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xPlore’s Canadian business is benefiting from this spring’s acquisition of Motion Computing, which brings a broader portfolio, a larger partner community, and an effective distribution network
Austin-based Xplore Technologies, which built its business around highly rugged tablet computers, has launched the XSLATE B10. The new offering is a first for the company, in that it shows the influence of the lighter, sleeker Motion Computing offerings which xPlore acquired earlier this year.
Before Xplore acquired Motion in April, 2015, their niche was the extreme end of the rugged market, and while they had several Windows and Android offerings, their iX104 was the biggest beast in the rugged space.
“I called the iX104 the ‘6 by 6’ because it weighs almost six pounds and costs almost $CDN 6000,” said Scott Ball, xPlore’s Canadian country manager, who had previously been Motion’s Canadian country manager for over a decade, and who moved to xPlore with the Motion acquisition. “It is the most rugged tablet in the world, fully submersible, highly configurable, and field upgradeable.” It’s popular in defense industries, including the U.S. Defense Department’s Drone program.
While xPlore has focused on the most rugged end of the market, Motion, which historically shipped many more devices and had higher revenues, has sold machines which were less rugged, but also less expensive, and as such addressed a broader market.
“We didn’t compete with each other very much, because they were so ultra-rugged and we were more in the middle,” Ball said. “If someone wanted xPlore they likely wouldn’t be interested in Motion, and vice versa. xPlore’s volumes weren’t near Motion’s, in either dollars or transactions. xPlore was also much more into large projects, with customers like Verizon, AT&T, and Hydro One.”
xPlore’s acquisition of the larger company came about because it was able to take advantage of a huge problem Motion had forced on it by a supplier.
“Motion had been profitable, but supply chain issues developed suddenly with a display manufacturer who shuttered their factory with no notice,” Ball said. “Motion’s F5 tablet was 65 per cent of total worldwide revenues and we couldn’t ship it for six months. That’s when xPlore came in to seize a great opportunity.”
The combination of xPlore and Motion makes xPlore the second largest rugged tablet vendor in the world, behind only Panasonic. The Motion branding remains, although they are now branded as Motion by xPlore.
Ball said that the new product, the XSLATE B10, is really the first hybrid product since the acquisition, which represents Motion influence on xPlore design.
“It is a good example of the meshing created by the merger,” he said. “While the xPlore and Motion lines were very different before, the B10 launch crosses over into both areas and does make us much closer. The B10 is very compact and very rugged. Weighing 2.5 pounds, it’s lightweight for a rugged tablet, and is sexier than past xPlore products, with traditional Motion features like great touchscreen and stylus support.”
The B10 has a 10.1” WXGA Rugged IPS LCD Backlit Display. The Intel Core i5 CPU is standard, but is upgradeable to an i7 vPro CPU. It features eight ports, four sealed from behind, and an IP65 rating. Options include an integrated barcode scanner, removable companion keyboard, office or vehicle docking stations, kickstand, a second hot swappable battery to extend system runtime to 20 hours and 2-bay or 6-bay simultaneous battery charging options.
The B10 fits into the xPlore portfolio underneath the iX104.
“Because it’s a smaller form factor and lighter weight, we expect it will have much broader appeal than the iX104,” Ball said. “It’s still vertically focused, on the utility markets, oil and gas and telco. AT&T has already taken the first quantity.”
Ball also indicated that the B10 will be the first xPlore product to go through distribution.
”Very few of XPlore’s sales were direct — even AT&T was done through a reseller partner — but they didn’t have major distribution partners because they had a small enough number that they could handle them direct,” he said. Motion’s distribution partners in Canada are SYNNEX, BlueStar, and Filbitron, a niche player who has been a tablet specialist for over 20 years. These are now xPlore’s distributors in Canada as well.
Not surprisingly, only six months after the acquisition, the integration of the two companies is not yet close to completion.
“We have been working really hard to get the integration done, but it won’t be done overnight,” Ball said. “Motion partners are still Motion partners and have access to xPlore products, and xPlore partners are still xPlore partners and have access to Motion products.”
Ball said there are over 80 combined Motion and xPlore partners in Canada.
“Most of them are Motion, but some of these were xPlore partners as well,” he said. “While the two companies didn’t really compete at the customer level, there was some crossover at the channel level.”
Ball said that in the Canadian market, partners are pushing to penetrate the manufacturing sector more deeply.
“Some companies there like Bombardier use us as part of a drive to automate the whole shop floor environment, and we see good opportunities there,” he said. “We also see them in distribution and warehousing, where they are replacing fixed mounted computers on forklifts with tablets.”
Despite the collapse in world oil prices, Ball said oil and gas remains a good market.
“They are hurting, but they are focusing their attention where they can save dollars, and an automation project which will save them money is something they will still invest in,” he said.
While Panasonic is number one in the space, Ball said that his main competition isn’t them, but pen and paper.
“To get value out of a tablet, people need to get around and use it,” he said. “If they just write things up in the truck, they don’t really need a rugged tablet.”
He also noted that Microsoft coming out with Surface has been good for Motion and xPlore’s business.
“Surface has been good, because it exposes more people to tablets and gives an understanding of what the technology is all about,” he said. “They then find that durability is an issue. So they go through a number of steps on someone else’s dime we used to have to take them through!”
The Xplore XSLATE B10 lists at $USD 2,800.


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It’s no secret that YouTube has been struggling to create a viable business model. The network is extremely popular obviously and packed with user-generated videos plus a smattering of “professional” videos including music videos. In 2006 YouTube struck deals with several music companies to license their music content to YouTube both in hopes of creating revenue but it hasn’t measured up.
Now Google which owns YouTube is working with Universal Music Group to create Vevo a new music hub on YouTube (and its own site vevo.com) to generate money from ad revenues from “professional” music videos. The idea was said to actually come from U2’s Bono. If it works Vevo would compete with music videos on MySpace. Currently some advertisers are quite tentative about advertising on YouTube because basically the content is not controlled. Advertisers are far more comfortable with professional videos -which is where Google/YouTube and Universal are hoping to make their money by launching Vevo later this year.
Some of this thinking came from the relative success of Hulu a hub that hosts NBC and Fox movies and television shows and generates ad revenue. But of course Hulu isn’t nearly as large as YouTube. One reason being that Hulu is not made of user-generated content which frankly is one of the main attractions of YouTube -for fans watching and those creating homemade videos for others to watch.
Interestingly this all goes back to the concept of trying to make money from the old-school model of advertising. Not to say that some money can be generated from ads but we predict that the real revenue source will end up coming from the roll-out of Vevo’s merch offerings and eventual ticket sales.

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3M Co. announced plans to buy a small medical device company that makes disinfected IV port caps and other products that come in contact with patients' bloodstreams, officials announced Thursday.
Terms were not disclosed.
By acquiring San Diego-based Ivera Medical Corp., 3M gains 60 employees and a company that makes disinfected medical products sold under the Curos brand.
Ivera, which generates about $30 million in annual revenue, is expected to mesh well with 3M's Tegaderm line of antimicrobial IV dressings.
"Our products play an important role in helping to reduce complications for patients with IV catheters," said Bill Cruise, general manager for 3M's critical and chronic care solutions division. "Together with Ivera, we can bring a broader array of vascular access solutions to move health care systems worldwide."
Infection prevention is a fast growing business and worrisome topic in the medical world as hospitals race to stomp out insidious post-surgical infections and other ailments that give hospitals a bad name and spur countless lawsuits each year.
Market research firm Freedonia Group estimates that the U.S. infection prevention market is poised to grow from $19.5 billion today to $24 billion in 2018.
Such numbers are not lost on 3M. Once its acquisition is completed, Ivera will join 3M's health care business, which generated $5.6 billion in revenue last year, up from $4.5 billion in 2010. Operating profits jumped to $1.7 billion last year, from $1.4 billion in 2010.
3M manufactures medical bandages, wraps, tapes, medicine patches and hundreds of other products. It successfully increased its health care presence in developing countries.
That global outreach proved particularly appealing to Ivera, said the company's CEO, Bob Rogers. "3M's great products, ample resources and worldwide presence … will accelerate global acceptance and growth of the Curos brand here in the United States and worldwide," he said.


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A Steveston restaurant has kicked off a new “Hong Kong Concept Café”, which will operate one day a week for the next few months.
The Chef’s Playground Eatery, on No. 1 Road just south of Moncton Street, announced the opening on social media last week.
Starting today, April 24, the eatery’s Hong Kong café will be on offer every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Aug. 28.
Among the items on the new Hong Kong menu are empress peanut butter toast, Hong Kong café breakfast (including honey soy sausages) and deep fried lava French toast.
A number of special drinks will also be on offer, including the likes of Hong Kong milk tea, Hong Kong coffee and yeunyeung, which is a blend of the aforementioned tea and coffee.


