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News - BMW
Burly BMWs shadow prime ministerial stoush
Federal police favour armoured BMW over local models to escort prime minister
1 Jul 2013
By BARRY PARK
AUSTRALIA’S federal police force says it is using expensive BMW-badged armoured vehicles to shadow the prime minister’s official car because nothing made here is tough enough.
Images published on news sites over the past week following the course of the federal leadership spill as it played out showed an AFP-staffed BMW X5 chasing the prime ministerial car through the streets of Canberra.
However, while this flies in the face of calls from both sides of government to source locally made cars for official duties, the AFP said it had no choice but to buy the BMWs.
It said it had a fleet of 29 vehicles used for dignitary protection – which includes the Ford Territory – but among that count were five V8-engined 2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i armoured SUVs, worth about $300,000 each.
“The vehicles were selected after an extensive vehicle selection and tender process,” an AFP spokesperson told GoAuto.
“During the process there was no Australian-manufactured vehicle identified that met the criteria for armoured security vehicles.
“The BMW armoured security vehicle was chosen as it was considered the most functional factory-built security vehicle available, which met the AFP’s needs,” she said.
“The AFP is confident they are the best vehicle for the AFP’s responsibilities in protecting both Australian and foreign dignitaries.
“These vehicles were procured as part of a long-term strategic plan with each vehicle costing in the vicinity of $300,000.
“Converting an Australian-manufactured vehicle to armoured requires significant customisation at considerably greater cost than purchasing purpose-built vehicles.”
Ford Australia brand communications manager Neil McDonald said the car-maker generally did not discuss which vehicles it sold to government and businesses.
“I can confirm that we did do some Territory Turbos for some protective services – no one seems to know the number – but that was a long time ago,” he said.
Ford has not sold a turbocharged version of the Territory soft-roader since it axed the Geelong-made 4.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in 2010 in response to tougher emissions laws.
However, the car-maker continues to make a turbocharged version of the Falcon large car, which does meet the tougher Euro 4 emissions standard.
Instead of the turbo-petrol version, Ford now makes a V6-engined turbo-diesel version of the Territory.
BMW Australia general manager of corporate communications, Lenore Fletcher, said the German luxury brand had only sold about 10 armoured vehicles in Australia.
“We don’t sell that many (armoured cars in Australia) at all,” she said. “It’s something that I’d really, really like to talk about extensively, but the problem is that the people who buy them don’t want us to do that.”
The BMW X5 Security, as the model is designated, includes 22mm-thick glass that resists “blunt instrument” attacks, and handguns of “up to a calibre of .44 Magnum including .357 Magnum or 9mm Luger”, the car-maker says.
Other features include run-flat tyres that stay rigid even if they are punctured, automatically locking doors and windows, and an intercom system that includes microphones sensitive enough to snoop on conversations outside the car.
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Al Murooj Rotana appointed ATM hotel
THE upcoming Al Murooj Rotana Hotel & Suites, Dubai, has been named official hosted buyer property for next year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism exhibition.
The hotel will open early next year and will have 253 luxurious rooms and suites and 147 deluxe apartments just off the Sheikh Zayed Road, adjacent to the Dubai International Financial Centre and close to the Dubai International Convention Centre. It is the latest addition to Rotana Hotels’ established portfolio of 27 properties across the Middle East.
The hosted-buyer programme will see the world’s leading MICE buyers and top travel purchasers staying at this latest Dubai landmark during Arabian Travel Market, which runs from May 3 - 6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
“The Middle East travel industry is experiencing massive growth with
more than 80 new hotels and leisure developments underway across the region. Staying at the new Al Murooj Rotana will give our MICE and travel buyers a flavour of the level of luxury provided in the newest properties in this growing market,” said Vicky Crane, marketing manager, overseas events at Reed Travel Exhibitions, which organises Arabian Travel Market. Last year’s show was the biggest and best ever according to Crane, but she is expecting ATM 2005 to be an even bigger success.
Said Crane, “We had 1,400 exhibitors from 55 countries and occupied floor space was up by a massive 50 per cent while trade visitor numbers 25 per cent to 8,606. That level of growth is unlikely this year but we are on course to increase floor space by 15 to 20 per cent.”

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Plus 8 trillion
As stated in the macroeconomic forecast of economic development in 2018-2020, in 2019, Russia’s GDP for the first time in the history exceeds 100 trillion rubles. To reach a record level will be possible by increasing the volume of industrial output, construction and investment. Your contribution to the indicator will make agriculture and the expected boom of consumer crediting, write «Izvestia» with reference to the text of the document.
In 2017 the total value of all goods and services produced in Russia will amount to 92 billion rubles. Support economic growth, believe in the MAYOR, will provide the implementation of several priority projects. For example, raising productivity, and digital economy development. In theory, the implementation of all the measures together should help to perform the assigned task by the President’s achievements at the turn of 2019-2020 economic growth of 3% and above. Although in its basic variant of the forecast of Ministry of economic development to deliver the economic growth in this period is lower by 2.2%.
What will develop growth
A major contribution to GDP comes from the construction of the sale of the constructed area, that is, operations with real estate more than 15%, wholesale and retail trade —less than 15%, and manufacturing — almost 13%, while mining gives a little less than 9%. As explained by the Director of the center for economic research of the University «synergy» Andrey Koptelov, economic growth in the next three years will be formed due to the recovery in consumer demand, including through increased consumer and mortgage lending. It is therefore important to increase the incomes and reduce the key rate of the Central Bank to «warm up» consumer demand and the economy as a whole.
Given the volume of state support of agriculture, the volume of which hundreds of billions of rubles, it is the farmers and exporters of agricultural products should be the driver of GDP growth for the next three years, he said. It is likely, according to the analyst, a small increase in the share in GDP from mining, if in 2018 there will be another collapse of oil prices after the deal with OPEC. Manufacturing should also contribute to GDP growth, especially given the ongoing import substitution in industries that do not require the use of high-tech equipment.
The only systematic risk that affects the GDP growth of Russia, Andrey Koptelov said tighter sanctions, which could adversely affect the stability of the ruble, and thus the recovery of consumer demand. At the same time, we must note that if we analyze long-term dynamics of GDP of Russia not in rubles and in US dollars, we will see that in 2015 he suffered a serious fall by 40% from two trillion dollars to 1.3 trillion. In the case of a severe devaluation of the ruble as a result of increasing sanctions, porogov 100 trillion rubles will be easily achievable, the analyst concludes.
You can see that if the government is making efforts at devaluation with this purpose, it will reach it effortlessly. But such achievements do you expect from a nation that the President and the business?
Not without volatility spikes
According to senior analyst IK «freedom Finance» Bogdan Zvarich, next year we can expect further improvement of the situation in the Russian economy. So, if in 2017, GDP growth will be 1.6 – 1.8 percent, by the end of 2018 it could grow by more than 2%. This will promote stable situation on the energy market within the OPEC+.
Plus, the analyst expects growth in investment, which will contribute to reducing the cost of lending by reducing interest rates the Russian Central Bank, interest rates on loans will continue to decline. From lower interest rates on deposits, one should expect growth of demand for bonds of Russian companies.
Yes, it recognizes Bogdan Zvarich, the foreign exchange market there are isolated bursts of volatility, in particular caused by the tightening of sanctions. However, the regulator is able to compensate for them through the activation of REPO transactions.
If you look at sector, the largest contribution to GDP growth can make a continued growth in agriculture, recovery in industrial production, which in recent months shows weak results. Growth in development and retail correlated with consumption growth.
Search domestic engines of economic growth
The risks to economic growth are factors of the external background, especially the price of oil, the global economy and sanctions factors, considers, in turn, Yaroslav Lissovolik, chief economist at the EDB. In these circumstances it is necessary to give greater emphasis to the internal search engines of economic growth, primarily through the development of infrastructure and improve productivity. Important reserves of growth is to increase domestic and foreign investment from a low base, the reduction of the size of the shadow / informal economy.
At the moment, I’m sure the economist, the greatest potential in enhancing economic growth is concentrated in increasing the productivity and efficiency of production. Another important provision can be a catch-up development of regions, both from the point of view of household consumption and investment processes. The experience of Kaluga region and other regions is evidence of significant regional opportunities for investment and production.


