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Looking at the trends, Bitcoin has shown more upward trend than downward with few periods of stagnation in-between. Bitcoin technology has registered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) figure of 8.3% over the forecast period of 2021-2026. These trends and figure are greatly dependent on several factors and events. Factors and events includes the governmental policies put in place to regulate digital assets, the effect of the Corona virus pandemic, the digitalization of the payment industry, finally the lackluster dissemination of information regarding cryptocurrency.
Adoption of Bitcoin by bank and major financial institutions
To get to one hundred thousand or beyond by the end of 2021 will depend on continuous digitalization of money and adoption of digital assets by banks and other financial institutions. Major business are now accepting Bitcoin as their payment method while major players in the financial markets have been investing in Bitcoin to diversify their portfolio.
Impact of governmental policies
Next factor is the quell of talks from governmental entities about regulating Bitcoin transactions, trades or banning cryptocurrencies entirely. For example, In India, a law banning cryptocurrencies is in the works. Officials have said that the law will fine and criminalize possession, mining , and transferring of crypto-assets. While In China, The People’s Bank of China(PBOC) has issued a statement stating that it would block access to all domestic and foreign cryptocurrency exchange and ICO website but will not penalize possession. In Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and the biggest economy. The Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) in early February has issued a warning to banks and financial institutions. The warning states that facilitating cryptocurrency trades are prohibited, the issue is still currently being debated.
Essentially, if the ban or regulations from these three countries, that stand to become key player in adoption can be reversed or loosened, Bitcoin will see a dramatic surge to 100K and beyond.
Demystification and de-risking of cryptocurrency
The next factor is the continual demystification and de-risking of cryptocurrency assets as an investment to the general public. That is, the more comfortable and knowledgeable the average person or investor feels about its utility or value, the faster the upward growth for all cryptocurrencies especially Bitcoin.
Effects of Corona Virus on Bitcoin
The last and final factor that is impacting the growth of Bitcoin and perhaps cryptocurrency in general is the Corona virus pandemic. The pandemic is playing a big role in that it creates a large sense of uncertainty. Consumer were less likely to take risk with their finances due to instability in their jobs and their income. Most consumer are not able to earn as well as they were earning prior to the pandemic. Therefore, investing in a risky asset such as cryptocurrency is far from their thoughts and perhaps unreasonable in their current financial aspirations.
In summary, Bitcoin has shown more upward trajectory than downward. However, the continuation of the Upward trend depends on effective control of the current pandemic; faster rate of digital payment adoption by banks and financial institutions; and the reverse of prohibitory policies. Once these factors are rectified, Bitcoin will undoubtedly break the 100K mark before the end 2021.


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Is the Future of Video Advertising Now?
Publishing Executive has an article in this month’s issue about rich media and how publishers are using it in various ways. They asked me to contribute to the story, and one of the questions I was asked pertained to rich media advertising and how publishers’ Web sites can take advantage of this type of creative.
A recent conversation I had with a marketing manager from a large manufacturing company made me realize that companies like the ones I mentioned in the article have a long way to go to reach and educate marketers chomping at the bit to go “beyond the banner.” Sure, the top 50 or top 100 large advertisers are testing this stuff, but publishers’ advertisers that are not the elite big-spenders need to know more about these opportunities. Consider these marketers the long tail of ad buying, smaller companies that spend less but when grouped together spend just as much as the big boys.
Generally speaking, rich media advertising isn’t that new as marketers have been using Flash creative for years now. What’s showing up more recently is the use of video. The folks at EyeWonder are doing some impressive stuff, and Xerox recently launched a campaign that included a bunch of Publishing Executive’s sister sites using AccelaCast inbanner creative. The campaign’s click-thru rate is in the single-digit percentages.
The Web video space continues to be dominated by Google, which recently announced a plan to use overlays in YouTube videos. Google’s pending acquisition of DoubleClick will get an added push as it gets the rich media and video product Klipmart, which DoubleClick acquired last summer.
Publishers also should be catching on to the idea that they can create quality video and use it for more than trade show round-ups, Q&As or vlogs. For instance, the Baltimore Sun has hired its own videographer who among other things creates commercial footage that has a lot of great uses and potential for success. There’s no reason magazine publishers shouldn’t be doing the same thing.

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Cover photo: The XXL Butter Cake from State Fare Kitchen & Bar stays nice and chewy in a pizza box. Image of Anthony Rathbun.
At State Fare Kitchen & Bar, a brunch isn’t brunch if it doesn’t include the XXL Buttermilk Griddlecake, a mind-boggling 14 inches in diameter. When ordered from the dining room, this morning freak dwarfs his plate – you can’t see him below. Sprinkled with freshly fallen icing sugar and served with whipped butter and maple syrup, it’s as much a production as it is a menu item. It’s a festive recognition of brunch as an event.
So what happened when Covid-19 ended brunch as an event at State Fare, for a month and a half Houston diners were barred from eating at their favorite restaurants and instead started to order? Well, the innovation.
“We originally took (the griddlecake) and folded it in half, trying to put it in one of our containers,” says Justin Yoakum, director of operations at State Fare, which is managed by the hotel group. Culinary Khancepts. The container was a round, black, dishwasher-safe, recyclable “clamshell” shell, says Yoakum. “We said to ourselves: ‘What are we doing to conserve the essence of this pancake? “”
Put it in a fun big pizza box, naturally. Suddenly the gigantic pancake and all of its accessories (sealed in smaller plastic containers) were much more desirable to eat when they got home. Soon followed by the plain white buckets for fried chicken and fried seafood from State Fare at KFC. What about their burgers? Wrapped in foil like Wendy’s.
“We looked at who makes take out food very well, and that led us to your drive-thru places,” says Yoakum. “It was a question of ‘How do we cope?’ “
Although the pandemic has dramatically shaken Houston’s food and beverage industry – 2,000 Houston-area restaurants closed in 2020, according to the Greater Houston Restaurant Association – for restaurants lucky enough to continue operating, one of the quieter changes has been the growing reliance on take-out. and delivery packaging, and with that, a little ingenuity.
Nationally, take-out and delivery saw a 76% increase in weekly earnings in early May 2020 as Covid-19 raged, according to a UBS Evidence Lab study, and those gains have remained relatively high during the pandemic. Due to the increase in take-out and delivery services, restaurants have spent more on packaging – Houston’s Legacy Restaurants reports that it spent 100% more on packaging at some point in 2020 – and operators are quickly became more savvy. By investing in better packaging materials and showcasing everything, they get a better return on their take-out business.
At one level, the pressure for smarter packaging existed before the pandemic. Recyclable paper wrappers can be found at many Houston restaurants, including newer places like the tropical hangout Toasted Coconut in Montrose, hand-roll supplier Hando in the Heights, and Vietnamese restaurant Blind Goat at Bravery. Chef Hall downtown. What about those black polypropylene containers, which can be reused at home? They are common in more upscale UB Preserv and State of Grace establishments. CLICK Virtual Food Hall, which was founded in August 2019 to disrupt the Uber Eats-driven delivery industry, has invested in expensive insulated aluminum bags that prevent ice from melting and steaming hot foods, and look like something you would ship a fragile item in. at the Post Office. They also realized early on the importance of deconstructing the dishes to preserve freshness – order pho at any Vietnamese restaurant and you will also see it in action, as separate containers are provided for the broth, noodles, vegetables. meats and vegetables.
“The aspect of presentation that is really important in delivery is how you deconstruct it,” says Steven Salazar, co-founder of CLICK. “You put the breadcrumbs on the outside of the pasta instead of the top. You set the egg aside so that the customer himself pops the egg yolk. You have to test each dish.
El Patio in Montrose has also been interrupting complicated and potentially messy orders for years. Their nachos usually arrive in a Christmas bounty – single-use polypropylene plastic containers that individually hold jalapenos, guacamole, and tomatoes, and aluminum foil casseroles that keep the corn chips crisp, hot, and spread out. . “[Customers] I love that we take the time to make things easy to enjoy, like they are in a restaurant, ”says General Manager Zaira Wolff.
Rather, it is a new emphasis on branding that puts El Patio and others above the rest in the Covid era. Wolff says the shift to more take-out and delivery has underscored the need to let people know who they are as a restaurant. El Patio never lost an employee during the pandemic, as Wolff immediately shifted hosts and servers to takeout and delivery orders. The restaurant maintains its own delivery service and has used the brand to its advantage: employees wear black shirts with the El Patio logo on them and Wolff has the El Patio logo on them. all.
“Anything that has a tag is likely to be tagged on Instagram or Facebook,” says Wolff. “So it’s a good thing to put your label out there, especially with our margaritas. “
For restaurateur Benjamin Berg of Berg Hospitality Group, a change in the pandemic has been as much about the brand as it is about the quality of the packaging itself. “Before all of that, it was dog bags for leftovers. Not anymore, ”says Berg. Although he has laid off 350 employees at his company’s six restaurants in two cities, such as the casual BB Lemon, the red sauce spot BB Italia, and the more sophisticated affairs B&B Butchers and Restaurant and Annie Café and Bar, he has since hired about 75 percent of those workers. In December 2020, hoping to expand his brand, test future menu items, and tap the take-out and delivery business, he opened a CLICK-like ghost kitchen called Fair Food Co. in Uptown.
Here, Berg emphasizes the packaging: thirty minutes after being collected from the kitchen, BB Italia’s mozzarella sticks stay crisp and warm thanks to its Crisp Food Technologies Fry Baby container. The Fry Baby has raised airflow channels and ventilation in its lid to prevent food from overheating and soggy. All food is carried in a Berg Hospitality Group paper bag with its logo splashed all over it.
“It’s expensive,” says Berg. “But it’s our reputation and our brand that stand out. “
For restaurateurs, this can be more important than ever. The National Restaurant Association, in its 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, found that about 65% to 70% of consumers are more likely to buy take-out now than before the pandemic. For the record, Houston operators are continuing take-out and curbside pickup options, even as the local Covid-19 incidence rate declines and indoor dining resumes. The good thing, at least for customers, is that more and more restaurants in Houston are paying attention.
In Memorial City, State Fare hosts the competition. “It just means more people are going to order to go there,” Yoakum explains.


