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Active development has stopped on Unsung Story, a role-playing game funded with more than $600,000 in Kickstarter donations in 2014, studio Playdek told backers on Saturday.
"During the last few months we have had some development setbacks that are affecting our timeline and progress on the game, while also affecting what we need to do in the immediate future as a company," Playdek wrote.
Playdek says it must "focus on a few products in the near term that have the ability to get to a retail release before Unsung Story is able to," calling that necessary for "the ongoing financial health of the company."
Playdek will look at bringing in "an outside team that can assist us in furthering development," but does not have such a contractor lined up and no assurances it will.
Unsung Story's Kickstarter launched in January 2014 with Yasumi Matsuno's name attached to it. He was the creator of Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story. It was originally due to launch last summer but faced repeated delays and went nearly silent for much of 2015.
Unsung Story began as a tactical RPG designed by Matsuno, then surprised — and not in altogether good ways — backers with news that it was adding multiplayer PVP features. The game was scheduled to launch on Linux, Mac and Windows PC as well as Android and iOS.
The last update to donors, in October, delayed the game into this year but promised that development on it still continued. At the time, Playdek cited the loss of key development staff as a critical setback.
'You should be ashamed of yourselves,' says one donor. 'Where has the money been spent?' demands another.
"At this time we do not have an update as to what the new release window for development rollout will be," Playdek told backers on Saturday, adding that no new progress on the game has been made since the October notice to donors.
Reaction in the comments underneath Playdek's latest update has been harsh and angry, with some backers urging their colleagues to send a notice to U.S. authorities, either to recover their money or to punish Playdek. The only known instance of the government getting involved when a creator didn't deliver a crowdfunded project happened last year, when the maker of a card game was ordered by a Washington state court to pay restitution and civil penalties to donors.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves for not really thinking this project through and played with us and our money," said one contributor. "I'm sick of waiting and want my money back."
"Where has the money been spent? On the project? Where are the results? On other things? Mismanagement and/or fraud!" said another.
"If you used the money for other projects, I don't have the understanding for that," wrote another. "So I hope the US backers and the US law will find a reasonable punishment for you."
Correction: An earlier version of this post referred to this game by an incorrect title. The headline and story have been corrected since.


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So thus this email from Simon Hobson:
Spotted an oddity on BM Reports (http://www.bmreports.com/bsp/bsp_home.htm) regarding the long term surplus. According to the graph currently shown, we are due a shortfall of over 1GW late this year – see attached. Week 49 has a deficit of 950MW, week 50 a deficit of 1040, week 51 is -565, and week 2 next year, -242. Week 52 shows a good surplus – but I suspect that’s because all the offices and factories will be shut over Christmas.
I’m thinking it may just be a glitch in the data, but if true then could an interesting story to pick up on. Of course, for consumers it probably doesn’t mean lights going out, but it does mean industrial disruption as interruptible supplies get invoked on large consumers of lecky. Not to mention, some diesel generators getting run !
Wow, it seems like it’s not a glitch.
Looking at the graph today, I see 14 (yes, fourteen) weeks with a deficit forecast – with the largest forecast deficit now up to 3434MW in week 50 !
Looking down to the forecast long term capacity by fuel type, it seems there’s a big drop (about 7GW) in coal from end of March/early April – part of which will be the Ferry Bridge shutdown recently announced. More will be the Fiddlers Ferry shutdown announced last year.
So I guess there’ll be a lot of factory shutdowns happening over winter then as interruptible supplies get called on.
That Ed Davey and Ed Miliband would fuck up trying to plan something has always been obvious. But is this really where we are, with factories closing because there’s no power to run them?
And wouldn’t a carbon tax have been a better idea?

domain: news


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The strongest categories were in women’s apparel. Men’s sportswear was among the “more challenged” categories.
“We are thrilled to announce our May comparable store sales increase of 8.2 percent, which was on top of a strong 8.0 percent increase in April,” said interim CEO Jay Stein. “These results were driven by our ability to deliver great fashion, brands and pricing, through a well-executed merchandising and marketing strategy.”
Stein Mart reported full-year net income up 25.6 percent to $25 million in May. That announcement was a restatement of its finances; the retailer had neglected to file its Q3 report on time back in October 2012, prompting Nasdaq to send a non-compliance letter.
Stein Mart operates 262 stores.


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Alvarion Erases Redline
In December 2002 Alvarion agreed to sell Redline’s Access Node 50 fixed wireless product operating at 5.8 GHz, branded as the Alvarion Link Blaster (see Redline, Alvarion Team Up).
Alvarion has now called time on the OEM agreement in light of its BreezeAccess VL product launch earlier this year, operating in “the 5GHz frequency band.” (See Alvarion Blows a Breeze.)
“We are in the process of wrapping it up,” Alvarion’s VP of marketing, Carlton O’Neal, tells Unstrung. “Our BreezeAccess VL is the internally developed product that we are now selling instead of Redline’s product. In the end, they were a way for us to get to market quickly with a high-speed unlicensed PTP [point-to-point] product while we were finalizing the VL... They helped us build backhaul for our customers' access networks for about a year, but now we are using the VL.”
The loss of Alvarion’s business is a further blow to Redline. The company last month reluctantly agreed to pay royalties on patents owned by rival Wi-LAN Inc. (Toronto: WIN). (See Wi-LAN Settles With Redline.)
“We strongly believe that we do not infringe on their patents,” stated Redline's CEO and president, Majed Sifri, at the time of the settlement.
— Justin Springham, Senior Editor, Europe, Unstrung


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Wal-Mart won't be just your neighborhood retailing behemoth anymore. The heaviest of the brick-and-mortar heavyweights this week announced that it will create a Palo Alto independent company -- Wal-Mart.com -- in order to speed development of its online retail site. Venture capital firm Accel Partners will join with Wal-Mart in the undertaking. The Wal-Mart.com board will include Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton; Lee Scott, vice-chairman and chief operating officer of Wal-Mart; and James Breyer, managing partner of Accel.
Short-Time CEO Out at Baan
Baan CEO Mary Coleman resigned this week after less than a year at the helm of the troubled maker of enterprise resource planning software. In a concurrent announcement, Baan reported it would close 14 branch offices and reduce its worldwide work force by about 4 percent in an attempt to reverse the company's recent misfortunes. Baan has incurred losses over the past five quarters, amid restructuring and a drop in revenue for its core ERP business. The current chairman of the Baan supervisory board, Pierre Everaert, will serve as interim CEO while the search for a permanent CEO of the business software maker is under way, Baan said in its statement. Baan has headquarters in both the Netherlands and Reston, Virginia.
Nortel Buys DSL Switch Vendor
Nortel Networks plans to buy digital subscriber line (DSL) switch specialist Promatory Communications for US$778 million in stock. By snapping up Promatory, Nortel gains access to Promatory's ATM-based Intelligent Multi-service Access Switch (IMAS) edge switch. This device takes in traffic in a number of DSL flavors and sorts customer traffic to ensure various levels of service quality.
Quality of service is a must for transmitting voice-over- DSL lines to avoid gaps and delays in voice transmissions. In addition, carriers can use the IMAS to offer different levels of service quality at different prices. So a customer who uses a DSL line for e-mail and Web surfing could buy a less-expensive, lower-quality connection than someone using a DSL link to tie into a corporate network for business reasons. In combination with Nortel's cable modem and wireless access gear, the Promatory deal will round out the company's broadband access offerings for residences and small businesses.
Security Start-Up Includes 'Mudge'
A Cambridge, Massachusetts-based security start-up that debuted this week will feature the leader of a renowned hacker group as vice president of research and development. Backed by $10 million in capital from Battery Ventures, @Stake, Inc. will lean on the expertise of a hacker organization called the L0pht and its well-known front man, who goes by the moniker Mudge. The new company's chief technology officer will be Daniel Geer, former vice president and senior strategist at CertCo and director of engineering at Open Market. @Stake promises to provide "non-traditional, e-commerce-age security solutions."
Shopping for a NOS?
Network World is offering a hands-on comparative look at Microsoft Windows 2000, Novell NetWare 5.1, Red Hat Linux 6.1 and The Santa Cruz Operation's UnixWare 7.1.1 to all ComNet 2000 trade show attendees in Network Operating Systems Showdown Lab. The lab will be located in the main lobby of Washington, D.C.'s Renaissance Hotel and be open Jan. 25 to 27. Attendees will get a customized view of how these NOSes stack up against each other. Attendees also will be able to pick the brains of the engineers from Centennial Networking Labs at North Carolina State University, the Network World Test Alliance partner that conducted this first public showdown between Windows 2000 and its competition in the NOS arena.


