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Jeremy J. Glowacki is editorial director of Residential Systems, and Matt Pruznick is associate editor of Residential Systems and Systems Contractor News
AudioControl has added support for Dolby Vision HDR to their entire line of AV receivers and preamp/processors including the new Maestro M5 introduced at the 2017 CEDIA Expo.
CEDIA will host a certification roadshow throughout the month of December. The six events, which will include the ESC-T certification review, ESC-T certification exam, and an emerging trends talk, are part of CEDIA's ongoing effort to make certification more accessible.
On Tuesday, November 14, the “Atlona On Tour” Roadshow rolled into Boston for a special two-day Visual Systems Show in Marlborough, MA, where more than 75 dealers, distributors and systems integrators took in live presentations focused on Atlona’s Velocity networked control solution, OmniStream R-Type AV over IP platform, and a variety of HDR products.
Origin Acoustics, U.S. distributor of iRoom has announced Apple HomeKit implementation into the iRoom iPad Docking Stations. iRoom is a manufacturer of premium docking stations that store, charge, and protect the iPad from theft.
Kwikset has teamed up with Amazon to offer renters and homeowners two smart lock solutions to choose from when purchasing an Amazon Key In-Home Kit.
With the goal to enhance the dealer and consumer user experience, Screen Innovations (SI) has revamped its website, creating an entirely new online presence with simplified browsing by category, an all-new Dealer Dashboard, and a custom quoting system for consumers utilizing SI’s Online Screen Builder Tool.
RTI is offering a new custom control kit that integrates Pro Control solutions into the RTI control platform for the first time.
The new Xtreme Outdoor Soundbar is the next generation of Peerless-AV’s line of outdoor soundbars, offering a more powerful and durable outdoor audio solution. Equipped with 200 watts of total system power, the new soundbar is vigorous enough to overcome ambient noise found in outdoor settings, making it a true outdoor solution.
Loxone Smart Home has added another product to its portfolio, the Touch Surface. Designed to be installed behind or underneath non-conductive surfaces in the home such as stone, wood, ceramics, and glass, the Touch Surface offers homeowners with control integrated directly into their home’s hard furnishings.
The Mexico City home's master bedroom
The exterior of the Mexico City residence
Another bedroom in the Mexico City home
Mexico City family room
Mexico City library
Mexico City wine cellar
Netflix, Hulu Serve Up Scripted Series Premieres For Thanksgiving Holiday
FCC Releases Draft Order Repealing Net Neutrality Rules
Sen. Markey Makes 'Patriot-ic' Push for CBS-Dish Retrans Settlement
Networking the Digital Experience
Datapath Now Shipping Quant Application-Sharing Software
Visual World Systems Presents Huge Corporate Event
Cakewalk Shuttered by Gibson Brands
FCC Adopts Next Gen TV
Hodgson Gets Hapi and Horus
Tech Industry Honors Its Own At CT Hall Of Fame Ceremony
Best Buy’s Black Friday Doorbusters Include This $180 4K UHD TV
NPD’s Steve Baker Divines ‘Best Holiday In Years’ For Consumer Tech


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Nov 14, 2013 Venezuela has a terrible inflation problem, and the government's dramatic steps to fix them problem aren't likely to make a real impact.
Oct 29, 2013 There are perils for too-low inflation for too long, because inflation can help wages and companies grow.
Oct 25, 2013 Prices are up in Japan -- and that's a good thing.
Sep 18, 2013 The Federal Reserve has printed and pumped trillions of dollars into the banking system to keep long-term interest rates low. Why hasn't the flood caused prices to rise?
Sep 16, 2013 Inflation hawks hold significant sway at the Federal Reserve. But critics say they should tolerate -- and even target -- more inflation to boost economic growth.
Aug 16, 2013 A run on India's currency presages trouble in other emerging markets.
May 6, 2015 Your dollar bill isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Why? Because it's a fiat currency. Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains.
May 20, 2013 As an investment and inflation hedge, gold still looks overvalued, at nearly 30 percent below its peak. But demand for gold is growing in India and China.
May 6, 2015 "A little bit of inflation is our friend, not our enemy," says Prof. David Blanchflower
May 1, 2013 In February, we declared inflation dead after years of easy monetary policy and negligible consumer price increases. As the Federal Reserve concludes yet another meeting to keep inflation six feet under, we ask if it's time to bring inflation back from the dead.

domain: news


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According to the latest numbers from the Association of American Publishers, revenue for ebooks for some of the biggest categories grew by 41% in 2012. Ebooks now account for 23% of trade publishing revenues.
In any other industry for any other business, this would be eye-popping growth. For the world of ebooks, it represents a significant slowdown from years past.
The AAP has been tracking ebooks since 2002. That year, ebooks represented 0.05% of all trade publishing revenues. To get to the current 23% number, the biggest gains were made in 2009, 2010 and 2011, the years immediately following the 2007 launch of the Kindle. In 2008, ebooks were 1% of publisher revenue. In 2011, they were 17%. Those were the years of triple-digit growth numbers, a trend publishers thought would continue until ebooks were at 50% of revenue or more.
But in 2012, according to these new numbers, growth in ebooks has hit an inflection point in the U.S. Of course, that's on a larger base. Adult fiction and nonfiction, children's and young adult and religious ebooks raked in more than $1.5 billion in revenue last year. That number is sure to increase in 2013, but by how much?
The growth rate of ebooks between 2011 and 2010 was a bit over 100%. If the growth rate in 2013 is similarly cut down to size as it was in 2012, my guess is that it will be in the 18% to 20% range*. If that happens, we'll be looking at a $1.8 billion industry next year.
Regardless of how much ebooks grow this year, the fact is they probably will grow, but slower than last year. So, what does that mean for the publishing industry?
1. Don't lose focus on print. The trade publishing industry overall grew by 6% last year, obviously driven by growth in ebooks. The print side was down or flat across the board but still represents the lion's share of revenues and isn't going away as fast as was once thought.
2. Double down on bookstores. The industry is slowly coming to realize that book discovery online is much tougher than it seems. Book discovery in bookstores isn't what it once was, with fewer shops and less bookshelf space than before, but it's still a much more reliable path for publishers than a Twitter account and a prayer.
3. Become an ebook ninja. If ebooks are growing by triple digits or high double digits, it's relatively easy to grow your own ebook business. When growth slows, and the marketplace gets crowded (and, boy, is it ever getting crowded), growing that ebook business becomes tougher. If you're a publisher, you need to learn as much as you can about the market, best practices, what's happening on the bleeding edge and how to apply it all to your business.
* Two things: First, these kinds of estimates are almost always wrong for a variety of reasons. Second, this way of making a guess (basing it on trajectory of growth rates) is probably among the most irresponsible ways of doing so. That said, they're all poor, so why not this way? I'm just using it to demonstrate what that kind of growth means in dollars for the industry.


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But as with other exciting news in this space, like hair cloning, which was one of the potential holy grails in treating hair loss back in the early 2000s, 3D printed hair follicles that would be viable for implantation are years away. Back in the early 2000s, I recall a lot of people “guesstimating” that hair cloning (in a petri dish or otherwise) was about 5 years away. Well, we have blown past that estimate by about a factor of 3X and so far no viable hair cloning.
I suppose 3D printing–if it can be done in such a manner that the person’s own DNA is somehow used–would be a form of hair cloning. Suffice to say it seems somewhat far-fetched right now to think that it would be possible to have tailor-design printable 3D hair follicles containing a person’s own DNA any time soon. But scientifically speaking it’s not out of the realm of possibility. I just wouldn’t count on it if you’re someone who needs a solution for hair loss right now.
In any case, it’s worth keeping an eye on this moving forward. Here’s an article in BBC on the subject that is worth the read:


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Recently, Microsoft dropped a database with images and information from thousands of users. The company’s main argument for eliminating content was the fact that it cannot be fully guaranteed that the use made of such data is legal. However, there is no certainty that this data has been deleted from the network – they may be available elsewhere, even after deletion of the database, as online traces, given the difficulty in completely eliminating something from the network.
The technologies of facial recognition have evolved abruptly, mainly in recent years. However, the indiscriminate use of image banks raises debates about the boundaries between technological security and the right to privacy of users.
Some countries have already mobilized to rethink their laws and try to understand the risks of unregulated use of facial recognition technology. Last month, England held a hearing in Congress to discuss the matter. The expectation is that other audiences will happen addressing topics such as the use of technology, its growing deployment, technical flaws of the system, and also to formulate legislation aimed at addressing possible cases of violation of rights.
The City of San Francisco, in the United States, went beyond the restrictions policy: it is the first to ban the use of facial recognition by public agencies. The measure raised questions about how much it would affect the city’s security system and could lead to setbacks. However, many people have come out in favor, arguing that the privacy of the city’s residents is also important.
Facial recognition may be just the beginning
Amazon, which is at the center of discussions about facial recognition systems, mainly because it has been accused of selling its surveillance technology, already shows signs of investing in another similar technology. According to an international news report, the company would be developing research based on data computed through 3D body scanning.
For this, Amazon would be recruiting volunteers through online ads and offering cards with values to be exchanged for products. Participants also need to sign confidentiality agreements on the experiments, which has increased the market’s curiosity about what kind of technology the company might launch with the search result.


