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- Hacker shows he can locate, unlock and remote start GM vehicles
- Australian PC users worse at patching Windows than New Zealanders, but both lead US: Secunia
- The three behaviours of security experts that non-expert users should learn
- Un-patched bug could put 500m Android phones in a coma
- Researchers improve de-anonymization attacks for websites hiding on Tor
ipv6 - News, Features, and Slideshows
ipv6 in pictures
John Curran, CEO of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), told attendees at the Campus Technology conference in Boston on Wednesday that the IP address authority's pool of IPv4 addresses has dwindled to 90,000 and will be exhausted in about two weeks.
The next versions of Apple's OS X and iOS operating systems could deliver a significant boost to worldwide IPv6 traffic.
ARIN, the organisation that manages Internet IP address allocation for North America, is approaching the end of its supply of IPv4 addresses.
There are plenty of places online to bounce ideas off of other network and IT pros, but Kevin Franzen felt there was a need for at least one more, and he calls it the WirelessGeek.net forums.
Expansion of the Internet slowed in 2014 as the number of available IPv4 addresses neared exhaustion, according to a report by the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), the regional Internet registry for the Asia Pacific.
If your IPv6 strategy is to delay implementation as long as you can, you still must address IPv6 security concerns right now.
2011 marks the death of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) but companies and ISPs are largely yet to deploy its successor, IPv6. James Hutchinson looks at the state of the market and what is holding the new protocol back.
All the news, features, tips and tricks you might need to ensure your company gets off the ground on IPv6, before it's too late.
The Internet is running out of the equivalent of phone numbers - familiar problem, non-trivial solution.
The world is almost out of IP addresses--or at least it's almost out of the IPv4 addresses that IT admins and users are most familiar with. Fortunately, IPv6 has been developed to exponentially expand the pool of available IP addresses while also providing a few other benefits.
Whitepapers about ipv6
This quarter’s report is the last time the State of the Internet Report will include a Security section covering attack traffic, reported DDoS attacks, and other security observations. Download today
- Westpac, NAB, RedBalloon debate ingredients of digital transformation
- News Corp partners with Quantium and MCN to launch new digital advertising products
- AppNexus president: Programmatic ad exchanges collaborations are the future
- Carnival Australia CEO: How we are leading with customer data
- How Australia Post’s IT and marketing chiefs lead digital change - together


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What Is Deflationcoin?
Deflationcoin is a cryptocurrency named for its “buy back and burn” programs that will force its deflation and stabilize its value. In addition to the currency, the organization behind Deflationcoin is also creating a freelance job marketplace where workers can be paid in the currency, and a set of several plugins that allow online merchants to easily accept it. While Deflationcoin offers several distinct advantages over other cryptocurrencies, such as very fast transactions with low fees, it's too early to tell whether it will be widely adopted.
Who Is Behind Deflationcoin?
Deflationcoin's five-member team has decided to remain anonymous for at least the duration of the ICO. The group's whitepaper explains that while they hope to reveal their identities in the future, the anonymity is a measure to provide hackers with less information that they could use to infiltrate the ICO.
The group is available on Telegram to answer user questions; this is by far its most active social media page, with over 4,500 followers. The currency has gained little coverage from online publications, even those that gather information about ICOs, but the project will likely gain more publicity once its ICO begins.
Deflationcoin Waves Blockchain Cryptocurrency Technology
Deflationcoin's most significant feature is its commitment to “buy back and burn” programs; the organization releasing the coin intends to regularly buy coins off the open market and destroy them, limiting the currency's total supply and thus increasing its value. While this strategy is becoming increasingly common, it is most often reserved for currencies that are used internally with a platform. Deflationcoin's whitepaper suggests a few ideas for the actual deflation process, including a lottery game, fees for an escrow service, and its own exchange with all fees being burned; the currency's owners will be able to vote on the deflation measures beginning in 2019.
Deflationcoin runs on the open-source Waves blockchain. Waves uses a proof-of-stake verification algorithm, which is fundamentally different from Bitcoin's proof-of-work system; users with a large stake (those who own at least 1,000 Waves tokens) are eligible to be randomly selected to “mine” each new block, receiving payment from other users in exchange for verifying their transactions. This architecture allows both significantly faster transactions and lower fees than other currencies; while Bitcoin transfers can take hours and cost a few dollars depending on the exchange service, Deflationcoin transfers take seconds and cost about $0.007.
Deflationcoin's team hopes to release its first round of e-commerce plugins by the third quarter of 2018, allowing websites running on Shopify, Woocommerce, and Magento to easily accept payments in the currency. It also hopes to launch a marketplace for freelance labor – its “Microtask Marketplace” – in early 2019, which allow writers, programmers, designers, and other workers to sell their services in exchange for Deflationcoins.
Deflationcoin DFX Token ICO Details
Deflationcoin's ICO will begin at noon (GMT) on March 31st, 2018, and will continue until April 15th. A total of 1,250,000,000 will be created, with 80% of these being sold to the public, 16% dedicated for marketing and other initiatives, and 4% being kept by the development team. Deflationcoin's base price during the ICO is 100,000 for one Ethereum, but early customers will receive significant discounts. All unsold tokens will be burned. Deflationcoins must be stored in a Waves-compatible wallet.
Deflationcoin's whitepaper states that the coin will be listed on at least exchange the day after its ICO ends, then three exchanges by late 2018, and five by the second quarter of 2019. However, it doesn't identify which ones or indicate whether they've entered discussions with any exchanges.
Deflationcoin offers many significant advantages over other cryptocurrencies: its transactions are faster and cheaper, its deflationary measures should stabilize its value, and its creators are ensuring that it can actually be used to buy goods and services. However, it doesn't seem to have a large following online, and controlling the supply won't necessarily lead to demand. Deflationcoin has the potential to become one of the most functional and stable cryptocurrencies available, but its creators must engage in more marketing to win over the technology's enthusiasts.

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07 Feb Folding Bikes and Public Transit – The Perfect Match
The World and attitudes towards transport are slowly changing; less and less young people in America are bothering to get their driving license as populations migrate back towards urban areas. Whether this is to do with a growing concern for the environment, for a healthier bank balance or more commonly, for both, we heartily support the change. AAA figures reported that the average cost of owning and operating a car in 2012 was $8,946 per year. Ouch. Couple this with the fact that the average person will lose 13 pounds in their first year of riding a bike to work and this shift begins to make a whole lot of sense.
This week we’re looking at one program helping to facilitate this move towards a greener commute. If you live, work or study in Pasadena you can claim a juicy $220 of a Dahon folding bike. Sounds too good to be true? In fact, the program benefits everyone involved and is additionally supported by The City of Pasadena and the city Metro. All you have to do is commit to riding your folding bicycle to connect with transit at least twice a week. The perks don’t stop there – if you’re the rider with the most check-ins on Facebook you could win such great prizes as a shiny new helmet or a $50 gift card for InCycle, exclusive retailer for the program. Calstart launched the FoldNGo scheme towards the end of last year and have already sold over 150 bicycles. The discount program is scheduled to run until October 2014, or until the magic number of 600 bikes have been sold. If the current trend of popularity continues, better sign up quick!
Got a public transport program in your area we can help you to promote, or interested in setting one up? Email us at email@example.com.


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Coochicoos is returning to the CA Boom Design Show this year – our third year of sponsoring the Modern Parenting Zone. This year our "What’s Next in Modern Parenting" exhibit includes a collection of new product designs from 10 Grain, Boon, Clek, Hushamok, Orbit Baby, and Wallter.
View our photos from last year on Flickr.
CA Boom takes place on March 14 through March 16, 2008 at Barker Hanger at Santa Monica Airport, Santa Monica, California.
Save $4 off admission when purchasing tickets online at www.caboomshow.com. Use coupon code "modernbaby".
See you there!


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Newly released consumer research by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and its insights provider IRI reveals that food retail private brands have greater influence on where grocery customers shop. Today, 46% of consumers say store brands influence their store choice, versus just 35% three years ago, and private brands are gaining fans across a wider range of demographics and generations as retailers are successfully demonstrating innovation and value. The Power of Private Brands: From the Consumer is the final analysis in a three-part series regarding private brand trends, which all share unique perspectives on the growth potential across categories and channels.
“The solid growth of private brands reflects the success of retailers treating private brands as brands, rather than just following the lead of national and legacy brands,” said Doug Baker, FMI vice president of industry relations. “The proof is in consumer satisfaction—shoppers surveyed shared most that they trust the quality of private brands and believe they get a good value. Still, our research indicates that challenges remain for private brands’ image, such as its packaging.”
While Baker noted that grocery retail growth with their private brands has not been keeping pace with other retail channels, private brands led manufacturer brands in dollar sales growth across multiple retail outlets for the second consecutive year, up 5.4%. The positive momentum is reflected across many private brand categories, geographic regions, consumer generations, and income levels. The catalysts are a range of factors, including increased shopper trips, higher dollars per trip, increased velocity, shoppers adding more items to carts, and expanded distribution.
“Consumers have shown they are willing to embrace new directions in their private brand strategies, which suggests myriad possibilities for retailers as they explore shopper preferences revealed in our research,” said Mark McKeown, client insights principal, IRI.
A new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study suggests that nearly one in five (18%) American adolescents aged 12–18 and one in four (24%) young adults aged 19–34 are living with prediabetes.
As competition for the U.S. snacking dollar intensifies, pressure is mounting on the salty snacks category to adapt and diversify in order to maintain its relevance. New product development (NPD) is already reflecting the industry’s push toward added value in both nutrition and taste.
To further increase the understanding of the microbiome’s impact on human health and to accelerate the development of innovative nutritional solutions promoting health and wellbeing, Nestlé has entered into a partnership with the University of California San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI).
Short-term increases in sugar consumption could increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and have a significant impact on our health, a new study out of the University of Alberta (U of A) suggests.
In a new study, 41 states and territories show declines in obesity among young children from families enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) between 2010 and 2016, according to data published in U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.


