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Amazon.com just raised the minimum order threshold for free shipping to $49 on Feb. 22 without announcing it to customers ahead of time, an increase of 40 percent from the former $35 minimum order that was required through Feb. 21.
That might be fine by Amazon, but I think they made a huge mistake. Didn’t anyone at the company read all the complaints about when Netflix made a similar move and raised its rates almost overnight by 60 percent in 2011, angering lots of customers, many of whom dropped their subscriptions?
Yes, Amazon is a big business and it can ultimately do whatever it wants in terms of its policies, but I would have expected it to at least announce the move ahead of time to let customers know about such a large increase—before it popped up in their Web browsers as they placed their next orders.
I’m no Wharton business school graduate, but I can see this blunder hurting Amazon’s sales at least for a while as annoyed and angry customers go looking elsewhere to place online orders where the minimum orders may not be as high.
At least two Amazon customers I know told me in conversations that they were not happy about the unannounced minimum order hike. And at least one of them didn’t complete an order through Amazon.com on Feb. 29 after seeing the change in her online order form.
In an email reply to an inquiry from eWEEK, an Amazon spokeswoman wrote that the free shipping threshold was raised to $49 as part of an occasional review of the company’s shipping options. “Our objective is to offer customers low prices, as well as convenient free shipping options, on the millions of products available on Amazon.com,” she wrote.
While the overall free shipping minimum order went up, the company meanwhile did reduce its free shipping eligibility for all orders containing at least $25 worth of books, she wrote, down from the previous $35 order minimum that had been in place since October 2013. “All other services, including Amazon Prime, remain unchanged.”
And there, finally, is the crux of the matter.
That’s likely what’s ultimately behind Amazon’s 40 percent minimum order threshold increase—Amazon wants to force its customers into paying $99 a year for its Amazon Prime services, which provide unlimited free two-day shipping, free music and video streaming and other benefits to users. By getting customers to pay for Amazon Prime, it’s a dedicated revenue stream, plus it makes customers more likely to buy from Amazon and use its other services.
I do pay for Amazon Prime and I like the convenient and faster shipping option it offers. But to “force” customers to pay for the premium service by making free services much more expensive without any warning is not something I’d expect from Amazon.
What Amazon should do now is offer customers a discounted first year of Prime to apologize for its insensitivity.
What say you, Amazon?


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26th October 2018
Major clothing businesses back Global Commitment to eradicate plastic waste and pollution at source
Among the 290 organisations behind the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment are H&M, Inditex, M&S, Target and Burberry. Most have committed to extensive steps towards eliminating plastic by 2025
21st June 2018
Tesco and Walmart “ignore labour practices disclosure”
Tesco and Walmart "ignored calls for more information on their labour practices", said the FT on May 1. They are among over 40 large companies apparently failing to reply to a ...
9th November 2016
Post Trump and Brexit: there’s more than one way to skin the international retailing cat
While American voters were confounding practically all observers on November 8, on the other side of the Atlantic Britain’s Marks & Spencer unveiled a strategy that may be designed for...
26th September 2014
Cambodian government gets subtly different pressures from foreign buyers and unions over minimum wages
In separate mid-September letters to the Cambodian government, a group of European buyers and the major international union federations pushed for surprisingly similar, but still different, approaches to setting Cambodia's...
8th January 2014
Factory owners and retailers differ over future of Cambodian garment industry after year-end strike
Two startlingly different views emerged on January 6 and 7 about the effect of Cambodia's garment strike on the industry's prospects for 2014. Cambodian factory owners pessimistic. Garment Manufacturers Association in...
2nd January 2014
Retailers start Bangladesh compensation funds as media “shaming” campaigns make little progress
Late December media campaigns to shame the US government into adopting an ethical sourcing policy and worldwide buyers into compensating Bangladesh factory tragedy victims seem to have made no progress....
6th October 2013
Inditex property seized in Argentinian “slave labour” investigation
Public officials raided Inditex offices and branches around Buenos Aires on September 26, and seized files and computers, as investigations continued into allegations of the company's involvement with slave labour...
4th October 2013
C&A belies closure rumours, as fashion chains invade Brazil
C&A, Brazil's leading fashion retailer, appeared to quash last year's closure rumours by opening 30 new Brazilian stores in 2013, bringing its total in the country to 260. C&A opened 26...
25th September 2013
Bangladesh violence: first major buyers “threaten to quit”
"Orders will go to other countries if the unrest prolongs,” Bangladesh's Daily Star reported a Dhaka-based manager at an unnamed German retailer as saying on September 25. The fall of...
25th June 2013
Tesco and Walmart delisting decisions spark public controversy
Tesco’s decision to stop sourcing from Liberty Fashion in Dhaka, and Walmart’s decision to blacklist Liz Apparels have shown more problems in appraising factories. On June 15 Tesco announced...
10th May 2013
Mystery over Inditex “slave labour at factories in Argentina” claims
No satisfactory explanation has been offered by the activist group whose allegations of slave labour in Argentina have been rejected by Inditex. At the beginning of April, activist group La...
27th January 2013
KiK implicated in third fatal fire as Inditex suspends suppliers and seven killed in Bangladesh
At least seven people were killed after a fire at a manifestly unsafe factory apparently supplying German discounter KiK and Inditex - the world's largest specialist clothing chain - in...

domain: news


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AT&T Preps More Than 100 Markets for 5G, Expands LTE-LAA
AT&T today said it has launched what it calls 5G Evolution in 117 new markets, bringing the total of pre-5G markets to 141. The company says its 5G Evolution technology can deliver theoretical speeds up to 400 Mbps to properly equipped phones. AT&T expects to launch 5G service in in a dozen markets, including Dallas and Waco, Texas, and Atlanta, Ga., by the end of the year. Further, AT&T has expanded its LTE-LAA footprint from three markets to parts of seven markets. LTE-LAA can push speeds to theoretical a max of 1 Gbps. The new LTE-LAA markets are Boston, Sacramento and McAllen, Texas. A handful of phones sold by AT&T are LTE-LAA capable, including the Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, S8+, S9+, Note8, and S8 Active, as well as the LG V30 and Moto Z2 Force Edition. AT&T's LTE-LAA is already available in The Loop in Chicago, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, downtown LA, and the business district of San Francisco. AT&T plans to deploy LTE-LAA in at least 24 markets by the end of the year.
Hands On with the Moto e5 Play
The Moto e5 Play is the latest truly entry-level phone from Motorola / Lenovo. There's nothing fancy about it, but it does manage to fit in a fingerprint reader and an HD display.
Google to Bake Google Lens Directly Into Its Camera App
Google today made several changes to its Google Lens visual search tool. First and foremost, it is adding Google Lens directly to the camera app of Pixel phones.
Hands On with the Moto e5 Plus and g6 Play
Sitting in the middle of Motorola's new lineup of affordable Android phones are the Moto e5 Plus and g6 Play. In spite of their odd naming, they share the same design and features.
AT&T Says It Won't Sell the LG G7 ThinQ, But It Has an LG Exclusive On Deck
AT&T does not plan to sell LG's new flagship phone, the G7 ThinQ, according to The Verge. Instead, the company plans to offer an exclusive phone from LG later this summer.
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With supply chains backlogged, cut short and all-around disrupted in the midst of the global pandemic, businesses had to act fast.
For many, that meant a business model pivot, a lofty feat for any company, let alone small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) whose survival sometimes depended on such flexibility.
For B2B businesses, the shift was a dramatic one toward a B2C, or even direct-to-consumer (D2C), model, with major ramifications for the ways these companies market, sell and reach their customers.
Luckily, even for SMBs without the resources to build fancy proprietary online channels, there are plenty of options like Amazon and eBay to reach a new set of customers. Yet Steve Denton, CEO of Ware2Go, a UPS company, warned that jumping onto eCommerce platforms is only part of the pivot challenge.
“If you solve the sales channel problem without solving the supply chain problem, you are going to create one-time customers who never come back,” he told Karen Webster.
Understanding how to optimize the supply chain through elevated logistics and inventory management is critical to meeting the unique demands of today’s consumer. And while it’s not an easy transition for SMBs, these businesses have a robust opportunity to strengthen their competitive edge through this supply chain optimization, said Denton, even amid one of the most tumultuous markets of our time.
Pivoting The Business Model
The pivot from B2B to B2C or D2C was a necessary one for many firms to survive, and one Denton described as a “tremendous shift.”
“Our retail clients were shutting down stores,” he recalled. “Our clients that were using distribution channels, distributors or other B2B types of mechanisms had to pivot to either enable their distributors to sell B2C, or they had to sell direct to consumer. If you want to do business, you need to be able to do both.”
When it comes to meeting customer demand, that shift means meeting or exceeding consumers’ expectations for an easy online shopping experience, in-stock items and fast shipping. All of that has significant ramifications for organizations’ supply chain and logistics management strategies, with Denton noting that organizations had to migrate away from less-than-truckload (LTL), while supply chain disruptions caused a rise in short shipping.
The climate introduced the need for a better grasp on inventory and shipping to ensure products are in stock at the correct locations when shoppers need them. That means diversifying the supply chain, often with the need for an expanded network of warehousing capacity — a tough achievement for SMBs with limited resources. It’s an even tougher feat for organizations that had set up their warehouses for B2B deliveries, said Denton.
A Competitive Strategy
Having real-time, accurate insight into inventory has become even more difficult as organizations have more choice as to which platforms they use to sell goods. Yet it’s even more imperative, said Denton, because unlike business customers, consumers aren’t willing to wait for an item to return to stock from one seller — rather, they’re going to spend their money with someone else.
“The biggest thing we saw around COVID was inventory availability,” he said. “If you’re an SMB, you don’t have 20,000 of this SKU. You’ve got 200, and you want to optimize it, so your catalogue needs to be updated in real time, constantly throughout the day, and you have to fence that inventory to your marketplace partners.”
It’s one of several examples of how organizations used to the B2B model must optimize their supply chains for the D2C and B2C space in order to not only survive but remain competitive.
To help these SMBs optimize their supply chains, Ware2Go recently announced an integration with Google Shopping, a tie-up that sees merchants able to display their delivery promises within Google ads. As Denton explained, it’s a way to maximize return on investment on marketing efforts while also stepping up to consumers’ shipping demands in order to attract and retain customers.
Businesses are already gearing up for the holiday season, one expected to be particularly busy for the eCommerce landscape. In the meantime, market volatility continues to shake up supply chains, with the pandemic and peak hurricane season introducing even more disruption to warehousing and logistics. Collaborating with third-party experts is critical to overcoming these challenges, particularly for resource-heavy SMBs, as is ensuring merchants and their third-party logistics (3PL) providers can support a business model pivot to D2C.
It’s all about approaching supply chain management as a competitive strategy, according to Denton.
“Fulfilment can be a growth-driver. Supply chain can be a strategic weapon for you,” he said. “You don’t need to be in nine warehouses to offer two-day or shorter ground time. The ability to use supply chain as a growth driver for your business has become amplified.”


