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Razza opened just across the Hudson River from New York in Jersey City in late 2012, and it quietly became renowned locally for its wood-fired pizzas prepared by chef-owner Dan Richer, who was a semifinalist for the James Beard Rising Star Award and is so meticulous about his craft that he was nicknamed “the Jiro of Bread,” after the sushi chef featured in Jiro Dreams of Sushi. But it wasn’t until New York Times critic Pete Wells showed up this year that pizza lovers across the river really took notice. Wells gave it about as glowing a review as possible, even going so far as to deem it “the best pizza in New York.” Not only has Richer perfected his crust — it’s crisp from end to end and its inside is soft with a complex flavor — he’s also meticulous about his toppings, which he sources locally. The mozzarella on his Bufala pie, for example, comes from water buffalo from Jersey’s Sussex County; he had to wait years for the herd to grow large enough to ensure a steady supply of the notoriously difficult-to-perfect cheese. And as for the sauce, Richer told the Times that he waits for the latest vintages of tomatoes from California, New Jersey, and Italy to be canned each January before blind-tasting and grading them all, then blending them like fine wine. When assembled, the pizza is damn near perfect.
The Best Food and Drink in New Jersey


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Honeywell International Inc., whose product lineup includes protective industrial footwear, agreed to buy Singapore shoemaker King’s Safetywear Ltd. for $338 million.
Buying the shoemaker adds “more opportunities for Honeywell in the higher-growth Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe regions,” Mark Levy, head of the life safety unit, said in a statement. The transaction should close in early 2012 and boost earnings next year, Morris Township, New Jersey-based Honeywell said in the statement.
“Think of this as an incremental addition” to Honeywell’s automation and controls segment, which includes the life safety business, Brian Langenberg, an analyst with Langenberg & Co. in Chicago said in a telephone interview. “They’ve been accruing actively the last couple of years.”
The transaction was the second-largest of five disclosed agreements by Honeywell this year. The company said it’s paying 11.5 times King’s estimated 2011 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
A median multiple of 6.9 times ebitda was paid in 15 purchases of footwear companies worldwide in the past five years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Navis Capital Deal
King’s Safetywear is majority owned by Navis Capital Partners, a Malaysian buyout firm that took the company private in December 2008 for about S$100 million ($78 million), according to the fund’s website. King’s Safetywear raised S$17.4 million in a 2003 initial public offering that valued the company at S$68.1 million.
Sales at King’s Safetywear this year will be about $138 million, Honeywell said.
King’s Safetywear makes leather-based and polyurethane soled safety footwear used in the manufacturing, oil and gas, mining and construction industries. It markets its products under the King’s, Otter and Oliver brands, according to its website. The firm, led by Chief Executive Officer Alex Teo, was established in 1965 and has manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, Portugal and Australia.
Honeywell fell 2.3 percent to $51.20 in New York amid a decline in the broader Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

domain: news


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J.D. Power survey of tablet buyers puts Samsung tablets on top10
J.D.Power also found out that more people buy their tablet from a store (59%) than purchase online (41%). Those who purchased online found that their experience was slightly better than those buying at a store and even found a better price by buying online. On a 1000 point scale, overall customer satisfaction among tablet owners is 821.
Based on the survey, 50% of tablet buyers rely on recommendations from friends and family to decide which slab to buy. Besides getting recommendations from friends and family, consumers also visit the manufacturer's website (49%), go by the manufacturer's reputation (42%) and previous experience with a brand (32%).
source: JDPower via Engadget


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Another interest rate hike has flattened consumer mood, with the business community also cautious about what’s to come.
The Westpac and Melbourne Institute monthly consumer sentiment survey has picked up a sharp fall in responses following the Reserve Bank’s decision to lift interest rates by another 25 basis in November.
The index fell by 2.6 per cent to 79.9 index points in November, down from 82 in October.
Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan said the latest cash rate hike to 4.35 per cent renewed pressure on family finances.
“Previous months had been showing some tentative signs that sentiment was starting to lift out of the deep pessimism that has prevailed since the middle of last year,” he said.
“That rally looks to have been cut short before it even really began.”
The fall was driven by a sharp deterioration in consumer expectations linked to family finances over the next year, which dropped 7.3 per cent.
The weekly ANZ and Roy Morgan index also dropped off in the wake of the rate hike, sinking 3.5 index points to 74.3.
Australian businesses also remain pessimistic, with National Australia Bank’s monthly survey recording a three point fall to negative two index points in October.
Conditions for running a business improved one point to 13 index points.
NAB chief economist Alan Oster said the generous gap between conditions and confidence had persisted over the course of a year.
“Businesses clearly remain cautious about the outlook for the economy despite the resilience we are seeing,” Mr Oster said.
Yet forward-looking indicators, such as capacity utilisation and forward orders, both fell over the month.
The monthly survey also picked up a welcome slowdown in price and cost growth.
Mr Oster said inflation was expected to keep moderating but slowly, with resilient domestic demand so far keeping pressure on prices.
Consumer spending has been weakening, however, and the usually busy festive season is expected to be softer.
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer confidence survey found nearly 40 per cent of respondents planned to spend less on gifts than last year.
(Australian Associated Press)


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The future of the economy is a topic that is constantly being discussed and debated.
While it’s impossible to know exactly what the future holds, there are several trends and factors that are likely to shape the economy in the coming years.
Here are a few predictions for the future of the economy:
the future of the economy One
1.Continued growth of the gig economy:
The gig economy, in which workers take on short-term or freelance jobs rather than traditional full-time employment,
is expected to continue growing in the coming years.
This trend is driven by factors like advances in technology, the increasing popularity of remote work, and a desire for more flexible work arrangements.
2.Rise of automation and artificial intelligence:
So Automation and artificial intelligence are likely to play an increasingly important role in the economy in the coming years.
These technologies have the potential to increase efficiency and productivity,
but they also raise concerns about job displacement.
3.Growing importance of the service sector:
Therefore service sector, which includes industries like healthcare, education, and financial services, is expected to continue driving economic growth in the future.
This trend is driven by an aging population and increasing demand for services.
4.Increasing global interconnectedness:
The global economy is expected to become even more interconnected in the coming years,
as advances in transportation and communication make it easier for businesses to operate internationally.
This trend could lead to increased economic growth, but it also raises concerns about trade and political tensions.
5.Volatility and uncertainty:
Despite these trends, it’s important to recognize that the future of the economy is inherently uncertain.
Economic conditions can be influenced by a wide range of factors,
including natural disasters, political instability, and market shifts.
Overall, the future of the economy is likely to be shaped by a combination of technological,
demographic, and political forces.
By staying informed and adaptable,
so businesses and individuals can navigate the changing economic landscape and emerge successful in the years ahead.


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Coronavirus: Small business will be 'engine' to UK economic recovery in 2021
The boss of grassroots campaign Small Business Saturday has urged Britons to support the sector which could be the key to unlocking economic growth for the UK in the long-term.
“We know from the last recession that small businesses were the engine of recovery. They are slower to lay off staff than bigger companies, which means money stays in communities, even if pay has to be cut. They genuinely care about people,” Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business Saturday UK, told Yahoo Finance UK.
“The recovery won’t all happen next year but we can start to see a glimmer of hope in 2021 certainly,” she added.
She said small businesses are fast-moving and can often be more innovative than bigger ones due to their size, which means they can adapt quickly to the changing economic climate.
Ovens explained the many ways in which people can show their support — via online shopping and click and collect services, as well as by leaving a good review, spreading the word on social media and buying vouchers or gift cards that can be redeemed in the future.
“Despite the fact that we can’t all flood to our high streets right now we as a nation must remember the role small businesses play in communities and the economy,” she said.
According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), at the start of 2020 there were 5.94 million small businesses (with 0 to 49 employees) in the UK, employing 13.3 million people, with a turnover of £1.6tn ($2.1tn).
A big shift in consciousness
Research commissioned by American Express and Small Business Saturday UK showed that coronavirus lockdowns boosted the nation’s love for small businesses, with 59% of Brits saying they now support local businesses more than previously.
Ovens told Yahoo Finance UK that “this shows a big shift in people’s consciousness” and they are more aware about where they are spending their money and who they are supporting during these tough times.
Small Business Saturday UK works around the year to help local businesses which includes workshops and mentoring, but they want people to go out of their way on 5 December to shop local.
In September, the organisation chose 100 businesses to highlight in the run up to Small Business Saturday, now in its eighth year.
WATCH: UK retail beats expectations
These include Kitchen Dancing, which runs dance sessions for parties, events and team-building. In lockdown it rolled out a series of daily online dances.
Others include Little Boat Gifts, a gift and bespoke framing shop; coffee roasters Perky Blenders; and Grants' Farm Foods, which produces and sells extra virgin rapeseed oil.
She was keen to point out that there is tons of help available for local businesses, through this initiative which offers support for free, but also many others, and no one should feel they have to suffer alone, especially if they are dealing with mental health concerns.
READ MORE: UK small business recovery continues in September
Ovens also lauded the government for its efforts to support businesses, saying “nobody could have predicted the money pumped into the economy in the forms of local grants, loans and furlough schemes.”
She said these have been a massive safety net for businesses and the UK chancellor Rishi Sunak has been quick to announce new measures every time the situation has changed.
However some small business leaders have hit out against the UK government’s handling of the coronavirus, and the second lockdown.
While some are resigned to the fact that a lockdown is what is needed to get caseloads under control, others feel the handling of the pandemic in general has been shambolic.
WATCH: What is the Job Support Scheme and how has it changed?


