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Subaru shows new car, and courage
Japanese maker Subaru shocked the car world overnight by revealing its facelifted Impreza. What made its move even bolder was unveiling the car in the high temple of design, the Paris motor show.
Impreza sales have stagnated in Europe and Australia since the controversially styled "goggle-eyed" model was released two years ago – and Subaru has moved swiftly to give its hero car a much-needed nip and tuck.
Reaction to the current Impreza has been so strong that the company hired a former Alfa Romeo designer as its chief stylist on future models. But Andreas Zapatinas is quick to point out that this facelift is not his handiwork – the project was completed before he moved to Japan three months ago.
It is the earliest facelift in Subaru's history. The previous Impreza remained unchanged for four years – and even then only the bonnet, bumper and headlights changed.
The facelift brings new bonnet, headlights, tail-lights, front guards and front and rear bumpers. Subaru would not disclose the cost but the amount is believed to be substantially more than the maker originally budgeted.
The high beam lenses of the slightly rectangular headlights now dip into the bumper. The tail-lights have a round theme similar to that of the Honda Integra.
The interior is unchanged but for the addition of side airbags for the first time. There is a new steering wheel for the high-performance STi model.
Side airbags are understood to be an option in Japan and Europe but are not expected to be available in Australia when the car goes on sale in December.
There is disappointing news for performance enthusiasts – the engine is expected to remain unchanged. Australian examples yet again miss out on the high-performance (180kW) engine, retaining the 160kW 2.0-litre turbo from the current car.
What does it look like in the metal? Well, different.
In Japan, Holiday Auto magazine says: "While the new look is definitely interesting and fresh, we think it makes the WRX look bloated and fatter than the original. And just as we were starting to get used to the current model too." The facelift, it says, makes the Impreza look too much like the Liberty.
However, Car Sensor calls it a definite improvement, but says the lights almost revert to the original design of 1993.
In the US, Car and Driver staffers reckon it looks much better than the present version.
Subaru Australia general manager, Nick Senior, told Drive last week the Impreza's sales downturn could not be solely attributed to styling. He said WRX sales were down but the more basic models were more popular than ever.
"We've had to deal with more competition in recent years and I think, in Sydney at least, [increased] insurance has played a role."
Senior would not speculate on the success or otherwise of the new design. "Whatever design you have there will be some who like it and some who don't. I like the new car, but I like the current car, too."


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BRUSSELS, June 12 (Reuters) - Belgian carpet maker Balta narrowed the price range of its initial public offering on Monday to between 13.25 and 13.75 euros, at the bottom end of its previous guidance.
The group launched its flotation plan at the end of May with an offer period set to end on June 13, subject to early closing. Its previous IPO range was 13.25-16.00 euros.
Balta has said its market capitalisation would be between 476 and 545 million euros ($533-$610 million) after it had listed, with a free float of between 45 and 60 percent.
Along with the initial share sale, private equity owner Lone Star is also selling a part of its shares in a secondary offering.
The group has previously said that its net proceeds from the offering would be about 138 million euros. The listing is primarily designed to reduce the company’s debt.
J.P. Morgan Securities and Deutsche Bank are joint global coordinators of the offering, with Barclays Bank also acting as a joint bookrunner and ING Belgium and KBC Securities being joint lead managers. ($1 = 0.8928 euros) (Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Foo Yun Chee)

domain: news


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For a while now, us UK-based Disney fans have been wondering “When will Disney Plus launch in a UK?” Now, some of us substantially wish we’d never asked.
Disney has reliable a new streaming use will launch in a US, Canada and Netherlands on Nov 12, and it will go live in Australia and New Zealand a week later.
The many worrying partial of a news (or miss of it) is Disney’s criticism per a wider rollout of Disney Plus. It’s approaching to launch in many vital markets within a initial dual years.
Related: Everything we know about Disney Plus
That’s a really large window, and if Disney Plus doesn’t launch in a UK until a really finish of this two-year period, we’ll finish adult blank out on these shows:
- The Mandalorian (November 2019)
- The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (Autumn 2020)
- WandaVision (Spring 2021)
- Loki (Spring 2020)
- Hawkeye (Autumn 2021)
For any Marvel fans still entrance to terms with a news that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man could be exiting a MCU, this is even some-more unwelcome news. What’s more, even some-more shows are expected to be announced in a entrance months.
Hopefully Disney Plus comes to a UK earlier than this, though dual years is all we have to go on during a moment.
We don’t know a accurate reason for a miss of news per a UK launch. When it comes to big-name services, a UK has always tended to be one of a initial countries on anyone’s list.
Related: Best VPNs for streaming
Many Disney properties are already accessible in a UK in some form or another – Sky frequently shows Disney-owned cinema on a channels. Content chartering deals like these could be one cause in a Disney Plus UK delay.
There has also been some conjecture that new European Union legislation could have played a part. The EU recently introduced legislation that requires 30-40% of calm on a streaming use to be done locally in countries where a use is available.
However, a Netherlands being one of a initial launch day countries for Disney Plus seems to mangle this theory.
Trusted Reviews has asked Disney for some-more details. This essay will be updated when we hear back.
In a meantime, it’s protected to contend that some UK-based Disney fans that have been energetically expecting Disney Plus’s launch are… reduction than happy:
Hopefully, there’ll be improved news shortly though – for now – we can pointer adult to get updates on Disney Plus UK here.


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Gov. Ted Strickland is calling for the postponement of a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) plan to supply each of its customers with two compact fluorescent light bulbs, a total of nearly 4 million bulbs. The governor this afternoon released the text of a letter he sent to Alan R. Schriber, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, regarding the program that FirstEnergy unveiled this week. Under the program, FirstEnergy planned to charge average users 60 cents a month extra on their bills for three years, for a total of $21.60. The program is proving controversial, as consumers complain about the high cost of the bulbs and the mandatory nature of the program. In his letter to Mr. Schriber, Gov. Strickland said Ohioans “are confused and angry and are looking for answers.” “First, the bulb program has been thrust upon them without their approval or prior knowledge,” the governor wrote. “Second, it is my understanding that two bulbs will be provided at a cost in excess of $21. It is common knowledge that the efficient bulbs can be purchased for significantly less at popular retail outlets. Third, I am interested to know if there are any U.S. suppliers of these bulbs, or if FirstEnergy had considered the use of bulbs manufactured in the United States.” Gov. Strickland continued, “Since FirstEnergy's program is under the purview of the PUCO, I am asking that you provide to me and members of the General Assembly answers to these questions and more details as to how these programs were developed. In the meantime, I am asking you to postpone this program until these questions are answered.” On Thursday evening, FirstEnergy issued the following statement about the program: "At the request of PUCO Chairman Alan Schriber, FirstEnergy has agreed to further discuss with the commission its PUCO-approved program to provide compact fluorescent light bulbs to customers of its Ohio utilities -- Ohio Edison, the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. and Toledo Edison. We will work with the PUCO to respond to its questions and determine how best to proceed."
Gov. Strickland calls for halt of FirstEnergy light bulb program
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The UK’s car industry suffered its second weakest May in three decades as sales dropped by more than a fifth year-on-year.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said car sales were down 20.6 per cent compared with the same month in 2021.
The SMMT attributed the decline to a shortage of components reducing availability “despite demand”.
Figures showed that sales in the UK fell to 124,394 last month, the second lowest number of new cars registered in May since 1992.
Only May 2020 – when the UK was under a coronavirus lockdown – was worse for the industry.
Battery electric vehicles uptake jumped nearly 18 per cent, making up one in eight new cars on the road.
Registration of pure electric cars bucked the overall trend last month, with a 17.7 per cent year-on-year increase.
Electrified vehicles such as pure electrics, plug-in hybrids and hybrids accounted for three out of 10 new cars in May.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "In yet another challenging month for the new car market, the industry continues to battle continuing global parts shortages, with growing battery electric vehicle uptake one of the few bright spots."
British new car sales this year will likely be lower than previously thought as the cost-of-living squeeze in Britain and persisting chip shortages affect the market, the SMMT said.
Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, said: “Today’s weak new car figures underline the lingering challenges for carmakers, as the war in Ukraine adds to the headwinds of a post-Covid shortage of semiconductors, and lockdowns in China.
“Even though the microchip shortage is easing a little, manufacturers are struggling to source critical components like wiring looms, which are a major Ukrainian export and hard to replace."


