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Europe’s current emissions standards have already proven difficult for legacy automakers as evidenced by Honda joining Tesla and Fiat Chrysler’s pool deal recently. But if the EU Commission does decide to push through with its hyper-strict recommended Euro 7 standards, traditional automakers may find it even more difficult to stay competitive in the face of EV manufacturers like Tesla or legacy OEMs who have a leg-up in electric car production and development, like Volkswagen.
All of Tesla’s vehicles are tailor-fit for the strict Euro 7 standards, thanks to its S3XY line, all of which are battery-electric. Tesla recently started exporting Giga Shanghai’s Model 3 vehicle to Europe, thereby increasing its delivery capacity. Gigafactory Berlin seems to be on schedule to start Model Y production in 2021 as well.
On the other side of the aisle, Volkswagen’s ID.3 seems to be selling well in Europe and the ID.4, a crossover, is poised for a release soon. Volkswagen is also working on the other entries of its ID line, such as the ID.5 sedan and estate, the ID.6 SUV, and the ID.7 van. Other all-electric cars from Volkswagen AG, such as the Porsche Taycan and the Audi e-tron, are also being received quite well in their respective segments.
Other traditional OEMs have announced electric vehicles for the future. For instance, Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz brand has announced the EQV, EQS, EQE, and EQA, expanding its existing EV range. Things will likely not be easy for legacy automakers that are only getting their feet wet with EVs, however, as it isn’t just emissions standards that they have to contend with when it comes to releasing new energy vehicles. With each passing year, competitors like Tesla continue to improve the technologies in its vehicles, which also raises the EV standards for traditional OEMs.
The recommendations from the panel of experts in the EU Commissions’ recent study suggests that new car sales in the region will likely be geared towards electric vehicles in the near future. Even if the recommendations end up getting watered down as they are implemented, the shift to electric cars will definitely be palpable within the coming years. And amidst these changes, companies that have already laid the groundwork for their respective electric car programs will likely come out with an advantage.
Tesla would be wise to take advantage of Europe’s apparent war against the combustion engine. With Gigafactory Berlin poised to come online next year, Tesla would have the opportunity to saturate the market with the Model Y, its highest-volume car vehicle to date. The release of the company’s yet-to-be-announced $25,000 EV would also go a long way towards accelerating the mass adoption of all-electric cars. Tesla has not hinted at a concrete release date for its $25,000 car, but with the EU Commission’s stance, it may be a good idea for the electric car maker to accelerate the upcoming vehicle’s release.
Companies like Volkswagen, for their part, would best be advised to ensure that the rollout of its all-electric cars are done with no more delays. The ID.3 experienced severe problems with its software, resulting in the all-electric car’s rollout being pushed back. Amidst Europe’s push to end the internal combustion engine, Volkswagen must ensure that the succeeding vehicles in the ID family are rolled out in a much smoother manner.


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Console gamers have been eagerly waiting for Sony to takes the wraps off its PlayStation 5. Instead of unveiling PS5, Sony decided to reveal its next-generation controllers for the upcoming console – DualSense. The new controller sports several improvements such as haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, built-in microphones and a Create button that replaces the Share button from the previous generation.
ALSO READ: Sony PlayStation 5 Specs are Officially Out!
PS 5 DualSense Controller Vs DualShock 4 Controller
The PS5 DualSense controller is an improvement over the DualShock 4 controller of the PlayStation 4. The new controller is Sony’s biggest design update since the launch of the original PlayStation 25-years ago. The DualSense controller comes with a two-tone body.
“We went through several concepts and hundreds of mockups over the last few years before we settled on this final design,” said Hideaki Nishino, senior vice president of platform planning and management, in the blog post.
The DualShock 4’s light bar has been repositioned to either side of the touchpad. The buttons on the controller together form the shape of the PS logo. The triggers are also more slanted.
“We also incorporated adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons of DualSense so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow,” Nishino said.
The DualSense controllers get USB-C charging, and there’s a built-in mic so that players communicate with other gamers without need to plug in a headset.
Sony has ditched the Share button on the DualSense controller for a “Create” button. Its functionality is yet to be unveiled. The company says it will reveal more about the “Create” button soon.
Sony has been revealing bits and pieces about its upcoming PS5 that’s scheduled to launch this fall. In March, Sony revealed the PlayStation 5 system architecture in a live streaming presentation held by Mark Cerny giving away what to expect of the console’s internals.
More details regarding the DualSense controller are likely to be announced by Sony at the time of the PlayStation 5 launch.

domain: news


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South Korean electronics major Samsung launched the Galaxy M-collection previous year to take on Chinese smartphone makers like Xiaomi, Realme, and Vivo. Due to the fact the smartphone technologies area has been transforming rather rapidly – a 1-dimensions-fits-all does not do the job any longer, especially in the spending budget and midrange segments – so, studying from peers, Samsung launched new styles underneath its M-collection in a quick succession.
When some of the more recent styles introduced convey new technologies, many others ended up basically rebranded versions of the more mature styles. The not too long ago introduced Galaxy M21 appears to a portion of the latter variety – a rebranded variation of the Galaxy M30s introduced late previous year.
A successor to the Galaxy M20, the Samsung Galaxy M21 has an Amoled display, forty eight-megapixel-based mostly multi-optic rear camera array, and a huge-capability battery with rapid-charge help. The telephone


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This service is available nationwide and staff will do anything from setting up your brand new computer to installing your home-entertainment center.
(Wow! I should really get into this. For $119, AT&T will unbox your brand new computer, register it, set up Windows to get Microsoft updates, configure Windows’ security and connect a printer, scanner, camera — your choice of two gadgets, otherwise the price goes up. I could probably do this in 10 minutes, although driving to your house could be a pain.)
This in-home help is already a competitive market with Best Buy’s Geek Squad, Circuit City’s FireDog service and lots of other smaller companies. But Matt Davis, an analyst at market researcher IDC Corp., says it’s inevitable that companies like AT&T jump in.
“We’ve been anticipating that providers like AT&T are going to (offer in-home support) simply because they’re going to get the call anyway,” Davis said. “The service provider is going to have to take more and more responsibility or else a) the service doesn’t work or b) they’ll get the calls to their customer support anyway.”
Jumping on the Geek Squad bandwagon? Not so, says Davis. “I see it more that this is in anticipation of having the capability of what they need because without it, they won’t be able to keep their subscribers happy.”
Davis believes enough consumers are willing to pay for this and at these prices — installing a mounted TV and surround-sound system will cost $549. Plus, after your $119 PC installation is up and running, further remote support starts at $69. Prices are similar to Geek Squad and others.
An AT&T’s media spokesman says that ConnecTech will use AT&T technicians and contractors and AT&T branded vehicles.
Related: Nerds on the run in OC (Oct. 11, 2005)


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By the week of the end, America-based multinational Company, Intel announced their latest hiring plans for their various gaming platforms. The company disclosed its series of high-level hirings to aid their sets up into the PC gaming hardware.
The technology of Intel’s recruitments will be including the technical and other gaming developing managers from other companies such as Electronics Arts and AMD, etc. Notably, Intel will require professionalism and experience to nurture a smooth relation with both the users and the game developers.
On Thursday, Intel via their Twitter accounts made their declarations and noted that the individuals hired will working for the ‘gaming and graphics,’ this is mainly Intel’s Arc Alchemist graphics cards.
The GPU of the company is awaited to be launched by the end of this year or might be by the next year. In fact, Intel is keenly expressing its significant interest in their gaming platforms and has also shared pictures of its reconstruction ways along with a mascot.
The latest gaming and graphics workload engineer of Intel is Andre Bremer and he also serves as the vice president and general manager. The manager holds the experience of about more than 20 years in the gaming industry veteran. Additionally, Andre also served as the manager for Amazon Web Services Game Tech and further he moved ahead to work for Prime Gaming as the head. Additionally, Andre Bremer also holds a great experience history in the way of development and engineering software for the companies like LucasArts, Zynga, EA, etc.
Additionally, Intel also appointed Michael Heilemann as their new senior director of the game developing tools and technology. He was initially a director of the technology at the EA and also as a manager of the content at Sony Computer Entertainment America. Before this, he also had a great gaming career in the company like Vivendi, Malibu Interactive, and, Dreamworks Interactive.
The company has also hired Steve Bell as their Senior Director of the gamer developer relations. As per Tom’s Hardware, he has worked for about 13 years at the Intel competitor AMD holding the same position.
It’s not all about building up better graphic cards but what matters is the sound PC gaming platform for the users with good graphics space. Currently, the two main battelers and competitors are AMD and Nvidia, and they both are mostly compared on the basis of their quality of drivers.
The company firmly works with the game developers to make sure that that the hardware offers effective performance on their hardware. Also, Intel aids in sponsoring the higher launches with the specialty tech such as AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution and Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling.
In a statement, Intel said, “Mostly the gamers are fabulous creators. so we are evolving robust capture abilities that leverage the company’s powerful encoding hardware. This would simply involve a virtual camera along with the Artificial Intelligence assist and also the recorded game highlights that would save the best moments for the users. We are even integrating to overclock the controls into the driver UI and offer more of keenness to the tools that are prior to pushing the hardware to the extent.”