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CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Department-store and apparel stocks including Dillard's Inc. and Jones Apparel Group tumbled Monday, as trading in retail stocks quickly deteriorated.
Upward momentum in the S&P Retail Index $RLX ebbed soon after the markets opened, leaving the sector benchmark down nearly 1% at 463.86. That's its lowest point since September.
Shares of Dow Jones Industrial Average component Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT, +0.94%, however, held up 1.6% after the world's largest retailer said it has signed a deal to get into India, the world's second most populous country. Because direct foreign investment in retail is banned in India, Wal-Mart found a joint-venture partner in Bharti Enterprises. See full story.
Trading in department-store stocks will be colored by retailers' release later this week of what are likely to be muted July sales. Shares of Dillard DDS, +1.65% dropped 3.5%, while J.C. Penney JCP, +2.73% sank 1.9% and Macy's Inc. M, +0.26% fell 1.5%.
Also tracking lower were shares of high-end jeweler Tiffany TIF, +0.00%, off 3.2%.
Off the index, apparel retailers followed their department-store counterparts into negative territory.
Ahead of the bell, Jones Apparel said it has gotten a second, higher acquisition proposal as the bidding war between Japanese retailer Fast Retailing and Istithmar, the Dubai-based entity, for Barneys New York took another turn. See full story.


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More than 4,500 Thai businesses went bust in the first five months of 2022, up 17% from last year despite loosening coronavirus restrictions.
But it was not just the pandemic that destroyed businesses in Pattaya, but the ongoing uncontrolled construction that blocks access to shops effectively killed them off one by one.
Jittakorn Wongkettakorn, deputy director-general of the Department of Business Development, said that, from Jan. 1 to May 30, 3.7% fewer businesses than last year opened as well.
In all, there were 33,640 new businesses registered with capital of 259 billion baht and 4,546 businesses that closed down. That leaves 837,840 registered businesses operating in the country.
Construction, real estate, food and entertainment businesses led the list of liquidated ventures who, despite looser restrictions, could no longer survive the pandemic.
While this year has seen fewer businesses launched than in 2021, May saw a 10% uptick with 5,917 new ventures registered, mostly in construction, property and restaurants.


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After coming fourth in smartphone shipments and securing a 7 percent share in the US market in 2014, just five years after establishing a presence in the world's most competitive market in 2010, Chinese equipment and smartphone vendor ZTE Corporation is aiming even higher.
"We are confident to achieve a 10 percent market share in the US in the next three years and become the third-largest smartphone vendor in the market by then," Mao Qian, vice president of ZTE North America, said during Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
Currently, Samsung and Apple compete side by side, seizing roughly half of the US market share, with the third-largest brand, LG, selling around 12 out of every 100 smartphones in the country last year. ZTE is likely to overcome LG if it continues the steady progress it made in 2014, Mao told ZDNet in an interview.
The company announced in late January that smartphone shipments to the US surged by over 50 percent in 2014, outpacing its overall growth of 20 percent globally.
ZTE's share in the US prepaid handset market further strengthened to 20 percent, the second-highest after Samsung. Its post-paid smartphone sales are also seeing more promise, after the brand began opening retail counters in mainstream retailers and supermarkets in the country.
Mao also said that ZTE expects a better outcome in other markets, as the world's largest economy is regarded as a precursor for success elsewhere.
"A smartphone brand needs to succeed in the US first if it wants to become successful worldwide," Mao said, citing the cases of Apple and Samsung.
The Chinese market is huge in terms of sales volume, while the US market, where people spend an average of $350 on a handset, will translate into the highest values in the world, according to Mao.
One challenge that ZTE faces in the US is not the product itself, but rather public awareness to the brand. The company has been struggling to dispel its image as a lower-end handset maker to carriers. Its newly released smartphone models, including the Blade S6 and Star 2, which feature Smart Sense and Smart Voice, respectively, are both top-of-the-line products that feature an advanced technology experience.


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Mondelēz International’s Canada division has announced its strategy to enhance the supply chain, support its employees, and help communities most impacted by the development of COVID-19. This strategy will include a $15 million donation, in cash, to community partners advancing relief efforts around the world.
“As a key part of the Canadian food industry, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep food on shelves for Canadians, and do what’s right for the 2,600 people we employ,” said Martin Parent, President, Mondelēz Canada. “In this time of heightened need, we are working in close collaboration with customers and local communities to ensure that our Ontario-based factories remain operational, our national distribution networks continue to work efficiently, and consumers from coast-to-coast continue to have access to food on shelves.”
In addition to implementing enhanced protocols and protections to provide a safe and sanitarty work environment for all of its employees—which includes entry screening, social distancing, additional sanitation, and shift varying—Mondelēz Canada also announced the following support initiatives for employees across its manufacturing facilities, distribution and logistics operations, and sales functions:
“The health, safety, and wellbeing of our colleagues and communities is our number one priority as we come together to address this unprecedented crisis,” said Parent, noting that Mondelēz will continue to assess further needs and opportunities to support employees as the situation evolves. “I am so proud of the ongoing dedication and commitment of our teams under these trying circumstances and thank everyone for all that they are doing. We are committed to providing our people with the support that they need as they ensure the continuity of the Canadian food supply, and helping those most in need in our local communities.”
Mondelēz Canada is also committing $15 million globally, in financial and in-kind donations, through the Mondelēz International Foundation and global and local brand initiatives. According to a press release, the donation will cover emergency relief and will leverage the company’s existing partnerships with United Way, Food Banks Canada, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.
As more suppliers in our industry step up to do their part in mitigating the challenges we’re facing as COVID-19 continues to develop, Deli Market News will continue to report.


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The mood at the fourth edition of UK fashion sourcing event Meet the Manufacturer was “cautiously optimistic” among manufacturers, brands, buyers and designers, as Brexit boosts interest in made in the UK products.
The two-day event on 25-26 May at The Old Truman Brewery in east London, showcased more than 150 British fashion, textiles and homeware brands.
Make It British founder Kate Hills said overall demand for UK-made products had noticeably soared, and she reported representation from “every” high street retailer, as well as museums and galleries, at the show.
“It is great to see everyone, from designers to buyers and manufacturers, having conversations on how they can collaborate.”
Those on the exhibition floor praised a surge in interest in manufacturing in the UK in the aftermath of the European Union referendum last June.
However, several exhibitors said this display of interest had not necessarily translated into high-volume sales, as buyer activity was curtailed by the ongoing uncertainty caused by Brexit and the fall in the value of sterling.
Rob Huson, joint managing director at premium outerwear company London Tradition, said: “There has been a lot of interest in UK products but, when discussion turns to prices, it becomes a different story. Retailers are looking more towards offshoring to save on costs and therefore compromise on products made in England. This has been very noticeable for autumn 17.”
This year’s show was expanded with a hall dedicated to brands, and attracted greater interest from start-ups and younger businesses.
Bhavik Master, director at knitwear company Jack Masters, said there was a “good variety” of buyers and brand owners in attendance: “There has been increasing interest in products that have been made in England, and a lot of focus on yarns in particular. There are a lot of young brands coming in that are looking to buy into the UK look.”
See original article on Drapers website.


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We’ve all been there.
You have your Android phone with a fingerprint scanner, but you just can’t seem to get the app to unlock it.
Maybe you’ve been trying for hours, only to be greeted by a message saying “No phone number was found”.
Or maybe the app doesn’t recognise your phone.
Or you can’t get the phone to unlock, because the fingerprint scanner is too small for your phone to fit in.
Or maybe your phone is just too expensive.
It’s probably all of the above.
And if that sounds like a lot, consider that it’s probably not a lot.
A new technology called “smart phone extractives” has the potential to transform the lives of millions of people by allowing them to buy phones they can’t otherwise afford, or get them repaired or upgraded.
These phone extracts are often cheaper than traditional phone-retailing companies.
The tech is still in its infancy, but the idea is to make it so that people who want to get their phone replaced can pay the extra cost, rather than having to pay the cost of having their phone removed.
A number of companies have been trying to get around the “cost of repair” problem by offering “smart” phone extractivists for a few years now, but it’s still not quite there.
This week, the US Federal Trade Commission launched a consumer complaint about the company that runs the business, Technocom, which makes extractors and other similar devices.
“This is a potentially very dangerous product and it is not a safe product,” the FTC said in a statement.
It called the extractor “an expensive piece of equipment” and “a significant risk to consumers”.
“We do not condone any form of unauthorized use of the product,” it added.
The FTC complaint, which was lodged on Tuesday, accuses Technocom of running a business that’s “likely to cause consumer harm” and failing to comply with laws protecting consumers.
In addition to the FTC, a number of consumer groups, including Consumer Reports and Consumerist, are also complaining about the extractors.
“In my opinion, these devices are incredibly dangerous,” Consumer Reports Consumer Services director Peter Chilcott told the New York Times.
“The extraction is a very simple tool that is very easy to use.
If you use a cheap or under-powered tool, it’s going to break, and it’s not really designed for the kind of strength that the iPhone needs.”
Technocom’s claims of safety are based on a number or other claims about the ease of use.
Technocom claims that the extraction tool works with a standard iPhone, iPad, and Android smartphone with a 3.5mm jack.
But this is not true, Consumer Reports found.
The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus use a USB Type-C port that has an output impedance of less than 20ohm.
According to Consumer Reports, this can result in a USB-C device having a short circuit if the input impedance of the USB port is too low.
Consumer Reports said that the devices it tested could only extract data from data transfer rates of up to 4G, and not from data rates up to 10G.
Consumerist said that a “standard” USB-c port would “only” work with a device with an input impedance that’s between 6.5ohm and 7ohm.
Technocoms claims that its products can “extract data at speeds up to up to 8Gbps, with up to 5Gbps of data transfer” on the iPhone 6, 6S, 6, 7, and 8.
The Extractor 2.0 also works with any iPhone, Android, and iPad device, with the only difference being that the extract is made with an iPhone 5 or iPhone 6.
But while it may seem simple, this is a fairly complex device.
To put it simply, the Extractor is not really a phone-removal tool.
In fact, it is an incredibly powerful tool.
“If you are going to get your phone replaced, you probably shouldn’t be buying a phone that has a removable battery,” said Consumer Reports’ Chilcot.
And, while you can buy a “safer” phone from a number like Amazon or Best Buy, it may not have a removable-battery battery option.
So the question becomes: how much is a “smartphone extractivist” worth?
“You can’t buy a phone and get it repaired or upgrade, unless you have a really good reason to,” Chilcynsaid.
The most common way to get a phone replaced is to have it replaced at a service station.
“That’s really easy, and I think it’s safe to do,” Chillcot said.
But you may be tempted to do it yourself, using a service that does the job for you.
There are also many “smart-phone extractors” out there


