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Hello, visitors from StumbleUpon! Like what you see here? Check out PCWorld’s GeekTech blog for more on cutting-edge tech. And follow us on Twitter or Facebook for your daily fill of Geek.
A Toronto-based company called Interaxon has been developing a system that allows you to manipulate surroundings with your mind. Right now the technology is fairly simple. By tracking your brainwaves with an Electroencephalograph (EEG), Interaxon’s software can turn mood lighting up or down, or adjust the amount of sun your shades are letting in.
In a Reuter’s interview, Interaxon’s chief operating officer says the company is working with other businesses to develop customized household appliances that adjust themselves to the owners mood- so if you’re having a bad day, there’s a cold beer waiting for you in the fridge. One might argue that there should always be a cold beer waiting for you in the fridge, but it’s the concept that counts.
The company says they hope to market headsets the size of a Bluetooth in the next two years that would make mood sensitive surroundings widely available. While wearing a device that tracks your brainwaves to do simple tasks may seem like overkill, it’s still a first step toward a cool concept, not to mention it could be potentially revolutionary for the disabled.
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Chinese brands whomp Samsung and Apple in fast charging
Earlier last month, Beijing’s Xiaomi introduced Hyper Charge through its YouTube Channel. The 200-watt system can fully charge the company’s Mi 11 Pro smartphone with a 4,000 milliamp-hours (mAh) battery in only eight minutes. It takes 15 minutes with 120-watt charger, according to Xiaomi.
Its Mi Mix 4, which is scheduled for introduction next month, is likely to support 120-watt charging, according to multiple media outlets.
The fast charging battle is heating up in the smartphone market. Batteries are key for consumers choosing smartphones, along with cameras, displays and storage capacity, according to market tracker Strategy Analytics.
Transsion, a Shenzhen, China-based smartphone marker, in July introduced the Infinix Zero X, which features 160-watt fast charging support. The company said it takes only five minutes to charge the smartphone 50 percent, and 11 minutes to fully charge.
Huawei’s P50 series, which will be introduced on July 29 at a press event, is reported to have a 100-watt fast charger, which would charge the phone in 20 minutes. Shenzhen’s Honor is rolling out it Magic 3 next month, and it is expected to come with 100-watt charging technology.
“Chinese phone camera and display technologies are second to none in the industry,” said a source in the industry. “Chinese companies are considering fast charging technology as the key marketing strategy.”
Samsung Electronics and Apple fall short of Chinese companies in terms of fast charging technology. The Samsung Electronics Galaxy Z Flip 3, which is expected to be released in the market next month, reportedly has 15-watt charging. It will take about 90 minutes to fully charge a smartphone with a 3,300-mAh battery.
The S21, Galaxy Z Flip and Flip 2 also use 15-watt charging, and Apple’s iPhone 12 supports 15-watt charging.
“Unlike China, Samsung and Apple are quite conservative in battery charging technology,” said a source from the industry. “It seems like Samsung still recalls the trauma of Galaxy 7 fires in the past.”
It is highly likely that the two companies will adopt faster charging technology in the near future.
Amsterdam, Netherlands-based IT media outlet LetsGoDigital said in a recent report that the Samsung’s S22 will support 65-watt charging.
Chinese phone makers are the leading movers in the industry. U.S-based The Verge reported that Vivo’s iQOO 8, which is slated for release next month, will have 160-watt fast charging, which will fully charge the smartphone in 12 minutes.
BY LEE TAE-YUN, SARAH CHEA [firstname.lastname@example.org]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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Batman Archives - Page 2 of 54 - Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources
Fans with a little extra cash in their pockets — OK, a lot of cash — have a chance to acquire pieces of Dark Knight history, as ComicConnect and Metropolis Collectibles are auctioning Batman co-creator Bob Kane’s own file copies of the character’s earliest appearances.
Those searching for pristine editions of Detective Comics #27 or Batman #1 will have to look elsewhere. These are copies of Detective Comics #27-45 and Batman #1-3 that were bound by DC Comics for editorial reference — as you can see, there’s a row of holes down the left — and later given to Kane. Still, the colors remain vibrant.
“Treasures like this only surface once in a blue moon,” ComicConnect/Metropolis Collectibles CEO Stephen Fishler said in a statement. “I was lucky enough to know Bob Kane. He told me, along with others, that he was just 17 when he sold the Batman character to an unwitting DC. Once the franchise took off, he leveraged that to renegotiate his contract with DC, and the file copies were part of the deal.”
With the 25th anniversary of 1989′s Batman, there’s been a resurgence of interest in the Tim Burton movie. As part of that, James at 1989Batman.com has pulled together some excellent threads examining DC Comics’ 1990 redesign of Robin, a project undertaken at the behest of filmmakers.
Out went the elfish garb of the original as DC searched for something more modern — befitting the time, and also primed to be translated into a future Batman film. To accomplish that task, DC turned to several of its top artists at the time, including Neal Adams, Norm Breyfogle, Stephen De Stefano, George Perez and Jim Aparo. DC didn’t tell the artists what it was for; simply, they were asked to redesign the Boy Wonder.
Widely circulated photos have shown San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and City Council President Todd Gloria riding the 200-foot zip line set up at Comic-Con International to promote Fox’s Gotham, but it’s The Hollywood Reporter’s Philiana Ng who delivers the winning image: a Batgirl cosplayer striking a pose as she glides across the Gotham City skyline.
Like comiXology and Marvel Unlimited, DC Entertainment and Image Comics are celebrating Comic-Con International with sales on select digital titles.
Through Tuesday, DC is marking the 75th anniversary of the Dark Knight by offering digital downloads of a whopping 750 Batman comics for 99 cents each. These aren’t typical dollar-bin titles, however; they include The Dark Knight Returns, The Long Halloween, No Man’s Land, Year One, Hush, The Court of the Owls and All Star Batman & Robbin the Boy Wonder. If you’re wanting to go way back, there are comics dating back to 1938, with Batman’s debut in Detective Comics #27.
The biggest comics news Thursday out of Comic-Con International was undoubtedly that, after years of debate, comiXology has introduced DRM-free backups of titles purchased from its storefront, with Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, MonkeyBrain Comics, Thrillbent, Top Shelf Productions and Zenescope Entertainment signing on to the program.
An email went out last night notifying customers that books they’ve purchased can be downloaded and stored as PDF or CBZ files, and pointing them to an FAQ on the subject.
“This has been an oft-requested feature,” comiXology CEO David Steinberger said during the company’s Comic-Con panel. “It’s a real backup file — it’s a fairly plain PDF or CBZ. They are high resolution, not a lot of bells and whistles, and my feeling is that people will continue to use the cloud-based reader to do their reading.”
The other big announcement was that Marvel will publish Avengers: Age of Ultron, an in-continuity graphic novel by the Uncanny X-Force team of Rick Remender, Jerome Opeña and Dean White scheduled to arrive in April 2015, ahead of the premiere of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Wednesday was Batman Day, the official date for celebrating the character’s 75th anniversary. It’s fine to have a Batman Day, I guess — I’ve been getting emails from online bookstores saying “Celebrate Batman Day with our sales!” so it’s coming across in practice like President’s Day — but Batman is so ubiquitous in pop culture that you might as well have a McDonald’s Day or a Coca-Cola Day. (In a perfect world there would be a Rockford Files Day.)
Anyway, appropriately enough, each of the two regular Bat-books DC published this week looked at one end of Batman’s timeline. Batman Vol. 2 #33 wrapped up “Zero Year,” the latest (and perhaps the most epic) version of the character’s origins; and Batman and Robin Vol. 2 #33 presented “Robin Rises, Part One,” the latest chapter in Damian Wayne’s posthumous saga. While the former ended impressively, the latter is off to a slow start.
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Fox appears to be bringing even more comic-book flair to its heavily promoted Gotham with a series of Who’s Who in the DC Universe-style character images. IGN has debuted the first, featuring Det. James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as drawn by Gary Frank, known for his work on Action Comics, the “Curse of Shazam” story in Justice League, and the upcoming Batman Earth One.
Warner Bros. Television promises more images will be revealed in the lead-up to the Sept. 22 premiere of Gotham on Fox.
After a little social-media teasing, GameStop has announced the Red Hood Story Pack DLC will be available exclusively to customers who preorder Batman: Arkham Knight from the retailer.
Developed by Rocksteady for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment, Batman: Arkham Knight is billed as the explosive finale to the hit action-adventure video game series that launched in 2009 with Batman: Arkham Asylum. (For a complete rundown, read CBR’s coverage of the closed-door demo at E3 2014.)
“Certainly when you relaunch a whole universe, something like the New 52, you’re gonna essentially create a bible that kind of guides and dictates the evolution and growth of the universe. We’re in year three of that, and certainly every story that’s created is done through the collaboration of an editor with the writer and the artist and the rest of the creative team. So I certainly think Mark Doyle coming on and becoming the Batman Group editor was a big part of that. I think it’s also a recognition that our audience has evolved and we wanna make sure that we tell the stories that the audiences are craving. So we identified this need. We’re coming out with these different kinds of storylines, and, frankly, it’s exciting because we have a lot of Batman books, and I think it’s a disservice to the fans and to the character to have everything feel of the same tonality. I’m a big fan of Becky Cloonan, so I’m really looking forward to her work on Gotham Academy. I think it’s healthy for the business, and it’s an exciting time to be a Batman fan.”
– DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee, talking with Entertainment Weekly about the decision to take “the Batman world” in a different direction with the newly announced Arkham Manor and Gotham Academy. (He also mentions Batgirl among the developments he’s looking forward to in the back half of Batman’s 75th anniversary celebration.)
For Batman Day, and the start of Comic-Con International, LEGO has unleashed a one-two punch on fans of the Dark Knight: the LEGO Super Heroes: DC Comics San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile and the giveaway Batman of Zur-En-Arrh minifig.
Priced at $39.99, the Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile comes with the 1960s-style Caped Crusader minifigs. While that set will be readily available this week at the LEGO booth (#2829), convention attendees will have to rely on some luck to get their hands on Batman of Zur-En-Arrh.
DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee has been known to hold scavenger hunts at Comic-Con International and C2E2, dropping visual clues on Twitter to direct his fans to hidden character sketches. For this Comic-Con, however, he’ll celebrate his fast-approaching 50th birthday (it’s on Aug. 11) by giving away 50 previously drawn sketches at his spotlight panel on Sunday.
“I can do a sketch, it’s like a very complicated signature — so I think the quickest sketch I can do is like a minute and a half,” Lee tells DC All Access. “So I’d have to do it, literally, in two days.”
Mere days before Comic-Con International, LEGO has finally revealed what many collectors long suspected would make its debut in San Diego: the Ultimate Collector Series Batman Tumbler.
Measuring 15 inches by 9 inches, the vehicle comes with Batman and Joker minifigs, which The Brothers Brick notes marks the first LEGO appearance of Heath Ledger’s version of the character from The Dark Knight. There’s also a nameplate and an accessible cockpit.
Composed of 1,869 pieces, the Ultimate Collector Series LEGO Batman Tumbler 76023 will be available in September for $199.
There have been a ton of Batman-related products and announcements in the wind-up to Comic-Con International — you’d think it was his 75th anniversary or something — but few are as cool as this one: Collectible art boutique Mondo is releasing Batman: The Animated Series 7-inch vinyl records featuring Danny Elfman’s theme, with sleeve art by five different artists. Side A is the main title and end credits, and Side B is the end credits, with alternate beginning and alternate ending.
Check out the sleeves below. The records will be available during Comic-Con beginning Wednesday, Preview Night, at the Mondo booth (#835).
The massive Comic-Con International bags are back, and Warner Bros. has provided Robot 6 with an exclusive first look at the Teen Titans Go! bag fans can get at this year’s show in San Diego. The bag features Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven in their chibi-style animated incarnations.
Batman is celebrating his 75th birthday this year, which may come as a surprise. I mean, look at that smooth, handsome face, or what little of it is visible beneath his cowl. Look at those ripped muscles, or the way he runs across rooftops and beats up criminals — why, Batman doesn’t look a day over 35!
Now just as it did recently for Superman, DC Comics is releasing a pair of hefty, 400-page hardcover collections that serve as a sort of survey for how the character has been portrayed and functioned in the publisher’s comics line during since his first appearance. Batman: A Celebration of 75 Years and The Joker: A Celebration of 75 Years aren’t exactly the comics equivalents of greatest-hits albums, but they are nice starting points for newcomers and/or casual fans, offering quick, compelling overviews of the title characters through the decades.
The Batman volume, featuring Jim Lee’s rendition of the character from the 2003 storyline “Hush” on the dust jacket, must have been particularly challenging to assemble, given the thousands and thousands of pages of Batman comics, featuring dozens of different takes by scores of creators.


