text:
Next-Generation Dodge Charger To Get Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Engine
New model will also get a massive dietby Kirby, on
The current-generation Dodge Charger is old, and by old, I really mean old. It’s been around since 2005 and while Dodge has managed to keep the fire simmering with new variants and special edition models, there are reports that Fiat Chrysler will keep the model going until after 2019. That’s an incredibly long time for one generation of a car, let alone a car with the status of the Charger. But don’t feel too bad Charger fans because once the next-generation model arrives, it’s going to be a very different car after reports came out that the model will lose close to 500 pounds in weight and could come with a four-cylinder turbocharged engine.
According to Automotive News, engineers and designers from FCA are working on making the new car lighter than the current model, which tips the scales at 3,960 pounds as its curb weight. The automaker plans to have the new model down to about 3,500 pounds, a weight that could come in handy when it’s combined with the same 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder that’s currently being developed for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler. There are also plans to switch the Charger from its existing platform to an extended version of the Alfa Romeo Giulia’s “Giorgio” platform, giving engineers and designers a more modern platform for the new model.
While this is all exciting news, don’t expect the model to burst into the scene for at least another five years. The 2019 facelift for the LX-generation model could last for another year or two so the early expectations for the new model would be around 2022 or 2023. It’s still a long way from today and with the evolving state of the auto industry, there’s no telling if today’s plans will be put to action when it’s finally time for the next-generation Charger to be built.
Still, FCA seems to be confident of its plans for the muscle car. It even showed an early styling buck of the next-gen model during a private show for dealers back in August 2015. The design was even compared to the 1999 Charger concept that was penned by former Chrysler design guru Tom Gale.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
Why it matters
This is the kind of news that’s tricky to hang your hat on given the length of time that needs to pass before we these reports are actually confirmed. Now, Dodge or Fiat Chrysler can skip all of that if they just confirm it off the bat, but that’s unlikely to happen. So we’re left with this report and probably four or five more years of waiting to see if it actually happens.
That said, I’m not going to lie. I get excited any time there’s a report about the next-generation Dodge Charger. I mean, for crying out loud, I’ve been clamoring for Dodge and/or FCA to cut the cord on this generation’s model. It’s served it’s purpose. It’s made a lot of drivers happy. It’s time for it to be put to bed for good. I don’t know what FCA’s reasons us for keeping the LX-generation Charger going, but 10 years of service – and another four or five more – is really milking it for everything it’s worth. Sure, it’s been refreshed twice and yes, another facelift is on the way, but how many times can FCA dip into this well before it realizes that the well has completely run dry.
That’s exactly the position FCA is putting itself on and I can’t help but feel bad for the Charger for being stuck in this position. It deserves better in my opinion and if FCA does give it another facelift as it plans to do, it better be one that gives the LX-generation Charger the send-off it properly deserves. And if these reports for the next-generation model are accurate, FCA better make sure that the next-gen model is going to live up to all the expectations that people, myself included, are already putting on it years before it even hits the market.
Read our full review on the Dodge Charger here.
Source: Automotive News


text:
Professor Layton Making North American 3DS Debut In November
Those of you waiting for Professor Layton's first entry to the 3DS in America can breathe a sigh of relief.
Those of you waiting for Professor Layton's first entry to the 3DS in America can breathe a sigh of relief. Nintendo is confirming that Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle will be released in the United States this November, with Europe getting their release one month earlier in October. The latest in the puzzle-solving adventure series was the bestselling game at the Japanese launch of the 3DS, selling nearly 120,000 copies on its first day of availability. This will be the fifth game in the series and the second in a new prequel trilogy that began with Professor Layton and the Last Specter. If you haven't yet played any of the games and enjoy a whimsical story while solving multitudes of puzzles, you owe it to yourself to give it a whirl. All told, the series has sold over 12 million copies and has consistently rated high among critics and fans alike. Nintendo came under a bit of fire this week for announcing paid DLC for New Super Mario Bros. 2, a series first for the beloved plumber's franchise. Level 5 is going to buck that trend in a big way. Beginning with Mask of Miracle's release day and continuing every day for a full calendar year, a new puzzle will be available for download. For free. Are you listening, Capcom? Square-Enix? Electronic Arts? THIS is how you win over old and new fans. The only thing we need at this point is news on an English language version of Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney. The game was not shown anywhere at this year's E3, but with the 3DS finally picking up sales and beefing up its lineup of quality software, I hope Capcom can decide to pony up the money for localization. Resident Evil 6's sales alone will probably pay for it.

domain: news


text:
There’s a very interesting article in Property Week* underlining my argument that retailers and providers of goods of services in general really need to start taking the growing older population more seriously.
The magazine teamed up with retail real estate loyalty and marketing specialist Coniq to take a hard look at whether retailers are focusing enough on the growing spending power of older consumers, and found plenty of room for improvement.
The report points out that the “grey pound” accounts for more than £320bn of all UK consumer spending and that the over-50s hold more than 75% of the nation’s wealth. Over a three-year period the over 50s spent 42% more on retail goods than other age groups and, very surprisingly, 66% more than millennials.
And yet it’s these millennials that are at the heart of marketing for shopping centre landlords and their retail tenants.
Some 80% of the almost untapped market of over 50s don’t relate to current marketing, feeling ignored or even patronised, according to BNP Paribas Real Estate research.
When retailers do look at the older generation, it’s often with very dated perspectives. People are living longer and there are easily two generations in what was once a general “old people” category. There are the “old old” who have lived through austerity and the younger baby boomers “young old” who have enjoyed times of plenty – and their respective needs, desires and behaviours are quite different.
The newly retired have more disposable income right now, and they’re spending it in areas such as travel, well-being, healthcare and home maintenance.
This latest generation of older consumers are looking for more authenticity, transparency and environmental responsibility from their providers, and are looking more for services than products. When they do shop for fashion, for example, they still want style but to fit their changing shapes.
According to the article retailers in other countries around the world are making more effort to provide services that appeal to the oldest consumer. That includes putting on events in shopping malls such as health tests, hobby workshops, financial services advice and even dating evenings. Some shops are meeting the needs with wider aisles and non-slip floors as well as targeted offers. Subliminal actions like turning off the piped music, slowing the escalators and turning the lighting up at quiet times are helping to attract and maintain loyalty.
What could be done in the UK? Experts suggest subtle zoning of shopping malls to make them more accessible to older shoppers who are starting to experience less mobility.
But what should be borne in mind is that there is plenty of difference between the newly retired consumer in their 60s and those who are 20 or 30 years older and they should not be consigned to a single category.
Equally, retailers and service providers ignore older people at their peril. As Ben Chesser of Coniq points out “If I told our clients we’d identified a group that accounted for 30% of retail spend they’d be jumping through hoops to engage with them.”
- Article requires (not easy) registration.


text:
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, host Greg Nibler dives into the biggest-trending stories in tech, including possible strikes during the coronavirus pandemic, a new breathing aid, the return of HQ Trivia, SpaceX’s lunar deliveries, and more.
Scott Mercer, founder and chief executive officer of Volta, discusses the top three things electric vehicles need in order to bring about the EV revolution.
We then take a look at the effects of the coronavirus on the photography industry, from product delays to event cancellations.
With more people trying to get in to see their doctors, medical professionals are encouraging them to utilize different technologies instead of in-person visits, including telehealth options and virtual medicine.
It’s that time of week when we take a look at awesome tech you can’t buy yet. DT Senior Editor Drew Prindle highlights some upcoming crowdfunding projects, including a magnetic cord wrangler, the Arkade Motion Blaster, and a building brick waffle maker.
- SpaceX announces Starlink for RVs, with no wait for dishes
- Tesla’s Battery Day, Blue Origin’s New Shepard, and more | Digital Trends Live
- Portland bans facial recognition, TikTok may not sell | Digital Trends Live
- Virtual march on Washington, Tesla cyber attack, and more| Digital Trends Live
- Oracle eyes TikTok, SpaceX’s 100th launch, and more| Digital Trends Live


text:
More and more Bitcoin wallet providers are starting to explore the possibilities of launching mobile buy-and-sell functionality within their application. In the case of Bitcoin wallet provider Airbitz, the customer is not necessarily tied to using one specific Bitcoin exchange for buying and selling goods. For the time being, this feature will only be available to US customers, but the company hopes to expand the service on an international scale relatively soon.
Mobile Buying & Selling of Bitcoin With Centralized Service
One of the reasons why the AirBitz mobile Bitcoin wallet is unique compared to other similar offerings is due to its true decentralized nature. Even if AirBitz’s own servers would get compromised or shut down for any reason, users can still use the mobile Bitcoin wallet application without any interruption. Bitcoin is all about decentralization, and we can only hope to see more mobile wallet developers follow AirBitz’s example.
But AirBitz is not satisfied with just that aspect, as the company hopes to expand its business model on a global scale. The first step in doing so consists of enabling in-wallet buying and selling of Bitcoin, a feature made possible thanks to their undisclosed US partner. This new feature will enter private beta testing very shortly, while a partner for European customers has already been lined up for future integration.
Using partners is a major bonus for AirBitz, as the company will not be touching user funds directly. Especially when considering the regulatory and legislative implications of transferring and exchanging currencies, it is best to have the partners carry that burden. The United States could prove to be a particularly difficult nation in that regard, as most states have different regulatory requirements to comply with.
This strategy furthers the AirBitz ideology of providing a service to customers without having access to their personal data. Even the company’s Bitcoin wallet itself encrypts and hashes all user data which is part of the reason why so many people enjoy the service. Additionally, the company takes care of automated encrypted backups of all keys and data associated with each individual mobile user.
Making Bitcoin An Essential Part of Everyday Life
Whereas some mobile Bitcoin wallets started out as mere “fun projects”, AirBitz has been taking things to a new level. Not only does the company aim to provide a smooth and intuitive user experience, but they also pay their entire staff in Bitcoin 100% of the time. Rather than looking at Bitcoin like an additional source of income, the digital currency has become a key factor of the everyday life of AirBitz staff.
The same ideology will hopefully translate to AirBitz customers around the world in the near future. Many people still see Bitcoin as “magic internet money”, even though it is a valid currency up to a certain extent. Granted, not everything can be bought with Bitcoin directly, but the ecosystem is maturing and new opportunities are on the horizon. There is no better time than now to get involved in Bitcoin and the underlying blockchain technology.
Source: Information via Email
Images courtesy of AirBitz