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Sustainability Champion Sea Clean Launches First Waterless Cleaning Products to UK Marine Market
Pioneering new eco-friendly company Sea Clean UK is announcing the launch of an innovative range of boat cleaning products which achieve a high-quality finish without the need for water, simplifying watercraft maintenance while also supporting global efforts to reduce water and plastic pollution.
Fischer Panda UK return to the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show to Showcase Eco-Friendly Power Solution Alternatives
Highlighting its range of eco-friendly power solutions and products from leading brands, Fischer Panda UK will be returning to the South Coast and Green Tech Boat Show at Ocean Village Marina in Southampton to showcase their integrated marine systems, with the new addition of Clayton Power’s innovative LPS II portable power solution.
Peters & May Sponsors First Female to Set New Solo Transatlantic Sailing Record
Peters & May proudly announces its sponsorship of Aina Bauza, the 29-year-old Mallorcan sailor who has made history by setting the new transatlantic sailing world record as the first woman to navigate solo aboard her 6.5-meter monohull.
KARPAZ GATE MARINA ANNOUNCES 2024 BERTHING PACKAGES AND RATES
Ahead of the season, Karpaz Gate Marina is delighted to announce there will be no price increases in rates for boat owners at its full marina resort facilities in 2024. Berth holders and visitors can also benefit from a range of competitive packages at the marina’s full Technical Centre based at the marina.
Navigando verso il Futuro: Carlo Galli Tognota assume il Ruolo di CEO in Smartgyro
Dopo un periodo di forte crescita ed espansione, Smartgyro annuncia la nomina di Carlo Galli Tognota come nuovo Amministratore Delegato. Con oltre vent'anni di esperienza nell'industria nautica, Carlo porta con sé una prospettiva fresca e un solido background tecnico, pronti a guidare le future iniziative dell'azienda.
Carlo Galli Tognota Announced as Smartgyro’s CEO to Lead the Next Phase of Growth
Following a period of ongoing growth and expansion, Smartgyro proudly announces the appointment of Carlo Galli Tognota as its new Chief Executive Officer. With an impressive 20-year career in the marine industry, Carlo Galli Tognota brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success, along with a fresh perspective to guide the company's future endeavors.
VETUS benoemt Kevin Theuns tot Manager Sales voor Nederland en België
VETUS, de toonaangevende specialist in het ontwikkelen van complete bootsystemen, kondigt aan dat Kevin Theuns per 1 april 2024 wordt benoemd tot Manager Sales voor Nederland en België.
VETUS Appoints Kevin Theuns as Manager Sales for Netherlands and Belgium
VETUS, the leading developer of complete boats systems, has announced the appointment of Kevin Theuns as the Manager Sales for the Netherlands and Belgium, effective 1st April 2024.
Karpaz Gate Marina Recognised as Marina of the Year – Cyprus in the LUXlife Travel and Tourism Awards 2024
Karpaz Gate Marina, the leading marina destination in North Cyprus, proudly announces its growing portfolio of international accolades as the recipient of the prestigious Marina of the Year – Cyprus award in the 2024 LUXlife Travel and Tourism Awards.
Major Announcement from the Superyacht Technology Show in Barcelona
Following the immense success of this year’s show in Barcelona, Superyacht Technology Network (SYT Network) has announced a major expansion of its Superyacht Technology Show for 2025 with the inclusion of a Hybrid Electric Zone.
Unparalleled Business Done at Oi24
The world’s largest gathering of ocean technology engineers, scientists and professionals came together for a productive and positive Oceanology International 2024 (Oi24) exhibition and conference at London’s ExCeL last week.
Greensea IQ and Ocean Power Technologies Extend Strategic Partnership to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness Solution
Greensea IQ, a leading provider of marine robotics software and maritime solutions, is proud to strengthen its partnership with Ocean Power Technologies (OPT), a pioneer in renewable ocean energy solutions following its latest contract extension.
VETUS Responds to Customer Concerns Amidst Ongoing Economic Uncertainty
In the face of a shifting economic landscape, characterised by soaring retail prices and mounting cost-of-living concerns for consumers, VETUS has proactively addressed these issues by reducing prices on many of its products and gone even further by committing to maintain prices until January 2025.
Oi24 Continues with “Real Conversations and High-Quality Visitors”
The spotlight was on cutting-edge technology, significant company announcements and exciting new launches on the second day of Oi24, as visitors continued to pack the aisles at ExCeL London today.
Greensea IQ Strengthens its Global Presence Signing Major Contract with BUVI Scandinavia at Oceanology International
In a strategic move to strengthen its global market presence, Greensea IQ, a leading provider of marine robotics software and integrated solutions, proudly announces the signing of BUVI Scandinavia (BUVI) to join its international sales team.
Visitors Hail Oi24 as "Unparalleled" on Busy Opening Day
A sea of innovation filled the exhibition floor and dockside at ExCeL London today as the global marine science and ocean technology community united for an inspirational opening day of Oceanology International 2024 (Oi24).
Fischer Panda UK Announces New Portable Power Solutions to the Commercial Vehicle Market
Leading provider of high-quality vehicle power solutions, Fischer Panda UK, is delighted to have teamed up with Clayton Power to offer a range of innovative on-the-go power solutions for the first time at this year’s show.
Reminder: Sign up today for 'Meet the Media' sessions at Oceanology International 2024
Sign up for Meet the Media
Peters & May Strengthens Commercial Department with Internal Hire
Peters & May, a renowned leader in global marine transport and logistics, announces a strengthening to its Commercial Department with the internal hire of Kyle Morant to the role of Global Ship Brokering Manager & Commercial Sales. This strategic move comes as a response to the department’s remarkable growth, year on year, since 2016.
New Product Launches and Technology Announcements set to Make Waves at Oi24
From next-generation autonomous vehicles and underwater drones to cutting-edge sensors, the future will be in action for visitors and attendees at Oceanology International 2024 (Oi24) in London next week from 12th to 14th March.


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Oppo F3 Plus with 6GB RAM, which is a new version of the phone has been launched exclusively on Flipkart. Oppo has priced the new 6GB RAM variant at Rs 22,990. Oppo F3 Plus was originally launched in March this year and comes with a dual-front camera. Oppo F3 Plus has a 16MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture along with an 8MP camera on the front.
Flipkart customers can get additional offers on the Oppo F3 Plus, including exchange discount of Rs 3,000. The phone also comes with a free three month subscription to Hotstar Premium. Customers with HDFC Bank Credit or Debit cards will also get 5 per cent instant cashback if they purchase the Oppo F3 Plus on Flipkart.
Specifications of the Oppo F3 Plus are the same as the original smartphone. Oppo F3 Plus has a 6-inch full-HD display (1080 x 1920 pixels resolution) with 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass on top. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 653 SoC and has 64GB internal storage expandable to 256GB via microSD card.
The rear camera on Oppo F3 Plus is 16MP with f/1.7 aperture. The F3 Plus features a 4,000mAh battery on board and runs Oppo’s ColorOS v3.0 UI based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Oppo F3 Plus was originally launched in a gold colour variant, and the company has also introduced a black colour option for this smartphone.
“OPPO has always been focused on meeting the demands of its consumers and the 6GB variant of F3 Plus is another effort in that direction. To ensure that we reach out to each and every consumer in India, especially the youth, we are launching this version exclusively and in collaboration with Flipkart,” said Will Yang, Brand Director, OPPO India in a press statement.


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Peak parcel volumes at Royal Mail Group were up 4% year-on-year, with the post and parcel giant handling 120 million in December alone. Despite a 3% increase in parcel volumes, parcel revenue remained flat in […]
Yodel has unveiled plans to open 13 additional sites in the run-up to Christmas as part of its winter delivery plans.
FedEx Express is now offering customers sending parcels to and from the UK access to its Priority Alert service. Priority Alert and Priority Alert Plus were launched in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) […]
Hermes has won a three-year contract with mail order clothing retailer Chums to handle over 250,000 home deliveries a year.