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IRELAND/UK: C&C Group takes 50% stake in Scottish wholesaler
C&C has acquired a 50% stake in Wallaces Express
C&C Group has acquired a 50% stake in Scotland-based wines and spirits wholesaler Wallaces Express for an undisclosed sum.
The Magners and Tennent's Lager producer said today (22 March) that Wallaces, which claims to be Scotland's largest private wholesaler, will be run “independently” from its beer business. However, C&C said it will “seek opportunities to take advantage of cross-selling for customers, particularly in wines and spirits”.
Kenny Neison, C&C's CFO, said: “Today's announcement is consistent with our ambition of developing a multi-beverage platform in the Scottish drinks market.”
A C&C Group spokesperson told just-drinks "commerical arrangements" for the deal are not being dislcosed.
Asked whether the deal would result in job losses at Wallaces Express, the spokesperson said: "It’s business as usual. Wallaces Express are currently recruiting and this will continue."
Brian Calder, Wallaces Express' MD, said: “In terms of strategic aims and culture, the two businesses are well aligned and I am confident that both businesses will continue to move forward to the benefit of the Scottish licensed trade."
Earlier this month, C&C completed a EUR12.4m (US$16m) acquistion of Irish distributor Gleeson Group.
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December 2, 2022
The spinoff is the company’s third metro-area location.
Willamette Valley Vineyards Happy Valley Photo courtesy of Willamette Valley Vineyards.
Nearly a year and a half after Willamette Valley Vineyards announced it would be making a big push to expand into the Portland metro area, the Turner-based business has opened its third outpost in Happy Valley.
The Tasting Room & Restaurant, located in Happy Valley Crossroads East at 13220 SE 172nd Ave., began serving customers Dec. 1.
In addition to Willamette Valley Vineyards’ wines, you can expect a rotating food pairing menu. Initial dishes include a Carmen Ranch beef short rib with braising jus and pommes purée, mushroom risotto, wild salmon in a choron sauce and a polenta succotash with winter herbs and vegetables. You can also request a pairings experience, which takes all of the guesswork out of it for anyone coming in as a wine novice. Willamette Valley Vineyards’ staff will bring a customized flight tailored to whatever food you order.
Like the company’s other restaurants, this one is decorated with warm wood paneling
and features booths made of wine barrels. There is also a carved granite boulder fire pit.
In addition to the Happy Valley location, Willamette Valley Vineyards opened restaurants in Vancouver, Wash., in August and Lake Oswego last April. Up next: a Bend site in late summer 2023.
“We’re grateful to our stockholders who have supported Willamette Valley Vineyards
and this year’s push to take the Oregon wine story to new neighborhoods,” founder and CEO Jim Bernau stated in a press release. “Many of these wine enthusiasts live in the communities where we’re expanding and are excited to see Willamette move closer to their homes.”
The Happy Valley business is open 11 am to 8 pm Wednesday through Sunday.
By: Andi Prewitt


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Somewhere in march HTC has announced about HTC One Developer Edition has to be launched in USA, but they didn’t mention the exact launch date that time. But as Facebook event has went through 2 days ago in which they talked about Facebook Home and the first smartphone that will run Facebook Home would like be HTC First.
In that event [...]
Last month Sprint has introduced Android 4.1.2 jelly bean update to its LG phone i.e LG Optimus G, and it looks like now AT&T is ready to bring same update to LG Optimus G. This news has been confirmed from different owners of LG Optimus G who are using this handset under AT&T, they have started to receive Android 4.1.2 jelly bean update. [...]
Finally HTC One, the hot cake for HTC lovers is heading towards China now. It will be available for the people of China under three of their network providers. HTC One 802w, 802t and 802d is expected to be available by China Mobile(TD-SCDMA), China Telecom(CDMA) and China Unicom (WCDMA).
Somehow the version 802w has been unleashed and it is [...]
As Samsung in its final stage of releasing Galaxy S4 Phone in the marketplace on 26th of April and still the South Korean company has keeping the price value secrete with people. But so far GSMArena has managed to show the price details of Samsung Galaxy S4 that is listing on mobilephonesdirect.co.uk. According to the sources the price of Samsung [...]
Few weeks before we have heard about Lenovo S920 but it is now officially announced by Lenovo. According to the sources Lenovo S920 comes with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and it is claim to be the first smartphone from Lenovo that will run Jelly Bean version of Android O.S.
Specification wise Lenovo S920 features a 5.3 inches HD display of 1280 x [...]
Samsung has recently made an official announcement of its high-end smartphone called as Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone and now we have heard about another story which tells about the release of Galaxy S4 mini handset. Yet Samsung Galaxy S4 mini is not been announced officially but it has been leaked on several places on internet.
According to [...]
Google since few past years has successfully maintaining its development of web applications. Recently Google has launched another application termed as Google Keep which is being designed for note taking purpose on Android and Web. This application will enable the users to keep and maintain their checklists, voice notes and annotation of photos. [...]
Here comes a great news for the folks who love to keep Sony mobiles for their personal usage, and recently Sony has declared that Xperia ZL smartphone will going to be available in Canadian market in the start of April 2013. Not only in Canada but it is also expecting that in the same time Europe will also get this new Sony handset for their [...]
As folks are getting bored of usual stuffs and news of daily life so here we bring some exciting news today, and according to the latest facts and figures USS Kearsarge and USS San Antonio two pirate ships of U.S Navy will get the 4th generation network service i.e 4G LTE network service very soon. Along with fastest data service crew members are [...]
Americas largest Verizon 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network has now expanded to dozen of new locations allowing business and residents to tap into nations largest and fastest wireless network. Verizon covers almost 75% of the US population in 371 markets. Verizon has always been forward in expanding its market. Just last month they deployed 4g [...]
We're fresh off the floor for the first official day of IFA 2102 and wanted to take a few minutes to round all the news up in one easy-to-read post in case you missed any of it. IFA 2012 is an exciting show for Android fans everywhere, as it shows us all what's in store for the second part of the year. What started as a consumer electronics show [...]
The YouTube application has always been on the top if you discuss about watching videos on any of your platform whether its smartphone or gaming platform. The PS3 has a good number of streaming-video applications and YouTube has always been the first choice for PlayStation 3 users .So we have a good news for all PS3 users that from now on [...]


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Another report coming up for Samsung in connection for their foldable devices. The company is rumored to commercialize such devices earlier this year, and to start their production probably in early 2019. Until then, the company will stay focused on the bezel-free displays.
Also, one of the Samsung’s engineers, Kim Tae-Woong said that the foldable smartphones will not be ready earlier than 2019. He also said that the bezel-free displays are selling well and also it gives the company time to develop the foldable displays. The company has also recently announced their most expected devices, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. Also, on the announcement date of these devices, the company said that they could possibly launch a foldable device this year, but it not seems like it.
It is still interesting to see what the company will do in the future, and of course, how their new devices will come out to be. Surely there is no room for failure like last year, but we still have to see if the company will stand on its own feet.


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The end of September 2021 witnessed a sudden rise in the price of bitcoin. Other cryptocurrencies also jumped. This was consequential to a statement made by the Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, on Wednesday 29th September that the U.S. Reserve Bank didn’t have plans to ban cryptocurrencies in the U.S.
Just a week before that, bitcoin price dropped after the People’s Bank of China reiterated its ban of all cryptocurrency-related transactions, reemphasizing the country’s harsh policy against digital currency. But between Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th September, bitcoin had appreciated by 10.8% from its previous value to $48,109.69. This represents the highest bitcoin price within the space of a month. Within the same period, Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency on the other hand, also recorded a 10.8% increase to $3,293.01. At the time of writing, in what is believed to be the start of a bull season, bitcoin and ethereum prices are over $51,000 and $3,400 respectively. This bull run is coming just a few days after the China FUD.
Triggering a China FUD in the global crypto market, China considers digital currency a threat to government-issued currency. In fact, the Digital Yuan, a central bank digital currency (CBDC), was created by China as a defence against the risks the government believes digital currencies such as bitcoin, Ether, and others portend to China’s financial system.
While on the one hand most regulators around the world consider cryptocurrency as a threat and some as ingenuine, and consequently taking harsh decisions against it, investors on the other hand see it as innovative and valuable. While cryptocurrencies or crypto assets may come with risks, the rather hostile policies of most regulators around the world actually pose significant challenge to crypto adoption.
But regulators—quite ironically—keep stressing the need for regulation of cryptocurrencies. For instance, the US Federal Reserve Chairman on 29th September posited that cryptocurrencies “are like money-market funds, they’re like bank deposits, but they’re to some extent outside the regulatory perimeter and it’s appropriate that they be regulated.” Similarly, the U.S. Securities and Exchange (US SEC) Chair Gary Gensler said at a conference in the same week that “people will be hurt” if crypto markets remain unregulated. The irony here is that neither the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank nor the US SEC has introduced digital-currency or digital-asset regulation in the US. One then begins to wonder who should regulate these innovations. Satoshi Nakamoto?
Whether favorably or unfavourably, the current lack of clarity and uncertainty in the crypto economy will keep affecting the value of cryptocurrencies or crypto assets. The current state of regulation has great implications, not only on the health of these cryptocurrencies or crypto assets themselves but also on the future of the financial system and generally the digital economy. Until there is an understanding between regulators and players in the industry, realizing the maximum potentials of the industry remains to be seen. Now, as crypto innovators continue to innovate, when will regulators regulate?


