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iSuppli Corp.’s Automotive Research group has tracked Black Friday Portable Navigation Device (PND) pricing for the few past years because it is a signi?cant indicator of PND commoditization trends. This year, iSuppli found that more than 20 retailers were selling about eight brands across the nation.
This article will focus on traditional brick-and-mortar retailers rather than online distribution channels, as the deals on Cyber Monday were not that different from Black Friday’s. The best deals could be found on Black Friday rather than on the Internet.
TomTom and Garmin
The TomTom ONE 125-SE from Walmart at $59 was the cheapest model overall this year. This marks a first for a brand-name model to be the lowest priced deal.
Among the 20 available TomTom models in the United States currently, more than 10 models could be found in a variety of retailers, including department stores and office product stores. Two models were newly introduced at Walmart for Black Friday. TomTom’s models were discounted on average 45 percent to 47 percent at retailers.
Garmin’s models were discounted on average by 40 percent to 42 percent at 15 retailers. Garmin’s cheapest model was priced at $69.97 at hhgregg. Best Buy offered the entry-level model, the nuvi 205, at $99.99, while PepBoys, Sears, OfficeMax and Micro Center sold the same model even $10 cheaper.
In previous years, Garmin’s least-expensive models were priced $10 or $20 higher than TomTom’s cheapest and the trend is more or less the same this year. Garmin’s cheapest model was priced in a range from $110 to $120 in previous years. Garmin is still using restraint rather than dropping prices dramatically in order not to erode its Average Selling Prices (ASPs) and lose its asset as a name brand.
Garmin’s strategy has worked during the last two years, but if the company’s PND inventory is higher than it was during the last few years, Garmin could have some last-minute aggressive sales prices going forward. In other words, PNDs won’t sell out like they did previously; hence, Garmin’s strategy may not work this year.
Magellan and Mio
Five Magellan models were discounted on average 44 percent at eight retailers. The price of the models ranged from $79.99 to $199.99. Mio is utilizing existing Magellan distribution channels with current products for U.S. sales, including non big-box retailers depending on the product lines. However, just one Mio model—the Moov M400—could be found only at RadioShack at $80, representing a discount of 47 percent.
Only three tier-2 brands, Rightway, Nextar and Maylong, were present at retailers this year. Rightway’s RW400 PND was priced at $59.99—with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $149.99, marking the second cheapest deal on this year’s Black Friday PND list. Its features include text-to-speech, preloaded maps of the United States, fuel saver and fuel cost calculator functions, built-in media player and media card slot.
Nextar only had one model available at two non-CE stores, OfficeMax and ShopKo, and its 4.3-inch fourth-quarter model was $20 more expensive than TomTom’s cheapest model at Walmart.
The Maylong Group, which licenses the “Navigation for Dummies” brand, targeted drug stores as it did last year. This year the company offered two models: the FD-220 GPS for $69.99 and the 4.3-inch FD-420 model for $79.99.
The major trends for this year’s Black Friday PND pricing include:
- The TomTom model from Walmart at $59 is the cheapest model overall.
- This marks a first for a brand-name model to be the lowest-priced deal.
- Very few Tier-2s and no-name brand models can be found this time, which used to lead the aggressive price drops in previous years. Retailers might have realized they must utilize more brand name models to attract more PND consumers. This also confirms iSuppli’s observation that volume players are winning in the PND industry.
- Last year, PNDs were hot and the mass merchants that were selling Nextar wanted to get customers in the store. This year is different, since PNDs are not as hot. It would be fair to say that most consumers would prefer to buy a known brand rather than a white label. Now that TomTom and Garmin units are so cheap, there is nowhere for the white-label brands to go as price was their main weapon.
- Clearly, this year’s PND pricing is much more aggressive than last year’s. The cheapest model was $20 less than last year’s. The discount rate of each retailer ranged from 22 percent to 64 percent and the average discount rate of retailers was around 45 percent. Last year’s Black Friday sales showed that the PND suppliers learned from 2007 and showed restraint in reducing prices. The 2008 Black Friday PND prices were about the same as in 2007 and the aggressive price drop shown in 2007 did not happen. The best bargains in 2008 were actually available in the non-traditional PND resellers and were in the $80 range.
iSuppli believes that 2010 PND pricing for entry models will continue to decline, but overall PND pricing will be moderate because Connected PNDs (C-PNDs) will partially make up for the decline. In other words, the mix will change towards C-PNDs, which helps average out the prices.


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Samsung Stock Fundamentals `Very Strong'
April 26 (Bloomberg) -- Mark Newman, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, talks about Samsung Electronics Co.'s financial performance and business outlook. Samsung posted a record quarterly profit that topped analyst estimates as surging sales of Galaxy handsets helped Asia’s biggest technology company overcome sluggish demand for TVs. He speaks with Susan Li on Bloomberg Television's "Asia Edge." (Source: Bloomberg)
Most Recent Videos
Credit Suisse's Parker Sees Two Fed Hikes in 2017
11:23 - Credit Suisse Senior Advisor Bob Parker weighs in on Fed policy and discusses his outlook for the markets. He speaks on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe." (Source: Bloomberg)

domain: news


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Battlegrounds Mobile India is a version of PUBG Mobile, exclusively for players in India. It is an online multiplayer battle royale game developed and published by Krafton. The game released on 2 July 2021 for Android devices, and on 18 August 2021 for iOS devices.
Who is the owner of BGMI?
Rev Charlie Mabry – Founder/President – BGMI,INC
Is BGMI a Chinese game
BGMI is published by the South Korean studio Krafton in India. It is an Indian version of its popular battle royale game, PlayersUnknown Battlegrounds (PUBG), which had been banned in India from the ban on Chinese apps in 2020.
How do you qualify for BGMI?
All players on the registered team or squad must have BGMI Level 15 and should be above Platinum V Tier, when registration ends. Participating players must be Indian nationals to compete in the tournament.
Can Is BGMI make by Tencent?
Krafton then independently rebranded PUBG Mobile as BGMI and released it in the country. Since there are no ties with Tencent, the Indian government has no reason to ban BGMI in India.
Battleground Mobile India is expected to release on June 18. The upcoming Battle Royale segment is all set to mark the return of PUBG Mobile in India.
Ever since Battleground Mobile India was announced on May 6, gamers have taken an active interest in the title and closely monitored its progress.
The news of the pre-registration broke the internet and PUBG Mobile fans showed their support by pre-registering for the game. It was recently reported that more than 20 million pre-registrations have been completed.
The growing interest of gamers in the title is an indication of the popularity of the PUBG Mobile franchise in India. However, gamers are eager to learn more about the developers.
This article will reveal details about the developers of Battleground Mobile India.
The second is PUBG New State Mobile which will be launched globally, excluding India, China, and Vietnam. PUBG Mobile fans are hopeful that Battleground Mobile India releases in June. However, PUBG New State Mobile is expected to be released by the end of 2021.
How To Download BGMI For PC
- First of all, visit the Official web portal of Bluestacks online.
- After that it takes the online users to the Home Page of the website.
- Now, click on the Download button given there on the “Download Bluestack 5”
- And now, install the emulator on your device.
- Then, launch the emulator and look for the Google Play Store.
- After that, log in with your Google Play Store Account ID.
- Now, search for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) in it.
- Then, the users have to click on the install button to download the game on their PC.
- Then, it launches the game to download the additional file of it.
- Lastly, log in with your Facebook or Twitter ID to play the Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) on PC.
Here’s how to download the BGMI For PC. If you want to download this application with other android emulators, you can also select Andy, NoxPlayer, and many more just like Bluestacks, all android emulators work the same.