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You are reading your free article for this month.
This week, fashion saw several highlight moments from a tentpole fashion week to details about “fashion’s biggest night.” Leading the charge was the New York Fashion Week FW24, which saw over 60 names across runway shows and presentations. On its heels was the host announcement for this year’s Met Gala.
Elsewhere, Farfetch CEO José Neve stepped down following the Coupang acquisition; Marc Jacobs revealed his collaborators for his label’s 40th anniversary and Seán McGirr’s first Alexander McQueen campaign teases his debut FW24 collection.
Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top fashion stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.
This past Wednesday, New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2024 concluded with the final show by CFDA chairman and celebrated designer Thom Browne. A tentpole of the fashion calendar, NYFW continuously celebrates the talent of American designers and sometimes international names who make the journey. But where September NYFW represents a livelier occasion due to its warmer weather, February takes on a calmer cadence with a laser focus on the clothes.
This year’s calendar featured over 60 names across runway shows and presentations. From the week, notable moments included Beyonce’s attendance at LUAR as her nephew/Solange’s son, Jules Smith Jr. made his runway debut, Thom Browne’s fantastical collection, Willy Chavarria’s exhibition of sharp tailoring, Jane Wade’s official NYFW debut, Puppets & Puppets final show, Ludovic de Saint Sernin’s NYFW debut and PUMA’s Mostro Show (although it took place on Thursday before the official start).
To see all that went down from show reviews to street style, take a look at Hypebeast’s coverage here.
Aside from fashion weeks, one of fashion’s focal events is the Met Gala. Although the event is a fundraiser for the Met’s Costume Institute, it has been regarded as “fashion’s biggest night” with the likes of celebrities and notable figures across various industries coming dressed to the nines. In preparation for this year’s gala, the hosts have been announced.
Taking to the podium this year are Zendaya, Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez and Chris Hemsworth. Alongside the hosts, the event will see its infamous leader Anna Wintour. This year’s theme is “The Garden of Time” and it is inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same name.
The forthcoming gala will also open the Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion exhibit that sill showcase about 250 pieces from the Costume Insitute’s permanent collection. This will mark the first time many garments will be viewed publicly. Mark your calendars for the 2024 Met Gala, which is taking place on Monday, May 6.
Farfetch’s CEO José Neves is stepping down following the company’s recent acquisition by South Korean conglomerate Coupang.
Before its acquisition for $500 million USD, Farfetch was approaching filing for bankruptcy. However, with its acquisition, the luxury shopping platform is continuing its operations.
“Farfetch will rededicate itself to providing the most elevated experience for the world’s most exclusive brands, while pursuing steady and thoughtful growth as a private company,” Coupang CEO Bom said about the acquisition. “We also see tremendous opportunities to redefine the customer experience for luxury clients everywhere.”
Neve’s departure comes after a series of layoffs at Farfetch. Although Neves has resigned as the company’s CEO, a memo viewed by WWD reportedly detailed he would continue his relationship with the company on a consultancy basis.
Marc Jacobs is gearing up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his eponymous label. To date, Marc Jacobs has been one of the most successful and influential American fashion designers. So it only makes sense that the anniversary be met with a grand occasion. To celebrate, Jacobs is enlisting the help of several friends for a range of collaborations.
The celebratory collaborations see figures like Pharrell Williams, Sofia Coppola, Tremaine Emory, Takashi Murakami, Futura, Alastair McKimm and more. With the collaboration, Jacobs is having the invited collaborators select their favorite piece from the Marc Jacobs archive to reimagine.
The pieces will then be available on Marc Jacobs’ website in limited edition drops.
Now the designer and the luxury house have revealed a first look at what’s to come from McGirr’s debut collection with a set of campaign images.
“Embracing Alexander McQueen’s past to inform the present and future, the campaign features icons and friends of the house, Debra Shaw and Frankie Rayder,” read the caption on Instagram. What also stands out about the images is the updated version of McQueen’s original logo.
Seán McGirr’s debut collection for Alexander McQueen will be shown in Paris on March 2.


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In preparation for next month's international EDM celebration, the minds behind Tomorrowland released a brand-new teaser trailer for the event, "The Book of Wisdom." The video provides a highly cinematic vision of the "magic" experience that organizers intend to deliver to the attendees of the 15th anniversary outing.
In addition to the video "The Book of Wisdom," festival representatives have announced that all attendees will receive a physical copy of The Book of Wisdom, a 160-page hardcover book telling the story of this year's show.
Fans have been told to start checking their mailboxes as the books are set to be sent out alongside their festival bracelets sometime this week. The book is written by Irish author Sarah Maria Griffin and features illustrations from Belgian artist Patrick Cornelis.
Earlier in the month, the full lineup for Tomorrowland 2019 was released. Among the headliners are The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, Tiësto and more.
Tomorrowland 2019 takes place July 19th-21st and July 26th-28th in Boom, Belgium. Tickets are on sale now and are available for purchase here.


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Assassin’s Creed Mirage is now gold and has a new release date of October 5, 2023.
Strange things are happening lately. Baldur’s Gate 3 was released about a month ago for PC and now Ubisoft is bringing it too Assassin’s Creed Mirage A week ago: The action-adventure title should be released on October 5, 2023 celebrate the date of its release. In addition, the “Golden Center” was announced.
October will be filled with a slew of great new releases, with Assassin’s Creed Mirage Of course one of them. Unusually, though we usually see games get delayed, the next adventure game has already been released, and while it’s still due in October, it’ll be in our hands a little earlier than previously thought.
Ubisoft recently announced on “X” (formerly Twitter) that Assassin’s Creed Mirage has reached Gold status, which means major development is complete and the main version of the game is now ready. Any work done so far will likely come in the form of pre patches or day one updates.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is gold and will be released a week early! 📀
On behalf of the entire team, we can’t wait for you to explore 9th century Baghdad with Bassem.
– Assassin’s Creed (assassinscreed) August 14, 2023
While the game’s release is still a few months away and it has already reached gold status, Ubisoft has also pushed its release. Originally slated for October 12th, the game will now be released a week earlier on October 5th.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage It will be released for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One and Windows PC. In other reports, we have already told you that the title will have microtransactions and that the game time will be much less than previous AC releases.
“Social media evangelist. Baconaholic. Devoted reader. Twitter scholar. Avid coffee trailblazer.”


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A 22-year-old man was arrested from Faridabad in Haryana for allegedly cheating several people on the pretext of selling cheap Apple iPhones, police said on Tuesday.
The accused has been identified as Yogesh Tiwari, a resident of Faridabad, they said.
On July 22, a complaint was received in which a woman said that she saw an advertisement on a social media page of a mobile shop named Foneofy that was selling an iPhone 12 Pro at ₹25,000, whereas the actual price in the market is ₹1,25,000, police said.
She contacted Foneofy and provided her postal address for courier and also made a payment of ₹24,290 in the account of Foneofy through an online payment gateway, a senior police officer said.
After waiting for several days, the woman again contacted Foneofy and found that she had been blocked on its social media accounts, following which she filed a complaint, the officer said.
During the investigation, police found that the mobile phone’s location was in Faridabad, but with ownership in Bihar, they said.
“Police found a video in which one Chandru, a resident of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, also alleged about the cheating by Foneofy. Online wallet details linked to the alleged mobile phone were also collected from payment gateways. Later, the accused was apprehended from Faridabad,” Deputy Commissioner (North) Anto Alphonse said.
Accused Tiwari is tech-savvy and disclosed that he downloaded photos and videos of iPhones and uploaded discounted rates on social media and cheated people, the DCP said.
Earlier, he used to buy Chinese iPhones from Delhi and sent it to the cheated people. Later, he even stopped sending those mobile phones. The accused has more the 1,04,000 followers on his social media page, police said.
He confessed to cheating using the same modus operandi with many persons living in different states. Four mobile phones, nine SIM cards used in the crime and one motorcycle purchased from the money was recovered from his possession, police added.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
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Billionaire Elon Musk sold nearly $8.4 billion worth of Tesla shares during the week, after his attempts to take control of Twitter and make it private.
The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX dumped about 4.4 million shares of his electric car company in trading on Tuesday and Wednesday, and it was revealed that an additional 5.2 million shares were sold on Thursday, and reports showed that Musk’s first sale took place on Tuesday, as shares fell Tesla is up 12% on the same day, while Tesla shares are up 2.5% on Friday.
Musk is trying to take over the social networking company Twitter and make it private for $54.20 per share, equivalent to $44 billion. Musk offered earlier in the week, but the deal still needs approval from shareholders and regulators. Read more [Twitter Firm Accepts Elon Musk’s Takeover Offer].
Musk will have to pay Twitter a $1 billion closing fee if it fails to secure enough funding to complete his deal to buy the social media platform.
On the other hand, Twitter will owe Musk a deal breaker fee of up to $1 billion if it accepts another competitor’s offer or if shareholders reject the deal. Read More [MUSK-TWITTER News Reclaims $40K BTC and DOGE Soars 33%].


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Forget using your garage. Someday your home may need a drone landing pad.
Whether its delivering packages or providing transport, drones are expected to play part of our lives in the coming years.
Now, a new concept for a ‘Drone Tower’ shows how we could shape our buildings to accommodate the rise in UAVs.
Charles Bombarier, a mechanical engineer in Quebec, Canada is founder of the blog Imaginactive, where he showcases far-fetched future design concepts.
The concept describes ‘drone-ready’ condo towers or blocks of flats, with each balcony a kind of drone landing site.
The balconies would be adapted to land personal flying vehicles, hoverboards and drones.
Robotic furniture would detect approaching vehicles and make space for them.
The balcony’s railguards could probably be designed to slide down or roll down, Mr Bombardier says.
Delivery drones or small electric vehicles could use the large balconies as landing sites to drop off deliveries or even pick up passengers.
Mr Bombardier said people would not need to own their own drones to have these drone landing balconies.
But with Amazon and Google’s ambitious plans for drone deliveries coming along quickly, the pair thinks it will not be too long before your next apartment comes drone-ready.
Read more on DailyMail.


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But now researcher eMarketer says that its ad revenue will hit $4.05bn this year (very precise), up from $1.86bn last year leading to an operating profit of $2bn.
In the first quarter of 2011 Facebook hosted 31 per cent of all US online display ads, double its take in Q1 2010, according to comScore.
And it gets better (or worse if you’re a rival). For the first time more web users are signing in using Facebook than Google (35 per cent against 31 per cent) and new lines of revenue, like its local deals challenge to Groupon, are also performing strongly.
One upshot of all this is that the company’s valuation when it eventually goes public has soared from $50bn a few months ago to $100bn, which would make it bigger than Amazon and Cisco. Google is valued at $171bn, Apple at $322bn.
Can anything derail the popularity and commercial prospects of Facebook? It’s hard to see it at the moment although the company may find things tougher in its chosen ‘export’ markets of Asia and Africa. Chinese equivalent Renren is also attracting interest from investors, with a proposed valuation of $5bn or so based on a claimed 131m users.
But there are doubts about the number of regular users and Renren’s advertising model is nowhere near as developed or successful as Facebook’s.
Actually you wonder why Facebook actually needs an IPO at all as its value seems to double every six months or so without one.