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John Lewis & Partners (JLP) developed a new approach to auditing suppliers that helped give workers a voice.
The retailer created the Better Jobs Programme in 2018, which includes a tool that has given workers in the supply chain an opportunity to contribute to business decision-making and improve their workplace.
Speaking at the CIPS Annual Conference, Nadia Youds, social impact manager of supply chains at JLP, explained: “This is basically an inward looking tool to help managers think about the ways that they currently incentivise workers and create opportunities across the business. Seven icons represent seven aspects of the workplace, for example the top one is voice – how do you empower workers to voice their opinions and concerns in the workplace?
“We wanted to talk to suppliers to understand what would add value to them and if they were able to move beyond a very compliant tick-box approach to something that was more meaningful and really enable them to work on areas in their own businesses.”
JLP developed a portal as a platform for factory managers to communicate and improve the seven areas addressed by the programme: growth, reward, security, job design, respect, health and wellbeing and voice. “We developed a framework, based on the seven themes of the workplace, to help suppliers to self assess themselves,” said Youds.
The firm has 1,600 factories around the world in 54 countries, 150 of which supply own-brand products across the UK, according to JLP.
The programme was established after JLP reviewed the compliance process with suppliers in 2016, prompted by the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Youds said: “It became very apparent that the audit process was allowing suppliers to demonstrate performance at a snapshot in time, but it wasn't enabling suppliers who are high performing to move beyond the audit cycle, and to really become best-in-class and leaders at what they do.”
She added: “The idea behind the tool is that it's not a pass/fail, so it's a move away from this compliance tick-box approach. It's very much, 'You tell us what you're doing, you give us the metrics that you've gathered this year, and then you tell us where you'd like to make the improvements'.”
JLP worked with organisations including the Chartered Institute of Personal Development and the Joseph Roundtree Foundation to better understand the landscape of employment across the UK, especially in manufacturing, and developed a programme that “made an attractive proposition for suppliers, rather than just another compliance tool”.
Youds said: “We looked at how we have democracy across our business, the way that we allow people to really bring their ideas to the fore, and for us to trial them and work in a different way to see if that might result in improvements in efficiency and productivity.”
The programme has informed JLP on specific ways to help its suppliers, including mental health support, different places or tools for workers to voice opinions, and ensuring company benefits fit the needs of the workers.
Youds said: “Worker voice is clearly valued. When we asked suppliers about the ways that they provide opportunities for their workers to have a say in the workplace it was very clear that they understood that was important, but the actual mechanisms that they use vary in effectiveness.
“We're working with suppliers to understand running surveys or employee pulse checks or having committees that can enable workers to bring their opinions to another forum that isn't actually having to come and knock on someone's door.”
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Anika CFO to step down, therapeutics biz names new CFO
One year after appointing the general manager of its Italy-based subsidiary as vice president of strategic processes, Anika Therapeutics (Nasdaq:ANIK) has tapped the same executive to take over as CFO.
The appointment comes just one month after Anika watched its stock plummet 20 percent following its announcement that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration upheld its earlier decision not to approve Monovisc PMA, Anika’s single-injection osteoarthritis pain relief treatment.
In addition to naming a new CFO, Anika reported that it expects total revenue for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31 in the range of $22-$23 million, compared with the $18.4 million in the fourth quarter 2011. The company expects to equal or exceed its previously announced guidance of 74 cents net income per diluted share for full-year 2012. This includes, as announced on Dec. 28, a pre-tax charge of approximately $2.5 million related to the closure of the company’s tissue engineering facility in Abano Terme, Italy.
In October, the company reported that revenue was down 20 percent to $14.8 million. At that time, Anika cited reasons as “a temporary scale-up issue at our Bedford manufacturing facility that prevented the company from filling all of its orders for Orthovisc,” as well as “the economic softness in Europe and the negative effect of foreign exchange.”
Anika President and CEO Charles Sherwood said Tuesday that Anika’s performance continues to be driven by “strong worldwide demand” for Orthovisc.
“On the bottom line, improvements in our operating efficiency, coupled with growing revenue, have enabled us to drive continued growth in income from operations and strong cash flow,” said Sherwood.
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Contrary to popular belief, the iPad isn't gobbling up huge chunks of PC sales, according to a market research company.
According to an NPD research report, only 13 percent of iPad owners surveyed chose to buy an iPad instead of a PC. That's a small number, considering that 24 percent of iPad owners replaced a planned e-reader purchase with Apple's tablet.
The report also noted that iPad owners, especially early adopters, are a particularly tech-savvy bunch, as they're significantly more likely to own Apple gadgets, e-readers or smartphones.
NPD's findings clash with earlier reports that suggested the iPad was stealing away a significant number of sales from traditional personal computers. Last month, Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn said the iPad had replaced as much as 50 percent of all laptop sales at the retail chain. That's a significant number, but it's also just an internal estimate for just one brick-and-mortar outlet.
That doesn't go to say that the iPad isn't selling extremely well. Bernstein Research recently issued a report claiming that iPad adoption rates are the fastest in electronics product history, with sales of approximately 4.5 million units sold per quarter. By way of comparison, the original iPhone sold 1 million per quarter at launch, and DVD players sold about 350,000 per quarter when they first launched.
- Best Buy Chief: iPad Cuts Laptop Sales in Half
- iPads on Track to Outsell the Mac
- Amazon: Kindle Books Outsold Real Books This Christmas
Photo: Bryan Derballa/Wired.com


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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Katie Hunter only drinks one type of coffee — but there was no way she was letting that keep her from missing her chance to step foot in Luke’s Diner, one of Stars Hollow’s delicacies.
Hunter was one of dozens of “superfans” of the hit TV series “Gilmore Girls” who made their way to Moxxee Coffee in Charleston’s East End Wednesday for a Luke’s Diner pop-up event.
Moxxee, along with nearly 200 other coffee shops nationwide, transformed into the popular fictional coffeehouse in honor of the 16th anniversary of the series’ pilot episode.
“My sister texted me pictures and I was like, ‘Oh I have to go, I have to go. I can’t not go,’” Hunter, who made the trip from her home in Teays Valley, said while laughing. “I got a white mocha, which Rory [one of the show’s main characters] would not approve of, but that’s the only kind of coffee I like. I’m not big on coffee, but this is Luke’s Diner.”
Netflix, which will air a revival of the TV series next month, approached owner TJ Baldwin several weeks ago about hosting the event. Netflix footed the bill for each participating coffee shop to give out free coffee from 7 a.m. to noon.
Guests were greeted by a giant yellow coffee mug hanging above the door with the name “Luke’s” printed on it, mimicking the diner’s logo from the show. Fans of the show were lined up outside of Moxxee’s doors almost into the street early Wednesday morning.
Inside, Netflix provided Moxxee with branded aprons, signs, hats and coffee cups to transform the shop into a real life Luke’s Diner.
“I pulled in and saw the Luke’s sign,” Hunter said. “I went in and they all have on flannel shirts and backward baseball caps. The best part about it was the little details, like the no cell phone sign in the corner, which is a staple at Luke’s. You have to have that if you’re going to have Luke’s Diner.”
“She looks just like Sookie,” Lori Waller said while hugging Reese.
Though the two had never met, Reese and Waller bonded over their favorite episodes, characters and how grounded the show is compared to other sitcoms.
“They actually have problems that go on for episodes,” Waller said. “It’s relatable.”
Baldwin said he agreed to participate in the pop-up event because of the show’s popularity. Many of the baristas at Moxxee were excited for the pop-up event and even dressed in flannel shirts, similar to the character Luke from the show.
Moxxee was the only coffee shop in West Virginia to transform into Luke’s for the day.
Netflix sponsored the nationwide event ahead of the show’s revival, which airs Nov. 25.


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B$Z: Licensing Agreement for SIMS Snowboards
October 19, 2011
Collective Licensing International LLC and COMP-X Announce Licensing Agreement for SIMS® Snowboards
Collective Licensing International, LLC (CLI) announced today a multi-year licensing agreement with COMP-X to create a collection of SIMS® snowboards. COMP-X will design, develop and produce SIMS® snowboards to be sold globally through 2016 with a focus in the U.S. on core, independent retail locations.
“We look forward to collaborating with COMP-X on the continued expansion of the SIMS® brand,” said Bruce Pettet, President and CEO of CLI. “It will be exciting to collaborate with COMP-X and produce great merchandise that will build additional brand awareness.”
Headquartered in Saguenay, Québec, Canada, COMP-X was founded and is currently run by well-respected, snowboard industry icon Louis (LOFO) Fournier. Fournier has been involved with bringing innovative, performance-based technologies to the snowboard market for more than 30 years. Fournier’s innovations include early folding highback binding prototypes. From 1985 to 1987, Fournier worked at SIMS®, developing and producing some of the first production boards made in Canada, including the SIMS® Blade™ Series: The Blade™, The Switch Blade™ and the Pocketknife™. Fournier also produced boards for industry legends Tom Sims, Craig Kelly, Terry Kidwell, Shaun Palmer and Tim Windell, among others.
“As a longtime SIMS® supporter and former employee I couldn’t be more excited about this partnership,” Fournier said. “I’m stoked to be working with Tom Sims and the brand again, and look forward to what we will be able to accomplish together with the new snowboard technologies we are currently developing.”
Incorporated in 1976, SIMS® is the first established snowboard brand and is celebrating its 35th anniversary this snowboard season. Distributed in more than 15 countries, SIMS® and COMP-X will continue to bring a diverse product offering and innovative product technologies to the market.


