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Don't-Miss Web & social Stories
The iOS app is adding more features as it tries to make settling your check as simple as a Seamless order.
Our Mac Gems department aims to uncover the best in great, inexpensive software. Of the nearly 120 Mac Gems we reviewed in 2013, here are our favorites.
The company blames delivery companies for the delays
Are your Facebook status updates driving your friends to drink? Probably. Here are 10 social networking no-nos.
Twitter on Thursday faced a wave of backlash after it changed its blocking policies. The company quickly backtracked.
A nonprofit group of Airbnb hosts and users is stepping up its awareness campaign about New York’s laws against short-term rentals.
Authors and artists seeking to release works under a Creative Commons license now have more flexibility and choice when they want to share their works, Creative Commons said Thursday.
That's unfortunate, since YouTube says it put the new system in place to clean up spam on its website.
Make it go away! A hidden feature makes spam, abusive posts, and mindless drivel disappear from your Facebook newsfeed.
Sidecar says it's introducing minimum fares and rival service Lyft is reportedly making the move away from donation-based fares, too.
Why log in once when you can log in twice? Two-factor authentication can give you some added protection, and it's fairly easy to set up.
Adding extra security to your PayPal account is quick and easy. We'll show you how to do it.
SkyDrive, Outlook.com, Office 365, Xbox Live - your Microsoft account is the gateway to too many critical services to secure with a simple password.
Don't let hackers get at those love letters you sent with your Gmail account!
Lodging platform Airbnb says it offers a big boost for New York's economy, in the midst of a tax revenue fight with the state Attorney General.
Don't be one of those people with a compromised account that spams all their friends.


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The Long Dark
Indie developer Hinterland has released a handful of new screens for its survival simulation game, The Long Dark.
When we spoke with The Long Dark creator Raphael van Lierop late last year, he stated that he was surprised fans were expecting the game to be scary. Today's colorful screens help separate The Long Dark from horror-oriented survival games, and exhibit a subtle beauty in even the gloomier scenes. The Long Dark was successfully Kickstarted last October, surpassing its $200,000 (Canadian) goal with a final funding total of $256,217. Van Lierop tells us that he hopes to have the Alpha release ready in the next few months; hopefully the new screens below can tide fans over.
For more on the game, check out this early gameplay footage.

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As consumers continue to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, it is important that the information they receive about products is as accurate as possible. Complaints surrounding the issues of misleading advertising and the advertising of unsustainable products has more than tripled in number over the last few years, and it continues to be on the rise.
We spoke to Miles Lockwood, leader of the Climate Change and Environmental Project at the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), about the issues surrounding greenwashing and misleading advertising, and what businesses can do in order to comply with the rules.
Lockwood explained that creating an advert can be a "complex area" to navigate, as it involves an understanding of wide-ranging environmental issues and the nature of claims made. It is a difficult balancing act for businesses to master when producing accurate advertising and making positive changes regarding sustainability.
The ASA does not exist to be an "enemy of the good", and recognises that many businesses are developing products and services which are better for the environment but holds them to the same standards as any other kind of business. Whilst Lockwood noted that the ASA does not wish to dampen these initiatives or reduce progress that is being made in this space, he acknowledged that the ASA is "not apologetic" for taking a tough line in this sector.
Lockwood's top tips to brands and businesses: striking the right balance in advertising
- Put yourself in the shoes of the consumer.
- Be precise and have evidence to support your claims.
- Don't over-claim your sustainability. A limited claim is always more defensible. The bigger and bolder claim, the bigger risk you take. Examples of this are:
- "Environmentally friendlier" is much easier to defend than "environmentally friendly".
- Remember that small changes can make all the difference.
- Keep up with the ASA's latest rulings and invest time into completing the training they provide on their website. The ASA is currently developing further training materials which will be published summer 2022.
CAP Code and Green Claims Code
The ASA administers the CAP Code but works in tandem with the Green Claims Code, which was published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last September (2021). Lockwood told us that the Green Claims Code fits "very neatly" into the ASA's rules, and described it as "vital" as it applies the same underlying legislation that the ASA works toward.
The Green Claims Code applies to all commercial practices including advertisements, product labelling, packaging and product names. The ASA does not regulate underlying products, services or packaging, but instead ensures that adverts are truthful, socially responsible and not misleading. In this way, Lockwood "welcomes" the Green Claims Code as it looks at wider business practices whilst the ASAs expertise lies in advertising claims.
Lockwood told us that the ASA and the CMA have monthly meetings to share intelligence, plans for the future and to divide up work areas. It is hoped that the partnership between the ASA and the CMA will continue to tackle emerging trends surrounding the topical issue of misleading advertising and climate change effectively.
The ASA has been working closely with the concept of social responsibility, which relates to issues such as unsustainable behaviours and excessive consumption. Lockwood explained that social responsibility explores what should be considered socially acceptable against the prevailing standards of society. The public is increasingly concerned about the climate emergency and as a result he sees that pressure will increase on advertisers to avoid making irresponsible claims that concern the environment.
This is a largely untested area and Lockwood expects tension surrounding what is deemed to be socially responsible or irresponsible in the future. Lockwood anticipates that this concept will be explored in further detail in upcoming ASA decisions. An example of social responsibility could be an ad that encourages littering or irresponsible disposal of electronics. Hence, social responsibility is an area of concern which is of great importance in the current climate.
Evidently, there is a balancing act for businesses to master when producing accurate advertising and making positive change regarding sustainability.
Lockwood appreciated that many businesses are making changes to address the climate emergency and are actively playing their part. However, many environmental issues often involve complex science, an understanding of the claims made and an understanding of the many moving parts that can form the supply chain of a product. Hence, Lockwood noted that the regulation on advertising is a "complex area" as many of these moving parts are out of the companies control, such as when part of the supply chain is produced overseas.
There is also the need for a broader look into whether such claims can be made if the company's overall activity, investment and business model is not as green as the advert purports it to be. An example of this would be fashion companies who produce fast fashion that is not designed to last but claims they are "green" or "sustainable". That particular issue is currently being scrutinised by the CMA.
However, Lockwood explained that the law that underpins misleadingness can constrain the way in which the ASA tackle issues as it is arguably a high threshold to meet. For example, is the reasonably observant consumer who sees an ad for an oil company promoting only its green credentials likely to not also know that they drill oil? Questions like this are the sorts of issues the ASA needs to address in the coming months and years. Social responsibility would not be limited or constrained in this way, and therefore Lockwood encourages consumers to conceptualise and contextualise their complaints.
On the other hand, companies who make bold claims such as "100% carbon neutral" when they are not certain about their entire supply chain are at risk. Lockwood would advise companies to invest time, effort and precision in ensuring their adverts do not over-claim and that they have evidence to support what they say.
We asked Lockwood about the ASA's objectives, and particularly whether he thought that the ASA's focus on ensuring adverts are not misleading could lead to companies improving their efforts at sustainability.
Lockwood explained the ASA's objective is to ensure advertising is legally truthful, not misleading or socially irresponsible. If a natural consequence of this leads to companies becoming more sustainable, then this would be a "great outcome".
Proactive approach – more training
During late 2021, the ASA decided to become a proactive resource by focussing enquiries on the issues identified by the environmental committee, such as the pressing need to meet net zero targets by 2035 and 2050. The ASA has published a dedicated section on their website for climate change and the environment, as well as developing further materials such as training videos and an e-learning module on development. Lockwood noted that the ASA will continue to develop guidance and more training surrounding this, which largely mirrors the steps that the CMA are taking.
In 2022, the ASA will be commencing enquiries into claims made on the issue of waste, such as recyclable, biodegradable, compostable and plastic alternatives.
In 2023, the ASA will complete an enquiry into meat-based, dairy and other forms of food sustainability issues. Companies promoting plant based alternatives sometimes overclaim or produce ads that lack precision. This was seen in the Alpro ruling, where the ASA found that there was no qualification to Alpro claiming their milk was "good for the planet", breaching the CAP Code on misleading advertising, qualification and environmental claims.
It’s also important to remember that some plant based products are processed and include ingredients such as palm oil which is sourced from around the world, and therefore it can’t always be assumed that such products are environmentally better than locally produced meat based products. Hence, this creates questions surrounding whether companies have considered the whole life cycle of a product before making environmental claims.
The ASA recognises the need to go further to tackle the issue of misleading advertising appropriately and proactively, and plan to use the climate change committee priority areas of carbon production and consumer behaviour changes to guide them on this. It is hoped that this could lead to additional guidance offered by the ASA on misleading advertising, and lead to further partnerships.