text:
WILMINGTON, MA — Below are some of the newest job openings in Wilmington:
- Full-Time Customer Service Representative at Security Innovation
- Full-Time Supply Chain Coordinator at Sirtex
- Full-Time (Temporary) Pest Control Technician at Mosquito Shield of the North Shore
- Full-Time Compliance Services Associate at Sovos Compliance
- Part-Time Rising Stars Summer Intern at Sovos Compliance
- Full-Time Financial Controller at Locus Robotics
- Full-Time Equipment & Service Sales at Dock & Door Handling Services
- Full-Time New Product Coordinator at Analog Devices
- Part-Time Kitchen Exhaustive Service Technician at Cochrane Ventilation Inc.
- Full-Time Laborer at Super Service Today
(NOTE: Wilmington businesses — Feel free to send me your job postings at firstname.lastname@example.org.)
Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Follow Wilmington Apple on Instagram. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email email@example.com.


text:
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the most successful tech companies in the world. It already has a lead in the market with top notch products such as the iPhone and iPad. The company has such a strong hold on the market place and it is difficult to imagine anything affecting the Cupertino-based tech giant in a negative light. Unfortunately, a recent hacking scandal involving celebrities has painted a negative light on the company at the worst time.
Apple affected by iCloud scandal
Earlier this week it was reported that hackers accessed the images through Apple’s iCloud but the company denied such a thing happened. Although the negative comments over the matter declined over time, the scandal is still in the spotlight. This all could not have come at a worse time considering Apple is close to unveiling the iPhone 6. According to research from Network Insights, the company is receiving more attention on the scandal than on the upcoming iPhone release.
Lee Ainslie's Maverick Capital had a difficult third quarter, although many hedge funds did. The quarter ended with the S&P 500's worst month since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Q3 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more Maverick fund returns Maverick USA was down 11.6% for the third quarter, bringing its year-to-date return to Read More
Apple topic conversations from August 27th to September 3rd, 12 percent of the chatter was about the iPhone 6 whereas 20% of the conversations pertained to the scandal.
iPhone 6 to debut early next week
Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 6 on Tuesday September 9th during a press event. It has been long rumored the tech giant would unveil two versions of the iPhone including a phablet style smartphone. The company’s top rivals already offer larger phones which offer the best of a phone and tablet computer. Apple may also launch an iWatch and NFC wireless technology during the event.
The latest batch of rumors and reports are pure speculation, nothing will be confirmed until the tech giant’s chief executive officer Tim Cook unveils the next big Apple product. This company prides itself with innovation and it would truly be surprising if Apple fails to up the ante with something revolutionary.


text:
All About Angel Investors
What does it take to get a business off the ground?
For some entrepreneurs, the answer is angel investors.
Angels are private investors who want to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality. And they are a critical component of thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems, providing the necessary financing to help founders get moving.
What Are Angel Investors?
Angel investors aren’t just another word for venture capitalists. There’s a clear distinction between the two, said Zach Zacharakis, professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College. “Angels invest their own money, and venture capitalists invest other people’s money.”
To elaborate, angel investors are high-net-worth individuals who invest directly into promising ventures in return for equity. “Angel funding typically comes from private citizens investing their own money,” said former angel investor Kevin Colleran ’03, founder and managing director of Slow Ventures. “It’s often the first money a founder ever takes.”
Angel investors can be individuals or groups formed through pools and crowdfunding. Many are entrepreneurs themselves—55 percent were previously a founder or CEO of their own startup, according to a 2016 report from Harvard Business School. And yes, they’re tapping into their own funds when they invest.
Like VCs, angel investors frequently offer value beyond the investment. “The money is one thing, but you’re also getting their expertise,” said Zacharakis. “A typical angel wants to support a bright young entrepreneur as an investor and a mentor. They offer lots of different expertise and advice.”
How Do Entrepreneurs Connect with Angel Investors?
There are plenty of opportunities to connect with angel investors—it comes down to knowing where to look, and whether or not you’re ready for funding.
For some, it starts with friends and family. “Unless an angel thinks you’re stellar, if your venture is still just an idea, then you’re in the friends-and-family-pool stage,” said Zacharakis. “When your venture is just a twinkle in your eye, your investments will come from people who love you.”
Once you’re beyond that stage, however, other angel investment options arise. The Harvard Business School report found that while 52 percent of angels identify deals through friends and associates, another 58 percent do so through direct contact with entrepreneurs. Another 17 percent used crowdfunding platforms (think Kickstarter).
Well-known venture accelerators are another avenue for entrepreneurs to connect with angel investors.
“Everybody is looking for some sort of certification that an entrepreneur is doing something good,” said Zacharakis. “High-profile accelerators offer a sense of vetting.”
“If you get accepted into Y Combinator, the investors in the room know you’re credible,” said Colleran. “At other accelerator demo days, it might be the beginning of my journey as an investor. I’ll need to meet the founder, spend time learning about their career and experience.”
Sometimes all you have to do is look within your own network. If you’re a member of the Babson College community, you’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at your fingertips: the chance for an angel investment from Indian Angel Network (IAN), India’s first and the world’s largest business angel network with close to 500 members around the world.
This December, Babson students, alumni, faculty, staff, and parents will compete in the IAN Global Startup Competition. Presented by the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, the competition gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch for a $250,000 equity investment from IAN. The virtual pitch competition is industry and geography agnostic, and is one of many opportunities Babson students have to connect with angels.
Advice for Entrepreneurs Seeking Angel Investments
If you’re ready to start pursuing angel funds, Colleran recommends vetting angels as you would any business partner. “Just because someone wants to give you money, doesn’t mean you should take it,” he advised.
Ask the right questions: What level of involvement are you looking for? Is this person motivated by investment opportunity or obligation? Clarifying these questions from the beginning will ultimately help down the road, recommended Colleran. “There’s no right or wrong or good or bad, but it’s important to align on expectations.”
Make sure your business is ready for funding, too. “The reality is angels are investing in the opportunity first,” said Zacharakis. “They have to verify the entrepreneur can execute.”
Posted in Insights


text:
The athletic apparel retailer also boosts site visits by 50% using customer analytics platform AgilOne.
A quarter of shoppers don’t even know why they’re concerned—but they are.
Getting U.K. consumers to use mobile wallets may be difficult when many of them have security fears that they cannot put a finger on.
24% of U.K. adults say using their smartphone to pay for goods in stores “feels less secure but I’m not sure why,” according to a new study of 1,000 Britons by Intersperience, a research and consulting firm specializing in consumer behavior.
Overall, 44% of survey respondents say a lack of security software for smartphones will keep them from using a mobile wallet.
“Consumers are fearful because they are adjusting not just to a digital world but an increasingly mobile world,” says Intersperience CEO Paul Hudson. “There is a common perception that as your Internet link becomes untethered you are automatically less secure; that will impact the pace at which U.K. consumers will adopt mobile payment schemes.”
24% of respondents worry that their mobile phone is more likely to be stolen than their wallet. Only 17% say they want to use their mobile phone as a wallet in the future.
A mobile wallet is a smartphone-based account that connects to a consumer’s credit card or checking account and is used in stores to pay for merchandise. The early mobile wallet efforts, such as Google Inc.’s Google Wallet, rely on Near Field Communication, or NFC, technology in smartphones and payment terminals to wirelessly complete a transaction. But few retailers and only one smartphone to date have installed NFC technology.
The Intersperience study finds a marked rise in consumers’ security concerns when they access the Internet via their smartphones compared with using their PCs. This is true even though there have been far more reported instances of security breaches from PC transactions than smartphones, Intersperience says.
The study looked at consumers’ willingness to conduct transactions via PC and via mobile and found that while 11% would hesitate to make a purchase via PC, 37% would hesitate to use a mobile phone to buy something. 8% of adults use their mobile phones to buy goods, and 21% say they would like to engage in mobile commerce in the future.
“Today’s adults may be adopting a cautious stance on mobile payments,” Hudson says, “but we expect the next generation to take a bolder approach.”


