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States Can Eliminate Costly Road Damage While Increasing Driver Safety
Proposed Washington State Bill 1309, if passed will access a $100 fee per new studded tire sold after July 1 of this year , with a ban on studded tire use in 2025, under a law being considered by the House Transportation Committee. The law, would replace the current $5 per studded tire fee and phase out studded tires, it would raise an estimated $3.5 million over the next two years. The estimated damage to state roads, according to a Washington State Department of Transportation study, is $20 million or more a year. The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, talked about the damage caused by metal studs she said "they are chewing up our roads."The bill would allow drivers who prefer studded tires to other options to use them until July 2025. "But the state should raise the fee for new studded tires", Ryu said, and collect a total of $400 for four new tires."That is just a tiny little drop in the bucket toward the damage they are causing," she said. Paul Parker, Washington State Transportation Department said Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois have already banned studded tires, as recommended by the Federal Highway Administration.
A currently available option to pavement damaging studded tires are Garnetread™ Formula Infused Traction Tires, which are available today and are superior to studded tires as shown in independent tests conducted by Washington State University and approved for use in all 50 States. Tests funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the US Department of Transportation, proved that Garnetread™ infused tires have exceptional performance benefits for year-round use with superior dry and wet-pavement traction and control. State Transportation officials stipulated no seasonal time restrictions for the use of Garnetread™ infused tires since tests showed minimal wear to pavement surfaces.
Garnet is a semi-precious stone. When garnet is added to rubber in the correct proportions, the result is a tire with superior all season traction. Garnetread™ tires are registered under Patent #4,082,131, with additional patents pending. Garnetread™ formula infused tires have been independently tested by Washington State University in wet, dry, snow and icy conditions. Test results clearly show the superior traction of Garnetread's garnet infused tires, with results confirming that a vehicle equipped with Garnetread™ tires resulted in shorter stopping distances on snow and ice glazed pavement than when the same vehicle was tested with studded tires, and without the pavement wear caused by studded tires. A key feature of Garnetread infused tires is constant traction in all weather conditions, even with normal tire wear as new pieces of garnet are constantly exposed maintaining traction. Garnetread's patented all-season traction tire formula that can be adapted to any rubber based tire design and can be used by all tire manufacturers. Government, corporate and fleet volume discount programs are available.
Over 100,000 tires have been sold incorporating Garnetread's patented traction formula. Drivers of vehicles equipped with Garnetread™ infused tires extoll not only the superior traction and control in winter conditions but also relate how impressed they are with tire performance on dry and rain-slick pavement... the perfect, budget and environmentally friendly, all season tire.
Garnetread Contact Information:
Peter J. Poullos


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Gorodenkoff - stock.adobe.com
Snowflake added a series of new capabilities to its cloud data warehouse that provide integrations with Salesforce, as well as security, data exchange and marketplace features.
Snowflake revealed the new features Tuesday as part of its virtual event #SayHelloToTheDataCloud, which replaced the cloud data warehouse vendor's annual in-person conference.
The new features are part of Snowflake's continuing push to be a major player in the cloud data warehouse market as it attempts to differentiate against multiple rivals, including Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, Microsoft Azure SQL Data Warehouse and SAP Data Warehouse Cloud. The fast-growing vendor raised $479 million in a round of funding in February.
Key among the new capabilities is a Dynamic Data Masking feature, which can mask, or hide, potentially sensitive information from specific users, based on roles and access policy. Snowflake has also enhanced its ability to help users build data pipelines that integrate with third-party data sources.
Rakuten's move to cloud data warehouse
One of Snowflake's users is e-commerce vendor Rakuten Rewards, formerly known as Ebates, based in San Mateo, Calif.
Rakuten had been using on-premises infrastructure for data warehousing and began to shift to the Snowflake cloud approach in 2018, completing the transition by the end of 2019, said Mark Stange-Tregear, vice president of analytics. He spoke at a live-streamed media event before the conference.
Rakuten Rewards moved to Snowflake as it had scalability challenges with its on-premises technology and needed to meet growing data demands.
Snowflake's new external functions capability, which can help users build data pipelines, will be a real benefit for his organization, Stange-Tregear said.
"The promise of external functions is it eliminates the need for us to move large amounts of data around," Stange-Tregear said.
Mark Stange-TregearVice president of analytics, Rakuten Rewards
Rakuten has needed to pull some data from external sources, such as location information. That data is called via an API and is then stored in order to enable a query.
With external functions and a query, Rakuten will be able to get the API response without having to store the data, which will save time and improve efficiency, Stange-Tregear said.
Rakuten will also benefit from Dynamic Data Masking, which will help the company comply with data governance and privacy requirements.
"The idea that I can just mask data without blocking people, really allows me to simplify the way that I'm trying to manage access to the data," Stange-Tregear said. "We are a company that takes the rights of our consumers very, very seriously. So, anything that's going to help me do that more easily is great."
Expanding the cloud data warehouse
The ability to more easily access and organize third-party data is also part of Snowflake's new Data Exchange effort.
Also, at the media event, Christian Kleinerman, senior vice president of product at Snowflake, said that Data Exchange helps users organize data that is found outside of an enterprise. Meanwhile, Data Exchange is complemented by Snowflake's Data Marketplace, which provides a listing of data sets and sources that users can access, he said.
"It's not me organizing my enterprise data, it's me understanding what is the data that is outside of my organization that I can bring in for my own analysis and use," Kleinerman said.
Salesforce integration expands with Snowflake
Another notable part of the Snowflake update is a series of integrations with Salesforce to help better enable data analysis.
Among the features are Einstein Analytics Output Connector and the Einstein Analytics Direct Data service. The two new services provide an integrated approach to getting data both in and out of Einstein Analytics -- Salesforce's machine learning data analytics platform -- from a Snowflake cloud data warehouse.
Without the new connectors, users previously had to manually figure out how to connect Einstein Analytics with data sources in Snowflake, Kleinerman said.
"We want to make it simpler and remove the friction of moving data from Salesforce to Snowflake," he said. "We want our customers to focus on how to analyze data, not the tool or API that is needed to bring data over."

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Anuradha ShettyJul 26, 2012 13:29:39 IST
As per a study carried out by popular telecom equipment maker, Ericsson, India and China make up for 35 percent of the 4.1 billion active mobile service users, globally. This number, the report affirmed occupies 60 percent of the world's population. The Ericsson Traffic and Market Data Report further added that, "Global mobile penetration reached 85% in Q4 (last quarter) 2011 and mobile subscriptions now total around 6 billion. However, the actual number of subscribers is about 4.1 billion, since many subscribers have several subscriptions."
India, China home to 35% of active mobile subscribers! (Image credit: Getty Images)
The report indicated that in the last quarter of 2011, the two nations accounted for roughly 35 percent of the estimated 180 million net additions made. Reportedly, the number in India, fell from what it was in the Q1 and Q2 of 2011, and this the report attributes to the operators focussing on active subscribers. Further looking at mobile subscriptions, the report found that it grew roughly 13 percent Y-O-Y and 3 percent quarter on quarter. Roughly 75 percent of the subscriptions were GSM, while 15 percent were WCDMA/HSPA. Mobile broadband subscriptions, globally grew 60 percent Y-O-Y, while coming close to a billion. The report further added that, "There is continued strong momentum for smartphone uptake in all regions. Approximately 30 percent of all handsets sold in 2011 were smartphones, compared to around 20 percent for the full year 2010. However, only around 10 percent of the worldwide installed base of subscriptions use smartphones. This means that there is considerable room for further uptake. The study further highlighted that mobile data went ahead of voice in Q4 of 2009, while in the Q1 of 2011, for the very first time its numbers doubled that of voice.
The report further added that, "data traffic doubled between Q3 2010 and Q3 2011, which is the same yearly growth rate as for Q2 2011. The quarterly growth between Q2 and Q3 2011 was18 percent.Mobile voice traffic has doubled over the last four years and continues to grow at a steady rate. The growth is especially high in regions with a strong increase in subscriptions, such as developing nations in Asia."


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Facebook emphasized the surge in malware masquerading as ChatGPT
On May 3rd, social media titan Facebook’s security team released a Q1 quarterly security report, detailing their efforts and accomplishments in safeguarding businesses from malicious software attacks. In the report, Facebook emphasized the surge in malware masquerading as ChatGPT.
Facebook’s Chief Information Security Officer, Guy Rosen, stated in the press release that malware operators, much like spammers, are keenly aware of popular trends at all times. They invariably seize upon current hot topics to capture public attention. Facebook has observed that the latest wave of malicious software activity has begun to exploit generative artificial intelligence technology as bait.
According to the report, since October alone, Facebook’s security analysts have identified approximately ten malware families impersonating ChatGPT and similar tools. Some threat actors disguise their malware as ChatGPT browser extensions in official stores, claiming to offer ChatGPT-related utilities (some of which do indeed provide ChatGPT functionality, likely to deceive platforms and users).
Facebook has detected and blocked over 1,000 malicious URLs sharing these extensions within its applications, reporting them to industry peers hosting the malicious software on their file-sharing services, allowing them to take appropriate action.
It is important to recognize that this issue is not unique to the generative AI domain; it is merely a new iteration of an old problem—previously, the trend involved cryptocurrency scams related to decentralized digital currencies.
- To determine whether one has fallen victim to such schemes, typical indicators include:
- Suspicious activity on online accounts;
- The noticeable slowdown in device performance;
- Unfamiliar toolbars, icons, or tabs in the browser;
- Scam pop-up windows in the browser;
- Decreased device battery life.
If any of these abnormal behaviors are detected on a device or online account, it is likely that malware has been inadvertently downloaded. To protect personal information and financial security, it is advised to promptly remove the malicious software from the device and scan it with a reliable antivirus program.


