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|By Open Web Developer News Desk||
|November 5, 2007 02:00 PM EST||
This alliance shares a common goal of fostering innovation on mobile devices and giving consumers a far better user experience than much of what is available on today's mobile platforms. By providing developers a new level of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively, Android will accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made available to consumers.
With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, the mobile phone has become the most personal and ubiquitous communications device. However, the lack of a collaborative effort has made it a challenge for developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers to respond as quickly as possible to the ever-changing needs of savvy mobile consumers. Through Android, developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more personal and more flexible mobile experiences.
Thirty-four companies have formed the Open Handset Alliance, which aims to develop technologies that will significantly lower the cost of developing and distributing mobile devices and services. The Android platform is the first step in this direction -- a fully integrated mobile "software stack" that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications. Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008.
The Android platform will be made available under one of the most progressive, developer-friendly open-source licenses, which gives mobile operators and device manufacturers significant freedom and flexibility to design products. Next week the Alliance will release an early access software development kit to provide developers with the tools necessary to create innovative and compelling applications for the platform.
Android holds the promise of unprecedented benefits for consumers, developers and manufacturers of mobile services and devices. Handset manufacturers and wireless operators will be free to customize Android in order to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. Developers will have complete access to handset capabilities and tools that will enable them to build more compelling and user-friendly services, bringing the Internet developer model to the mobile space. And consumers worldwide will have access to less expensive mobile devices that feature more compelling services, rich Internet applications and easier-to-use interfaces -- ultimately creating a superior mobile experience.
Open Software, Open Device, Open Ecosystem
"This partnership will help unleash the potential of mobile technology for billions of users around the world. A fresh approach to fostering innovation in the mobile industry will help shape a new computing environment that will change the way people access and share information in the future," said Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt. "Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks. Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models."
"As a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, T-Mobile is committed to innovation and fostering an open platform for wireless services to meet the rapidly evolving and emerging needs of wireless customers," said René Obermann, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Telekom, parent company of T-Mobile. "Google has been an established partner for T-Mobile’s groundbreaking approach to bring the mobile open Internet to the mass market. We see the Android platform as an exciting opportunity to launch robust wireless Internet and Web 2.0 services for T-Mobile customers in the US and Europe in 2008."
"HTC's trademark on the mobile industry has been its ability to drive cutting-edge innovation into a wide variety of mobile devices to create the perfect match for individuals," said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corp. "Our participation in the Open Handset Alliance and integration of the Android platform in the second half of 2008 enables us to expand our device portfolio into a new category of connected mobile phones that will change the complexion of the mobile industry and re-create user expectations of the mobile phone experience."
"The convergence of the wireless and Internet industries is creating new partnerships, evolving business models and driving innovation," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm. "We are extremely pleased to be participating in the Open Handset Alliance, whose mission is to help build the leading open-source application platform for 3G networks. The proliferation of open-standards-based handsets will provide an exciting new opportunity to create compelling services and devices. As a result, we are committing research and development resources to enable the Android platform and to create the best always-connected consumer experience on our chipsets."
"Motorola has long been an advocate of open software for mobile platforms. Today, we're excited to continue this support by joining Google and others in the announcement of the Open Handset Alliance and Android platform. Motorola plans to leverage the Android platform to enable seamless, connected services and rich consumer experiences in future Motorola products," said Ed Zander, Chairman and CEO of Motorola, Inc.
Open Handset Alliance Founding Members
Aplix (www.aplixcorp.com), Ascender Corporation (www.ascendercorp.com), Audience (www.audience.com), Broadcom (www.broadcom.com), China Mobile (www.chinamobile.com), eBay (www.ebay.com), Esmertec (www.esmertec.com), Google (www.google.com), HTC (www.htc.com), Intel (www.intel.com), KDDI (www.kddi.com), LivingImage (www.livingimage.jp), LG (www.lge.com), Marvell (www.marvell.com), Motorola (www.motorola.com), NMS Communications (www.nmscommunications.com), Noser (www.noser.com), NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (www.nttdocomo.com), Nuance (www.nuance.com), Nvidia (www.nvidia.com), PacketVideo (www.packetvideo.com), Qualcomm (www.qualcomm.com), Samsung (www.samsung.com), SiRF (www.sirf.com), SkyPop (www.skypop.com), SONiVOX (www.sonivoxrocks.com), Sprint Nextel (www.sprint.com), Synaptics (www.synaptics.com), TAT - The Astonishing Tribe (www.tat.se), Telecom Italia (www.telecomitalia.com), Telefónica (www.telefonica.es), Texas Instruments (www.ti.com), T-Mobile (www.t-mobile.com), Wind River (www.windriver.com).
|Random Thoughts 11/08/07 08:22:46 AM EST|
Trackback Added: New Tech stuff; Its been a while since i last posted. Just something new to look at.
|Nuance 11/05/07 03:29:23 PM EST|
“Nuance joined the Open Handset Alliance with other industry leaders to grow the entire mobile ecosystem,” said Steve Chambers, president, mobile and consumer services division, Nuance Communications. “We’re committed to apply our strength and leadership in voice-based search and messaging to move the market forward. By packaging and optimizing embedded speech technology components for open source distribution, we’ve given developers the opportunity to access speech solutions through open APIs using the Android platform and to easily upgrade to new, more advanced speech features as well. We believe deep collaboration with members of the Alliance will grow our core mobile business and fuel the proliferation of speech-enabled applications worldwide.”
SYS-CON Events announced today that Tintri Inc., a leading producer of VM-aware storage (VAS) for virtualization and cloud environments, will exhibit at the 18th International CloudExpo®, which will take place on June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York City, New York, and the 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
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Scotland for sail
A new campaign to encourage more people to enjoy sailing holidays in Scotland could boost the economy by over £1 million, Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing has announced.
Sailing to Success, a recently announced £22,500 grant from the VisitScotland Growth Fund, has been launched to boost Scotland's booming sailing industry.
Worth £101 million a year to Scotland, the sailing industry supports around 2700 jobs around the country. As part of its year-long £45,000 campaign, Sail Scotland – the national marketing organisation for sailing tourism – will also receive £11,000 from Scottish Development International, to help the group access international markets and achieve its growth ambitions. Sail Scotland's new drive to promote sailing holidays intends to generate an extra 8,382 visitor boat nights from its target markets and deliver an additional £1,089,660 of expenditure into the Scottish economy.
Sail to Scotland
An industry-led marketing group, Sail Scotland has been around for 20 years. From single-person charter businesses to large marinas, harbours and leisure groups, Sail Scotland has almost 50 member businesses. By using the funding to exhibit at a number of international boat shows in 2015 (including shows in Dusseldorf, Gothenburg, Oslo and Wales) and further development of the 'Sailing Scotland' brand, it hopes to extend its reach in the international market.
Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said: “I am delighted to announce that Sail Scotland is the latest recipient of an award from the VisitScotland Growth Fund. This £22,500 grant will help the group to promote sailing holidays in Scotland to a wider audience and, given the quality of destinations and facilities on offer in this country, I have no doubt they will succeed in their aim to attract thousands more enthusiasts to these shores over the coming year.”
Delivering growth in the tourism industry
Daniel Steel, Chief Executive of Sail Scotland, said: “At Sail Scotland we have been working hard to promote the industry for 20 years, and it is great to see Scotland beginning to realise the true potential of sailing and boating tourism."
“With a draft marine tourism strategy in development, this is a tangible example of how the industry will play a leading role in delivering growth. This funding will help fund one of the most ambitious marketing plans in our history, further raising awareness of Scotland as a world-class sailing destination both within the UK and overseas.
“Along with recent investment in digital development, and existing activities, we aim to drive visits by offering a range of options for beginners to experienced yachtsmen, with the ultimate aim of generating an extra 8,000 visitor boat nights for Scotland.”
Scotland: the perfect destination
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: “With thousands of miles of stunning coastline and hundreds of islands ready to be explored, Scotland really is the perfect destination for a sailing holiday. The VisitScotland Growth Fund encourages tourism businesses to work together and Sail Scotland is a perfect example of this. Incorporating the smallest charter companies to the biggest marinas, the group already does an excellent job of promoting sailing holidays in Scotland and we are thrilled to help its members expand their reach in the global market.”
Graeme White, Head of Tourism at Scottish Development International, said: “Sail Scotland’s International Strategy is targeting growth of over £1 million a year in visitor spend with the businesses in and out of the water around our coastline, lochs and canals. We’re supporting this strategy with funding to help Sail Scotland’s team target these international audiences as well as connecting the organisation with our overseas offices to access networks and market research.”
What Scotland can offer to you
Scotland is acknowledged as one of the most beautiful countries in the world; famous for our breathtaking scenery, legendary golf courses and the warmth of our welcome. Our tourism industry is booming and currently contributes £5.2 billion a year to the country's economy. Many of the world's top hotel brands have set up home here - from Hilton, Marriott, Radisson and Malmaison - and have found continued success in Scotland.
Interested in the opportunities Scotland's tourism industry could offer you?
Get in touch here