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While iPhone’s facial recognition software program robotically switches over to the passcode possibility for masked customers even now, there’s usually a little bit delay because the cellphone scans the consumer’s face a number of instances to make it possible for it’s appropriately detecting the masks. However, with the brand new tweak, the entire course of will likely be quicker and extra seamless, together with your iPhone switching over to the passcode display with out the delay.
As identified by @Sonikku_a2, in the event you’re carrying a masks, iOS 13.5 goes straight to the passcode display in the event you attempt to unlock with Face ID (keypad not proven as a result of iOS hides it in display recordings) pic.twitter.com/bQCzu5u20p
— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) April 29, 2020
The new characteristic continues to be in beta and would possibly take some time to be rolled out universally. It’s not a large change within the bigger scheme of issues, however continues to be a considerate little addition that may make the unlocking course of a little bit extra seamless for iPhone customers. There’s no phrase on when the secure model will begin rolling out, however we hope that it occurs sooner relatively than later.
As talked about already, the aforementioned tweak to Face ID is a part of the most recent developer beta of iOS 13.5 that was launched on Wednesday. It comes with the COVID-19 monitoring API that Apple is co-developing with Google and can work on each Android and iOS. According to the 2 tech giants, the brand new software program will assist authorities businesses and healthcare suppliers contact-trace folks with attainable publicity to the coronavirus.


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There was an absence of the usual honorees and the crowd appeared a bit sparse, but the recent March of Dimes Beauty Ball, held at Cipriani 42nd Street, was not without celebrity presence.
Organizers had decided that the best way to celebrate the organization’s 75th anniversary was to scrap the traditional honoree format and have a dance party instead — with plenty of music pounding through the sound system from the turntables of DJ Cassidy.
There were more than 300 people at the March 12 event, compared with last year’s 350 to 375 attendees, and a large number of them ended up on the dance floor, leaving the dinner tables empty by 8:45 p.m.
An auction conducted by CK Swett of Phillips de Pury and sponsored by March of Dimes’ “partners” — Coty, Givaudan, Avon Products, Shiseido, L’Oréal USA, Condé Nast and International Flavors & Fragrances — augmented the fund-raising.
According to a spokeswoman for the March of Dimes, more than $700,000 was raised. That compares to last year’s more than $1.3 million.
Bill Boraczek, senior vice president of marketing at Coty Beauty, saluted “the extraordinary accomplishments of March of Dimes over the past 75 years.
“It is a true honor to be here tonight to celebrate not only the March of Dimes’ rich history, but also to celebrate the future everyone here tonight is helping to create — a healthier and happier tomorrow for millions of babies,” he concluded. “That is what the March of Dimes is fighting for, and what all of us tonight are here to support.”
The need for the organization’s work was driven home by the real headliners of the evening: three families that have struggled in the aftermath of premature births. The personal stories of the families culminated in the on-stage appearance of twin sisters Hannah and Alexa Freede, both in fifth grade. Their birth was premature by two months, leaving them both severely underweight. Hannah, who weighed 3.3 pounds at birth, spent a month in the hospital before going home to begin years of physical therapy to strengthen her underdeveloped muscles.
But she was luckier than her sister, Alexa, who weighed only 2.9 pounds. Alexa was born with six holes in her heart and developed breathing problems. After three-and-a-half months in the hospital, open-heart surgery led to a second operation. She also had difficulties eating properly and required a feeding tube until age eight, when the device was removed for good. “That was one the happiest days of my life,” the little girl said, standing next to her bigger sister. “It has been a tough road for me but today I am your typical fifth-grader. My mom always calls me, ‘Sweet and Petite,’” she proudly declared.
Taking the final spot on the mens’ portion of New York Fashion Week calendar next month will be none other than @tomford. Though he’s shown his men’s wear in New York in the past, this will mark the first time the designer has shown his men’s collection alone during New York Fashion Week: Men’s. His runway show will debut on February 6 at the Park Avenue Armory. #wwdfashion
London-based couture house @ralphandrusso has certainly been in the spotlight, having its dresses worn by @beyonce, Angelina Jolie, Meghan Markle in her engagement photos and more. For couture, Tamara Ralph focused on ornamentation — think: feathers with chain mail, jet embroidery and clusters of pearls and crystals. See the rest of the collection on WWD.com #wwdfashion #couture (📷: @giovanni_giannoni_photo)
Minnie Mouse celebrated her 90th birthday by getting her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For her celebratory luncheon, @coach’s creative director @stuartvevers dressed her in a custom made prairie dress, complete with Vever’s take on the polka dot – black sequined versions – under a cropped motorcycle jacket. The designer also put his own mark on Minnie’s classic red shoes, infusing the color with sparkles and adding some Coach crystals. “We chose colors that were very Minnie and also represented quintessential Coach elements,” said Vevers. #wwdfashion #nationalpolkadotday (📷: George Chinsee)
@nickjonas is unveiling his first-ever apparel collection through a partnership with John Varvatos. The limited-edition capsule, which makes its debut in spring, also marks the first time the designer has collaborated with anyone on a line. “The process in working with Nick is amazing. It’s inspiring to be around someone who is not only connected with the trade that they do, but also with what’s happening in the environment around him, and how that connects to what we do with style,” said Varvatos. (RG: @johnvarvatos) #wwdfashion
@margotrobbie steps out onto the red carpet wearing @miumiu. The actress is nominated for “Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role” in “I, Tonya” at the #SagAwards. (📷: Stewart Cook) #wwdfashion
For @massimogiorgetti of @msgm, the Nineties are his favorite decade. “They had a huge impact on my personal growth. What I like of the Nineties is that they are not so precise in terms of style as other decades…there was actually a bit of everything,” he said. As seen on MSGM’s Spring 2018 show: tie-dye and a bit of grunge, two styles that are synonymous with the decade #wwdfashion #wwddecades (📷: @kukukuba)


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On the heels of the successful openings of SMG Glendale in Southern California, and SMG Prosperity Village in Charlotte, North Carolina at the end of 2019, the exhibitor will be kicking off 2020 with major expansion across the country.
Distribution & Exhibition
With real-time technology growing at an unprecedented pace and shaping countless industries in its wake, the need for a unifying event to bring together the pioneers of today with the leaders of tomorrow has never been more important. The inaugural RealTime Conference will address that April 6-7 with simultaneous events taking place in both New York and Paris.
CJ 4DPlex ended a successful 2019 with a record-breaking global box office for theatres with 4DX immersive seats, grossing more than $320 million, according to the company. With its best year yet at the global box office in 2019, ticket sales for movies shown in 4DX theatres increased 12 percent over 2018's record of $286 million. The seven highest grossing 4DX films of 2019 were:
The Hollywood Professional Association has announced additional details for its 2020 HPA Tech Retreat, which will take place February 17-20. The HPA Tech Retreat includes the main conference program, Supersession, TR-X and the Innovation Zone as well as extensive networking and meeting opportunities that are incorporated throughout the four day event. The 2020 HPA Tech Retreat will take place at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California.
Dolby Laboratories congratulates this year’s Academy Award nominees who have used Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to bring their films to life. With the help of Dolby technologies these artists delivered spectacular experiences to audiences globally. The Academy Awards will be broadcast live from the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, on Sunday, February 9.
Wanda Cinema, China’s largest film distributor and cinema operator, has chosen Christie’s compact all-in-one, DCI-compliant RGB pure laser cinema projector, featuring RealLaser illumination technology, for its 600th multiplex in the country. Located in the southern port city of Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou Haizhu Wanda Cinema comprises nine auditoriums, including a branded Prime at Wanda premium auditorium equipped with power reclining seats, surround audio and the Christie CP4330RGB cinema projector.
As part of its exhibit at the Consumer Electronics Show taking place this week in Las Vegas, CJ 4DPlex unveiled the prototype of ultra-wide zoom lens projection technology that the company is currently exploring to help existing movie theatres reconfigure their auditoriums and enable them to install bigger screen
The American Society of Cinematographers will bestow its Board of Governors Award to Oscar and Emmy Award nominee Werner Herzog. The tribute will be made at the 34th Annual ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement on January 25 at Hollywood & Highland’s Ray Dolby Ballroom.
The Independent Cinema Alliance has announced that Saturday, January 18 will be the inaugural Independent Cinema Day. The goal of the holiday is to encourage moviegoers nationwide to support their local independent cinema. The ICA is a trade association dedicated to providing a public voice that promotes the importance of independent cinemas as a valuable and necessary part of a healthy and vibrant motion picture industry.
Éclair today announced an agreement with São Paulo-based Quanta for the deployment of Éclair’s broadband network and digital content delivery systems, including its innovative ÉclairPlay content delivery platform, across Brazil. The joint service offering has been designed to meet the needs of film producers, distributors and cinema exhibitors in Brazil seeking an alternative full-service digital content distribution & broadband delivery network, including mastering and trailer services, key digital message management and content delivery to cinemas around the country.