text:
BEN & JERRY'S is, to say the least, an unconventional corporation. It brags of paying its suppliers more than market prices and of paying its executives less. Its annual report includes a "social performance report" dissecting how well it did in serving its community.
But even as the company strives to sell 1.1 million new shares, to raise $30 million for a new plant, it is being bedeviled by Federal regulators who dispute its use of the term "low fat" for its new, and highly successful, line of frozen yogurt.
Already the company has been forced to reformulate some products, at the risk of making them less tasty. More will have to be changed, and in at least one case the company will probably have to drop the "low fat" label. Just how much, if at all, sales will suffer as the company takes out fat remains to be seen.
That dispute, simmering for nearly three months, was first disclosed by the company in the prospectus for the planned stock offering, which was announced last week. But the prospectus did not disclose the extent to which the company was being forced to reduce fat. In a telephone interview yesterday, Mary Kamm, director of quality control, said that in some cases the fat content would have to be cut in half. She expressed confidence that the product would still taste good.
The company's highly advertised policy of restricting top pay to managers has also been relaxed and, it appears, quietly defined to exclude the largest part of one executive's compensation.Continue reading the main story
Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. used to say that no boss got more than five times the compensation, including both pay and benefits, of the lowest-paid worker with at least one year at the company. Now the multiple is seven, and to stay in compliance, it chose to ignore the issuance of restricted stock last year in calculating the pay of its president, Charles Lacey. Alone among top officials, he was not present at the founding of the company, and is not sitting on a large quantity of stock acquired at bargain-basement prices. So last year the company gave him 5,000 shares, now worth about $150,000. His other pay, at the maximum allowed by the company's policy, is about $100,000 a year.
A company spokesman, Alan F. Parker, declined to comment on Mr. Lacey's compensation.
By any standard, Ben & Jerry's has been a success. It went public in 1985, using the highly unusual method of promoting its shares by advertising them on ice-cream cartons, at $4.33 a share, adjusted for two subsequent splits. Yesterday, the shares closed at $30.75, up $1, in Nasdaq trading.
The company's ice cream costs more than nearly all others, but its bottom line shows no indication that recession bothered its customers. Nor does it seem to have been severely damaged by a decision to pay Vermont farmers more than the market price for dairy products, reflecting what the company called its determination to support family farmers.
The company's expansion into "light" ice cream in 1990 did not do well, but it has successfully dropped that product and moved on to "low fat" frozen yogurt.
On the packages of frozen yogurt, the company proclaims that "we've cut back on the fat and calories, but you won't know it from the taste." Compared with what, the Food and Drug Administration wanted to know, and Ms. Kamm said that claim was now being taken off the packages.
Not, to be sure, that the products are exactly low in fat or in calories. Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt has 700 calories a pint, and 15 grams of fat. That is low compared with Cherry Garcia ice cream, where the figures are 1,000 and 64, but the yogurt is not likely to show up in weight-loss diets.
To avoid losing the "low fat" label, Ms. Kamm said the company would have to get all its frozen yogurts down to 11.25 grams of fat a pint. She said some reformulations had been introduced, and others would follow. It appears that "Coffee Almond Fudge" frozen yogurt will have to lose two-thirds of its name, and be remarketed as the less sinful-sounding "coffee" frozen yogurt. And Heath Bar Crunch frozen yogurt may simply not be called low fat anymore.
Thanks in large part to the success of the "low fat" frozen yogurt, Ben & Jerry's has seen its profits soar. In the first half of 1992, it reported profits of $3.5 million, or 59 cents a share, on revenues of $63.2 million. Profits were up 112 percent and sales 45 percent from a year earlier.
But the prospectus for the new offering warns that the company's growth is sure to slow in the second half of 1992, and it says the company plans to step up hiring of support staff to help it cope with the increased sales. That is likely to depress profit margins, at least for a time.
At yesterday's price, Ben & Jerry's stock is trading at 32 times its 12-month earnings, a multiple that discounts continued profit growth. As underwriters led by Tucker Anthony and Smith Barney market the proposed new offering, a big hurdle may be in convincing investors that the growth will not be slowed even as the company is forced to change its fastest-growing product in a way that is not likely to improve the taste.Continue reading the main story


text:
That’s it. Consider me sold. If you want to hit a really soft, puppyesque spot in my heart, go for the Sega Saturn. Word is that one of the best platformers of all time will be getting a sequel for the Nintendo Wii. Sonic Team has confirmed with Nintendo and SEGA that they are working on a new NiGHTS game that will feature the Wiimote for controls and everyone’s favorite purple-hatted jester.
With this news recently confirmed, it’s only a matter of time before the original 1996 Saturn classic NiGHTS into Dreams is released on Nintendo’s Virtual Console.
Confirmed: NiGHTS To Show Up On The Nintendo Wii [Live Nintendo]


text:
Mac Bloggers Snoop Psystar, Sniff at AT&T Subsidy, Scrutinize iMac Speed Surge
May 2, 2008 4:00 AM PT
It's been a busy week for hot topics in the Apple world.
Bloggers have been debating the likelihood of AT&T offering a US$200 price break on the iPhone, bickering over whether the first shipping Psystar "Hackintosh" is a good deal, nodding at speed-bumped iMacs, and sharing the joy for Canadians who will finally -- sometime this year -- get official iPhones.
Poking at Details
Fortune's Scott Moritz ignited a firestorm of activity when he wrote, in no uncertain terms, that AT&T would subsidize the cost of the iPhone by $200 when Apple launches a new 3G version later this summer. It's unclear to whom exactly Moritz attributed the information -- just an unnamed source who is "familiar with the strategy."
The idea, of course, is to lower the cost of entry for consumers to make it more enticing for them to buy an iPhone. The carrier subsidy has been standard practice for years in the U.S., and it almost always comes with a hefty service contract -- in this case, two years, which is the service contract for the AT&T iPhone anyway. Locking users into contracts is meant recoup the cost of the device over the life of the service contract.
Bloggers immediately started poking at the post, with some questioning the accuracy of some iPhone basics. For instance, Moritz implied that iPhone users spend twice as much per month as other phone users, meaning that AT&T will recoup their iPhone subsidies even faster than normal. "The average iPhone user however, runs up a $100 tab each month due to the higher priced data and calling plan," he wrote.
"Since when?" commented Timothy J. Luoma on the Fortune post, noting that the basic voice rate is $60, which includes an unlimited data plan.
"So where do you get $100/month for the average iPhone user? Sounds like a made up statistic to me, since I don't recall either AT&T or Apple breaking out numbers," he added.
Others agreed that adding more text messaging to the standard 200 per month, the monthly price is indeed higher, though most would expect any costs to be more associated with a higher monthly minute calling plan than iPhone users wanting unlimited text messages. For instance, the $60 monthly rate is for 450 minutes. To get to $100 per month, a user would want 1,350 minutes. Unlimited minutes is $120 (which includes unlimited data).
So, a Subsidy or What?
Other bloggers took the post to task as well, noting other key issues. Writing on the NYTimes.com Bits blog, Saul Hansell wrote that, as reported, Moritz's assertion that AT&T will offer the subsidy to customers in its stores -- but not to customers who buy in Apple stores -- didn't make sense. "I can't imagine that Apple would want to sell iPhones for even a dime more in its stores than in another store," he wrote.
Other bloggers could see where it might make sense if Apple would sell "unlocked" iPhones at a premium price if they could be used with non-AT&T carriers.
"As for Apple selling an unlocked iPhone at a higher price, I think they would find an enormous section of the public willing to pay that price. In particular, Apple's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan would be inundated with foreign buyers using the cheap dollar to snap up unlocked phones to bring back home," commented FunWithHeadlines on the Bits blog.
AT&T: "No Comment"
So what does AT&T say, anyway? Fact or fiction?
"As you may imagine ... we're not commenting on it," Mark Siegel, executive director of media and analyst relations for AT&T Mobility, told MacNewsWorld.
Still, is a $200 subsidy that far out of the realm of possibility? Could it be true?
"I was over in the UK, and O2 was offering 100 Pounds -- or $200 off -- for a commitment," Ken Dulaney, a vice president and mobile and wireless analyst for Gartner, told MacNewsWorld, noting that he wouldn't be surprised if it were true.
"What might be of interest is the fact that what Apple reports in terms of sales are what is called 'sell-in' to the channel. Sell-through is never really reported. So there could be an inventory build-up that has occurred," he explained.
"Or, as I have predicted, if Apple introduces a new iPhone in June, they are looking to dump existing inventory so they can take on the new phones. Or this could be a mode encouraged by Apple to create new price points to expand sales as the next iPhone arrives on the market," he added.
Meanwhile, Up North ...
In a short statement, Canadian wireless services provider Rogers Communications announced that it would officially bring the iPhone to Canada later this year -- but then offered no other details.
"FINALLY!!!," commented slicecom, from Toronto, Canada, on the MacRumors.com post on the subject. "I can't wait to have a 3G iPhone and never having to worry about it getting bricked!" slicecom added.
However, the real question was, why the holdup? Some speculated that it may have been due to a trademark issue with a small Canadian VoIP service provider, Comwave, which has an "iPhone" VoIP product. Others suspected it had more to do with contractual issues with Rogers, which has long been the most likely and suitable carrier for an Apple iPhone in Canada.
"Apple demands that carriers share revenue on the iPhone, and Apple controls much of the customer relationship, including Apple maintaining a separate credit card account with the customer for iTunes and Apple selling the customer all content and applications. Many carriers in Europe and Asia have not been able to come to terms with Apple due to these issues," Avi Greengart, research director of wireless devices for Current Analysis, told MacNewsWorld.
"If I had to speculate, that's where the sticking point is," he added.
The Psystar Hackintosh Is Real!
Psystar, the small, Florida-based computer maker that generated so much blog chatter over the past couple of weeks, has shipped out at least a few PCs running Mac OS X. Despite the legal questions associated with Apple and Leopard's end-user license agreement, and despite Psystar's credit card processing woes, and despite Pystar's inability to settle on an official address for its business during its first few days of existence, the company might be onto something.
Gadget blog Engadget posted Psystar's Open Computer unboxing photos. The unit isn't exactly pretty, and in one online video post of it running -- this time on Gizmodo -- it appears to be very loud in operation.
Still, they boxes appear to run OS X just fine -- at least for a while. The news that Psystar and its products were real generated a lot of talk between two basic camps: those who want a cheap Mac and those who want a reliable Mac that won't break when Apple offers a software update.
Others were pragmatic about it.
"The default configuration of one of these Psystar computers, once you add the Leopard OS, comes out to not even $200 cheaper than a Mac mini, and with only marginally better specs," commented regnez on the Gizmodo post on the subject.
"If it was my money, I'd go the extra $200 and end up with a smaller, much quieter (that thing is stupidly loud), better looking computer that I could update. But that's just me," regnez added.
Speaking of Official Hardware ...
Apple still hasn't updated its Mac mini, but it did beef up its iMac line this week. The company added faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the fastest of which will run at 3.06 GHz. The processors come with 6 MB of L2 cache and a faster 1,066 MHz front-side bus, with 2 GB memory standard in most models. The high-end 24-inch iMac also comes with a Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS graphics processor with 512 MB of memory.
The original iMac post on AppleInsider.com generated close to 300 responses, but backtomac's post gets to the heart of the matter: "I think its a very nice update. I would agree its not ground breaking but the speed bumps are nice. The option of a better gpu is excellent(now the iMac can be used for gaming). And the 2 gbs of standard RAM is long overdue IMO."
Some, however, started speculating that the new iMacs contained Intel's Montevina platform, making it the first machine to use Intel's latest architecture -- and well ahead of other PCs.
BetaNews.com, however, put that rumor to rest by reporting that an Intel spokesperson told the site that the 3.06 Ghz option is actually a 45nm Penryn-class CPU, not the yet-to-be-released X9100. A key point as well, BetaNews reported, is that Montevina doesn't run with the iMac's current Intel Santa Rosa chipset.
Many bloggers eventually picked up the BetaNews report, tamping down some of the Mac-got-it-first brouhaha.
As previously mentioned, the Apple blogosphere has been running on overdrive this week. Minor notes are kicking up traffic, like Apple announcing that it'll release same-day iTunes DVD sales when the physical discs are released to stores, Safari for Windows tripling its market share after the automatic sleight-of-hand Apple Software Update trick, and possible iPhone redesign specs. Hint: it'll be thicker ... or thinner ... and may have lots of black on it.