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Hot on the heels of Sprint's promotional offer cut the rate plans in half of customers who switch to Sprint from Verizon, AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile US, Verizon and T-Mobile's MetroPCS prepaid brand are rolling out their own promotions ahead of Black Friday. Verizon is offering 1 GB of free data to customers on qualifying plans, and MetroPCS is rolling out a "Buy One Get One" smartphone offer for Black Friday shoppers.
AT&T Mobility's Cricket Wireless prepaid brand is launching its own rewards program and is touting it as the first such program from a no-contract U.S. operator. Customers can earn rewards by taking actions in a variety of different apps and signing up for Cricket services, and then redeem them for gift cards, the ability to enter sweepstakes and make charitable donations.
AT&T plans to participate in next year's incentive auction of 600 MHz broadcast TV spectrum and would like to win a 2x10 MHz block of spectrum nationwide, but it is not willing to commit to how much it will bid, according to a senior AT&T executive.
AT&T Mobility continues to lead all of its competitors in TV advertising spending in October, according to a new report from TV advertising measurement firm iSpot.tv. AT&T also led the market in TV ad spending in September and August, according to iSpot.tv, while T-Mobile US was the leader in July.
AT&T Mobility's Cricket Wireless prepaid brand will now let customers on its $50 and $60 per month plans use their plans' data buckets in Mexico and Canada free of charge as if they were in the United States. The new offering adds data to Cricket's current offer of unlimited calling, texting and messaging in between Mexico, Canada and the U.S. It also gives Cricket a slight edge over T-Mobile US' MetroPCS prepaid brand, which offers unlimited data usage in Mexico.
AT&T Mobility added far fewer postpaid customers in the third quarter than it did a year ago but saw a resurgence in its prepaid business, notching the best quarterly prepaid subscriber additions in nearly eight years.
AT&T Mobility's Cricket Wireless prepaid brand has "few" remaining customers on its legacy CDMA network, which is being officially shut down tomorrow. Cricket said that it has some customers on that network remaining in California "and a few additional locations."
AT&T Mobility's Cricket Wireless prepaid brand said that as of yesterday it is offering unlimited voice and SMS messaging to and from Mexico. Later this month it will also add those features for Canada.
AT&T Mobility added fewer postpaid customers in the second quarter than analysts were expecting and many fewer than it gained in the year-ago period. AT&T notched 410,000 postpaid subscribers in the quarter and the company relied heavily on connected cars and prepaid customers for subscriber growth in the second quarter.
AT&T's Cricket Wireless prepaid brand appears to be gearing up to launch a mobile hotspot offering for $10 per month on plans that cost $50 or more. A page on the carrier's website viewed by FierceWireless offered details on the service, though that page is no longer accessible.


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Staying true to its commitment to GO BEYOND this 2023, leading smart devices provider, HONOR Philippines, is set to bring in yet another impressive line of gadgets tailored fit to each and every Filipino lifestyle.
“We started the year with a bang – from the viral HONOR X9a 5G to the unexpected reception of the general public to the HONOR Magic5 Pro, and the recently sold-out HONOR 90 5G. We have also opened several Experience Stores and expanded our partnerships, and for that, we are truly grateful for everyone’s support. We hope you can look forward to this spectacular lineup of HONOR devices that we’re bringing to the Philippines soon,” said Stephen Cheng, HONOR Philippines Vice President.
Budget-friendly camera smartphones
Quality smartphones do not necessarily have to break the bank. The new HONOR smart devices’ top-of-the-line hardware and cutting-edge technology ensure a seamless and powerful experience for budget-conscious tech enthusiasts.
Photography lovers would love this newest HONOR smartphone that packs a 100MP rear camera and super storage – an impressive set of specs for a budget-friendly phone.
HONOR is also set to release two more smartphones with long-lasting battery life. With the brand’s human-centric approach in engineering its devices, these smartphones are also packed with industry-leading technology to ensure the eye health of its users.
The latest iteration of the brand’s newest budget-friendly lineup is the perfect fit for the chic and stylish, with its delicate and premium-looking body. The tablet boasts an impressive full-view display on top of its large storage, perfect for both work and leisure use.
Catch the official launch of this lineup on September 26, 2023. For more updates and announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com, or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/), and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines).
In the meantime, you can check out HONOR’s wide array of mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches at any HONOR kiosks and partner stores nationwide via https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/ or visit their partner online stores on Shopee (https://bit.ly/HONORPHShopee), Lazada (https://bit.ly/HONORPHLaz) and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/HONORTikTokShop).


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The technology giant Microsoft, reported record revenues and earnings per share while disclosing the financial results from its fiscal second quarter.
The company said that its $19.95 billion in revenue and $0.77 per share were driven mainly by the 55 percent growth in the Entertainment & Devices Division. Microsoft credits the Kinect sensor for the upsurge in Xbox 360 console and game sales as well as Xbox Live subscriptions.
Microsoft sold eight million units of its Kinect gaming device, the $150 Xbox accessory that allows for remote-less gameplay. The company estimated that it would sell five million of the devices, but just 60 days after its release, Kinect sales exceeded Microsoft's goal by three million.
“We are enthusiastic about the consumer response to our holiday line up of products, including the launch of Kinect. The eight million units of Kinect sensors sold in just 60 days far exceeded our expectations,” Peter Klein, the Microsoft chief financial officer said in a statement Thursday. Microsoft's new Xbox Kinect motion-activated video game device, for instance, asks first-time players to strike poses until the unit recognizes them, says David Dennis, Xbox product manager. Thereafter, a player needs only to look directly into the sensor and Kinect will recognize the user and let him or her play. It will also instantly log the user into Xbox Live, Microsoft's online home entertainment subscription service.
According to latest reports it has been declared, that corporate customers bought more Office and server programs and consumers purchased Xbox Kinect motion sensors which led to second-quarter profit exceeding analysts’ estimates as Net income was $6.63 billion, or 77 cents a share, compared with $6.66 billion, or 74 cents, a year earlier, Microsoft revealed in a statement. Sales rose 4.9 percent to $20 billion.Microsoft said the results beat the average projections of 68-cents in profit and $19.1 billion in sales, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Companies are installing new Office software and buying more server programs, helping Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft make up for the industry’s lower-than-expected PC sales to consumers. The company also tapped demand for video- game devices, selling 8 million Kinect devices, more than twice its initial forecast.
“They beat on revenue and profit and showed some nice expense control,” said Katherine Egbert, an analyst at Jefferies & Co. in San Francisco. “The business side is good and then Kinect was good.” Second-quarter unearned revenue, a measure of multiyear contracts, was $13.4 billion, missing analysts’ $14.1 billion average estimate, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Windows unit sales also fell below estimates as some consumers put off PC purchases and others opted for Apple Inc.’s iPad tablet. The company saw a “small impact” from competition with tablet PCs but it was “not material,” Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein said in an interview.
The lower unearned revenue was partially because Microsoft sold more copies of Office to small and medium-sized businesses that bought the software outright rather than through multiyear deals, which fall into the unearned line item, Klein said.
PC shipments in the quarter rose 2.7 percent, below the 5.5 percent projected by researcher IDC in Framingham, Massachusetts, as consumers held off purchases and some opted for Apple Inc.’s iPad tablet computer instead.
Klein expects enterprise PC sales to continue to outpace consumer sales for the rest of Microsoft’s fiscal year. Revenue from contracts that have been signed but not yet billed to the customer rose above $16.5 billion, Klein said. It ended the first quarter above $16 billion.
“Microsoft has been executing extremely well on the business side,” Robert Breza, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, told Bloomberg Television. “As people start to really focus on Microsoft and what they are doing in cloud computing -- with their Azure platform -- also with their new Office 365 program that sits in the cloud, hopefully that will get the company a little bit more respect.” Breza, based in Minneapolis, rates Microsoft “outperform.”
Operating expenses for the year ending June 30 will be $26.9 billion to $27.3 billion, Microsoft said, reiterating an October forecast. Last quarter, the company was able to hold down expenses, making it the sixth straight quarter in which profit margins expanded, Klein added.
The company doesn’t provide outlooks for sales and profit. Analysts estimate third-quarter earnings of 56 cents a share and sales of $16 billion.
Microsoft also released its overhauled software for mobile phones -- Windows Phone 7 -- during the quarter. The company said yesterday it shipped 2 million licenses to use the software in handsets, a number that analyst Kevin Burden at ABI Research said was disappointing. The company boosted its marketing budget to mount it biggest TV campaign ever for a mobile-phone product.
That was “in line” with what the company was expecting, Klein said.“It’s a good start,” he said. “I recognize that it’s early and we have a lot of work to do and we’re going to continue to focus on that.”
In the Business Division, this makes Office software, sales rise to $6.03 billion, compared with projections of $5.36 billion. Server unit sales gained to $4.39 billion. Analysts predicted $4.2 billion. Xbox unit revenue increased to $3.7 billion, compared with the average $3.74 billion estimate.


