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The changing faces of Andy Murray as his new Castore clothing range is unveiled
The cynics were quick to suggest Andy Murray would never make it to the top of the game after his first appearances on the game’s biggest stages in 2005 left questions aplenty, but his journey since that has well and truly banished questions about his drive to succeed.
Back in 2005, a teenage Murray emerged as the next great hope for British tennis as he made an impressive debut in the Queen’s Club event before reaching the third round at Wimbledon, beating 14th seed Radek Stepanek in a run that gave the world a hint of what was to come.
Yet his fitness levels were not where they needed to be to compete with the best players in the world and early images of Murray’s days are that of a young man struggling with cramp and running out of energy as he knocked on the door of the game’s biggest names.
In those days, his clothing collection was provided by Fred Perry, with the brand he was promoting named after Britain’s most recent Wimbledon champion, with this video showing a raw Murray arriving on the world stage.
It may have been fitting if Murray was still wearing the Fred Perry logo when he realised his dream and became the first British male player to win a Grand Slam title in 76 years at the 2012 US Open, but the big clothing brands had long since been lured to a player who was now one of the best in the game and Adidas were his clothing partner by then.
His iconic first Wimbledon victory in 2013 was another moment for Adidas to take centre stage and it was Under Armour clothing on display when he won his seocnd title at the All England Club in 2016.
Murray’s career was then blown off course by injury problems that are haunting him to this day, but his clothing deal with Castore has still been a highly successful partnership for one of the most progressing brands in sport.
When Castore got into business with Murray, they were very much newcomers on the sporting scene, with one of their co-founders telling Tennis365.com about the reasons why they picked Britain’s leading tennis player to be their first brand ambassador.
“You could not ask for a better association to launch a clothing brand than working with someone as iconic as Andy Murray,” Castore co-founded Tom Beahon told us.
“We were looking to take Castore to the next level and wanted some major athlete partnerships. I can’t speak for Andy, but I think the idea of working with a younger brand set up by two young British brothers really resonated with him and we were delighted to get him on board.
“He shows a big interest in our business and became a shareholder as part of the deal to come into the company and we are excited about what we can do together moving forward. Having a conversation with an elite athlete and seeing his enthusiasm for our brand [and what] our plans were for the next five, ten and 15 years was exciting for us, and not normal when you are dealing with someone of his calibre.
“We took the view very simply that whether Andy ever stepped back on court again or not, he was and would always be an icon for British sport. He is one of a few handful of athletes to have have transcended his sport and become more than just a tennis player. He will resonate with sports fans for years to come; whether he comes back now and wins more Grand Slams or if he never wins another tournament.
The Castore brand was given a worldwide platform that took it into millions of homes around the world thanks to Murray’s emotional and brief appearance at the 2019 Australian Open, with Beahon suggesting the impact of that appearance highlighted the pulling power of the double Olympic Gold medalist.
“The 24 hours around his match at the Australian Open were incredible,” added Liverpudlian Tom, who somehow ended up as a Manchester United fan. “The emotion he showed in the interview the day before was hard to see and then the performance he put out in the five set defeat against Roberto Bautista Agut was just amazing.
“Andy wearing Castore in that press conference and on the court in that one match brought amazing exposure for our brand around the world and that is the secret of Andy, he is not just a British icon but a global icon.
“When we started Castore, the idea was to create a premium British brand that would be a little different to the main brands we all know. They are wonderful brands that everyone has been used to for so long, but they all have a price point that means they can sell at a cheap price and maybe have not built their reputation around their quality.”
Murray’s latest comeback attempt is now imminent as he looks to be at his best in time for Wimbledon this summer and after a late withdrawal from the Miami Open last month, Murray will be hoping his latest clothing range gets plenty of exposure in the next few months.
‘I am shaking all over my body,’ says Casper Ruud after completing unique hat-trick with Kitzbuhel title
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Belinda Bencic in dreamland after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Comment: Novak Djokovic under fire after controversial final stand at Tokyo Olympics
Novak Djokovic walked away from the Tokyo Olympics without even a bronze medal to soothe his wounded pride.
Olympic glory for Belinda Bencic as she holds off Marketa Vondrousova in Tokyo gold medal match
Belinda Bencic is the Tokyo Olympics singles champion.
WATCH: Novak Djokovic hurls racket into stands and admits ‘it’s not nice but it’s part of who I am’
“It was an emotional outburst and it happens,” said Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic rues missed chances at Tokyo Olympics, but vows to ‘try to to keep going’ for Paris Games
“I didn’t deliver yesterday and today, the level of tennis dropped,” admits Novak Djokovic.
Pablo Carreno Busta wins Tokyo Olympics bronze as he denies Novak Djokovic a medal in the singles
Pablo Carreno Busta is your bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics.
Washington Open draw: Rafael Nadal, Cameron Norrie, Nick Kyrgios in same half as young stars headline bottom half
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Alexander Zverev reveals what he told Novak Djokovic after ending world No 1’s historic bid at Olympics
“He’s the greatest of all time,” says Alexander Zverev.
‘My game fell apart’ – Novak Djokovic despondent after Olympics defeat
Novak Djokovic admitted he “felt terrible”.


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A critical companion to NVIDIA’s recently announced GeForce™ FX GPU family, the Cg language is a C-like high level graphics programming language that, when combined with a modern GPU such as NVIDIA’s GeForce™ FX, allows 3D content developers to create cinematic-caliber, real-time worlds and characters. The combination of a simple-to-use programming language and the cinematic computing platform will allow developers to create real-time graphics content that is similar to film quality rendering.
The NVIDIA Cg Compiler and other elements of the Cg programming environment, including the open source code, are available today for free at http://developer.nvidia.com and www.cgshaders.org.
The Cg tool kit provides a turnkey solution that significantly speeds up development time. Yeti Studios, a game development house based in the United Kingdom, is taking advantage of Cg to bring Gun Metal to the PC platform. “Cg provides us with a huge advantage, as it allows us to write code once and compile it anywhere,” commented Phil Wilson, development director for Yeti Studios, the creators of Gun Metal. “We had a very specific design vision for Gun Metal and Cg has allowed us to turn our vision into a vivid reality. We’ve taken full advantage of the NVIDIA hardware advancements and new software tools, such as DirectX 9.0, to propel gamers into the intricately detailed Gun Metal world for a gaming experience they won’t soon forget.”
NDL, makers of a 3D graphics engine used to propel games including “Dark Age of Camelot: Shrouded Isles” and “The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal,” are taking advantage of Cg to provide 3D artists with more control. “NDL’s goal to make it as easy as possible for game developers to immediately use pixel and vertex shader code,” said John Austin, president of NDL. “Our next release will include the capability to directly read in CgFX files, preview exactly how the effect will look in the game, and allow the artist to tweak all of the necessary parameters without ever leaving their art tool, and without the need for a programmer. Game developers will have an unprecedented degree of flexibility and control over the graphics in their games.”
“All the pieces for cinematic computing are finally coming in to play, in a very attainable way,” said Ned Finkle, vice president of strategic marketing at NVIDIA. “We’ve seen tremendous support from both the DCC and game development communities since Cg was introduced, with Cg plug-ins being introduced and games, such as Gun Metal, reaching new levels of visual quality. With the availability of new APIs, and soon GeForce FX, it will be exciting to watch developers use these tools to take us into a new era of cinematic computing.”
Del med dine venner

domain: news


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MOSCOW, April 17 (Itar-Tass) - A Russian Internet forum (RIF) and an Internet and Business exhibition open at the holiday hotel Polyany (forest glades) outside Moscow on Wednesday. This annual event named RIF - CYB will bring together executives of tens of companies in the sector, officials, experts, and ordinary Web users.
This year the forum programme provides for over 100 roundtable meetings and cultural and entertainment events. More than 50 Russian and foreign companies -- leaders in the sector of high technologies -- will present their acchievements on an area of 1,000 square metres.
The three-day forum will traditionally begin with an annual review report by the organizer -- the Russian Association of Electronic Communications (RAEC) on the state of Runet and its development over the past year.
Experts will tell those present to what extent the Runet audience has grown wider, how the economics and infrastructure of the Russian segment of the Internet developed and what awaits it in the future. Participants in the conference will focus their attention on e-trade and online payments, cyber safety, and the formation of a legislative basis.
RIF-CYB participants this year will be able to take a test for the knowledge of the Internet. Within the scope of the forum, a tournament of the second All-Russia online game "Study the Internet - Control It" championship will be held. The championship has been organized by the Coordinating Center of the national domain of the Internet in conjunction with the Rostelecom Company.
Alexei Izmailov, director of the Internet and Business exhibition, has pointed out, "The interests of participants in the forum are not limited to the conference part. RIF-CYB is a festive occasion for Web surfers. I It is like an out-of-town picnic or, if you will, an open-air festival where each ptofessional will find a lot of kindly acquaintances".