text:
Niantic publicly releases the Lightship platform, which will allow you to build apps of the ‘metaverso‘ in the real world. The Pokémon Go maker gives developers the resources to implement augmented reality within physical environments, to create a concept of different metaverse than that proposed by Meta and Microsoft.
The metaverse in the real world with Niantic Lightship
In the last period, the concept of ‘metaverse’ is making its way into the conversations of all technology enthusiasts, and beyond. One of the largest companies in the world has changed name from Facebook to Meta, underlining when virtual reality is our new technological horizon. Microsoft pushes to integrate the avatars in video calls on Teams, making the dividing line between the real world and the virtual one more flexible.
But Niantic has a different concept of a metaverse. The company had global success with Pokémon Go, which remains one of the most profitable games in smartphone gaming history. And that introduced to the general public the concept of a world in which the augmented reality integrates with the real world around us.
Now Niantic points to get out of the gaming arena only offering a real platform to develop a digital world to be superimposed on the real one. Without replacing it but rather integrating it.
Augmented reality to improve the physical one
The CEO of Niantic John Hanke, who founded Niantic after being the head of Google Geo for years (a division that also manages Maps), explains that Lightship will allow “sewing the digital and the real world together“. The platform will offer software tools to determine where the user is pointing the smartphone camera, and then map the surfaces in real time. This will allow you to insert digital elements in the physical world.
Anyone who has played (or continues to play) Pokémon Go knows that this process isn’t always perfect. But the data collected over the years by Niantic allow to implement AR in a rather precise way. And from Monday these tools will be available for all developers who want to create augmented reality apps. Most of the toolkit will even be free, though developers will have to pay for devices to share AR experiences across multiple smartphones at the same time.
But to further emphasize how much Niantic believes in this project, will invest 20 million dollarsi for companies that want to build apps in AR.
Niantic’s metaverse goes through smart glasses (but it doesn’t depend on their success)
Although this platform does not depend on any specific hardware, from Niantic’s words we understand how this future foresees a massive use of smart glasses. In the same way that Meta’s VR works on all PCs, but it shines when you wear a virtual reality headset.
The system of “visual positioning”Developed by Lightship allows smart glasses to map your field of view and position elements in VR in a precise and physically believable way. Niantic is also working on a couple of smart glasses con Qualcomm, demonstrating how much he believes in the project.
But the fact that Niantic Lightship’s programming tools are available on both iOS and Android, ensures that the future of this technology is not tied to any hardware device. If the smart glasses solution doesn’t work, smartphone cameras can work just fine as substitutes, as is already the case. And if many companies were to start partnering with Niantic, the augmented reality implementation could be successful right away, too. without dedicated hardware.
The key thing, for Hanke, is that the metaverse serves to improve the physical world, not to erase it. “There is a fork in the road. A path leads in the direction of apps that are not connected with the world around us and do not help us to connect with the people who are close to us “. While the second path, the one that Niantic has undertaken with Lightship, wants “encourage people to do things together with other people who are alive and next to them “.
If the Pokémon Go raids have brought several people to the same spot and created friendships and relationships, Niantic with Lightship wants to wonder what could happen by expanding this approach between the physical and the digital beyond the field of gaming. For now, the answer remains uncertain. But maybe some developer he just found the right tools to implement his own amazing idea. We just have to wait to see what it is.


text:
EPA praises electronics recycling pilot.
An analysis of the pilot program held in mid-2004 was recently completed. EPA, Staples Inc. and the Boston-based Product Stewardship Institute Inc. (PSI) collaborated on the pilot, which sought to determine if a major retailer could provide electronics recycling services to its retail and commercial customers within the company's existing distribution infrastructure. The pilot was conducted with the help of an EPA grant of more than $46,000.
"The successful 'eCycling' pilot shows that consumers and businesses will respond, if given the chance to recycle consumer electronics," Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office, says.
"This pilot project shows without a doubt that retailers and manufacturers can work with their customers to recycle computer equipment in an environmentally responsible and cost effective manner," Scott Cassel, executive director of the Product Stewardship Institute, says. "This is a model that works, saves resources and can ultimately be expanded to other product areas."
The project collected unwanted electronic equipment sold by Staples (including laptops, computer processing units, monitors, printers, fax machines and small peripheral devices) from retail and commercial customers and provided recycling services using "reverse logistics" using Staples' delivery trucks and product distribution network.
The EPA concludes that the retail collection model appears to be a viable option to complement and expand the existing electronic scrap collection infrastructure, though retailers may conclude that nominal user fees need to be charged to consumers to offset the collection and recycling costs.
The pilots collected and recycled a total of 57 tons of electronics during several months in mid-2004.
In one program, Staples collected electronic equipment from retail customers at 27 Staples retail stores in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island during a six-week period.
In a second program, Staples collected electronic equipment from 14 existing commercial customers in Massachusetts, Main and New Hampshire that typically receive direct delivery of products at their place of business. This pilot tested the "reverse logistics" transportation model. The collected equipment was back-hauled by delivery carriers, consolidated at distribution and fulfillment centers then transported to Envirocycle, an electronics recycler in Hallstead, Penn.
|Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback|
|Title Annotation:||ELECTRONICS RECYCLING|
|Date:||Sep 1, 2005|
|Previous Article:||Wrap grants boost glass recycling.|
|Next Article:||ISRI offers e-recycling input.|


text:
Power2SME collaborates with MSMEs in Bhiwadi
New Delhi, Jan 22 (KNN) Power2SME, the first ‘buying club’ for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India, collaborated with Bhiwadi Manufacturers Association (BMA), to address their large member base around the company’s value offerings.
The initiative aims to unleash the untapped potential of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by offering solutions for the roadblocks faced by them in the region. Dignitaries from state and local government bodies were in attendance at the SME Transformation Camp event jointly organised by Power2SME and BMA in Bhiwadi.
The alliance also aims to connect with the large base of MSMEs in the region and conduct a series of events throughout the year. The initiative received tremendous response from the MSMEs participating in the event.
Speaking on the occasion, R Narayan, Founder & CEO, Power2SME said, “We seek to offer comprehensive solutions including extending procurement and sourcing of raw material, financial aid and MRO services in order to help MSMEs overcome operational challenges. By organising SME Transformation Camps and addressing their issues, we aim to create an enabling environment for the large base of SMEs present in the state. We have found a great partner in BMA. This partnership will help in meeting our objectives, which are to help enhance productivity and revenues of the sector, contributing to economic growth at the local as well as the national level.”
“We are glad to partner with Power2SME to bolster the operations of MSMEs in Bhiwadi. This association will benefit the large number of MSMEs present in the region to help augment their growth. Companies like Power2SME help these enterprises enhance operations and boost confidence & business performance. We encourage more and more SMEs in the state to take part in the initiative being undertaken and gain from the knowledge and expertise exhibited in the SME Transformation Camps being organised,” said B M Mittal, President, Bhiwadi Manufacturers Association (BMA).
Sumit Jain, Deputy General Manager, MSME Technology Centre, Ministry of MSME also graced the event with his presence and addressed the session.
Since its inception, Power2SME has been committed to enhancing productivity and revenues of the MSME sector, which is critical for overall growth of the Indian economy. In the past few months, the company has expanded its operations foraying into states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Punjab, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, to name a few.


text:
Fragment founder Hiroshi Fujiwara was seen wearing what’s believed to be the unreleased sneaker, coming in a navy and black colorway, with double-layered white Swooshes and the Fragment lighting bolt imprint right above the midsole. It wouldn’t be the first time the brands collaborated—Sacai teamed up with Fragment to deliver a minimal Chuck Taylor Converse All Star model back in 2017.
As of this writing, the Fragment x Sacai Waffle collab hasn’t been confirmed by any of the parties rumored to be involved, but keep it locked to Sole Collector as news develops.
UPDATE (01/02): New information about the Fragment x Sacai Nike LDWaffle has surfaced. According to Soleheatonfeet and zSneakerheadz, the collab is releasing at select retailers sometime in Spring/Summer 2021. Stay tuned to Sole Collector for updates.
UPDATE (08/07): Thanks to @Brandon1an on Twitter, we now have a detailed look at the two Fragment x Sacai Nike LDWaffles rumored to drop this summer. Grab a closer look below as we wait the official launch details.