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Do good, look good this World Oceans Day
Wednesday 08 June 2011
Luxury skincare brand La Mer is celebrating World Oceans Day on June 8 with a limited-edition of its cult Crème face moisturizer, donating a portion of profits to the Oceana charity.
In addition to its year-long partnership with the organization, La Mer will donate $200,000 of sales of the cream that is made from sustainably harvested sea kelp.
But since a jar of the wonder product is $365, the company has thought of an all-budgets way to participate in World Oceans Day: in a partnership with music collective Soundwalk, La Mer has released a free app for the iPhone and iPad. The Seven Seas Sound Mix comes with videos and interviews with seven environmental activists that share their views and expertise on the world's oceans.
The Seven Seas Sound Mix is available on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/la-mer-7-seas/id438931958?mt=8.
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Cara Waters - courtesy of SmartCompany
The baby boomer generation is going to run out of time to effectively hand over their business to younger generations or get the best sale price for their business, according to research published today by Pitcher Partners and Swinburne University.
The Federal Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson, launched the report, Succession Reset: Family Business Succession in the 21st Century.
It comprises research conducted over four years and canvassing 2650 people across 56 countries.
The research found in 2021, the baby boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) will be aged between 56 and 74 years of age, with the weighting heavily towards the older end of the scale.
The outcome will most likely be that by 2022 a significant number of baby boomers will have or will be in the process of transferring ownership of their business. In Australia, the estimated value of these businesses is around $3.5 trillion.
But 85% of baby boomer business owners globally and 81.1% of baby boomers in Australia have not completed succession plans.
Pitcher Partners partner Dr Richard Shrapnel told SmartCompany there is a five-year window until the bulk of Australia's baby boomers are in their 70s.
"We would typically say a succession plan could take three to five years to put in place but we are at a stage where a large percentage of baby boomers have not acted," he says.
Shrapnel says business owners should not wait until the last second and put their business on the market when everyone else is putting their business on the market.
"We are getting to the cusp when we are going to be almost out of time and I think that is a troubling sign," he says.
"We have not had this generational shift before. Small business is big business when you put them together."
1. Succession is not retirement
"If you think about succession as getting old, retirement and stepping down, it stops you from doing it," he says.
"Think about it as creating a business for the future and having a role in it."
2. Start with readiness preparation is a must
Shrapnel says the goal of simply passing over the existing business to the next generation when the incumbent is ready to retire is no longer workable or viable.
"'Succession' really does commence the day you start your business," he says.
3. Set your goals before the journey
Shrapnel says the new trend for succession is transgenerational entrepreneurship.
"What that simply means is don't think, 'Here is my business now this is your business; rather think in terms of 'I've grown a business over the last 38 years and we as a family know how to run businesses'."
4. Harmony is a must
"Family harmony is a key aspect and a key criteria for successful generations," Shrapnel says.
He also notes the family unit has changed and the "natural assumption" that the business will be passed on to a son is "38 years old and no longer the tradition".
"Daughters in business are now far more prevalent and you now select the child that is best for the business," he says.
5. Price is not first
Shrapnel says as people go through the process of business succession the importance of sale price diminishes.
"If you focus on continuity and ongoing jobs, you are drawing your focus to the capital value drivers of your business which, in turn, supports sale price should you one day decide to sell.
6. Plan early, start earlier
"A major barrier to succession for many businesses is that the business is not financially strong enough to support the owner and the next generation," Shrapnel says.
"You need to have a longer term view of succession and have a growth plan beside that."
7. Equality is not equal
Shrapnel says business owners need to get their heads around equity.
"Not everyone will be in the family business so that becomes quite significant: what is fair," he says.
8. Ask before you get lost - advisers are important
Finally, Shrapnel says Australia lags behind the rest of the world and Australian business owners are failing to seek professional advice on the complex issue of succession.
"You go from the language of family business to families in business," he says. "What you are transferring over is an asset that will allow wealth to be generated."
Read more about how baby boomers can sell their business to the next generation.


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01/4The story behind Acqua di Cristallo Tributo a Modigliani, world’s most expensive water
The one thing we can clearly say after learning about this water bottle is, that it's beyond our imagination. A 750 ml water bottle has set the bar so high that the Guinness Book of Records declared it the most expensive water bottle in 2010. Now, you might be wondering why this bottle is in news again if it was declared the most expensive water bottle in 2010! Well, recently an image was being circulated on social media, where Nita Ambani, who is the Chairperson and Director of Reliance Industries was seen holding the Acqua di Cristallo Tributo a Modigliani bottle in a cricket stadium. However, the legal team of Reliance industries later refuted such claims and said the image was morphed. Here’s all you need to know about this INR 44 lakh bottle. (Image courtesy: Instagram/@coffeeliqueurhenriiv)
02/4Why this exorbitant price?
The main reason behind the exorbitant price of this water bottle is that this glass bottle is covered in solid 24 karat gold. The second reason behind this pricing is that it was designed by the celebrated bottle designer Fernando Altamirano, who gave a tribute to the late Italian artist Amedeo Clemente Modigliani. This water bottle was sold at an auction for the US $60,000 on 4th March 2010. This auction was organized by Planet Foundation A.C. at La Hacienda de Los Morales, Mexico City, Mexico. All the funds raised from this auction were donated to battle global warming to the Planet Foundation. (Image courtesy: firstname.lastname@example.org)
03/4How’s the water different from other mineral water brands?
It's said that the water in this bottle is a blend of natural spring water from two places - Fiji and France. If reports are to be believed then the water includes 5 gms of 23 karat gold ash along with glacier water from Iceland. When gold is mixed with mineral water, it adds alkalinity to the water and provides more energy than any other drink in the world.
Well, the water bottle is undoubtedly beyond our imagination but if you get to hold this bottle, this water is worth drinking!


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Federal regulators have not approved vaping as a smoking cessation ad, at least not for now, but some have marketed it as being one of the most viable life-saving strategies for smokers to help them quit the deadly addiction.
There are lots of testimonials coming from people who have been able to successfully switch from smoking traditional cigarettes to vaping. A lot of them are highly emotionally charged with people saying that a simple vaping kit has managed to eventually save their lives and offered them a second chance. What’s most important is that such claims are supported by research which highlights that the use of vaping is a viable smoking cessation ad. For instance, one study that has been published in the BMJ has proven that there is a strong link between vaping and smoking cessation.
It’s been a long time since the inception of vaping and the debate regarding the benefits of vaping over smoking traditional cigarettes. Even if e-cigarettes are already being used all over the world, there are still people who are not entirely convinced about the safety of vaping compared to the habit of traditional smoking.
Proven benefits of vaping
Less harmful substances
The vaping juice contains fewer chemicals compared to the harmful toxins involved in traditional smoking. The E-liquid, PG, VG and food grade flavor are all approved by the FDA.
Traditional smoking is highly addictive due to nicotine and vaping liquids without the substance are much safer.
Helps to quit smoking
There have been a lot of e-cigarette users who admit that vaping was the first step towards ditching the habit of smoking. As we said, reports claim that people cease smoking for at least three months since using vaping.
Vast palette of flavors
Another benefit of vaping is the vast variety of flavors that are available to users according to their preferences and tastes.
Less harmful for others and the environment
Smoking is harmful to the smoker and the ones around, and passive smoking is already an issue. Vaping has proven to be safer for the people in the immediate vicinity and the environment as well. We all heard about fires starting on a yearly basis due to carelessly discarded cigarettes. Vaping doesn’t involve such risks for the environment.
Besides health, social and environment-related benefits, vaping is also a cheaper option compared to traditional smoking.
As a conclusion, you can enjoy vaping without having to worry about its effects on your health or others’. Vaping is considered an acceptable and viable personal and social alternative to the harmful habit of smoking.


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Twitter Provides Tips to Help Maximize Your Father's Day Social Media Campaign
Father's Day is coming up (Sunday 18th June in the US), and it's a perfect time to launch a related marketing tie-in to tap into active shoppers looking for gifts.
And Father's Day may present more of an opportunity than you'd think - earlier this month, Facebook released data which showed that Mother's Day 2017 "drove more posts in a single day than any other topic on Facebook in the last year". And given the celebratory nature of the event, it's hard to go wrong - if you're looking for an opportunity to tap into a trend to drive your marketing message, Father's Day could be key.
To help businesses make the most of the event, Twitter has released a new listing of tips on key trends and ideas to keep in mind for Father's Day.
First up, on hashtags - Twitter says that while the #FathersDay hashtag is the most obvious, there's plenty of opportunity in the expanded hashtag conversation, including:
#fathersday2017, #ilovemydad, #thanksdad, #firstfathersday, #BestDadAward, #MyDadMyHero.
Twitter notes that in 2016, they saw 37.8 million tweets related to Father's Day, with people also commonly tweeting about barbeques, family stories, gifts, going out to eat, greeting cards, showing thanks, spending time with family - all key themes to keep in mind for your own campaigns.
Twitter also advises that brands should consider using keyword targeting in their Twitter ads campaigns around Father's Day to reach the exact right audience. Keyword targeting enables you to target users who've recently tweeted or searched for specific words on the platform.
"For example, a retail brand could reach people looking for Father's Day gifts by targeting keywords and phrases such as "gifts for dad," "need a Father's Day present," or "buy dad a gift."
As with all campaigns and strategies, it's critical that you first focus on relevance, and aiming for the topics and angles that most specifically relate to your audience - there's little point going off-topic just to tie into a trend. But if there is a relevant angle for your business, which aligns with your brand voice, then the data shows that Father's Day could be a great opportunity.
Follow Andrew Hutchinson on Twitter


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Gmail is getting a big redesign on Android and iOS
Google’s official Gmail app is getting a fancy new redesign on Android and iOS.
The fresh lick of paint won’t just make Gmail look better; it will also come with new features and tweaks that will make it quicker and easier to use, as well as phishing alerts for dodgy emails.
Gmail for Android and iOS will be overhauled with a cleaner and more modern look, which will make dealing with your email much simpler.
Gmail gets a Material redesign
The update is part of a larger effort to make G Suite look more like a family of products that sport the Google Material Theme — like Google’s default Android apps — with ease-of-use in mind, the company says.
The redesign will allow you to quickly view attachments, like photos and documents, without having to actually open them up or leave your conversation. It will also make it easier to switch between personal and work accounts.
What’s more, it will bring security alerts that help you identify and avoid phishing emails.
Google says the new Gmail will be available on Android and iOS “in the coming weeks,” while other G Suite apps for mobile will be overhauled later this year. Keep an eye on the App Store for the latest Gmail updates.