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Workspaces have become less static, but there is still a need for office desks where you can stay put. Here are four options that can work in spaces of all shapes…
By Azure |
19 hours ago
Tags: Furniture, Office
A spirit of experimentation encouraged at Design Eindhoven Academy distinguishes Guglielmo Poletti’s sculptural furniture.
By David Dick-Agnew |
8 days ago
Tags: Furniture, Product Design
Ayako Aratani and Evan Fay take the passion for craft they developed at Cranbrook Academy of Art to genre-expanding extremes.
By Tim McKeough |
12 days ago
Swedish studio Form Us With Love will lead a workshop at IIDEXCanada called Prototypa that’s all about – you guessed it – prototyping. Here’s why you should check it out.
By Mark Teo |
November 28, 2017
Tags: Furniture, IIDEX, Product Design
Edmonton’s Geoffrey Lilge, best known as one of the founders of Pure Design, is launching Div.12, a new brand of contemporary metal furniture.
By Erin Donnelly |
November 14, 2017
Tags: Canada, Furniture, Product Design
Food-inspired furniture collections are trending at the moment, with top brands, including Moroso and Seletti, launching deliciously whimsical furnishings.
August 25, 2017
From June 12 to 14, Chicago’s Merchandise Mart was packed with a plethora of new, innovative and eye-catching solutions for office spaces. Here are five launches we’re excited about.
By Kendra Jackson |
June 20, 2017
Now available for purchase by real estate developers, the Ori system is an all-in-one solution for compact living.
By Jaclyn Tersigni |
June 9, 2017
Tags: Furniture, Technology
The Canadian furniture manufacturer will debut more than 10 products and collections — including reissued iconic designs — at NeoCon 2017 in Chicago.
June 5, 2017
Out of production since 1951, Saarinen’s once impossible-to-build loveseat has returned to market, thanks to the power of technology.
By Laura Fitch |
May 31, 2017
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Mercia Technologies PLC, a Midland-based leader in the funding and commercialisation of technology businesses in the UK, announces that Will Whitehorn, the former President of Virgin Galactic, has joined user-generated content platform Crowd Reactive as Chairman. The appointment follows a second tranche investment by Mercia totalling £500,000.
Mr Whitehorn, who has over 30 years of experience in brand development, media and communication, will assist the leadership team with the direction and strategy of the business as it evolves from an early stage start-up to a globally established brand. He will be working in particular with EventsTag, a browser-based live display platform that is used by existing clients including O2, Nike and Coca Cola.
Mr Whitehorn will now work closely with Mercia’s Investment Director Rob Johnson, as well as Crowd Reactive’s Founder and CEO Dan Strang, to build awareness of the business as it continues to expand into Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Formerly spokesperson for Sir Richard Branson, Mr Whitehorn has a wealth of experience in building and developing young businesses into successful brands. During his 25 years at Virgin Management, he coordinated the branding, marketing, PR and Corporate Affairs across Virgin’s Investments and businesses.
He now acts as Chairman of Speed Communications, and is non-executive director of a number of companies, including Stagecoach Group PLC and Purplebricks.com. Alongside this, he is also a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, The Marketing Society and he is also Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Commenting on the new appointment, Rob Johnson said:
“I have worked with Dan on Crowd Reactive from its foundation and it’s wonderful to see one of Mercia’s ’emerging stars’ attract such an industry heavyweight as Will Whitehorn. Will’s time at Virgin, as well as his close partnership with Sir Richard Branson, means that he will be able to contribute valuable experience and expertise as the team continue the international expansion of their business.”
Dan Strang, CEO of Crowd Reactive, said:
“I am proud to welcome Will Whitehorn to chair the Crowd Reactive Board. Will worked at the forefront of one of the world’s most exciting and powerful brands, and we are incredibly excited that someone with his wealth of experience has joined our team. He will be a huge asset to EventsTag in our quest to take our rapidly growing company to the next level.”
Will Whitehorn commented:
“I am delighted to be joining such an ambitious and innovative team. The calibre of brands already using EventsTag for their global campaign is testament to the vision and expertise of Crowd Reactive. Having worked for a globally recognised brand for many years, I know only too well how important it is to differentiate a business within competitive markets. EventsTag is uniquely placed to offer that opportunity.”


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With 2012 shaping up to be a bumper year for laptops, we look back at the highest scoring machines of 2011.
With Windows 8, Ivy Bridge CPUs, native Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 support and even quicker boot times coming in 2012, it looks to be an exciting year. Last year's tech seems rather tame in comparison, with even the end-of-year ultrabook launch failing to ignite imaginations.
It was the year where the netbook failed to excite anyone anymore, AMD's long-awaited CPU refreshes didn't meet expectations, and both Nvidia and AMD simply re-branded their existing graphics cards rather than making new ones. At least USB 3.0 was found on almost every laptop, even without Intel's support — although the maximum speed didn't even touch the theoretical ratings. Many people bought tablets instead.
Still, it was hard to go really wrong with a laptop. With ever-falling prices, laptops started becoming a commodity rather than premium items. Many sub-AU$1000 laptops are now excellent, with only poor battery life holding them back. We've reached a "good enough" phase, where for the price, there's really not much to complain about.
So here it is: the highest-scoring laptops of 2011. Keep in mind that some of these may have been superseded, as the round-up covers the entire year.


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Although we did not hear it officially from Apple, it was rumored that we would see the new Apple AirPower wireless charger this March and while things have been very quiet, it looks like the rumor might still be true.
DigiTimes reported that Apple will be releasing the AirPower charger by the end of March. Of course, we do not know how true that is but if it is, we could be days away from the release of the new wireless charging pad.
While Apple users can use any other wireless charging pad to charge their device, the AirPower is special in a sense that it can also charge the Apple Watch at the same time. No other Qi wireless charger can charge the Apple Watch right now.
Apple has not said anything about the release so far so maybe it is best to take it with a pinch of salt for now.


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Apple appears to have resolved its disputes with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and given the job of producing its A8 processor to the company as it tries desperately to get its iPad Air and an expected iPhone refresh out by the end of the year.
Taiwan-based TechNews reported that TSMC has already started production of Apple’s next-generation A8 processor which was news to most of the tech industry which thought the two were still banging heads together.
So far, Samsung has been the sole manufacturer of Apple’s processors and for obvious reasons, that relationship is strained. Apple had been doing its best to find new sources to make its chips using someone who was not its main rival.
TSMC had been rumoured to make Apple chips in the past but struggled with production problems. There were also rumours of disagreements with Apple.
However, the pressure is on Apple to start producing some products this year, particularly as its luck is appearing to run out with falling profits, and an inability to break into the Chinese market.
On Sunday, Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities cast doubt on Apple’s ability to refresh the iPad Mini Retina this year. He also claimed that the rumoured “iPad Pro” may be pushed into 2015.
If Apple cannot get any products out this year, it will look incredibly bad and profits will fall further. TechNews claims that TSMC is the sole manufacturer of the A8 because of the success it is having with the latest 20-nanometer manufacturing process, although a lack of choice might have also had something to do with it.
With the A8 being made, Apple should be able to get an updated iPad Air and an expected iPhone refresh finished by the end of the year. That is unless TSMC runs into production problems.


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An e-commerce platform will be officially launched soon in the Shanghai free-trade zone to allow Chinese consumers to buy foreign brands at lower prices, Shanghai Daily reported Tuesday. With backing from the National Development and Reform Commission, payment service provider Easipay is now running the website buyeasi.com on a trial basis pending approval from customs authorities, the newspaper said, citing a report by Xinmin Evening News. The platform aims to meet increasing demand for imported goods, to ensure their authenticity, and facilitate customs and quarantine procedures. It is also cooperating with usashopcn.com, a purchasing agent for foreign brands. Easipay general manager Wang Peng was quoted as saying the website will focus on mid-range and high-end products such as clothing, accessories, infant formula, consumer electronic products, cosmetics and bags.
– Contact HKEJ at [email protected]


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Emporio Armani’s Tomas Skoloudik stuns in the brand’s newest campaign for Fall/Winter 2012/13. The 6’1″ model, who was seen in Emporio Armani and Emporio Armani Jeans campaigns earlier this year, brings perhaps the biggest [killer] smile to underwear modeling we’ve ever seen. Does Armani underwear make you smile like this?
For more information about this brand: Emporio Armani


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Peugeot 208 named European Car of the Year
The Peugeot 208 has been named the European Car of the Year 2020.
The contest is judged by 60 journalists from major motoring publications around Europe and the Peugeot was the clear winner, scoring a total of 281 points, compared with the second-placed Tesla Model 3’s 242 and third-placed Porsche Taycan’s 222 points.
The compact hatchback was praised by judges for its bold looks, enjoyable driving, diverse trim levels, nice petrol and diesel engines and the prospect of an all-electric variant, in the shape of the e-208 which is due in coming months.
Judges praised the 208's bold design and broad range of drivetrains, including an all-electric option (Photo: Peugeot)
“I am particularly proud that the all-new Peugeot 208 has just won the 2020 Car of the Year prize,” said Peugeot’s brand CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato.
“This trophy underlines the excellence of the work and great commitment of all the teams of the brand and the Groupe PSA. It’s the first time that a Peugeot '2 series' has triumphed.
“Three Peugeot ‘Cars of the Year’ are currently on road, with the 3008 SUV and the 308 alongside the all-new 208. The COTY 2020 legitimates the brand’s “power of choice” strategy. From now on, our customers will be able to choose between the electric Peuoget e-208 Car of the Year and the Peugeot 208 Car of the Year.”
The 208 is Peugeot's sixth ECOTY winner (Photo: Peugeot)
Judges hailed the 208 as: “The best small Peugeot in years: It looks great, comes with competitive powertrains and even an EV with more than adequate performance.”
The award is Peugeot’s sixth ECOTY win and puts the brand among the most successful in the history of the competition.
The Peugeot’s victory was announced at a press conference broadcast from the near-deserted Palexpo exhibition centre, which was due to host the Geneva Motor Show before the event’s cancellation due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.