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Neverwinter’s latest module, Jewel of the North, has been released on Xbox and Playstation.
The update has added the iconic Bard class to the game. Bards can specialize in DPS or Healing depending on what paragon path you choose.
Jewel of the North also adds a streamlined leveling experience and players now cap at level 20 instead of 80. However, no major changes are applied to your character.
A new cinematic trailer was also added to both the PC and console versions of the game.


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The seemingly unlimited flow of Limited Brands Inc. suppliers into New Albany is continuing with a private-label candle maker the latest to set up shop in the city.
Milford, N.H.-based Alene Candles LLC plans to use its plant to service its Limited Brands account and other customers.
“This is an expansion for us,” President Rod Harl said in an interview with Columbus Business First. “We’ve been expanding in New Hampshire for three or four years now. This is a chance to diversify our geography.”
Central Ohio is a logical spot for Alene because of its proximity to Limited Brands’ operations and the Columbus-based specialty retailer’s growing network of nearby suppliers. The 210-acre Personal Care and Beauty Innovation Campus at the New Albany Business Park has grown since 2010 with an array of Limited Brands vendors, including contract packager Accel Inc., personal care product and packaging manufacturers Knowlton Development Corp. and Vee Pak Ohio and cosmetics component maker Anomatic Corp.
“We expect to have opportunities to partner with other companies there,” Harl said.
Limited Brands is an important customer to Alene, Harl said, but he declined to quantify the size of that business. Limited Brands doesn’t reveal sales by product type, but candles and home fragrances make up one of the three core businesses in its 1,600-store Bath & Body Works retail chain.
“We will be doing some of the products we make for them (in New Albany) but not all,” Harl said. “This location is definitely a mutual benefit.”
Alene has set up in a 300,000-square-foot building owned by Pizzuti Cos., the Columbus developer. The building also houses Jeyes Group Ltd., a British producer of home fragrances. Alene received a seven-year tax incentive worth $214,000 from the state for its 100,000-square-foot operation, which opened in June with a price tag of $8.2 million.
The privately held company expects to employ 135 full-time and 350 seasonal workers at its peak. Harl said the company does not plan to expand beyond that.
The New Albany facility primarily is for manufacturing. Harl said there will be some research and development work as well as distribution.
Though the Central Ohio site gives the business easier access to the Midwest, the company doesn’t have to handle complex shipping work, he said.
As a contract maker, its products go to customers who then take the candles to their stores through their distribution networks.
Innovation in candles
Alene designs and produces mid- and high-end candles for a variety of big brands, including Limited Brands’ Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret chains, Estée Lauder Companies Inc., Crabtree & Evelyn and L’Oreal. It was founded in 1995 by husband and wife Paul Amato and Nancy Alene Amato.
U.S. candle sales total $2 billion annually.
“The industry tends to be rather stable, especially in comparison to many other consumer product industries, with relatively steady demand even in economically tough times,” Barbara Miller, a spokeswoman for the National Candle Association trade organization, said in an email.
Alene makes many types of candles but mainly produces scented candles in glass, resin and ceramic carriers.
The company also turns out other home fragrance products, such as reed diffusers, but that work remains at Alene’s operations in New Hampshire, Harl said. The New Albany facility has the capabilities for it.
The operation allows Alene to expand its work with customers and seek out new ones.
“Candles have been made in this country for 350 years,” Harl said. “At the end of the day, the system is fundamentally the same as it’s always been.”
But there is room to innovate with production processes and style and always opportunities to improve safety and reliability, he said.
“Established companies like Alene have the science well in hand, leaving them to focus on creating candles that will aesthetically appeal to consumers,” Miller said. “Because design trends in candles closely parallel those of the fashion and home fashion industries, manufacturers are constantly creating new lines of candles to meet consumer expectations and lifestyle preferences.”


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Fiat Chrysler earnings jump in second quarter
Despite having to pay $70 million of a record $105 million civil fine for U.S. recall violations, U.K.-based Fiat Chrysler made $333 million Euro in the second quarter.
That's about $372 million, and a big jump from the same period a year ago.
Most of the profit can be attributed to strong sales in North America.
And most of those sales come from the brands in the Chrysler side of the family, including Ram and Jeep.
In the U.S., Jeep brand sales were up 19% to 223,000 vehicles, the brand’s best quarterly performance ever.
Chrysler brand sales rose 29% to 88,000 vehicles led by the all-new 200 sedan.
Ram brand sales increased 6% to 121,000 vehicles, and the Dodge brand was down 17%, to 134,000 vehicles.


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fter a not so grand launch, Apple’s pricey new iPhone 5s look-a-like, the iPhone SE will come to India on April 8. The news comes from one of the distributors going by the name of Beetel Teletech Limited. The distributor, who is a part of a global distribution firm Brightstar said that it would begin selling the Apple iPhone SE at 3500 retail outlets in India starting April 8.
In India, Apple announced that the official retail price would be Rs 39,000 for the 16GB variant. It will come in four colours such as silver, gold, Space Grey and Rose Gold.
The Apple iPhone SE is the new 4-inch iPhone since the iPhone 5s/5c that were launched in 2013. According to Apple, it had sold close to 1 million 4-inch iPhones in 2015 and it was still a popular form factor for a lot of people around the world, especially in China.
While the pricing of the iPhone SE indeed seems lower than the usual (for Apple) most manufacturers will not be too worried. In fact many would be happier to see Apple push for the mid-range segment, meaning that there will now be plenty of competition and innovation taking place out there as well.
Anshul Gupta, Research Director at Gartner commented, “iPhone SE will help Apple broaden their market segment. Users will be able to buy a phone with latest features which is very different from buying an older version at lower price. I think this will appeal more people to buy an Apple phone who otherwise couldn’t afford their flagship phone. This will make market more competitive at that price point as Apple is preparing to take more share.”.
Things may be looking up for Apple, though the iPhone SE looks a lot like the iPhone 5, a design that is more than three years old now. Still then, Apple seems to have packed in plenty of power with an updated camera and the latest chipset (A9) that should make the smartphone a pleasure to use, especially for those who have been craving for a smaller iPhone.
The new iPhone SE comes with a 4-inch Retina display (1136 x 640 pixels) giving it a pixel density of 326ppi. On the inside, Apple has put in an A9 chip with 64-bit architecture and it has an embedded M9 motion co-processor. In the camera department, the iPhone SE gets the best from Apple – a 12MP iSight rear camera with an f/2.2 aperture along with support for Live photos. On the front, you get a 1.2MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture and HD recording capability.


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Disney cruise ships are now sailing from a new point of departure: New York City.
Disney’s flagship cruise vessel, the Disney Magic, is arriving in New York’s harbor on Friday to mark the cruise line’s first-ever sailings out of Manhattan.[dmc-related-post-wp numitems="3" title="Also read"]
The ship will sail 20 cruises from the city to various destinations, including the Bahamas and Canada.
The company’s presence in New York City includes The Disney Store in Times Square and three shows currently on Broadway: “The Lion King,” ”Mary Poppins,” and “Newsies.”
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Machines & Accessories
AVT rolls out new automated micro store
By Laura Aiken
Los Angeles – AVT has developed a new style of automated micro store that takes several automated retailing concepts, and combines them into one consumer-friendly superstore.
The Xpress Urban Café features premium coffees (freshly ground for each cup), along with healthy and popular choices including salads, yogurts, juices, pastries, muffins, and more.
“This is more than just a micro store, this is a destination experience,” said Wayne Salvino, president of AVT, in a news release. “We believe these micro stores will become integrated into consumers daily lifestyle, just like Starbucks or breakfast at McDonald’s.”
The Xpress Urban Café is designed for an entrepreneur looking to get into or expand in the automated retailing and vending business. The system comes with built-in features such as:
· Remote management and inventory updates
· Wireless payments
· Continuous self diagnostics
· ADA and FDA compliant
· Energy saving auto-modes
· Product detection sensors for guaranteed vends
· Adjustable grinder for ideal coffee flavour and brewing
For information on the Xpress Urban Café, visit www.xpressurbancafe.com


text: VISA USA reported this morning that its suite of commercial payments and information management services produced volume totaling $77.7 billion last year, an increase of 20.2% over 2001. VISA said its small business segment grew 31% last year. VISA also says its next generation electronic B2B payment solution, designed to bridge the current payment gap in the procure-to-pay process to replace the use of checks, is on track to become generally available in the latter half of this year. The “VISA Commerce” solution conducted live transactions over the “VisaNet” system in testing last year. Meanwhile, VISA reported that approximately 12% of total U.S. consumer spending is now conducted on a VISA-branded card, more than all other major card brands combined. VISA previously announced that it processed $989 billion in consumer and commercial volume in 2002, an 8.1% increase over 2001. For complete details on the network statistics visit CardData ([www.carddata.com]).