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Raley's, union put spin on success of strike
On day three of a labor strike, Raley’s said Tuesday that more than half of its union employees have crossed the picket line and that sales are “coming back to normal levels.”
However, the United Food and Commercial Workers 8-Golden State described a different picture of what’s happening at the stores of the West Sacramento-based supermarket chain.
The statements that union members are crossing the picket lines are absurd, Jacques Loveall, local union president, said in a statement. Stores and parking lots where workers are striking are empty, he said.
All stores remain open and Raley’s is maintaining deliveries to stores, company spokesman John Segale said.
Raley’s, Loveall said, “has taken desperate measures to get our members and the public to cross our picket lines and enter the stores. Those measures have included several misrepresentations of facts and even giveaways of food that is left on the shelves and close to spoiling.”
On Sunday, UFCW 8-Golden State and UFCW Local 5 began their strike that covers about 7,000 employees and stores within the Raley’s and Nob Hill formats.
After 15 months of talks, Raley’s and the union could not agree on a new contract. On Sunday, Raley’s began freezing pay for two years and eliminated premium wages for Sundays and holidays.
Kelly Johnson covers retail, insurance, marketing and media, manufacturing and distribution, sports business, nonprofits and education for the Sacramento Business Journal.
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Venture capital looks to be in a full-blown recovery but is it too much, too soon?
Rip-roaring demand for tech IPOs has created lots of happy people in Silicon Valley. But it also has some tech CEOs feeling pressured to bring their companies to market-and some venture capitalists worrying that things are ...
US record company sues Vietnam site for copyright
A record company that accuses a Vietnamese entertainment portal of making its songs available for free download has filed suit in an American court against the U.S- venture capital firm which invested in the website, seeking ...
Venture investments, number of deals up in 4Q
Funding for U.S. startups increased 20 percent in the final three months of 2013 as venture capitalists poured more money into more deals, according to a report released Friday.
Study: Groups are the future for angel investing
Entrepreneurs looking for risk capital to fund growth will need to get to grips with the rise of the angel group, according to the latest research by leading academics into business angel activity. In a joint project undertaken ...
New cybersecurity boom arrives in Silicon Valley
Nefarious cybercrime syndicates and villainous state-sponsored hackers are making the digital world an increasingly dangerous place.
What's your story? Six strategies for entrepreneurs
An entrepreneur's backstory plays a critical role in the success or failure of a fledgling venture, says Lianne Lefsrud, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan Ross School's Erb Institute.
After Nokia, a mobile games boom in Finland
From mobile phones to mobile games. Finland has found there's life after Nokia in a bustling startup scene that's produced hugely popular game apps from "Angry Birds" to "Clash of Clans."
With looming Twitter IPO and Square's new digs, Jack Dorsey's hot streak continues
Jack Dorsey may shy from being called the Steve Jobs of his generation, but there's no question he's on one hell of a hot streak.
Report: Venture investments rose 17 pct in 3Q (Update)
A new report says funding for U.S. startups rose in the third quarter from year-ago levels, as venture capitalists poured money into a growing number of fledging software companies.
US universities make big bets on startups
Just before graduating from the University of Michigan, Calvin Schemanski began his start-up.
Twitter's Evan Williams may be worth $1B after IPO (Update)
The personal fortune of Twitter co-founder Evan Williams probably will take up 10 characters once the online communications company goes public.
Smart recycle bin wins record-breaking MHacks hackathon
An intelligent trash can that sorts recyclables from garbage won first prize at the University of Michigan's 36-hour maker blitz, MHacks.
Coalition seeks release of surveillance data
A coalition of Internet firms and activist organizations asked the US government Thursday to issue "transparency reports" on its online and phone data collection programs which have sparked an outcry.
Snapchat could be LA's startup star
There's never a shortage of things to gawk at in Venice Beach: oiled-up bodybuilders, a two-headed turtle, over-the-top street performers.


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Blue Dart, one of India’s leading express logistics service provider and part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL) formed Blue Dart Med-Express Consortium with the mission of revolutionising the delivery of vaccines and emergency medical supplies to the remotest parts of India using Drones. Blue Dart Med-Express Consortium is part of the ‘Medicine from the Sky’ project in collaboration with the Government of Telangana, World Economic Forum, Niti Aayog, and Healthnet Global. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has granted the project with necessary exemptions and rights to fly drone flights on an experimental basis in Telangana. The aim is to assess an alternate logistics route in providing safe, accurate and reliable pickup and delivery of health care items (medicines, covid-19 vaccines, units of blood, diagnostic specimens and other lifesaving equipment) from distribution centre to specific location and back.
Blue Dart said that it is committed to improving the supply chain infrastructure and is fighting hard to combat the pandemic. Blue Dart Med-Express Drone flights will deploy an immersive delivery model to optimize the current healthcare logistics within Telangana. The model will enable deliveries from district medical stores and blood banks to Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Blood Storage Units and further from PHCs/CHCs to Central Diagnostic laboratories.
Blue Dart said that it has continuously worked with the medical equipment and pharmaceuticals sector to maintain the supply chain and deliver critical shipment and essential supplies including COVID vaccine samples, temperature-controlled movement of COVID-19 testing kits, ventilators, PPE, testing kits, reagents, enzymes, respirators, surgical masks, goggles and gloves amongst other critical material. The company’s six Boeing 757 freighters ensure the ease in ramping up operations swiftly to handle large scale shipments.
Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here


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What Is the Difference Between Blockchain ETFs and Bitcoin ETFs?
Bitcoin ETFs are still an air castle, even though bitcoin is gaining momentum among investors. Meanwhile, mainstream markets have also seen the introduction of blockchain ETFs. The phrases bitcoin and blockchain are sometimes used interchangeably in popular media and news stories. As a result, many investors wrongly assume that blockchain ETFs are the same as bitcoin ETFs.
It’s crucial to understand the differences between bitcoin ETFs and blockchain ETFs before deciding which instruments they monitor. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, and blockchain is the infrastructure that underpins it. When it comes to investment securities, the differentiation becomes much more relevant.
Even though bitcoin futures are already available on the country’s two largest markets, the cryptocurrency’s legal position throughout several jurisdictions remains uncertain. It is involved in various regulatory wars and is being prosecuted for promoting illegal activity, including money laundering.
In controlled markets, four blockchain ETFs are already available. The four were released in 2018 and had a combined $278 million in assets under administration. Their cost-to-income rates range from 0.70 to 0.65 percent.
Investors pumped $180 million into blockchain ETFs in the first two weeks of their launch, according to a Wall Street Journal article. These ETFs have had higher trading volumes than other equivalent instruments that had been introduced since October 2017.
What Are the Differences Between Bitcoin ETFs and Blockchain ETFs?
Blockchain ETFs are exchange-traded funds that watch the stock market values of firms that have invested in blockchain technologies. Since blockchain is a technology, it isn’t affiliated with anyone’s business or product.
The blockchain investing world is vast and not limited to a single industry. For example, IBM and Maersk have allied to introduce blockchain in the freight industry. Similarly, Overstock, through its Medici Ventures and zero digital coin exchange, has made blockchain investments. These companies are, unsurprisingly, popular with blockchain ETFs. Both businesses are listed in Amplify ETFs’ Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF (BLOK) and Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy (BLCN) ETFs.
The majority of bitcoin ETF applications filed with the SEC suggested monitoring the price of bitcoin by Cboe and CME futures contracts. ETFs watch the price of bitcoin by owning futures contracts in this model.
The SEC, on the other hand, dismissed the ETF proposals due to “liquidity and valuation” issues. Bitcoin futures contracts have poor exchange rates and liquidity at the moment. As a consequence, rather than leading, futures markets obey unpredictable spot exchange prices.
Blockchain ETFs are currently less risky than bitcoin ETFs in their present form. This is because they are not vulnerable to bitcoin’s crazy price spikes.
Since blockchain is a new technology, it does not yet have a wide demand. As a result, the ETF’s stock prices are more vulnerable to causes that have little to do with or impact blockchain technology. The actions of regulatory authorities on bitcoin and cryptocurrencies would have a significant impact on bitcoin ETFs until they are introduced.
Now that you’ve got the run, the next step is to figure out how to learn Blockchain technology. Blockchain certification courses are a standard option since they are both short-term and flexible. The blockchain councils’ accredited blockchain training curriculum curated by blockchain experts focuses on the knowledge and expertise you’ll need to get a job, and it’s all packed in a portable learning module that suits your timetable.