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MILAN — Valentino has signed a five-year licensing agreement with watchmaker Sector to roll out a line of luxury timepieces.
The line, expected to generate retail sales of more than $147 million within the next five years, will be presented at the Basel watch fair next spring. Nearly $10 million has been allotted to promote the collection.
Dollar figures were converted from the euro at current exchange rates.
The watches will be sold in Valentino stores and other selected retail points. Valentino and Sector said the watches will be sold in the high-end price range and there are plans for a limited edition series of Valentino watches as well.
Sector, which makes watches for Roberto Cavalli, is controlled by Opera, a Bulgari-backed investment fund.
"I am sure that there will be a positive collaboration between me, my creative studio and the Bulgari style team to create watches with an innovative and unmistakable design," Valentino Garavani said in a statement.
Marzotto, which owns Hugo Boss, bought Valentino this year and is relaunching the brand. Part of the plan is to roll out a younger, less-expensive Valentino line to compete directly with the likes of D&G and Emporio Armani. This line would be produced through a licensing agreement.
Sources close to the situation confirmed that Valentino will farm out production of the new line to Italian fashion group SINV Holding, the licensee for the labels Voyage Passion, See by Chloé, JPG Jean Paul Gaultier Jeans, Krizia Jeans and Gabriele Strehle Jeans. Valentino declined to comment and SINV did not return a call seeking comment.
Elsewhere, a plan to reorganize the Marzotto family’s assets has been put on hold. As reported, Industrie Zignago Santa Margherita, a holding company controlled by the Marzotto family, had offered to buy all outstanding shares in Marzotto SpA that the family did not already own. The offer was seen as a defensive move for the family to boost its stake in Marzotto and ward off any potential takeovers, given the slumping stock price.
But Zignago said Wednesday that not enough investors showed up for its shareholders meeting to approve the takeover offer for Marzotto, so the reorganization will not take place.
Harrods plans to remove the famous statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed from the bottom of the Egyptian escalators and hand it back to Mohamed Al-Fayed. “We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years,” said Michael Ward, Harrods managing director. “With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr. Al Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace.” More on the news, with reporting by @loreleimarfil, at WWD.com. #wwdnews
@prada is introducing a new project at its men’s fall 2018 show this Sunday: “Prada Invites.” The fashion house invited four celebrated creative minds – @ronanaerwanbouroullec, Konstantin Grcic, @herzogdemeuron and @rem.koolhaas – to each create a unique item with its iconic nylon material. The designs will be unveiled on the runway show, which will take place at the company’s warehouse in Viale Ortles 25. #wwdfashion #mfwm (📷: @martinocarrera)
@kering_official is spinning off its stake in puma in an effort to focus on its luxury brands, the brand operator announced yesterday. “We are proud to have supported the turnaround of Puma, which now has unrivaled capabilities to take full advantage of the specific dynamics of its global markets and is poised to achieve substantial growth,” said François-Henri Pinault, Kering’s chief executive officer and chairman. Artémis will become a “long-term strategic shareholder” of Puma with a 29 percent stake. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
The fashion world mourns for celebrated street style photographer, Nabile Quenum, who died at age 32 in Paris.
Quenum, creator of the fashion blog “J’ai Perdu Ma Veste,” was a fashion week fixture, and regularly shot for New York magazine’s The Cut, among other outlets, and brands such as Louis Vuitton, Moncler and Adidas. He was also actively involved in the #NoFreePhotos initiative, which kicked off in the fall. Read more about Quenum in @kbsmoke's story on WWD.com. #wwdnews
@verwanggang and @maisonladuree have teamed up on a dessert collab called Vera Wang Pour Ladurée. The collection, which launched this week, features a specialty macaroon, as well as a wedding cake inspired by one of the designer’s gowns. “I could not imagine a more delicate or sophisticated creation to grace any couple’s celebration,” said Wang. #wwdfashion


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Digital TV News: Rentrak
UK broadcasters launch ad campaign measurement tool
Jun 9, 2021 – Sky, ITV and Channel 4 are working together to launch CFlight, an advertising metric that captures live, on-demand and time-shifted commercial impressions across all mainstream viewing platforms in the UK.
News categories: Sky Media, ITV, Channel 4, NBCUniversal, Tim Pearson, Kelly Williams, Veriça Djurdjevic, Kelly Abcarian, Advertising, Digital TV, UK
TV accounts for 94% of UK video advertising
Mar 9, 2017 – An analysis by Thinkbox of 2016 video consumption in the UK shows how total video viewing – and viewing of video advertising – breaks down.
News categories: Thinkbox, Lindsey Clay, Digital TV, Market Research, UK
Free on Demand VOD continues growth in U.S.
Jun 15, 2015 – Rentrak (NASDAQ: RENT) has announced the release of its 'State of VOD: Trend Report'. The report shows that the total time spent viewing Free on Demand (FOD) TV content in the U.S. Broadcast Primetime category has increased 22 percent compared to the previous year.
News categories: Rentrak, Cathy Hetzel, Bill Livek, Cable TV, IPTV, Market Research, Satellite, USA
Mobile500 Alliance Launches Mobile Digital TV in Seattle and Minneapolis
Jan 3, 2013 – The Mobile500 Alliance with Fisher Communications (NASDAQ: FSCI) and Hubbard Broadcasting has announced the soft consumer launch of its mobile digital television service, called MyDTV, in the Seattle and Minneapolis markets.
News categories: Mobile500 Alliance, Fisher Communications, Hubbard Broadcasting, Apps, CES2023, Mobile, Smartphone, Tablet
Video-On-Demand is the Fastest Growing Alternative TV Delivery Platform
Apr 19, 2012 – Rentrak (NASDAQ: RENT) has said that video-on-demand is at the tipping point of becoming a major ad medium. The potential value of the ad inventory in Free-On-Demand (FOD) programs is at least one billion dollars, according to their estimates.
News categories: Rentrak, Advertising, Market Research, Streaming
Mobile500 Alliance Demonstrates First Complete Mobile Digital TV Consumer Product
Apr 16, 2012 – At the 2012 NAB Show, the Mobile500 Alliance detailed its business model and enhanced features for Mobile DTV, including new interactive advertising and an improved user experience that features social media integration with Twitter.
News categories: Mobile500 Alliance, Advertising, Conditional Access, Mobile, NABShow, Smartphone, Social TV, Tablet, USA
Mobile500 Alliance to Demonstrate Second Generation Mobile DTV Application at NAB Show
Apr 10, 2012 – The Mobile500 Alliance has announced that it will demonstrate its second generation Mobile Digital Television application at the 2012 NAB Show. Enhancements include social media integration, closed captioning, interstitials and interactive banners.
News categories: Mobile500 Alliance, Advertising, Apps, Middleware, Mobile, NABShow, Smartphone, Tablet, USA
Mobile DTV Forum Stepping Up Role in Mobile DTV Deployment
Apr 11, 2011 – The Mobile DTV Forum, the newly established membership category of the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), is off and running, already creating working groups, selecting members of its Steering Committee and adding new member companies.
News categories: Open Mobile Video Coalition, Mobile, USA
DEG Releases Year-End 2010 Home Entertainment Report
Jan 6, 2011 – The 2010 home entertainment market continued to be bolstered by the steady growth of Blu-ray as total U.S. home entertainment spending hit $18.8 billion to close the year, announced DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group at CES.
News categories: Digital Entertainment Group, Blu-ray, CES2023, DVD, Market Research, Streaming, USA
- Evoca integrates Sling TV into Nextgen TV service
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- Roku and Walmart launch onn. Roku TV models in Canada
- Banijay Rights collaborates with Amagi to go FAST
- Bitcentral streaming solution selected for Rewarded TV
- Bezeq signs distribution agreement for Disney+
- Synamedia acquires content discovery platform provider, Utelly
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- Infovista enables user experience testing for OTT and 5G apps and services
- UAE TV viewership research launched at CABSAT 2022
- Another record month for U.S. streaming in April
- Global OTT revenues to grow to $224 billion in 2027
- Conviva data shows double digit streaming growth worldwide
- Nielsen deduplicates audiences across Smart TV and streaming providers
- 605 extends agreement to use VIZIO ACR data


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The battle for tech supremacy continues to heat up, with software and hardware announcements coming at an unprecedented rate this year – most notably with the recent launch of Google’s Home product and Pixel phones.
The crossover between the different-but-interconnected areas of the consumer technology landscape is significant, and the aim for all concerned is the same: to create a unified ecosystem, one where a range of devices is brought together by their proprietary software.
The benefit to the user is that their personal assistant knows them well due to its access to all of their data, leading to increasingly intelligent and tailored recommendations that make our everyday lives easier.
This increases customer retention rates for tech businesses too, as users are less likely to switch platforms and ‘start again’, as it were.
It also creates a confusing picture when we try to consider who is ‘winning’ the race.
Google dominates the search space in the West, Facebook has control of social media and messaging apps, Apple has a strong grip of the hardware market, Microsoft’s software is ubiquitous and in the process of evolution, while Amazon owns e-commerce and is taking a larger slice of the search market.
To help clarify things, we’ve put the most significant tech developments of the last few years onto a snakes ‘n’ ladders board. Because we couldn’t think of a better metaphor to summarize what an increasingly complex, high stakes game for supremacy this is. A bit like snakes ‘n’ ladders, really.
Some innovations have fallen by the wayside, some companies have collapsed (we’re looking at you, BlackBerry), and a small pool of insanely valuable companies have continued to grow.
That pool of frontrunners will continue to dwindle, but who will ultimately win the race?


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Homemade Vanilla will be the first Blue Bell flavor to come back to stores.
The company made the announcement Monday morning on social media. A day later it said Dutch Chocolate would also be returning.
Only one of three plants – the one in Alabama – is back in production. The plants in Oklahoma and Brenham, Texas remain closed following listeria contamination.
Blue Bell ice cream is expected to go on sale again in the Austin and Houston areas on Aug. 31.
North Texas is in Phase II of its return.