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oyota is planning to start mass-producing electric vehicles by 2020 in its bid to extend beyond its current fleet of hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles.
Japanese publication Nikkei says that the world’s current second largest automaker intends on creating an in-house team dedicated to the planning and development of electric vehicles in the start in 2017.
It is reported that Toyota could base an EV with a range exceeding 300 km (186 miles) on the platform of the Prius or alternatively, the Corolla sedan and offer it as an SUV.
Back in January, Toyota established a battery material research department which in all probability, will create the batteries for the brand’s range of EVs. Alternatively, there’s a chance that the company may use batteries from an outside source to keep internal costs to a minimum.
It is thought that Toyota has been prompted into developing a fleet of electric vehicles on the back of declining costs for the required technology and improvements in driving range. Additionally, Toyota’s move mimics that of rival Volkswagen who have also committed to introducing affordable electric vehicles from 2020.


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FHS Export Statistics Confirm 2022 As An All-Time Record For The Swiss Industry
With sales up by over 11%, 2022 marks an all-time record for the Swiss watch industry. But can it last?
Last month, right after the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry released its monthly press release with watch export statistics, we indicated (in this article) that the Swiss watch industry was about to record its best-ever export performance over the course of a year in 2022. By the end of November 2022, exports were up by 11.9% compared to 2021 (and far more compared to 2020). This morning, the FHS has just released its statistics for the full year 2022, and we can confirm that exports are up massively, and 2022 is indeed a record year for the Swiss watch industry.
Exports of Swiss watches continued to grow in December 2022 (+5.8%), though at a slower pace than the annual average – this can be explained by the fact that watches sold for the Christmas season are usually shipped in October and November. Still, exports in December again broke the Swiss Francs/CHF 2 billion bar, which had never occurred previously at this point in the year. Overall, exports of Swiss watches, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, produced CHF 24.8 billion for the whole of 2022, an increase of 11.4% compared to 2021 and 46.1% compared to 2020 (which was a very difficult year due to the pandemic). As a reminder, 2021 was already a record year for the Swiss watch industry, which bounced back after the pandemic, and recorded higher exports than record years such as 2009 and 2014 (the latter being the previous record).
To make the situation clear, the industry has never seen such exports numbers in the past, and 2022 is, without a question, the best year ever for Swiss watches – remember that we’re talking about exports, which cover the entire spectrum of the industry minus the Swiss domestic market. December 2022 also marks the sixteenth consecutive month of growth for the industry.
All markets are up, with the exception of one very specific region. Swiss watches were mainly exported to the US market in 2022, accounting for CHF 3.9 billion alone, an increase of 26.3% over 2021. Singapore and Japan also recorded impressive growth (+26.2% and +20.4%, respectively), while Europe, usually a rather complex market, remains strong, with exports up by almost 15%, despite the lack of tourists. The situation remains complex in Mainland China and Hong Kong, which are the only two markets showing diminishing exports compared to 2021 (-13.6% and -10.5%, respectively). This can be explained by the country’s zero-Covid policy, which seems to have attenuated in recent weeks.
Breaking down the market per value, watches priced between CHF 200 and 3,000 (export price) declined sharply in December, including a -16.2% fall in value. Surprisingly, products priced at less than CHF 200 saw their export volumes increase by 9.7%. However, most of the growth is driven by watches priced over CHF 3,000 (export price), which were up by 13%. Finally, growth is driven mostly by watches made from precious metals (+14.3%), while steel products (-4.3%) lost ground.
Looking at the big picture of the luxury market, Bain and Company (an American management consulting company), in its latest analysis projects strong growth for the global luxury market in 2022, with sales up 21%, reaching EUR 1,400 billion, while “the personal luxury goods market is expected to show accelerated growth of 22% to €353 billion“. Despite recent economic turbulence that will apply to the year to come, Bain also projects further growth in 2023, with a market up by 3 to 8 % and with a continuous trend up until 2030. In this instance, the results of the world’s largest luxury group (LVMH) will be released this coming Thursday (26th January 2023), with sales that are expected to be up by over 25%.
For more details about Swiss watch exports, please visit www.fhs.swiss.
Considering just how many Americans live paycheck to paycheck and a good portion of them don’t even have enough money to cover a $500 emergency, the sales numbers in this article are absolutely astonishing.
Wow, then this proves just how much credit card debt is being fueled and will implode like a dying star when this all goes awry.


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Toys R Us won't open as many holiday pop-up stores this year as last, betting that offering more exclusive toys _ like Air Swimmers Extreme, a helium-filled, radio-controlled shark that floats through the air _ will do more to attract shoppers to its stores during the all-important holiday season.
CEO Jerry Storch said at a press conference Wednesday that the company hasn't yet determined how many pop-up stores it will open. But there will be fewer than the 600 it had in 2010 and more than the 90 it opened 2009.
Toys R Us, the largest U.S. specialty toy retailer, made about 43 percent of its total 2010 revenue of $13.57 billion during the holiday quarter. But it faces tough competition from larger retailers like discounters like Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon.com, which can offer toys cheaper than Toys R Us. Toys R Us also is bolstering its online business.
In 2010, U.S. toy sales rose 2 percent to $21.87 billion, according to the NPD Group. Analysts expect similar growth in 2011 as consumers remain uncertain about the economy and cautious about spending.
Despite opening fewer pop-up stores, Toys R Us plans to hire about the same amount of seasonal workers as it did 2010, about 45,000. They'll work at new and existing stores and a new e-commerce distribution center that opened in July in Nevada.
Toys R Us, based in Wayne, N.J., always has offered exclusive toys, but this year it's "dramatically" expanding the number, Storch said, declining to give specifics. They include store-brand toys and some made by Mattel Inc., Hasbro Inc. and international toy makers. Toys R Us also is working to ensure it has ample stock of all the season's "hot toys," he said.
"Price matters, but kids want the right toy," Storch said.
The company also plans to promote its exclusives more, starting with a 44-page direct mailing Friday promoting deals on 350 of them. Three TV ads to debut in October also will promote exclusives: Moshi Monsters, made by Spin Master, tiny collectible toys that tie into an online game (3-packs are $5.99); Trash Pack, collectibles from Moose Toys that come in tiny garbage cans ($2.99 to $19.99); and the Toys R Us-brand Air Swimmers Extreme ($49.99).
In addition to the new e-commerce distribution facility, Toys R Us has beefed up its online presence by recently starting to let shoppers designate someone else to pick up items in a store that they've ordered online. And next month, it will start a "Ship from Store" program that uses in-store inventory to fill online orders.
This month, Toys R Us Inc. reported that its second-quarter loss grew as its expenses rose and it recorded a smaller tax benefit than in the same period last year. Its revenue rose 3 percent to $2.64 billion from $2.57 billion, aided by favorable foreign currency rates and opening new stores.
Quarterly revenue at stores open at least a year, a key gauge for retailers because it excludes stores that recently opened or closed, fell 2.2 percent from a year earlier. Storch said Wednesday that the comparison was hurt by weak video game sales, an industry-wide trend.
Toys R Us announced last year that it hopes to go public again with a stock offering worth as much as $800 million, but the turbulent market has drawn out the process.
The company has 873 stores in the United States and more than 520 in other countries. It also operates the FAO Schwartz brand. Its websites include toysrus.com, babiesrus.com, etoys.com, fao.com and babyuniverse.com.
The company, which traces its roots to 1948, was publicly traded from 1978 to 2005.


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It appears that the 2018 holiday shopping season was one of the best ever for PC VR headsets. The latest data released today from Valve shows VR making its single biggest leap yet, on a path toward 1 million monthly-connected headsets.
There’s now more Steam users with VR headsets connected to their PCs (0.91%) than there are Linux users running Steam (0.82%), which includes all of Valve’s ‘Steam Machine’ consoles running the company’s Linux-based SteamOS.
That’s according to the January data from Valve’s Steam Survey. Each month the company collects info from Steam users to determine some baseline statistics about
Read the full article on RoadToVR here


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Asian debut of McLaren’s new Grand Tourer, the McLaren GT
The all new McLaren GT made its Asian premiere on 28 May 2019 at the luxurious Clifford Pier, The Fullerton Bay Hotel. The cocktail evening was attended by more than 200 McLaren owners and friends of McLaren who gathered to witness what defines the McLaren GT – creating new rules in accordance with the concept of grand touring. Light weight and innovatively designed, the McLaren GT is fitted with a carbon fibre monocoque and shares the DNA of a limited production McLaren Speedtail. What amazes most about this ground-breaking model is its large stowage capacity of 570 litres that allows room for bags as well as golf clubs.
In re-imagining the spirit of traditional Grand Touring – long-distance driving in comfort, at higher speeds and with room for luggage – McLaren has also redefined the modern GT ownership experience with a car that is lighter, faster and more engaging than existing products in the segment, with greater space, comfort and usability.
Ms Renee Chua, Managing Director, McLaren Singapore said, “McLaren Singapore is extremely privileged and excited about the new Mclaren GT making its Asia debut in Singapore. This new addition will be positioned alongside the established Sports, Super and Ultimate Series families. The McLaren GT has created new rules to the concept of grand touring. We are confident that the new McLaren GT will appeal to the bold and confident individuals, who refuse to be bound by convention.”
McLaren Singapore is privileged to be the first in Asia to present the new McLaren GT to its customers.