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|Parkson Flemington is the fourth Parkson shopping centre in Việt Nam and the second in HCM City to shut shop. — Photo vietnamfinance.vn|Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Parkson, the retail arm of Malaysian conglomerate Lion Group, has closed Parkson Flemington in HCM City, after eight years of operation.
The information was announced by its investor, Thùy Dương Trading and Real Estate One Member Limited Company - HCM City branch.
Parkson Flemington is the fourth Parkson shopping centre in Việt Nam and the second in HCM City to shut shop.
According to the retailer’s management board, the store had served a notice to its business partners on the plan to move out, and all had come to a mutual agreement.
The closure will not affect the business of other department stores operating under Parkson in Việt Nam. Parkson card holders will continue to enjoy the privileges and benefits, which will be applicable to all Parkson stores, according to the company’s notice.
Currently, Parkson has four stores in HCM City, including Parkson Lê ThánhTôn, Parkson CT Plaza, Parkson Cantavil and Parkson HùngVương.
According to figures released by Parkson Retail Asia, Parkson continues to suffer losses in the country despite the closure of many of its prominent trade centres, including Parkson Keangnam in January 2015, Parkson Paragon in May 2016, Parkson Viet Tower in December 2016 and now, Parkson Flemington.
Parkson suffered losses throughout 2017, and its turnover also went down. The retailer earned nearly VNĐ500 billion (US$22 million) in revenue last year and suffered a loss of more than VNĐ60 billion. The only positive factor is that Parkson’s losses are decreasing -- from VNĐ25 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016 to VNĐ10 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. — VNS


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CCompanies like Apple and Google have struggled to get new products out the door due to the pandemic, so it makes sense that less will be in the same boat. And while we still do not know when long drawn out Playdate handheld will be available for preorder, has Panic a fun new feature for developers and streamers that also improve accessibility for all players.
First announced back in early 201
Coming up two years after the original announcement, we still do not know when Playdate will be sent, or when prebookings will be available. But now, thanks to a tweet from the company official Twitter account, we know Playdate will support connection to a computer so that the gameplay can be mirror on a Windows, Mac OS or Linux PC in real time through a window. That window it can too scaled so players can see the stunning 1-bit graphics on a larger screen.
The feature will also make it much easier for players to stream games or capture footage for reviews instead of having to point a camera at Playdate’s screen. In a perhaps even more interesting twist, while the controls on the Playdate itself can still be used to control the action, the controls on the Playdate PC can also be connected, which will potentially allow players who rely on devices like Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller to enjoy the innovative handheld, also.
The tweet is also a reminder that the Panic team is still working to get Playdate out the door, and that there is no other piece of hardware steam that promises a unique retro-inspired experience without delivering. But with $ 200 analog pocket on the way this year, which promises a series of thousands of classic games thanks to the perfect emulation, and choosing Playdate instead will be a tough decision given how little we have actually seen in terms of what it can do, or how fun 1-bit games will be. actually be. At least lo-fi Arduboy is only $ 29.


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As the company faces the fallout of alleged bribery in Mexico, it can take comfort in the friendly confines of its Facebook page. The retail giant has over 15 million fans on the social network. Getting even a fraction of those consumers to pay attention on any given day means a healthy audience. Promotions routinely receive thousands of "Likes," while a recent Easter fill-in-the-blank question inspired over 11,000 comments. But the company isn't just good because it has a large following. Its corporate page strikes the right balance of product announcements and fan interaction, much of it pegged to holidays such as "National Puppy Day."
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They are not only visionary, they're scary smart.


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Barry Silbert Promotes Favorable Changes for BTC
Barry Silbert, the owner and chief executive officer of Digital Currency Group, has been a singing advocate for bitcoin and also the cryptocurrency sector. He has actually made many payments to the development of the sector and also remains to promote positive changes in the bitcoin space. In this write-up, we will certainly check out the adjustments Barry Silbert Millionaire has actually promoted that have a positive impact on bitcoin.
1. Bitcoin Investment Company
The Bitcoin Investment Trust (LITTLE BIT) is a private financial investment lorry that is designed to track the cost of bitcoin. It was launched in 2013 as well as was produced by Digital Currency Group Money Group. All you need to know about Crypto. BIT offers investors with a hassle-free means to invest in bitcoin without needing to manage the complexities of saving and securing the cryptocurrency. BIT has actually been very effective as well as has aided to bring more institutional capitalists into the bitcoin market.
2. New York BitLicense
In 2015, the state of New York presented the BitLicense, a set of laws for business that take care of cryptocurrencies. While the BitLicense has actually been slammed by some in the industry for being also rigorous, Barry Silbert has been an advocate of the regulations. What does Foundry do? He thinks that the BitLicense gives a structure for legit business to operate in the cryptocurrency space as well as assists to promote trust and self-confidence in the industry.
3. Grayscale Bitcoin Depend On
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Fund (GBTC) is another financial investment vehicle produced by Digital Currency Group Money Group. It permits capitalists to invest in bitcoin via a typical financial investment lorry such as a mutual fund. GBTC has been very effective and has actually supplied investors with a simple means to invest in bitcoin without having to acquire as well as keep the cryptocurrency themselves.
4. Bitcoin Scaling
Bitcoin has been facing scalability problems for a long time. Various remedies have been suggested to solve the concern, including the Segregated Witness (SegWit) and also the Lightning Network. Barry Silbert has actually been a fan of these remedies as well as has actually invested in business that are working to execute them. All you need to know about Gensis Trading. He believes that scaling solutions will assist to enhance bitcoin’s energy and make it much more obtainable to individuals.
Barry Silbert has actually been a significant force in the bitcoin and also cryptocurrency market. He has actually made lots of payments to the development of the market and has aided to bring in much more financiers. How to avoid bankruptcy? His assistance for the BitLicense and his financial investment in bitcoin scaling services have helped to produce an extra steady as well as protected environment for bitcoin to prosper in. With Barry Silbert’s continued efforts to advertise positive modifications, we can expect to see much more advancements as well as advancements in the bitcoin area in the years ahead.


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Packaged Facts projects the pet insurance industry will double by 2022.
According to Market Research firm Packaged Facts, the pet insurance industry is primed for major growth over the next several years. Titled “Pet Insurance in the U.S., 6th Edition”, the firm projects an industry upsurge from $1 billion in 2017 to a projected $2 billion by 2022. Here are the five main factors responsible for its growth.
Many pet owners don’t even know pet insurance exists. As a industry network of veterinarians, employers, shelters and breeders codify, pet insurance will increase in popularity. Marketing efforts for pet insurance and increased consumer awareness will be critical to industry growth.
For many pet owners, the concept of pet insurance seems like a luxury. However, a healthy economy means an increase in discretionary spending. More and more pet owners will have the money and confidence in the economy to entertain pet insurance.
Ease of Enrollment
Like any type of insurance these days, enrollment in an insurance policy is becoming increasingly easy. There are several pet insurance companies that currently provide policies online.
Expense of Care
Veteranarian costs are on the rise, driving pet owners toward insurance. Many pet owners that previuosly opted out of insurance are taking a closer look after seeing an increase in out of pocket costs.
Changing Perceptions of Pets
More and more pet owners perceive their pets as members of the family and see the value in providing insurance.Packaged Facts claims the industry is still in its infancy. With a number of predictors trending upward the pet insurance industry is likely to see more providers and continued growth. Download the entire Packaged Facts report here.


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Whitecourt's retail situation is a sign of things to come
Neither rain, nor snow nor wind of hurricane shall keep Whitecourt from bringing its beleaguered sewage treatment plant back up to operating status.
Policing, highways foremost for Whitecourt at the AUMA convention in Septmeber
Acerbic comedian and fashion critic Joan Rivers was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on Thursday.
If you love to travel -- near home or abroad -- and love sharing your vacation photos, we want to hear from you!
Canada Post reported a $53-million profit for the second quarter of 2014, crediting stamp price increases, growth in its parcels business and recent changes to the postal workers' benefits program.
The NHL may be set to expand in a big, big way.
Burger King Worldwide Inc. plans to buy Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons Inc in a $12.64 billion cash-and-stock deal.
Emmy voters preferred Bad to True.
It's official. Burger King has bought Tim Hortons.
So Yeon Ryu is the CP Women's Open champion.