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Report: ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ devs refute claims they didn’t know about critical bugs due to mishandled QA testing
Official PUBG Mobile Game Makes Surprising Appearance In North America
With all the knock-offs, copycats, and shameless cloning going on in the gaming industry, it’s no surprise that not too many fans of PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds actually has an official mobile version. It was only available in China, for the most part, but it recently made a surprise appearance on the Google Play Store in Canada.
Developed by Tencent as part of its licensing agreement with PUBG Corp., this app called PUBG Mobile is the official mobile version of the hugely popular PC and console game, Android Central reports. There was absolutely no announcement or even hints that the game would be making an appearance in the North American market anytime soon, and yet it’s in Canada.
What’s more, the mobile title is also available in open beta, which means that players can feel free to check it out if they want. It’s worth pointing out that doing so will subject gamers to a menagerie of bugs and glitches. This isn’t surprising since even the PC and console versions of the game are still experiencing a lot of issues.
For fans of the game in the US or even in other countries who want to try the mobile version right now, using a VPN to trick Google Play into thinking that they are in Canada could work. However, only Android devices can play the game right now, so those who only have iOS devices have no choice but to wait.
As IGN points out, taking a hugely popular game on more powerful platforms to mobile seems to be a rising trend, these days. Epic Games’ Fortnite Battle Royale is currently in a closed beta test for iOS devices, as well, where only players who were sent invitations can start testing it. Considering just how big the mobile market has become, it’s not surprising that publishers would want to cash in on the growth.


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The other side of the AI equation
It was an eventful week in tech and AI. While AI optimists are watching the demand side to do its magic, a lot hinges on the other side of the AI equation.
There are years when nothing happens and then there are days when decades happen. This last week had some of these kind of days where it felt like a whole decade had passed.
This week, Nvidia released its astonishingly good Q1 results confirming that demand for AI was red hot. It projected its next quarter revenues to be $5bn more than what was the consensus before, driven by its H100 and A100 chips used in data centres for AI related compute. The market reacted frenetically as the stock price soared, adding almost $200bn in market cap for the company in one day. It also entered the coveted $1tn market cap club the same week. For context, the stock had added roughly $180bn in market cap in the whole of last decade!
But not just that. This week drove the AI cycle into full gear (if it was not in it already) and pushed the markets into a frenzy where it almost felt like many closely held beliefs and expectations in AI were turning into reality. Tech cycles usually move in decades, but it seemed like the past couple of weeks literally pulled forward a lot of that progress.
In tech cycles of the past, the demand side of the equation has captured almost all the value. The Internet, mobile, Cloud/software cycles all saw value creation and capture by companies building products and platforms powered by these technologies. The supply side mattered less as the incremental cost to produce and distribute the products and services decreased massively, creating a ton of value to be captured by the tech companies serving the demand.
In this cycle, the market seems to have picked its first winner. This time around though it is from the supply side. Nvidia, the AI chip supplier seems to be the only arms dealer in this AI war. Maybe this is the order in which winners are always created. In a market where supply is concentrated, the suppliers capture most of the value until a groundbreaking product or platform for the technology emerges on the demand side. ChatGPT is one of them, but it is still only a first version of one of the use cases of AI or gen AI.
However, I’m not so sure this tech cycle is playing out like the ones before.
Less room to build moats
To put things in context, here is a map of the AI stack and value chain by the perpetually bullish folks at 16z.
Given the current state of AI, there seems to be little room to capture value if you’re anywhere above the infrastructure layer. Getting started is turning out to be pretty hard as the supply for AI chips for model training is highly constrained.
“It’s happening at hyper scale, with some big customers looking for tens of thousands of GPUs.” - Head of Nvidia’s Hyperscale and high performance computing business
So much so that success for many companies building in AI would depend on whether they can get their hands on the hardware needed in the first place. Cloud platforms are the largest players in big tech able to source this in bulk for their data centre workloads, and have, in addition, their own teams of engineers working on proprietary chips to complement their AI products and platforms. This puts them in a position to build and iterate much faster in the space.
Then, companies working on embedding AI into their products or building AI products altogether are going to have an awfully hard time differentiating themselves. Open source models are already out there in abundance, along with other proprietary models which you can access via APIs, which makes it unlikely for a business to differentiate itself in the model layer.
One way to have a defensible business model could be to train and retrain your own model and make it better, but that could end up needing sizable compute resources time and time again, which is a cash incinerator in itself.
Less differentiation eventually leads to companies competing on pricing, which then leads to margin compression and them generating little cash and making no money. Would this be viable in an environment where cost of capital is much much higher than what we had in the last decade?
Incremental cost to produce are enormous
Unlike previous cycles where incremental costs to serve one additional customer or ship one more product were minimal or low, this one has a much higher input costs which AI optimists are not paying much attention to. If you’re going the ‘buy your own infrastructure and train your model’ route, each H100 Nvidia chip would cost you about $40,000. Those hardware costs can easily balloon once you scale and build much larger models.
If you’re going the ‘pre-trained model’ or ‘hosted AI infrastructure’ route, you lose some of the control you might have with the former route, and in addition, would be spending most of your budget on compute costs. Elon Musk was pretty open about the sky high compute costs at a conference recently stating that “The cost of compute has gotten astronomical” and that “the minimum ante for gen AI server hardware is around $250mn”.
The hope is for compute and training costs to keep falling as chips and the software it runs get more efficient, which has always happened with previous cycles and technologies. ARK Invest put out a research piece last November stating that training costs have decreased at a rate of 48% per year as performance has increased 195x overall since 2014. We’d need that to continue if we want other areas of the AI stack to accrue more value per $ spent.
Which path could AI follow from this chart here? (Fromon Substack)
Infra suppliers are extremely well positioned to capture most of the value
Infrastructure suppliers, both chip makers and Cloud platforms are touching everything flowing through the value chain. Chips are quickly becoming the lifeblood of AI as the demand expands much faster than the supply. Cloud infrastructure providers like AWS, Azure and Google Cloud have the scale and data centre capacity needed to provide compute to a large proportion of the industry. They also spend almost a $100bn in capex a year to build and expand capacity and have their own chips to control the efficiency and performance, and also reduce dependency on other suppliers.
According to 16z,
“A lot of the money in the generative AI market ultimately flows through to infrastructure companies. To put some very rough numbers around it: We estimate that, on average, app companies spend around 20-40% of revenue on inference and per-customer fine-tuning. This is typically paid either directly to cloud providers for compute instances or to third-party model providers — who, in turn, spend about half their revenue on cloud infrastructure. So, it’s reasonable to guess that 10-20% of total revenue in generative AI today goes to cloud providers.
On top of this, startups training their own models have raised billions of dollars in venture capital — the majority of which (up to 80-90% in early rounds) is typically also spent with the cloud providers. Many public tech companies spend hundreds of millions per year on model training, either with external cloud providers or directly with hardware manufacturers.”
No wonder companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, Stability AI and others are partnering with the big 3 Cloud providers to corner some of that compute for their products. This is allowing the Big 3 Cloud providers to grow alongside the fastest growing AI companies, giving them an opportunity to capture additional upside like Google and Microsoft did by taking an equity stake in these companies.
All of this makes them extremely well positioned to capture most of the value being created in AI.
The other side of the AI equation i.e the costs and the inputs related to the supply side are turning out to be much more important than what we’ve seen in previously. The playbooks focusing on revenue and customer growth/retention might fall short of finding the next big winners if the criteria is restricted to “having enough capital, a product that your customers love and an efficient sales machine”.
They might have to include “companies that can access AI infra, tightly control their AI supply chain and closely monitor their cost base and efficiency in an iterative way as they scale.”
AI is moving fast and we need to update our playbooks to keep up with it, probably giving a higher weight to the other side of the equation than has been the case in the past.
Until next time,
The Atomic Investor


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Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Joanna Flint as chief commercial officer.
The newly created role will oversee the development and execution of the commercial strategy of the group while also taking executive responsibility for all aspects of Mandarin Oriental’s customer experience.
Flint will take over the responsibilities of chief marketing officer, Jill Kluge, who retires from Mandarin Oriental in September.
Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental, Joanna spent 12 years at Google in general management and sales leadership roles, most recently as managing director – global partner business, with responsibility for industry go-to-market and commercialisation for Google’s media and technology partners in Asia Pacific.
Prior to Google, she was principal consultant at Ogilvy Asia Pacific.
This followed a decade in the travel industry leading global eCommerce, CRM and customer service transformation programmes for Singapore Airlines and British Airways.
Commenting on the appointment, James Riley, group chief executive for Mandarin Oriental, said: “We are delighted to welcome Joanna to Mandarin Oriental.
“Her global leadership skills, digital expertise and understanding of customer behaviour will strengthen our ability to innovate and enhance our position as a leader in the luxury market.”


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The Tizen Store from Samsung is now available in 182 countries
Not long ago Samsung officially introduced the first Tizen-powered smartphone in the tech world, the Samsung Z1. The device is entry-level with stylish design. It is released for sells in Bangladesh and India. Samsung has not shared more details about its plans for the distribution of the Samsung Z1. However the latest news about the launching of the Tizen Store in 182 countries worldwide makes the hint that we will see the Tizen-based device to more markets soon.
Tizen OS is the authentic platform of Samsung. It is based on Android OS customized with the unique features and capabilities, some of which we see in the TouchWiz UI. So far the Tizen Store is not too rich on apps but hopefully the Korean manufacturer will manage to attract more developers to work on applications for the platform.
The launching of the Tizen Store is an important step of the presenting of the relatively young operating system. There are rumors that the company is in final stages in developing of the successor of the Samsung Z1. The new platforms bring much needed diversity in the tech world with more alternatives to the most famous mobile OS, like Android, iOS and Windows Phone. Stay tuned for more news, leaks and rumors.