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The Apple Watch will soon receive improved glucose tracker support for people with diabetes, according to Kevin Sayer, the CEO of Dexcom.
Sayer has reported that Dexcom has been working on a tracker which enables glucose readings to be sent directly from the company’s G6 monitor to the Apple Watch, bypassing smartphones to ensure a more efficient and responsive service system.
It is one of a series of upgrades to the G6 due within the next 12 months. “It’s coming, and this tool is great for people with diabetes,” said Sayer.
The Dexcom G6 received CE Mark approval in 2018 for treating people with diabetes aged two and above in the UK. The G6 reduces the need for finger pricking, which can be particularly upsetting for young children.
Sayer also revealed plans for a new, smaller G7 wearable system. The company is working on the project in a joint venture with Verily, which is an offshoot of Google’s parent company Alphabet.
Sayer said: “It takes a CGM and makes it much smaller. It really will be a device, we think, for the ages and a platform forever. It’s going to be wonderful.”
Apple is also reported to be working on the ability for its devices to be able to track blood glucose levels without the need for collaborations with partners like Dexcom. A dedicated Apple team of specialists is working on this as the company aims to further the health credentials of its products. The Apple Watch can detect heart conditions such as atrial fibrillatio, but it does not offer any dedicated features for people with diabetes.
Last year, Apple released new features for its Apple Watch Series 4, including new technology to enable better blood glucose control for people with type 1 diabetes, including synchronisation of One Drop’s newest Bluetooth-enabled blood glucose meter, the One Drop Chrome.


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By From staff reports
Published in News on October 12, 2010 1:46 PM
Swimming pool stolen from home
More than $11,000 worth of property including a 33-foot wide and five-foot deep above-ground swimming pool valued at $8,000 was stolen from a residence on Grady Road at Princeton. Wendy Marie Earp, 48, of Rosewood Road, Goldsboro told deputies that several items had been taken from the house. Also taken were an air conditioning unit, $500; refrigerator, $800; flat-top stove, $1,200; kitchen table, $200; and two ceiling fans, $400. Damages totaled $10,000 to hardwood flooring at the house.
*Jessica Ashley Mooring, 22, Antioch Road, Pikeville reported to Wayne County Sheriff's deputies the theft of a PlayStation 3 game console and controller valued at $350; PlayStation 3 game, $50; and a charger for a game controller, $15.
*Almost $2,000 worth of property was taken during a break-in at the home of Nanette M. Northam, 50, N.C. 581, Pikeville, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's report. Items taken and their values were: 48-inch flat-screen TV, $1,088; DVD player, $60; computer, $600; computer monitor, $200; and comforter, $35. Damages totaled $40 to a storm window and $10 to a brass window lock.
*Timothy Lee Mills, 33, Gurley Avenue reported to Wayne County Sheriff's deputies the theft of several items from his home. The items and their values were: PlayStation 3 game console and controller, $200; Wii game console and controller, $200; diamond ring and wedding ring set, $500; diamond pendant necklace, $300; and heart diamond necklace, $300. Damages totaled $200 to a door frame and $125 to a door window.
*Brandon Edward Jones, 31, Old Grantham road reported to Wayne County Sheriff's deputies the theft of a $500 air conditioning unit.
*Christopher Andrew Freeman, 41, West Raintree Lane reported to Wayne County Sheriff's deputies the theft of a 2003 Nissan valued at $20,000. Also stolen was a $300 GPS unit belonging to James Edward Freeman, 46, Sunny Acre Drive, Fayetteville.
*Jason Ballou, 24, King James Way, Pikeville, reported to Wayne County Sheriff's deputies the theft of his rifle. Ballou tooke the rifle from his vehicle and placed it on his front lawn while cleaning his automobile. Ballou returned two hours later to find his rifle missing.


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March 11, 2008
Last night's cocktail hour was reserved for the announcement of the CFDA nominees at Rockefeller Center's rooftop garden. It was a who's who of fashion designers and media, including Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Phillip Lim, Carolina Herrera, Peter Som, CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg, the evening's host, Isaac Mizrahi, and editors from The New York Times, Vogue, and ELLE.
From left: Tommy Hilfiger, Candy Pratts Price, Diane Von Furtsenberg, Reed Krakoff, Carolina Herrera, Francisco Costa, and Steven Kolb, at last night's CFDA nominations annoucement
The hot category to watch this year is the Swarovski Award for Womenswear, which has the Rodarte sisters, Thakoon Panichgul, and Alexander Wang squaring off against each other. And while the annoucement of the Womenswear Designer of the Year nominees may not have been quite as surprising, Francisco Costa's delivery was spot on. "Jack McCullough and Lazarao Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs, and...ME!" Congratulations to Mr. Costa and all of this year's nominees (check out today's WWD for the full list).


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A German retailer specializing in flavor-infused vinegars, oils and spirits will soon make its San Diego debut at the HUB shopping center in Hillcrest.
Vom Fass, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2015, is the latest newcomer to the recently spruced-up HUB Hillcrest Market, previously known as the Uptown District. The company has signed a five-year lease for the old Keller Williams Realty space at the busy center in the mid-city neighborhood.
The retailer's name loosely translates as "from the cask," and its stores feature an array of oils and vinegars which are sold in various quantities by dispensing them into any one of more than 40 different bottles. It also has a selection of spirits and wines in casks for tasting, with pre-packaged bottles available for purchase.
Vom Fass has 19 other stores throughout the country, including three in California. The other California shops are in Ventura, Claremont and San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square. Franchisee Cavalieri said she plans to open at least two additional San Diego shops.


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Online consumer retail spending for the holidays (excluding travel) grew 29% reaching $15.8 billion, according to comScore, a company that measures consumer behavior and attitude.
The figures exceeded the Reston, Va.-based company’s expectations of 23% to 26% growth for the holidays. The boost in holiday sales resulted in annual online retail sales of $66.5 billion, a 26% increase over sales in 2003. The company said jewelry was one of several categories that was a very strong performer for the holidays and the year.
A mid-season analysis conducted by comScore revealed that a group of 25 multi-channel retailers, or those conducting sales both online and offline, posted an aggregate year-over-year growth rate that was approximately twice that of online retail in total.
“While it’s clear that a broad range of online merchants saw a strong season, multi-channel retailers were standouts this year,” said Dan Hess, senior vice president of industry analysis, comScore Networks. “Many of the nation’s leading retail brands flexed their muscle this season, with strategies including faster delivery options, significant site redesigns and effective cross-channel promotions.”
A comScore Media Metrix analysis of online traffic to retail sites revealed that six of the top 15 gaining Retail properties over the holiday season were the online storefronts of traditional offline department stores, such as Home Depot, Neiman Marcus and Wal-Mart. Blockbuster’s launch of a DVD delivery service has boosted traffic nearly fourfold since 2003.
“Throughout the year, we saw strength in product categories such as Home & Garden, Flowers, Gifts & Greetings, Apparel & Accessories, and Jewelry & Watches, confirming the continued diversification of the online shopping basket,” adds Hess.
Unprecedented strength in the last two full weeks of December was perhaps the most interesting aspect of the 2004 holiday shopping season, according to comScore. Through mid-December, holiday season growth was tracking at 23%. Growth accelerated dramatically during the weeks ending Dec. 19 and Dec. 26, with sales growing by 57% and 53%, respectively.
The late surge, which resulted in the holiday season’s greater than expected growth, was driven by a number of factors, including:
* Local fulfillment: Retailers providing the ability to buy online and pick up in-store, as well as those offering local delivery, were able to offer consumers last-minute buying options as late as the day before Christmas.
* Later shipping deadlines: Operational improvements at major retailers allowed consumers to buy late in the week before Christmas and still have products delivered by Christmas Eve using standard shipping.
* Gift cards: Gift cards have become an increasingly popular gift option, both online and offline. And because these gifts can often be delivered instantly via e-mail, they were particularly popular during the week of Christmas.
* Offline product shortages: Widely reported shortages of popular gift products, such as Apple’s iPod, resulted in increased last-minute online purchasing of these products.
* Increased broadband access from home: comScore research has historically proven that consumers using broadband connections are more likely to make online purchases than their dial-up counterparts. As a result, in the 2004 holiday season, the year-over-year growth rate of online shopping from home was significantly higher than that generated by workplace buyers.