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$FMC's revenue from FMC Agricultural Solutions for 4Q15 rose by 5% to $657MM from last year, while that from FMC Health and Nutrition slid by 10% to $172MM due to lower carrageenan and alginate sales as well as impact of weaker euro. Revenue from FMC Lithium rose 1% to $70MM, as demand remains strong and pricing trends continue to be favorable.
$NFLX a monster move, going up. Expect making some money on Monday.
$AMD down more than 6% even after posting above consensus third quarter results.
$MCD stock rose more than 2% after it posted better than expected 3Q16 results, driven by global same-store sales growth. Meanwhile, earnings and revenue were lower than last year, hurt by refranchising efforts.


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It took me a while, but I now realize that a small plastic bag labeled Men’s Health symbolizes a lot about how we Americans are struggling with a devastating obesity epidemic even when we try to eat healthier.
Immediately when I saw the bag I figured it was my kind of snack. Men’s Health was in big red letters. Manly! Healthy! In smaller red letters, it offered “9 grams of PROTEIN.” Hey, great! Not some effete veggie snack. Plus 9 vitamins and minerals. A “good source” of fiber. And since the bag was small, it couldn’t be many calories, right?
I tried a pack. Loved ‘em. Tasty, nutritious. Why? They’re nuts, pure and simple: almonds, peanuts and pistachios. But I felt a lot better about them since they were packaged as healthy.
So it goes. As we Americans continue to get fatter, we turn toward healthy foods. Or rather, foods labeled healthy. The average American consumes daily 2.6 items that are labeled healthy, says Harry Balzer, a longtime food industry analyst who creates the annual report Eating Patterns in America.
Note he didn’t say healthy foods. Raw fruits and vegetables don’t count. The 2.6 are items branded healthy: Low-fat, low-sodium, heart-friendly, low-cholesterol, “high in antioxidants” or best of all “diet.”
So why aren’t Americans getting skinnier? For one thing, we don’t get too carried away. But we don’t get too carried away. Lisa Katic, a food industry consultant, said last spring at a University of Colorado obesity conference that Kraft tried marketing “low-sodium” Triscuits. Didn’t sell well. Now Kraft sells “Triscuits with a Hint of Salt.” They sell much better, though they contain the same amount of salt as the “low-sodium” crackers.
“This has been an issue for 20 years,” Katic told me last month. “The industry wants to make changes to make food healthier, but they don’t want customers saying, ‘Oh oh, it’s not going to taste good.’ The number one reason they buy food is taste.”
Many consumers see low-something and think “you’re taking away something from me. That’s why a ‘hint of salt’ sounds more positive,” said Katic. “With some nutrients, lower is good. I don’t think ‘hint of fat’ would work.”
For all the attention we pay to healthy foods, our waistlines keep expanding. More than a third of Americans are now obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and the trend continues upward.
In some ways, we’re getting better, says Balzar, the analyst. Consumption of some sugar-laden offerings, such as carbonated drinks, has declined in recent years. Cookies are also trending down.
Katic credits Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity campaign with helping trigger Americans into eating better. “The industry has been working on this for 10 years before she came in, but she was able to kind of step in and move the needle a little bit further.”
But only a bit. Balzer says sales of “reduced fat” products have been declining in recent years. Americans instead rush toward “what’s new. The big issue today is the growing sales of ‘gluten-free.’”


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At Signtronix our goal is to provide beautiful and eye-catching signs to the small business owners of America.
Wichita, KS (PRWEB) August 31, 2012
Signtronix, the largest sign company for small businesses across America, has opened a new office in Wichita, Kansas, which will be headed by John Fore, the Regional Manager.
“I am grateful for the opportunity Signtronix has given me to build a successful region here in Wichita,” says Fore. “Roger Pelton has been monumental to my success here and I look forward to building this office with him.”
“At Signtronix our goal is to provide beautiful and eye-catching signs to the small business owners of America,” says Tom Johnson, Director of Marketing for Signtronix. “Our signs have proven again and again they help our customers grow their business by bringing in new customers and giving the essential awareness they need within their communities. We are excited to be able to help the small businesses of Wichita and the surrounding towns so they can gain the needed exposure to grow their business.”
John Fore is new to the Signtronix family and comes from a strong advertising and marketing background, so he understands the importance of constantly marketing a business in order to gain new customers.
Signtronix (http://www.signtronix.com) is the premiere sign manufacturer for small businesses across the United States. The company was founded in 1959 and has helped over half a million customers in its 50 year history. Signtronix offers many different sign products from outdoor electric signs, LED messages signs and indoor and window signs to help America’s small businesses get the exposure they need to their passing public and potential customers. Signtronix is proud to be an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) company which is owned and operated by its employees. If you wish to view Signtronix on Facebook then visit http://www.facebook.com/signtronix or you can join us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/signtronix.
To learn more about Signtronix please contact Tom Johnson Jr. at trj2 (at) signtronix (dot) com.
Other Recent Company Announcements:
Signtronix Currently Hiring in 57 Cities


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The International Trade Commission Monday will hear Microsoft Corp.'s
complaint that Motorola Inc.'s Android-based smartphones infringe on its patents, according to published reports. The ITC could bar imports of Motorola smartphones running Google Inc.
Android operating system if it rules in Microsoft's favor, the Wall Street Journal said. An initial ruling is expected later in the year. Since the case was filed, mobile communications company Motorola has split into Motorola Solutions Inc.
which mainly caters to businesses and government, and the more consumer-oriented Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.
which Google agreed to acquire for $12.5 billion last week. Microsoft shares rose 1.3% on Monday.


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Royal Crown Derby has told the Confederation of British Industry that product origin marking legislation is damaging British manufacturers.
The message was conveyed to CBI director general Richard Lambert during a recent visit to the English fine bone china manufacturer.
“Current European legislation does not demand that a product display its country of origin,” explained Royal Crown Derby chief executive Hugh Gibson. “At present, a product made overseas can be imported with no marking whatsoever, leaving consumers ignorant of the real provenance of the product they’re purchasing. This is a disadvantage for both consumers and for any company which is genuinely manufacturing exclusively in England.”
Lambert agreed that the company’s strength lay in its manufacturing roots. “What makes Royal Crown Derby distinctive is the fact that after 250 years it continues to be manufactured in England,” he said. “The wealth of skills and experience that have been developed over that time gives the brand ‘stardust’, and the company should continue to promote this to the markets that appreciate these strengths.”
Gibson asked for CBI representation on the issue.


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On the eve of a U.S. visit, Chinese President Hu Jintao made the boldest statement yet on the future of the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency, calling the current global monetary exchange system “a product of the past” while promoting his own country’s currency as a replacement.
In written answers to questions from U.S. media, Hu roundly criticized the U.S. Federal Reserve for unleashing a wave of dollars into the world, prompting sharply rising inflation in places like China and India.
He also rejected the common U.S. complaint that China holds the value of the yuan artificially low to promote exports to support its own rise.
He called on changes to the currency reserve system in place today "to fully reflect the changing status of developing countries in the world economy and finance," reported The Wall Street Journal.
As to the Fed, Hu said that an increased supply of U.S. dollars "has a major impact on global liquidity and capital flows and therefore, the liquidity of the U.S. dollar should be kept at a reasonable and stable level."
The Chinese leader went so far as to suggest an overhaul of the monetary regime in place since the Bretton Woods accord at the end of World War II, creating instead system that is more "fair, just, inclusive and well-managed."
Hu’s stance is a dangerous one to both the United States and to China, considering that a wholesale move by major foreign holders out of U.S. dollar investments would destroy trillions in their foreign reserves while thumping the U.S. economy with much higher borrowing costs.
China’s foreign reserves reached $2.85 trillion in 2010, a total heavily weighted in U.S. dollars in the form of Treasury bonds.
Oil prices, a huge component along with food in rising inflation worldwide, are seen breaking $100 a barrel soon with no sign that major products will hit the brakes. U.S. consumers could see a quick return to $4.50 a gallon gas, slowing the recovery.
Merrill Lynch commodity analyst Sabine Shels told Reuters that the breaking point for the global economy is $120 a barrel, which would mean energy had risen to 9 percent of the total economy.
"Whenever the size of the energy sector in the global economy reached 9 percent, we went into a major crisis," said Schels.
Oil touched $147 in July 2008 just as the market began its historic recent plunge.
© 2024 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.


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During the Resident Evil Showcase, Capcom announced the news that the upcoming release of Resident Evil 4 Remake will contain a free upgrade for PlayStation console owners. Among a host of interesting and long awaited Resident Evil announcements to come from the showcase, Capcom was excited to share the news of a next gen upgrade for the PlayStation version of the game.
The news that Capcom was working on a remake of Resident Evil 4 was presented at Sony’s State of Play online showcase in June 2022 and had been a long-awaited announcement for fans of the franchise. Resident Evil 4, released in 2005, has been credited with revolutionizing the first-person shooter and survival horror genres. Upon its release the game was embraced with critical and fan acclaim, winning multiple Game of the Year awards and often being considered as the greatest video game ever made. After Capcom’s undeniable success with the release of the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes it was only a matter of time before the studio went to work on the fourth remake installment.
During the Resident Evil Showcase on October 21, 2022, the Producer of Resident Evil 4, Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, began by showing off a world premiere look at impressive in game footage of the remake. The preview followed Leon S. Kennedy, donning his trademark leather jacket, investigating a mysterious rural village in search for the President’s daughter. Hirabayashi then announced that PlayStation 4 versions of the remake would receive a free upgrade to the digital version for the PlayStation 5, making the hop from last gen to next gen completely cost free. The game will, unfortunately, not be available for Xbox One consoles, but it will release on Xbox Series X/S.
Fans can choose from three unique variations of the game, the Standard, Deluxe and Collector’s edition of Resident Evil 4, which each coming with different pre-order bonuses, additional in game DLC packs and physical media, such as a Leon figure, art book and poster. Similar editions were offered with the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes, with the collector’s editions including exclusive figures of Leon, in his RPD uniform, and Jill Valentine from their respective titles.
The news of a free upgrade to the next gen version is bound to delight PlayStation owners who will feel like they are getting much more for the game’s price. Xbox One owners may feel a little left out by this announcement, especially as there will be no release for the last gen Xbox console. For some, having to upgrade to a next gen Xbox could prove to be too much of a costly move to enjoy the latest Resident Evil remake.
Resident Evil 4 launches March 24, 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Resident Evil 2 (2019): Every Weapon, Ranked