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FOR more than 20 years after Independence, President Robert Mugabe gave with a shovel to Zambians and he is now receiving a spoonful of assistance. Siamese twins my foot!
In the past three decades Zambia and Zimbabwe have never both enjoyed economic prosperity at the same time and hence many expected that, in the African spirit of neighborliness, the two would equally reciprocate by assisting each other during times of need.
The attitude of Zambia’s post Kenneth Kaunda presidency towards Zimbabwe has never shared our affliction. The major commodity traded by these two former British colonies since black majority rule is maize. Millions of tones of maize were exported to Zambia from Zimbabwe up to about 2003. In fact, Zimbabwe over exported and ran down her Strategic Grain Reserve in early 2000s to help arrest the biting food shortage prevalent in Zambia at that time.
Zimbabwe has been battling to attain above national requirement maize harvest since 2002, leaving the country with no choice but to get maize from Zambia, which was, ironically at that time, enjoying bumper harvest. Zambia has been demanding upfront cash payment and when these payments are made, there have been and still react very painfully slow in preparing the maize stocks for dispatch.
The Food Reserve Agency Zambia (FRAZ), has the habit of holding hundreds of Grain Marketing Board hired trucks stranded at the collection points for several days before loading. The maize, in many cases, is fumigated on the supposed date of collection, delaying the loading for a period of more than 2 weeks as the chemicals subside. The loading is manual and very time consuming.
In 2006, in an attempt to quicken the loading process, GMB had to send over a hundred personnel to load the maize but the Zambian Immigration Department changed its mind a few hours later and ordered the whole team back to Zimbabwe before they even started work.
It must noted that at all material times, Zambia bought maize from Zimbabwe on various terms other than cash. In fact, as late as May 2013, Zambia still owed Zimbabwe for maize sold in 2002. We now hear that Michael Sata Administration is demanding cash upfront. Is this how Siamese twins treat each other?
One must be pardoned for trying hard not to vomit and frown when the Zambian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ndiyoyi Mutiti, appeared on national television and said: “The decision was made long ago that Zambia is going to give Zimbabwe maize and the decision was made at the highest level so there is no backtracking. Usually when technocrats work on the modalities of implementing a decision, sometimes they run into bottlenecks and these are the bottlenecks that both Zambia and Zimbabwe are committed to ironing out. So as President [Michael] Sata said, he does not want the people of Zimbabwe to starve in as much as he does not want the people of Zambia to starve.”Advertisement
The madam Ambassador must tell us whether the maize is strictly on cash basis or open account terms, which Zimbabwe used to extend to her country. There are no bottlenecks here and technocrats must not be sacrificed for diplomatic expediency.
Several Zimbabwean millers and grain traders were owed more than US$12M dollars of maize as at February 2013, which was prepaid more than two years earlier. Its practically impossible to litigate against The Food Reserve Agency Zambia (FRAZ) and so the best one can do is to bribe FRAZ officials so that you may start receiving the maize you had paid for.
Historically, Zambia has never been receptive to Zimbabwean exports opting to favor South African products. In 2001, Zimtrade, the country’s export promotion body, opened a permanent office in Lusaka and also a trading warehouses that sought to ensure that Zimbabwean products were always available in Zambia. This was done to countenance the emerging South Africa hegemony on the Zambia economy which saw several shopping centres built by Old Mutual South Africa to house South African retail chains such as Shoprite, Game and many others.
The Zimbabwe Trading House, which was operated jointly with a Zambian company, Sulmach Limited, closed prematurely when then Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa slapped a ban on number of Zimbabwean products.
The Financial Gazette of 16 October 2003 reported that “An ambitious bonded warehouse project established in Zambia about two years ago has collapsed on the back of a ban imposed on Zimbabwean products by President Levy Mwanawasa’s government.
“The ban, which was reserved on certain products, had the effect of cutting off supplies into the warehouse – Zambia Trading House (ZTH) – established by ZimTrade to improve dwindling foreign exchange receipts.”
When Hillary Clinton, the former USA Secretary of State, met Michael Sata on 11 June 2011, Zimbabwe was not topical in their discussions. The Siamese twin did not make efforts to lobby for the removal of economic sanctions illegally imposed on the other twin who gives passage of goods from the sea to the other Siamese twin.
Zimbabwe is learning the hard way that it is important to retain former maize output status that saw us exporting excess production. Zambians cannot be counted as our allies but a neighbour who happened to be there by virtue of geography. Many Zimbabwean businesses have tried to open and run businesses in Zambia but found the environment harsh for them. Let’s till the land seriously this season and grow our own food because we are on our own.


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METRO BRIEFING Nov. 30: Local holiday shopping in Hadley; Groves high school to host Holiday Cheer concert; Dolls and Quilts by Jacqueline Cole Holiday Showing
Published 12:00 am, Thursday, November 29, 2012
Local holiday shopping in Hadley
Le Fleur Decor and Acorn Cottage Art are hosting Holidays in Hadley, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8 and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 9, to promote local shopping. Most items are made by a variety of local artisans, or are vintage upcycled goodies.
Le Fleur Decor is at 3442 Hadley Road, a block north of the village. Acorn Cottage Art is at 4895 Hegel Road in Hadley, MI.
Groves high school to host Holiday Cheer concert
The Holiday Cheer concert is 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Birmingham Groves High School Auditorium, 20500 West Thirteen Mile Road, Beverly Hills. The Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra (BBSO), the professional orchestra of the Birmingham and Bloomfield communities, will perform along with the 2012 BBSO Young Artist Competition Winner, Bloomfield Hill's violinist Haeji Kim, and the string section of Andover High School's Orchestra conducted by David Reed.
Tickets to Holiday Cheer are $22 for adults and free for children 18 years old and younger. Adult ticket prices will be $25 at the door. For more information, visit www.bbso.org or call 248-352-2276 (BBSO).
Dolls and Quilts by Jacqueline Cole Holiday Showing
Mama's Hands will be hosting the first, holiday showing of "Dolls and Quilts by Jacqueline," created by Jaqueline Cole of Pontiac. The showing will be held 1 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 16 at Escape Salon, 318 South Blvd. Pontiac. Doll and Quilt collectors are welcome. Parents are also encouraged to bring their young girls to see the display of African American Dolls. For more information call 248-481-7589.
-- Staff writer Kathy Blake


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Monthly Archives: February 2017
Thanks to Etsy’s sophisticated payments platform, the market for handmade arts and crafts has gone global. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to peek at Etsy’s playbook for success at TRANSACT, where Etsy’s Senior Director of . . .
ETA hosted its annual educational payments event on the U.S. Capitol yesterday. Entitled ETA University (ETAU), the day-long event, part of a series, convened leaders in the payments technology industry to educate staffers from Capitol . . .
Committee will consider public policy and business matters that impact this growing segment of ETA’s membership ETA announced today the launch of a new Payment Facilitator Committee. The committee will identify current and emerging technology, . . .