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The new Apple TV 4K 2021 that launched earlier this year finally granted our wish – for a new Apple TV streamer after four years of inaction from the technology giant.
But the new Apple streaming device didn’t quite match our hopes and dreams, with an iterative model that showed a company largely content to stick with what had come before. Apple did see fit to fix the biggest problem with its streaming box range – the Siri remote – and add some neat new features, like HFR support and a way to calibrate TV color output using an iPhone.
But the core experience is largely the same, and we can’t help but think that Apple could have done more with its streaming range.
There’s a reason that the late Steve Jobs called Apple TV a “hobby” for the company, and that reputation of a product line that isn’t taken as seriously as the company’s bread-and-butter iPhones and Macbooks is still hard to shake off.
With that in mind, we’ve brought together five things we would love to see in a new Apple TV model, and which we’re disappointed not to have already seen in action.
1. Built-in HomePod speaker
Alas, what might have been. In the runup to the Apple event at which the new Apple TV 4K 2021 was announced, rumors surfaced of a combined set-top box and smart speaker that melded together the streaming functionality of the Apple TV and the audio capabilities of the Apple HomePod.
While Amazon would still have beat Apple to the punch – the Fire TV Cube functions as both a streamer and an Alexa speaker – this kind of reinvention of the Apple TV was (and is) sorely needed.
Things get tricky when considering that the Apple HomePod was discontinued earlier this year, after failing to gain much traction – or at least as much as the smaller, cheaper HomePod Mini, which Apple is now focusing its smart speaker efforts on. But porting the speaker capability of either the disappearing HomePod (let’s use those leftover parts, eh?) or the emerging HomePod Mini over into the Apple TV hardware would have been pretty seismic. You can connect HomePod Mini speakers to the Apple TV, though.
2. Xbox Game Pass and Stadia app support
Apple has been angling more for gaming audiences in recent times, with its Apple Arcade game subscription service, and an upgraded processor in the Apple TV 4K 2021 that should help games run more smoothly. PS5 and Xbox Series X controllers also now work on Apple TV devices (not just the latest model) too.
Unfortunately, Apple has continued to drag its feet around app support for other gaming applications. You can’t download either Xbox Game Pass or Google Stadia as native apps, with only the option to access through an internet browser, making it a fiddly workaround for accessing your favorite games.
The problem is that Apple views them as app stores in themselves, given the number of playable games in each one. That makes them competitors for the App Store – where Apple would rather you buy games directly, so it can take a cut of the payment.
There’s more Apple could do to make lives easier for the gamers it wants to attract, and something as simple as improved app support would go a very long way. This is more of an Apple problem than an Apple TV problem, of course, but it means that the streaming hardware simply isn’t the gaming hub that Apple would love it to be.
3. Android phone support
Apple’s walled garden means that the Apple TV 4K doesn’t play as nicely with Android devices as with iPhones – and while you can still setup and use the streamer fine without an Apple smartphone, you will be locked out of some of its best features, such as AirPlay and color balance adjustment.
We don’t expect this to change even in a successive model, given Apple wants to keep its users on Apple-owned devices and services as much as possible, but it does dampen the experience of an Apple TV 4K for those making do with a OnePlus, Google, or Samsung smartphone.
4. An interface for everyone
What’s most striking about the tvOS platform is how little it attempts to act as a smart TV interface. tvOS is an Apple product first and foremost, and its home screen pushes Apple services like Apple Music or Apple Fitness ahead of streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney Plus.
These apps can be reorganised as you wish, but it’s not an intuitive experience for first-time users, especially when you compare it to the TV platforms that put streaming apps front and center. Roku or MyHomeScreen will ask what your key apps are before taking you to the home screen, for one, ensuring you have the important ones from the offset.
5. A reason to upgrade
This is the kicker, really. Anyone with an Apple TV 4K (2017) really has every reason to opt for the latest model, despite a four-year gap between them. That’s pretty much inconceivable for any other Apple product – can you imagine if a 2021 flagship iPhone had the same camera, battery life and body as the iPhone 8?
The new Siri remote is the main change, but given that it’s available as an individual purchase, there’s still little reason to opt for the whole 2021 package, and that’s a major disappointment after waiting for so long for a meaningful Apple TV upgrade.
With a new model having come out this year, though, and a four-year gap since its predecessor, it's unlikely we'll get the Apple TV reinvention we're after for a good while yet. Apple TV 2025, anyone?
- Best streaming device for your TV in 2021


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A federal trade agency might impose $13 million in sanctions against a New Jersey company that rebuilds used disposable cameras made by the Fuji Photo Film Company and sells them without brand names at a discount.
Fuji said yesterday that the International Trade Commission found that the Jazz Photo Corporation infringed Fuji's patent rights by taking used Fuji cameras and refurbishing them for resale. The agency said Jazz sold more than 25 million cameras since August 2001 in violation of a 1999 order to stop and will consider sanctions.
Fuji, based in Tokyo, has been fighting makers of rebuilt cameras for seven years. Jazz takes used shells of disposable cameras, puts in new film and batteries and then sells them.
Jazz's founder, Jack Benun, said the company would appeal. ''It's unbelievable that the recycling of two plastic pieces developed into such a long case,'' Mr. Benun said. ''There's a benefit to the customer. The prices have come down over the years. And recycling is a good program. Our friends at Fuji do not like it.''
The trade commission adopted the recommendation of an agency administrative law judge that Jazz be found in violation of the 1999 cease and desist order. The judge suggested sanctions be imposed against Jazz and Mr. Benun, and a smaller amount against Jazz's former president, Anthony Cossentino.
A separate hearing will be held to determine whether the sanctions should be imposed.
Jazz and Mr. Benun filed for bankruptcy protection after Fuji won an almost $30 million patent-infringement lawsuit against them last year. The bankruptcy is still pending, while Jazz appeals the jury verdict, Mr. Benun said.Continue reading the main story
Jazz, based in Piscataway, N.J., is the biggest seller of recycled cameras in the United States, rebuilding about 20 million cameras a year, Mr. Benun said.Continue reading the main story


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Foxconn Technology Group (Foxconn) announced on June 15 that it was establishing its North American Corporate Headquarters in downtown Milwaukee, after closing on its purchase of a seven-story office building located at 611 E. Wisconsin Avenue.
More than 500 employees will work at the building, which will also serve as a Foxconn Innovation Center. The center will work with startup companies and entrepreneurs to develop applications for AI 8K+5G display technology that Foxconn is creating.
“We are excited to establish our North America Corporate Headquarters in the heart of the central business district close to the lakefront and near a lot of the other developments helping make Milwaukee a city on the move,” said Dr. Louis Woo, Special Assistant to Foxconn Founder and CEO Terry Gou, at a news conference.
Woo was joined at the announcement by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, and Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.
Foxconn will soon issue requests for proposals to architectural and engineering companies to help modernize the 133,000 sq. ft. facility and build collaborative workspaces. The headquarters building will also feature a product showcase that will highlight the company’s latest technological innovations and the most current applications of the company’s products in health care, transportation, security, and manufacturing.
“Foxconn in Wisconsin is more than our campus in Mount Pleasant. We will have a strong presence in Milwaukee as part of our extended Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park. Milwaukee is where we will transition our AI 8K+5G vision into reality and make our new headquarters a magnet for customers and a showcase for our products and technologies,” added Woo. “When people come to Wisconsin to visit Foxconn, the Milwaukee headquarters will probably be one of the first stops they make.”
Employees at the headquarters will include teams of people who will be responsible for construction and logistics of the buildings at the Mount Pleasant campus as well as those who will work on supply chain activities plans for making liquid crystal display modules and construction of the fabrication plant.


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Continue your journey through Rogue Company Season Two with a new rogue and new game modes! Rogue Company’s newest rogue, Switchblade, is a short fuse in a leather ..
Earlier this year, the team at First Watch Games launched Season One of Rogue Company, which introduced our first Battle Pass and a new Rogue, Kestrel. Today, we’re ..
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that the Rogue class will be one of the five playable characters in Diablo 4, joining the Barbarian, Sorceress, and Druid, who were ..
Welcome to Season One of Rogue Company! When we launched Rogue Company last year, our goal was to create a fast-paced, team-based tactical shooter that could be enjoyed ..
New seasons await players of Rogue Company, Smite, and Paladins — and Hi-Rez Studios unveiled all the epic details at our annual keynote last week. Want to learn ..
Suit up and grab your gear: Starting today, Rogue Company is free to play on Xbox One! When Rogue Company debuted two months ago, we were overwhelmed by the response ..


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343 Industries has announced that it will be shutting down all online functionality for Halo games on the Xbox 360. This will not be an immediate action. Players on Xbox 360 have until December 2021 to play games such as Halo Anniversary, Halo 3, ODST, Halo 4, Halo Reach, Spartan Assault and Halo Wars with online functionality. In a statement 343 Industries wrote:
Every cycle spent maintaining and supporting Xbox 360 legacy services is time and energy not spent on the future of Halo. To that end – today we are announcing our intention to sunset our Halo Xbox 360 legacy services to fully focus on the future of the franchise. In approximately ONE YEAR, December 2021, online services for legacy Halo Xbox 360 titles will be discontinued. Owners of these titles will still be able to play these games indefinitely, however, certain online features and experiences, particularly online matchmaking, will be limited or disabled.
The company has stated that the number of players using the Xbox 360 to play Halo games is dwindling year on year. While the developer says it cares about all Halo players, from a business perspective the amount of resources required to keep these legacy titles maintained is outweighing the benefit. In light of today’s announcement all the Xbox 360 versions of these games will be removed from digital storefronts.
343 Industries will be trying to shift as many resources as possible to the maintenance of Halo: Master Chief Collection, and Halo Infinite. 343 Industries recently opened up about Halo Infinite and its delayed launch, revealing that the game now has a launch window of Fall 2021. That’s effectively a year-long delay from the original intended launch alongside the Xbox Series X|S on 10th November. The campaign side of the game is complete, but work is needed on the multiplayer side which will be a free to play experience.


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Despite confusion and uncertainty over the current electricity crisis, most consumers in California favor competition and choice among residential electric utility service providers, according to an analysis.
AGOURA HILLS, California – While more than one half of respondents do not thoroughly understand deregulation, 64 percent believe that the state of California should continue to support competition in the electric utility industry, says the report from J.D. Power and Associates. California recently endured 32 straight days where the electricity supply margin was less than 1.5 percent. More than one half of consumers hold the state accountable for the crisis, and expect state officials to take appropriate action in order to resolve the situation. “Customers blame the power crisis on state-enacted deregulation policies,” says Al Destribats. “They also mentioned poor planning, lack of new power plants and high growth in electric usage as contributing causes.” California consumers report that their average monthly utility bill during the winter increased from $75 in 1999 and 2000 to nearly $100 this winter, an average increase of 33 percent. Seventy percent of respondents expect their utility bill to increase another 27 percent over the next 12 months. “Although there is a lot of confusion over the current crisis, consumers are surprisingly realistic in understanding that this is a complicated problem that will not be resolved overnight,” explains Destribats. The telephone survey indicates that most consumers think the crisis will not be resolved for another 2.5 years, while 11 percent said it will never be resolved. Two thirds of California homes receive their electricity from Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison or San Diego Gas & Electric. Other major suppliers include two municipal utilities, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and Sacramento Municipal Utility District. These two providers were exempt from the deregulation program. “Customers of investor-owned utilities have the option to change their electricity supplier; however, only one-third of them understand that they have this option,” says Destribats. “Under deregulation policies, investor-owned utilities were required to purchase their electricity from the short-term wholesale market and were not allowed to sign long-term contracts. As a result, they were forced to pay higher-than-expected market prices and could not pass these costs on to their customers.” Headquartered in Agoura Hills, J.D. Power is a marketing information firm.