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A federal judge ruled in favor of the NYDFS in its ongoing suit to prevent the OCC’s “fintech charter”; Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress about Libra; Apple Pay is now the most popular U.S. mobile payments app; Kabbage expanded its product mix to include payments; Revolut launched in Singapore; and the Economist considers whether negative press and regulatory scrutiny have doomed the Libra project.
The House approved a bill mandating FinCEN to study how blockchain and other technologies could improve its operations; Freddie Mac is working with ZestFinance to test AI-enabled mortgage underwriting software; HSBC implemented an automated AML and sanctions screening system; TransferWise launched a service for U.S. banks to allow their customers to make in-app international transfers; and 85 fintech firms have applied to operate in Mexico under the new Mexican fintech law.
The U.S. Treasury Secretary said U.S. regulators are likely to issue new crypto regulations; despite misgivings about Facebook, Congress appears unlikely to block its plans to go live with Libra; the IRS is warning U.S. taxpayers to review and potential revise their tax returns to account for gains from crypto transactions; Apple’s new credit card is expected to launch in August; Robinhood raised over $300 million at a $7.6B valuation; and Facebook is readying its launch of WhatsApp Pay in India.
U.S. lawmakers voiced their concerns regarding Facebook’s Libra rollout; Australian digital bank 86 400 was granted a banking license; The FCA announced its partnership with the Alan Turing Institute to explore the use of AI in the financial sector; N26 raised an additional $170M; and Jamie Dimon said he does not expect Libra to have a short-term impact on JP Morgan.
The U.S. House Financial Services Committee formally requested that Facebook halt its planned Libra rollout; the U.K. FCA proposed a ban on derivatives tied to crypto assets; IBM’s TradeLens consortium added new members; the forthcoming Libra currency is already attracting digital scammers and domain squatters hoping to make a quick profit; and the Financial Times published an opinion piece on why central banks should issue digital currencies.
We look at the recent news and reactions to the Libra cryptocurrency in our “Big Idea”; the CFTC established its LabCFTC Accelerator to further support its fintech R&D efforts; Congress investigated the use of algorithms in lending decisions; TransferWise announced it will launch in the U.S. market; Monzo raised £113M to support its U.S. expansion; and JPMorgan is rumored to be launching a digital banking operation.


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Tesla Makes $2.8 Billion Offer to Acquire SolarCity
The electric car company made the announcement Tuesday and explained the offer in a blog post:
Tesla’s mission has always been tied to sustainability. We seek to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable transportation by offering increasingly affordable electric vehicles. And in March 2015, we launched Tesla Energy, which through the Powerwall and Powerpack allow homeowners, business owners and utilities to benefit from renewable energy storage.
It’s now time to complete the picture. Tesla customers can drive clean cars and they can use our battery packs to help consume energy more efficiently, but they still need access to the most sustainable energy source that’s available: the sun.
“The world does not look for another car company, the world looks for sustainable energy companies,” Musk told reporters in a conference call on Tuesday.
The prolific entrepreneur is the chairman of SolarCity, which was founded and is operated by his cousins, Lyndon Rive and Peter Rive. Musk is the largest individual shareholder of both companies, with 21.3 percent of Tesla and 22 percent of SolarCity, according to estimates.
SolarCity is the top residential solar installer in the country. Its customers pay for the panels with a monthly fee that's typically less than what they would pay to the power company. A marriage between the two companies would seamlessly tie SolarCity's panels with Tesla's Powerwall batteries. Having a solar-plus-storage system installed by a single company would allow an easier transition to customers to unhook themselves from a carbonized grid.
This morning, in a conference call to reporters and shareholders, Musk further discussed the rationale behind the offer. He said that the idea of consolidating Tesla and SolarCity "has been floated over the years" and it would be “extremely unwieldy” to operate as two companies.
In its blog post, Tesla listed off a number of "significant benefits to our shareholders, customers and employees" if the deal is completed:
- We would be the world’s only vertically integrated energy company offering end-to-end clean energy products to our customers. This would start with the car that you drive and the energy that you use to charge it, and would extend to how everything else in your home or business is powered. With your Model S, Model X, or Model 3, your solar panel system, and your Powerwall all in place, you would be able to deploy and consume energy in the most efficient and sustainable way possible, lowering your costs and minimizing your dependence on fossil fuels and the grid.
- We would be able to expand our addressable market further than either company could do separately. Because of the shared ideals of the companies and our customers, those who are interested in buying Tesla vehicles or Powerwalls are naturally interested in going solar, and the reverse is true as well. When brought together by the high foot traffic that is drawn to Tesla’s stores, everyone should benefit.
- We would be able to maximize and build on the core competencies of each company. Tesla’s experience in design, engineering, and manufacturing should help continue to advance solar panel technology, including by making solar panels add to the look of your home. Similarly, SolarCity’s wide network of sales and distribution channels and expertise in offering customer-friendly financing products would significantly benefit Tesla and its customers.
- We would be able to provide the best possible installation service for all of our clean energy products. SolarCity is the best at installing solar panel systems, and that expertise translates seamlessly to the installation of Powerwalls and charging systems for Tesla vehicles.
- Culturally, this is a great fit. Both companies are driven by a mission of sustainability, innovation, and overcoming any challenges that stand in the way of progress.
“This is what the world needs ... this is Earth’s solution,” Musk said of the merger this morning. Musk has long been a champion solar energy and highly critical of fossil fuels and the fossil fuel industry.
“We have to look back on gas engine cars like we look back on steam engines,” as well as power from fossil fuels, Musk added.
The fact that Musk has the biggest slice of both companies leaves Musk in a bit of an awkward situation, media reports have noted. Electrek explained that the offer to SolarCity "will be contingent on a vote from the shareholders and Musk will abstain from voting his shares due to his vested interest in the deal."
Analysts and investors do not appear happy with the plan. Reuters reported that Tesla’s stock price spiraled more than 13 percent to $189.99 following the announcement yesterday. At the same time however, shares of SolarCity soared about 18 percent to $25.02.
Electrek also observed that shareholders are "calling the deal a 'bailout' of SolarCity, especially after Musk bought another $10 million worth of shares last year—before the stock fell 60 percent in 2016."
SolarCity is also in an ongoing battle against regulators and utilities in states that are unfriendly to rooftop solar, aka the "solar wars" in Nevada over net metering, which allows homeowners to offset the cost of their panels by selling any electricity they don’t use back to the grid. Nevada's NV Energy has been fighting these policies tooth and nail.
Musk, however, shot down the idea of a “bailout” of SolarCity, calling it a “false description.”
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Britain's Prince William interviewed famed broadcaster David Attenborough on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Switzerland.
During the sit-down, the 92-year-old naturalist advised the world leaders and business elite gathered in Davos this week that we must respect and protect the natural world, adding that the future of its survival—as well as humanity's survival—is in our hands.
What's more, the accounting firm predicts that another 21 million electric cars will be on the road globally over the next decade due to growing market demand for clean transportation, government subsidies, as well as bans on fossil fuel cars.
By Matthew Savoca
Plastic pollution in the world's oceans has become a global environmental crisis. Many people have seen images that seem to capture it, such as beaches carpeted with plastic trash or a seahorse gripping a cotton swab with its tail.
Greenland is melting about four times faster than it was in 2003, a new study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found, a discovery with frightening implications for the pace and extent of future sea level rise.
"We're going to see faster and faster sea level rise for the foreseeable future," study lead author and Ohio State University geodynamics professor Dr. Michael Bevis said in a press release. "Once you hit that tipping point, the only question is: How severe does it get?"
Finally, some good news about the otherwise terrible partial government shutdown. A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot issue permits to conduct seismic testing during the government impasse.
The Justice Department sought to delay—or stay—a motion filed by a range of coastal cities, businesses and conservation organizations that are suing the Trump administration over offshore oil drilling, Reuters reported. The department argued that it did not have the resources it needed to work on the case due to the shutdown.
Most people have heard of the Amazon, South America's famed rainforest and hub of biological diversity. Less well known, though no less critical, is the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland.
Like the Amazon, the Pantanal is ecologically important and imperiled. Located primarily in Brazil, it also stretches into neighboring Bolivia and Paraguay. Covering an area larger than England at more than 70,000 square miles, the massive wetland provides irreplaceable ecosystem services that include the regulation of floodwaters, nutrient renewal, river flow for navigability, groundwater recharge and carbon sequestration. The wetland also supports the economies of the four South American states it covers.
By Andrea Germanos
Organizers said 35,000 people marched through the streets of the German capital on Saturday to say they're "fed up" with industrial agriculture and call for a transformation to a system that instead supports the welfare of the environment, animals and rural farmers.
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If you have ever considered making the switch to an environmentally friendly electric vehicle, don't drag your feet. Though EV prices are falling, and states are unveiling more and more public charging stations and plug-in-ready parking spots, the federal government is doing everything it can to slam the brakes on our progress away from gas-burning internal combustion engines. President Trump, likely pressured by his allies in the fossil fuel industry, has threatened to end the federal tax credits that have already helped put hundreds of thousands of EVs on the road—a move bound to harm not only our environment but our economy, too. After all, the manufacturing and sale of EVs, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids supported 197,000 jobs in 2017, according to the most recent U.S. Energy and Employment Report.


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Meizu E2 leaked on TENAA last month and the company already started handing out press invites for the device's launch. Someone on Weibo even got his hands on the phone one week in advance and posted a video on the social media.
The 10-second teaser reveals the device sports USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio jack on the bottom, while there's a home button on the front that probably doubles as a fingerprint scanner.
Interestingly enough, the camera setup on the back is in the upper-left corner which differs from the official press render we saw last week and from the images that appeared on TENAA in late March.
There are two takeouts of the video - either Meizu is going to surprise us with two versions of the device, or someone just slapped the company’s logo on the back of a phone and trying to rake all the views from a fishy leak.
Video showing top corner camera but in post pic shows center camera...wrong info?
Meizu paving the way for dual camera phone without making it seem like a copy of another phone by bringing out this intermediate one.
Love your phone's. Good luck meizu.