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Are You Prepared for a Further Hike in the Cost of Living?
The people of Australia are undergoing a Sisyphean task. Every day, they try to push the boulder they bear to the top of the hill. Every day, it rolls back down to the bottom. The weary citizens’ burden only increasing with each exertion as the hill gets bigger and bigger. And all under the duress of limited time, energy, and effort to give.
It’s a tragedy worthy of the ancient playwrights, except Australians have to go through it in reality. Their boulder, their burden, are set salaries. Their perpetually growing mountain is the rising cost of living in the nation.
It has become common knowledge around the globe that Aussies are dealing with a domestic financial crisis. As people try to work and earn their fair share, the prices for all goods (necessary or otherwise) is increasing. One in ten families are fighting to remain above the poverty line. The number of citizens between the ages of 18-24 are especially hard hit by this most pertinent of issues. As they have been noted to have a difficult time saving money in the best of times, this period of global recession and domestic inflation has been especially hard on them.
What’s incredible aren’t just the personal stories. What truly shows how rough it’s become is how the prices of everything compares to other places. That, and how it’s still growing unabated. Andrew Boyd, who helped research and develop CreditCardCompare’s Cost of Living Heatmap said: “Everybody knows that it has been getting more expensive to live in Australia, but it is still surprising to actually see how much the cost of everyday items has risen. Even taking the most cursory of looks at our heatmap and you can see how much more expensive it is simply to get by compared to a decade ago. And the problem isn’t just with certain categories of goods and services. As the heat map shows, it’s across the board. It’s more expensive to do just about anything.”
When compared to the cost of living in one of the West’s most expensive cities, New York, Australia paints a dismal picture. The consumer price index is 33% higher than in New York. Groceries are 27% more costly. Even entertainment like dining out at a restaurant is significantly pricier by comparison.
Politicians are beginning to take note of the impact this is having on the average person. But as is the case with so many political topics, it’s impossible to determine whether or not it’s merely an effort to placate constituents. All that can really be determined is that they are responding to their cries. Promises are being made in preparation for the upcoming elections and there does seem to be cross-party recognition that this is an issue that needs to be addressed. The question on so many lips is how?
For many, one of the most simple ways to ease the pain is basic austerity. Deciding where and when certain purchases are necessary is the easiest way to help save money. There are few people who won’t have made some sort of cuts to their personal spending in the last year or two, and who can blame them? The RBA has cut interest rates, but the banks seem oblivious to a downward trend years in the making.
Austerity isn’t the only way to combat the issue. Finding competitors who offer the product at a lower price will also ease the burden. It works on a two-fold level. On the one hand, it immediately benefits the spender. On the other, if enough people do it, it will drive down the prices of goods.
The truth for many, though, is that making cuts just isn’t going to make a big enough difference in their finances. A loaf of bread may not cost millions of dollars like it would in Zimbabwe, but the cost of living in Australia is an issue that is not going to go away easily, and must be dealt with both on an individual and national level.


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An update for unlocked Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ models looks to be rolling out in the US, but possibly more important, unlocked EU models of Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note 8 are receiving updates that point to big things coming for owners of last year’s lineup.
According to the changelogs posted to reddit by current EU unlocked owners, the updates bring Super Slow Motion and AR Emoji camera modes, as well as the September security patch. This means that US models, the ones powered by Snapdragon chips and not an Exynos, should also expect these changes coming soon.
As for the US unlocked Galaxy S9 and S9+ update I mentioned, the changelog is rather short. You’ll get September’s security patch, as well as the ability to select a recording time inside the Super Slow Motion camera mode.
It’s nice to see Samsung bring a few 2018 features to 2017’s lineup.


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In a surprise move, today at the New York International Auto Show, Jaguar has announced it will be adding another two-seater sports car to its arsenal: the F-Type.
Read This Article
The Jaguar F-Type and F-Type Coupe may soon be joined by performance-oriented models.
Have you been wondering what the 2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake will look like in the figurative flesh?
Jaguar coyly teased us tantalized journalists at New York last week with fleeting glimpses of the forthcoming Jaguar F-Type, all with the crystal clear message: it's definitely happening.


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Qoins co-founder and CEO Christian Zimmerman joins the Yahoo Finance Live panel to discuss how his company is tackling the US debt crisis.
– Welcome to Yahoo Finance. Now that we’re launching our Hispanic Heritage Month coverage here, we want to bring in Christian Zimmerman. He is the co-founder and CEO of Coins. And it’s a Fintech company that helps people take control of their finances.
And Christian, it’s great to have you here. Thank you very much for joining us. I know one of your priorities is to read the notes. One of your priorities is to help people get out of debt five times faster than it usually takes. So the big question here is, how do you do this?
CHRISTIAN ZIMMERMAN: Yes. Thank you for hosting me. And yes, our mission in Coins has always been about how we help people achieve their financial goals and that starting with getting out of debt.
And so we started the coins in 2017 after I personally graduated from college, I had student loans, personal loans. And what we really found is that it’s very simplistic. The more money you invest in these debts and apply them specifically to principal, the faster you will pay them off and the less interest you will pay.
And overall, it will take time to reduce this debt. So that’s really what we’re focusing on so far.
– When you … I’m guessing the impact of COVID right now. Are we seeing more people struggling with debt? Or are we actually seeing more people saving as a result?
CHRISTIAN ZIMMERMAN: So if you asked me that last year, right? Just as the pandemic hit, the government stepped in and helped a lot of consumers and customers really have some extra cash. You know, we’ve seen an influx of credit card debt go down.
But as we’ve now kind of opened up the market, opened up the economy, we’re starting to see spending patterns revert to their normal patterns. And we’re starting to see an increase in overall credit card debt, which is also starting to increase.
– Christian, you’ve paid off over $ 20 million in consumer debt so far. What do you hope that number will look like in two or three years?
CHRISTIAN ZIMMERMAN: Yeah, I mean, you know, that’s such a hard-hitting number. And one of the things we want to keep doing is increase that number. Our goal is to reach $ 100 million in total debt repaid nationally.
And so that’s something that we aspire to do. We are getting there slowly but surely. And you know, that’s what really motivates us.
– And one of the ways you’re going to get there. I know you are running a debit card that will help people pay every time a customer uses it. Explain exactly how it works, because it’s not too often that you hear about a real innovation in the debit card business.
CHRISTIAN ZIMMERMAN: Yeah, I mean, credit cards and debit cards have been around for so long. But one of the things that we saw is that the debit card rewards and the ability to get cash back have been very, very good, you know, the same – the same kind of rewards as you get in return.
So what we did was kind of flip it over and say, hey, why can’t we bring back those kind of rewards that credit cards get without putting consumers in debt and working with retailers and merchants. at national scale ? Say you have to do the grocery shopping. You have to go get gas. You have to go for coffee here and every now and then if you’re not a morning person like me.
And use those elements to apply the additional savings and savings from merchants more to a corporate social responsibility aspect to pay off those debts even faster.
– Christian, when you talk about starting this business at the start of 18x and the startup that Black founded, how do we get more minority businesses the support they need? Because I know it’s a priority for you at least just in terms of being a leader in this space. But how do you get more businesses like yours involved and see the same kind of success you see?
CHRISTIAN ZIMMERMAN: I think the most important thing that we’ve seen in the last four or four or five years has been the ability to get the right amount of education and resources for Latino and Black founders. I think it’s definitely available these days. And we have seen it. You know, we’re based here in Atlanta and the resources are, you know, foreign and fruitful for us.
But you know, the other thinking that needs to catch up with that is also the capital investment which also helps fund some of these businesses to grow and grow efficiently and quickly.
– Well one of the ways that you have been able to do it so successfully. I know you started this by getting rid of your own student debt. If you could just say a couple of tips or advice here for some people who might find themselves in a similar situation as you were years ago. What would you have to say to them?
CHRISTIAN ZIMMERMAN: I think the main thing I would say is, you know, everybody’s got, you know, debt. So if you’ve got it, don’t – don’t – don’t fear it. Use it as a way to educate yourself better and put yourself in a better financial position by taking small steps. And that’s really what our whole thesis behind the coins is to use small changes to have big impacts.
– Well, Christian, it’s great to have you here on Yahoo Finance. We wish you the best. Christian Zimmerman, co-founder and CEO of Coins.