text:
Last Known Status: Active
Latest Cursed Kingdom News
Below is our complete Cursed Kingdom news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Persian death metal band Cursed Kingdom has just inked a deal with the independent worldwide label Turkey Vulture Records.
Watch for the new album "The Wasteland" to be released through Turkey Vulture Records/Bungalo Records/Universal Music Group Distribution and hit stores everywhere in Spring of 2013.


text:
Even as the Indian consumer shifts from shopping at brick and mortar stores to online retail, internet and mobile-based classified company Quikr aims to keep the country's age-old consumer habits alive.
"Quikr is basically a handshake platform. You don't have to transact through the site. In India, ecommerce companies have to take into account behavioral hurdles. The consumer here isn't all that comfortable seeing a product online and then using his or her credit card to buy it," says Pranaya Chulet, founder and chief executive of the firm.
Also see: The Economic Times presents The Power of Ideas
The company, which came into existence after ecommerce giant eBay spun off its classified business, has become one of the most funded consumer internet companies in the country, after it raised $32 million in its latest round of funding in May, led by global private equity firm Warburg Pincus.
The capital raised will be used towards product development, marketing and hiring of talent. Quikr has now raised $50 million across its five rounds of funding, and is now focusing on acquisitions, as it looks to add to its categories.
"We have built a good war chest, and are in it for the long run. We are open to inorganic growth, if a proposed acquisition adds value," Chulet points out. Education, entertainment and social networking are the next big bets. According to the IIM Calcutta-educated Chulet, the classified platform sees 26 million users every month, of which 17 million are unique.
"At any given point, Quikr sees 4 to 5 million listings, which are actual transactions taking place," Chulet says. The company is now focusing on conquering the mobile frontier. "Close to 25% of our traffic comes from mobile," he adds. "We are not looking at exits. There is a growing business and there are huge opportunities here," Chulet says.


text:
, , ,
Cloud computing has unleashed a whole host of innovation, on-demand usage and collaboration options that companies are looking to take advantage of. However, ‘cloud’ is not a one-click panacea.
, , ,
Digital technologies will form the cornerstone of answering this question, but in order to succeed they will need to address issues such as updating legacy infrastructure, guaranteeing data security and improving the ROI on healthcare technology investments. As a result, the digital healthcare systems of the near future call for levels of decentralization, consumerization and personalization that can only be delivered by technology and interconnection.
Requirements for real time, secure communications and data exchange with patients, partners, health ecosystems and network/cloud providers are forcing healthcare companies to invest in new interconnected digital value chains, R&D, diagnostics and care delivery models.
Working within an integrated and interconnect ad tech ecosystem that also incorporates direct access to a dense ecosystem of cloud providers will help advertisers gain back the control they require to ensure the viewability they need for a greater return on investment from their programmatic ad programs.
The digital advertising sector needs a new breed of talent that can bridge the gap between the language that analysts speak and the language that marketers talk.
A key digital advertising gamechanger is programmatic buying, a relatively new trend that is already rapidly changing the landscape of digital growth.
At least 85 advertising technology companies have colocated in one or more Equinix data centers around the world. The list of advertising participants within Equinix is growing fast and historically has nearly doubled every year.
Asian consumers are increasingly tech enabled with more than 226 million mobile phones sold to end users in Asia-Pacific in the first quarter of 2013, increasing the region’s share of global mobile phones to 53.1 percent year-on-year.
Big data has swept the world as a buzzword but, at this point, it is mostly just a cliché.
The demand has spurred potential new cable activity plans and will result in continued submarine cable system investments. In particular, expansionary activity will continue into the Asia-Pacific market by network and content companies driven by the massive and ongoing connected customer base growth.


text:
Home brewers may often think their latest creation is the result of divine inspiration; now one Milwaukee-based craft brewer is giving them the chance to make it official.
Lakefront Brewery will be hosting its 26th annual "Blessing of the Bock" on Sunday, March 23. The brewery is releasing a special bock-style beer for the event, available only at the brewery.
The brewery is also inviting home brewers to bring samples of their own brew to be blessed by Fr. Michael Bertram of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Milwaukee.


text:
Posts tagged Railroad Strike
Rail workers warn of exodus after Congress forces through deal
December 8, 2022 // Railroad workers could leave the industry after Congress forced through a contract that does not provide them any paid sick days, an exodus that would ripple through an economy reliant on freight railroads to transport goods. The exit of thousands of train conductors and engineers would be felt by major corporations and U.S. consumers alike. It could slow the delivery of food, fuel and online orders while strangling already-shaky supply chains. Trillium Asset Management,
Rail strike threat escalates as third union rejects deal
November 15, 2022 // The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) announced Monday its members voted against ratifying a tentative agreement with the major freight railroads, making IBB the third labor group to turn down the deal brokered by the Biden administration and upping the chances of a nationwide strike.
New Demands by One Labor Union Renews Concerns about Possible Railroad Strike in November
October 27, 2022 // DuWayne Bosse of Bolt Marketing is optimistic it will not come to that. "I don't think we go into a full out strike because I don't think the economy can handle it right now and I think the Administration knows that as well, but that's why I think the unions are standing strong because they know that too." However, this is causing increased concern among end users and may slow shipments similar to late August, early September before the previous deadline for a labor deal


text:
In order to increase trade volume and export from Indonesia to Algeria, Indonesian Ambassador to Algeria, Ahmad Salim Niam, continues to make innovation. After gathering politicians and policymakers, this time he gathered the Algerian entrepreneurs from various fields.
The event, which was held in order to invite Algerian entrepreneurs to import Indonesian products,was held in a southern Algeria city, Biskra. Attending the event were Algerian entrepreneurs from Biskra of Algerian entrepreneur organization.
“I want the bond between the two countries to be closer, marked with progressive economic relations. The potential and new market of Algeria are great momentums for Indonesia. That is why we gather the entrepreneurs, to market Indonesian products,” said the ambassador during the meeting in Biskra, Monday (3/27/2012).
The meeting, attended by 100 entrepreneurs from various fields, stimulated Algerian entrepreneurs to see and visit Indonesia. According to the plan, the entrepreneurs who are importing and exporting to Indonesia will have field trips to the country in mid-April.
“I think that the economy of Indonesia is fascinating. Not only is it stable from crisis, like in Europe, it is also developing. This is the right time for Algerian entrepreneurs to explore Indonesian market and products,” said one of the biggest Algerian entrepreneurs from Biskra, Farid.
Support from the Governor of Biskra
Efforts to have business relations between Indonesia and Algeria have received support not only from the central government. A number of governors have stated their support. For example, the meeting was fully supported and backed up by the Governor of Biskra, MasoedDjari.
During the meeting of Ambassador Niam and MasoudDjari, the governor gave an offer of preparedness directly to export dates to Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Algerian party from Biskra offered its participation in construction project for public housing, which amounts to millions.
“I am glad to meet the ambassador, and I hope our cooperation and relations can be realized soon. We are ready to export dates as requested by Indonesia, but we also need Indonesian companies to invest in Algeria,” he said. (Source: KBRI Alger)


text:
Windlight Magazine, the award-winning arts magazine and brand, is celebrating its first anniversary in June.
To mark the passing of a year of outstanding coverage and support of the the arts in Second Life, Windlight has commissioned the award-winning SCALA™ fashion agency to bring you fashion art on a chromatic runway canvas. The event will mark the start of a series of summer celebratory events by Windlight.
AChromatic, courtesy of SCALA Fashion Agency
AChromatic: Behind the Collection sees 14 of Second Life’s most innovative fashion designers showcase their visions of bold shapes and colour within a monochrome setting. Immediately after the show, the AChromatic Vaults will be open within the boutique area at Windlight’s home region, presenting exclusive items from the show to shoppers through until Saturday, June 18th, complete with a LookBook commemorating the event.
Also following the main show, there will be a live performance by Christopher Quan, also at Windlight Magazine’s home region.