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Remember the days when watching the Super Bowl meant eating lots of chips, hanging out with friends and, most importantly, being glued to the TV?
This weekend, fans will likely split their attention between the screens on their TVs, laptops, smartphones and tablets. They're just as likely to be chatting with their friends online as they are with the people in the room with them.
This year is a game changer. The Super Bowl, which will be streamed online for the first time, is going social. Since fans will be tweeting and posting comments about the game on their Facebook and Google+ pages, advertisers and the NFL are working to get in on the action.
"It's a new way of interacting during the game," said Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with ZK Research. "I'm expecting this Super Bowl to give us some of the highest Twitter volume we have seen. We've got all the ingredients for it. It's expected to be a close game. There are big stars, two huge markets, a social-media savvy audience and the game is in prime time. It's almost like a social media perfect storm."
Fans for both the New York Giants and the New England Patriots took to social networks a couple of months ago, supporting their teams and rooting for them to make the Super Bowl.
Last December, the Patriots had 644,000 unique visitors to their official Web site, topping the Giants' 574,000 visitors, according to Nielsen Wire. But while Patriots fans made more visits, Giants fans were more engaged on their team's site, viewing nearly twice as many pages compared with their rivals.
Who is out there doing the most tweeting, posting encouragement to their teams and using trash talk?
Nielsen reports that Giants fans are posting 59% of all the social buzz about the big game. However, Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady is getting nearly double the online buzz compared with Giants QB Eli Manning.
According to an ETrade survey of 1,000 Americans, 22% say they plan to tweet, text and post on Facebook and other social media sites during the game. Of the 67% who say they'll be using a device during the Super Bowl, 34% said it will be a smartphone, 27% say they'll be on a computer and 6% say they'll use a tablet.
So how are companies taking advantage of this social networking?
A few advertisers, in a break with tradition, have launched their big Super Bowl ads before the big game, instead of during the three-plus hour event. Companies including Honda and Volkswagen are spreading their advertising dollars onto online sites.
Honda, for instance, took to YouTube about a week ago to run a highly popular takeoff ( on the 1980s cult movie classic, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, to advertise its Honda CR-V automobile. As of Friday at noon ET, the ad had been viewed more than 10 million times and had racked up nearly 28,000 "likes."
And Volkswagen posted a YouTube video called "The Bark Side," that features a group of dogs barking out the Darth Vader theme from Star Wars. It's been viewed more than 11 million times and has been "liked" more than 72,000 times.
Coca-Cola is bringing back its popular polar bear ads but with a social media twist. During Sunday's game, Coke will be running an online stream at CokePolarBowl.com of its animated bears, which will be wearing game colors and reacting to plays in real time. The bears also will be "tweeting" comments about the game and taking on users' questions. The bears will even have their own game day Twitter hash tag: #GameDayPolarBears
Super Bowl-focused apps also are popping up all over this year.
The Giants have their own mobile app that is designed to give users real-time stats, breaking news and access to game previews, Giants-related tweets and on-demand video clips. The app is available for iPhones, Androids and Blackberry smart phones.
Meanwhile, the Patriots app is set up to offer real-time stats, streaming video and audio broadcasts. It too is available on iPhones, Androids and Blackberry smartphones.
This story, "Social Media Takes Over the Super Bowl" was originally published by Computerworld.


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Start-Ups Awash in Dollars, Again by Brad Stone and Matt Richtel
Oct. 16 Silicon Valleys math is getting fuzzy again. Internet
companies with funny names, little revenue and few customers are commanding
high prices. And investors, having seemingly forgotten the pain of the first
dot-com bust, are displaying symptoms of the disorder known as irrational
the popular but financially unproven social network, which is reportedly being
valued by investors at up to $15 billion. That is nearly half the value of
Yahoo, a company with 38 times the number of employees and, based on estimates
of Facebooks income, 32 times the revenue.
recently surged past $600 a share, is now worth more than I.B.M., a company
with eight times the revenue.
Internet start-ups are drawing investment based on their ability to build
an audience, not bring in revenue the very alchemy that many say led
to the inflation and bursting of the dot-com bubble.
The surge in
the perceived value of some start-ups has even surprised some entrepreneurs
who are benefiting from it.
A year ago,
Yahoo invested in Right Media, a New York-based company developing an online
advertising network. Yahoos investment valued the firm at $200 million.
Six months later, when Yahoo acquired Right Media outright, the purchase price
had swelled to $850 million.
According to Right Medias chief technology officer, Brian OKelley,
very little, except that Yahoos rivals, Microsoft and Google, were writing
billion-dollar checks to buy online advertising networks, and Yahoo thought
it needed to pay any price to keep up.
to say I giggled, Mr. OKelley, 30, said of the deal that earned
him millions. He has since left Right Media and is starting another company.
There is no way we quadrupled the value of the company in six months.
The trend is
described as a return to madness (by skeptics) or as a rational approach to
unlimited opportunities presented by the Internet (by true believers). Greed,
fear and a desperate rush to pick the next big winner are all adding fuel
to the fire that is Silicon Valleys resurgence.
definitely a lot of betting going on, and its not rational, said
Tim OReilly, a technology conference promoter and book publisher.
is credited with coining the phrase Web 2.0, which refers to a
new generation of Web sites that encourage users to contribute material. His
Web 2.0 conference, which begins Wednesday in San Francisco, has become a
nexus for the optimism around the latest set of society-changing online tools.
But that has not stopped Mr. OReilly from worrying that the industry
is minting too many copycat companies, half-baked business plans and overpriced
When the bubble
inevitably pops, he said, there are going to be a lot of people out
of work again.
Putting a value
on start-ups has always been a mix of science and speculation. But as in the
first dot-com boom and the recent surge in housing, seasoned financial professionals
are seeming to indulge in some strange instinct to turn away from the science
and lean instead on the speculation.
This time around,
people indulging in that optimistic thinking are not mom-and-pop investors
or day traders but venture capitalists whose coffers are overflowing with
money from university endowments and hedge funds. Many of those financial
professionals say that this time, everything is different.
More than 1.3
billion people around the world use the Internet, many with speedy broadband
connections and a willingness to immerse themselves in digital culture. The
flood of advertising dollars to the Web has become an indomitable trend and
a proven way for these start-ups to make money, while the revenue models of
the dot-coms of yesteryear were often little more than sleight of hand.
factors are much different than they were eight years ago, said Roelof
Botha, a partner at Sequoia Capital and an early backer of YouTube. The
cost of doing business has declined dramatically, and traditional media companies
have also woken up to the opportunities of the Web.
open up the aperture for a different outcome this time, he said.
Some trace the
start of the new bubble to eBays $3.1 billion acquisition of the Internet
telephone start-up Skype in 2005. EBays chief executive, Meg Whitman,
reportedly outbid Google for the company. This month, eBay conceded it had
grossly overpaid for Skype by about $1.43 billion, and announced that Niklas
Zennstrom, a Skype co-founder, had left the company.
acquisition of YouTube last year for $1.65 billion, under similarly competitive
bidding, might have accelerated the transition to loftier values. Google executives
and many analysts argued that YouTube was well worth the price tag if it became
the next entertainment juggernaut.
It still might.
More than 205 million people visit YouTube each month, according to the research
firm comScore. Still, Citigroup estimated that YouTube would bring in $135
million in revenue next year. At that rate, YouTube would have to grow considerably
to account for just 5 percent of Googles annual revenue of nearly $12
almost going back to year 2000 types of errors, said Aaron Kessler,
an Internet analyst at Piper Jaffray. Internet companies are buying
users instead of revenue and profitability, he said.
The Skype and
YouTube windfalls helped to give the newest batch of Internet entrepreneurs
dreams of improbable wealth. They also brought back practices that had seemingly
been discredited during the first boom. For example, in the first dot-com
gold rush, Internet companies did not have to make money to acquire serious
investments dollars. Now that once again is true.
Twitter, a company
in San Francisco that lets users alert friends to what they are doing at any
given moment over their mobile phones, recently raised an undisclosed amount
of financing. Its co-founder and creative director, Biz Stone, says that the
company was not currently focused on making money and that no one in the company
was even working on how to do so.
moment, were focused on growing our network and our user experience,
he said. When you have a lot of traffic, theres always a clear
That is not
necessarily illogical in the current climate. A European competitor, Jaiku,
which is similarly devoid of a mature business model, was acquired last week
by Google for an undisclosed sum. With the competitive logic that prevails
at the major Internet companies, the deal might have further raised Twitters
appeal to Googles rivals.
The high value
placed on many start-ups and minimal requirements for financial performance
are raising expectations of other entrepreneurs. Sharon Wienbar, managing
director of Scale Ventures Partners, an investment firm, cited the $100 million
valuation that investors gave to the Internet genealogy site Geni.com, founded
last year in Los Angeles by a veteran of PayPal.
entrepreneur thinks he should get that, Ms. Wienbar said. I have
a feeling a lot of entrepreneurs are secretly meeting for beers on the Peninsula,
saying, Hey, look what I got.
formerly of Right Media, said other entrepreneurs had begun to think that
the financing game is best played by avoiding actual revenues since
that only limits the imagination of investors. Its a screwed-up
incentive structure, just like you had in the first bubble, he said.
benefiting from the exuberance is Ning, which allows users to create their
own MySpace-style ad-supported social networks. It was recently valued by
investors at more than $200 million, mainly because its main backer and founder,
Marc Andreessen, has a successful history with the Internet hits Netscape
argues on his blog that there is no bubble and that the high prices represent
a rational desire to stake a claim in the potentially huge markets of the
future. But he acknowledges that a seemingly inexhaustible flood of capital
into Silicon Valley is helping to power the boom. Venture capitalists are
flush with cash from institutional investors, eager for Internet-style returns
on their money.
valuations pressure is the result of decisions being made by people wearing
suits in cities like New York and Boston who would never ever meet with start-ups,
Mr. Andreessen said in an interview. If that ever goes away, it will
have consequences. But it doesnt look like they will change their minds.