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Today on GeekBench website, a smartphone codenamed “Moto XT1650″ leaked revealing some specifications. Probably, It will be the Moto X 2016.
The Moto XT1650 is powered by quad-core Snaodragon 820 processor (MSM8996) clocked at 1.59 GHz. It has on-board 4GB RAM as well. It will come with latest Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor
- 4 GB RAM
- Android 6.0.1
According to the sources, it might be launched on 9th June, after Google I/O events. So it is possible that the 2016 Moto X might come with Android N out of the box.
So what do you think about leaked specs? Is it Moto X 2016? Comments below.


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Research on the issuance of digital currency by central banks is progressing around the world.
The Bank of Japan has set up a new department to deal with the issue and started full-fledged discussions. It has also begun joint research with five other central banks, including the European Central Bank (ECB). It is hoped that the Bank of Japan will hastily examine the challenges so as not to fall behind the global trend.
Central bank digital currency refers to money that is exchanged with electronic data instead of bills and coins. Unlike e-money issued by private companies, central bank digital currency is characterized by being able to be used anywhere.
If it spreads widely, the costs of storing, transporting and paying cash will decrease. It is expected to significantly streamline corporate management. Consumers would also especially benefit from faster payments and remittances. Since users do not need to touch cash, it is useful to prevent novel coronavirus infections.
If the system can be introduced smoothly, digitization of society will accelerate.
The government specified in its “Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform” that it would look into feasibility tests for central bank digital currency, among others.
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board, which is not involved in the joint research, has also acknowledged the need for such study. It is important for the Japanese government and the Bank of Japan to repeatedly exchange information with other countries, including the United States.
What should be noted is China’s moves to start feasibility tests for issuing a digital renminbi.
China will initially use digital currency domestically, but there is a view that it will be used to provide financial support to countries involved in the “Belt and Road Initiative” that is intended to create a huge economic bloc. By issuing the digital currency ahead of other countries, China apparently aims to counter the dollar, the key global currency.
Sweden’s central bank has also started this kind of experiment, while the National Bank of Cambodia issued a digital currency on an experimental basis last year.
The digital sector is moving fast. If Japan’s response is delayed, there is a fear that it could be left behind all of a sudden.
On the other hand, there are many problems and challenges to be solved before issuing central bank digital currency.
In digital currency transactions, smartphones can be used. However, what about those who do not have smartphones? What should be done to establish a system that can be used in the event of a loss of power sources due to a disaster such as an earthquake?
If payments are made electronically, there is a possibility that all the transaction information could be held by the Bank of Japan. Consideration for privacy will be a major issue.
It has been pointed out that if central bank digital currency takes root, large amounts of bank deposits will be transferred, putting pressure on banks’ management. What influence will the digital currency have on the entire monetary system? Preparing for cyber-attacks is also important.
The Japanese government and the Bank of Japan need to deepen discussions on measures to be taken in various possible cases in cooperation with private companies engaged in the technological development of digital currency.
— The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Aug. 6, 2020.


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Posted Thu, Sep 08, 2005 by Boomjack
Toyotas With Tasers.
Next Generation has posted an Auto Assault interview featuring Ryan Seabury. A driver went into a fit of road rage after we cut him off, slammed on the brakes and flipped on our cell phone. His ranting went somthing like this:
" NCSoft is trying to drag the kicking and screaming MMOG genre, away from its fantasy comfort zone into the mainstream. Auto Assault, developed by NetDevil, is a different kind of persistent online world. Design director Ryan Seabury told us the plan… "
You can read the entire Auto Assault Interview at Next Generation.


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411 People out of work after closure of Kroger bakery in Columbus, Ohio
411 workers are trying to figure out their next steps after the abrupt closure of a Kroger bakery in Columbus, Ohio eliminated their jobs.
The Cincinnati-based Kroger grocery store chain announced the closure of its 90-year-old bakery in Columbus on Feb. 11, due to the "outdated layout and age" of the plant's equipment.
Kroger says workers will be paid 60 days before receiving a severance based on their years of service, as outlined in a collective bargaining agreement.
The company is encouraging the bakery workers to apply for jobs at other Kroger facilities.
Chase Ragland, who worked at the bakery for almost seven years, tells The Columbus Dispatch he's looking for another job while hoping to go back to school for a physical therapy degree.


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DSW Inc. said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit more than doubled as footwear sales improved.
The retailer also increased its earnings guidance for fiscal 2009, citing its year-to-date performance.
The news sent the company's stock up $1.58, or 7.7 percent, to $22.12 in morning trading. The shares hit a new 52-week high of $23 earlier in the session.
DSW earned $26.6 million, or 60 cents per share, for the period ended Oct. 31. That's up sharply from $13.2 million, or 30 cents per share, a year ago.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, whose estimates usually exclude one-time items, forecast a profit of 46 cents per share.
Revenue climbed 14 percent to $444.6 million from $391.4 million, with sales at stores open at least a year rising 8.7 percent.
This sales figure is a key indicator of retailer performance since it measures growth at existing stores rather than newly opened ones.
The revenue results surpassed Wall Street's estimate for sales of $424.6 million.
DSW now expects a full-year profit of 90 cents to $1 per share, with sales at stores open at least a year up about 1 percent. Its prior forecast was for earnings of 70 cents to 80 cents per share and flat sales for stores open at least a year.
Analysts predict fiscal 2009 profit of 78 cents per share.
DSW operates more than 300 stores in 39 states as well as an online store.


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The global market for connected insulin pens could be worth up to $123 million by 2023, according to a report published this year by Research & Markets.
Insulin pens, designed for people who control their diabetes with multiple daily injections instead of a pump or wearable patch, are portable devices that were first introduced in 1985 with Novo Nordisk‘s (NYSE:NVO) NovoPen. Since then, technology has evolved to allow users to track their insulin usage, set reminders and alarms, as well as share their data with caregivers and doctors. Here’s a look at some of the key players shaping the future of connected insulin pens.
On June 4-5, DeviceTalks Minnesota is taking over the Twin Cities medtech industry with one of the most anticipated conferences of the spring.
Join leaders from 3M, Abbott, Bigfoot Biomedical, Boston Scientific, Cardionomic, CMF Solutions, Cyient, Google Mayo Clinic, Medical Alley, Medtronic, NxThera, Opus College, Relievant Medsystems, University of Minnesota, Star Tribune, Smith & Nephew, Spry Health, Zimmer Biomet and many more when you register today.
Use the code "DTWeb" to save 15% on the cost of registration.


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Electric Truck Startup Bollinger Motors Partners With Roush on Commercial Platforms For EVs
With Bollinger deciding to cancel the B1 and B2 EVs, the automaker has partnered with Roush Industries to source and assemble commercial platforms for large EVs.
Vineeth Joel Patel2022-06-21 07:00 PT
Electric Truck Startup Bollinger Motors Exits the Passenger Vehicle Market, Will Focus on Commercial EVs Instead
Electric truck startup Bollinger Motors, which was targeting the truck and SUV market with its rugged and utilitarian vehicles, announced that its will postpone its entry into the electric passenger vehicle market and focus on building electric trucks for commercial purposes instead. The company said it will manufacture all-electric platforms and chassis cabs for commercial vehicles in Classes 3 to 6.
Eric Walz2022-02-20 09:00 PT
Electric Vehicle Startup Bollinger Motors Unveils its Battery-powered DELIVER-E Van
Electric truck startup Bollinger Motors has unveiled its new DELIVER-E all-electric delivery van concept. The Michigan-based company said the DELIVER-E offers the same technology and components that are used in the company's rugged electric trucks, which is well suited for the delivery market.
Eric Walz2020-10-04 10:30 PT
Michigan-based Electric Truck Startup Bollinger Motors Moves into New Headquarters as the Company Prepares to Ramp Up Operations
Electric truck maker Bollinger Motors has been making steady progress in the development of its electric trucks and the company just moved into a bigger headquarters in Michigan to accommodate its growth. The company’s new headquarters are in Oak Park, Michigan, located about 15 miles north of downtown Detroit.
FutureCar Staff 2020-09-25 15:45 PT
Electric Truck Startup Bollinger Motors Awarded U.S. Patent for its Radical Passthrough & ‘Frunkgate’
Electric truck startup Bollinger Motors was awarded a U.S. patent for its radical new passthrough and “frunk” design with a front grill that opens like a conventional pickup truck tailgate. The “Frunkgate” refers to the fold-down portion on the front of the truck, similar to a tailgate and it's built into the Bollinger Motors B1 SUV and B2 pickup trucks.
FutureCar Staff 2020-07-10 11:10 PT
Bollinger Motors Reveals the World’s First Electric Class-3 Commercial Truck Platform
Electric truck startup Bollinger Motors is among the new crop of startups developing battery-powered trucks for the consumer and commercial markets. The Ferndale, Michigan-based company unveiled today its latest electric truck platform it calls “E-Chassis.” The patent-pending E-Chassis is the world’s first and only Class 3 electric truck platform.
Eric Walz2020-04-18 10:50 PT
Bollinger Motors Reveals its B1 & B2 Fully-Electric Utilitarian Trucks
Electric truckmaker Bollinger Motors revealed its B1 and B2 electric trucks on Thursday. The Detroit-based EV startup is taking on General Motors, Ford and FCA in the popular truck segment which is no easy task, especially since the company’s trucks are fully-electric.
FutureCar Staff 2019-11-03 10:00 PT
Researchers at South Korea's Chung-Ang University Develop a ‘Meta-Reinforcement' Machine Learning Algorithm for Traffic Lights to Improve Vehicle Throughput
Eric WalzDec 22, 2022 2:30 PM PT
Zeekr's New 009 Electric Passenger Van is the World's First EV to Feature CATL's Advanced ‘Qilin' Battery With a Range of 510 Miles
Eric WalzDec 19, 2022 1:45 PM PT
Hyundai Gets Serious About Electric Performance Cars, Shows off Two Concepts
Vineeth Joel PatelDec 17, 2022 6:15 AM PT