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June 25, 2014
As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to grow, illegally sold products promising to prevent, treat, and even cure diabetes are flooding the marketplace.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to use such products. They may contain harmful ingredients or may be otherwise unsafe, or may improperly be marketed as over-the-counter (OTC) products when they should be marketed as prescription products. They carry an additional risk if they cause consumers to delay or discontinue effective treatments for diabetes. Without proper disease management, people with diabetes are at a greater risk for developing serious health complications.
“People with chronic or incurable diseases may feel desperate and become easy prey. Bogus products for diabetes are particularly troubling because there are effective options available to help manage this serious disease rather than exposing patients to unproven and risky products,” said Gary Coody, R.Ph., national health fraud coordinator for FDA. “Failure to follow well-established treatment plans can lead to, among other things, amputations, kidney disease, blindness and death.”
Recently, FDA launched an initiative to counter these illegally sold products aimed at consumers who have diabetes. In addition to evaluating numerous consumer complaints, FDA surveyed the marketplace for illegally sold products promising to treat diabetes and its complications.
In July 2013, FDA issued letters warning 15 companies about selling products for diabetes in violation of federal law. These products are sold as dietary supplements; alternative medicines, such as ayurvedics; prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, including homeopathic products: Examples of claims observed on these illegally marketed products include:
- “Lower your blood sugar naturally.”
- “Lowers A1C levels significantly.”
- “You’ll lower your chances of having eye disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and heart disease!”
- “It can replace medicine in the treatment of diabetes.”
- “For Relief of Diabetic Foot Pain.”
Some of the companies also promote unapproved products for other serious diseases, including cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, and macular degeneration.
FDA tested products marketed as “all natural” treatments for diabetes and discovered some of them contained one or more active ingredients found in prescription drugs to treat type 2 diabetes.
Undeclared ingredients can cause serious harm. If consumers and their health care professionals are unaware of the actual ingredients in the products they are taking, these products may interact in dangerous ways with other medications. One possible complication: Patients may end up taking a larger combined dose of the diabetic drugs than they intended, and that may cause a significant unsafe drop in blood sugar levels, a condition known as hypoglycemia.
FDA also looked at sales of prescription drugs from fraudulent online pharmacies. Signs that indicate an online pharmacy is legitimate include: requiring that patients have a valid prescription; providing a physical address in the U.S.; being licensed by a state pharmacy board; and having a state-licensed pharmacist to answer questions. Some fraudulent online pharmacies illegally sell drugs that are not approved in the United States, or sell prescription drug products without meeting necessary requirements.
One website that is subject to a warning letter shipped a prescription diabetes drug without requiring a prescription, and even included an unsolicited free sample of a prescription drug for erectile dysfunction. Moreover, the prescription diabetes drug was dispensed without the medication guide and other precautions required by FDA to ensure the drug is used safely and appropriately.
Although some of these websites may offer for sale what appear to be FDA-approved prescription drugs, FDA cannot confirm that the manufacture or the handling of these drugs follows U.S. regulations or that the drugs are safe and effective for their intended uses. Also, there is a risk the drugs may be counterfeit, contaminated, expired or otherwise unsafe.
June 15, 2014
One of the greatest benefits of losing weight is gaining a higher level of energy. When you lose weight, the body does not have to work as hard to maintain basic functions, freeing up that energy for other activities. There are a few factors to consider when losing weight to gain energy.
The metabolic rate governs the speed at which the body breaks down food, absorbs nutrients and eliminates waste. This plays a key role in weight loss and has a lot to do with daily natural energy levels. In order to keep a healthy metabolic rate, the digestive system, the nervous system and the circulatory system must be healthy and strong.
June 4, 2014
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing two rules that represent a fundamental shift in its oversight of imported foods. The shift is designed to help prevent safety problems before those foods arrive in the United States, rather than having to rely primarily on inspections at U.S. ports of entry.
The proposed Foreign Supplier Verification and Accredited Third Party Certification rules are the next major steps in implementing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act signed by President Obama in 2011. The law calls for science-based changes to the food safety system to prevent foodborne illnesses.
The new rules would make importers more accountable for food safety, and would establish standards for third-party audits of foreign food producers. These proposals would strengthen FDA’s ability to monitor those facilities and respond if there are unsafe practices. A lot of the food we eat is imported—15 percent of the U.S. food supply, including nearly 50 percent of fresh fruit and 20 percent of fresh vegetables.
“We must work toward global solutions to food safety so that whether you serve your family food grown locally or imported you can be confident that it is safe,” says FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.
The new rules would complement two others proposed in January 2013. The proposed Preventive Controls for Human Food rule would set safety requirements for facilities that process, package or store food for people. And the proposed Produce Safety rule would establish science-based standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce on farms.


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In a digital world that’s constantly evolving, few things are permanent — so when players demonstrate long-term commitment to their products, advertisers sit up and take notice.
Such was the case at the 2023 Ad Age Small Agency Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where attendees had the opportunity to hear Taboola and Yahoo discuss their unique 30-year strategic partnership in which Taboola will be the exclusive native advertising partner for all of Yahoo’s digital properties. James Arthur, VP of Global Strategic Accounts at Taboola, and Alia Lamborghini, Senior VP and Head of US Sales and Strategy at Yahoo, spoke with Ad Age Studio 30 editor John Dioso about how the partnership opens new opportunities for small agencies, and the critical role it will play in the constantly evolving digital media space.
At the 2023 Ad Age Small Agency Conference, John Dioso, Editor of Ad Age Studio 30 speaks with Alia Lamborghini, Senior VP and Head of US Sales and Strategy at Yahoo and James Arthur, VP of Global Strategic Accounts at Taboola for the “How the Yahoo and Taboola partnership opens up new opportunities for small agencies” fireside chat
More trusted access, more valuable ads
As we move into a cookieless world, where contextual content will have more value than ever, this critical partnership will provide advertisers with much greater access to native advertising on a global scale. It also shows both Taboola and Yahoo’s dedication to delivering a massive combined native advertising offering.
“I think (it) suggests a lot of trust on both sides and a lot of intention to continue to work together for a long, long time into the future and provide that for advertisers,” Lamborghini said. “It brings together two real native powerhouses in terms of reach from both sides and opportunity for any performance advertiser, and branding advertiser for that matter, to get access to this inventory.”
Taboola has always endeavored to be more than just a monetization partner, Arthur explained. As a result, their offerings, automation, and technology empower newsrooms to curate content for homepages — not just those belonging to properties like Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports, but also Disney, NBCUniversal, The Weather Channel, and others. “The exciting thing about that is we end up having exclusive long-term relationships,” he added. Fixed placements on the page are hard-coded, and the only access is through Taboola.
“You’ve got native built into trusted publisher experiences, and it creates a great, efficient ecosystem for agencies to access users across the open web.” – Taboola’s James Arthur on the value of the Taboola-Yahoo partnership
A “one-stop shop” for reaching consumers with contextual content
In the era of walled gardens, many small agencies focus their attention on search and social sites. As Arthur noted, though, about 25% of user time on the web is actually spent outside of walled gardens. The challenge? That time is fragmented, spread out across thousands of publishers and countless ad tech players.
This leads to a similarly fragmented perspective on contextual advertising. But thanks to its partnership with Yahoo and other premium publishers, Taboola has become a “one-stop shop for access to basically all of the open web from a native perspective.”
Why is that important to agencies and advertisers? Native content resonates with users. “You’ve got native built into trusted publisher experiences, and it creates a great, efficient ecosystem for agencies to access users across the open web,” Arthur said.
Yahoo thinks of itself as a “community garden,” Lamborghini said, since it can track people within the confines of appropriate tracking mechanisms while also working with Taboola to provide access. In the future, she notes, 25% of impressions will be addressable, which means, “There needs to be a massive contextual play in order to be able to continue to target the way that we’ve all grown up targeting.”
“I think (it) suggests a lot of trust on both sides and a lot of intention to continue to work together for a long, long time into the future and provide that for advertisers.” Yahoo’s Alia Lamborghini (pictured above, center) on Taboola and Yahoo’s strategic partnership
Maintaining control in an evolving ecosystem
While, as Lamborghini pointed out, we’re currently in an “existential crisis moment in digital advertising,” digital media has long been in a state of flux. Privacy, identity, and use cases for AI are all huge challenges, but the industry now has access to “amazing data and insights” into the content people are consuming on the open web.
“I think our focus is on what we can control, where we have assets, where we bring value in the overall ecosystem,” Lamborghini said.
The enterprise integration of Yahoo properties into the Taboola network is a significant task, but it’s already underway, with testing occurring in international markets and a phased roll-out beginning in the US this fall.
Interested in learning more about Taboola’s partnership with Yahoo and how it stands to benefit your advertising clients? Contact us today.


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- This event has passed.
The Economist’s Finance Disrupted 2017
September 28, 2017
For the past few years, finance has been shaken by technological innovation like never before. After an initial phase in which everything seemed possible as an army of start-ups set out to sweep away the incumbents, this disruption is entering a crucial period of maturing, a coming of age. It is starting to become clear which new entrants will make it, and which won’t.
Collaborations and mergers to accelerate the adoption of new technology have become commonplace. Established and new financial firms alike, as well as established non-financial firms that now see an opportunity in finance, are starting to come to terms with an industry that is being changed from top to bottom by technology. Existing sources of revenue and profit can no longer be taken for granted. The key challenge in this coming of age phase, and the focus of this year’s Finance Disrupted conference, will be finding the new business models that will deliver future financial success.
Hyperledger member and Managing Director/Chief Technology Architect at DTCC, Rob Palatnik will be speaking at the event.