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The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) is in talks with the Austrian Kronospan, a leading producer of wood panels, flooring, and MDF fiberboard, to allocate a plot of land for the company to establish a new factory in Egypt with an initial investment of $50m.
Mohamed Abdel Karim, the head of the IDA, said that the company requested an area of 100,000 sqm for the factory and that the IDA is studying the possibility of allocating the land to Sadat City or 10th of Ramadan City.
Abdel Karim said that the company aims to meet the local market demand for wood panel products of all kinds and to export to African markets in the later stages. He added that the company relies on the latest European technologies and environmental standards in its new factory, where it uses recycling to provide inputs for its production.
He also said that the IDA will provide all facilities and support to the company, whether in facilitating procedures or granting licenses to start its investments in Egypt as soon as possible.
Abdel Karim highlighted that the new incentive package, which includes major facilitation and exemptions and the expansion of granting golden licenses to all projects that aim to boost local manufacturing, will have a great impact on creating an unprecedented qualitative shift in industrial growth rates and attracting capital locally and internationally for the Egyptian market in the coming period.
He further stated that the government has taken serious steps towards improving the investment climate, which led to an influx of investment applications from various nationalities to establish their projects in Egypt.
Oana Bodea, the CEO of Kronospan, said that the company has an industrial history dating back to 1897 and owns 39 sites around the world employing 18,000 workers.
She stated that the company made its investment decision after extensive technical and marketing studies of the Egyptian market and its confidence in the investment climate in Egypt.


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CASTLE, 20th Annual Holiday Magic
The expansive showroom of the Treasure Coast Lexus Dealership in Fort Pierce was transformed into a spectacular winter wonderland for CASTLE’s 20th Annual Holiday Magic event last weekend. Adding to the enchantment, this signature fundraising gala continued the organization’s yearlong celebration of 35 years of preventing child abuse on the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee.
More than 300 attendees enjoyed cocktails, dinner, musical entertainment, mingling and bidding! With 150 plus silent auction items that included everything from mixed-goodie baskets to Grinch-themed Christmas trees and everything thing in-between, guests were kept on their toes lest they be outbid!
Once again, Hawk Levy, President/Owner at America's Diamond Outlet at St Lucie Jewelry & Treasure Coast Coins and Co-Owner of Treasure Coast Auction Gallery donated thousands of dollars-worth of exquisite jewelry for the Signature Jewelry Drawing.
A live auction featuring themed Christmas trees, an exclusive wine tree, fine jewelry, week-long vacations and a two-year lease on a 2017 LexusES350 ensured that the spirit of the season became contagious!
Organizers are hopeful that the evening will generate $100,000 plus in net proceeds. “We assist several hundred families throughout the holiday season,” said Executive Director Theresa Garbarino-May. “We hope to supply them with a magical holiday they may not otherwise have. Thank you to all of the volunteers, sponsors and friends that help make this possible!”
The mission of CASTLE is to prevent child abuse and neglect through education and awareness.
Join CASTLE for the Indian River County Jingle Mingle on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 5:30- 8 pm at Dyer Mazda in Vero Beach. Tickets can be purchased through the CASTLE website.
For more information, visit CASTLETC.org


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The first images of the 2022 Mahindra Scorpio in white exterior colour have been leaked online. These images of the white Mahindra Scorpio were taken from the production plant itself, confirming that the production of the new Mahindra Scorpio has been commenced.
That being said, Mahindra is gearing up to launch the new generation Scorpio in the Indian market and we expect the automaker to launch the new Scorpio in the month of June as part of the celebration associated with the 20th anniversary of the 'Scorpio' SUV.
Moreover, the launch of the all-new Mahindra Scorpio has been anticipated for a very long time as the SUV has been spotted testing alongside the recently launched Mahindra XUV700. We also expect the all-new Scorpio to feature many mechanical and electrical bits from the Mahindra XUV700.
In terms of the design, the upcoming new Mahindra Scorpio takes a lot of inspiration from the outgoing Scorpio such as the upright front-end, boxy twin-pod headlamps, and tall wraparound style taillamps.
In addition to that, the new Mahindra Scorpio seems to have taken a few more design cues from Mahindra's XUV lineup of SUVs.
Under the skin, the new Scorpio is most likely to use body-on-frame chassis and will be powered by two engine options. However, the more popular choice is likely to be Mahindra's tried-and-tested 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine instead of the new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
In order to avoid direct competition with XUV700, the powertrain in the Mahindra Scorpio is likely to come in a lower state of tune. However, the new Mahindra Scorpio will come with a choice of both manual and automatic transmissions.
We also expect the top-end variant of the new Mahindra Scorpio to come with a shift-on-fly four-wheel-drive system.
On the inside, the new Mahindra Scorpio will come with features such as a large touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless charging pad, cooled glovebox, climate control, and much more.
We also expect Mahindra to price the new Scorpio aggressively with a starting price close to Rs 12 lakh, ex-showroom.
Speaking about the first-gen Mahindra Scorpio, the model has been a game-changer for the Indian automaker. Moreover, the initial model was conceptualised and designed by the in-house design and manufacturing team.
Since Mahindra at that time lacked the technical knowledge to handle a project such as the development of Scorpio, Mahindra also hired a few high-level executives from reputed automobile companies.
Apart from that, the design, engineering, testing, validation and material selection of the Mahindra Scorpio was carried out by suppliers with inputs from the Mahindra team regarding design, performance, specifications and program cost.
Thoughts About The New 2022 Mahindra Scorpio
With the launch of the new Scorpio in the Indian automobile sector, Mahindra will be looking forward to increasing its market share. Apart from that, the D-segment SUV segment is also likely to become a lot more competitive.


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Nissan studies Brain-to-Vehicle Driving
Nissan engineers are currently looking into ways a car can learn from its driver.
Nissan has unveiled research that will enable vehicles to interpret signals from the driver’s brain, redefining how people interact with their cars.
The company’s Brain-to-Vehicle, or B2V, technology promises to speed up reaction times for drivers and will lead to cars that keep adapting to make driving more enjoyable.
Nissan will demonstrate capabilities of this exclusive technology at this week’s CES 2018 trade show in Las Vegas.
B2V is the latest development in Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision for transforming how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society.
This breakthrough from Nissan is the result of research into using brain decoding technology to predict a driver’s actions and detect discomfort:
By catching signs that the driver’s brain is about to initiate a movement – such as turning the steering wheel or pushing the accelerator pedal – driver assist technologies can begin the action more quickly. This can improve reaction times and enhance manual driving.
By detecting and evaluating driver discomfort, artificial intelligence can change the driving configuration or driving style when in autonomous mode.
Other possible uses include adjusting the vehicle’s internal environment, said Dr. Lucian Gheorghe, senior innovation researcher at the Nissan Research Center in Japan, who’s leading the B2V research.
For example, the technology can use augmented reality to adjust what the driver sees and create a more relaxing environment.
Nissan’s B2V technology is the world’s first system of its kind.
The driver wears a device that measures brain wave activity, which is then analyzed by autonomous systems.
By anticipating intended movement, the systems can take actions – such as turning the steering wheel or slowing the car – 0.2 to 0.5 seconds faster than the driver, while remaining largely imperceptible.
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Walmart tests in-home grocery delivery in Kansas City
Coming home to find a fridge stocked with groceries, despite never setting foot in a store, is now a possibility. Walmart began offering a new service that allows for just that, and it is currently rolled out in three markets, including Kansas City, Missouri.
... and disable advertisements! No kidding :)


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Reliance Jio plans to overtake Airtel, hit 50% revenue market share in 4 yearsFriday, March 03, 2017
New Delhi, March 3 -- Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is targeting a revenue market share of 50% for Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd by 2021, the company said in the first guidance it has provided analysts on its telecom business. RIL also said in a presentation to analysts on Thursday that Reliance Jio's Ebitda margin will exceed 50% by that year. Ebitda is short for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation-an indicator of operating profitability. The target set in a conference call by RIL for 2021 exceeds the current revenue market share of Bharti Airtel Ltd, India's largest telecom company, of 33%. RIL's forecasts are based on its estimates that revenue of India's telecom industry will increase 50% from current levels to Rs3 trillion by 2021, largely driven by demand for data, while voice revenue will fall from Rs1.5 trillion to Rs0.5 trillion. RIL also believes as many as 400 million subscribers can afford to spend Rs500 and more on digital services, leading to increased average revenue per user. "Shift of Rs1 lakh crore from voice will take data revenue to Rs1.3 lakh crore," RIL said in a presentation, which has been reviewed by Mint. The increased demand for data will be driven by mobile-phone screen size, image resolution, data speeds and time spent. RIL expects average consumption of 10 GB per month across all telecom zones. It claimed that Reliance Jio caters to 85% of mobile data traffic in India currently and can support more than 60% of the data market by 2020-21. "Industry growth was low in last 5 years, next 5 years to see rapid growth with data explosion," it said. Since its launch in September, Reliance Jio claims to have signed up 100 million subscribers. Its entry, with zero tariffs until 31 March, has unleashed a price war in the telecom industry, with incumbents cutting rates to retain customers. Since Reliance Jio's launch, the telecom industry has lost about 20% of its revenue, India Ratings and Research said, revising its sectoral outlook for 2017-18 to "negative". Shares of RIL rose 2% to Rs1,258.45 on Friday while the benchmark Sensex edged down 0.03% to 28,832.45 points. RIL's forecasts failed to impress some analysts. Credit Suisse in a note to investors said that its analysts find "targets for both industry revenues and Jio market share aggressive", especially as this level of ARPU expansion has never been seen globally; intensifying competition amid Jio's bid to gain share will keep the ARPUs depressed, it said. ARPU is short for average revenue per user. In addition to an update about their plans and business outlook, the Reliance Jio management also provided insights into future product launches, such as Jio Car Connect, Credit Suisse said. "Apart from mobile data, we see fibre to the home (FTTH) as a key revenue driver for Jio. We expect management focus to shift to FTTH post successful commercial roll out of the mobile network," it said.