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Launch of Square Cash Cues Banks and Credit Unions to Step up Their P2P Game
Last week, Square joined the ranks of companies offering person-to-person (P2P) payment services for consumers with the official launch of Square Cash. The service touts a simple user experience – and rightly so. To transfer funds with Square Cash, the user sends an email to their intended payee, with email@example.com in the cc: field and the payment amount in the subject line. Once sent, both the sender and receiver receive emails from Square, and they must then enter their MasterCard or Visa debit card details to complete the transaction.
2,000 financial institutions that offer the Popmoney personal payment service have exactly what consumers want, and this is the right time to tell them.
Certain segments of consumers will embrace a service like Square Cash. However, our research continues to show that, if given a choice, consumers prefer to make payments from their bank or credit union. Our most recent data indicates that 79 percent of U.S. consumers would be open to using a digital P2P service through their financial institution. Consumers trust banks and credit unions to manage their money and keep their personal information secure. And, using a P2P service they can access directly from their online or mobile banking account allows them to check their account balance before sending a payment, and maintain a centralized view of money coming and going from their account.
The fact is that high-profile entrants like Square raise the awareness of P2P payments as a category, as I noted in a previous blog about Google's entry into this space. Electronic payments remain a fraction of the 16 billion P2P payments that are made each year. So, increasing the number of people who are aware of this as an option is ultimately a good thing.
This doesn't mean that banks and credit unions should stand idly by, waiting for a rising tide to lift all boats. The more than 2,000 financial institutions that offer the Popmoney personal payment service have exactly what consumers want, and this is the right time to tell them.
We must continue to focus on marketing and raising awareness of the distinct benefits of P2P payments through a financial institution. The majority of consumers have not yet adopted P2P, so the race is just getting started. Awareness, convenience, usability and security are all considerations that will factor into consumers' decisions about which service they ultimately use. Financial institutions are uniquely positioned to serve as a payments hub for each of their customers, and it's up to us to let them know.


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Wolfson counts the cost of its rotten Apple contract
Computer giant Apple took a large bite out of the value of chip-maker Wolfson Microelectronics after dropping it as a supplier to the latest versions of its iPod Nano and iPod Touch digital music players.
Shares in the Edinburgh-based firm collapsed by as much as 30% to a three-and-a-half year low of 99p, before recovering some lost ground to close down 25½p, or 18%, at 116½p.
Analysts reckon the iPod contract accounts for more than 12% of Wolfson's annual revenues-Iceland's interest rates have climbed to 15% as the central bank tries desperately to defend the nation's currency, the Krona which were £116m last year. The decision is curious as Wolfson will continue to supply its chips to Apple's iPhone.
A Wolfson spokesman said he didn't know why Apple decided to drop it from the iPod deal, but analysts reckon that the computer giant is switching to a cheaper supplier, thought to be US rival Cirrus Logic.
Wolfson said full-year revenues would still be in line with forecasts, but analysts claim the lost sales will turn the screw on the firm's annual figures.
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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Shares of leading Internet companies began Tuesday's trading mostly on the downside, led by Yahoo Inc. yhoo which was stung by an analyst downgrade in the hours before reporting its third-quarter financials. In a note to clients Tuesday, Cowen and Co. analyst Jim Friedland said he was lowering his view of Yahoo's stock to neutral from outperform, citing advertsiing market share gains by social network MySpace, owned by News Corp. NWS, -1.66% and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL TWX, -28.57% at Yahoo's expense, among other reasons. Yahoo shares were trading down as low as 2%. Meanwhile, shares of Chinese Internet portal Baidu.com Inc. BIDU, -2.06% opened the day on the downside, fractionally, after announcing a deal to distribute free, ad-supported MTV videos and Nickelodeon shows. Shares of eBay Inc. EBAY, -0.57% fell as much as 0.8% upon news of new competition from U.K. online retailer Carphone Warehouse, which has opened an eBay-like site for selling used cell phones. The Dow Jones Internet Index dji_djinet and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index $compq were both trading down Tuesday.
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Beyond Meat signs partnership for production in China
Beyond Meat is ramping up production in China as plant-based products continue to infiltrate global markets. The alternative meat company said Tuesday that it is signing a deal to open a production facility near Shanghai. The facility will manufacture plant-based meat products, including alternatives for beef, pork and chicken.
The Los Angeles-based company signed a deal with Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone to design and produce facilities in the Shanghai region, Beyond Meat said in a press release. The production facility is expected to be fully operational by early 2021. Beyond Meat has already opened the Chinese market since April this year, when its products launched in Starbucks coffee shops in mainland China. In June, the company signed a partnership with Yum China to launch its plant-based products at restaurants like KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
"China is a critical part of Beyond Meat’s long-term growth strategy, and we are committed to growing our presence in this vitally important country and market," a Beyond Meat spokesperson said for FOXBusiness channel.
Beef consumption in Brazil has dropped abruptly in the last couple of years, while consumers are ...


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Maruti Suzuki Y17 seven-seater SUV will take on the likes of Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus and others upon launch in the near future
Maruti Suzuki is developing a host of new SUVs for the Indian market and it includes a global midsize electric SUV along with Toyota, a seven-seater midsize SUV, a compact SUV coupe based on Baleno’s platform and the heavily updated version of the Vitara Brezza. The homegrown manufacturer is also working on a five-seater midsize SUV to rival Hyundai Creta.
It will be underpinned by a derivative of Toyota’s DNGA platform as the midsize SUV will reportedly be launched later this year before spawning a Toyota sibling in quick succession. A three-row SUV codenamed Y17 will likely sit at the top-of-the-range until the arrival of the midsize electric SUV by the middle of this decade and more than 10,000 crore investment was confirmed recently for its EV operations.
Over the last couple of years, we have seen midsize seven-seater SUVs gaining popularity in India as Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV700, and MG Hector Plus have been well received amongst customers. The Maruti Suzuki Y17 will compete directly against the Hyundai Alcazar and we do hope to know more about the upcoming SUV in the near future.
Reports suggest that the seven-seater Maruti Suzuki SUV will sit on the Ertiga’s Heartect architecture and its launch could be years away. It could act as a replacement to the XL6, which is a more premium version of the Ertiga with a middle-row captain seating arrangement. The Ertiga and XL6 will get updated avatars next month and the latter could be offered with six- and seven-seater layouts.
Taking advantage of its market positioning, the Maruti Suzuki Y17 could be retailed in six- and seven-seater configurations and expect the presence of a large touchscreen infotainment system with connected tech, cruise control, automatic climate control, HUD, 360-degree camera, etc. As for the performance, a 1.5-litre petrol engine with improved hybrid tech could be utilised.
The Maruti Suzuki midsize YFG SUV appears to resemble the styling of the Suzuki A-Cross derived from the Toyota RAV4 and whether the A-Cross or the next-gen Vitara will influence the styling of the Y17 or not is waited to be seen.


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With autonomous driving, Tesla (TSLA -0.32%) is looking to disrupt the auto industry. Meanwhile, in financial services, cryptocurrencies are trying to challenge the entire existing global financial system. Investors have supported Tesla as well as leading cryptocurrencies, which all saw significant gains last year. But right now investors seem to be reevaluating the prospects as well as risks involved in these investments.
Tesla stock is nearly 30% off its all time high that it reached in January. Similarly, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC 3.53%), Ethereum (ETH 4.30%), and Dogecoin (DOGE 3.44%) are all more than 35% off their highs this year. Let's see whether Tesla stock or cryptocurrencies is the better bargain right now.
A top EV stock
With a price-to-sales ratio of 17, and a market capitalization that exceeds the combined market cap of competitors Toyota Motor, Volkswagen, Ford Motor, and General Motors, Tesla stock looks way overvalued even after its fall this year. But it doesn't look so if we consider two key factors. The first one is Tesla's growth rate. In the last five years, the company grew its sales at an average rate of more than 50%. Moreover, it expects to grow its deliveries at an average rate of more than 50% over a "multi-year" timeframe. That makes its price-to-sales ratio look much more reasonable.
The second and more important factor is Tesla's lead in the autonomous driving segment. On the latest quarterly call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk provided an update on the progress of the company's vision-based system for autonomous driving. The company's management believes that it no longer needs to rely on radar technology for full self-driving (FSD), and the company can achieve FSD solely through its vision-only system.
Musk also highlighted that Tesla has been collecting video data through its more than a million cars currently in use. This extensive data is used to constantly "train" the company's self-driving system. Musk believes that Tesla's vision-only system is far better than lidar or radar technologies that others are working on. Alphabet's (GOOG 1.10%) (GOOGL 1.19%) Waymo and Intel's (INTC 2.02%) Mobileye are among the companies researching lidar and radar technologies.
Notably, though Musk has long been particularly critical of lidar technology, reports of an agreement with Luminar Technologies apparently sent Tesla's stock soaring on Monday. A combination of two or more technologies may help achieve full autonomy faster, and investors probably liked Tesla's open approach to this end.
Are cryptocurrencies a good investment?
Compared to Tesla stock, cryptocurrencies look like a far riskier bet. With no way to figure out the true value of a cryptocurrency, it's difficult to say whether the recent fall has made them attractive enough to buy.
There are several unknowns when it comes to cryptocurrencies. How open will governments be to cryptocurrencies' growth? How can the transactions be taxed? How can it be ensured that cryptocurrencies are not used for illegal activities and money laundering? What are the potential environmental impacts of crypto mining? There are innumerable issues that must be addressed before hoping for a wider adoption of cryptocurrencies.
Apart from the above mentioned issues, there are unknowns such as how a particular cryptocurrency system will perform when the number of transactions and users increases manifold. Not many other cryptocurrencies, apart from Bitcoin, have already proven to be resilient once transactions increase. As a technology in its infancy, the system faces several potential unknown challenges.
And until cryptocurrencies become a widely acceptable mode of transactions, if at all, they are likely to remain volatile.
Tesla vs. cryptocurrencies
Notably, Tesla too faces risks. It is quite likely that some other tech company, such as Waymo or Mobileye, delivers autonomous driving before Tesla can. Indeed, these companies know more about AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning than Tesla. Other leading automakers are also working on autonomous driving through subsidiaries including Cruise and Argo, and it's likely that one of them emerges as the winner in the race for commercializing full self-driving.
Still, all the work that Tesla has done so far, and continues to do, on FSD technology may mean that it can adopt and commercialize that technology, even if it isn't the first one to bring it to the market. Its brand value and cult-like following mean that fans will buy a Tesla car as long as it's equally good, if not better, than what other automakers are offering. The company has a proven track record of offering improved cars and technology, and I think it will continue to be committed to excellence.
In short, Tesla looks like a far better bargain today than cryptocurrencies.