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The MTGO economy has undergone a whirlwind of changes since the introduction of Arena. In his quarterly report for Spring, Matt examines the speculative strategies that remain viable.
Eddie has decided to take a break from writing, but not before leaving us with one more article. Today he discusses Mythic Championship Cleveland and the London mulligan rule.
This week, Eddie takes a deeper look into how Ravnica Allegiance is starting to affect all formats, along with his resulting portfolio updates.
Ultimate Masters has hit the market and there’s already been a lot of movement. The prices of the reprints dropped as they usually do when a set first hits the market. But it seems like the prices have started to rebound a lot quicker this time around. There’s a slight possibility they could drop again […]
Magic Online has a problem. A card value problem. In a recent Channel Fireball article, Florian Koch showed just how much card prices have fallen over the past few years: That’s right. To own a playset of the cheapest version of every Magic card ever printed on MTGO would have cost you roughly $28,000 in […]


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He was commenting on the company's third-quarter results, which showed revenue of $19.8bn, down 2% year-on-year and profits of $1.7bn (£1.1bn) from ongoing business.
"The biggest change that we've seen is that customers are now spending much more time analysing their IT investments. They're taking a lot more time to make sure that they are going to receive the returns based on the investment. It is elongating the sales cycles," Joyce said.
He described the market as "one of the toughest operating and spending environments we have ever seen.
"We began this year cautiously optimistic about the economy and the overall information technology industry. But almost immediately, we saw the economy slowing, and customers rethinking their information technology spending priorities."
IBM Global Services, the company's most profitable division, posted 2% revenue growth, to $8.9bn, in the third quarter, ended on 30 September.
Software revenue dropped 3% year-over-year, to $3.1bn. Revenue from IBM's DB2 database software grew 2% and revenue from its WebSphere portfolio grew 27%. Revenue declines in the Tivoli and Lotus units, and from operating system software, dragged down the software group's performance, IBM said.
Lotus revenue dropped 15%, while Tivoli revenue dropped 16%, Joyce said, as a result of slowing new licence sales in a "mature" market.
Hardware revenue from continuing operations fell 1% to $6.8bn. PC revenue continued to drop but at a slower pace, while the iSeries server line had a "difficult" quarter, dropping 20% from last year's third quarter, IBM said. Year-over-year revenue from storage and the eServers line, the pSeries Unix servers line and the xSeries Intel servers line grew, the company said.
Despite its flat results and the economic slowdown, the company said it would follow the £2.25bn acquisition of the technology consulting unit of PwC with further purchases.


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Dozens of striking film and TV writers are negotiating with venture capitalists to set up companies that would bypass the Hollywood studio system and reach consumers with video entertainment on the Web.
At least seven groups, composed of members of the striking Writers Guild of America, are planning to form Internet-based businesses that, if successful, could create an alternative economic model to the one at the heart of the walkout, now in its seventh week.
Keep reading (registration required).
Start your workday the right way with the news that matters most. Learn more


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Google launches IaaS Compute Engine
The Google Compute Engine will offer Linux virtual machines
IDG News Service - Expanding its portfolio of cloud computing services, Google is launching an IaaS (infrastructure-as-a-service) package, called Google Compute Engine (GCE).
"We've heard from many of our customers that not having an IaaS was a barrier to adopting many of our other cloud services," said Urs HAPlzle, Google senior vice president of technical infrastructure.
The service will be available as a limited preview, with access available only through Google's salesforce. The company did not offer an estimate of when the service would be generally available.
Google will demonstrate the new service during the Google I/O developers conference this week in San Francisco. In a keynote talk Thursday, HAPlzle plans to show the service running a single application across 600,000 processor cores. "This will showcase we have the scalability to run very large applications at very high performance," HAPlzle said.
By entering the IaaS market, Google is following Microsoft, which also recently added Linux IaaS services to its Windows Azure PaaS (platform as a service).
The service will offer the ability to run Linux virtual machines (VMs) based on either the Ubuntu 12.04 or the CentOS 6.2 Linux distributions. The distributions run over the KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) hypervisor. The service also comes with storage and networking capabilities. To offer additional management functionality with the service, Google has also partnered with a number of software vendors, including Puppet Labs, RightScale and Opscode.
The company will initially market the service to those who will need 100 or more VMs. The ideal workload would be more compute-intensive rather than I/O-intensive. Administrators can add more cores to an application while it is still running.
Google has made it easy to combine GCE with other Google cloud services, notably Google App Engine (GAE). "You will be able to combine GAE, BigQuery and GCE to form larger applications, and we expect many users to do that," HAPlzle said.
VMs will be available with either one, two, four or eight cores, with each core allotted 3.75GB of memory. Running a standard single core will cost US$0.145 per hour, with additional costs for networking and storage.
The company has achieved pretty good adoption of its Google App Engine PaaS offering thus far. Launched in 2008, the service currently hosts 1 million active applications. Collectively the services get about 7.5 billion Web requests per day. The Cloud SQL executes 50 million queries per day and the datastore conducts 2 trillion operations per month.
- Google announces social sharing done right
- Has Google done enough to keep Android phones up-to-date?
- Google sharpening Analytics' tracking of mobile applications
- Chrome for iOS snatches top spot on App Store
- At first birthday, has Google+ found its niche?
- Google gives Google Docs offline capabilities
- Google touts Chrome browser in demo of Cirque virtual 3D Web site
- Lack of features could hamper Nexus 7's market entry, say analysts, users
- Google launches Chromebook retail push via Best Buy
- Google touts release of 'Safari-ized' Chrome for iPhone, iPad
- CIOs Deliver Productivity Breakthroughs with Intelligent Digital Signage Retailers have long recognized the influence that digital signage provides over a shopper's point-of-purchase decision making process.
- The Forrester Wave™: File Sync And Share Platforms, Q3 2013 Download this Analyst report to read why IBM SmartCloud for Social Business was cited as a leader in The Forrester Wave™: File Sync...
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Our new weekly Consumerization of IT newsletter covers a wide range of trends including BYOD, smartphones, tablets, MDM, cloud, social and what it all means for IT. Subscribe now and stay up to date!


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Nuance Communications, a provider of speech and imaging solutions, has used voice to control the new versions of TomTom’s GO portable navigation devices. The new TomTom GO 920 and GO 920T with Nuance voice destination entry are available now in retailers across the US and Canada, which can be used by drivers without stopping the vehicle or seeking assistance from a passenger.
Steve Chambers, president of mobility and consumer services at Nuance, said: Innovation balanced with an attention to safety and convenience drive our development of speech technologies that improve the daily lives of consumers. Our latest development with TomTom is hitting the mark with portable navigation systems that utilize voice commands to get users to their destination safely and with less hassle.
According to Nuance, a recent survey has confirmed demand for voice destination entry and other speech-enabled features for personal navigation systems. As part of this study, nearly 1,000 drivers across Germany, Japan and the US described their preferences for in-car features and assessed a range of voice-based functions.


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In addition to the wonderful program of films, the 2015 Florida Film Festival will include several food-centric events during its run.
On Saturday, April 11, from 11am to 12:30pm, the FFF will host a Locally Fresh! event featuring samples and live cooking demonstrations of local eats, along with a sneak peek into the world of farming. Featured participants include Lake Meadow Natural Farms, Palmetto Creek Farms, Olde Hearth Bread Co., and East End Market. Tickets are $12, and the event takes place at Enzian.
Jimmy Fallon Gets Five New Wax Figures Including One Coming to Madam Tussauds Orlando #MTFallonGetsWaxed
To mark his one year anniversary as host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon joined Madame Tussauds at their New York attraction for a special launch of five brand new, never-before-seen wax figures of the popular funnyman.
One of those five will be making their way down to the Sunshine State, to reside in Madame Tussauds new Orlando location at I-Drive 360.
Enter to Win a $50 Gift Certificate for Spring Shopping at Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores #lbvfs #springdeals
It’s Spring in Florida, which means it’s time to start thinking about getting clothes to help you enjoy the warmer weather. To do that and save money, head to the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores.
At the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, you can find factory-direct premium quality merchandise by brand names, at savings of up to 75% off (and sometimes more). There’s easy store front parking, too, which makes getting in and out easy.
To add to the savings, the mall will be holding a sidewalk sale the weekend of April 10-12, where stores will have merchandise at extra savings.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, a version of fan favorite at Disneyland, is soft opening at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort March 28.
It is located off the main lobby, with the adjacent Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace offering views of the marina and Seven Seas Lagoon.
While Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto shares some similarities with the original, including some signature drinks and small plates, Beverage Manager Brad Ward, Chef Lenny DeGeorge, and the Concept Development team have created new menu items just for the Walt Disney World location.
SeaWorld Orlando has announced April 16 as the opening date for the new show “Clyde and Seamore’s Sea Lion High.”
The show takes place in an aquatic-themed high school. The dynamic duo of Clyde and Seamore are nominated to win scholarships to Ocean University…but first they must enter crash courses in science, dance and gym in a storyline that is full of fast-paced fun.
In an effort to get Central Florida healthier, the American Heart Association of Greater Orlando is hosting National Walking Day on April 1 at noon.
These days, we’re spending more time at work and sitting in front of a screen than ever before. We’re becoming less active, which can increase our risk of heart disease, stroke and other diseases.
The Crayola Experience at Florida Mall will be opening this summer, and they’ve now got the main signage up on the building.
At Crayola Experience Orlando, families will enjoy many of the brand’s signature attractions – such as “Wrap it Up!” where you can name and wrap an authentic Crayola crayon and “Be a Star,” where you can star in your very own coloring page – as well as some exciting new attractions that will debut in Orlando.
The attraction also will have a retail store where guests will discover hundreds of unique Crayola products and souvenirs only found at Crayola Experience.
This will be the second retail experience store for Crayola. We’ll let you know as soon as we discover an opening date.
Cowgirls Rockbar Orlando will be bringing a taste of country to the I-Drive 360 complex when it opens in May. But to get open, they need to find a staff.
To do this, they’re olding a job fair on April 2, 3 and 4 from 2pm – 7pm each day.
Last summer, we told you that Mango’s Tropical Cafe Orlando would be opening on International Drive. This week, we have a first glimpse at the interior, courtesy of an artist rendering provided by Mango’s COO Joshua Wallack.
The rendering is of the main bar areas and show floor where Mango’s dancers will perform for guests in the evening. If it’s anything like the original Mango’s Tropical Cafe in South Beach Miami, they’ll even be dancing on top of the bars.
Layer a bluegrass sound over a jazz groove, and you have North Carolina’s Brushfire Stankgrass, who will be playing Orlando at Will’s Pub on March 30.
On their website, they call it Grass Powered Boogie, but it can also be called Modern Mountain Fusion, and it’s winning over a lot of bluegrass/newgrass buffs.
The two founding members (Ben and Will Saylor, banjo and guitar) are brothers who have been playing music together since the age of three. Together with a rhythm section comprised of Micah Thomas on drums and Daniel Iannucci on bass (both are seasoned and well known Asheville musicians), the group’s chemistry and unique sound has clicked with a lot of music lovers.
The culinary forces behind Central Florida restaurants American Gymkhana and Cress will collaborate once again on a Flavor Farm Series Dinner on Friday, April 3.
Four-time James Beard-nominated Chef Hari Pulapaka is the creative mind behind the menu at Cress Restaurant in Deland. Chef Aarthi Sampath is the amazing chef behind the creations at American Gymkhana restaurant in Dr. Phillips.
Together, the two chefs will team up to create a unique tasting menu highlighting some of Florida’s best local ingredients, while celebrating their Indian culture. They will be joined by American Gymkhana mixologist Hemant Pathak and Jenneffer Pulapaka from Cress, who will do the cocktail and wine pairings.
The 5 course tasting menu is $75 per person, $110 with the wine or cocktail pairing. Both come with a mini-cocktail hour, and include tax/gratuity. There are two seatings, at 6:30pm and 8:30pm.
For more information, or to purchase your seat at this exclusive dinner, visit the event’s Eventbrite ticket page.
American Gymkhana is located at 7559 W. Sandlake Rd. Visit their website at americangymkhana.com.
One of the special events to be held during the 2015 edition of the Florida Film Festival is An Evening with Sam Rockwell on Friday, April 17.
Rockwell has amassed a healthy list of movie credits ranging from “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” and “The Way, Way Back” to “Iron Man 2″ and “Choke.”
The event will include a showing of Rockwell’s film, “Moon,” which is one of the most acclaimed science-fiction films, and winner of 22 international film awards.
For the final weekend of this year’s Bands, Brew & BBQ event, SeaWorld Orlando has comedian Bill Engvall on Saturday, March 28, and country legend Alan Jackson on Sunday, March 29, serving up the entertainment.
Bands, Brew & BBQ features live concerts from top classic rock and country bands and artists, the tastiest BBQ from Central Florida’s top local smokehouses, plus SeaWorld’s own Sweet & Smokin’ Barbecue. This event is presented in partnership with USO of Central Florida, an organization that has been lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families over 70 years.