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Hallam is delighted to announce its latest clients: Ironmongery Direct and Electrical Direct.
Offering paid media consultancy to these national ecommerce brands, Hallam supports both brands with paid media strategy and planning, management and consultancy, data integration, and reporting and analysis.
Ellis Osborn, Ecommerce Manager at Ironmongery Direct, said: “We were looking for an agency who could provide strategic leadership and future planning as we work towards utilising LCV in our paid media approach. It was also important to work with a partner who could support our team and share PPC knowledge. We believe we’ve found that in Hallam and we’re excited to work together to expand our market presence.”
Hallam’s paid media and data consultancy activity supports both brands as they continue to action their ambitious growth plans.
As members of the international Manutan Group, both brands specialise in the distribution of equipment and supplies for consumers, tradespeople, companies and local authorities.
Jack Brown, Hallam’s Head of Paid Media, said: “The team at Ironmongery Direct and Electrical Direct take a focused, data-driven approach to marketing, whilst building trust in the communities they provide products to. We’re delighted to partner with them and to continue our work in the ecommerce industry, promoting our excellence in this sector.”


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haveData display,Online retail sales fell by a record 19.8% in November.According to foreign media reports,AndCompared to the online transition during the lockdown period in November 2020, this decline may also be affected by shoppers making early purchases due to supplier shortages and delivery interruptions.
According to the report,This is the lowest growth record for the IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index in 21 years. Compared to 2020yearNovemberPerformance is particularly strongAt that time, non essential retailers were blocked, and shoppers were effectively guided online, driving an increase of 36.2% in e-commerce sales.
Andy Markashi, Director of Strategy and Insight at MRGSay,In the retail industry,theyOften tends to focus on negative factors, but cannot avoid themYesThe performance in November was very poor. The most worrying thing is that trafficBecame importantThe problem lies in.
Visit the retailer's websiteThe decrease in quantity is closely related to consumers returning to physical stores. However, many consumers may have reduced their frequency of going on the streets recentlyTo avoid quarantine during Christmas.
IMRG analysis shows that in November this year, shoppers made fewer purchases,Conversion rate decreased year-on-yearYes20% to 3.3%, while the average basket value decreased from a peak of £ 149 in 2021 to £ 123.Additionally,Different from last yearIn the middle ofThis year, the sales of multi-channel brands that can be sold in stores have decreased by 23.4%, while the sales of online sales alone have decreased by 13.4%.
In statistics,Clothing is the only category that has not experienced double-digit negative growthAmong them, giftsThe hardest hit has been a decline46.4%.Next is electrical appliancesdecline29.2%.
Lucy Gibbs, retail director of Capgemini Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, stated that the decline in online sales this year has notNot as expectedHowever, the month on month data indicates overall expenditureMore sluggish. sheAnd he said,Although reOfflineShopping accounts for a significant portion of expenses, but other factors such as supplier shortages and delivery interruptions have also led to retailers dispersing and diluting some discounts, which may be due toindividualThe conversion rate increased by 20% in November.
althoughThe data for November is not ideal, but more companies still have high expectations for the fourth quarter, with Christmas becoming the focus of this quarter.


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Honda to release pure EV for mini vehicles. Following Nissan and Mitsubishi, announced participation in the overheating EV war
(Face Of Nigeria Blog News)– By the way, speaking of 2024, the N-BOX, which is by far the most popular in the current mini vehicle market, may undergo a full model change. If so, it is expected that Honda’s first light standard EV will be based on the next N-BOX (or N series).
What is the truth? In any case, there is no doubt that the mini vehicle market will be very exciting in 2024 with Nissan, Mitsubishi and Honda involved.
On April 23, 2021, Mr. Toshihiro Mibe, who became the new president of Honda (Honda Motor Co., Ltd.), held the first press conference after taking office.
The new president, Mr. Toshihiro Mibe, enthusiastically talked about “environment,” “safety,” and future vision, but the editorial department of Web Motor Magazine announced that it would release a mini vehicle standard pure EV (electric vehicle) in 2024.
While some models are expected to undergo a full model change in 2024.
As you know, mini vehicles are a standard unique to Japan and it is very popular in Europe. It is a small but world-class Japanese specialty that is packed with the wisdom and knowledge of engineers from Japanese manufacturers.
Speaking of light vehicle standard electric vehicles, the world’s first mass-produced electric light vehicle “i-MiEV” released by Mitsubishi Motors in 2009 is famous.
Unfortunately, that history has come to an end in 2020 with another good news, but under the alliance with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., it has announced that it will launch a completely new EV for mini vehicles by the end of 2022.
At the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, it is also fresh in memory that Nissan exhibited a mini EV concept car “IMk”. Of course, not only Nissan but also Mitsubishi should start selling at the same time.
Before the arrival of such a new era, it was revealed for the first time that Honda, which is now the strongest mini vehicle manufacturer (?), Will enter the market. No details have been disclosed, but since it will be released in 2024, it can be considered that it is already quite complete.
Honda holds an inaugural press conference for the new president of Mr. Toshihiro Mibe.
Honda holds an inaugural press conference for the new president of Mr. Toshihiro Mibe, Mr. Toshihiro Mibe Announces that it will electrify four-wheeled vehicles 100% in 2040.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. held an inaugural press conference on April 23, 2021 for the newly appointed President Toshihiro Mibe.


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Rez and Lumines creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi founded Q? Entertainment in Japan. Q? Entertainment may be best known in the West for their music titles, but they also release free to play games like Angel Online in Japan and are the developers behind Destiny of Spirits.
Mizuguchi took a break from making games, but he is getting back into production with a new studio, Enhance Games, which is located in California.
Mobcast, a Japanese developer that makes smartphone games including a mobile version of Nobunaga’s Ambition, has acquired the rights to Lumines and Meteos. A new Lumines game for smartphones is in development. The last game in the series, Lumines: Electronic Symphony, was a PlayStation Vita launch title.


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Enterprise SSD controller being jointly developed by Samsung and Seagate
As we've learned from testing a multitude of solid-state disks, controller technology can play a big role in defining overall drive performance. The number of...
FireStream 9370, 9350 bring Cypress computing to servers
In conjunction with today's announcement of the Opteron 4100 series of CPUs, AMD has also raised the curtains on a pair of FireStream cards. The...
New Vertex 2 drives aim for servers
SandForce solid-state drive controllers have already made quite an impact on the desktop. Now, OCZ has taken SandForce's best controller, the SF-1500, and used...
Xeon 5600 series brings six-core chips to 2P systems
Intel's gradual roll-out of 32-nm microprocessors has already paid dividends on the desktop, and...
$400 Acer home server has Atom CPU, four drive bays
After netbooks and nettops, net... servers seem to be the latest rage. We saw...
New HP home server is cheap, Atom-powered
The Atom has found a natural niche in netbooks and low-cost desktop PCs, but that's not its only vocation. HP happens to think Intel's low-power...
Gigabyte unveils Mini-DTX server board
The board. Source: Gigabyte. Gigabyte has announced it has jointly developed a "home server"...
|Samsung's DDR4 modules for servers have quadruple-stacked memory dies||29|
|This 8'' Windows 8.1 tablet will cost only $149||28|
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|Asus shows glimpse of ZenWatch; Apple 'wearable' coming Sept 9||24|
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|Dropbox Pro now offers 1TB of storage for $9.99 a month||38|
|Predicting player inputs smooths streaming PC games||24|
|Now we can lose our data 8TB at a time.||+44|


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Note: As a public service, BizWest is making all of its coverage of the COVID-19 virus free to read. Please consider subscribing to BizWest to support our efforts to keep you informed on Northern Colorado and the Boulder Valley’s top business news.
SAN JOSE, California — Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) said the ongoing coronavirus crisis in China continues to hamstring its assembly plants in the country, which may affect operations at the Fort Collins plant owned by semiconductor maker Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGO).
The Cupertino tech behemoth warned investors that it will likely miss revenue projections for the quarter as its assembly plants across China slowly return to production and constrain supply around the world, along with depressed sales in the country due to all of its stores being closed.
COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease more commonly referred to as coronavirus, has effectively shut down Hubei Province in central China. Government officials have urged businesses and schools across the country to stay closed to prevent its spread, reducing the output of the world’s largest manufacturing economy.
About 72,400 people in China have been diagnosed with the virus as of Tuesday afternoon, with 1,868 dead.
That may cause a production slowdown in Broadcom’s factory in Fort Collins, which produces wireless radio frequency parts. Broadcom signed a pair of deals with Apple to supply “specified high-performance components and modules” over the next 3½ years, which are estimated to provide as much as $15 billion in revenue.
Broadcom mostly outsources its production, but specifically makes film bulk acoustic resonator components in Fort Collins to protect intellectual property processes, according to its most recent annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Broadcom did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Apple’s announcement caused a selloff in semiconductor stocks, with the PHLX Semiconductor Index falling 1.4 percent on the day. That index includes Broadcom’s stock, which fell 2.21 percent on the day to close at $310.75 per share.
© 2020 BizWest Media LLC