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Sales surge at John Lewis as shoppers get going for Christmas
Employee-owned retail chain John Lewis reported a 17 per cent rise in department store sales last week compared with a year ago, as consumers started serious Christmas shopping.
Sales at its 29 stores rose 17.1% to £71.98million, boosted by demand for radios, TVs and DVDs, as well as toys and Christmas decorations.
The group also reported a substantial increase in sales of home furnishings.
Andrew Murphy, operations director at John Lewis, said: 'The sales figures are a clear sign that Christmas shopping has begun in earnest.'
Additionally, the stores group, which is seen as a barometer of the high street, said sales were up 19 per cent year-on-year on Saturday.
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iHealth Lab, which announced the iHealth Blood Pressure Monitoring System for iPhone today, expects to have the blood pressure arm cuff and iPhone docking station peripheral on Apple Store shelves in the coming weeks. iHealth's offering includes a battery-powered hardware dock, blood pressure arm cuff and a corresponding app. iHealth enables users to self-monitor their blood pressure at home and share the results with friends, family or care providers. The system works with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
The app helps users view their blood pressure numbers, track the trend and run reports. iHealth plans to create a suite of personal healthcare devices for Apple devices.
“Empowering people to manage their personal healthcare is our passion," said Yi Liu, CEO, iHealth Lab. “The future of health management starts with the individual. By identifying how daily activities affect one's vitals like blood pressure and heart rate, people can be more proactive about their personal healthcare.”
While the iHealth app is free, the blood pressure arm cuff and corresponding docking station is currently available at iHealth99.com for $99.95. No official announcement has been made on whether or when the device will hit Apple Store shelves or if the price will change if and when it does. If iHealth succeeds in grabbing shelf space, it would be the first health-related device in Apple Stores. According to a blog post over at Forbes, iHealth's parent company is Andon Health, a Chinese company that develops conventional blood pressure monitors found in drug stores.


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FREDERICK, Md. - Those who are self employed or own a small business in Maryland could get a tax break if a local senator's bill passes in the State House.
Jennifer Dougherty owns Magoos restaurant in Frederick, and she knows all about what it takes to make a small business successful.
"I've owned a small business in Frederick since 1987," Dougherty said.
Senator David Brinkley of Frederick County is sponsoring a bill in hopes of giving a tax break to people like Dougherty.
"The proposal is the eliminate the income tax on any income of $25,000 or less at least on the state level. I know it's not a lot, but to some people, it might make a world of difference," Brinkley (R) said.
The bill wouldn't affect small business owners and the self-employed on the federal level, but it would give them some relief in their state, county, and local taxes.
"Exempting the first $25,000 of income would be a big benefit to small companies like me," Dougherty said. "Chances are somebody like me is going to plow that money right back into the local economy either by hiring more people or buying new products or if things are good, you expand your business."
Saving money to stay afloat is something business owners in downtown Frederick say is important for them to stay in business. Brinkley says they'd save about $3,000 a year if the Maryland General Assembly passes his bill.
"The mission here is to encourage the mom-and-pop businesses in Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and throughout the state and by that effect give them some tax relief," Brinkley said.
Dougherty says she hopes the bill passes to help the small businesses in Western Maryland.
"Having the opportunity to take that $25,000 and take the benefit of that tax break, that would make a big difference on main street," Dougherty said.
Delegate Kelly Schulz (R) of Frederick County will sponsor the bill in the Maryland House of Delegates when session begins next month.


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The Android industry as a whole has overhyped the concept of foldable smartphones to the point of near exhaustion, but none is a worse offender than Samsung. It's been teasing a foldable device for many years now (see 2014 concept below) but the feat of actually producing one that's durable and functionally innovative enough to commercially release has clearly been too challenging — at least, up until this point. CNBC has now reported that the mobile hardware giant has plans to unveil more details about a forthcoming foldable smartphone this year.
DJ Koh, CEO of Samsung's mobile division, told CNBC reporter Arjun Kharpal that Samsung has "nearly concluded" its development of the product, and that "it's time to deliver" on a foldable smartphone. Koh hinted that more details may come to light during the annual Samsung Developer Conference in November — which is unusual, considering the conference traditionally doesn't yield any hardware reveals. However, an unveiling or partial unveiling in November fits well with the timelines in reports published earlier this year, including a January report that the device might arrive in December or early 2019, and a July report from Wall Street Journal that suggested an early 2019 launch.
An early Samsung foldable smartphone concept from 2014.
Given the consensus these reports offer, it seems fair to begin cautiously anticipating the long-awaited device — but if we're truly about to see Samsung's mythical foldable phone, the question becomes, who will want it? Koh said consumer surveys carried out by his company showed there was a market for the product, but admitted that this was a central question in development. "If the unfolded experience is the same as the tablet, why would they (consumers) buy it?" Koh said at the IFA electronics show in Germany last week.
While Samsung may have come up with a response to that question, Koh refused to divulge that answer, or any design details about the phone. The WSJ report, though, suggested the smartphone will use a single, 7-inch, bendable screen.
In the meantime, competitors like ZTE (which already produced a rather uninspired dual-screen device), Lenovo, Huawei, and countless others will continue to do their best at generating buzz for this new mobile product. Whether any of them — or Samsung itself — will be able to come up with a compelling reason to invest in a bulky sometimes-tablet, is another story altogether.


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University of Iowa researchers have won a $1.2 million U.S.D.A. grant for a study on the spread of a common bacteria. Tara Smith, the interim director of the U-I Center for Emerging and Infectious Disease, says they will study Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria carried by about one third of people in their noses.
It also occurs in the environment and in raw meat products, especially pork. Smith says they want to find out how big a role raw meat plays in spreading the bacteria to people who develop staph infections. Smith says they’ll look at how readily the bacteria is spread through the handling of meat products.
Smith says they know that people who are contaminated with staph bacteria can contaminate meat products when they touch them. She says other research has shown that the bacteria can be carried in pigs, cows, turkeys and chickens, and the bacteria can come directly from the animals. Smith says the bacteria can cause many problems if it is spread.
Smith says it can cause some “pretty nasty infections,” which are mostly skin and soft tissue infections. She says a lot of people think they have spider bites, but those are actually staph infections. Smith says staph infections are actually one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Smith, who is an assistant professor of epidemiology, says they need to first determine how much an impact meat plays in the spread of staph.
Smith says the first part of the study is to get a handle on how common staph is in meat and then later if they see that meat handling is a risk, they can look at some ways to make handling the food safer. Smith says the grant will fund five years of study.


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Google is imposing a few restrictions to improve app quality and discovery on Google Play. The app store is known to be filled with spam apps, apps that have the same name, and even apps that have emojis in their name. There are several clone apps of the popular ones, often confusing Android users as to which one is genuine. To put an end to this confusion, Google is bringing changes to its naming policy on Google Play store, and these changes are set to go into effect in the second half of 2021, the company said.
Apart from elimination of spam apps and name confusion, Google also looks to make Play store listings drive meaningful downloads by giving users a fair anticipation of what your in-app or in-game experience will be like. The new policy change brings strict restrictions to app metadata and new guidelines for Store listing preview assets. Google is limiting the length of app titles to 30 characters, prohibiting keywords that imply store performance, and promotion in the icon, title, or developer name. Google is also prohibiting keywords, eliminating graphic elements that may mislead users in the app icon.
For instance, an app cannot use graphic or text to indicate ranking, promote deals, incentivise deals, or for any tactics that can be misleading to users. Google will be banning the use of capitalised fonts unless the brand’s name itself is capitalised, special character sequences that are irrelevant to the app cannot be used, and emoticons and emojis in app name are also banned. If an app doesn’t follow any of these title, icon, or developer name guidelines, it will not be allowed on Google Play, the company has announced on its blog.
Google also announced new store listing preview asset guidelines for the feature graphics, screenshots, videos, and short descriptions that developers supply to showcase the app’s features and functionality. Developers need to follow principles like preview assets should accurately represent the app or game, and that they should provide enough information to help users decide whether to install or not, and that they are free of buzzwords like “free” or “best” and instead focus on providing meaningful information about the unique aspects of your app or game. These preview assets should be localised correctly and easy to read. Google says that assets that don’t meet these guidelines may be ineligible for promotion and recommendation on major Google Play surfaces like Apps and Games home. As mentioned, the company says that developers will begin using these new guidelines in the second half of 2021 and developers will be intimated of a start date.