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On Monday, contract workers were seen busy making special preparations for crowd management at the local area shops like the busy one opposite the main entrance to the Thirumylai MRTS station.
Casuarina poles were used to set up barricades for people to form queues.
The state said only 500 tokens will be issued at each shop per day though the shops will be open through the day.
Some people have been critical of this move of the state, asking if people’s health is being exposed to dangers in the state’s move to gain revenues from the sale of liquor, which contributes a big measure to its revenues in ordinary times.
Liquor shops inside malls and large complexes will have to remain closed. But TASMAC runs what it calls Elite shops in neighbourhoods where a variety of liquor, including foreign brands are sold. One such store in located in R A Puram.


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Eurogamer’s announced this morning its hired Martin Robinson as the site’s features editor.
Robinson, who won the Rising Star award at last year’s Games Media Awards, joins the site from IGN UK as its content editor.
“Martin is a fantastic journalist who shares our passion for quality editorial and I’m excited to see what he brings to the team,” said Eurogamer’s operations director Tom Bramwell.
EG managing director Rupert Loman added; “We have big things planned for Eurogamer.net in 2011, which we’re just starting to talk about with our friends in the industry, and bringing Martin on board gives us a boost at just the right time.”
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Abercrombie said net income for the first quarter ended May 1 rose to $29.7 million, or 31 cents a share, from $25.6 million, or 26 cents a share.
Sales rose 19% to $411.9 million from $346.7 million a year earlier. Same-store sales were flat for the quarter.
A Thomson First Call consensus analyst estimate had expected the company to earn 30 cents a share on sales of $405.4 million.
For the second quarter, Abercrombie said in a statement Monday it is comfortable with EPS estimates of 38 cents to 40 cents, assuming a continuation of the first-quarter same-store sales trend.
First Call is expecting the company to earn 38 cents a share in the second quarter.


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Taylor Swift fans will have another chance Thursday to score prized tickets to see the pop star perform in Toronto next year.
The Nov. 16, 2024 show will go on sale at 11 a.m. ET and the Nov. 21, 2024 date will be up for grabs at 1 p.m. ET.
Ticketmaster is staggering ticket presales for six shows at the Rogers Centre over three days to avoid online technical issues Swift fans may have encountered for past shows.
Buyers must have already registered for and received a “verified fan” sale code in order to get in the virtual queue for the tickets.
The first day of ticket sales on Wednesday was marked by celebration and disappointment, as some fans scored seats for the first two nights of Swift’s stop in Toronto while others were wait-listed.
The only Canadian stop on Swift’s global Eras Tour is expected to draw fans from all over the country and beyond, and give Toronto’s economy a boost next fall.


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London J. Sainsbury unveiled plans to launch a nonfood online business next year.
The announcement was made on Wednesday while the company reported a 1.2% rise in full year net profit. Sainsbury reported a profit of ?329 million ($642 million) for the year ending March 22, compared with ?325 million in the previous year.
Total sales were up 5.8% to $37.7 billion.
CEO Justin King said that Sainsbury had moved from "recovery to growth."


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According to WinAppUpdate, there are now 20,610 apps worldwide in the Windows Store and 17,958 of those apps are free. In early October before Windows 8's launch, it was reported that there were over 3,600 apps in the Windows Store. The growth of the Windows Store has been very quick over the last few weeks and developers are publishing their apps at an increased rate.
"20,610 apps worldwide in the Windows Store (broke 20,000 on Tuesday, I believe). 17,958 of those are free (87%)," @WinAppUpdate reported via Twitter. On top of that, 12,675 of the apps are in the United States. This is great news for Microsoft, as it shows that more and more developers are publishing their apps to the Windows Store. To put things in perspective, there were only 3,600 apps in the Windows Store just three weeks before Windows 8's launch. We are also posting Windows 8 app highlights every week highlighting an app from the Windows Store and you can check that out here.


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Editor's Note: Thank you for your interest, this offer expired and is no longer available.
American Express' efforts to capture a larger share of the small business purchasing market have taken to the skies. American Express OPEN Savings now includes a five percent discount on AirTran Airways tickets when purchased directly from the carrier. AirTran and AmEx announced plants to celebrate their new partnership by sponsoring free Wi-Fi Internet access on all wireless-enabled flights between March 13 and March 27.
American Express spokesperson Kirk Fitzsimmons told reporters that OPEN Savings discounts process automatically with merchants at time of checkout, with no required coupon codes or special logins. "With this new partnership, small businesses can reduce their airline expenses just by using their American Express Business Card."
Both promotions come on the heels of retailer complaints that high credit card interchange fees strain the budgets of small businesses. By creating an ecosystem of business owners who both accept and use American Express, the OPEN Savings program can allay some merchants' fears while generating added value for cardmembers. Participants already enjoy discounts of up to 5% from Marriott, FedEx, Hertz, and various online vendors.


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Hulu Ad Manager Brings the Magic of Streaming TV to Small Business Expo NYC
This June, Disney Advertising’s Hulu Ad Manager team showed up in full force at the Small Business Expo in New York City – one of the country’s largest small business networking and educational events – to talk about all things streaming TV. Our unrelenting focus on redefining the way advertisers connect with audiences through automation and technology doesn’t waver when it comes to small businesses, and we took to the stage to share how small business owners can take advantage of the unprecedented opportunities created by streaming TV to get their brand message in front of a highly engaged audience. Streaming isn’t just for the Fortune 500 anymore.
From a keynote presentation by Disney Advertising’s Vice President of Self-Service, Sylvester “Sly” Phifer, to two hands-on workshops, Small Business Expo attendees had many opportunities to meet our team throughout the day. To ensure everyone walked away with actionable insights to help kickstart their streaming TV journey, we shared proprietary research about the evolution of streaming, changes in consumer purchase behavior, and best practices for creating successful and memorable video ads. (Given that 90% of Americans between the ages of 13-54 actively stream content these days1 – and 35% of viewers use their devices to shop products being advertised2 – it’s more important than ever to create ads that inspire both awareness and action!) Attendees also got live demos of the Hulu Ad Manager platform and were able to see just how easy it is for businesses of all sizes to get their ads up and running on a premium streaming platform like Hulu.
It has always been our mission to meet with small business owners and identify ways in which Hulu Ad Manager can enable them to reach their business goals, and we loved having the opportunity to do so in person. We’ll be returning to the Small Business Expo in Los Angeles on September 8th, so register now and we’ll see you there!
1Hulu Generation Stream Culture Co-Op, April 2020; Parks Associates, May 2020
2MRI 2019 November Cord Evolution, Base: Total Audience


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The world's leading soda makers — Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group — recently announced a drastic calorie cut in their drinks. But it seems that they are not the only ones bitten by the "go healthy" bug. In 2010, 16 major food and beverage...
When your body is trying to tell you something, it may go to some strange lengths. "With today's diet of processed foods, it's easy to become vitamin deficient — either by not eating enough of the right foods or not absorbing them properly due to digestive issues,"...
There's nothing worse than finding a group-exercise class you love and then realizing that everyone else loves it too, so it's impossible to snag a spot. Enter these three free class-booking apps: They make finding new fitness studios and signing up for a session a snap.
Aerobic fitness is a strong predictor of long-term health. And how fit you actually are is determined by the maximum volume of oxygen that your muscles use while exercising. Because of this, when people think about aerobic activity, they think of the heart. But your aerobic...
You already know your chronological age, but do you know your fitness age? A new study of fitness and lifespan suggests that a person's so-called fitness age — determined primarily by a measure of cardiovascular endurance — is a better predictor of longevity...
Things have moved on from the days when member data was just a list of names and addresses. The latest customer management software allows health and fitness clubs to min detailed information about member preferences, motivations and habits — and use it to drive revenues...
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Assassin's Creed Origins could be getting an official reveal in just a few short days, according to a detailed new leak.
Far Cry 5 is real, and the announcement gives reason to believe earlier leaks of its setting may be true.
The Crew 2 has been confirmed alongside a slew of major Ubisoft game announcements.
Check out the deadly maneuvers that For Honor's new fighters will employ, along with cool outfits they can do them in.
For Honor's 1.07 update is scheduled to hit Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC next week.
Rumor has it Microsoft is fighting back against Sony's recent domination of high-profile exclusivity deals.
Ubisoft is mixing up year two of Rainbow Six Siege with the Operation Health initiative.