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NTPC signs agreements with seven vehicle aggregators for development and utilisation of public charging infrastructure , even as OLA plans to showcase concept electric vehicles.
NTPC has signed MoUs with seven car aggregators namely, Ola, Lithium, Shuttl, Bikxie, Bounce, Electrie and Zoom Car for development and utilization of public EV charging infrastructure.
NTPC wants the collaboration with these 7 due to their presence in the entire spectrum of e-mobility, and this will help developing the charging infrastructure for various car segments as well as ensure effective use of public infrastructure when the installations are complete.
NTPC plans to provide charging solutions for the entire range of electric vehicles, starting for electric buses and to electric 2&3 wheelers, which will promote the creation of e-mobility ecosystem in India. These MoUs provides a win-win situation to the state run Power Giant NTPC as well as the vehicles plying on the Indian roads.
Last month NTPC floated a tender for battery charging and swapping stations in Faridabad and in another move to go green, plans to start co-firing all its coal-based thermal power stations with Biomass, in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut pollution.
On the EV front it has already installed charging stations at its regional offices, spread all across the country and now is working in tandem with IOCL, HPCL and DMRC to develop a public charging infrastructure. The move is to address the biggest fear –range anxiety for new consumers and prosumers, driving or planning to buy these electric vehicles.
meanwhile, one of the vehicle aggregators, Ola has announced that it wants to go beyond its cab business. It plans to showcase its concept electric vehicles, including an electric three-wheeler and perhaps four-wheel drives. Media sources say that the company is in talks various vendors to supply components and most importantly Lithium Ion Batteries which constitute 50% of a vehicle cost. Ola wants to manufacture a commercial model on its own or maintain complete control over the manufacturing process of the vehicle. If successful it will come in direct competition of Bajaj Auto which has been in Indian market for many decades and is also working on models for electric rickshaws.
Ola can take anywhere from 36 to 60 months to fully commercialize its concept electric vehicles. As the competition grows, the product will have to wait at least 5 years before it can match to international rivals like Hyundai, Nissan and Suzuki, who are also launching their EVs for the Indian market.


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West Basin Water Lab is a collection of free online classes and family-friendly resources available to the community. Additionally, eligible participants from the West Basin service area will have the option to receive a West Basin Cares package that includes face masks, hand sanitizer, and other items that promote healthy communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Webinar Opportunity #2: Recycled Water Facility Virtual Tour - Take a Peek Behind the Curtains of a World-Class Recycled Water Production Facility.
- Occurs Saturday, February 6th, 2021 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
- El Segundo gets Southern California’s first Topgolf in 2022
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- Best South Bay comfort food: Sisters Barn in Redondo Beach
- Man shot, killed in Redondo Beach hotel
- Fate of proposed Sepulveda Boulevard hotel goes before Manhattan Beach City Council
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- LETTERS: COVID control, Lane elimination in Hermosa and Redondo elections: Week of January 21
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By Joshua Burd
A new Mavis Discount Tires location has opened its doors in Howell, following a 6,000-square-foot lease arranged by The Goldstein Group.
The retail brokerage firm on Monday announced the debut of the new store at 4651 Route 9. The location for the independent, multi-brand tire dealer and maintenance provider is converted former car wash, which will benefit from the area’s dense population and proximity to major retailers.
The Goldstein Group Executive Vice President Mark Handwerker represented the owner, DeVimy Equities, while Barry Milberg of Treeline Real Estate represented Mavis Tire.


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China-Russia communique calls for cooperation on OS to break US monopoly
China and Russia said that they will continue in-depth cooperation on digital operating systems, including Russia’s Aurora and Huawei’s HarmonyOS and openEuler, charting a course to break the US monopoly in the sector as the global urgency of developing homegrown technology rises. The two also vowed to promote exchanges between companies from the two countries.
The initiative was released in a Joint Communique and cooperation documents that China and Russia jointly announced on Wednesday, after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held the 26th regular meeting between the Chinese and Russian heads of government with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin via video conference on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Li noted that China and Russia, both major economies and emerging markets, share a strategic consensus on upholding multilateralism and safeguarding the international system with the UN at its core, and the international order based on international law.
According to the communique, apart from the operating systems, the two called for bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas such as telecommunications, network security, energy, agriculture and technology, to ramp up partnership between the two countries.
Industry analysts said seeking broad consumer use of Huawei‘s operating system indicated Chinese central government’s determination to promote the OS as a national industrial priority. Meanwhile, the strength of the two countries, namely their big markets, combined with Russia’s world-renowned mathematics strength and China’s software ability, will hopefully speed up the process of breaking new ground in the sector.
Huawei’s HarmonyOS is used in many smart devices, Internet of Things terminals and industrial terminals, while openEuler will be used in servers, edge computing and cloud infrastructure.
Aurora, a mobile OS developed by Russia, is based on the open source Sailfish OS, and has been used by the country as the recommended OS for the government and state-backed companies due to its privacy and security features.
The latest initiative also comes as the Chinese and Russian science and technology sectors are facing a US crackdown, with barriers developing in many areas such as terminal OS and IT infrastructure OS.
HarmonyOS and openEuler have significant advantages that can support the development of the digital economies of China and Russia, Huang Haifeng, a veteran industry analyst, told the Global Times on Wednesday, indicating a great cooperation potential.
Applications of the HarmonyOS in Russia might start in some marginal areas such as home appliances, Huang said, noting that it might be difficult to use the OS on mobile phones in Russia, as mainstream smartphone brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi and Apple are dominated by neither iOS nor Android.
Mutual support between China and Russia in the sector may start from ecosystem construction, but whether there will be more in-depth development depends on future trends, Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Beijing-based Information Consumption Alliance, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Huawei did not reply to an interview request from the Global Times asking about details of China-Russia cooperation in the area. But media reports showed that bilateral cooperation might have started years ago.
According to a report by Forbes in 2019, China was testing devices with “Aurora pre-installed,” and Aurora was to be installed on “various” Huawei devices “instead of Google’s Android system.”
“Other than China and Russia, it’s possible that more countries and regions may join forces in developing their own operating systems, as they’re afraid of being suddenly sanctioned by the reckless US government,” Xiang said.
Source: Global Times


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What you need to know
The American Institute in Taiwan penned a strongly worded letter opposing government plans to institute new rules which would affect Uber services in Taiwan.
The controversial “Uber Clause” has not only sparked multiple driver protests, including a rally outside the Presidential Palace on Sunday, but has also attracted heavy criticism from the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT), the country’s de facto United States representative office.
Calling for stricter regulations on the operations of ride-hailing companies in Taiwan, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) had proposed a draft amendment to Article 103-1 of the Automobile Transportation Management Regulations in February 2019.
The potential amendment requires Uber to charge its customers for a minimum of a one-hour rental regardless of distance. For every completed trip, the driver would have to return his or her vehicle to the rental shop before taking the next customer. Uber Taiwan says these measures would significantly increase fares and wait times, as well as air pollutant emissions.
In response to the “Uber Clause,” the AIT submitted a letter of comments warning against the proposed regulations that would make Taiwan “an unfriendly environment for innovators and a risky place for foreign companies to invest.”
In the letter, the AIT referred to a U.S. ride-sharing company offering app-based transportation service at “a significant scale in Taiwan” but declined to mention Uber, the lone company fitting that description, by name. After Uber’s brief exit in 2017, the company has continued to invest in Taiwan based on the belief that it had fully complied with government regulations. The MOTC’s draft amendments will, however, jeopardize such investments and consumer benefits, the AIT wrote.
“By turning away innovative services to protect existing industries, Taiwan risks missing out on the economic growth and consumer benefits that come from digital innovation,” the AIT stated in its letter.
In response to the letter, Kolas Yotaka, the Executive Yuan’s spokeswoman, thanked the AIT for submitting its comments in adherence to the legislative process.
Friday, April 26 marked the last day of the 60-day consultation period for the amendments on Article 103-1. Amid the controversy, the MOTC reiterated that the regulations would still need to go through at least two months of legal procedures before enactment.
The upcoming legal readings will be critical as to whether Uber can still operate legally and profitably within Taiwan. Emilie Potvin, Uber’s head of public policy for North Asia, is now in Taipei attempting to negotiate with Taiwan authorities.
“We have been disappointed with the consultation process, which has excluded key stakeholders including drivers, rental car companies, customers, and even Uber,” Potvin told The News Lens. “We call on the government to invite all parties to participate in open and constructive dialogue so we can find a solution that’s good for everyone.”
Although Uber has operated in regulatory compliance since 2017, the MOTC recently found the service to be illegal as Uber operates like a taxi company.
During a media meeting on Tuesday, Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), the MOTC minister, had urged Uber to register as a taxi service company and establish its own fleet to maintain legal compliance under the multipurpose taxi program. Uber’s existing 10,000 drivers can also transition into being regular taxi drivers, Lin suggested.
In a media statement, Uber Taiwan responded that the MOTC has yet to provide clear guidance on how the existing Uber drivers and the rental car companies could make the expected transition.
“Under the current multi-purpose taxi regulations, they do not allow for dynamic and upfront pricing, or a flexible working model… Uber is a technology company, we do not operate anywhere in the world as a taxi company or a dispatcher,” Uber stated.
Taiwan is not the only battleground for Uber as the ride-sharing company regularly faces scandals and controversies around the world. However, Uber never failed to make a profit even if it had to exit a market. The tech giant’s recent IPO filing revealed a total of US$12.5 billion in assets in China, Russia, and Southeast Asia, where the company had “failed” to sustain its operations.
For Taiwan’s conflict with Uber, the underlying concern is the country’s lack of urgency for technological innovation. Several international tech companies have exited Taiwan because of their frustration with what they perceived as inflexible regulations and a conservative business environment.
PayPal, for example, withdrew from Taiwan in 2017 due to what it saw as cumbersome regulations. Most of the legislators had no experience with any form of online payment platform, and they might be the same authorities making regulatory decisions today.
William Foreman, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, told The News Lens: “It’s important for Taiwan to attract foreign investment and strengthen its regulatory transparency.”
How Taiwan resolves the current regulatory conflict with Uber will certainly have future implications on the country’s general attitude towards attracting foreign investors and talents.
Editor: Nick Aspinwall@TheNewsLens
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Tesla recently posted a Facebook photo of Model S under a 💯 emoji, prompting speculation that the company is preparing to release the car with its most powerful battery option yet: 100 kWh.
Tech Insider reached out to a Tesla spokesperson asking if the Facebook post is teasing that a 100 kWh battery is on the way.
"Nope. Just the emoji that means 100%," the spokesperson replied. When asked if that meant there is no 100 kWh battery on the way, the same spokesperson said, "We are not announcing a new battery and we don't comment on rumor or speculation."
The Tesla spokesperson has since emailed back the following statement: "Regarding the 100kWh battery question: We have no announcement, nor do we comment on rumor and speculation."
It's a fairly subtle change, but one worth noting. Instead of stating that Tesla is "not announcing a new battery," the spokesperson said "we have no announcement." That leaves room for Tesla to announce a 100 kWh battery option down the road. The former statement closed the door on any kind of announcement, the latter shows there's no announcement at this time.
So what could that Facebook post mean? The spokesperson also said: "Remember, Model S is also 💯 electric, scored 💯 from Consumer Reports and so on."
Rumors about a more powerful battery option started circulating when a hacker found a mention of a P100D in the software that runs the cars in March. Currently the most powerful Tesla Model S on the market is the P90D — named for its 90 kWh battery that provides a 253-mile range. A 100 kWh battery would be able to extend the range a lot.
The prevailing thought has been if the P90D is named for its 90 kWh battery, then it's reasonable to assume a P100D would mean a 100 kWh battery is in the works.
It looks like we shouldn't expect an announcement anytime soon, but the door isn't closed on a more powerful Model S.