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Old Lyme, Conn. — Sennheiser launched a high-end Bluetooth headset on Thursday, meant for wireless and Unified Communications users.
San Diego — JLab will begin shipping its Epic ear buds on Nov. 12.
The ear buds feature 13mm drivers, in-line mic and controls, a tangle-free flat
Oxnard, Calif. — Scosche expanded its headphones offering with the addition of the LobeDope model, available in six colors.
The on-ear headphones have
San Francisco — SOL Republic furthered its partnership with Motorola on Tuesday with the launch of SOL’s first wireless headphones.
As with other
Morgan Hill, Calif. — Om Audio launched its brand and its first product this week, the Inearpeace in-ear monitor.
The Inearpeace features the company
Denver — Auralic will turn up Friday at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest to launch the first-of-their-kind Gemini 1000 and 2000 headphone docks.
Delray Beach, Fla. — KidzSafe, a brand distributed by rapper 50 Cent’s SMS Audio company, debuted a new line of headphones designed to protect children
New York — HTC is selling its Beats Electronics shares back to the company, a deal expected to close in the fourth quarter.
HTC purchased a 51
Oxnard, Calif. — Scosche Industries announced it will have a limited-edition digital camouflage version of its RH656M on-ear headphones.
Stamford, Conn. — Harman International expanded its JBL brand of headphones with the formal debut of the Synchros line on Wednesday.
All five Synchros
By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
New York — The Anti-Defamation League’s National Consumer Technology Industry divisio
Los Angeles — Fifteen industry leaders were inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of
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"Ugly" or "wonky" veg were blamed for up to 40% of wasted fruit and vegetables in 2013, as produce was discarded for failing to meet retailer appearance standards.
Image credit: Getty
About 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted worldwide every year and, of this, fruit and vegetables have the highest wastage rates of any food type. But just how much of that is due to “ugly veg” being tossed by farms and supermarkets? The biggest culprit for food waste may be closer to home than we’d like to admit.
“Ugliness” is just one reason among many for why food is wasted at some point from farm to fork – there’s also overproduction, improper storage and disease. But the problem of “wonky veg” caught the public’s attention.
A report published in 2017 suggested that sales of “wonky veg” have risen in recent years as retailers have acknowledged the problem with wasting edible food, but it’s estimated that up to 25% of apples, 20% of onions and 13% of potatoes grown in the UK are still wasted on cosmetic grounds.
Morrisons reported that consumers had begun to buy more misshapen food, whereas Sainsbury’s and Tesco both report including “wonky veg” in their recipe boxes, juices, smoothies and soups.
Not all ugly veg is wasted at the retail point of the supply chain, however. WRAP, a charity who have been working with governments on food waste since 2000, have investigated food waste on farms and their initial findings suggest a major cause of fruit waste is due to produce failing aesthetic standards. For example, strawberries are often discarded if they’re the wrong size for supermarkets.
The National Farmers Union also reported in 2014 that around 20% of Gala apples were being wasted prior to leaving the farm gate as they weren’t at least 50% red in colour.
Home is where the waste is
Attitudes seem to be changing on “ugly veg” at least. Morissons ran a campaign to promote its “ugly veg” produce aisle, and other supermarkets are stocking similar items. Despite this, household waste remains the biggest culprit for food waste in the UK. Just under 5m tonnes of food wasted in the UK occurs in households – a staggering 70% of all post-farm gate food waste.
A further million tonnes is wasted in the hospitality sector, with the latest government report blaming overly generous portion sizes. This suggests that perhaps – despite the best effort of campaigns such as Love Food Hate Waste – farms and retailers have been unfairly targeted by the “wonky veg” campaigns at the expense of focusing on where food waste really hits home. The 2013 Global Food Security Report put the figure for household and hospitality waste at 50% of total UK food waste.
There are some signs we’re getting better at least. WRAP’s 2015 research showed that, at the household level, people now waste 1m tonnes of food per year less than they did in 2007. This is a staggering £3.4 billion per year saved simply by throwing less edible produce away.
As climate change and its influence on extreme weather intensifies, reducing waste from precious food harvests will only become more important. Knowing exactly where the majority of waste occurs, rather than focusing too much on “wonky veg” in farms and supermarkets, is an important step towards making sure everyone has enough affordable and nutritious food to live on.
IBM has revealed the five significant changes driven by innovation in science and technology that will transform every stage of the food supply chain within the next five years...
14 Feb 2019
During the UK’s “Dig for Victory” campaign in World War II, a large proportion of the population had to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Now the majority of people live in cities and towns – typically detached from primary food production. In the UK, the MYHarvest project has started to uncover how much “own-growing” contributes to the national diet and it seems demand for land to grow-your-own is increasing.
Research in Italy and Germany found that people who grow their own food waste the least. One way to fight food waste at home then – whether for “wonky” fruit and vegetables or otherwise – may be to replace the farm-to-fork supply chain with a garden-to-plate approach.
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A South African food waste voluntary agreement is currently being developed, for a proposed launch later this year. It is being co-led by the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, and the Department of Trade & Industry (Department of Agri-Processing). One of the key components of the voluntary agreement will be to better understand where and why food loss and waste occurs in South Africa. It will be interesting to see how 'ugly' fruit and vegetables emerge in this research.


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Expensive same day installment loans from direct lenders
Biden regulators plan to crack down about high cost payday loans online same day deposit and installment loans from direct online lenders. Why is this going to happen?
Online lenders must cooperate with banks and credit unions to provide consumers with high cost loans. They realize the risks associated with a crackdown under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Same day installment loans from online direct lenders have become a serious source of funding for average Americans facing financial difficulties. At Instant Ð¡ash Advance, they can find a bunch of finance options to choose from. All of them have certain terms and conditions. Thus, each American can make his choice according to his individual preferences.
A traditional installment loan is known as a fixed rate loan and a small dollar loan to be covered in equal monthly installments. The average loan is often $ 1,500. The average monthly payment is $ 120, while the full repayment program covers up to 15 months. Installment loans are affordable for every American’s monthly budget. These loans have terms, due dates and payment amounts that are transparent and easy to understand. Installment finance companies determine the ability of each consumer to cover their debt.
Financing services come with different price tags. Some of them are high, while others are slightly lower. Annual percentage rates often reach as high as 180%, which could offset growing default risks.
Critics claim that high interest rates make borrowing predatory, making it difficult for consumers to cover debt and getting stuck in the debt. debt cycle. The borrowers are usually people of color who make the country’s credit scoring mechanisms less creditworthy.
Some state regulators have started to prosecute finance companies on the grounds that they violate state interest rate coverage. Many states have covered the maximum APR on same-day installment loans of $ 2,000 over two years with direct online lenders at 36% or less. But finance companies can exceed these cap rates through cooperation with federally regulated banks. They are not considered subject to state tariff coverage under long-term federal law.
According to research conducted by the Online Lenders Alliance, one trade group represents the entire finance industry. Partnerships provide banks with the technology required for massive financing in different states across the country. Federal policymakers should focus on the facts rather than the politically colored rhetoric of some activists. Once they do, average Americans will have confidence in their future. The next time they need financial support, they will easily withdraw same day cash advances from direct online lenders.
Changes initiated by the Biden administration
The Biden administration plans to restrict high-cost partnerships between banks and private finance companies charging APRs above 36%. They come up against their own âFour Horsemen of the Apocalypseâ.
The partnerships took place in a few financial institutions supervised by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). Online finance companies will exist no matter what. Thus, partnerships subject these donors and their algorithms to more regulatory activities, leaving FDIC banking supervisors to explore them in depth.
Funding pushes back
US finance companies are trying to find loan options below 36% from different sources. Their mission is to restructure financial health and ultimately return borrowers to the mainstream of credit.
The policy change landscape is based on the federal government’s understanding of the credit options available to all borrowers. These policy makers aim to improve access to regulatory products rather than to maintain prices.
By the end of 2021, state regulators will continue to fight settlements in court. However, critics claim that financial institutions are only passive parties in partnerships and that online companies are the real originators of same-day installment loans online. This is where the main source of funding should be concentrated.
For over a century, same day installment loans from online direct lenders have proven to be to be the most affordable and responsible format of consumer credit for American workers. Before the development of online finance services, the local branch of an installment lender was often the only access to credit services for many Americans. They are public funders in towns and villages across the country. Compared to other forms of small loans, installment loans from Instantcashtime.com and other online platforms are the best way for consumers to manage their credit history.


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When a popular celebrity from films or sports, uses or promotes a brand’s product, the country follows. Nothing creates more curiosity and desire than the aspirational lives that celebrities lead. And when celebrities endorse brands or products, it creat
Recently, Maybelline has collaborated with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) for the upcoming Amazon India Fashion Week S/S’16. The fashion-meet-business event is scheduled from Oct.7 to 11 in New Delhi.
After glamorous Kareen Kapoor Khan, India's leading FMCG major Emami Limited has signed Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut as the brand ambassador of its new product, BoroPlus Total Results Moisturising Lotion.


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Wow – if this catches on, it could really be a game changer! I might actually start going to the cinema again!
Remember the days when going to the movies cost less than $10? Maybe you remember when it was less than $5.
These days, a trip to the theater can cost a pretty penny. While the national average is $8.65, in many cities, like Los Angeles and New York, a ticket can cost up to or more than $15.But thanks to one app, $10 can now go a lot further at the cinema.
MoviePass, run by Netflix co-founder Mitch Lowe, is offering subscribers a deal in which they can see one movie per day for $9.95 per month.


