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Focusses on FIT and MICE segment to gain maximum traction from India
Mano Gunasekera, Vice President Sales – Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts; Kamal Munasinghe, Area Vice President Operations, Colombo Hotels and Ilias Vamvakas, Area Vice President Operations, Sri Lanka Resorts Hotels welcome Indian travelers to Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts as well as Sri Lanka.
Performance in 2022 and expectations from India in 2023
Gunasekera expressed that Cinnamon looked at 2022 as a recovery from 2018-19, to have a base to work on that. The ARR’s in are said not to meet expectation, but in occupancies it started picking up latterly. In occupancy, they are coming to par with what was projected. In 2023, Cinnamon is quite bullish as the destination itself is projecting 1.5 million arrivals.
Munasinghe also added that “India has been the best feeder market for Sri Lanka over the years, 18% of arrivals came from India. Percentagewise in 2022, it was 17%, so there is not much difference”. He said that there is a new market emerged for Sri Lanka. In last three months, Russia organized charter flights coming into Sri Lanka, that has been the biggest producer.
He further claimed that for Indians it’s a very attractive market because of the proximity. “We had a bad patch, but since October we’ve been doing well. We have no shortages at all with enough supply of fuel and uninterrupted power, and no shortage of food and medicine. Our hotels anyway operated right throughout the crisis as well without any issue”, he assured.
Drawing light on the arrivals, Munasinghe mentioned that from mid-November, the numbers have been increasing. “In December, we almost saw 100,000 arrivals and in January – upto now, it has already crossed about 40,000 arrivals. So, our message to Indian market is you are a very important market to us and we are very well geared to welcome Indian travelers, for Sri Lanka, as well as for Cinnamon hotels and resorts”.
Plans to tap the targeted market segmets
Vamvakas mentioned that a couple of their partners said that Sri Lanka is a dream wedding destination. “What we foresee for 2023, is a hike towards the Indian market, which is coming back in larger numbers as we see confidence in India towards Sri Lanka is kind of flourishing. And yes, there are couple of negativities being radiated in the second quarter of 2023 and we all are here we all can reassure you that we are back to business, back to normalcy”, he further added.
Reiterating the fact, Gunasekera mentioned that “In 2023, let’s say 1.6 million, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts is predicting for the period from April to March, 17-18% we’d actually expect of India with a huge focus on MICE.”
He added that there’s a very large MICE movement happening from one of the largest conglomerates in India, which is confirmed to Colombo, and some part of it to Cinnamon as well. There’s another coming in April through the Convention Bureau, and they are also inviting MICE agents to visit some of the prominent hotels in Colombo. “We have completed 4 weddings in 2022 from India and got almost 5 weddings confirmed for 2023. So, this is a huge market that we’re looking at. At the same time, if we look at the segments from India that has given business, FIT market will actually take precedence over MICE and Weddings. In 2018, we had 400,000 passengers from India and 2022 compared to that is 150,000. So you can actually see the dip, but at the same time in 2023, we are looking at 300,000 – 400,000+ travelers”, Gunasekera added.
Shift in Trends
Highlighting the shift in trends, Munasinghe added that nowadays, people decide to take a small holiday, specially from India, it is a three to five days that can vary maximum to one month leave prominently with two weeks booking window.
The other thing he highlighted is travelers are looking for experiences that are unique, that are not something the mass experiences and are uniquely curated for one’s requirement. Wellness and well-being mindfulness has become one of the leading trends in the hospitality industry. Identifying that, Cinnamon nature trails have been launched, which curates experiences for Cinnamon guests that caters an actual list, a nature trail agent, together curating experiences for guests that cannot be bought anywhere else except at Cinnamon hotels and resorts.
From a marketing perspective, Gunasekera mentioned Cinnamon is reaching out to different geographical source markets, identifying demographics to be targeted. The brand also looks to have content that features not just the physical aspects of a product or a property, but the experiential aspect of it.
The second aspect involves to becoming more interactive considering facts like ‘Is this influencer like-minded? Are they really interested in the experiential selling and the aspects that we have?
The third point revealed that Cinnamon is developing a large global sales organization with one office in Mumbai, one in Delhi, one in Bangalore. Beyond India they have offices in UK, France and Germany and are said to be expanding heavily into the GCC, and alongside looking at Asian countries.
The fourth aspect expressed that Cinnamon is focused on the traditional way of going through DMCS and travel agents, alongside tech advancements such as electronic distribution and policing opportunities more with B2B partners. Gunasekera expressed, “70 to 80% of our business comes from the destination management companies or the tour operators. Approximately a 15-18% from electronic distribution systems and about 10% comes on from own brand.


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New Fleet of Golf CartsBy Ko Olina Staff Oct 22, 2020 Published on: Ko Olina Golf Club( Opens in New Tab )
Our brand new fleet of 86 Club Car carts are here! We hope you enjoy the new carts!
Why Golf Travelers Are Good for Hawaii's Tourism IndustryBy Christina O'Connor - Reporter Sep 13, 2019 Published on: Pacific Business News( Opens in New Tab )
Last week, golf industry professionals from across the country, along with leaders in tourism and hospitality, gathered at The Kahala Hotel & Resort for the Professional Golfers’ Association of America – Aloha Section’s 2019 Hawaii Golf Industry Conference.
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Forbes’ has unveiled its highly coveted America’s Richest Self-Made Women list, highlighting the incredible financial success of various celebrities.
Among them, Rihanna claims the top spot with her vast wealth. The Work singer secures an impressive 20th position on the list of richest self-made women, with a remarkable self-made score of 10.
Rihanna has an estimated self-worth of $1.4 billion, a feat she achieved by means of her accomplishments in both the music and cosmetics industries.
Her collaboration with LVMH in Fenty Beauty has contributed significantly to her success, with the brand experiencing a doubling of earnings in 2022.
Furthermore, her ownership stake in the Savage x Fenty lingerie line, which was valued at $1 billion in 2022, further cements her reputation as a savvy entrepreneur.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift claims the 34th position on the Forbes list, with a remarkable “self-made score” of 8 and an estimated net worth of $740 million.
Beyoncé also features on the list, securing the 48th spot with a commendable “self-made score” of 8 and an estimated net worth of $540 million.
The Forbes’ Richest Self-Made Women list celebrates the achievements of other pioneering women in the entertainment industry, including Oprah, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Madonna, Céline Dion, Dolly Parton, Reese Witherspoon, Barbra Streisand, Serena Williams, and Shonda Rhimes.


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Economic news on Wednesday's pre-Thanksgiving "Getaway Day" was largely dismal. The government's report on October's personal income and outlays headed up the disappointing news. While incomes increased nicely — at a rate which needs to be repeated about two dozen more times before it can be seen as genuinely impressive — spending only rose by 0.1 percent, while prior months were revised significantly downward.
Perhaps because they were all in a pre-holiday hurry, the headline writers at the Associated Press and AP economics writer Martin Crutsinger had fundamentally different takes on the news. Additionally, Crutsinger was apparently in such a rush that he didn't worry about the fact that his first two paragraphs' characterizations of the result disagreed. Finally, the AP reporter failed to note that total consumer spending in October was lower than what was originally reported in September after the previously mentioned downard revisions.


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DURANGO, Colo. -- The message for buyers eyeing the 2008 Hummer H2 is twofold: more refinement, more power.
Hummer's biggest model undergoes its biggest changes - most on the inside - since it debuted for the 2002 model year.
On the outside, the H2's styling gets only minor changes to the grille and lower front bumper.
"Customers were looking for refinement on the inside," Hummer General Manger Martin Walsh said this month at a Hummer media event here.
The basics: The 2008 H2 SUV and SUT interior is new - instrument panel, door panels, seats, headliner.
Jim Dolot, vehicle line planning director, said Hummer owners were interviewed before the 2008 H2 was developed. The H2's exterior styling and the vehicle's size were reasons why they bought it.
But the H2's interior did not communicate luxury or prestige. "It did not give them a feeling of a $55,000, $60,000 vehicle," he said.
The H2's engineering and styling teams worked with their counterparts on the Cadillac Escalade program to choose premium materials and achieve gap tolerances of 1 millimeter or less. The Escalade and H2 are on General Motors' full-sized truck architecture.
"We tested the interior with customers," said Dolot. "It is a huge improvement from their perspective from what we had before."
General Motors also has given the H2 a hefty power boost, equipping it with a 393-hp 6.2-liter V-8 that produces 415 pounds-feet of torque. The previous engine was a 325-hp 6.0-liter V-8 with 365 pounds-feet of torque.
The "very healthy improvement in torque" is noticeable when climbing rocks, said Jeff Luke, Hummer H2 chief engineer.
The H2's towing rating gets a 1,500-pound boost over that of the 2007 model, to 8,000 pounds.
The addition of the new engine, along with a six-speed automatic transmission, electric cooling fans in the engine compartment and other features increase the H2's fuel economy 0.7 mpg overall, said Luke. A combination of city and highway driving is estimated by GM to be in the range of 13-14 mpg.
Added standard safety equipment for the 2008 H2 includes electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology, panic brake assist (the first application for a GM truck), tire pressure monitoring system and head curtain side airbags for all three passenger rows.
Notable features: For the first time, the Hummer SUV has a full third-row seat for two passengers and rear seat heating and air conditioning. A DVD entertainment system is available.
What Hummer says: What is the H2's main competitor? "It fits in against Land Rover," says Walsh. "In some cases, it is not a vehicle that is a competitor. It could be a down payment on a vacation property."
Compromises and shortcomings: Fuel economy and the high cost of gasoline. Sales totaled 4,954 in the first five months of this year, down 29.2 percent from year-ago sales.
Nuts and bolts: Dealers are scheduled to start receiving the 2008 H2 in late July or early August. Walsh said advertising will emphasize that the "H2 is all new under the roof and under the hood."
The skinny: Despite the significant improvements, the price of gasoline likely will determine the H2's fate.