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The Facebook-Google Duopoly still commands advertiser budgets, but Amazon is catching up
BOSTON — Nanigans, the leader in performance advertising software, today announced new research outlining how retailers plan to spend their digital ad budgets during the 2018 holiday shopping season. Based on survey responses from 100 senior digital advertising executives, the results indicate that retailers plan to invest more of their spend on Black Friday than any other day this holiday season.
“Nearly half of U.S. consumers now start their product search on Amazon, meaning the retail giant offers an attractive model for brands hoping to capture the attention of active buyers during the 2018 holiday shopping season”
Marketers revealed that a quarter of their annual ad budgets are used to target shoppers during Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend. With total U.S. digital ad spend by retailers expected to exceed $23 billion in 2018, retailers plan to allocate almost $6 billion dollars in media toward this four-day period.
In terms of where advertisers are putting their dollars, the Facebook-Google Duopoly is the clear winner. Retailers indicated that Google Search and Display (35 percent) and Facebook (18 percent) dominate their planned channels, but Amazon is a close third (15 percent). This underscores the appeal of Amazon’s evolving online ecosystem to retailers, and reinforces the company’s growing momentum in digital advertising.
“Nearly half of U.S. consumers now start their product search on Amazon, meaning the retail giant offers an attractive model for brands hoping to capture the attention of active buyers during the 2018 holiday shopping season,” said Ric Calvillo, CEO and co-founder of Nanigans. “However, retailers’ decision to pump ad spend into Amazon may be shortsighted. The company has built an ecosystem that makes it both an attractive ecommerce ad platform and a retailer’s top competitor.”
Notably, marketers overwhelmingly value Black Friday itself over the Saturday, Sunday, or Cyber Monday that follow it, with 63 percent planning to prioritize ad budgets on that day alone. Conversely, just 20 percent of brands plan to spend more serving digital ads to Cyber Monday shoppers. This could indicate that marketers believe brick-and-mortar retail still plays a significant role in total holiday season revenue, or that Cyber Monday is an antiquated concept for consumers accustomed to regularly shopping online year round.
Additional key findings from the study include:
- More than half (51 percent) of retailers plan to keep 2018 holiday season ad budgets about the same as last year, while 48 percent plan to increase the amount they spend on holiday ads.
- Retailers don’t focus much of their holiday ad spend on last-minute shoppers, which could be a missed opportunity as it’s a pivotal time to generate brand exposure. Almost half (47 percent) prioritize early-season campaigns, 48 percent focus on prime-season buyers, and just 5 percent target late-season shoppers.
- Retail marketers plan to dedicate 14 percent of their campaign budgets to video ads during the 2018 holiday shopping season.
- 30 percent of retailers want to see higher ROI from their holiday ad spend, and 87 percent would reallocate some of this budget to other areas if they could. Specifically, 49 percent of respondents would reinvest their holiday ad spend in martech and adtech technology, if possible.
- 29 percent of marketers surveyed agree that they can’t change holiday ad spend strategy due to organizational leaders holding them back.
- For a majority of retailers, the holidays positively impact acquiring more customers with significant value, but the trade-off is the fact that 25 percent of marketers report dramatically higher cost of customer acquisition during this time.
- The holiday advertising season starts early for the majority retailers, with 64 percent of those surveyed implementing campaigns before Halloween.
About the Survey:
Partnering with Advertiser Perceptions, Nanigans commissioned an online survey of 100 retail digital advertising decision-makers with a title of Director or above. Each decision-maker represents a company that generates at least $100 million in online sales annually, earns at least part of its revenue from selling products online and allocates part of its annual advertising budget to the 2018 holiday shopping season. Respondents were polled during a three-week period in August 2018.
Nanigans arms marketing teams to drive incremental revenue with the most powerful and transparent cross-channel buying platform. Sophisticated commerce advertisers currently optimize more than $700M in annual ad spend through the Nanigans platform. Nanigans is headquartered in Boston with offices in New York, San Francisco, London, Singapore and Seoul. For more information on Nanigans, please visit www.nanigans.com.


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Hotel Peninsula Ctg celebrates World Tourism Day
Published : Wednesday, 28 September, 2022 at 12:00 AM Count : 255
CHATTOGRAM, Sept 27: The Peninsula Chittagong hotel of the port city celebrated the World Tourism Day 2022 with a colorful event and seminar titled 'Rethinking Tourism' Tuesday with festive rallies, seminars, job fairs in highlighting the tourism industry of Bangladesh.
On this occasion, a colorful rally led by Peninsula Chittagong Chairman Mahboob ur Rahman and General Manager (GM) Sumedha Gunawardhan passed through the city's Dampara, Lalkhan Bazar and ended at the GEC.
Peninsula Chittagong Chairman Mahboob ur Rahman, GM Sumedha Gunawardhan, President of Bangladesh Tourism Foundation Mokhlesur Rahman, Additional DIG of Tourist Police Chattogram region Mohammd Muslim, Tourist Police SP Mohammad Apple Mahmud, CEO and Chairman of Authentic Tourism Network Anwarul Azim Chowdhury, Southern University Prof. Ali Ekramul Haque participated in the open discussion at the seminar on 'Rethinking Tourism' at Zinnia Hall of Peninsula Chittagong.
In the discussion, the natural beauty of the country, opportunities and possibilities of development of the tourism industry around the mountains, sea, and effective initiatives to attract foreign tourists were highlighted.
Tourism industry job fair titled 'Hospitality and Tourism Industry Job Fair' was held to give opportunities to educated youth to build a career in the tourism industry.


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Posted on January 12, 2015 by Enchanted Objects in Enchanted Objects.
Which of those outfits is the fairest of them all? Just ask your Facebook friends. Today, Neiman Marcus president, Karen Katz, stepped through the looking glass when she announced a partnership with Memomi.com of Palo Alto, CA. It looks like an ordinary retail mirror, but this enchanted object enables customers to compare outfits side-by-side; see […]


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A few days ago, at the fourth session of the China Cotton Association and the national cotton situation analysis conference, Wang Jianhong, vice president and Secretary General of the China Cotton Association, said that the weather was basically suitable for cotton growth in 2019, and the level of mechanized planting was improving. However, cotton production in China decreased.
The main reason for the decline is mainly the decline in the planting area in the mainland. According to the statistics of China Cotton Association, in 2019, the total area of cotton planting in China was 48 million 155 thousand and 900 mu, down 1.77% from the same period last year, with a total output of 5 million 906 thousand tons, a decrease of 3.35% compared with the same period last year. Among them, the planting area in Xinjiang increased by 0.2%, the output decreased by 1.9%, the planting area in the Yellow River drainage area decreased by 6.82%, the yield decreased by 9.8%, the planting area in the Yangtze River Basin decreased by 8.65%, and the output decreased by 11.3%.
Wang Jianhong said that in recent 5 years, China's cotton planting area has been broken evenly in the three major cotton areas, and Xinjiang has an obvious advantage. In 2018, the Yellow River basin only accounted for 13.65% of the cultivated area, 11.39% of the Yangtze River Basin, and less than 30% of the mainland. Cotton production has gradually shifted to Xinjiang, and the scale and mechanization level has been further upgraded. Cotton output in Xinjiang has reached a record high of 5 million 110 thousand tons in 2018, an increase of 39% compared with 3 million 677 thousand tons in 2014, and in 2018 it accounted for 84% of the country's total output.
However, on the one hand, cotton planting area decreased and output decreased. On the other hand, due to increased inventory and reduced demand, the pressure of cotton textile enterprises in 2019 was still higher than in previous years.
Since September this year, the price of cotton seed purchased by enterprises has decreased significantly. By the end of November, cotton picking in the whole country was over, and the sales progress was 92.4%, slowing down by 1.85 percentage points compared with the same period last year. The average purchase price of seed cotton is 5.56 yuan / kg, down 18% compared with the same period last year. Among them, the purchase price of Xinjiang was 5.47 yuan / kg, down 19.1% compared with the same period last year, and the purchase price of cotton seed in the mainland was 5.91 yuan / kg, down 14.5% compared to the same period last year.
Wang Jianhong said cotton terminal demand fatigue is continuing to lead to the upstream. In order to reduce inventories and increase liquidity, the sales volume of textile enterprises is mainly based on quantity and prices are short of support, which has continued to fall. This has led to shrinking profits and increasing operating pressure.
According to the China Cotton Association data, from 2019 to October January, the loss of cotton textile industry in China was 28.4%, an increase of 11.6 percentage points over the same period in 2018, and the main revenue decreased by 1.84% compared with the same period last year, and the total profit decreased by 10.17% compared with the same period last year.
"China Cotton Association predicts that from 2019 to 2020, cotton consumption will be 8 million 20 thousand tons, a decrease of 50 thousand tons compared with the previous year." Wang Jianhong believes that the overall recovery of cotton industry in the future can be expected, especially for China's cotton market, which is likely to lead the market of other countries. "Confidence comes mainly from the fact that the world economy is changing steadily, but China has huge consumption potential. But at the same time, it must also face challenges such as instability in the world economy, uncertainty, complex domestic and international situation, and external pressure. China's cotton industry should also develop towards high quality." Wang Jianhong said.
Gao Fang, President of the China Cotton Association, said that China's economy is shifting from a high growth stage to a high quality development stage. The development of China's cotton industry needs to focus on solving the imbalance between output and quality, unbalanced interests in all aspects of the industry chain, small scale, high cost, and insufficient innovation capability.