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Mitsubishi can finally start pulling its weight in the Alliance.
Mitsubishi recently released the all-new 2022 Outlander, based on the same platform and running gear as the 2021 Nissan Rogue. The Japanese automaker also sells an Outlander Plug-In Hybrid, but it's still based on the outgoing generation with some updates for the 2021 model year. Electrification is clearly part of Mitsubishi's future, as the company recently teased the upcoming 2023 Outlander PHEV. We aren't sure if this new model will use an engine from Nissan or Mitsubishi, but we hope its hybrid technology makes its way to the Rogue.
Currently, the Rogue is only available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower, delivering up to 27-mpg in the city and 35-mpg on the highway. Since the all-new Outlander uses the same platform and engine, we wouldn't be surprised if the upcoming PHEV variant borrows this 2.5-liter engine as well.
The Outlander PHEV previously used a 2.0-liter Mitsubishi engine before upgrading to a 2.4-liter engine earlier this year. This larger engine only produces 126 hp on its own but delivers 221 hp when combined with the two electric motors. Assuming Mitsubishi mates its hybrid system with Nissan's more potent 2.5-liter engine, the 2023 Outlander PHEV could end up with even more power, while retaining a 24-mile all-electric driving range.
Though the base powertrain in the Rogue feels adequate, we believe Nissan is currently missing out on a huge market by not offering a hybrid model. The RAV4 Hybrid now outsells the gas-only version, proving that shoppers are willing to spend a premium to get a quicker, more efficient drivetrain.
Nissan previously offered a Rogue Hybrid up until 2019, but the model proved to be unpopular at the time. With gas prices rising, we think it's time to bring this model back as a plug-in. Toyota is the only outside competitor with a PHEV in this segment with the RAV4 Prime, meaning there is plenty of room for Nissan to enter the fray. Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV could be an in-house competitor, but it offers the unique benefit of a third row.
A while back we predicted the Rogue might get Nissan's cool e-Power technology, which uses a gasoline generator to charge the batteries rather than drive the wheels. This technology may prove too difficult to certify in the US, but we believe a PHEV system essentially serves the same use purpose for buyers that aren't ready to embrace all-electric vehicles.


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26 November 2021
Oppo reportedly has two foldable smartphones lineup for release in the coming months. As per a Weibo-based tipster, the two devices are codenamed "Peacock" and "Butterfly". Both of these are said to feature flagship specs and features but the latter one is said to be more premium and expensive.
The tipster claims that the Oppo 'Peacock' foldable device could get official as early as the next month. The exact launch date is unknown but is expected to be in the middle of December 2021 alongside th Reno7 smartphone series. It is said to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. The "Butterfly" device will be more high-end and will feature the Snapdragon 898, a chipset that is yet to launch. It is tipped to go officially during early 2022.
The foldable phone from Oppo is expected to have a design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Huawei Mate X2. It will likely have a 7.8-inch to 8-inch LTPO display when in the unfolded state. There is rumored to be a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary camera sensor and a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The battery capacity could be 4,500mAh but the good thing is it is said to support 65W fast charging. The software experience will be ColorOS 12 based on Android 12.
This is not the first time we are hearing Oppo foldable smartphone rumors. The leaks have been surfacing since 2016 but it was at MWC 2019 when we got our first official look at a prototype. It seems like we are finally getting closer to seeing Oppo release a foldable phone for the masses. It should be noted that the leak talks about the Chinese launch and we are still unsure whether and when there will be a global launch.


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When David Chu, designer of the popular New York menswear line Nautica, walks around the shopping district of Taipei, Taiwan, wearing Nautica khaki pants and chambray shirts, the impression he makes is one of success, leisure and American lifestyle.
"It's a status symbol," says Mr. Chu, who was born in Taiwan and raised in the United States.
Compared to Asia's more formal styles and Europe's pricey fashions, the American look is simple, sporty and often more affordable. As that winning combination rapidly gains popularity, the Far East is emerging as one of the most coveted export markets for New York fashion houses.
Primed for growth
New York state apparel exports to the eight largest Asian markets rose 7.1% to $110 million in 1993, but leveled off last year at $105 million when the Asian economy faltered. Exports are projected to pick up steam again this year, however.
The biggest Asian market for New York designs is Japan, where purchases of American fashion between 1992 and 1994 rose 7.7% to $66.9 million.
To be sure, U.S. designers have come up against roadblocks in the Far East. In Japan, in particular, American exporters have found it very difficult to break through the tightly controlled distribution system and government bureaucracy without a Japanese partner or agent. Some have been frustrated by inexperienced retailers and knockoffs in China.
Nonetheless, the Pacific Rim is considered one of the most important foreign markets for New York fashion.
"It's steady, evolutionary growth," says David Goldberg, managing director of Marketing Management Group Inc., a Manhattan-based consultancy specializing in the apparel and fashion industries.
Fueling the trend is a rise in affluence and leisure time, particularly among the growing urban middle class in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan. Having come through a recent recession, Asian shoppers also are looking for value.
Many of these younger, sophisticated consumers want a more casual style than what's available in the Italian and French clothing emporiums that have long dotted Asia's moneyed shopping districts.
Taking advantage of shifting tastes, high-end American fashion designers are moving in.
Nautica, for example, has licensed 24 free-standing stores and 60 in-store shops throughout Asia. The firm currently derives about 30% of its $300 million in volume from overseas sales. International revenues are expected to rise by at least 50% over the next five years, Mr. Chu says.
Menswear designer Joseph Abboud made a huge commitment to selling in Japan when he recently signed a licensing agreement with Japanese trading company Onward Kashiyama Co.
Designers such as Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Anne Klein all have a significant Far East presence, while Tahari, Kenar, Tapemeasure and Anna Sui are now scouting out the region.
The latest to join the fray is fashion house Ellen Tracy Inc., which recently signed a licensing agreement with Itochu Fashion Systems Co. for distribution in the Asian market.
"Right now, the Far East is a hotbed for American bridge and designer clothing," says Howard Rosenberger, executive vice president at Ellen Tracy.
Low prices popular
In addition to designer and bridge clothing, which is priced just below designer fashions, lower-priced exports also are doing well. "The Japanese are more price-conscious now, and that's helpful for us because we're better to moderate on price," says Nancy Wills, president of Wills & Co., a men's sweater company.
Tomen Apparel Group, the New York division of a Japanese clothing company, exported about $30 million in American-made clothing last year to Japan and South Korea, up from some $23 million in 1993, says General Manager Que Hisayasu. He anticipates another huge increase in sales this year. "Polyester fleece and sportswear fabrics are very popular," Mr. Hisayasu says. "The outdoor and casual looks are booming now in Japan and Asia."


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Texas Tribune, the just-announced, well-funded nonprofit that plans to cover Texas politics and more starting in the fall, is wasting no time building up a team and incorporating institutional memory by acquiring Texas Weekly and naming its owner and editor, Ross Ramsey, managing editor of the Tribune. Among other things, the acquisition buys Texas Tribune a valuable content base — nearly two decades of electronic archives.
Texas Weekly is an online newsletter founded in 1984 focused on Texas government and politics. Most of its content is delivered to subscribers in a weekly emailed edition priced at $250. Current subscribers will “receive, for the duration of their subscriptions, a new weekly publication featuring premium content not available to regular readers of the Tribune.” (This suggests that Texas Tribune, also, could have in mind a premium content edition for paying subscribers, although founder John Thornton has been pretty negative about paywalls in the past.)
Along with the Texas Weekly purchase and the appointment of Ramsey, the announcement discloses the hiring of “the first five reporters on the Tribune’s newsroom team: Brandi Grissom, Elise Hu, Emily Ramshaw, Abby Rapoport, and Matt Stiles.” Bios are in the release here.


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Are you a print subscriber? Activate your account. By Adrianne Pasquarelli – 9 hours 29 min ago By Garett Sloane – 11 hours 2.
Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide.
It’s not clear if this laptop includes Chrome OS’ built-in Linux functionality for running desktop.
Remove non-product link] Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles,
NEW DELHI: If you are a Google Chrome user then the tech giant has some good news for you. Google has started testing a.
Notice a bug? Let us know here.
Amazon has released an official Send to Kindle extension for Google Chrome that allows you to send any web articles directly to your Kindle device in one click. Send to Kindle sits next to Chrome.
Hrome://flags/ Once that app is installed, users need to pull up the browser and navigate to the "chrome://flags" URL. The feature in. The feature — available in both the browser and
If right-click is not working on Firefox or Chrome, this article could be helpful in resolving the issue. For all of the.
Sylvania Platinum: The Surge Of Palladium And Rhodium Won’t Last – I’ve covered the company two times on SA and its shares have risen by more than 250% since my first article in November 2017.