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Microsoft’s gaming business revenue has managed to maintain a flat level year-on-year at this point in time. Whilst the company did see a slight increase, it really is barely noticeable in the grand scheme of things, particularly with hardware trending as downwardly as it is.
Whilst the company reported their full-year finances earlier this year, they’ve only just published their 10K form, which shows more detail, particularly in gaming. Thanks to this form we can see that gaming revenue was up by 2 percent year-on-year at $189 million.
Xbox content and revenue was up by 11 percent year-on-year at $943 million. This was largely driven by Minecraft’s growth, subscriptions, and third-party games. Microsoft did note that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a powerful impact, driving increased engagement over the last few months of this year.
Most notable among the company’s recent milestones was the fact that they achieved 10 million subscribers for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This service offers hundreds of games for a small monthly fee, and is probably the most popular gaming subscription on the market.
Minecraft has seen a recent surge in popularity thanks to YouTubers like PewDiePie returning to play it on their channels. It seems as though this has sparked a new generation of players though, and now the game is running away with its popularity.
On the other hand, hardware revenue did drop by 31 percent year-on-year. Microsoft attributes this to the ending of the current console generation, which is being reflected in PlayStation 4 sales too. They also see that heavy discounts on hardware have driven revenue down.
Microsoft could be in trouble when it comes to Xbox. Whilst the Xbox Series X has a great lineup of launch games, the PlayStation 5 may have better ones on offer. Right now Sony is being extremely lax about marketing their new console, which may prove to be their downfall, but there’s no denying the popularity of the PlayStation 4 at the moment.
If Microsoft doesn’t double down on making the most of the Xbox Series X at launch, they could miss out on a huge amount of revenue across the entire next console lifecycle.


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2nd Ave Sports AirBnB
Story written by Ted Holteen | Photos by Jennaye Derge
The long-cliched mantra of the real estate industry is no less true in the lodging biz, and in a compact tourist mecca like Durango, locations are a vanishing commodity. So a few years ago, when 2nd Ave Sports owner Gary Provencher got a notice from his landlord that he’d soon have to leave his longtime home at College Drive and East Second Avenue, a spot of panic set in.
“Our name is Second Avenue Sports – we didn’t have a lot of options as to where we could move,” Provencher said on a sunny, fall afternoon on the deck of the top floor of his bike and ski shop in downtown Durango.
Fortunately for Provencher and his loyal customers, when First Southwest Bank purchased the corner lot, there was a guardian angel in the bank’s executive wing.
“We’re here because First Southwest Bank President Kent Kurtis didn’t want to kick out the local bike shop,” Provencher said.
With hefty financing in place from First Southwest – that included an array of solar panels from Shaw Solar – Provencher hired Kennebec Construction to build a brand-new store about a half block north of the old location; which is where the bank built itself a new, showcase Durango branch. The new store stretches from East Second Avenue to the alley and includes two massive floors of showroom space for thousands of skis, bikes and accessories. But, it’s the third floor that houses the hidden gem of this downtown treasure.
To maximize the space afforded by the building’s footprint, Provencher built two luxury condominiums on the top floor of Second Avenue Sports, and they’re open to anyone looking for an unparalleled stay in Downtown Durango.
“We built the building as large as the city would let us because in this day and age there’s a lot of space that’s not utilized,” Provencher said. “That drives up the cost of real estate and it seemed responsible for us to do all we could to add to a town that doesn’t have a lot of housing.”
For now, one of those units also happens to be one of the best lodging deals in town. With more than 2,500 hotel rooms, another 700 choices on VRBO and AirBnB and countless other options, visitors to Durango can almost double the local population on any given night or weekend.
There are few, if any, that offer the kind of amenities – for locals or tourists alike – that this stunning unit does. 1,400 square feet boasts three bedrooms, a living room, a fully-appointed kitchen with brand-new, state of the art appliances including a washer & dryer, two full bathrooms and a deck with a stainless steel grill and views unmatched anywhere in the city. And, it can still be had for less than $400 a night.
“We should change the rate, but just haven’t gotten there yet,” said Ali Tracey, 2nd Ave Sports’ Office Manager who also handles the day-to-day operations of the condominium. Provencher nodded, adding, “The condo helps us pay for the building but it was never intended to be a moneymaker on its own so I’m not going to spend a lot of time raising and lowering the rates all year. So I guess sometimes it’s a bargain and others, not as much.”
“They love the fact that they can rent their skis, get them waxed, or get their bikes worked on or whatever and never leave the building.” – Provencher says
Regardless of the time of year, it’s hard to compare this residence with any other in town. It’s location on Second Avenue means the third floor deck is one of the highest points downtown and almost nothing is out of eyesight.
“I don’t think there are many units you can compare it to,” Provencher said. “(Three) couples pay about $140 a night to stay downtown – I don’t think you can beat that.”
For those in search of adventure tourism without the roughing it, the Second Avenue condo is the ideal landing spot. When staying in an outdoor mecca like Durango, few guests can experience the convenience of having the bike and ski shop an elevator ride from their bedroom.
“They love the fact that they can get rent their skis, get them waxed, or get their bikes worked on or whatever and never leave the building,” Provencher said.
Not surprisingly, Tracey said the unit is already booked for the 2019 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic – “That happened at the end of the weekend this year” – as well as some of the other high-demand times in Durango when it’s hard to find a room, let alone a luxury condominium looking down on the rest of the city. But this is also the kind of place for which the word “Staycation” was invented, and Provencher said locals are now discovering a home away from home, even if it’s only a few blocks.
“There’s a lady who lives right nearby but she’s got some friends coming to town and they’re all going to stay here for a few days – she said it’ll be like a vacation for her, too.”
And as many locals know and tourists find out quickly, the two parking spots allotted to the condo are nearly worth the price of admission alone.
Of particular appeal to many grassroots-minded visitors is the fact that renting this unit is a buy-local act at its core. Provencher worked at Second Avenue Sports for about four years before buying the business and built the new location entirely from loans provided by First Southwest – the dollars spent here stay here with a local family and the employees of a longtime local business that started more modestly as a used sporting goods store. One look at the current inventory and it’s easy to that Provencher thinks big.
“With the bike shop, we started carrying new bikes because we saw the niche. It took 12 years to get where we’re at now. We might have too many on the floor, but when a customer comes in I want them to not just have options, but have five really good options.”
With such a fantastic and desirable location just up the stairs from his office, the question had to be asked – why didn’t Gary move in to that beautiful condo himself?
“It’s too close to my work,” he said, laughing. “I ride my bike to work every day and that time’s valuable to me.” He’s also got a wife and kids, and while there’s plenty of room for six adults in the condo, it’s probably not conducive to the kind of lifestyle one might associate with raising a family. Looking down on the Strater Hotel and Main Avenue and being within walking distance to every bar and restaurant in town is great for some friends on vacation or even a Snowdown weekend, but Provencher’s willing to let others enjoy the space – at least for now.
“I could see a time when we might move in here when the kids are older – it’s pretty nice, isn’t it?” he said.
Ted Holteen is a Durango freelance writer and radio host at KSUT-FM. He can be reached at email@example.com.


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Of the $50 billion that Mars collected in revenue in 2023, $18 billion of that came from sales in its snacking division—including candies like Snickers and M&Ms, its Extra and Wrigley chewing gum brands, and Kind nutrition bars. With an inside look at its strategy, Mars recently told Forbes its plans to double its snacking revenue to $36 billion within the next decade.
There’s no question that the snack sector has been all the rage lately, with Gen Z and Millennials, in particular, often opting for snacks over meals. But it’s also clear that those and other generations are much more aware of the need for healthier options—especially as the COVID-19 pandemic made it clear the benefits of taking better care of your overall wellbeing.
Mars wants to transform the snacking industry, Andrew Clarke, global president of Mars Snacking, told Forbes. To do that, the company needs to be mindful of the trend toward U.S. consumers cutting back on sweets.
|Will Injectable Weight Loss Drugs Slim Down Snack Food Sales?
Mars and its competitors are keeping a close eye on the effects of Ozempic and other appetite-suppressing weight loss drugs and how they could alter consumer buying habits. Sales have skyrocketed for Ozempic, up 58% in the first nine months of 2023. It’s estimated that up to 1.7% of the population has been prescribed a drug containing semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic); that could reach 7% of the U.S. population over the next 10 years, according to predictions from Morgan Stanley. so far this year. That means some 24 million people possibly consuming 20% fewer calories.
If Mars is going to double its snacking revenue in the next 10 years, it will certainly have its work cut out for it, according to Robert Boutin, president of candy consultancy Knechtel. “Almost everybody is on a diet. Almost everybody watches calories. Everybody is worried about heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Most parents restrict how much sugar children are taking,” Boutin told Forbes. “That has an impact on their core business.”
With a renewed focus on snacking, Mars is reaching into its deep pockets and is on the lookout for forward-thinking brands to snatch up. “We want to become the home for entrepreneur and insurgent brands,” Clarke told Forbes. “The reason that the founders and entrepreneurs are very keen to partner and work with Mars as a differentiator is our long-term view to start with. We have an ability to really protect and respect and build those brands for the long run.”
A key part of Mars’ growth strategy is built on global expansion, Forbes explained, with a particular focus on healthier options. Dove’s sugar-free products are doing especially well in China, for example, where 80% of the buyers are new to Mars products. And Kind bars—which have succeeded in grocery stores across the U.S. largely because of their perception of healthier snacking—are now being distributed in 30 markets outside the U.S. and Canada, including debuts this year in South Korea and Malaysia.
The further reach will make a focus on supply chain and sustainability that much more important for a company wanting to make sure its consumers see it as a responsible steward. Mars has goals to deliver cuts of 50% in emissions by 2030, reaching net-zero carbon by 2050.