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10 Jan, 2008
Published: 14:10 Thursday 10 January 2008
By: Matthew Goodburn, Investment Correspondent
The housing sector has reacted with dismay to the Bank of
England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision to hold interest
rates at 5.5%.
Many analysts had been factoring in a 0.25% fall but fears over
rising inflation numbers appears to have held sway over the
weakening economic backdrop.
Chief executive of finance specialist to UK house builders Wolsey
Mike Ratcliffe attacked the MPC for ignoring the weakening consumer
He said: 'The decision is a clear sign that the MPC is not
sufficiently in touch with the realities affecting UK consumers.
While last month's cut was a step in the right direction, failing
to follow this up with a further cut will inflict pain on consumers
and businesses and does not provide us with a positive outlook for
He added: 'The danger is that this apathy will increase the chances
of the country talking itself into a recession.
David Newnes, managing director of Your Move estate agents accused
the MPC of 'fiddling while Rome burns'.
He said: The MPC should have cut rates. The economy is still
reeling from the credit crunch. The property market is suffering
severely - transactions have fallen and house prices are
stagnating. We need resolute action - not dithering.
'The Bank of England should be acting decisively to reinstate
confidence across the wider economy. The property market, consumer
confidence, and the wider economy are suffering while the MPC
The decision was made despite growing evidence of an economic
downturn, highlighted yesterday by Marks & Spencer's worse than
expected Christmas trading and the British Retail Consortium's
(BRC) figures highlighting the worst Christmas trading on the High
Street for three years.
BRC chairman Kevin Hawkins and Marks & Spencer chief executive
Sir Stuart Rose had both called for a 0.5% cut in rates to
stimulate consumer spending but fears over rising inflation appears
to have won the day.
Despite the rate hold, ABN Amro's head of interest rate alpha Jon
Cunliffe said he expected rates to have fallen to 4.5% by year end.
He added: 'While rising utility prices may put some upwards
pressure on consumer price inflation, we feel that the
disinflationary forces evident in the retail sector are likely to


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The new Zoom SDK will help developers build Zoom into their own software and integrate its audio and video features directly into your apps.
Zoom says developers can now build their own “video-based applications and websites.” With its SDK (Software Development Kit) Zoom is opening a world of new possibilities for its product. The company envisions that developers will be keen to utilize Zoom’s core chat functions in social media platforms, gaming, or virtual retail applications.
“Using our Video SDK, developers can drive customer engagement and provide new opportunities for revenue without being tied to the Zoom Meetings user interface,” writes Zoom product marketing manager Natalie Mullin in a company blog post.
Zoom is working hard to attract developers and invite them to integrate its product into their own. On top of the SDK, the company is also introducing a centralized portal for developers to learn about and access several tools that Zoom is now providing to them. There also is a new analytics dashboard for developers to monitor how users are using the integrated Zoom features.
“We want to be able to have a single point where developers can go to learn about all of the tools and resources that are available for them in the Zoom platform for their work in development,” Zoom CTO Brendan Ittelson told TechCrunch.
Zoom is one of several tech companies that saw its activity grow significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we all work and interact with each other.
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At CES 2020, Sony — yeah, Sony — showed off a auto. Wild situations. While CES 2021 didn’t present us with another automotive enterprise from Japanese corporation, the agency did release new video of its Eyesight-S electric car or truck tests in Austria, on general public roadways. It can be a huge action for the company, although Sony maintains it really is not itching to construct cars and trucks. If nothing at all else, the video offers a wonderful examination for the company’s new Airpeak drone, which made use of to seize the aerial footage.
Sony rather said the Vision-S public checks are to validate safety units it created for the car. Right after all, the Vision-S was intended to be a rolling showcase of the firm’s sensors and imaging systems, furthermore infotainment tech planned for the car sector. In the new online video, we can see the multipanel display screen entrance and centre for driver information and facts, infotainment and additional. The fact it all functions is extraordinary looking at the auto just isn’t intended for creation. That didn’t halt Sony from operating with Magna Steyr previous yr to place the car or truck on the streets of Austria for a first time, although.
Assuming Sony would not modify program and make a decision to create the automobile, Vision-S will continue to roll together and test the firm’s technologies. Past yr, the tech company stated the auto characteristics Degree 2 partly automatic technology with its 33 sensors set. The level of autonomy will develop, in accordance to Sony, so we are going to probably have to wait around for another CES to see what is actually to appear from Vision-S.
Sony’s Vision-S principle packs a range of new systems
See all images


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It's been revealed that Google's Android operating system has generated revenue of a whopping $31 billion (£21.7 billion).
From that cash it's also been declared that the internet giant made $22 billion (£15.4 billion) profit.
A lawyer for software firm Oracle revealed the details to a US court hearing during the company's copyright lawsuit against Google.
However, a furious Google says the figures should never have been made public, and has asked the judge to redact and seal the transcript.
The US search firm said the information was intended for an "attorney's eyes only," and noted that it does not reveal its earnings for Android.
"Google does not publicly allocate revenues or profits to Android separate and apart from Google’s general business," lawyers for Google noted in the filing.
"That non-public financial data is highly sensitive, and public disclosure could have significant negative effects on Google’s business."
Google's Android OS launched in 2008 and helps the firm to generate cash in two ways.
Advertisements supplied by Google and displayed on Android devices create revenue alongside a percentage Google takes from sales made from its mobile app store, Google Play.
The closely watched case between Oracle Corp. and Google involves how much copyright protection should extend to the Java programming language, which Google used to design the operating system.
Oracle is seeking royalties for Google's use of some of the Java language, while Google argues it should be able to use Java without paying a fee.
There are currently 1.4 billion Android users worldwide, some 53 per cent of the global mobile OS market.


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The future of deliveries?
LivingPackets, a startup focused on improving the future of packaging, has developed a Box that Is reusable. LivingPackets es
A hyperscreen in an electric car
Mercedes-Benz has revealed a 56 inch screen that nearly spans the width of a new electric car's interior, accelerating the car ind


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On first glance, this was the news that heralded the End of the World. A Singaporean designer, Soo Kyung Bae has launched a new jewellery collection created to highlight a person’s ‘thigh gap’. As in, actual pieces of jewellery to wear between your legs to emphasise how thin you are. We considered signing up for the one-way trip to Mars. BUT WAIT. Before we all take up arms and, er, delete Instagram or something, let’s all be aware that this is not, in fact, real.
The designer actually devised the concept as a tool with which to explore society’s dangerous approach to body ideals, and the damaging effects that ‘trends’ such as ‘thigh gap’ can have on young people, particularly women. ‘TGap’ jewellery has its own website, which looks so real you can actually select items to add to your basket. When you try and click ‘checkout’ however, you’re directed to an explanation of the jewellery, which states that “TGap Jewellery is a fictional company that sells jewelleries designed for thigh gaps. It is launched to catalyze a debate on unrealistic body image social media portrays.”
Soo Kyung told Dezeen magazine: “The thigh gap represents one of the first few trends regarding body ideals the media has popularised. It clearly demonstrates [the] media’s power on influencing one’s perception of body image.”
“The jewellery pieces take the thigh-gap trend to another level, the pieces are created in hopes of sparking questions,” she added. “If we let the media to keep popularising such unrealistic body ideal, will this eventually become reality?”
While the images of people wearing the ‘jewellery’ look pretty ridiculous, the message behind them is anything but. With increasing exposure to social media and the selfie now very much ingrained in our culture, it can be impossible to avoid the onslaught of images cultivated to portray a certain level of ‘perfection’ that often perpetuates a single body type. Basically, the world can be a depressing place. The fact that the term ‘thigh gap’ even exists is itself proof of that fact.
The designer said that when she launched the website last week, she received hundreds of “shocked, enraged and confused comments” but says that when people understood the message, they were “appreciative”: “By using outrageous products, I hope to bring a provocative jolt that leads us to ponder and reflect upon what we are like as a society and the absurd things we value and obsess over – as well as how this creates unnecessary pressure for women and girls,” she said.
“One can use design to spark debate and reflection, to be a catalyst for people to decide for themselves about their position on this matter,” she added.