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The Nintendo Switch and its variants have been selling like hotcakes ever since the hybrid handheld platform arguably kicked off the current console generation. After nearly six years on the market, there is still consistent demand for the Switch, and reports indicate Nintendo might boost production to keep up.
As reported by Bloomberg, apparently Nintendo has informed manufacturing and supply partners to brace for increased production of the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch OLED during the current calendar year.
The 9th console generation including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S has spent most of its lifetime plagued by supply chain issues, which resulted in low stock and poor distribution. The Switch wasn't hit as hard but still felt the effects of these issues. However, now with the chip shortage rebounding, there is more room to boost production.
The planned increase comes at an interesting time for the platform, with news of a scrapped "Pro" variant floating around, as well as some insiders claiming that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be the last big first-party AAA title on the console altogether.
While these rumors are still unconfirmed, it does not seem too far fetched that the Switch ecosystem might soon be reaching the end of its lifecycle, with Nintendo looking to new horizons with an entirely new console. Older than the other two leading gaming platforms on the market currently, it wouldn't be too surprising to see the Switch, well, switched out sooner than its contemporaries.
That said, it is pretty clear that the hybrid handheld will still be very much alive and kicking for another number of years. Even after Nintendo eventually brings out whatever their intended successor is, the Switch will still be around - enough console generations have come and gone to know that bit for sure.
With production ramping up in 2023, gamers who haven't adopted the Switch before will definitely have ample opportunity, and without the need to fear any kind of stock shortage like before. The Nintendo Switch has shipped over 114 million units, and with strong demand for at least another year, we can see over 130 million being an easy target.
Some fans have speculated that the Switch might actually have a shot at beating the all-time sales record of the PlayStation 2, clocking in at nearly 158 million units. This would require the platform to still be on the market for a few more years without a great deal of sales slump, and while unlikely, the possibility is ultimately present.
In any case, fans can rest assured that 2023 will be a strong year for the Nintendo Switch.


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Last year’s ‘Did You Know’ viral sensation got millions of views and introduced new facts about social-networking and technology. This year’s 4.0 edition carries the same concept and introduced new statistics about online advertising, Twitter, and even Barack Obama.
Prepare to be blown away.
As much as people use cell phones you’d think that the level of trust associated with purchasing something via a mobile phone would be higher. Then again, stories about nightmarish wireless bills are all too common. I personally have never purchased a ringtone due to fear of getting suckered into a contract.
Perhaps the most shocking statistic in the video is the one concerning Obama’s online fund-raising campaign via Facebook. In 29 days he raised nearly 50x more than McCain without even stepping out of his house. One can only imagine the immensity of the next 2012 election concerning online ads.


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Farm clothes are not known for their sartorial elegance, but a group of Hokkaido women are staging their own catwalk shows with a new line of outdoor farmwear they are calling “Agri-Fashion.”
The women behind “Agri-Fashion,” which sounds similar to “ugly fashion” when pronounced in Japanese, are even touting it as a movement with the potential to attract younger people to careers in farming.
“I always wanted cute working clothes that were more fashionable,” says Kimiko Ikawa, 56, who launched the new line. “I thought by using bright colors and lots of patterns, I could make a new brand of farmwear that hasn’t been made before.”
Ikawa, a fashion school graduate, married a farmer and followed him to the town of Biei, Hokkaido, where the absence of younger residents has become a serious problem.


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Millions of smallholder farmers in India live on less than $1 per day and own less than two hectares of land. These farmers face low crop yields and can manage to get just one harvest a year. With such meager yields it becomes almost impossible for them to earn enough to work their way out of poverty. This issue is not just restricted to one or two regions but is pervasive in the entire country. Generations have witnessed the same circumstances and passed on the problem, and the poverty to the next generation.
Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches, we may know all the facts and figures about a problem but facing it first hand is entirely different. Amitabha Sadangi, who was born in a family facing the same crisis, personally witnessed the link between water scarcity and poverty very early in life. His parents were marginal farmers in the Ganjam district of Orissa and could sow only one crop a year due to the lack of water. “I had to sell newspapers to fund my education. I kept studying and finished my post-graduation in labour and social welfare. But instead of taking up a government job like most of my classmates, I decided to work in rural development,” says Amitabha.
Determined to help change the fate of farmers, Amitabha started International Development Enterprises India (a non-profit) to respond to the smallholder farmer irrigation needs. And later to carry forward the work conducted by IDEI of over two decades, he facilitated the formation of Global Easy Water Products Limited (GEWP). It is a for-profit social enterprise that markets and distributes affordable drip and sprinkler micro-irrigation products targeted at smallholder farmers. Usage of its products can improve yields by 30-50% and reduce water consumption by approximately 30%, leading to an increase in farm incomes.
Before GEWP, modern irrigation technologies existed but they catered to farmers with larger fields. The smallholder farmers were left with no option but to rely on flood irrigation. And this type of irrigation uses water inefficiently and does not maximize crop yields. Considering agriculture uses over 70 percent of water available, the water for agriculture is declining fast. Given the situation smallholder farmers were and are the first and most deeply to be affected by water shortages.
When GEWP was founded, the smallholder farmers had no previous experience with micro-irrigation. Being completely unaware of its benefits, convincing farmers to spend their scarce money on such products was not a cakewalk. Farmers had never used such a technology before and could not believe that a system that supplies water drop-by-drop could actually lead to successful irrigation & cultivation.
Developing a product that is affordable and customized to smallholder farmer needs and enabling them to overcome their resistance to adopt drip totally giving up on flood irrigation was a mighty challenge which they overcame through creative & innovative promotional activities and farmer meetings. A lot of time and resources were spent on demand stimulation designed to make farmers more aware of the benefits of micro-irrigation – by using different promotional activities such as showing Bollywood-style movies in villages, conducting product demonstrations, and installing demonstration plots – which then generated word-of-mouth publicity.
GEWP’s micro-irrigation products are almost one fifth of the cost of commercially available drip irrigation systems. Breaking the entry barrier of price, they facilitate most efficient use of water for a large number of farmers. Water-soluble fertilizers can also be applied through the micro-irrigation system, resulting in targeted fertilizer application and reduced harm to the environment. With 85% of farmers’ energy requirements going to irrigation, the use of precision irrigation can also reduce farmers’ electricity consumption. All of this allows them to decrease the water consumption and increase their yields. Each user farmer generates $500 as net additional income annually creating more choices present for them.GEWP has a wholesale distribution model where manufacturing is outsourced, and the products are retailed through a network of dealers or institutions. It creates labour for manufacturers and dealers that build, supply, and install the products. It also employs a field force that ensures customer service in issues such as installation and after sales service. They have sold more than 150,000 systems, across 7 states of India.
Wanting to increase the reach of impact of GEWP, they are also doing successful technology transfer to different organizations in different geographies. In 2008, they partnered with a rural development non-profit in Pakistan to facilitate the technology transfer. The resulting company, MicroDrip, now markets and distributes these products to small-scale farmers in the Sindh and Punjab regions of Pakistan.
GEWP’s efforts to increase the yield for smallholder farmers are also supported by Acumen fund. Stay tuned for knowing what drove Acumen to invest in GEWP.


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It seemed that the pick up segment I was living a golden age in Europe. The push of the SUV’s encouraged firms, such as Mercedes-Benz, to venture into it. However, everything seems to point in the opposite direction, that is, that it is getting stuck. The proof is that manufacturers like Nissan would have decided to leave it to focus your attention, and efforts, on other more profitable parts of the market. And this measure would have a reason.
Apparently the sale of new pickups in Europe it has only shrunk in recent years. 2020 was very critical, especially due to the economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus. This year, always according to Nissan data, the number of deliveries registered in this region was about 116,280 units. Of these, a large part went to Ford and Toyota, firms that have dominated this market niche for many years.
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The Nissan Navara would disappear from Europe when the Barcelona factory closes its doors
Given this situation, the decision to make seemed clear. According to various sources, including Automotive News, Taking advantage of the closure of the Barcelona factory, they will eliminate Navara from Europe. This, in part, makes a lot of sense, especially considering the fate his brothers suffered. We refer to the Renault Alaskan and Mercedes-Benz X-Class which, in the case of the French model, continues its path in Argentine lands.
According to him statement that Nissan would have sent Automotive News…
“The production of the current generation Nissan Navara for European markets it will end when our Barcelona plant closes in December 2021, and sales will end in the course of 2022 ″ […] «This reflects the decline in the pickup segment in Europe and the shift many consumers are taking from trucks to our range of modern and efficient trucks »
Nissan Frontier MY22: The Yankee sister of the Navara looks this good
This measure, at first, was to be alleviated with the import of units from Thailand. In fact, months ago the Nissan navara presented a new special series for this market. However, it seems that the board of directors of the Japanese firm would have decided that finally the European market will not receive units from any production center. In this way, they would eliminate a mythical model like the Navara from their catalog.
With everything, it will be necessary be very attentive to possible news that can be given. Very recently we got to know the new generation Frontier. The Yankee version of our Navara is much more attractive and complete than its, for now, rivals. Who knows, considering that Mitsubishi was going to leave Europe forever and in the end has decided to stay, something similar happens with the Navara. Don’t you think …?
Source – Automotive News