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Ensuring the security of SIM cards is crucial in today’s age of mobile Internet, however, it’s challenging. A new Verizon blockchain patent to create virtual SIMs could help.
Alibaba, the giant Chinese conglomerate has filed a blockchain patent application with the USPTO. Its proposed solution could help in managing blockchain domain names, which will help with blockchain adoption.
Trade audits are important, however, the process to conduct them is complex. tZERO, a blockchain start-up has won a blockchain patent that could ease the trade audit process significantly, thanks to the transparency and immutability offered by blockchain.
Trackers, ads, cookies, etc. regularly invade users’ privacy when they browse the Internet. A proposed privacy-focused browser as part of the IBM blockchain patents portfolio could provide welcome help.
Proof Work algorithm, used in famous cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum could be made more efficient, as the high energy consumption shows. A new Amazon blockchain proof of work patent could change that.
Micropayment is a key blockchain use case, however, the scalability remains a challenge. A new StormX micropayment blockchain patent will likely help.
Bitcoin mining is a computation-intensive operation that also incurs a high electricity cost. A new Intel blockchain patent proposes to use hardware accelerator to reduce this energy cost.
Adaptive cybersecurity solutions need more and more data, and analytics. A new blockchain cybersecurity patent owned by Forcepoint can help in managing this high volume of data.
Identity management is complex and time-consuming, however, blockchain can change that. Thomson Reuters has recently won a blockchain identity management patent, which should simplify identity management.
Accenture blockchain patent drive continues as the technology major proposes to address the blockchain networks interoperability challenges


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Each of the three ads, which launch today and were created by Abbot Mead Vickers BBDO, feature children trying to find out whether the Sainsbury's Tu clothing line can withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
In the first ad, children are shown throwing water balloons at shirts to assess whether they can withstand 100 washes.
The second features two boys in mini race cars trying to pull apart two cardigans that have been buttoned together, in order to pull-test the buttons.
The third ad shows children street dancing to test if the fabric used in the clothes is hard-wearing and can withstand being rubbed up to 100,000 times.
The creative for the ads was Mark Fairbanks from AMV BDDO, MJ Delaney directed the campaign through Moxie Pictures.
All three 20-second ads launch today across primetime slots including ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and then later during ‘Coronation Street’.
They will also appear on Channel 5 during ‘Big Brother’. The ads are expected to reach an audience of 13.3 million on the opening day alone.
The "Back Tu school" campaign will then end with a primetime slot during the first episode of ‘The X Factor’ on 31 August, which is expected to reach an audience of 13 million.
Sainsbury’s has also created a an online dance-off video, which launched two weeks ago, featuring the internet sensation B Girl Terra, a six-year-old break-dancer from Wolverhampton who received more than five million hits online for other videos.
The online ad shows children running into the school playground on the first day of term dressed in Sainsbury’s ‘Back To School’ clothing to take part on in a break dancing competition. The school bell then rings and the children dust themselves off with their uniforms still intact, before running off to class.
The creative agency for the online ad, which now has over 35,000 views, was Exposure. Tim Walker directed and produced the ad.
James Brown, the director of Sainsbury’s Tu clothing line, said: "Our uniform is rigorously lab-tested so this year we wanted children to get involved, have some fun, and put the uniforms through their paces.
"We’re glad to say that after all the action, the uniforms definitely passed the test."
He added that last year, "Back To School" sales increased by 27 per cent on the previous year and said: "We’re looking forward to another great year."
Watch the ads below:


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PARSIPPANY, NJ—When Wingate Inns was launched in 1995, there was no Wyndham Worldwide, the multi-brand global franchisor that now umbrellas the midscale product.
The all-new-construction hotel concept was birthed by HFS Inc., which at the time included among its upper-echelon executives such industry icons as John Russell and Eric Pfeffer, along with John Snodgrass, who was serving as the organization’s president/COO.
With impact from the early 1990s recession still resonating across the industry, the brand was developed largely to meet the needs of business travelers who were looking for a more streamlined, “no surprises” hotel experience that included the latest available technology bells and whistles.
The first Wingate Inn opened in July 1996 in Alpharetta, GA, and by year’s end, the brand had inked some 155 franchise agreements representing approximately 15,000 rooms, and there appeared to be no slowdown in sight.
“Since our introduction, we’ve sold more than 200 franchises, which we believe is an industry record for a new brand launch,” said then-Wingate Inns President/COO Fred Mosser in summing up year-end 1996 activity, adding: “In addition, we opened our first four hotels and positioned ourselves to enter the Canadian market.”
In the years that followed, HFS underwent its own transformation, merging with CUC International Inc. to form Cendant Corp., which was Wyndham Worldwide’s predecessor.
So, it wasn’t until 2001 that the brand made its way to the Great White North, where it opened its first hotel outside of the United States in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
In 2006, Cendant transferred all the assets of its Hospitality Services to Wyndham Worldwide, and the following year, Wingate Inns took on its new parent’s pedigree, changing its name to Wingate by Wyndham.
Since then, the brand has made a foray into Mexico, continues to open properties in Canada, and has an eye on China.
According to Larry Hambro, VP, brand operations, Wingate by Wyndham, the brand is one “that’s on a roll” in terms of growth and the guest experience.
“Wingate by Wyndham is on pace this year to have its best and most exciting year of growth in nearly 10 years,” he said.
The brand portfolio at press time consisted of 155 hotels across the U.S. (147 hotels), Canada (7 hotels) and Mexico (1 hotel). Sixty hotels are in the pipeline.
“The vast majority are new-construction, which is the primary way we’re expanding this brand and introducing it to new cities,” said Hambro. “We do look at adaptive-reuse scenarios, largely in urban and high-barrier-to-entry markets.”
Most of the brand’s growth is happening in secondary markets throughout the U.S., where the brand continues to see increased demand from business travel for midscale hotels, he noted.
“Areas in the U.S. we’re targeting include the West Coast, San Antonio, Austin, Chicagoland, Metro DC; these are the kinds of dynamic markets we want to bring our brand to,” he said.
Development in Canada also is robust. Last month, the brand opened in British Columbia, and as previously reported, Wyndham Hotel Group has a multi-unit agreement with PHI Hotel Group to develop 25 Wingates in Canada over the next 25 years.
“The brand also is headed to China for the first time with two hotels planned for Sanya and Zhangzhou. With a growing and traveling middle class in China, we expect this brand to really take off there,” said Hambro.
The hotels in the U.S. and Canada are similar in look and feel, as the brand was designed to offer a consistent experience for guests regardless of where they’re traveling, said the VP, noting the hotels are geared to maximize space and offer efficiencies to deliver greater value.
“As we expand overseas, you may see a slightly different experience in different countries. For example, our planned Wingate hotels in China will feel more resort-like to reflect the market and meet Chinese travelers’ needs and expectations,” said Hambro.
In terms of development, both domestically and internationally, Hambro said interest in the brand has been “just incredible” of late. “This week alone, I saw applications every single day from owners wanting to join the brand,” he said. “As mentioned, we see real opportunity to partner with owners and developers in China.”
Hambro emphasized that no matter where the brand expands, it will maintain its DNA in that it is geared toward giving guests everything they need to stay connected, productive and ready for whatever comes next while on the road.
“The types of travelers, demographics and reasons for travel have all become so diverse these days that being flexible and cross-trained to adapt to a wide assortment of travelers is paramount,” he stressed. “While brands have key customers like group business or leisure guests or millennials, Wingate understands that in today’s world a brand must be able to relate to all kinds of guests—and we do.”
Where once the focus was business-travel-centric, that view has expanded, Hambro observed, along with the trend toward so-called “bleisure” travel, which blurs the business and leisure lines.
“Our guests are business travelers who go from city to city on sales missions Sundays through Thursdays, or the family visiting an amusement park on an out-of-town getaway, or the group of friends getting together for their college reunion. Wingate guests are everyday travelers who want excellent service and great value, but they don’t want to sacrifice amenities or great WiFi. They also want a hotel that allows them to stay productive and connected to loved ones at home,” said the VP.
Hambro maintained Wyndham Hotel Group is “laser-focused” on quality and is always looking at the entire system across all brands, including Wingate, to ensure the quality guests and owners expect is being delivered. “Each year, we part ways with hotels that don’t meet our standards as part of our efforts to maintain a strong reputation and consistent brand experience,” said the executive.
Of the initiatives Wingate by Wyndham has put in place over the years, Hambro was asked what has resonated most with developers and owners, and what has resonated most with guests?
“We’re dedicated to supporting the franchisee community in ways that help them succeed. Of those, we’ve seen a great response from owners to Wyndham Hotel Group’s focus on offering the best training resources in the industry; revolutionizing and simplifying loyalty with our top-rated Wyndham Rewards loyalty program; and delivering best-in-class technology to help them run their businesses efficiently and effectively, including being the first of our scale to roll out a cloud-based property management system. This technology helps economy and midscale hoteliers manage daily pricing and inventory, which leads to offering the right price at the right time,” said Hambro.
For guests, he continued, it’s all about the experience. “And delivering the best possible guest experience and service is what sets Wingate apart,” Hambro contended. “They appreciate the time, energy and effort our hotel teams put into making their stays memorable and our satisfaction scores and rankings prove it. The brand has topped the midscale segment three years running in the J.D. Power North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index study, and our NPS (Net Promoter Score) is at 40, towering above the midscale segment’s average of 15.”
Similarly, the executive was asked what, in Wingate’s history, he saw as being most transformative for the brand.
“Hotel owners and developers took notice when we launched our design-driven prototype a few years back,” he said. “This stunning design, which I truly believe is the best in the segment, evolved the guest experience to better meet travelers’ needs while also lowering development costs and capturing greater efficiencies for hotel owners. When a brand can deliver a cost-effective design that doesn’t skimp on services or amenities—like Wingate has done—both developers and guests keep coming back. I believe this prototype is one of the key driving forces behind the brand’s rising guest and owner satisfaction.”
With so many hotel brands emerging since Wingate was founded, Hambro indicated “amazing service” is how the Wyndham brand stays true to its roots.
“It’s the backbone of our DNA. That being said, we’re a brand team that understands you should never be content; you can always be, and do, better. That’s what we strive to do each and every day,” he said.
From adding new services like premium high-speed WiFi to offering advanced technology, sales and marketing tools to franchisees, the VP indicated the Wingate team remains focused on the brand’s ideals, values and customers.
“It’s a daily exercise and it’s what keeps us going,” he said. “And the growth we’re seeing, coupled with the brand’s consistently high guest-satisfaction scores, prove it’s working.”
As it heads toward the quarter-century mark, Hambro said the future for Wingate by Wyndham is “all about growing the brand’s footprint while continuing to deliver best-in-class service to owners and our guests. And we’re working on integrating some very cool technologies and amenities that will really kick the brand experience into higher gear.
“Personally, I’m unbelievably excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for this brand and the potential for more and more travelers to experience everything Wingate has to offer,” Hambro said. HB