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Lawmakers are poised to fully legalize hemp after a decades-long campaign, setting the stage for the resurgence of a once-common crop that disappeared during the war on drugs.
The legalization provision, championed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and included in the Senate’s farm bill, would officially classify hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the federal controlled substances list. Lawmakers are also expected to advance the measure when they meet next month to draft the final, bicameral version of the legislation.
Hemp landed on the list because it is, like marijuana, a form of the cannabis plant. But growers and farm-state politicians argue the two have been unfairly lumped together, depriving farmers of what could one day become a major commodity crop.
In Kentucky, in particular, hemp has been touted as a panacea for cratering tobacco sales and falling crop prices. Growers there have pinned their hopes for future profits on it. But as legalization looks ever more inevitable, the question now is whether industrial hemp can deliver on decades of hype and promises.
Advocates say the industry is poised for an explosion, particularly as new supply chains develop and researchers discover additional uses for cannabidiol oil, which can be derived from hemp. There are also concerns, however, that the industry may grow too quickly, forcing the price of hemp down to unsustainable levels before there’s adequate demand for it.
“There’s no question that industrial hemp is economically viable,” said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., an architect of the legalization plan. “I get a call from a farmer every other day. More and more farmers want to grow it.”
The saga of American hemp is essentially one of mistaken identity, farmers say. The tall, weedy plant is botanically the same species as marijuana, but it contains only trace amounts of the psychoactive compound THC that causes a high in smokers.
Hemp has a wide range of other uses, however. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew it, chiefly for use in cloth, ropes, sails and nets. The Agriculture Department also urged “patriotic farmers” to plant it during World War II for use in naval towlines, parachute webbing and other products.
But in the wake of World War II, when demand slackened, hemp began to fall out of vogue. In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act, which effectively made it illegal to grow both hemp and marijuana.
Today, the roughly $688 million of hemp goods sold in the United States each year – products such as teas, T-shirts, car parts and supplements – are made largely with materials imported from Canada, where industrial hemp has been legal to grow since 1998. The current Senate legislation seeks to give U.S. farmers a piece of that market by removing hemp from the controlled substances list and reclassifying it as an agricultural commodity. Farmers will still have to meet certain requirements to purchase and grow hemp seeds.
“The ideal scenario is one in which farmers can grow this like any other crop,” said Eric Steenstra, the president of the advocacy group Vote Hemp. Many lawmakers now understand, Steenstra added, that hemp has a long history in U.S. farming – and that hemp and marijuana are effectively different plants.
Congress has attempted to revive U.S. hemp before, though farmers and advocates say earlier efforts did not go far enough. The 2014 farm bill opened the door for some growers to plant the crop as part of experimental, state-run pilot programs. Under those pilots, farmers have already planted 25,000 acres of hemp in 19 states, from Kentucky to Oregon.
But growers say a true commercial industry remains impossible as long as hemp is classified as a controlled substance. That’s because farmers face stringent regulations when importing seeds, and many banks won’t loan to farms or processing facilities that work with hemp. The lack of capital has slowed the development of the supply chains and markets that will ultimately make hemp a viable crop.
“There are a lot of people who want to invest in hemp,” said Comer, the Kentucky Republican. “There would be more if it weren’t a controlled substance.”
Comer says legalization has broad bipartisan support in both chambers, and has earned the vocal endorsement of both McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Even U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, an outspoken opponent of marijuana, told McConnell he would not “oppose” legalization, The Associated Press reported.
Many politicians – including McConnell – say they support hemp because farmers and farm groups have pushed for it. Advocates such as Steenstra have called hemp the next great commodity crop, suggesting it could one day blanket vast swaths of U.S. farmland. Farmers have clamored to grow it because of the potential to earn higher profits than they do on crops such as corn and soybeans, which are now plagued by low prices and trade disruption.
“I think over the last five years there’s been enough discussion about cannabis that people now understand there is a difference,” said Geoff Whaling, the chairman of the board of directors at the National Hemp Association, an industry group. “I see it in Congress. When I first started going, I did not get a great reception. But today if I go in to talk with the Senate Ag Committee, they want to know how quickly we can build a hemp industry to start helping local farmers.”
But it’s difficult to predict if hemp is really the next super-crop for farmers or consumers, said William Snell, an agricultural economist at the University of Kentucky who has studied the state’s pilot programs.
Supply chains and markets for the crop don’t readily exist in the United States yet, which could limit the amount of hemp that gets processed into actual products. And while farmers can earn large profits on hemp, Snell said, that’s largely at specialized operations growing hemp for cannabidiol oil, a process that’s both expensive and labor-intensive. Profits on hemp grown for seeds and fiber have been far lower, according to a 2017 report by Cornell University, ranging from $211 to $733 per acre.
“At this point we feel like the economics of growing hemp for grain and fiber will be similar economics of corn and soybeans,” Snell said. “Some producers have been able to make several hundred dollars per acre. Others have lost money. It’s kind of all over the board to be honest.”
There’s a trickier issue at play here, as well. If legalization prompts too many farmers to start growing hemp, prices could drop suddenly and destabilize the market. In late February, USDA undersecretary Greg Ibach warned that full legalization risked “overburdening the market with supply before there is demand for it.”
And supply is already growing quickly: In Kentucky alone, farmers planted an estimated 7,000 acres of hemp last year, Snell said, more than twice what they planted the year before. The industry in Steenstra’s state, Virginia, is smaller – 87 acres in 2017 – but more farmers have expressed interest in planting it.
Steenstra said he isn’t worried the industry will grow too quickly. For hemp growers, he said, the priority is getting the crop legalized so the industry can grow, period.
That could happen as early as September, when lawmakers will meet to advance the farm bill.
“I think there may be more demand from farmers than there is market right off the bat,” Steenstra said. “But I think over time hemp is going to be another major commodity crop. . . . There’s real potential for it.”


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Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has announced a dip in its earnings amidst ongoing economic challenges. The company, headquartered in Laval, Quebec, revealed that its net earnings attributable to shareholders amounted to US$623.4 million for the third quarter, marking a decline of 15.5% compared to the US$737.4 million recorded in the same period the previous year.
Despite reporting in U.S. dollars, Couche-Tard disclosed that its revenues for the quarter ending on Feb. 4 reached US$19.6 billion, down from US$20.1 billion in the corresponding quarter of the prior year. This decrease in revenue coincided with a drop in diluted earnings per share, falling from 73 cents US to 65 cents US.
The company attributed the decline in earnings primarily to a reduction in the average road transportation fuel gross margin in the United States, coupled with decreased customer traffic amidst challenging economic conditions.
Brian Hannasch, the President and CEO of Couche-Tard, emphasized the company's commitment to delivering value to customers despite prevailing headwinds. Hannasch outlined several strategies aimed at achieving this goal, including expanding the range of private-label offerings, ongoing rollout of its loyalty program, and the introduction of recurring Fuel Day promotions.
Hannasch highlighted a significant milestone achieved in January, wherein the company finalized the acquisition of select European retail assets from TotalEnergies. This strategic move expanded Couche-Tard's presence into four new countries, integrating 2,175 additional stores into its network.
The acquisition aligns with Couche-Tard's broader growth strategy, aimed at diversifying its geographic footprint and enhancing its market position. By capitalizing on opportunities for expansion, the company seeks to mitigate the impact of economic challenges and strengthen its competitive edge in the retail sector.
Despite the current downturn in earnings, Couche-Tard remains optimistic about its long-term prospects. The company continues to prioritize innovation and customer-centric initiatives to drive growth and adapt to evolving market dynamics.
Looking ahead, Couche-Tard remains committed to navigating the prevailing economic headwinds while capitalizing on strategic opportunities for expansion and value creation. With a steadfast focus on delivering superior customer experiences and driving operational excellence, Couche-Tard aims to emerge stronger and more resilient in the face of ongoing challenges.


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Floods pile on the misery for BSS
Plumbing, heating and pipeline equipment distributor BSS has warned that unusually warm winter weather and floods are hitting current sales, piling fresh misery on to an 18% first-half profit fall.
The floods in the south of England had cut demand from building contractors and the normal winter boom in heating product sales had not yet started because of the mild temperatures, said chief executive Pat Donovan.
In the six months to 30 September profits dropped to £2.8m, in line with an October profit warning, on turnover up 24% to £217m. The interim dividend is held at 7.5p.
Chief executive Pat Donovan said the problems that had hit first-half profits had been ironed out. BSS shares dropped 2 1/2p to 382 1/2p.
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During the BlockShow Asia 2019, Dr. Ciprian Pungila – who founded aBey Foundation – has reportedly rolled out aPay – a crypto users-focused, credit card-enabled tool for daily payments.
Specifically, aPay clients can deposit a sum of digital coins into the tool, which will make them accessible to 3 credit cards linked with UnionPay, Mastercard, and Visa. This will allow said clients to use cryptocurrencies as a means of payment for their everyday activities.
The tool – built upon the blockchain tech developed by the aBey Foundation – is expected to provide enhanced process speed, new architecture and high-performance computing, which consequently accelerate transactions facilitating process.
“aBey is designed and built to be among the fastest and most flexible open source chains in the world, providing a practical solution for common e-commerce use cases,” Punglia claimed.
Per Punglia, a number of major digital coins on the market are supported by the new payment system, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Litecoin, Dash, EOS, Ripple, ZCash, and an aBey Foundation-designed native digital coin. Services providers are not required to accept cryptocurrencies, since as long as they take credit card as an option, the new aPay system will carry out crypto-to-fiat conversion process and give the money to merchants.
“The financial technology industry has been impacted by the development of blockchain technology, but there is still not much clarity on how it will change our lives. It is certain that there is no turning back, and therefore we must build applications and solutions to accept and develop this change.” Dr. Punglia further shared how the distributed ledger tech can affect the growth of the financial sector.