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As per the research report, the worldwide market for methyl ester sulfonate is gaining substantially from the increasing preference for bio-based products among consumers. The increasing government support to encourage the usage of eco-friendly products and the volatility in the cost of petroleum-based surfactants are projected to boost up the demand for bio-based surfactants, specifically, methyl ester sulfonate, in the years to come. Methyl ester sulfonate witnesses the most prominent demand from the cosmetic industry, owing to the surge in the number of consumers taking up natural cosmetics over synthetic ones, states the research report.
Methyl ester sulfonate also finds significant application in the production of several agro chemicals, which is why the global methyl ester sulfonate market is also boosted by the tremendous rise in the agriculture industry. With the rapidly expanding population and swiftly depleting agricultural land, the need to improve crop yield to produce enough food is rising, which is leading to generous application of agrochemicals. This, consequently, will reflect on the sales of methyl ester sulfonate in the years to come.
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On the other hand, the difficulties related to the production of good quality Methyl ester sulfonate on a commercial scale is expected to limit the growth of this market over the next few years. Regionally, North America has emerged as the market leader and is anticipated to retain this position in the near future, notes the research report.
The competition prevalent in the global market for methyl ester sulfonate has also been evaluated in this research study. Researchers have profiled the key players operating in this market to gain an insight into the current business hierarchy. With only a few players, the competitive landscaper of this market appears concentrated. KPL International Ltd., Chemithon Corp., and KLK OLEO are leading this market currently and are likely to remain on the top over the next few years, states the research report.
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iPhone 13 was officially announced at Apple's "California streaming" event on September 14 with four new models. While the design shows limited changes from the iPhone 12, all four models got some significant upgrades under the hood.
While rumors pointed to limited updates for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, the rumors were mostly a miss with several impressive enhancements to the standard models. However, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max do still clearly stand apart with enhancements to the displays and cameras that earn the "Pro" moniker.
Here's everything you need to know about the iPhone 13 models, including pricing, availability, specs, and more.
- Phones with the best battery life in 2021
- Best iPhone 13 deals: Save up to $1,000 on Apple's new flagship
- The best phone deals in September 2021
iPhone 13 release date and price
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will go up for pre-order on September 16 at 9 p.m. Pacific time (12 a.m. Eastern, 9/17). The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro pre-orders go live on September 17 at 5 a.m. Pacific (8 a.m. Eastern).
All four models will be shipping and available in stores starting on September 24.
Pricing for all four models is unchanged from last year. iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 both start at $699 and $799, while the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are $999 and $1,099.
iPhone 13 design
The design was one thing the rumors had right with minimal changes after last year's big redesign. One welcome change to all four iPhone 13 models is the 20% size reduction to the notch that houses the front-facing camera and Face ID tech. Those hoping for it to be eliminated will have to wait at least one more year.
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini rear camera lenses are now diagonally aligned to mirror the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The third lens on the Pro models is the telephoto located in the bottom left corner of the rectangular array.
The rumored new colors for the iPhone 13 models were hit or miss, with the hits coming for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. Both are available in pink, blue, midnight, starlight and Product Red. The exact shade of pink was never clear from the leaks; it turns out its pale blush pink.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max colors break somewhat significantly from the rumors though with graphite, gold, silver, and the new sierra blue color option. The last is a much lighter blue to replace the dark pacific blue from last year.
The rest of the design for both phones remains almost completely unchanged. This includes the Lightning port, which has largely disappeared from the rest of Apple's lineup now. Despite considerable rumors of improvements to MagSafe, Apple's magnetic wireless charging remains identical to last year.
iPhone 13 cameras
The biggest upgrade to all four iPhone 13 models comes in the cameras. The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, and iPhone 13 Pro added the sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro Max last year. This is a substantial advantage for low-light photography and video stabilization.
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini still feature a pair of sensors, wide-angle and ultra-wide. The 12MP wide-angle is now the same larger sensor that we saw on the iPhone 12 Pro Max last year with an f/1.6 aperture, which itself offers a 47% boost to low-light photography. The ultra-wide is again 12MP as well, now with a slightly improved f/2.4 aperture.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max camera systems are identical this year, a welcome change from last year when you had to go for the biggest phone to get the best camera features. All three sensors are upgraded again this year, with the wide-angle now featuring an amazing f/1.5 aperture for what is sure to be the best low-light performance we've ever seen from an iPhone. The ultra-wide adds a new macro mode for extreme close-up photos and videos, and the telephoto leaps a 3x optical zoom. All three sensors now support Night Mode as well, which was previously exclusive to the primary camera.
Video capture will benefit from the enhanced hardware as well, and on the software side, a new Cinematic mode will allow you to create depth-of-field transitions for the first time on a smartphone. Content creators were already flocking to the iPhone for its video performance, but Apple is really pressing that advantage with Dolby Vision and soon ProRes workflows available.
iPhone 13 display
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini see some slight enhancements to their 6.1-inch, and 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR displays with a new peak brightness of 800 nits. We'll see how they compare to last year's in our testing when we get the phone in for review. Both phones also feature Apple's proprietary Ceramic Shield front cover that Apple claims is "tougher than any smartphone glass."
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max create additional separation from the standard models with the display upgrade this year to Super Retina XDR with ProMotion. That's Apple's name for its adaptive 120Hz display tech, which like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, can shift from 10Hz up to 120Hz depending on what is being displayed. This should prevent the high refresh rate display from having too significant an impact on battery life. Both phones stick to the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes but get a peak brightness boost up to 1,000 nits.
iPhone 13 performance
Apple's A15 Bionic will, without question, be the fastest mobile processor on the market this year, with Apple claiming improvements to its already class-leading CPU and GPU performance. With that said, we'll need to see what this looks like in the real world with our own testing as Apple sticks to vague comparisons with its marketing rather than giving concrete data.
More importantly, Apple claims that all four iPhone 13 models will offer improved battery life over their predecessors, which is great news given the dramatic step back that all but the iPhone 12 Pro Max took last year. Apple indicated that the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 Pro should offer 1.5 hours more, while the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max will deliver an extra 2.5 hours. Again we'll see how these figures hold up in our Laptop Mag battery test.
While Apple did indicate that all four models have larger batteries, it never gets into the specifics of its battery sizes, so we'll have to wait for teardowns to reveal that information. Apple did, however, indicate that improved 5G support and a new Smart Data mode should both lessen the impact that 5G had on iPhone 12 battery life.
iPhone 13 outlook
We will need to get our hands on the iPhone 13 models before we form any strong opinions about them, but it does seem to be a more significant upgrade across the board than was anticipated. The camera enhancements should easily keep the iPhone as the top option for mobile videography. They could also help it claim the top spot in photography, depending on what we see from Google's Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro later this fall.
The A15 Bionic being faster is largely meaningless for anything other than future-proofing as the A14 Bionic was already faster than any current app or game needs it to be. However, the improved efficiency is definitely appreciated, and the improvements to AI and ML performance may be more significant than we can appreciate just yet.
iPhone 12 owners shouldn't feel too envious of the improvements, and even iPhone 11 holds up well by comparison. If you are coming from the iPhone XS or older, there's enough here to warrant an upgrade unless some of the iPhone 14 rumors particularly sway you, just remember to take those early leaks with a grain of salt.


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Shanghai, China—Domotex asia/ChinaFloor’s 20thAnniversary edition closed March 22, achieving new milestones in international visitor and exhibitor numbers as well as increased participation with VIP programs and onsite events.
The show exceeded anticipated registration numbers for international guests and exhibiting companies, making 2018 the largest turnout in Domotex asia/ChinaFloor history. This year’s show space grew to an impressive 1,722,225 square feet and welcomed over 60,000 visitors from 104 countries. Attendees from South Korea, USA, Japan, India and Malaysia made up the top five international countries. Of the 1,418 exhibitors, 281 came from outside of China.
“The greatness of this exhibition was visible this year in regard to participation,” said Susanne Klaproth, director of Domotex Worldwide. “It’s a good feeling to see our brand earning more international attention and respect. Especially in Asia, we foresee enormous potential for the platform, as construction and flooring projects will continue to increase in the region.”
Hundreds of industry guests also attended the kick-off party of Domotex asia/ChinaFloor. The event celebrated the fair’s 20thanniversary with performances and speeches. The event also honored several international companies that have exhibited at the show since the beginning in 1999. These companies included: Aquafil, Associated Weavers, Balta Group, Beaulieu, Balsan, Louis Depoortere, MC Three, Oriental Weavers and Unilin among others.
Domotex asia/ChinaFloor also hosted several delegations for specific flooring categories. Among these were the Nanxun VIP Hosted Buyers Delegation for wood flooring and the International Carpet Delegation.
Wood flooring experts from Australia, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Panama and the United States were welcomed to China for an official business ceremony in Nanxun. The goal was to increase business collaboration between international buyers and wood flooring suppliers from the region. The delegates participated in personalized match-making meetings and factory tours.
The International Carpet Delegation, organized by Cover Magazine, consisted of 23 international buyers who were led on a special tour through the Carpet W-Halls of the fair. The delegation was created to increase onsite engagement and business collaboration with top Chinese carpet and rug exhibitors.
Domotex asia/ChinaFloor also saw the successful return of the Luxury Brands Carpet Show. Curated by Cover Magazine, the pavilion was set up as a gallery style viewing area that naturally led visitors to each company’s carpet art. In China, as the taste for extravagant interior design and flooring decoration intensifies, Luxury Brands will continue to increase in popularity, buyer potential, and excitement for the display’s extravagant hand-made rug designs.
The show’s cadex interior deisng and architecture conferences also saw a 50% increase in participation from 2017. Over 8,000 visitors attended the four conference sessions and 20 design salons which touched on topics such as creative workspaces.
For more information, visit domotexasiachinafloor.com.


