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A recent report has unveiled a startling truth about the expenses associated with owning a car in Canada. According to data gathered by Autotrader and analyzed by Ratehub.ca, the total cost of owning a car has surpassed $1,300 per month in 2024. This comprehensive estimate includes various aspects such as insurance, maintenance, depreciation, parking, and fuel expenses.
The breakdown of these costs reveals some eye-opening figures. On average, Canadians are shelling out approximately $200 per month for fuel, $79 for car maintenance, $200 for parking, and $111 for car insurance. These figures add up to the hefty sum of $1,387, a financial burden that many Canadians may not have fully considered when budgeting for their vehicles.
Furthermore, the report sheds light on the escalating costs associated with purchasing a new car. In September of the previous year, the cost of buying a new car saw a staggering 19.4% year-over-year increase, reaching a substantial $67,817. Simultaneously, the average price of used cars climbed by 4.3%, settling at $39,155. These price hikes highlight the financial strain individuals face not only in maintaining their existing vehicles but also in the prospect of purchasing a new or used one.
While the report recognizes the necessity of car ownership for many Canadians, it also emphasizes the potential benefits of going car-less, especially for those residing in larger cities. "For the $1,387 we estimate it costs to own a car, a family of four can get unlimited travel on the (Toronto Transit Commission) for as little as $286 per month,” the report notes. “That leaves over $1,000 for Ubers and occasional car rentals.”
In light of these findings, Ratehub.ca offers some practical tips to mitigate the financial strain associated with car ownership. Firstly, choosing an affordable car can significantly alleviate the burden. Secondly, utilizing public transit whenever possible is recommended, as it presents a more cost-effective alternative. Finally, the report suggests comparing insurance quotes online to secure the best possible rates, thereby saving a few extra dollars.
The report raises awareness about the significant financial commitment involved in owning and maintaining a car in Canada. It prompts individuals to reconsider their transportation choices and explore alternatives that may not only be economically viable but also more sustainable. As Canadians navigate the intricate landscape of car ownership, being informed about the true costs is crucial for making prudent financial decisions.


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Waitr Moves Into New Home In Lafayette
Waitr is growing its presence in Lafayette, as the fast growing food delivery app is opening its own permanent facility.
Waitr CEO Chris Meaux says moving into their own facility will create new jobs in the Lafayette area.
“Within the next 12 months, we’ll probably hire another 50 to 100 people here, in addition to all of our Waitrs out in the field that actually do the delivery. So all together in the Lafayette area we have over 400 employees,” Meaux said.
The app launched in 2015 in Lake Charles and now the company operates over 20 cities in five states and employing more than 1,200 people nationwide. Meaux says when they opened its initial Lafayette site at the Opportunity Machine, supported by the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, it allowed them to focus on their growth without worrying about the details.
“We didn’t have to go out and buy furniture. We had access to the technology that we needed to build our company, as opposed to having to go deal with all of those things, and those can be a distraction to a startup,” Meaux said.
The app also provides food delivery service in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and New Orleans. Meaux says he never thought he could start and build a technology company in Louisiana. He says Opportunity Machine enabled him to pursue his dream of starting this company in his home state without having to relocate to Silicon Valley.
“Being a Louisiana native that means more to me than anything else that we’ve done. We’ve been able to do this in Louisiana, create new jobs here in Louisiana in technology,” Meaux said.

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Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will launch its Video Delivery Service for the region today, announcing over 800 movies for the UK for users to rent or buy.
Rental titles will cost GBP 2.49 each, while buying the movie in digital format will cost GBP 6.99, with "many in high definition" according to a company statement.
Content will be viewable on both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles, with a mix of classic and new releases on offer, including Angels and Demons, Cars, The Dark Knight, Dead Space: Downfall, Star Trek and Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen at launch - with more titles added each week.
"The launch of the PlayStation Network video delivery service extends our entertainment offering and provides consumers with another way to access their favourite movies, whether at home or on the go," said Andrew House, president and CEO of SCEE. "With the choice of content constantly expanding, including full games, bite-size downloadable 'minis' games, demos and now movies too, the PlayStation Network is the gateway to a world of entertainment."
The first part of the industry-exclusive GamesIndustry.biz interview with Andrew House is available now.