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Though the iPhone XR doesn’t boast the dual camera scheme that comes with the iPhone XS, camera quality on the XR is certainly nothing to scoff at. Hardly a surprise, Apple takes a special amount of pride when it comes to camera quality and the company revealed just a few years ago that it has in excess of 800 engineers and researchers working year-around on improving the iPhone camera.
Having said that, a new report from DxOMark reveals that camera quality on Apple’s new iPhone XR is the best in its class among single-camera smartphones. What’s more, DxOMark notes that the iPhone XR recorded the highest overall score they’ve ever given to a single-cam device, just slightly edging out the formidable Google Pixel 2.
Specifically, DxOMark found that the iPhone XR keeps pace with the XS when it comes to metrics like exposure, color, detail, noise, and artificats. Not surprisingly, the XR loses ground when it comes to features like the bokeh effect.
Colors are also vivid and pleasant in most test conditions; and although the iPhone XR tends to veer towards a slightly cool white balance in outdoor pictures, with warmer tones recorded indoors, it certainly avoids any nasty or offensive color casts. Autofocus is excellent, with fast response times ensuring that you can capture an image almost instantaneously; further, there are no focus stability issues, so pictures are always in focus.
While it’s no secret that anyone can take great photos with most any smartphone in ideal lighting conditions, a low light environment can sometimes separate the men from the boys, so to speak. With that said, a sample shot which compares color saturation in a low light setting from the iPhone XR against the iPhone XS Max and the Google Pixel 2 can be seen below.
As evidenced above, the Google Pixel 2 boasts more vibrant colors, which tends to show that when comparing flagship smartphones in 2018, not one single camera tends to mop the floor with competitors across all categories. Inevitably, there will be some trade-offs, but if you’re looking for an affordable device that scored exceedingly well in overall testing, DxOMark certainly heaps high praise upon the iPhone XR. DxOMark’s full testing results, which is chock full of interesting photo comparisons, can be viewed over here.


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While the exact release date for the highly anticipated game remains undisclosed, this confirmation has ignited excitement among gaming enthusiasts.
The announcement marks a decade since the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5), one of the most successful and iconic games in the franchise.
GTA 5, the fifth installment in the series, holds the distinction of being the second best-selling video game globally, surpassed only by Minecraft, with an impressive sales figure exceeding 185 million copies.
In a short statement, President Sam Houser expressed gratitude to players worldwide for their unwavering support, emphasizing that the opportunity to create beloved games was made possible by the gaming community.
“Next month marks the 25th anniversary of Rockstar Games.
Thanks to the incredible support of our players worldwide, we have had the opportunity to create games we are truly passionate about — without you, none of this would be possible, and we are so grateful to all of you for sharing this journey with us.
In 1998, Rockstar Games was founded on the idea that video games could come to be as essential to culture as any other form of entertainment, and we hope that we have created games you love in our efforts to be part of that evolution.
We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto.”
As anticipation builds for the next chapter in the Grand Theft Auto saga, fans eagerly await the trailer release as a glimpse into the immersive gaming experience that Rockstar Games is poised to deliver.


text: (DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory) Eat too much without exercising and you’ll probably put on a few pounds. As it turns out, plant leaves do something similar. A new study shows that retaining sugars in plant leaves can make them get fat too. In plants, this extra fat accumulation could be a good thing. It could help turn plants into factories for making biofuels and other useful chemicals.


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Critical skills shortages, rising crime, political instability and poor government
service delivery continue to dampen SA business growth. Grant Thornton IBR
survey for Q4 2013 reveals local concerns dramatically hampering business
South African privately held business owners are continuing to be impacted by
political instability, poor government service delivery and crime rates reveals the
latest Grant Thornton survey. This is causing uncertainty about the future of
conducting business in South Africa.
Government plans to cut the red tape and make it easier to do business in South Africa by setting up a national one-stop shop to assist with investment approvals, reforming BEE codes and simplifying forms and procedures faced by small businesses.
President Jacob Zuma?s State of the Nation Address is encouraging to business, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) said on Thursday. The tone of the President?s address, supported by the promise of improved economic activity and growth, is encouraging to business and should promote business confidence at a time when business confidence is constrained, said SACCI.
South African labour law strongly protects people employed in South Africa. Furthermore, our courts do not easily give up jurisdiction to foreign courts. When a foreign embassy is situated in South Africa it is in fact, according to law, based on foreign soil.


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Berlin-based independent publication Freunde von Freunden combs the globe in search of creatives who are both passionate about their discipline and unafraid to innovate. The latest to be featured in the interview series, Joe Doucet, makes his home in New York City and has become known for his technology-led design design perspective.
Doucet is the founder of fledging concept label OTHR, which hopes to blaze new trails by melding emerging technologies with eco-conscious home goods. Though he now sits at the helm of an award-winning design practice, Doucet got his start in communication design. From there he segued into a more multidisciplinary approach, concentrating on a range of products, packaging and other goods. And then, four years ago, he changed direction again, establishing OTHR to bridge the gap between tech and consumer goods.
Learn more about Doucet and read the full interview over at FvF.


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BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bsquare (NASDAQ: BSQR) today announced that Dave McCarthy, senior director of products, will speak at the Connected Fleets conference in Atlanta on Monday, September 25, 2017, 9:45 am EDT. McCarthy's presentation titled, "The IoT Revolution in Transportation," will address how Industrial IoT solutions can impact the performance, maintenance, and repair of fleets, how IoT directly improves fleet uptime, and a strategy for avoiding common pitfalls in IoT deployments. The session also will highlight how Bsquare's DataV IoT solution is applied in real-world situations for business and industrial applications.
Bsquare Speaks at the Connected Fleets Conference:
What: The IoT Revolution in Transportation
Who: Dave McCarthy, Senior Director of Products, Bsquare
When: Monday, September 25, 9:45 am EDT
Where: Double Tree Hilton Hotel – Atlanta
For more than two decades, Bsquare has helped its customers extract business value from a broad array of physical assets by making them intelligent, connecting them, and using the data they generate to optimize business processes. Bsquare DataV software solutions can be deployed by a wide variety of enterprises to create business-focused Internet of Things (IoT) systems that more effectively monitor device data, automate processes, predict events and produce better business outcomes. Bsquare goes a step further by coupling its purpose-built DataV software with comprehensive analytic and engineering services that can help organizations of all types make IoT a business reality. For more information, visit www.bsquare.com.
BSQUARE, the BSQUARE Logo and DataV are trademarks of BSQUARE Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other names and brands herein may be trademarks of others.
View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bsquare-to-present-at-connected-fleets-atlanta-300521642.html
Bsquare contact, Jeannette Bitz, Bsquare, +1 510-599-5499, email@example.com; Investors contact, Leslie Phillips, Blueshirt Group, +1 415-489-2189, firstname.lastname@example.org


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Drug discovery and development software developer Simulations Plus (SLP) reported upbeat results in its third quarter with revenue climbing 26.7% to $8.6 million, driven by margin increases. The company said simulation and modeling, and consulting services based on silico modeling is gaining traction among its customers and is helping Simulations Plus to achieve consistent growth.
As for earnings, the company met analysts’ expectations with profit jumping 15.7% to $2.4 million. On a per share basis, earnings increased 13.7% to $0.13. The double-digit increase in earnings was helped by the increase in revenue, while partially offset by increased expenses.
“Simulations Plus continues to execute on its growth strategy and deliver quantifiable value to its expanding customer base. With more than a decade of consistent growth in revenue and earnings, we believe we are well-positioned for continued success, especially as in silico modeling takes on an increasing importance with our customers,” said Walt Woltosz CEO.
Simulations Plus also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of the company’s common stock payable on August 2, 2018, to shareholders of record as of July 26, 2018.
Despite the upbeat results, the Lancaster, California-based company’s stock dipped more than 3% in after-hours trading. Shares of Simulations Plus had a splendid run since the beginning of 2018 jumping about 50% and surging 60% in the past one year.
Last month, the IPO market was in a full swing. IPOs of Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) and JFROG (NASDAQ: FROG) had an impressive opening day in September, the former creating a
PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) beat market expectations on both revenue and earnings for the third quarter of 2020. The company saw the momentum continue in its snacks business while the
With more and more people turning to virtual entertainment sources, amid the virus-related movement restrictions, video game publishers like Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) are witnessing unusually high demand. Not surprisingly,


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Luxury yachting just got a new look
Boat Lagoon Yachting’s new look makes its debut at the prestigious Singapore Yacht Show 2017
Boat Lagoon Yachting sails the high seas at this year’s Singapore Yacht Show with the largest fleet ever in its seven years of participation, including the Asia-Pacific debut of highly anticipated new models from some of the most prestigious brands in the world of yachting. The occasion also saw the unveiling of Boat Lagoon Yachting’s new brand identity. Inspired by nautical elements such as mooring lines and anchors, the unique ‘BLY’ monogram captures the carefree sea-faring lifestyle in a mark of infinite luxury and sophistication. DIA is proud to have supported BLY in this voyage!