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Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Batanga Network Becomes the First Hispanic-Focused Network to Join the Network Advertising Initiative
MIAMI, FL--(Marketwire - December 8, 2010) - Batanga, Inc., the leading Hispanic-focused online media company based in Miami, Florida, today announced its membership in the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), a self-regulatory association representing companies in the online behavioral advertising marketplace. To date, Batanga Network is the only Hispanic-focused online network to have joined the NAI.
As a member of the NAI, Batanga Network commits to abide by the NAI's self-regulatory principles for online behavioral advertising, a code of conduct that has governed members of the trade association since 2000. The NAI's goal is to promote online transparency and choice that fosters both the protection of consumers' privacy interests and the benefits of online advertising.
With marketing dollars increasingly shifting toward targeting the Hispanic community, precision and relevance are increasingly important. The understanding of this community is what has consistently positioned Batanga Network at the top of comScore's ranking of Hispanic networks since the company's inception in 2009 with over fifteen million unique visitors per month.
"At Batanga Network, we have been working to do everything in our power to ensure that our efforts to provide advertisers with the most relevant online placements meets consumers' expectations," said Rafael Urbina, chairman and CEO, Batanga, Inc. "We see membership in the NAI as an important part of this process. For example, the NAI's opt out platform provides consumers with a single place where they can review their status in all major networks and opt-out of any targeting, if they so choose."
Recently, there has been growing concern and awareness among consumers and lawmakers regarding the need for easy-to-use tools that allow consumer choice about behavioral advertising. The industry has recognized the need for continued development of best practices to promote consumer confidence and trust.
"We are continuously working with members such as Batanga Network to promote and protect responsible online marketing practices," said Charles Curran, executive director of the NAI. "As an organization, we strive to protect consumers' privacy by developing standards and policies that reward responsible marketing. We welcome Batanga Network to the NAI and applaud their efforts to promote responsible data use and the long-term growth and viability of the Internet."
"As the Hispanic community continues to be a top target for brands and marketers, the inclusion of Batanga Network on the NAI list of member networks is the next step in gaining recognition for this large portion of the US population," said Urbina. "We are happy to be a part of the NAI and look forward to working with other networks to promote self-regulation that provides consumers with meaningful choices about online behavioral advertising."
About the NAI
The NAI (Network Advertising Initiative) is a cooperative of online marketing companies committed to building consumer awareness and establishing responsible business and data management practices and standards. As increasingly sophisticated online advertising technologies evolve, consumer concerns about their impact on online privacy mount. The NAI is prepared to meet these concerns with both effective industry self-regulation and sensible protections for online consumers. To learn more, visit http://www.networkadvertising.org/.
About Batanga, Inc.
Batanga, Inc. is the leading U.S. Hispanic-focused online media company. The Batanga Network reaches the most U.S. Hispanics online, across all categories and all demographics. Utilizing market exclusive targeting technologies, the network effectively aggregates and delivers online audiences within culturally relevant online environments. Batanga.com, one of its premier online destinations, has consistently been one of the top online destinations for U.S. Hispanics over the past ten years. Batanga, Inc. maintains offices in Miami, New York and Mexico City. For more information visit http://www.batanganetwork.com/.
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It’s inevitable that when a couple spends a lot of time together, they begin to merge their style. And just as Kylie Jenner has begun to adopt a more classic approach to her dressing, her new boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet, has taken a leaf out of her style book.
We first saw that the actor was adapting his look when he showed up to the WSJ 2023 Innovator Awards to support Jenner, who was honoured with an award at the ceremony. Stepping away from his usual Prada or Haider Ackermann looks, Chalamet sported a Dolce & Gabbana suit, a label Jenner has been the face of.
And now, the 27-year-old has doubled down on raiding his girlfriend’s wardrobe. Snapped arriving at Narita International Airport in Japan over the weekend, the Wonka star topped a singlet, Loewe tracksuit pants and lace-up boots off with a floor-skimming latex duster coat by celebrity favourite latex label Avellano.
Fans quickly pointed out that the all-black ensemble could easily have come from Jenner’s wardrobe—or even from her new clothing brand, Khy.
In fact, one of the focus pieces that Jenner launched Khy with was a similar black pleather coat co-designed by Berlin-based label Namilia.
Not only is Jenner a major fan of latex moments, but she’s also been spotted channelling similar Matrix-style looks.
Though the two have yet to publicly speak out on their romance, their wardrobes are already saying plenty.


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January 22, 2014
Cook Chevrolet announced Wednesday that it is buying Craig Ford.
Stories this photo appears in:
Craig Ford is now Cook Ford. The business transaction was finalized Friday morning between both parties.
Cook Chevrolet owner Scott Cook is buying Craig Ford. The deal is nearly finished, and Cook is happy to buy a local dealership — ultimately expanding his business opportunities in Craig.