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Welcome to the Fold: Samsung’s Latest Phone
Samsung introduces the Galaxy Fold
Ever wish you could just fold your smartphone up to fit it in your pocket?
Foldable phones have been an exciting topic of conversation in the smartphone market for some time now. Vendors like Microsoft, Huawei, and Samsung have all released their own insights into what foldable tech might look like over the last year. However, it seems that Samsung has edged over the finish line as the first major vendor to release a foldable solution, (after the Royole, of course).
Samsung recently announced both the impending arrival of three new Galaxy S10 models and the brand-new Galaxy Fold. While there are plenty of great features promised by the S10 handsets, it’s hard to focus on them when there’s a foldable phone in the mix.
What to Expect from the Galaxy Fold
If you thought that Apple devices were starting to cost a fortune lately, wait until you see the price tag for the Galaxy Fold. You can expect to pay around £15 grand for this technical masterpiece, which folds outwards to create a 7.3-inch tablet display.
The Fold transforms from a standard (though highly advanced) smartphone, into a complete Galaxy tablet within seconds. You can run up to three apps simultaneously on the device at once and seamlessly transition from phone to tablet mode without having to re-launch programs.
So, how does a phone handle being folded and unfolded every day? The Motorola RAZR from 2005 seemed to have endless problems with snapping. Let’s hope they fix that if they do bring out a new version this year. According to Samsung, however, the Fold comes with a new advanced hinge system that can withstand endless folds. What’s more, there are 6 cameras on your phone, so you can snap pictures however you’re using it.
The New Standard for “Luxury” Phones?
At a value of around £1,515 or $1,980 for the 4G version of the phone, it’s fair to say that this isn’t a device for everyone. There’s even a more expensive 5G version set to arrive in the future too. According to Samsung, the Fold is a “luxury” item, for people who want the convenience of the phone, with the benefits of a larger screen.
Fans of the technology can certainly see it’s value. There’s something to be said about a phone that can seamlessly fold out into a tablet when you need to send an email or watch a video without squinting. However, in these early days, it’s difficult to know how well an experimental device like the Fold will perform, particularly with such a hefty price tag.
Reportedly, people at the launch event weren’t impressed by the price. There have been some grumbles online about the idea of paying a couple of thousand pounds for a phone too. However, it could be argued that sometimes, if you want disruptive technology, you need to be prepared to pay the price.
Will the foldable phone be the device of the future? Or will it be another fad like the flip-phone that we quickly phase out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.


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Solar-powered recharger for mobile devices seeks local distributor
Thursday, 25 October, 2007
An engineer from Korea is seeking Australian and international distributors for his solar-powered mobile device rechargers, which he expects will change the way we use mobile devices.
Man Geun Lee’s rechargers are about the same size as a common mobile phone and can be plugged into a device for a full recharge, as long as it’s daytime. They can be used with many mobile devices, including phones, iPods, digital cameras and laptops — he even has a stealth model for use in the armed forces.
Lee said the idea from the device came from the tension between the size of mobile batteries and the complexity of the devices they can support.
He is hoping to find an Australian company to distribute and service these products in Australia and internationally.
Lee says the major difference between his products and the opposition is the price.
“Other differences include the conversion efficiency or charging time,” he said. “With a solar cell conversion efficiency of 21.5%, they are about 30% more efficient than their nearest competitors.”
Lee believes his technology will change our way of life. As mobile devices increase in complexity, they require more power, which increases their battery size, making them bigger rather than the preferred smaller. His mobile rechargers will mean manufacturers can keep battery size down.
“They will free mobile telephone travellers from having to plug into international electricity points, and free the outdoor adventurous type from having to worry about power requirements,” he said.
Lawrence Livermore researchers have identified electrical charge-induced changes in the structure...
The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, has installed LED stadium lights from Ephesus...
Southern Cross Cable Network has appointed Anthony Briscoe as the new president and...


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This week two new initiatives that connect the region to Silicon Valley where announced.
Michael Hoy in Silicon Valley
First out was Invest in Skåne, and their ICT people who announced that they had opened an office in Silicon Valley, and have Michael Hoy as their man on the ground. Michael has a past as project manager at Teknopol, a innovation support organization, and as well as involvement in the startup Nocturnal Vision and the Lunds University Entrepreneurship programme.
“We’re there to meet investors, potential clients, partners and others on a more regular basis. Through that we aim to better be able to help technology companies interested in accessing Silicon Valley companies and VCs. We want to avoid going to Google just to have lunch at their cool canteen. We want to facilitate better and sharper business meetings.” Daniel Kipowski says about the initiative.
Collaboration with Bootstraplabs
The other news this week was from Minc, which announced a collaboration with BootstrapLabs in Silicon Valley. The aim is that startups in the Minc incubator with international ambitions can get active support from mentors and advisers from Bootstraplabs – a possiblity that might be expanded in the future to other startups as well.
“With Minc as partners we expect to be able to help more Swedish and Scandinavian companies to reach a global market from Silicon Valley. Minc has the ability to attract promising international companies to the start-up scene in Malmö and we look forward to working with Minc to find exciting startups with global potential” says Nicolai Wadström, CEO and founder of Bootstrap Labs.
“The partnership with Bootstrap Labs will become a cornerstone for Minc’s strategy to help more companies on the international market. With Silicon Valley mentors for Minc incubator companies, we believe the chances are better that the next Swedish startup success comes from Malmö. Bootstrap Labs is just as Minc in an expansionary phase and I expect that we will have great benefits from a collaboration.” said Minc’s CEO Mårten Öbrink.
Both initiatives should help startups that want to get connections in Silicon Valley or San Fransisco. You can also read more over at Sydsvenskan about the Invest in Skåne initiative.


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by Shane Fitzpatrick
The widespread roll-out of 4G services across the UK may radically accelerate the demand for mobile commerce but user experience remains a concern. Retailers now need to ensure every step from browsing new offers to payment is optimised for smartphone users.
In August, several mobile providers launched their 4G services, while others said they will soon offer unlimited 4G data packages in London, Birmingham and Manchester in December. The fires of intense marketing and competition have been lit. The resulting heat may drive continued smartphone adoption by consumers and encourage everyday activities to be conducted via mobile.
A survey conducted by Chase Paymentech showed that nearly two thirds of UK consumers changed their shopping habits in the previous 12 months. Ecommerce continues to grow in popularity, with 41 per cent of consumers saying that they use the internet to make purchases more than they did a year ago. The report suggests that mobile commerce (‘m-commerce’) has now become the fastest growing channel, with 30 per cent of those aged 25-34 already falling in love with their mobile device and finding their mobile to be the easiest way to shop [Source: Dynamic Markets: The Changing CNP Landscape, March 2012].
The inevitable move towards more multichannel retail raises a series of challenges, in particular the integration of m-commerce sites with e-commerce and legacy IT systems. Looking forward, four in ten multichannel retailers agree that they will always be in a state of continual evolution and constant change [Source: Chase Paymentech/Dynamic Markets – Putting Customers First? March 2013]. For a successful ecommerce evolution, retailers will need a dedicated m-commerce strategy with a strong focus on improving the customer’s online shopping experience.
So will m-commerce render other shopping channels obsolete? Unlikely. A priority for retailers is to help shoppers add and save items to their shopping cart from their mobile, enabling them to pay later using their laptop or desktop computer. For example, adding a simple login to an ecommerce site could enable customers to switch between multiple devices as part of a seamless shopping experience.
Meanwhile, there are still major customer experience hurdles to be overcome. When it comes to m-commerce, 93 per cent of tablet users have reported feeling frustrated by the experience– and this has resulted in over two in every three of them abandoning an online purchase at the checkout stage [Source: Chase Paymentech/Dynamic Markets – Putting Customers First? March 2013]. Mobile retailers should invest in order to provide a seamless payment process that is optimised for a smaller mobile screen.
Any m-commerce site needs to work just as well on a touchscreen as it does with a mouse or keyboard and it is critical to ensure that the payment process is also simple. Data from Chase Paymentech revealed that 25% of consumers often find it too difficult to enter payment details on their mobile phone. [Source: Dynamic Markets: The Changing CNP Payment Landscape, March 2012].
Retailers have no control over how common verification methods such as Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode are displayed on a mobile device. Keeping the number of elements that need to be downloaded to a minimum as well as ensuring your payment provider offers a single, efficient round-trip to the server to complete a purchase could help avoid customer frustrations.
There is a common misconception that mobile channels are less secure than other online channels. While it is true to say that criminals will always try to exploit any new opportunity to commit fraud, there is no reason to believe that mobile devices are more prone to fraud. An obvious place to start addressing fraud concerns would be using your payment data to identify fraud trends broken down by sales channel.
Ultimately, shopping by mobile or another online channel should be easier than visiting a physical store. The 4G boom will create new opportunities for retailers to engage with customers around the country, wherever they are, and a poor user experience may lead to many lost sales.
Retailers should optimise their sales and payments strategy to deliver a seamless customer experience. After all, customers are not expected to type in their card number, CVV security code, expiry date and billing address every time they buy something in a high street shop. Online merchants should aspire to the same level of ease for their customers across the mobile channel.
Shane Fitzpatrick is president and managing director of Chase Paymentech Europe.