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These are tough times, but the show must go on. The 2009 North American International Auto Show kicks off at Cobo Center with press days Jan. 11-13. The preshow news has centered on automakers that opted out of the show to conserve marketing money — namely Ferrari, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and Suzuki. But show organizers say more than 50 vehicles will make their global or North American debuts. Buick, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volvo are among the automakers and brands expected to have the press buzzing. And coming on the heels of the U.S. Treasury Department's $17.4 billion rescue of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler L.L.C. that enabled them to narrowly avert a bankruptcy that could have crippled the entire industry, the timing couldn't be better for a beleaguered industry to show off its latest and greatest in front of a hometown crowd and the rest of the car-loving world. “I think timing for our show this year is impeccable from the standpoint that so much has happened in the last half-year in regards to change and everything that's going on,” said Rod Alberts, executive director of the NAIAS. “I think the stage we have set after everything has occurred in the last year is an opportunity for manufacturers to put their best foot forward, to show where they're headed.” Some automakers have reduced their budgets for the show, and the displays will be less extravagant than in years past. Instead, Alberts and other show officials say the tenor of the auto show will be business-oriented and straightforward. “That to me is kind of the mantra of things to come,” Alberts said. “It's not about extravagance now, its about taking what you have and doing the best you can with it and making it efficient and in some ways economical, but enjoyable and able to fit your lifestyle.” Joe Serra, NAIAS senior co-chairman, said he expects there to be a larger media presence at the show compared to last year. On average, about 6,000 media members attend the Detroit auto show. Serra says that as of last week, about 3,600 media members have registered, up from about 3,500 at the same time last year. “We're up in both domestic and international (media),” he said, adding he expects final registration totals to be higher than last year. “If you think about it, from all the buzz and attention (on the auto industry), it makes some sense.” During media preview days, the horde of reporters descending on Detroit will see about 50 model debuts, about 85 percent of which will be international. “We're limited to the number of unveilings you can do, just because you only have so much time,” Serra said. “The key is not the quantity, but the quality of the introductions, and with 85 percent being international, I think that speaks volumes.” For the most part, technology will stir the talking. All eyes likely will focus on the Toyota stand. Despite plummeting gasoline prices, the spotlight will be on the unveiling of the next-generation Prius hybrid and, especially, a battery-powered subcompact that previews Toyota's upcoming global city car. Toyota is not alone in showcasing technology. Honda will unveil a production hybrid sedan, the 2009 Insight. Mercedes-Benz will introduce alternative powertrains and a concept that might be the next-generation B class. The Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands each will offer concepts that feature alternative powertrains. Ford will be talking about electric-powered vehicles. But not all the talk will be about being green. Buick has redesigned the LaCrosse sedan, Ford has reinvented the Taurus, and Cadillac has recast the SRX crossover. And for those who were born to be wild, nothing at the Detroit show will top the SLR Stirling Moss edition created by Mercedes-Benz/McLaren. To replicate 1950s racing cars, the production SLR Stirling Moss has neither a roof nor a windshield. What follows is a rundown of what the Detroit 3 plan. For a company-by-company rundown of significant world debuts at the Detroit show, see www.crainsdetroit.com. Ford to unveil Taurus, Shelby GT500 Ford marketers say the company will protect the budget for NAIAS in hopes of making a big splash among the Detroit 3. Ford will unveil one of its most important products of the year: the re-engineered and restyled 2010 Taurus large sedan. Styling changes for the next-generation Taurus are expected to be extensive. Ford's goal: Make the car lower and sleeker. The company also will discuss its electric-vehicle strategy for the coming decade and reveal the 2010 Mustang Shelby GT500, which will go on sale this spring. Ford will give some specifics about its electric-vehicle plan. In 2010, the company will launch an electric van aimed at commercial fleets. The vehicle will be a version of the Transit Connect, the smallest member of Ford's European Transit van family, company insiders say. A gasoline version of the Transit Connect will go on sale in the United States in 2009. Ford will provide details about an electric sedan scheduled to go on sale in 2011. That car may be based on the Ford Focus compact sedan. Chevy: Right time for crossover Chevrolet will tout 30-mpg fuel economy when the restyled, re-engineered 2010 Equinox crossover goes on sale next summer. Ed Peper, General Motors' North American vice president of Chevrolet, called the crossover segments important “because the market for both compact and midsize crossover vehicles has grown steadily since 2003. Both of these segments are forecast to continue their growth trends in the next few years, and Equinox gives Chevy a volume player in this very critical market.” Through November, Chevrolet had sold 61,700 Equinox units. In 2007, 89,552 Equinoxes were sold, down from 113,888 in 2006. “We're going right after the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4,” Peper said at a press briefing last month. “That is what this vehicle was designed to do.” Peper said fuel economy is the top priority for crossover buyers. The Equinox gets an estimated 21 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and is estimated to go from 0 to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds. Chrysler turns green with ENVI A year ago, Chrysler brought a herd of steers to the Detroit auto show to herald the global launch of the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. Now Chrysler is fighting for survival. It must show it has a plan for a more fuel-efficient future. Instead of livestock and horsepower, Chrysler will show off the latest versions of the electric vehicles it unveiled in September. Back then, there were three vehicles: the Chrysler EV, a gasoline-electric version of the Town & Country minivan; the Jeep EV, a gasoline-electric Wrangler; and the Dodge EV, an all-electric sports car. All are products of the company's ENVI electric car unit. Chrysler will display at least three vehicles. In contrast to GM's strategy with the Chevrolet Volt, which is to design a new car for the electric powertrain, Chrysler's plan is to save money by putting a gasoline-electric powertrain in existing vehicles. The exception may be Dodge. The Dodge EV shown in September was a Lotus-derived electric sports car. Look for the show version to have more Dodge styling cues and possibly be a four-passenger coupe. Chrysler says the first production vehicle from its electric efforts will arrive in 2010, but it isn't saying which one. Cadillac downsizes SRX If size matters, the redesigned 2010 Cadillac SRX should hit the sweet spot occupied by the highly successful Lexus RX series. The new Cadillac crossover seats five, like the RX, and is a mere four inches longer than Lexus' No. 1 seller. The SRX also has front-wheel drive, like the RX. All-wheel drive is optional. Once asked why the current generation SRX wasn't successful, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz blamed the vehicle's size — it is too big and it seats seven. The 2010 SRX is about five inches shorter than the 2009 model, and seating is reduced by two. The SRX will be the first Cadillac in recent years without a V8 option. The V8 fell victim to upcoming fuel economy regulations and unpredictable gasoline prices. Ryan Beene: (313) 446-0315, [email protected] Rick Kranz is product editor for Automotive News. AN reporters Amy Wilson and Bradford Wernle also contributed to this story.
NAIAS greener, leaner
Economy, not glitz, is new mantra


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HP, Dell Lock Horns Over 3PAR
With 3PAR’s track record of profitability being less than inspiring, why would tech-giants Dell and Hewlett Packard even be interested in the company, let alone being pitted against one another in a bidding war? Apparently, it’s all about data storage, or “cloud computing“, which 3PAR appear to have developed to a degree that makes the company a worthwhile prize in a market that is rapidly expanding. Cloud computing offers companies the service of off-site data storage and access, and analysts anticipate corporate spending on this service is likely to reach more than $55 billion by 2014 – a growth of more than 25 percent per annum on the 2009 figure of $16.5 billion.
While HP currently offers its clients off-site data storage, Dell does not, and both companies would benefit tremendously from the 3PAR’s technology in order to compete in a market already catered for by IBM, EMC and Hitachi Data Systems. With HP’s latest offer of $30 per share pushing the value of 3PAR’s stock up by 211% since the tug-of-war between Dell and HP began, it certainly can be viewed as a superior proposal. Whether Dell will come back with a counter-offer remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that whichever way the board of 3PAR decide to go, its investors will be smiling.


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4 Mins Read
Ever wondered how climate-friendly a meal is at your favourite restaurant? One startup wants this information to be more widely available. Founded by Cambridge University scientists and experts, Foodsteps has created a platform to help restaurants, brands, and caterers calculate, reduce, and label their meals.
Foodsteps, which launched last week, has developed a first-in-the-country database that contains the environmental impact of more than 1,000 ingredients. The service, which calculates, tracks and carbon labels meals, dishes and products, aims to help businesses pinpoint where sustainable changes can be made while arming consumers with the information to make eco-friendly choices.
Widespread carbon labelling could be a reality
Foodsteps was started by Cambridge University alumni Anya Doherty, who was on a mission to close one big obstacle for food businesses to become more sustainable. Until now, there had been no standard database containing the environmental impact of recipes and ingredients within the U.K.
Doherty, working alongside academics at Cambridge, decided to compile the first British-specific impact database for food. Foodsteps contains more than 1,000 ingredients and calculates its impact by factoring in everything from water and land use, to GHG emissions and pollution.
For the founder, widespread carbon labelling can’t happen without a standard database—and Foodsteps has now created it.
“It is my belief that if we can make assessing and communicating environmental information in the food industry more accessible and standardised, there is no reason why it won’t become as widespread as nutritional information,” said Doherty.
Making it easy for businesses
The platform is intended to make sustainability as easy as possible for food businesses. Besides helping businesses calculate the footprint of foods and ingredients, Foodsteps offers a cloud-based platform where companies can track product development, monitor reductions in emissions and set targets.
It’s also where businesses can print their own labels to communicate with customers how climate-friendly a dish is. The labels work much like the traffic light-style labels that Foundation Earth launched recently, which is set to roll out on products made by Nestlé and retailed at chains like Sainsbury’s and M&S.
Foodsteps says the traffic light ratings, which go from A to E, were developed through a consumer study with 85,000 participants—the largest study to be conducted into carbon labelling to date. Food businesses can choose to add a QR code to their labels too, where consumers can scan to learn more about the environmental impact of the product, or what a brand or company is doing to improve.
Doherty says that this type of information is becoming increasingly important to shoppers, especially younger millennials and Gen Zs, who are scrutinising brands’ values, social and environmental responsibility more than ever before.
“With our platform, consumer tools, and carbon labelling capabilities, brands can differentiate themselves in the market and communicate with customers in ways they never have before,” she shares.
And with demand for carbon labels on the rise, Foodsteps and its solution has already caught the eye of investors. It has gained the backing of Techstars and COREAngels in a pre-seed round, and has won a £25,000 grant from Bupa to scale and co-develop a product.
The rise of carbon labels
While Foodsteps might be the first platform of its kind within the British food industry, a similar service is being offered by Klimato in Sweden. The Stockholm-based firm, which recently raised $785,000, offers a user-friendly tool for restaurants and caterers to calculate and communicate the climate impact of their meals.
The labels have already been rolled out across various Swedish restaurants like Bastard Burgers and Oh Poké. One of its major clients is catering giant Sodexo.
Outside of foodservice, CPG brands are also hopping on the carbon label trend. Unilever is the largest company to have made the promise so far, and will be piloting the labels within the U.S. and Europe this year before rolling the project out to cover all 75,000 of its products globally.
Lead image courtesy of Unsplash.