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Patagonia Pushes Anti-Consumerism Agenda
Outdoor clothing and equipment company Patagonia started focusing on sustainability after staff at its Boston store became sick from formaldehyde, which was seeping from clothing stored in the basement, the company’s senior editor Vincent Stanley told the Guardian.
That incident more than two decades ago prompted Patagonia to investigate and understand every part of its supply chain, setting the company on course to implement far-reaching initiatives to lower its carbon footprint, disclose chemical use, consume less water, recycle all of its products and ultimately, reduce consumption.
Now the company is going a step further. This fall, Patagonia is launching a two-year responsible economy campaign aimed at finding new measures of success that do not depend on selling more goods and services, the Guardian reports.
The company didn’t provide details of what the campaign might look like, or which direction it will go. The idea, at least at this early stage, is simply to discuss what a more responsible economy would look like.
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- Datacenters Underestimating Coal Use
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- Data Analytics Deepens its Hold on Facilities
- Global Plate and Frame Heat Exchanger Market Growing
- Duke Energy Renewables, Lockheed Martin Sign PPA


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MEXICO CITY — Mexican media conglom Televisa will launch a $170 million broadband upgrade of its cabler Cablevision, chairman and CEO Emilio Azcarraga Jean said.
In a rare meeting with a small group of foreign journalists, Azcarraga Jean said Televisa has $70 million on hand to invest in the Mexico City system, which currently has more than 450,000 subs.
The remaining coin will either be provided by Motorola, which will supply the digital set-top boxes, Azcarraga Jean said, or Televisa will raise it by selling shares in the cabler’s upcoming initial public stock offering.
Slim public interest
Cablevision is 51% owned by Televisa and 49% by Mexico’s dominant telco Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex), which is controlled by billionaire businessman Carlos Slim. Under regulatory pressure, Telmex is planning on selling a 24% stake via a public stock offering next month, for which the road show is scheduled to start April 24.
Televisa intends to buy up smaller cablers in other parts of Mexico to create a national broadband network, Azcarraga Jean said.
Mexican cable penetration is quite low, only in an estimated 15% of TV households. However, with lots of small operators — many of which are short on cash — the industry is ripe for consolidation.
Televisa will use the broadband network to deliver its new Internet service in which it is separately investing $80 million. Esmas.com, a Latino portal, is skedded to bow April 30.
Esmas will face competish in Mexico from local and regional ‘Net players such as Slim’s Prodigy, Yahoo!, Terra, StarMedia and TV Azteca’s Todito.com, as well as Slim’s latest venture T1msn.com, his Internet alliance with Microsoft. Seeking to broaden its multimedia approach, Azcarraga Jean said Televisa is planning to offer ad time to Internet sites in exchange for equity stakes, a strategy that has been employed by U.S. Hispanic net Telemundo.
Satcaster Sky Mexico, majority owned and operated by Televisa, is expected to add an interactive component this year. The loss-making operation has 450,000 subs right now, Azcarraga said, but should reach its break-even target of 550,000 subs by year’s end.
(Mary Sutter in Miami contributed to this report.)


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Last updated : August 30, 2005
It's been five years since
WorldSpace launched its services in India, and now, the satellite radio company is looking at beefing up its marketing activities.
Deepak Varma, managing director, WorldSpace, explains, "When WorldSpace launched its services in 2000, there wasn't much variety of content to offer. Moreover, the price of the product was very high. That is why we strategised to work on the content first, and then invigorate our marketing strategies."
As Varma says, "The first objective for us is to educate potential consumers about the concept of satellite radio and its quality service. We are not looking at achieving a mass subscriber base at present."
This is probably why the radio company is depending mainly on below-the-line activities to promote its services. The company is organising customer contact programmes, and even one-on-one interactions with potential customers.
Varma says, "As the concept of satellite radio is still new in India, experiential marketing is the right strategy to create awareness among prospective subscribers. And as prices for the product have come down, our consumer base has also broadened."
While the company is using conventional media such as outdoor and print, it has also introduced mobile lounges at various places, so that consumers can get experience the product first-hand.
Keeping the 'consumer experience' in mind, the WorldSpace campaign is also organising one-on-one interactions with consumers. It plans to send its representatives from door to door to educate consumers about the product.
Even the print campaign has been conceptualised in a question-answer format, providing detailed information about the brand, technology and its cost.
Currently, WorldSpace has around 40 channels in different genres, catering to different target groups. So, besides promoting WorldSpace itself as a brand, the content and the various channels will also be publicised.
For instance, if a campaign is being planned for Kolkata, it will promote the Bengali channel first as it is expected to create more interest in that market.
The company also plans to provide better product availability through an enhanced sales and distribution network and customer-service set-up."
Currently, WorldSpace's services are available in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai. In the next few weeks, the services will be extended to Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Pune and Kolkata.
© 2005 agencyfaqs!First Published : August 30, 2005


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announced the upcoming December 11th release of Astro Tripper
for the PlayStation 3, a game based in 2001's Space Tripper
. Astro Tripper features 1080p graphics, trophies and global online rankings and will be available only in Europe at first, with the US version following soon. Check the press release and the screenshots
from our gallery.


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Silverthorne Town Council votes to extend hours for retail marijuana shops
People looking to purchase marijuana in Silverthorne after sundown are now in luck.
On Wednesday night, the Silverthorne Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance extending the hours of operation at retail marijuana shops. Shops can now operate from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Prior town code required them to lock up by 7 p.m.
“I’d like to put our marijuana shop on equal footing with everyone else,” said Mayor Pro Tem Ann-Marie Sandquist. “And (the shop) has been very good working with the town council and with the police department.”
Mayor Bruce Butler agreed.
“The fact they’ve been such a good actor makes it easier to do this,” he said.
State law allows retail marijuana shops to be open as late as midnight. But local governments can establish their own regulations, such as hours of operation, as long as they fall within the state law.
Town officials said the chief motivation behind the time change was to give the town’s only marijuana shop, High Country Healing, a chance to remain open as late as surrounding businesses.
“There is a liquor store right next to us that can be open until at least 10 p.m.,” said Colby Hockersmith, general manager at High Country Healing. “It didn’t make sense for us to have to close so early while several other businesses in the same center can remain open for hours longer. This gives us an opportunity to serve more customers.”
When the council originally approved the sale of retail marijuana it adopted the same hours that had applied to medical dispensaries, which accounted for the 7 p.m. closing time.
The change also puts Silverthorne’s retail marijuana regulations more in line with other towns in the county. Breckenridge, for example, allows retail marijuana stores to operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
“We’ve had the same hours in place since Jan. 1,” said Kim Dykstra-DiLallo, Breckenridge’s communication director. “They can be open at any time in that window. It’s up to each business to decide.”
Now Silverthorne residents and visitors will have a chance to frequent their local marijuana shop under the stars as High Country Healing has changed its hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.


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New York: pet sales banned in stores
People in New York will soon be unable to purchase dogs from pet stores. The New York State Legistlature has recently passed a bill where pet sales are banned in store.
According to an article from People, the Puppy Mill Pipeline bill has been passed but is waiting to be signed into law. The ASPCA says the bill is going to “stop the flow of cruelly bred puppies into New York.”
“Once signed into law, the Puppy Mill Pipeline bill will finally end the sale of cruelly bred puppy mill dogs in pet shops across New York state, which has one of the country’s highest concentrations of pet stores that sell puppies,” said ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker.
“Shutting down the puppy mill pipeline will help stop retail sellers and commercial breeders from engaging in — and profiting from — unconscionable brutality.”
Puppy Mill Pipeline and the Pet Sales in New York Stores
Pet sales banned in stores are possible thanks to the pressure of many animal advocacy groups. Among them, we count:
- the Humane Society of the United States
- New York State Animal Protection Federation
- Voters For Animal Rights
- Companion Animal Protection Society
- Animal Legal Defense Fund, and
- the NYC Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.
“Puppy mills breed cruelty. Banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in New York pet stores will deal the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline a near-mortal blow.”; Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said.
“The cute puppies, kittens, and bunnies in pet store windows mask a sad reality. These animals are products of horrific neglect in puppy mills.”
“Puppy, kitty, and bunny mills use and abuse animals to churn out pets for sale, which are often riddled with congenital diseases that cost unsuspecting consumers hundreds or thousands of dollars in veterinary bills and incalculable emotional stress.”
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris believes this step will also prevent animal abuse.
“With so many good animals in need of rescue, there is no need for abusive puppy mills to supply pet stores. Our four-legged companions should be treated with respect, not like commodities,” he said.
The ASPCA says almost half of the puppies that are sold within New York pet stores come from Missouri. Large amounts of puppy mills locate there.


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Major improvements to a post office will not disrupt service, bosses have said.
Work will start in this week in the High Street branch to widen the benefits to customers.
A new queuing system will improve efficiency, says the post office, and there will be greater access for disabled customers.
A Post Office spokesman said: “The refurbishment of Bracknell post office will result in a new, modern and efficient layout which will deliver real customer benefits.
“I am sure that customers will be delighted with the improvements to customer service provided by the new branch format.”
Work will take place over the next three weeks with the improvements finished by the middle of October.
The post office in Bracknell town centre will remain open and will continue to offer a full range of services.
The Post Office says that most of the refurbishment will take place outside opening hours to ensure the minimum amount of disturbance to customers.
The branch has experienced an increase in custom since the closure of the Binfield Road post office in Priestwood in March.
The post office in High Street, Sandhurst, also closed.
- What is your experience of the service you get at the Bracknell post office? Click the link below to have your say.