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On a year-on-year basis, Australia's retail sales figures are up about 5 percent in May, says David Thomas, head of Australian consumer research at CLSA.» Read More
*Retail sales rise 1.2 percent in May. WASHINGTON, June 11- U.S. retail sales surged in May as households boosted purchases of automobiles and a range of other goods even as they paid a bit more for gasoline, the latest sign economic growth is finally gathering steam. Retail sales increased 1.2 percent last month after an upwardly revised 0.2 percent gain in April,...
WASHINGTON, June 11- U.S. retail sales surged in May as households boosted purchases of automobiles and a range of other goods even as they paid a bit more for gasoline, the latest sign economic growth is finally gathering steam. The Commerce Department said on Thursday retail sales increased 1.2 percent last month after an upwardly revised 0.2 percent gain in...
CNBC's Rick Santelli breaks down the latest unemployment and retail sales numbers, and takes a look at import prices. And CNBC's Steve Liesman and Jim Iuorio, CNBC contributor, add perspective
With mixed economic data and bond volatility, Jeffrey Kleintop, chief global investment strategist at Charles Schwab, explains how investors should position themselves.
Cynthia Meng, managing director at Jefferies, discusses Alibaba's growth opportunities overseas, and how it can compete against Western rivals.
A slew of China data offered some indication the worst of the mainland's economic slowdown may be over, although the recovery may disappoint.
Hugh Johnson, chairman of Hugh Johnson Advisors, expects upcoming data like retail sales to be "very strong", but says that wouldn't be enough to result in a Fed rate hike this year.
James P. Rooney, chairman of Advanced Capital Partners, says the impact on South Korea's tourism and retail sectors will likely hinder economic growth.
CNBC's Jim Cramer explains why investors should be careful when playing the retail sector.
Target will double its share buyback program and boost its quarterly dividend, confirming the contents of a statement it published inadvertently.
Susan Anderson, FBR Capital Markets retail analyst, discusses Lululemon's turnaround strategy and forecasts the future of the company.
Lululemon raised its full-year revenue and earnings forecast and reported better-than-expected profit, helped by strong comparable store sales.
Online sales are growing at a faster rate than in-store sales but around 90 percent of all purchases are still made in stores. CNBC's Courtney Reagan reports.
Chinese consumers are now the world’s preeminent luxury shoppers. Brands need to speak their language.
Cars are practically flying off the lots, despite concerns over the economy. Which ones offer the best value?
CNBC's Mandy Drury looks back at the week's top business and financial stories.
Jan Rogers Kniffen, Rogers Kniffen Worldwide Enterprises CEO, weighs in on initiatives Wal-Mart is taking to improve their image.
Costco has been subpoenaed by the federal government concerning prescriptions for controlled substances.
Wal-Mart Stores has a new priority: reducing theft.
Pinterest rolls out the ability to buy directly from its social sharing site.


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Amid global smartphone shipment declines, Samsung takes wraps off its new premium smartphone portfolio with the Galaxy S23 Series
Samsung Electronics has unveiled its new premium smartphone portfolio, at a time when smartphone shipments are depressed globally.
Predictably Samsung’s latest premium handsets, the Galaxy S23 smartphone series, focused heavily on improved camera capabilities and faster internal chips including optimised GPUs.
But the arrival of these new devices comes at a bad time. Last week IDC revealed a dramatic decline in shipments of new smartphones, with 18.3 percent drop in the holiday quarter and a 11.3 percent decline in 2022.
At the Unpacked event in San Francisco, Samsung unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, alongside the Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23.
A video of the launch can be found here.
The event included a short film captured by an award-winning film director Ridley Scott entirely with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, in an effort to showcase the device’s enhanced camera capabilities.
Indeed, Samsung said that “with the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s range of advanced camera features, anyone can easily produce pro-grade content anytime, anywhere.”
As usual, the S23 Ultra is the no holds barred flagship phone, whereas the Galaxy S23/S23+ are more affordable handsets with a few omissions.
Overall the S23 Series includes enhanced 5000 mAh battery and improved cooling system to its camera performance and 41 percent faster GPU.
Samsung said the newly designed, 8-core CPU boosts the processing capabilities of the Galaxy S23 series by about 34 percent, which is ideal for multitasking. The optimised NPU architecture also uses an AI algorithm for an additional 49 percent boost, helping users capture stunning photos in low light.
Galaxy S23 and S23+
Samsung said the Galaxy S23 (6.1-inch, $799) and S23+ (6.6-inch, $999) stand out by “redefining the essential elements of a premium mobile experience.”
Camera wise these two handsets feature a new 50MP main camera and 12MP front camera, enhanced with Super HDR to capture more lifelike colours. It also offers the ability to “shoot epic photos and videos even in the dark with improved night-time photo and video functionality.”
Under the hood there is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, which Samsung says is the fastest and most powerful chipset ever in Galaxy. There is a battery capacity of 3,900mAh and 4,700mAh on the Galaxy S23 and S23+ respectively, increased by 200mAh each from the previous generation.
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Meanwhile the Galaxy S23 Ultra (6.8-inch, $1,199) integrates “the peak performance and productivity of the Note series with the groundbreaking photographic capabilities of the S series.”
Again Samsung touted its upgraded camera functionality for “vibrant photos, stand-out selfies and cinematic videos with less noise even in dark conditions with Nightography. Additionally, the new Adaptive Pixel 200MP sensor enables epic, high-resolution photography with class-leading detail for crisp, lifelike photos.”
Under the hood Samsung has touted the ultimate gaming experience on the go with fast and smooth mobile graphics. Heavy-duty games run with ease thanks to the exclusive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy in collaboration with Qualcomm.
It features a 6.8-inch QHD+ display is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, which offers efficient and long-lasting performance.
All three models come in four colours – Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. All three are also covered in the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
All models are available for pre-order now, and should be available from 17 February.


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During a sneaker conference in Philadelphia over the weekend, former President Donald Trump revealed his latest venture, and it wasn't a political address.
The entrepreneur-turned-politician introduced a collection of radiant, gold-colored sneakers known as the Never Surrender High-Top Sneaker, available for purchase online at $399 per pair.
"This is something I've been talking about for 12 years, 13 years, and I think it's going to be a big success. That's the real deal."- Donald Trump
He showcased the golden-hued shoes, adorned with an American flag emblem on the back and a prominent capital T on the side.
According to The Associated Press, Trump's appearance at the Philadelphia convention elicited a blend of cheers from his supporters and jeers from his detractors.
The revelation came just a day following a ruling by a New York judge, instructing Trump and the Trump Organization to compensate over $355 million in connection to a civil fraud lawsuit. Prosecutors had alleged Trump, along with his two eldest sons and other associates, of artificially inflating the worth of specific properties and assets for personal financial benefits.
Trump is seeking the Republican nomination for president, aiming for reelection later this year in the upcoming fall campaign.
"What's the most important thing? To go out and vote, right? We have to go out and vote."- Donald Trump
The product launch was an uncommon convergence of the realms of politics and fashion.
Bridget Barrett, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder specializing in political and campaign merchandise, expressed that she has never encountered anything similar to sneakers branded with Trump's name.
"Plenty of politicians turn their reputation into a money-maker, but typically not at this level of politics. He is more akin to celebrity spokespeople and influencers."- Bridget Barrett
The weekend product release also provided an opportunity for Trump's Democratic adversaries to mock the former president.
"Donald Trump showing up to hawk bootleg Off-Whites is the closest he'll get to any Air Force Ones ever again for the rest of his life."- Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler
Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., who is vying for the Democratic nomination, tweeted a picture of a vibrant platform shoe accompanied by the message: "Game on, Don."
Only 1,000 pairs of the Trump high-top sneakers were made available for presale, as stated on the website where they were listed, and they sold out within days of their launch. Trump personally autographed at least 10 pairs of the sneakers.
Dee Jackson, a fashion designer leading the label Dee and Ricky alongside his brother Ricky Jackson, suggested that the sneakers seemed to serve as more of a marketing tactic aimed at Trump's political supporters rather than appealing to the typical sneaker enthusiast.
Jackson remarked, "Sneakerheads probably won't be too excited about it since it lacks a cool design or a collaboration with a major brand like Nike or Adidas". He pointed out that despite this, the shoe might still become a collectible due to the buzz surrounding it.
"I just feel like he's trying to get that marketing attention because he knows all the young kids are gonna talk about it."- Jackson
The online store(gettrumpsneakers) also showcases a range of other Trump-branded products available for purchase, such as cologne, perfume, and additional sneaker designs.
This isn't the inaugural occasion when Trump has endorsed products bearing his name.


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The library card design competition finally has its winner. Both students and staff at Arcada have voted for their favourite contribution to win.
Among a total of 177 votes the winning design got 56 votes. The designer behind the card is the first year online media student Maria Bussman.
Congratulations to Maria and a warm THANK YOU to all who participated in the competition!


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TUSCALOOSA ?? The University of Alabama’s soccer game on Sunday, October 1 against the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky has been moved to an 11 a.m. ct start time.
Live stats for the game will be available on www.rolltide.com.
Sunday’s game will complete a weekend road trip that will begin with a game on Friday night at Vanderbilt.