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With mere days until the official unveiling of the next iPad from Apple (could it really be anything else?), it's interesting to see a game studio commit to a tablet-first game creation approach. Finnish developer of third-person Facebook shooter Gunshine.net Supercell has announced that it will make games for tablets first and elsewhere second, according to Inside Mobile Apps (ISA).
"The volume, the size and the growth rate of the platform is really interesting. More importantly, we see that there's a massive opportunity in tablets to develop new ways of actually playing games," Supercell CEO Ilkka Paanannen told ISA. "There's a much bigger screen and when you combine that with a touch interface, it enables new kinds of game experiences."
To commemorate the announcement, Supercell has also revealed Battle Buddies, the first game to employ this tablet-first strategy. Well, "tablet-first" may as well mean "iPad-first," considering its massive market share. But Supercell will consider other types of tablets in the future, according to Greg Harper, Supercell's GM of its new San Francisco office and former iWin president.
All that's known so far about Battle Buddies is that it's a team combat game designed specifically to take full advantage of the iPad sometime in Q2 2012, or before April. According to Paanannen, Supercell's new approach will separate itself from other mobile game makers that simply upscale their games to tablets. One thing is for certain: Battle Buddies will be testament to that.
Are you interested in seeing what comes from Supercell's tablet-first game creation strategy? Would other game makers be smart to do the same? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.


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U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal issued the order March 6 after the plaintiffs in the case accused Apple of withholding documents it had been ordered to turn over. He noted that while the plaintiffs "presented to the court little more than suspicions that Apple has withheld responsive documents," Apple provided enough evidence on its … Read more
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller has been a semi-regular Twitter user since 2008, though mostly tweets about things like music, movies and sports.
But that changed earlier today with a post linking to F-Secure Labs' latest quarterly Mobile Threat report, with a casual mention to "be safe out there."
The 29-page report's (PDF) key finding is that malware on Google's Android is getting worse, in part because of the platform's brisk growth and a new variant of malware that spread using SMS.
"Android malware has been strengthening its position in the mobile threat scene,&… Read more
Apple and Google are on a collision course. The two tech giants are battling to win the hearts and minds of users on the go and in the cloud with their various products, services, and platforms. But as far as Wall Street is concerned, Google is ascendant and Apple is waning.
According to a Citigroup report, Google has replaced Apple as the top holding by the largest U.S. mutual funds. At one point it was Apple that was heading for a $1,000 stock price -- now it's Google. Wall Street is valuing the future potential of Google'… Read more
Apple is attempting to revive a patent-infringement claim against Google's Motorola Mobility unit over touch-screen technology, according to Reuters.
Apple asked a U.S. appeals court to reinstate the claim after the U.S. International Trade Commission had earlier ruled that one of the related patents was invalid and Motorola hadn't infringed on the second patent.
Apple contends that Motorola is copying its technology that allows for transparent screens to sense multiple touches in different locations, allowing users to operate a phone by swiping or tapping the screen. The technology is fundamental to the current generation of smartphones … Read more
Intel might be trying to line up Apple's chip production, according to a new report.
The companies over the past year have been in talks for Apple to move its mobile chip production from Samsung to Intel, Reuters is reporting today, citing people who have knowledge of their discussions. So far, however, Intel and Apple have been unable to reach an accord.
That Apple and Intel have talked boosts a claim made last week to Reuters by Intel custom foundry vice president and general manager … Read more
While Samsung says it won't get involved with Sharp's business management in "any way or form," it will be getting a "steady" supply of LCD (liquid crystal display) panels used for smartphone and tablet displays. And it probably will get a line of sight into Sharp's future products and customers, as … Read more
Ferrari is in negotiations to expand its in-car entertainment partnership with Apple, the luxury-car maker's chairman revealed today as the company unveiled a car with Siri and two iPad Minis.
The companies will be "more precise" about their partnership in the coming months, Luca Cordero Di Montezemolo said today at the Geneva International Motor Show, according to a Bloomberg account of his comments. CNET has contacted Apple for more comment and will update this report when we learn more.
The partnership apparently began last November when Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president for Internet software and … Read more
The notes from biographer Walter Isaacson's numerous interviews with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will not be used as evidence in the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Apple.
That decision, made last week and reported earlier today by PaidContent, means that Isaacson will not have to testify either.
Isaacson is the author of "Steve Jobs," a book that chronicled the life of Jobs, based on interviews with the then-CEO of Apple, as well as his friends, family, colleagues, and rivals. It was published by Simon & Schuster (owned by CBS, parent company of CNET) weeks after … Read more
Apple has won dozens of new patents across a wide array of technologies, including how pinch-to-zoom works in software and its iPad Smart Cover's attachment features.
Perhaps the most important patent is one that relates to how a touch screen reacts to a person's thumb and index finger during a pinch-to-zoom gesture. Sensors within the touch display change in size and shape based on the gestured detected by those fingers. If a thumb and forefinger start to move together, the sensory panels change around that. When they move apart, the sensors once again adapt. Other sensors around the … Read more
Apple's market cap -- a measure of the value of a company -- is now below $400 billion.
The company passed the milestone as Apple's shares fell 2 percent in trading this morning and the decline continued through the day to a closing price of $420.05, a drop of 2.4 percent from Friday's closing price. At that share price, Apple's market cap is now $394.45 billion. The company's valuation hasn't been that low since late 2011.
Apple's share price has been on a steady decline over the last several months. … Read more


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Exports increased 1.8 percent to € 37.91 billion in December compared to November. Sales grew for pharmaceuticlas (+20.6 percent), aircraft industry (+5.5 percent); chemical products, perfumes (+3.8 percent); metal and metal products (+3.6 percent) and textile (+3.2 percent). In contrast, exports of agriculture products (-4.6 percent) and refined petroleum (-14.7 percent) fell. Shipments to the Middle East countries rose the most by 74.2 percent, followed by the EU countries (+2.1 percent). In contrast, sales to Africa and Asia countries declined by 6.9 percent and 5.2 percent respectively. Exports to the American countries also fell by 0.8 percent.
Imports rose 2.6 percent to € 41.35 billion with purchases of ships, trains and motorcycles rising the most (18.9 percent), followed by natural hydrocarbons (16.2 percent) and airspace industry (8.8 percent). Imports mainly came from the Middle East countries (+30.7 percent), America (+8.4 percent) and Asian countries (+4.0 percent). In contrast, imports from the EU countries and Africa declined by 1.5 percent and 1.9 percent respectively.
In 2014, the country posted a € 53.8 billion trade deficit, compared with a € 60.8 billion in 2013. Exports rose 3.1 while imports shrank 1.4 percent.