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Iconic Dorothy Dress is Headed to Auction
The proceeds from the sale will benefit the Catholic University of America’s Department of Drama.
A lost “Dorothy” dress worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” going up for auction. On May 24th, one of the costumes Garland wore in the beloved film is set to be auctioned off during Bonhams’ Classic Hollywood: Film and Television Sale in Los Angeles. The white blouse and blue gingham dress combo is expected to fetch between 800-thousand and one-point-two million dollars. The proceeds from the sale will benefit the Catholic University of America’s Department of Drama. The dress was originally gifted to the former head of the university’s drama department in 1973 and then went missing in the eighties…only to be recently rediscovered.


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Historically, cannabis-infused cosmetics were considered more hippie than high class, more crunchy than couture.
But cannabis beauty products are on the rise–and now retail experts are paying attention.
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Oscar fever: Eight award-winning Hollywood actors who also smoke pot
Analysts at Piper Jaffray are eyeing the growth of the market for pot-based cosmetics, particularly those spiked with CBD–a non-inebriating compound found in cannabis. The company estimates that the CBD industry alone is worth $50 to $100 billion, and the cannabinoid’s popularity as a cosmetic ingredient could stimulate even more growth.
Cannabis beauty products are taking over displays at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, The Body Shop and Barneys, where an upscale cannabis accessory store is also set to open next month.
This week at Sephora, there was a curated section in-store for hemp-oriented products featuring brands that have dipped their toe into this space,” senior research analyst Piper Jaffray’s Erinn Murphy senior research analyst, told CNBC on Wednesday. “We have seen a high level of interest in cannabis beauty from retailers over the past month based on our store checks and incremental launches. We expect further retailer developments in the coming months.”
Murphy says that Google search trends, customer hype and rapidly expanding popularity have made Piper Jaffray CBD beauty products to re-evaluate its previous niche slot in natural beauty offerings to a full category in its own right.
“Recall that we view the CBD beauty market as an extension of the broader natural & clean beauty movement that is taking hold within the industry. Google search trends suggest consumer interest in cannabis beauty has been picking up over the past year,” Murphy said.
The firm believes that the CBD beauty trend is here to stay–and about to become even more mainstream.
“We continue to see established beauty brands experimenting with hemp seed oil-based products versus CBD products. We expect to see conglomerate brands become involved with CBD over time as regulation and efficacy become more clearly defined,” said Murphy.
Want to keep up to date on what’s happening in the world of cannabis? Subscribe to the Cannabis Post newsletter for weekly insights into the industry, what insiders will be talking about and content from across the Postmedia Network.


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SYDNEY | Westfield Sydney Stage 1 Opening Pics Page 2
FROM THE WESTFIELD SYDNEY WEBSITE
An iconic retail offering located in Australia’s largest and one of the strongest performing retail precincts, this is Westfield Sydney.
The AU$1.2b* redevelopment will represent the next generation in retail and is poised to become one of Westfield’s global flagships. Successfully integrating Westfield’s existing three sites on Pitt Street Mall, between the David Jones and Myer flagship stores in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, and accommodating up to 250 fashion, food and lifestyle stores over 40,000sqm** and multiple levels, this state-of-the-art epicentre will offer an astonishing spectrum of choice.
On offer will be a selection of the finest in local and international brands fused with a sophisticated dining and leisure experience. Add to this exceptional customer services and a superior location and Westfield Sydney is set to illuminate the retail landscape like nothing else before it.
From the ground up, a luxury experience will be incorporated into every facet of this Westfield gem.
A vibrant atmosphere will exist in energetic, exciting surrounds that will inspire all who visit and entice them to return. In conjunction with the brilliant array of retail offerings, a seamless shopping experience will be created through the delivery of luxury services catering to the broadest needs and desires of our shoppers.
The architecture will also be a focal point. As form and function entwine like never before, personal comfort will be considered at every level to ensure the shopper always feels pampered and taken care of.
Inspiration from every angle, this is tomorrow in a brilliant new light.
*Includes Retail, 100 Market St and 85 Castlreagh St
** Retail only
And an article by the Sydney Morning Herald on tenants in and around the development
Retail goes upmarket in CBD
June 14, 2010
The revamped Pitt Street Mall soon will be home to many high-end retailers, writes Carolyn Cummins.
It is being played like a game of musical chairs but by the time the work is finished, Sydney's Pitt Street Mall and the surrounding streets will be a who's who of retailers. And rents will rise accordingly. Once the new stores open, rents are tipped to double from their present levels of about $8000 a square metre.
But the list of occupants is unlikely to boast overseas fashion names such as Zara and H&M, which prefer their own stand-alone flagship stores as opposed to being in an enclosed shopping mall.
Zara, whose head office is in Spain, is said to be using Solomon Lew as its co-agent in Australia and is looking at a number of sites in the CBD. So far it has not signed any leasing deals in Australia.
However, shoppers who like the US chain Gap
will be pleased to hear that it has signed for an 800-square-metre shop within the new Westfield Sydney.
BusinessDay has seen a list of the new retailers to have signed up for the centre and it includes the majority of tenants which used to be in Centrepoint and the Imperial Arcade.
store selling upmarket bags and some apparel will open on the corner of Pitt and Market streets.
, Tag Heuer
watches and Guess
will open on the ground level of Pitt Street Mall.
At 182 Pitt Street is the former Emporio shoes site in the building which the Goddard family, declined to sell to Westfield. That site will be redeveloped next year.
Next door, within the Westfield complex, will be Esprit
Westfield's leasing team has created an upmarket strip on Castlereagh Street, opposite David Jones, having secured Prada
On Market Street, with both David Jones stores nearby, will be a Miu Miu
On the upper levels of Westfield there will be a Thomas Dux
supermarket, run by Woolworths to take on the David Jones food hall.
Discussions are also under way for a signature chef, such as Gordon Ramsay, to open a restaurant.
The stockbroker JPMorgan and Westfield staff will move into the planned skyscraper at 85 Castlereagh Street, atop the former Imperial Arcade.
Former tenants in that arcade, including Borders
book store, are returning. JB Hi-Fi is looking to open a new ''wi-fi'' concept store
One of the favourites of city workers, the Sky Phoenix Chinese restaurant
, has also re-signed in the redevelopment.
Knight Frank's associate director of retail leasing, Alex Alamsyah, said an influx of high-profile international retailers was inevitable and could transform the CBD.
''The level of refurbishment and redevelopment activity currently in progress is opening up many opportunities for big fashion brands and will help put Sydney on the map as an international retail destination," Mr Alamsyah said.
"Whether it be through the granting of licensing or franchising arrangements, as is the case with Gap and Victoria's Secret, for example, or alternatively the rollout of corporate-owned stores such as Esprit and Louis Vuitton, it is clear that Sydney CBD is a global hotspot for the upper echelon of major international fashion brands.
"And the current wave of new projects means these brands have the opportunity to make their play."
The 100 store first stage of Westfield Sydney opens in 19 weeks in the week of 25 October 2010...


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Maruti Suzuki Eeco BS6 Launched In India (Photo Credit: Twitter/@MSArenaOfficial)
The BS6 compliant version of Maruti Suzuki Eeco was launched in India on Friday. The price for Maruti Suzuki Eeco BS6 in India has been set between Rs 3.81 lakh and Rs 6.84 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). These prices are for the petrol variants only as Maruti Suzuki is yet to release prices for the CNG version. It is to be noted that BS-VI (BS6) emission regulations are set to kick in India from April 1, 2020. Coming back to Maruti Suzuki Eeco, it is the ninth BS6 offering from the automaker.
Maruti Suzuki India’s Executive Director (Marketing & Sales) Shashank Srivastava said, "At Maruti Suzuki, we are committed to provide reliable mobility solutions to our customers. Introduction of the BS6 in Eeco will further bolster our commitment towards a cleaner environment. A decade since its launch, Eeco continues to attract 84% pre-determined buyers, and has been appreciated for its stylish and spacious design and low cost of maintenance.”
“With over 50 per cent of the consumers choosing the vehicle for business utility as well as a family transport vehicle, the versatile Eeco offers uncompromised comfort and safety. We are confident to sustain a strong foothold in the segment with Eeco and would like to thank our customers for their constant support," he added.
On the looks front and other features, Maruti Suzuki Eeco remains unchanged. Under the hood, Maruti Suzuki Eeco comes equipped with the BS6 1.2-litre, four-cylinder engine that churns out 73 bhp and 101 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. It is worth mentioning here that there is a CNG variant in the Eeco line-up that delivers a high fuel economy of 21.8 kmpl.
Last year, Eeco wholesales had crossed 1 lakh units for the first time, reflecting growth of 36 per cent over 2018 wholesale volumes. The model, which was launched in January 2010, has already crossed cumulative sales mark of 6.5 lakh units. Maruti Suzuki, India's largest automaker, has already sold over 3 lakh units of BS6 cars in India.


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Home room, attendance, lining up for lunch and checking a book out of the library are all part of everyday school life. But new [kwlink 14727]technology is being introduced to change the way some schools do all these things.
Some students in England, for example, are now registering and taking out books with their fingerprints. One school in the U.K. is even using special scanners that can recognize kids' faces. The scanners use a special technology called biometrics, which is also found in [kwlink 1724]fingerprint scanners. They speed up things like taking attendance, but some experts don't think they're a good idea because the computers store a lot of personal information, which could end up getting into the wrong hands.