text:
The impending relaunch of Archie is almost upon us, and that can mean only one thing: variant covers, including retailer exclusives from some of the country's most prominent comic shops. Yes, when Mark Waid and Fiona Staples kick off their new take on Riverdale's favorite son next month, their story will be wrapped up in not one, not two, but seventeen different covers, each one made for a specific store.
Art Baltazar - Page 2
With the exception of perhaps Marvel, Dark Horse Comics may have been the publisher that broke the most news about its upcoming books at New York Comic-Con this year. That includes new stories from Eric Powell and Sergio Aragonés, the latest adventures from the Eisner-winning Itty Bitty team, prestige collections of Kabuki and Pistolwhip, brand new horror tales from some of the masters of the form, and much more.
About a decade after the formation of the Comics Code Authority in 1954 effectively killed off EC Comics' popular line of horror comics, Warren Publishing aimed to bring back some of that malevolent magic. The result was the anthology series Creepy (and later, its sister book, Eerie). Published as a black-and-white magazine, the series didn't have to adhere to the Comics Code's strict content standards, and as such, was able to push the envelope in ways comics in the mid-1960s generally couldn't.
Now, the book's current publisher, Dark Horse, is celebrating the magazine's 50th anniversary with a big, blowout issue featuring work by Fred Van Lente, Corinna Bechko, Dustin Nguyen, Peter Bagge, Alison Sampson, and Art Baltazar, among others.
After spending decades trying to prove that comics "aren't just for kids anymore", the last few years have seen a number of creators and publishers making a concentrated push to bring younger readers back into the industry and create titles that appeal a wide spectrum of audiences. Art Baltazar and Franco are on the forefront of this movement. They're a pair of artists and writers with distinct styles that combine to convey a single, unmistakable, irresistible persona: the "Baltazar/Franco" name is an automatic seal of approval for kids and parents alike.
Tiny Titans ran for 50 issues (plus a three-issue miniseries that co-starred Little Archie), and in the two-and-a-half years since that title wrapped up, Baltazar and Franco have been insanely prolific, producing the 12-issue follow-up series Superman Family Adventures for DC, the Itty Bitty Hellboy limited series for Dark Horse, the Lil' Battlestar Galactica one-shot for Dynamite, the Captain Action Cat title for Dark Horse and Dynamite, drawn innumerable covers for various publishers, and published more than a half-dozen issues of their own crowdfunded original ongoing series, Aw Yeah Comics. The duo have also founded the Aw Yeah Comics! comic shop in Illinois, and partnered with Mark Waid on a second comic shop in Indiana.
And in the midst of all this hubbub, they took some time out to speak with ComicsAlliance about their brand new Tiny Titans: Return to the Treehouse limited series and talk about their other projects – past, present, and future.
There are, perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of comic book fans among the roster of professional wrestlers, but very few have worn their fandom on their sleeve as much as "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. And I mean that literally -- there was a stretch there where he was only appearing on television in Marvel-themed shirts, and he once flipped through an issue of Amazing Spider-Man while keeping his opponent locked in the dreaded Figure-Four.
Now, Daniels is taking the next step. As revealed on the Let's Talk Comics podcast, he's not only appearing in a comic alongside his tag team partner Frankie Kazarian, but he's writing it, too: Christopher Daniels And Kazarian Wrestling Aw Yeah Comics! is on its way soon, debuting on Comixology with a script by Daniels and art by former Tiny Titans artist Art Baltazar.
Fresh off the news that Dark Horse is going to be publishing the print collections of Tiny Titans creators Art Baltazar and Franco's Thrillbent series Aw Yeah Comics, the publisher, along with Dynamite Entertainment, and creative team are announcing one crazy crossover.
Not only will Captain Action Cat: The Timestream CATastrophe feature all the Aw Yeah Comics characters, but it'll also include Captain Action Cat, a feline version of the classic toy Captain Action, and a collection of Dark Horse characters including Ghost, X, Captain Midnight, and the Occultist. The first issue of the series hits April 16.
It's that special time of year when we at CA are lucky enough to receive season's greetings from some of our favorite comic book publishers. The first card we received this year came from Dark Horse Comics, which went all-out with a 2013 Holiday Card featuring an unfolding comics story by Art Baltazar and Franco! of Tiny Titans acclaim. We won't spoil the narrative surprise here, but you'll definitely want to click through to see DH's official images of the comic/card hybrid in sequence.
What's so impressive about Art Baltazar and Franco -- the Eisner-winning team behind Tiny Titans, Superman Family Adventures and Patrick The Wolf Boy -- isn't just that they create great all-ages comics; It's that they can seemingly take any concept and manage to give it a humorous, kid-friendly spin. The latest example comes courtesy of Dark Horse Comics, as the duo have teamed up to create Itty Bitty Hellboy, an all new ongoing title featuring their all-ages look applied to new stories of Hellboy, Abe Sapien, Liz, Lobster Johnson and the rest of the B.P.R.D. crew as kids.
Dark Horse has provided a six page preview of the upcoming series, and you can check it out after the cut.
The recent cancellation of Superman Family Adventures left a lot of readers -- especially those around here -- gnashing their teeth over another blow against fun, all-ages adventure comics. If you're on the verge of losing hope for this fallen world of ours, though, there's good news too: Art Baltazar and Franco, the creators behind Tiny Titans, Superman Family Adventures and more, are currently in the middle of a Kickstarter to raise money for their next venture, Aw Yeah Comics...
Yesterday, in the second installment of their new monthly column over on CBR, DC Comics Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras and Editorial Director Bobbie Chase made a few announcements, but the biggest revelation was that DC Comics is canceling six books: Fury of Firestorm, Ravagers, Savage Hawkman, Deathstroke, Sword Of Sorcery and Team 7...


text:
70% of Designers Spec LEDs in Kitchens
Data from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) shows a huge increase in the percentage (70%) of designers spec'ing LEDs in 2012 vs. 2011 (54%).
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has cited LED lighting as the No. 4 top trend in kitchen design in 2012, with a staggering 70 percent of designers now spec’ing LEDs, up from 50 percent in 2010 and 54 percent in 2011.
“Energy-efficiency is clearly not a fad, but a real trend that can be seen taking hold in homes across the United States and Canada,” says NKBA. “Despite the higher initial cost, light-emitting diode, or LED, lighting is proof of this trend.”
On the flip side, spec’ing compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) is on the decline. Only 26 percent of designers have recommended them in 2012, down from 36 percent in 2011.
The specification of incandescent bulbs is at 42 percent, and the NKBA expects that figure to fall as 75W and then 60W and 40W bulbs are banned in 2013 and 2014.
Jason has covered low-voltage electronics as an editor since 1990. He joined EH Publishing in 2000, and before that served as publisher and editor of Security Sales, a leading magazine for the security industry. He served as chairman of the Security Industry Association’s Education Committee from 2000-2004 and sat on the board of that association from 1998-2002. He is also a former board member of the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation. He is currently a member of the CEDIA Education Action Team for Electronic Systems Business. Jason graduated from the University of Southern California. Have a suggestion or a topic you want to read more about? Email Jason at [email protected]
Follow Jason on social media:
LightingVivint Launches Smart Home Platform for Rental Properties
Insteon, SmartLabs Acquired; New CEO Wants to Make Powerline Great Again for Home Automation
Patents: Home Automation Leader Crestron Invents a Smarter Smart Bulb
Lutron Revamps Gallery Collection Motorized Shades
CE Pro 100 Names Top Motorized Window Treatment Brands
View more on Lighting


text:
Scottish ministers agree to stand-alone FSA
Scottish ministers have agreed to create a stand-alone food standards agency and meat inspection service for Scotland.
The decision follows the recommendations outlined in the Scudamore review, which was published in April and concluded that Scotland would be best served by a new public body to fulfil the Food Standard Agency’s functions for Scotland.
Scotland’s Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “The changes in England removed significant capacity in the FSA’s nutrition and labelling functions for Scotland and needed to be addressed. I thank Professor Jim Scudamore and his colleagues for their months of work to develop this comprehensive report, which we have been considering since publication in April.
“We have accepted all their recommendations. A new body will allow a Scottish approach to be taken to tackle poor diet and food-borne diseases and should support our food and drink industry in growing its strong, international reputation for safe, quality food.”
Officials said the new body would be kept at “arms-length” from Scottish government and will encompass nutrition and labelling policy, and meat inspection policy and operational delivery, in addition to food safety and standards. They added that creating the new body would require primary legislation, and the Scottish government plans to consult on options before the end of this year.
The decision has been welcomed by the Scottish meat industry and described by the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) as “a progressive and far-reaching move which will benefit the country’s whole meat chain, from producers to consumers”.
Alan McNaughton, president of the SAMW, said that embarking on a new collaborative approach to meat inspection in Scotland was a “refreshing prospect” for meat companies tired of the FSA’s “excessive” bureaucracy and heavy administrative costs.
“The new structure, as outlined by the Scottish government, is very much a new dawn for our industry, offering everyone involved the chance to start again with fresh ambitions, fresh attitudes and a vision for continued development,” he said.
“We have a superb product to offer consumers, we’re 100% committed to product health and safety as the top priority of the new service and we’re all totally committed to working together to achieve the very best for Scotland’s meat industry.”
Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead also welcomed the announcement. “I welcome the decision to transfer operational control of meat inspection delivery to the FSA in Scotland as soon as possible, which we hope will deliver a more cost-effective service and further enhance our strong reputation for quality and hygiene,” he said.
“I am keen to explore how quickly this could be achieved. Legislation would not be needed, so I would expect to transfer meat inspection, after discussions with the industry and the Food Standards Agency, before the new body is established.”
>Industry lobbies MPs over future of abbattoirs
>Government rejects full-cost recovery
>Report recommends stand-alone FSA in Scotland


text:
Last week was entertaining from a news perspective. We got to talk about Tesla and Cathie Wood… Heck, even “The Big Short.” But with a ton of economic data coming out this week, the time for fun is over.
There’s an important report coming every day this week, culminating with the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole meeting on Friday. From Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) numbers we received Monday to Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) on Thursday… the most important thing this week is the Fed’s response to the latest economic data.
Will Chair Jerome Powell panic and begin tapering? Will he remain steadfast in the fact that inflation doesn’t seem to bother the U.S. central bankers?
Let’s start with PMI data that came out Monday morning. Manufacturing data stayed relatively steady…
But the key figure here is services.
When the economy began to recover after the pandemic, the initial increases were in manufacturing — and there was a ton of supply to make up. Then services picked up… and now appear to have peaked.
To explain how PMI is measured, it revolves around the number “50.” A level of 50 means no growth. Below 50 is shrinking, above is growing.
Services currently sit around 55. So there is still growth, but it has slowed significantly from recent highs above 70. If that number keeps dipping, how will the Fed respond?
Well, the United States is a service-based economy, so it means the economy is truly slowing if that number falls further.
And that means the Fed will just do what they always do… counteract economic weakness with easy money policy.
Housing Data This Week
We’ll see a couple of housing data reports this week, both of which are indicators for the economy as a whole.
New home sales come out Tuesday, which should give us an idea about consumer appetite for higher price points. I can’t point out my expectations on that one, only that we’ll react to the data.
Wednesday, however, we get durable goods orders. Now, as you know, I prefer leading indicators. Durable goods is a leading indicator of new home construction. I expect a decline, which will also lead to a decline in new home sales.
And so what does that indicate? Check No. 2 on an economic slowdown.
We already know inflation is still running rampant. And if you’ve been following me, you should already know what I’m about to say…
Inflation plus a slowing economy equals stagflation. The more data we get, the more confident I feel in that claim.
The Fed’s Response to Economic Data
Ready for the third checkbox on an economic slowdown? On Friday, the same day as the Jackson Hole meeting, we’ll get consumer sentiment numbers.
That data has been largely… well, bad. The last report we saw was below its COVID-19 level. So we’ll hope for upside but if that number gets worse, buckle up.
I expect U.S. consumer spending to continue to slow. And consumer spending is about 70% of GDP. We’ve been saying for months now that we’ll see the economy and consumer spending slow down, but the scary part comes in how the Fed responds.
The day before the Fed meets in Jackson Hole, we’ll get the big PCE report. Which is a key indicator of inflation. It may not be the central bank’s preferred inflation metric, but it’s certainly mine.
But that doesn’t mean the Fed won’t respond to this economic data.
PCE is expected to come in at around 6.1, which would be the highest level in nearly 40 years.
Will it stay there? Absolutely not.
But how will the Fed respond to that economic data? I’ll bet it will panic.
And from that panic, it will finally start tapering. Good news, right? Wrong.
For one, any talk of tapering — reducing asset purchases — could cause markets to pull back, especially in small caps. But tapering during an economic slowdown means we’ll see it go from stagflation… to deceleration.
During economic downturns is when you want to increase asset purchases, which the Fed should have started doing last year. So after the wrong move has been made, look for it to compound it with an even worse one.
So why is the Fed’s response to economic data going to be so wrong? Because, by nature, it is a backward-looking organization.
All we can do is keep our eyes forward and do what the Fed won’t: be prepared.
All the best,
P.S. Former Air Force pilot, 10-time Trading Champion and million-dollar investor Chuck Hughes is revealing his brand-new discovery, Omega One…
Not only will he reveal this pricing anomaly that has recently paid him 104 times out of 108 trades…
But he’s going to put $3.4 million on the line to help the everyday trader succeed with this new formula!