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Kruger uses the best technology to produce high-end tissue
It's an open secret in the industry that Joseph Kruger II is particularly fond of Quebec. Some will say his affection stems from the $1 billion in public funds that started flowing to the company in 1993; $440 million since the Liberals and the Couillard government came to power in 2014.
Kruger has made some wise financial investments of its own. During the financial crisis of 2008, the company effectively shielded its Quebec assets by focusing on profitable business segments, namely specialty papers, cellulose, and sanitary paper, skirting the need to shutter any of its operations.
Michel Manseau, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Products - Canada, Kruger Products, characterizes his company's decision to remain loyal to Quebec, noting, "Kruger had the choice to invest in Maine and New York State. But we decided to make the most important investment for Kruger here in Quebec and implement a plant with the latest technology. This unprecedented project for Kruger Products will give us the additional production capacity we need to continue our future growth," he said. "The new plant, combined with our TAD (Through Air Dry) machine in Memphis, TN, will allow us to rebalance our production capacity in the niche of ultra premium products to better serve our North American clientele."
The new plant carries a $575 million price tag, and will sit adjacent to the company's existing specialty paper mill. The facility will churn out roughly 70,000 tonnes of toilet paper and paper towel every year. This capacity will allow Kruger not only to expand its product offering in the 'ultra premium' arena, it will mark the addition of yet another innovative product to be sold under the Cashmere, SpongeTowels and Purex brand, products that target a clientele in search of soft, thick paper that uses less fibre than its counterparts.
The new tissue will be produced on a machine equipped with the most efficient and advanced TAD technology in Canada. TAD is the most advanced technology in the world for the manufacture of ultra premium paper products. The process makes it possible to use less fibres to obtain a larger and more resistant product, which offers exceptional softness and increased absorption capacity.
Although Kruger Products has operated a Valmet TAD machine at its Memphis, TN plant since 2013, the TAD 2 machine will be the first of its kind in Quebec. Kruger is negotiating with vendors for the paper machine. Valmet's representative Éric Tétreault did not comment on the project, confirming only that no announcement has been made by Valmet or Kruger on this project. Voith and Andritz also supply TAD paper machines.
TAD technology, booming markets
Although "the high price of pulp puts some pressure on profitability," says Mr. Manseau, the high-end tissue market has boomed in recent years. While the current 10-12 month cycle of falling prices is coming to an end, many paper producers are showing no hesitation in migrating to tissue paper and TAD technology, particularly in Canada.
TAD technology came on the scene in the 1960s, through patents owned by Proctor & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark and Georgia-Pacific. For 30 years, these companies worked on this technology and made their mark, with the launch of several paper machines. When these patents began to expire in the 1990s, the market opened, and companies such as Kruger increased their share in the tissue market, which now stands at 36% in Canada.
Since 2011, new production has appeared on the market. In Canada, Cascades took the lead in 2011 with the launch of a new Voith ATMOS paper machine at its Candiac plant in Quebec. On the Valmet side, the first TAD machine was commissioned in 2013 in Mexico and in Natchez, Missouri in October 2016. Irving Consumer Products also obtained a Valmet paper machine this year. As for Resolute Forest Products, the $270 million investment in Calhoun, TN, for a Valmet NTT machine was designed to meet the demands in the U.S. market.
The TAD process is simpler and more flexible than the first generation of tissue paper machines. Its ability to achieve softness and thickness (in the case of toilet paper) and absorption (paper towels) is unparalleled. TAD also avoids the destructive effect of wet pressing on the sheet's bulk by removing water, using a vacuum effect and then passing through the sheet with hot air. The process uses two independent TAD dryers on the majority of paper machines. The first is generally hotter, since the web moisture protects the fibre from any heating effect. The bulky, structured sheet then goes through several press sections, producing a smooth, flexible, thicker and stronger final sheet.
The construction of the facility is expected to begin in early 2019 and the paper machine is scheduled to start up in early 2021. The project will represent an economic boon for the province, generating positive spin-offs in the form of roughly $250 million worth of investment in Quebec, and approximately 1 million man-hours of work during the project.
The new plant will be 40% equity financed and 60% debt financed, under a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Kruger Products S.E.C.
At the project's unveiling, Dominique Anglade, Minister of the Economy of Quebec, said that Investissement Québec should finance equity by subscribing to a convertible debenture of $105 million, while Kruger Products intends to obtain financing for the remaining capital.
The Convertible Debenture has a fixed interest term of 10 years, maturing at a rate of 3% and will be repaid on a monthly basis by Kruger S.E.C. Products within 36 months from the date of issuance.
The announcement was well-received by KP Tissue shareholders, of which 15% of the value is listed on the stock market. While the project's $575 million price tag represents a significant sum of the company's $ 1.3 billion capitalization, Michel Manseau notes that all parties involved understand the long-term benefits of the project. "And it will create added value in a buoyant, job-creating business segment, "he concludes. One thing remains certain, the relationship between Kruger and Quebec is longstanding, and on solid footing for the future.


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As The Network Turns: Telecom Trends That Defined 2017
What were some of the significant industry movements in 2017? What did we learn and how can we use that knowledge? Will legislation speed or slow the move toward 5G? And what trends should we look for next year? Industry analysts weigh in with their predictions on this edition of TIA NOW.
AT&T and Supply Chain
AT&T’s President of Supply Chain and Fleet Operations, Tim Harden, talks to TIA NOW about supply chain issues from cybersecurity and vendor competition to spectrum and high-speed broadband deployment.
Closing the Homework Gap: How to Turn the E-Rate Program into a Game-Changer
As we approach the 1-year anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic reaching a global proportion, it’s important to note that while many of us in the United States were largely able to adapt to living, learning, working and, of course, streaming from home, there were an estimated 12 million children without reliable and affordable connectivity. Those…
Connect What Matters: IoT in a Smart City
Dell’s moniker for Mobile World Congress 2016 is “ Connect What Matters,” and for good reason. Connecting M2M industrial devices has quickly advanced into critical applications in smart cities, connecting infrastructures like bridges and dams. But now there are new solutions in the smart city that are benefiting from IoT technologies and a new technology…
Do We Need Gigabit Speeds?
Gary Bolton, VP of Global Marketing at ADTRAN, tells TIA NOW why we need gigabit network speeds, not only for densified urban areas, but also for small towns.
FCC’s Open Internet Announcement Will Encourage Broadband Investment, Says TIA
ARLINGTON, VA (November 21, 2017) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today released the following statement supporting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai’s announcement to revise burdensome rules adopted in 2015 that regulate Internet Service Providers. Cinnamon Rogers, TIA’s Senior Vice President for…
FCC’s Target of Freeing 126 MHz of Spectrum through Broadcast Auction is Important Development
Arlington VA. (April 29, 2016) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today commented on the Federal Communications Commission’s announcement that it has set a target of freeing 126 MHz of spectrum as part of its broadcast incentive auction. TIA CEO Scott Belcher issued…
Future of Video, Competition and Open Internet Roundtable
The FCC is currently considering proposed Net Neutrality rules intended to ensure the Internet remains open, focusing prominently on the Future of Video. Generating over a million comments to the FCC, few recent communications policy issues have generated such broad public scrutiny. Join TIA as we explore and clarify the issues at a Luncheon Roundtable.
Guthrie Corning Hospital: Mobility and Care
As nationwide hospitals evolve from primarily inpatient care to an outpatient focus, communications technologies including IT and cellular systems become the nervous center of the hospital.
Increasing Network Intelligence
Globally, fixed and mobile operators continue to be challenged to deliver massive increases in capacity and coverage to service the broadband needs of mobile and residential consumers as well as businesses, who are demanding higher bandwidth services.
Industry Solution Sets: "Members Get It"
What are TIA’s solution sets and how are they delivering value through markets, technology and policy? John Jacobs, Vice President of Membership, Market Development and Industry Relations at TIA says solution sets are important to apply to our businesses as our industry continues to change and evolve.


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Owndays to open 20 optical shops in India after lockdown delay
By Atul Ranjan
NEW DELHI, NNA- Japanese eyewear retailer Owndays Inc., which began its India operation last year, is planning to open as many as 20 stores by the end of next year.
The ambitious expansion is aimed at the huge numbers of people who need prescription glasses, a market that has been unevenly distributed in India, according to a senior executive of the company.
“Our plan was to increase store count to over 20 in the country by the end of this year, but it got delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown,” Sanjay Malhotra, business head at Owndays’ local subsidiary Owndays India Pvt. Ltd., told NNA in a phone interview.
He added, “But now with the market slowly opening up, we are looking to resume our expansion plans in India.”
Malhotra said that the company is in the midst of setting up three new outlets in the next two months in cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi.
“We’ll have at least eight stores by the end of this year in the country, and are hopeful of increasing our store count further to 20 by next year,” he said.
The eyewear brand, which offers complete one-stop service, recently relocated one of its stores from the eastern Indian city of Kolkata to the country’s southern city of Bengaluru.
It is now looking to expand its footprint across various cities such as Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh Ahmedabad as well as Chennai, where it opened its first shop in 2019.
To boost sales further, the company will launch its online store by next year.
To stay ahead of the competition, the company uses sophisticated Japanese eye-testing equipment to carry out eye checks and help make prescriptions quickly.
The whole process including the selection of lenses and frames is usually completed within 20 minutes, which Owndays touts as its unique customer service. Some customers might take a longer time deciding on the look of their eyewear as Owndays offers a wide range of frames, from the functional to the stylish and trendy.
“Spectacles with single vision lenses are made at our stores only, so we can deliver the spectacle then and there to our customers within just 20 minutes which is unique in the Indian eyewear industry,” Malhotra said.
Pricing its eyewear at around 6,000 rupees ($82) on the average, the company has positioned itself in the affordable, branded eyewear segment to cater to brand-conscious consumers who want expertly made lenses apart from looking good.
This more organized and professional approach accounts for about 10 percent of the total eyewear market in India, according to Owndays, which also has its own private labels.
On the factors driving the growth of branded eyewear in the country, Malhotra also noted that some consumers prefer to own multiple pairs of sunglasses to suit different occasions with greater exposure to foreign designer brands in the market.
But the more critical issue is catering to the growing numbers afflicted with myopia or short-sightedness, especially among Indian youth.
“Eye-care deficit has made India the 'blind' capital of the world," Malhotra put it bluntly, adding that the reality is that there are many people who need eye correction.
"So there is a huge scope for growth once you create an opportunity for such people to get their eyes checked and wear spectacles,” Malhotra added.
According to a October 2018 report by consultancy firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP, around 35 percent of the Indian population needed to have their vision corrected, but only 25 percent did so.
The report said the country’s eyewear market had been dominated by disorganization with uneven distribution of optical shops offering specialist prescription.
It also noted that not many people have ready access to affordable, good-quality branded eyewear as the price differences between branded and unbranded eyewear are substantial.
However opportunities abound due to the growing population. The eyewear market is expected to grow at over 9 percent, from $7.4 billion in 2017 to reach $13.6 billion by 2024.