text: Forbes, a popular American magazine, has released its 36th annual list of the world’s wealthiest people. 87 persons were left off the list this year, compared to last year, as conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and lethargic markets wreaked havoc on the world’s billionaires. According to Forbes, the list includes 2,668 billionaires, with 236 newcomers, and 1,000 billionaires are now wealthier than they were a year ago. America still leads the world, with 735 billionaires worth a collective $4.7 trillion (almost Rs867 trillion). This includes Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors, who topped the World’s Billionaires list for the first time, while China (including Macau and Hong Kong) remained number two, with 607 billionaires worth a collective $2.3 trillion (almost Rs424 trillion). Here’s this year’s definitive list of the World’s Billionaires: https://t.co/UcFKZr1Ky3 #ForbesBillionaires pic.twitter.com/noTOhpYJ9t — Forbes (@Forbes) April 5, 2022 Surprisingly, Russia and China witnessed a major drop in the number of billionaires. In Russia, there are 34 fewer billionaires than last year following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, while in China, a government crackdown on tech companies has led to 87 fewer billionaires on the list. They’re worth a collective $12.7 trillion—$400 billion less than in 2021 #ForbesBillionaires — Forbes (@Forbes) April 5, 2022 According to the Forbes magazine, Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries is the 10th richest person in the world, followed by Infrastructure tycoon Gautam Adani and his family, who claimed the 11th spot on Forbes’ annual world’s billionaires list. “We used stock prices and exchange rates from March 11, 2022 to calculate net worths,” said the magazine.


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Microsoft (MSFT) on Monday unveiled a new family of Surface devices that it hopes will do a better job of penetrating the tablet market than its first-generation products did.
At a press event in New York City, Microsoft introduced two new models, the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, along with an expanded portfolio of accessories. The new tablet-notebook hybrids include significant improvements to processing power and battery life. They will be available for preorder Tuesday morning and will be in stores in the U.S. and 21 other countries on Oct. 22.
Customers who buy either the Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2 will get free Skype Internet calling to landline phones in more than 60 countries for one year, unlimited Skype Wi-Fi on the tablets at more than 2 million hot spots worldwide for one year, and 200 gigabytes of free SkyDrive storage for two years.
Microsoft Vice President Panos Panay holds the Microsoft Surface 2 during a news conference in New York City on Monday. The device is a full laptop... View Enlarged Image
The combination of Internet services with mobile devices fits squarely into Microsoft's "devices and services" corporate strategy. The Redmond, Wash.-based company adopted the new focus earlier this year to better compete with Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG). Apple's iPhones and iPads and Google's Android mobile operating system and devices are dominating the market for smartphones and tablets. On Monday, Apple announced better-than-expected initial sales of its latest smartphones.
Software leader Microsoft, however, made a big move early this month when it announced its would buy Nokia's (NOK) cellphone business for $7.2 billion.
Microsoft's Windows phones and first-generation Surface tablets have failed to make an impact on the market. Microsoft's first Surface tablets, released last October, were a costly flop for the software giant, which had to slash prices to move inventory. In the June quarter, Microsoft took a $900 million charge to write down the value of unsold Surface RT tablets.
With its second-generation Surface tablets, Microsoft is promoting performance and productivity to differentiate its offerings from those of Apple and Android. Investors aren't impressed, though, as Microsoft stock was down a fraction in early afternoon trading on the stock market.
The Surface 2, which uses the Windows RT 8.1 operating system, runs on an Nvidia (NVDA) Tegra 4 processor. It has a 10.6-inch HD display and is slightly thinner and lighter than last year's model. It also boasts improvements to camera resolution (3.5-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel rear camera) and the USB port (upgraded to USB 3.0 for up to four times faster file transfers). The Surface 2 tablet starts at $449 for a model with 32 GB of data storage.