text:
The EU has released a Notice to Stakeholders that warns EU company law will no longer apply in the UK after Brexit. The main points it raises are:
- UK incorporated companies will become third country companies and branches in EU-27 Member States of UK incorporated companies will become branches of third country companies
- Member States may not be obliged to recognise the legal personality (and the protections that flow from it) of companies which are incorporated in the UK but have their central administration or principal place of business in the EU
- EU law on disclosure, incorporation, capital maintenance and alteration, and cross-border mergers will no longer apply. However as these are currently enshrined in UK company law, there would be no change on exit unless and until those UK provisions are amended.
- The UK business register will not be connected to the business registers interconnection system and the way information is obtained will be different.


text:
We had been waiting on the announcement regarding when (and if) Dragon Quest Heroes 2 would be getting a release outside of Japan, and today we can report that it will. Square Enix has announced that the game will be launching April 25th, 2017 for PlayStation 4, and the game will include several enhancements and new features that the first game did not. The game also received an announcement trailer, which you can check out for yourself at the bottom of this post.
Those who played the first game will be familiar with its action-heavy gameplay that has you taking on hordes of enemies at once, though this game will be set in a brand new world and will star different characters. This game will also include a new multiplayer feature that will allow you to form a party of up to four other players online and battle together.
As for what the story is this time around, “Once upon a time, many years ago, there was a long and terrible war. When the war finally ended, the people of the world made a solemn pact never to fight again. The world was divided into seven realms and peace reigned for a thousand years.”
“One day, cousins and fellow knights-in-training Lazarel and Teresa reunite in the Kingdom of Harba, far from their Dunisian home. Little do they suspect that the Dunisian army is about to invade, with their old friend Prince Cesar at the helm.” Of course, the long-standing peace is broken and the world descends into chaos, resulting in our heroes having to fight back evil and restore peace to the world.
Dragon Quest Heroes 2 will launch for PlayStation 4 on April 25th, 2017, though they have confirmed that the PlayStation Vita version will not be localized. You can check out the game’s announcement trailer below.
- This article was updated on:February 21st, 2018


text:
Ghanaian Chef Ebenezer Smith has completed his cooking marathon attempt with over 800 hours of cooking.
With determination to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, Chef Smith begun his record attempt on February 1, 2024.
He has been cooking for over a month now and ended on March 6, 2024 with an impressive 820 hours.
On March 5, his cook-a-thon drew a star-studded lineup of performers including Praye Tietia, Yaw Tog, Amerado, Kofi Jamar, and Asakaa Boys.
Throughout this extraordinary challenge, numerous celebrities, including Nana Ama McBrown, Clemento Suarez, Kwaku Manu, SDK, and OB Amponsah, have visited the Amadia Shopping Centre at Spintex to show their support for the chef’s incredible feat.
His cooking marathon was sponsored by the Amadia Shopping Centre at Spintex where the event is being held.
Chef Smith aims to beat the official 119-hour record set by Alan Fisher.


text:
RIM’s BBM will soon be available on Android and IOS
Research In Motion unveiled that BBM is coming to Android and IOS, and said it will offer its once-popular BlackBerry Messenger service on iPhones and devices running Google’s Android software.
CEO Thorsten Heins said the time is right to offer BBM on rival devices. He said iPhone and Android versions will be available for free, subject to approval by Google Play and the Apple App Store. The messaging app will be launched globally this summer. This is a huge move for BlackBerry as it brings BB10’s strongest feature to literally hundreds of millions of potential users.
“It’s time to bring BBM to a greater audience,” Heins said. “I cannot wait for the day when all of our BlackBerry fans can send BBM invites to all their friends on other platforms. They have asked us for this for years.” The BBM service was once a reason for BlackBerry users not to defect to other smartphones. Now, there are many rival messaging services. Still, there are more than 60 million BBM users worldwide.
The messaging app will be launched globally this summer. This is a huge move for BlackBerry as it brings BB10’s strongest feature to literally hundreds of millions of potential users.
The app will be free on both Android and iOS. Much like other messaging apps, it will be a standalone application. “iOS 6 or Ice Cream Sandwich” will be required.
Initially, only messaging and group features will be available. But Heins promised that the rest of BBM will eventually make its way to the Android and iOS versions including screen sharing, BBM voice and the just-announced BBM channels.
A smart move from RIM. I really love this 🙂


text:
Four students from India’s Birla Institute of Technology and Science have developed an SMS-based biometric authentication system for use in rural areas with poor internet connection. The team has developed an Android app to allow fingerprint scans to be taken and then turned into an encrypted, numeric code which can be sent by a simple SMS message. The team’s idea won the grand prize in the Accenture Innovation Jockeys 5 competition earlier this month.
- Chevrolet and Shell let drivers pay for fuel and access offers from their vehicles
- US supermarket chain Meijer to launch mobile self-checkout service
- Charity to roll out contactless donation screens following successful three week pilot
- Google’s mobile payments app has now been installed 100m times
- JCB to pilot biometric payment cards in Japan


text:
» Cheat Semua Permainan Ps2
Cheat Semua Permainan Ps2
Cheat Semua Permainan Ps2 on Technology News and Updates AdmaTechnology.com at Saturday, April 19, 2014
Compel Apple to admit mistakes.
The adage “already fallen, hit by the stairs anyway” seems to fit the subject at Apple in the case of the lawsuit in the UK. After the appeal was rejected British High Court, in London, the U.S. tech giant [...]
Samsung claims to have sold three million units since the smartphone Galaxy Note II or smart mobile phone was introduced in late September. Giant technology, from South Korean said sales of Galaxy Note II, which are sold in 100 countries, is rising faster [...]
Requires heavenly guidance in work or romance.
A temple in southern Taiwan will launch a smartphone app that can help religious Taoist to seek enlightenment from the Almighty when being activity.
In a report released CNA news agency on Saturday (10/22), [...]
Through Vietnam blog site, Tinthe.vn, it was reported that the latest generation iPhone that was allegedly named the iPhone 5S will have a 12 megapixel camera.
In addition, Apple also improve low-light photography feature so image quality in low-light [...]
BlackBerry Live event held in Orlando, USA, Tuesday (14/5), BlackBerry announced their new hero on the BlackBerry 10 platform, the BlackBerry Q5.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Wednesday (15/5), according to a recent leak outstanding, the Q5 is a cheap version [...]
Many people who do not want to buy a ring tone as their smartphone. But not a few who complained about the use of the song into ringtone is quite disturbing.
The most easy and free way to make ringtone for your iPhone is using iTunes as reported from [...]
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag will be released on October 29, 2013, is known thanks to leak news video trailer will premiere on March 3, 2013 yesterday.
Ubisoft stated that the game can already be ordered, intended for users of the Xbox 360, PlayStation [...]
Researchers from IBM managed to break the record by making the world’s smallest movie.
The film uses atoms as an actor in a movie called “A Boy And His Atomic” lasted 1 minute 35 seconds.
The film is made using stop-motion technique, [...]
Electronic Arts announced Saturday game four-person co-op shooter called Fuse, which will be launched on May 28 in North America and May 31 in Europe.
Fuse is the first multiplatform game from Insomniac Games for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, but not [...]
Although the majority of smartphone users prefer to communicate via messenger applications, many of them are also fond of making phone calls.
Some of the applications are available both on the iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry can be used for free calling [...]
The device is also reinforced with a battery that can last 9 hours.
Sandy Storm did make Android Google canceled the event due to be held in New York City, yesterday local time. However, that does not mean Google Nexus series canceled announced their [...]


text:
TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust.
In a nutshell: Nvidia's mid-range RTX 3000-series card, the RTX 3060, is a little more than one week away from launch, although what exactly that means during these strange times is largely up for debate. With scalpers, miners and legitimate gamers all vying for Nvidia hardware, it seems almost certain that inventory shortages are going to continue.
Nvidia 3000-series cards went live in the latter half of 2020 but myriad of issues ensured in-store inventory remained virtually extinct. That's still the case today, as the only way to get your hands on a new card is to pay an exorbitant price on a third-party marketplace.
Will the same hold true for the RTX 3060?
Nvidia's mid-ranger carries an MSRP of just $329 and is scheduled to launch on February 25. According to reports, however, some retailers are already hiking the price of the card by as much as 75 percent in the pre-order period.
Truth be told, these cards are likely to get bought up by the same scalpers that have wreaked havoc on the hardware and console electronics industry in recent months. That, combined with already low levels of production / chip shortages caused by the pandemic and the recent demand for cards for cryptocurrency mining is making a tough situation even more untenable.