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Northvolt, a Swedish battery maker, has raised $2.75 billion from a host of big names to help fuel its global expansion and increase production.
The Stockholm-headquartered company makes the lithium-ion batteries that are used to power electric cars and it says it has signed deals worth $27 billion with the likes of BMW and VW. It is aiming to produce “the world’s greenest batteries” by drawing on renewable energy sources and recycled raw materials.
The latest funding round, Northvolt’s largest yet, was co-led by Goldman Sachs and VW alongside new investors including Swedish pension funds AP1, AP2, AP3, AP4 and Canadian pension provider OMERS. Previous investors such as Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and investment management firm Baillie Gifford are also investing in the round.
Total investment in the company now stands at $6.5 billion. The latest round of funding values Northvolt at $11.75 billion, according to a person familiar with the company who asked to remain anonymous as Northvolt has not publicly disclosed the figure.
Founded in 2016, Northvolt said it will use the funding to expand capacity at its factory in the far north of Sweden from 40 gigawatt-hours to 60 gigawatt-hours, which is enough to supply batteries for around 1 million electric vehicles. Production is expected to start at the factory later this year.
Peter Carlsson, co-founder and CEO of Northvolt, told CNBC in an interview on Wednesday that the company is doing “fairly significant shipments” from a smaller facility that has been in operation for over a year to customers who are now doing their own “validations.”
While none of the company’s batteries are in electric vehicles that are on the road today, they’re being used on test tracks, Carlsson said, adding that he expects Northvolt’s batteries to be delivered in vehicles from 2023 and in energy storage applications from the end of next year.
VW, which made a $14 billion order with Northvolt earlier this year, said Wednesday it has invested 500 million euros ($609 million) of the $2.75 billion and that its 20% stake in the company remains unchanged.
“With this investment, we are strengthening our strategic partnership with Northvolt as a supplier of sustainable battery cells which are produced using renewable energy and are comprehensively recyclable,” said Arno Antlitz, VW’s group board member for finance and IT, in a statement.
Northvolt’s batteries are built on a “different chemistry” to Tesla’s and the performance is becoming increasingly similar, said Carlsson, who was Tesla’s vice president of supply chain in Palo Alto between 2011 and 2015.
Making the batteries in a sustainable manner is one of Northvolt’s biggest challenges, he added. If the world transitions to electric vehicles with batteries from coal-based economies like China then it would create a new carbon footprint the size of Spain, Carlsson said. “If we do it based on renewable energy … we can prevent this from happening,” he said.
The company’s main plant is in Sweden and it is considering building a second in Germany if it can find enough renewable energy sources.
By 2030, it wants to achieve 150 gigawatt hours of deployed annual production capacity in Europe.
Switzerland put vertical solar panels on a roadside retaining wall
A canton in Switzerland commissioned a project in which solar panels were attached vertically to a roadside retaining wall.
The canton of Appenzell Ausserhoden in northeastern Switzerland is aiming to generate at least 40% of its electricity from renewables by 2035. So, it exercised a little creativity and covered a roadside retaining wall with 756 glass-glass solar panels.
The panels have an output of 325 kW and an energy yield of around 230,000 kWh annually. This is equivalent to the consumption of about 52 Swiss households. The energy will be fed into the grid of energy supplier St. Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke, and the canton will get a feed-in tariff in return.
German mounting system provider K2 Systems and Swiss contractor Solarmotion installed the vertical system on the 75-degree retaining wall. The panels were anchored on a mounting rail with HUS screw anchors, and Lichtenstein-based Hilti provided mechanical dowels.
The PV system was anchored on and in the masonry using an adhesive technique. An anchoring depth of a maximum of 90 mm could not be exceeded so that the retaining wall would not be adversely affected.
Due to the close proximity to the asphalt, the solar panels’ components are subject to exceptional corrosion requirements and are anodized for protection. Indirect components are made of aluminum – only the screw anchors are made of stainless steel.
K2 Systems says that “especially in the winter months (when consumption and dependence on foreign electricity imports are at their highest), the vertically aligned modules will achieve a very good electricity yield.”
This isn’t a big project, but it’s a delightfully creative one, which is why it caught my eye. A retaining wall is dead space, and snow will slide off the panels in Swiss winters.
We at Electrek love it when solar is installed in intelligent and inventive ways. Warehouse rooftops? Cover them. Highway medians? Canal covers? Box stores? Put solar on them. It just makes sense.
Photo: K2 Systems
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Doroni’s all-electric flying car gets flight certified in the US
Flying electric cars are not just for sci-fi movies. Miami-based Doroni Aerospace announced Friday its all-electric flying car, the Doroni H1, received official FAA Airworthiness Certification. And the best part – it’s designed to fit in your garage.
Doroni’s all-electric flying car gets FAA-certified
Doroni claims to be the first company to test manned flights with a 2-seater flying electric car in the US. The Doroni H1 took flight earlier this year.
CEO Doron Merdinger successfully piloted the personal electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) this summer. Merdinger said receiving the flight certification “is not just a milestone for our company, but a leap forward for the entire field of personal air mobility.”
He says the electric flying car “is poised to redefine urban transportation.” Doroni’s aircraft has already received over 370 pre-orders as the startup wraps up funding efforts.
Powered by ten independent propulsion systems, the all-electric flying car has a claimed top speed of 140 mph (100 mph cruising speed) and 60 miles range. Its unique design ensures stability during flight.
It includes four ducts containing two e-motors with patented ducted propellers. Eight are for vertical flight with an additional “two pushes.”
The two-seater aircraft is designed to fit inside a two-car garage at 23 ft in length and 14 ft in width. It also features fast charging (20% -80%) in under 20 minutes.
Electric flying cars coming to a dealership near you
Doroni’s all-electric flying car is semi-autonomous, meaning you can guide it to different levels. A controller stick is used to push you forward, backward, or to the side.
Who would buy one of these? Doroni says one of its customers is a doctor who wants to use the aircraft to skip traffic on their way to work. However, you will need a certification. It requires at least 20 hours of experience, 15 inside the aircraft and another five solo.
Merdinger says the biggest use case for eVTOLs will be for air taxis or ride-sharing. Doroni aims for a different market though.
The company says there is enough space to fly everywhere, especially in suburban areas. Doroni’s all-electric flying car is designed for more than just getting you from point A to point B. It allows you to “enjoy nature,” according to Merdinger.
Doroni expects to build about 120 to 125 units by 2025 or 2026. Eventually, the Miami-based startup plans on scaling to produce 2,500 eVTOLs annually. You can learn more about the electric flying car on Doroni’s website.
The company is the latest to receive the flight certification. Alef’s Model A was the first electric flying car to get certfied in June.
Alef said it had 2,500 pre-orders in July. The orders include 2,100 from individuals and 400 from businesses, including a California car dealership.
Are electric flying cars going to take over road transportation? Not necessarily. At least not anytime soon.
Doroni and Alef are both working on niche markets, which makes the most sense for the time being. At the same time, the companies are pushing forward another sustainble means of transport.
As Merdinger explained “this is just the beginning,” as the technology advances.
Rivian already has a patent on Tesla’s Cybertruck ‘range extender’
Tesla delivered the first Cybertrucks yesterday, and with that delivery event came the revelation that in order to get the range it promised, the Cybertruck needs a separate battery pack in the bed. But a similar battery pack system was already patented years ago, by one of Tesla’s competitors in the electric pick-up space.
Tesla’s Cybertruck website included a revelation about a feature that wasn’t mentioned in its presentation: a “range extender,” in the form of an additional battery pack in the truck bed which expands the truck’s range.
It’s an interesting solution, and we don’t know all the details of it yet. We don’t know the cost, the weight, how it will be installed and uninstalled, or whether it even can be uninstalled.
The battery pack is intended to be used “for very long trips or towing heavy things up mountains,” according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. It takes up about a third of the truck bed, as can be seen in a photo posted on Tesla’s Cybertruck site.
So, there’s still room for cargo, just not the full 6 feet of bed length that Tesla says the Cybertruck has.
But the fact that it was described as being used only “for very long trips or towing heavy things up mountains” suggests that it will be removable, since most people don’t do that sort of thing every single day.
Making it removable is actually a good solution, because it can lower prices, make packaging easier, and improve efficiency for vehicles that simply don’t need a ridiculously enormous 470-mile battery – and most drivers don’t need that.
And if it is removable, well, there’s already a patent on that.
In 2019, electric truck maker Rivian filed a patent for a “removable auxiliary battery” that would fit into the front third-or-so of the truck bed. This patent was granted in 2020, so Rivian currently has a patent on this technology.
The patent is described as:
An electric vehicle system for transporting human passengers or cargo includes an electric vehicle that includes a body, a plurality of wheels, a cargo area, an electric motor for propelling the electric vehicle, and a primary battery for providing electrical power to the electric motor for propelling the electric vehicle. An auxiliary battery module is attachable to the electric vehicle for providing electrical power to the electric motor via a first electrical connector at the auxiliary battery module and a second electrical connector at the electric vehicle that mates with the first electrical connector. The auxiliary battery module can be positioned in the cargo area while supplying power to the electric motor, and can be removable and reattachable from the electric vehicle. The auxiliary battery module includes an integrated cooling system for cooling itself during operation of the electric vehicle including a conduit therein for circulating coolant.
We aren’t patent lawyers here, but this sounds awfully similar to Tesla’s “range extender.” The obvious potential differences we can find are if the range extender doesn’t have integrated cooling, which is unlikely, or if the range extender isn’t removable, which doesn’t seem to jive with the statement that it is only for long trips or with the marketing showing it as an optional add-on (if that were the case, why not just offer different battery sizes?).
Tesla itself has many patents (and is still pursuing more of them), but has pledged not to “initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use its technology.” It announced this in a 2014 blog post, and followed up by saying that it thinks several companies are using its patents.
So next, the question is: is Tesla’s solution different enough to avoid Rivian’s patent protection? Has Tesla licensed the idea from Rivian, and we just haven’t heard about it yet? Or will Rivian return Tesla’s “good faith” and not initiate a patent lawsuit against Tesla, if it does feel like it has a good enough case to say that Tesla’s range extender infringes on its patent?
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Transform Holdco LLC announced in a statement that they have entered into a definite merger agreement that will bring Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. back into the fold in Q3, 2019.
Currently, Sears Hometown operates 491 Hometown stores and 126 Outlet stores located in 49 states, Puerto Rico and Bermuda. When combined, in terms of sales, the two stores are the third largest appliance retailer in the United States and generated $1.4 billion in net sales in 2018.
“We are excited to bring Sears Hometown, its associates and network of independent dealers and franchisees back into the Sears and Kmart family,” said Edward S. Lampert, Chairman of Transform in a statement. “Our investment demonstrates our commitment to growing Transform for the benefit of our members and customers, associates, vendors and communities across the country. While, initially, the companies will operate independently, we see many opportunities where we can partner to serve our customers better and enjoy efficiencies of scale once these businesses are under one roof.”
The merger reunites Sears and Kmart with Sears Hometown, and accelerates Transform’s strategy of growing its smaller store format into a multi-channel business to serve customers through a variety of shopping experiences. The Kenmore and DieHard brands will also help Transform to expand their footprint.