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Vivo, the global premium smartphone brand, launched Vivo Y83 smartphone in India. Vivo Y83 is the first Helio P22 smartphone phone. MediaTek recently announced the launch of its latest MediaTek Helio P22 system-on-chip (SoC) for budget and mid-range of smartphones.
Here are some detailed specifications of Vivo Y83-
The all-new Y83 has a 15.46cm (6.22) 19:9 HD+ display which offers an increased viewing area of 15.5%, when compared with standard 16:9 aspect ratio smartphones. The 2.5D back cover lends an elegant and sleek look to the smartphone which complements its overall design.
The new Vivo Y83 is equipped with a 13MP high-definition rear camera with PDAF technology which enables capturing memories on-the-go. The 8MP selfie camera comes equipped with an AI Face Beauty feature which provides quality images by detecting the subject’s gender, age, skin tone, skin texture and lighting environment.
Performance and Hardware-
The Vivo Y83 is powered by the latest MediaTek Helio P22 octa-core processor and backed by 4GB RAM for a seamless performance. With 32GB inbuilt storage and an option to further expand it to 256GB, the smartphone offers ample space for applications and multimedia content such as music, pictures and videos.
Also Read: Top Innovative features of Vivo X21
The smartphone also includes a split screen feature which can be easily activated by sliding down three fingers to split the screen in two. When compared with standard 16:9 screens, the Y83’s large 15.46cm (6.22) screen makes for a better and more significant split-screen viewing experience for consumers to multitask efficiently.
Connectivity options on the device include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, FM radio, and 4G VoLTE. The smartphone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out of the box with company’s own FunTouch OS 4.0 custom interface on top. The phone is fuelled by a 3,260mAh battery.
Price and Availability-
Priced at INR 14,990, the smartphone will be available in Black and Gold colours across all offline stores starting 1st June 2018 and will be available on flipkart.com, amazon.in and shop.vivo.com/in with attractive exchange offers and No Cost EMI.


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Stage Stores Inc. SSI, -1.73% shares sank 17.5% in Friday after-hours trading after the retailer announced a holiday season same-store sales decline and revised their guidance lower. The retailer, which operates 817 specialty department stores including Goody's and Stage across 38 states, said same-store sales for the the nine-week holiday period ending Dec. 31, 2016 fell 7.3%. Weak traffic caused by ongoing pressure in oil states and border states were a key factor, according to Chief Executive Michael Glazer. The company revised its fourth-quarter earnings per share guidance to 20 cents to 35 cents, down from 65 cents to 90 cents. Fiscal year per share loss is now expected to be 70 cents to 85 cents. The previous guidance was for an earnings per share loss of 15 cents and 40 cents. Stage Stores shares are down 54.6% for the past year while the S&P 500 index SPX, -0.76% is up 14.4% for the same period.
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“We need more capacity. Need a higher level of design and sales network more,” said the CEO of Haier, the largest appliance maker in China and one of the fastest growing companies in the world white line. Haier began its efforts to go global in 1999 taking advantage of the U.S. market with niche products. In 2006, Haier has announced plans to launch a new global development strategy to strengthen its global brand awareness. I was hoping to sell the products of larger and technologically rich white goods in foreign markets and differentiate from other players of Chinese products. This case study examines the Haier roadmap to transform a Chinese household name to a global brand, and examines the effectiveness of product diversification and design strategy in its global expansion.
Source: University of Hong Kong
Release: September 25, 2007. Prod #: HKU680-PDF-ENG
Haier: How to Turn a Chinese house name into a global brand of business solutions


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GCP Applied Technologies has invested in Sysdyne Technologies, a provider of technology solutions for the ready-mixed concrete industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Sysdyne offers a range of integrated software and industry automation tools, including batch panels, dispatch software, and electronic ticketing solutions. The company’s innovative products help ready-mixed concrete producers streamline operations, optimise business processes, tighten quality control, and improve cash flow.
“Sysdyne shares our vision to transform the industry through technology and innovation,” said Naren Srinivasan, GCP’s Chief Strategy, Marketing and Development Officer. “The company’s product suite complements our VERIFI product line and presents significant opportunities to advance services through data integration.”
GCP’s VERIFI In-transit Concrete Management and VERIFI Quality software provide valuable data insights and analytics to concrete producers to help improve concrete quality, optimise mix designs, save time and reduce costs from the plant to the job site.
“We are excited to have GCP as an investor as we continue to scale our business and accelerate our product development,” said Sysdyne CEO, Jill Zhang. “Sysdyne and GCP share a passion for innovation, commitment to outstanding customer support and are both on the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies that provide tremendous value to producers.”
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/product-news/14082018/gcp-invests-in-sysdyne-technologies/
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Rohrdorfer is building Austria's first CO2 recovery plant in the cement industry on an industrial scale.


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Let’s see how many people follow his lead: Helmut Kleefeld gazes comfortably at the tablet computer, together with Lorena Walaschek, one of the sales advisors, and his face breaks into a smile when he taps the order button – for the third time in 30 minutes. Helmut Kleefeld is from Nierstein, Germany, and an Opel retiree who purchased three cars on Saturday (4 November) when the company hosted the “Produkttag” (Employee Sales day) – an ADAM for his son, a Crossland X for his grandson, and a Mokka X for himself. As Kleefeld puts it: “I have been finding homes for Opel vehicles with my friends and family for decades.” His tally over the years is around 130 to 150 vehicles.
Three Opel cars in 30 minutes
Formerly an employee in Opel’s data center, Helmut Kleefeld had actually already configured the vehicles online at www.wir-fahren-opel.de and could have ordered them from the cozy confines of his own home. But he didn’t want to miss out on an Employee Sales day. He adds, “Actually, you get a free coupon for a fill-up on gas today.” Now he needs to scurry off to the entrance because a neighbor is waiting for him there. “He needs a new Cascada.” Helmut Kleefeld and the order button: He’s likely to tap it once more today.
“The new concept is a genuine paradigm change for us: Our employees are not salespeople in the traditional sense of the word. They act more as advisors who work together with the customers when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. The “Produkttag” proves that the digital experience of buying a new car is a huge success in terms of customer experience.”
Buying a car is easier than ever before, and the success of the #Opel2Go on-the-spot leasing deal shows how easy and uncomplicated it is to purchase a car now. Salesman Heiko Cézanne is closely flanked by a half dozen visitors. They all want to drive a new Opel vehicle off the lot today – just like David Michelle. This young student just decided today to lease an ADAM BLACK JACK. “It’s a really cool car, and it fits my lifestyle perfectly!” He had been weighing his options for months and was considering trading in his old Astra for a new car. “But I never got around to making a decision because I was busy with exams.” Which meant that the on-the-spot leasing deal hit the sweet spot for him.
Half of the fleet is gone
And he’s not alone. Heiko Cézanne points out, “Half of the fleet is gone and it’s not even noon yet.” All 70 #OPEL2GO vehicles, from the ADAM to the Grandland X, have exchanged hands by the end of the day and found new owners.
“#OPEL2GO is the absolute hit today!”
– Heiko Cézanne –
“My regards to my former colleagues in the Design department. You really outdid yourselves with the Grandland X!”
– Hans-Joachim Krüger –
But still, there are car buyers who like to dedicate more time and attention to their new car purchase. Hans-Joachim Krüger is one of them. The former Design employee wouldn’t miss the Employee Sales day for anything in the world. “Where else can I test drive the entire range of vehicles as much as I want?” Hans-Joachim had already made his choice several days ago while sitting at home in Rüsselsheim. He’s getting a Grandland X, even though he used to work designing many generations of the Astra by hand, and later on the computer, as a pattern maker. He used the ‘Wir-fahren-Opel’ app to order the latest rendition of the X family.
Test driving the entire range
It’s a matter of pride. The vehicle’s design is one of the most important purchase criteria for Hans-Joachim Krüger. What’s his favorite part of the Grandland X? “The rear of it: It’s clear-cut, proud,” he replies. “It’s how I think it should be.” The biggest surprise under the hood is the “very, very high-performing diesel engine with 1.6 liters of displacement.” The virtual garage in the app shows him that his vehicle will be delivered on 28 December. It’s just that easy. “I’m already eagerly anticipating its arrival and I want to send out a big thanks to my former colleagues. You really outdid yourselves with the Grandland X!”


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Financial terms of the agreements were not immediately available.
Canopy Growth chief financial officer Judy Hong says the sales process identified two qualified buyers for the BioSteel brand and assets.
Hong added that the anticipated proceeds from the sales are expected to improve Canopy Growth’s balance sheet.
The first deal covers the sale of BioSteel Canada to DC Holdings Ltd., while a second agreement includes the sale of the BioSteel Manufacturing business to Gregory Packaging Inc.
Canopy put BioSteel up for sale when the sports drink business was placed under court protection from creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in September.


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So far, the tablet market has yet to produce a tablet running any operating system that has offered stiff competition to Apple and its dominating iPad. Apple may have introduced the stiffest competition to its own iPad with the new iPad mini. There are plenty of Android-powered tablet on the market, and some such as the Kindle Fire HD are selling very well.
Apple is predicted to have a giant year for iPad sales in 2012 and 2013. An analyst named Michael Walkley from Canacord Genuity recently announced that he was predicting Apple would sell 101.6 million iPads in 2013. Compare that with Amazon and its popular Kindle Fire HD tablet, and it’s clear the iPad still leads the market. Walkley is predicting that Amazon will sell 10.7 million tablets with Samsung selling 8.3 million tablets.
The same analyst is predicting that Samsung will take a significant lead in smartphone sales over Apple. That lead is thanks in part to incredibly popular devices such as the Galaxy S III. Walkley still expects Apple to sell more than 193 million iPhones. Samsung is predicted to sell as many as 303 million Android smartphones this year.
Walkley is predicting big sales for the iPad mini during the holiday shopping season, even though it’s significantly more expensive than competing Android offerings. The analyst is also predicting that the iPad mini will significantly expand Apple’s addressable market for tablets internationally with strong sales throughout fiscal 2013 as Apple ramps up international distribution.
Walkley said, “With the impressive refresh of the 4th generation Retina iPad and launch of the iPad Mini earlier this week, we anticipate very strong holiday quarter iPad sales. In fact, with Apple’s decisions to price the iPad Mini at a $170 discount to similar 4th generation iPad SKUs and competitively priced versus lower priced competing products from Google and other Android OEMs, we anticipate strong sales of the iPad Mini, especially as gifts during the holiday quarter. Further, we believe the iPad Mini significantly expands Apple’s tablet addressable market internationally and should lead to strong sales throughout F2013 as international distribution increases.”