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The genetic testing company 23andMe reported that hackers had gained access to the personal data of 0.1% of customers, or about 14 thousand people, writes TechCrunch.
23andMe also added that the attackers were able to access “a significant number of files containing information about the pedigree of other users.”
The company did not say how many users were affected. However, the publication informs that 6.9 million people were affected by the leak. Thus, we can talk about almost half of the company’s 14 million customers. The stolen data included a person’s name, year of birth, family ties, and other personal information.
As a reminder, in early October, 23andMe launched an investigation after a leak of private user data from its website. This happened after an ad was posted online about the sale of private information of 23andMe users.
But this is not the only case. Subsequently, it became known that 23andMe was investigating reports of a new data breach. This time, it was about personal data belonging to residents of the United Kingdom and “the richest people living in the United States and Western Europe.”


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Japan is lagging behind other countries when it comes to the number of electric vehicles on the road as the government strives to phase out gasoline-only vehicles.
Electric vehicles are apparently regarded as not practical for consumers for a number of reasons, including a lack of charging stations, high prices and some functional challenges.
Still, shifting to electric vehicles is necessary for Japan to achieve its 2050 decarbonization target, and domestic automakers are rolling out new nongasoline models in a bid to stimulate demand.
The government has recently hammered out a plan to stop selling new gasoline-only vehicles by the mid-2030s, meaning that new vehicle sales will be limited to electric and fuel-cell vehicles as well as gas-electric hybrid models.
Responding to the government's call, Nissan Motor Co. will launch the Ariya electric vehicle this summer. Honda Motor Co. released its first mass-produced electric vehicle, the Honda E, last year, while Toyota Motor Corp. fully revamped its Mirai fuel-cell vehicle late last year for the first time in six years.
Among factors hampering the spread of electric vehicles in Japan are costs and charging inconveniences. Most models cost more than ¥5 million even with the use of subsidies, and it takes more than 30 minutes to fully charge an electric vehicle, while the cars' cruising ranges can vary.
As for fuel-cell vehicles, there are only about 140 hydrogen charging stations in the country compared with 30,000 gas stations.
Given these circumstances, domestic automakers are devoting their efforts to the development of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Honda launched a new hybrid version of the Fit compact last year, while Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has released a plug-in hybrid version of the Eclipse Cross compact SUV.
Hybrid vehicles, however, are not a silver bullet for decarbonization. They are fuel-efficient, but not zero-emission models.
In 2020, sales of electric vehicles in Japan came to slightly below 15,000 units, representing less than 1% of overall new vehicle sales in the country, compared with about 7% in Germany and around 5% in China.
"A foundation for the promotion of electric vehicles hasn't been put in place yet in Japan," an official at a major automaker said.
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.


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Qualcomm announced some executive shuffling, which the company says is aimed at improving marketing, global business development and its wireless-service businesses.
The wireless chipmaker appointed its first chief marketing officer. Jeff Jacobs, brother of CEO Paul Jacobs, will oversee global marketing, external communications and technology standards-related efforts. Jacob’s appointment continues the family business; Paul Jacobs replaced Irwin Jacobs, his father and founder of Qualcomm. Before his appointment to chief marketing officer, Jeff Jacobs served as Qualcomm’s executive vice president and president of global development.
Instead of directly replacing Jeff Jacobs as head of global development, Qualcomm has formed three regional operating areas: Americas and India; Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa; and Europe, and has appointed new heads to each division. Executive Vice President Peggy Johnson, who had been in charge of Qualcomm’s Internet services and MediaFLO mobile TV service, will now head the Americas and India area. Andrew Gilbert will head business development in Europe, as well as serving as president of Internet services and MediaFLO for Qualcomm Europe. And Jing Wang, who had been promoting Qualcomm’s CDMA technology in China and Southeast Asia, will now head the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region.
The company also said that it has combined several smaller, semi-independent service-related businesses, including Internet services, MediaFLO, its BREW platform and recently acquired mobile commerce subsidiary Firethorn, under Executive Vice President Len Lauer.
Filed Under: Infrastructure


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Crytek today confirmed the sale of its Black Sea Studio to SEGA Europe and UK-based developer, Creative Assembly. According to the press release, the sixty-strong development team in Bulgaria will now operate as Creative Assembly Sofia under its new ownership.
Crytek’s Managing Director, Avni Yerli, said:
“In the past few weeks, we have worked closely with Creative Assembly and the team in Sofia to ensure that the talented staff at Crytek Black Sea would be well taken care of. We are delighted to be able to announce that SEGA’s acquisition of Crytek Black Sea has been finalized along with the studio’s transition from Crytek to Creative Assembly. This change is a part of the essential steps we are taking to re-focus on our core competencies and ensure Crytek is a healthy and sustainable business moving forward. We would like to thank the Sofia team for their passion and dedication and are looking forward to seeing them do great things as part of Creative Assembly.”
In unrelated news, it’s worth noting that this is the first GDC in which Crytek did not release any tech trailer for its game engine, the CRYENGINE.
From the looks of it, Crytek will really struggle to regain its gaming status. After all, the team is not currently working on any triple-A game and we can’t think of any triple-A game that will be powered by CRYENGINE (as Star Citizen is now powered by Amazon’s Lumberyard Engine).
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”


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Facebook has agreed a $2bn deal to buy virtual reality headset maker Oculus as it gambles on the future of computing.
Oculus, based in Irvine, California, makes the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset that covers a user's eyes and creates an immersive world that reacts to turning your head or moving back and forth.
The headsets have received a lot of attention from video game developers, but have yet to be released for consumers, but Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the device’s potential goes further than gaming and could be a new way for people to communicate, learn or be entertained.
"This is a long-term bet on the future of computing," said Zuckerberg. "I believe Oculus can be one of the platforms of the future."
Potential applications for the technology could be enjoying a courtside seat at a basketball game, studying in a classroom, consulting a doctor face to face or shopping in a virtual store, according to Zuckerberg, and the technology also has social applications.
"Imagine sharing not just moments with friends online, but entire experiences and adventures," he said.
The deal is Facebook's second big acquisition in as many months after it announced that it would pay $19bin for mobile messaging start-up WhatsApp, a deal that has yet to close.
"I don't think you should expect us to make multiple multi-billion dollar acquisitions within a couple of months frequently," Zuckerberg said.
But he called Oculus a "unique" company with a major lead on rivals in technology, engineering talent and developer interest. Sony unveiled its own prototype virtual reality headset at a game-developers conference in San Francisco last week.
Zuckerberg said virtual reality technology was a computing platform unto itself, comparing it to personal computers, which revolutionised the world in the 1970s and 80s, and mobile phones.
He said Facebook intended to let Oculus continue with its road map of development, but help out with recruiting, marketing, infrastructure and opening doors to new partnerships.
And Zuckerberg said he intended not to make a profit on hardware but instead make the product affordable and ubiquitous so Facebook can look at generating revenue from services, software, advertising, virtual goods or other areas.