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There’s a good article in today’s Los Angeles Times about the most commercial non-commercial holiday special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which airs tonight on ABC. (Full disclosure: Keep watching ABC for a few more hours, and you’ll be able to see me on “World News This Morning” at 4:40 a.m. talking about people who are reinventing Hollywood, featured in Fast Company’s December issue.)
But back to the article: In railing against the commercialism of the holiday, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” resonated with its viewers, and has become a fixture since its first airing in 1965. (The underlying message of the show is even more poignant these days, considering that you can find Christmas advertising before Halloween.) But ironically, in becoming such an icon, the special now draws $200,000 for a 30-second ad spot, and “Peanuts” licensing has become the juggernaut of the comic strip world. This is the sort of thing that Bill Waterson, the creator of “Calvin and Hobbes” loathed, and I can see his point. When Snoopy appears on the side of blimps, you begin to wonder if the brand, and its underlying artistic merit, loses some of its credibility and value, especially since there will never be any new Peanuts comics to keep things fresh.
But maybe that’s the key to “A Charlie Brown Christmas”: Made in a time before rampant commercialism even though Coca-Cola sponsored it–imagine if they had hit upon product placement then–it has a timeless quality to it that, in its own quiet way, transcends and subverts all the noisy advertising crowded around it. Which may be the greatest lesson of all.
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Faced with growing competitive threats from non-traditional sources, such as alternative payment providers, banks around the world have aggressively swung their attention to emerging mobile platforms to defend their payments revenues, according to a new report from KPMG International.
Adding to the urgency, 84 percent of banking and financial services (FS) executives said mobile payments will have significant importance to their business within the next one to four years. Furthermore, 73 percent suggested that mobile payments would be mainstream within the next four years.
“Leading banks are working feverishly to stay ahead of their peers and the new players in this space by developing mobile payments solutions, getting actively involved with standards setting, and partnering with other players in the mobile payments value chain such as merchants and mobile network operators,” said Carl Carande, national account leader of KPMG LLP’s Banking and Finance practice. “It remains to be seen whether the banking industry establishes enough of a foothold in the mobile payments space and maintains its share of payments revenue.”
New Competitors Vie for Market Share
The KPMG report, entitled Monetizing Mobile: How Banks Are Preserving Their Place in the Payment Value Chain, cited the potential of mobile network operators working with device manufacturers to develop a system independent of the traditional payment infrastructure. Others, however, foretold of an even more serious threat in the form of new market entrants, such as specialist online payment players and online service provider giants.
Nevertheless, banks are still perceived to have an edge, according to executives from the technology, telecommunications and retail sectors who also participated in the survey. These executives overwhelmingly agreed that banks will likely continue to play an important role in the evolving mobile payments value chain.
Significant Challenges Ahead
Survey respondents highlighted a number of significant and evolving challenges that are hampering the adoption of mobile payments. More than 70 percent of banking and FS executives cited security concerns as their biggest challenge, an issue that has only been accentuated by a spate of recent high-profile online security breaches.
“We believe that if banks can roll out a safe, easy to use and ubiquitously accepted system, consumers will very quickly adopt mobile payment solutions as they have other mobile services,” said Mitch Siegel, a KPMG LLP Financial Services practice principal focused on payment advisory services and co-author of the report. “But adoption will also be driven by demand as consumers increasingly look to use their mobile devices to accomplish everyday tasks such as buying their lunch or paying for a taxi.”
The survey also revealed that a lack of technology standards and infrastructure are also posing major barriers to the wide-spread roll-out of mobile payments. And while very few respondents to the survey were willing to categorically endorse any single payment technology, most pointed to the emergence of Near Field Communication (NFC) as the technology with the most promise and ease-of-use for customers.
Corporate Mobile Payment Services
Commercial banks also are showing a growing interest in utilizing mobile platforms as a key differentiator and potential revenue generator.
“Many innovative banks are finding that they can actually drive revenues from their mobile offerings by bundling enhanced corporate services, such as cash management tools and key back-office functionality for their corporate clients,” added Siegel. “Mobile payment solutions can help these clients by speeding up and automating authorization procedures related to reviewing and approving payments.”
About the Report
In compiling the report, KPMG surveyed executives and mobile channel leaders at more than 145 retail and commercial banks, payment processors, acquirers, card services providers, retailers and payment technology vendors, and also conducted in-depth interviews in the first quarter of 2011.
Source: PR Newswire / KPMG


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Nintendo have created a brand new line of goods to celebrate Mario’s 30th anniversary this year, and they’re far too cool to be confined to a crane machine! They’ll be available in Taito crane machines in arcades across Japan in the coming weeks, and their seemingly limited availability will no doubt make them highly sought after.
Ranging from plush toys and towels to Super Mario Maker-themed wall stickers and a particularly grandiose looking golden Mario statue emblazoned with the 30th Anniversary emblem, it’s a shame that these items are unlikely to make it outside of Japan. If you find yourself anywhere near a Japanese arcade in the coming weeks, try your hand at winning some of these awesome prizes! Or, you know, if you feel like it, you could always send me that gold Mario statue?
If you want to get in the celebratory mood for Mario’s big 30th, check out Nintendo Japan’s special movie below, which walks you through some of Mario’s more notable 2D career highlights!


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Samsung is a veteran of the violation and a copier. ” This is not a new Apple offensive against his main rival in the market for mobile telephony is according to Samsung ‘s opinion Dyson, the maker of vacuum cleaners that attack defamation.
Judicial escapades Samsung have consistently made the one on the mobility market , but the Korean giant would have the same methods on the appliance , according to James Dyson , founder of the group to which it gave its name .
In the month of September 2013 Dyson attacked Samsung because he felt that he had copied the pivot system patented some of its vacuum cleaners. The inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner was finally retracted three months later , but after multiplying the harsh statements in the press . James Dyson was especially qualified target range of “direct copy ” and even ” cynical fraud .”
The legal saga is not finished yet . Samsung has actually attacked Dyson defamation . “The image of Samsung has been shaken by the attack baseless Dyson , which is intolerable , ” said a spokesman at the Korea Times. “Samsung is adamant against patent trolls who use justice as a marketing tool.”
Samsung claims 10 billion won, just under 7 million euros in compensation.
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Attract Shoppers with Recyclable In-Store Marketing
The in-store marketing group says its Deep Green skid-pallet is a hexacomb-based paper pallet that contains about 11 percent recycled material. It can be made to hold any weight up to 5,000 pounds and is Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified.
The company also uses soy-based and UV-based inks to eliminate toxic emissions.
Digitalization, geographic shifts and a need for inventory optimization are among the sustainability trends that will affect retailers in 2014, according to an EL Industry Voices column by Mike Rozembajgier, vice president at Stericycle ExpertSOLUTIONS.
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Recently, I spoke with Martin Darbyshire, a trustee on the Board of the UK Design Council, the government’s advisory body on design. He has seen that emerging economies in particular are in thrall to London’s unique concepts and provide a ready market for the city’s design sense.
His Bermondsey-based design consultancy tangerine is part of a thriving UK creative sector that is ranked fourth in the world for international design sales.
After receiving support from the Department for International Trade in identifying international opportunities in its target sectors, the business has established outposts in Seoul, South Korea and Porto Alegre, Brazil on the back of growing demand for its innovative ideas.
tangerine’s product design work can be seen in homes across the country – it designed the Sky digital set-top box – but more recently it has established a niche in the international travel sector.
Sky’s the limit
Martin led the team that created the world’s first lie-flat business class bed for British Airways. They have since designed airline interiors for Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, Asiana Airlines in South Korea, Bahrain’s Gulf Air, Brazilian airline Azul and Virgin Australia in…well, you can probably guess that one.
Now 80% of tangerine’s work is for overseas clients.
When Martin first launched the business, he had worked in the USA and Japan but had never anticipated how strong the demand would be for British creative services from countries such as South Korea, Brazil, and Australia.
He knew that the business had to take advantage of this. Martin and the team at tangerine aimed high from the start, travelling the world visiting potential clients and giving keynote speeches at conferences, knowing that the demand for UK creative services was high.
As well as being a regular speaker on innovation and design on the international stage, Martin also served on a government taskforce promoting UK design in China and South Korea.
He believes that the support available from the government can make all the difference for design firms setting out to expand internationally.
The Department for International Trade helped tangerine to discover international opportunities and Martin is positive that if they can do it, others can too.
Supporting the sector
As a country, the UK exports 50% more design services than it imports and the support infrastructure is there to take the sector’s success to the next level.
The UK is known across the globe for its creativity and inspired design so the opportunities are enormous.
The DIT has a team of International Trade Advisers based across London who are on hand to help firms like tangerine understand their potential overseas markets and deliver tailored help to businesses who are either exporting for the first time or looking to enter markets that are new to them. By providing bespoke market intelligence and host trade missions around the globe, along with regular events and trade shows, the DIT can give firms an international platform to promote their ideas and achievements.
tangerine is just one of the design firms that is currently doing just that at the International Business Festival, which is supported by the Department for International Trade’s Exporting is GREAT initiative and runs until June 28 in Liverpool.
Speakers include the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and British design icon Wayne Hemingway MBE, the founder of Hemingway Design in Wembley.
With homegrown design firmly in the international spotlight, you can bet that even more British ideas will be exported around the world.