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Formulated with calcium carbonate, the deodorant's star mineral neutralizes odors by activating Febreeze's Smart Technology in response to body-heat changes or moisture. Calcium carbonate is a prolific mineral found in everything from pearls to teeth to seashells.
However, Secret's Natural Mineral deodorant still contains the active ingredient aluminum, though in a slightly smaller dose. Whereas most deodorants on the market contain 18 to 19 percent aluminum to fight wetness, the new stick decreases that amount by 1 to 2 percentage points.
Knowing that some readers may object to the term "natural" placed on the packaging of a deodorant that contains aluminum, we asked P&G executives at the New York launch event to explain their perspective.
Higher-ups say they're meeting the Secret customer's growing interest in incorporating natural ingredients into new products, while at the same time safely guaranteeing the same level of deodorant protection and efficacy as before.
"We have found a natural alternative for odor neutralization, but have yet to find one for wetness that performs up to the standards our customers expect," said Senior Assistant Brand Manager Matthew Hollenkamp.
P&G Senior Beauty Scientist Dr. Rolanda Johnson says she understands why consumers may be troubled by reports on such controversial ingredients as aluminum and parabens, but that much of it is fear mongering bred by misinformation.
"As a woman who is at an age where I'm considering having children, believe me, these kinds of reports are a big concern to me. But you can't just believe everything you read, you have to put on an investigative hat," Johnson told StyleList.
"When you read a study, ask yourself, What was the population tested? How was the test conducted? Were they able to reproduce the same results again? A lot of times, stories you read on the Internet don't share all the results and data, which change things dramatically," advised Johnson.
Above all, you should always consider the news source, and weigh any biases it may have, added Johnson.
Retailing at $4.29 each, the new deodorants come in a choice of Eucalyptus Blossom, Lemongrass Mint, and unscented, and are currently rolling out to drugstore shelves.
We put the unscented version to the test on a day that included a 10-block mad dash to a meeting while bundled in a winter coat, scarf and gloves. Personal preliminary results revealed that, yes, the Natural Mineral deodorant protected equally as well as our regular Secret Scent Expressions stick.
Our train mates were most grateful.
And if you're on the hunt for a 100 percent natural shampoo and conditioner, check out Ava Anderson's latest launch.


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Business 2 May 2017CoinGeek
Bitcoin Hits New Historic High at $1400
Bitcoin, the world’s leading digital currency, has today surpassed a value of $1400 for the first time, as investors continue to pile in behind the currency.
At the time of writing, bitcoin had surged to $1426 on the day’s trading, marking the first time in its history the currency has breached the $1400 mark.
This represents a gain of over 5% on the day’s trading to point, reflecting a general mood of optimism surrounding the currency. The news follows off the back of several successful trading sessions for the currency, which has led some analysts to suggest that bitcoin may have recaptured its momentum from earlier in the year.
After a strong start to 2017, bitcoin trading levels were derailed somewhat by events. The Securities and Exchange Commission rulings on two separate bitcoin ETFs were held by some to be largely responsible, with the rejection in both cases sparking concern over the future of the currency.
In particular, the ETF floated by the Winklevoss brothers had a significant impact on market prices when it was rejected by the SEC, sending markets plummeting from over $1350 to below $900.
Now, with bitcoin soaring beyond that level to even greater heights, some analysts are suggesting the currency could be preparing to pick up from where it left off, before the SEC ruling.
The SEC announced in the last week that it would review its decision into the Winklevoss ETF, creating optimism amongst investors that the investment vehicle may still ultimately be approved.
If it was to be approved, it would mark the most significant move for bitcoin into mainstream investment circles yet, allowing for greater market transparency while attracting a wider pool of investors.
While the news will be particularly welcomed by those already exposed to bitcoin markets, some analysts have stressed that the gains may be temporary, as a direct reflection of the SEC’s announcement.
“The news of the review has definitely excited speculators, although it’s unclear if this will alter the SEC’s decision. So the gains in the last 24 hours may be temporary,” according to Gatecoin’s Thomas Glucksmann.
The rises come at the same time as a similar surge in pricing in the ethereum markets, an alternative digital currency that is being similarly talked up by investors and analysts.
Note: Tokens on the Bitcoin Core (SegWit) chain are referenced as BTC coins; tokens on the Bitcoin Cash ABC chain are referenced as BCH, BCH-ABC or BAB coins.
Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) is today the only Bitcoin project that follows the original Satoshi Nakamoto whitepaper, and that follows the original Satoshi protocol and design. BSV is the only public blockchain that maintains the original vision for Bitcoin and will massively scale to become the world’s new money and enterprise blockchain.
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Apple has removed the 27-inch LG UltraFine 5K display that was previously a Mac user’s go-to option for external monitors from its online store following the launch of the Studio Display.
LG and Apple had worked on the display together, promising tight integration with macOS. The UltraFine 5K display featured a 5K display, P3 wide color with 500 nits of brightness, and one Thunderbolt 3 port capable of charging a Mac.
Following the announcement of the Studio Display this week, Apple has removed the UltraFine 5K display from its online store, now only listing the 23.7-inch UltraFine 4K display starting at $699. LG’s own website also lists the UltraFine 5K display as sold out, and it’s not entirely clear if the display will be restocked anytime soon.
The UltraFine 5K display retailed for $1,299, compared to the $1,599 starting price of Apple’s Studio Display. The Studio Display was made available for pre-order this week and will be available on March 18. Learn more about Apple’s newest display with our roundup.
This article, “Apple Stops Selling 27-Inch LG UltraFine 5K Display” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums


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LG Electronics has set a sales goal of 40 million flat panel TVs including Smart TVs, 3D TVs, and LED-backlight LCD TVs this year, said Havis Kwon, the head of LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company.
Kwon, speaking at the 2011 Consumer
Samsung Electronics recently posted revenues of $32 billion on a consolidated basis for the second quarter of 2010, a 17 per cent increase year-on-year, with a net income of $4.2 billion.
Samsung’s digital media businesses – including visu
LG Electronics, a major player in the global flat panel display market, recently announced business strategies and goals for its display business at IFA International 2008 in Berlin, Germany.
These objectives, intended to reinforce LG'


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Before the controversy surrounding the performance of the new MacBook Pro, there was information about a problem with kernel panic (macOS generalized error screen) with the expensive iMac Pro. Now, some owners of the new MacBooks Pro they are also facing the same problem and want to understand what lies behind this situation.
The bug reached so many owners of the iMac Pro that it is possible to follow several topics of discussion in the Apple forum on this problem including this one, which already has more than 6 thousand views and almost 200 comments. Among the messages sent there, users share a theory about the problem based on the displayed error alert, which points to an error with the BridgeOS. It is a kind of operating system part of the macOS incorporated in the T2 chip like the simplified version of watchOS used by the MacBooks Pro Touch Bar.
In turn, the T2 chip is responsible for a lot of special things, some of which we have already mentioned. Overall, this chip provides the iMac Pro (and the new MacBooks Pro) with a secure boot, encrypted storage, hardware check for the operating system, kernel, etc.
The fact that users are pointing out that the problem does not happen once in a while, but repeatedly sometimes more than once in the same day. One of them said in the discussion thread that he had just received his new MacBook Pro and, in less than 18 hours, the notebook completely went out at least twice.
Apple suggests that iMac Pro owners erase and reinstall macOS from scratch, disable FileVault and the Power Nap feature, but there is no definitive solution to the problem yet. If you thought that changing the machine is the last option, it may not be: there is a case of a user who had his iMac Pro replaced twice and the problem persisted in all units.
For now, Ma has not released any official information about the problem that now affects consumers of two of its top-of-the-line products. With regard to the polemical performance of the new MacBooks Pro, Apple has already positioned itself, admitting and correcting a software error that affected all new models. Let us wait.
via Digital Trends
Update by Rafael Fischmann 07/26/2018 s 13:55
Apple responded to a contact from MacRumors, stating that the problem is not widespread and that until now it has not even received direct reports about it. Still, he said that he already has a team analyzing the issue and that he is "always looking to improve the stability and reliability of our products".


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Verizon Communications is planning to go over-the-top with a streaming service that includes a bundle of TV shows and movies -- à la Netflix -- offered outside its FiOS footprint, Reuters reported.
The telco is engaged in discussions with programmers about the service, which could be launched in 2012, according to Reuters, citing unnamed sources. The subscription service would be limited in scope, focusing on packages of movies similar to the Starz Play and Epix services or children's programming from partners such as Walt Disney Co. or Viacom, the news service reported.
Verizon does not comment "on rumors and speculation," a spokeswoman said.
In May 2011, Verizon senior programming executive Tricia Lynch said that the company planned to offer its Flex View video-on-demand service for watching movies and TV shows on TVs, smartphones, tablets and computers to non-FiOS customers. Lynch, speaking at the Multichannel News/B&C On Demand Summit 3.0, said the service is "available right now to FiOS customers, but will soon be available to non-FiOS customers."
Separately, last week SpectrumCo -- a joint venture of Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks -- announced a deal to sell its 122 Advanced Wireless Services spectrum licenses to Verizon Wireless for $3.6 billion. Under the terms of the deal, the companies entered into several agreements that will let the MSOs and Verizon Wireless become agents to sell one another's products and, within about four years, the cable companies will have the option of selling Verizon Wireless' service on a wholesale basis.