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Year-End Savvy Cybersecurity Alerts
Welcome to the last cybersecurity newsletter of 2019! It certainly has been a big year for cybersecurity. While we are sure the next decade will bring its own cybersecurity hacks, scams, and frauds—we will likely see new technology to help combat it.
Read on to learn more about the cybersecurity happenings this month including:
- A new decade for cybersecurity
- A major department store breach
- How to keep your phone safe at airports
- The setting you must enable for your Ring doorbell
- And more
A new decade for cybersecurity
In just a few days, we welcome in 2020 and in turn, a new decade. The 2010s were a defining decade for cybersecurity. We saw some of the largest hacks, breaches, and scams make the news over the past ten years. But we have also gotten better with our cybersecurity. The number of institutions offering two-factor authentication has increased. More people are aware of what a phishing attack looks like. And legislation was passed making it easier for everyone (including minor children) to freeze their credit reports.
Of course, as we enter a new decade, new threats will emerge. Technology will continue to advance at a record pace, which brings threats along with convenience. As we enter this new era, let’s take a look at how cybersecurity threats advanced over the past ten years and what we think will happen in the future.
Threats of the 2010s
- Data breaches
This past decade has brought us a trend of massive data breaches. Starting in 2013 with the Target data breach that affected over 100 million people, we began to see data being stolen in the millions on a regular basis. For example, we had the Yahoo breach affecting 500 million users. And who could forget the Equifax breach exposing information on nearly 150 million consumers? As we head into 2020, it is likely that everyone’s personal information has been exposed over the last ten years, making cybersecurity education more important than ever.
Another threat that has made the rounds since 2010 is ransomware—the malware that encrypts all the data on your machine and demands a ransom payment. And while the first ransomware attack allegedly occurred in 1989, we have seen a huge increase over the last ten years. In fact, last year there were an estimated 184 million ransomware attacks compared to just 2,000 in 2017. This, in part, is due to organizations being targeted. It is estimated that one new business falls victim to ransomware every 14 seconds.
- Business Email Compromise
An influx of phishing emails targeted at businesses emerged in the 2010s. The scam, called Business Email Compromise or CEO Scam, often tricked employees into wiring large amounts of money after receiving an email appearing to be from their CEO. Since 2013, nearly 70,000 companies have been victimized, costing billions in damages.
Threats looking forward
- Internet of Things (IoT) attacks
Towards the end of this decade, we began welcoming more and more smart devices into our lives. Many of us now have connected doorbells, thermostats, and TVs. And while these devices bring a level of convenience, we have also seen cyberattacks launched at these devices’ vulnerabilities. In the next decade, it is likely that these attacks will occur more often. Going forward, it is important that we treat these devices as we do our smartphones and computers.
- Artificial Intelligence
Another technology growing in popularity is artificial intelligence. Many experts believe that hackers will be able to use AI technology to create more realistic scams, including fake videos impersonating a CEO via email or video chat to enable more business email compromise attacks.
- Cloud systems
Hackers will likely go after cloud systems in the coming years as more and more data is stored in the cloud. This month already saw two ransomware attacks at cloud server vendors that impacted hundreds of businesses using those servers. It will be important going forward to thoroughly vet any cloud system companies you work with.
Each year brings us new cybersecurity threats to defend against—but also brings new ways to fight back. We must all stay vigilant with our cybersecurity plans and adapt when it’s indicated. We’re looking forward to this new year of cybersecurity vigilance and will continue to keep you updated with the latest news.
Wawa data breach may affect all 850 stores. The chain announced a data breach this month exposing customer payment card details. Hackers installed malware that accessed credit and debit card information. It is unknown how many customers were affected at this time. If you have shopped at Wawa this year, be sure to monitor your credit and debit card statements closely.
Macy’s online shoppers beware—your credit card information may have been stolen. The department store announced a data breach that occurred in October likely affecting thousands of shoppers. Information stolen includes names, addresses, credit card numbers, verification codes, and expiration dates. It is believed that hackers installed malware on the Macy’s website to collect this data.
New Jersey hospital system hit by ransomware pays attackers to unlock medical systems. Hackensack Meridian Health fell victim to a ransomware attack in early December. The attack resulted in about 100 medical procedures being canceled over 17 hospitals and clinics. Two weeks later, the hospital paid the undisclosed ransom amount saying, “We believe it’s our obligation to protect our communities’ access to health care.”
Equifax data breach settlement fails federal requirements for fairness and adequacy according to the Center for Class Action Fairness. The nonprofit says that the settlement does not treat victims equally as it does not account for differences between states such as damage limits. The center also states that consumers’ attorneys inflated their legal fees and should be paid $16 million rather than $77 million.
Robocall mimicking FBI agent drains oncology nurse’s life savings. Nina Belis received a call from an FBI agent saying her Social Security number was stolen and crimes had been committed in her name. The agent then recommended Belis transfer her money into accounts he controlled to protect the funds. She wound up transferring $340,000 before realizing she had fallen for a scam. Read her story here.
Ransomware attack at IT company cuts nursing homes off from health records, according to Krebs on Security. The Wisconsin-based company provides cloud data-hosting for more than 100 nursing homes all over the country. It was hit with a ransomware attack that encrypted all the data the company hosts and demanded a $14 million ransom. The owner fears this incident could close her business and seriously affect the health of patients. (A similar attack at a Colorado IT company has affected over 100 dental offices.)
Over 1 million T-Mobile customers affected by latest data breach. The company says hackers were able to access information such as name, billing address, phone number, and account number. Affected users were contacted by T-Mobile.
Travelers, think twice before charging your phone at the airport. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is warning of a scam at LAX airport involving fake USB charging stations. Plugging your device into one of these USB charging ports can expose your phone to malware or even lock the device. A power adapter is a much safer charging option when in public.
Marital identity theft can be one of the most difficult thefts to fight according to many lawyers. A study done by the National Domestic Hotline found that over half of women who called reported that a partner had put debt in their name through fraud or coercion. In many cases, this ruins their chances of being able to get an apartment on their own. Many police precincts make it difficult to get a police report without divorce documentation—making the fraud difficult to prove.
Biggest threat to broker-dealers? Cybersecurity says top Sifma executives. Cybersecurity was a topic of discussion at the Sifma Annual Meeting with chairman James Allen stating, “cybersecurity is the one thing that keeps me awake at night.” Sifma believes that all employees should go through cybersecurity training.
Phishers target small business owners during the holiday season. Danielle Radin, owner of Mantra Magnets clicked a link in an email inviting her to be a part of a holiday gift guide. Soon after, however, she kept getting notifications that people around the world were trying to access her email account. It turns out that the holiday gift-guide email was a phishing attack. Experts warn that these attacks have become more professional looking, so everyone must closely scrutinize unsolicited emails.
PR software company exposed data on over 450,000 contacts via an unsecured database. The information included administrative credentials, assorted documents, and over 35,000 hashed passwords. iPRsoftware’s clients include Xerox, Mattel, Nasdaq, and others.
Brokerage accounts wiped by a simple email scam in New York. According to reports, a Lithuanian man and a co-conspirator stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims after compromising the victims’ email addresses and sending wire transfer requests to their financial advisor. Read more here on how to protect yourself from this scam.
Is your Ring doorbell secure? The Amazon smart doorbells have been in the news often this month with stories of hacks. The culprit, however, is bad security. Weak passwords have led to many hacks and the doorbell is not set up with two -actor authentication by default. If you own a Ring or other smart doorbell you need to be sure you are using a unique password and that you enable two-factor authentication.
Adobe: Updates for Acrobat and PDF Reader were released this month that close over 20 security holes. If you are a Photoshop user, you should update that as well.
Google: This might be the first time we warn against an update but do NOT update Google Chrome. The update for Chrome 79 is causing major issues for Android users including data loss. Hold off on updating until a solution is found.
Microsoft: Microsoft released over 30 patches this month—including seven for critical bugs. One critical update for Win32k (present in Windows 7-10) is already being exploited. You can read more about the updates here.