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CalAmp | May 16, 2022
CalAmp (Nasdaq: CAMP), a connected intelligence company helping people and organizations improve operational performance with a data-driven solutions ecosystem, announced its subsidiary, Tracker Network (U.K.) Ltd., is offering its Supply Chain Visibility solution to pan-European transportation and logistics operators to deliver reliable, cost-effective, end-to-end cargo tracking of shipments. The solution will particularly benefit multinational businesses in the pharmaceutical, electronics, biotech, food and consumer goods industries looking to secure high-value, high-risk shipments in transit, while also improving supply chain efficiency and offering essential documentation for regulatory compliance purposes.
CalAmp’s Supply Chain Visibility solution is enabled by a portfolio of wireless sensors and other reusable and single-use devices that can be affixed to assets to track and collect critical data, such as temperature, light, shock, vibration and location. The solution enables operators to monitor cargo throughout the shipment journey from a manufacturer through land, sea and air touchpoints to the final destination. Upon arrival, the sensors automatically synchronize with CalAmp’s fixed and mobile hubs to support chain of custody documentation and environmental reporting. Sensor data sent through the CalAmp Telematics Cloud can be directly integrated into warehouse, fleet and logistics management systems via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
“The pandemic brought to light many challenges within the global supply chain, from port and border closures to product shortages and COVID-19 vaccine shipments. Manually tracking goods in transit exposes cargo to human error and theft, and limits visibility into environmental damage,” explained Mark Rose, managing director for Tracker. “Sensor- and API-enabled smarter logistics systems like CalAmp’s Supply Chain Visibility solution prove invaluable in reducing freight spoilage, optimizing supply chain performance, documenting chain of custody and protecting brand integrity.”
The CalAmp Supply Chain Visibility solution provides:
Reporting and data analytics: Logging of data to help document chain of custody in compliance with Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP) requirements
Critical alerts and notifications: Immediate web-based and mobile alerts when a shipment exceeds a predetermined temperature range or goes out of the authorized shipping zone, enabling supply chain operators to take corrective action to minimize spoilage and loss
Near real-time location tracking: CalAmp’s smart sensors and disposable devices utilize GPS tracking to provide near real-time delivery estimates, current location and progress reports even when cargo is in the hands of a third-party provider
Geofencing and route fencing: Alerts notify users if the cargo deviates from the planned route or strays from authorized waypoints
Stationary and movement detection: Detection of when a shipment is moving or stalled, which is especially important when navigating high risk areas in route between waypoints
API integration: CalAmp integrates with Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to facilitate information sharing, collaboration and transparency along the entire supply chain
External sharing of critical sensor readings and history: A device’s sensory reading, location and historical data can be shared with other stakeholders including third-party logistics providers (3PLs), private fleet operators, warehouses and distribution centers.
“The need for real-time, end-to-end cargo visibility has never been greater than in today’s complex, just-in-time global supply chain. Manufacturers, logistics operators, consumers and regulators all want to ensure their shipments in transit adhere to strict safety and compliance requirements and will arrive quickly and as expected, We’re excited to provide this level of visibility and intelligence to the European market through our Supply Chain Visibility solution. For our customers shipping goods across pan-European regions, these location and environmental insights will strengthen the reliability, security and efficiency of their operations to benefit all stakeholders in the supply chain.”
-Jeff Clark, chief product officer, CalAmp.
About Tracker Network (UK) Limited
Tracker Network (UK) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CalAmp, has been leading the way in the field of stolen vehicle recovery and insurance and fleet telematics since 1993. With over a million market-leading security and telematics systems fitted to vehicles including passenger cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and plant and construction equipment, Tracker’s connected intelligence solutions help people and businesses work smarter. Together with the police, Tracker has to date recovered over £571 million worth of stolen vehicles and continues to recover on average £1 million worth of stolen vehicles each month. Tracker’s award-winning products ensure its customers have complete peace of mind. For more information, visit www.tracker.co.uk or LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tracker Insights.
CalAmp (Nasdaq: CAMP) is a connected intelligence company that leverages a data-driven solutions ecosystem to help people and organizations improve operational performance. We solve complex problems in transportation and logistics, commercial and government fleet, industrial equipment and consumer vehicle marketplaces by providing solutions that track, monitor and recover vital assets. The insights enabled by our cloud platform, applications and edge computing devices drive operational visibility, safety, efficiency, maintenance and sustainability. Headquartered in Irvine, California, CalAmp has over one million software and services subscribers and 10 million edge devices deployed worldwide. For more information, visit calamp.com, or LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or CalAmp Blog.
CalAmp, LoJack, TRACKER, Here Comes The Bus, Bus Guardian, iOn Vision, CrashBoxx and associated logos are among the trademarks of CalAmp and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Spireon acquired the LoJack® U.S. Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) business from CalAmp and holds an exclusive license to the LoJack mark in the United States and Canada. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Mandiant, Inc | June 02, 2022
Mandiant, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNDT) and Interos, the fast-growing operational resilience company, announced a strategic partnership to provide advanced insights and analysis to help enterprises defend against cyber attacks and other threats to their operational resilience. The collaborative partnership is designed to bring to market new intelligence based on insights gleaned from the Interos Resilience Lab, as well as Interos’ SaaS platform, and the frontline investigations and remediations Mandiant conducts regarding high impact cyber attacks worldwideMandiant M-Trends 2022 report shows that global supply chains remain an attractive target for threat actors who seek to take advantage of trusted business-to-business relationships, as attacking the supply chain provides an opportunity to pivot from one supplier network into multiple customer networks at once. In fact, when the initial infection vector was identified, supply chain compromise accounted for 17% of intrusions investigated by Mandiant in 2021, compared to less than 1% in 2020.
Further, new data from Interos’ 2022 Annual Global Supply Chain Report reveals that organizations have been impacted by on average three significant supply chain disruptions within the last 12 months (not including the Ukraine war) – costing a combined $182 million in lost revenue. Cyber attacks account for $37 million of that figure. Additionally, the overwhelming majority (91%) of executives reported that their organizations had experienced supply chain disruptions from Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers in their extended supply chain.
“Interos is focused on helping organizations ensure operational resilience; continuously delivering in-depth analysis on criticality for risk, and risk management, Together with Interos, Mandiant will be able to proactively problem solve with a company that is leading the way in ensuring organizations of all sizes understand key attack vectors across supply chain, threat actors and nation state threats.”
-Marshall Heilman, Chief Technology Officer, Mandiant
The partnership announcement follows a recent alert from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warning of an increase in malicious cyber activity targeting managed service providers (MSPs). The advisory also recommended MSPs to understand and proactively manage their supply chain risk.
“The CISA warning is more evidence that existing supply chain risk management systems were not designed for today’s complex risk environment, Our collaboration with Mandiant will provide multi-factor risk intelligence to help commercial and government organizations better protect targeted entities in their third-party relationships to insulate them from disruption, ransomware, and IP theft. We’re proud to partner with Mandiant to help leaders discover hidden business relationships and exposure to cyber vulnerabilities.”
-Nishant Gupta, Chief Technology Officer, Interos
About Mandiant, Inc.
Since 2004, Mandiant has been a trusted partner to security-conscious organizations. Effective security is based on the right combination of expertise, intelligence, and adaptive technology, and the Mandiant Advantage SaaS platform scales decades of frontline experience and industry-leading threat intelligence to deliver a range of dynamic cyber defense solutions. Mandiant’s approach helps organizations develop more effective and efficient cyber security programs and instills confidence in their readiness to defend against and respond to cyber threats. Join the conversation. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
Mandiant is a registered trademark of Mandiant, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Interos is the operational resilience company — reinventing how companies manage their supply chains and business relationships — through our breakthrough SaaS platform that uses artificial intelligence to model and transform the ecosystems of complex businesses into a living global map, down to any single supplier, anywhere. The Interos Operational Resilience Cloud helps organizations reduce risk, avoid disruptions, and achieve superior enterprise adaptability. Based in Washington, DC, the fast-growing private company is led by CEO Jennifer Bisceglie and supported by investors Kleiner Perkins, NightDragon, and Venrock. www.interos.ai.
Hydron | June 13, 2022
Mo Chen, Co-Founder of San Diego-based autonomous driving company TuSimple (Nasdaq: TSP), has started a new company, Hydron, committed to developing, manufacturing, and selling hydrogen-powered trucks equipped with L4 autonomous driving technology. Chen is set on transforming long-haul freight transportation through hydrogen-powered autonomous trucks making trucking safer, cleaner, and more efficient, minimizing the carbon footprint of class 8 heavy-duty trucks globally.Chen, a Canadian entrepreneur, co-founded self-driving technology company TuSimple with business partner Xiaodi Hou in 2015. Tusimple quickly attracted the attention of global logistics giant UPS, who invested in the company back in 2019 before TuSimple went public through a traditional IPO raising $1.3 billion in total funding. In December of 2021, TuSimple cemented its status as the leader in the development of AI-powered autonomous driving software by becoming the first and only company to successfully operate long-haul heavy-duty trucks autonomously on open public roads without a human in the vehicle and without remote intervention.
"The path to commercializing autonomous vehicles requires the complex integration of both hardware and software, The biggest challenge in bringing autonomous driving to the market at scale is not software development, but access to reliable mass production hardware, and now with Hydron, we will be able to provide automotive-grade hardware specifically for autonomous networks."
-Mo Chen, Chief Executive Officer at Hydron.
Hydron plans to become a leading provider of hydrogen-powered autonomous trucks and refueling infrastructure through partnerships to become a complete solution provider for autonomous driving companies, commercial fleets, and leading carriers. Hydron also plans to collaborate with partners to build a manufacturing facility in North America to better meet the U.S. supply chain challenges. The first generation of Hydron trucks is expected to enter mass production in Q3 of 2024, with a complete set of sensors, computing units, and redundant actuators to meet L4 autonomous driving requirements.
Hydron is a privately held independent company and is not affiliated with TuSimple.
Hydron, Inc. is a Southern California-based company committed to the development, manufacturing, and sales of purpose-built autonomous ready trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Hydron aims to become the leading provider of hydrogen-powered autonomous trucks and refueling infrastructure and will focus on the North American, European, and Middle Eastern markets.
XPO Logistics, Inc. | July 14, 2022
XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO), a leading provider of freight transportation services,announced that a new company identity has been created in connection with the planned spin-off of its tech-enabled brokerage platform. The spin-off is named RXO to reflect the company’s commitment to provide reliability multiplied by outperformance. RXO will go to market with the tagline “Massive capacity. Cutting-edge technology.”
XPO unveiled the new company’s identity on a landing page, RXO.com, where visitors can register to receive news about the spin-off’s upcoming milestones and leadership appointments.Brad Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics, said, “Our spin-off now has a name — RXO — bringing it one step closer to becoming a standalone industry leader. Our best-in-class truck brokerage business will be the keystone of RXO’s asset-light platform, poised to continue to take share of a growing market.”
“The new brand embodies our competitive positioning of reliable outperformance, propelled by multiple tailwinds. RXO will launch with a widely adopted digital platform that gives shippers and carriers the automation they demand. I’m excited to lead our team to even greater achievements as a tech-enabled pure-play.”
-Drew Wilkerson, XPO’s president, North American transportation, who has been named to become chief executive officer of RXO
As previously announced, XPO intends to separate its asset-based less-than-truckload business from its asset-light brokered transportation platform, creating two independent, publicly traded companies with vast growth prospects in North America. The spin-off’s largest component will be truck brokerage, with complementary brokered services for managed transportation, last mile logistics and global forwarding.
Usage of the RXO name, logo and other brand components will become effective upon the spin-off of RXO, Inc., which XPO expects to complete in the fourth quarter of 2022.
About XPO Logistics
XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO) is a leading provider of freight transportation services, primarily less-than-truckload (LTL) and truck brokerage. XPO uses its proprietary technology, including the cutting-edge XPO Connect® automated freight marketplace, to move goods efficiently through supply chains. The company’s global network serves 50,000 shippers with approximately 731 locations and 42,000 employees, and is headquartered in Greenwich, Conn., USA. Visit xpo.com and europe.xpo.com for more information, and connect with XPO on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.