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EA is conducting the biggest gaming convention of the year, E3 2018; Xiaomi's Mi 8 SE is coming to India as Mi 8i, Mi Band 3 to launch along with... ...http://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/video-xiaomi-mi-8-se-to-launch-in-india-and-more-tech-news/vi-AAyuWcD?srcref=rss
HTC Desire 12 and Desire 12+ are now on sale in India and will be available via the company's India e-store as well as retail stores across the... ...http://www.dnaindia.com/technology/report-htc-desire-12-desire-12-now-available-for-sale-in-india-via-htc-e-store-offline-stores-2624224
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The Jasmin Mobile is a fastly growing...
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BIRMINGHAM, MI - Gas Station TV (GSTV) and Wayne announced earlier this week that Chevron has approved inOvationTV for its Video at the Pump Program.
inOvationTV will be available immediately to Chevron- and Texaco-branded retailers approved by GSTV and Wayne without charge. The platform is available as a retrofit to existing Wayne Ovation fuel dispensers or can be added at no charge with a new Ovation dispenser purchase.
"Gas Station TV has been an approved forecourt media vendor for Chevron€™s Video at the Pump Program for the last five years. We are pleased that Chevron has approved the inOvationTV platform for Video at the Pump," said David Leider, CEO of Gas Station TV. "We are happy to bring our great content experience, and Wayne€™s technology expertise, to help Chevron and Texaco branded retailers enhance the fueling experience of their customers, and also help drive incremental fuel and c-store sales.
"The inOvationTV program will help differentiate Chevron and Texaco branded retail sites from those of other retailers, and will support retailers in their efforts to increase customer loyalty, " said Wayne Global Account Manager Brett Walls.
inOvationTV was co-developed by GSTV and Wayne and launched in September 2011. The platform includes content from HLN, Showbiz Tonight, ESPN, Bloomberg TV, AccuWeather and GSTV€™s original social media television show, "Your Neighborhood."


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McDonald’s revived its 52-year-old character Grimace in honor of his birthday on June 12 with a limited-time shake and signature meals. Although McDonaldland characters such as Grimace and the Hamburglar haven’t been marketed since the 2000s, Grimace has gone viral with Gen-Z TikTokers.
In the clips, people can be seen trying the Grimace shake and wishing him a happy birthday, but upon taking a sip they can be seen faking their death, usually surrounded by a purple puddle. According to Today,TikToker @ruiz_alv04 was the first to start the viral trend with a video shared on June 24. Known as one of the villainous McDonald’s characters, the spoof videos are an ode to Grimace’s mischievous nature.
As of Thursday morning, #grimace has amassed 934.5 million views on TikTok, and #grimaceshake has brought in 819.2 million views.
Even McDonald’s CMO Matt Shaver got in on the trend.
McDonald’s later took to Twitter with Grimace’s response to the trend.
meee pretending i don’t see the grimace shake trendd pic.twitter.com/ZTcnLTESC8
— McDonald’s (@McDonalds) June 27, 2023
While the trend may not water everyone’s tastebuds, it ultimately has worked in McDonald’s favor.
“What may seem like negative expression is actually a positive reflection of their ability to connect with a generation,” adjunct professor of social media and influencer marketing at Chapman University Matthew Prince told CNN. “It’s getting the views, it’s getting the laughs and, as the viral trend grows, it’s getting the sales.”


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Breaking News: Shipping Container Shortage. Get One While You Can.
For those who have taken social distancing to a whole new level over the past couple years and may not realize it, there is a very complex shipping container shortage and it may only be a matter of months before the supply far exceeds demand.
Like much of the transportation and logistics industry, costs continue to rise at a rate unseen in recent history. The demand for goods – and the demand to move these goods – has resulted in the desperate need for more products to move faster. One of the key ways that goods are moved from manufacturer to retailer is with shipping containers.
Most goods you purchase from Asian countries arrive in North America in shipping containers. They are the staple of the shipping industry. In the past, many containers found a permanent home in North America since shipping them back to where they came from would be a bigger hassle than what it would be worth.
Except that a pandemic happened.
Shipping Containers in Low Demand at Start of the Pandemic
In the spring of 2020, the pandemic crushed the economics of countries around the world. For a period of weeks, businesses shut down and transportation ground to a halt. Products weren’t being purchased. Products weren’t being shipped. And factories shut down. The shipping containers that would move these products sat where they were, taking up space.
Need for Containers Recovers
As Asian economies recovered and production ramped back up, they needed containers, but most countries didn’t have the drivers in place to move product. It reduced the number of cargo ships which led to empty containers being piled up at ports. They were also combating pandemic restrictions and rules that slowed the shipment processes to a crawl.
Economies in High Gear Need Containers
With so many countries now experiencing phenomenal economic growth, truck drivers and shipping companies can’t move products fast enough. Unable to move product, ocean-going freighters are lining up just to unload its cargo on the west coast. There are some ports in Europe which have tens of thousands of empty containers – all destined to return from whence they came – clogging up its operations.
With high demand for shipping containers overseas, a thriving economy and an inability to move containers out of ports, the shipping container shortage will be here for quite some time.
Family-owned TargetBox has direct access to shipping containers that have just arrived from Asia at some of the best prices you will be able to find. Reach out to our team and help us secure you one of these highly valuable containers at a price that won’t break the bank. Contact our sea can sales team right now.


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- Hershey will purchase Pirate Brands, maker of better-for-you snacks — including Pirate's Booty, Smart Puffs and Original Tings — from B&G Foods for $420 million, according to a press release from the confectioner. The purchase will be funded with cash on hand and short-term borrowing, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
- The new snack brands will operate within Hershey's Amplify division in Austin, Texas. Hershey previously purchased SkinnyPop owner Amplify — which had been its own publicly traded company — for $1.6 billion in December. In the Pirate Brands acquisition release, the company stated that this division is concentrating on driving growth in the warehouse snacking aisle.
- "Pirate’s Booty is a leading cheese puffs brand loved by moms and kids as a better-for-you treat," Mary Beth West, Hershey's chief growth officer, said in the release. "We expect the full Pirate Brands portfolio to be a great fit for Hershey’s growing Amplify business, which is targeted toward consumers who are looking for great-tasting snacks without compromise."
For a candy company like Hershey that is striving to remake itself as a snack maker, this acquisition may mark the spot for eventual buried treasure.
Pirate Brands, which was initially acquired by B&G in 2013 for $195 million, has performed extremely well for the serial acquirer. According to a November earnings call, the brand was one of B&G's seven largest, which accounted for more than 75% of net sales in the preceding quarter. Back in November, the brand had seen a relatively modest jump in sales of 21%. Product sales continued to snowball, with Pirate Brand seeing net sales increase 54.6% in the most recent quarter, according to B&G's latest earnings report. In Hershey's press release, it states Pirate's Booty has seen 8% year-over-year retail sales growth.
With so much success, why would B&G sell Pirate Brands? No sale plans had been announced, and the transaction seemed surprising. B&G, which owns more than 50 brands, had not overtly been planning to divest anything or increase its investment in any sector.
B&G CEO Bob Cantwell's quote in his company's press release touts the financial opportunity. "The transaction we are announcing today is a great example of our ability to create meaningful shareholder value through accretive M&A by acquiring and investing in on-trend food brands," he said in the release. "We acquired Pirate Brands in 2013 for approximately $195 million and thanks to the passion, creativity and hard work of our dedicated team of employees, we have more than doubled the value of the business in five short years, creating tremendous value for our shareholders."
Perhaps B&G is gearing up for another big acquisition, one which would take a lot of cash, but is likely to pay big dividends down the line. Since the brands that B&G owns now are incredibly diverse — ranging from Cream of Wheat to Green Giant to Ortega — most brands that are up for sale are likely to have powerful adjacencies at B&G. In the release, Cantwell said this sale positions B&G well for future acquisitions.
What's easier to see is why Hershey would be interested in Pirate Brands. Hershey CEO Michele Buck has said it's her goal to turn Hershey into an "innovative snacking powerhouse." The company best known for its namesake chocolate had made some definite shifts in that direction, buying meat snacks company Krave in 2015 and snacking chocolate barkTHINS in 2016. Last year's Amplify acquisition was the biggest so far, both in the amount paid for the SkinnyPop, Paqui and Oatmega maker and in the reach it gave Hershey in the snack space. Amplify has been a winning gamble for Hershey so far, increasing North American net sales by 5.6%, according to the company's most recent earnings report.
While the Amplify acquisition brought a top snack brand to Hershey — SkinnyPop has about a quarter of the marketshare for RTE popcorn — more household name brands can help the company dig up more treasure in the snacking category. Pirate Brands' snacks are successful, fitting into the better-for-you snacking niche that many companies crave.