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Posted Fri Dec 15, 2017 at 09:45 PM PST by Steven Cohen
We've compiled the latest gear news, including the release of new Optoma projectors, Sling TV support for Samsung TVs, and more.
From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed.
For this edition, we're covering Optoma's latest projectors, the expansion of Sling TV to Samsung displays, new markets with YouTube TV support, and the addition of new features for Hulu's Live TV service on the web.
So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news:
Optoma has announced its latest lineup of high brightness projectors designed for classrooms, corporate boardrooms, and multipurpose offices. The collection includes the WU465, EH465, EH460ST, W460, and X460.
"When designing projectors for classrooms and corporate installations, we wanted to offer a number of high-brightness, PC-free options that deliver incredibly sharp images and allow for seamless, wireless media sharing and viewing," said Brian Soto, head of product management, Optoma Technology. "Our channel partners and end users have asked for high performance projectors that deliver big on brightness and meet all of their presentation needs, and this line does just that and more."
The Optoma WU465 (ESP $1,299) and Optoma EH465 (ESP ($1,199) offer super bright WUXGA and 1080p HD projection with 4,800 lumens of brightness. In addition, both models feature a 20,000:1 contrast ratio and a 1.5x zoom. Meanwhile, the Optoma EH460ST (ESP $1,099) features 1080p HD projection with high brightness and a short throw ratio. The device offers a 20,000:1 contrast ratio and 4,200 lumens with support for projecting a 152-inch image from only 5.5-feet away. Finally, the Optoma W460 (ESP $849) and Optoma X460 (ESP $799) offer WXGA and XGA resolution respectively with a 20,000:1 contrast ratio and 1.2x zoom. The W460 features 4,600 lumens of brightness while the X460 features 4,500 lumens.
In addition, all of the projectors offer 2xHDMI (with MHL), VGA-in/out, Audio-in/out, RJ-45, USB reader, RS-232C, and a 10-watt speaker. Likewise, the units feature USB display screen mirroring and wireless screen mirroring capabilities for Android, iOS, PC, Mac OS X and Windows devices.
Samsung has announced the addition of the Sling TV app to its 2017 smart TV lineup. The app previously launched on 2016 Samsung smart TVs a few weeks ago.
To access Sling TV, owners of Samsung 2017 or 2016 smart TVs simply need to find the Sling TV app in the Samsung Smart Hub. Sling TV offers a variety of live streaming and on-demand programming packages. The base Sling TV Orange plan currently costs $20 per month and features more than 30 channels, including Disney/ESPN stations. Meanwhile, the base Sling TV Blue plan costs $25 per month and features more than 40 channels, including FOX and NBC stations. Finally, customers can also opt to combine both plans for $40 per month.
In addition, new subscribers can receive a 7-day free trial.
Source: Sling TV
Google has announced expanded availability for its YouTube TV live streaming service. As part of the expansion, the platform is now available in 34 new metro areas for a total of 83 locations. Click here for a full list of supported cities.
YouTube TV costs $35 per month and offers access to more than 40 live streaming networks, regional sports channels, and cable stations, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, ESPN, Fox News, MSNBC, USA, Syfy, FX, Disney Channel, Sprout, E!, Bravo, and more. Likewise, the platform also includes an unlimited Cloud DVR feature, allowing users to record as many shows as they want at the same time with no storage limitations. Each recording will be available across supported playback devices and will be stored for nine months. In addition, the internet TV service provides access to YouTube Red original series and movies as well, along with the option to add Showtime or Fox Soccer Plus to the channel lineup for an extra fee.
The service is currently available through Android and iOS mobile devices, computers, Google Chromecast, Chromecast built-in TVs, the NVIDIA SHIELD, Sony smart TVs, Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X consoles, smart TV models from LG and Samsung. Likewise, support for more smart devices and the Apple TV is coming soon.
Hulu has announced the addition of several new features for its live TV streaming service on the web. The new features include My Stuff, picture-in-picture, and a more extensive Search option.
The My Stuff section allows users to add shows and movies that they want to keep track of. Meanwhile, the picture-in-picture mode lets customers continue watching content while they browse the rest of the UI. Users just need to click the "minimize" button which will enable multitasking with a small video player window that can be moved anywhere on the screen. Finally, the improved search now offers results for episodes and sporting events. Likewise, the search will also now populate results based on movie descriptions if you forget the title.
Hulu's Live TV service is available for $40 per month and includes access to content from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC with local live broadcast affiliate programming immediately available in many markets, along with additional channels like CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, TNT, CNN, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, MSNBC, Bravo, E!, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel, A&E, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Disney Channel, Freeform, FX, HISTORY, Lifetime, National Geographic, TBS, USA Network, Viceland, and more. Live TV subscribers also get to enjoy Hulu's existing streaming plan with limited commercials and more than 3500 TV and film titles. In addition, users can subscribe to add-on packages for HBO, Cinemax, and Showtime.
The new features are now available through beta.hulu.com for live TV subscribers and Hulu users who have HBO or Cinemax premium add-ons.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.
Neon Conceives The U.S. Blu-ray Release of 'Immaculate' Starring Sydney Sweeney June 11 German 4K Mediabook July 18


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Get started-up business Crover has launched the entire world-1st agricultural engineering, made to lower squander and conserve hundreds of thousands of tonnes of grain inventory just about every calendar year
The company has developed a robotic that can ‘swim’ by way of cereals and grains to watch their ailment though they are continue to in storage. This is a initial-of-its-variety robotic grain checking alternative and enables a greater being familiar with of the issue of saved grains.
The firm is acquiring its know-how as element of the European Area Company Business enterprise Incubation Centre United Kingdom (ESA BIC United kingdom – aspect of ESA Place Alternatives), the world’s greatest business enterprise incubation programme for place tech start off-ups who are using place engineering to produce activity-changing new goods and services.
Managed by the Science and Technology Services Council (STFC), section of British isles Exploration and Innovation, in collaboration with ESA, and partly funded by STFC, the University of Leicester and the British isles Place Agency, the ESA BIC British isles programme can help firms boost their competitiveness in an increasingly fierce and international market.
Centered at STFC’s Higgs Centre for Innovation at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Crover has been establishing the robot that can consider correct temperature and dampness measurements as it travels by the grain. This details is then transmitted, by using satellite conversation, to the grain retail store supervisor. By way of the ESA BIC United kingdom programme, Crover has also obtained access to the highly developed 3D printing expertise and abilities, enabling them to detect and create the bespoke elements required for their design and style.
The company stated that this engineering was also put to the check at the TechCrunch Start off-up Battlefield 2020.
Dr Lorenzo Conti, the founder of Crover, mentioned, “The possibility to operate along with astronomers, engineers, as well as 3D printing and prototyping experts has been a must have to our small business and our mission to invent anything that could support alter the environment for the much better.”


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Toyota has unveiled the new-look 2014 Toyota Corolla sedan in two slightly different forms; a European version (pictured in white) and a US version. The local arm has confirmed Australia will receive a variation of the Euro version early next year.
Showcasing a clear design relationship with the Toyota Furia concept car shown at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, the 2014 Corolla’s design is made up of two fundamental philosophies; ‘keen look’ and ‘under priority’.
The ‘keen look’ element is seen in the horizontal lines across the front end, which, Toyota says, underlines the width of the car and its hint of elegance. Meanwhile, the ‘under priority’ aspect is seen in the trapezoidal front grille layout.
Other design highlights include the bolsters wheel arches, short front and rear overhangs for optimum driving dynamics and maximum cabin space, as well as a “premium” rear end with sophisticated taillights and a crisp boot line.
Specifications and technical data is yet to be announced, however, Toyota says the new sedan offers a “significantly roomier and quieter cabin”, an improved driving position with a lower set seat with more adjustability, and more cabin space, particularly in the rear where there is increased knee space.
Although the Toyota Corolla is not a performance car, it is Australia’s best-selling vehicle so far this year. Its global sales have reached 39.7 million since the first model was launched way back in 1966, of which 1.2 million were sold in Australia. Toyota said,
“Along with the hatch launched in Australia late last year, the new sedan is the 11th generation Corolla. It will be built in 16 locations and sold in more than 150 countries.”
The Australian introduction will take place during the first half of 2014. Click play below for a bit of an overview.