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Huobi, the third largest cryptocurrency exchange platform by trading volume has set up a communist party committee; a moved dubbed as a “milestone” by the company founder, reports South China Morning Post, November 19, 2018.
Political Arm Set Up by Huobi Subsidiary Beijing Lianhuo
Established in April 2018 with an initial capital of $2.9 million, Beijing Lianhuo Information Service Co. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Huobi. Notably, Huobi CEO and founder Li Lin have a 99 percent stake in the newly christened subsidiary.
The move by Huobi is seen as an attempt to strengthen ties with the notoriously anti-crypto Chinese government. Interestingly enough, the practice of setting up a political arm of an entity has been a long followed one among the state-owned Chinese companies.
However, in recent times, industry leaders from the private sector have joined in the trend launching their party committees. Some of the heavyweights include gaming behemoth Tencent, “Chinese Google” Baidu, smartphone brand Xiaomi, and Alibaba, among others.
Analyzing Huobi’s case in isolation, it stands out for being the first Chinese blockchain enterprise to establish its political arm. Company CEO Li Lin lauded that decision as a “milestone,” per local media outlets. Lin attributed Huobi’s success in the crypto and DLT industry to its constant efforts to promote blockchain industry in the country.
About the creation of the communist committee, Cao Zhou, a party official from Beijing’s Haidan district stated:
“We must enhance the party’s political leadership, and carry out the party’s principles and policies in private enterprises.”
China’s Crypto Diktat
While the Asian giant has emerged as one of the global hotbeds for blockchain technology, China has been rather strict with its stance towards cryptocurrencies.
The Chinese have not shied away from showing their love for the distributed ledger technology, as BTCManager reported on July 25, 2018, how Nanjing city of China’s Jiangsu province, announced a massive $1.48 billion fund for investment in blockchain technology.
Conversely, fearing an economic upheaval in the country due to digital currencies, China’s government effectively banned all ICOs and cryptocurrency businesses in the state earlier this year. The ban took a bad form when the Chinese internet giant Baidu banned cryptocurrency related discussions on its platform in August 2018.
Despite the obstacles in the Chinese market, Singapore-based Huobi continues to expand its operations throughout the world. BTCManager on July 2, 2018, how the cryptocurrency exchange launched OTC trading service and office in London.


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American technology company Intel has revealed some details about its new Bitcoin mining chip. It was announced during the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2022. The conference is centered around an industry that manufactures chips and electronics in general.
Intel mentioned in its reports that the new 2nd generation Bonanza Mine chips will operate at 3,600 Watts. This would be the highest performance used for Bitcoin mining. The company’s 2018 reports show that its goal was to reduce energy consumption by approximately 15%. The Bonanza mine chips will be ultra-low voltage and very energy efficient.
Intel is not afraid of competitors
Intel is fully aware of its competitors such as Bitmain, MicroBT and NVidia. However, they are showing confidence in competing with such well-placed players.
Bitmain’s Antmienr S19j Pro 104T miner is currently operating at 104 Thash/s at 3,068W. Its newest product, however, is operating at 140 Thash/s at 3010W. Even without the chip being launched, it has already won several customers. Some of them are BLOCK (CEO Jack Dorsey), Argo Blockchain and GRIID Infrastructure.
The main objective is to increase Bitcoin (BTC) mining efficiency. The Bonanza mine (BMZ2) would deliver 40 terahashes per second (40 TH/s).
BMZ2 chips will consume 2,293W power for 40 TH/s performance. This is considered low power consumption, around 56.97 joules per terahash (J/Th).
Each Bonanza Mine ASIC has 258 mining engines. They will be computed in parallel with double SHA256 hashes. Intel says these motors will run at a voltage of 355mV, which they characterized as low.
An ASIC is consuming an average of 7.5W each, reaching 137 Ghash/s. Each motor will operate from 1.35 to 1.6 GHz at 75 degrees Celsius.
Sustainable solutions for blockchains to unlock their full potential
Many believe that BMZ2 will be very beneficial for Bitcoin and efficient mining. Bob Burnett said this will be a bullish move for the industry. He is one of the former Intel employees from Divvy Systems/Barefoot Mining.
Intel has confirmed that it has been working on a new cryptocurrency accelerator for a few years now. They are serving the crypto mining hardware market which helps them grow as well. One of the reasons is its huge production capacity.
Some would say this is all a surprise. However, there were many signs. In 2013, Intel produced SHA extensions for hardware-accelerated hashing operations.
By the end of 2022, Intel will start offering chips to consumers. Its first customer, GRIID, expects to receive around 25% of the initial ASIC reservation by 2025. The first Bonanza chip has already done wonders, so expectations for the BMZ2 are already very high.
Your capital is at risk.
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“The prospect of being hanged focuses the mind wonderfully,” said the compiler of the first English language dictionary Samuel Johnson. Mr. Johnson might have had negotiations for a new trade agreement between the US and China in mind when he wrote it.
With the threat of a genuine trade war hanging over their heads, high level officials of the American and Chinese government are making “good progress” toward reaching an agreement that would open Chinese markets to more US products while lowering some tariffs on Chinese goods.
See the full story here.
Want more BFT? Leave us a voicemail on our page or follow us on Twitter @BFT_Podcast and Facebook @BluntForceTruthPodcast. We want to hear from you! There’s no better place to get the #BluntForceTruth.