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Denis McFadden hopes to return to his winning hairdressing ways in the UK at the upcoming Franchise Show at London next month.
With over 27 years in Franchising, Just Cuts™ has grown to be the largest hairdressing company in the Southern Hemisphere, performing over 90,000 haircuts per week!
This isn’t the first time that hairdresser, Denis McFadden, has spent time in our Capital. In 1967 he arrived at Southampton Docks as part of a world cruise with P&O, styling the hair of first-class passengers. In the same year, at the age of 21, and having decided to stay in London for a while, Denis won the Richard Henry inter-salon colour trophy final in London. In the Hairdressers’ Guide review of the awards he said, “I consider London as the world centre for hair fashion so this win is a particularly proud moment for me.”
Just two years later, Denis opened his very first salon, Dantes, in Seymour Place in London, running it for 10 years before returning to Australia in 1979. In 1983, he decided to run a simple promotion to boost business at his humble salon in Sydney and offered all clients a “no appointment, $6 Style Cuts™”. The response was outstanding and the idea of Just Cuts™ was born.
In 1990, the first Just Cuts™ franchise opened in the suburb of Engadine, in the south of Sydney, Australia. Since then, expansion has seen over 190 salons open in Australia and New Zealand.
Over 30 years later, Denis is returning to The Franchise Show at London’s Excel on 17-18 February with the goal of opening Just Cuts’ 200th salon in London in 2017. Whilst you still don’t need an appointment at a Just Cuts franchise, today’s charge is closer to £20 than $6.
Denis explains, “Over the years, we have had many English and Irish backpackers who have travelled to Australia and New Zealand seeking work in our various salons. When the time comes for them to depart the question remains – when will Just Cuts be coming to the UK? It’s motivated us to make the move with the goal of entering and owning the UK market!”
You can find out more about Just Cuts at The Franchise Show on 17-18 February with free tickets available at www.thefranchiseshow.co.uk
For more information on this brand - please click here


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Cambodian mobile operator Cellcard and mobile payments company Fortumo have announced the launch of their direct carrier billing partnership.
The partnership will allow over 4 million Cellcard subscribers to pay for digital content by simply charging payments to their mobile phone bill.
Cellcard CEO Ian Watson said: “Our subscribers will now be able to easily access content from the world’s largest digital media companies, which would otherwise be unavailable for any subscriber without access to a credit card or an online payment account.”
Siddharth Sahi, Fortumo Vice President of Business Development & Carrier Relations, said his company was uniquely positioned to provide access to both global app stores as well as leading digital merchants.
More than 15 million Cambodians own a mobile phone, of which 6 million are smartphones. Over the past year, local smartphone ownership has jumped from 26% to 40%. Only 5% of Cambodians, however, own a bank card, making online payments inaccessible for a majority of people. Carrier billing provides an opportunity for both mobile operators and digital content merchants to grow their online payment reach in Cambodia through direct carrier billing.
Fortumo’s direct carrier billing platform is used by leading app stores (Google Play, Windows Phone Store), digital media companies (Sony, Hooq, Gaana) and game developers (EA Mobile, Gameloft, Rovio). To enable global carrier billing for these merchants, Fortumo partners with more than 350 mobile operators across the world.
The platform allows users to make payments over a data connection by confirming purchases with one click on their phone. Payments are processed without any additional information required from the mobile user, which provides a significant conversion improvement compared to any other online payment method.


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Galaxy S22 series sold over one million in South Korea
Although the global sales of the Galaxy S22 series have declined due to performance issues, Samsung’s flagship models still have very good sales in the country. According to The Korea Times, sales of the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra in South Korea have exceeded 900,000 units since April and will break the 1 million mark by this week. Samsung released the Galaxy S22 series on February 25 this year.
The Galaxy S22 series passed the million mark two weeks earlier than last year’s Galaxy S21 series, and a month and a half earlier than the hugely popular Galaxy S10 series in 2019. Samsung said the Galaxy S22 series performed well in overseas markets, with sales up 70 percent compared to last year’s models, though Samsung did not provide specific sales figures.
For Samsung, the ability to stabilize sales in its home market and dominant markets is the key to confronting rivals such as Apple.


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Zalando has posted an increase in sales and profits and gained more customers during its first quarter.
The online fashion retailer posted €6.5m (£5.5m) in adjusted EBITDA during the first quarter of the year, up from €0.4m (£0.3m) in the same period the previous year.
The upmarket fashion platform recorded a 15.2% increase in sales growth to €1.4bn (£1.2bn), down slightly from 22% for the first quarter last year.
Zalando attributed its strong start to the year to “expanding its customer reach” as active customers increased 14.1% to 27.2 million.
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Sugary Sodas High in Diabetes-Linked Compound
But experts say more study is needed to confirm any danger
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2007 (HealthDay News) -- Sodas sweetened with high fructose corn syrup contain high levels of a potentially dangerous compound often found in the blood of diabetics, a new study concludes.
It could be cause for concern, experts say, because the "reactive carbonyls" in these sugary drinks could bump up diabetes risk, particularly in children.
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) "is the most popular sweetener used in foods and beverages today, it has been used in the United States for many years," said Chi-Tang Ho, a professor of food science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.
Virtually all carbonated soft drinks in the United States are sweetened with HFCS, mostly because it dissolves easily, is sweeter than other types of sugar, and is more economical. Although the study did not specifically investigate the risk of diabetes with HFCS drinks, Ho suggested that steering clear of them might be a healthy move.
His team tested 11 carbonated soft drinks that contained HFCS and found they contained high levels of reactive carbonyls -- compounds that are normally elevated in the blood of people with diabetes.
The study was expected to be presented Thursday at the American Chemical Society annual meeting in Boston.
The reactive carbonyls in the blood of diabetics have been linked to complications of diabetes, such as tissue damage, Ho said.
In his study, Ho found that just one can of HCFS-sweetened carbonated beverage contained about five times the amount of reactive carbonyls found in the blood of a person with diabetes. In comparison, sucrose -- ordinary table sugar -- contains no reactive carbonyls, he said.
Ho suggests that parents check the labels of all the beverages their children consume and discourage them from drinking those containing HCFS. Instead, substitute diet carbonated beverages, water or fruit juices.
Ho also noted that other types of beverages may contain high levels of HFCS, as well. So-called "hydrating" sports drinks often contain HFCS. Ho is particularly concerned about high-caffeine energy drinks.
"I worry about kids in high school," he said. "They rely on energy drinks to do their homework and stay awake. The level of [HFCS] is so high."
Adding a beneficial antioxidant compound found in tea called "epigallocatechin gallate," or EGCG, to drinks that contain HFCS appears to lower reactive carbonyl levels, Ho said. That could mean that drinking beverages that contain both tea extracts and HFCS may not be as harmful as drinking HCFS-sweetened sodas, he said. However, further research is needed to prove that.
Beverages that contain both fruit juice and HFCS also appear to have fewer reactive carbonyl levels, possibly because of beneficial compounds called phytochemicals found naturally in fruit juice, Ho said.
Lona Sandon is assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. She said the Rutgers study is still inconclusive.
"It doesn't address the risk [of diabetes], it simply shows a possible mechanism for why there might be more risk in children who drink more HFCS-sweetened sodas," she said.
"Although there are other epidemiologic studies showing a correlation between sweetened soda and diabetes, it is not a proven cause-and-effect," Sandon said.
Nevertheless, she suggests that everyone follow dietary guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Those guidelines advocate reducing sweetened drinks from the diet, and "most health professionals currently recommend that kids get zero sugary drinks a day, particularly overweight or obese children," Sandon said.
Dr. Barbara B. Kahn, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, agreed that Ho's study "needs to be validated by other studies" before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
"However, given the marked prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in our society, and the accompanying risks for cardiovascular disease, there is no reason related to health to drink beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup," said Kahn, who is also a professor of medicine at Harvard University.
"In general, it would be healthier to avoid most high-calorie beverages as part of a program to prevent obesity," she added. "There may be added reasons to avoid beverages with HFCS."
Read the U.S. government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans.


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In November, 270 I-PACE were sold, which is so far the best result ever in the U.S.
Jaguar hasn’t released U.S. sales results for the month of October, but the ones for November show improvement in Jaguar I-PACE sales.
The British brand managed to sell 270 I-PACE (up 64% year-over-year), which is the new record (as we assume October was not too strong).
Since the overall Jaguar sales went down by 7% (to 2,958), I-PACE share stands at 9.1%.
Jaguar I-PACE sales in U.S. – November 2019
The I-PACE is quite an exclusive EV, as just 2,500+ are driving in the U.S., but it’s a noticeable slice of the pie for the Jaguar brand.
We are especially interested to see the December result. Usually, EVs were selling better towards the end of the year. Part of that was a quicker $7,500 federal tax credit refund for the outgoing year.
Source: Read Full Article


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UPDATE (October 3, 2020): After a first look at the sneaker emerged recently, A-COLD-WALL* has now confirmed that the Chuck Taylor All-Star Lugged “Carbon” will release via its web store on October 5. The sneaker will release simulatenously around the world, meaning it will be available in New York at 9AM EST, London at 2PM BST and Los Angeles at 6AM EST. For a full release schedule, head over to the A-COLD-WALL* site.
The silhouette, which first debuted at ACW’s SS20 runway at London Fashion Week last year, appeared alongside a full range of apparel. This iteration takes artistic inspiration from rare earth elements and the powerful natural forces of erosion and fossilization, while utilizing premium materials and stylish distressing.
Taking further notes from the UK’s underground street culture and vivid landscapes, each sneaker fuses the worlds of basketball, brutalist architecture and natural environments, with fine tailoring and precise construction. Arriving in a rugged black nylon, each sneaker is completed with a reflective zig-zag stitching all on a thick rubber outsole.
The latest all-black Converse x A-COLD-WALL* Chuck Taylor Lugged sneaker is set to drop on October 8 via the Converse webstore, retailing from $160 USD.