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Michael Dell likely to benefit most from Dell's going public again
New Dell shareholders will be investing in a very different company from the one that delisted five years ago
Michael Dell is returning his eponymous technology company to public markets, after extolling the virtues of being private for years.
But this time, it’s going to be on his terms.
Mr Dell's’s meticulously orchestrated plan to trade Class C shares on the New York Stock Exchange will give the computer and software maker all the advantages of a public listing with few of the drawbacks that caused the company to retreat in a 2013 leveraged buyout. Mr Dell, who’s been in the tech business for 34 years, is in some ways taking a lesson from younger founders, such as Evan Spiegel of Snap: maintain as much control as possible and be less beholden to the whims of outside investors.
New Dell shareholders will be investing in a very different company from the one that delisted five years ago. Besides Dell’s diversification into faster-growing nooks and crannies of the technology market, investors will now have far less voting power than they once did. Michael Dell will own about half of the company, and he and private equity partner Silver Lake Management will be able to ensure all votes go their way. As it worked to win approval for the 2013 buyout that took Dell private, billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn led a proxy fight to install a new board that would have replaced Dell. The new structure would rule out any similar revolt in the future.
Before Dell can move forward with the new simplified structure, the company has to get past the buyout of the DVMT tracking stock, originally meant to mirror its stake in Silicon Valley software maker VMware - a move scheduled for the fourth quarter. Dell is offering DVMT holders the new Class C stock or $109 in cash per share. Current shareholders may not play nice, despite the offer’s $4.7 billion premium over the $17bn valuation of the tracking stock as of Friday. They’ll be getting a diluted value for VMware, which currently has a market cap of $66bn, and their new shares will mostly give them equity in Dell’s slower-growing hardware divisions.
Mr Icahn, who holds a sizeable position in both VMware and the tracking stock, is still studying the proposal to determine whether he’ll support it, according to a person familiar with the matter. Elliott Management, another activist firm, is the fourth-largest shareholder of the tracking stock. A representative for Elliott declined to comment on its intentions for the DVMT buyout.
The transaction is a “major disappointment” for DVMT holders, Keith Moore, an FBN Securities analyst, wrote in a note Monday. Dell is “funnelling” cash from VMware in a dividend, increasing the value of the tracking stock without holders seeing benefits of the increase. Still, it stops short of a merger, which could have sparked a VMware shareholder rebellion. The tracking stock rose 9 per cent Monday to $92.20 - short of the cash offer price, reflecting investors’ dim view of Dell's value.
The heart of the deal is VMware’s $11bn special dividend for its shareholders - crafted to transfer about $9bn in cash from the software maker’s balance sheet to Dell’s. One of the biggest drawbacks of Dell’s controlling stake in VMware, while maintaining the software maker’s independence, has been the inability of debt-ridden Dell to draw cash from fast-growing VMware.
“We are excited about VMware’s independent future as a company,” chief executive Mr Dell said on a conference call Monday. “We don’t have any future plans to change the structure and we’re excited about the go-forward.”
Dell’s decision not to pursue a full merger with VMware may also reflect concern about the so-called conglomerate discount - a term for when a large diversified company trades at a lower valuation than its discrete parts. Besides that, VMware shareholders have blasted the notion of a merger of Dell and VMware - one of the options Round Rock, Texas-based Dell laid forth when it announced its strategic review in January. VMware shares jumped 10 per cent in New York trading Monday.
The deal potentially “takes away an overhang that Dell will reverse merge into VMware,” said Mark Moerdler, an analyst at Sanford C Bernstein.
Dell retreated from the public markets after becoming fed up with dealing with angry investors. With annual revenue at the time of $57bn, Dell was the largest company ever to be taken private, based on sales, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. For a long time, Mr Dell thought it was a good idea.
“We have a structural advantage in terms of speed and our financial structure and we have the added benefit of being able to think about our business in a much longer-term horizon,” he said at his company’s annual trade show last year. “Certainly, as a founder that’s something I absolutely love.” Mr Dell spoke of the virtues of being private as recently as the Dell Technologies World conference two months ago.
Some of those virtues have been measurable. Since going private, the supplier of personal computers and servers has expanded to capture a larger swath of the information technology market. Much of the change stems from its $67bn deal in 2016 for storage-technology provider EMC and with it a majority stake in data-centre software vendor VMware, cloud manager Virtustream and cybersecurity firm RSA. It also has a $3.2bn stake in software company Pivotal, and a $900 million stake in Secureworks.
All those additions and changes make Dell a bigger force in the tech industry than ever before, and Mr Dell now has the opportunity to boost the valuation of his company. The stronger IT spending environment has buoyed the company’s sales, and a public listing could similarly bolster the CEO’s personal net worth. Mr Dell had $22.1bn before this new proposal, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. More than $14bn of his fortune is equity in his company. Those figures could soar if his company is able to execute this direct listing the way it expects.
His stake in the newly public entity will be 47 per cent to 54 per cent fully diluted, the company said. He’ll also have considerable voting rights. Before going private in 2013, the founder had a personal stake of more than 15 per cent - and he needed to win a majority of the voted shares excluding his own to favour the buyout. That gave activists like Mr Icahn plenty of leverage over the transaction’s outcome.
Mr Dell, long known for his love of deals, also will now have more bandwidth to pursue them. Rather than pay in cash - a precious resource needed to pay down debt - the company can employ share swaps as currency to acquire new businesses and teams. This will help it stay competitive with rivals Hewlett Packard. and Nutanix, which have been snapping up smaller companies to burnish their offerings.
“The company’s go-forward opportunities in the internet of things, the edge, artificial intelligence and connectivity are very profitable ones, buttressed especially by software and services from VMware, RSA, Secureworks and Pivotal,” said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy. “There are still good profit pools in storage, networking infrastructure and, going forward, machine learning.”
Still, public investors in the new Dell will be staring down a lot of debt. Dell said it now has about $74.4bn in annual revenue, and $53bn invested in public subsidiaries, but also has $39.8bn in core debt, as of the end of its first fiscal quarter, much of which funded the deal for EMC.
Dell on Monday said it has paid down about $13bn in debt since acquiring EMC, and management is keen to get a good write-up from the credit rating services. Executives have already had preliminary "top level phone calls" with debt agencies on Friday, and "will be meeting them in next few days," Tom Sweet, Dell’s chief financial officer, said on Monday following the announcement.
Updated: July 3, 2018 09:50 AM


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Bitcoin maximalists have always been known to refer to Bitcoin as digital gold. There are speculations that Bitcoin will overtake gold in the coming years as a preferred store of value. This seems to be the case with each bull market as Bitcoin outperformed gold by 10 times in 2020.
Gold has always been a preferred investment for households in India. This is due to what it signifies in the culture and society. Gold is a symbol of wealth and good health in Indian society. It is also a symbol of purity in some religions as gold is believed to purify anything it touches Households in India own more than 25,000 metric tonnes of gold. Putting Indians amongst the top biggest holders of the precious metal in the world.
Related Reading | On-Chain Data Shows Active Bitcoin Addresses Have Nosedived, But Why?
But the tide seems to be turning with Millenials. Young people who are more tech-savvy are picking digital assets over physical ones. According to Chainalysis, India grew from $200 million in crypto investments to nearly $40 billion in the space of one year.
India’s Trading Ban On Crypto
In 2018, India’s central bank issued a circular ordering the ban of cryptocurrencies in India. Banks were asked to suspend accounts of players who were supporting the sale and purchase of cryptos in the country. Banks were ordered to not deal in cryptocurrencies or aid in dealing with cryptos. Fines were to be placed on those caught trading or holding crypto.
A 2021 proposed bill doubled down on this. Culminating in what would be one of the strictest crypto policies in the world. The bill would allow for the criminalization of holding, mining, trading, issuing, and even transferring crypto assets.
Bulls hold bitcoin price steady at $33k | Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com
Despite the bans, the crypto market has boomed in India. With citizens saying that they preferred to put their money in Bitcoin than they would in gold.
The number of people buying and selling cryptos in 2021 in India now totals more than 15 million. In contrast, there are 23 million traders in the U.S. and only 2.3 million crypto traders in the U.K.
This puts India at the top of the list for people using digital currencies.
Bitcoin Is Easier To Get Than Gold
On top of all of the other factors encouraging the use of Bitcoin, the ease of purchase is an important point for Indians. You can buy Bitcoin online and you wouldn’t have to verify it. This is unlike gold which presents a much difficult purchase and verification process.
The decision of the Supreme Court in 2020 to overturn the trading ban on banks has seen the rise of trading in the country. While authorities are not yet welcoming of cryptos, citizens are taking this as a good sign.
Related Reading | George Soros’ Investment Fund Turns Its Attention To Bitcoin
Another factor driving the adoption is immediate gains. Gains in gold can take years to actualize, depending on the market movements. But with Bitcoin, people have found that the gains actualize much faster. Sometimes in only a matter of months to get proceeds.
The amount of crypto held by Indians is still only a small portion compared to their holdings in gold. But nonetheless, the increased adoption of digital assets shows that Indians are ready to move towards more risky investments.
Featured image from Bitcoin News, chart from TradingView.com


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8pm | Saturday 28th April
The band release their new single, ‘Cold Cold Sweat’, on March 9th. With the video coming out a week before on March 1st, the same day Pre-Orders for their new album will be made available! Inspired by the Afro-beat rhythms of Fela Kuti and band, Cold Cold Sweat has a more percussive groove than anything they have released before and is inspired by the 90’s turtleneck and chain wearing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Their third album, ‘Dream Mover’, is out on on April 6th.
Doors 8pm – Tickets €10
Spirit Store | George’s Quay | Dundalk | Co. Louth


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LEWISTON — The Twin Cities' next great marketing slogan could be "It's Happening Here" again — or it could be something new.
No matter what, it probably won't be "City of Big Ideas" or "Great Falls, Great People" or any of the slogans readers submitted to the Sun Journal's branding contest.
Local business development and marketing officials say they'd like to begin this summer the serious work of finding a slogan that captures the essence of Lewiston-Auburn and sells it to the region and world — if the rest of the community is behind it.
"'It's Happening Here' may be the approach people want to take," said Chip Morrison, president of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce. "I do think people are ready for a change, but we don't want to preclude anything. The key is that we are marketing two communities together."
Look for the official Lewiston-Auburn branding effort to make its next move forward in April. That's when Morrison plans to ask both city councils if they can afford to fund the effort to find a new slogan and if they can afford to use it afterward.
"Both cities have to work with this," Morrison said. "These are tough economic times, so they need to decide if this effort is something they can support."
The community has to support the decision to brand itself and come up with a new slogan. At its most basic, that means money. The campaign that came up with "It's Happening Here" cost about $100,000. Most of that was paid by the two cities.
"We're a small organization," Morrison said. "We certainly can't finance a good marketing campaign by ourselves, and I really don't think we'd want to do that anyway."
It also means emotional support. The city councils, as well as residents and local businesses, would have to buy in to the idea.
"Even in a perfect world, if someone handed me a check for the whole thing and said, 'Do this,' what buy-in is there?," Morrison said. "You end up with well-meaning people taking potshots at it. But if they own it, they won't. They'll be participants in the entire process."
Morrison said he didn't have anything against the readers' suggestions in the Sun Journal's new slogan contest. He liked a few of them, in fact.
It's just that finding the right way to sell a community involves more than just a few magic words, he said. It takes an entire campaign based on an understanding of what the community has to sell and what people are willing to buy. Then, it's a matter of packaging that message in as few words as possible and finding a way to get it stuck in people's minds.
That's part of why the "It's Happening Here" campaign — and the "Cities of the Androscoggin" effort before it — worked.
"I think it stood the test of time," Morrison said. "People remember it — just like they did 'Cities of the Androscoggin.' You can still get people to sing that jingle today. But they were campaigns that ran with heavy television and advertising support. That's going to end up being what's important."
A hundred years ago...
In 1913, the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce launched a contest seeking a slogan that “best serves the purpose of advertising the city.”
The winning slogan — submitted by Everett Fogg — was “Lewiston: The Industrial Heart of Maine.”
A $20 gold coin.
In selecting that winner, the Lewiston chamber considered dozens of interesting (and entertaining) entries, including:
- The City of New Ideas
- Don’t Boast, Boost
- Equality for All; Privilege for None
- Humming City
- Metropolis of Western Maine
- Lewiston Looms: Boom Lewiston
- All Roads Lead to Lewiston on Bargain Day
- City That Does Things
- Idlers Keep Out. Hustlers Come and Enjoy Prosperity at Lewiston
- Energize Lewiston
- Fill the Spindle
- Approve, Appreciate, Lewiston
- Behold, “The Oasis of Maine,” Lewiston
- The Get There City
- Long Live Lewiston
- Lewiston: Maine’s Bee Hive
- The Overgrown Twin
- Lewiston: Maine’s One Best City
- Lewiston: The Diamond in the Rough
- Lewiston: The Key to Prosperity
- Lewiston: The Future Capital of Maine
- Began Doing Things in 1770, Hasn’t Stopped Since
- Old Falls, New Ideas
- Supremacy, Our Sin
- Onward ever, Lewiston
- Lewiston, Opulence
- Ah there, Lewiston!
- Stylish, Central, Snappy City
- City of Sense and Spunk
- City of Smiling Smartness
- The Electric City
- Klondike of Maine
- Lewiston: Maine’s Business Center
- Lucky, Plucky Lewiston
- If you Exist Somewhere, Come and Live at Lewiston
- Dirigo City of Empire
- Eastern. Enterprising. Emporium.