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Dixon Technologies (India) Limited, an electronic manufacturing services provider, has evinced interest in investing in the Kopparthi electron4ic manufacturing cluster in Kadapa district.
A delegation of the company met Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday. “It is a good development that the Dixon Technologies has come forward to invest in Kopparthi electronic manufacturing cluster. We assure that the government will extend its support to the companies ready to invest in Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
Dixon Technologies India Limited chairman Sunil Vachani, Dixon Technologies CEO Pankaj Sharma informed the Chief Minister that they would provide jobs to nearly 3,000 people. The company would manufacture cellphones, laptops, tablets, security equipment and cameras in the Kopparthi unit in Kadapa district. It has plans to expand its unit in Tirupati and create 1,000 jobs. It would partner with the Bosch to set up a washing machine manufacturing unit, they said.
Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy was present on the occasion.


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Good morning, friends and Fortune readers.
With the Christmas holiday in just three days, it makes sense that shipping news is a major focal point to kick off Monday morning. For the United Parcel Service (UPS), today is the biggest day in the shipping giant’s history. Meanwhile, Bloomberg drove into the Google-Amazon.com rivalry in the market for same-day package deliveries, a key focus for many retailers looking to edge out their competitors and consumers wait longer and longer before placing an order for their loved ones.
In news outside the world of retail, U.S. President Barack Obama discussed the Sony hack with CNN, calling the massive attack of Sony Pictures cyber-vandalism, not an act of war. The expression “cyber-vandalism” drew some complaints from Republicans.
Here’s what else you need to know about today.
1. UPS faces massive holiday test
UPS, which has reportedly spent about $500 million preparing for the holidays, is poised to deliver 34 million packages on Monday – more than any other day in its history according to The Wall Street Journal. The shipping company is hoping to recover from a major flub last year, when it was overwhelmed by an unpredictably large number of packages right before Christmas and it couldn’t deliver thousands of them in time for the big day. To better position itself, the company has hired nearly twice as many seasonal workers for this holiday than it did in 2013, while also adding more vehicles to its fleet, installing temporary delivery centers and other initiatives, which Fortune reported on earlier this year.
2. Obama says hack wasn’t an act of war
Obama, in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” show that aired on Sunday, called a massive hacking of Sony Pictures not an act of war but an “act of cyber vandalism that was very costly, very expensive.” Obama said one option he was considering was returning North Korea to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, from which Pyongyang was removed six years ago, according to CNN. Republicans are saying Obama’s statements aren’t enough, with some calling on the president to re-impose sanctions on North Korea and add the country to the terrorism list. North Korea, meanwhile, is accusing Obama of spreading rumors and warning of strikes against the White House, rhetoric that is routine from the isolated Asian nation, which turns up the propaganda when tensions run high with foreign powers.
3. Google challenging Amazon with same-day shipping
Google (GOOG) is reportedly gaining ground in the market for same-day package deliveries, angling to take on e-commerce giant Amazon.com (AMZN). As more consumers take to the Web for their holiday shopping needs, they are going straight to Amazon and bypassing Google, presenting a direct threat to the search behemoth as it loses out on money made by displaying ads alongside search results. To counter that problem, Google is betting on a service called Google Express, which for now is available in big U.S. cities. And Bloomberg believes that Google Express is now looking like a permanent offering.
4. Christmas comes early: oil prices keep sliding
The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. has slipped 25 cents in the past two weeks, according to a Reuters report that cites data from the Lundberg survey. The price has now tumbled to its lowest keel in more than five-and-a-half years, Reuters said. Prices have been pressured by global oversupply that is driven in part by a jump in production from the U.S. shale boom. Oil’s decline has led some to ponder if cheap fuel is actually good for the U.S., a question Fortune pondered earlier this year.
5. Ocwen chairman to resign in New York legal settlement
William Erbey, the executive chairman of Ocwen Financial (OCN), is expected to resign as part of a legal settlement with New York’s financial regulator, according to a Wall Street Journal report that cited people familiar with the matter. Erbey, who built Ocwen into the largest nonbank company handling mortgage payments and administering foreclosures, will step down next month as part of a proposed consent order with the New York Department of Financial Services, WSJ said. At issue: allegations that Ocwen didn’t properly deal with distressed homeowners and may have saddled them with excessive charges. Ocwen is expected to pay $150 million toward New York housing programs and aid to foreclosed homeowners, the people familiar with the matter said.


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From:Androidheadlines By:Alexander Maxham
In Beijing on Huawei’s media tour, we got the chance to speak with Eric Fang who is the vice president of Huawei’s R&D in the US, regarding the Nexus 6P. Which he was, for the most part, in charge of developing. Fang told us how it was his dream to work with Google on a Nexus device, and here we are with a Huawei-made Nexus in the Nexus 6P. During the group interview, we also asked about some of the difficulties in making the Nexus 6P and cooperating with Google.
According to Fang, the challenges were one, targeting the global market. That is something new for Huawei with their devices. Most of their devices target Asia, with a few going to Europe, and hardly any of those coming to the US as the same device. Fang elaborated on how targeting the global market brings a lot of challenges and complexities for the company as a handset maker. Another challenge was network connectivity. North America, Europe and Asia do not share the same bands, but Google and Huawei were able to make it work with the Nexus 6P. Another challenge that Fang and his team faced with the Nexus 6P was the camera. As they were the first ones to bring a DSLR sensor to a smartphone (along with LG on the Nexus 5X), using the Sony IMX377 sensor, which has a 1.55 micron sized sensor. However, they did do a lot of work with the camera and are proud of the end product. Producing amazing pictures especially in low-light conditions.
A few of the other challenges Huawei faced was the battery life. Huawei is known for big batteries, and long lasting batteries, especially in the Mate series of handsets. Huawei worked with Google on the software side to optimize the battery life to improve performance, but also reduce power consumption. Which gives us some amazing battery life out of the Nexus 6P. Finally, the other challenge was the all metal design. A first for a Nexus. However, adding the bump at the top and using the 3D glass was a great idea, and was a challenge in of itself.
All in all, Huawei is very proud to have been chosen by Google to make the Nexus 6P this year, and it’s been quite clear during this media tour this week. As they have been talking more about the Nexus 6P than their other products like the Mate S launched at IFA in September.
It’s been an interesting couple of years for smartwatches, with Google getting involved last year with Android Wear, Samsung upping their game and increasingly better-looking hardware coming from all corners of the market. Android Wear is now an established platform, and there have been new releases from Pebble, Samsung and a host of others looking to offer something different. Android Wear has spread to devices from ASUS, Sony and even Huawei and these watches work with whichever Android device you own (so long as you’re running Android 4.3 and above) and even Samsung have followed suit. Not of all these fancy little computers are the same of course, and there can be only one winner for our 2015 award for the Best Smartwatch.
Nexus 6P has won widespread recognition among many technology media and consumers. According to Prisjakt, the biggest searching engine in Sweden, Nexus 6P has been listed as No.1 in the Top Heat Mobile Board for ten consecutive days. Thanks to its excellence in both hardware and software, Nexus 6P was given five media awards in Sweden.
The Nexus 6P is a near universal hit. It's got the size — both in terms of display real estate and in the fact that it's also thin and therefore doesn't feel as big as you might expect. It's got the specs. It's got a camera we're happy to use.
Leading up to the Nexus 6P launch in September, many media outlets were reporting that the relationship between Huawei and Google was to help Huawei become better known in the US, and help Google re-enter China. Which it famously exited in 2010, due to not playing well with the Chinese government censorship laws. While half of that is true, the Nexus 6P is helping Huawei build a reputation in the US as well as exposing more people to their brand (whether that was the entire goal of building a Nexus with Google or not), Huawei made it clear today in Beijing that they were not being used as a vehicle to help Google with their re-entering of China.