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British Telecom will be the first cable provider to allow you to buy an Xbox 360 that can be used as a set-top box for IPTV, Robbie Bach announced tonight during Bill Gates' CES keynote.
Gates first announced his plans to try and roll out the Xbox 360 as a set-top box at last year's CES. No word on what else might be inside this IPTV 360, like say a DVR. Sounds like the rumor was sort of half right.
To check out more of what Gates and Co are talking about during the keynote make sure to check out our liveblog from CES.


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Himax Technologies (HIMX) reported preliminary results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018. Revenue, earnings, and gross margin numbers exceeded the company’s outlook given during the second quarter reporting. Shares of the fabless semiconductor company jumped about 7% in the pre-market trading on Friday.
Revenue increased 3.9% sequentially to $188.4 million versus guidance of around flat from the last quarter, benefitted by the greater-than-expected production output of the new foundries for large display driver ICs and TDDI chips. Also, the WLO shipment volume to Himax’s anchor customer increased significantly versus the second quarter. However, revenue dropped 4% compared to the prior-year quarter.
The Taiwan-based chip company’s IFRS earnings per ADS were 0.5 cents, higher than the guidance of around -1.0 cents. Non-IFRS earnings per ADS were 2.6 cents, which also exceeded the company’s target of around 1.5 cents. Gross margin was 23.4% versus guidance of around 22.5%.
Himax will report the full financial report for Q3 in November and hopes its businesses to come out of the pressure starting from the final quarter of 2018.
For the second quarter, Himax missed analysts’ expectations on the revenue front even though it registered a year-over-year growth of 19.5% to $181.4 million. IFRS earnings per ADS were 1.2 cents and non-IFRS earnings per ADS stood at 1.3 cents.
You may also like: Himax Technologies Q2 Results
Last month, Himax expressed its optimism about the growth opportunities in TDDI, WLO and 3D sensing businesses in the second half of 2018 and leading into 2019. The company added that these three businesses are expected to contribute significantly to its top and bottom lines as they represent higher average sales prices and profitability than its traditional display driver IC business.
Smart Global Holdings (SGH), a Brazilian manufacturer of memory chips, reported its Q4 results after market hours on Thursday, which beat analysts’ views. Also, the company’s upbeat earnings outlook for Q1 sent the shares in the upward direction after the earnings announcement and the stock is up more than 15% in the pre-market trading today.
Shares of Himax Technologies, which plunged to a 52-week low ($5.67) last week, were slightly down by 0.16 at $6.41 Thursday. The stock is down 41% and 38% over the past year and year-to-date period, respectively. Himax shares erased the initial gains and turned to red at 9:15 AM ET.
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today reported its fourth quarter financial results for the period ended January 31, 2021. Net income for the fourth quarter was $911.3 million, or $4.10 per
Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND), a specialist in plant-based meat substitutes, Thursday reported a wider loss for the fourth quarter, despite an increase in revenues. The numbers also missed the consensus
Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) reported fourth-quarter 2020 financial results after the regular market hours on Thursday. The space tourism company reported zero revenue in the fourth quarter, compared to $529,000


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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Knoxville, TN, United States, 2008/09/30 - Pilot's Announcement is a major step forward in the development of a diesel exhaust fluid infrastructure to support 2010 SCR trucks - FactsAboutSCR.com / PilotCorp.com.
Pilot Travel Centers, the nation's largest retail operator of travel centers with more than 325 owned or licensed retail interstate locations in 40 states, today announced plans to be the first to carry diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) “at the pump” for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) equipped trucks. The Company’s initial rollout plans call for the fluid to be economically available in bulk at more than 100 Pilot Travel Center locations nationwide beginning in mid-to-late 2009.
Pilot’s decision to offer diesel exhaust fluid “at the pump” will maximize affordability and convenience for truckers and is one of the final infrastructure elements to be put into place for truck fleets and owner-operator customers planning to use SCR emissions control technology to meet 2010 emissions standards. The Company’s commitment ensures supplies of the fluid will be conveniently available during normal fuel fill ups by truck drivers anywhere in the country, and will help to lead the way for new 2010 SCR-equipped trucks to run at near-zero emission levels.
Virtually all of the heavy-duty engines in volume production today, that will continue to be sold after the new standards take effect, will utilize SCR to comply with the standard, optimizing fuel consumption and drive-ability for their owners.
In addition to offering diesel exhaust fluid “at-the-pump” at more than 100 locations, all Pilot Travel Centers will carry pre-packaged top-off quantities of the fluid for SCR-equipped trucks.
“By working with Detroit Diesel Corporation and Daimler Trucks North America, as well as other OEMs, we’ve begun to learn a lot more about SCR and the infrastructure needed to support this beneficial new technology,” said Mark Hazelwood, executive vice president.
“Pilot once again will be the leader in the travel center industry by providing a network that will carry the DEF product,” Hazelwood added. “We believe this product will create efficiencies for trucking companies which will, in essence, increase their MPG’s and save them money. This product offering also helps Pilot to continue its Pilot “green” initiatives and commitment to becoming the first environmentally friendly travel center network.”
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot employs 14,000 nation-wide. The chain is owned and operated by Pilot Corporation, also based in Knoxville, and Marathon Ashland Petroleum, based in Findlay, Ohio. The Company, which reached revenues in excess of $13 billion in 2007, was founded more than half a century ago in Gate City, VA. Pilot was recognized by the National Retail Federation in 2007 among the top 100 U.S. retailers and in 2006 opened its first international location in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada.
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
Today, the use of SCR in Class 8 heavy duty trucks has shown that the technology can reduce NOx emissions by up to 90 percent. SCR also helps to reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles through greater fuel efficiency and resulting reductions in CO2, relative to other NOx reducing technologies. When used in combination with diesel particulate filters, the technology helps to reduce criteria pollutant emissions to near-zero levels.


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You are here
He will report to Sanjay Mirchandani, VMware's Senior VP and GM
Kapil Sibal demanded the arrest of Parag Shah, who worked in the CM's office
The Desire 210 will see competition from Nokia Lumia 520, Nokia X, Samsung Galaxy S Duos...
Victim said Deen Dayal first asked her for friendship and said he wanted to marry her
Sudeep again has been signed as host for the second season


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A little over a year ago, we ran an article discussing Mitek’s release of technology for capturing and processing check images through mobile phones. Well, today Mitek announced a deal with NCR, which will offer Mitek’s ImageNet Mobile Deposit to complement its APTRA Commercial Passport– remote deposit capture software that allows deposits using check scanners from their businesses directly to the financial institution or via online banking web site.
This definitely seems like a step in the right direction, which might be a bit ahead of its time with this type of software- but as a toolkit vendor, also needs to anticipate the needs of its customers. NCR’s offering both scanner and phone-capture based solution is indicative of where the market for mobile capture currently stands. It’s a great idea, and probably will pick up momentum as phone cameras and processors continue to improve, but for now, the superior image quality of a scanner still offers many advantegous – if not the convenience and ubiquity of mobile phones.