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We’re seeing a rush of new boards touting their AI support. Google’s Coral.ai dev board will be one to beat.
Most current AI happens in supercomputing clusters, but this year we’re seeing a push to move AI to “the edge”, with the processing happening on the little devices scattered around the world, rather than being phoned home over the Internet. Google has new offerings this year in both hardware and software to bring that AI future: On the software side, their “TensorFlow” deep learning software matures to version 2.0, and gets a “Lite” version made for simpler processors, like those at the heart of hobby electronics boards. On the hardware side, they offer their Tensor Processing Unit, an accelerator chip to push TensorFlow performance beyond anything general-purpose chips would hope to achieve.
The Coral.ai Dev board is Google’s single board computer offering, modeled after the classic Raspberry Pi, with a Tensor Processing Unit built in to push its deep learning performance into ranges we’ve only seen before from much, much more expensive boards.
Google’s intro tutorials for using TensorFlow on the Coral.ai are some of the friendlier I’ve seen, though you’ll want to have a few things ready to hit the ground running with them: Check the parts list on the tutorial at coral.withgoogle.com/tutorials/devboard to make sure you have all the supplies on the list. I also recommend picking up the optional camera module, since many of the demos assume the board is getting video input to analyze.
With processor speed creeping up on hobby boards, and TensorFlow Lite bringing AI software in reach of more microcontrollers than ever before, we expect to see a wealth of new choices for AI electronics this year. And we expect the Coral to stand out as one of this year’s AI leaders.


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Thanks to Runway360’s post on the Xbox Forums, the news that Xbox Live Community Games will coming hitting Japan this summer, here is their post:
“Microsoft Japan held a media briefing today and its announcements included the launch of Community Games for Japan, Japanese-language support for XNA Creators Club Online and XNA Game Studio 3.1 Japanese Edition.
According to Microsoft Japan’s press release and a notice posted on Creators Club Online:
1. Xbox LIVE Community Games is starting this summer in Japan.
2. Creators Club Online will accept submission from developers in Japan in mid-July.
3. Distribution of XNA Game Studio 3.1 Japanese Edition is scheduled before mid-July to make it in time for start of accepting games, which is timed with the opening of Japanese Creators Club Online.
When I was writing No. 3, I wondered for a moment if xna.com could be a more proper place to post this thread because it might arouse interest and speculation from developers outside Japan too. But that is not my purpose. Still I’m posting here.
In short, Community Games starts in Japan this summer.”


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A new set of postage stamps will celebrate the history of the British video game industry, from groundbreaking space sim Elite to blockbusting action adventure Tomb Raider.
Each of the 12 stamps in the collection features an image from a memorable and influential game, tracing the history of the industry from the 1980s. Also featured are classic titles such as Dizzy, Populous, Lemmings and Sensible Soccer.
“The UK has been at the forefront of the video games industry for decades,” said Royal Mail spokesman Philip Parker. “In the 1980s and 90s young designers grappled with coding on the new microcomputers and set the template for the industry with iconic games. We celebrate some of their landmark creations on stamps.”
The 12 games were selected with the help of games industry trade body UKIE as well as veteran video game journalist Julian Rignall, who worked on seminal gaming magazines Zzap!64 and Mean Machines, and Sam Dyer, creative director at Bitmap Books, which specialises in retro video game publications.
The set begins in the mid-80s, focusing on the work of development studios such as Bullfrog (Populous) and Codemasters (Dizzy, Micro Machines), before moving into the 90s with titles from Liverpool-based publisher Psygnosis (Lemmings and Wipeout), Derby’s Core Design (Tomb Raider) and Wakefield’s Team17 (Worms).
“This collection celebrates a selection of the great British video games that have helped define both the national and global development scene over decades,” said Jo Twist, chief executive of UKIE. “Video games are a key part of our cultural footprint.”
The stamps will go on sale on 21 January.


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• Plug-in van and truck grants extended for 2 years as government goes further and faster to decarbonise transport
• Drivers with standard licenses can continue driving electric goods vans at a higher weight limit, making it easier for businesses to make the switch
• Comes ahead of 2030 phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and vans as part of net zero commitment
Businesses will be supported to make the switch to electric as the government commits to a 2-year extension of plug-in van and truck grants.
The move is expected to support the purchase of tens of thousands of greener vans and trucks, and will help make the UK less reliant on imports of foreign oil, improving the security of our energy supply and reducing our vulnerability to volatility in global energy prices.
Last year, industry figures showed the UK had the highest number of plug-in electric vans sold in Europe and there were around 4 times as many grant applications compared to 2020.
Existing grants have supported the purchase of more than 26,000 electric vans and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) across the UK since the programme launched in 2012.
With nearly 5% of the UK’s CO2 emissions currently coming from vans, the 2-year extension to these grants and the switch to greener vehicles is essential to support the government’s climate change and air quality commitments.


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Syngenta Bangladesh declares 15 percent dividend
Syngenta Bangladesh Limited, one of the leading multinational companies in crop protection and seed business on Sunday declared 15 percent cash dividend for its shareholders for the year 2018.
The board of directors of Syngenta Bangladesh Limited declared the dividend at its annual general meeting held at the Hotel Intercontinental in the city.
Md. Haiul Kuaium, Chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Syngenta Bangladesh Limited presided over the meeting which was also attended by A M M Golam Towhid, Managing Director of Syngenta Bangladesh and directors from BCIC and Syngenta Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh government through BCIC holds around 40 percent shares of Syngenta Bangladesh.


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Scottish-based loudspeaker manufacturer, FYNE AUDIO, is brand new. But the 7-strong management team brings an enviable pedigree of over 200 years’ audio industry experience. Additionally, a recruitment programme is underway to bring in even more industry talent. They are seeking more team players with the passion and creative skills to help achieve our goal of designing and manufacturing an exceptional range of high performance loudspeakers.
The design and engineering team is based in Scotland. The team behind FYNE AUDIO have worked together for a minimum of 10 years, and some for much longer. New and innovative design elements, with cutting edge technologies, will be introduced from the outset of this new company, and evident in the launch of the initial products.
At Dooleys HiFi we are proud to be able to support a new Scottish - based loudspeaker manufacturer breaking into the market. Already their new products are receiving critical reviews from the HiFi press.