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Filed under: 2015 Detroit Auto Show , Toyota , Truck A new 3.5-liter V6, a brutish exterior overhaul and a classed-up cabin typify Toyota’s updated Tacoma, which debuted at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. Continue reading 2016 Toyota Tacoma fears no canyon in Detroit 2016 Toyota Tacoma fears no canyon in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Filed under: 2015 Detroit Auto Show , Toyota , Truck We’ve seen the 2016 Toyota Tacoma exterior, but now we have more detail. There will be a new, more powerful Atkinson-cycle V6 engine, push-button start, Qi wireless charging, a locking tailgate that can lower itself slowly, an available tri-fold hard tonneau, blind-spot detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a stiffer frame and bodyshell and a lot more. Continue reading 2016 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab revealed along with more details 2016 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab revealed along with more details originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2015 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Toyota Tacoma takes to the stage at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit at 12:50 p.m. ET, Jan. 12. Watch at https://new.livestream.com/Toyota/Detroit2015 . For more information, check out www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/tacoma .
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Toyota , Truck Here’s your first full look at the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The midsize pickup will make is official debut at the Detroit Auto Show, next week, and while no official information has been released just yet, these first shots give us a pretty good idea of what to expect. Continue reading 2016 Toyota Tacoma shows its face ahead of Detroit debut 2016 Toyota Tacoma shows its face ahead of Detroit debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Truck , Toyota , Off-Road A week on from an announcement by Toyota’s Bob Carter, the Japanese marque has formally announced that the 2016 Toyota Tacoma will make its global debut next month at the 2015 North American International Auto Show . Not only that, but the company has given us a very minute (and very muddy) teaser image, showing the truck’s tailgate and driver’s side taillight. Like its big brother, the Tundra , the 2016 Tacoma will feature its name embossed on its tailgate. Beyond that, though, there’s really not much to be gleaned from this sole teaser shot. Of course, we’ll have much, much more on the next-generation Taco when it arrives in a month’s time. Until then, check out Toyota’s hilariously brief and to-the-point press release, available below. Continue reading Toyota confirms 2016 Tacoma for Detroit Toyota confirms 2016 Tacoma for Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Dec 2014 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Filed under: Aftermarket , SEMA Show , Truck , Crossover , Toyota , Off-Road Toyota marks the 35th anniversary of its Toyota Racing Development performance arm this year, and the division is celebrating at this year’s SEMA Show with a quartet of tuned off-roaders based on on the 4Runner , Tacoma and Tundra that look more than ready to go just about anywhere. All four of them will take part in this year’s Baja 1000 race, but only the Tundra (far left in the above photo) is actually competing. The other three will be there to act as support vehicles. Inspired by the production TRD Pro Series trucks , the 4Runner, Tacoma and Tundra are prepared by off-road fabricator N-Fab with a mix of TRD and the company’s own parts to be able to take whatever the grueling, 1,000-mile can throw at them. The trio is fettled with extra communications equipment, GPS, additional lights and all sorts of body and suspension modifications to help them survive the ordeal. Scroll down to read more about these tuned trucks, and check out the gallery for a closer look at them. Continue reading Toyota TRD Pro Chase Trucks are ready to hit the desert at SEMA Toyota TRD Pro Chase Trucks are ready to hit the desert at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Filed under: Truck , Recalls , Toyota Toyota has announced that it will be issuing a recall of 690,000 Tacoma pickups from model years 2005 through 2011. The affected vehicles include both the four-wheel-drive model and the two-wheel-drive PreRunner (but not the standard 4×2 pickups), which may have a rather serious problem with their rear suspensions. In some cases, corrosion and stress could cause one of the three or four leaves in the rear suspension’s leaf springs to fracture. While the trucks can still be driven with a broken leaf, Toyota is concerned that it could move out of position and impact other components in the rear of the truck, with a particular focus on the fuel tank. Needless to say, but a piece of metal continuously impacting anything, let alone the fuel tank, is cause for concern. As of this writing, there have been no reports of crashes, injuries, fires or deaths due to this problem, although that won’t stop Toyota from informing all affected customers of the issue. Those 690,000 owners will need to report in to dealers for inspections and, if necessary, repairs. Scroll down for the press release from Toyota. Continue reading Toyota recalls 690,000 Tacoma trucks for rusty leaf springs, fire risk Toyota recalls 690,000 Tacoma trucks for rusty leaf springs, fire risk originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .
Filed under: Spy Photos , Truck , Europe , Toyota The midsize truck segment is suddenly seemingly exploding with new vehicles worldwide, even here in North America. Not only will the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon be available very soon, Toyota is already testing a replacement for its aging Tacoma and Honda has promised a Ridgeline replacement within the next 18 months . Also, the recently shown Nissan Navara is said to portend the future of our Frontier . Here’s some more fresh evidence from Europe of this pickup boom with the next generation of its venerable Hilux in testing. Thanks to Top Gear and sometimes the evening news , the Hilux has built a reputation of being able to go just about anywhere. According to out spy shooter, this particular pickup was spotted during hot weather testing in southern Europe. Interestingly, a Volkswagen Amarok was along for the ride as a benchmark. Because the VW tends to offer a bit more comfort than the generally utilitarian Hilux, this could indicate Toyota is considering taking the new truck in a slightly comfier, more refined direction. Compared to the current model, this camouflaged tester sports a narrower front grille and headlights. The hood scoop is also absent here.


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Greater than 1,000 households in San Francisco requested the Salvation Military for toys this yr. It acquired 10% of the traditional donations
Every December, the San Francisco Salvation Army collects toys for families in need – Legos and new bikes, books, and stuffed animals – that parents can pick up and stow under the tree so that every child has a gift to open on Christmas morning.
This year the organization has seen unprecedented demand, but donations have lagged far behind.
“As of (Thursday) we only had 10 percent of the toys we needed,” said Major Matthew Madsen, Salvation Army division secretary in San Francisco. “COVID definitely affects what we do.”
The organization typically raises donations through their signature red kettles and collects gifts at events like Caltrain’s Holiday Train celebration or office holiday celebrations where angel trees are hung with tags sharing the children’s wishes and everyone “adopts” a child. That year, however, all of these methods were largely banned. Instead of having about 250 offices, the San Francisco Salvation Army had 10 participants.
And, said Madsen, more people are in need than ever before. In 2019, the Angel Tree program served 700 families in San Francisco. This year they limited the list to 1,000. “We have seen more people asking for help than we have ever seen here. We got to the point where we just couldn’t take names anymore. “
The Angel Tree program allows donors to “adopt” a specific child and fulfill their personal wishes. This year, for example, 9-month-old Royce in San Francisco needs duplo blocks, 7-year-old Tyra wants a bike, and 9-year-old Zhiyan asks for painting supplies. Over the past few years, the Salvation Army has also hosted Toy & Joy, an event where customer families and Angel Tree children who are not matched with a donor can choose free gifts at a retail store. In 2020 the event will be canceled, but parents will be able to pick up pre-packaged, age-appropriate gifts instead.
To make up for the lack of donated toys, the organization has resorted to purchasing these toys and has worked with Mattel and Target on large orders. Madsen estimated they’d spent $ 45,000 on toys and gift cards this year, so there’s a Christmas present for every child.
Donations are largely closed at this point, and the volunteers have already started sorting through the gifts that will be distributed next week. However, if you still want to give something, you can hand in new, unpacked toys at the SoMa location of the Salvation Army (360 4th St.) No. 1 later than Monday.
However, the best way to help, Madsen said, is by making a monetary contribution. Not only has the organization spent more money this year, but it’s also getting fewer donations through its red kettles, a holiday that typically ranks close to $ 200,000 in San Francisco.
This year, due to capacity constraints in retail stores and concerns about overcrowding during the coronavirus, many stores have asked the Salvation Army doorbells to stay home.
Contributions are down 65% compared to that time last year, Madsen said. “It usually increases as we get closer to Christmas, but at the moment it doesn’t look very promising.”
The money raised helps fund vacation programs in San Francisco, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, that are delivered to elders. This year they set up a thoroughfare for pickups and hundreds of volunteers delivered turkey food last month.
“On Thanksgiving, we delivered 4,800 meals in three hours. All contactless, ”said Madsen. “It’s about 1,000 more than what we do. It literally takes an army to pull this off. “
As with other nonprofits, demand for services from the Salvation Army has increased this year while funding has decreased. “We are a shock absorber, but it is difficult to continue to serve when the resources we need to do so are dwindling.”
The organization is fundraising online for virtual red kettles staying in San Francisco and is still registering volunteers. There are still 4,800 meals to be delivered at Christmas.
Sarah Feldberg is the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle Culture Desk. Email: email@example.com


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Now We Know Why Mr. Taco Is Taking So Long To Re-Open In Lansing
Lansing residents have been teased for months about the legendary Mr. Taco restaurant re-opening on Martin Luther King Boulevard. The building, the original location, is remodeled, the sign is up, there is even a popular Facebook group for the restaurant. So, what's the hold up?
We now know, thanks to the Lansing State Journal. It seems a court battle is the reason behind the delay. Apparently, Bill Bonofiglio, son of original co-owner Eugene Bonofiglio, who is planning the restaurant's revival, is having issues keeping the original recipes from being sold by the family of Eugene's former business partners. Now, Bill and Eugene are suing for those recipes and have placed a temporary restraining order that keeps the recipes from being sold or publicized.
Sheryl Eytcheson, widow of Mark Eytcheson, one of the former owners, claims to have the recipes and has expressed interest in selling them. Now she, her daughter Tracy Eytcheson, and Jeffrey Cole, former Mr. Taco accountant are named in the lawsuit. On Friday, they are required to appear in Ingham County Circuit Court to tell their side of the story, and why they should be able to do as they wish with the recipes.
Stay tuned, taco fans!!