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Christian Louboutin turned to Renaissance art in 2011, and Karl Lagerfeld played with the notion of wearable art for Chanel‘s 2015 Spring show, with models carrying sketchbooks like handbags and donning rainbow paint textured garbs. The designer, who passed away in February, even converted Paris’s Grand Palais – the show‘s venue – into a huge art gallery, featuring pieces from artists including Marcel Duchamp, Wassily Kandinsky and Pollock next to Chanel’s trademark items, such as tweed, pearls and chains.
In more recent years, collaborations have carried on the art-meets-fashion trend: Valentino‘s Pierpaolo Piccioli and artist Jamie Reid for Fall 2017; Gucci and Spanish artist Ignasi Monreal for Spring 2018; Virgil Abloh and Japanese icon Takashi Murakami for both an exhibition and a limited edition of graphic tees last October.
The artistic muse also inspired some of this season‘s collections – which should help you look quite the part during and around Art Basel Hong Kong, when the entire city basically turns into one giant art hub.
Try Celine, whose Spring/Summer 2019 (Hedi Slimane‘s first for the label) show included pieces in collaboration with Swiss-American artist Christian Marclay, with his 70s and 80s paintings and comic book collages reimagined on embroideries, prints and patches.


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Des Moines, Iowa-based Kemin AgriFoods North America Inc. and Kemin Nutrisurance Inc. have received ISO 9001:2000 certification. Auditors with Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance recommended the renewal of certification following on-site visits in August at the Kemin facilities in Iowa and Texas. The certification is good for three years.
After three years of dedicated work, scientists at Chr. Hansen A/S may be on the brink of a breakthrough. The company’s researchers have discovered a lactic acid bacteria that, when consumed in a cultured dairy product such as yogurt and potentially other food products, may reduce high blood pressure. The culture, named Cardi-04, has been shown to reduce high blood pressure in animal studies.
La Crosse, Wis.-based Main Street Ingredients has announced a new building addition that will add more than 40,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space. The company also announced some remodeling plans that could include a new research and development area and a variety of new laboratories. “The new building project follows our projected growth plan,” says Dave Clark, chief executive officer of Main Street Ingredients. “It will compliment the large building expansion we had in 2002 and installation and commissioning of our new advanced technology agglomeration system.” The addition is expected to be completed by spring 2005.
J.M. Huber Corp. has acquired CP Kelco. Huber entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire CP Kelco ApS from Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Partners II LP in July 2004 after acquiring a minority ownership stake from Hercules Inc. in February 2004. Rothschild Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor to Huber.
Cargill Health & Food Technologies’ (H&FT) OptaFlex natural chondroitin has received the verification mark from U.S. Pharmacopeia’s (USP) Ingredient Verification Program. The USP program is a rigorous, multi-step process that includes an evaluation of good manufacturing practices (GMP) compliance, review of quality control (QC) documents and laboratory testing of lots for compliance with the USP monograph for the chondroitin sulfate sodium.
FMC BioPolymer, a division of FMC Corp., Philadelphia, plans to implement an average price increase of 7 to 8 percent for selected food-grade carrageenan products. These increases apply to pricing worldwide and will take effect December 1 or as contracts allow. Significant sustained increases in raw material, energy and freight costs are factors driving the need to raise prices, the company says.
Omega Protein Corp. has entered into a manufacturing and supply agreement with National Starch and Chemical Co. making Omega Protein the exclusive provider for 100 percent of National Starch’s requirements for long-chain omega-3 fish oil.
Cal Poly’s Dairy Products Technology Center (DPTC) and professor Phil Tong have received a $150,000 grant from the California State University Agricultural Research Initiative for a study aimed at helping dairy processors improve their ability to produce dairy foods and beverages with a longer shelf life. Tong and the DPTC research team will be looking at dairy food-processing techniques and how they interact to produce high or poor quality and shelf life in the end product.$OMN_arttitle="R&D News";?>