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Interactive TV News Round-Up (IV): Miso, USA Network, Ooyala, Tennis Australia, DirecTV
--Miso Tapped by USA Network to Enhance "White Collar" with Broadcast-Synchronized SideShow
--Ooyala Teams with Tennis Australia to Enable Free, Live, Online Video Coverage of the Australian Open
--DirecTV Offering Interactive TV Coverage of Australian Open
Due to the large volume of news generated by last week's 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), we are covering stories in this issue in round-up/summary format. We anticipate that it will take us several more days to process all the news from the show: so if your company has sent us a press release or briefed us on an announcement, and you don't yet see your news covered in this issue, please bear with us.
- USA Network is using Miso's SideShow platform, which allows programmers, advertisers and distributors to deliver broadcast-synchronized content to smartphones and tablets (see the article published on itvt.com, December 14th), to enhance the show, "White Collar." "When viewers tune in during the mid-season, they'll be able to enjoy a special 'White Collar' SideShow using the Miso mobile app for iPhone and iPod touch," the network states in its press materials. "It provides a companion viewing experience that allows fans to comment on the action, get intriguing bits of trivia, share great quotes from the show, answer polls, and check-in to get exclusive 'White Collar' badges. There will be a new SideShow for each episode." USA Network has also launched a game, entitled "Mozzie's Mission" (http://www.mozziesmission.com) for fans of the show. "Starting yesterday, January 17, viewers began playing a six-week game designed to test their skills to see if they're advanced enough to partner with Mozzie in locating a hidden stash," the network's press materials continue. "Through a series of weekly challenges, Mozzie tests users' abilities in memory, their eye for detail, riddle-solving and more. Featuring original video shot on location in New York City, users must tackle each task in a variety of locations, some of which can be accessed in a 2012 Ford Explorer. When all six challenges are completed, a secret sweepstakes is unlocked providing the chance to win an iPad 2. Sponsored by Ford, Mozzie's Mission was created in conjunction with Eastin."
- Online video solutions provider, Ooyala, has partnered with Tennis Australia, the governing body of Australian tennis, to bring free, live coverage of the 2012 Australian Open to the Internet. "Beginning Monday, January 16, visitors to australianopen.com, the official Web site of the 2012 Australian Open, can watch live matches from all seven of the tournament's courts, as well as special features, highlights and interviews from one of the year's most popular events in tennis," the company states in its press materials. "Tennis Australia selected Ooyala as its official online media partner for its ability to quickly integrate its personalized digital video solutions with australianopen.com to create a premier live sports video experience that will attract millions of visitors from around the world over the course of the tournament. This is the first time the Australian Open will be delivered online for free. In addition to helping Tennis Australia monetize its online video offering with a variety of Ooyala-powered video advertising tools, Ooyala's digital video technology will dramatically increase viewership of the Australian Open through its seamless multi-device delivery to tablets, smartphones and other devices, and through syndication of videos to YouTube and other news and sports Web sites. Ooyala also handles important geographic content restrictions to comply with Tennis Australia's broadcast partner requirements."
In related news: DirecTV is currently offering interactive TV coverage of the Australian Open. "DirecTV, in partnership with ESPN and Tennis Channel, brings you unprecedented live coverage of the Australian Open," the company states on its Web site. "From January 15 to 22, watch exclusive live coverage of the outer-court and early-round matches. Plus get up to six matches at the same time on the Mix Channel (Ch. 701). All in HD and only on DirecTV. The Australian Open Experience is available to all DirecTV customers at no extra charge." According to the company, the interactive TV coverage consists of the following elements: "1) Mix Channel (Ch. 701)--Watch up to six live matches, including the network broadcast plus five bonus channels of outer-court coverage, all at the same time. Select any one channel and tune in directly. 2) Match Guide--Press the red button on your remote and see scores from matches in progress on the court channels (chs. 702-707), plus the schedule for upcoming matches. 3) Recent Results--Stay on top of all the action and see real-time scores for both in-progress and completed matches. Press the red button on your remote and select Recent Results to activate. 4) Men's and Women's Draws--See who made it and who didn't. A complete round-by-round chart shows you which players are still in it and how they got there."


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Read this article to learn:
- The structure and value of Airtel’s tower transaction with IHS in Zambia and Rwanda
- The Rwandan tower market post-acquisition and the launch of ORN
- The Zambian tower market post-acquisition
- A comparison of the cost per tower paid by each of Africa’s ‘Big Four’ towercos in transactions to date with Airtel
IHS recently announced the acquisition of 1,100 towers from Airtel in Zambia and Rwanda. In fact the provisional tower count is 929 in Zambia and 184 in Rwanda, for a total of 1,113. We estimate the deal value to be US$181mn, placing the transaction in the 3rd quartile in terms of cost per tower among Airtel’s recent African tower sales.
Airtel’s only logical counterparty for their tower sale in Zambia and Rwanda was IHS. IHS’s acquisition of 1,113 towers from Airtel (929 in Zambia, 184 in Rwanda) was announced in mid December 2014. The deal consolidates Africa’s largest towerco’s leadership of the tower markets in Zambia and Rwanda, following a similar sale and leaseback agreed between IHS and MTN in May 2014. IHS will provide a full “tower and power” service in both Zambia and Rwanda, assuming ownership and responsibility for investment in energy equipment as well as the towers themselves. IHS now has over 21,000 towers in Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda and Zambia – more than double the tower count of the next largest towerco in Africa.
With an estimated US$181mn raised through the sale of this latest tranche of towers, Airtel has brought the proceeds raised from their African tower sale to a running total of around US$2.3bn with the sale of towers in just two relatively small countries, Gabon and Madagascar, still to be announced. TowerXchange therefore are sticking to our forecast that Airtel’s African tower sale will net a total of US$2.5bn, primarily used to pay down debt generated by Bharti Airtel’s original US$10.7bn acquisition of Zain’s SSA business.
Airtel’s African business has been reducing trading losses on a subscriber base of ~86mn in SSA. Airtel Africa recorded a net loss of US$137mn on revenue of $1.164bn during Q1 2014.
“We are delighted to partner with IHS, which has a proven track record in passive infrastructure management in Africa and look forward to working with them. This agreement will accelerate infrastructure sharing amongst operators and benefit customers in form of affordable tariffs and wider network coverage”
– Christian de Faria, MD & CEO – Africa, Bharti Airtel
Details of the deal
According to a statement issued by Airtel to the Rwandan stock exchange, Airtel has entered into an agreement with IHS Zambia for the sale of 100% of the equity in Zambian Towers Limited, Airtel’s Africa Towers subsidiary in Zambia. The value of the Zambian tranche of the transaction is US$151mn, subject to the usual adjustments based on the number of sites actually delivered, working capital et cetera.
TowerXchange has learned that the transaction includes 929 towers in Zambia, which works out as an average cost per tower of US$162,540. The deal also includes 184 towers in Rwanda, although no data on the acquisition cost has been made available from Rwanda.
TowerXchange estimate the total deal value to be ~US$181mn. The initial term is ten years.
The deal remains subject to regulatory approval.
“We have been working with Airtel for many years. And we are very pleased to have signed our first Buy and Lease Back transaction with Airtel. The opportunity to expand our East African business bringing IHS’ market leading energy and infrastructure management practices to a wider market is an excellent opportunity. We are very excited that following this deal more mobile phone users will benefit from the efficiencies and increased network uptimes that will result”
– Issam Darwish, Executive Vice Chairman and Group CEO, IHS
Airtel had already announced the sale of 11,400 African towers, divided as follows:
- 3,100 towers to Helios Towers Africa, believed to be in Tanzania, DRC, Congo B and Chad at an acquisition cost of US$400-500mn
- 3,500 towers to Eaton Towers, believed to be in Ghana, Niger, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi at an acquisition cost of US$525-700mn
- 4,800 towers to American Tower in Nigeria for a confirmed acquisition cost of US$1,050mn
Airtel’s counterparty for the sale of towers in Gabon and Madagascar has yet to be announced, but TowerXchange believe that Helios Towers Africa and Eaton Towers respectively are the most likely acquirers of those assets. We understand Airtel will retain their towers in Sierra Leone.
How TowerXchange forecast the Airtel towers will be divided among Africa’s towercos
Implications for Rwanda and Zambia
IHS previously acquired 1,269 towers in Rwanda and Zambia from MTN in May 2014. When closed, IHS’s acquisition from Airtel will bring the total number of towers acquired by IHS to 734 in Rwanda and to 1,648 in Zambia, plus such towers as have been built in H2 2014 under build-to-suit programmes. IHS now owns significantly more than 50% of the towers in each country.
As the newest market entrant with the least mature network, Airtel has the most to gain from infrastructure sharing among the three international operators in Rwanda.
Licensed in September 2011, Airtel had accelerated their launch into Rwanda with the acquisition of liquidated Rwandatel’s towers for US$15.5mn back in 2012, a network they have since supplemented before selling to IHS. MTN had a monopoly on the mobile market in Rwanda until 2006, and thus had the country’s largest network until the sale of all 550 of its towers to IHS in May 2014. Millicom-Tigo is the #2 operator in Rwanda. LTE has been launched in Rwanda thanks to ORN, an open-access LTE infrastructure joint venture between the Rwandan government and KT Corp, launched in November 2014. Mobile penetration is around 65% in Rwanda.
Mobile penetration in Zambia was reported by ZICTA as 63.8% in Q3 2014, with 23% mobile Internet penetration. As Airtel and MTN vie for market leadership, thus IHS has acquired Zambia’s two largest networks from the country’s most credit worthy anchor tenants. Third ranked operator Zamtel was seized by the Zambian government from LAP GreenN in 2012 and remains embroiled in legal dispute.
By November of 2014, Huawei had built 147 of 500 rural towers on behalf of the Zambian Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) – a project to be completed by 2016, with the towers to be shared among Airtel, MTN and Zamtel.