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GoPro shares continued to push higher. Here's what to expect during the camera maker's all-important holiday season.» Read More
Samsung had a really tough quarter but it has a turnaround plan to win customers over in the fast growing low-end smartphone space.
BEIJING— Lenovo Group announced the completion of its acquisition of Motorola Mobility from Google Inc. on Thursday in a move aimed at making the Chinese computer maker a global smartphone brand. The $2.9 billion purchase adds to a flurry of acquisitions and initiatives aimed at transforming Beijing- based Lenovo, the world's biggest maker of personal...
SEOUL, Oct 30- Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Thursday that it expects average selling prices for handsets to increase in the fourth quarter due to a rise in high-end smartphone sales. Robert Yi, Samsung's head of investor relations, did not specify how much prices would rise, with the average selling price for handsets and tablets combined in the third...
SEOUL, Oct 30- Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Thursday that it expects average selling prices for handsets to increase in the fourth quarter due to a rise in high-end smartphone sales. Robert Yi, Samsung's head of investor relations, did not specify how much prices would rise above the average selling price for handsets in the third quarter of about $190.
Hewlett-Packard has finally revealed a 3-D printer, along with a new "immersive" computer called Sprout.
Amazon's deeper dive into the streaming TV market is little more than a calendar item for Roku.
Tom Wheeler, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is serious about leveling the playing field between cable companies and Internet-based video providers.
SEOUL, South Korea— South Korea's LG Electronics Inc. said Wednesday its third-quarter profit jumped 87 percent over a year earlier as smartphone sales set a record high. LG Electronics said its July-September net income reached 202.6 billion won on sales of 14.9 trillion won. Samsung Electronics, which is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings on...
Naturebox co-founder Guatam Gupta pitches his healthy snacking start-up to the "Power Pitch" panel. Will they be in or out?
Oct 28- Hard-disk drive maker Western Digital Corp reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue as businesses spent more upgrading computers or buying storage for servers and data centers. Western Digital earned $2.10 per share, adjusting for items, in the first quarter ended Oct. 3. More businesses in the United States and Europe upgraded...
Oct 28- Hard-disk drive maker Western Digital Corp reported a 4 percent rise in first-quarter revenue, helped by higher demand for storage products from businesses. The company's net income fell to $423 million, or $1.76 per share, in the quarter ended Oct. 3, from $495 million, or $2.05 per share, a year earlier as sales and marketing costs rose by about 67 percent.
Oct 28- Alevo Group, which has kept its energy storage technology secret for a decade, unveiled it on Tuesday, and said it has struck deals aimed at deploying its batteries in power grids in China and Turkey. The Martigny, Switzerland- based company has yet to sign up any U.S. customers but said on Tuesday that it has reached a deal with China-ZK International Energy...
Editor in Chief of PC Mag, Dan Costa discusses Facebook's revenue and growth opportunities in honor of today's earnings report after the closing bell.
The company announced a new line-up wearables and two of the devices include optical heart rate sensors, something new to Fitbits, Re/code reports.
Seagate Technology reported an 8.5 percent rise in revenue, helped by higher demand for its personal computer and cloud storage products.
Just a week old, rivals are popping up and threatening the success of Apple Pay.
Oct 27- Hard-disk drive maker Seagate Technology Plc's quarterly profit and revenue beat the average analyst estimate as demand increased for its personal computer and cloud storage products. Seagate shares were up 1.8 percent in premarket trading. Net income attributable to Seagate fell to $381 million, or $1.13 per share, for the first quarter ended Oct. 3,...
Oct 27- Hard-disk drive maker Seagate Technology Plc reported an 8.5 pct rise in quarterly revenue, helped by higher demand for its personal computer and cloud storage products. Net income attributable to Seagate fell to $381 million, or $1.13 per share for the first quarter ended Oct. 3, from $427 million, or $1.16 per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose to $3.79...
Mobile wallet Apple Pay has been available for only one week but may be inciting a battle in the payments industry. The NYT reports.
Oct 23- Touchscreen chip maker Synaptics Inc reported lower-than-expected first-quarter revenue and profit, hurt by weak demand from smartphone makers, sending its shares down 13 percent in extended trading. "Given that certain Samsung designs that have come out recently are not using Synaptics touch IC products, we think that would probably be a real driver...
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Matt Hunter is the senior technology editor at CNBC.com.
Cadie Thompson is a tech reporter for the Enterprise Team for CNBC.com.
Working from Los Angeles, Boorstin is CNBC's media and entertainment reporter and editor of CNBC.com's Media Money section.
Jon Fortt is an on-air editor. He covers the companies, start-ups, and trends that are driving innovation in the industry.
Josh Lipton is CNBC's technology correspondent, working from CNBC's Silicon Valley bureau.
Mark Berniker is CNBC's Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bureau Chief covering technology and digital media.
The smartphone-maker is concentrated on building a cash war chest to fuel innovation, says BlackBerry CEO John Chen.
Investors are waiting to see if the social giant will report another huge quarter.
Though New York has its first confirmed case of Ebola, there's little chance it will spread, says an infectious disease expert.


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SAN FRANCISCO: Google on Friday targeted Microsoft, accusing its tech rival of “distraction” for standing by governments seeking to force tech platforms to pay media organizations for news content.
In a blog, Google argued that Microsoft was trying to divert attention from a potentially devastating attack on Exchange email servers by hackers exploiting software vulnerabilities.
The comments came amid an intense battle of rhetoric over efforts in Australia and elsewhere to request digital services to negotiate payments for news content.
Google and Facebook resisted the mandatory payments, while Microsoft took a more cooperative stance.
Microsoft Chairman Brad Smith, in a speech to a congressional subcommittee hearing, blamed Google’s business model for “gobbling up” the advertising revenue that news groups depend on.
Google’s senior vice president of global affairs, Kent Walker, responded in the blog post, saying of Microsoft: “They are now making self-serving claims, and are even willing to break the way the open web works in an attempt to undermine a competitor.”
“This important debate must revolve around the substance of the issue, and not be derailed by the bare opportunism of companies,” Walker added.
In his message, Smith praised the role news organizations play in defending democracy and asserted that “the Internet has destroyed an already faltering domestic news business by devouring advertising revenue and luring away subscribers who get paid.”
Microsoft has put pressure on other countries to follow Australia’s lead in calling for money to be paid to news outlets for stories published online, a move that Facebook and Google opposed.
“The news today is part of the technology ecosystem, and we all who share this ecosystem have the opportunity and responsibility to help journalism thrive,” Smith said.
Supporters of Google and Facebook claim that the mandatory payments for newsletters will fundamentally change the way the internet works and ultimately be detrimental to free online services.


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The first draft of anything is terrible, Ernest Hemingway once said (though in slightly more colorful language). Facebook is applying some similar thinking and allowing users to edit their posts.
Enterprises are increasingly interested in developing apps for Android-based smartphones and tablets, showing how Google's OS is becoming more accepted, according to a poll. At the same time fewer are willing to spend resources on Microsoft's OSes.
Didn't catch that tweet all your friends were talking about? Twitter wants you to see it next time, using a new feature that will notify you of tweets and contacts that Twitter thinks you'll want to know about.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration intends to regulate only mobile apps that are medical devices and could pose a risk to a patient's safety if they do not function as intended.
Facebook is moving ahead with plans to test a new mobile feature to entice more people to buy products while shopping on smaller devices such as iPhones.
Moves does more than just measure your steps, distance, time, and calories burned. It creates a "storyline" showing exactly where you were all day, which can be all kinds of interesting. Best of all, it's now available on Android.
Pocket has rolled out a sizable update to its iOS app of the same name. The update includes some minor design changes, but it also adds several tools and options to make your mobile reading experience even better.
Android malware is following in the footsteps of Windows malware with attackers adopting some of the same distribution and monetization techniques despite the major differences between the platforms.
In its bid to boost its acceptance in physical retail stores, PayPal has introduced technology that will enable people running its app on smartphones to automatically check in at stores and restaurants.
Microsoft is expanding its Xbox Music service to iOS and Android devices, and also adding free streaming via the Web.
Facebook has laid out big plans in recent months to simplify the app development process by acquiring Parse. But the social network actually had its eye on the cloud service company for years, and at one point the two considered a different partnersh...
Facebook is seen as a website for connecting people. Now the company also wants to make it easier for outside developers to build their apps and connect them with users, by providing back-end hosting tools.
Samsung Knox smartphones will include mobile security software from Lookout to protect business users from mobile threats, the San Francisco company said Tuesday.
Silent Circle, a company specializing in encrypted communications, released a messaging application for Android devices on Wednesday that encrypts and securely erases messages and files.
Microsoft wants to build a better mobile phone through its acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone business. One way it hopes to do that? By improving its maps applications to better compete against Google's.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.