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It’s unclear whether the filings reflect possible new restaurant names as opposed to marketing slogans. Representatives of the fast-food chain did not comment on the filings. Nor was it clear whether the filings were submitted by the Siberian-based buyer of 850 local stores or some other entity altogether.
In a Telegram post, RBC cited a statement to the press service of McDonald’s Russia: “At the moment, we are working on creating a new brand and have already sent applications for the registration of several names. In the future, one of all registered names will be selected.”
Still, the filings suggest Russia is taking steps to forge a new identity for the restaurants in the ashes of the Chicago-based company’s decades-long partnership with McDonald’s, experts say.
“Russia is trying to play the story up as ‘we can do better in our own way, and the big bad Western capitalists aren’t needed,’ ” said Christine Farley, an American University professor specializing in intellectual property.
In leaving Russia, McDonald’s dismantles a 30-year relationship
Hundreds of companies have cut ties with Russia in the wake of Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Some, like energy giants BP and Shell, have written off massive investments there. A Google subsidiary filed for bankruptcy after its bank accounts were seized. McDonald’s opted to sell its Russian assets to a local buyer in the hopes of an orderly transition that would protect jobs and minimize the collateral damage to its business.
In a May 16 letter to the “McFamily” of franchisees, employees and suppliers, McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski framed the decision to leave as a rebuke of war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis it has created. He also pointed to an “untenable” business climate that has rendered some basic transactions impossible amid a barrage of Western sanctions. It is the first time that McDonald’s, which has a presence in more than 100 countries, has abandoned a major international market, he said.
It’s “impossible to ignore the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine,” Kempczinski wrote.
Days later, the company said in a statement that it had entered into a sale and purchase agreement with a Russian licensee, Alexander Govor. Under the agreement, Govor will acquire the entire McDonald’s restaurant portfolio and operate the restaurants under a new brand. He previously operated 25 McDonald’s restaurants in Siberia.
The agreement remains subject to regulatory approval. McDonald’s Russia said last week that it plans to reopen restaurants to the public as soon as June 12 under a new name that will be introduced separately, according to Reuters.
A month into the war, these companies still wrestle with exiting Russia
It remains to be seen whether the new business will bear the hallmarks of the brand known for Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets.
Kempczinski made clear that no Russian businesses can use the McDonald’s name, its logo, branding or menu as the “de-Arching” of its restaurants gets underway. But attorneys familiar with Russia’s government and legal system are skeptical that authorities there will respect U.S. companies’ intellectual property rights.
The trademark documents, reviewed by The Washington Post, were registered by a business entity called “McDonalds OOO,” a business classification similar to LLC. Several of them seem to reference various unique aspects of how McDonald’s has functioned in Russia, but with a very Russian take on it, D.C.-based trademark attorney Josh Gerben said.
One trademarked phrase translates roughly to “free checkout,” a Russian saying that cashiers use to indicate they are ready to take a customer’s order, Gerben said Tuesday. Another translates roughly to “the same one.”
“It shows that the successor to McDonald’s in Russia is looking to have a clean start,” Gerben said. “It does not appear that they’re trying to use the McDonald’s brand going forward, but they might be doing something that has a nod to the past.”
The first McDonald’s in Russia opened in January 1990 when it was still the Soviet Union. The restaurant was an instant hit with Russians, and thousands stood in line to get their first taste of a “Big Mak” in Moscow’s Pushkin Square.
In his letter, Kempczinski did not rule out a return to Russia, nor did he specify what would have to change for McDonald’s to come back.
Annabelle Chapman contributed to this report.


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Island Dairy, one of the two remaining dairies in Hawaii, now is selling its milk at Foodland stores.
The Big Island dairy will distribute whole, low-fat and fat-free milk under the label, Hawaii’s Fresh Milk.
Island Dairy, owned by Bahman Sadeghi, has 1,500 cows on 2,500 acres.
The company, which uses solar power and grows its own feed, is trying to become sustainable as well as produce enough milk for the entire state.
“Our passion for quality and sustainability drives us, and we are working intensely to process and distribute our milk across the state,” Sadeghi said in a news release.


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Real Estate Brief
By Inman News, Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The sales pace of single-family, detached resale homes soared 84.9 percent in December 2008 compared to the same month in 2007, with the median sales price diving 41.5 percent, the California Association of Realtors reported this week.
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of home sales in the state was 544,580 in December — this rate is a projection of a monthly sales total over a 12-month period, adjusted to account for typical seasonal fluctuations in sales activity. That compares to a pace of 294,520 sales in December 2007.
Sales for the entire year in 2008 were up an estimated 27 percent compared to the prior year, the association also reported, with the median price falling 38 percent in 2008.
The trade group’s Unsold Inventory Index for single-family, detached resale homes in December 2008 was 5.6 months, which compares to 13.4 months in December 2007. This index gauges the length of time it would take to sell off the total for-sale inventory, based on that month’s sales pace.
A separate monthly report by the Realtor group and DataQuick Information Systems, which measures prices and price changes for new and resale single-family homes and condos, found that five of 338 cities and communities tracked had year-over-year increases in median home prices.


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Major sewn products suppliers to participate in SPESA EXPO 2010
The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) reports brisk advance exhibit space sales for its SPESA EXPO 2010 event scheduled for May 18-20, 2010 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Since exhibitor applications opened in August 2008, more than 40 leading industry suppliers have confirmed participation in the triennial show that promises to be the most comprehensive industry exhibition and seminar event of 2010. The initial list of exhibitors comprises a wide range of equipment and machinery, information technology and software solutions, trims and components, supplies and services, and other suppliers to the diverse sewn products industry.
Major multi-product industry suppliers already confirming participation in SPESA EXPO 2010 include Lectra, Gerber Technology, and Assyst-Bullmer. Leading equipment companies such as Henderson Sewing Machine Company, Veit Brisay Kannegiesser, Eastman Machine Company, and Durkopp-Adler have also confirmed booth space.
Other early and notable exhibitors include American & Efird, OptiTex, Alvanon, and YKK USA. SPESA EXPO 2010 will also co-locate with Techtextil North America and ATME-I/MEGATEX, two prominent textile events, to provide textile and sewn products professionals with unparalleled value and exclusive access with a single event pass.
“As a leading supplier to the global sewn products industry, we see SPESA EXPO 2010 as an important place to be in a big way,” noted Jerry Inman, Vice President of North American Marketing at Lectra. “We closed significant business on the show floor at the last SPESA EXPO and are looking to build on that in 2010."
"SPESA's efforts to expand the event into new market segments that cover the entire concept-to-delivery product lifecycle will bring us even greater opportunity for our extensive range of software and hardware solutions. Additionally, the co-location with Techtextil North America and ATME-I/Megatex textile events will enable us to address a broader cross-section of our customer and prospect base.”
According to Frank Henderson, president of Henderson Sewing Machine Company and SPESA president, “SPESA EXPO 2010 will be a very important event for our industry and particularly for companies in the Western Hemisphere. In this rapidly changing global marketplace, success will come to those companies that can respond creatively to the technological and innovative advances within our industries. By bringing together manufacturers and suppliers from more textiles and sewn products segments than ever before, SPESA EXPO will facilitate the collaboration needed for these companies to succeed now and in the future.”
“We are extremely pleased with the early response that we are receiving from the global supplier community to SPESA EXPO 2010,” added SPESA's managing director Dave Gardner. “We are also receiving strong support from a number of international industry associations that see SPESA EXPO as the right industry event and timing for both exhibitors and attendees.”