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SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire
Integrated Media Technology Limited (NASDAQ: IMTE) (“IMTE” or the “Company”), announces today the signing of a subscription agreement for 60% equity interests in World Integrated Supply Ecosystem Sdn Bhd. (“WISE”), a Malaysia company engaged in the business of the provision of halal certification to qualified businesses/operations, the establishment halal products supply chain, and sale of halal products.
WISE’s business involves bringing Halal certification to the forefront of food safety for the food industry. Halal is a process adhering to cleanness in the growing, preparation and delivery of food products.
WISE will provide certification working with the JAKIM, a department of the Malaysia government mandated to conduct and manage the Halal certification process. WISE is working towards being appointed by JAKIM Malaysia as an accredited Certification Body to conduct the auditing process and certify the product application. WISE will also work with other Certification Bodies worldwide that have been accredited by JAKIM, thereby extending our reach to the global markets.
WISE’s other ambition is to promote the global supply chain of Halal products through cooperation and collaboration with international Halal organizations, consumer community and manufacturing bodies to strengthen the Halal ecosystem. By working with the Halal product manufacturers, WISE will be able to market their products via a supply chain network and trading platform, both offline and online, for raw materials to finished products.
We intend to use the latest technology to provide traceability to products to track their movements from farm to table. Dato’ Megat Radzman, CEO of WISE, stated “Today we are concerned with food safety from around the world.
The environment around us is changing rapidly and it is a challenge for consumers to determine what food and from where are safe. With this in mind, we aim to bring the Halal process to growers, food processors and distributors to build a creditable halal ecosystem.” Dato’ Radzman further added, “WISE will provide online courses on Halal practice and food handling to educate and train Halal food players to maintain the quality and compliance of their Halal products.”
WISE is entering a specialized food (Halal) market estimated to have a value of about US$1.9 trillion in 2020 and is expected to continue to increase in the coming years. WISE aims to be a key player in building the ecosystem and a trading platform for growers/producers to sell their products direct to consumers and wholesalers/distributors. Dato’ Radzman concluded, “There is a tremendous opportunity to provide Halal products to the world. The pandemic has highlighted the need to maintain food safety throughout the supply chain, and a delivery system that people can rely on.”
Mr. Xiaodong Zhang, IMTE CEO, stated “We are very excited to work with WISE and its management team to build a Halal ecosystem. Although this is not IMTE’s traditional technology investment, we see many applications in bringing this ecosystem to the new digital economy from traceability, anti-counterfeiting technology, application of Blockchain and automation. “


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28 February 2005 00:01 [Source: ICB Americas]
In a deal that could set off a new wave of M&A activity in the generic drug industry, Novartis will pay roughly $8.5 billion to capture Lake Success, N.Y.-based Eon Labs Inc. and Holzkirchen, Germany-based Hexal AG. The acquisitions will catapult Sandoz, the generic arm of Novartis, into the top slot of the fiercely competitive global generics market.
Novartis will shell out €5.65 billion ($7.5 billion) in cash for Hexal, the second-largest generic firm in Germany, and Hexal’s 67.7 percent share of Eon Labs, which has a strategic partnership with Hexal. Once the merger is
approved by the Eon board, Novartis will launch an additional tender offer to acquire the remaining 31.9 million shares of Eon for $31 per share, or about $988 million.
Sandoz expects to realize $200 million in cost savings within the first three years of closing the deal, with half of that figure achieved in the first 18 months. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2005.
The deal knocks Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc. out of the leading position in the global generic drug market. The additions will also shift Sandoz into the top position in Germany and the number-two position in the US, considered critical markets in the generic drug arena.
“We will be building a generics powerhouse in the next few months,” Andreas Rummelt, CEO of Sandoz, told investors in a conference call following the announcement. “The strongest brand names are coming together.”
The two businesses bring different strengths to Sandoz’s operations, though both contribute to the company’s goal of becoming increasingly vertically integrated and global in reach. Hexal, though more of a commoditized player, significant bolsters Sandoz’s presence in the European market, particularly in Germany, where there is strong generic pricing.
“Sandoz previously had a very small share of the lucrative German market (2 percent of the 2003 market according to Datamonitor estimates), while Hexal held a substantial 20 percent,” says David Evans, associate analyst, pharma vitae and commercial development, with Datamonitor’s healthcare & pharmaceuticals business unit. “Hexal has proven capabilities in rapid product development and registration, fitting with Sandoz’s focus on being first to market.”
Meanwhile, Eon brings robust growth—boasting a CAGR of 36 percent between 1997 and 2004—and expertise in “difficult-to-make” generic products. “Eon Labs … has succeeded in going into niches and areas where there are few competitors and [where] technologies are not easily copied—their operating margin of 40 percent reflects that,” says Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO of Novartis.
Novartis sees sales in the global generics market pushing up from $58 billion in 2004, to roughly $100 billion by 2010. “We should have a significant share of the overall worldwide market,” says Dr. Vasella, who adds that capturing about 10 percent of the market by 2010 “should be a target that is absolutely within reach.”
The two acquisitions are a good launching pad for achieving that goal. Combined pro forma 2004 sales of the new Sandoz totalled $5.1 billion, and the company’s expanded portfolio will boast over 600 active ingredients in more than 5,000 dosage forms.
Importantly, the addition of Hexal and Eon will add scale that can help the company better penetrate physician and pharmacist markets as it prepares to launch 70 drugs, 37 coming from Hexal and Eon, in the US and Germany alone in 2005.
Leading brands in the newly expanded portfolio include citalopram (Forest Laboratories’ Celexa), omeprazole (AstraZeneca’s Prilosec), simvastatin (Merck’s Zocor), buproprion (GlaxoSmithKline’s Wellbutrin) and enalapril (Merck’s Vasotec).
The deal also reinforces Sandoz’s global production network, which consists of 43 plants spanning 22 countries, and encompasses technologies ranging from tablet production to production of sterile injectables and asthma inhalants. Specifically, Hexal deepens the company’s manufacturing footprint in the European market, while Eon adds two facilities in the US.
Importantly, the company will have significant in-house manufacturing capacity across the globe for active pharmaceutical ingredients, “which often is key to be first to market, but usually is mandatory to be last to market in terms of cost,” says Mr. Rummelt.
The global generics market is growing at a healthy clip. However, severe pricing pressure has pressured margins and created a highly competitive environment. Novartis expects to leverage its heft to lower production, sourcing and processing costs, which should improve its competitiveness across the life cycle of a generics product.
“We have not started to address the initiative to really globalize several of our functions, like production, registration and development. With this acquisition, we will have further leverage to do so more deeply and more rapidly” says Dr. Vasella.
Though analysts acknowledge the importance of global reach and a broad product and technology portfolio, there are also concerns that Sandoz has grown too big, too fast.
“Questions have been raised in the past over Sandoz’s future with Novartis, and its performance has continued to disappoint,” says Datamonitor. In the absence of any major acquisitions, Sandoz would have posted weak 2004 results, affected by price competition.
In fact, Hexal’s leading position in Germany may be at risk once it is folded into Sandoz’s operations. Branded generics lead the pack in Germany, and Hexal’s intrinsic value may be compromised once it is integrated into Sandoz, says Datamonitor.
“German healthcare reforms are now putting severe pressure on generic pricing, which is stunting growth prospects for leading players,” says Mr. Evans. Generics have already achieved 50 percent penetration in the German market, meaning any growth will come from new product launches. “Therefore, while Hexal’s generic profitability is currently very good, the economic environment is not particularly favoring sustained growth.”
The acquisition of Hexal and Eon Labs is the latest in a string of generics purchases for Novartis, which clearly has had Teva’s number one slot in its crosshairs.
“The financial muscle of Novartis has given Sandoz unprecedented purchasing power within the generics industry, allowing the Swiss firm to fulfill its vision of Sandoz as a truly global organization” says Datamonitor.
Last summer, the company picked up Quebec, Canada-based Sabex Holdings Ltd., which specializes in injectable generics. In 2002, Novartis paid roughly $850 million to acquire the Slovenian drug firm Lek D.D., giving the company a foothold in the rapidly growing Eastern European generics market.
Earlier bolt-on acquisitions included the US generics business operations of Apothecon Inc., BASF’s European generic activities, Argentinean generic firm Labinca SA, and the UK-based Lagap Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
The purchase of Hexal and Eon could set the stage for a new wave of M&A activity in the generic drug sector.
“Economies of scale are extremely important within commodity generics, and further consolidation, especially within the fragmented European markets, is certain to follow,” says Datamonitor.
German companies are ripe for the picking, following Novartis’ bold move. “There are a host of regional players that could make targets for companies wishing to step up their German presence: the likes of BetaPharm, Fresenius, NeuraxPharm, West Johann Lohmann, Woerwag and ABZ Pharma,” says Mr. Evans.
He notes that players with strong technology platforms will also continue to be attractive targets. These include companies with expertise in transdermal and inhalable delivery systems, and even biogeneric developers.
“Datamonitor also expects consolidation in the immature, fragmented generics markets in France, Spain and Italy, which all offer strong growth prospects in generic utilization. Teva’s acquisition of Pfizer’s Dorom unit in Italy typifies this,” adds Mr. Evans.
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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, education company Apollo Group and gold prices were among the top trending topics on StockTwits Friday.
Research in Motion () and its ongoing troubles is always a popular topic on StockTwits, but the chatter escalated after an anonymous high-level executive wrote an open letter to the company's board of directors calling for a reorganization.
Commodities were also in focus after gold prices fell below the $1,500-an-ounce mark Friday -- its lowest level in six weeks. Silver prices were also under pressure.
Lastly shares of Apollo Group (Fortune 500), the parent company of the University of Phoenix, jumped nearly 7% Friday, a day after the company posted earnings that widely beat analyst expectations.,
Apollo, and other for-profit education companies, have been in focus this year following government investigations into whether these colleges provide enough training to allow students to graduate into jobs that will allow them to repay their loans.
All of that is giving StockTwits users plenty to tweet about:
polluxtechnical nothing would be better IMO than to see #interest #rates rise. Take a bite out of #inflation and send $GLD $SLV $USOin a tailspin
biggercapital Wondering about who benefits from $APOLreport. Other EDU stocks such as $COCOor others. Thinking
|What we want Apple to unveil at WWDC|
|Millennials squeezed out of buying a home|
|7 traits the rich have in common|
|Big Data knows you're sick, tired and depressed|
|Your car is a giant computer - and it can be hacked|
|Overnight Avg Rate||Latest||Change||Last Week|
|30 yr fixed||4.01%||4.05%|
|15 yr fixed||3.19%||3.23%|
|30 yr refi||4.01%||4.07%|
|15 yr refi||3.19%||3.24%|
Today's featured rates:


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recently launched its ‘Future of Food Report’ which predicts the role food
could play in our lives in 2025, 2050 and 2169.
An insightful read that reinforces the crucial need to take action to safeguard our planet’s health, here are the top callouts:
The foods we eat will
become more planet-friendly. A quarter of us will be vegetarian or vegan.
our earth warming at an accelerated rate, planet-friendly food is a hot topic.
And it should be. What we consume – and how it’s produced, packaged and
transported – has enormous implications not only for human health but the
therefore not surprising to see predictions that, by 2025, a quarter of all
British people will be vegetarian (up from one in eight Britons today) and half
of us will identify as flexitarians (up from one fifth today).
as demand for plant-based foods soars, the grocery aisles will need to adjust.
Hydroponically grown plants* are expected to revolutionize the meaning of ‘fresh’
and we’ll see a proliferation of plant-based meat alternatives. Jackfruit
(already surging in popularity in 2019), is predicted to become a popular meat substitute
as well as mushroom-based products,
algae milk, seaweed, caviar and insects (crawly things are already making their
way onto our shelves – just check out Eat Grub’s range of protein-packed,
2025 will see a surge in public awareness altering the foods we eat, what’s in
store for 2050?
Cultured meat will become
a grocery staple.
the global population expected to reach nine billion people by 2050, it will
not be sustainable to produce and consume the same quantities of meat that we
report anticipates that cellular proteins – the ‘meaty tissue’ cultivated
independently from animals using stem cells – will reduce the need for farmed
animals (and consequential greenhouse gases). While we’re currently seeing
research in this area in beef and fish, it’s predicted that by 2050, the
application may expand to eggs, milk and gelatine.
Our oceanic diet will
consumers, the breeds of marine life we consume will need to vastly expand – a
vital move to protect marine ecosystems.
to serve up lesser-eaten species such as porgy, dogfish, lionfish and barramundi.
We are likely to also place higher value on previously overlooked nutrient
sources and invasive species, such as jellyfish and seaweed.
order to leave some element to the imagination – this snapshot will require
some further reading.
the meantime, here’s a teaser – chips embedded in our skin, robots managing
farms and food consumption becoming an immersive, all-sensory experience.
Flexitarian: A flexitarian diet is one that is
predominantly plant-based with the occasional inclusion of meat and other
animal products. Also known as semi, casual or part-time vegetarian.
plant: Hydroponics is
a subset of hydroculture, which is a method of growing plants without soil by
using mineral nutrient solutions in water. Hydroponically grown plants,
cultivated without soil, can be grown in spaces that would otherwise be unused
– underground tunnels, disused warehouses etc., offering new opportunities for
urban food growing.
Future of Food Report’, 2019, https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/~/media/Files/S/Sainsburys/pdf-downloads/future-of-food-08.pdf
We have been awarded the PRCA Gold CMS Award for achieving CMS certification for 17 years of continued excellence. The Communications Management Standard (CMS) is awarded by the PRCA (Public Relations and Communications Association) to companies who demonstrate operational excellence. We are audited annually and scored on nine core areas… Read more
We can’t lie – it’s been a great start to 2023. And now we’re almost halfway through the year, we wanted to fill you in on what’s been keeping us busy. We’ve had plenty to celebrate over the last couple of months: amazing new clients, incredible award wins… a brand-spanking-new… Read more
I’m going to kick this off with a good ol’ cliché, because that’s what all decent blogs do: in a world that’s changing at a rapid pace, it’s no surprise that influencer marketing is moving just as quickly. Read more


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Entrepreneurship lifestyle and community service were high points at the recent launch of a new line of hair products and a hair salon in Lagos. This was at the opening of a hair, beauty and lifestyle salon and hair care school run by Angel Nony Utomi in Agungi, Lekki, in Lagos, with some leading Ladies of Style and Enterprise, as well as parents of the proprietor, Prof. Pat Utomi and Professor Ifeoma Utomi in attendance.
The cutting of the tape opening at the first outlet of Glamouree Lifestyle was performed by the glamorous Chief Executive of the Leading Electric Meter Manufacturer, Mojec International, Ms. Chantelle Abdul. Others present at the soft launch of the Glamouree Centre on Dele Adeyemi street in Agungi include Nollywood actress Barbara Odoh, immediate past chairman of Ikoyi Club, Engineer Tunde Akinleye, and Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta, former Anambra State Commissioner for Information.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive, Nony Utomi, with several of her classmates from University in England who spoke of her passion with hair, indicated that the Glamouree line of hair care products were already being produced and distributed to rave reviews. She said hair loss management would be one of the specialties of the Glamouree franchise which they aim to locate across the country and West Africa, beginning with the Lagos area.
In his opening prayer, Prof. Pat Utomi noted that it was fitting that after preaching youth entrepreneurship for so many years his own children would be responding to the message.
The Glomouree Centre includes a Hairdressing salon, with tracks for natural hair and permed hair, products, and wig boutiques and school for hair specialists.
Nony Utomi who has a degree in Fashion Marketing from Huddersfield University in the United Kingdom and has attended Hair Care programmes in Lagos and United States said that Glamouree was all about hair, indicating facilities for manufacturing their Haircare products were next in line.
PIX: glamouree Lifestyle.jpg


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Dubbed the 'Uber of events', TickX pulls over 70,000 events from over 30 ticket sellers. The app compares gig, theatre, sports, club night, comedy and festival ticket prices on one site and smartphone app.
"If someone's thinking of a ticket seller we want them to think TickX. We want to be the one-stop shop for event goers," TickX cofounder Steve Pearce tells Techworld.
In the last 12 months operations have gone from strength to strength for founders Sam Coley and Steve Pearce, with TickX.co.uk reaching 100,000 monthly active users and its revenues growing 40 percent month on month. Not to mention appearing on BBC's Dragon's Den.
After interviewing cofounder Steve Pearce this time last year, Techworld caught up with Pearce again to discuss what's happened over the last 12 months.
"We've worked hard and have grown the team. We've brought Tim Chambers, one of the world's most connected guys in terms of ticketing on to our board as a non-executive director," explains Pearce.
"Then we just focused on really growing the traffic to our website, going from zero to 100,000 monthly active users. It was this growth and our progress to date that enabled us to attract a much larger £750,000 investment," adds Pearce.
Both Coley and Pearce appeared on Dragon's Den at the start of 2017, when TickX was hailed "the Uber of events" by multi-millionaire Peter Jones. The startup received three offers of investment: a joint offer of £75,000 from Peter Jones and Nick Jenkins for 20 percent equity, and one from Touker Suleyman for 15 percent equity.
But to the surprise of the Dragons, the pair rejected all offers.
"We actually filmed Dragon's Den in May  and when we said no to the Dragons we were looking for investment that that point. And then we managed to finalise that round of investment in November ," says Pearce.
"We were pleased with the results. It was just a huge stamp of validation that they were interested in TickX. We just felt that the offers undervalued the business, where we are up to and our progress to date. So we thought we'd roll the dice," says Pearce.
"We are confident we have made the right decision", he adds.
Since its filming, TickX has secured £750,000 in funding from investment firm 24Haymarket, former Chairman of BskyB Nick Ferguson and Stan Boland and other top-level investors, adding to its £175,000 backing from music giants Ministry of Sound secured last year.
This funding adds up to 10 times more than the £75,000 offered by the Dragons.
"Upon closing that round we are now a team of seven and we will be going to 12 in the next three to four months," says Pearce.
"We are in a period of rapid growth now which is nice to have because when we first finalised the round we were just dipping our feet in the water and getting used to growing the users and getting used to the tech. But now we're seeing rapid growth every month," he adds.
For any startup in any sector, the first couple of years are definitely the hardest. Getting to grips with aspects of business law, staffing issues and technical matters are among the top issues startups will face in the early stages.
"One of the challenges we've faced is the shortage of developers in the UK and finding talent, particularly on the tech side," explains Pearce.
"Another challenge is that we are working round the clock, you never stop thinking about it. So finding some sort of work-life balance is important. There really isn't any separation which is both a positive and a negative.
"Finally raising capital is very tough. We've brought some incredible investors onboard but it's not been a smooth journey. My advice for anyone that's trying to raise funding is to try and get the growth there first and try and get excitement to the platform to get a lot of people interested in what you're doing because people like backing companies that other people want to back," says Pearce.
The future of TickX: Chatbots
Last year seemed to be the year of the chatbot, or at least the year companies started making chatbots part of their business strategy.
And TickX is no different.
"We're going to be launching a ticketing bot. You'll be able to send a message to Facebook Messenger and it will show you all the events around you," says Pearce.
"It's the new hot topic. You can get from A to B a lot quicker. And we want to have it so you can say, 'find me four of the cheapest upper circle tickets to see the Lion King' and it can say 'how about these?' and send you the correct ones.
"I think it's going to be the first of its kind globally really as we've got his special source of inventory that no one else has so it should be quite an exciting project," highlighted Pearce.