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Update: Netflix with ads may not let you download any content, according to findings within the iOS app.
The big bad Netflix subscriber exodus is still happening, but the company almost sounds relieved about today's news. That's because the new numbers out suggest far better results for Q2 of 2022 than Netflix had forecasted.
Remember in April when news broke that Netflix lost subscribers for the first quarter ever? Well, their expectations for today's report were far more grim than what we're seeing.
As CNBC reports, the big red streaming machine merely lost 970,000 subscribers (per StreetAccount estimates) in the second quarter. And that might be bad — and over 400% the 200,000 subscribers it lost in Q1 — but Netflix had been expecting far worse numbers. To be specific, Netflix thought it would have lost 2 million subscribers in the last quarter.
Netflix ended its shareholder letter to investors stating "We're fortunate to be in a position of strength as the leader in streaming entertainment by all metrics (revenue, engagement, subscribers, profits and free cash flow). We're confident and optimistic about the future."
In the letter, Netflix boasted that its Q2 releases show how it aims to "satisfy a broad range of member tastes" by aiming for "unmatched variety and quality of titles." It referenced Stranger Things season 4 getting 1.3 billion hours viewed in its first 28 days, and held social media as proof of comparative success, noting "The cumulative Twitter volume for Stranger Things continues to outpace both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Top Gun Maverick, highlighting the big conversation around this title and reinforcing that our binge versus one week at a time release strategy drives lots of 'water cooler conversation.'"
Netflix's ad-supported tier won't be everywhere all at once
Interestingly enough, Netflix announced that its ad-supported tier — which won't interfere or change anything about its other tiers — won't roll out all at once.
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In the letter to shareholders, Netflix states "We’ll likely start in a handful of markets where advertising spend is significant," which sounds like larger markets such as the U.S. (or New York, to be more granular) may see an ad-supported option before others.
Netflix will then evolve it, noting "Like most of our new initiatives, our intention is to roll it out, listen and learn, and iterate quickly to improve the offering. So, our advertising business in a few years will likely look quite different than what it looks like on day one."
Analysis: Netflix is fighting user loss by asking for more money again
We may see Netflix's problem as user retention, but the company sees things in a more black and white profit and loss way. Or at least that's what it looks like when Netflix's password-sharing crackdown is one of its biggest changes in the moment is taking this moment to continue to crack down on account sharing. Yes, the company that said true love is sharing your Netflix password changed its mind.
But Netflix isn't framing it as a crackdown on account sharing, but that it's offering a "paid sharing" plan. The letter to subscribers notes that the company is looking to "monetize the [more than 100 million] households that are enjoying, but not directly paying for, Netflix."
In fact, it seems like this strategy is working right now, as the company said it's "encouraged by our early learnings and ability to convert consumers to paid sharing in Latin America." The letter also suggests 'paid sharing' or something like it will be hitting Netflix next year, stating "Our goal is to find an easy-to-use paid sharing offering that we believe works for our members and our business that we can roll out in 2023."
Which is interesting, because one would assume asking for more money — such as with Netflix's recent price hike — pushes people away.
Next: Here's how you can disable autoplay previews on Netflix.
Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.


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Ignore the bankruptcies and scandals that have bedeviled other green tech companies that were supposed to save the world: Tesla Motors, the brainchild of PayPal founder and Tony Stark inspiration Elon Musk, not only has the top-rated car by Consumer Reports, its Model S, but also a soaring stock. Tesla shares broke through the somewhat arbitrary but psychological meaningful $100 barrier this morning, tripling this year and doubling just in the last month. Here’s why:
1. The company is actually making money.
As illustrated by its most recent financial results, released May 8, Tesla is no longer an all-growth, no-profit tech company. It turned its first quarterly profit, booking $11.2 million in net income after an $89.9 million loss the previous quarter. And while the company just went into the black, its revenue growth has been truly astounding. Tesla booked just over $30 million in last year’s first quarter; this year it was just under $562 million.
2. Model S sales are exploding.
Sales of Tesla’s Model S outpaced its three German luxury competitors — the Mercedes S Class, the BMW 7 Series, and the Audi A8, in the first quarter. The Model S’ early success could start building on itself, thereby breaking out from being a niche product for socially conscious Silicon Valley types.
“We expect consumer awareness of the brand to grow, and word of mouth to increase as more cars hit the road,” said two Jefferies analysts in a note released after Tesla announced its first quarter earnings. The rash of positive media attention hasn’t hurt either.
The company is pumping out over 400 cars a week and plans to start delivering to Europe in the middle of this year. It is already seeing 200 orders a week in Europe, according to a Goldman Sachs research note. Analysts expect the company to meet its projection for sales of 21,000 Model S’s this year.
“TSLA continues to hit target after target, and 1Q provided yet more validation of management’s guidance,” said the two Jefferies analysts.
Model S lunch outing with co-workers! @TeslaMotors
3. Investors are taking Tesla seriously.
More than profits, Tesla’s stock is up above $100 because investors are expecting the company to become a real competitor to the global auto giants. If Tesla can continue to build cars people want, and build out a comprehensive charging and battery infrastructure, there’s no reason it won’t continue to grow.
“A big portion of the run-up is basically a reduction in risk to the company achieving its upside potential. Many investors have been skeptics but are realizing that this could be a very large company,” said Colin Rusch, a senior analyst at Northland Capital Markets.
4. Tesla is financially stable.
Tesla has received and will continue to receive some government support, namely tax credits for the buyers of low-emission cars. But the company is no Solyndra, Fisker, or A123: Green-tech companies that went bankrupt or couldn’t pay back their government loans. Instead, Tesla recently paid $465 million back to the Energy Department early and started raising more money. It announced an offering of 2.7 million shares and $450 million in convertible debt two weeks ago. Musk himself invested another $100 million.
- Barack Obama had his final press conference as president, defending his legacy and vowing to fight Trump if the nation's "core values may be at stake."
- Scott Pruitt, Donald Trump's pick for EPA chief, refused to say at his confirmation hearing if he would recuse himself from lawsuits he filed against the EPA.
- It's official: Scientists announced today that 2016 was the hottest year on record and that greenhouse gases are to blame ♨🌍
- "Will & Grace" will return for a 10-episode revival. Debra Messing and Eric McCormack will reprise their roles in the groundbreaking NBC sitcom 📺


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Updated below: During a press conference at the German tech show CeBIT, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer reiterated that his company’s current offer for Yahoo is fair and that the company is still working to get the deal done at the current price. The statement, reported by Reuters, comes amid a period of relative quiet on the MSFT-YHOO front. It also conforms to every other public statement from Microsoft, in that it has no intention of budging on price (whether it feels differently in private is a totally different matter). Cryptically, Ballmer added: “There’s been a range of dialogue and there’s a range of alternatives being considered. I think it’s best for me not to get into the detail.” This follows a AFP report last week, that at a Tokyo press conference, Microsoft SVP Jean-Philippe Courtois said his company had been in dialogue with Yahoo shareholders and management.
Updated: MSFT CFO Chris Liddell spoke at the Morgan Stanley tech conference today, and had this to say about that small company it is planning to acquire (from the SEC filing):
MARY MEEKER: In our remaining minute, anything that you


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The much awaited days have now been passed and there are a couple of hours left when Apple will be introducing the new iPhone to their customers at "Lets Talk iPhone" event, which has been scheduled for this day at Apple Headquarters Cupertino, California.
The web is circulating with rumors about cheapest iPhone could be new iPhone 4S, along with a re-designed screen from iPhone 4 will be the new iPhone 5. The keynote will be delivered by Tim Cook, Apple’s new CEO. IT is highly expected that the keynote may also deliver iOS 5 publicly.
Let’s see what the keynote bring updates to its users, the event will start at 10:00AM, below are some resources which brings you live telecast from the event. The news is confirmed that Apple won’t be telecasting the event on Live stream. We will be updating with the post as soon as some news pings.
Sources Where You Can Watch Apple iPhone 5 Event Live:
- Ars Technica
- CNET News
- Apple Insider
- This is my next
The event will begin at 10:00AM worldwide time, follow up your time as per below:
- Pakistan 10:00PM
- Pacific 10:00AM
- Eastern 01:00PM
- London 06:00PM
- Paris 07:00PM
- New Delhi 10:30PM
You can check worldwide time details from this link.