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* Group Q1 beer volumes up 5 pct vs forecast of 3 pct
* European volumes return to growth helped by Euro 2012
* Poland and Romania lead growth, west Europe still
* Shares up 3.1 percent
By David Jones
LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) - Soccer fever helped global
brewer SABMiller to return to growth in Europe as the
Euro 2012 tournament boosted Polish beer sales and saw its
overall quarterly beer volumes beat forecasts with a 5 percent
The tournament in Poland and Ukraine boosted sales in Poland
by 11 percent in the brewer's April-June first quarter and saw
its European sales, heavily weighed to the east, rise 7 percent
after several quarters of decline.
Volumes in Romania were up 15 percent, helped by new product
launches, with smaller rises in the Czech Republic, Hungary and
Slovakia. Group beer volumes in western Europe, however, were
depressed by poor weather and weak economic conditions.
The world's second-biggest brewer and maker of Miller Lite,
Grolsch and Peroni beers added that price rises pushed up group
revenue by 8 percent in the quarter, in line with its own
The 5 percent underlying quarterly rise, after stripping out
the effects of acquisitions, beat a consensus forecast of 3
percent in a survey compiled by the company and follows a 3
percent volume rise in its year to March 31.
SABMiller shares rose 3.1 percent to 27.19 pounds ($42.07)
in a slightly higher London stock market by 1100 GMT.
The brewer, which also makes Castle, Snow, Pilsner Urquell
and Aguila beers, said that quarterly underlying volumes rose 9
percent in Africa, 6 percent in Latin America, 7 percent in
Asia-Pacific and 1 percent in South Africa.
The United States, where it operates through its MillerCoors
joint venture, remained weak, with sales to retailers
falling 1.4 percent.
Its newly-acquired Foster's Australian business suffered a
13 percent dip in quarterly volumes after falls of 4 percent and
6 percent in the two previous quarters. The decline was partly
because of the termination of some licensed brands after
SABMiller's purchase of Foster's in December 2011.
The brewer held its forecast for raw materials costs rising
at about 5 percent this year and generally flat margins despite
the recent spike in grain prices because of a drought in the
Among SABMiller's rivals, global leader Anheuser-Busch InBev
reports half-year profits on July 31, while Carlsberg
and Heineken report on August 15 and 22


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Britain's biggest banks have been told to ditch their stake in the core system which govern how the majority of payments in the UK, from salaries to bank transfers, are made in order to increase competition in the market.
Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds, HSBC and Santander are among 18 banks which collectively own Vocalink, the system underpinning 90 per cent of BACS salary payments as well as other payments such as direct debits worth a combined £6 trillion each year.
The Payments System Regulator has now told them that they should sell their stake in Vocalink to open up the market to competition and innovation.
That's good news for startups in the fintech space but presents banks with another front in the battle against challengers.
“The payments industry has evolved at a steady pace, but now is the time to ask whether or not it is operating best practice. The evidence we have gathered shows that common ownership is hampering competition and the speed of innovation in the market," said the regulator's managing director Hannah Nixon.
“There needs to be a fundamental change in the industry to encourage new entrants to compete on service, price and innovation in an open and transparent way.Our proposals will increase competition and create more opportunities for challengers, fintechs and other organisations looking to enter the market. This will create the conditions for greater innovation – which is in the interests of those that use the infrastructure services directly, and the UK economy as a whole.”
It has also suggesting a shake up of the system governing payments to bring in new rules for procurement and creating industry-wide standards for messaging between different payment systems.
"The government set up the Payment Systems Regulator to drive competition in Britain's payment system," said economic secretary to the Treasury Harriett Baldwin. "Today's report is an important step towards a more open payment system which will benefit millions of consumers and firms who rely on it for making payments on a daily basis."


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Feel the hype, in VR.
The PlayStation VR launches today- and if anything has a chance to help VR break into the mainstream, it’ll be this. The PlayStation VR is a cheap, high end VR headset, which doesn’t require a gaming PC to run- just a PS4 console. And it’s been receiving rave reviews in the lead up to its launch, so it’s not even like it’s a compromised experience or anything.
Sony probably understands this. That’s probably why they have been treating the launch of the PlayStation VR so seriously. VR may be an exciting new frontier for technology, and Sony may have the chance to dominate it as thoroughly as Apple did with smartphones and tablets- it’s an important launch for them.
And to ensure that we’re all on board with them on this thing, they’ve put out a rather sweet launch trailer, which seriously brings the hype. You can check it out for yourself below.


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Hot Octopuss has announced its luxury ‘guybrator’, PULSE, has been nominated for Hot Product of the Year for the upcoming STOREROTICA Awards.
Co-creator of PULSE and Hot Octopuss CEO Adam Lewis said: “We’re incredibly honoured to have been recognized for the STOREROTICA Awards. We’re very proud of PULSE; we’re particularly proud to offer a genuinely new and innovative design-led product. With our focus on technology, lifestyle and design, we wanted to bring a product to the market that was not only acceptable, but also aspirational. It truly represents a quantum shift for male sex toys, and the feedback from both end users and the industry has been phenomenal.”
He added: “Men are seeking new and exciting ways to reach orgasm, and PULSE delivers that. From the reviews we have received, it is being heralded as the newest, hottest product for male sexual satisfaction on the market today – so to receive this particular nomination is truly amazing. It’s a very exciting time for men everywhere, and we’re very happy to be at the forefront of this evolution!”
The STOREROTICA Awards, presented by STOREROTICA Magazine, celebrates excellence in the adult retail community, and honours those in the brick and mortar storefront, distributing and manufacturing levels. Winners will be announced at the industry gala on the evening on Sunday, July 13, during the summertime ANME Founders Show in Burbank, California. Held at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport July 12-14, the semi-annual ANME Founders Show showcases the top brands in the adult toy and novelty industry.
The STOREROTICA Awards ballot will be live beginning on May 28th, with voting running for two weeks. To vote for the 2014 STOREROTICA Awards, please visit www.storeroticaawards.com.
Founded on medical research and patented across the world, PULSE is one of the most powerful and effective stimulators ever created. Harnessing state-of-the-art oscillating technology, PULSE creates an entirely new category in male and couples vibrators compared with traditional vibrations.
At the heart of PULSE lies the cutting edge PulsePlate™, delivering a far more intense experience than vibrators through deep and powerful oscillations. Innovatively designed to also be a fantastic couple’s toy, the underside delivers dual-stimulation, whilst its hands-free design leaves partners free to focus on each other. Not only is the technology impressive, the British-founded PULSE is as beautiful as it is effective. Working with an award-winning London design agency, PULSE is sleek, discreet and stylish in comparison to most male toys on the market.
PULSE recently made mainstream news, with Huffington Post UK calling the remarkable stimulator “genius”: “Why no one has really thought of PULSE is baffling – effectively a vibrating sheath that can be slipped on like a glove…around the penis, whether or not it is erect…we’re sure that this will be creating quite the buzz.” Glamour Magazine followed suit, encouraging its female readership to consider PULSE, saying, “Men have had other types of their own (sometimes disturbing) sex toys, but in recent years, the sex-toy industry has added what’s being called a guybrator. It’s called PULSE…[and] if he’s using it when getting intimate…you’re going to reap the benefits too. Bonus, ladies.”
To celebrate Masturbation Month, Hot Octopuss has released “Evolution of Masturbation,” a tongue-in-cheek video showing the historical chronology of male masturbation. With starring roles from the everyday gym sock, gentlemen’s magazines, to modern technology, the video aims to demonstrate just how PULSE is revolutionizing the way men think about masturbation. To view the video, click here.
The US adult novelty market was first introduced to the state-of-the-art sex toy at ILS last fall, and continues to receive high praise from industry colleagues and reviewers alike, resulting in over 10,000 units sold around the world in the first six months since PULSE’s launch. The innovative “guybrator” also was honored with a 2014 XBIZ Award for Couples Sex Toy of the Year.
Want all the news plus exclusive discount codes and offers? Sign up here.


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State lawmakers around America have passed legislation limiting the competition among pharmacies, at the expense of consumers and pharmacy benefit managers, said Devon Herrick, senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis.
“I think people need to be aware that there is a trade-off,” Herrick said. By doing things that increase the number of in-network pharmacies, prices of prescriptions will rise.
Much of the legislation that has been limiting pharmacy competition has been in the form of “any willing provider” laws. These laws mandate that any pharmacy meeting minimum qualifications be able to join the networks of pharmacy benefit managers. By being forced to admit pharmacies to their networks, managers cannot encourage pharmacies to compete on price to be allowed into the exclusive networks they maintain.
Other regulations on pharmacy competition have included anti-mail order legislation and bills to expose how benefit managers calculate their maximum allowable costs. Typically the desire behind these policies is to make access to pharmacies easier or promote local businesses and community pharmacies.
Though it may seem like a good idea to increase ease of access to pharmacies and encourage local businesses, it ultimately raises the prices of prescription pharmaceuticals.
“Bargaining power is based on withholding business,” Herrick said. “If a drug plan or plan sponsor loses that leverage, it suggests that no pharmacy chain has to bid low to win business.”
Competition works fundamentally differently in prescription drugs than it does even in over-the-counter medications, explained Herrick. While most times we think of competition as attracting consumers with the lowest price, many Americans have an insurer that pays for all or part of their prescriptions. That means that in the prescription market, pharmacies don’t compete for the attention of consumers as much as they do for the attention of benefit managers.
“If I can go to any drug store and get the same price, that means no one drug store is competing to be the exclusive provider of drugs to me,” Herrick said.
Americans spend nearly $1 billion per day on prescription and non-prescription medication and an average of one dozen prescriptions per person are filled annually. The impact of decreased incentive to compete on price among pharmacies, even as a side effect of other legislation, is powerful. And while over two-thirds of Americans have some form of prescription coverage, the bargaining power of benefit managers relates closely to the premiums and copays consumers are faced with.
“Politicians think they’re helping consumers, when in some cases they’re helping pharmacies,” Herrick said. The two goals are not always the same.