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Cassette Tape Sales Soar: from Major Artists To Underground Electronic Music
15th February 2017
Vinyl shmynl, the real analogue story of this year (ok, it’s only February) is the growth in sales of the cassette tape
Apparently, cassette album sales in the USA grew by 74% in 2016 with 129,000 copies sold (up from 74,000 in 2015) according to Nielsen Music.
Don’t get too excited folks. If you look at the total album sales in the USA alone then you’re looking at a little over 200 million so the cassette figures are a speck on that score. Even vinyl has past the 13 million figure. But look, cassettes were supposed to have been dead and buried for years – everyone said so, didn’t they? – so this latest figure is pretty incredible on that basis.
So what’s going on? Well, there’s been several ‘speciality’ releases of late including cassette issues via Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Eminem and Prince (well, his estate, at any rate). The new cassettes typically come with a code for a digital download of the album, for those consumers who don’t own a cassette player. But look, 25 albums actually exceeded 1,000 cassettes sold last year which is pretty good going while the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 soundtrack, actually reached 4,000.
Urban Outfitters has been a major force behind cassette releases (they’re responsible for 21% of cassette sales alone) releasing a swathe of titles such as the soundtrack to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Kanye West’s Yeezus and The 1975’s I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It. Most cassette albums were sold through Internet and web-based direct-to-consumer and independent retail.
Cassette Store Day, which took place on 8 October 2016, also helped sales due to a number of exclusive items on sale.
With vinyl pressing plants under major strain to fulfil orders, some observers believe that cassette may play a part in taking up the slack for some artists.
While we’re on the subject, take a peek at the mini-documentary on how the tape-based experimental electronic scene was created. The documentary was created by my chums at Vinyl Factory.


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FERNDALE, Wash. — Businesses in all sectors around the world have been impacted in one way or another due to the COVlD-19 crisis. Ferndale area businesses have been no exception.
While some restaurants and retailers have been able to remain open for business in various forms, many other businesses have been forced to close their doors.
Layoffs have resulted due to business closures and reductions in business. The Washington State Department of Employment Security has reported over 1.7 million initial claims have been filed and $2.9 billion in benefits paid since March 7th.
Some Ferndale businesses have been forced to implement new ways of doing business in order to continue serving their customers and maintain some cash flow, the lifeblood of any business.
Gym Star Sports Center, located at 5519 Hovander Road recently announced auditions would be held for upcoming Stellar Dance classes. Typically such auditions would be scheduled and performed live in front of the instructors. But, given current social distancing and business requirements, auditions are being accepted via video.
Dancers accepted into the Stellar Dance program will be provided videos for different dance genres to be practiced. Students are then to submit videos of themselves performing the dance exercises for review and critique.
In similar fashion, MVP Martial Arts and Fitness owner McKenna Pinto-Gonzalez has taken their martial arts courses online. When Pinto-Gonzalez, a 3-time amateur martial arts champion, had to close the studio, located at 1920 Main Street, in mid-March, she immediately announced to the students that class videos would be made available online and for the students to submit video recordings of themselves performing the assigned exercises.
Pinto-Gonzalez and her staff are online most weekdays providing real time responses to questions and video submissions. “Just think of the studio being open from 12:00 Noon until 6:15PM Monday-Thursday,” Pinto-Gonzalez told students and parents.
Pinto-Gonzalez’s father, Mick Jolly, a 5th-degree martial arts expert in his own right, said he remembered a time when there wasn’t a martial arts studio in every town and the only feasible way for many to learn new skills was through films and accompanying scripts. “In many ways, we are returning to those days but, with the Internet, it is so much easier to do now,” Jolly said.
Jolly said teaching martial arts by video is different than doing it in person, “You can rewind and play a video in slow motion. This allows the instructor to focus on what the student is doing with one part of their body and then play it back while focusing on another part. But at the same time it lacks the immediate feedback and correction that happens when working together in-person.”
Massage therapist and Satori Healing Massage Owner Satori Hanson said while she has not been able to see clients, she has used the time to get caught up on administrative tasks and has been selling gift certificates good for future visits.
Hanson was preparing to expand her business when the COVID-19 crisis hit. She says she is still making preparations to expand once she is able to see clients again. She is also working on her continuing education credits, a requirement for renewing her license later this year.
Hanson said she set up a GoFundMe page, “where I am crediting people’s accounts for what they donate.” Donations include a $500 micro-grant provided by GoFundMe’s Small Business Relief Fund. Hanson says she plans on donating a portion of the amount raised to the Ferndale Food Bank.
Many, but not all, Ferndale area restaurants were able to remain open after closing their dining rooms by providing to-go and delivery service. According to 1 restaurateur who wished to remain anonymous, the first 2 weeks after the governor’s restaurant dining closure order were bleak, operating at a loss each day. Hours were drastically reduced and then business began picking back up, reaching a point where customers were complaining they could not get through by phone to place orders since the phone line was busy. While open only a few hours a day, “We are not where we were but at least I can continue paying the staff remaining and pay my bills.”
New restauranteur Rhonda Wright, owner of The Meeting Place, located on the corner of Vista Drive and 4th Avenue, said this was the 2nd “whammy” she has had to suffer in her first year of business.
The Meeting Place opened in April of 2019. Wright said she then had to close her doors in August due to a Whatcom County Health Department requirement to install another sink. She had the sink installed within a week, Wright said, but it was nearly 2 months later before a follow-up inspection was done and she received approval to reopen. “I lost thousands just in food inventory due to that closure,” Wright said.
Then, nearly on the 1-year anniversary of opening her business, Wright found herself again closing her doors for an indeterminant amount of time. “I tried to remain open because we had finally begun doing great but I couldn’t,” she said citing low sales and concern for her staff’s safety. “And again, I lost thousands of dollars in food that I had to give away before it went bad.”
After being closed since March 24th, Wright says she is planning to reopen at 6am tomorrow, May 18th, with her full menu available via to-go and delivery service. “I missed celebrating the business’ anniversary with customers so there will be specials and we will be celebrating somehow.”
Wright is already preparing the dining area for when the Whatcom County is eventually approved for Phase 2 of the governor’s reopening plan and she can open it up to sit-down customers.
At FrinGe Brewing, located at 5640 3rd Avenue, co-owner Jeff Lazzari said they have been able to stay open by providing to-go service and found themselves developing new strategies as time went by.
As luck would have it, Lazzari said, they had just bought a single-can seamer for canning their fresh-brewed beer just weeks before the COVID-19 crisis hit. “It had just been purchased for some one-off stuff and ended up being our lifeline.” 60-70% of sales have come from product sold in cans, he said, something they would not have been able to offer before they bought the seamer.
“A lot of regulars have been supporting us with regular purchases each week,” Lazzari said. “Those regulars have been the biggest factor in keeping us going.”


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From all of us here at Android Authority, we hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season. Being the time of year that it is, we have just a short, roughly 30 minute show for you this week, covering a few top topics from the past few days.
On the Google Ecosystem front, Google Play released their top apps of 2012. According to Google, these apps really make Android shine. They are the best apps available for your favorite Android tablet or smartphone. While some some launched this past year, others received updates offered great utility, beauty and accessibility. Next up is Google Music. Users are reporting that their explicit lyric song versions [...]
Two months after the Transformer Pad 300 got its official bootloader unlocking tool, it’s now time for its big brother, the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity, to receive its passport to freedom.
The Transformer Pad Infinity is the flagship of ASUS’ 2012 lineup of Android slates, and for many, the best Android-based tablet available on the market right now. But the device arrived (like all of ASUS’s products) with a locked bootloader, which makes tweaking and development for the device difficult. Fortunately, ASUS is one of the Android OEMs that gives savvy users the opportunity to make the most out of their devices, by supplying a bootloader unlocking tool for its tablets. [...]


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In India, bandwidth remains extremely expensive, so it is advisable to avoid visiting a news website especially foreign news websites. Many of these websites have more than 40-50 images and videos, so the daily bandwidth quota of approximately 50 MB will be consumed very quickly. In contrast most other websites selling text link ads or government websites do not take up much bandwidth, and can be visited without costing much in terms of data transfer.
In UK, USA the bandwidth cost remains low, and broadband connections are cheap, so internet users from those countries do not face any data transfer problems visiting the news website, only indian internet users have to carefully monitor bandwidth usage before taking a decision.
For checking the news, television, newspapers are a better option in India


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Kansas City, Missouri-based Daily’s Premium Meats has launched its new Steak Cut Bacon product in celebration of National Pork Month.
Daily’s Steak Cut Bacon will be available in select retail locations with plans to expand into additional stores around the country. Customers will see similar quality to its prior products, now available in a thicker-than-thick cut.
“We’ve seen tremendous long-term growth in the thick cut bacon category that is currently outpacing standard cuts,” said Josh Carlson, senior director of innovation and insights at Daily’s Premium Meats.
“Our team has monitored this trend and is excited to bring this new line of Daily’s Steak Cut Bacon to market so that consumers in search of a hearty, satisfying slice of premium bacon can take their meals up a notch.”
Daily’s Premium Meats uses high quality ingredients such as natural applewood hardwood, premium sugar and honey cures for an enhanced smoked bacon flavor. The commitment to using fresh, never frozen pork bellies sourced from Daily’s connected food system ensures quality control and a reliable, raw supply from farm to plants.
This collaboration among farmers, three bacon processing plants and a networked supply chain to control the entire production process from farm to delivery helps to ensure a high-quality product.
“Daily’s Steak Cut Bacon is the bacon that bacon lovers dream about. The thicker-than-thick cut slice is an innovative approach to an established category that we’ve seen consumers consistently demand,” said Emma Pierce, brand manager.
“We couldn’t think of a better time to launch this new product than during National Pork Month.”
Daily’s Steak Cut Bacon will be available to consumers beginning in a 16-ounce pack with an applewood smoked flavor.
About Daily’s Premium Meats
Daily’s Premium Meats is a provider of high-quality premium bacon that has been operating for more than 130 years. Founded by John R. Daily in 1893, the company’s commitment to quality and mastery inspires every product produced to this day.
Daily’s Premium Meats’ connected food system fosters collaboration among farmers, bacon processing plants and networked supply chain, allowing Daily’s to control the production process from farm to delivery.
Read more meat news from The Shelby Report.