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A year in review and look ahead at the market Down Under. Editorial is provided by License! Global’s Australian content partner, The Bugg Report.
Gaming company King has signed a European licensing deal with apparel specialist Skybrands for its hit app “Candy Crush Saga.”
Debenhams, Matalan, Card Factory and Blue Inc have joined the roster of top retailers participating in BLE Retail Mentoring Programme.
CBeebies has appointed the licensing agency Brands with Influence to represent its new series “Swashbuckle” in the U.K.
ITV Studios Global Entertainment has added new licensing partnerships for Platinum Films’ boys’ property Matt Hatter Chronicles.
Peppa Pig, The Amazing World of Gumball and Room on the Broom were among the winner at the tenth British Animation Awards.
European fast fashion retailer Etam has launched a new line of lounge and sleepwear featuring The Smiley Brand.
Nine West, a division of The Jones Group, and the fashion magazine InStyle are expanding their limited edition footwear collaboration.
IDW Publishing is bringing of the most popular “Star Trek: The Original Series” episodes of all time into a new comic series.
Giromax is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Peppa Pig with a new line of mini Clay Buddies kits.
Peanuts is the latest brand to join Digital Giving’s “T-Shirt Booth” app.
Two executives from Rovio Entertainment will give the keynote address at Brand Licensing Europe on Oct. 15 in London.
Platinum Films has appointed License Connection to manage licensing for Matt Hatter Chronicles in Benelux after Disney XD picked up the series.
Immediate Media has launched the new BBC Tree Fu Tom magazine, based on the FremantleMedia kids’ series.
ZeptoLab U.K. and ITV Studios Global Entertainment have partnered with The Entertainer for a Cut the Rope promotion.
Dove Trading has launched the latest in its line of Hello Kitty mobile phones, created in partnership with Sanrio.
The Jim Henson Company has secured a raft of new licensing deals for “Dinosaur Train,” as well as new television and digital partners.
BRB Internacional is bringing the new TV series “Invizimals” to MIPJunior and MIPCOM this year.
Jennie Maizels has created a new line of iron-on patches featuring characters from DC Thomson’s classic comic “The Beano."
Atlantyca Entertainment has tapped Random House Mondadori to create an agenda based on the children‘s book series Bat Pat.
Fremantle is marking the 30th anniversary of the movie The Wind In the Willows by seeking new licensees for the classic property.
©2014 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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Last week, Epic Games sued Apple after the company removed Fortnite from the iOS App Store. Epic Games had released an update for Fortnite that allowed players to bypass the App Store’s in-app purchase system to buy V-bucks within the free-to-play title, violating Apple’s Terms of Service. But instead of just stopping there, Apple additionally cut all other ties with Epic Games, informing the company that all of its developer accounts and access to all iOS and Mac development tools would officially be terminated on August 28.
In response to this, Epic filed for a restraining order that would temporarily prevent Apple from taking such actions, and was quoted as to saying that they would have a “devastating” impact on the company. Just today, Apple filed its opposition to Epic’s request, stating that Epic’s troubles are a result of its own actions and that everything would go away if Epic were to just undo its violating update.
The filing states: “Epic’s agreements with Apple expressly spell out that if an app developer violates the rules of the App Store or the license for development tools—both of which apply and are enforced equally to all developers large and small—Apple will stop working with that developer. Developers who work to deceive Apple, as Epic has done here, are terminated.”
The filing continues, explaining that “when Epic willfully and knowingly breached its agreements by secretly installing a ‘hotfix’ into its app to bypass Apple’s payment system and App Review Process, it knew full well what would happen and, in so doing, has knowingly and purposefully created the harm to game players and developers it now asks the Court to step in and remedy.”
Apple’s opposition to the restraining order request goes against Epic’s broader allegations, which include Apple operating as a monopoly, that in-app purchases qualify as a separate product, and that its case has a high likelihood of success on its merits. But clearly, the biggest factor at stake here is that Epic was the one to cause all of this to happen. The filing states that “equity does not favor Epic because it has unclean hands… Epic has undeniably breached its agreement with Apple, and a party breaching a contract, as Epic here, has no standing to seek equitable relief.”


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The warning comes as two elderly Australians have come forward after recording losses of around $40,000 through the scam.
Deputy Chair for the ACCC Delia Rickard says that 700,000 losses have been reported and fears that this is ‘just the tip of the iceberg’.
“People over the age of 65 are most likely to fall victim to this scam,” she says.
“Theses scammers are calling these people and hiding behind trusted brands and companies – like Telco’s and government organisations and they are using intimidation to scam people out of their money using virtually untraceable iTunes vouchers.
“We do often see the elderly being at the heart of those targeted by scams but there are different demographics targeted for different scams and the elderly seem to be susceptible to over the phone and computer scams.
“I suspect that the elderly are quite often at home to receive calls on their landlines and are more trusting.”
Ms Rickard says that it is important for anyone – but particularly older Australians – to be aware that no legitimate company will ask for payment in iTunes or other gift cards.
“We have had some reports that it isn’t just iTunes cards being used – Coles vouchers have also come up,” she says.
“This is exploiting vulnerable consumers and terrifying them – the main scam out there in regards to these gift cards is from people posing to be the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and telling these people that they owe a lot of money, and if they don’t pay up today a warrant will be out for their arrest.
“Usually they ask for $500 to several thousands of dollars, calling vulnerable Australians, keeping them on the phone and instructing them on where to buy and how many to buy.”
For anyone who may receive one of these scam calls, Ms Rickard recommends simply hanging up.
“If you get one of these calls – just hang up,” she says.
“Don’t be intimidated by them even though they can be quite threatening because we believe that most of them are from overseas.
“If you are concerned that it is legitimate, search for the number of the company that has allegedly called you – don’t use the contact details they may give you – and make a query with the real company.”
For those who have lost thousands of dollars to the scammers, Ms Rickard says that money is gone.
“These gift cards are not identifiable – and once the codes have been shared – they are already activated and often spent,” she explains.
“Once it is spent there is no way to get the money back – it’s a very efficient way for these scammers to get paid.”
The ACCC encourages friends and families of elderly Australians to educate and keep an eye on those who could fall victim.
“The main message to be sharing is that no legitimate government organisation or company will use iTunes or any other vouchers as a form of payment,” Ms Rickard says.
“If you have elderly friends or family, look out for them – talk to them about scams that are going around and tell them that iTunes are not a legitimate form of payment for any organisations.
“No matter who you are you should never give out personal details or give money to a stranger or someone contacting you out of the blue over the phone or through the computer.
“Check out the Scamwatch website to keep up to date on what’s happening and even sign up for ‘radar’ emails of current scams.
“These scammers are often very good at impersonating websites, letterheads – so it is important to be alert and careful.”


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New research has found that cyber crime is disproportionately effecting small businesses the most.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has found that small firms are unfairly carrying the cost of cyber crime in an increasingly vulnerable digital economy.
The report Cyber Crime: How to protect small firms in the digital economy suggests smaller firms are collectively attacked seven million times per year, costing the UK economy an estimated £5.26 billion.
Despite the vast majority of small firms (93%) taking steps to protect their business from digital threats, two thirds (66%) have been a victim of cyber crime in the last two years. Over that period, those affected have been victims on four occasions on average, costing each business almost £3000 in total.
Cyber crime costs small businesses disproportionately more than big businesses when adjusted for organisational size.
Currently the responsibility largely falls on small businesses to protect themselves. FSB is calling for more support to be given to those smaller firms least able to bear the burden of the increasing global cyber threat.
Almost all (99%) of the UK’s 5.4 million small firms rate the internet as being highly important to their business, with two in three (66%) offering, or planning to offer, goods and services online. Without intervention, the growing sophistication of cyber attacks could stifle small business growth and in the worst cases close them down.
Mike Cherry, FSB National Chairman, said: “The digital economy is vital to small businesses – presenting a huge opportunity to reach new markets and customers – but these benefits are matched by the risk of opportunities for criminals to attack businesses.
“Small firms take their cyber security responsibility very seriously but often they are the least able to bear the cost of doing so. Smaller businesses have limited resources, time and expertise to deal with ever-evolving and increasing digital attacks. We’re calling on Government, larger businesses, individuals and providers to take part in a joint effort to tackle cyber crime and improve business resilience.”
The types of cyber crime most commonly affecting small businesses are phishing emails (49%), spear phishing emails (37%), and malware attacks (29%).
Small firms are also concerned about hacking and fraud when the card is not present, with the average information breach setting them back 2.2 days.
To combat this, four in five small firms (80%) use computer securing software, and well over half (53%) perform regular updates of their IT systems.
The FSB report also found room for small firms to improve security.
Currently just a quarter of smaller businesses (24%) have a strict password policy, four per cent have a written plan of what to do if attacked online, and just two per cent have a recognised security standard such as ISO27001 or the Government’s Cyber Essentials scheme.
Mike Cherry added: “Small firms are understandably focussed on building their businesses and creating the jobs which drive economic growth. The vulnerabilities of the digital world affects everyone and the responsibility for improving resilience should not be left to the group with least resource to do something about it.


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Rejoice horror game fans! It is finally happening: Fatal Frame V is coming to North America! During their direct today, Nintendo announced the acclaimed Japanese horror game, which launched last year in Japan, is coming to the Wii U later this year. Fatal Frame V fully incorporates the GamePad as a gameplay element, as the player will use it as a camera, which those familiar with Fatal Frame know is an essential component of the game.
Are you ready to let this terror enter your living room? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: Nintendo Direct


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Addressing the Dearth of Female EntrepreneursBy
I'll bet that if Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs had even one woman on his executive team, the iPad would have been given a different name. Otherwise why would Apple (AAPL) give its new device a name half of the population equates with feminine hygiene?
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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called for a ‘Marshall Plan’ to aid the recovery of the travel and tourism sector in Africa, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the sector very hard.
This was his position while intervening during the 63rd meeting of the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation UNWTO, Regional Commission for Africa, CAF, hosted virtually by Seychelles on Monday, saying “It is imperative for the United Nations World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, to support Africa with a ‘Marshall Plan’ of sorts, in terms of technical assistance, capacity building and grants.”
Alhaji Mohammed said that the fastest way for the travel and tourism sector in Africa to recover from the effects of the pandemic is to focus on domestic and intra-Africa tourism.
He added that following the outbreak of the pandemic, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture had to act quickly, because the impact of the pandemic has been particularly devastating, due to its importance and relevance to the national economy.
He said, “The travel and tourism sector and indeed the entire Nigeria creative industry is large, diverse, dynamic and critical for economic growth, development and diversification. It is the biggest creator of jobs after agriculture. Also, the industry contributes between 2.5 and 3 per cent to the nation’s GDP.”
He revealed to the meeting that a 22-member stakeholders committee has been established and tasked with working out the immediate, short and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic, adding, “The committee, with membership drawn from the tourism, hospitality, music, film, fashion, photography and broadcasting media, among others, is tasked with assessing the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry in general; advising the government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the industry; as well as to create succor for the industry small businesses; suggesting the type of taxation and financing that are best for the industry at this time to encourage growth, and advising the government on any other measure or measures that can be undertaken to support the industry.”
He added, “We are rejigging the National Endowment for the Arts to align it with the current realities. We are also studying the new set of guidelines/recommendations by the UNWTO as well as the ‘Safe Travel Protocols’ designed by the World Travel and Tourism Council, WTTC, for the purpose of domesticating them. I have no doubt that the measures we are putting in place will yield positive results in sustaining the creative industry in Nigeria.”
The minister said that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has also established a N50 billion stimulus package to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on households, micro, small and medium enterprises, MSMEs, and the creative industry.
Alhaji Mohammed added that as Nigeria gradually opens up, just like the rest of the world, new protocols are being put in place for the safety and security of all, listing such measures as training of personnel on security and safety measures, infection control, adherence to government protocols, enhanced hygiene measures, use of personal protective equipment and facility sanitation.
Commending the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank, which has pledged US$500 million for the creative industry in Africa, Mohammed said that the support will come in handy, “as our sector seeks to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”


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- The word or words serving to define another word or expression, as in a dictionary entry.