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As per a research Fantasy sports engages roughly 90 million people today world-wide. It is not only engaging but also an addiction which tests your sporting knowledge to the max while also providing a way to earn handsome amount of money. A Forbes report suggested that fantasy sports industry around the world roughly ranges between $40 billion and $70 billion which is enough to indicate that this is one of the most profit based business.
United States and Canada have the lion share of this revenue and are the largest market when it comes to attracting fantasy gamers. There are more than 58 million fantasy sports players in the US and around 25 million in India as of 2020, another pointer to suggest that fantasy sports website design is a profitable venture. Season long fantasy and daily fantasy are the two popular pillars of fantasy sports. Season long fantasy sports allows players to create team and play for entire season where the winner is declared at the end of the sporting season. While daily fantasy sports allow you to create team, play and win on daily basis.
The recent trends have shown that daily fantasy sports is more popular among the masses. To be able to win on daily basis is something which every fantasy sports player wants. According to a press release from Fantasy Sports Trade Association, the fantasy sports industry generates more than $7.22 billion revenue globally, which includes sports like MLB, Soccer, Football, Cricket, NBA etc.
If you look at Europe which is mostly dominated by soccer especially the English Premier League, Spanish League and the German League, only UK has more than 3.5 million registered fantasy sports users. When we look at India where the fantasy sports phenomenon has just taken off with brands like Dream11 sponsoring this year’s IPL, the Indian fantasy sports market has grown to 2400 crore rupees in 2020 as compared to 920 crore rupees in 2019.
A whitepaper by India tech mentioned that fantasy sports in India has attracted a considerable amount of foreign investment as well. As per an FIFS report this investment was estimated to be in range of 1500 crore during 2018-2019. According to a KPMG report, the Indian online gaming industry revenue is already worth $43.8 billion and is estimated to grow to $118.8 by 2023. Another indication why fantasy sports website design is the most sought after business these days.
According the same KPMG report the Indian online gaming industry will see an annual growth rate of 22.1% which in itself is miraculous and appealing and is sure to bring in more investors and opportunities for different business houses.
We are Technogiq, a leading IT services and Fantasy sports website design and development company. We offer best in class and Fantasy sports website design and development services with quality support. Our and Fantasy sports website design and development services have benefitted clients from across the globe and we continue to strive for excellence. If you have a project in mind, let’s connect.


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* See the Top 45 All-brands by clicking on the title *
After edging up just 0.1% in January, the Malaysian new vehicle market is definitely more colourful in February, posting a 12% gain to 42.455 and lifting the year-to-date tally up 5.6% to 87.122. Market leader Perodua reinforces its domination, outpacing the market at +18% to a stunning 39.1%, the brand’s second-ever highest market share below the 40.6% it hit last August. Like last month, Honda (+37%) thanks to the BR-V and HR-V and Toyota (+55%) potentially thanks to the new Sienta and new gen Vios are the biggest mass market gainers in the Malaysiam Top 10 this month. Premium brands Mercedes (+38%) and BMW (+16%) also shine inside the Top 10 whereas Nissan struggles at -35%. Below, notice Scania up 53%, Chery up 55%, Volvo also up 55% and Kia up 77%.
Full February 2017 Top 45 All-brands ranking below.