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Chinese tech giant Huawei announced yesterday the Mate 20 X, a smartphone that is being pegged as "the best portable mobile gaming machine". The Mate 20X sports a 7.2-inch display with no notch, for even more screen estate.
Let's check out the pricing details and specifications of the Huawei Mate 20, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and Huawei Mate 20 X. It also has a vapor chamber and graphene film cooling system so that users can play on their phone longer without it heating it up. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro comes with a powerful camera and sets benchmark along with charging technologies. Moreover, the phone has also debuted "reverse wireless charging", which means you can use it to wirelessly charge other phones.
And now for the main question: how much is it?
Both the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro will be available in several color options common for both. A 4200mAh battery keeps this handset juiced up and it comes with a 40WHuawei SuperCharge charger. It has the same Leica-powered 24-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture, the rear setup includes 40-megapixel wide angle lens (f/1.8 aperture), 20-megapixel ultra wide angle lens (f/2.2 aperture) and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens (f/2.4 aperture). Inside the smartphone is a 7-nanometer processor Kirin 980 with artificial intelligence to neural computing.
They feature a fingerprint scanner built directly into the screen and wireless charging capabilities, both for the first time. "We bring you an extra display, extra power and also extra performance".
Dodgers stage late comeback to even up NLCS with Brewers
He has four postseason go-ahead home runs since he joined the club in 2014, tied with Daniel Murphy for the most in that span. Yuri Gurriel broke the game open with a three-run homer just after Reddick hit his solo blast earlier in the ninth.
One of the cool evolution in Huawei's Master AI 2.0 image processing with the Mate 20 Pro is the ability to segment a photo into sections and treat each one differently.
The new flagship series comes with the highly-customised Android P-based EMUI 9 operating system (OS). It's no surprise that they're not super cheap, starting at 799 euros for the standard Mate 20 equipped with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. That's before factoring in monthly service fees from a wireless carrier to use other features of the phone.
In matters battery, Huawei has for a while now been packing huge batteries.
Mate 20 is rumored to be priced at anything between $700-1500. The Mate20 comes with a 6.53-inch full HD display, while the Pro model comes with a 6.39-inch curved OLED display.
The Huawei Mate 20 X will launch on October 26 and cost €900 for its only 6GB RAM and 128GB version.


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NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang today announced a powerful new computer that’s meant for autonomous or self-driving cars. According to the company, the DRIVE PX Pegasus AI computer will enable level 5 autonomy. What that means is that the cars powered by this will be fully autonomous, requiring no pedals and steering wheels. They will not require anyone to take control.
We’re still a few years away from level 5 autonomy and even if the technology reaches there faster, there are legal and regulatory hurdles that have to be crossed before fully autonomous cars are allowed on the roads.
NVIDIA says its new computer is great for robotaxis, which are taxis that don’t require any human intervention. Such vehicles will have extraordinary computing requirements all of which has to be done with multiple levels of redundancy to ensure the highest level of safety.
The company’s DRIVE PX Pegasus AI computer is roughly the size of a license plate and it’s capable of replacing the entire truck full of computing equipment that’s used in existing level 5 autonomous cars. It delivers 320 trillion operations per second of computing power. It’s claimed to have the AI performance of a 100-server data center.
NVIDIA has revealed that more than 25 of its partners are working on fully autonomous taxis so they will certainly check out the company’s latest computer. NVIDIA is going to offer it to partners in the second half of next year with its next-generation GPUs that actually haven’t been announced so far.


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74% of baby formula products are out of stock in the US today.
Several states have over 87% shortage of baby formula.
74% of baby formula products are now OUT OF STOCK nationwide and Joe Biden is currently on vacation. pic.twitter.com/SgfvaIZIqq
— Kyle Martinsen (@KyleMartinsen_) June 3, 2022
Joe Biden admitted he was warned about the current baby formula shortage and its seriousness months ago.
BIDEN: “I don’t think anyone anticipated the impact of…the Abbott facility.”
REPORTER: “Didn’t the CEOs just tell you that they understood it would have a very big impact?”
BIDEN: “They did, but I didn’t.” pic.twitter.com/ge0go5gAPp
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 1, 2022
Meanwhile, while Americans are suffering through the worst economic emergency in 50 years, Joe Biden hit the beach.
A source sends along this photo to FOX of President Biden at the beach today near his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. pic.twitter.com/gzHKdBDl06
— Pat Ward (@WardDPatrick) June 5, 2022


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NRF: Retail Container Traffic Expected to Increase
August 14, 2012
According to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) monthly Global Port Tracker report, produced by Hackett Associates, import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 6.3 percent in August, compared with the same month last year.
U.S. ports followed by the report handled 1.41 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in June—that was up 4.7 percent from May and 10.7 percent from June 2011. One TEU is one 20-ft. cargo container or its equivalent. August is forecasted at 1.44 million TEU, up 6.3 percent; September at 1.46 million TEU, up 7.3 percent; October at 1.47 million TEU, up 13.2 percent; November at 1.3 million TEU, up 2.4 percent; and December at 1.23 million TEU, up 2.4 percent.


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Epic Games has announced that in a few hours, a new Fortnite update will be. The developers have released most updates on Tuesdays, with few exceptions. But today it will not be a normal patch, it is the first birthday of Fortnite.
What exactly will appear with the update is not known, is there a new machine gun or other new content?
Epic Games has announced the update v5.10 with the following words:
There is a party and you are invited! Patch v5.10 will be released tomorrow, July 24, marking #Fortnite1st’s birthday.
The Fortnite servers will go offline at 4 AM Eastern Time, then Patch 1.68 will be available for download. Once the patch notes have been released we will provide them for you.
Have you already considered the challenges for the 3rd week in Season 5? Here you will find the previously unveiled challenges of the third Battle Pass week.
Source: Epic Games


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Internet Explorer's usage share again dipped last month, even as Microsoft's newest browser, IE9, posted record gains, a Web metrics company said today.
Apple today took administrative control of the iCloud.com domain less than a week before CEO Steve Jobs is to unveil his company's new cloud-based service.
Mobile movie- and music-makers can add a few new tools to their toolbelts: On Wednesday, Apple released updates for both GarageBand and iMovie for iPad, adding new import options for the first, performance fixes for the latter, and AirPlay and HDMI s...
Apple today released new versions of its iWork apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch, adding support for the productivity programs to its smaller devices.
HP is open to licensing the WebOS operating system, but only to very select companies, an executive said on Wednesday.
Google has released the source code for a technology that it hopes developers will use to embed real-time video and voice chat functionality in their Web applications.
Oracle is submitting the codebase for OpenOffice.org to the Apache Software Foundation, where the productivity suite will live on in the group's incubator program for open-source software initiatives, Oracle announced Wednesday.
Acer will launch a 10-inch tablet at the end of this year using both Intel's Atom processor and its mobile operating system MeeGo.
Hewlett-Packard plans to introduce a scorecard application that can visually summarize a wide swath of metrics taken from other HP software, the company announced Wednesday.
VMware has acquired Socialcast, its third acquisition this year of technology for enterprise collaboration, the company said on Tuesday.
Storage vendor NetApp said today it can now support all types of backup through a single interface as a result of a reseller agreement with CommVault and will offer its SnapProtect branded software, a package of CommVault's Simpana 9's snapshot copie...
Apple CEO Steve Jobs will take the stage at the company's developer conference next week to introduce iCloud -- Apple's new cloud service -- and the next version of its mobile operating system, iOS 5.
Oracle has fired back against a New Jersey university's claim it is responsible for a problematic ERP (enterprise resource planning) software project, saying school officials have embarked on a "scorched earth" litigation campaign in order to cover u...
For the first time, companies around the world are planning to spend as much on new software projects as they do maintaining existing systems, according to a new report from Forrester Research.
Taking the stage a second time after going on medical leave five months ago, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is slated to announce the iCloud services offering at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next week.
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Betting on the growth in online gambling has become a popular theme among investors. Thus far online gambling has only been legalized in a handful of U.S. states, but industry observers see many more states following suit in the coming years. At maturity, the U.S. online gambling industry could generate annual revenue in excess of $20 billion, according to estimates provided by DraftKings.
While it may not be a household name, GAN (GAN -4.12%) is another way to invest in the online gambling theme. GAN provides software that powers many of the large online casinos and sports books and is experiencing explosive revenue growth.
GAN's Shopify-like business model
GAN is a B2B software provider for online gambling. Specifically, GAN offers a player account management (PAM) solution which handles the entire tech stack of an online casino, including player registration, payments, legal compliance, game content management, and more.
Any land-based casino can use GAN to put up an online storefront and manage the entire technology back end. The casino would still need to handle marketing and customer service, but everything else is fairly plug-and-play. GAN's model is analogous to being the Shopify for online casinos -- a core tech platform white-labeled for gambling e-commerce.
In exchange for managing the back end for a casino's online offering, GAN collects a cut of the total gambling revenue. The rate it collects varies by geography and product, but on average GAN collects around 10% of gross revenue produced by the online casino.
In 2019, GAN's casino partners generated $315 million in gross revenue and GAN generated $29.9 million in revenue. Impressively, GAN is already profitable by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) at this low level of revenue, which suggests a potentially large profit margin in the future as the company scales up.
A large new customer
GAN already has many notable customers, including FanDuel (owned by Flutter Entertainment) and Penn National Gaming. However, on GAN's recent quarterly earnings call, the company announced that it just landed a new customer. GAN didn't disclose the name of the casino but noted that it would be a large multistate deal.
"We've reached an agreement in principle with a Tier 1 client that is looking to deploy our GameSTACK technology in new addressable states such as Illinois, Tennessee as well as Michigan and other states in which GAN offers considerable existing operating experience, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Indiana," management said.
Later on the call, it was noted that the new customer could eventually produce as much as $400 million in annual online gambling revenue. In other words, this contract alone could double GAN's business in the coming years.
Accelerating industry growth
In 2019, the entire online casino market grew 58%, an acceleration from the prior year's growth rate of 30%. Overall growth in the industry is only expected to heat up due to the lasting impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many people who would've otherwise visited physical casinos stayed at home and opened accounts with online casinos. Furthermore, states are more likely to legalize forms of online gambling due to the widening budget deficits they are facing.
These current trends support the long-term growth tailwinds powering stocks like GAN and DraftKings. While there is a great deal of uncertainty regarding which states will legalize online gambling and how big the industry will ultimately get, there are good reasons to be optimistic that the rapid growth will continue for now.