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Meta Platforms Inc. Class A News
Amazon Exec Caught Up in Anti-Union Probe Steps Down
Dave Clark has been at Amazon for 23 years.
Amazon's Biggest Rival Isn't Walmart, It's Congress
Amazon is facing attacks on multiple fronts from Congress currently, but over the past two decades the U.S. government has been very good to the trillion dollar plus company.
Stock Market Today - 6/2: Stocks End Higher Ahead of Key Payroll report
Microsoft's surprise earnings guidance rattled markets Thursday, adding to worries that inflation will continue to blunt growth prospects in the world's largest economy.
Musk Endorses Fellow Billionaire in Los Angeles Mayoral Race
The CEO of Tesla has become one of the most influential voices in the world.
A Beloved Disney World Ride Is Getting an Overhaul
A Disney voice actress dropped details on when it may open, too.


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"Block Chain and Social Governance" ended, and ten trends in the development of global blockchain applications were released
Release time：2018-06-13Source：XYCC Click on：
On May 28, the global blockchain technology development forum "blockchain and social governance" was held in 2018. Focusing on the theme of “co-building, sharing wisdom, and sharing”, the special session will focus on discussing the evolution path and solution of blockchain in the field of social governance, thus promoting the landing of application scenarios and realizing the gradual integration of blockchain and real economy. The Botswana blockchain segment was contracted by the China Institute of Information and Communications, and co-organized by People's Daily Online, Tell Infor, and Titanium Media.
In the past two years, blockchain technology has received increasing attention from governments, organizations and companies around the world. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speech at the 2018 academician’s conference pointed out that the new generation of information technologies represented by blockchain, artificial intelligence, etc. has accelerated the breakthrough in application, and science and technology have never affected people’s well-being like they do today.
According to Vice President He Guili of the China Information Technology Institute, the blockchain is an important technology and concept that affects the future development. He explained how the new technologies represented by the blockchain and the development of the digital economy have brought new momentum to economic and social development. At present, China ICT has established a team of topical blockchains, actively conducting blockchain protocol and standards research, trustworthiness and security testing, and development of practical solutions. The Trusted Blockchain Alliance led by China Information & Communication Technology Institute is gradually introducing test platforms and technical specifications. Technical standards have also received extensive support and attention from ITU.
The forum also invited Mr. Stan Larimer, one of the three major blockchain ecosystems in the world, Mr. Stan Larimer, a Chinese American scientist, a professor of physics at Stanford University, an academician of the National Academy of Sciences, and a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is a blockchain investor. Mr. Zhang Shouyi, together with Ray Valdes, Chief Transformation Officer of ConsenSys, Julian Gordon, Vice President of Asia Pacific of Superledger (Hyperledger), Thunder Group, and CEO Chen Lei from Network Technology, etc. Innovative management methods, building a community of integrity, “community of wisdom, blockchain—building a smart city to help the real economy,” “sharing, blockchain—software-defined world, and smart to lead the future” are the keynote speeches.
In addition, numerous industry elites, experts and scholars have conducted round-table conversations around topics such as the implementation and application of blockchain in social governance scenarios and the iteration of blockchain technology. On the same day, Director Ho Baohong of the Institute of Cloud Computing and Big Data of China’s Information and Communication Technology Institute also released “The Top Ten Trends of 2018 Global Blockchain Application Development”.
Ten trends include:
Blockchain technology is constantly iteratively updated, and is moving toward greater convergence.
The development process of the blockchain industry has been accelerated and it has entered the main theme of “retreat to reality”;
The application of blockchains is increasingly complex and the importance of cross-chain interconnections is prominent.
The standardization of blockchains has accelerated, and countries are competing for standard setting rights;
The diversity of blockchain privacy protection mechanisms has become a key lubricant for activating commercial applications.
Blockchain security issues raise concerns and require urgent attention and solutions;
The competition for intellectual property rights in blockchains is becoming increasingly fierce. All Things will expand its patent portfolio;
The blockchain marketing campaign is predictable, allowing the business to return to full competition;
Blockchain raises regulatory issues, but the two complement each other;
Blockchain talent has become a key link, and all parties have stepped up efforts to cultivate.
In 2018, blockchain technology has been continuously iteratively updated to the direction of convergence, and in terms of storage, it has evolved from a single key-value database to relational databases and distributed databases. From an eco-environment, blockchain is being combined with cloud computing to diversify service customization. The blockchain used to be primarily virtual assets or virtual currencies. The process is now accelerating and scale applications in medical care, justice, and energy are accelerating.


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SEATTLE -- With kids heading back to school in a few weeks, parents are getting a head start on shopping.
A survey by American Express shows parents will spend more this year than years past due to increasing use of tech devices. Parents are expected to spend an average of $1,151 this year compared with $1,094 in 2013 and $867 in 2012.
Families are now finding ways to cut back in other ways, many of them making thrift stores a destination.
Inside Value Village in Ballard, Desiree Smith and her 12-year old daughter Marie are hunting for back-to-school clothes. Even outside of class lessons, there's a science to their shopping.
The Smiths aren't just looking for good styles but prices that won't break the bank. It's why she heads to second-hand stores.
"This is just a reasonable choice; this is the only place I shop for her clothing," said Desiree Smith. "Kids grow so quick and to invest a tremendous amount of money in that is just ridiculous."
Thrift stores like Value Village and the Goodwill say they have been busy and it's only expected to get busier as they draw closer to first day of classes.
"We’ve had some hard times the past few years, and I think people are trying to stretch their dollar a little bit," said Bryant Carlson, a Value Village store supervisor.
Many of the department store ads are also boasting back to school deals, but a recent Value Village Shopping Survey found a third of shoppers said they're shopping more at thrift stores than they did three years ago, 56 percent try to pay full price as rarely as possible, and nearly 50 percent of people will go over their back to school budget.
So on this National Thrift Shop Day, celebrated on August 17, the Smiths are at Value Village. Several outfits, two board games, and a few toys later, they're ready for school with some money to spare.


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Target to get an earlier start this Thanksgiving
Target Corp. is kicking off the holiday shopping season by opening its stores a bit earlier on Thanksgiving — and by making some Black Friday deals available early.
The discounter on Thursday announced it will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving (Nov. 22), and close at 1 a.m. It will reopen its doors on Black Friday at 7 a.m. Last year, Target opened at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. (Macy’s and Kohl’s will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, and J.C. Penney will open at 2 p.m., which is in line with what all three retailers did last year.)
Target on Thursday also unveiled its annual Black Friday ad, which includes deals on everything from televisions (with more than 15 under $300) and the Xbox One console to home, apparel and beauty. For those looking to get a jump-start on holiday shopping, the retailer is offering select Black Friday deals across categories in stores and on Target.com today (Nov. 1) only.
In addition, Target is offering a bonus to shoppers who spend $50 in store or online or scan the wallet feature in the Target app in stores on Black Friday (Nov. 23): a coupon for 20% off on a future shopping trip, redeemable from Nov. 27 through Dec. 8. And as it did last year, Target will offer localized store maps in its app that clearly identify where specific Black Friday deals are located within each Target store.
Target also announced that mobile checkout is now available at all its stores nationwide. During peak events like Black Friday, associates will be located in the busiest areas of the store, such as electronics.
“We know many of our guests look forward to our Black Friday deals every year, and today, they can start shopping and save big on some of the hottest items of the season,” says Mark Tritton, executive VP and chief merchandising officer, Target. “Combined with the unmatched easy ways to shop with us — including new mobile technology that allows guests to skip the line for an even more convenient checkout — we’re confident guests will save time and money, and experience the joy of the season by choosing Target.”


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With the acquisition of Hahnin, FCB Worldwide becomes one of the top 10 international agencies in Korea. Clients include some of the leading fashion, household appliance, construction and securities firms in Korea, including Kolon, Web-2-Phone, and Han-dok. The new agency, to be called FCB Hahnin, will be headed up by Mr. K.S. Cho, currently president of FCB in Korea, and Exec VP Guy Gostling, previously general manager, FCB Korea. The new agency's billings will reach more than $40 million.
In France, Acam is one of the top proximity advertising organizations. Clients include food retailer Carrefour, leading direct-mail distributor Mediaposte and premier leisure and handcraft goods chain Loisirs et Creations.
Didier Stora, exec VP of FCB/France, will become president of FCB/Acam and will integratethe acquisition into FCB/France in collaboration with Pascal Richou, operations manager of Acam.
Copyright December 2000, Crain Communications Inc.


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ACCC says it will keep a close eye on Coles.
Food and liquor up, petrol down.
Coles’ Down Down campaign that has been winning over customers is expanding in its Coles Express stores.
Coles is expected to create more than 4,000 jobs in the next financial year as part of a $300 million investment in around 150 new and improved supermarkets, liquor and Coles Express stores across the country.
Coles Express has deployed an integrated software suite from Retalix at its headquarters and its 625 convenience and shell-braded fuel stores across the country.
The five-year agreement will see Customers provide ATM hardware and software, ongoing maintenance, cash servicing, branding and 24-hour technical support to Coles Express.
A Coles Express in Windsor, NSW is being used as a test site by the supermarket giant to allow customers to pick-up their online grocery orders from its petrol station.
Coles Express has been named Major Retailer of the Year by the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores.


