMAC.
Although, under the law, maquilaora’s would receive a rebate of value-added-tax paid on equipment, machinery and raw materials, the legislation does not state the timeframe in which request for reimbursement will be processed by Mexican tax authorities. Paying the tax for the first time, will tie up significant sums of working capital.
The bill has already passed Mexico’s House of Representatives. It is anticipated that it will be passed by the Mexican Senate, in its final form, sometime during the month of November. Until legislation is finalized, however, industry watchers, management and maquiladora workers in Ciudad Juarez are sure to do more to hear their voices heard to influence outcome.
Read the primary source for this post at the Las Cruces Sun News.


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Monday 30th April 2018
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New Zealand business confidence fell in April, matching a dip in consumer sentiment, as already downbeat firms scaled back expectations for their own trading activity.
The ANZ Business Outlook reported a net 23 percent of businesses were pessimistic about the year ahead, versus 20 percent in March. Confidence dropped to an eight-year low in November on political uncertainty when the new Labour government took office. Fewer companies saw their own activity expanding, at net 18 percent compared to 22 percent in March. That measure has a stronger correlation with GDP growth, and remains below the historical average of 28.
"The survey was a mixed bag this month, consistent with an economy pushing its way through capacity constraints and some residual policy uncertainty but with some solid support from record-high terms of trade”, said ANZ Bank New Zealand chief economist Sharon Zollner. "All sectors are in the red, with services the least pessimistic and agriculture the most. Agriculture did manage a small gain on March, but construction plummeted to its lowest level since 2008."
On Friday, ANZ's consumer survey showed confidence dropped back to long-run averages in April as consumers grew less optimistic about their financial futures. Of that survey's 1,005 respondents, a net 13 percent saw good economic times in the coming 12 months, down from a net 25 percent in March, and the five-year outlook dropped 7 points, with a net 18 percent seeing good times ahead.
"Our composite growth indicator has now dipped to around 2 percent year-on-year growth," Zollner said. "We think the economy has more in the tank to keep growth above that, but with consumer confidence dipping and business growth indicators still languishing, it won’t necessarily be as smooth sailing as it has been."
The survey showed a turnaround in earnings expectations, with a net 1 percent of the 338 respondents expected profit to shrink in the year ahead, versus net 6 percent predicting profits to rise in March. Employment intentions fell to a net 9 percent from a net 10 percent in the prior month.
Across the four sub-sectors included, all remained negative on general business conditions. Agriculture remained the most negative, with a net 45.7 percent of respondents expecting business conditions to deteriorate, while retail continued to worsen, at -21.5 percent from -15.4 percent the previous month. Manufacturing improved to -25.8 percent from -33.3 percent and construction dropped to -36 percent from -33.4 percent.
Residential construction intentions dropped to a net 9 percent positive from 33 percent, while commercial construction intentions eased to 5 percent from 9.5 percent.
ANZ's Zollner said that data "seems at odds with activity and pricing in the housing market having found a floor, not to mention the KiwiBuild pipeline on offer. The data is volatile, but expected profitability has been in decline for the past 18 months, perhaps reflecting that the sector is hitting resistance in terms of its ability to pass higher costs on."
Zollner said inflation expectations and pricing intentions were little changed in the survey, with expectations at 2.11 percent from 2.1 percent and pricing intentions down to a net 22.3 percent of firms expecting to raise prices from 29.1 percent in March. Interest rates were expected to rise by a net 40.3 percent of respondents, from net 40.2 percent in March.
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- CNN announced that they are dropping the Vault, their Web3 project launched in the summer of 2021 as a marketplace for its own NFT.
- The project would offer collectors an opportunity to own a piece of history similar to the NBA Top Shot but minting CNN reports of key events.
- Owners will still be allowed to view their collections and utilize its marketplace.
- CNN shares a plan to compensate the collectors who onboarded CNN for this experiment.
In a recent announcement shared on the official Twitter account of Vault by CNN, it has been revealed that CNN is planning to drop the development of its Web3 marketplace that sells collectible Moments associated with major news events. This has surely come to users as bad news as they have already spent thousands of dollars on the projects and were sold exclusive access and features yet to come.
News of our own to share pic.twitter.com/qcxaDXNRYO— Vault by CNN (@vaultbycnn) October 10, 2022
CNN marked the end of its massive Web3 project on Monday while announcing that they have taken the decision to say goodbye to the Vault by CNN. Vault by CNN was a project launched as a marketplace for its own NFTs in the summer of 2021 that would offer collectors the opportunity to own a piece of history.
Well, the crypto winter is certainly the key role player in this decision of the company, as the idea behind Vault by CNN seemed more reasonable at the time when the prices of cryptocurrencies were sky-high.
In addition to this, it should be noted that the Vault website will continue to undergo changes, but it will remain available for them in order to view their collections and utilize its marketplace. Moreover, it was disclosed that CNN has plans to compensate thousands of collectors who were a part of this experiment by CNN.
The distribution will either be in the form of FLOW tokens or stablecoins deposited into the wallets of each collector. CNN is currently working out releasing the details but expects the distribution amount to be approximately 20% of the original mint price for each Vault NFT owned.
Well, this clearly didn’t seem enough to put collectors at ease after they expected the tokens published by CNN would attract more support than many shadier NFT projects.