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With more and more competition cropping up in the technology sphere, businesses are no longer content to specialize in just one service. In order to keep up with clients’ demands, they are adopting a more generalized approach that spans across different phases and aspects of a project, rather than providing solutions for just one step. This diversity allows companies to continue enjoying economic stability even when one of their products or services experiences a downturn, as well as capitalize on the long-term nature of their various offerings.
Behind the Behind-the-Scenes
If you’ve ever been to a theme park, 4D show, concert, trade show, or even a museum, chances are you’ve seen some form of visual and special effects. But even after experiencing them, you probably have no idea how much actually goes into the production behind the scenes beyond CGI and other digital effects.
Dream Team Beaute, Inc. Signs Deal to Relocate to SCV
Sun Valley based Dream Team Beaute, founded in 2014 by Kimberly Clark and Esme Mancia, is relocating their operations to the Santa Clarita Valley. Acquired last summer by Northwest Cosmetic Laboratories, Dream Team is a high-speed, innovative company that manufactures some of today’s most popular and award-winning cosmetic product lines. Their forward-thinking ideas and concepts can be seen throughout the pages of most major fashion publications, earning the respect of peers throughout the beauty and cosmetic professions.
Crissair Honored by Lockheed Martin
Santa Clarita Valley-based Crissair was recognized today by Lockheed Martin as one of their elite suppliers for the F-35 jet. This prestigious honor is given to fewer than 1% of suppliers.
Evolution Through Innovation
It’s almost impossible to imagine how businesses operated 10, 20, 30+ years ago without any of the everyday technology we’ve become accustomed to. Imagine the manufacturing industry without automation and computers. The same process that currently takes a few hours probably took a couple days.
Recent Advancements in Medical Technology
Over the past two decades we’ve seen quite the revolution in terms of medical devices and manufacturing, but perhaps the most interesting part is actually the technology driving the healthcare industry today. Considering that just one hundred short years ago a simple cold could mean a death sentence, the advances from just the last decade are almost unfathomable.
Technology in Medical Manufacturing
Advances in medical device manufacturing have transformed not only what procedures we can perform safely, but also how we perform them. And while this is hardly a revelation, it’s never been at a more exciting place than it is today. The United States is currently responsible for 40% of the global medical device market and nearly 2 million jobs, with exports exceeding $41 billion in 2017 alone.
Minimum Wage Increases a Hot Topic at SCV Forum
Business leaders and HR professionals from a wide diversity of industry sectors gathered this week for a Minimum Wage Forum sponsored by Poole and Shaffery, LLP and hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) at College of the Canyons.
California Reauthorizes CA Competes Tax Credit for 2018-2019
Have you heard about the California Competes Tax Credit? It’s an income tax credit supporting growth of high quality jobs in California, available to businesses who want to come to, stay in, or grow in our state. Through a two-phase process, businesses apply and compete for this credit during three application periods each year. It’s just one of the many business services the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) supports in the Santa Clarita Valley, another great reason to explore relocating to the SCV.
The Making of a Race Car – Innovations in Manufacturing
At first glance, the modern race car doesn’t appear to have undergone many changes over the past couple decades, other than perhaps a fancier paint job and different sponsors plastered across the body. But take a step further into the world of race car manufacturing, and it’s clear that not only is the technology advancing, it’s setting some of the trends.
SCV-Based Mechanix Wear is Expanding to New Facility
CBRE announced that premier protective glove manufacturer Mechanix Wear, Inc. leased 93,735 square feet of space at IAC Commerce Center in Valencia. CBRE’s Craig Peters and Doug Sonderegger represented the landlord IAC Properties in this transaction.
Nourishing Your Body – Sourcing and Manufacturing Quality Supplements
Nutrition isn’t probably what comes to mind when you hear the words “Advanced Manufacturing,” but it fits the bill when it comes to sourcing and creating dietary supplements, particularly in adhering to strict FDA regulations. Several manufacturers behind American health and wellness brands call SCV home and conduct research and development for their own brands (as well as aspiring ones) right in our own backyard!
More Lights, Camera, Action in Santa Clarita
The City of Santa Clarita saw an increase in on-location filming in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 (July 2017 to June 2018), with the Film Office recording 560 film permits and 1377 film days, which generated an estimated $33.1 million in economic impact to the local community. This represents a 2.8 percent increase in permits, an 8.9 percent increase in film days and a 9.8 percent increase to the estimated economic impact when compared to Fiscal Year 2016-2017.
2018’s Top 3 Trends in 3D Printing
Just a few short years ago, the topic of 3D printing seemed confined to engineers and scientists. Today, it’s becoming a household term as one breakthrough after another makes headlines and brings the technology one step closer to widespread availability and new applications.
Made in SCV – Paving the Way for American Manufacturing
When you think "Advanced Manufacturing," Santa Clarita Valley probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But with nearly 30 million ft of industrial and commercial property in use, and another 2 million under construction since 2015, it's clear the industry has found a home in our great valley. And who could blame them?
Logix FCU Recognized as Best In-State Credit Untion
In an article published by Forbes and Statista, a market research firm, Logix Federal Credit Union was ranked number one on their list of Best In-State Credit Unions. They even outranked the top-rated bank in California. When you look at the numbers, it’s easy to see why; Logix has grown its membership by more than 70,000 people since 2011 and has nearly $5.7 billion in assets. Logix plans to relocate to a new state-of-the-art headquarters in the Santa Clarita Valley next year.
SCVEDC is Your One-Stop Resource
We’re halfway through 2018 already! Business Assistance services continues build and we’re meeting more and more of the companies in our valley, supporting jobs growth and helping our local economy flourish. In fact, we’ve already held 60 meetings with local companies and completed close to 100 assistance requests.
The Future is Now – Technology at the Intersection of Media and Marketing
There’s no denying that our current society is dominated by technology. Go anywhere – the gym, the grocery store, even the park – and you’ll see countless people looking down at the screens in their hands. Even restaurants cater to the addiction, with many sporting free Wi-Fi and televisions in prominent places for their patrons to encourage them to stay longer and consume more.
The State of eSports in LA (and Why You Need to Pay Attention)
Each year, video game players across the globe compete in tournaments for prize money that tops the salaries of many professional football players.
This Time, It's Personal – 5 Digital Trends Shaping 2018
If Alexa is reading this blog post to you, you already know 2018 has seen a big shift in how businesses and consumers interact with the internet.
Vista Canyon’s First Mixed Use Structure Debuts for Broker Community
On Thursday, June 7, 2018, JSB Development showcased the first of Vista Canyon’s mixed use retail/office structures in an introduction to the SCV commercial brokerage community.
Minimum Wage Forum August 1, 2018
As of July 1, mandated minimum wages in the Santa Clarita Valley will be up to $2.25 per hour higher for businesses west of the 5 Fwy (County of LA) than for those east of the 5 (City of Santa Clarita).
Magic Kingdom – Filming "A Wrinkle in Time" in SCV
If you're one of the 10 million people who bought a ticket to see "A Wrinkle in Time" earlier this year, you probably gaped in awe at some of the fantastic and colorful settings.
Yes, some of them were computer generated – that's par for the course on a big-budget blockbuster these days – but some scenes were shot on location (courtesy of Santa Clarita Studios) right here in Santa Clarita Valley!
BizFed Poll Ranks Santa Clarita as LA County's Most Business Friendly Location
The annual BizFed poll represents a snapshot of key issues of concern in the Los Angeles County business community. The BizFed Pulse Poll was first taken in 2008, and has for a decade asked BizFed Member associations about issues they deem most critical to the ongoing operation and growth of their business. This year, the BizFed poll received 710 responses from business leaders in more than two dozen industries throughout Los Angeles County.
Must-See TV and Movies – New and Returning Shows Filmed in Santa Clarita
Not to gush, but are you caught up on Westworld? Possibly HBO's greatest achievement since Game of Thrones, season two of the western-cum-sci-fi epic is airing RIGHT NOW.
We bring this up not because SCVEDC is getting into the business of critiquing productions, but because some of the show's breathtaking cinematography was done right here in Santa Clarita.
It's Not a Small World After All – How to Find the Right Location to Film
You've got a killer script, a crackerjack director, and Mr. George Clooney is interested in starring in the production.
But where, oh where are you going to film your movie?
You Oughta Be in Pictures – Top 3 Factors to Consider When Selecting the Ideal Film Location
Some places feel like they’re made for film.
Picture the idyllic rolling fields of New Zealand – AKA The Shire from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Or the seemingly endless, barren deserts of Tunisia, transformed by George Lucas into the planet Tatooine in Star Wars. Or Central Park, a location playing itself in any number of films from Elf to When Harry Met Sally.
Lights, Camera, Action! 4 Reasons Why Santa Clarita Valley IS Hollywood North
Quick question: Where do all your favorite movies come from?
Hollywood, obviously. Right? For decades, the town had a virtual monopoly on big-budget studio pictures to the point where the name has become synonymous with the entertainment industry.
Kind of a Big Deal – 2017 Transaction of the Year
Last week we talked about power brokers and the major impact they have on the communities they work with.
Today we honored our area's power brokers where we revealed the transaction that had the biggest, most positive impact on commercial real estate in our region in 2017 – our “Transaction of the Year”.
Making Big Deals Happen – The Top 5 Qualities of a Power Broker
In the world of commercial real estate, there are those who broker, and those who broker.
Here at SCVEDC, we’re invested not just in growing our community, but how it grows. What types businesses are setting up shop in our area, and what kind of jobs are they bringing? We love to fight for the good jobs, the high-paying kind that provide major opportunity right in our own backyard.