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Being environmentally conscious is not as easy as we all think. We have been told for years that relying on oil to power our cars is bad for the environment, but that is not necessarily true. A recent study by University of Minnesota professors shows that the environmental impact of all electric cars is not what it we think it is. Sure, electric cars have no emissions from their non existent tail pipes, but the power plants that supply that electricity to energize them sure do and it is far more harmful than you might think. A recent Minneapolis Star Tribune article talks about how coal power is still a common source of electricity that supplies the chargers used by electric cars in the United States and many countries worldwide. An electric car that is charged from coal power plants will cause four times more deaths from soot and smog than a gasoline powered vehicle. Although when you find a cleaner power grid such as natural gas, water, wind or solar to charge an electric car, the environmental impact does skew in the electric car’s favor. The key here is to find out where your electricity comes from. In Minnesota and the surrounding states, coal is the primary source used to generate power.
Some of the alternatives to gas or electric vehicles might not be friendly either. People often think ethanol is friendly for the environment since it is made of corn. It can actually be worse than gas or electric generated from coal when you take to account that is has to be farmed, refined and the tail pipe emissions are also not as good as gas or diesel. When shopping for a vehicle that is environmentally friendly find the most fuel efficient vehicle that is powered by gasoline or diesel. If you really want that electric car do some research on how your power is produced.
Watch this video for some more info on the subject.
Ford has been subtly hinting that the Focus RS is coming and on February 3rd we finally get to see what they have in store for us. Historically the Focus RS was only available in Europe and this newest platform will be available globally. We have been getting small amounts of info here and there about the probable 2.3l EcoBoost engine from the Mustang which should make between 325-350 hp. Hopefully the rumblings about the torque vectoring all-wheel drive are also true to help put all that power to the ground. The styling should be more aggressive with added aero features and bigger wheels to make room for the larger brakes to tame all that power. If they these features make it to production this RS should make the competition pretty nervous.
Based on the teaser video below we are marking our calendar!
The third annual 90 Days of Giving has finally come to a close after another terrific year of giving back to the local Chippewa, Wisconsin Community. For three months during the Holiday Season Morrie’s Chippewa Valley Mazda pays it forward by giving away much needed vehicles to nominated families. Following the format of previous giveaways, Morrie’s Chippewa Valley partnered with Gordy’s County Market to give three cars away packaged with a $500.00 gas gift card.
The most difficult part of making these wishes come true is going through the hundreds of nominations Morrie’s Chippewa Valley Mazda receives every year for the 90 Days of Giving. Every story is heartfelt and narrowing it down to three is a difficult process. This year the vehicles that were given away went to three deserving people that not only needed a new car, but were relied on by their family and community for rides everyday as well.
Receiving the most notoriety and engagement this year, local news and radio stations crowded the three giveaways bringing the community even more awareness around the generosity of the Morrie’s and Gordy’s crew. Another big part in making these giveaways into a reality is keeping it a surprise. Morrie’s and Gordy’s go to some pretty extensive lengths to make sure the car recipient has a very special moment when they are recognized as a winner of the 90 Days of Giving. Bill, the General Manager at Morrie’s Chippewa Valley Mazda, often will tell the winner “This is your day” making sure the recipient knows that this is a very special life changing moment for them. This year the giveaways took place at the first nominee’s house, the second was surprised in Gordy’s County Market, and the third nominee received their vehicle in Morrie’s Chippewa Valley Mazda’s Service Drive.
We look forward to next year’s 90 Days of Giving and appreciate everyone who participated in this year’s giveaways.
Meet Grayson. He’s a 4-year-old car nut who is going to be flying out to California to visit Disneyland and the Peterson Auto Museum, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Although Grayson was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, he hasn’t let that stop him from playing with his brothers and sisters and sharing his love of cars with others.
Morrie’s was honored to have the opportunity to team up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and help out for Grayson’s big gift reveal party this past Wednesday!
After a bunch of big reveals from Nissan, Ford, Hyundai, Acura and more on the first day of the 2015 North American International Auto Show, we were excited for day two! Braving the cold temperatures and a food coma from the previous night, we tackled the show floor for another flurry of press conferences from the likes of Cadillac, Lincoln and others.
January means a lot of things to a lot of different people. While most folks don’t necessarily equate the frigid temperatures and icy roads with shiny, fast cars, car people like us know that there’s no better time for the North American International Auto Show, which takes place in Motor City itself: Detroit.
Although January might not be the best time to visit Detroit, we make sure to attend so we can bring back all the latest news from all the major auto manufacturers represented at the show. Since Monday kicked off the start of the media days for the 2015 North American International Auto Show, we thought we’d share some highlights and show you some of the most beautiful and interesting vehicles from the show floor.
While plenty of people know all about Subaru’s rally heritage, the company has plenty of track experience too. Now, for 2015, Subaru debuted a race-prepped 2015 Subaru WRX STI in advance of the 2015 Nurburgring 24 Hour Race at the Tokyo Auto Salon. While no doubt highly modified, Subaru chose not to elaborate much on what the racing modifications included beyond beefed up brakes, sticky race tires, and the obligatory roll cage.
Alongside the racy STI, Subaru also rolled out a super low, super wide, Japanese Super GT-spec BRZ. Built to fit within the GT300 class of the Japanese Super GT Series, this lean and mean BRZ should offer a great platform to go racing.
In either case, it looks like 2015 is going to be a busy year for the Subaru factory racing teams!
In late Summer 2015 the all new 2016 Cadillac CTS-V with 640 HP will be hitting show floors. The CTS-V will be the most powerful vehicle to launch in the prestigious 112-year heritage lifespan of the Cadillac brand – it will also be the 3rd generation of the V-Series which began just a decade ago with the first generation CTS-V. With the aforementioned 640 HP and 630 lb-ft of torque this CTS-V is going to be placing itself into the conversation of the luxury exotic category. With more power than the competing BMW and Mercedes the CTS-V is capable of outstanding performance without suffering in luxury and comfort. Featuring a 0-60 time of just 3.7 seconds this powerful 6.2L supercharged V8 engine will be an enormous boost in performance, and with a track honed setup to match the aggressive styling and features, the 2016 CTS-V will have German tuned sedans and coupes feeling a little nervous – and rightly so.
The interior will be fitted with Recaro seats, matte-finished carbon fiber trim and suede microfiber accents to accompany a host of advanced safety and luxury comfort features. “With the performance the new CTS-V is capable of delivering, the interior needs to be as functional as the other vehicle systems” - Andrew Smith, executive director, Cadillac Global Design. Inside those Recaro seats will be 20-way heated and ventilated seats and Navigation through Cadillac’s CUE system with bluetooth and wireless inductive phone charging. Amazing technology meshed with the performance you could expect from a touring car championship series the CTS-V will be a sure hit when it hits show floors late next Summer.
Stay in tune with our blog for more information on the upcoming 2016 CTS-V as well as the 2016 ATS-V. We will be providing video coverage from the North American International Auto Show in January on our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/morriesauto.
For more information check out the official Cadillac Press Release: http://bit.ly/1sQwfhq
This Saturday, December 20th, Pause 4 Paws will be located at our Minnetonka Subaru location to help consumers get involved with their fundraising program. They’ll also be bringing along a group of their furry pals to help pass the time.
We all want to spend more time in our garage right? I do, but no matter how much you try to keep bare concrete clean it never really seems to work and frankly it just doesn’t look good. There are a couple of common ways to spruce up your garage floor: epoxy coating or a floating floor tile. In the hunt to find something to dress up our ~4300 sq. ft. of a warehouse space, I took some time to research these 2 choices. I know 4300 sq. ft. is bigger than a typical garage, but the tips for deciding on what works best is the same for a 1 car garage all the way up to a warehouse with the amount of space we have. More >


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In the world of smart home entertainment, Apple’s smart connectivity technology, AirPlay, has carved out a distinct segment, allowing seamless streaming of multimedia content between Apple devices and smart TVs. However, imagine the frustration when your AirPlay code is not showing on your TV, leaving your binge-watch plans hanging!!.
An Overview Of The Puzzle: AirPlay Code Not Showing On TV
Recently, there has been a spike in the reports by Apple users regarding the missing AirPlay code on TV screens, interrupting the smooth Apple ecosystem experience. AirPlay, an integral part of Apple’s ecosystem, uses a simple code-based mechanism to establish a connection between devices for media streaming. When working correctly, this code should pop up on your TV screen when attempting to link your Apple device. The missing AirPlay code is not just an isolated issue, but a prevalent problem that a significant chunk of Apple users have been wrestling with lately.
Our team embarked on an exhaustive investigation into the baffling “AirPlay code not showing on TV” situation. The primary function of the AirPlay code is to create a bridge between the Apple device and the smart TV, allowing for the flawless streaming of audio, video, device screens, and more. The crux of the issue lies in the missing or non-display of this crucial connectivity code on the user’s TV screen, turning an otherwise smooth AirPlay experience into a frustrating ordeal.
Delving Deeper: Exacerbating Factors
After collecting data from diverse sources and meticulous testing, our team discovered that the problem of the AirPlay code not appearing on the TV could stem from numerous reasons. These range from simple connectivity issues, to more complex root causes such as the compatibility of TV models, the software version of Apple device being used, and sometimes, even the router settings.
How Is The Issue Affecting Users?
The impact of the issue varies widely. The absence of the AirPlay code not only disrupts the seamless multimedia experience for users but also limits the array of possible actions achievable through their Apple devices such as streaming, sharing, and gaming. More importantly, it put a damper on users’ confidence in Apple’s flawless ecosystem, as per the recent survey data.
Navigating Through The Problem
While the issue of the AirPlay code not showing on the TV is undoubtedly perplexing, the good news is that there are a number of potential fixes. Among these solutions, the most recommended ones include ensuring both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, checking whether the TV is AirPlay-compatible, or simply restarting both the Apple device and the TV.
Anticipating A Permanent Fix
As we await an official fix from Apple, the number of reported instances of the “AirPlay code not showing on TV” from users worldwide continues to climb. Even while temporary solutions may offer respite, they can’t replace a dedicated fix, instilling faith in the superior Apple experience.
To conclude, we look forward to bringing you the latest developments on this issue. Keep in mind that while technology makes our lives easier and more exciting, glitches along the way are inevitable. The real measure of success lies in how efficiently and effectively these roadblocks are tackled. So whether the AirPlay code makes a triumphant return to your TV screen or not, happy streaming!


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It has been over a half-year since Thailand first began experiencing the exceptional rains of 2011. It is over two months since the October crescendo began and only recently are we seeing re-openings and concrete assessments of timelines for the hard disk drive (HDD) supply chain based in Thailand.
Earlier this month, ON Semiconductor announced here that it will be moving the vast majority of its Thailand operations to Malaysia, The Philippines, and China:
"It has been determined that given the severity of the flood damage to the production facilities ON Semiconductor operates in Thailand, and the excessive cost required to recover and reconstruct these facilities, that it is not financially viable for us to fully re-start our probe, assembly and test operations in Thailand for an indefinite period, if at all. As such, the company is ceasing all production at its SANYO sites in Ayutthaya, Thailand, and plans to maintain limited production at its Bang Pa In site."
Hana Microelectronics has just announced in an exclusive interview with Bangkok's The Nation here, that the severe flooding in Ayutthaya Industrial Park incapacitated facilities where 35% of Hana's revenue comes from. Upon recent completion of assessments, Hana determined that the extensive period of flooding "[…] had caused estimated damage of US$35-40 million (Bt1.1-1.2 billion) to the company's machinery and production facilities at High-Tech Industrial Estate." During the flooding period, some essential equipment was moved, with assistance from the Royal Thai Navy, to Hana's other Thai facilities to continue operations as best as possible. Hana intends to stay in Thailand and repair or replace the equipment at Ayutthaya, but will be cautiously watching the reaction of their clients to determine their long-term Thailand operational strategies. Hana expects to reopen the Ayutthaya facility in mid-February; over 95% of revenue from the fourth quarter was lost at this site.
While some are reopening and others are walking away from their severely damaged facilities, the fact of the matter is that the damage from the flooding in Thailand crippled seven High Tech Industrial Parks, and those in Ayutthaya and Rojana were among the worst. It will still be several months until a full cleanup, rebuilding and resumption of operations is in place.
Simply put, the equipment at these facilities were completely submerged in deep, fetid water for roughly six-weeks. The staggering amount of debris is now a new obstacle. There is a crippling problem of how to handle the immense, rusting, rotting piles of industrial and office rubbish.
According to a recent review of the situation here by a reporter to AFP newswire, "The disaster caused billions of dollars of damage and dealt a severe blow to the global supply chain. There are also questions about whether insurers will continue to cover companies located in the flood-prone region."
Toyota and Honda, along with many others in the automotive industry, are still dealing with massive clean-up projects and have yet to re-open facilities to full-production. Toyota still does not know when eight of its factories will be able to reopen because of the immense reparations and recovery projects that must be completed.
Optics, automotive, semiconductor components manufacturers and especially the HDD sector are still reeling from the massive destruction of their supply chains and the inventory that could not be saved. Presently, the supply chains have been able to use what was in progress and en route as end-stage products. As we move into 2012, it is clear that the disruptions and shut downs that are ongoing will continue to hurt these industries and supply chains. Continued tight supply will be the norm for 1H12, minimally.
Whether Thailand is able to keep these manufacturers in the kingdom has yet to be cemented. According to the same AFP report:
"Thailand's Board of Investment is planning to invite chief executives to Bangkok next month for a forum at which it says long-term flood prevention measures will be announced. […]
For flood-stricken firms, action cannot come soon enough.
"All of us are very sick. We fought very hard. We're very tired ... If the government wants to do something, (they) must announce it quickly," said Yeap Swee Chuan, head of auto parts maker Aapico Hitech."