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FRANCE: Renault and PSA slip further at home
The two French carmakers suffered further sales declines in their home market in April, and their combined market share slipped to just above half.
Renault is suffering adverse product cycles and its car sales declined 16% in April. PSA Peugeot-Citroen car sales were off 7.2%, the CCFA car association said.
CCFA said the overall new car market was down 4.9% to 172,661 vehicles and dropped 9.7%, when adjusted for the same number of working days.
Over the January to April period, new car registrations were 2.3% lower at 691,852 vehicles.
The market share of the two French car makers slipped to 52.7% in the first four months (55.9% in the same period of last year).


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The top eight media groups in the United States plan to spend at least $115 billion (BRL 650 billion) on new movies and TV shows over the next year, seeking to improve the video streaming business, which causes most of them to lose. .
The huge investment spending comes amid concerns that it will be more difficult to attract new customers in 2022, after the pandemic-driven growth in 2020 and 2021. But the alternative is to stay out of contention for space in streaming.
“There is no going back,” said MoffettNathanson media analyst Michael Nathanson. “The only way to compete is to spend more and more on high-quality content.”
The Financial Times calculated planned spend based on company information and analyst reports. One entertainment executive called them “stunned.”
Most companies — the list includes Walt Disney, Comcast, WarnerMedia and Amazon — are prepared to accumulate losses in their streaming units. Including the rights to broadcast sporting events, the aggregate expenditure estimate rises to around US$140 billion (R$790 billion).
Disney’s investment in streaming content is expected to grow 35% to 40% in 2022, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. The company’s spending on all new movies and TV shows is expected to reach US$23 billion (R$129.7 billion), but that number increases to US$33 billion (R$186.2 billion) when the sports rights ——32% more of your total content spend in 2021 and 65% over 2020.
Disney shows slated for 2022 include a retelling of “Pinocchio” starring Tom Hanks, a new installment of the “Cars” franchise, and “Obi-Wan Kenobi” starring Ewan McGregor. Netflix, ViacomCBS, Fox and Apple also plan to spend billions of dollars on content.
“The real headline in 2022 is how much money has been allocated to content platforms,” said John Sloss, partner at law firm Sloss Eckhouse Dasti Haynes and head of talent management and consulting agency Cinetic Media. “It’s just stunning.”
Subscriber growth has been slower for Netflix, the Disney Plus streaming service and others in recent quarters. Netflix executives attributed this to a weaker programming schedule due to production delays related to the coronavirus, an issue that has plagued the entire industry.
But the fact that even the industry leader must invest heavily to produce shows and keep pace with competitors has some investors wondering if streaming video is a good deal.
Netflix is expected to spend more than $17 billion ($96 billion) on content next year — an increase of 25% from 2021 and 57% from the $10.8 billion spent in 2020. The company hopes to achieve the breakeven point and have a positive free cash flow in 2022.
“It will be a milestone for Netflix” if it achieves these goals, said Tuna Amobi, senior media and entertainment analyst at investment research firm CFRA.
For more traditional media companies, however, the transition from traditional television and film to streaming “has caused significant dilution at the margins. [de lucro]”, recently noted Morgan Stanley.
“The market is increasingly concerned that there is no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow,” say bank analysts.
Costs have generally increased as the biggest entertainment and technology companies rush to produce more shows to power their streaming services. It was difficult to find locations to film in Los Angeles. The studios, historically a niche in the real estate market, have attracted investment from private equity firms Blackstone and TPG.
“Because of sheer competition for talent, because of everything that goes into producing, content costs have gone up,” Christine McCarthy, Disney’s chief financial officer, told investors last month.
Translated by Luiz Roberto M. Gonçalves


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With the uncertainty surrounding paid media, DTC brands are turning to a safer game plan: acquire customers organically. Then, focus on keeping them around for as long as possible.
This playbook has been hugely successful for ASYSTEM, the science-forward supplements company that scaled into a multi-million dollar brand with a team of three full-time operators.
One of them is Arsh Sidhu, Director of eCommerce at ASYSTEM. Arsh recently sat down with the Windsor team to let us pick his brain on topics including:
- Why most brands consistently misinterpret customer LTV
- ASYSTEM’s tried-and-true playbook for boosting retention
- How merchants can invest in fully owned channels like email
“As a digital-first brand, most of our go-to-market focuses held up, even through COVID. It’s about building the right infrastructure and finding the right partners.”
Unpacking ASYSTEM’s Playbook: Margins, AOV, and Retention
After almost a decade in eCom, Arsh has repeatedly seen one misconception about LTV: When brands think of lifetime value, they only consider retention.
In reality, LTV factors in gross margins, AOV, and then retention.
That’s why when ASYSTEM set out to drive their LTV substantially, they zeroed in on those three metrics.
Here’s how they did it.
1. Gross margins
Fortunately, there are tons of varied routes you can take toward improved margins. For the ASYSTEM team, those looked like:
- Switching warehouses
- Improving their packaging
- Optimizing picking and packing costs
- Setting a higher threshold for shipping
2. Average order value
Increasing AOV can start as early as product ideation.
Focus on developing new SKUs that complement existing inventory or that would pair well in bundles. You can, in Arsh’s words, tailor releases so customers feel like every product truly belongs in the same world or system.
He’s seen more and more ASYSTEM shoppers buying or subscribing to multiple unique products at once, as well as newer customers tending toward larger basket sizes.
Essentially, if you’ve got a functioning growth engine, great user retention is a lubricant to keep things functioning and powering forward that much faster.
Below, Arsh unpacks some of ASYSTEM’s tactics for boosting retention.
“When people think of LTV, they often only think about retention. But, if you consider the whole LTV equation, it’s actually about gross margin, AOV, and how often someone buys over a certain period of time.”
How ASYSTEM successfully drove customer retention
Increasing retention can start, again, as early as product dev.
1. Be open to experimenting with your product offerings
At an early point in ASYSTEM’s life, the company was a men’s wellness brand dabbling in skincare and supplements.
Today, they’re a unisex brand focused largely on supplements.
That pivot toward a broader ICP enabled them to release and test a far greater diversity of products. From there, they came to two realizations:
- Customers loved repeat-purchasing gummies and supplements
- Customers tended to purchase their skincare products once — and then never again
So, ASYSTEM responded accordingly. They’re already in the process of discontinuing lower-retention supplements and skincare altogether.
See which products strike a chord – hone in on what does, and pull back on what doesn’t.
2. Push subscriptions on high-retention SKUs
Once they identified their high-retention products, the next step was setting up customers to repurchase more often.
The clear solution? Pushing and incentivizing supplement subscriptions.
Today, ASYSTEM’s PDPs are subscription-first because:
- Their retention numbers were already so impressive
- More and more customers were clearly down to subscribe
Overall, pushing subscriptions also became a big initiative to boost LTV down the line, which also boosts ASYSTEM’s total profitability.
3. Understand the trade-off of margins vs. retention
At the start of 2022, ASYSTEM ran a significant promotion to experiment with pricing vs. ultimate retention. Their standard discount went from less than 10% to 20%.
“It definitely worked,” Arsh remembers. Those savings pushed more customers to either subscribe or repurchase down the line.
You may momentarily lose that margin, but you quickly make it back in retention.
“Because we were able to release a bunch of SKUs, we could gauge which products simply showed the best retention and drove repeat purchases.”
How to leverage owned & organic acquisition channels
Owned channels had generally been undervalued in DTC eCom — that is, until iOS 14 turned paid marketing on its head.
Arsh unpacks how owned and organic channels have been vital to ASYSTEM’s growth. The team at ASYSTEM was focused on evolving their branding, identifying new directions they wanted to pursue with products, and more — when a global pandemic hit.
Right as they were trying to define their business and where they stood in the market, it seemed as if everything about the market had been turned upside down.
Fortunately, as a digital-first brand, they didn’t need to overhaul most of their GTM plans.
However, like most other DTC operations, they still had to figure out how to combat sinking ROI on paid avenues like Facebook.
So, they chose to double down on owned and organic channels — to great returns.
- Facebook — ASYSTEM keeps things minimal with organic Facebook content. They’ll largely experiment, leave the engine running, and then try to find ways to scale it.
- SEO — These days, roughly half of ASYSTEM’s web traffic comes from organic search. It simply comes down to identifying keywords that work for your brand and ranking even higher with them. Arsh says anyone can get started through Ahrefs.
- Keep owned channels educational — A lot of their email or SEO content is educational, linking out to other blogs and the occasional product. Users want real value-add (not to be sold to), so start with education and then slowly introduce them to products.
- Social & influencers — They’ve focused on scaling their influencer network, growing IG and TikTok audiences, and working directly with creators for UGC. Arsh emphasizes the benefits of having multiple influencers in one subcategory posting about your brand.
Ultimately, Arsh believes paid media could work for ASYSTEM in the future.
There’s just a significant investment that has to happen behind the scenes. The dollars typically add up for bigger payback periods than what they currently invest in organic social and search.
For now, owned and organic channels – like email – are simply cost-friendlier than paid channels for growing, profit-conscious brands like ASYSTEM.
“A notable part of driving LTV is, of course, having your own channels. These days, about 50% of our traffic comes from organic search.”