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2021 events programming slate unveiled across Vogue, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and more
8 April 2021
New live, virtual and hybrid experiences aim to accommodate evolving event restrictions, public-health guidance and consumer preferences.
Condé Nast today hosted its second annual events upfront for advertisers, building on the success of its pivot to virtual programming over the course of the pandemic.
Last year, the company hosted over 400 virtual and in-person events globally, reaching more than 700,000 sought-after consumers. The newly announced 2021 event slate spans the company’s portfolio of iconic brands, blending virtual and in-person experiences to accommodate evolving event restrictions, public-health guidance and consumer preferences.
“Something that’s become clear, especially in this new pandemic environment, is the power and importance of bringing people together and creating cultural moments,” said Pam Drucker Mann, global chief revenue officer and president, U.S. revenue.
“Condé Nast produces some of the most culturally significant events in the world. Now that we can broadcast these events in real time, we’re combining that influence and expertise with our expansive global reach and reimagining what events can look and feel like — all while delivering measurable outcomes for our partners. It’s about owning the cultural moment and bringing it to life in new and creative ways — something we do better than anyone else.”
“We’ve really evolved our business since we first began producing virtual events in the spring of 2020, but something that’s stood out is the importance of taking creative risks,” said Eric Johnson, SVP of global commercial marketing and events. “As consumers reemerge, we’re focused on providing completely unique experiences that they can’t get anywhere else, whether they’re more comfortable participating in-person or from home.”
Following its shift to virtual events in 2020, the company plans to incorporate virtual elements into nearly all of its events moving forward, giving consumers the option to participate remotely and partners the opportunity to buy into Condé Nast’s events at scale. These new hybrid events combine the high-touch personalization of an in-person experience alongside embedded shoppable technology that shortens the path to purchase for consumers participating remotely.
During the presentation, the company also announced the launch of ENCORE, an event capability that provides end-to-end measurement solutions, with premium offerings for clients. ENCORE is customized to each client, with insights including scale, engagement and attendee behaviors analyzed throughout the entire event lifecycle.
The slate of events combines virtual, in-person and hybrid formats, including:
Vanity Fair Cocktail Hour Live!
Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones will host a virtual awards season charity event. The three-day series aims to celebrate excellence in film and television and address the forces driving change in the industry through intimate conversations, thought-provoking panel discussions, and exclusive entertainment from some of the most prominent voices in Hollywood. Additionally, a portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) to help support COVID-19 relief efforts. Speakers include Serena Williams, Michael B. Jordan, Amanda Seyfried and others. April 13-15 (virtual).
AD Virtual Showhouse
AD and the Black Interior Designers Network are back in 2021 to produce The Iconic Home. This year, a new set of designers from across the country will once again create a beautiful and immersive virtual home design, while also considering design elements and considerations that can help us live a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. As the environment continues to be one of the greatest focuses of our time, we’ll take a leading role in how our community can do its part by showcasing responsible — and visually stunning — design. June 2021 (virtual).
Them has four weeks of Pride coverage planned for June — including digital covers, social campaigns and partnerships. It will all culminate in the second annual Out Now Live, a virtual event featuring performances, speeches and activism starring high-profile members of the LGBTQ+ community. June 2021 (virtual).
SELF Checking In
SELF’s groundbreaking virtual event series is a week-long gathering to help you take better care of yourself, your loved ones, and your community. SELF editors, health experts, and notable personalities come together for a lineup of panels, workshops and workouts that touch on today’s most important health and wellness issues. This year, Checking In will be hosted in May, centered around Mental Health Month, and December, focused on the Best of the Year in Wellness. May 2021 (virtual) and December 2021 (hybrid).
Vogue Forces of Fashion
Vogue's Forces of Fashion Summit will return in July while the European haute couture collections are being unveiled. The two half-days of virtual programming will have a new global emphasis, being hosted by Vogue editors from around the world, who’ll be in conversation with cultural icons, celebrities and fashion's most high profile talents. July 7-8 (virtual).
The New Yorker Festival
This October, the 22nd annual New Yorker Festival will once again convene the biggest names in politics, film, TV, music, comedy, literature, and food. Building on the success of last year’s expanded, week-long virtual Festival, this year’s event will also span seven days and feature its signature mix of talks, panel discussions, performances, screenings, and experiences. October 4-10 (hybrid: all events will take place online Monday through Thursday; Friday through Sunday, audiences can attend events in person or watch a live stream).
Glamour Women of the Year
A true New York moment, Glamour’s Women of the Year awards will bring together the extraordinary women who helped bring the world back to life, those whose music and movies lifted our souls, and those who fought to restore order and democracy in our country when so much was at stake. November 8 (hybrid).
To learn more about Condé Nast events, click here.


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Recently it was announced that Google Stadia is soon to be shutting down. When Google Stadia launched in 2019, it struggled to take off, mainly due to its non-consumer-friendly subscription model. Google did try to fix the issues that troubled Stadia, but it was too late for the cloud gaming service.
Google Stadia only lasted three years!
Google Stadia, “hasn’t gained the traction with users that we expected so we’ve made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service,” said VP Phil Harrison in a blog post.
Furthermore, Stadia is set to officially close on January 18th 2023. Players will receive refunds for all games and DLC by mid-January. However, due to its cloud gaming model, gamers are set to lose hundreds, if not thousands of hours of game time.
Fans were worried that Red Dead Redemption 2 data would be lost forever!
As reported by Gamesradar, one such gamer is YouTuber “Colour”. This particular player was set to lose nearly 6,000 hours put into Red Dead Redemption 2.
“Please let us do a one-time character transfer I am begging you,” pleaded the YouTuber devastated at the thought of losing all those hours invested into the Rockstar Western.
However, in a tweet shared by Colour, Rockstar Games reached out to the YouTuber and announced that players will now be able to make a one-time transfer of data. Happy days!
How do I transfer my Red Dead Redemption 2 data?
Firstly, players will need to link their Rockstar Social Club account to their Google Stadia account. Secondly, the transfer is only valid for players that played RDR2 on Stadia within 30 days prior to Google announcing the closure of the cloud gaming service.
What else do I need to know about the Google Stadia transfer?
The transfer will include any “earned RDO$, Gold Bars, XP, Role XP and Role Tokens” to another existing account on PC, PlayStation 4 as well as Xbox One. Finally, make sure to perform the transfer long before Google Stadia closes on January 18th, 2023, just in case.
Are you happy that you can transfer your Red Dead Redemption 2 save data from Google Stadia? Let us know across our social media channels.
While you’re here, be sure to check out our video of the week. 10 of the scariest horror games of all time are shown off. What is your favourite horror game?
Featured Image Credit: Rockstar Games/Source: Gamesradar


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wmtorrent crack serial Malta To United Nations: Cryptocurrency Is ‘Inevitable Future Of Money’
rawhide crack the whip mitv 2.0.2 crack The prime minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, told the United Nations that cryptocurrency is “the inevitable future of money” on September 27 — reiterating his faith in Blockchain technology.
The ‘Blockchain Island’ Reveals Its Cards
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New look, new focus for Redbook
March 7, 2013
At a time when so much information is available online, including much of the stuff that used to fill women’s service magazines like recipes and cleaning tips, such titles are looking for new identities.
Already Good Housekeeping and Ladies’ Home Journal have undergone major changes in the past year, freshening their look, asking readers for greater contributions, and getting rid of dated features.
Now Redbook has joined that movement.
The April issue introduces a reimagined magazine that’s meant to act as readers’ personal shopper.
Here’s how the new mission is described in a press release: “[T]o deliver fun, fabulous, affordable fashion, beauty and home ideas for the style-conscious, savvy reader. We’re her personal shopper and stylist, inspired by a revolution in retail that makes high design available at accessible price points.”
The cover will still include a celebrity, but she’ll be pictured alongside items that readers can “window shop,” like a new bag and makeup. Inside pages will feature discounts exclusive to Redbook readers.
The magazine seems to have been inspired partly by fashion blogs, and indeed it features some new technology: Readers can snap pictures of a page to be transported to a site that allows them to buy a product with one click.
Redbook’s newsstand sales fell 3.9 percent during the six-month period ended in December, though the title held up better than many of its fellow women’s service magazines, like LHJ and Good Housekeeping, both down more than 15 percent, according to the Alliance for Audited Media.
Redbook’s ad pages took a tumble last year, down 19.4 percent, according to the Publishers Information Bureau, third-most in the category.
‘The Simpsons’ receives another boost from the NFL
ABC’s ‘This Week’ posting best numbers in 15 years
NFL scores with Sunday playoffs rising to new heights
Study: Couples who post happy pictures may be unhappy
TV programming blog: All the cancellations and renewals
NBC holds steady among 18-49s on Thursday
TV trend that won’t go away: Revivals and reboots
Best of the best: Your weekend media reading list
As a new year begins, Rachel takes a look back
Tell us: What will be the big media stories of 2017?
The rescue of Univision: Chance to get back its mojo
Weekend TV: ‘The Young Pope’ bows on HBO
That time C-SPAN started broadcasting in Russian
- Sara Frucci and Rachel Regan join Young & Laramore
- Evelyn Webster becomes interim CEO at Guardian U.S.
- Wolfgang Blau and Albert Read rise at Condé Nast
- Mike Keller becomes strategic account manager at QuickShift
- Sarah Cristobal becomes executive features director at InStyle
- Corey Lewandowski joins One America News Network
- Kevin Hart producing History's 'The Black Man’s Guide to History'
- Mike Greenberg starring in new ESPN morning show
- Boomer Esiason and Daniela Ruah hosting CBS's 'Super Bowl Greatest Commercials'
- Dakota Fanning joins TNT's 'The Alienist'
- Giancarlo Esposito joins AMC's 'Better Call Saul'
This week’s broadcast ratings
This week’s cable ratings
This week’s top-rated movies, songs and books
This month’s digital traffic data: November 2016
This week’s daypart ratings
Orlando agency looking for a media planner/buyer
Freelance media planner/buyer available
Junior media planner/buyer position in Minneapolis-St. Paul
Media sales coordinator opening in New York
Freelance media buyer available