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People lining up for a treat this summer at Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop in London will have the chance to protect forests around the world.
That’s because the ice cream brand from Vermont is experimenting with a new form of blockchain-enabled carbon credits, according to Forbes.
After each purchase, the store will pay one penny to offset the carbon of the sale, and customers will then be asked if they want to double the impact by donating an additional penny.
Take Action: Stand Up for the Arctic
The meager payments will help fund carbon offset projects around the world, such as building renewable energy infrastructure or planting trees, Forbes reports.
As a comparison, the nonprofit Stand for Trees offers $10 forest credits to offset a single ton of carbon. Globally, carbon emissions surpass 37 billions tons per year, so selling carbon-offsetting ice cream will not solve climate change on its own.
But it could help to spur a broader reckoning with carbon footprints, Forbes notes.
The concept at the Scoop Shop comes from the Poseidon Foundation, a nonprofit that wants to give ordinary people the chance to participate in carbon markets and give companies the ability to offset their environmental impacts.
The partnership with Ben & Jerry’s is the first time this technology is being used in a real-world setting, according to Forbes.
Carbon markets, the foundation of the project, are designed to limit the amount of carbon emissions within an industry, state, or country. They work by limiting how much carbon a company can legally emit. Companies that want to release more carbon can pay other companies for some of their carbon shares, or they will be fined.
Generally, carbon markets, also known as “cap and trade,” take place on an industrial scale. But the Poseidon Foundation is using blockchain to break down carbon credits into “microtransactions” that can be applied to individual consumer purchases.
“The carbon market has a high barrier to entry, is inaccessible for the majority of us, and is currently not properly managed, so we're taking that market and making it accessible and transparent,” Poseidon founder Laszlo Giricz told Forbes.
Poseidon is currently working on an app that people can use to monitor and offset the carbon impact of their purchases.
“For the very first time, our platform empowers everyone to participate in climate action. It links your climate-negative purchase to an equally climate-positive carbon credit, allowing you to offset it instantly,” the organization explains on its website.
Items with larger environmental impacts will cost more money to offset, according to Poseidon.
How the organization determines carbon impact is unclear, but for ice cream a lot of factors would theoretically have to be incorporated.
Ben & Jerry’s, for its part, has long been committed to environmental causes.
The brand invests in clean energy, strives to limit the environmental impact of its supply chain, and advocates for climate justice, according to its website.
Global Citizen campaigns on the United Nations’ Global Goals, which call on countries to reduce their carbon emissions. You can take action on this issue here.


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Xerox Holdings stated on Monday it has secured $24 billion in financing for its $33.5 billion takeover provide for HP, a deal that the private laptop maker is opposing.
HP rejected the $22 per share provide in November saying it “significantly” undervalued the corporate, following which the printer maker took the provide on to HP’s shareholders.
Xerox has engaged in “constructive dialogue” with a lot of HP’s largest shareholders, the corporate’s chief government officer, John Visentin, stated in a letter addressed to HP’s board on Monday.
“My offer stands to meet with you in person, with or without your advisors, to begin negotiating this transaction,” Visentin stated.
Activist investor Carl Icahn, who has a 4.2 % stake in HP and a 10.9 % stake in Xerox, in December urged HP shareholders who agreed with a merger with Xerox to achieve out to the PC maker’s administrators for rapid motion.
HP had stated it was open to exploring a bid for Xerox, stating that it recognises the potential advantages of consolidation.
Shares of HP have been up almost 2 % in buying and selling earlier than the bell. The firm didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.
© Thomson Reuters 2019


text: Self-driving cars are expected to hit roads around the world before 2025, and when they do watch out! A new study says that by 2035, nearly 54 million autonomous vehicles will be on the road with predicted annuals sales of around $12 milllion. The study by IHS Automotive predicts that, by that time, both commercial and personal vehicles in use will be self-driving. They also expect that accident rates will plunge near zero, probably because we won’t be distracted driving. And they will create less environmental impact because their driving patterns will be geared to reduce emission levels. The first hurdle, however, will be price. At first it will be a luxury feature says, IHS, but then the premium will drop to about a grand for entry-level car.


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In the US, 66% of adults consume alcoholic beverages and 45% of alcohol consumers regularly purchase wine, TABS Analytics has found. Wine buying occurs equally between male and female consumers, though more men buy spirits than do women, TABS said.
Study: Nearly half of US alcohol consumers buy wine
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She might be in a $4K+ Gucci outfit today, but she let us know real quick, she'll be back to Fashion Nova soon.
Donald Glover gave a shout-out to the Migos during his Golden Globes acceptance speech and the Internet went wild.
August Alsina was involved in a backstage fight over the weekend after taking part in a concert to promote non-violence. Yes, the irony isn’t lost on us. Alsina was slated to perform at the State of Emergency 2 concert in St. Louis on Saturday, where he and a promoter for the show got into an altercation. According […]


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In preparation for the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, Samsung SDI will boost technological developments for next-generation materials, according to Samsung’s CEO, Jun Young-Hyun.
Hgun previously emphasised technology developments that will “lead” the global battery market at the company’s 47th anniversary ceremony.
According to the Korea Herald, Samsung’s battery supplier is trying to make a positive turnaround this year, after losing US$831 million last year because of the Galaxy Note 7 explosion fallout and slow market demand.
Hyun announced four major tasks at the recent ceremony, in hope for a positive turnaround building a product platform, securing safety, next-generation material development and seeking innovation in its manufacturing systems: “We will enhance our technologies that will be second to none,” he added.
Written by Leah Alger


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Cannabis Capital Corp. (OTCBB: CBCA) announce today it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire WebCongress, Inc..
The package deal is valued at over $25 Million, based on CBCA’s current share price, and consists of a combination of cash, shares, and management fees.
This is an actual operating business and not just a domain name.
Cannabis Capital Corp will retain the current WebCongress executive management team to continue driving the growth of WebCongress.
WebCongress produces global digital marketing and strategy events, attracting thousands of technology professionals across the world from such diverse companies as Nestle, Merck, NBC Universal, Pfizer, Starbucks, American Airlines, IKEA, and Redbull. WebCongress, Inc. also houses an international business mentoring and training academy and a digital solution agency.
“Since the launch of WebCongress in 2008, over 100,000 people have come together to be inspired and educated by, and network with, leading executives in the technology space from a variety of major industries.
“Having hosted more than 27 events in 9 different cities, such as Barcelona, Miami, Bogota and San Francisco, just to mention a few, while attracting powerful speakers from Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Blackberry, Microsoft, Skype, Samsung, Intel and Ericsson, WebCongress Conferences are considered to be among the most important digital marketing events in the world.”
“Chad S. Johnson, Esq., Director, President & CEO of Cannabis Capital Corp. stated, “WebCongress possesses both a successful, high-growth business model and a strong executive management team that align well with our combined growth plans.
“We acquired WebCongress on mutually beneficial terms and at the right time, being in our early stage of growth and development. We believe this acquisition provides CBCA with a profitable business combination that will enhance and support each company’s core mission, expanding international operations and harmonizing the current services and offerings of WebCongress with CBCA’s development. WebCongress’s accelerated growth will generate ongoing novel opportunities and platforms for the legal cannabis industry on a global basis. This is a key step in the direction of increasing long-term CBCA shareholder value, and we are more than excited to make this announcement.”
The next WebCongress Conference, which is part of the 2014 Americas Tour, will be held on May 8th at the San Francisco Broadway Studios.
In 2015, WebCongress, Inc. plans to launch operations in Asia and return to Europe, expanding to more cities such as Paris,
“The combination of WebCongress and CBCA brings together two highly complementary industries and companies. WebCongress, recognized as a leader in its field, provides valuable resources as Cannabis Capital Corp. moves forward to establish itself as an industry leader in its burgeoning market environment.”
“WebCongress remains headquartered in Miami, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBCA. ”
“Expansion is currently underway with operations opening in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Bogota, Colombia. WebCongress will continue to operate under the leadership of its Founder, Mr. Benmeziane.
About WebCongress, Inc.
WebCongress Inc. was launched in 2008 by its Founder and CEO Ouali Benmeziane and has been growing rapidly ever since, hosting more than 27 events in 9 different cities and attracting powerful and fascinating speakers from such companies as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify, Blackberry, Microsoft, Skype, Samsung, Intel and Ericsson. WebCongress Conferences are considered to be among the most important digital marketing events in the world.
WebCongress Conferences are Digital Marketing Events covering Technical Innovations that bring together web professionals and media outlets from throughout North America, Europe, and Latin America; with one principal goal: teaching online marketing strategies by involving leading companies in technology, online and marketing industries. The WebCongress Conference experience delivers 1) inspirational and strategic conferences – 2) intensive training with workshops – 3) the legendary WebParty, the ideal place for networking with attendees, keynote speakers, mentors and the WebCongress community. WebCongress Conferences include agenda list topics, such as SEO, Online Advertising, Analytics, Email Marketing, Ecommerce, Mobile, Social Media Marketing, Apps, and more.
About Cannabis Capital Corp.
Cannabis Capital Corp. (OTCBB: CBCA) is a United States company actively pursuing investment opportunities in several traditional emerging markets while infusing them with the rapidly growing global medical cannabis industry. CBCA invests in companies positioned to make a significant impact within their respective industries. These early stage investments provide emerging companies with access to larger capital sums to help elevate their status from start-ups to mature and durable brand leaders. Recent legislative changes around the world are creating compelling investment opportunities that CBCA is positioned to identify at an early stage.
The legal cannabis economy is growing at an aggressive rate as more and more programs are running every day as this sector expands from state to state and country to country. Over 20 states and a dozen countries have medical cannabis programs; each creates a unique opportunity for Cannabis Capital Corp.