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The HTC Sensation was officially launched in Canada by Virgin Mobile and Bell earlier this month, which made a lot of people up North very happy. But it seems that HTC and Virgin Mobile aren’t stopping there, as they’ve readied a maintenance update for the Sensation, and they’re beginning to roll it out today. The software update will fix some bugs and minor issues, namely a booting issue that’s been plaguing many users. We should mention that this isn’t the bootloader update that HTC promised, so don’t go jumping for joy. It’s a simple maintenance update, intended to tighten a few screws here and there.
So, has anyone on Virgin Mobile gotten the update yet? Do you notice any improvements in the overall performance of your Sensation? Let us know in the comments below!
Source Android Central


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The global advertising industry is no stranger to disruption and turmoil. Agencies and media companies have endured everything from natural disasters to overthrown governments, but these scenarios rarely spill beyond national borders.
The current outbreak of COVID-19, however, is different. Between widespread travel restrictions and a dense cloud of uncertainty, the global advertising machine is slowing to a crawl in some ways and rapidly pivoting in others.
Some corners of the industry already have been hammered by the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Several events have been canceled (Editor’s note: Since this story published, South by Southwest was canceled after all). Next to suffer will be the advertising production industry—a world ruled by tight deadlines, inflexible budgets and seamless travel—as its schedules are thrown into disarray. And most holding companies are mum, not wanting to spook investors.
On the other hand, TV executives and media agencies are barreling ahead as the TV ad market remains strong, speculating that audiences could grow as consumers stay home.
What’s clear is the large-scale disruption has the potential to transform the industry, forcing brands and agencies to adapt and consider options like letting staff work remotely, using local resources that don’t require international travel and creating virtual events that are more than just lifeless videoconferences.
Could this period of uncertainty mark an inflection point that marketers and advertisers will look back on as a moment of turbulence and transformation? Adweek spoke with leaders about how the virus will affect four key parts of the industry: ad spend, experiential marketing, agencies and production companies.
TV could continue to thrive
Early indications are that overall ad spending could take at least a temporary hit, but TV could actually benefit from people staying home, tuning in to news and streaming programming.
Publicis Groupe’s Zenith said this week it would lower its December prediction of a 4.3% rise in global ad spending this year due to the coronavirus, according to The Wall Street Journal. Also this week, New York Times CEO Mark Thompson said the Times “is seeing a slowdown in international and domestic advertising bookings, which we associate with uncertainty and anxiety about the virus,” and that the publisher now expects first-quarter digital advertising revenue to drop 10%.
Meanwhile, the consensus from TV ad-sales professionals Adweek contacted was a combination of optimism—fueled by a belief that a ratings increase between the 2020 elections and coronavirus coverage should translate to an increase in ad revenue—and “it’s too early to tell.”
On the strength of the 2020 election cycle and the Summer Olympics, U.S. linear and digital ad revenue had been projected to grow 6.6% this year, to approximately $238 billion, according to Magna’s most recent global ad forecast.
And while coronavirus concerns have already upended some early upfront events, buyers and TV ad-sales execs tell Adweek it hasn’t yet affected any business in the scatter market, which has been robust this TV season, aside from the travel category scaling back its buys.
The industry traditionally sees ratings spikes when major events like bad weather keep people indoors for extended periods, but those could be less noticeable now as TV viewing has become so fragmented. “I think we’ll see an increase in time spent with video, but that will happen across live, delayed, VOD and streaming, so the impact will be tough to measure solely by Nielsen ratings,” said David Campanelli, co-chief investment officer, Horizon Media.
Still, “any time people are at home, there’s a chance their video consumption is going to go up,” said Steve Nason, a research director at Parks Associates, a firm that specializes in entertainment and content services. “So in a way, it could actually boost viewership numbers for a lot of these companies, a lot of these video-on-demand services or even services like Xumo or Pluto that lend themselves to continuous play.”
NBCUniversal, meanwhile, said this week that ad sales have remained robust for for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics—the company has surpassed $1.25 billion in ad sales, a new Olympics record—as parent company Comcast and the IOC reaffirmed their commitment to the summer games amid coronavirus concerns.
Discussing the outbreak at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom conference on March 3, Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts said the company and NBCU are “full-steam ahead” on Summer Olympics programming later this year and was optimistic that the event would go on as planned.
Gloomy days ahead?
In the brand and agency world, several considerations are at play, especially as the industry puts more of a premium on experiences. Some global events have been canceled, including Facebook’s F8 developer conference and Mobile World Congress. Companies that have traditionally had activations at SXSW, including Mashable, Twitter, Facebook and Intel, dropped out. And TikTok announced it will not be in Austin.
Big tech companies like Twitter and Facebook can pull out of an event “without huge business implications,” said Chris Sojka, co-founder and CCO of Madwell, but “smaller brands are living in limbo trying to decide the opportunity cost between proceeding as planned and cutting their losses.”
“We see clients struggling with the reality of losing their investment in the [recently postponed] Expo West natural foods show in Anaheim,” Sojka said. “Many of them chose not to attend as they were unsure if they would get a credit or refund before the organizer announced the postponement.”
And while b-to-b conferences are feeling the squeeze, it’s still early for brands with consumer activation plans. But it is on the minds of agencies responsible for making them happen.
“The biggest challenge is that we’ve moved more and more into interactive, participatory, experiential work as an industry,” Sojka said. “This means lots of touching and close contact. And often such endeavors occur at large international gatherings, all of which seem ill-advised under such rapidly evolving circumstances.”
Fake Love CEO Alanna Lynch said there’s “no doubt” the experience industry will be affected, “particularly around large-scale events with a global audience.”
“To better prepare for the inevitable shifts in consumer behavior, we are proactively thinking about how our approach to branded experiences may need to evolve in the short term,” Lynch said, “more specifically, how physical activations could be experienced virtually and then shared virally.”
Brand experience agency Optimist is beginning to see some fallout, with cancellations and what it calls “worst-case-scenario proactive planning” based on the locations of their clients, some of whom are in Asia, where the outbreak started. Additionally, the agency is working to ensure it doesn’t bear the financial brunt of a brand putting the brakes on projects.
“We are in the process of providing kill-fee scenarios for a large-scale experience that is still several months out as well as creating a Plan B and C to replace an experience and production that was initially scouted for the APAC marketplace,” said Optimist CMO Rose Odeh. “In addition to projects that may be impacted and a pause on spending, as an independently owned global agency, we need to assess the scenario and make the best decision for our clients, our business but most importantly, our team and their families.”
Pivot and adapt
Most holding companies have issued guidance, built precautionary measures and put restrictions in place on nonessential travel. This could cause problems on the production front, where travel is such an essential part of the process. Adweek reached out to several holding companies to get a better idea of how their policies are evolving but did not receive information beyond what they have made public so far.
However, one global agency network, which asked not to be identified due to a corporate policy against discussing coronavirus response publicly, said the disruption caused by travel restrictions has been minimal and, in some cases, even somewhat of a positive.
Staff members have found they can replace time-consuming, in-person meetings with more collaborative digital discussions or videoconferencing, for example. A travel lockdown also means finding new solutions for production staffing. The agency said that in one instance, a U.S. creative leader who couldn’t fly to an overseas shoot was replaced onsite by a peer from the network’s local office, creating an opportunity for a collaboration that otherwise might never have happened.
For London independent Mr President, its size—it has 35 people on staff—is an advantage. Still, CCO Laura Jordan Bambach noted that working remotely and having all agency operations in the cloud makes any kind of disruption more manageable.
“We can move really quickly, be flexible and change,” Bambach said. “We could be working from five different countries, and we’d still be able to do the work because that’s the way we’re built. We will be able to weather the storm.”
For some global agency and brand execs, the coronavirus is not their first experience with an epidemic. In the early 2000s, the SARS outbreak prompted many Asian governments to enact strict quarantines and travel restrictions. The unprecedented outbreak created tremendous logistical challenges for brands and their global agencies but also played a key role in helping companies prioritize digital offerings like ecommerce.
One agency executive based in Asia during the SARS outbreak said the region’s quarantine measures prompted many consumers to shift to shopping online. Clients turned to the agency to help put more effort and resources into communicating with these customers and meeting the increased demand for online ordering. In the long term, that could lead to lasting changes for brands in terms of the services they offer customers and how they interact with them.
While ecommerce is now mainstream, the current outbreak could similarly encourage companies to take better advantage of remote working tools and videoconferencing rather than putting so much effort into office staffing and global in-person gatherings. While the benefit of more face-to-face interaction is a tried-and-true way to foster relationships, companies don’t appear willing to risk the health and safety of their employees, at least in the short term.
Forging ahead, with caveats
Production companies, however, are still in wait-and-see mode, though many of those who work in production are seasoned professionals who have seen all manner of twists, turns and pivots which could serve to make these companies more nimble.
Still, the prospect of a brand canceling production can be costly for such agencies, and insurance doesn’t cover force majeure issues like natural disasters or, in this case, a virus.
Matt Miller, president and CEO of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, and his team have been providing continuous guidance while also reinforcing the fact that this part of the industry has well-established business policies when there’s a disruption like a natural disaster or civil unrest. Late last month, AICP reminded members to keep marketers close while making production plans, reiterated its guidelines on cancellations and created a document on coronavirus to be attached to production agreements and bids.
For his part, Miller has yet to see a perceptible slowdown in activity.
“We’re seeing and hearing various announcements, especially from agencies,” Miller said. “But if marketers, agencies and production companies are on the same page, working together, they’re all going to carry out their work as efficiently and safely as possible.”
Safety is a big issue among production companies, especially as teams travel from shoot to shoot and project to project. The Mill, for example, is continuing to build out what Josh Mandel, managing director of the firm’s L.A. office, calls “scenario planning” for its clients and staff based on the spread of the virus in California.
“A lot of it feels speculative at the moment because we don’t know what the actual impact will be,” Mandel said. “But we’re making sure we’re set up to help protect our employees and keep the lights on as a business.”
From a practical perspective, the agency, which is split between full-service production, CG and VFX work, and experiential, can accomplish a good number of tasks remotely, even with the high-touch nature of production.
“With the modern state of technology, we made everybody completely movable—within the office, within the studio—to be able to take the work to any workstation where we can easily replicate that at home,” Mandel said.
Kerstin Emhoff, co-founder of Prettybird, noted how quickly the discussion around coronavirus evolved. The agency had a film premiering at SXSW on March 15, and agency travel restrictions are starting to paint an increasingly challenging picture.
“You start thinking, ‘Wait a minute, what does all of this mean?’” Emhoff said. “‘What does it mean for our year or everything that we’ve planned through July that we’ve already put money down on?’ The biggest issue is how individual brands react to something so fluid.”
Noting that there is still uncertainty around the Olympics in Tokyo, the “ripple effect on everyone’s business is massive,” Emhoff said, “and that’s what’s hit home in the last 24 hours.”
A particularly interesting issue is that of location. While it may be cheaper for a company to film in Vancouver, for example, travel issues may keep a production in a shop’s hometown. Nancy Hacohen, managing director of Tool of North America, described how the agency bids on multiple cities early in the process to hedge its bets and avoid having to make a drastic change midstream. Part of that calculus now is that of crew well-being.
“When we’re choosing between cities, the producers are going to have conversations about which city is a safer choice now to make sure that everybody is taken care of,” Hacohen said. “It’s just a matter of being prepared.”
Choosing a location is but one of the many components of a production and Tool, which has been around for 25 years and works on experiential projects in addition to full-service production, enjoys the cumulative experience of long-tenured people on its staff who have managed complex productions.
“We have a well-oiled machine here,” Hacohen said. “The in-house team is very seasoned, and they know what they’re doing. We work like this all the time, no matter what.”
And while the coronavirus is still an unknown quantity, the fact that there are several sets of hands to help weather the storm for brands could prove to be one of the factors that allows the industry to successfully navigate through it.
“There’s no one that does it better than all of us,” Emhoff said of the production industry. “We’re the people that can pull something off in five days with whatever resources we have.”
Jason Lynch contributed reporting for this story.