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When it comes to premium smartphone displays, the race still is to see which company will be able to deliver the best bezel-less solution. But in recent years, having a bezel-less display isn’t the only priority for a user when picking an expensive phone. Back in 2017, Razer introduced the very first smartphone with a 120Hz refresh rate. It came as a niche feature, but three years later, it is something mandatory for any company launching a flagship. In fact, this year we’re seeing even mid-range phones popping out with a high-refresh-rate, so there’s no excuse anymore if you’re developing a flagship phone. Since that last year, OnePlus decided to jump in this bandwagon with its OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro featuring 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates. Since then, all devices from the company came with at least a 90Hz refresh rate, except for the OnePlus Nord N100.
The OnePlus Nord N100 is part of the OnePlus brand new lineup of budget smartphones. With the first Nord and Nord N10 are premium mid-range phones offering 5G connectivity, the N100 is a true budget device with average specifications and a competitive price tag. The company unveiled the N100 in October alongside the N10. While the latter has a 90Hz refresh rate panel, the former has been described with a standard 60Hz panel. But this does seem to be the case after further inspection.
The N100 seems to be a tweaked version of the Oppo A53 and A53s. If you’re unaware, Oppo and OnePlus are part of the same conglomerate of BBK Electronics as well as Realme and Vivo. It’s common to see these companies sharing technologies and, in certain occasions, designs. The fact is that both Oppo A53 and A53s come with an HD+ panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. Oppo is trying to expand the availability of those panels, even in devices with HD+ resolution and that is a good thing. The question is why the OnePlus N100 that is a close sibling didn’t come with this 90Hz rate?
Gizchina News of the week
The OnePlus Nord N100 actually has a 90Hz display
Well, OnePlus finally bought an answer to this. The company confirmed that, in fact, the OnePlus Nord N100 has a 90Hz display. The Refresh Rate mode is also available in the phone Display Settings, but the default option is set at 60Hz.
AndroidAuthority was the first to spot the 90Hz panel. After sharing the discovery, OnePlus retracted its previous statements about the phone shipping with a standard 60Hz panel. Now the company says that “N100 is equipped with a 90Hz display.” This is pretty strange, right? According to the company, the refresh rate will depend on settings, applications used, and processing limitations.
OnePlus is known for shipping features that aren’t enabled by default. Perhaps, the company wasn’t confident about the processing power of the Snapdragon 460. Maybe this chipset isn’t capable of providing a smooth enough experience all the time if you’re on a 90Hz mode. Even though its sister company, Oppo, is pretty confident that it does a good job.
In the end, it still is a pretty confusing situation and somewhat unexpected. The marketing team would love to tease this feature before the availability of the OnePlus Nord N100.


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The business wheels continue churning in Malibu, as a couple of new restaurants have appeared on the scene, medical marijuana may soon make its return to Malibu and Lily’s Cafe and Pastries hopes to begin selling beer and wine.
Commission still debating new pot shops
Due to a late-night time crunch, a Sept. 2 hearing by the Planning Commission on two new medical marijuana dispensaries looking to open in central Malibu was put on hold until Sept. 15.
However, it appears only one of the shops will emerge victorious as city law stipulates that dispensaries must be at least 1,000 feet apart.
“Since the two projects are within 1,000 feet of each other, only one can be approved,” planning director Joyce Parker-Bozylinski said in an email.
One dispensary, the 99 High Tide Collective, is aiming to open upstairs in the same building where Zuma Jay’s surf shop is located at 22775 Pacific Coast Highway. But some have complained that the dispensary would be out of ADA compliance without an elevator or ramp to access the second level. The other dispensary would be located in the building of an abandoned gas station near Kentucky Fried Chicken at 22729 PCH.
The Planning Commission meets on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Malibu City Hall.
The Ranch at Solstice Canyon open for business
The former BeauRivage site has been revitalized and reopened as The Ranch at Solstice Canyon, nearly two years after the building was ravaged by a fire.
Helmed by Garner Gerson, the same person behind Malibu Cafe at Calamigos Ranch, the site has been broken up into four areas: a roadhouse-style dining room, a craft beer tasting room, a bar area and, lastly, a clothing boutique.
Lily’s applies to sell beer and wine
Lily’s, a staple of Point Dume Village widely beloved by breakfast-burrito consumers, also has an application in with the city to sell beer and wine, and extend its operating hours from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Lily’s Café has been a favorite Malibu landmark for over 23 years. Lily arrived in town when she was 18 years old along with her husband, Abel, and her daughter, Lindsi. Taking ownership of what was originally Sten’s Pastries, they turned the establishment into one of the most popular cafes in town. Regular customers have been showing up each morning for decades.
The item is up for discussion on Oct. 6 at the Malibu Planning Commission meeting.
Le Pain Quotidien seeks operating and liquor permits
Malibu Village may soon be welcoming a brand new tenant, popular chain restaurant Le Pain Quotidien.
Representatives have filed an application for a conditional use permit (CUP) for the restaurant, including the sale of wine, beer and spirits and the addition of a 325-square-foot patio for outdoor dining.
The application, filed in January, will be considered at the Oct. 6 Malibu Planning Commission meeting.
Le Pain Quotidien is a “fast casual” restaurant with current locations open in 17 countries including the U.S. There are several locations operating in the greater LA area, including nearby Calabasas and Santa Monica. Founded in 1990, the restaurant serves bakery products as well as organic beverages, soups, quiches, salads and desserts, according to its website.
Although the application includes a request for a license to serve alcohol, its branches do not include a traditional bar or operate
late at night. The Calabasas location closes daily at 8 p.m. while the Santa Monica location closes at 7 p.m.