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Government price officials turn spotlight on UAQ
UMM AL QAIWAIN // When the men from the ministry came calling, the fishmongers of the emirate weren't using anything like enough ice to keep their wares cold - and they blamed a lack of water.
"The main problem is that there is not enough water supply here," Ibrahim Rashed, an economic inspector at the Ministry of Economy's UAQ office, said yesterday. "So it makes it hard for sellers at the fish market to keep icing their fish throughout the day when they bring it in before 6am."
The market's 10 stalls were showcasing hammour, subaiti, shrimps and red snapper, all exposed to the midday heat.
"They all need more ice or they won't remain fresh," said Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, the ministry's head of consumer protection. "We must try to find a solution for this."
Al Muhait's emperor fish was sold at Dh15 a kilo while one piece of red snapper cost Dh4. Rashid Ebrahim's emperor was going for Dh10 a kilo - all good prices, said Dr Nuaimi, but all in need of more ice.
The two men visited the emirate's fish, meat, fruit and vegetable market on the Corniche yesterday as part of their tour of the country to monitor Ramadan food prices.
Most prices in the emirate appeared fair, and no licences were confiscated.
Hashim's tomatoes cost Dh2.50 each and Dh15 for a box. "He has some empty boxes on display that need to be removed," noted Dr Al Nuaimi.
Al Hassooni's dates bore no prices, prompting Dr Al Nuaimi to lecture their owner. "You must always show prices to the consumer, it's the law," he said.
As he examined Al Noor's fruit and vegetable scale, he said that, so far, UAQ prices were the most reasonable he had come across - and none more than Majed Al Hamad, the top seller in the emirate's market.
"We've known him since 2006", said Mr Rashed, "and he's constantly impressing us with the way he keeps his prices down, especially during Ramadan."
Mr Hamed sold a cabbage for Dh3, Dh5 for a kilo of peppers, Dh7 for a kilo of beans and Dh25 for a mango box.
Other stalls sported more reduced prices - Dh3 for a bag of garlic and Dh6 for a bag of lemons.
"The prices here are less than any other emirate," said Dr Dhiaalddin Saleh, a health inspector at the municipality. "Many people come from Dubai and Al Ain because we have the freshest produce."
Things were not quite as good at the meat market, with several vendors receiving warnings. Meat House showed no prices and Rahman Meat did not even own a sign with prices written down.
"He must have the type of meat, where it came from and whether it's frozen or fresh," said Dr Al Nuaimi.
After showing how prices should be displayed, Mr Rashed advised the seller to visit the ministry's local office for further advice.
Salman Meat welcomed Dr Al Nuaimi with a large piece of frozen meat dangling behind the door as the temperature reached about 20°C. "That frozen meat cannot be in warm temperature or it will get contaminated," Dr Al Nuaimi said.
"I'm still content with the prices here, I only gave out a few warnings but they were for minor problems," he added.
Mr Rashed will meet municipality officials on Sunday to create new price tags that display the origin of the meat, its price and date of production. The lack of ice would also be discussed, he said.
"We don't allow people to increase prices on their own," Dr Al Nuaimi. "We have to study their reasons for doing so first."
He said if shopkeepers marked up their prices for competitive reasons, they would be fined Dh5,000. So far, 85 fines have been given out to shops across the UAE due to price increase or complaints from customers.
"We want to improve the relationship between the consumer and the seller while controlling prices," said Dr Al Nuaimi.
He urged customers who had a complaint to call the ministry's consumer protection hotline on 600 522225 between 7.30am and 2.30pm, the ministry's UAQ office on 06 765 2200 or Mr Rashed on 06 766 4416.
Published: August 12, 2011 04:00 AM


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Media Contacts: Steve Lyle, Office of Public Affairs, (916) 654-0462, email@example.com,
SACRAMENTO, August 7, 2006 - The USDA has designated the week of August 6-12 as National Farmers Market Week, and CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura is calling on Californians to recognize the state’s certified farmers markets for their role in the overall success of farmers markets nationally.
“California’s certified farmers markets are a true asset to our state and an important venue to bring farmers and consumers together,” said Secretary Kawamura. “In addition, certified farmers markets serve the community with educational outreach on nutrition and wholesome eating habits, and are one of the best ways for consumers to buy California Grown products.”
California has more than 400 certified farmers markets in the state as sales venues for an estimated 3,300 certified agricultural producers selling healthy and high-quality produce directly to consumers. Until 1977, regulations required farmers to properly pack, size and label their fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables in standard containers to transport and sell anywhere other than the farm-site. Recognizing the importance of farmer to consumer sales, the department revised regulations allowing for the creation of California certified farmers markets.
The number of farmers markets in the United States has grown dramatically in recent years, prompting state and national advocates of local farming to designate a week each year to take note of their benefits. California joins the nation in celebrating in National Farmers Market Week.
Please click below for a link to a list of certified farmers’ markets in California.


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2012 was an exciting year for the television market. Prices fell significantly for existing technology, with edge-lit LED televisions dropping in price as they stole further market share from already dirt-cheap plasmas.
If you’re a savvy buyer, then you know that Christmas time is one of the best times in the calendar year to snag a bargain. The Christmas lead-up period, as well as Boxing Day sales, has proven in previous years to be fiercely competitive, and the bi...
A report released by Canon has shown that the television market is stronger than ever, with sales rising and viewers spending more time in front of the screen each day.
In about two weeks, US cable company Comcast will debut a beta of a social networking service that allows participants to let the world know what they are watching on TV and the Internet.
Intel will bring its wireless display technology to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, company executives said this week.
Santiago Alfaro hopes to one day use the Surround Vision technology he created at the MIT Media Lab and work with famous director James Cameron to incorporate it into a film.
The little-known but potentially important Intel Windows Display (WiDi) wireless technology has turned up in the latest Toshiba laptop, the Satellite A660.
Ncomputing on Friday announced a chip that could turn devices like TVs or set-top boxes into virtual desktops through which users can run Windows applications or access the Internet.
Samsung on Tuesday introduced new 3D home entertainment devices and said it is researching new 3D technologies while finding new ways to deliver 3D movies to TVs.
Innocomm Technology, a young smartphone developer, plans to launch its first handset with Google's Android mobile operating system and an analog TV receiver in the middle of this year, a company representative said Tuesday.
At a splashy press event at CES in Las Vegas, Toshiba trotted out its latest and greatest HDTV, the Cell TV, with its companion media center set-top box.
Netflix will begin streaming movies and TV shows to PlayStation 3 consoles in the U.S. from November, it said on Monday.
Internet-enabled TV sets could see wider adoption in the next few years as viewers get comfortable with the idea of running widgets on TV screens, according to a study released by Ernst & Young on Thursday.
Toshiba will soon unveil its first television based on the Cell processor, the same multimedia chip that sits at the heart of the PlayStation 3 games console.
Intel's chips already go into many laptops, but it is now making a play for television sets and cable boxes through a new processor it released on Thursday.
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According to the latest annual CEO survey conducted by PwC on behalf of JDA Software (Global Retail & Consumer Goods CEO Survey: The Omni-Channel Fulfillment Imperative), CEOs expressed confidence in revenue growth in 2015 compared to last year. Online and mobile commerce continue to be key drivers of this revenue growth, with a U.S. growth rate of 14.6 percent for ecommerce sales in 2014. This is significantly higher than the 3.7 percent growth rate in total U.S. retail sales, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. But the CEO survey also found that profits from ecommerce and other omni-channel revenue streams were elusive, as only 16 percent of the CEOs say they are fulfilling omni-channel demand profitably.
The CEO survey received responses from 410 retail and consumer goods companies across Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Twenty-two percent of responses came from top 250 retailers (> $5 billion revenue), with another 51 percent classified as top 250-1,000 retailers. Respondents identified themselves as coming from hard goods, soft goods, CPG, ecommerce and grocery verticals, as well as related retail and consumer goods sectors.
In the survey, 44 percent of CEOs said they were ‘very confident’ in revenue growth over the next 12 months, up from 40 percent last year, while 55 percent were ‘very confident’ in growth over the next three years, the same percentage as last year. And despite some media reports of sluggish growth in China, 70 percent of CEOs in China say they are ‘very confident’ in growth over the next three years. Overall, CEOs said they were ‘somewhat confident’ or ‘very confident’ in growth 85 percent and 88 percent, respectively, over the 12 month and three year time horizons.
Despite this confidence in growth, CEOs are worried about escalating omni-channel fulfillment cost, with 71 percent saying it is a top or high priority for them. It is no wonder when 30 percent say they are still operating distinct channels individually, and another 31 percent say that while they can offer omni-channel front-end shopping experiences, they struggle to handle the back-end fulfillment. Even the 19 percent of those who say they can offer both front-end and back-end omni-channel service to their customers, say it is too complex and expensive. That leaves just the 16 percent mentioned earlier who believe they can deliver omni-channel profitably.
The survey provides some pretty clear clues as to why profitability is so challenging. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported that cross-channel fulfillment costs are rising. Specifically, the top order fulfillment costs identified were for handling online and store returns (71%), shipping direct to consumers (67%), and shipping to stores for customer pickup (59%). All three top costs are either direct or indirect consequences of the increase in omni-channel shopping by today’s digitally-aware consumers.
CEOs are not sitting idly by as omni-channel costs and complexities increase, however. On average, CEOs say they are spending almost 30 percent of their total capital budgets this year on improving their omni-channel fulfillment capabilities. For the top 250 retailers, this investment represents an over 60 percent increase compared to last year. Further underscoring the importance of omni-channel fulfillment to corporate success, 25 percent of CEOs say they will directly oversee investment in this area over the next three to five years, with an additional 53 percent saying they will assign this responsibility to their heads of either supply chain or ecommerce.
To hear a more in-depth discussion of the CEO survey results by Bruce Rogers, Chief Insights Officer for Forbes Media, and Wayne Usie, SVP – Retail global business unit at JDA, register for the Forbes-JDA webinar on May 14, 2015.
In my next post on this CEO survey, launching April 21, I’ll look at some of the key internal and external challenges CEOs identified and what they are planning to do about them. In the meantime, you can access the full report here.