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Two companies join Amazon in leaving S.C.
- Carla Caldwell, Morning Call Editor
Two companies have decided to follow Amazon.com and leave South Carolina following the state legislature’s decision last week not to give the online retailer promised tax incentives, according to The State newspaper.
Businesses that have decided not to make homes in the state are Chicago-based Altgen, and Bloom Energy of San Francisco.
The tax exemptions promised to Amazon were put together by former Gov. Mark Sanford without a lot of input from other officials, which outraged many small businesses who said the benefits gave Amazon an unfair advantage. Gov. Nikki Haley said she would not veto the tax incentives, but wouldn’t support them either. On Wednesday the S.C. House voted the tax breaks down 71-47. Following the vote, Amazon said it would abandon the state.
Amazon (NYSE: AMZN) was preparing to equip and staff its one million-square-foot building under construction at I-77 and 12th Street near Cayce, according to The State newspaper. The company was expected to provide an estimated 1,249 new jobs.
The fallout has caused other companies to rethink locating in South Carolina. Said Altgen’s operation’s manager Chip Harriford, "Our concern is you get incentives and get the commitment for it, and the state changes the rules of the game. Our financiers are not willing to take that risk." The plant was expected to bring 200 jobs, but would require up to $20 million in incentives, according to media reports.
Bloom Energy of San Francisco decided in mid-April to go due to the Amazon fight. The company planned to build a fuel cell plant next to the Amazon site. The company will expand back home in California, adding up to 1,000 jobs, the company said.
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Electric car demand is lagging behind other advanced European nations with just under one in five even considering buying a new model. Just 17 percent of road users were contemplating making the switch to a new electric model in the lowest of nine EU countries analysed by YouGov.
The findings revealed Spain is the most prepared nation with 37 percent saying they were considering making a move.
Norway was the second most popular region with one-third of drivers saying they were looking at an electric car as their next purchase.
Only Denmark was as low as the UK with just 20 percent saying they were considering a switch for a new EV.
However, YouGov reveals this figure represents a slight three percentage point increase since January.
READ MORE: Grants and discounts are ‘critical’ to boost electric cars
Understanding this could help better target the audience and help drive take-up of electric models across the UK.
Mr Virtanen said firms must address the “many barriers” which were stopping more widespread sales of the new cars.
He said: “COVID-19 has undoubtedly hit so many industries so hard – so it may be a relief to many auto manufacturers that purchase consideration and recommendation for electric cars has remained broadly consistent across Europe during the pandemic.
“This is a good starting point, but with the auto sector being hit hard by COVID it is important that manufacturers are using the best insights possible to understand how and why consumers buy electric cars.
“As our research shows, there is a large pool of potential buyers out there.
“Only by listening and understanding their motives – which can vary heavily from country to country – will they address many of the barriers that stopped potential buyers even before the pandemic.”
Electric cars are the gamble that has to pay off after years of investment from manufacturers and millions spent on infrastructure.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed an extra £10million of funding for electric car technology in July’s mini-budget statement.
The extra money will be used to help “scale up” manufacturing in areas such as electric batteries and motors.
Plans will be drawn up to produce an electric car “gigafactory” to drive availability of models in the UK.
Last year the government also set aside a massive £37million to research new electric charging projects.
These included ways to build more wireless charging and solar-powered forecourts to ease demand on fossil fuels.
Alongside this, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has also contributed funding to installing extra charging bays in residential areas to reduce the issues surrounding range anxiety.


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LiveArt Market Monitor's report Warhol's Marilyn and the Art Market is available as a pdf with additional charts and content. You may download and share it from here.
When Christie’s announced that it would be selling Doris Ammann’s 40-inch square Warhol image of Marilyn Monroe this May, the news was stunning but the record-setting estimate of $200 million was not. The five 40-inch Marilyns hold a special place within Warhol’s body of work; and another Marilyn is known to have sold privately above the level of Christie’s estimate.
A $200 million auction estimate is eye-watering. But the number has a clear logic. Christie’s has already sold a work publicly for $450 million—and several other paintings are known to have sold privately for prices above $200 million. That makes the estimate almost conservative.
Non-market observers tend to fixate on record prices. The expectation is that record-setting sales will beget more record-setting sales. The art market works differently. It is uniquely dependent upon public prices to provide cardinal points. This is because the asset lacks other fundamental means of valuation. In other words, the monetary value of art can only be determined by a sale, not by a calculation of income streams. A record price becomes a North Star for other transactions; however, these tend to be transactions at a lower level.
Warhol’s work increased in value at a very rapid pace. Between 1998 and 2007, a 40-inch Marilyn quadrupled in value every nine years. At that rate, one might have expected to see a $280 million Warhol sale in 2016. That obviously didn’t happen. But the market came close. Steven Cohen paid $80 million privately for Turquoise Marilyn in 2007; Kenneth Griffin paid triple that—or $240 million, according to Vanity Fair—in 2017 for Orange Marilyn. Quadrupling had slowed to tripling, a nine-year pace had extended to 10 years yet Warhol’s Marilyns continued to gain value.
Using LiveArt’s data from public auctions, we mapped the market dynamics for high value Warhols. These charts show a pattern of new highs in 1989, 1998, 2007 and 2011. Art markets look for confirmation prices when an artist sells in a new range. For Warhol, the 1994 resale of Shot Red Marilyn at a price 10% below the first sale was a confirmation price.
The 1998 sale of Orange Marilyn for $17.3m had to wait until 2004 before the $15 million sale of Mustard Race Riot confirmed that price. Green Car Crash (Green Burning Car 1) sold for $71 million in 2007 followed by the $63.3 million paid for The Men in Her Life in 2010. The 2013 auction of Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) for $105.4 million was mostly confirmed by the $81 million paid for Triple Elvis [Ferus Type] the next year.
Confirmation prices tend to be singular at these very high levels. But they do help loosen purse strings for works down a price rung or two. Following Warhol’s 1998 high there were a dozen new sales at prices between the previous high ($4m) and the new record ($17.3m). After the 2007 record high price ($71m), there were 21 new sales at prices between the 1998 record ($17.3m) and the 2007 price.
Since 2011, only one work has sold above the previous record price set in 2007; however, more than two dozen works have sold at prices between the 1998 high and the 2007 high. Higher record prices prompt more frequent transactions at lower but previous record levels. Buyers become habituated to prices that previously seemed high but now have been confirmed by a market rising even higher.
Between 2007 and 2011, there were 10 Warhols sold publicly for prices between $25m and $50m. Between 2011 and 2021, 17 Warhols sold in that price band. Before 2011, only two Warhols had sold publicly above $50m. From 2011 on, eight $50m or above Warhol paintings were auctioned.
If the Shot Sage Blue Marilyn sells for its estimate, it will make a public price near or above the previous record private price. Once a price ceiling around $250m is set, that creates new price bands below the record price for additional sales. With a $250m public price, we should expect to see bands between the 2007 ($71m) high-water mark and approximately $160 million which is halfway between the 2007 high and the $250m level.
Having more Warhols selling for prices above $75m, should bring more works to market. Buyers who paid less than $50m for Warhols—and that is all but a dozen or so buyers—would make substantial gains if they owned works that could expect prices above the $75m level.
If Shot Sage Blue Marilyn doesn’t sell for the $200 million estimate or sells significantly below there, it will indicate a meaningful change in Warhol’s status. One fear related to Warhol’s oeuvre is that his work is mostly relevant to Baby Boomers. Just as biblical stories once familiar to admirers of Old Master paintings lost their cultural currency, so too might Liz, Jackie, Elvis, Marilyn become as obscure as many of the society portraits.
As described earlier, Warhol’s paintings have declined in number at auction over the last six years even as they continue to rise in value. That may indicate narrowing demand for only certain subjects.
On the other hand, remember the upward slope of Marilyn prices from 1989 to 1998 to 2007 to 2017. A mere doubling of the private sale price paid five years ago would mean exceeding the price of Leonardo’s Salvator Mundi. A sale at that level would be a rebranding event for Warhol.


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Today's headlines are full of ransomware, retail customer data breaches and routine government surveillance of online traffic. The latest battle between the FBI and Apple over unlocking an iPhone is just...
VAR giant snaps up €13.7m DevOps, managed services and datacentre player
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Bechtle vows to continue ramping up cloud portfolio, claiming that further vendor partnerships are likely