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Renowned technology pioneer Steve Jobs died today at the age of 56. The Apple co-founder had been the company's CEO until August when he stepped down for health reasons. For the past two months, he was Apple's chairman of the board.
You can read more in our full coverage. Here's a recounting of key moments in Jobs' life.
February 24, 1955: Steven Paul Jobs is born in San Francisco to Joanne Carole Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali. The then-unmarried couple give up their son to adoption. Paul and Clara Jobs become Jobs' non-biological parents.
1961: The Jobs family moves to Mountain View, Calif., part of what would later become known as Silicon Valley.
1968: Jobs calls Bill Hewlett, the co-founder and co-namesake of Hewlett-Packard, looking for spare parts to build a frequency counter. Hewlett gives Jobs the parts, as well as an internship with the company that summer.
1970: Meets future Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak through a friend. In Wozniak's 2006 autobiography, "iWoz," he notes that the two "hit it off" immediately, despite their four-year age difference.
1972: Graduates from Homestead High School in Cupertino, Calif., and enrolls at Reed College in Portland, Ore., only to drop out a semester later. Jobs would go on to sit in on classes that interested him, such as calligraphy, despite not getting credit for them.
1974: Begins a brief stint as an engineer at Atari. Working the night shift, he employs Wozniak to help whittle down the hardware required for a prototype of a single-player version of Pong, the game that would go on to become Breakout. Jobs leaves Atari in the summer to travel through India, only to return to California to live in a commune.
1976: Co-founds Apple Computer with Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. That same year, the company sells the Apple I in the form of a kit that sells for $666.66.
January 3, 1977: Apple incorporates.
June 5, 1977: Releases the Apple II, the first commercially available personal computer in a plastic case with color graphics--and Apple's first successful personal computer.
December 12, 1980: Apple goes public, putting Jobs' net worth north of $200 million.
January 24, 1984: Two days after the $1.5 million Ridley Scott-directed "1984" Super Bowl commercial airs, introduces the Macintosh to much fanfare during Apple's shareholder meeting. "For the first time ever, I'd like to let Macintosh speak for itself." The computer's voice then says, "Never trust a computer you can't lift." Macintosh becomes the first commercially successful small computer with a graphical user interface.
September 12, 1985: CEO John Sculley engineers Jobs' ouster from Apple. Jobs resigns as Apple chairman, saying in a board meeting, "I've been thinking a lot, and it's time for me to get on with my life. It's obvious that I've got to do something. I'm 30 years old." Soon thereafter, Jobs starts NeXT Computer (which later becomes NeXT Software), funded by selling $70 million of his Apple stock. An "interpersonal" NeXT workstation, sporting a built-in Ethernet port, is used by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN to become the first server of the World Wide Web.
February 3, 1986: For $10 million, buys the Graphics Group division of Lucasfilm that becomes Pixar Animation Studios.
1988: NeXT Computer releases its first computer.
1993: NeXT discontinues hardware business, gets into software instead. The company is renamed NeXT Software, Inc.
November 29, 1995: Becomes Pixar's president and CEO. Later in the year, Jobs brings Pixar public, one week after the release of "Toy Story," with Tom Hanks doing the voice of Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. The film earns $192 million at the box office. Its success helps make it quite attractive for celebrities to lend their voices to animated characters.
January 5, 2000: Drops the "interim" from his CEO title at the Macworld Expo, joking that he would be using the title "iCEO," paying homage to the company's product-naming conventions. Takes a $1 annual salary. Soon terminates projects including Newton and OpenDoc, and changes licensing terms to make Mac-cloning cost-prohibitive. Technologies developed at NeXT ultimately evolve into Apple products such as the Mac OS.
January 9, 2001: Introduces iTunes, then exclusively for Mac users. "iTunes is miles ahead of every other jukebox application, and we hope its dramatically simpler user interface will bring even more people into the digital music revolution."
May 19, 2001: Opens Apple's first retail stores in Tysons Corner, Va., and Glendale, Calif. The store designs and personal sales methods proved to be tremendously popular. Apple was running 330 stores worldwide as of July 2011.
October 23, 2001:Introduces the iPod: "With iPod, Apple has invented a whole new category of digital music player that lets you put your entire music collection in your pocket and listen to it wherever you go...With iPod, listening to music will never be the same again." Apple's shipped more than 300 million iPods as of October 2011.
April 28, 2003: Opens the iTunes Music Store in the United States. Apple sold 10 billion songs via iTunes as of February 24, 2010, and it counted 225 million iTunes accounts with credit cards as of June 2011.
January 11, 2005: Apple introduces an iPod Shuffle. "iPod Shuffle is smaller and lighter than a pack of gum and costs less than $100...With most flash memory music players, users must use tiny displays and complicated controls to find their music; with iPod Shuffle you just relax, and it serves up new combinations of your music every time you listen."
September 7, 2005: Introduces iPod Nano: "iPod Nano is the biggest revolution since the original iPod...iPod Nano is a full-featured iPod in an impossibly small size, and it's going to change the rules for the entire portable music market."
October 12, 2005: Introduces iPod with video: "This is the best music player we've ever made...It's 30 percent thinner and has 50 percent more capacity for the same price, and you get video as a bonus."
January 13, 2006: That year, Apple's market capitalization surpasses Dell's.
January 25, 2006: Disney buys Pixar for $7.4 billion; Jobs joins Disney's board as its top shareholder. As of March 2011, Jobs owns 138 million shares of Disney, an estimated 7.29 percent of the company, and his net worth is estimated to be $8.3 billion. He owns 5.426 million shares of Apple as of February 2011.
February 2, 2006: iTunes sells its billionth song: "I hope that every customer, artist and music company executive takes a moment today to reflect on what we've achieved together during the past three years."
January 9, 2007: Drops "Computer" from Apple's name. Introduces the iPhone: "iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone...We are all born with the ultimate pointing device--our fingers--and iPhone uses them to create the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse." Apple owns 19.1 percent of the smartphone market as of August 2011, having shipped 108 million iPhones worldwide as of March 2011.
September 5, 2007: Introduces the iPod Touch: "The iPod Touch is a landmark iPod, ushering in a whole new generation of features based on its revolutionary multitouch interface and built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking...People are going to be amazed at how thin it is and how much it does."
December 5, 2007: Inducted in the California Hall of Fame by Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger.
January 15, 2008: Introduces the App Store as an update to iTunes. Also introduces the MacBook Air. The App Store facilitated 18 billion app downloads as of October 4, 2011.
June 9, 2008: Unveils MobileMe, Apple's first cloud offering: "Now users who are not part of an enterprise that runs Exchange can get the same push email, push calendars and push contacts that the big guys get."
January 27, 2010: Introduces the iPad. Apple sells 500,000 iPads during their first week on the market and gains 84 percent of the tablet market by the end of the year, with an estimated 12.9 million shipped as of December 10, 2010, and 25 million shipped worldwide as of June 2011. That same month, the company discloses that it has sold 200 million iOS devices.
November 16, 2010: Convinces Apple Corps. and EMI Group to make Beatles albums available on iTunes: "We love the Beatles, and are honored and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes...It has been a long and winding road to get here. Thanks to the Beatles and EMI, we are now realizing a dream we've had since we launched iTunes 10 years ago."
February 15, 2011: Launches a media subscription service in the App Store: "Our philosophy is simple--when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent, and Apple earns nothing."


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Based on the Australian event the ACS Awards, the NZCS Awards will celebrate the work of NZ cinematographers at an event in Auckland in October. Fujinon Fujifilm will sponsor the event.
Fujifilm GM recording media and optical devices Marc Van Agten said, “Fujinon Fujifilm has been the major national sponsor of the ACS for nine consecutive years. We are delighted to be able to support the NZCS, another great society, who puts advancing the needs of its members and the great craft of cinematography in New Zealand first. We’re looking forward to a long partnership with the NZCS.”
NZCS President Richard Bluck noted Fujinon Fujifilm’s support for the event was a great fit, saying, “It’s great to have Fujinon’s Marc van Agten and Chris Royal on board, given their experience and standing in the industry, and this move will put the Fujinon brand right in front of cinematographers.”
The NZCS’ Dave Cameron noted that the event would celebrate work across film, TV and online. The awards will honour work across 14 categories, awarding gold, silver and/or bronze awards to winners in the manner of advertising awards events rather than naming a single caegory winner.
As well as the category winners, there’ll be two headline awards – the best in show and Cinematographer of the Year.
The list of NZCS Award categories is:
- Corporate and educational
- Dramatised documentaries
- Experimental and installation
- Feature films
- Magazine, lifestyle, and reality
- Music videos
- News and current affairs
- Short films
- Specialised cinematography
- Student films
Submission details will be announced next month via nzcine.com.
The NZCS Awards will run at the Heritage Hotel Auckland on Saturday 15 October 2016.
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Image: Fujifilm GM recording media and optical devices Marc Van Agten


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General Motors chief executive Edward Whitacre intends to resign.
He will leave the role in September, after taking over last year to guide the company through restructuring.
Mr Whitacre will hand over to current board member Dan Akerson, but will stay on as chairman until the end of the year.
Earlier, GM reported second-quarter profits of $US1.6 billion, the company's biggest profit in six years.
They also mark the second consecutive quarter of profits, following big losses in 2009, when it was forced to seek bankruptcy protection.
It was also forced to seek support from the federal government to allow it to emerge from bankruptcy and restructure.
The company said the results showed "sustained progress" in the turnaround of the company.
Announcing his resignation, Mr Whitacre said he had achieved what he set out to do on joining GM in July last year.
"My goal in coming to General Motors was to help restore profitability, build a strong market position, and position this company for success (and) we are clearly on that path," he said.
The BBC reports the company is still 61% owned by the United States and Canadian governments, which took equity stakes in return for financial help last year.
GM has cut more than 65,000 jobs in the US and closed factories in an attempt to cut costs.
It has also sold its Saab brand and wound down others, though it has retained its European brands, Opel and Vauxhall.


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Rail freight operators and terminals involved in transporting goods to mainland Europe should consider investment that would allow an increase in the volumes they can handle post-Brexit, as doing so could take advantage of a road freight made unstable by future customs arrangements. That’s the view of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and the Transport Advisory in a report published this week. In the 58-page document, the two groups argue that there could be increased opportunities for Britain in terms of international rail freight after the likely separation from the EU.
The International rail freight post-Brexit document said the time was right to “ask what must be done to ensure that rail freight remains a viable and attractive alternative to road-based freight”, something that has been predicted to cause mass disruption when more stringent border checks come into force. The RDG, the body representing companies that run Britain’s rail network, said rail freight contributes £1.7 billion in economic benefits to the British economy.
The RDG wants to work with the government to ensure the smooth movement of goods in a post-Brexit environment that will in turn secure the 1.22 million tonnes of freight transported by rail annually. One of the ways it proposed doing this was through the creation of a Railway Customs Areas (RCAs) at rail terminals, an arrangement that would avoid the need for a single border checkpoint and prevent congestion on the wider rail network..
As explained in the post-Brexit report, rail freight traffic from Europe currently operates without the need for customs declarations to be made or regular physical inspection of cargo by customs authorities. Warnings were issued in July by the district council in Dover, where one of the UK’s busiest ports is located. The council said that such checks would create huge tailbacks and would be forced to create what it called “a giant temporary lorry park holding around 2,000 lorries” on a 13-mile section of the motorway that feeds into Dover port.
Paul Plummer, chief executive of the RDG, said the rail industry was united in wanting to secure imports through the Channel Tunnel and provide new opportunities for British businesses. “Our proposals to create customs facilities at freight terminals support and complement the work ongoing in government for customs controls post-Brexit and will prevent unnecessary congestion on the railway and clear the way for smooth trade with our partners in Europe.”
The leader of DB Cargo and chairman of the RDG Freight Board, Hans-Georg Werner, said it was committed to work with government to find a “financially sustainable” solution.
You may also be interested in this from SmartRail World:


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The latest audited financial report for Stride Gaming highlights main areas of growth for the company in line with transformational acquisitions during 2016.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he gaming operator, Stride Gaming, has confirmed considerable growth across its multi-brand company during the 12 months ending August 2016 in its latest financial report.
Stride Gaming announced a strong growth up to 22 percent in Net Gaming Revenue to a total of £47.8million with EBITDA reaching £12.3million, an increase of 27 percent.
A key area of investment for the company was through the transformational acquisitions of 8Ball, Netboost Media and Tarco Assets, which resulted in total shares and cash of up to £70.2 million for Stride.
Stride Gaming also saw significant growth through mobile and touch devices, with 51.8 percent of the total Group GGR being represented by this sector.
Commenting on the results, Eitan Boyd, CEO of Stride Gaming, said: “I am delighted to present these excellent results to shareholders. 2016 was an exciting year for the company where we once again delivered strong organic growth and undertook transformational acquisitions. With 105 brands and 10% market share of the UK online bingo market following these acquisitions, Stride Gaming now has material scale, strong operational leverage and occupies a pre-eminent position in the soft gaming market.
“The business has never been in such a strong position to build on its excellent achievements of 2016. Our focus in 2016/17 will be on integrating these recent acquisitions, continuing our strong organic growth and examining entry into other soft gaming verticals. Looking ahead, we are excited by the outlook for the Group as we build on our goal of being the leading UK based soft gaming company and maximising value for shareholders.”
To read Stride Gaming plc’s complete audited results for the year ended 31 August 2016, find the full announcement here.


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NEW DELHI: Auto majors, such as Mahindra & Mahindra (down 1.53 per cent), Apollo Tyres (down 1.24 per cent), Tata Motors (down 1.18 per cent), Motherson Sumi Systems (down 1.08 per cent) and Tata Motors (down 0.94 per cent) were trading in the red in the Nifty Auto index in Tuesday's trade.
The Nifty Auto index was trading 0.40 per cent down at 11,381 around 11:30 am (IST). Benchmark NSE Nifty50 index was 28 points down at 10,335, while the BSE Sensex was 61 points down at 33,205.
Based on allegations, Mahindra said it had initiated an inquiry using a top consulting firm on the process of tooling purchases in its Automotive CDMM function. Following this, it indicated violations of the Code of Conduct by Rajneesh Vashishth-Vice President AD CDMM.
Videos of Epluto scooters on fire have gone viral on social media raising concerns over the safety aspect of EVs in general. If not nipped in the bud, it can potentially undermine India's nascent electric mobility revolution.


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Alibaba invests additional $2 billion in Southeast Asian e-commerce firm Lazada
United States investigating deadly Hyundai, Kia airbag failures
Country Radio Giant iHeartMedia Files for Bankruptcy
Broadcom drops its $117 billion bid for Qualcomm after Trump decision
Ford Motor Company (F) Reports Q3 Earnings Beat
29 October 2017, 03:53 | Melanie Burgess
Ford Motor Company (F) Reports Q3 Earnings Beat
Vetr upgraded shares of General Motors from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $37.42 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, July 24th. They now have $48.00 target price on the auto manufacturer's stock, up from their prior target price of $41.00. Improved operating performance and a lower tax rate were the key drivers behind the more than 60% year on year increase in net income for this quarter.
Let's have a look at some of the important valuation ratios of the Ford Motor Company (F). Morgan Stanley downgraded General Motors from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $46.48 to $43.00 in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $12.00 price target (down previously from $13.00) on shares of Ford Motor in a report on Saturday, October 8th. Finally, Citigroup Inc. reissued a buy rating and issued a $53.00 target price on shares of General Motors in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. The company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $12.44.
Ford shares rose 1.9 percent to $12.27 in pre-market trading. The company had a trading volume of 33,925,366 shares.
Las Vegas gunman's brother arrested
Bruce Paddock has not been booked yet, but the official tells PEOPLE charges are expected to be filed sometime today. Unlike some other mass killers, Mr Paddock did not leave behind a note, manifesto or video explaining his actions.
Ford Motor Company (F) reported earning per shares for the quarter ending Oct 26 BMO at 0.56, whereas, 19 number of analysts estimated the mean EPS at 0.48. The auto manufacturer reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.25. General Motors Company had 75 analyst reports since July 24, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. General Motors had a return on equity of 20.95% and a net margin of 2.00%. Supplemental Annuity Collective Tru Of Nj owns 0.63% invested in General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) for 40,000 shares. The earnings per share of 43 cents topped Wall Street expectations of 32 cents. If you are viewing this article on another website, it was stolen and republished in violation of USA & worldwide copyright & trademark legislation. The legal version of this article can be viewed at https://www.dispatchtribunal.com/2017/10/28/first-trust-advisors-lp-sells-170027-shares-of-ford-motor-company-f.html.
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be given a $0.38 dividend. The firm has "Sector Perform" rating by RBC Capital Markets given on Thursday, October 22.
In other news, insider Hau N. Thai-Tang sold 25,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.37, for a total value of $273,080.12. Park Circle Co bought 100,000 shares as the company's stock declined 11.35% while stock markets rallied. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.00, for a total transaction of $1,440,000.00. Wealthsource Partners LLC now owns 37,078 shares of the auto manufacturer's stock valued at $432,000 after buying an additional 2,528 shares during the last quarter. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. BlackRock Fund Advisors now owns 45,632,847 shares of the auto manufacturer's stock valued at $573,605,000 after buying an additional 1,265,872 shares during the last quarter. Breithorn Capital Management has 4.74% invested in General Motors Company (NYSE:GM). Ingalls & Snyder LLC increased its position in shares of Ford Motor by 3.9% during the first quarter. Ffcm LLC now owns 3,373 shares of the auto manufacturer's stock valued at $120,000 after purchasing an additional 3,213 shares during the period. It also reduced its holding in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) by 42,400 shares in the quarter, leaving it with 3.93 million shares, and cut its stake in Chemours Co. Tiedemann Wealth Management LLC now owns 64,061 shares of the auto manufacturer's stock worth $746,000 after acquiring an additional 51,563 shares during the period. Capital World Investors now owns 31,327,192 shares of the auto manufacturer's stock worth $1,094,259,000 after buying an additional 1,500,500 shares during the period.
Oil Prices Ease But Hold Near Four-Week Highs
Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed on Wednesday, versus analysts' forecast for a 2.6 million-barrel draw. Brent futures LCOc1 gained 86 cents, or 1.5 percent, to settle at $59.30 a barrel, its highest close since July 3, 2015.
Majority of Republicans support marijuana legalization
But a new Gallup poll did reveal a somewhat surprising demographic supports marijuana legalization more than ever: Republicans . The number is the highest level of support in almost half a century of surveying adults on the issue, according to Gallup .
Man locked in beer cooler cited for drinking
The cooler automatically locks at midnight and trapped the man, identified as Jeremy Van Ert , inside, according to WSAW . Authorities said Van Ert walked inside the Marshfield Kwik Trip on Central Avenue on Tuesday night, before midnight.
Comey on Twitter: Ex-FBI chief confirms 'secret' account
In college, Comey wrote his senior thesis on Reinhold Niebuhr, an influential 20th century American theologian and social thinker. However, Comey was not, it appears, taking the fledgling steps of those who would seek the office Trump now holds.
Boy, 10, Charged For Leading Police On 100 Mph Car Chase
News 5 reports that as the boy was getting arrested he allegedly spit on an officer and kicked another cop in the chin. The boy was then taken to a hospital, as doctors evaluated whether or not he suffered injuries in the crash.
Twitter Has Miscalculated User Growth For YEARS
It now says the issue was first there in the fourth quarter of 2016, and has made adjustments for it and the following quarters. Twitter has introduced several features in hopes of attracting more users and improving the overall experience.
Movie to Star CHUCK's Zachary Levi
The film will not tie into any of the other DCEU films, and there will be no appearances by other DCEU franchise characters. Shazam follows the story of young Billy Batson , who can turn into the superheroic adult by uttering the word " Shazam! ".