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Peter W. Schutz next to the Porsche 944, 1982 in front of the \'Werk 1\' in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is mourning the loss of Peter W. Schutz. The former President and CEO of Porsche AG passed away on October 29, 2017 at the age of 87. Porsche is grateful to Mr. Schutz not only for preserving the iconic 911 sports car, but also for successfully introducing the 911 Cabriolet to the US market.
When Peter W. Schutz took over as President and CEO of Porsche AG in January 1981, the company was experiencing a difficult period. In 1980, Porsche had recorded its first ever losses. But in just his third week as Porsche CEO, Mr. Schutz reversed the company’s earlier decision to cease production of the 911. The car’s success continues to justify this move, as the 911 has been regarded as an iconic vehicle and the ultimate sports car for over five decades.
During his tenure, Peter W. Schutz not only changed the company’s strategic direction: The German-American was also largely responsible for increasing the appeal of Porsche’s range of models, helping to successfully introduce the full 911 Cabriolet. In addition, Mr. Schutz furthered the expansion of the transaxle model range with the introduction of the 944 Turbo, 944 S and 944 S2 as well as their equivalent convertible variants. In 1982, Porsche set new records in motorsport, winning almost all categories and special rankings at Le Mans and achieving positions one to five in the race. The Porsche 959 was eventually unveiled in Frankfurt in 1985. Dubbed the “Über-911″ by the press, it underlined the sports car manufacturer’s technical expertise at the time.
Mr. Schutz trebled the company’s sales and restored Porsche’s status as a profitable enterprise. For five financial years in a row, the company set one record after another. However, the economic crisis in the second half of the decade brought the “golden 80s” to a close: The declining export revenues and corresponding drop in sales in the USA signaled the end of Peter W. Schutz’s tenure as President and CEO of Porsche. He left the company in 1987. Peter W.p Schultz retired to Naples, Florida in 1988 and became a renowned motivational speaker, and remained popular in Porsche circles. Schultz is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons.


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Beaten by Fortnite on PC, PUBG is fighting back on Xbox One
After popularising an entire genre, PUBG has struggled to keep its once insane momentum in the face of its brighter free-to-play competitor Fortnite, but its partnership with Xbox is turning its fortunes around.
Concurrent player numbers on Steam have fallen from a peak of 1.75 million to just under 300 thousand in recent months – still good enough to claim the second spot on the Steam charts, but nowhere near enough to challenge Fortnite’s playerbase of over 40 million players jumping into a game each month, and concurrent player counts in the millions.
As GameSpot reports though, PUBG has had some good news come from its Xbox fanbase, with Microsoft announcing that 8 million players have booted up the game on Xbox One since the game launched on the Game Preview program in December. Sure, those players aren’t all still playing (and certainly not all at once), but it’s an encouraging second life for a game that has seen a competitor come along and thoroughly beat it at its own game.
Microsoft’s exclusivity grab was a big move at the time, keeping PUBG from making its way to PS4 or Nintendo Switch, but in the six months since the game has become a little less valuable as an exclusive. It’s remained a big focus for Microsoft though, as GameSpot reports, with free play periods and PUBG console bundles being a notable part of their strategy to get the console into the hands of gamers who already own a PS4.
It may be a long way from the unstoppable juggernaut it once was, but PUBG might just be able to settle into a new niche as a flagship title for the Xbox, depending on how long the exclusivity deal stays in place – and whether this version can continue to smooth out the performance and gameplay issues it’s been plagued with since launch, or receive the same level of care it’s now receiving on PC.
And if PUBG really wants to scrape back some of the ground it’s lost to Fortnite, knuckling down and making the experience better for its players is probably a better option than trying to sue them into submission, after the recent lawsuit against Fortnite for copyright infringement was dropped.
Check out Microsoft’s new plans for PUBG on Xbox One below, with the recent E3 trailer:
The article was originally published on Brag Magazine


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Mazda today announced the CX-30 compact crossover is the latest model to benefit from the brand’s 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The CX-30 arrived in 2019 as a 2020 model based on the platform that underpins the Mazda3 and the forthcoming MX-30. It fills a narrow niche between the brand’s CX-3 and CX-5 models.
When it becomes available for ordering early next year as a late addition to the CX-30’s 2021 lineup, the Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo motor will generate the same 250 hp and 320 lb-ft torque ratings that it lends to the other Mazda vehicles it powers – which is nearly all of them, at least as an option. The little CX-3 crossover and MX-5 sports car are now the only Mazdas not available with the turbo engine.
Mazda hasn’t revealed which CX-30 trim levels it will offer with the turbo mill, but if the company follows the same formula as the larger CX-5, it will be an option in the GT trim. Currently, the CX-30 is standard with a 2.0L four-cylinder (155 hp/150 lb-ft) in GX trim, and GS and GT upgrade to a non-turbo 2.5L with 186 hp/186 lb-ft.
What Mazda has revealed is that the CX-30 Turbo will be standard with reverse collision detection with automatic braking, a head-up driver display, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive headlights – all features that suggest the new-to-CX-30 engine will be limited to the GT grade, which already includes Mazda’s full suite of driver assists.
The CX-30 Turbo will also come standard with AWD and a six-speed automatic transmission, as it does in other vehicles fitted with the turbo engine.


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Samsung's Galaxy S10 Rumored to Feature 3D Facial Recognition Like Face ID on iPhone X
Israeli startup Mantis Vision is reportedly working with camera module firm Namuga to develop 3D sensing camera solutions for Samsung's tentatively named Galaxy S10, according to Korean news outlet The Bell.
The technology would pave the way for Samsung to implement a 3D facial recognition system on the Galaxy S10, similar to Face ID on the iPhone X. The new Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, which officially launch tomorrow, still rely on a less secure 2D facial recognition system paired with an iris scanner.
Last year, videos surfaced that showed the same 2D solution on the Galaxy S8 could be unlocked by waving a photo of the registered user's face in front of the camera. Samsung even confirmed that its facial recognition solution cannot be used to authenticate access to Samsung Pay or its Secure Folder feature.
By comparison, Face ID uses a structured-light technique that projects a pattern of 30,000 laser dots onto a user's face and measures the distortion to generate an accurate 3D image for authentication. Face ID has been duped with sophisticated masks, but not with a simple photo of a person.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently opined that it would take Android smartphone makers up to two and a half years to catch up with Face ID. Apple released the iPhone X last November, while the Galaxy S10 will likely be released around March or April of 2019, a roughly one-and-a-half year span.
It's a given that Samsung will catch up with Face ID at some point, but it remains to be seen if its 3D facial recognition system can match the iPhone X's user experience. Around this time next year, we should find out.
Earlier this week, The Information's Wayne Ma outlined struggles that Apple has faced during the development of its long-rumored AR/VR headset. Now, in a follow-up report, he has shared several additional details about the wearable device. Apple headset render created by Ian Zelbo based on The Information reporting For starters, one of the headset's marquee features is said to be lifelike...
With around four months to go before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 14 lineup, the overwhelming majority of rumors related to the new devices so far have focused on the iPhone 14 Pro, rather than the standard iPhone 14 – leading to questions about how different the iPhone 14 will actually be from its predecessor, the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected...
Sony this week came out with an updated version of its popular over-ear noise canceling headphones, so we picked up a pair to compare them to the AirPods Max to see which headphones are better and whether it's worth buying the $400 WH-1000XM5 from Sony over Apple's $549 AirPods Max.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. First of all, the AirPods Max win out when it comes ...
Apple now plans to release a new 27-inch display with mini-LED backlighting in October due to the Shanghai lockdown, which has resulted in production of the display being delayed, according to display industry consultant Ross Young.
In a tweet, Young said Apple is in the process of moving production of the display from Quanta Computer to a different supplier and/or location, resulting in a...
Apple is working on an updated version of the HomePod that could come in the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that there "may not be much innovation in hardware design" for the new HomePod, and there is no word on what size the device will be and if it will be a HomePod mini successor or a larger speaker. Apple would ...
Solid markdowns on the AirTag, AirPods 3, and a few iPad models were introduced this week, and below you'll find all of the best deals of the past few days that are still available to purchase.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.