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It's safe to say Chris Wentz has gotten an education in the ups and downs of entrepreneurship since coming up for the idea for Everykey Inc. as a student at Case Western Reserve University.
Everykey uses Bluetooth technology to essentially unlock customers' devices, like phones or computers. In terms of fundraising, at least, the Cleveland-based company has been a success. It raised about $1.3 million in its seed round, plus more than $270,000 on crowdfunding sites Kickstarter and Indiegogo. But, more than two years after that first campaign, it only shipped a fraction of the fobs that have been ordered.
Wentz is hopeful that 2017 can be the year Everykey gets its products shipped and rebuilds its trust with consumers.
The first big public push for Everykey came in fall 2014 with the company's successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised $117,054. Wentz said Everykey then used that funding and traction to raise its seed round of funding.
Since then, Everykey has been building its engineering and business development team — it currently has seven to eight full-time employees — and has secured an office on Ford Drive in Cleveland.
But as of now, Wentz said just about 600 of the approximately 10,000 products on back order have been sent to customers.
Overall, Wentz said he hadn't really grasped how much work it would take to go from a prototype to a "consumer-ready product."
"I had no idea how much time and money it's going to take to go from — an early prototype, you can get that done pretty quickly," he said. "I mean, you can get that done in like a week or two in some cases. But to go from that to a consumer-ready product, you've got all these issues."
Since its launch, the idea behind the Everykey product switched from a wristband to what Wentz calls a "fob form factor."
SmartShape Design in Cleveland has worked with Everykey on the design of the mechanical enclosure and the user interface for the app, said the firm's design director, Patrick Brown. The original wristband design was limiting, Brown said, but creating more of a fob that could be used with accessories like a wristband or keychain would give them options.
But it's not the hardware that has been the problem; it's the software. Wentz said the biggest challenge has been figuring out how to make sure the product works properly with consumers' different devices.
Everykey was pitched as a device that can work on all kinds of operating systems, but each handles security differently.
"I think a lot of people might not realize how giant a puzzle it really is," Wentz said.
To address that challenge, Everykey plans to hire an in-house testing engineer to deal with that "bottleneck" in development, and to work with an outside firm to address this as well, Wentz said. Before, Everykey simply had staff members test the software on devices when they could and report back to engineering.
Bob Sopko, who runs CWRU LaunchNet at Case, has been advising Wentz since he was a student. Sopko said what Everykey is trying to accomplish is difficult, because if the outside operating systems the company is trying to work with change, it can trip up the whole process.
"They're in constant update mode," Sopko said.
But the market indicates that it wants the product, and Wentz is trying to overcome the challenges, Sopko said.
The other big challenge Everykey has faced is in communication.
The company hasn't made an official update to its Kickstarter or Indiegogo pages since April 2016. Those pages are now filled with angry backers, asking about shipments and refunds. Everykey does jump in the comment sections from time to time to respond to the comments, but they keep coming.
Wentz said the company has handled the communication piece "pretty poorly," especially when it comes to communicating proactively to its backers.
"If you want my completely honest opinion here, I'm just almost embarrassed to talk to them at this point," Wentz said. "It's gotten to the point where, you know, we started shipping in March of last year, and we started shipping mostly to a small group of people, and I don't think that that was communicated correctly, that some people were going to get it but not everybody was."
That small group has been testing it, Wentz said, but he thinks other customers have felt let down. But Everykey is making an effort to better address its customers and has hired new, in-house customer service staff to quickly work with them.
He hopes to ship out all the products on back order, including the ones sold on the crowd-sourced platforms, once they're working well on Mac, Windows and Android devices. Wentz estimates that could be this spring. Until those products have been shipped, Wentz doesn't want to even think about entering retail markets.
"We wouldn't be in business if it weren't for our backers," he said. "So, I know that some of them are kind of disappointed in us right now, but I do want to build that trust back with them by shipping their units long before anybody else gets theirs."
Next up for Everykey could be some Series A fundraising, Wentz said.
Wentz said he has yet to take a salary from Everykey, and the company is his primary focus. Despite the challenges he's faced since starting Everykey, he doesn't regret doing it.
"I would have done things completely differently, but man," he said. "This has been such a fun ride."


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Google has unveiled a new Google Wallet app. This application is supposed to replace users with their wallets, and also serves as a repository for their documents. This new app was unveiled at Google I/O 2022.
The new product does more than just store a digital image of a document, such as a credit card or driver’s license. Google Wallet is a real digital wallet that should replace all the physical items that people usually carry in a real wallet.
What does Google Wallet offer?
Google claims that it will be very difficult for someone to take someone else’s phone and use Google Wallet. It will also be difficult to take someone else’s card and add it to your phone.
Communication with the financial institution that issued the card will protect against such actions. The app will ask you to verify your identity before adding the card to your phone.
Additionally, Google claims that if a user loses a device, they can remotely locate, lock, or even wipe it via Find My Device.
You can pay with cards stored in Google Wallet in stores that accept Google Pay, says TechToday.
Additional features of Google Wallet
Users can also store other documents in Google Wallet, narpiclad, transport boarding passes. The app will also notify you of delays and changes. When you store a concert ticket in your digital wallet, the app will remind you of it in advance. Google Wallet also works with other Google apps – for example, if you get on a bus and look for directions on Google Maps, your travel card and balance will be displayed next to the route. If you run out of balance, you can click and replenish it.
NIXSolutions notes that even if you lose your credit or debit card and are waiting for a replacement, you can still use that card with Google Wallet thanks to the virtual number attached to it.
With the Google Pay app, you can make more payments, like send and receive money from friends or businesses, find deals from your favorite merchants, or manage your transactions.


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Tech Wrap: Google hosts Google for India event, Flipkart announces Smartphone Carnival
More tech news includes Flipkart launching Motorola 4K Android TV Stick and Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G going on its second sale in India.
It was an interesting day in the world of technology today. On one hand, Flipkart announced a smartphone carnival on its platform. On the other hand, it launched the Motorola 4K Android TV Stick in India. In addition to that, the Realme Nazro 30 Pro 5G went on its second sale in India.
So, here's what happened in tech today:
Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G goes on sale in India
Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G will go on its second sale today. It costs ₹16,999 for the base model with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage and ₹19,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model.
Google hosts Google for India event
Google hosted its first Google for India event for the year in India today. At the event, Google announced Business Pages on GPay and special badges for women-led businesses on Search and Maps. It also announced a partnership with the NASSCOM Foundation. Here are all the details.
Excitel introduces a new bundle with access to select OTT apps
Excitel today announced a new scheme with complimentary access to select Over-the-Top (OTT) applications. Subscribers will get access to Zee5, Voot, Eros, and Shemaroo at no additional cost. The bundle is available as a complimentary offering on the company's 300Mbps/3months plan that is priced at ₹752.
Flipkart launches Motorola 4K Android TV Stick
Flipkart launched the Motorola 4K Android TV Stick in India today. It will be available on the e-commerce platform in the third week of March for ₹3,999.
Flipkart announces Smartphone Carnival
Flipkart kicked off its Smartphone Carnival today. It will go on until March 12. In addition to discounted prices, Flipkart has partnered with Axis Bank for an instant discount up to ₹1,250. Here are all the details.


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By Moses Kaketo
A few years ago, Biyinzika Poultry (now Biyinzika Poultry International- BPL) was an underdog in the poultry industry. The company operated at the tail end. The company was promising, the market was readily available, However, the business needed a ‘push’ to move to another level.
The owner of the struggling, but promising company, took a decision two years ago a to sell the company he helped find in 1990 to a private Equity Fund. The new owners have since injected in the business more capital, latest technology, above all, they have professionalized the business.
Under the slogan: You can trust us for healthy chicks, nutritious feeds, BPL has been turned around, from a struggling company to a market leader in Day Old Chicks with a market share of about 60 percent.
The Mukono based poultry company is also involved in the production of Commercial Broilers and Layers producing over 10 million Broiler Day Old Chicks and 2 Million Layer Day Old Chicks annually.
The company also owns several large farms for its poultry production. These include Layer Breeder, Broiler Breeder and Commercial Broiler operations, with two hatcheries with a total setting capacity of 1,620,000 eggs per month.
This massive transformation enabled BPL to secure forward-Linkage with a leading poultry buyer- YoKuKu. Yokuku is a major supplier of poultry and poultry products to leading fastfoods and hotels in Uganda.
The BPL has also formulated three types of revolutionary broiler pellets: Broiler starter/crumbles, broiler Grower and Broiler finisher.
To avoid stock outs and wastage- the company set up grain storage silos with capacity of 23,600 metric tonnes and a feed mill capacity of 12.5 tonnes per hour. And a continuous dryer able to dry up to 800 metric tonnes in 24 hours.
This storage facility has enabled the company to benefit from the commodity prices which are usually low at harvest time. The company purchases and stores produce to use during the off season when prices increase. The poultry company, now looks towards a fully integrated poultry company
Lessons for entrepreneurs
Biyinzika Poultry had reached a point where it needed a push to move to another level or close down. The Owner, Mr. Mukasa took the right decision, to sell shares to the investors who have since transformed the company into a leading player in the country. And who knows, one day it could be sold to global players like Rainbow. Meanwhile, Mr. Mukasa reportedly went and set up another poultry company that operates at local level- he has also ventured into other businesses.
Mr. Mukasa serves a good example to local entrepreneurs whose businesses are struggling and on the verge of collapse. However, they prefer to struggle on rather than bring on board experienced local and international investors. Hoping that one day, things would change for the better.
Forgetting one thing that: past success is not guarantee for the future. This is the thinking that is killing many of yesterday’s successful Ugandan entrepreneurs.