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Cultured meat and Australia
A couple of weeks ago we cut the ribbon on Vow’s “Factory 1”, giving us the chance to pause and acknowledge what cultured meat could mean for Australia.
Meat is delicious. Whether you choose to eat meat or not, you know it’s bloody good food.
This is why I, and billions of others, eat meat.
But meat production is deeply problematic. From land clearing, to water use, to the rising zoonotic disease outbreaks, to the repeated mass culling of diseased animals, our growing appetite for meat is creating increasingly dire problems.
We are shielded from much of this here in Australia. Our meat is world-class in it’s quality, safety, and sensory experience, hence why Australian beef and lamb is proudly displayed on international menus from Singapore to Japan, to China to the US.
Australian beef and lamb are special. They are amongst the most sustainable production practices on the planet, and rightfully, we export a lot of what we produce. Australia exported 1.45 million tonnes of beef and lamb in 2021 alone.
1.45 million tonnes is a lot of meat to export, right?
In 2021 alone the global increase in meat production was a staggering 17 million tonnes. All of Australia’s meat exports were less than 1/10 of just one year of global growth.
We are a nation gifted with abundant space but also vast, empty deserts. We can only use a fraction of this space for high density farming.
Cultured meat and the world
In the past 24 months cultured meat has been recognised around the world as a high-potential food technology.
The US, Australia’s fourth largest export destination for meat, is not just committing to cultured meat, but viewing it as a matter of national security.
Recently, President Biden issued an Executive Order to jumpstart the Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy, which included a directive for:
“assessing how to use biotechnology and biomanufacturing for food and agriculture innovation… and cultivating alternative food sources.”
In Asia, the story is similar. China, Australia’s third largest export destination, has identified cultured meat in their five-year food plan.
Singapore has a mandate to produce 30% of their food onshore by the end of the decade, for which cultured meat will be pivotal.
We can’t increase our meat production in Australia by 100x or even 10x with farming. We can increase production by embracing new technologies to both export cultured meat produced in Australia and the technologies that enable its production.
We have all the right ingredients for Australia to do this: talent, space, trust of the world, and very robust food safety systems. This is why Vow was founded and is headquarted in Sydney, Australia.
How we do things at Vow
Vow makes cultured meat. We grow animal cells outside of animals to make all the parts of meat we want to eat and nothing else.
But we don’t do this to make what farmers make — we invent entirely new meats that have never existed before: meats that are tastier, more nutritious, more functional, or more exclusive than meat from animals.
We do this because we believe two, simple things:
- The animals our ancestors domesticated aren’t the best possible meat we can produce with new technologies
- Consumers are selfish and will only change their behaviours when the alternative is far better than animal agriculture.
We are preparing to sell our first product and will announce where you can find it very soon.
Cultured meat and Australia
We have all the right ingredients for Australia to be an exporter of both world class meat and cultured meat. We have the necessary ingredients: talent, strong, robust food regulations, and the export market access.
At Vow, we’ve built a world-class team of over sixty Vowzers since our inception in 2019, including more than a dozen who have moved internationally to Sydney to join the team.
Cultured meat should not be seen as a competitor to farming, but rather, a perfect complement. Together, we can sustainably magnify the output of Australian meat to the world 10–100x.
It’s my hope that Australia can become world-leading in both regenerative agriculture and cellular agriculture, exporting the finest foods to the world regardless of how they are made.


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The auto industry is currently in the middle of one of the most significant disruptions in history: electrification. Rising fuel prices, increased focus on carbon emissions reduction, and even changes in driving habits due to the pandemic are propelling the industry away from traditional internal-combustion engine vehicles and toward zero-emissions electric vehicles.
Auto manufacturers have their foot on the figurative gas when it comes to bringing new EV models to market: in 2021, there were over 125 new hybrid and electric vehicle models, versus only about 50 internal combustion engine (ICE) models. Electric vehicles are being touted as “the future”, while traditional internal-combustion engine vehicles appear to be relegated to the PR scrap heap.
Considering all this, how do auto manufactures compete in the promising, but ultimately unclear world of EVs? What do consumers like about EVs? What are their concerns? Where is EV consideration growing? Do EV intenders follow-through when it comes time to make a purchase? What obstacles still need to be addressed? What do consumers know about, and more importantly, expect from charging options? Are EV buyers aware of special programs from utility companies, and do they use them? What can be learned from other markets like China and Germany?
Join us for a complimentary webinar as we reveal the interest for EVs, their advantages and drawbacks plus highlight trended insights on how these have changed over the last several years for the U.S. versus other key global regions. We will also look at the priority of features for an EV, range and charging time requirements, and price expectations across key segments leveraging fresh insights from our 2022 Mobility Navigator syndicated offering from 5 countries fielded in late April.
Register today - registering will also ensure you receive a direct link to the recording once published.
John Kiser, Senior Vice President of Automotive & Mobility
Mike Vannieuwkuyk, Senior Vice President Automotive Advisory
Chance Parker, Vice President, US Quality Management


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In its first three months, Lamisil has claimed a 39.3% share of the OTC anti-fungal cream segment vs. 21.7% for Lotrimin, according to Information Resources Inc.
At its current pace, Lamisil, with only a cream in OTC channels, is set to supplant Lotrimin as leader in the total market (creams, powders, sprays) once a full-year is under its belt. Through the first eight months Lotrimin held a 23% share to Lamisil's 10% in all footcare products.
Lotrimin AF, a Schering-Plough brand, ironically gained the top spot in the early '90s after it also journeyed Rx-to-OTC.
Lamisil's move to OTC prior to its patent removal may not be that unusual, considering consumer patterns in the footcare market. People go to the drug aisles and not a doctor for treatment of athlete's foot. Data show 85% of consumers self-medicate, says Barry Cohen, Novartis' category director for dermatologicals.
Lamisil's most compelling act may be its role as a growth engine in a category lucky to achieve three to four percent annual dollar growth -- "and that's in good years," Mr. Cohen says.
MORE SEEK TREATMENT
The marketing push behind the brand may have convinced more people to seek treatment with other products in the category. Sales are up 3% for Lotrimin and 8% for Tinactin, also a Schering-Plough brand, says an industry consultant.
Part of the reason is the boost in ad spending from competitors seeking to contain the Lamisil ad splash -- $15 million to $20 million in annualized spending on media. First-half '99 advertising from Competitive Media Reporting places Lotrimin and Tinactin spending at twice their ad pace for full-year 1998.
In the same period, Lamisil forked out $10.3 million just on its anti-fungus cream product. (Novartis also spent $20.3 million on Lamisil's anti-fungus toenail treatment, which remains an Rx line.)
Novartis has positioned Lamisil as the only OTC cream that can treat athlete's foot in one week as opposed to the four-week treatment recommended by other leading brands. Schering-Plough positions Lotrimin as powerful enough to work on contact and touts Tinactin as preventing the onset of athlete's foot.
"The silver lining is their [Schering-Plough's] business also is growing while Lamisil is growing," says Mark Demuro, consultant with Meridian Consulting Group. "It shows that there are other benefits that matter to consumers besides a one-week recommended treatment."
Data show Novartis' own Desenex has dropped 6% in sales for the year. Desenex apparently is relinquishing the "cream" market to Lamisil because in first-half 1999 it cut all advertising on its ointment but increased spending on its foot powder and foot spray products.
By switching Lamisil to OTC prior to its patent expiration in 2007, Novartis eschews conventional wisdom. It is counting on greater sales volume at the OTC end to compensate for higher revenue streams associated with more expensive Rx products.
As an Rx drug, Lamisil's full product line drew $407.4 million in sales in '98. That compares with $279.8 million sales for the entire OTC footcare, anti-fungal market of which Lotrimin accounted for $69.4 million, according to IMS Health.
Lamisil comes in cream, spray and tablet form. While only the cream has gone OTC, the spray is expected to follow. Tablet form is used mainly to treat


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There are four methods to repair damaged DVD discs.
Perhaps you have experienced a situation when in the mood to watch a DVD from favorite movie your collection, subsequently the DVD is jammed (scratched) so time to watch becomes impaired.
If a situation [...]
If the basic applications like wallpaper request access to the GPS data, then it is suspicious.
More than 100,000 Android apps in the Google Play are included in the category of “suspicious” and “questionable”, according to a [...]
Easy to find because it is positioned right next to the “Like”
Facebook are testing the “Reply” button at the comments posted on the Timeline each user, say a Facebook spokesperson told Mashable last weekend.
Jakarta – Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with its smartphone technological innovation is likely to soon be your handheld.
Because, Samsung Electronics has started pre-orders or reservations for the Galaxy S4 in Indonesia.
Pre-order Samsung Galaxy S4 already [...]
Lenovo’s new hotshot in laptops for SMBs, M490s, offers several security features and maintenance through LSSB (Lenovo Solutions for Small Business).
Among them is a Software Monitor that works to improve security by ensuring the safety of the [...]
Sony finally officially announced their latest generation console, the PlayStation 4, at an event in New York, USA, some time ago.
Here are some things You gamers need to know about the PS4.
PS4 using the x86 AMD 8-core CPU and GPU with [...]
The name is usually known as a popular browser, Firefox, is now present as the operating system of a smartphone made by Alcatel.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Monday (2/25), in the event Mobile World Congress 2013 Barcelona, Alcatel introduced a product called [...]
BlackBerry, the big names who are drowning and trying to get up. Research In Motion (RIM) is ready with a new platform that can be trusted to restore the glory of the BlackBerry.
BlackBerry 10 to be slid January 30, 2013 could be the answer. Just how [...]
Among other things, failing to hide bank accounts.
Millions of Android app users, according to a research, be lured to reveal personal data.
The researchers tested 13,500 Android apps and found nearly 8 percent failing to protect his bank account and [...]
Apparently, the business particularly those managing IT security will work harder. Because the business is now a prime target for hackers.
52 percent of IT specialists are confident that these targeted attacks will be more frequent, based on findings [...]
Rotation with the sun at a distance equal to the Earth’s rotation on the solar system.
An expert team of Anglo-German astronomers have discovered a new planet orbiting a nearby sun in the same distance as the Earth orbits the sun so that it has [...]