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This article is more than 1 year old
Amazon Key door-entry flaw: No easy fix to stop rogue couriers burgling your place unseen
Patch incoming, hardware recall required to fully address underlying problem
Analysis Amazon has pushed out an emergency security update to its door-unlocking system called Key – which is used by couriers to let themselves into people's homes to drop off packages inside when folks are out.
Delivery workers show up at a home, and use a smartphone to temporarily disable the lock on the front door so they can pop in. As part of the system, a Wi-Fi-connected webcam watches the door from the inside to record any theft or other mischief.
One little flaw: if you flood the camera off the wireless network with deauthorization packets – and an attacker doesn't need to know your Wi-Fi password to do this – it effectively freezes the equipment and prevents the door from being locked. The camera stops streaming its video feed across the internet to Amazon's cloud, so anyone monitoring the scene from Amazon's app will just see a still image: the last shot received. That means they won't see a rogue courier jamming the Wi-Fi and slipping back in to get up to no good.
Amazon's patch, being pushed automatically to devices, will allow the system to instantly alert customers of what could be suspicious activity if the camera is knocked offline, but a bigger question over the technology's security remains unresolved – and may require a hardware fix.
How's that for some disruption?
Bods at Rhino Security Labs revealed this week that they were able to disrupt Amazon's CloudCam, the camera component of the Key system, causing it to show only the last image captured, and block the lock signal to the smart door lock, and so potentially allow a delivery driver to sneak back into someone's house undetected.
The actual method of disruption, flooding the network with deauthorization packets, is not exclusive to Amazon's hardware. It affects pretty much every webcam, device or computer using Wi-Fi to communicate. It's the same method used by hotels to jam guests' personal hotspots, forcing them to use the location's expensive Wi-Fi.
However, because Amazon has linked the camera to its smart door lock as part of an overall package to give customers peace of mind about a stranger entering their home, the Wi-Fi vulnerability is a black mark against the technology.
Knock, knock? Oh, no one there? No problem, Amazon will let itself in via your IoT smart lockREAD MORE
Here's how it works. The courier's app connects to Amazon's servers and asks for permission to enter a home. Amazon verifies a drop-off is scheduled, and the location of the deliver worker is correct, and then connects to the wireless-connected camera inside to authorize access. The camera starts recording and communicates with the smart door lock via the IoT protocol Zigbee to instruct the lock to unlock. The door is locked again when the driver indicates via their app that the drop-off was carried out and that they have left.
So, the courier enters, drops off the package, and leaves, closing the door. Immediately upon doing this, the miscreant starts jamming the home's Wi-Fi network from, say, a Raspberry Pi in their pocket. The camera gets kicked off the network, and freezes: it stops sending video, the last shot received by Amazon will be a still of the closed door, and crucially, the camera does not signal to the smart door lock to lock.
Thus, the door remains unlocked, allowing the dodgy deliverer to slip back in, grab some stuff, and exit. The jamming is then discontinued, the camera reconnects to the internet and Amazon, gets a command from the courier's app to lock the door, and does so, via a Zigbee signal to the smart lock.
The key thing here is that after the thief leaves for the first time and before locking the door behind them via their delivery app, they jam the Wi-Fi. That means the camera stops streaming and doesn't get the message to lock the door. When the jamming ends, after the miscreant has snatched stuff or planted evidence and taken off, the camera reconnects and and locks the door.
The video below shows the attack in action:
Amazon has been quick to point out that a real-world application of this approach is fairly unlikely: the biz will know exactly who was at a given house at a given time, and so if anything was stolen or a homeowner noticed something odd after a visit, the driver would come under immediate suspicion.
The web giant has also stressed that all drivers undergo a background check, that carrying out the exploit would require a decent level of technical knowledge, and a time stamp is kept of all openings and closings, so it is not an easy job. It also had a policy of calling any drivers that take longer than one minute to complete delivery to check up on them.
Similarly, due to the short timing, it would almost certainly have to be an Amazon driver that sneaked back in, rather than, say, a thief who waited for an Amazon delivery person to turn up and then disrupted the camera as soon as they left.
In a statement to The Register, an Amazon spokesperson said:
Safety and security are built into every aspect of the service. Every delivery driver passes a comprehensive background check that is verified by Amazon before they can make in-home deliveries, every delivery is connected to a specific driver, and before we unlock the door for a delivery, Amazon verifies that the correct driver is at the right address, at the intended time.
We currently notify customers if the camera is offline for an extended period. Later this week we will deploy an update to more quickly provide notifications if the camera goes offline during delivery. The service will not unlock the door if the Wi-Fi is disabled and the camera is not online.
However, despite these reassurances, and with many folks already uneasy about the idea of giving a corporation access to their home, any flaw in the system is a cause for concern.
Amazon has responded by pushing out a software update that gives users immediate alerts if their camera goes offline – something that risks annoying them given Wi-Fi cameras have a tendency to periodically fall asleep, but will lend a greater sense of security, especially if it happens around the same time as a delivery.
But, as Amazon is willing to accept, it is not a fix. In fact, there is no real fix to the issue given that it is the underlying Wi-Fi protocol itself that is being exploited.
One potential fix would be for the CloudCam to include extra storage, and cache video locally for some period of time after it is knocked offline. That would then capture footage of any attempted reentry.
But that approach is not only imperfect – a potential thief could keep the camera offline until the cache was full – but would almost certainly require a hardware update, ie: a product recall to install extra digital capacity and video management firmware.
"The proposed fix is better than nothing, but it doesn't address the underlying problem," Benjamin Caudill, CEO of Rhino Security Labs, told The Register today.
You know IoT security is bad when libertarians call for strict regulationREAD MORE
"What I would suggest to Amazon is to incorporate local storage to cache video, and log lock activity, until the [Wi-Fi] signal is restored. It's not a perfect fix – a bad guy can just continue DoS'ing until the storage fills up or cycles through – but it would increase the complexity to exploitation significantly.
"In either case, the identified issues will not be resolved without a product recall for a hardware modification: a local storage module."
Maybe people won't really care?
It all depends on how much the news of a potential exploit impacts Amazon customers' use of the feature and especially sales of the new system. If sales drop off, we would expect to see a version 2.0 of the CloudCam Key Edition with local caching very soon.
But it could also be that the issue does not impact consumers as much as people imagine. After all, Amazon's Echo digital assistant is effectively a permanent bug in your home, and yet has been an enormous success for the company. Not only that but Amazon has built on and expanded that success by adding products that capture not only sound but also video – the Amazon Show.
Anyone vehemently opposed to granting a corporation access to their house was never going to be a potential customer for Amazon Key in the first place. The question for all those that would consider installing such a system is: does this exploit tip them over into not getting the system?
Or is it a minor concern compared to having their goods safely delivered inside their home rather than left outside? Amazon – and many others – will be watching closely. ®


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Financial institutions have talked often about the need to better serve the unbanked. And they’ve also been scolded for not doing a better job at it by various public watchdogs. But how best to do so — and to do so profitably — remains a challenging issue.
According to the FDIC, 7.1 million U.S. households were unbanked, as of 2019. Globally approximately two billion of the Earth’s total adult population remains unbanked, per the World Bank.
Considering the lingering nature of this issue, it’s no surprise that many all-digital firms have popped up looking to fill this void. One example is Tala, a fintech that provides micro-loans of up to $500 to people in Mexico, India, Kenya and the Philippines. Tala recently raised $145 million in a Series E round and has a valuation of more than $500 million, CNBC notes.
Bank Dora, a neobank that is actually a joint venture of four credit unions was formed this year with the intention of courting under- and unbanked consumers nationwide. Even the much-debated idea of postal banking is seen as a way to help reach underserved communities with financial services.
Fintechs like Tala say that creating a digital infrastructure is key to bringing more people into the banking system.
Many of the startups that have arisen to serve the unbanked say the key is delivering easy-to-use digital services to attract this segment. Tala utilizes smartphone data to make lending decisions, and the company’s CEO, Shivani Siroya, told Forbes that there needs to be a better digital infrastructure for the world’s underserved banking customers and that these customers need “a digital account where they could access their money whenever they needed to.”
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One concern that frequently crops up when discussing the issue of serving the unbanked is that this market is mostly seen as unprofitable. But there are avenues to do it profitably if financial institutions really want to, says Theodora Lau, founder of the venture capital firm Unconventional Ventures.
As an example, she cites the fact many unbanked that already pay onerous fees at check cashing establishments which indicates “these people are not just looking for free services. They are paying hefty fees because they don’t have access to formal financial services. So why don’t banks want to be a part of this?”
She adds, “People are losing a big chunk of that check [on check cashing fees] so here is one opportunity.”
Lau also advocates for the aforementioned postal banking idea, saying it could help serve underserved communities.
“Especially as banks keep closing branches, where are you going to go?” she says. “If a bank closes your local branch you may not know where the next closest one is, but everyone knows where their town’s post office is.”
With the underbanked — those who use banks or credit unions for a few minimal services — providing them with digital, convenient ways to manage their money could be another way for traditional institutions to make progress towards adding profitable customers. Morning Consult analyst Charlotte Principato cites survey data that indicates underbanked adults see the lack of payments innovation as a hindrance to adopting a traditional bank account.
“A majority (58%) [of the underbanked] say they could manage their finances just as easily without a bank or credit union account, compared to 34% of fully banked adults — those who do not use alternative financial services — that say the same,” the analyst states.
“Underbanked adults don’t just need a place to stash their money,” Principato continues, “they need the vehicles to send and receive it. Besides using payday lenders, bill pay services and money orders, underbanked adults are also more likely to use prepaid debit cards and own cryptocurrency in order to make payments.”
In a research paper, the Atlanta Fed notes that unbanked consumers lack access to digital payments and banking services, and points to Kenya’s M-Pesa network as an ideal model to overcome this. M-Pesa operates small kiosks that are spread out throughout the African country in remote villages, through which users can exchange cash for mobile money and vice versa.
In the end, the Atlanta Fed notes that unbanked consumers, especially in the U.S., overwhelmingly still use cash and that “without providing a solution to this problem, unbanked consumers will continue to be shut out of online commerce and even some in- person services that no longer accept cash.”
Is it Really All About Digital?
However, some say just offering digital services won’t necessarily help the problem of reaching the unbanked.
Yaya Fanusie, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, says in a Forbes article that enabling wealth is key.
“A 2015 World Bank report looking at financial inclusion globally noted that 59% of survey respondents cited lack of money as the main reason for not having a bank account,” Fanusie writes. “Interestingly, a second reason was that people depended on a family member who already had an account. This indicates that cultural and familial factors greatly influence whether one wants or can get banking services.”
Fanusie continues: “People mainly lack financial services because they lack income and not the other way around. So, to effectively bank the unbanked, the key problem to solve is how to help people generate more income. This prime factor is ignored by many technologists because when it comes to helping people gain wealth, there is no singular app for that.”
Some say the best way to reduce the numbers of the unbanked is by helping them build wealth.
Lau says there is no one solution for financial institutions to effectively reach the unbanked, and that “the challenges are much broader than most bankers think.”
“It’s not just about offering digital services,” she says, “there are millions of people who are off the digital ecosystem. It’s also not always poor people [that are unbanked].Some have resources but just aren’t being served in the right way. Unfortunately, there is no one easy answer.”