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NIO has officially launched the first battery swap station in Norway, where the Chinese manufacturer intends to have a total of 20 such facilities in 2022.
The station opened on January 2019, 2022 close to the E-18 at Kjellstad in Lier, a few kilometers north of Drammen. The site was ready after a few months of preparations, since at least November 2021.
The company recently released also its first over-the-air software update in Norway (the first outside China).
It’s the second-generation Power Swap Station 2.0, introduced in April 2021, which has 14 battery slots – 13 battery packs (vs 5 in the 1.0 version) and an empty slot to pick up a discharged battery (or old/previous generation battery when upgrading).
The battery swap stations will support the market launch of the NIO ES8 model, as well as the following electric cars from NIO (all are compatible with the battery swap system).
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October 14, 2019
The environmental dangers of the internal combustion engine have been brought sharply to light, and it is for this reason that the electric vehicle market carries on to rise exponentially.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla and with major names and a roster of start-ups following suit, the EV is on the verge of an explosion into the mainstream.
For aluminium, this presents an exciting range of new and growing opportunities, in particular for extruded aluminium.
EV Charging Points
Across the UK, there are somewhere in the region of 200,000 EV charging points, a major growth on the last few years.
Throughout Europe as a whole, the use of EVs and therefore the installation of EV charging points is on the rise. Europe currently hosts roughly 1 million EVs, with the UK alone set to match that figure by 2020.
The construction of electric vehicle charging points requires the use of extruded aluminium, mostly for the housing of the units. This is set to bring growth to the sector as consumption soars.
Besides the charging of electric vehicles, almost all vehicles which make use of electric technology will likely also make use of an extruded aluminium frame, in order to keep weight to a minimum and extend battery range.
This is seen most often in the case of electric vehicles which make use of the skateboard frame now so common in Teslas. This frame involves an aluminium outer structure with the battery seated in the middle, sinking the battery and entire drivetrain into the chassis and providing maximum internal space in the vehicle.
As well as making use of aluminium extrusions in the vehicles’ chassis, new developments are enabling the use of aluminium in battery housings. These large metal components have previously been made using steel, costing precious battery range in the process.
Growth in Aluminium Demand
By 2025, Norway is set to be entirely electric-dependent, with the UK set to follow by 2040. Deadlines such as these are becoming government policy throughout Europe in particular, as leaders strive to meet fast-approaching carbon reduction deadlines and an increasing number of cities adopt clean air zones.
As a result, electric vehicle technology is continuing to advance and develop, becoming ever more mainstream and, by necessity, less a luxury of the wealthy.
Plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles use 25-27% more aluminium than typical internal combustion vehicles. By 2030, it is expected that aluminium demand will near 10 million tonnes, a tenfold increase from 2017.
In both electric vehicles themselves and the infrastructure that serves them, aluminium is and will continue to be vital, providing a construction material that is light, strong, safe and almost infinitely recyclable.
If you have an electric vehicle project and require industry-leading aluminium extrusion, contact Orgbar today.


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Microsoft is rebranding its Office Web Apps to Office Online on Thursday, just a day after the company launched its OneDrive cloud storage replacement for SkyDrive. The new branding, revealed partially last month, is designed to simplify Microsoft’s free web versions of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint away from the bewildering Office Web Apps monikers. “We heard from customers that the inclusion of Apps in our name was confusing,” admits Microsoft’s Amanda Lefebvre. The apps part confused some who assumed Office Web Apps were installable applications rather than online Office variants. While today’s launch doesn’t include a round of new features, it’s entirely focused on clearing up the usability aspects of Microsoft Office online. A lot of users simply aren’t aware Microsoft has online versions of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint because they’ve been buried away in SkyDrive (now OneDrive) previously.
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WASHINGTON — A proposal for the government to help cellphone customers avoid expensive fees when they cancel contracts with wireless companies might go down in flames after consumer advocates protested Wednesday that it wasn't generous enough.
Cellphone companies routinely charge customers $175 or more for quitting their service early. Under a proposal to the Federal Communications Commission, the wireless industry offered to give consumers the opportunity to cancel service without any penalty for up to 30 days after they sign a cellphone contract or 10 days after they receive their first bill, among other provisions.
In exchange for the government's approval, the agreement would let cellphone companies off the hook in state courts where they are being sued for billions of dollars by angry customers. If approved by the FCC, the proposal also would take away the authority of states to regulate the charges, known as early termination fees.
The proposal would require companies to reduce fees month by month over the course of a contract based on how long customers have left, according to people familiar with the offer who spoke on condition of anonymity because the FCC has not accepted it.


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Steve Jobs’s Unfinished Luxury Feadship Superyacht -- CEO.com
Updated: What is French designer Philippe Starck working on for Apple? Prior to his death, Apple CEO Steve Jobs was working with Starck on a yacht. And this is very likely the “fairly, if not very, revolutionary” project he was talking about. To be built by luxury superyacht builder Feadship, the yacht is believed to have a very minimalist and sleek design with a main feature being 40 foot long glass walls. And Starck has been involved in its design.
Mentioned in the New York Times from Walter Isaacson’s new biography of Steve Jobs, which was released last Monday, the late Apple leader was working on creating his very own Feadship superyacht. Jobs didn’t like the normal yacht designs so he decide to design it himself, not a surprise, creating a super luxurious yacht to rival his good friend and fellow yachtsman Larry Ellison.
Read more ....
Update: Steve Jobs Was Designing His Own Luxury Superyacht -- Complex Rides
My Comment: It would definitely be one of a kind.


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How can airlines recover from the largest business model shift in the history of commercial aviation? When it comes to important ancillary revenue streams, industry leaders agree that digital platforms are key. But no company can deliver the promised land alone. Savvy partnerships, on the other hand, just might. This article originally appeared in the Expo Daily Experience: Preview. Read the full issue and register for FTE APEX Virtual Expo.
With the ongoing need to reduce onboard interactions and a shift in consumer demand for ancillary products due to COVID-19, airlines and service providers have had to reevaluate the in-flight retail experience to meet current and future challenges. That means tapping into the power of digital platforms, industry leaders say.
But thus far, digital has largely been absent from the in-flight retail landscape. Several partnerships, inspired or accelerated by the pandemic, are changing that.
Portable in-flight entertainment (IFE) company AirFi recently entered into a sales partnership with IFE content provider Spafax that will combine the platform’s passenger and behavioral data with Spafax’s expertise in advertising and media. It’s the key that “will finally unlock the huge growth potential in onboard digital revenues,” says AirFi CEO Job Heimerikx. Together, they’ll be able to deliver targeted and more personalized digital opportunities that will result in better and higher-yielding conversions, he adds.
In October, streaming IFE supplier Bluebox Aviation Systems announced an agreement with the catering arm of dnata to integrate its food and beverage services into the Bluebox system.
Providing passengers with a seamless experience and embedding catering logistics into an IFE platform can be quite technically complex, says Duncan Greeney, dnata’s general manager for Retail. “In the present climate our customers need solutions that are simple and quick to deploy. This is an opportunity for airlines to minimize contact and dialogue between passengers and cabin crew but still deliver an excellent service and a full range of food, drinks and retail goods that are such an essential part of the ancillary revenue income.”
Bluebox had been eyeing this type of partnership for some time. “We’d begun discussions on the integration with several onboard retail providers prior to COVID, but the rapid change of circumstances with the restrictions and safety protocols required by COVID accelerated these conversations. Everyone concerned recognized the significance very quickly. The practicalities and the commercial opportunity expedited the partnerships,” says the company’s marketing director, Catherine Brown.
Direct to Consumer
Ancillary sales are a key component of easyJet’s business model, contributing just over 20 percent of total revenue for fiscal year 2019. A data-driven approach has allowed it to continually improve that share.
In the coming months the airline will take this approach even further by launching a trial of Gategroup’s digital retail solution, ePax, which will allow passengers to order and buy in-flight retail services straight from their personal devices.
It’s a significant shift for easyJet, says a Gategroup executive. “We have access to a huge amount of onboard retail data. Combine that with the behavioral and e-commerce data we’re now able to access via ePax, and the data that easyJet is sitting on and we’re able to generate some really interesting insights to make retail offers smarter and more personalized.”
To obtain those insights, Gategroup partnered with Black Swan Data, whose expertise will enable it to go deep on data at levels the airline industry has historically failed to realize. Beyond the straightforward parameters of flight destination, duration and time of day, ePax can identify specific flights and passenger cohorts to deliver more relevant content – a major step forward from the general adverts and in-seat menu cards that the industry has relied on to sell these revenue opportunities until now.
Partnerships aren’t new to aviation. They existed before COVID-19, but companies that were once slowly and incrementally improving their products internally now recognize that in order to capitalize on the profitable promise of digital, they’re going to have to look outward.
Virtual Expo Connection – Event Agenda
Panelists discuss “Creating new tech-led revenue streams to support new business models”
Dec. 8, 10:30 a.m. GMT


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This article originally appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on September 3, 2014.
Brightly colored lupin flowers may have been growing in your garden for years, but now products made from the plant’s beans are showing up in the gluten-free aisle of the grocery store. And as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning, the foods can be dangerous for some people.
In response to the gluten-free craze, more U.S. food makers have introduced lupin as a substitute for wheat in flour. Lupin is a legume from the same plant family as peanuts, so many people with peanut allergies also have allergic reactions to lupin. It can also be an issue for those with soybean allergies.
The problem, according to the FDA, is that many Americans have never heard of lupin and don’t know to look for it on food labels. Lupin-based pastas, breads and baked goods have just begun to appear in the U.S. market, although they’ve been on shelves in Europe and Australia for at least two decades.
FDA experts say consumers should look for “lupin” or “lupine” on food label ingredient lists. Canned or jarred lupini beans are sometimes found in Italian sections of the grocery store and the dried version might appear in pub cracker mixes.
The good news is that lupin is safe for the majority of people and healthy, too. It’s low in fat and a good source of both protein and fiber.