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Many technology investors avoid hardware startups, fearing high costs, manufacturing headaches and distribution problems. A new hardware startup accelerator, HAXLR8R ("Hack-celerator"), is building on technology advances and the "maker movement" and hoping to change that.
The firm describes itself as the first seed-stage accelerator for hardware startups. In order to make it easier for hardware startups to develop, the 111-day program was based in Shenzhen, China so that the companies could get their prototypes quickly built while working closely with manufacturers.
The incubator held its first demo day for its nine startups--which are in areas such as robotics, appliances, energy and healthcare--to pitch to investors Monday in San Francisco. HAXLR8R is headed by Sean O'Sullivan and Cyril Ebersweiler. O'Sullivan founded Mapinfo and is managing director of SOSVentures, which has a $180 million fund. He also invested in LEAP Motion and Harmonix/Guitar Hero. Ebersweiler, who has lived in Asia for 12 years, is a venture partner at SOSVentures. Five of the nine presenting companies are from the U.S., two are from Europe and two are from Asia. O'Sullivan and Ebersweiler also head the China Accelerator program in China and came up with the idea for the hardware accelerator after meeting hardware startups that wanted to be part of its program.
Hardware startups need lean startup models that software accelerators use, but also need knowledge in areas such as packaging design and circuit board manufacturing, Ebersweiler says. By working in Shenzhen, these companies can work with manufacturers, iterating and building prototypes extremely fast with a software mentality, he says. "That's not the way hardware companies have been in the past, but that's how they'll need to be in the future: very agile, with quick iteration," Ebersweiler says.
With the "maker movement," which has grown in recent years focusing on creative independent makers of physical products and artwork, and funding sources such as Kickstarter, there are more possibilities for hardware startups, he says. HAXLR8R helps its startups in areas such as supply management, distribution, manufacturing, design and engineering. Here are the companies that presented:
Makeblock: The company provides high-end construction tools for building robots, 3D printers, artwork or other devices. The tools can connect with boards, sensors, motors, drivers, electronics and even Legos. And the products look a little like sophisticated Lego pieces. The tools aren't designed to be toys--at least not yet. Makeblock is going after the hobbyists, businesses that want to do prototyping and educational markets. But the company could eventually move into the toy market. Makeblock will sell kits for between $50 and $300, as well as extension kits. The company started selling two weeks ago and is now raising a seed round.
Bilibot: The company provides a platform for people to build robots. Bilibot builds on technology such as the Microsoft Kinect platform. Creating robots has previously been challenging due to high costs, complex software, and new technology, but new open source groups have made development cheaper, the company says. But there's no strong platform for that open source technology. Bilibot is designed to provide that, enabling companies to develop robots and build commercial applications in areas such as healthcare, telepresence and warehouses. Initially, Bilibot is targeting hobbyist and university markets. But it's also hoping developers will buy its kits to build their own applications. Bilibot is renting out its robots to trade shows as its first vertical. The Bilibot can act as a moving billboard, talk to conference attendees or pass out materials at conferences.
Axio: The company provides a EEG headband that connects via Bluetooth. The headband connects to a computer and provides a graph that shows your focus levels in real-time while you work, or do other things during the day. The company's EEG technology measures electrical activity from your brain (in the way that EKG measure electrical activity from the heart). Axio can also connect to mobile apps to measure long-term performance.
Nomiku: For all you Top Chef fans, this startup makes a new kind of "immersion circulator" for cooking in the sous-vide method, selling a tool that previously was only available to professional chefs. The tool makes it possible to make things as steak evenly cooked while cooking in plastic bags. Nomiku's tool, which looks a little like a blender, is much smaller than large devices that professionals use. It's also cheaper, at a $299 price, while some others can cost $2,000. People can also just use Ziplock bags to cook because the device does not enclose the food itself.


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Asahi is hosting a series of "Karakuchi nights" across the UK to promote the flavours found in Asahi Super Dry. Karakuchi is a Japanese word that can mean spicy, hot or dry (in the sense of a drink).
"Karakuchi nights" will be held in Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Nottingham across 50 outlets. Experiences include sampling, interactive games, vending machines, projected artwork and tastings through a self-pour machine. The elements will vary depending on location and activity will take place between March and October. Badaboom is delivering the events.
Each pop-up will be promoted through Asahi social channels and by a street squad of brand ambassadors. It will also deliver 120 nationwide sampling opportunities.
The integrated marketing campaign also includes an ad, "Discovery is calling", by Mcgarrybowen that will roll out across video-on-demand, digital and social platforms from May, as well as a "Masters of Karakuchi" bartender advocacy programme starting from March. The bespoke programme will celebrate those that deliver exceptional customer service. Asahi will also run on-pack promotions.
Tim Clay, managing director of Asahi UK, said: "We wanted to build on the success of last year’s City HITs, coming back bigger and better in 2020 to make sure that Asahi Super Dry is front of mind for beer lovers. Both premium and world beer categories continue to go from strength to strength and Asahi Super Dry is perfectly positioned to capitalise on these ongoing trends.
"The brand is growing at a phenomenal rate, so it’s exciting to explore even more ways to drive home the super premium credentials of the beer and we’re really looking forward to seeing the response to the various activations."


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Chinese electronics and home appliances retailer Gome and Microsoft China jointly announced their tablet strategy for 2014.
Gome signed a procurement order of nearly one million tablets with mainstream Windows tablet manufacturers, including Acer, Asus, and Lenovo. Meanwhile, the company plans to open 800 Windows tablet experience centers, aiming to provide one-stop services to consumers.
Gome will use its online and offline sales network and Microsoft's Windows operating system platform to integrate the global customization experience and resources of Chinese manufacturers to jointly promote the development of Chinese tablet market.
Consumers will be able to select Windows tablets with various sizes ranging from 7-inch to 21-inch from Gome's online and offline stores. At the same time, Gome will launch a promotion campaign and the price of 7-inch Windows 8 tablet will be as low as CNY699.


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Bangladeshi workers are being paid just 30p an hour to make T-shirts supporting Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership campaign, it has been reported.
Machinists were allegedly found to be working in poverty-stricken conditions and were required to work 10 hours-a-day to make the tops which were sold for £10 each by Corbyn-backing campaign group, Momentum.
Momentum said it has now cancelled the contract for the T-shirts, saying that, if the allegations were true, then they “appear to have been misled by a third party supplier in relation to its labour practices”.
But the Mail on Sunday said the factory concerned was owned by the same firm which was revealed by the newspaper to have paid factory workers in Nicaragua and Haiti as little as 49p an hour to make the official Team Corbyn T-shirts for his first Labour leadership bid.
Momentum said it wanted to ensure a zero-tolerance policy on unethical practices anywhere in the supply chain and would be seeking a new supplier with full ethical standards.
But Nazma Akter, a former child factory worker and founder of the AWAJ Foundation, said Momentum should carry out better checks on the factories it uses.
She told the Mail on Sunday: “This is slave labour and the politician should know this because he is the leader of the Labour Party.
“What conditions does he expect for workers when the T-shirts are so cheap? The factory will say it is audited and complies to minimum standards, but the living conditions for these people are terrible, some of the worst in the world.”
Momentum said it would draw up a code of practice capable of maintaining confidence, in spite of the complexity of modern supply chains, that all campaign materials have been produced by businesses that respect labour rights and human rights.
The group said in a statement: “Momentum is dedicated to championing people’s rights at work both at home and overseas.
“We want every worker at home and abroad to be in a trade union, and to enjoy the full protections that the ILO (International Labour Organisation) recommends as minimum standards.
“We refuse to work with any supplier who does not uphold these standards.”
The Mail on Sunday reported that the basic salary at the factory in Baipayl, near the capital Dhaka, was around £63 a month – well below the average wage in Bangladesh of £93.
Employees were said to live in shanty towns made of corrugated iron sheets by a polluted river with several family members sleeping together in cramped rooms.
In 2014, it was reported that T-shirts worn by politicians to champion feminism were being produced by poor migrant workers.
The garments, which carried the slogan ‘This is what a feminist looks like’, were worn by Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Harriet Harman.
But women who made the T-shirts were reportedly paid just 62p an hour in factories in Mauritius.


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$LYB CEO Bob Patel said, "During the second quarter our refinery will operate at reduced rates as we repair damage from an April fire. At the same time, the refining and oxyfuels businesses have started to benefit from seasonal margin improvements."
$PYPL jumps 6% in after hours on strong results. I am bullish on this stock.
$TSCO stock remained active in the after hours trading and rose more than 2% after the retailer posted better than expected 1Q17 results.
Instagram has reached 700 million monthly active users. Looks like it will hit 1 billion soon. That would make it $FB’s fourth billion-user platform.


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In the year 2019, Instagram has been voted as the top essential tool for influencers and currently, it has almost 1billion monthly active users globally. It is flooded with tons of users from Gen Z, Gen X, and Millennial.
At the beginning of November, The Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri mentioned on his own Twitter account where Instagram is removing the like counts in the US. On 14th November 2019, Instagram officially announced the test has been expanded globally as they received a huge amount of positive feedback from the previous experiments but they need to continue the experiment to learn more from the global community as it is one of the biggest changes to the app. Only a small percentage of selected users from different countries will be experiencing this and the change may not be permanent for the users. Even some users in Malaysia are part of the trial. Nonetheless, the like count will not disappear completely as users are still able to view their own like counts, but it will be hidden for the followers to view. This is how it will look like if your Instagram removed the number of likes.
“We hope this test will remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive, so you can focus on creativity and sharing the things you love,” Mia Garlick, Facebook Australia and New Zealand director of policy, said in a statement.
Adam Mosseri also added, “We want people to worry a little bit less about how many likes they’re getting on Instagram and spend a bit more time connecting with the people that they care about.” Aside from that, Adam believes that this action could stop people from online bullying and improve users’ mental health, especially among the young generations.
There are some influencers and celebrities are disappointed with the change as it has weakened their engagement with the followers and the ability to grow on Instagram. They also realized their posts gained lesser likes than before and it is pressing their posts farther down in Instagram’s algorithmic feed. Elizabeth Sobinoff, well known in the American reality television series – Married At First Sight (MAFS) had experienced almost a total loss of 1,000 followers on Instagram since the day Instagram applies the changes. Cyrell Paule, another star of MAFS also experiencing the same issue where she had lost a total of 1,241 numbers of followers. Due to the change, some influencers may be leaving Instagram and move to other platforms like TikTok.
Generally, like counts help marketers to identify the right influencers to work with and also avoid fake followers. For the reason that Instagram is removing the like counts, it will be harder for marketers or brands to measure the KPI given to the influencers. From then on, marketers and brands will be interested in influencers who are able to engage well with the audiences and also able to deliver good content and results on the platform. Some marketers and brands might be hacking in Google spreadsheets or depending on influencers’ self-record to identify the right influencers to work with but the result will not be accurate. Aside from that, if they do not have a tool or platform to access Instagram’s API, they will encounter some difficulties compared to companies that have the right technology.
The removal of the number of likes had created chaos in the internet world since the day Instagram announce it. Some users agree on it, but some users are frustrated with the change. Let us know what you think about it?