text:
Saskatoon Riversdale rental space getting more competitive
Watch the video above: Riversdale the new Broadway in Saskatoon
SASKATOON – A decade ago, the Riversdale Business Improvement District (RBID) couldn’t pay people to set up shop in the Saskatoon neighbourhood.
Now, there’s hardly any room for sale.
Riversdale has been enticing more and more young entrepreneurs to set up shop over the past few years.
From newly-renovated restaurants to growing office space, the neighbourhood has become very popular for renters.
“It has been a relatively lower-cost centre to launch a business, so it makes good economic sense for startups to look at that as a venue,” said Kent Smith-Windsor, with the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.
“If we look at just the first few blocks of 20th Street between Idylwyld and Avenue C, we’ve had over 28,000 square feet leased or under renovation now since last fall,” said Randy Pshebylo, RBID executive director.
Meanwhile, Saskatoon’s downtown core is expected to reach its highest office vacancy rate in more than a decade, according to a recent report by Colliers International.
From lower parking costs to bike lockup spaces, RBID has tried to accommodate people with a range of different incomes and that has helped entice renters.
“We looked at how we could make that experience more pleasurable and affordable for those who want to come – a number of parking stalls, a number of bike lanes, availability for scooters, disabled parking,” said Pshebylo.
Pshebylo said Idylwyld Drive has always divided the downtown core from Riversdale.
He hopes that tourists staying at downtown hotels will feel more comfortable crossing over now that more shops are popping up.
Pshebylo said both areas can benefit from each others’ strengths.
Riversdale was an incorporated village before it became part of Saskatoon in 1906.


text:
At a community event today, streamed live on Twitch, Activision developer Treyarch confirmed that the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Op’s 4 will for-go the traditional single-player campaign mode. Instead, the game set to launch on 12 October 2018 will solely focus on its multiplayer modes. The traditional arena combat modes, the popular Zombie Apocalypse mode, and a new battle royale mode called Blackout.
The action will take place on the biggest map that developer Treyarch has ever made, roughly 1,500 times larger than Nuketown, according to the company. From the video shown during today’s presentation, Blackout’s map appears to include features of other well-known maps such as characters, weapons and gadgets and locations from the larger Call of Duty universe.
One key difference between Blackout and other battle royale-style games is the number and types of vehicles present on the map. As described during today’s live reveal event, players will be able to use vehicles on land, sea and in the air.
“For us to even consider this experience,” Vonderhaar said, “it had to be unique and done in the way that only Black Ops can do it.”
This represents the Call of Duty franchise’s first attempt at an open-world, last man standing-style survival game mode with the same level of gameplay refinement that the franchise is known for. Blackout enters a crowded market, one currently dominated by Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
For those who might prefer playing alone, Lamia promised “unique ways to play solo in multiplayer and zombies [modes] regardless of your skill level,” without going into further detail. “Those of you who just want to ramp up on your own, we’ve got you covered, too,” he said.


text:
May 9, 2011
Apple Now Considered Most Valuable Brand
The annual BrandZ report from Millward Brown on the 100 most valuable brands was released today and of the top 10, six were technology and telecoms companies.
Apple overtook Google's 4-year reign to be in the top spot. Google dropped to second place, IBM was listed at number three and Microsoft in fifth place. AT&T and China Mobile finished seventh and ninth respectively, reports Reuters.The iPhone and iPad creator enjoys an estimated brand value of $153 billion this year. Apple's portfolio of must-have goods propelled it last year past Microsoft to become the world's most valuable technology company.
Peter Walshe, global brands director of Millward Brown, says Apple's meticulous attention to detail, along with an increasing presence in corporate environments, have allowed it to behave differently from other consumer-electronics makers.
"Apple is breaking the rules in terms of its pricing model," Walshe told Reuters by telephone. "It's doing what luxury brands do, where the higher price the brand is, the more it seems to underpin and reinforce the desire. Obviously, it has to be allied to great products and a great experience, and Apple has nurtured that."
Other technology company rankings include Facebook's first entry on the top 100 at number 35 with a brand valued at $19.1 billion, while Chinese search engine Baidu rose to number 29 from 46.
Other non-tech brands on the list include McDonald, which rose two places to number four, as fast food became the fastest-growing category. Coca-Cola slipped one place to number six, Marlboro was also down one to number eight, and General Electric was number ten, The Telegraph reports.
The top vehicle manufacturer was Toyota, as it recovered from a bungled 2010 product recall. The survey was carried out before the March earthquake that caused massive disruption to Japanese supply chains.
To come up with these rankings, Millward Brown takes as a starting point the value that companies put on their own main brands as intangibles in their earnings reports. This is combines that with the perceptions of more than 2 million consumers in relevant markets around the world whom it surveys over the course of the year, and then applies a multiple derived from the company's short-term future growth prospects.
On the Net:


text:
Hill PHOENIX Inc., a Dover Company, unveiled the retail industry's first six-door, refrigerated display case at the Food Marketing Institute FMI Show 2003 in Chicago, IL, U.S. Part of the Origin2(TM) line of Hill PHOENIX products, the new reach-in case is 30 inches longer than any other case on the market and is available with shelf depths of up to 27 inches.
"Our new Origin2 six-door display case is a major product breakthrough," said Shawn Kahler, product manager, Display Cases for Hill PHOENIX. "Its unique design will significantly reduce costs for retailers."
A major cost reduction will come in labor costs associated with installation of a row of refrigerated cases. According to Kahler, a retail store typically has four rows of reach-in refrigerated cases, with each row consisting of approximately 30 doors.
"The new Hill PHOENIX six-door display case eliminates an entire case and still achieves the same overall line-up length," Mr. Kahler elaborated. By reducing the number of cases, you eliminate the cost of a labor crew to level the cases, hook up plumbing and electrical wiring, and install refrigerant. If you translate a conservative estimate of $1,000 in labor crew costs per case, you can see how quickly the savings can add up. By expanding the case to six doors, we've eliminated nearly 20 percent of joints, 20 percent of installation costs, and 17 to 20 percent of on-going maintenance costs," he said.
Another retail benefit: the new six-door display case has a maximum shelf depth of 27 inches, allowing retailers to stock more refrigerated items and reduce labor costs in restocking.
"We estimate retailers will see increases in excess of $200 in revenue per door thanks to the deeper shelf," he added.
to Daily News


text:
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
By MONICA ENG
CHICAGO - If you adjust for inflation and income, Americans have never spent less on food than they have in recent years. And yet many feel we've also never paid such a high price when it comes to factors other than dollars.
A worker slices up meat at a Chicago meat company. The costs not calculated in the direct consumer price of meat touch on such issues as health, taxpayer expense, the environment and animal welfare.
U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show the average American spent just 9.5 percent of his or her disposable income on food last year, a lower percentage than any country in the world.
And although meat consumption has risen slightly over the past 40 years, its impact on the pocketbook is less than half of what it was in 1970, falling from 4.1 percent to 1.6 in 2008.
The majority of this cheap protein is delivered by "factory farms" that house hundreds of animals in confinement. These concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, produce mass quantities of food at low cost.
"We have found the most efficient way to meet consumer demand for a high-quality, relatively inexpensive product," said Dave Werner, spokesman for the National Pork Producers Council in Washington. "We're the lowest-cost producer in the world, which is why we're the No. 1 pork exporter in the world."
But the system has also created disasters like August's recall of half a billion salmonella-tainted eggs. Critics say the consolidation of food production has led to environmental damage, the loss of millions of small independent farms, rising health care expenditures and billions in tax-funded subsidies to produce cheap animal feed.
The House of Representatives held hearings last month on just what went wrong with the factory-farmed eggs implicated in the salmonella outbreak and if regulation could have helped. But many environmentalists, farmers and advocates of "sustainable" food say that, even with better regulation, this kind of agriculture is not sustainable and only artificially cheap.
"Cheap is in the eyes of the accountant," said Daniel Imhoff, a researcher who edited the new book "CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories." "Somehow we've forgotten how to add the total costs of cheap meat production to our health, environment, the loss of vibrant rural communities with lots of family farms."
The costs not calculated in the direct consumer price of meat and other animal products -- called externalities -- touch on a variety of issues. Among them:
Meat producers put antibiotics in feed to make the animals grow faster and to prevent disease. But this summer, officials from several federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testified in support of new guidelines that would curb CAFOs' non-therapeutic use of antibiotics, citing a rise in dangerous antibiotic-resistant infections.
The meat industry objects, saying no studies directly link drug resistance in humans to the use of antibiotics in animals.
A cheap meat supply also may affect health by encouraging people to eat more of it. Americans already eat more protein than the USDA dietary guidelines recommend -- an average of 5.5 ounces of protein from meat, fish, beans and nuts combined daily. The USDA is expected to add eggs to that list of protein sources this year.
According to a recently published Harvard School of Public Health study that followed 84,000 women over 26 years, women who ate two servings per day of red meat had a 30 percent higher risk of developing coronary heart disease than those who had half a serving per day.
"So maybe it's time to step back and ask if it really needs to be that cheap," said David Kirby, author of "Animal Factory: The Looming Threat of Industrial Pig, Dairy and Poultry Farms to Humans and the Environment." "Maybe we don't need so much. Maybe we need better-quality animal products in moderation and less regularly."
(Continued on page 2)