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Report: Health and wellness spells opportunity in today’s economy
NEW YORK — With renewed consumer confidence converting more shoppers into buyers, there is greater opportunity for companies in the health and wellness space, noted a report titled "The Why Behind the Buy Spring 2013," which recently was released by Acosta Sales and Marketing. Even as U.S. obesity rates continue to rise, more consumers are looking to exercise regularly and eat healthy, according to the consumer poll.
As many as 50% of shoppers indicated they read nutrition labels “most of the time” or “always," Acosta reported, though 86% acknowledged indulging in foods they know are unhealthy. "Confusion about health ratings and the propensity of consumers to use the Internet to find information about healthy eating gives CPG companies and retailers the opportunity to help shoppers solve the health and wellness puzzle," Acosta noted.
Even though retailers’ food rating systems, like Guiding Stars and Nutrition IQ, represent a simplified method of rating foods based on their nutritional value, these programs have very little recognition among shoppers, Acosta added. "Only 8% reported being aware of such programs. There’s interest in these programs among some shoppers, especially U.S. Hispanics — 31% indicated they would find the rating systems ‘extremely useful’ and 35% ‘very useful.’”
At WorkforVert.com Health and Wellness means a lifetime of performing at your potential, which includes minimizing the likelihood of injury and challenging yourself to embark on a life mental and physical performance.
Natural medicine education on the rise
Along with the rise in available consultative pharmacy services being provided today, pharmacy education opportunities that address natural health-related areas are increasing as well, enabling health practitioners to have a more robust conversation around a patient’s health.
One-of-5 botanical research centers supported by the National Institutes of Health, the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy recently accepted a five-year, $2.1 million grant to train graduate and postdoctoral students in natural product drugs and dietary supplements. The grant, funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, is in support of studying the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements and for the discovery of new therapeutic agents from natural product sources.
“In terms of botanical supplements and all other areas of pharmacognosy and natural products research, there’s renewed interest,” observed Richard van Breemen, director of the UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research. “Those few schools that have always carried out botanical research are enjoying more exciting research and activity than they have in decades.”
The UIC research center does help inform the educational curriculum for pharmacists at the college, van Breemen said, especially with regard to botanical-drug interactions, which is another research track pursued by UIC. “We chose [that track of research] because we thought it was an emerging issue in 2010,” van Beemen said. “NIH programs officers and others are recognizing that [botanical dietary supplements] is an important area.”
The lectures delivered by UIC’s botanical researchers are popular among pharmacy students, van Breemen added. “Our courses are all team-taught,” he said. “We’re able to give some real experiential examples — it’s more interesting to students. … Then, during the question and answer period, we can talk about our experience and our own research.”
Already, the majority of community pharmacists are talking to their pharmacy patients about supplements overall, including botanical supplements. In fact, according to a survey conducted on behalf of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, 93% of pharmacists recommend supplements to the patients they counsel.
Pharmacists also noted in the survey that when they did speak to customers about supplements, two-thirds reported that customers had initiated the conversation. With regard to which supplements pharmacists were most often asked about, the top three mentioned by respondents were omega-3/fish oil (mentioned by 73%), calcium (73%) and glucosamine/chondroitin (70%).
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Four middle-schoolers win first-ever Alka-Seltzer Rocket Contest
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — A team of middle school students from Philip G. Vroom School in Bayonne, N.J., took the top prize in Bayer’s first-ever Alka-Seltzer Rocket Contest at Liberty Science Center with a rocket that soared to 15.3 ft., Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care announced Monday.
Former astronaut Mae Jemison, the competition’s master of ceremonies, joined with executives from Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care as they awarded the $1,000 prize and first-place certificate to eighth graders Bryant Davis, Fady Rezkalla, David Markos and Anthony Toledo. They were joined by partner organizations Liberty Science Center and Stevens Institute of Technology.
Jemison, Bayer’s national spokesperson for its Making Science Make Sense program, led more than 500 potential New Jersey rocket scientists from some 30 middle schools around the state.
“As a science-based company with a rich history supporting experiential science education and fostering science literacy for all students, Bayer’s Alka-Seltzer Rocket Contest is the latest demonstration of this long-standing commitment,” stated William Dodero, VP and assistant general counsel, Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care. “The contest shows students, teachers and parents just how fun and exciting science is, and also reinforces science as something that is all around us in everyday life — whether it’s in the kitchen or medicine cabinet, the schoolyard, science center or the launch pad.”
The contest is part of Bayer’s MSMS program, which advances science literacy across the United States through inquiry-based, hands-on science learning, employee volunteerism and a national public education campaign led by Jemison.
“These students are America’s next generation of inventors and innovators — aerospace engineers, astronauts and scientists — something they cannot fully realize without the kind of quality … education that builds a foundation to support and encourage ongoing science learning,” Jemison said. “Bayer’s Making Science Make Sense program promotes this critical learning both inside and outside the classroom with hands-on curricular enrichment programs like this Alka-Seltzer Rocket Contest.”
Bayer, Liberty Science Center and Stevens also awarded second- and third-place prizes. The team from Wallace Primary School in Hoboken was named second-place winner with a $750 prize, and the third-place winning team from Clifton Avenue Grade School in Lakewood received $500.
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China’s slowing growth fits successful transition economy formulaPUBLISHED: 20 Aug 2013 00:05:44 | UPDATED: 20 Aug 2013 14:22:02PUBLISHED: 20 Aug 2013 PRINT EDITION: 20 Aug 2013
Despite slowing growth figures China’s contribution to global economic growth has hardly diminished because of its rising share of global output.
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Influencer, makeup artist, and blogger Huda Kattan founded the color cosmetics brand Huda Beauty in 2013 along with Mona Kattan, Alya Kattan, and Christopher Goncalo.
Huda Kattan, who has over 27 million social media followers, ranks among Forbes top 2017 influencers in beauty and as one of TIME’s most influential people on the internet.
Describing the size and scope of her makeup brand, the TSG press release explains, “her collection began with false eyelashes and has since expanded to include a full range of products with record-breaking launches in retail outlets including ShopHudaBeauty.com, Sephora, Sephora in JC Penney, Harrods, Selfridges, and Cult Beauty.”
The investment from TSG will allow Huda Beauty to expand its product portfolio and strategically improve the brand’s global reach. “TSG understands exactly who we are as a brand and values our authenticity and close relationship with our customer,” says Huda Kattan in the release.
“Huda Beauty has evolved from our beginnings as a nimble startup, and now enjoys sustained, exponential growth and we trust TSG to help us build on this momentum by expanding product assortments and distribution in the most thoughtful way,” she says.
The team at TSG, indeed, seems to share these objectives for the brand: “Huda Beauty’s unrivaled digital reach, global influence and best-in-class product offering help women worldwide look and feel their best every day. We are thrilled to join forces with Huda Beauty, which is poised for significant global expansion, fueled by Huda’s passion and commitment to her ever-expanding consumer community,” Hadley Mullin, senior managing director at TSG, tells the press.
In this age of entrepreneurship, business incubators and brand mentoring initiatives are gaining popularity. Sephora, for example, is even now assessing applicants for the third cohort of its Accelerate program for women beauty entrepreneurs. (Read more on that from Cosmetics Design here.)
And Unilever’s recent acquisition deal with Sundial Brands includes a provision to “launch a New Voices Fund ‘to empower women of color entrepreneurs,’…The fund will open with a $50m investment; and there are plans to scale the New Voices Fund to $100m with outside investments,” as Cosmetics Design reported.
And now Huda Kattan, perhaps the consummate social media community manager in this industry, is poised to pay it forward as well. And in doing so, she’s helping to redefine the beauty business community. “I am also grateful that this new partnership enables me to start something I am excited about – the creation of HB Investments, a fund that will facilitate new beauty and wellness businesses,” she tells the press.
“Our program will be called Huda Beauty Angels and we will lend seed money, mentoring and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, because we know that, without a plan, money does not guarantee a successful business.”


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Premier motorcycle ride-hailing service in the country Angkas has made quite a buzz at the recently concluded MotoShow 2023.
Spearheaded by the company’s CEO and co-founder, George Royeca, Angkas showcased its latest features and opened up more opportunities for aspiring partner riders.
With the event drawing in a considerable crowd of motorcycle enthusiasts, Royeca took to social media to invite Angkas supporters and followers to join in the excitement. In a bid to entice more participants and attendees, the Angkas head even shared a promo code on Facebook.
At the show, Angkas took the opportunity to demonstrate why it remains at the forefront of the industry, providing more opportunities for aspiring partner riders. The company’s presence was undoubtedly a highlight of the event, cementing its status as the go-to platform for hassle-free and efficient motorcycle transportation.


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A source has informed the Irish Farmers Journal that despite recent calls for slurry bags to be VAT exempt for unregistered farmers, the Department of Finance has confirmed that changes will not be made.
Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill had called on the Department of Finance to review the VAT status of slurry bags.
Deputy Cahill had told the Dáil that while certain items were VAT reclaimable for unregistered farmers, slurry bags did not qualify, as they were seen as a mobile item.
"Anyone who would see a slurry bag that is put into operation would know that it is not possible to move it," stated Cahill. The general rule of thumb regarding VAT exemption is that mobile items are not eligible, with slurry bags viewed as mobile.
The above follows on from recent confirmation from the Department of Agriculture that slurry bags would be eligible for TAMS III aid under geo-membrane lined stores, which will require planning permission in order to receive TAMS aid.
Deputy Cahill had called on the Department of Finance to declare slurry bags VAT exempt in order to remove barriers to creating additional slurry storage on farms.
"In an era when we are trying to increase slurry capacity on farms, to put this extra cost on farmers is just not acceptable," he said.
Minister of State Malcolm Noonan informed Deputy Cahill that the VAT treatment of goods and services is subject to European Union law, with which Irish law must comply.


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It truly is been a even though considering that we have had a Fleets update, but nowadays, Twitter announced that its Stories-like, vertical presentation-aligned, disappearing written content possibility is getting expanded to customers in Japan, marking the future phase of its broader roll-out.
— Twitter Japan (@TwitterJP) November 10, 2020
Fleets – which Twitter has described is not exactly like Tales – has presently been rolled out to people in Brazil, Italy, India and South Korea – although as pointed out, it has been a though since we have experienced an update on the expansion.
Twitter past announced an enlargement of the software in late June, even though with all the added operate going on around the US election, it could have put Fleets on the back again-burner for a bit, in get to assure it experienced all its bases protected in this respect.
Japan is an vital current market for Twitter. The corporation serves a lot more than 51 million consumers in the nation – second only to the US in phrases of whole Twitter users – which signifies that it is really truly putting Fleets to the examination this time close to, in a substantially greater user industry than the recent regions in which the alternative is accessible.
That could imply that Fleets is having close to a comprehensive launch. No matter whether that matters to you or not is tricky to say, as we will not know how well known the selection will be until it really is out there. But Twitter says that Fleets has noticed very good reaction thus far, and it can be even experimenting with new resources, like collaborative Fleets, in line with consumer need.
Some folks, of system, will be vital of the selection, presented that it can be a duplicate of Stories on Snapchat, Fb, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. But as with the information feed, Stories have turn into a prevalent, habitual possibility which customers align with, so it helps make perception for all platforms to get involved, and give resources that cater to consumer need.
It may well come to feel significantly less primary, but if people are hunting to connect in this way, the platforms require to respond, and with Stories getting well known among youthful audiences, in distinct, it could very well be the way of the future, the upcoming phase soon after the information feed (if it really is not by now).
That’s also why you happen to be heading to preserve looking at other platforms searching to tap into the TikTok presentation style with their new movie capabilities. TikTok is massively well-liked, and as end users turn out to be extra accustomed to speaking in that type, other platforms will appear to align to cater to demand from customers, and retain folks interacting in their applications.
So Fleets is a different Tales solution, but it could perfectly be a precious 1 – and no matter if you like it or not, if people today use it, it’ll be a good results.
And if your audience utilizes it, it could nicely close up remaining a achievements for your enterprise.