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Bruce Linton, co-CEO of the world’s biggest cannabis company, says he was fired
The board of Canopy Growth Corp., the world’s biggest cannabis company, terminated founder and CEO Bruce Linton today, including asking him to step down from his board seat. In an interview with CNBC, Linton said, “The board decided they wanted a different chair, and a different co-CEO, so I’m out effective immediately, and there’s a search to replace the transitioning co-CEO.”
Co-CEO Mark Zekulin takes over as the company begins a top exec search. When asked specifically if he was terminated or if he stepped down voluntarily, Linton clarified, “I was terminated.”
The market capitalization of Canopy, which is based in Smiths Falls, Ontario, skyrocketed to $18 billion since Canada legalized marijuana last year, with the stock increasing by 1,900% since the company went public in 2014. Corona beer parent company Constellation Brands Inc. invested $4 billion in Canopy last year, a move that gave Constellation four of Canopy’s seven board seats.
Linton led Canopy’s consumer-packaged-goods approach to cannabis, entering the recreational market through targeted brands, from high-end artisanal labels (DNA Genetics and Doja) to Snoop Dogg’s Leafs by Snoop, to bro-friendly Tweed, and even Seth Rogen’s new Houseplant.


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Seven rescued after River Edge strip mall facade collapses
RIVER EDGE — As Courtney Lichtenberger opened National Artifacts, the vintage comics and collectibles store on Kinderkamack Road, on Tuesday morning she heard what sounded like pebbles falling.
She didn’t think much of it. That is, until she walked to the front of the store as the ceiling seemed to collapse.
“I heard what sounded like a rock hitting my window,” said Lichtenberger, 24. “So as I was walking toward the window, the entire thing came down. I screamed.”
Shortly before 10 a.m., the front facade of as many as seven stores in Kress Plaza collapsed, initially trapping seven people in some of the stores, River Edge Fire Chief George O’Connell said. No injuries were reported and all seven people had been extricated by 11 a.m., he said.
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A cause for the collapse has not yet been determined. The building has not had a history of structural instability, O’Connell said, adding that the building has been there for all 65 years he has lived in River Edge.
A person who answered the phone at Kress Associates, the listed property owner for Kress Plaza, declined to comment.
The facade of every store from Crown Trophy, a plaque and trophy store, to the edge of the strip mall closest to Windsor Road fell. The rubble damaged as many as seven cars parked in front of the stores.
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One woman, who did not give her name, said she was leaving one of the stores when the facade collapsed. She was trapped in the store, then rescued. An employee at Hair We Are was outside with a phone and said the salon was calling customers to cancel appointments.
Lichtenberger, a manager at National Artifacts, said customers and workers normally walk up and down the sidewalk in front of the store, under the awnings and facades that had come down. She knew it could have been much worse.
“I’m just grateful because there’s a lot of people that go get bagels and get their nails done and always walk under there,” Lichtenberger said. “Anyone that was walking under there, it would have been really bad.”
Demolition and shoring crews were on their way to the strip mall to clean up the remains of the storefronts, O’Connell said.
Staff Writer Kaitlyn Kanzler contributed to this article.


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Doner kebab shop to open doors in town
Many people’s experience of German food may well have been trying the traditional bratwurst at the Birmingham Frankfurt German Market, held every Christmas.
But people in Sutton Coldfield are about to ge a different kind of German food experience.
German Doner Kebab will open soon in the town, bringing its fast-casual dining experience to the West Midlands town.
The gourmet kebab chain has confirmed that it will open a new restaurant at 123 Parade, Sutton Coldfield.
The restaurant is scheduled to open in July and will create in the region of 40 new jobs, bringing employment to the local area.
The opening has been announced as German Doner Kebab forges ahead with plans to open 78 new restaurants in the UK during 2022, building significantly on the 47 opened during 2021.
German Doner Kebab is revolutionising the kebab in the UK, bringing a fresh, high-quality taste sensation that has made it the number one spot to enjoy a kebab.
Freshly prepared in front of customers, the game-changing kebabs are made using premium, lean, succulent meats and fresh local vegetables, served in handmade toasted breads with unique signature sauces.
The brand now has over 100 restaurants in the UK alone as it continues to bring the GDK experience to more locations across the globe.
Daniel Bunce, GDK Global COO, said: “We’re delighted to officially announce plans to bring the German Doner Kebab experience to Sutton Coldfield.
“Our game-changing kebabs are revolutionising the kebab in the UK and we are excited to be bringing a new fast-casual experience to the area, offering great tasting fresh food in a relaxed and modern setting.”
Once opened, German Doner Kebab will offer a full dine-in experience, as well as Takeaway and Click and Collect. Delivery will soon be available through GDK’s Delivery partners.
For more details, please visit the website www.germandonerkebab.com.


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The iPhone was a big hit and while China was a huge reason, it's not the only one, says Apple's CEO. He still has high hopes for the iPad and shared an Apple Watch apps goal.
Showing results 1 to 20 of 1,901
Slice Intelligence updated its earlier Apple Watch estimates based on the email receipts it tracks. Only one in five watches have been delivered, according to Slice's data.
A common chip and memory configuration inside the Apple Watch lets Apple seek high profit margins, pegged at 60 percent or more, from the cases on the outside.
Samsung and Apple remained the top sellers of smartphones for the first quarter of the year, while LG stepped up to take fourth place behind Huawei.
Microsoft is delivering a second preview build of Windows 10 Mobile to testers, one which includes the company's new 'Spartan' browser, and new Mail, Calendar, Phone and Messaging apps.
A couple new flagship phones are launching this week and Matthew decided on one to keep. Both MoTR hosts are planning to order an Apple Watch on Friday too.
Woolworths is releasing its Woolies Shop app this month, one of the first apps to be available on the Apple Watch, which has been designed to help customers find their nearest stores and navigate the aisles according to their shopping lists.
Both Microsoft and Google have compelling productivity offerings, along with deep and rich ecosystems. That makes comparing them a challenge for most managers. David Gewirtz compares most of the programs' key elements in one Venn diagram (and a big table).
One of the biggest complaints leveled at Android smartphones is the plethora of apps, many of which unwanted, that come preinstalled on the devices. Samsung has listened to this and has made the bloatware it installs on the Galaxy S6 user-removable.
Apple suffered a widespread outage to its app and music download services, costing the company $2 million per hour.
The Apple Watch is poised for release and rumored features have piqued a lot of interest. Apple will likely give the Watch a lot of functionality, but if it doesn't nail this one thing that won't matter in the long run.
Microsoft officials went public with more details about the coming Universal App Platform that will enable Windows 10 developers to write apps for 'One Windows.'
The tech giant must cough up roughly half a billion after being found guilty of using Smartflash patents without permission.
The two facilities, built in Ireland and Denmark, will run entirely on renewable energy.
For some third party apps, a partnership with Google Now will be a mobile boon. Others won't be so lucky. Time will tell.
One of the most frustrating aspects of being a Windows Phone user is the loss of apps that were on the platform. With the promise of universal apps, Windows 10 may help.
Apple's first-quarter earnings were far better than Wall Street had hoped. Apple executives broke out further details on the follow-up analysts conference call.
Apple's December holiday period blew expectations out of the water, thanks to "record" iPhone sales, which partly offset the iPad decline.
Apple has released iOS 8.1.3 for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, which brings with it relief for those who feel that updates have become too cumbersome to install.
The best of ZDNet, delivered
- 1 Perfectly legal ways you can still get Windows 7 cheap (or even free)
- 2 34 ways to improve your iPhone's battery life
- 3 How much does an iPhone 6 really cost? (Hint: It's way more than $199)
- 4 So you have an app idea and want to make a bajillion bucks
- 5 ZDNet Cloud TV: Impact of cloud on HR (highlights)


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Vehicle output rose 8.7 percent nationwide to 5,066,178 units in the first half compared with a year earlier, as strong demand before the April consumption tax hike more than offset a subsequent decline in sales, an industry body said Thursday.
From January to June, car production surged 9.1 percent to 4,319,949 units, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said.
Truck output grew 6.8 percent to 677,566 units and bus production rose 2.4 percent to 68,663 units.
But vehicle exports fell 5.0 percent during the period to 2,167,873 units, reflecting moves to shift production overseas.
In June alone, vehicle output gained 6.6 percent to 857,317 units, climbing for 10 consecutive months on a year-on-year basis. Exports dropped 4.0 percent during the month to 390,915 units.


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Kenya Railways has temporarily rescinded its not-welcomed decision to ban foodstuff and beverages on its trains.
The agency had prohibited passengers from bringing food and drinks on board its fast trains operating between Nairobi and Mombasa. It warned they would confiscate the items at the security checkpoints.
Kenya Railways says the decision follows a public outcry on the announcement made on Wednesday.
“Following customer feedback on the notice prohibiting entry of beverages and foodstuff into the standard gauge railway (SGR) termini and stations, Kenya Railways wishes to reassure our customers that we have instituted negotiations with our service providers,” the company said in a statement to Standard Digital.
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It added that the company wielded to the backlash and is negotiating with its service providers and during the period, passengers have the freedom to bring food and drinks from outside.
But the decision prohibiting alcoholic drinks at the stations and in the trains still remains in force.
The Wednesday announcement was heavily criticized by a section of Kenyans who termed it as an impromptu decision that wasn’t well thought out.
In the changes, the travellers were only supposed to buy food and beverages inside the coaches by NAS Airport Services, a local subsidiary of Servair and the third-largest airline catering and logistics business globally.