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French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen could buy a large stake in Japanese peer Mitsubishi Motors Corp as part of a plan to deepen ties to ride out the industry's worst ever slump.
The companies said on Thursday they were in talks to strengthen an existing relationship, which would create a leader in electric vehicles, with Mitsubishi, whose shares rose 13.4 percent, saying a capital tie-up was possible.
A spokesman for Peugeot, ranked eighth in the world by 2008 sales volume, would not comment on how long talks could last.
Peugeot will face increased competitive pressure from domestic rival Renault SA which is looking to beef up its synergies with 10-year equity partner Nissan Motor.
That Franco-Japanese alliance is looking to lead the industry in the unproven electric car segment, where Mitsubishi Motors is among the only players to have such a car on sale.
Peugeot's interest in Mitsubishi Motors, ranked seventh of Japan's eight carmakers by January-October production, is in line with the recent push by new chief executive Philippe Varin to create a more global car company.
Varin, who took on the role in June, has said this could be achieved by various means, including alliances with carmakers.
Mitsubishi Motors shares closed 13.4 percent higher after the Nikkei business daily reported Peugeot, Europe's second-biggest carmaker, may take a 30-50 percent stake for up to 300 billion yen ($3.4 billion).
Peugeot shares were up 0.4 percent by 1040 GMT.
In the car sector there is overcapacity in the world and in case of overcapacity there could be consolidation French Finance and Economy Minister Christine Lagarde told LCI television. That Peugeot and Mitsubishi have been talking to each other for a while is a good thing, she said.
The Nikkei newspaper said top management at Mitsubishi were ready to accept a majority acquisition of the company by Peugeot if conditions were right.
CM-CIC analyst Guillaume Angue said in a note the alliance would make sense from an industrial viewpoint and it would allow Peugeot to solve its problems of size, but it would come a bit early in the business cycle.
Mitsubishi remained expensive with an enterprise value to sales ratio of 0.64 against 0.2 at Peugeot, he said.
Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said in a note there were no significant areas of near-term savings, adding cultural/integration risks are extremely high, while the negotiation process, especially regarding financing, could take up to several months.
For Mitsubishi Motors, Peugeot would be the ideal partner, said Okasan Securities auto analyst Yasuaki Iwamoto.
It would be tough for Mitsubishi to shoulder R&D costs for environmental technologies on its own and, if you look at the global auto industry, there is a limited pool of partners to choose from.
Both Peugeot and Mitsubishi have so far attempted to compete with bigger rivals through non-equity tie-ups, even as others sought deeper alliances to weather the slump brought on by the global downturn.
Among such moves, Italian Fiat has scooped up Chrysler, while General Motors, the other U.S. auto giant that filed for bankruptcy this year, is fielding interest for several of its brands.
Peugeot itself has operational ties with carmakers ranging from Toyota Motor Corp to BMW.
Peugeot and Mitsubishi have three ongoing projects: a joint venture factory in Russia, an original equipment manufacturing deal in sport utility vehicles, and, most recently, a plan for Mitsubishi to supply i-MiEV electric cars under French brands.
For Mitsubishi Motors, the deeper talks with Peugeot mark a reversal of its attempt to stick it out on its own with the backing of the powerful Mitsubishi group, since dissolving its equity ties with the former DaimlerChrysler group in 2005.
The Nikkei said the two companies were in the final stages of negotiations, with Peugeot seeking a stake of more than 50 percent in Mitsubishi through the placement of new shares.
Mitsubishi may also potentially buy an interest in Peugeot, the paper said.
Shares in Mitsubishi Heavy, the carmaker's top shareholder with a 15 percent stake, ended up 4.7 percent. Trading house Mitsubishi Corp, which holds 14 percent, gained 3.7 percent, while Mitsubishi UFJ rose 2.3 percent.
(Additional reporting by Taiga Uranaka, Yuko Inoue and Nathan Layne in TOKYO, Brenton Cordeiro in BANGALORE, and Marcel Michelson and Helen Massy-Beresford in PARIS; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Dan Lalor)
($1 = 87.45 yen)