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Close on the heels of bagging the Vaseline portfolio, BBH India has been entrusted with the creative mandate for TVS Motors’ new brand portfolio. The win comes in the wake of a multi-agency pitch that included agencies like TBWA\India, Contract Advertising and Bates141. TVS already has McCann Erickson and Saatchi & Saatchi on its roster of agencies.
It may be recalled that in March 2009, TVS Motors had called for a pitch for its new projects, which would include the newly-launched scooters and bikes. It is learnt that the size of the business is approximately Rs 25-30 crore. However, no official comments were forthcoming regarding the account size of the new brand portfolio.
Elated on the win, Subhash Kamath, Managing Partner, BBH India, said, “We went beyond the brief and presented a broader long-term platform for the brand, and not just an advertising solution. We believe it was true ‘black sheep’ thinking and has the power to redefine the category. We are immensely excited by the opportunity to partner TVS on this journey and are grateful for the trust they have placed upon us.”
On appointing BBH India, HS Goindi, President, Sales & Marketing, TVS Motors, in a prepared statement, said, “BBH delivered fresh and inspiring thinking, which will help in causing a step change in the way we communicate.”
On the agency’s further journey with TVS, Partha Sinha, Managing Partner, BBH India, explained, “TVS has a history of defying category conventions with product innovation. This is the kind of brand we always feel excited about at BBH. We want to partner TVS in taking a fresh and innovative look at two-wheeler communication. It’s going to be an extremely interesting journey.”
As of now, TVS Motors will have McCaan Erickson, Saatchi & Saatchi and the newly-appointed BBH India on its roster of agencies. While McCann Erickson handles Scooty, Apache and Star City brands, Saatchi & Saatchi India handles the Flame and Victor brands of TVS Motors.
The company also has a host of brand endorsers for its products. Tennis ace and youth icon Sania Mirza is the brand ambassador for TVS Scooty Streak, which is currently running a campaign. It has taken the platform of ‘Tough & trendy’ as a communication strategy. For another of its brands, TVS Scooty Pep, actor Preity Zinta has been the brand ambassador. Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, too, have endorsed TVS Motors’ brands.


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Honor of Kings Players Spent A Lot More in Q1, Growing 59% from Last Quarter
According to data powerhouse MAI Intelligence, Tencent’s biggest mobile game title Honor of Kings grossed a lot more this quarter. Averagely a user spend around USD $41.15 in the game throughout Q1, which grew about 59% from Q4, 2018. The average order is around USD $6.72.
In Q1, Honor of Kings launched its new season S14 in January, and also had its biggest version update around the same time. This version came with new hero characters, new costumes, new weapons, which can all be translated into new In-App-Purchases $$$.
The biggest change is that the game launched a new player level system called “Honor Badges”, which allow players to unlock more exclusive and powerful rewards by purchasing the game tokens. According to MAI Intelligence‘s data, sales of the In-App-Purchases that involve the “Honor Badges” counted for around 12.8% of the total sales in Q1, which makes it the 3rd most sold items.
Data from MAI Intelligence also showed that the total IAP revenues in the first week of the new season grew by 250% from the previous week.
Since its launch, Tencent’s Honor of Kings keeps growing rapidly in revenues year by year. It grossed around 1.93 Billion USD from 2018, which made it one of the most profitable mobile games in the world. Last year, game developers of China had a tough time with the tight game-licensing approval policy, which made game companies invest more in the existing games. It is estimated that Honor of Kings is likely to gross over 2.5 Billion this year.
Let’s wait and see.
About MAI Insights
Measurable AI is your data powerhouse that provides accurate, real-time and actionable consumer insights. By scanning and identifying over 20 Billion actual online spender’s email receipts, Measurable AI transforms them into valuable consumer insights, which updates daily right after the purchases happen.
Charlie Sheng is a serial female entrepreneur, and a dedicated communicator for technology. Charlie specializes in trends and insights for the App Industry, with MAI Insights’ real-time online consumer data panel. You can reach her at [email protected]


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ERJ staff report (AN)
DETROIT -- The auto parts supplier fingered in Toyota Motor Corp.'s recent recall for faulty accelerator pedals says it built parts to the automaker's specifications and says it has no knowledge that its parts were responsible for any accidents or injuries.
CTS Corp. continues to supply its accelerator modules to Toyota, and the Elkhart, Ind. supplier has no knowledge of any Toyota plan for increased production of a new design to meet additional demand for replacement parts, Mitchell Walorski, head of CTS investor relations, said.
After a Jan. 21 recall, Toyota said yesterday that it would halt sales of eight of its most popular models in the United States because of fears that sticking accelerator pedals may cause its vehicles to accelerate unintentionally.
Mitchell Walorski, head of CTS Corp. investor relations, said the Elkhart, Ind., supplier is not part of the problem. CTS has â€œno knowledge of any accident or injuryâ€ stemming from the accelerator assemblies it supplies Toyota, he said.
Walorski told Automotive News today that CTS engineers are assisting Toyota, â€œbut this is their recall.â€ CTS was not consulted about Toyota's decision to issue the recall or to halt certain vehicles' sales, he said.
In a separate statement, CTS said the company has been working with Toyota to develop a new pedal to meet tougher specifications from Toyota.
â€œThe newly designed pedal is now tested, and parts are beginning to ship to some Toyota factories,â€ CTS said.
Toyota described the cause of the recall as â€œa rare set of conditions which may cause the accelerator pedal to become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position.â€ Toyota said this condition â€œis rare and occurs gradually over a period of time.â€
Based on information from Toyota, CTS said, â€œWe are aware of fewer than a dozen instances where this condition has occurred, and in no instance did the accelerator actually become stuck in a partially depressed condition.â€
A Toyota spokesman could not immediately be reached to comment on CTS' role in the recall. A Toyota spokesman earlier confirmed that the components were made in Canada by CTS.
Walorski said CTS works closely to Toyota specifications, adding: â€œToyota is heavily involved in all stages of testing and production. That is why their quality is so high.â€
CTS recorded 2008 sales of $691.7 million, with about 3 percent of that going to Toyota. CTS designs and manufactures sensors and actuators, including accelerator-pedal modules, at its plant in Mississauga, Ontario, according to the CTS Web site.
Asked how CTS feels about being in the limelight of Toyota's troubles, Walorski said, â€œIt doesn't feel good.â€
From Automotive News (A Crain publication)


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Attend PACK EXPO – this year’s can’t-miss event in Chicago, Oct 23-26.
Discover solutions from 2,000+ exhibitors to advance your operations and network with colleagues at PACK EXPO International.
Inkjet and laser are the most common methods for applying coding and marking for brand protection
Refrigerators maintain medication temperatures at UNC Health Care
Transparency of grass-fed beef on a cutting board hits home
National Bulk Equipment: Process-specific bulk bag unloader
Report quantifies emissions from plastics-to-fuel technologies
Sun Chemical releases 2016 sustainability report
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The good folks at Orbotix, makers of the little roly-poly robot Sphero, were also in attendance at CES Unveiled last night, where they were showing off a number of new apps coming to add more functionality to the robotic ball. Sharky the Beaver was shown off a while ago, but it was on display ...
Victor Agreda, Jr. (Editor-in-Chief, The Unofficial Apple Weblog) interviews Brian Smith of Orbotix Inc. at WWDC 2011. You may remember Orbotix from CES. Brian was kind enough to tell us about their thoughts on the announcements on WWDC, and how it will affect their plans moving ...
Sphero is this year's AR.Drone here in Las Vegas. Last year, the Parrot AR.Drone turned heads with an iPhone-controlled quadricopter, and this year, Sphero is creating a little buzz as an iPhone-controlled, well, ball. That's right -- the Sphero is a ball that both glows colors and rolls around at ...
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Motorola earlier today announced the rumored DROID RAZR MAXX. For those confused as Motorola just recently launched the original DROID RAZR, the RAZR MAXX is almost the same phone only slightly thicker and offering unparalleled battery life — especially for a 4G LTE device. This new addition comes complete with a 3,300 mAh battery and manages to stay almost RAZR thin.
The original RAZR that has only been available a few months is about to get replaced. Sound familiar Bionic/Droid 3 users? The RAZR comes in at 7.1mm thin while being powered by a 1,780 mAh battery. The new RAZR MAXX offers hours and hours of heavy usage with the largest battery of any recent smartphone — coming in at 3,300 mAh. Motorola has managed to keep the size down to keep the RAZR name and the new MAXX is only 8.9mm thick.
MAXX top, RAZR bottom
All the specs are exactly the same with the new MAXX other than the thickness but I’m sure most wont complain as it still holds its own against most current offerings from Moto’s competitors. The specs include the same 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 4.3″ qHD 960 x 540 resolution, Android 2.3 Gingerbread (ICS coming soon) 1GB of RAM and that 8 megapixel camera around back. Once more nothing has changed other than it gaining a few pounds and getting that huge 3,300 mAh battery.
Motorola has confirmed this will NOT replace the current RAZR and only be an additional option for the business or power user that demands more than all day battery life. The RAZR and new MAXX will be available in white, black, and purple in the coming weeks. No official date was given. Enjoy the hands-on video below.


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Corporate Gifting and Brand Merchandising firm, eYantra has raised $7.8mn in second round, led by Argonaut Private Equity.
This Series B funding also saw Chennai-based Ventureeast Proactive maintaining its pro-rata investment, which was $2.1 million (Rs 9.5 crore) in March 2008 and $1 million (Rs 4.54 crore) in September 2008, into eYantra. [source]
The company plans three acquisitions in the coming days [Bangalore based Hourglass Essentials which is going to be an all-cash deal;Chennai-based online product customisation company and a New Delhi-based basic office supplier] and will expand into several other businesses like office supplies.
An interesting growth strategy – from corporate gifting to providing ‘staple’ solution like office supplies.
If you look at several companies that started in this business, only few have survived the recession. Infact, most of the online consumer service hasn’t taken off in a big way – and what has worked is tie-up with retail chains like Shoppers stop/Lifestyle etc.


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A chipped teapot sold at auction yesterday for £80,000 - 40 times the estimate.
The 250-year-old Wedgwood teapot bears a protest message against the Stamp Act that led to the Boston Tea Party. Two Americans fought for ownership at the auction in a hotel in Derby.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson said the 5ins high teapot was in a box of bric-a-brac brought in by a local man.
He said: "It's remarkable, given that it has a chipped spout, a broken body and only makes one cup of tea - although I doubt the buyer will be making tea in it."