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Carmakers usually leave us thirsty for information on whether they would introduce a new, refreshed or face-lifted vehicle and on when they intend to launch it. There are reasons for this. One, they want to make customers become excited for a new product. Likewise, they want to build hype for a certain vehicle one at a time.
BMW probably doesn’t like it, but it seems that its launch plans have been leaked. Somehow, Auto Motor und Sport was able to get hold of BMW’s launch plans and has reported it. The list seems pretty comprehensive and is good for the medium term, as it outlines the German premium carmaker’s vehicle launches starting this year to 2021.
For this year, BMW will be introducing 12 new and face-lifted models. First off will be the BMW 6 Series facelift, which will be followed by the BMW i3 facelift in the summer. Also coming this year – in July in particular -- are the face-lifted forms of the coupe and convertible version of the BMW 2 Series.
According to the leaked launch plans, BMW will also be launching this year the BMW 6 Series GT, the BMW X7 and the BMW M5 (F90). Also up for grabs this year is the face-lifted iteration of the BMW M2 as well as the new M2 GTS. The new BMW Z5 is also primed for launch this year. The list grabbed by Auto Motor und Sport also has the BMW X2 and the BMW X3 scheduled for introduction in 2017.
BMW’s product barrage for 2018 is headlined by the BMW X3 M, which should arrive early next year. A possibly international version of the long-wheelbase X1 BMW X1 L is also scheduled in 2018, as well as the BMW i8 Spyder. The German luxury carmaker is also bound to introduce the BMW M4 GT4 and the BMW X4 in 2018, as well as the new BMW 3 Series and the new BMW X5. A plan to launch the BMW 8 Series Coupe is slated to occur by the end of 2018.
For 2019, BMW is intending to release the new BMW 1 Series as well as the convertible variant of the BMW 8 Series. Although BMW has said that the BMW iNext will be launched in 2021, the list says it will be introduced earlier in 2019.
Interestingly, the launch plans obtained by Auto Motor und Sport didn’t list any vehicle for 2020. It did say, however, that the new BMW i5 is on its way in 2021.
As for the veracity of the information grabbed by Auto Motor und Sport, we are still not sure whether it is real or not. Nonetheless, it is pretty exciting to see what BMW has in store for us in the next five years to 2021.


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By American Farriers Journal Staff
Designing Health is the manufacturer and marketer of The Missing Link supplements for dogs, cats, birds, small animals and horses. It’s the second acquisition of a supplement company in November for the East Longmeadow, Mass., makers of Absorbine.
“Selling The Missing Link was a very difficult decision for me,” Joy Collett says. “It was my husband’s [the late Dr. Robert Collett] heart and soul for so many years and reflected his deep personal passion for all animals.”
The key to the sale, Collett says, was continuing her husband’s passion.
“The most important factor in my decision was finding a company that would carry his vision forward,” she says. “The similarities between our two companies, starting with the fact that both were founded because of a personal passion for animals, plus a continued dedication to providing the best possible products, made W.F. Young the right choice to steward The Missing Link in the future.”
For its part, W.F. Young looks forward to carrying out Collett’s vision.
“We are more than pleased to have the opportunity to continue the legacy that Dr. Collett created with The Missing Link, and it’s a perfect complement to our recent acquisition of Pure Ocean Botanicals,” says Ken Oh, general manager of the Pet Division at W.F. Young. “Both companies match our existing philosophy and way of doing business, namely, offering quality products intended to enhance the lives of our pets.”
The family ownership of W.F. Young also played a deciding factor in Collett’s decision.
“It’s comforting to know that as a family-oriented company,” Collett says, “the passion and compassion for all animals will remain a core value for W.F. Young.”


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HIP Brisbane fashion designer Gail Reid found her feet in Europe, now she's joined the growing ranks of young Australians who come home when it's time to settle down.
The design genius behind Gail Sorronda, Ms Reid has returned with fiance and business partner Atlas Harwood.
The immediate benefit for Brisbane is that bargain hunters will be able to secure some of the same Gail Sorronda designs stocked by Dolce & Gabbana in Italy at a pop-up sale, at the James St Cottage, starting tomorrow.
"I'm now 30 and entering the next stage of my life. I wanted a secure base, close to friends and family, and one day have my own family," she said yesterday.
After three years travelling from Europe, she is now basing herself in Brisbane after securing retail outlets in Milan, Paris and London as well as an Italian manufacturer.
Stocked in Dolce & Gabbana's Spiga store in Milan for the past three seasons, she hopes to show at Australian Fashion Week and build on her Russian market.
Her next collection features her typical black and white look.
"But I took Anna Wintour's advice on board and have committed to a small spot of colour. When I met Anna (the US Vogue editor), she said 'don't be afraid of colour'. It's still very dark and kooky, though."
Avant garde label Romance Was Born, Limedrop and Dion Lee will also take part in the James St sale.
"We're also doing the Shop Late event at Cloudland on Friday night," Ms Reid said.


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Payless ShoeSource, the discount shoe store, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
"This is a difficult, but necessary, decision driven by the continued challenges of the retail environment, which will only intensify," said Payless' CEO W. Paul Jones in a statement.
Payless plans to immediately close 400 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and will also "aggressively manage" the rest of its real estate portfolio. That will mean closing additional stores and seeking to modify existing lease terms. The retailer currently has 4,400 stores in more than 30 countries.
In recent years, reports
Forbes, the retailer has suffered from flat and declining sales and a staggering amount of debt, as shoppers shun malls and instead opt for online or other discount stores.
Revenues slid 4% to $2.3 billion in the twelve months ending in October 2016, according to Moody's.
Payless listed estimated current liabilities from $1 billion to $10 billion, according to the bankruptcy filing. Meanwhile its assets range from $500 million to $1 billion.
Payless is based in Topeka, Kansas and filed for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on Tuesday.
HHGregg, Wet Seal, The Limited and RadioShack are among the retailers that also filed for bankruptcy this year.
This appears to be a sector problem and not an overall business decline.
Retailers have been particularily hurt by internet sales and at the same time squeezed by climing minimum wage rates.


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A Procedurally Generated Pixelated Open World
Bow And Arrow
— Developer Leven Liu
LOS ANGELES, CA, USA, April 16, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — A popular Kickstarter for an exciting new zombie apocalypse survival game has reached over 80% of its goal with just under two weeks left of the crowdfunding campaign.
Zed Zone: Apocalypse Ahead describes itself as a hardcore, sandbox, open-world survival crafting game set during the zombie apocalypse, where players have one main goal – to tool up and survive long enough to escape the zombie hell-scape.
Zed Zone has been in the works by sole developer Leven Liu since the end of 2019 and utilizes procedural generation to create a beautiful pixelated open world for players to battle against, or just try to avoid, hordes of zombies.
Trapped in a quarantine zone, players will try to gather materials and craft items in order to advance their technology, and hopefully avoid the inevitable. Players will need to build shelters, repair and utilize vehicles, and stock up on some of the 250 items that are currently in the game, as well as 32 different firearms and over a hundred craftable items. There are plans to keep adding more and more to the game, so these numbers will likely increase once the funding goals have been reached.
Developer Leven Liu said: “I am really excited to be reaching the end of my campaign and I am very happy with how it’s been going so far. I am a huge fan of other games in the zombie apocalypse genre but feel there is always room to build and innovate on what came before.
“I wanted to implement procedural generation to make sure that every player can have brand new experiences in the game all the way through their time playing it. I also really wanted to focus on filling that world with realism and attention to detail that really helps to present an immersive, and sometimes terrifying, gaming experience.”
There are many different tiers of backer rewards related to the Kickstarter, with the top tier receiving lots of in-game goodies, such as custom characters and exclusive weapon unlocks, and even the ability to name a zombie. These top-tier backers will also receive real-world rewards too, such as mugs, posters and metal pins.
Zed Zone: Apocalypse Ahead currently aims to launch into early access on the Steam gaming platform in 2022. Those interested who want to help fund this crowdfunding campaign, or are just interested in reading about this exciting new game, can visit Zed Zone’s Kickstarter page before April 25 2022.
Siu Chung Wong
Article originally published at https://www.einpresswire.com/article/568860428/zed-zone-an-open-world-survival-craft-game-crowdfunding-at-kickstarter


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The Volvo hybrid bus that was unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo, would be launched on Bangalore roads soon, said Karnataka Transport Minister Mr. R Ashoka.
The 105-seater single bus would have a two-month trial run in the city, expected to be from this month itself. As per a preliminary report, it cuts diesel fuel costs by 30 per cent, while emissions are significantly less.
According to officials, the Volvo 7700 hybrid has a diesel engine and an electric motor, which can be used either independently or jointly. The battery that drives the motor is charged through re-generative braking. The engine shuts off when the vehicle is stationary and does not start again till the bus reaches 15-20 kmph, further saving fuel.


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Retailers Are Going Bankrupt at a Record Pace
Department stores, electronics sellers, and clothing shops are most at risk. Retailers are filing for bankruptcy at a record rate as they try to cope with the rapid acceleration of online shopping. In a little over three months, 14 chains have announced they will seek court protection, according to an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence, almost surpassing all of 2016. Few retail segments have proven immune as discount shoe-sellers, outdoor goods shops, and consumer electronics retailers have all found themselves headed for reorganization.