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Toyota delivered a solid one-two punch Monday at the North American International Automotive Show in Detroit.
The Japanese automaker revealed the 2018 NASCAR Camry side-by-side with its revamped production counterpart, and the two models definitely share some similarities.
“The 2018 Toyota Camry NASCAR race car has been years in the making, and to unveil it simultaneously with our new production Camry is a milestone moment for our organization,” Ed Laukes, vice president of integrated marketing for Toyota Motor Sales, said in a NASCAR press release. “Our goal has been to maintain parallel design characteristics so our fans can enjoy driving a Camry that closely resembles the one their favorite NASCAR driver races each weekend.”
Of all the models — Camry, Chevrolet SS and Ford Fusion — that will take to the track at Daytona International Speedway in February, Toyota’s new racer looks most-similar to the road car on which it’s based.
Although the two Camrys were revealed alongside each other, the stock car will be the first to get used in anger, when it competes in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 26. The 500 marks the beginning of Toyota’s attempt to defend its first NASCAR manufacturer’s championship, which snapped Chevrolet’s 13-year winning streak.
All photos via Toyota Racing
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Michael Meade has something special to celebrate during Buffalo Beer Week.
The city native – who spent nearly three decades in the banking industry in New York City – was named this week as new CEO of Sullivan’s Brewing Co. USA.
“I’m very amped up about where Sullivan’s Brewing Company is heading,” said Meade, whose 1702 Irish Ales investment group in 2016 began to fuel growth of the Kilkenny, Ireland-based brewing company, particularly into the U.S. – starting with Buffalo.
Kilkenny has been known as the cradle of Celtic craft brewing since the 13th century, when Franciscan monks brought beer from Italy to the Emerald Isle. The Sullivan family started making beers in the southeastern Irish city in 1702, the Smithwick family in 1710.
Members of the two families became close friends, and in some cases even spouses. A controlling Sullivan family member wagered away the family brewery on a horse race in 1918 and the Smithwick family soon after came to the rescue by taking control of the Sullivan’s workforce and rights to the brewing company’s name.
In 1965, the Smithwick family sold its company – including its name and trademark – to Guinness, which kept open the Kilkenny brewery until 2014, when it consolidated its Irish operations to Dublin. The Smithwick family, however, kept control of the Sullivan’s brewery name and descendants Paul and Dan Smithwick jumped back into the family business two years later under the Sullivan name.
The company now owns a brewery, taproom, visitor center and retail outlet in Kilkenny. A Buffalo city flag is displayed in the taproom.
Meade pulled together a team of investors – including several fellow alums from Canisius High School in Buffalo – to help get the venture off the ground, and push Sullivan's into the U.S.
The brewery’s first export, Sullivan’s Maltings Red Ale, gained acclaim with a 2017 win in Great Britain as best ale in the world at the International Brewing Awards, known as the “Oscars of the Beer Industry.” The red ale initially was available only in pubs and restaurants in Kilkenny, Dublin and Western New York.
Sullivan’s added an Irish Gold ale to its repertoire last year. It has since expanded U.S. distribution to in the Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Cleveland and Erie, Pa., regions. The company at first shipped plastic kegs of its beers to U.S. markets but now also makes Irish Maltings Ale available in pint-sized cans.
Meade steps into his new role after 29 years on Wall Street, where he helped build and lead trading and financing businesses at Citibank, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. He has spent much of the last two years building a team to expand Sullivan brands first into Buffalo and then into a growing number of U.S. markets.
The effort started with one employee, has grown to four, and is expected to ramp up quickly in coming months as part of a more aggressive expansion plan.
Sullivan's looks to grow next around the Great Lakes, in the New York City metro area, New England and the Southeastern states, said brewing company CEO Alan Quane, an Irishman who has worked for nearly three decades in the confections and brewery industries, including from 1991 to 2003 in Toronto.
Meade, talking by phone from his apartment in New York City Wednesday morning, said he will spend much of his efforts during the next few months in and around that metro region, then the emerging Sullivan's markets, before returning to Buffalo to make his home base a brownstone he owns on Delaware Avenue.
One way the Irish brewery will celebrate Meade’s new post: timing the U.S. release of its newest beer, Black Marble Stout, in his hometown during Buffalo Beer Week. The creamy, dry Irish stout became available this week on draft, nitro-style, at the Irishman in Williamsville and the Blackthorn in South Buffalo and will be poured starting Thursday evening at Forty Thieves in the Elmwood Village and Friday evening at Finnerty’s in Ellicottville. These are among 70 taverns and restaurants that serve Sullivan's in the region. Wegmans, Dash's and about a dozen Tops stores sell the brand in cans.
Sullivan's may one day open its own taproom in Buffalo but is almost certain to continue to brew all of its beer in Kilkenny, expanding operations there as demand dictates, Meade said.
"We want to be a premium craft Irish import," he said. "We really feel that we'd lose the authenticity of our story if we were going to begin to brew in America. We're really into the idea of bringing brewing to Kilkenny again.
"In our existing U.S. markets, we want to become more present," Meade added. "The first place in America where we launched a beer was Buffalo, so what we'll always do is launch any new beers first in Buffalo. We'll always keep that as our American home."