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IRI research is showing shoppers are broadening their healthy eating habits and the brands taking advantage of these pockets of opportunities are realising growth. Embracing naturally nutritious ingredients, and being positioned as a ‘healthy’ alternative becoming an inspiring proposition to consumers.
IRI’s Daniel Bone, Channel Insights Manager revealed at the AFGC ‘Food & Grocery Australia’ Event in Brisbane, that a cultural shift towards Health and Wellness is being driven by three distinct consumer segments and knowing how a product resonates can unlock a multi-million dollar opportunity.
62% of Australians surveyed on the IRI Shopper Panel say nutritional information displayed on products affect what they purchase with over half (53%) of shoppers indicating to have changed – or plan to change – an aspect of their diet.
“This behaviour suggests that growth potential can be leveraged by enticing consumers to act on their positive intentions with regards to healthy food and beverage intake – this is evidenced by brands growing rapidly who are tapping into these consumer trends” comments Daniel Bone.
The fast-growing sales of products including turmeric and sweet potato reflect how on-trend formats and ingredients allow brands to realise new growth opportunities.
Turmeric with its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties is resonating with consumers, and as a result is one of the trending hero ingredients, driving growth in Vitamins (+107% in Pharmacy) and Herbs & Spices (+63% in Supermarkets).
Furthermore, IRI revealed that Sweet Potato has been a ‘category disrupter’ as an inherently healthy ingredient, adding permissibility to indulgent foods such as Snacking Chips and Frozen Chips (+132%), adding $15M to the Grocery channel.


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By Andrea Lillo
Not only will cookware in a range of materials from stainless steel to clay be seen in Las Vegas, but companies new to the industry will also launch at the show.
Other manufacturers will take this opportunity to add product to existing lines or highlight previously introduced products.
Ceramcor is one of the exhibitors new to the industry, and it offers ceramic-based cookware and bakeware. “We want to appeal to the upscale retailer,” said Rich Bergstrom, founder and owner, which is why it waited to launch at this show. In development for four years, the Xtrema line is the company’s first offering. The line is made of ceramic with a nano-glaze non-stick coating, allowing it to be used in the conventional, toaster and microwave oven, under the broiler and on the stove top or barbecue grill. It can also withstand temperatures up to 2,500˚ F — “you can melt steel in this vessel if you wanted to,” he said. And because of its far-infrared cooking technology, it cooks food from both the inside and outside at the same time, he said. “It’s a whole new way of cooking.”
Available in the fall, Xtrema has about 10 items in its line, and they include cookware, bakeware and tea kettles. Right now, because of its durability, the non-stick coating is black, though the company is experimenting with other colors, Bergstrom said. The tea kettles are currently available in other colors, however. Approximate retails include $69 for a tea kettle, $99 for a 10-inch skillet, $140 for a 5.5-quart stock pot, and $399 for a nine-piece set.
Terra Allegra Imports will debut in Las Vegas, showing The 1870 Collection by Piral, which is made from lead-free clay. With a non-stick, easy-cleaning crystalline glass-like finish, the cookware is available in deep red, earthy orange, rich umber, midnight blue and hunter green. Stove-top, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe, the line has suggested retail prices that start at less than $49.
Magefesa will show attendees its line of pressure cookers and stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum, and enamel-on-steel cookware sets. Items include the 10-piece Vulcano hard-anodized set with 18/10 stainless steel lids and the 24-piece Olympus 18/10 stainless steel set.


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Solar panels are supposed to be a product of the future, but they are currently caught up in an old battle between China and the US.
In the second of his series of comment pieces on the solar industry, – James Woollard, managing director of Evergreen PV, asks the question – is there a potential trade war now that the US have slapped tariffs on Chinese made solar panels?
Some analysts are warning of a trade war after the US slapped tariffs on Chinese made solar panels, but are they already in one?
For a number of years US energy companies have complained they can’t compete with the vast amount of ‘cheap’ solar energy products that are coming from China and flooding the US and other world markets. Companies facing financial troubles or even bankruptcy are looking for a scapegoat, and many of them are pointing at China.
In response, the US Department of Commerce is launching an investigation into these practices. They announced recently the preliminary decision to impose ‘anti-dumping’ duties of 31.22% on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells imported from China. This anti-dumping investigation has led commerce to explore the option of levying duty fees, or tariffs, against the Chinese made solar goods.
For me it’s an odd industry for the US administration to target, as all those Chinese subsidies have made solar roughly price competitive as an energy source for the first time, something the supposedly environmentally minded administration would approve of. But now the administration want to make it more expensive.
Just last year, China sold more than $3.1bn worth of solar cells and panels in the US so I guess I can see why it is referred to as a ‘dump.’
Obviously the Chinese government is protesting against the US anti-dumping tariffs on their solar panels, calling them unfair and damaging to producers and consumers. A statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Washington’s decision sent a ‘negative signal’ about trade protectionism.
It’s fair to say the Chinese aren’t best pleased, whilst many US firms have kept pretty quiet, and for the rest of us, well, we just want everyone to get along!
Only recently the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association representing companies across the solar value chain, released a statement saying that the two parties must immediately work together towards a ‘mutually satisfactory resolution.’
China-based solar firms, however, have been finding ways to avoid paying the tariff such as transferring solar orders to Taiwan.
Taiwan-based solar cell makers have been experiencing rising capacity utilisation rates but indicated that orders from China-based firms often have unprofitably low quotes. China obviously doesn’t want to give up on the US market, because it is one of the fastest growing solar markets in the world, but the US Department of Commerce aren’t making it easy.
This isn’t the first time commerce has threatened to impose such tariffs, or indeed carried them out. Protectionism is always controversial, and in today’s global economy it’s not always easy to know if one country’s tariffs might not also harm companies within that same country’s borders. For example, some US energy companies that use Chinese made solar parts might stand to lose profits if they have to buy them at higher margins.
Following the announcement of the tariffs, Beijing mounted a spirited response, with officials accusing Washington of illegally helping its domestic industry and Chinese solar companies teaming up to fight the levies.
At the end of May China’s Commerce Ministry said in a brief statement that its investigations of six clean energy projects in five US states had uncovered violations of international trade law, although wouldn’t go into further details.
The chief executives of four major Chinese solar power equipment companies then announced that they had allied to fight Washington’s allegations, saying the Chinese industry is beneficial to the US. The alliance said US consumer’s benefit from the lower prices that result from the industry’s concentration and competitiveness.
Chinese manufacturers shipped nearly half the world’s solar panel’s last year, representing more than 10,900MW, while the US supplied just three percent, or about 780MW. US policy isn’t the only challenge for China’s solar industry. A study published last year by three scholars at George Washington University estimated that Chinese companies will be able to make 38% more product than they can sell this year and predicted that the question of whether Chinese supply and demand can come into balance will depend on the bite of US import policy and installation of the equipment in China.
The way I see it, is that the US market even with added costs would survive, as it is currently in a state of boom. A report prepared by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association showed that in the last quarter the US installed 506MW of photovoltaic panels – the second most number of quarterly installations ever and an 85% spike from the first quarter of 2011. But more importantly the developers of projects have good margins and can afford to cut back on margins, if needed to. The same cannot be said however for the Chinese who already have deeply cut margins.
Furthermore, and adding to China’s growing headache, a couple of weeks ago Solarworld AG (SWV), Germany’s biggest solar panel maker, announced plans to file an ‘anti-dumping’ case against Chinese competitors as part of a group of European manufacturers. Apparently they want to submit the case in Europe as soon as possible.
The sad part is that China has done a fantastic job with making solar a viable energy source for the future, and they do produce some very high quality products.
If the tariffs go through, Chinese companies will be left to either raise their prices in hopes of turning a (now lowered) profit, or as I’ve already mentioned, move their manufacturing centres outside of China to dodge the tariffs.
Whether an energy company in America is smiling or frowning about these potential tariffs depends greatly upon where they sit on the solar supply chain. The people who shape steel and silicon into panels might be happy, but the people who actually install the finished panels onto rooftops, for example, might be less so.
I am optimistic for China and I think they can prevent the tariff from hurting them too much. Hopefully we can all work together – China, the US, Europe and everybody else, preventing this from becoming any more of a trade war, and instead a war against reliance on carbon-based fuels.