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Three consecutive weeks in China to stop exports to Japan rise to U.S. and Japanese Rare discontent. There are reports that U.S. and Japanese trade officials are considering the issue on the earth a complaint to the WTO. At the same time, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe must act on the expansion of China’s resources to respond.
“The New York Times” reported on October 14, back in a few months ago, Obama called the government had secretly use the rare earth industry executives and lawyers met to discuss the problem of the earth. Many U.S. companies to China since 2006, reduced the volume of exports of rare earth resources, expressed dissatisfaction, saying that China’s restrictions on the export of rare earth makes the Chinese manufacturers benefit, so that foreign competitors in a disadvantageous position. Japanese officials also said that if China’s rare earth export to Japan is not restored, they will “appeal to the WTO.”
U.S. Trade Representative’s Office in reply to the Voice of America on the issue whether the United States will appeal WTO rare earth, said the e-mail, declined to comment on the matter.
Japan’s trade minister, said Akihiro Ohata10 12 months, China’s exports to the situation of rare earth minerals have not yet returned to normal. He said that if the end of this week, the problem does not improve, Japan will take measures, including direct negotiations with China. Chapter Ota Wang did not mention complaints to the WTO matters.
“The New York Times” quoted the analysis of trade lawyers said, because China does not adopt any formal document and public statement to prohibit the export, even Anzai appeal to the WTO, to win the victory of prosecution is not an easy task.
Washington think tank, AEI Japan expert Michael Auslin said in an interview with VOA, the WTO complaint was not the best way to deal with the embargo.
Oslin: “My view is, WTO whole process is very slow, even if the problem is concerned, this is a lengthy process. We are talking about easing the embargo or export operation, which will certainly affect the production . through the WTO process, will not immediately find a solution, or even can not clarify the issue. ”
He believes that China stopped exporting to Japan is actually the rare earth resources as a weapon, so Japan should take the same approach, by diplomatic means or economic sanctions to counter the problem.
However, the World Trade Organization on the practice of Chinese restrictions on the export of rare earth raised criticism in June, the WTO said in an assessment report, “Whether intentionally or not, for whatever reason, export restrictions will reduce the limit of the product exports, while the supply to domestic market. ”
Although the government’s attitude is not clear, however, an industry group has asked the U.S. government will control the earth’s practice in China to the WTO ruling. United Steelworkers of America early in September to submit petitions to the U.S. trade office, said China’s clean energy policies and practices have made the United States of alternative energy and renewable energy by vast development space “threat.”
The association referred to in the complaint is an argument, clean energy industries of solar panels, wind turbines, highly efficient battery, high efficiency lighting and other production rely on a large number of rare earth elements, rare earth in China as a big country and has adopted various export control measures, that rare earth export quotas in 2010 reduced by half over the previous year. Which pushed up international prices of raw materials to make a serious lack of foreign production.
Obama will be Oct. 24 to rule on whether further action, if it decides to accept, then may be a year-long investigation, during which you may consult with the Chinese Government.
Oslin said the American Enterprise Institute, China suspended exports to Japan is a resource bullying behavior of rare earth, and Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine is exactly the same. U.S., Europe and Japan should join forces in this incident, on, given the common signal to the Chinese.
Oslin: “Whether it is open or de facto embargo on China will dispute (Japan detained skipper events) expansion in retaliation for Japan. Industrialized countries should consider how they respond. In my view, the early response to strong is necessary. ”
It appears that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was to do so. Bloomberg reports, Merkel called on European resources must be the expansion of China’s actions in response.
Merkel on Wednesday called for coordinated action in Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia to increase investment in order to jointly deal with China’s economic growth is essential to control resources. Europe, an industry group said that the Chinese use the financial crisis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, extending their reach to markets in these countries, the resources and rare minerals.
China Rare Earth to the Japanese embargo on news of an alarm in Western countries, the United States consider re-open the rare earth mine, Japan, Australia and other countries to seek new deposits, it is also claimed to be the development of new technologies, from electronics recycling waste earth, the earth into a recycling center in Japan.


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Win Systems has launched a breakthrough electronic roulette game under its Gold Club brand, Chinese roulette. The innovative product differs significa
Rising mobile device penetration in Asia means that there hasn’t been a better time for operators to get a piece of the online gambling market. Howe
Localization is fast becoming a key battleground for online operators looking to expand across fast-growing Asian markets. While online gaming is still a long way from reaching maturity in Asia, consumers in the region’s grey markets are becoming more...
Betsoft Gaming showcased several new Asian-themed games at ICE Totally Gaming 2016. Among these were Rise of the Dragon, which tells the story of Hana
Asia based B2B supplier XIN Gaming has expanded its Asia games portfolio with a range of new games including HighRoller, Sky Guardians, Video Poker Bo
Asia Gaming Brief is a news and intelligence service providing up to date market information for worldwide executives on relevant gaming issues in Asia.
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Pakistan hopes giant mango treatment plant will boost exports
Hot water treatment is required for shipments to the Middle East and the new plant has gained quarantine approval for Lebanon, Jordan, China and Mauritius, and is in the process of gaining approval for Australia and South Korea.
All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters Importers and Merchants Association secretary general Muhammad Ilyas Khan, said it was significant step forward.
"It's really good news as it is an approved 'common facility' for all the exporters of this association who have to meet specific requirement of hot water treatment for mangoes prior to export to that particular country."
Multan Progressive Mango Growers' Group’s chief executive Tariq Khan, said it was a positive development.
"Hot water treatment is one of several options for treatment of mangoes and is applicable for better shelf life; most countries demand such protocols."
He added that for producers wanting to export to the U.S. irradiation was also required, but hot water treatment was suitable for shipments to the Middle East and Europe.
The plant is funded via a public-private partnership with an investment of PKR230 million (US$2.4 million) out of which PKR80 million (US$847,000) has been provided by the Federal government.
Pakistan Hortifresh Processing will manage the plant but since it has pubic investment, the plant infrastructure will be used as a common facility center for mango exporters nationwide.
The country already has three hot water treatment plants run by Iftikhar Ahmed & Co (IAC), Durrani Associates and Pakistan Horti Fresh Processing (Pvt.) Ltd.
Hot water treatment is estimated to extend the fruit's shelf life to 35 days allowing exporters to send more cargo via sea offering considerable savings compared with air freighting.
Related stories: Pakistan expects to export mangoes to Australia, Lebanon in 2012


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The small satisfactory-ish story Twitter had going for itself for the previous few quarters become that, at the very least, its month-to-month active users were growing to be quarter-over-quarter.
while MAUs could now not be the right quantity to examine nowadays, for superior or worse it’s probably the most core metrics that Twitter is judged on for now — and that didn’t pan out when it reported its salary nowadays as its users had been flat quarter-over-quarter (and up around 5% compared to the identical quarter closing 12 months). most likely extra importantly, the company’s MAUs in the u.s. fell a little notwithstanding the loss turned into made up with the aid of overseas users.
So, in very Twitter vogue, the stock fell on its face as it dropped greater than eight% after the document got here out. here’s the cash chart:
The relaxation of Twitter’s business looked extra or much less best, but it seems that Wall road became still relying on Twitter to proceed that even small person increase. Its revenue continues to be falling, coming right down to $ 574 million as its promoting company continues to decline. Its information licensing continues to be becoming, however no longer yet quickly satisfactory (or significant satisfactory) to offset that decline. Twitter noted it brought in profits of 12 cents per share, whereas analysts have been looking for income of 5 cents per share on salary of $ 536.6 million.
right here’s one reason why that quantity in the U.S. falling would be unhealthy for Twitter: it’s probably its most effective market (as it is for a lot of other businesses) when it comes to monetization. Its U.S. clients are a fraction of its complete users, however they make up a majority of its advertising revenue. It’s the equal kind of issue that Netflix has needed to grapple with as it tries to grow even as it can be reaching a saturation factor — where everybody who might probably need to use Twitter is already on Twitter. (The under is promoting income.)
In a grander scope, Twitter has sought to bill itself as an indispensable live provider that can evolve into a long-time period unbiased business. Snap’s shoddy efficiency on account that going public may also have altered the calculus of how the market views advertising items outdoor of facebook and Google, but Twitter may see an opportunity to capitalize on its (smartly, enormous) niche and sell expensive video advertising products.
To that extent, the company touted that it had fifty five million exciting video viewers. It’s additionally tried to demonstrate that its day by day consumer count is transforming into, even though it changed into with this weird mystery chart with no exact each day active user number (but good day, here’s tech — we don’t need a Y axis):
to date this yr, that pitch may well be working. Even with even more adjustments on the correct — even though the most contemporary one become an addition with a new head of reside video enterprise — the company’s stock is still up round 20%. Twitter announced earlier this month it brought on a brand new CFO after Anthony Noto took over as the chief working officer. but if it’s going to proceed to promote itself, it apparently nonetheless should do more to get that user boom going up.
however, howdy: at the least that inventory-based compensation rate quantity is still happening:
Featured photo: Photographer: Yana Paskova/Bloomberg via Getty photographs/Getty photographs
Mobile – TechCrunch


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With the government easing some restrictions in the fourth phase of the lockdown in place till May 31, taxi aggregators are hoping to restart businesses in more places across the country. With cities likely to reopen and citizens likely to step out to travel, Uber India announced a range of COVID-19 specific safety features amid the lockdown.
Uber India has introduced interactive âGo Online Checklistâ for both riders and drivers, a mandatory mask policy for riders and drivers, pre-trip mask verification selfies for drivers, and an updated post-trip feedback mechanism and a new cancellation policy.
With the new âGo Online Checklist,â before a driver can go online, they will be asked to confirm that theyâve taken certain safety measures and are wearing a face mask. A similar checklist has been built for customers as well. Before every trip, customers must confirm that they have taken precautions such as wearing a face mask and washing or sanitizing their hands.
Before drivers are able to start accepting trips, they will be asked to take a selfie with a mask on. The app will verify whether the driver is wearing a mask.
Drivers and riders can cancel trips if they donât feel safe, including if a user is not wearing a mask or a face cover. The app will also have new options for feedback including if a rider or driver is not wearing a mask or face cover.
Moreover, to maintain social distancing during rides, Uber has advised riders not to sit in the front seat. Only two riders will be allowed in a car and theyâll have to sit in the rear seat.
Uber also stated in a release that it will be working with global and local public health authorities and has safety tips and recommendations that will be sent to all riders and drivers.
âOver the last two months, our global tech and safety product teams have been hard at work building a new, product experience for riders and drivers. Today, as India eases its lockdown, itâs important we take all necessary precautions to help keep ourselves safe and to make the next trip safer for all. These new features and policies have been rolled out globally, and we will keep enhancing and revising them as needed to ensure a safer product experience for all,â said Sachin Kansal, Global Senior Director of Product Management at Uber, while announcing the new features at a virtual press briefing on Monday.