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Some of the major shipping lines in the container industry namely, Maersk Line, MSC, CMA-CGM, Hapag Lloyd and ONE are locked in discussions to create an association looking to pave the way for further digitalization, standardization and interoperability within the industry..
An MSC Press release said that IT executives from these companies are currently discussing the creation of common information technology standards which shall be openly available and free of charge for all stakeholders of the wider container shipping industry..
As per André Simha, CIO of MSC and spokesperson of the group
It’s in the customers’ and all stakeholders’ best interest, if container shipping companies operate with a common set of information technology standards.
We are striving for less red tape and better transparency. The timing is right, as emerging technologies create new customer friendly opportunities. Together, we gain traction in delivering technological breakthroughs and services to our customers compared to working in our own closed silos.
This association which will be a neutral and non-profit body will be driven by the need to deliver benefits for the industry and its stakeholders including other ocean carriers.
In line with this, the association is welcoming new members with open arms to join them once it is established.
As per reports, the association has no intention of developing or operating any digital platform, but aims to ensure interoperability through standardization while avoiding any commercial or operational discussions..
This association aims to be operational as from early 2019 and is expected to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements..
As per an ONE Press Release, the participants of this discussions had this to say :
• Digital is key for A.P. Moller – Maersk in delivering on our strategy to become an integrated container logistics company that offers simple, end-to-end services with seamless customer experience.
A joint set of technical standards will ensure interoperability and enable all parties to concentrate on value adding differentiation as we move the container shipping industry towards further digitalization. Ultimately this will benefit all parties in our customers’ supply chains”, says Adam Banks, Chief Technology & Information Officer, A.P. Moller – Maersk.
• “CMA CGM is always looking for best practices and standards to support the innovation and digital strategy of the company. Being a founding member will enable us to work together on setting the standards for digitization of the entire industry,” says Rajesh Krishnamurthy, Executive Vice President IT & Transformations, CMA CGM.
• “Hapag-Lloyd welcomes the creation of this association as we firmly believe that the challenges of the future can only be tackled with a common approach. While we remain competitors in the markets, together we will manage to shape the future of our industry,” says Martin Gnass, Managing Director Information Technology, Hapag-Lloyd.
• “MSC believes that we’ve reached the point in the carrier world where we need something that is common, open and done in the framework of a neutral and non-profit association.
By collaborating on standardized solutions, we think that’s the best way to respond to shippers’ demands for technology and innovation, thus shaping the future of the shipping industry,” says Andre Simha, Chief Information Officer, MSC.
• “Ocean Network Express sees a wave of innovation technology development in shipping and logistics industry over the recent years which can bring good opportunity to the whole industry for digital transformation.
But, at the same time, we’re a little bit cautious about adopting new technology by individual company since there is no common standard in the market which may be ending up with re-integrating work among all stakeholders in the supply chain.
With this mind, we feel it would be necessary to do some discussion and collaboration on the area of new technology and innovation to establish common IT standard and governance for the industry to streamline and digitize shipping process in a modern way.
In the end, we believe this style of collaboration can bring value and opportunity to our customers as well as logistics companies, leading shipping and logistics industry to new ecosystem of digital supply chain,” says Noriaki Yamaga, Managing Director, Corporate & Innovation, Ocean Network Express.


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Michelle Obama's newsstand appeal translated into above average sales for Vogue this spring. The March issue, where the First Lady wore clothes she handpicked from J. Crew and Jason Wu, sold 560,000 copies on the newsstand, just edging out their most recent best-selling issue on the newsstand in September 2008, which hit 559,000 copies.
More:Michelle Obama Vogue Cover Obamas Magazines Vogue Michelle Obama Vogue Michelle Obama Magazines
The Morning Email helps you start your workday with everything you need to know: breaking news, entertainment and a dash of fun. Learn more


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Leading Nigerian acts, Banky W. and Tiwa Savage have enjoined artistes to embrace the new age of digital and take advantage of its various platforms to monetize their content.
Both acts joined other entertainment stars at the just concluded Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NEC) in Lagos, to state that Nigeria is part of Africa’s emerging digital economy. This throws up a lot of opportunities waiting to be harnessed for the sustained growth of the industry. Only those who take advantage of the digital platforms will be able to monetize their talent and create a stronger and better entertainment industry in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
MTN Nigeria supported this innovative Conference. Indeed, MTN has supported the entertainment industry in Nigeria over the years through various initiatives and platforms; from the CallerTunez service that has helped artistes monetize their content and curb piracy, to endorsement deals and royalties with music stars as brand ambassadors and Music+ – Africa’s biggest digital music platform, amongst other innovative platforms in the works.
Here are pictures from the well-attended event.


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The high cost of the iPhone 8 could be due to Samsung charging Apple a premium price to supply the OLED screens for its new top–end phone, it has been claimed.
Analyst Ming Chi Kuo says that Samsung’s position as the sole supplier of OLED screens and other essential display components means it has been able to charge Apple a hefty fee for its services.
Many Apple-watchers believe the iPhone 8 could cost as much as £1,000 SIM–free, with some predicting an even higher price for models with large storage.
Apple struck a deal with Samsung earlier this year to deliver millions of OLED displays for the new iPhone.
However, a series of supply-chain reports suggest Apple is looking to develop its own OLED supply from 2018, bringing on board Taiwanese manufacturers who will help drive costs down.
Want more iPhone 8 news? We've collated all the speculation for our rumours round-up.
Of this year's trio of soon-to-be-announced iPhones, only the iPhone 8 will feature OLED tech.
The iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, which are thought to be relatively minor upgrades from the current-generation models, are thought to come with standard LCD panels.
All will be officially revealed at Apple’s annual iPhone event on 12th September.


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In the last four years PHD Virtual (formerly PHD Technologies) has been solely focused on the VMware market, competing with larger companies like Quest/Vizioncore and Veeam. But in early 2010 the startup decided to extend its support to other virtual infrastructures. This led to an investment from Citrix in May, and to the release of Backup for Citrix XenServer 1.0 last week.
The new product offers the same look & feel of the VMware version but the feature-set is not completely aligned yet.
PHD Virtual clarified to virtualization.info that this doesn’t depend on any technical constrain or lack of R&D resources: simply, the company delivered the XenSource version as soon as possible and so had to prioritize the delivery of certain capabilities.
In the coming months, the two version will share exactly the same capabilities.
The company published a video of the new product in action:
Quite interestingly, PHD Virtual is also working on a version of Backup for Microsoft Hyper-V, which should be available before the end of the year.


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New research from LinkedIn reveals that at any one time of B B buyers are not in the market for the thing you are selling so while all brands want instant results building awareness will always be key Whether you ...
A new US study sheds light on mistargeting and how furious it makes consumers, with 94 per cent deleting emails, unsubscribing and generally taking steps to break off all lines of communication.
Janrain, a major provider of user management solutions for the social web, announced the results of their fourth annual US consumer survey, a Social Login and Personalisation study, that reveals 96% of consumers acknowledge having received mistargeted promotional information.
As a result, 94% break off communication and never visit the website again.
Simultaneously, 88% of consumers have encountered social login – the use of an existing ID from a social network such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc. for registration – with more than half (51%) using it to register and login to other sites.
Yet, while the vast majority of online consumers (91%) are satisfied with social login and most report a preference for personalised communication, brands have yet to seize the opportunity to improve online marketing as a result of the data they can collect in the social login process.
The study, conducted by Blue Research – an independent research consultancy, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of nearly 600 social media consumers last October – confirms that marketers are wasting money providing content to consumers – ads, offers, promotions, etc – that have nothing to do with their interests.
People are fed up and taking action.
Paul Abel, managing partner, Blue Research, said: “In the four years that we have conducted this study, what is interesting to note is the evolution of consumers that are now no longer willing to accept mistargeted communications.
“Today, of those who receive mistargeted communications, almost seven out of ten report automatically deleting the email without even looking at them. This should be of interest to marketers determining best practices related to personal customer communications.”
Another key finding is that, among non-users of social login, the number one barrier is lack of trust. Almost half reported that they don’t trust a company to use their information appropriately. Just over a third are concerned the company will post to their social network feeds.
Larry Drebes, CEO, Janrain, said: “This year’s study confirms that it’s paramount for marketers to establish trust and transparency about how personal information will be used.
“The good news is that once trust is no longer an issue, consumers are willing to be identified and recognised as customers across multiple devices to receive personalised content.”
Other key findings:
- 64% of consumers using social login are more likely to return to a website that remembers them without a username and password.
- ·60% find suggested products/promotions based on their social login profile information useful.
- 49% of respondents who use social login would allow mobile phone apps to offer special in-store offers.
- Social login users are 78% more likely versus non-users to download a mobile app from a site that is personalised.
A 60-minute webinar is being given by Paul Abel on Wednesday January 29 at 11am (PDT), 2pm (EST) on Social Login and Personalisation and the above findings. Click here to register.
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