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Compared to neighboring ghana, ivory coast, though practicing slavery and slave raiding, suffered little from the slave trade as such ivory coast, nigeria. By peter murphy abidjan (reuters) - top world cocoa producer ivory coast on monday rejected charges by rights groups that child slaves help produce its cocoa and said valentine's day consumers could eat ivorian chocolate with a clear conscience. Ivory coast, located on the do they think it's okay that children are abducted and then sold as slaves to ivory coast cocoa farmers do you think it's. The case slavery in the chocolate industry discusses beans they acquired from the ivory coast and sell to slavery to try to cut labour cost. The bbc's humphrey hawksley hears from the child labourers working on the cocoa farms of the ivory coast.
The prevalence of human trafficking, child slavery, and abusive labor practices in the cacao industry is surprisingly under-reported with the. The tentative lists of states parties are published by the world heritage centre at the slaves were brought to the coast and slave and ivory trade. Slavery in the chocolate industry the article is about chocolate made by cocoa bean grown in farms in “ivory coast and ghana” the farmers use slave boys for harvest of coca beans.
Cnn’s video showing migrants sold as slaves in libya continues to stir up anger and indignation on the web the reactions are numerous “to the presidents of the african union and to the presidents of ecowas let me call you to tell you that we african peoples who counted on you to defend and protect . The problem of child slavery and indentured servitude in the coffee and cocoa industries in ivory coast, where half of the world's cocoa is grown on about 600,000 plantations, is nothing new. Ivory coast, also known as côte the europeans suppressed the local practice of slavery at this time, and forbade the trade to their merchants assinie's survival.
Nestle, which is currently fighting child slave labor charges in ivory coast, has recently been hit with another charge of using forced labor according to. Early european contact and the slave trade ivory, and pepper so activities on the west african coast to be sure, slavery and slave trading were already. A boy in ivory coast carries a basket of freshly harvested cocoa seeds a batch of headlines proclaimed that child slavery was on the rise. In addition to the nearly 50 percent of the total number of enslaved africans in the united states from these two regions, a considerable number of slaves had their origins on the so-called gold coast or “slave coast,” which is now the west african nation of ghana, as well as neighboring parts of the windward coast, now ivory coast.
History: for those outside of the african continent, little is known of côte d'ivoire (ivory coast) from before its discovery by portuguese ships in the 1460s. Psafyi by abe, maggie and elias music - laura marling: blackberry stone thanks to democracy now for footage.
Western african countries, mostly ghana and the ivory coast,  “chocolate and child slavery: say no to human trafficking this holiday season”. Child labor today, more than a from the carpet sector in afghanistan to the cocoa plantations in the ivory coast end slavery now is brought to you in proud. What country in africa were the majority of black slaves eastern ivory coast ) with much of the western african coast was known as the slave coast. Cnn's david mckenzie travels into the heart of the ivory coast -- the world’s largest cocoa producer -- to investigate child slavery in the fields.
While we enjoy the sweet taste of chocolate, the reality is strikingly different for african children in 2001 consumers around the world were outraged to discover that child labor and slavery, trafficking, and other abuses existed on cocoa farms in the ivory coast, a country that produces nearly. Republic of côte d’ivoire (ivory coast) côte d’ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. What is the biggest challenge your organisation or sector faces in tackling modern slavery. Ivory coast is the world's leading producer of cocoa, the raw ingredient for chocolate, and is responsible for about 36 percent of global exports.Download


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KINGWOOD - Cynthia and Robert Ennis are suing General Motors LLC, alleging the car they bought was defective and General Motors will not honor their warranty.
The plaintiffs claim they bought a new Chevrolet Cruze in 2011, and started having problems with it from the beginning. Their lawsuit was filed Jan. 14 in Preston County Circuit Court.
The plaintiffs claim they took the car into the authorized dealer for repairs on numerous occasions, but the car never functioned properly.
According to the filing, the plaintiffs' defective car is under both an implied and a written warranty, but the defendant will not honor either.
The plaintiffs are suing the defendant for breach of warranty and are seeking compensatory damages. Michael S. Bailey of Bailey & Howard in Barboursville is representing the plaintiffs in the suit.
Preston County Circuit Court case number 13-C-4.


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Professional Community for Car Dealers, Marketing, Advertising and Sales Leaders
Car & Drivers 10 Best Cars List for 2014 includes the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST!
Just like the Ford Focus ST, the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST is performance engineered and designed to appeal to the younger car-generation as affordable, sporty, and fun to drive; Just ask Ken Block! Ken Block is known for driving his custom Ford Fiesta ST to it's limits and that alone has gained Ford lots of interested in the compact car market, just the…Continue
Added by Jonathan Morales on April 5, 2014 at 6:30am — No Comments
Coming to NJ Ford Dealerships, the 2015 Ford Edge Revealed!
Salerno Duane Ford published an article about the all-new 2015 Ford Edge coming to New Jersey. Anyone see how different it is than the current generation? The 2015 Ford Edge will feature self-parking similar to what Ford has designed in the Ford Focus!
Added by Jonathan Morales on January 6, 2014 at 8:00am — No Comments


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CDHS, LLC markets, sells and distributes USA exports in China using WeChat enterprise accounts via its subsidiary; Sūzhōu Zhòng Guô Business Services Co., Ltd.
Independent journalist operating out of the Pacific Northwest
Independent and Gonzo journalists. @alissaazar on Twitter @r3volutiondaddy on Instagram
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While sushi has become an immensely popular cuisine in recent years, most take-out restaurants continue to use disposable sushi containers. An estimated half a billion sushi trays are thrown out each year, which has led to a major accumulation of waste. To combat the problem, a team of designers at 'Sushecō' came up with a more eco-friendly alternative.
The clever new sushi container is flat-packed so that it can be easily transported when you head out to a restaurant. The tray will then pop up to twice its height in order to accommodate up to eight large pieces of sushi. The container also features a flexible hinge, which holds a set of reusable chopsticks. The idea is that consumers can use the portable tray as a sustainable alternative to single use sushi containers.
While the product is currently just a prototype, Sushecō has launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the reusable sushi containers to production.
'Sushecō' Recently Developed a More Eco-Friendly Kind of Sushi Tray
Katherine Pendrill — June 15, 2015 — Art & Design
References: kickstarter & treehugger


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Microsoft’s Thursday earnings report was an event for tech industry pundits, industry figures, investors, and every person on the planet with a stake in the future of the console gaming and the PC market. The October through December quarter marked a major transition for Microsoft as it introduced Windows 8, rebranded its media businesses under the Xbox Music/Video banner, and released of the Surface tablet. All eyes were on Microsoft.
Would the giant see any change in its mediocre performance? Yes and no. Sales grew by 3-percent year-on-year to under $21.5 billion, but income dropped 3-percent to just under $6.4 billion.
The Windows division posted decent revenue numbers of $5.88 billion, a 24-percent increase from the same quarter last year, thanks to the sale of over 60 million Windows 8 licenses to date. Server & Tool business also saw sales of $5.19 billion, a 9-percent increase this quarter compared to the same time frame last year, but the Business Division showed a 10-percent decrease, down to $5.69 billion. Overall, the picture is fair, but not good.
Typically, one of the highlights for Microsoft is its entertainment division, but Microsoft may have a problem: Xbox 360 sales are withering.
Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices division, which recorded a decrease of 11-percent, was most damaged by the Xbox 360. “Xbox 360 platform revenue decreased $1.1 billion or 29-percent, due mainly to lower volumes of consoles sold and lower video game revenue, offset in part by higher Xbox Live revenue,” reads Microsoft’s statement. “ We shipped 5.9 million Xbox 360s during the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, compared with 8.2 million Xbox 360 consoles during the second quarter of fiscal year 2012.”
This isn’t totally unexpected. Microsoft is actively winding down the Xbox 360 business even as it increases the prominence of the Xbox name by rebranding services like Zune as Xbox Music. The company also spent 21-percent less on Xbox 360 marketing this year, while its R&D spending grew 25-percent as it develops the next Xbox. Toss in a year with less blockbuster releases than in 2011 (which, admittedly, was an exceptional year), and the sagging numbers aren’t surprising.
Microsoft is starting to see the same sort of swift decline that Nintendo did with the Wii in 2010. Like the Wii between 2008 and 2010, the Xbox 360 has enjoyed nearly uncontested success in the US since releasing the redesigned 360 in June 2010. It’s been the best-selling console every month in the country since, even though worldwide the PS3 has caught up. But also like the Wii, the precipitous decline from previous holiday sales highs seen this past quarter shows that Microsoft’s market’s been saturated. And with most developers looking towards the future and developing with an eye on next-gen consoles, it’s unlikely that upcoming software will make a significant difference.
The new Xbox is coming, so Microsoft’s Entertainment Division has that to bank on. There is a worrisome trend inside these numbers, though: The Kinect did not keep Xbox 360 sales growing for very long. Microsoft’s 2010/11 surge for the Xbox was in part fueled by the motion control device, but it no longer appears to be selling hardware to new customers. The burden on the next Xbox then, is new novelty beyond high end graphics or even motion control.
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