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The latest report from Drapers and Kibo has reflected the shopping approaches of Gen Zers and millennials. According to the report, nearly one-third of Gen Zers and Millennials plan to shop less in stores. This shift to online shopping is an interesting indication as this is a post-COVID fashion shopping survey report.
Kibo is a leader in unified commerce while Drapers is the leading authority on fashion retailing in the UK. The survey is a result of partnership between these two market leaders. This survey revealed major changes in Gen Z and Millennial shopping behavior as a result of Covid-19. According to the study, younger adult generations’ preference is tilted even more towards online shopping. More than 50% of young adult shoppers, 30% of Gen Z, and 36% of Millennials, plan to shop in physical stores less than before. The survey goes on to uncover important elements that have an influence on their shopping habits. The ease of shopping online and secure payment options have boosted growth of e-commerce. At the same time, the younger generation has access to plenty of online sources that help them make better choices during shopping. These portals and sources inform the shoppers about the various shopping options available and provide insights that making shopping hassle-free. Portals such as masakor.com have made a major influence on shoppers as they list down all options and evaluate them on certain parameters.
The report found out similarities in shopping approaches of the two generations. Both these generations share a preference for shopping online over physical stores, with 28% of Gen Z and 24% of Millennials stating that they will likely shop online more than before. Both groups pointed out to convenience and price comparison as the top two advantages of online shopping. This massive shift in shopping preference and behavior gives a strong message to retailers to update their operations to support more online activity at Tech-Score.
Explaining the findings of the study, Lisa Kalscheur, CMO at Kibo, said that younger adult generations are fans of online shopping even before the Covid-19 pandemic. This research shows that they have drifted even further towards digital channels. According to her, the research indicates that retailers must unify the customer experience online and off more than ever before. She feels consumer demand for convenience requires modern commerce and order management capabilities.
The survey collected responses from 2,000 consumers. These 2000 consumers include Gen Z (aged 18-25) and Millennials (aged 26-40). Apart from preference for online shopping, the report reflected the following emerging trends:
- 55% of Millennials stated convenience as their top online shopping benefit.
- 51% of Gen Z consider price comparison as their top online shopping benefit.
- Respondents want improvement in ‘Better fit technology’ and ‘better images’.
- Respondents said, ‘Waiting for deliveries’ and ‘unpredictability of fit’ are the two most negative aspects of online shopping.
Gen Z and Millennials also shared a strong liking for social media posts from brands. 64.2% of Gen Z said that they get shopping inspiration from Instagram. On the other hand 39.1% of Millennials said Instagram inspires their shopping preference. Gen Z are willing to pay more for sustainable fashion and less willing to buy from a brand that didn’t share their values.
Kalsherur explained the shopping approach of Gen Z. She noted that Gen Z is showing that they expect a shopping experience that offers convenience online, and that they will choose brands that align with their own values and preferences. She makes it clear that now is not the time for retailers to guess how to create better online shopping experiences, and this research provides a clear path for the adult generations who will be the flag-bearers of our economy in the coming years.


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Scots mums have been left outraged after discovering popular LOL Dolls are wearing 'secret sexy lingerie' when they're submerged in cold water.
Manufacturers of LOL Surprise Dolls have come under fire on social media after numerous parents shared videos and images of the dolls wearing 'sexy' underwear which is only revealed once they are dipped in ice cold water.
The massively popular LOL Surprise franchise - which stands for Little Outrageous Little Surprise - has been blasted on social media by concerned parents who say the dolls are inappropriate for their young fans.
In one image being circulate on social media, one doll is dipped in to ice cold water and comes out wearing what looks to be transparent black underwear.
One Scots mum said: "Just tried the lol doll thing and actual canny believe my eyes after you take there clothes off and put them into ice cold water they turn into something that really isn’t for your children."
Another mum added: "Mummy's and daddy's...check your little ones LOL dolls. I've just seen a video about how some of the colour changing ones have in appropriate underwear on, when you dunk them in ice water. Just tried it and this happened. Knee high stockings and a corset! We won't be buying any more LOLs.
"This isn't all LOL dolls and not even all of the colour changing ones. Some are quite innocent. It just seems to be the odd few. I personally don't think it's necessary."
However face checking website Snopes.com said while the claims of 'hidden costumes' were 'mostly true' the fact is the dolls are designed to change when in water.
In fact, MGA Entertainment, who manufacture the dolls markets them as changing when placed in water.
However it is not the first time MGA Entertainment has caused controversy with their toys.
Just last year the firm were forced to defend themselves over their 'anatomically correct' the male LOL Dolls after parents complained over the realistic genitals.
CEO Isaac Larian defended the toys during an appearance on Fox Business, saying:
“Human beings are anatomically correct. I think we’ve got to teach our children from an early age about their body parts. I see nothing wrong with that.
“We openly say on the package and on our advertising, ‘These are anatomically correct boy dolls,’ and [parents] have a choice not to buy it.”


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Our focus now turns to the potential of record lows tonight. Many areas may wake up to thermometer readings below zero.
Getting your caffeine fix may soon be a little more difficult in central Kentucky.
27 NEWSFIRST has learned that some of the Starbucks locations slated for closing are apparently in the Lexington metro area.
Location managers have referred our calls to a district manager who has not returned our call, but some workers have told us anonymously that at least one store in Lexington and another in the region will close.
In all, Starbucks is closing 600 of its outlets as it responds to the economic situation.