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AMD has a 'significant' opportunity from Google's cloud gaming initiative
Google announced that it is teaming up with AMD to create a new chip for the Stadia gaming service.
Nvidia is gaining ground ahead of its investor day
Nvidia jumped 3.44% to 174.73 apiece early Tuesday, as investors positioned themselves for its annual investor event set at 11:30 AM ET.
The cannabis producer Tilray is deploying a 'risky strategy' to expand globally
Tilray's strategy to focus on international expansion while dismissing Canada is very risky, Jefferies says.
Here comes Tilray...
Tilray is set to report fourth-quarter earnings after Monday's closing bell.
Here are the world's 9 largest M&A deals this year
The global M&A market has slowed down a bit in 2019
Boeing slides after authorities say Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air crashes have 'clear similarities'
Boeing slid 2.89% to $368.02 apiece on Monday, after Ethiopian authorities pointed to parallels between its crash and one in Indonesia.
MORGAN STANLEY: These 9 stocks are going to be winners over the long run
These stocks are the top picks for each sector according to Morgan Stanley.
Wall Street's biggest Nvidia bull and bear debate how crypto, data-center competition, and the China slowdown will impact the chip giant
To distill the latest arguments for and against investing in Nvidia, Markets Insider asked the biggest bull and bear on the stock the same questions.
Aurora Cannabis can solve its biggest problem with the help of billionaire Nelson Peltz
"Peltz's historical focus on profitability and efficient asset allocation" will support Aurora for the next stage of its growth, Jefferies says.
'Pain + Reflection = Progress': Here are 13 brilliant quotes from hedge-fund legend Ray Dalio
Check out hedge-fund billionaire Ray Dalio's insights into investing and his life principles.
Dick's Sporting Goods says its new private label will compete with Under Armour for floor space
Under Armour was down 2.29% Tuesday after Dick's Sporting Goods said its new private athletic label would compete with Under Armour for floor space.
Cannabis-infused beauty products are going to grab a piece of a $167 billion market
Beauty products infused with cannabidiol (CBD) are going to grab 15% of the $167 billion skincare market in a decade, Jefferies says.
Stitch Fix is surging after crushing earnings
Stitch Fix surged 13.69% to $30.40 a share following Monday's closing bell after posting profits that more than doubled the Wall Street consensus.
Nvidia is making a strategic bet to grab a piece of a $174 billion market
Nvidia's strategic acquisition of Mellanox Technologies will help the chipmaker grab a share of the data-center market, a chip expert says.
Levi Strauss plans to raise $587 million in an initial public offering
Iconic jeans brand Levi Strauss on Monday said it plans to raise as much as $587 million by selling 36.7 million shares in an initial public offering.
Tesla slips after saying it's reducing the number of store closures and raising prices
Tesla was down 0.54% early Monday after the company hit the brakes on its plan to shutter its stores.
The bull market is celebrating its 10th birthday. Here are the 5 worst-performing stocks during the bull run.
Five companies lost nearly all their values during the bull market, according to the digital-trading platform TradeStation.
The bull market is celebrating its 10th birthday. Here are the top 5 performing stocks during the bull run.
Five companies are the biggest winners in the longest bull run, seeing their values stretched hundredfold.
A startup's promising to let Main Street invest like a hedge fund. We checked it out, and it's beating the market so far this year
Startup Titan provides a service like a lower-cost, actively managed fund with a hedge function.
General Electric drops sharply after CEO says it will keep burning cash
General Electric dropped more than 7% Tuesday after CEO Lawrence Culp said he sees negative free cash flow this year.


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This week’s China market and marketing news:
Off the Shelves in Beijing, is Salmon Guilty of Spreading Coronavirus?: Beijing’s largest vegetable wholesale market, Xinfadi market, was shut down after another burst of COVID infections over the weekend. According to local health officials, the virus was found on a chopping board used by a seller of imported salmon, sparking speculations on whether the fish can spread the virus. No evidence has shown that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted directly through food and drink to humans, yet salmon is no longer for sale across Beijing and in other places, and many consumers are talking about the risks of contracting the virus from imported food.
6 Ways to Boost Your Next Brand Collaboration in China: Few people would have picked these unexpected big-name collaborations, but they getting consumers attention in China, and also providing foreign brands as a great way to appeal and connect with patriotism.
Scott Morrison Allows International Students Back From July, Says Australia-China Relationship ‘Not Injured’: Australia’s Federal Government will allow international students back into the country in a “pilot basis” from next month, as the country’s higher education industry looks to recover from a double hit of travel restrictions and accusations of racism. The diplomatic storm with China continues, with the country’s Education Bureau last week taking the rare step of warning Chinese students about studying in Australia because of “racist incidents” during the coronavirus pandemic. In related news, a survey including Chinese students who had secured an offer to study in the UK, found 75% would go if it opened its doors, 20% would probably put off enrolment until next academic year, and just 3-4% would give up their UK studies all together as a result of the pandemic.
Is Targeting Vouchers A Successful Strategy For Brands?: To date, over 190 cities in China have issued vouchers to their citizens. Although the value of vouchers versus actual consumption varies from single to double-digits, the cities that have achieved remarkable results are mainly economically developed regions with relatively strong spending power. Shanghai’s shopping festival generated ¥100 billion ($14 billion) in sales from online channels and ¥144.36 billion ($20.4 billion) in May.
The Ups and Downs of ‘Intensive Motherhood’ in Shanghai: Extreme parenting is increasingly the norm for the city’s anxious, status-conscious middle class.
Big Data Allows Tax Authorities to Collect on ‘Brushed’ Ecommerce Sales: Chinese ecommerce shop owners reliant on “order brushing,” a practice of falsifying sales numbers, may now be required to pay taxes based on the inflated figures with the implementation of a new tax law. Chinese taxation authorities began sending alerts in late May to merchants on ecommerce platforms like Tmall and JD.com, warning about risks of unpaid taxes from 2017 to 2019. The first group of nearly 2,000 merchants in Beijing were warned of such irregularities and were required to make a supplementary payment based on the inflated numbers by early June. In an attempt to better regulate the industry, China’s Ecommerce Law in 2019 made order “brushing” illegal, along with a number of other unscrupulous practices like rewarding positive consumer reviews with money.
Live-Streaming Scams & Struggles in China: The scam many live-streamers are running is getting paid to simultaneously buy and sell collaborating brands’ products. Livestreamers don’t even need to front the cash to buy the products in streams, they use brands’ upfront flat fee instalments for that, return what they can, and resell the everything else they’ve bought on group buyings sites. Coupled with a majority bot-controlled audience, it’s the perfect hustle.
Flight Attendants and Tour Guides Promote Cross-Border Shopping: As part of 6.18, Tmall Global has partnered with several leading airlines and travel agencies in China for a livestream series that promotes cross-border products. Hosted by flight attendants and tour guides, the broadcasts are designed to encourage Chinese consumers to continue exploring and shopping from international brands even as overseas travel remains stymied.
Chinese Market Undergoing Drastic Change Through Coronavirus Crisis: The pandemic has seen strong growth from China’s leading players in the frozen and processed seafood space. The frozen ready-to-eat-meals market and the chilled ready-meals market are expected to grow 9.9% and 14.6% annually between 2018-2023, although frozen remains dominated by meat products such as pork dumplings. Frozen foods, chilled beers and ice cream were given a boost during Alibaba’s 6.6 campaign. For consumers seeking better quality and healthier food options, the virus has forced purchasing trade-offs. More than 70% of respondents in McKinsey’s COVID-19 consumer survey said they will continue to spend more time and money purchasing safe and eco-friendly products, while three-quarters want to eat healthier after the crisis, which may subdue frozen and processed sales in the medium term.
Tmall Spotlights Fruit: More than 25,000 brands, nearly twice as many as 2019, from 92 countries and regions are participating in this year’s 6.18 festival on Tmall. Imported fresh food from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Chile and Russia will be offered for the first time via their country flagship stores on Tmall. Meanwhile, the Netherlands and Hokkaido, Japan are scheduled to open their respective flagship stores in June.
How China’s Expansion of Ecommerce Zones Could Benefit Overseas Food Companies: China has expanded its cross border ecommerce zone scheme to help bounce back post-COVID. The country has approved 46 new pilot cross border ecommerce zones to join the existing 59 zones. Many of the newly-added locations are also in smaller ‘second-‘ and ‘third-tier’ cities, where food imports are less readily available.
Chinese Domestic Air Travel Recovery Continues: Domestic air travel has just now topped 60% of its 2019 level. As an indicator of improving consumer confidence – and a lack of alternatives – hotel occupancy on Hainan Island has now exceeded 2019’s rates year-on-year. Tax-free shopping on the island has increased to ¥100K ($14K), which is also helping to bump up numbers. Increased demand for travel to Hainan has seen the launch of a new airline, Sanya International Airlines.
China Home Prices Up Most in Seven Months as Economy Reopens: China’s house prices rose at the fastest pace in seven months in May, as the property market continues its rapid recovery from the coronavirus shutdowns. New-home prices in 70 major cities, excluding state-subsidized housing, increased 0.49% last month, up from a 0.42% gain in April. Values in the secondary market, which is largely free from government intervention, gained 0.24%, also the most in seven months.
Luxury Brands Look to Online Sales in China in Aftermath of Pandemic: April sales were basically equal to last year according Adriel Chan, CEO of Hang Lung Properties who owns 11 mostly high-end shopping centres in China. Chan noted “the luxury brands’ CEOs that we talked to just a year ago were saying that online sales were accounting for 5 to 7 percent, and they saw it going up to maybe 15 percent when we most recently spoke to them.” There are two particularities of Chinese consumers that are different to other markets — they are the youngest luxury consumers with a sweet spot between 25 and 35 years of age, and they are the most digital.