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After PayPal launched a program last week offering free transaction processing for merchants who switch to its point of sale card reader, Square hit back yesterday by announcing it will be offering a P2P payments service via email.
How Banks Can Compete In the Mobile Shopping MarketMarch 19, 2013By combining targeted coupon offers based on transactional data with a layered shopping experience that includes social media and gaming, banks can win big with mobile shopping apps, and position themselves for mobile wallet adoption.
FIS Looks Forward On MobileMarch 19, 2013The financial technology provider's recent acquisition of mobile banking and payment solutions provider mFoundry is part of a larger, long-term mobile strategy.
The Mobile Wallets Race: Placing Multiple BetsMarch 12, 2013Experts at BAI Payments Connect agree that several wallets will emerge successful from the mobile wallets race, and banks need to make multiple partnerships to stay ahead of the market.
Celent Report Explores Top Payments TrendsJanuary 07, 2013Celent released its annual report on the top 10 trends in today's retail payments market, which focused on digital wallets, regulations and alternative payments.
Digital Wallets Turn A CornerNovember 30, 2012The beginning of the holiday season has brought some positive tidings for the growth of mobile wallets. Bank Systems & Technology looks at the road - and challenges - ahead.
The Future of Digital Wallets in QuotesNovember 30, 2012Bank of America announced this week that it is piloting Visa's V.me digital wallet service with its online customers, firing up the ever-hot topic of digital wallets in the banking sector. Here are some recent quotes on the evolving digital wallets market


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Light Brown Apple Moth
Quarantine, Management, and Potential Impacts
In March 2007 the presence of the light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana, was confirmed in California by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). It was first found in Alameda County and as of July 2007 has been found in eight San Francisco Bay area counties and in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles counties.
APHIS issued a Federal Domestic Quarantine order on May 2, 2007, with restrictions on interstate shipment of plant material, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) issued a State Interior Quarantine order restricting intrastate shipment of plant material from counties where light brown apple moth is known to occur.
UC ANR staff have prepared a publication to help answer the many questions that growers and residents have about light brown apple moth, its quarantine, and the impacts it may have on California crops and residents.
IMPORTANT! The document summarizes quarantine regulations, but check the CDFA light brown apple moth Web site for the latest and most complete information.


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Yahoo Finance Live’s Jared Blikre checks out several stocks trending in the after-hours trading session.
According to data from Infiniti Research, e-commerce is still expected to grow at a 27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2027 globally. In fact, 66% of Williams-Sonoma's sales come from e-commerce, and it has grown e-commerce sales at an impressive 9.7% CAGR over the past 20 years. With Williams-Sonoma's large online presence and extensive scale, it should benefit as e-commerce penetration in the sector grows.
The online pet pharmacy is in the early stages of expanding its sights, making it an interesting buy for risk-tolerant investors.


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In a recent thread, X2Y2 announced it will now enforce royalties on all collections.
The announcement comes in the wake of OpenSea (1) requiring traders to honor creator royalty fees on existing collections; and (2) empowering new collections to use its ‘OperatorFilter’ code that requires traders to buy and sell only on OpenSea (and other marketplaces that honor royalties).
Since OpenSea released its ‘OperatorFilter’, many projects have decided to use it to ensure creator royalties are honored. For that reason, X2Y2 has removed its ‘Flexible Royalty’ setting so the projects using OpenSea’s OperatorFilter can be traded on X2Y2.
As for existing collections that do not use OpenSea’s ‘OperatorFilter’, X2Y2 is also enforcing royalties to ensure a “more unified and smoother user experience”.
This is a big win for creators, and a huge win for OpenSea. X2Y2 emphasizes that it still believes the best way to handle royalties is “to give both parties, creators and traders, the right to choose”. By removing choice for traders and enforcing royalties, X2Y2 is basically admitting it has been forced into a corner by OpenSea’s new policies.