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The Russian car market will stagnate in 2022
Sales of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCV) in Russia in 2021 amounted to 1.67 million cars, said on January 13, 2022 at the annual press conference of the European Business Association (AEB) the head of the committee of automakers Thomas Sterzel. This is 4.3% more than in 2020, but 5.1% less than in 2019. In the last precoronavirus year, 1.76 million new cars and LCVs were sold on the domestic market.
Lockdown in the spring of 2020 largely determined the trends of the market during 2021, admitted Sturzel in his presentation. According to him, the delayed demand then contributed to the rapid recovery of the market during the first eight months of 2021. But then the global decline in production, shortage of microchips, logistics problems and other negative trends led to a significant reduction in supply. The car market was not able to fully realize the existing growth potential, said Sturzel. This can be seen in the forecasts given by the AEB in mid-2021. At the time, the association predicted that car sales could grow by 9.8% over the year, recovering to 2019 levels.
December 2021 was a particularly unpleasant surprise for the market. The month, traditionally considered favorable for sales, this time showed a failure of 20% in annual terms, according to AEB statistics. In December, 133,470 new cars and LCVs were sold in Russia.
Of the top five market leaders, only Toyota was able to increase sales in December 2021 by 13% to 10,369 cars. Sales of AvtoVAZ fell by 27% to 29,919 vehicles, Kia – by 22% to 15,531 units. Renault showed a decrease of 1% to 12,049 units, and Hyundai failed more than twice – to 7,591 cars.
Sergei Udalov, executive director of Avtostat, cites the high base in December 2020 as the reason for the particularly sharp decline.
In 2021, large automakers still saw a small increase in sales compared to 2020. AvtoVAZ was able to increase sales of cars by 2% to 350,714 units, Kia – also by 2% to 205,801 cars, sales growth of Hyundai amounted to 3% to 167,331 units, Renault – also 2% to 131,552 units. Sales of Toyota cars rose by 7% to 97,941 units.
Traditionally, sales of Chinese brands have grown sharply, which better than other automakers cope with the lack of microelectronic components (“Vedomosti” spoke in detail about this phenomenon on December 6 and 7, 2021). Haval showed sales growth of 125% to 39,125 cars, Chery – by 224% to 37,118 units, Geely – by 59% to 24,587 cars. The leader among Chinese brands in Russia – Haval (Great Wall Motor brand) for the year moved from 16th to 12th place in sales.
Among other trends in the 2021 car market, AEB notes a continued decline in the share of the C-segment, otherwise known as the “golf class” from 14.78% to 14%, and the growth of the crossover segment and SUV (SUV – sport utility vehicle).
The association also noted a stable demand for commercial vehicles. “The LCV market has shown better dynamics compared to the car market as a whole. A slight decrease in sales compared to last year was observed only in the fourth quarter, “says Sterzel. In 2021, 130,691 LCVs were sold, which is 17% more than in 2020, according to AEB data. The market leader remained the Russian Gazelle from the GAZ Group (47,032 cars), in second place with more than twice the lag of Ford Transit (20,840), the third line in the family of classic cars UAZ (11,884 units).
Another trend in 2021 was the growth of sales of electric vehicles, which, however, still remain at the level of statistical error against the background of the entire market. AEB for the first time began to provide statistics on electric cars in 2021 in Russia and counted 1001 such cars. This is 2.6 times more than in 2020.
The electric car segment showed rapid growth in the first three quarters due to the application of a zero import duty rate, Sterzel said. This preferential regime expired in 2021, and since the EEU countries have not been able to agree on its extension (Russia was against), from January 1, 2022, electric cars are imported under the general rules with a duty rate of 15%. This will slow down the development of electric charging infrastructure and demand for this type of vehicle, the AEB believes.
According to the results of 2021, more than 1.5 million cars of all kinds were produced in Russia, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov told journalists on January 12. This is 10% more than in 2020, when 1.4 million cars were produced. These departments are based on preliminary calculations of JSC “Electronic Passport”, which is the administrator of the system of electronic passports of vehicles (EPTS) in Russia. But they began to be issued instead of paper TCPs only in November 2020, so the data for comparison with 2019, the “Electronic Passport” does not have.
In 2019, Rosstat recorded almost 1.7 million cars manufactured in Russia. This value includes cars, trucks and buses of different weights. It is 12% more than the volume that Manturov brings in 2021.
The AEB Committee of Automakers expects a small market growth of 3.3% in 2022 to 1.722 million cars and LCVs, said Sterzel. He predicts that the main negative factors – problems with microchips, reduced production, disruption of supply chains – will not be eliminated for most of 2022. The share of imports will continue to decline. The association assumes that the geopolitical situation will not worsen and new sanctions on foreign trade activities against Russia will not be adopted.
“Since 2015, the Russian car market has remained fairly stable and is in the range of 1.4 to 1.8 million cars. There are no signs of a rapid improvement in the situation, “said Sterzel.
Among the topical issues for the industry in 2022, Sterzel noted the need to raise the threshold of “luxury tax” for cars. Now it applies to cars more expensive than 3 million rubles. in the form of an increasing coefficient of the transport tax. But prices for new cars jumped by a quarter last year, not counting dealer surcharges, Avtostat reported. As a result, many cars that do not really belong to the luxury category have fallen under this tax.
Udalov from Avtostat agreed with him, noting that the main factor influencing the market in 2022 will be the shortage of microelectronics. According to him, this problem can be resolved no earlier than the second half of the year. The basic forecast of the agency for 2022 assumes a decrease in sales of new cars by 3% compared to 2021. An optimistic forecast assumes a growth of the car market by 5%, and a pessimistic – a decrease of 11%.


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The well documented struggle of the apparel industry in Downtown Los Angeles, proverbially known as the “jobber” market, is only becoming more critical with time as recent findings revealed a shocking number of failing businesses.
As of this year, 1,300 apparel businesses are currently operating, per Korean-American Apparel Manufacturers Association’s (KAMA) recently published biannual report. The previous report, published in 2014, revealed that 1,756 apparel manufacturers were in business, hinting that 456 of them have closed in the last two years.
The report, which serves as something of apparel industry’s Yellow Pages in L.A., contains contact information of Korean-American-run businesses within the city’s Fashion District. The 26 percent decrease in the number of existing businesses is evidently a reflection of just how badly the industry is struggling to make ends meet.
Even businesses that specialize in manufacturing accessories, including bags and shoes, are on a decline, as only 173 of them remain open compared to 216 two years ago.
The KAMA’s past reports show that apparel businesses owned by Korean-Americans were growing larger until 2014. From 2010 to 2012, the number of businesses hiked from 958 to 1,447.
Presumably, the sudden decline of the apparel industry in recent years was primarily triggered by the decreasing number of Mexican and Central American clients after the U.S. government launched a federal investigation of the industry’s allegedly widespread illegal transactions and employment of undocumented residents.
However, some of those still in the business suggest that the KAMA’s recent report is inaccurate, as many Korean-American businesses in the industry have relocated to other areas around the neighborhood to avoid the rising cost of operating in the expensive downtown area.
The KAMA also admitted that the total number of Korean-American businesses would be significantly higher if the statistics in the report contained apparel manufactures located outside of the Fashion District.
“Jobber businesses have struggled this year and last year,” said KAMA chairman Young-ki Jang. “Some businesses have closed entirely, which means many have lost their jobs, but business is getting better now with some companies recently starting to hire more employees. We remain hopeful for the upcoming year.”
By Moon Ho Kim


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Big League Chew and National Baseball Hall of Fame open virtual “Hall of Flavors” game
US bubble gum brand Big League Chew and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum are teaming up to give fans a chance to ‘win big’, with the “Hall of Flavors” online game and sweepstakes, running from 15 June – 15 August. Players have a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and $50,000 to support their hometown youth baseball or softball programme.
“This year we are celebrating 40 years of bubble gum fun, and while the baseball season may look a little different right now, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the love of the game – and gum – together,” said Rob Nelson, inventor of Big League Chew. “We look forward to bringing the Baseball Hall of Fame and our legendary pouches and flavours directly to customers in a fun, interactive way.”
Participants must use a special seven-digit code found on the back of a pouch of Big League Chew to enter the “Hall of Flavors” game and sweepstakes, where they will also have the chance to win daily prizes including Big League Chew bubble gum, a Big League Chew T-shirt, or a 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame yearbook.
“The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to partner with Big League Chew to celebrate the National Pastime through the “Hall of Flavors” game and sweepstakes,” said Sean Gahagan, the Museum’s vice president of retail merchandising and licensing. “A trip to Cooperstown is the quintessential baseball experience, just like enjoying Big League Chew on a sunny day at the ballpark.”
In addition to an all-expense paid trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the grand prize winner will also receive a one-year Hall of Fame Benefactor Membership, VIP behind-the-scenes tour, a guided Museum tour and a $250 gift certificate to the Baseball Hall of Fame Store. Terms and conditions apply. The winner will also receive one year’s supply of Big League Chew bubble gum and merchandise.
The “Hall of Flavors” matching game opens on Monday 15 June at 12:00am and ends on Saturday 15 August 2020 at 11:59pm. For more information, visit: www.BigLeagueChew.com/HallofFlavors.