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Wilmington, Delaware — Blowing agent company Chemours experienced a 17% rise in sales in its fluoropolymer segment in 2017 compared with 2016. They reached $2.7 bn.
Chemours blows sales up by 17% in 2017
The company said sales growth was because of 'continued adoption of Opteon refrigerants'.
Higher prices for base-level refrigerants between 2017 and 2016 benefitted the fluoropolymers business. But contractual pricing adjustments went some way to offset this.
Adjusted earnings before interest taxation depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) were up 50% in the sector at $669m.
For the full 2017 financial year, Chemours had sales of $6.2bn up 15% n$5.4bn on 2016.
The company said 'volume growth across all segments, added 11% to revenue'.
Currency effects were negligible year to year, the company said. But the costs associated with closures and divestments in the chemicals solutions business were a '4% headwind', it added.
Looking ahead, Chemours said it expects its Ebitda to be between $1.7bn to $1.85 bn for 2018.


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The new ski-in/ski-out, bike-in/bike-out Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center is now open.
After several months of uncertainly, Burke Mountain Resort has officially opened the Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center, the first hotel to ever open on its slopes.
The $55 million, 116-suite hotel is located just below the MidBurke Express quad and can accommodate over 450 guests. The new facility also features a day lodge complete with a restaurant, pub, coffee shop, retail store and an arcade.
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin had the honor of cutting the ribbon in an opening ceremony Thursday.
“I’ve cut a lot of ribbons, I’ve met a lot of great Vermonters, but I have yet to cut a ribbon as exciting as this one, one where we have bled, shed more tears, worked harder, taken more heat, but together gotten it done.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was one of triumph for many in attendance who have worked hard to create a vibrant four-season resort at a mountain that is still recovering from news last April that the State of Vermont and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil actions alleging investor fraud dating back to 2008 at EB-5 development projects at Jay Peak and Burke.
Steve Olson, CEO of Leisure Hotels and Resorts, the company now managing the resort, said they have made improvements to the snow equipment. “This year we’ve made a commitment that it will be open November 1. There has been over $200,000 spent to make sure we get adequate snow on the mountain and we’re ready to open early, and get as many people here as possible.”
The town of East Burke is also home to the world-renowned Kingdom Trails, another group that is excited to have the lodging options the new hotel brings. “We have become a four-season destination. It’s outdoor recreation wonderland,” said Kingdom Trails Executive Director and President of the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce Tim Tierney.
The resort is home to Burke Mountain Academy, whose alumni include Olympic slalom gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin, 117 U.S. Ski Team members, 138 national team athletes and 33 Olympians. Burke Mountain Academy Trustee Donald Graham said, “There is no Academy if we don’t have a prosperous and successful mountain.”
“We’ve been working on the maintenance of the snowmaking systems and plan to be ready to start making snow by November 1, with a goal of opening by Thanksgiving, ”Burke’s Jessica Sechler told SnoCountry.com. Sechler added that plans are underway to expand programs for an increased number of visitors, including snowsports and instruction, as well as partnering with the NorthWoods Stewardship Center to open new cross country skiing trails.


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OXM UK: "Are there any other PC success stories that deserve a place on console - perhaps even a next generation console? I've had a think, and come up with seven contenders."
If one of them is DayZ buy a ps4! cos ps4 is getting DayZ
Yeah they did say Dayz is coming to PS4 so might as well get one of those if u want to play that game on a console
You sounds like working on Sony PR
I thought that was a rumor, as the developer said they're looking into it?
Here is a link http://www.edge-online.com/...
@Transpoter47 Thank you, well guess we can look forward to that :D
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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NFT LA launches tickets for 2023 conference ahead of speaker lineup
To improve your local-language experience, sometimes we employ an auto-translation plugin. Please note auto-translation may not be accurate, so read original article for precise information.
New York City might be the art world’s (mostly) undisputed epicenter, but California has become the cradle of Web3–not only due to the obvious influence of Silicon Valley, but also the monumental investments that entertainment companies like United Talent Agency have poured into the space.
Last March, the inaugural edition of NFT LA became California’s premiere annual Web 3 event, convening artist hopefuls, tech experts, and newbies of all slants for a meeting of the minds in the City of Angels.
A lot has happened since March 2022, but that’s not slowing the conference down. Today, tickets went live for NFT LA’s second iteration, taking place March 20 through 23, 2023. The announcement arrives even before the speaker lineup, but based on last year’s star-studded roster, attendees can be assured part two will hold even more thrills in store.
“Our mantra is that NFT LA will be bigger, better and bolder than last year’s event, which was a huge success,” event co-founder Eathan Janney told Metaverse Post. “At the same time it will be just as intimate and impactful as last year. Also, we’re known for integrating the entertainment, sports and music scene in LA which means that we’re delivering the party that everyone wants to attend. People will come to town for NFT LA to attend the event itself, not just to hang out and catch the vibe from the sidelines. That’s a value prop we’re known for—creating an experience you truly don’t want to miss out on.”
Last year’s speakers included international DJ and A0K1VERSE founder Steve Aoki, ten-time NYT Bestselling Author Neil Strauss, and DraftKings SVP Beth Beiriger. Mark Cuban famously delivered the opening keynote, and even more famously brought tiger blood superstar Charlie Sheen onstage.
However, as CoinDesk reported, Sheen said onstage that “I don’t know practically anything about NFTs–or at least not as much as most of you.” Some audience members laughed, but others wondered what this conference was for–if not for expertise. It became a theme. “Why is Waka Flocka Flame rapping about NFTs?” CoinDesk also asked. “Is that Ja Rule?”
Smoke and mirrors–and a whole lot of shimmering clout–make this city and its looming entertainment industry the stuff of legends. That’s the name of the game, baby. Whoever NFT LA snags for their second edition, attendees can count on star power, thrills, and some sick after parties in the Hollywood Hills.
I mean, if you’re into that.
Ranging from $249 to a whopping $2,500, copping a ticket for NFT LA at this point might feel like a speculative investment–but it’s also one which probably ensures they have purchasing power on the front end to make this event even better. Quality of connection amongst a diverse cross section of attendees alone is what makes any event great.
Come reckon with the second coming of Web3, one year since a very different time, and rest assured you’ll definitely get the Hollywood treatment, along with the space’s greatest asset: its community.
Read related posts:
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.