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In the latest crypto news, we have the Waves coin (WAVES) bucking a new market trend and rising in price by over 150%. The cryptocurrency has not only risen to a price but also surged in time when Bitcoin fell. As such, WAVES is now an altcoin with a growing value compared to Bitcoin (BTC).
The Waves cryptocurrency entered the top 20 coins by market capitalization and has since fallen back to 22nd place as other coins show green. The market cap of the coin is now valued at nearly $245 million which is its highest since July 2018.
Waves is also a blockchain platform where organizations and developers can create their own custom tokens. It also has its own decentralized exchange (DEX) when the tokens can be traded alongside some of the most popular cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Litecoin and Monero. There are 69 tradeable coins on the Waves DEX and Waves is reporting over 20,000 custom tokens in use.
Hey #Waves community! Look what's going on and what we've got planned with #Tokenomica — our European security tokens platform. We've got some really exciting plans. 2019 will be a really hot year for the #WavesPlatform ecosystem!#Blockchain #Trading $WAVES pic.twitter.com/umOjngar6E
— Waves Platform (@wavesplatform) December 12, 2018
As the company announced, the Waves blockchain is fast and supports more than 6,000 transactions per minute, equating to 100 per second. Compared with Ethereum’s 10 to 15 transactions per second, it is advantageous and growing in terms of popularity.
Waves is also attracting investors with its dual business focuses of token creation and smart contract blockchain functionality. Therefore, it has two markets which can help it drive success in the future.
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Gold-Backed Russian Crypto Could Crush The USD Standard
“As for mutual settlements, we will consider, of course, a proposal on a cryptocurrency that is tied to gold. But, in my opinion, it is more important to develop settlements in national currencies.”Nabuilna explained that CBR is still unsure whether to use cryptocurrencies and how they could be launch into Russia’s monetary system but the idea of a zero-volatility digital asset is inviting:
“The CBR, in principle, is opposed to cryptocurrencies being launched into our monetary system. We do not see the possibility that cryptocurrencies fulfill the function of monetary surrogates. We have prepared an analytical report and will soon present it which will analyze what cryptocurrency is, what is happening in the world, what approaches different countries to have, and what regulation is envisaged. And, if the phenomenon of cryptocurrency in any perspective may cause risks to our macroeconomic stability, we need to understand that.”As noted in one of the best cryptocurrency sites, Russia is under significant economic sanction from the United States.
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Here’s a smartphone designed for charm. The HTC Rhyme for Verizon actually has a charm designed to dangle outside a purse. It lights up to tell the owner when there’s a call. The phone appears to target teenage girls — that is, except for the price point of US$199.99 with a two-year contract. Perhaps a tad pricey for the very young. It comes with three accessories: a dock, headphones and the charm.
While Verizon’s Droid was positioned as macho — remember, the ads called the iPhone “prissy” — here’s an Android-based phone clearly designed for women. HTC is promoting the phone for its style.
The Rhyme runs Android Gingerbread on a 1 Ghz single-core processor. It has a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen and a 5-megapixel camera. The Rhyme also has a revamped version of HTC’s Sense, which consists of a clean home-screen, custom wallpapers and enhancements to the camera app. The Rhyme will be available globally with Verizon as its exclusive U.S. carrier. It launches September 29.
While the Rhyme seems tailored for females, Verizon insists it has appeal for a larger market.
“The target audience is fairly broad,” Verizon Wireless spokesperson Brenda Raney told TechNewsWorld. “It is intuitive, sleek and comes out of box with a host of accessories that make the experience easy and quick.”
The phone does make a clear style statement, Raney conceded.
“Certainly, a fashion-forward person will love the look and feel of the device,” she said. “And of course, those who are Android fans will love the phone because it ships with the latest Android operating system.”
Pretty Is as Pretty Does?
While smartphones typically compete on internal technology features, here’s a launch that emphasizes the phone’s outward appearance.
“This is HTC’s attempt to diversify the all-look-the-same Android portfolio by further segmenting it,” Neil Shah, analyst for wireless devices strategies at Strategy Analytics, told TechNewsWorld.
“Even if HTC fails to generate demand for this product, at least it will help boost HTC’s mind- and brand-share in the U.S. market in terms of offering a broader and comprehensive portfolio.”
Women are an important target, noted Shah, so it makes sense for HTC to make a foray into the market with a female-centric color and aesthetics, not to mention accessories and innovative packaging.
“This can be a good ploy in a crowded and undifferentiated market,” he said. “As Android rises on its popularity curve, such gender-targeted devices could help increase Android’s penetration into the female segment. This can help Android compete with the Apple iPhone’s slimmer design.”
Given a wide selection of phones on the market with the same general performance capabilities, the look of the phone could tip the buying decision.
“If choices are made available for consumers during the purchasing process, such as differentiated, gender-centric design bundled with accessories, it would certainly be a welcome option,” noted Shah. “This is especially true for the consumers who are conscious of what device they carry, whether it looks unique, and how it blends in with their personality.”
Tweens Love Charms
While HTC and Verizon claim the Rhyme was designed for a broad market, it may resonate more with young girls.
“This actually seems like it’s targeted toward tweens,” Laura DiDio, principal analyst at ITIC, told TechNewsWorld.
“A lot of the 15-year-olds and up may not think this is that cool. The 10-to-14 age girls will petition Mommy and Daddy to ‘Buy it for me, buy it for me, buy it for me!'”
The Rhyme could actually become a fad, suggested DiDio.
“It’s a marketing tactic. If you’re in marketing or advertising and you have a smartphone client, you have to be wracking your brains to come up with new ways to differentiate your product and market,” she said. “It’s crowded and competitive out there. Given that, this idea doesn’t sound bad. Plus, look at the timing. It’s mid-September. They’re gearing up for the holidays.”


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Samsung has announced a new tablet today. It's not the one most fans are looking forward to. We still have to wait a bit before the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra comes out. What Samsung has launched today instead happens to be the mid-range Galaxy Tab A8.
Right off the bat, this product has great potential. There's a considerable market for Android tablets that don't cost an arm and a leg. So we just might see the new Galaxy Tab A8 cement its place on the list of best Samsung tablets.
Galaxy Tab A8 will go on sale later this month
Featuring Samsung's signature tablet design, the Galaxy Tab A8 features a 10.5-inch 1920×1200 TFT display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and slim bezels. The large display is paired with quad speakers that support Dolby Atmos to provide an immersive viewing experience.
You'll find a 2GHz octa-core processor under the hood that's paired with 3 and 4GB of RAM with 32, 64 and 128GB of storage respectively. MicroSD expansion is supported up to 1TB. Keeping the lights on is a 7,040mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging. However, the tablet only comes with a 7.5W charger. If you want fast charging, you'll need to buy the charger separately.
The new Galaxy Tab A8 also includes an 8-megapixel camera at the back and a 5-megapixel selfie camera. The tablet has a 3.5mm headphone jack. It runs Android 11 out of the box. Wi-Fi and LTE models will be available in Gray, Silver and Pink Gold colors.
The Galaxy Tab A8's pricing starts at €229. The tablet will be released in Europe later this month. The Galaxy Tab A8 will go on sale in other regions including the United States in January 2022.