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Was it really just last week that the RIAA won its first major file sharing lawsuit? I think that history will remember the victory as the apex of the industries clever strategy of suing its customers. In the eight long days since the verdict, it’s been nothing but bad news for the major labels. It’s almost like the verdict put a curse on the entire industry.
During our podcast a few weeks back, we raised a few eyebrows when we suggested that it wouldn’t be long before major recording artists began self-releasing their albums. This past week we saw a major act do just that, as Radiohead began selling its latest collection of songs directly to consumers through the band’s website.
Can one band bring down an entire industry? Hardly. But Radiohead isn’t alone.
This week we also learned that Oasis, Charlatans, and Jamiroquai each plan to give their next album away for free. Charlatans manager, Alan McGee, has determined that the bands will make more money from concert tickets and merchandise sales when fans can freely download the latest release. That sort of thinking makes Radiohead’s name-your-own-price approach look somewhat stodgy (although, Thom Yorke apparently hates touring, so it’s not like Radiohead is looking to make a living doing stadium tours).
Then there’s Nine Inch Nails. Earlier this week Trent Reznor announced that he’s finally free from his recording contract. Based on Reznor’s comment about seeking “a direct relationship with the audience”, it sure sounds like he’s thinking about following a model similar to Radiohead’s.
If all of this wasn’t bad enough, rumors are now circulating that Madonna will be dumping Warner Brothers and signing a contract with concert promoter Live Nation. It’s hard to tell if the deal is a harbinger of things to come, or the sort of one-off fluke that is bound to happen anytime an industry goes through the sort of major transformation the music industry is now going through. By all accounts it will be nearly impossible for Live Nation to recoup what they are apparently offering Madonna. I guess that would make her the Alex Rodriguez of pop music.
I’m hesitant to lump Madonna in with Radiohead and the others, if for no other reason because signing a $120 million 10 year contract hardly constitutes taking a substantial risk. Given Live Nation’s near monopoly on the concert business, and ties with Clear Channel, I don’t see them shaking up the status quo. While Live Nation is not an RIAA affiliated label, it is certainly part of the existing music industry establishment.
So what will the future of the recording industry look like? Will it be superstars like Madonna signing contracts directly with concert promoters, or will it be bands like Radiohead self-releasing product directly to fans?
The answer is neither, and both. Music business models are in a state of flux right now and no one knows for sure what will work in the future. There is no magic formula, and the right approach will likely be different for every artist. That makes it extremely challenging for up and coming artists to develop a sensible career path.
Some have noted that it’s easy for major artists like Radiohead and Madonna to consider alternative distribution methods when they’ve already established their brand through traditional means. These same people argue that superstar acts actually help major labels subsidize the development of new bands. Won’t all of this experimentation actually hurt the bands who are just starting out today?
The truth is that the current system isn’t all that favorable to lesser known musicians. The vast majority of recording artists make no money from their music — or so little money that it isn’t their primary source of income. The average recording artist signed to a major label spends most of his or her time in debt to their label.
I keep hearing the argument that when major artists jump ship they are effectively leaving lesser known artists to drown. In fact, the lesser known artists are already drowning.
One thing is certain, the current music industry business model is irreparably broken and needs to change. After years of resistance we’re finally starting to witness something that looks like real change.
Change is good. I like change.


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China blocks access to such websites as Twitter, Flickr, and Hotmail, ahead of the anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.
The Chinese government is trying to block access to social media, photo-sharing and many websites in an apparent effort to control discussion about the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, bloodily suppressed by Chinese soldiers 20 years ago.
150,000 people assemble in Hong Kong, China, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. 2009-06-4 (Context: China, Tiananmen Square, Tiananmen Square protests of 1989)
Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Zhao Ziyang's secret memoirs about the 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square are published. 2009-05-14 (Context: China, Tiananmen Square, Tiananmen Square protests of 1989)
China's government blocks access to the YouTube video-sharing website. 2009-03-24 (Context: China, blocks mentions, website)
Chinese authorities advise that they will deport Australian artist Guo Jian arrested before the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests. 2014-06-6 (Context: China, Tiananmen Square protests of 1989)
China announces the creation of a State Internet Information Office to 'direct, coordinate, and supervise' online content management, prompting fears that online censorship will grow even more stringent. 2011-05-4 (Context: China, blocks mentions)


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Jamal Al-Jassim lines up massive LG range
Jamal Al-Jassim Electronics, the exclusive distributor for LG IT products in Saudi Arabia, is present at Saudi Gitex 2006 with a range of new LG kit.
Jamal Al-Jassim Electronics, the exclusive distributor for LG IT products in Saudi Arabia, is present at Saudi Gitex 2006 with a range of new LG kit. The Korean vendor has publicly stated it plans to grow sales in the region by 20% in 2006, and a strong presence at this week’s show is expected to raise its profile even further.
It was back in June 2004 when LG announced it was expanding into Saudi Arabia’s booming notebook market with the launch of its Centrino-equipped LM and LS series. LG believed the LM50 and LS50 notebooks would strike a chord with increasingly internet savvy Saudi customers.
“LG is already number one in Saudi Arabia for computer monitor sales, and the latest product launch reinforces LG’s position in the important IT sector in the kingdom. The LM notebook is a highly competitive package, with the latest features, clever design and it is attractively priced,” says C.K Cho, general manager of LG Electronics Saudi Arabia. LG recorded sales of US$2.27 billion in the Middle East and Africa in 2005, an 8% increase compared to 2004. “2005 was a challenging year for LG Electronics,” says K. W Kim, president of LG Electronics, Middle East and Africa Operations. “But the brand continued its impressive growth trend and maintained its leadership position for consumer electronics. Continued product innovation aimed at the unique customer needs of local markets will drive sales growth.”


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It marks the first national coupons-based effort on the geo-social app.
About 11 months after Walgreens became the first national advertiser on Foursquare, the retailer is running the first nationwide coupon on the mobile app.
According to a prepared release from the firms this morning, the initial coupon offers 50 percent off Arizona Ice Tea in a can. The coupons, limited one per customer, are available through March 10.
Walgreens patrons who record Foursquare check-ins at the brand's 8,000-plus stores via their iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry smartphones get a scannable digital code that's immediately redeemable in the store.
"We're using mobile technology and social media to better engage Walgreens customers, to give them convenient channels to interact with us and to deliver products, services and savings they truly value, " said Sona Chawla, Walgreens president of e-commerce, in a prepared statement.
Eric Friedman, director of Foursquare business development, said in the release, "Walgreens has been an innovative partner on the foursquare platform and this is a perfect opportunity to test our new functionality."
During late March 2011, Walgreens awarded Foursquare check-ins with 15 percent off eligible items and 20 percent off Walgreens-branded products. The new campaign is similar, but combines check-ins with coupon redemptions. It will enable the stores to track the geo-social campaign from a more traditional, point-of-sale view with scannable codes.
Walgreens' mobile couponing effort - not on Foursquare - over the holidays helped encourage 500,000 downloads of its mobile app, according to the retailer. The brand is increasingly targeting on-the-go consumers, running mobile ads that push its app downloads via content sites like Huffington Post in recent weeks.
Christopher Heine was a senior writer for ClickZ through June 2012. He covered social media, sports/entertainment marketing, retail, and more. Heine's work has also appeared via Mashable, Brandweek, DM News, MarketingSherpa, and other tech- and ad-centric publications. USA Today, Bloomberg Radio, and The Los Angeles Times have cited him as an expert journalist.
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The cost of going on holiday has tumbled as new travel testing rules come into force.
Following an announcement from Boris Johnson on Wednesday, travellers are now saved from the costly process of taking a lateral flow test before their return to the UK (costing roughly £20 per person) and a PCR test on day two of their arrival (costing roughly £80 per person) – for a family of four this cuts £500 off the price of a holiday.
Under the new rules, which come into force at 4am on Friday, fully vaccinated holidaymakers will now only face taking a Day Two lateral flow test.
Tour operators are standing by for a surge in bookings, for both ski and winter sun holidays. Ailsa Pollard, CEO of DNATA Travel Group, which owns the likes of Travel Republic and Travelbag, described the news as “the positive start to the 2022 that the travel industry needs.”
“There have been many false dawns since this pandemic begun, but this is a sensible and timely move. There are some fantastic deals available, with many new measures in place to ensure customers can book with total confidence.”
In a further boost to travellers, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We want to provide more certainty to passengers and businesses, and will do a full review of our international travel measures for 2022 by the end of the month.”
Testing hasn’t been completely scrapped however. Unvaccinated travellers must continue to follow the old rules, including self isolation for 10 days, and many destinations require travellers to take tests before their arrival.