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by Alyssa Oursler | October 19, 2012 1:23 pm
For McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) shareholders, 2011 was an incredible year.
And boy, does 2011 feel like a lifetime ago.
The Golden Arches have lost their shine in 2012, with MCD around 10% in the red since January — thanks in part to a 3% drop following Friday’s uninspiring earnings report.
McDonald’s third-quarter profits slipped 2 cents per share to $1.43, about 5 cents less than analysts expected. That came on a slight uptick in revenue, from $7.17 billion to $7.2 billion.
The big red flag waving investors away Friday, though, was same-store sales — a metric McDonald’s has struggled with all year. Global same-store sales rose just 1.9% — the first time in nine years that number dipped below 2% — and are trending negative so far for the fourth quarter.
In some ways, though, McDonald’s doesn’t have anyone to blame but itself.
Sure, there’s that whole global slowdown, complete with austerity measures in Europe, an uncertain recovery in the U.S. and a soft landing at best in China. Plus, a negative currency exchange, which shaved 8 cents off of earnings, isn’t helping things either. We get it: It’s a tough time to be the world’s largest fast-food chain.
But at the same time, one would think that cash-conscious customers would actually flock to the low-price chain as a cheaper eating-out alternative to options from The Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) to Chipotle (NYSE:CMG). Really, McDonald’s is to restaurants what Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) is to retail — and the big-box discounter’s performance is on par with the McDonald’s of last year, thanks to the same penny-pinchers.
So, what gives? One piece of the puzzle, here at home at least, is that McDonald’s hasn’t given customers new reasons to come by. Its competitors, on the other hand, have been busy trying to do just that.
YUM Brands’ (NYSE:YUM) Taco Bell, to start, debuted its Doritos Loco Taco, then followed that with its premium but still pretty cheap Cantina Line. Burger King (NYSE:BKW) also featured a limited-time menu with a summer of bacon sundaes, sweet potato fries and BBQ. More recently, it debuted Cinnabon Minibon rolls and a gingerbread cookie sundae for the holidays. Heck, even Domino’s Pizza (NYSE:DPZ) mixed things up by tossing out a pan pizza.
From McDonald’s, though, all we’ve gotten is talk: talk of more chicken, talk of a limited-time menu, talk of a soon-to-come McRib. Sure, there were two vegetarian restaurants in India and McNoodle-testing in Austria.
But other than that, the only real things the fast-food chain has added were the unappealing box of chicken poppers, menu calorie counts and vague promises about being nicer to the animals it turns into Happy Meals. And even that move hardly sets it apart from Burger King, Dunkin Brands (NASDAQ:DNKN), Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN), Subway and even supermarkets like Kroger (NYSE:KR) and Safeway (NYSE:SWY), all of which have made similar vows.
Right now, there’s the annual McDonald’s monopoly promotion, but I don’t know anyone — besides my brother, who has over 100 pieces and no prizes — who actually plays anymore. Seems that the novelty has worn off after all these years.
Last year was quite a different story. The company expanded its line of specialty coffee and smoothie drinks, which were not only loved by consumers but had the added benefits of being between-meal snacks and boasted high margins.
Heck, sales of McDonald’s mango pineapple smoothie were so good last summer that the company actually blamed its drop in July same-store sales on the popular product. If I were McDonald’s, I’d stop pointing fingers at our old smoothie and try debuting another one.
The good news from all this, though, is that McDonald’s struggles have actually put the chain itself on the value menu. The blue chip now trades at 15 times forward earnings — a steal compared to competitors Burger King and Wendy’s, which each trade above 20.
And McDonald’s still boasts a global reach and a strong brand. It’s a consistent top-10 pick on Interbrand’s list of the Best Global Brands — ranking seventh this year — while no other fast-food name even makes the top 50. Plus, it offers a solid dividend yielding 3.42%, nearly double the yields of YUM Brands and Wendy’s.
Throw in the potential upside of a back-on-track economy and some new items to lure in munching customers, and the stock could be ripe for a turnaround — in 2013, that is. For now, Ronald McDonald & Co. seem too busy missing the golden days of 2011 to make any progress in 2012.
As of this writing, Alyssa Oursler did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/10/mcdonalds-hungry-for-new-offerings/
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As if you needed more motivation to push ahead with your search engine marketing, a new report by PEW Internet highlights that Search Engines are further entrenching themselves into the daily lives of internet users.
According to the new report, almost 50% of all internet users engage a search engine on a daily basis. That’s right – every day!
Daily search engine usage is rapidly approaching daily email usage as the most popular net based activity. Email still stands out as the most common daily online activity, with approx 60% of net users checking their inbox every day!
The key difference is the growth of each. The Pew Internet Project, which started in 2002, reported a growth in daily email users of 15% up to 2008. Search Engine dailer users over the same period grew a remarkable 69% over the same period to 49%.
For advertisers looking to attract potential customers, the demographics of daily search engine users is encouraging. According to the report:
“Those who are using search engines on an average day are more likely to be socially upscale, with at least some college education and incomes over $50,000 per year. They are more likely to be internet users with at least six years of online experience and to have their homes wired for fast internet connections.”
At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before Search Engine use surpasses Email, and when you consider that there are over 248 million US internet users (as at June 2008) – that’s a phenomenal number of people turning to search everyday!


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Microsoft to Launch Windows 9 Preview in Late 2014 – Report
Chinese source writes that work is already in progress on Windows 9
Windows 9 is the next big project prepared by Microsoft for the Windows product family, but it’s not yet clear whether the software giant wants to stick to this particular name or will pick another designation.Either way, Chinese website Win8China reports that Redmond is set to unveil a preview version of Windows 9 in the second half of 2014, before a public launch in early 2015.
If this is true, the future release could be actually the new Windows Threshold that everyone is talking about these days, but again, it’s not yet clear whether this would be a new Windows release or just an update for the existing Windows 8.1.
Among the improvements expected in Windows 9, the return of the Start Menu is worth mentioning, but also dedicated options to run Metro apps in their very own windows on the desktop.


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World of Warcraft is always held up as the MMO to beat in terms of subscriber numbers. It peaked back in 2010 when the online game reached 12 million subscribers. Even today, Blizzard still enjoys around 8 million subscribers. The game’s competition has responded by going free-to-play in a bid to survive, but there’s some online games that really do leave WoW for dust when comparing player numbers.
One of those games is World of Tanks, which was only released in 2010 as a freemium game, but has this month celebrated 75 million registered players. Developer Wargaming.net is also claiming a concurrent player peak of 1,152,261. If that’s not impressive enough, the online game seems to be increasing its user base at a rate of 2.5 million players a month.
Registered player numbers aren’t the same as paying subscribers, but when you have nearly 10x the user base and are logging over a million concurrent players, you know Wargaming.net is making serious money off premium feature sales.
For those that haven’t encountered the game, World of Tanks focuses on player vs. player combat gameplay including random, team, and clan battles. There’s also over 240 historically accurate and detailed armored vehicles to choose from, split across five vehicle types and with new ones being added regularly. For example, Japanese tanks are a promised addition. Of course, you can also customize each vehicle both visually and performance-wise.
It’s a formula that clearly works, and will be used as an example of success by any company thinking of entering the online space with a new game. Developers will also be keen to see how The Elder Scrolls Online performs when it sees a release in April next year. If it doesn’t do well, as in, World of Warcraft well, then freemium will clearly be the preferred model going forward, even for games using very popular IP.