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New leaks show a case for the iPhone 6S that is identical to that found on the iPhone 6 - though speculation is that the forthcoming device's innards will look radically different.
According to 9to5Mac, which obtained photos of the case from a source, on the outside all is familiar - even including the antenna strips, which Apple were rumoured to be doing away with. Similarly, the camera looks set to be the same as the 6, with it poking out a little bit, despite earlier rumours that it would be flattened.
What is different is what 9T5M calls the internal mounting structure, which suggests there will be new logic boards that are mounted differently. So spec-wise, what actually goes on inside the device could be a bit different, but we'll have to wait to learn more. The website also reminds us that there are also rumours that the new device will feature pressure-sensitive "ForceTouch" (similar to the Apple Watch) - presumably though this could conceivably still be built into the existing facade.
The new phone appears to be following the earlier pattern, whereby the "S" model takes the same design as the previous year, with the next new-numbered model changing things more dramatically.
Obviously none of this has been confirmed yet, but we can presume that the iPhone 6S and inevitable 6S Plus will be announced by Apple in September for an October launch, following the pattern of the last few years. Until then, expect Apple to remain tight-lipped. [9to5Mac]


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Codemasters told PSXPower today that its current number one UK title, Micro Machines V3, will arrive in the United States.
"The NTSC version is currently being finalized," said Richard Eddy of Codemasters. "Details are to be announced shortly."
Sporting 32 vehicles based on the popular toy line, Micro Machines V3 will handle up to eight players simultaneously. It will also have 48 courses as befitting such small cars, such as on a breakfast table or school desk.
No US publisher has been announced yet.


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Bernie Marolia, Sector Director for Enterprise at SSE Enterprise Telecoms talks about the emergence of Esports and how the telecoms sector is critical for sustaining the now mainstream gaming industry.
Video games are big business. With a predicted industry value of approximately £241bn by 2025, it’s a lucrative market – and an unsurprisingly competitive one too. With Esports alone set to be worth £1.4bn within just three years, it’s no wonder that some of the biggest companies in the world are sponsoring virtual players and events. From Nike to PepsiCo, business giants want to be involved in the future of Esports.
This once niche industry is now firmly mainstream. And the COVID-19 lockdown has only emphasised that, creating a boom in competitive gaming, viewing and participation, including high profile instances of traditional sports giving way to their virtual equivalents to keep fans sated while cars were off the tracks and players away from the field.
The question is, what’s next for Esports and what does the telecoms industry need to do to support its growth?
Player one: ready?
From Formula One to the NBA and FIFA’s Stay and Play Cup, professional sportspeople are using Esports to engage with fans after ‘real’ matches grounded to a halt. Meanwhile, viewership on popular game streaming website Twitch rose by 23 percent in March alone – with 1.2 billion hours of gameplay watched on the platform over the month.
But all this high bandwidth activity puts a major strain on the networks that support it, making it difficult for the media and digital entertainment industries to run Esporting events smoothly when on such a large scale. Leveraging existing infrastructure capabilities can only take businesses so far. As capacity pressures soar, something as conceptually simple as live gaming can become challenging to manage, or prohibitively expensive.
It undeniably takes a lot to make Esports happen – and it’s likely to become even trickier as its popularity continues to soar.
The need for speed
More than any other form of entertainment before it, the growing Esports empire is reliant on superior connectivity and ultra-low latency. Just one minor delay could hinder an Esports players’ performance or cause disruptions to the game. Inadequate connectivity puts hundreds of millions of pounds of prize money and sponsorship deals at risk, so a few second’s lag is no longer merely a mild vexation.
With this in mind, it’s down to media organisations and retailers to power their virtual Esports events and venues with the right connectivity technology. In practice, this means having an appropriate level of network capacity necessary to support Esports and ensuring they can scale to meet demand.
This isn’t always easy. Many network providers still aren’t used to the requirements of Esports compared to traditional events like concerts. So dedicated venues and hosts may need to go as far as installing their own networks to develop a dependable infrastructure to meet the needs of the event.
As you can imagine, being an Esports host requires upfront investment that some businesses may be hesitant about – particularly if they hadn’t planned to dedicate much budget to it. There’s also software and IT support to consider, as well as security measures that will ensure that hackers can be prevented from interfering with the event. But with Esports clearly in the ascendency, this should be seen as more than just cost. Investing now means benefits in the future as Esports grows, as well as being one of the first businesses to move, rather than playing catch up in five years’ time.
From Overwatch League to Play! Pokemon, Esporting events that fans in their thousands would have attended venues to watch have moved online in the wake of COVID-19, inadvertently helping to accelerate adoption of mobile and cloud-based gaming platforms. These platforms, while perfectly useable now, have a lot of exciting improvements to look forward to in the 5G and edge computing powered future ahead. These next generation alternatives will offer lower latency and speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G networks, minimising lag while providing viewers and players with a better-quality experience than ever before.
The new developments don’t end there. With new capacity comes new capabilities, with 5G adoption expected to boost the use of innovative virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology in Esporting events. In the future, these will be deployed to enhance the viewing experience, from giving fans an immersive virtual ‘front-row seat’ at matches to putting them in the centre of the action for a first-person look at gameplay. Live commentary, streaming multiple feeds, on-demand statistics and AR content for visitors could also become a possibility, making tuning in even more exhilarating than playing the game yourself.
While it could be tempting to jump on the bandwagon, businesses contemplating capitalising on the rise of Esports need to consider the high capacities required to successfully deliver this service.
Despite the challenges, the future is undoubtedly bright for this burgeoning industry. And with 5G set to become ubiquitous, we could see in-depth Esporting events and exciting new mobile gaming platforms following suit.


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Google as of late declared the uplifting news to the clients about the sorts of advertisements that are 30 seconds can not be overlooked on YouTube.
Webpage The Verge cited a Google representative stated, “We are focused on giving a superior publicizing knowledge to online clients. Some portion of this arrangement was the choice to stop 30-second types of promoting can not be overlooked in the concentration in 2018 to convey the best substance to publicists additionally to draw in clients’.
YouTube surrender this sort of promoting that most clients inhibitors
Declared just specified classifications and obviously 30 seconds or 20 seconds, then sort 15 still exist. Be that as it may, this expulsion is additionally uplifting news for clients in light of the fact that a great many people have some inconvenience before this advertisement portions, however it just kept going a unimportant a large portion of a moment.


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Morrisons opens new St Ives store on Thursday
- Credit: Archant
The new Morrisons store in St Ives opens its doors to the public for the first time at 9am on Thursday (March 8).
Around 250 new jobs are being created with the opening of the long-awaited supermarket, off Harrison Way, which will stock more than 200 locally-sourced products.
Manager Paul White said: “As a result of listening to St Ives residents we are pleased to offer them more food in our new store made locally. We hope customers will love it.”
The store, first suggested nearly four years ago, is the first branch of Morrisons in the Huntingdon area, although local shoppers do use the outlet at nearby Cambourne.
Councillor Angie Dickinson, chairman of St Ives Town Initiative which works to boost commerce in the town, welcomed the opening of the store.
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“I think anything which attracts people to St Ives has got to be good for the town,” she said.
“St Ives has needed another good supermarket in the town centre for a number of years and we have recently lost Budgens which has now become a Poundstretcher which has more of an emphasis on household goods.
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“I think it is going to bring more people in to the town who will go on to find out what the rest of St Ives has to offer.”
Cllr Dickinson said the new store would help to keep money in the local community and was creating jobs which would also benefit the town.
The 25,000 sq ft store will be the biggest in the town and will feature the firm’s Market Street area containing a butcher, fishmonger, cake shop, bakery, deli and pizza stalls.
There will also be a barista bar serving freshly-ground coffee and a patisserie counter, takeaway food, a cafe with outside seating, the nutmeg clothing range for women, children and babies, free wi-fi and a petrol station which also provides convenience food.
Morrison was first given the go-ahead to build a supermarket on the edge of the town in 2014. It received a lot of support from the community, but the move coincided with a major change in supermarket shopping patterns and nothing happened on the site, leaving residents with the impression that it would not get off the ground.
But last year Morrisons made a revised planning application for the building and work started in July.