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Foodservice Australia announces new Melbourne venue
Trade expo, Foodservice Australia, returns to Melbourne next June with a brand new venue to meet the demand of its 400 exhibitors and 10,000 industry visitors.
To reach it, Foodservice Australia is relocating to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre in South Wharf.
"We loved the historic Melbourne Exhibition Building in Carlton and have held very successful events there since 2013," says event director Tim Collett.
"However we have literally outgrown the space available and it is now time to move to a venue that will allow for more exhibitors, more visitors and more spectacular events.”
Running from June 23 to 25, Foodservice Australia will see the latest in food and beverage products, kitchen equipment, hospitality technology, entertainment, furniture and fittings on display.
The National Restaurant Conference will return, as will the Aged Care Catering Summit, the Café School and flagship competitions Chef of the Year and the Australian Pizza Championships.
"We couldn’t be happier,” says Craig Mitchell from tableware specialists Dudson.
"This is a great way to network and get a good understanding of the market.
"Live events like this are so important for us, you need to touch and feel and get your hands on our product – it’s all about connection.”
Collett has been pleased to see stand bookings running ahead of schedule.
He says, “We have stands ranging from four square metres to nine square metres that are well priced and include lots of extras to make exhibiting easier.”


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When the dinosaur menorah — perhaps better known as the menorasaurus — came onto the scene in 2015, Hanukkah would never be the same. Since then, it has become inescapable, basically the mascot of Hanukkah.
Except — wait. The phrase “happy Llamakkah” is nearly as ubiquitous, often knitted into ugly holiday sweaters along with the eponymous spitting animal. Gnomes are also strangely unavoidable on Hanukkah merch.
Why did they have to put a Santa hat on the Hanukkah llama? Courtesy of TeePublic
And Jewish influencer and artist @maimonides_nutz has a viral Hanukkah design with a goose, based off of a viral Hanukkah tweet, which is now the cover of the J., the Jewish newspaper of the Bay Area. Plus, this year, Target has heavily invested in a lion theme for the holiday.
“There is an entire Hanukkah animal universe,” said Rabbi Yael Buechler, who designs Jewish holiday pajamas.
It should probably go without saying, but just to be clear — there are no dinosaurs, llamas, geese or gnomes in the Hanukkah story, which is about assimilation and civil war among (human) Jews. But animals are fun, and Hanukkah in America has long been focused on appealing to children.
In the mid-20th century, Jewish kids often ended up singing Christmas carols and participating in the Christian holiday at school and with friends. In response, American Jewish parents and rabbis began to frame Hanukkah as an equally engaging holiday, and began exchanging gifts and doing decorative crafts to involve their kids.
That means novelty menorahs (and kippahs) have long been part of American Judaism. But how did these few animals become so universal — and which one is the true mascot of Hanukkah?
A menorasaurus for llamakkah
The dinosaur’s Hanukkah moment is pretty simple: The dinosaur menorah launched it to stardom. The design found fame when Etsy seller Lisa Pierce began to make menorahs out of repurposed children’s toys. Then, Benjamin Packard made it viral, selling thousands and eventually outsourcing the manufacturing to China so he could keep up with demand.
The llama popped up at a similar time, though it wasn’t originally so Hanukkah-specific. Llamas were just kind of in during the second half of the 2010s.
Llama fever started with kids’ merchandise and picture books like Llama, Llama, Red Pajama, and the llama became the most popular children’s costume on Pinterest. By 2019, llamas at large were declared toy of the year at the New York Toy Fair. (A toy expert told Oprah’s magazine that the llama boom was due to kids liking “quirky” animals, which isn’t much of an explanation in my opinion — are armadillos not quirky? Emus?) In 2018, we saw the launch of the llama emoji. Eventually, llamas got popular with grown-ups too, and countless llama-shaped planters and throw pillows appeared on Etsy. Even major corporations like Nestlé hopped on the trend with llama-shaped candy.
And once retailers discovered the — pretty weak — pun of “llamakkah,” they never turned back. (Fa-la-la-la-llama was also a thing, but Christmas has enough going on already.)
A dinosaur doing the dab in a Santa hat is the perfect mascot for Hanukkah … right? Courtesy of Amazon
But somewhere along the line, both the dinosaur and the llama got divorced from their original context. Now, you can find nearly any kind of Hanukkah merch with a llama or a dinosaur — often without the accompanying pun or menorah. Sweatshirts simply read “Rawr” and feature, for no obvious reason, a dinosaur with Stars of David. Llamas adorn Hanukkah mugs.
“The llamakkuh stuff, it kind of became abstracted,” said Rachel Kenneth, who runs the Instagram account @hanukkahfails documenting bad Hanukkah merch. “You just started seeing llamas on hanukkah things but it didn’t say llamakkuh so it was fully out of context. Just like, OK, now llamas are a Hanukkah thing.”
Hanukkah dinosaurs followed the same trajectory, Kenneth said. Dinosaur menorahs are now mainstream enough to be found in big box stores. But you can also find dinosaurs of all varieties in picture books, strolling across T-shirts and even in the form of giant inflatable holiday yard decorations. (My sister has one.)
Gnomes for all occasions
When I chatted with Kenneth, we both wondered if Hanukkah gnomes were based on stereotypes about Haredi Jews. (Historically, gnomes are sometimes linked to antisemitic beliefs.) Plus, gnomes seem more of a natural pick for Christmas, since Santa is basically a bushy-bearded gnome himself.
“Traditional” Hanukkah gnomes. Photo by Yael Buechler
But it’s not about Jews in particular — gnomes are having a weirdly big moment in the sphere of quirky home decor more generally. At HomeGoods, a housewares store beloved by moms on TikTok and Instagram, you can find a gnome for every season and occasion: a Halloween gnome and a more generic autumn gnome, a lemonade-themed gnome, a Fourth of July gnome, a black-tie gnome. They come as plushies, in the form of cookie jars and mugs, and adorn mugs and mixing bowls.
“Once a small trend catches on they do it for everything,” said Kenneth of the Hanukkah gnome. “So only because they’re doing them for everything do I not feel like they’re antisemitic.”
Lions take over
In addition to designing pajamas, Buechler writes about the evolution of Jewish merchandise. She told me that lions have entered the market this year, most notably at Target, which features lion Hanukkah pajamas and even a lion menorah (which, from certain angles, looks very phallic).
“I haven’t quite figured that one out yet,” Buechler said of the lions, “but there’s certainly symbolism in Judaism with lions.”
From this angle, it’s sort of fine. Courtesy of Target
Buechler hypothesized that perhaps the lions are connected to the popular children’s show Daniel Tiger, since they’re drawn in a similar style. And there is, of course, the story of Daniel in the lion’s den which, while unrelated to Hanukkah, is certainly Jewish.
But that might be thinking about it too hard; maybe lions are just cute and marketable.
Whatever the reason corporations decided to sell Hanukkah animals, however, Buechler thinks animals give kids a way to connect through the holiday. Instead of simply a ritual object, which might feel hard to understand, there’s an animal toy or cartoon, which feels welcoming and playful.
Choose your fighter
Sure, none of the animals, or gnomes, are really connected to the basic Hanukkah story. But they help make the holiday more accessible. Anything that can inspire pride, or that kids can wear to school and brag about to their friends is probably going to get them more into the celebration.
“My kids love wearing anything Jewish,” Buechler said. “There’s a certain sense of pride that they experience by wearing something that’s connected to their Judaism.”
All of the cute, quirky Hanukkah merchandise also, of course, makes for good social media photos. And while some might worry that celebrating just for the ’gram is a shallow form of engagement — or that kids aren’t really learning about Hanukkah when they’re celebrating via gnomes — well, Buechler does not.
“From my rabbinic perspective, it significantly increases engagement with Hanukkah,” she said. “For a family that might’ve only had one night or two nights of Hanukkah they’re actually increasing the number of nights they’re really celebrating Hanukkah to also get more mileage out of the photos.”
That means that whichever Hanukkah animal makes you celebrate more is the true mascot of the holiday. You can even make up a new one — maybe a crocodile with a mouth full of candles, the shamash perched on his tail. Actually, I’m going to patent that one before Target takes it.
The post Llamas, dinosaurs, gnomes, oh my! Which creature is the real Hanukkah mascot? appeared first on The Forward.