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18 Reasons e-mobility will Thrive Over the Next 10 Years
The e mobility movement is happening right now and it’s growing at an amazing rate. The move away from ICE (internal combustion engines) to electric-powered vehicles is gathering pace and already has solid foundations to move forward from. Here we explore some of the most likely developments, which will arise over the next 10 years.
We have separated our findings into the following sub-headings:
- Charging infrastructure
- Electricity supply
- Market Conditions
The most expensive part of any electric vehicle is the battery. To gain competitive advantage electric car manufacturers need to innovate in a number of ways to bring the best product to the market. We can expect to see significant innovations in electric vehicle batteries in the coming years, which we summarise below:
1) Increased battery range
Expect to see major increases in the range of electric batteries over the next ten years. Currently, apart from very expensive models, the range of e-vehicles is up to about 250 miles. Whilst, this is fine for the city driver, it is not enough for long-distance drivers (e.g. Salespeople) and taxis, etc.
Although 250 miles is not far off a full tank of petrol/diesel fuel (which is around 300-400 miles), clearly advancements are needed in battery range. We expect to see battery ranges grow to 500+ miles in the coming five to ten years, here are a few potential breakthroughs in this area:
- Swiss-based battery manufacturer, Innolith claim that by 2024 they will launch a 1,000km (600 miles) range battery
- Lucid announced in August 2020 that the Lucid Air will have a range of 517 miles
- Tesla announced in September 2020 that they are working on a cobalt-free battery design, which will deliver 500+ miles of range
2) Increased density of storage
Much research is underway to increase the density of storage in batteries. An increase in density will potentially offer more energy in less space. Examples of recent announcements about innovations in increasing the density of batteries include:
- Elon Musk of Tesla announced in a Tweet on 24th August 2020 – “400 Wh/kg *with* high cycle life, produced in volume (not just a lab) is not far. Probably 3 to 4 years.” This represents a 50% increase in battery density by 2024
- Many companies are researching increasing the amount of silicon in anodes. By replacing graphite in anodes with silicon, battery density is increased by 30%+ as silicon bonds 25x more than graphite (due to silicon’s semi-conductive qualities)
3) Increased recycling of batteries
One thing is for sure, the next ten years will see a dramatic increase in the number of batteries recycled. Global stockpiles of batteries are expected to exceed 3.4 million by 2025 compared to just 55,000 in 2018 – a 62-fold increase.
Recycled batteries contain minerals such as cobalt, lithium and nickel, but the recycling cost is estimated to be currently five times higher than the value of the recovered materials. The EU and China have already introduced laws requiring e-vehicle manufacturers to take responsibility for e-vehicle battery recycling. Tests have proven that 90-100% of an electric car battery can potentially be recycled.
Current estimates suggest that 75%+ of end-of-life batteries in 2025 will be recycled for uses such as home energy storage.
4) Lower battery cost
Although electric vehicle prices have already fallen 80% from $1,000+ per ($/kWh) in 2010 to c$190 per ($/kWh) in 2020, prices are set to fall even further.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance reported back in 2017 that “Batteries currently account for about half the cost of EVs, and their prices will fall by about 77% between 2016 and 2030.”
According to research by Nicholas P. Lutsey published on Research Gate, the price per ($/kWh) between 2020 and 2030 for electric vehicles is estimated at:
- 2020 – between $130 and $191 per ($/kWh)
- 2022 – between $100 and $165 per ($/kWh)
- 2025 – between $85 and $133 per ($/kWh)
- 2030 – between $50 and $80 per ($/kWh)
There are many reasons for the falling prices, some cited here in other battery-related answers, e.g. increased technological innovation, improved recycling, using alternative battery chemistries and also due to economies of scale.
5) Reduced use of scarce materials
Electric car batteries use scarce materials, particularly cobalt and lithium. For cost and environmental reasons, manufacturers and researchers are looking for alternative solutions to remove cobalt, lithium and other scarce materials in batteries.
Revised battery chemistries will be the answer and there will be many breakthroughs in years to come. For example, in July 2020 Wired.com reported that the University of Texas had successfully created a Nickel-rich battery, which was cobalt-free. Not only would this be more environmentally-friendly (as Cobalt is toxic and heavy), but also would reduce the cost of the battery as Nickel is much lower in cost.
2. Charging infrastructure
A lack of charging infrastructure is one of the main barriers to large-scale e-vehicle adoption in most of the world, infact it’s ranked third behind the price of new vehicles and concerns about range.
There is a need for chargers at home, in the workplace, at fuel stations, in car parks and at a range of other locations (e.g. gyms, hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, etc.) We discuss expected advancements in charging infrastructure over the next ten years below:
6) Number of chargers to increase
The number of electric vehicle chargers will rapidly increase over the next decade. A report by Wood MacKenzie revealed:
- 2019 chargers – Europe c1 million, China c1 million and North America c1.3 million – so 3.3 million in total for these three areas
- 2030 projected chargers – Europe c8.6 million, China c9.8 million and North America c10.8 million – so 29.2 million in total for these three areas
- This represents a growth from 3.3 million in 2019 to 29.2 million in 2030 – an 885% increase – so you could say this is a growth market!
7) Mix of charger infrastructure
McKinsey report that by 2030, home and workplace chargers will represent c95% of the total of all chargers available worldwide. These will predominantly be slow chargers, with the bulk of faster chargers being located in fee-paying charging stations.
8) Improved charger speeds
Consumers can expect to see improvements in charger speeds. This combined with improvements in battery range, battery density and general e-vehicle enhancements will reduce consumer anxieties surrounding charger speeds in the next few years.
Innovation is especially needed in the heavy-duty market where fast chargers are needed in markets such as aviation, heavy trucks and shipping.
An important obstacle to e-vehicle adoption is consumer awareness levels. To many consumers e-vehicles are seen as niche, futuristic and not a product to buy in the “here and now”.
Many of these views are factually based, as the e-vehicle infrastructure needs to grow gradually, but in the meantime, consumers need to be educated and informed.
There are many e mobility myths, which need to be overcome before many consumers will buy. A variety of important influencers need to educate and inform e-vehicle buyers about the “e mobility story”. Such influencers include governments, automotive manufacturers, researchers and universities, energy companies and eco-friendly charities.
Expect in the years to come an ever-increasing amount of informational messaging about e mobility, many of which will be promoted as environmental targets partially depend on a switch from ICE to e-vehicles.
10) Globalised standards
The majority of nations around the world are starting with e mobility at exactly the same time. This creates an opportunity for globalised standards to be “the norm” as opposed to local standards, which potentially will be more expensive to implement.
Expect to see globalised standards rolled-out over the coming decade, which will help with the smooth rollout of e mobility around the world.
11) Legislative and regulatory compliance
China, Russia, the USA, the EU and governments around the world are introducing many types of legislation, which interface with e mobility.
Governments are under pressure to meet global emissions agreements and e mobility is “low hanging fruit”, which may help to achieve the targets. Expect to see a number of global, regional and national laws to be implemented, which relate to e mobility.
In addition, associated “players” will introduce regulations relating to e mobility. These will be implemented by trade bodies, energy companies, automotive manufacturers, etc.
Laws and regulations should over time increase the level of confidence that consumers have in e-vehicles and remove some of their obstacles to purchasing them.
4. Electricity supply
12) Delivery of grid demands
The IEA (International Energy Agency) estimates two possible scenarios for increases in electricity demand from e-vehicles:
- 2019 electricity consumption – 79 TWh
- 2030 demand between 550 TWh and 1,000 TWh
- This represents an increase of 7 to 13 times the level of demand in 2019
Therefore, expect to see electricity provision around the world “ramp-up” to cope with the increased demand for e-vehicles. Although, this is said to be “not a problem” in developed countries, this may be a considerable obstacle in some countries, which are struggling to increase the amount of electricity available from their grids.
13) Smart grids
Smart grids will increase in popularity over the years to come. This gives e-vehicle owners the chance to save money on electricity usage by charging in off-peak periods. This strategy is expected to help in managing peaks and troughs in grid demand.
14) Increases to the renewable energy mix
It’s a myth to think that e-vehicles are always more eco-friendly than ICE models. They actually cost on average 70% more energy to manufacture than ICE models, it’s from the time they hit the roads that e-vehicles are much more eco-friendly – depending of course on the source of generation of electricity.
In general, the higher the renewable energy share of the overall mix (mainly solar and wind energy), the more environmentally-friendly the e-vehicle will be able to run.
Energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind will dramatically benefit the environment compared to the use of fossil fuels. On the other extreme if the electricity is 100% coal-based then this will be dramatically more polluting than fossil fuels would be.
For electric vehicles to be truly eco-friendly there needs to be a higher mix of renewable energy within electricity supply
Stats from the EU about member’s renewable energy generation show an increase from 15.3% across member states in 2011-2012 to 18.9% in 2017-2018. The EU is committing to achieving 20% by 2020. According to Our World in Data:
“In 2019, around 11% of global primary energy came from renewable technologies.”
So, governments around the world are looking to increase renewable energy as a % of overall energy around the world. In some countries (e.g. Russia), where renewable energy is only 3% and there is a heavy dependence on coal it would actually be non-eco-friendly to drive e-vehicles (at least in the short-term).
5. Market conditions
15) Green benefits
Many governments are promising “green benefits” for e-vehicle owners. Countries such as Canada, China, Norway and the UK have introduced green number plates, which are a visual reminder with benefits for the e-vehicle owner. Advantages available may include lower parking charges, road tax reductions, cost-free entry into zero-emission zones, etc.
16) Increased market size
There are various estimates of the increase in market size for e-vehicles. A survey commissioned by the International Copper Association and published by Reuters reveals:
- Electric vehicles (all-electric cars, hybrid cars and buses) worldwide are expected to grow from 3 million in 2017 to 27 million by 2027
- Analysts are predicting that by 2040 more electric cars will be produced worldwide than there will be petrol or diesel
17) Reduced vehicle costs
Experts agree that e-vehicles will reduce in price in the future, with some reports suggesting e-vehicles will cost less than 50% of an ICE equivalent in the year 2030. Here are some of the main reasons that e-vehicle prices are set to fall:
- Battery related savings – batteries represented c33% of the total cost of an e-vehicle in 2019:
- a range of technology advancements, including improvements in energy density
- falling battery prices
- higher recycling value of batteries
- reduced use of scarce materials such as cobalt
- Increased economies of scale – which are made possible through larger-scale manufacturing
- Technology advances – a range of other technological advances will further reduce prices
18) Vehicle choice
Almost all vehicle manufacturers are now heavily investing in electric vehicle manufacturing – after all this is the future of the industry. Consumers can expect a large selection of makes and models to be available of all-electric, plug-in hybrids and hybrids which meet a wide-range of owner requirements.
Owners need to carefully identify what they need and then buy an e-vehicle which delivers to these requirements. Obsolescence is still a problem, with some owners very disappointed with resale values – to overcome this, monthly leasing could be seen as an attractive option.
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“Woah woah woah, what is that?” In an lackluster lineup for the iPhone 5, trendy hipsters seem to be bored with Apple’s next offering. But wait, Samsung has something up their sleeve, it’s the Android-powered Galaxy Note.
The teaser is short and sweet, it ends with the scheduled date of release of the Super Bowl Ad: during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on February 5.
Samsung has roped in Bobby Farrelly, who created There’s Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin and Fever Pitch, to direct his first ever TV commercial. And to make things more natural, the footage will be shot using the Galaxy Note’s HD-quality video camera in the ad. We can’t wait to get one in our hands.


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MS pulls the plug on True Fantasy Online
Weíve waited and waited and waited some more for Microsoft to finally deliver the amazing looking MMORPG, True Fantasy Online, and it looks as if itíll have all been for nothing. In a press release issued earlier today from Microsoftís Japanese games division, the company stated that the project has been officially cancelled. The game was in development for over two years and was touted as being a key element in Microsoft getting Japanese gamers to sign up for their Xbox Live gaming service.
When asked about the shocking cancellation, Microsoft responded with the following statement: “The difficult decision to cancel True Fantasy Live Online was based on a number of careful considerations, including the game’s progression to date and the remaining development time needed to complete such an ambitious project. The MMORPG genre, across all platforms, has become an incredibly crowded and competitive marketplace. In response, Microsoft Game Studios has decided to streamline its portfolio, making fewer bets in this genre.”
My oh my. It looks like Xbox gamers will have to wait even longer for a MMORPG or jump over to the PC where there are plenty of online role-players available.