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- Here’s the latest motoring and business news headlines for Wednesday, April 22
Admiral to refund customers £25 for each vehicle amid lockdown
Motor insurer Admiral has pledged to hand back £110m to car and van policyholders as claims plunge amid the coronavirus lockdown.
The Cardiff-based group said it will pay out £25 for each of the 4.4m vehicles covered at April 20, with refunds being made by the end of May.
It said it is able to give customers the cash thanks to falling claims as fewer drivers are on the road due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The group also pledged another £80m towards lowering prices for cover to reflect the drop in claims, as well as for further initiatives to support NHS staff and local communities.
More businesses placing staff on furlough
The number of businesses furloughing staff has increased in the past week with more than half saying they would run out of cash within three months.
The British Chamber of Commerce’s (BCC) weekly coronavirus tracker found 71 per cent of respondents have placed workers on the scheme, up from 66 per cent a week ago.
A further 28% of businesses said they had furloughed no staff. Companies have until Wednesday to access the job retention scheme to receive funds in time for April pay day.
Kia UK executives on Car Dealer Live midday today
Two of Kia UK’s senior executive team will be joining Car Dealer Live at midday today.
Aftersales director Chris Lear and sales director Steve Hicks will join the live broadcast to talk about how the manufacturer has coped with the coronavirus crisis and how they have supported dealers during the crisis. Watch it here.
Elon Musk claims the Cybertruck will be able to ‘float’
Elon Musk took to Twitter to claim the Tesla Cybertruck will be able to cross streams and ‘even float for a while’.
The American firm’s CEO is famous for making wild claims on Twitter, with his latest tweet coming in response to a Twitter user who asked if the upcoming electric SUV will be able to drive through water.
Wading depth is important, with the likes of the new Land Rover Defender and Ford Ranger capable of tackling depths of 900mm and 800mm respectively. Floating is often considered undesirable because it means the wheels no longer dictate the direction of travel, leaving the vehicle at the mercy of the current.
Restaurant chain bosses call for nine-month rent break
Bosses at Burger King, Nando’s and other leading restaurant chains have called on the Chancellor to postpone rent payment for the next nine months
The chains Caffe Nero, Pret a Manger, Franco Manca, Gordon Ramsay Group, Dishoom, Wahaca and Tortilla have all backed the plea.
In a letter to the Chancellor, restaurant bosses said: ‘Fear of the virus and the long-term need for physical distancing will mean that most hospitality businesses will remain shut after lockdown. Almost all have no immediate prospect of being profitable again and many will fail in the next few weeks and months.’
Brent oil collapses after rout in US oil markets
A rout in global oil markets continued yesterday as traders in Europe caught up with extraordinary events in the US on Monday.
The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil dropped more than 29 per cent to 19.82 US dollars per barrel, its lowest level since 1999.
It came the day after oil prices in the US briefly dipped into negative territory, meaning that buyers were being paid up to 40.32 dollars to take delivery of oil. Demand for oil has dried up as international economies shut down.
[30 second explainer video below]
Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque get plug-in hybrid tech
A new plug-in hybrid powertrain has been launched for the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, promising an electric range of 41 miles.
The petrol-electric unit, which is the same in both models, uses a three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with an electric motor that sits on the rear axle. They produce a combined 305bhp and 540Nm of torque. Badged P300e, they promise impressive economy and low running costs.
John Lewis sales plunge as online growth fails to offset shop closures
John Lewis sales have plunged after it was forced to shut stores despite a surge in online orders by 84 per cent.
The group said that despite many people turning to its online stores, the purchases were less profitable and despite the rise annual sales will still be down overall by around 35 per cent. This is despite its supermarket arm Waitrose seeing sales rise too.
The news comes as the group hands a near £1m pay-out to its former managing director Paula Nickolds, who was ousted from the department store business in January.
Cath Kidston permanently shuts all 60 stores
Cath Kidston is to shut its 60 UK stores with the loss of more than 900 jobs. The fashion retailer confirmed stores will not reopen once the lockdown is over after the company’s owners secured a deal to buy back its brand and online operations following its fall into administration.
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA), which has held a stake in the retailer since 2014, said it will buy the online business, brand and wholesale arm from administrators Alvarez & Marsal.
The company confirmed that only 32 of its 940 staff will see their jobs secured as part of the deal.
Amazon gives staff £2-an-hour pay rise
Amazon warehouse staff and delivery drivers will get a £2-an-hour pay rise in recognition for their work during the lockdown.
UK boss Doug Gurr wrote to customers on Tuesday explaining that the online retail giant has also upgraded its warehouses to government standards on social distancing.
It comes as Amazon faces battles at its French operations, which are currently closed after a court ruled the company must only sell essential products, while staff have staged protests over virus safety fears in warehouses.
Barclays’s £750 interest-free overdraft buffer
Barclays is introducing temporary interest-free buffers of £750 on pre-agreed overdrafts from the start of May.
This is more generous than the £500 interest-free overdraft buffer that many providers are offering to help borrowers cope with the impact of the pandemic.
Measures put in place from March 27 mean Barclays is currently waiving all interest automatically until the end of April, meaning no charges for customers on their personal arranged overdraft. The new £750 interest-free buffer will be in place from May 1 and will run until the end of July 9.
How can car dealer start selling and delivering cars again?
Following a weekend of debate as to the rights and wrongs of delivering cars during the lockdown, Car Dealer Magazine has investigated how it can be done safely.
When restrictions are lifted there is a good chance that dealers will only be allowed to restart with an online sales solution. We look at what sorts of changes may have to be made. Read the full investigation here.
Catch up on Car Dealer Live with heycar, Honest John and dealer group Corkills from yesterday below


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LAS VEGAS — A newcomer to Autodesk University might have thought they walked into techno music concert at the event’s Nov. 15 opening festivities. A disc jockey playing dance music at concert-level volumes welcomed attendees to the software giant’s Nov. 15-17, 2016, user conference at the Venetian casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip. But since last year’s event opened with “Star Wars” Stormtroopers and dancers looked like they had come from a Vegas Cirque de Soleil show, longtime attendees may not have raised an eyebrow.
Autodesk University — “AU” as the San Rafael, California-based company prefers to call it — is an event on a much larger scale than most similar events. Its trade show has featured robotic bartenders, full-scale model cars made by 3-D printers and at times resembles a high-end video game arcade with virtual-reality software demonstrations.
The 2016 conference focused on “the cloud” — the interconnected world of servers that provide access to resources on demand.
“We’re all in on the cloud,” said Autodesk CEO Carl Bass. “Access to infinite computing power and the ability to work together effortlessly is completely changing how design and engineering are done.”
Autodesk announced coming enhancements to its Fusion 360 platform that will especially benefit sheet metal products and ductwork fabrication contractors.
Sheet metal aids
The improvements for HVAC contractors include capabilities that will allow users to “flange, flatten and fold to their heart’s content.”
“When you consider everything now available in Fusion 360, it represents truly unprecedented value,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president of products at Autodesk. “You would easily spend thousands more to get comparable functionality from other siloed vendors – and that doesn’t even factor in the value of Fusion 360 being integrated into one complete, connected, instant-on platform. Fusion 360 has already completely redefined what customers can and should expect in a product innovation platform. Our roadmap will extend that differentiation much further.”
The company announced enhancements to Forge, its developer platform. It now plans to use the platform as a way to simplify its products, and boost virtual reality capabilities.
Currently, more than 4,000 applications and services have been created using Forge. Plans for the platform announced at the event include data management to support files for BIM (building information modeling) 360 Doc and security improvements.
“Autodesk relies on Forge as the foundation for its own cloud services like Fusion 360 and BIM 360, and we want both developers and our end customers to benefit from creating lightweight applications that fit their business needs,” Hanspal said. “Forge is empowering companies to build and deliver all sorts of industry applications, and we are thrilled to see the range of connected experiences created with our platform in just one year.”
In the cloud
Cloud-based learning and virtual reality is reaching down to the sheet metal forming and HVAC construction worlds, as evidenced by some of the exhibitors displaying products at Autodesk University’s trade show.
Software developer SolidProfessor creates online tutorials for construction-based programs such as AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit and Fusion 360. Officials said sheet metal is one of its more popular courses.
“I think of the most important things we do now is we really try to focus on the experience,” said Tony Glockler, a co-founder and CEO of the San Diego-based company. “Especially if you have students that are coming out of school — the way that the learning is developed, how engaging it is, those are really important qualities.”
The courses have been well-received, he added.
“At the pace of acceleration of technology, you not going to go through it once but you’re going to have to go through it over and over and over again to learn all the different capabilities and functions,” Glockler said. “It better be a good experience.”
At the Iris VR booth, CEO Shane Scranton demonstrated how the company’s virtual-reality headsets and software allows contractors to see potential clashes and problems in a computer-generated 3-D world.
“When you’re in the goggles, it really feels like you’re there and you’re looking into a new environment,” he said.
Contractors are starting to take notice, Scranton said.
“A lot of HVAC (contractors) are using these programs to build out BIM models and to use it for coordination and use it for clash detection,” he said. “With one click, you can take your file and send it into a virtual-reality environment.”
Next year’s Autodesk University is scheduled for Nov. 14-17, again in Las Vegas.


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California environmental regulations are actually making a difference when it comes to slowing climate change. A new study from the National Resources Defense Council finds that not only have the state’s standards had the intended result of meaningfully curbing pollution, there’s been a side effect of significant economic growth, stemming specifically from the clean energy sector.
One of the most compelling findings of the NRDC study is that, if the entire U.S. had adopted California’s greenhouse gas emission standards in 1975, by 2016 the country’s overall emissions would have been 24 percent lower.
Since 1968, California has been granted the right to set its own state standards on certain environmental matters which are higher than those set by the federal government. Other states have even joined in, with 12 of them and Washington D.C. opting to follow California’s lead, voluntarily doing more for environmental protection than what’s required. That gives California a lot of clout with private industry–most notably the car manufacturers and energy suppliers–because companies want to be able to sell their products in the 14 markets that use the California rules.
The Trump administration isn’t a big fan of this arrangement. Neither are energy companies that sell greenhouse gas-contributing fossil fuels. There have been growing rumblings that the White House may take legal action to strip California and the states that follow the California standards of their ability to opt for local control.
The showdown may be coming over a proposed freeze on vehicle fuel economy standards. Even as auto-makers are increasing production of fuel-efficient vehicles on their own due to market demand, the EPA is working to keep regulations minimal and undermine California’s exemptions.
“Federalism does not mean that one state can dictate the standard for the entire nation,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler told Vox in April. “What would happen if [California’s air regulator] sues the government over auto standards? We would go to court if they do that.”
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