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Retailer Kathmandu has shrugged off the tough retail outlook by sharply upgrading its profit forecast, as shoppers' enthusiasm for travel and adventure remains strong.
Kathmandu said it now expects its net profit for the six months to December 31 to be between $NZ9.5 million and $NZ10 million ($A7.71 million and $A8.12 million).
The expected result is up 75 per cent on the $NZ6 million ($A4.87 million) it reported in the previous corresponding half-year period.
Chief executive Peter Halkett said while retailers across the globe were facing tough trading conditions, travel and adventure stores were still doing well.
"Certainly it's a strong category globally and it's a strong category regionally," he said on Friday.
"People are doing a lot more activities. People are certainly travelling more and getting out there and doing more things in the outdoors."
The company said the upgrade was the result of strong sales growth in the first quarter of the 2013 financial year and a satisfactory performance in December and January.
Total group sales for the half year will be about $NZ165.8 million ($A134.57 million).
This compares to $NZ146.7 million ($A119.07 million) in the previous year, an increase of 13.1 per cent.
Comparable sales growth for the 26 weeks to January 27 was 6.1 per cent.
Mr Halkett said consumer sentiment was still hard to predict and therefore he would not be issuing full year profit guidance.
"These days in retail it's very volatile," he said.
"It's up one week, down the next week, it's partly consumer sentiment, partly what happens on the global stage - there's all sorts of things that change customers' attitude and in turn their desire to go out and shop."
Kathmandu's sales in Australia continued to grow at a faster rate than New Zealand where the brand originated, as the retailer looked to take advantage of the larger population here.
"In New Zealand we have 40 stores for four million people and in Australia we have 80 stores for over 20 million people so our penetration rate as far as stores numbers and sales per customer is a lot lower in Australia," Mr Halkett said.
"Over the last few years we've been increasing our profile, our brand spend and we've been increasing our stores (in Australia) so Australia should be growing at a much faster rate than New Zealand."
The company also opened nine new stores in the first half and expects to open a further 15 in the rest of financial 2013.
Kathmandu also expects earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation the first half to be between $NZ15.5 million and $NZ16.5 million (($A12.58 million and $A13.39 million), up from $NZ12.7 million ($A10.31 million).
Shares in Kathmandu closed up eight cents at $1.85.


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Warren Buffett Says He Wouldn’t Pay $25 For All The Bitcoin In The World
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been attacked by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.
Buffett said he wouldn’t pay $25 for the world’s entire supply of bitcoinMunger blasted bitcoin as “stupid,” “evil,” and something that makes its owners look bad.
Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger opened fire at bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency industry during Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting on Saturday.
“If you told me you owned all the bitcoin in the world and you offered it to me for $25, I wouldn’t take it,”
Warren Buffett said: “What would I do with it?”
In contrast, Buffett said he would buy a portion of the country’s farmland, or some of the nation’s apartments. He reiterated his view that bitcoin isn’t worth anything because it doesn’t produce anything, and holders rely on somebody else being willing to pay more for it than they did.
“It’s got a magic to it, but people have attached magic to lots of things,” Buffett added, comparing bitcoin to an insurance company pitching itself as a technological marvel.
Munger, Buffett’s longtime business partner, spoke even more harshly about the most valuable cryptocurrency.
“In my life, I try and avoid things that are stupid, evil, and make me look bad in comparison to someone else,” Munger said. “Bitcoin does all three.”
Holding bitcoin is “dumb” because he expects it to be worth zero dollars in the future, “evil” because it undermines the integrity and stability of the US financial system, and “foolish” since China’s governing party was clever enough to outlaw it, according to the billionaire investor.
Bitcoin has previously been criticized by Warren Buffett as “rat poison squared” and a worthless fantasy. Meanwhile, Munger has compared cryptocurrency to a venereal illness, urged for its ban in the United States, and criticized the huge speculation that has fueled its recent price gains.
DISCLAIMER: The Information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.
Join CoinCu Telegram to keep track of news: https://t.me/coincunews


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OMGGGG the new iPhone 5 was announced this morning! It’s the lightest, thinnest, bestest, fastest iPhone ever. It’s got a bigger screen, it fights crime, and it even picks up after your dog! Woooooo, Steve Jobs, you will never die in our hearts and minds and souls. <3333 OK, now that that's out of the way, why do all you lawyers give a damn? The intellectual property arms race, that's why. As a Google VP mentioned in an interview earlier this week, Steve Jobs had warned us years ago about the possibility of thermonuclear IP war. Well, with the release of the new iPhone coming hot off the heels of Apple’s billion-dollar victory against Samsung, the bombs may be falling.
Or, in the words of Willem Dafoe, “There was a
fire patent fight!”
So what IP insanity has Apple perhaps helped unleash? For starters, we have those devious reverse engineering bastards in China who may have released — and patented — an iPhone 5 knockoff before the real one was even announced. This is some secret agent s**t, as we see from Businessweek:
Want to get an iPhone 5 but can’t handle the wait for the Apple (AAPL) release later this month? You might consider buying a knockoff from Goophone. This little-known Chinese company has just announced the launch of its own iPhone 5 look-alike, the Goophone I5, and says it has already patented it in China, according to Gizchina.com. It may even consider suing Apple when the Cupertino (Calif.) company starts selling its sixth-generation iPhone in China, reports the tech and gadgets website.
These shenanigans aren’t new in China. Politico mentions various Congressional hearings that have attempted to address IP enforcement in China, and the Businessweek article discusses the emerging Chinese patent troll industry. Apple just paid out $60 million in July to to settle a trademark infringement suit with a Chinese company over iPad technology.
And then we’ve got Samsung. The company, despite being taken to the cleaners last month in San Jose, actually manufactures a bunch of iPhone components. The South Korean company may be out for vengeance — or something — specifically over the LTE wireless technology Apple added to the new iPhone:
Samsung, which has been locked in a series of high-stakes patent trials with Apple, had previously threatened to sue the iPhone maker if it were to release LTE-enabled products.
After reports Monday of LTE capability on the iPhone 5, the South Korean electronics giant “has decided to take immediate legal action,” an industry source tells the Korea Times. Europe and the United States “are our primary targets,” the source said.
Now, all this may be overwhelming and make you a little nauseous, like the guy who has to eat all that weed at the beginning of Super Troopers, but that’s not all.
As the WSJ Law Blog tells us, the nuclear patent winter has spread to the fashion industry, where a yoga pants company wants to lay claim to waistbands, and Christian Louboutin wants domain over the color red on the underside of high-heeled shoes. Oh, the humanity:
Lululemon claims that Calvin Klein is selling pants that “have infringed and are still infringing” on three patents, including one for a distinctive waistband featuring overlapping panels of fabric.
Fashion designers are no strangers to intellectual property battles. Just last week, in a trademark dispute between French designers Christian Louboutin SA and Yves Saint Laurent, a federal court of appeals in New York ruled that Louboutin largely owns the exclusive right to use the color red to coat the bottoms of its high-heeled shoes.
Just like some people were surprised to learn you can patent rounded corners, Lululemon is teaching the fashion industry a similar lesson:
The fashion industry has historically sought and been granted protection for limited aspects of their products, like trademarks on logos and brand names, which are recognized as their property.
But designers haven’t had much success in protecting designs on fundamental articles of clothing, ones that might cover, say, the shape of a blouse or the cut of a collar on a shirt. Generally speaking, copyright law protects forms of art, but not items that are predominantly functional, like shirts and pants.
Lululemon is trying to chart a new path by filing and litigating patents secured on the basis of its designs.
I used to think there was nothing new under the sun. I guess it just goes to show how little I know… about elastic waistbands.
Samsung will reportedly sue Apple over LTE use on iPhone 5 [CNET]
Enter Goophone I5, Looking a Lot Like Apple’s iPhone [Businessweek]
What Apple and Yoga-Pants-Maker Lululemon Have in Common [WSJ Law Blog]


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Second Life adult toyÂ merchant Crystal Delights has opened itsÂ first retail outlet, in Port Townsend, Washington, andÂ plansÂ to expand intoÂ non-adult product linesÂ and use Second Life to helpÂ market the non-adult products,Â company co-founderÂ Andrew Schwartz told Hypergrid Business.
“We do not use Second Life currently for market testing, but we still have plans to renew our use of Second Life for brand name marketing,” said Schwartz.
The company has been selling virtual adult glass toy products to avatars at Second Life since 2008 and sellingÂ real life products Â online since 2010.
Opening aÂ real life store allows the company to expand revenueÂ streams, saidÂ Schwartz, although restrictions advanced by Second Life for adult commerce products was also part of the reason, according to a company blog post.
“It was driven by the struggles we started having making Second Life work financially for us — this was back in 2008-2010 — and we need to start looking at other ways of generating revenue,” said Schwartz.
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Sony has issued a statement clearing up its latest announcement that downloadable versions of WarHawk will be tied like a lasso to your PlayStation Network account, so only the owner of the game will be able to play it.
The rule has been put in place to maintain the integrity of the free online service, which will also let you download the game on up to five other PS3 consoles. But if you do decide to show it off at your friend's house, bear in mind you won't be able to play it on another PS3 for 24 hours.
WarHawk is due for release tomorrow on the PlayStation Network, lifting-off at GBP 19.99.
But on the bright side of life is news that account-tying won't affect the Blu-ray version that launches slightly later on 21st September.
Head over to our WarHawk gamepage to see why this could be the most essential PSN purchase of 2007.