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Mobile World Congress 2017 – EY predictions
23 February 2017
The Mobile World Congress begins next week, bringing together business leaders to debate the future direction of the industry. Adrian Baschnonga, EY Lead Telecommunications Analyst, makes his predictions for the week ahead:
Assessing the adoption curve for 5G
“5G has taken centre stage in Barcelona over the last couple of years, but operators have plenty to consider as they build the business case for investment. For one, the very versatility of the technology itself asks questions of the right strategic approach.
“Beyond providing a step-change in consumer mobile data capability, 5G has the potential to act as a cornerstone for the Internet of Things or as an alternative to fibre broadband in rural areas. Tailoring technology trials to these different service opportunities will be vital, and closer collaboration between operators and their vendor partners is a must.
“Operators should also be clear on how newer iterations of 4G fit into their overall infrastructure upgrade plans since commercial 5G will have to wait until technology standardisation work is complete. At the same time, regulators have plenty of work to do as they assess and open up new spectrum bands to support 5G.”
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in focus
“Mobile World Congress has become synonymous with flagship device announcements, yet new product categories are crucial for vendors as smartphone growth slows down.
“All eyes will be on the latest VR and AR devices on show, as this becomes a new battleground between tech giants. While their potential to transform everything from consumer gaming to employee interactions is clear, manufacturers will need to be patient. According to recent reports, more than 10 million VR and AR devices are expected to ship this year, yet this still pales in comparison to an annual smartphone market of over 1.5 billion devices.
“VR business models are at a nascent stage and the role of headset, smartphone, console and software in the overall experience is still a work in progress. Working more closely with content creators should be a priority for device manufacturers as they look to create compelling products, and all players in the ecosystem should recognise product development is an incremental process. This is particularly true of the AR market, where hardware constraints will take longer to overcome.”
Taking Internet of Things (IoT) opportunities to the next level
“The promise of the connected society means an ever wider range of industries are now represented at Mobile World Congress. Operators recognise their role as enablers of the digital society and are moving quickly to introduce low power wide area networks, which are well suited to use cases such as safety monitoring and smart grids.
“While progress on the technology side is reassuring, long-term growth in IoT hinges on partnership and collaboration. Business models remain fluid, but focusing on the right role to play in the value chain has never been more important, both for operators and their peers in other industries.
“As all players look to scale early successes, a number of challenges need to be met head on. Interoperability issues could still act as a barrier to higher levels of take-up, while service providers must also contend with an evolving landscape of security threats. Addressing these more prosaic concerns will do much to dictate the pace of progress in the world of IoT.”


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Eminem and Jordan Brand have teamed up once again to design an Air Jordan II dedicated to Eminem’s upcoming book, “The Way I am”. According to Paul Rosenberg, the Air Jordan II is Eminem’s favorite Jordan of all time. Although the release date and retail have yet to be determined, the Eminem x Air Jordan II, which features a Cool Grey and Black upper with Eminems lyrics as accents, is set to release on Jordan Brand’s Flight Club. Eminem’s book, “The Way I am” is set to release on Oct. 21st.
Image/Info via [Paul Rosenblog]
Larger Pic After the Jump


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Jury still out on effects of ‘vaping’
The electronic cigarette is under scrutiny.
Vaping is fast becoming an alternative to smoking, but is it safe?
That is a question the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority is seeking to answer during a consultation.
In fact, the NHS in Devon is currently offering no advice on electronic cigarettes until the outcome of the consultation is known.
The unregulated product, sold only to over-18s by responsible retailers, contains no tobacco and is not lit, meaning it can be used by nicotine addicts to outsmart the smoking ban in pubs, clubs and offices - while maintaining their addiction.
You may also want to watch:
The practice is commonly known as vaping, as opposed to smoking, because the user inhales a vapour, not smoke, which can be exhaled.
The vapour is said to be harmless.
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Although vaping is recognised as an alternative to smoking and not a definitive aid to quitting, the e-cigarette could end up being banned in the UK.
There are fears traders could be forced to apply for licences to sell the product as a medical device.
This has come as a shock to advocates of vaping, who point out there is no cancer-causing agent in the device, no risk of passive smoking and no odour.
In fact, they wonder why the NHS is not actively promoting the product to hardened nicotine addicts who have no desire, or willpower, to kick the habit.
The truth is, experts say the dangers, or benefits, of using the device are not yet fully known.
However, they admit the vast majority of chemicals found in cigarettes, up to 5,000, are eliminated in the electronic product.
Scientific trials by Government agencies are a work in progress.
East Devon District Council, which is offering no advice on the product to businesses, told the Midweek Herald that it is aware that Trading Standards officers in the UK have raised concerns about some of the electronic cigarettes it has come across.
A spokesman said: “We understand that Trading Standards officers have previously found that some so-called e-cigarettes sold in the UK are in contravention of product safety regulations.
“Despite the obvious elimination of harmful carcinogens from tobacco smoke, our view is that the overall position concerning health benefits is still unclear and, currently, we do not promote their use, nor do we advise businesses about them.
“Interested parties may wish to visit http://ash.org.uk/ to get a broader view on smoking cessation and health.”
Devon Trading Standards had nothing to say on the subject when The Herald asked for guidance.
While the health effects of electronic cigarettes are not fully known, authorities in New York could become the first to ban their use.
What do you think? Share your views on the electronic cigarette -email firstname.lastname@example.org


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- Small brands that already have distribution at Whole Foods stores could see their footprint expand dramatically under Amazon’s management and the grocer’s increasing focus on procurement at the national level, according to USA Today.
- However, sources interviewed by USA Today agreed it will be harder for new brands to break into the chain, and may necessitate more of an upfront investment from these suppliers. “What may happen is the stepping stone is just going to change,” Ron Tanner, vice president of philanthropy, government and industry relations at the Specialty Food Association, told the newspaper. "It’s going to be specialty foods store, it could be a local grocer, it could be other things and then they move into larger stores as they go forward.”
- “If you’re a little brand and you’re not really making it happen, it’s going to hurt,” Jennifer Constantine, CEO of JC’s Pie Pops, which sells to Whole Foods stores, told USA Today. “But if you sell, then you’ve got a much bigger platform now.”
Suppliers and industry observers worry that Whole Foods’ increasing focus on national-level buying will hollow out the retailer’s identity as a place for unique local brands. This is certainly a legitimate concern, though sources interviewed by USA Today seem to believe the matter is overstated. According to them, Amazon-owned Whole Foods can still source compelling small brands — they may just need to be a step or two further along in development.
There seems be some truth to this assertion. Products don’t have to be exclusive to Whole Foods in order to be considered new and exciting by customers. They just need to be unique among the chain’s direct competitors, and attractively priced, too.
Whole Foods could, for instance, scale up a product that’s performing well at a small independent chain, or at a single store. This would still make the item unique for many shoppers, and would save the chain a lot of the early legwork on scouting and developing brands.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that, while niche products do attract high-value customers — “Whole Foodies,” in this case — Amazon and Whole Foods seem to be more interested in the mainstream shoppers that have drifted towards natural and organic products in recent years. They want to bring the Kroger and Safeway shoppers into their stores, not just the hipsters.
This all comes as tough news for startup suppliers, who will probably find it even more difficult to break into Whole Foods cold. These manufacturers might instead focus on independent stores, which already serve as a stepping stone to larger retailers.
Independent retailers, meanwhile, have an opportunity to attract and showcase new brands. But they should consider how they might play defense against Whole Foods should the retailer cherry pick their top selections.
If Whole Foods/Amazon can stock brands that strike an effective balance between mainstream appeal and uniqueness, it could be very well be the major disruptor everyone fears.


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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso restaurant Corralito Steak House received backlash online after a photo of a table message about staffing began spreading on social media.
A photo of the table message at the Doniphan location claims the business is experiencing a staff shortage and asks guests to practice patience waiting for service. But online individuals criticized how the restaurant worded its message to patrons.
“Sadly, due to government handouts, no one wants to work anymore,” the sign says. “Therefore, we are short staffed. Please be patient with the staff that did choose to come to work today and remember to tip your server. They chose to show up to serve you.”
KTSM 9 News has reached out to ask the restaurant to comment on reaction from the community. Phone calls have been made for the owner at the business and directly.
Some online users pointed out that the business and its related entities received over $1 million in federal assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program that provided support to establishments throughout the U.S. Others called on the business to provide more pay to employees.


text: DirecTV announced that it will be offering a new tier of more than 40 channels of family-friendly programming with locals for $34.99 a month starting in mid April. More HERE. DirecTV also announced it will introduce four television hosts for its new weekly music news and performance show, "CD USA," when it premieres exclusively on DIRECTV channel 101 on Jan. 21. More HERE. An we must not forget about the analyst conference call and Internet webcast to discuss DirecTV's 2005 fourth quarter results. More HERE. In case you missed it yesterday, Jason Nipp posted release notes for several Dish Network receivers. See our release notes forum HERE.