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The automotive industry has no shortage of struggling companies. Fiat in Europe, Suzuki in America, to name but a few, have had their fair share sales declines. Mitsubishi Motors could also be considered one of them, as its sales have steadily fallen in the US the past few years.
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
To keep from suffering the same fate as Suzuki in America, the company is introducing two new cars. There's the Mirage, which will go on sale this fall, a cheap hatchback that could deliver great fuel economy, and this, the new Outlander SUV which is already available.
Consumer Reports recently released the first impressions of the new Outlander, which are understandably mixed. It's not exactly a looker, but does bring back things customers still want in America, such as a standard third-row seat and optional V6.
The SUV has a nice interior but isn't that special to drive, despite being made by the same company that makes the Evo. Go figure!
However, at a base price of $22,995 for the base ES, we're struggling to think of what else you could buy for the money.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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Many city hotels take emu off menu
By C Shivakumar / ENS - CHENNAI
18th August 2012 08:30 AM
Hotels in the city has removed emu meat after shortage of supplies following an emu investment scam unearthed by the Economic Offences Wing.
“We took it off our menu after we failed to get supplies,” said Rajesh (name changed) of Hotel Das Netra in Virugambakkam.
A plate of emu fry or roast at the hotel cost Rs 130. “Customers do ask for emu meat. It has been removed from the menu since the last two weeks as there has been no supply,” he says. Interestingly, the meat is sold on a weekly basis. “We buy nearly four to five kg of emu meat on weekdays and all of it is consumed,” adds Rajesh.
However, the supply hasn’t dried up in Chennai with a few like Maya & Maya in Anna Nagar still selling it. Maya and Maya also has the only Emu restaurant in Shanti Colony in Anna Nagar, which sells the meat and is popular among the health-conscious as the meat is aggressively marketed as 98 per cent fat free.
About 50 kg to 100 kg of meat arrives every two days at the hotel from the emu farm spread over 40 acres in Namakkal and is being sold to customers. “The demand is surging in Chennai,” claims Kokila, an administrative officer of Maya and Maya, which has about 25,000 birds in the Namakkal farm. Another official, who works at the restaurant, says that every day they sell meat worth Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000. “Now we are getting lot of orders from hotels and are preparing a list. Plans are on to open a slaughter house here,” says Kokila.
Touted as a ‘heart, healthy meat’, a full emu briyani at the restaurant costs Rs 150 while emu noodles cost Rs 60. There are also other delicacies like emu cutlets (Rs 60), emu sausage (Rs 70), emu cheese cocktail (Rs 80) and emu kebab (Rs 125).
Interestingly, meat retail outfits are not enthused over emu meat. “We get four to five kg of meat every week but could hardly sell it. There is lack of market here,” says the owner of Aarthi Broilers, who got her fingers burnt in the business.
Surprisingly, of the hotels surveyed by City Express in different parts of the city, only a few sell emu meat and many of them are unaware of it. Some reject it claiming it is not profitable. Even customers find it somewhat alien, as such they fear to experiment it, says an hotelier.
However, it is emu oil and leather which is attracting Chennaites. “There are complete range of products which are available at our showroom in Anna Nagar,” says Kokila. “These include skin magic soap and body wash, moisturizing lotion, fairness cream, anti-ageing cream, face wash, lip care and massage oil,” she adds.
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CELISTICS will be covering 83% of Brazil and will start new operations in 12 states.
Sao Paulo, Brazil – April 19, 2016 – CELISTICS, a provider of intelligent logistics and distribution solutions and planning for the consumer technology industry, announced that it will distribute mobile devices in 2,647 cities in Brazil which will represent a coverage of 83% of the Brazilian territory.
Starting on May 1, 2016, CELISTICS will manage and distribute the mobile devices in the Mid-West-North part of Brazil, creating new warehouses for this purpose. Some of the municipalities include Brasilia, Belem, Goiânia and Manaus, which will be serviced by cross docking through 8 points, Campo Grande, Cuiaba, Porto Velho, Rio Branco, Boa Vista, Macapa, Palmas and San Luis.
CELISTICS will offer Outbound services to one of the main operators and the different channels in the region. This new region will feature warehousing, internal logistics and distribution operations, guaranteeing and certifying all processes, together with the security and best price that CELISTICS is already offering in the country.
CELISTICS will invest in new Distribution Centers located in the abovementioned municipalities, which represent more than 70,000 square meters of privately owned warehouses in Brazil in addition to creating new jobs, thus contributing to the economic development of the market in this region.
Jose Antonio Rios, CEO of CELISTICS declared: “We believe in the region and in the Brazilian market and will continue to invest in human resources, services and state-of-the-art technology, since this is the deciding factor on why our clients choose us.”
“CELISTICS continues its expansion in Brazil and is now present in 18 states. There is great potential in the Mid-West and North regions; however, this also represents a tremendous challenge due to the area’s complexity and the lack of transportation and infrastructure. We are proud to offer our services and develop this new region with the guaranty and security of our logistics and for the benefit of the telecommunications industry in Brazil, as well as to create new job opportunities in this region,” declared Kemen Azpirichaga, Country Manager of CELISTICS Brazil.
CELISTICS is the fastest-growing logistics and planning solutions provider in Latin America for the consumer technology industry. CELISTICS offers customized services and solutions that meet the needs of its customers, providing greater efficiency and profitability, which allows them to compete in the global industry. For more information, please visit: www.celistics.com


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In September I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of emerging food and beverage companies. The occasion was “Building Your Business: Making Food Our Future,” a one-day conference staged by Food and Beverage (FaB) Wisconsin, a statewide economic development effort to promote the food industry in the Badger State.
While the conference covered a number of subjects, the focal point of the day was the introduction of 10 companies that made up the second annual accelerator class. Once chosen from a bunch of applicants, these startups get nine months of education, coaching and networking, culminating in a pitch and $10,000 cash award to put them on the path to sustainable growth.
You could feel the energy in the room and see the anticipation in their faces as they were introduced. With names like Funky Fresh Spring Rolls and Milwaukee Pretzel Co., some of them may well succeed; some unfortunately will fail; but all are driving innovation and excitement in the business we all love.
Denise Morrison of Campbell Soup previously spoke to the general FaB group, and James Snee of Hormel Foods is coming up. You just knew these little companies thought they would be a Campbell or Hormel one day.
Crazy? Maybe. But a while back, there was this guy selling cheese out of his wagon in Chicago. Another guy was driving truck loads of chickens to different cities to sell them. Some pharmacist concocted a drink for his soda fountain. You probably guessed -- those are the founding stories of Kraft, Tyson and Coca-Cola. And while those are ancient history, it's still happening today.
In the news of the past month we learned Angie's Artisan Treats, maker of Angie's Boomchickapop popcorn, was bought by Conagra. Angie's was on our June 2014 cover as one of our R&D Teams of the Year, as well as a member of our Kick-Ass Women in Food list. Angie and Dan Bastian started popping corn in their Mankato, Minn., garage in 2001 and selling it at state fairs and Minnesota Vikings training camp, initially as a way to pay for their kids' college expenses. Now it seems their snack is in every grocery store I see in the Chicago area, as well as Walgreen's and CVS stores.
I get to see Angie every February at Natural Products Expo West. Just after the sale (an investment group already owned part of her company), I asked her how it felt to be fully bought out and what advice she had for similar startups.
“It takes a lot of hard work to build a company," she said. "It was incredibly important to Dan and I that we build a solid business with a relevant product and brand. I’m proud of what our team has accomplished, and our partnerships with Sherbrooke Capital and TPG Growth were great. Now, we’re ready to take the next step. It feels a little like sending a kid off to college.
"Good luck to all you entrepreneurs out there," she says. "The world needs you.”


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Why Canaan Partners backed a digital pawn shop
FORTUNE — Pawn shops aren’t exactly considered a big target for venture capital investors, but there isn’t really any other pawn shop like Borro.
The London-based company lets users get short-term loans of between $1,000 and $1 million, by handing over high-end personal items like jewelry, antique cars and fine wine. It then charges monthly interest rates of between 3% and 4%, plus another 3%-3.5% in fees over the term of the loan.
Borro recently raised $26 million in new VC funding led by Canaan Partners, a U.S. venture firm whose portfolio includes P2P lending platform Lending Club. So I spent some time on the phone talking Borro with Canaan partner Dan Ciporin, who led the deal.
What follows is an edited transcript:
FORTUNE: How did you hear about Borro?
DAN CIPORIN: It came through a Lending Club investor. Not an equity investor, but from someone who used to work with us as an analyst and then went to work for a hedge fund that, I believe put as much as $10 million onto the Lending Club platform and was enormously happy with it. He was looking around at other alternative finance vehicles and found Borro but, because of the hedge fund’s criteria, couldn’t participate. So he said we should take a look.
At the time, Borro had just launched in the U.S. after operating in the UK for three years. So I contacted the CEO and he indicated that they were just starting to raise money. As he described the company, I heard a lot of similarities to the initial formation of Lending Club. Obviously there are differences in terms of maturity, and the loan source and the specific arena – structured credit for secured personal assets, as opposed to unstructured credit – but both were looking to disrupt finance.
One other big difference is that while Lending Club was largely for folks who needed a relatively small amount of money, while Borro is focused on people who have expensive jewelry, artwork, etc.
Correct. The focus, I’d say, is more on well-to-do folks in terms of assets. But it’s amazing that, when you look at the demographics, the number of people with lots of assets and very little liquidity is very high.
Would you consider expanding down market?
It’s something we’ve talked about, so I’d say it’s in the consideration stages. We want to make sure that Borro, unlike things like payday loans, help people monetize their past rather than mortgage their future. The reality is that, on the high-end side, there is no compelling need to go down market in terms of driving growth.
Borro isn’t really a digital pawn-shop, because it doesn’t actually sell the items. It just holds onto them as collateral. Any plans to offer more traditional pawn services?
The immediate answer to that question is no, although there is a discussion underway about whether that should be an option. One of the distinctions is that pawn shops’ average loan for items tends to be $200 and a lot of the way they make money is by hoping someone doesn’t claim the asset they paid so little for – and then sell it at a much higher price.
The premise of Borro, right now, is to be a temporary source of liquidity rather than a marketplace for used goods. The only exception is if someone doesn’t pay back their loan, at which point Borro does take claim of the asset.
So users actually give Borro the items?
Yes, a lot of the assets are things that can be easily mailed, like a Rolex watch or diamond earnings. Borro gives them a prepaid FedEx label.
Will the company need to raise additional private financing?
I don’t think the company will need more VC funding before getting to profitability. In terms of growth capital, it’s possible that Borro would raise some money to fund things like infrastructure improvements.
Right now we store things in our own facilities, but if we had a way to track items without having to keep them on Borro’s premises, that could be the type of product expansion that could require growth capital.
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On Tuesday night, Katie Ledecky made Olympic history when she became the first woman to win gold in the debut of the 1,500-meter freestyle race at the Games. It was a strong rebound for the swimming legend, who experienced a tough loss just an hour beforehand in the women’s 200-meter freestyle. Ledecky, 24, who is […]
A Covid-19 rapid PCR test site sign at Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Dwayne Senior | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Biden administration will lift the travel restrictions it had imposed on eight African nations to curb the spread of the omicron variant of Covid-19, according to a senior administration […]
In the deluge of Cyber Monday sales going on today, we picked up that REI was having one of the best sales you can shop if you’re interested in stocking up on hiking, camping, and outdoor essentials. Of course, with all of the Gore-Tex, fleece, and weatherproofed apparel the outdoors retailer has in stock, there […]