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Europe is saying buh bye to the American bowtie brand at General Motors’ behest; not that people across the Atlantic are showing Chevy much love anyway.
AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
General Motors as officially announced output figures for its new 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged mill.
The MINI Cooper and Fiat 500 may soon have a rival in the U.S., but it won’t be a from another European automaker… or will it?
The future is full of technology for General Motors subsidiaries Opel and Vauxhall.
Images and technical details surrounding a concept car slated for the Frankfurt Motor Show were released today, previewing what the brand’s designers and engineers are developing for future products.
Opel seems to be putting a strong emphasis on connected car technology in the future. Current iterations of that system that several automakers are developing would allow cars to share information both with other vehicles and information waypoints. Traffic data, upcoming hazards and other relevant safety information will be relayed in split seconds, assuming manufacturers can agree on which system to use. Contention between charging heads for electric cars probably offers accurate foreshadowing.
If the auto industry avoids its usual Mexican standoff, the Monza’s information sharing system could offer interesting capability. It uses three modes: “me,” “us” and “all.”
In “me” mode, the infotainment system mostly disconnects from smartphones and focuses on relevant driving information. Switch to “us,” and preselected people will be able to communicate with the car to play music, share pictures and information. “All” mode opens the car to share information with anyone. Drivers will be able to share their planned route with people who have a smartphone or tablet so they can “catch a ride.”
The infotainment system, itself, is also something of a tech wonder. Rather than a conventional touch screen, it uses 18 LED projectors to cast a display onto the dashboard. The display will be customizable according to driver preference as well.
The sculpted-looking sheet metal is an evolution of the current Insignia design, which is the basis for the North American Buick Regal. Buick relies heavily on Opel for its product line, and if that remains the case for future products, this could have tie-ins to coming Buicks too. From an aesthetic standpoint, this design isn’t terribly different from the Buick Riviera concept shown in Shanghai earlier this year.
The style cues and wheels all bear similarities, but it’s the cabin and powertrain that really offer an important peek into what might be coming.
The Monza suggests that range extenders won’t be exiting the General Motors portfolio any time soon. It uses an electric powertrain supplemented by a range extending engine similar to the Chevrolet Volt, which uses gasoline. This doesn’t. Instead, it burns compressed natural gas (CNG) with the company’s new 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which will debut simultaneously in Frankfurt.
GALLERY: Opel Monza Concept
Discuss this story at RegalForums.com
General Motors unveiled its 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine bound initially for the Opal Adam city car ahead of its Frankfurt Motor Show debut.
Expect the number of fuel efficient vehicles offered by General Motors grow in the next four years.
Should General Motors’ German subsidiary be scrapped? Not according to its American parent, which plans to pour four billion Euros into it through 2016.
Recently unveiled for Europe, the Opel Cascada is headed to America suggest sources inside the company, likely badged as a Buick.
From the Regal to the Verano, several of the new models in Buick’s revitalized lineup owe their origins to GM’s European operations where they were first engineered under the automaker’s Opel division. That could happen once again with the new Vauxhall Cascada a possible look at a future Buick convertible.
Opel is now the first automaker to road-test a fully integrated matrix light in its prototype vehicles. Its new LED light matrix technology is designed to make night time driving safer by using high beams in standard driving mode.
While that may sound annoying to the other drivers on the road, the light matrix is designed to keep the beam glare free, automatically adapting it to the traffic situation. Essentially the LED light matrix can adjust more rapidly to the traffic situation than any other solution that relies on the driver, or is based on mechanical components.
By working in combination with the front camera, the matrix light will adjust the second the sensors from the camera detect light sources from oncoming or proceeding traffic. The area in front of the vehicle will be completely dimmed while the rest of the road will remain brightly illuminated. This help ensures that drivers in front of the light matrix aren’t pestered, but other non-illuminated obstacles remain well lit.
Each of the two matrix headlights consists of four light segments. Behind each segment, there are four different light sources that can be switched on or off individually, giving it 16 possible combinations per headlight. In total, there are 256 different light settings that will change and adjust without the driver noticing.
Opel plans to implement the LED lighting matrix in its vehicles over the next few years.
Watch a video of it in action after the break.
When Opel/Vauxhall first announced that its Ampera plug-in hybrid electric vehicle would participate in the 13th International Monte Carlo Rally for alternative energy vehicles, it made a point to challenge the Tesla Roadster, which won the previous two years.
Completing the racing stages from Annecy-le-Vieux to Monte Carlo from March 22 through 25, the Opel Ampera of Bernard Darniche and Joseph Lambert finished in first place, winning the Ampera’s inaugural Monte Carlo Rally. Following the leading Ampera, three more crossed the line to finish in the top 10.
A total of 130 competitors from 30 manufacturers took part in the Monte Carlo Rally, including a total of seven Amperas, the Renault Fluence Z.E., Tesla Roadster, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Volkswagen Up!, and Peugeot Ion. A test of endurance for alternative propulsion, teams were judged based on energy usage at a steady speed via a ratio formula that accounted for vehicle weight, CO2 emission, energy density of the fuel and its consumption.
According to French rally co-pilot Joseph Lambert, “The sophisticated technology of the Ampera was always reliable and enabled our tremendous success.”
“The Ampera’s success in this versatility contest under very challenging conditions proves its impressive balance between durability and fuel efficiency. This underscores our leadership role in the field of alternative propulsion,” Vauxhall/Opel director of E-mobility Enno Fuchs said.
GALLERY: Monte Carlo Rally Opel Ampera
But it appears that GM executives can let out a sigh of relief, as the European counterpart, the Opel Ampera, has broken the 7,000 order mark and is nearly sold out until year’s end in Europe. The Ampera was recently named European Car of the Year which was no huge surprise considering the Nissan Leaf took the honor in 2011.
“We are extremely pleased with the continuing demand for our Ampera,” said Enno Fuchs, Opel’s e-mobility launch director. “This news shows us that our sales target of 10,000 units for 2012 is well within reach.”
What’s interesting now is how quickly Opel will be able to fulfill those orders considering GM shut down production for five weeks. The automaker began delivering Amperas to customers in February and according to Opel, deliveries are “going according to plan.” Interestingly enough, many of the Europeans purchasing the Ampera are switching from luxury brands such as BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz stating that the Ampera’s “cutting-edge technology” is what’s enticing.
[Source: Plug In Cars]
Entering the Monte Carlo Rally for Alternative Energy Vehicles, the six Amperas will race against 150 other green cars in a series of stages starting March 22 from Annecy-le-Vieux, to Clermont-Ferrand, Luganu, and finally finishing three days later at Monaco.
Regulations for this competition dictates that a car must emit less than 115g/km of CO2 in order to participate. While not as exciting as the WRC event, the Alternative Energy competition can be just as challenging to tackle. The goal is to cover the race distance, maintain a constant speed, all while using as little energy as possible.
The Tesla Roadster emerged victorious at the Monte Carlo rally twice in a row. Intent on giving Tesla a run for its money, the Opel Ampera features an electric motor that drives the wheels and a conventional gasoline engine that kicks in to generate electricity once the battery depletes. The Ampera’s system is prepared to deliver 150 hp and 273 lb.-ft. of instant torque, good for a 0-62 mph time of approximately 9 seconds and a top speed of 100 mph.
German automaker Opel revealed the specifications and pricing on its hot new OPC today which has us hoping it might, in some form, make it to the U.S. market.
That might seem like a pipe dream, but the GM-owned company already has its hands in the American market by way of the Buick Regal, which since 2009 has essentially been, well, a re-badged Opel. The 2.0-liter turbocharged powerplant in the OPC packs 277 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque in a stylish body that could probably have a home in our sport compact market. The Opel OPC rungs from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in six seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph.
Riding on a FlexRide chassis, Opel incorporated a mechanical limited-slip differential and high performance struts (HiPerStruts) for the front-wheel drive sports car. Two driving modes are available: Sport and OPC. On the inside, Opel outfits the OPC interior with race seats, incorporating weight-saving material seen for the first time in a production vehicle. In total, each seat weighs 45 percent less than a conventional one and still boasts up to 18 different configurations.
The OPC will launch in Germany this spring with a starting price of around $44,890 (€34,250) including value-added tax.
If the performance parts aren’t enough to pique interest, it might be worth nothing that the Astra OPC recently endured a 6,213-mile test on the Nürburgring which equates to 111,846 miles in a normal driving environment. You can watch a video of the car below.