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Sega has made good on all those teasers; Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse will launch this summer on PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and Steam. Yacht Club Games' Shovel Knight closed its Kickstarter campaign over the weekend with more than triple its initial funding goal and met all stretch goals. Electronic Arts will end three more Facebook games from mobile developer Playfish, and Bestheda's post-launch team for The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has moved on to another project, which the company says requires the studio's undivided attention.
- Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse 'reimagining' coming to PSN, XBLA and Steam this summer
- Shovel Knight Kickstarter ends with more than triple its goal amount
- EA closing Playfish's SimCity Social, The Sims Social, Pet Society
- Skyrim dev support team moves on to Bethesda's next project, no more DLC planned


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Samsung files appeal on Galaxy Nexus ban
In a move that should surprise no one, Samsung has filed an appeal on the preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus in the U.S. that was granted to Apple on Friday. Likewise, Samsung had appealed the same preliminary injunction last week against the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
FOSS Patents summarizes the arguments made to drop the injunction in the appeal, most of which focus on Siri and how Apple cannot prove that it is losing market share to Samsung because of the Galaxy Nexus.
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DELRAY BEACH — It wasn`t too many years ago when the Delray Affair was the city`s chance to celebrate its heritage as a farming community -- flower farming, to be precise.
The affair was the time when the farmer from the west came downtown to display his chrysanthemums and gladioluses. It was the rebirth of the Delray Beach Gladiolus Festival held in the 1940s and `50s.
``They used to line the avenue with chrysanthemums,`` said Lynn Taylor, vice president of Mercer-Wenzel Department Store downtown. He worked on the Delray Affair in 1965. ``And the merchants would buy all the flowers and give them to their employees.``
You won`t find many flower booths in this year`s Delray Affair, which begins today at 9 a.m.
As the city has evolved away from its farming heritage, the affair has kept pace.
Consistently held the weekend after Easter Sunday, the affair prolongs the tourist season and exposes the downtown business community to thousands of people.
``It`s an excuse for the tourists to stay an extra week,`` said Norma Simon, co-chairman of this year`s Delray Affair. ``It brings people downtown and hopefully brings some business to the downtown merchants.``
``We`ve never done a real good business during the affair,`` said Chamber of Commerce President Barbara Smith. ``But we always knew it had a residual effect. It`s prolonged the tourist season. And there are people who came downtown who have never been downtown before.``
Organizers expect 100,000 people to tour Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue to the Intracoastal Waterway during the three-day event. The affair runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Sunday.
While downtown parking may be scarce, CoTran will run a shuttle bus every half-hour from the Carney Bank building on Linton Boulevard.


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Today is, yes, National Doughnut Day and both Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts are getting in on the action. Krispy Kreme is offering a free doughnut to anyone who stops by a store. Dunkin’ Donuts is giving one away to any customer who buys a drink.
Didn’t know there was a National Doughnut Day? We didn’t either.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the holiday was started by the Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the sugary confection.


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UMich Inflation Exp Slows, Sentiment Hits Highest Since 2021
February 2, 2024 | Tags: ZEROHEDGEUMich Inflation Exp Slows, Sentiment Hits Highest Since 2021
After soaring in October and November, and crashing back to earth in December, consensus estimates for UMich inflation expectations in January data were basically unchanged from December, but declined more than expected in the preliminary data. Today's final print saw 1Y hld at 2.9% and 5-1Y Inflation expectations rise very modestly from prelim 2.8% to final 2.9%...
This lack of fear of inflation sent the sentiment indicators soaring 9.3pts to 79.0 (up from 78.8 prelim), the biggest monthly advance since 2005.
The share of consumers spontaneously mentioning prices of food and gasoline declined substantially this month as well. Meanwhile, concerns about high home prices remain unabated.
The current conditions gauge rose 8.6pts to 81.9, but was down from the 83.3 prelim print, and a measure of expectations climbed to 77.1, extending gains from the prelim 75.9 print. Both were the highest since 2021.
Every sub-index was higher on the month...
“After reserving judgment last fall about whether the slowdown in inflation would persist, consumers now feel assured that inflation will continue to soften,” Joanne Hsu, director of the survey, said in a statement.
Buying Conditions rose for all cohorts (but were down from the prelim levels)...
Democrats' confidence continued to surge but Republicans' sentiment soured...
Stock market growth has generally provided some support to sentiment, particularly for consumers with larger portfolio holdings; this group posted a particularly large improvement in views this month. However, recent stock market trends are unlikely to be the dominant force behind the historically large and consensus gains in sentiment seen these past December and January.
As a comparison, the last time that stock markets reached historic highs, in October and November of 2021, sentiment edged down. This month, about 13% of consumers spontaneously mentioned stock markets during the interview, down from 16% a year ago. Consumers mentioning stock markets did report relatively higher levels of sentiment, but this group was not large enough to explain why sentiment soared as much as it did these past two months.
All sounds a bit self-fulfilling to us...


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Apple’s settlement with a startup unveils hidden trade secrets, concluding a secretive saga. The agreement, disclosed after legal battles, showcases the company’s resolve in protecting its proprietary information. This revelation sheds light on the intricacies of tech industry competition and the significance of safeguarding intellectual property.
The agreement came after a long legal fight. Apple accused Rivos of doing some sneaky stuff like trying to hire away its employees and stealing valuable secrets about how its iPhone chips are made. Apple said Rivos even told its new employees to swipe presentations and other important stuff that cost Apple a ton of money to develop. Rivos, on the other hand, said Apple was trying to keep its employees from working anywhere else and was making it hard for new companies to get started.
This whole drama unfolded in the courts, with both sides arguing their case. But now, they seem to have reached a deal that could end the fight. As part of the settlement, Apple gets to dig into Rivos’ systems to see if they really did take any of Apple’s secrets.
This legal showdown started when Apple accused Rivos of trying to snatch its employees and steal its secrets. It was a big deal because those secrets are worth a whole lot of money. Rivos fired back, saying Apple was being unfair and stopping its employees from working where they wanted. It was a mess, and the whole tech world was watching.
Even though the court said Apple’s claims about Rivos stealing secrets weren’t strong enough, the fight kept going. But now, both Apple and Rivos seem ready to put it all behind them. They’ve asked the court to wait until March 15 to see if they can finalize the settlement.
This settlement isn’t just about Apple and Rivos. It’s about the way companies in the tech world do business. It’s a reminder that when you come up with something cool, you’ve got to protect it. And if someone tries to take it, you’ve got to stand up for yourself.
In the end, this whole thing is a lesson for everyone. It’s a reminder that in the world of technology, where ideas can be worth millions, you’ve got to play by the rules. And if you don’t, well, you might just end up in court.
The settlement between Apple and Rivos is a big deal. It’s not just about two companies shaking hands and moving on. It’s about the future of innovation and competition in the tech world. And it’s a reminder that even the biggest companies have to watch their backs when it comes to protecting their secrets.
As the dust settles on this legal battle, one thing is clear: the fight to protect intellectual property is far from over. And for companies like Apple and startups like Rivos, the lessons learned from this experience will shape the way they do business for years to come.


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A judge in New York has scheduled a hearing on a New York Post article that said J.C. Penney Co. Inc. was ending a deal with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to sell Stewart's home goods in Penney stores.
Bloomberg reported that New York State Supreme Court Judge Jeffrey Oing scheduled a hearing for Sept. 25 without saying why, but sources familiar with the matter said it's in relation to the article. The Post was the first to report the possible breakup.
While Penney hasn't commented, Martha Stewart Living said the Penney remains a retail partner.
Oing oversaw the lengthy non-jury trial on a claim by Macy's Inc. (NYSE: M) that Penney's (NYSE: JCP) 2011 deal with Stewart violated her 2006 agreement with the Cincinnati-based retailer. Oing's decision in the suit is expected soon.
A source told Bloomberg that Oing intends to ask Penney's lawyers if the story is true because it could affect his ruling on the contract.
Selling Stewart's wares in a shops-within-a-store concept was the linchpin of former Penney CEO Ron Johnson's strategy to re-invent the Plano-based retailer. Customers didn't buy into Johnson's plan and Penney lost $985 million in 2012. Johnson was let go as CEO in April and was replaced by Mike Ullman, the man he replaced in 2011.


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India’s leading motorcycle manufacturer brand, Hero MotoCorp has announced the launch of its new 200cc street racer Hero Xtreme 200R. However, the home country market will have to wait much longer, as the new bike is currently up for sale in Turkey at a price tag of 11,199 Turkish Lira (approximately 1.91 lakh).
Bikemade its first public appearance at the 2018 Auto Expo and was later showcased at the 2018 Motorbike Show in Istanbul. It is worth noting that the Turkish version of the motorcycle is badged as the Hunk 200R and also equipped with the Electronic Fuel Injection (Fi) as an addition to the meet the Euro 4 emission norms.
It is powered by an air-cooled, Fi single cylinder four-stroke, 199.6 cc displacement engine. Meanwhile, the Indian Xtreme 200R will only the CV Carburetor fuel system. The machine is capable of producing maximum power of 18.2bhp at 8,500rpm, with the peak torque of 17.2Nm at 6,000rpm and mated to a 5-speed transmission gearbox.
As far as efficiency is concerned, the car is promised to achieve 0-60 kph is just 4.6 seconds with top speed of 114 kph. The motorcycle comes with a fuel tank capacity of 12.5-liter and claims to return the mileage of 40kmpl.
The new Xtreme is suspended by telescopic forks at the front and a mono-shock at the rear. Inspired by the street racer design the 200R comes with an uplifted rear seating position and leans forward slightly at the front. It has 17-inch alloy wheels with 90 and 120-section tyres at front and rear respectively.
The machine features a semi-digital instrument console, front and rear disk brakes with optional ABS (Anti Braking System), LED taillamps, tank pad to avoid scratches as the standard for all variants and improved graphics for a sporty feel. For more visit the Xtreme 200R Picture Gallery.