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NEW YORK (CBS/AP) — A criminal investigation is under way after a video surfaced online showing a man urinating on a Kellogg factory assembly line, the company said.
The company says it learned of the video Friday and immediately altered law enforcement authorities and regulators. A criminal investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation, the company said.READ MORE: San Francisco Man Pleads Guilty To Abusing Puppy Causing Multiple Fractures
A representative for the FDA did not immediately respond when asked for comment.
The graphic video shows a man urinating on an assembly line, then panning to a sign with the Kellogg logo. Kellogg said its own investigation determined the video was recorded at its Memphis, Tennessee factory in 2014.READ MORE: Cal Football Coach Justin Wilcox Signs Contract Extension Through 2027
“It is important to note that any products that could be potentially impacted would be very limited and past their expiration dates,” the company said. It says the products that were potentially impacted include Rice Krispies Treats, granola clusters used in some products and puffed rice treats that it no longer makes.
“We are outraged by this completely unacceptable situation, and we will work closely with authorities to prosecute to the full extent of the law,” the company said.
Kellogg said it is still working to identify the individual in the video.MORE NEWS: Gun Store Shutdowns In California During Early Days Of Pandemic Ruled Illegal By 9th Circuit Court
© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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We have plenty of food to feed everyone. This fact has remained true for well over a decade. Oxfam reports that we create about 20% more calories than what every human requires for survival.
What prevents us from making sure that no one goes hungry? Our supply chains are nowhere near where they must be to distribute food.
When COVID lockdowns happened in spring 2020, the entire restaurant industry food chain all but disappeared. With most suppliers not having access to grocery counters, shortages began appearing across the United States.
With a winter surge of the coronavirus expected, can we predict a similar outcome?
What Are the Challenges of Winter Food Distribution?
The federal government has offered loan programs and economic recovery stimulus to bolster the economy. These measures helped many small businesses survive the lockdown months.
As we’ve learned more about how the coronavirus spreads, we see the importance of outdoor dining and social distancing. With the weather turning colder this winter, restaurants may have fewer serving opportunities. That means less revenue – and lower food availability.
Should restaurants try to hold on through a winter where influenza, COVID-19, and more potential lockdown threats could shut them down? Is now the time to start cutting losses?
Most food servers (except grocers) have been losing money all summer. Many choose to throw in the towel because if it was that bad during the warm months, how much worse could it get with cold weather?
The First Businesses to Fail Were Already Struggling
Food supplies became low because restaurant suppliers weren’t providing products to grocery stores. That avenue has a lower profit margin, which makes it uninviting for a conversion.
When lockdowns happened in April, food producers and distributors expected a return to normalcy by the fall. Now that we’re here, it is clear to see that we’re nowhere near that outcome.
The first businesses to close were the ones already struggling. Those who wanted to retire or would have gone bankrupt in a couple of years went next. Now, the ones dependent on tourism are closing.
It is the established brands that survive. Companies like Douglas Laboratories, Host Defense, and Jarrow Formulas follow the same recipe of successful restaurants. When your brand stays at the top of the mind, people will want your products.
People will stay home if another COVID surge happens. That means even more pressure on restaurants and distributors to meet food needs. If everyone goes back to the grocery store, we may find even more challenges waiting for us in the months ahead.


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The Motor Ombudsman wins TyreSafe Online and Social Media award
The Motor Ombudsman won the 2019 TyreSafe Online and Social Media award. The tyre safety charity’s annual prize giving ceremony, which was recently held at Staffordshire’s St George’s Park, the home of the National Football Centre, acknowledges businesses and individuals, across eleven different categories, who have made a significant contribution to raising awareness about tyre safety-related issues during the past 12 months.
The Motor Ombudsman was presented with the highly sought-after trophy by sponsor, Hankook Tyre (UK) Ltd, and Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, in recognition of the body’s winter tyres campaign, launched in the run-up to the 2018 Christmas holiday getaway. It followed the findings of a Motor Ombudsman-commissioned YouGov poll, which revealed that nearly 90 per cent of UK motorists were not familiar with the differing rules governing this type of tyre when driving in Continental Europe. The study also showed that only one in 10 people knew that they would need to change their car tyres to be legally compliant at their destination. The results of the research were widely publicised in the press, whilst the associated posts on social media equally reached a large audience.
To help plug this “gap” in consumer knowledge, The Motor Ombudsman developed new online resources for consumers, including a frequently asked questions page (TheMotorOmbudsman.org/winter) which explains the benefits of winter tyres versus summer equivalents, as well as the merits of cold weather accessories, such as snow chains and socks. In addition, the informative and narrated “Getting to grips with winter tyres” video was also introduced on The Motor Ombudsman’s website and on YouTube to take consumers on a journey through the world of winter tyres, in an engaging and non-technical way. Stills from the animation, including stopping distances in the snow, how to find a garage to have winter tyres fitted, as well as a map of where they are mandatory when across the English Channel, were also shared on Facebook and Twitter to reinforce the importance of safety when on the road.
Explaining the decision to award the Online and Social Media trophy to The Motor Ombudsman, from the shortlist of four organisations, Zoe Baldwin, marketing manager of Hankook Tyre (UK) Ltd, explained:
“The judges had a tough time in separating the entries in this category as they were of a very high standard. However, the winner’s campaign was outstanding and highly visible, specifically targeted at driver education, and had a very professional appearance to their materials. It’s good to have The Motor Ombudsman on board to help raise awareness of issues across the sector.”
Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, added: “The role of online channels is crucial in spreading the tyre safety message and provides a unique means of engaging with audiences.”
Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “We are extremely proud to have won the award, and it is an honour to be recognised for our hard work that went into the campaign. The subject of consumer knowledge on winter tyres when driving abroad hadn’t been widely publicised, and the results of our study clearly demonstrated that further education was needed in this area. This gave us an opportunity to introduce new resources to enhance the knowledge of motorists on this topic and to underline the importance of using a garage which is accredited to a recognised Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair, for both winter maintenance and all year round. Going forward, tyre safety will continue to play an important role in our marketing programmes, and we will continue to share the valuable guidance issued by TyreSafe.”


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Hyundai, Kia vehicles' thefts in US soared last year. Here's why
- As per an analysis, many 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models lack electronic immobilizers, which make them easier to steal.
While there are many vehicles in the US that are quite popular with the thieves such the Dodge Chargers and Challengers, in the recent time vehicles from Hyundai and Kia have been giving them tough competition, CarScoops reported. As per 2021 analysis from Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) insurance, “Among 2015-19 model year vehicles, theft claims were nearly twice as common for Hyundai and Kia vehicles, as a group, as for all other manufacturers."
The analysis highlights that many 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models lack electronic immobilizers, which make them easier to steal. This is because the Korean automakers were late to the party while immobilizers were standard on 96% of 2015 model year vehicles from other manufacturers, but found on just 26% of Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
In one of the earliest-affected states, Wisconsin, the automakers' overall losses from Hyundai-Kia thefts and amount paid on theft claims per insured vehicle year soared to more than 30 times the 2019 level. Some of these vehicles may be targeted because they're fast or worth a lot of money while others are targeted because they are easy to steal, as per HLDI Senior Vice President Matt Moore.
A Hyundai spokesperson noted that the company is concerned about the recent rise in thefts, but also noted, “all of our vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Unfortunately, our vehicles have been targeted in a coordinated effort on social media".
A Kia spokesperson said, "Criminals are seeking vehicles solely equipped with a steel key and turn-to-start ignition system" and “the majority of Kia vehicles in the United States are equipped with a key fob and push-button-to-start system" that makes them harder to steal.
Additionally, Kia and Hyundai owners can That being said, there are things Hyundai and Kia owners can do to lessen the chances of becoming a victim. If possible, park in a locked garage or a well lit area. Owners can also purchase steering wheel locks, such as The Club, or aftermarket immobilizers.


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Caesarea, 4 October 2022
SMARTECH and Siempelkamp are proud to announce their collaboration to ignite a manufacturing revolution with artificial intelligence for the wood-based panel industry. Siempelkamp, one of the world's leading providers of wood panel manufacturing lines, and SMARTECH, an acclaimed and innovative hi-tech company, will partner together to bring a major transformation to the manufacturers of engineered wood panels.
“Siempelkamp is a global leader in supplying press lines to the wood-based panel industry and we are excited to be working together. Technology is the key for better growth and a better future. The synergy between Siempelkamp and SMARTECH will drive the market with a game-changing solution.” says Hanoch Magid, CEO of SMARTECH.
"We believe our collaboration with SMARTECH will drive the next generation of wood-based panel manufacturing. We look forward to working together to bring to market the most cutting-edge technology with a massive impact for our customers," says Gregor Bernardy, Head of MES and Industrial IT Solutions, Siempelkamp Logistics and Service GmbH.
SMARTECH is a pioneering hi-tech company that provides game-changing technologies to the global manufacturing industry. SMARTECH revolutionizes traditional manufacturing by unleashing the latent potential of raw materials and data, and helps industries upgrade their plants to smart factories by transforming existing production lines into high-performing, autonomous, data-driven and sustainable assets. We spark new possibilities for manufacturing with intelligence.
SMARTECH, Manewfacturing™ Technologies, is headquartered in Israel, with a presence in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America. For more information about SMARTECH solutions, visit www.smartech.com.
As a technology provider for machinery and equipment, casting and nuclear technology the Siempelkamp group has an international footprint. We are a system supplier of press lines and complete plants for the wood-based panel industry, metal forming, as well as the composites and rubber industries. With one of the world’s largest hand-molding foundries, we manufacture large cast parts at our Krefeld location; these have a total unit weight of up to 320 t. We also provide transport and storage containers for radioactive waste, and specialize in the dismantling of nuclear plants. The wood-based panel industry forms one of our central markets and our core competence: We cover the entire production process for wood-based panels – from round log and raw material handling up to storage and handling solutions for the finished wood-based panels as well as new approaches of machine learning. We provide our customers with comprehensive after sales & service throughout the entire life cycle of their plant.
For media and press inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Nathalie Vaknin, VP Marketing
Phone: +972 54 760 7024