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Malik Saadi, Principal Analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media comments on Nokia’s Windows Phone 7 range.
Nokia has announced today two new smartphones powered by Microsoft Windows Phone 7 (WP7), the Lumia 610 and an LTE-less variant of Lumia 900 targeting Non-US market. With the introduction of these new smartphones, Nokia aims to broaden its WP7 portfolio beyond the main-stream smartphone market. While the release of LTE-Less Lumia 900 has come with no surprise, the most impressive news in today’s announcement was the release of Lumia 610, the lowest BOM and lowest cost WP7 phone introduced so far. With a retail price of about 190 Euros, Nokia is now one step closer to bringing WP7 to the entry level smartphone segment.
This news has come only a few months after the decision by Microsoft to relax hardware requirements for its mobile platform, which clearly shows strong dedication from the Finnish company to execute its WP7 strategy which was revealed just one year ago. This move will clearly enable Nokia to better compete in the low-cost smartphone market without compromising the device performance or the overall user-experience.
Dave McQueen, Principal Analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media comments on Nokia’s Asha range.
As a follow-up to the Asha range that Nokia unveiled at its yearly press event last October, the company has extended the 4-device range by 3, launching the 202, 203 and 302 at MWC. Running on Nokia’s home-grown Series 40 and further blurring the distinction between the featurephone and smartphone with a bundled array of content and service, the devices are all designed to encourage access to the web and the use of data services.
Although directed toward connecting the “next billion” of users in emerging markets, there is obvious value for pushing these “smartness” handsets into developed markets. As with others in the range, the new 202 includes an Easy Swap dual-SIM option and will be available for €60. By also announcing an expansion of Nokia Life and creating Mail for Exchange for some devices in the Asha range, the decision made by business users and consumers alike to reach blindly for an out-and-out smartphone is perhaps not an obvious choice as once was, particularly if
Andy Castonguay, Principal Analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media comments on Nokia’s new 808 PureView.
While most recent news about Nokia has focused on its growing portfolio of Windows Phone-based devices, Nokia will reveal some of the handiwork it has recently undertaken to refresh its Symbian line-up at Mobile World Congress. Nokia’s new 808 PureView model will highlight the company’s renewed focus on imaging. With a robust set of technology to enhance the device’s imaging capabilities, the 808 will be positioned as a flagship device in markets where Nokia has not yet launched its Lumia line of smartphones. With a Carl Zeiss, high resolution sensor and advanced oversampling algorithms, the device is capable of generating an image files equivalent to 41 megapixels. While most consumers won’t take advantage of the full oversampling capability, they will benefit from better low-light performance, high-speed shutter and on-the-fly editing capabilities.
Symbian sales have been eroding swiftly in recent quarters amid new competition and the expectations for the new Lumia portfolio, but in key markets such as India and China as well as markets in the Middle East and Africa, Nokia is hoping to leverage what remains of Symbian magic and enhanced imaging capabilities to hold on to their market share through the broader transition.
With Amazon and Google launching smart home initiatives, have the telcos missed out on their chance to cash in on this market?
Total Voters: 62


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Is Ford adding Google Maps EV route planning? CEO Jim Farley hinted at the idea this week as owners requested the feature.
In today’s age, staying connected is everything. Especially while driving. Although most new cars come loaded with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, some automakers are doing away with it.
Rival GM announced it was dropping CarPlay in March, starting with the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV. Instead, GM is partnering with Google to build its own custom infotainment systems for future EVs.
GM’s 2024 Silverado EV will keep the feature, but future electric models, including the Equinox and GMC Sierra EVs, will include GM’s new software.
The decision was to help the automaker “capture more data on how customers drive and charge EVs.”
After fans were disappointed to learn the news, Ford confirmed it would continue to offer the services in its EVs a month later.
Ford CEO Jim Farley doubled down on the decision this week. Farley posted , saying, “We’re committed to keeping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.” He added that customers “love the features” as they help their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
According to Farley, Ford will continue to work with Apple and Google to improve the driving experience.
Perhaps, more importantly, Ford will work with Google Maps to integrate EV route planning. User @Mach-E Vlog asked Farley if Ford can work with Google to integrate EV route planning like Apple Maps for the Mach-E and Lightning.
Farley responded, saying, “Absolutely.” Apple Maps EV routing was first added to the Mustang Mach-E in March 2022. Ford began rolling out the feature in the F-150 Lightning electric pickup in October.
The feature helps you plan trips, including recommended stops for charging. It analyzes elevation changes and other factors to determine the best charging stops and real-time availability.
When the battery gets too low, you will be offered a route to the closest compatible charging station.
Author: Peter Johnson


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Honda's comeback push starts with redesigned 2013 Accord
Japanese automaker puts Civic missteps in rearview mirror as it tries to regain market share.
By Jerry Hirsch
Los Angeles Times
Few cars have left a mark on the auto industry as indelible as that of the Honda Accord.
Credited with helping open up the American market for Japanese autos, the "reliable" Accord was once the bestselling car in the U.S. before it began losing ground first to Japanese rivals and more recently to resurgent domestic automakers and South Korean upstarts.
Shoppers now have their first chance to check out a redesigned Accord as Honda launches a comeback push that is crucial to the automaker's recovery from recent missteps in the U.S.
After getting panned for last year's redesign of the smaller Civic and letting South Korean rival Hyundai grab a slice of Honda's reputation for fuel economy, the car company needs the new Accord to be a home run.
"For 20-plus years, Honda has had a customer base that says, 'I always buy an Accord, and that is all I will ever buy.' But that is no longer true,'' said Karl Brauer, editor of TotalCarScore.com, a car-rating website. "People, especially younger people, consider every car now.''
The 2013 Accord competes against a recently redesigned Toyota Camry, as well as other new-generation cars, including the Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat and Chevrolet Malibu. Ford will launch a new Fusion this fall, and waiting in the wings is a new Mazda6. The older but still popular Hyundai Sonata is another important player in the midsize sedan market, which now accounts for 18 percent of auto sales, the largest segment in the industry, according to R.L. Polk & Co.
Where once both the Accord and Camry beat rivals in such characteristics as fuel economy, reliability and perceptions of quality, those advantages have faded as other automakers improved their offerings, Brauer said.
"The battleground will be more packed with choices than ever before," said David Conant, chief executive of Conant Auto Retail Group, a large Southern California auto dealership company that will be selling the new Accord at its Honda dealerships as well as the new Fusion and current Sonata at its other stores.
Honda's previous stumbles have made it vulnerable to once-loyal consumers taking a look at other brands. Honda has seen its share of the U.S. market slide from 11 percent in 2009 to 9 percent last year, according to Autodata Corp.
After last year's Civic redesign was criticized by Consumer Reports and others for giving the new model a lower interior quality, choppier ride and higher noise level, Conant said he saw "a tremendous amount of cross-shopping" between the Civic and Hyundai's competitive Elantra at the Cerritos Auto Mall, where he operates dealerships for both brands.
"Until then, we didn't see a lot of Honda intenders at the Hyundai store," Conant said.
Analysts said Honda has been careful not to repeat the mistake of the Civic.
Brauer, who has tested the new Accord, said Honda has fixed flaws that plagued the previous-model Accord, including cabin noise, uncomfortable seating, a mushy drive, busy dashboard and complex controls. The new version is now among his top choices for a midsize sedan.
"Honda learned its lesson,'' said Michelle Krebs, an analyst with auto information company Edmunds.com, who also has driven the new model. "The interior was very high quality and well appointed. The engines performed extremely well. And most impressive, Honda is packing a lot of content into the price."
Tolga Batir, who manages Lou Sobh's Honda of the Avenues in Jacksonville, agrees.
"Honda is back," Batir proudly said last Sunday while showing off a Basque Red Pearl II LX model in the showroom, "Everybody thought that they [Honda] were very, very lame; very conservative. With the new Accord, they actually wanted to outdo everyone out there. After what happened with the Civic last year, Honda said, 'You know what, we're going to be Honda. We're going to come back and prove to everybody that we're the best car out there.'"
The LX, the base model now equipped with backup camera, 16-inch alloy wheels and Bluetooth to go along with an automatic transmission and 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, starts at $22,480. But Honda expects that most buyers will opt for higher trim levels, such as the middle-grade EX, which has added amenities such as 17-inch alloy wheels, a LaneWatch feature that displays a video image of the passenger-side blind spot when changing lanes, a driver's power seat and electronic entry. It has the same engine and starts at $25,405 for the automatic.
The new Accord is almost 4 inches shorter than the previous model but offers more cargo space and a spacious cabin.
Honda's planners said in some ways they tried to make the new model a throwback to previous generations that had a sporty feel and were thought of as a "driver's car."
In fact, Honda has added a Sport trim to go with a new top-of-of-the-line Touring version of the Accord.
"Honda is going toward the younger generation and that's why they came out with the Sport model," Batir said.
The Sport package includes a body-colored deck-lid spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and a six-speed manual transmission with available paddle shifters.
"It's not your grandmother's car anymore," Batir said. "It actually looks like an European sports sedan."
The Accord's base four-cylinder engine packs 185 horsepower and has an Environmental Protection Agency combined city and highway driving rating of 30 miles per gallon. That compares to 31 mpg for Nissan's new Altima and 28 mpg for the current Camry. An optional six-cylinder engine will provide more power but less fuel economy.
Auto-dealership owner Conant figures that he is in a good position as manufacturers each bring out a competitive version of the traditional family sedan.
Although consumers have been relying more on manufacturer and third-party information Internet sites to research and whittle down their car-buying choices, "I wouldn't be surprised if we were to see more people coming to the showrooms and test-driving the various cars," he said. "This may create a real shopping experience."
As for Batir, he's getting plenty of sales of the Accord.
As of Sunday, the Philips Highway dealership had sold more than 60, especially the 2012, as he makes room for additional 2013 models. Batir plans to soon have more than 50 2013 Accords of various trims available for shoppers. The 2013 Accord Coupe, with its own freshened look, will arrive after Oct. 15.
Times-Union Specialty Publications staff contributed material to this report.