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If you celebrated Cyber Monday with a shopping spree, a good deal of your tab probably went to cover credit card transaction costs—even if you didn’t pay with plastic, according to a new analysis.
The average U.S. household paid $724 a year for credit card fees in 2020, whether or not they used cards, an industry expert says. That’s $261 more than in 2012, and it’s likely to go even higher for 2021 because of inflation and increased spending. It’s all because merchants have no choice but to raise prices for everyone to cover the cost of the fees they’re required to pay big credit card companies to process transactions, according to an analysis by CMSPI, an independent global payments consultancy.
Payment processing giants like Visa and Mastercard typically take an average cut of around 2.2% for swiping a card (whether at a store or online), and merchants pass about 70% of that cost along to customers in the form of higher prices, said Callum Godwin, chief economist at CMSPI.
The average household cost, which the consulting firm partly calculated using annual data on credit card fees from global payments analyst Nilson, highlights a longstanding criticism of credit card companies—that they transfer wealth from low-income households to better-off ones. Higher-income households are apt to have good credit and reap cash and other perks from credit card rewards programs. Lower-income families are less likely to benefit that way, but still have to pay the higher prices that merchants charge because of credit card fees.
“There’s a perverse effect, almost, of the poor giving to the rich,” Godwin said.
By Godwin’s analysis, a lack of competition among big payment companies keeps transaction fees as high as they are. Merchants and consumer groups have voiced similar complaints.
“Even merchants have very little control over this system,” Godwin said. “We think the only way for a lot of the issues to be properly solved is through some kind of regulatory intervention that promotes competition.”
Credit card companies dispute the criticisms. For example, a report earlier this year from the American Bankers Association, a trade group representing credit card companies, found that merchants came out ahead on fees for rewards cards because the value of the services they paid for—such as security and avoiding the expenses of handling cash—actually outweighed the costs.
Have a question, comment, or story to share? You can reach Diccon at email@example.com.


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The proposal will be submitted to the Dutch parliament this week and it aims to make vapes less attractive to teenagers. RTL Nieuws reports that the measure has the support of the majority in parliament.
“Young people now think it’s cool to have such an accessory with glitter while vaping is extremely unhealthy,” D66 parliamentarian Jeanet van der Laan said as quoted by NL Times. “The vapes resemble a lip gloss or a marker. They are often colorful, and there are vapes full of glitter. Parents often have no idea exactly what the young people are carrying. Super worrying.”
“E-cigarettes should look as neutral and uniform as possible. Preferably they should resemble regular cigarettes. Or else just white or black. Because it’s just smoking,” she added.
The Netherlands’ tobacco display ban
Meanwhile, a regulation banning the display of tobacco products online or in retail stores across the Netherlands, has gone into effect on January 1st 2022. The display ban has already been applicable to tobacco products in supermarkets since the 1st of July 2020.
Now also being applied to retail stores and online retailers, the ban has been extended to include vaping products, heated tobacco products and herbs intended for smoking. With regards to online stores, while adverts of the devices themselves are forbidden, images of accessories, such as ashtrays and lighters, will still be permitted.
A few months ago, health experts and entities in the Netherlands called out the local ineffective tobacco policy as smoking rates among young people keep rising. Almost four years following the launch of the government’s extensive “smoke-free generation” plan, the number of young people who smoke has actually increased, highlight these experts. “Structural price increases for cigarettes have been proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking,” said Wanda de Kanter, a pulmonologist and anti-smoking activist.
She added that lobbying by Big Tobacco has led to the removal of structural price increases for cigarettes. To this effect, a ban on the tobacco lobby would be essential for any progress in tobacco control, said De Kanter. “This is the only way to keep the tobacco industry under control. Manufacturers are always trying to introduce something new, such as a vapor or vaping.”
Dutch THR Advocates Urged to Submit on Consultation About Nicotine Pouches Ban


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This week, Tesla and Twitter saw its shares to drip down as legal issues continue to surround Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Investors have been visibly dealing with these, and his $44 billion offer to acquire the company. For a while now, people have expressed concerns regarding the billionaire’s focus slowing shifting towards the acquisition.
Musk’s Tesla Inc has clearly suffered more at this juncture with its shares down almost 26%. On the other hand, Twitter fell 9.5% this week, closing at $45.08 Thursday, May 12. Both stocks have clearly taken a bigger hit than the S&P 500 this week, which is down 4.7%. Twitter’s stock currently at $45.08 is 20% lower than Musk’s offer of buying it at $54.20.
Since his offer to purchase Twitter for $54.20 went public a month ago, the shares have remained the same at $45.08. Investors and analysts said that it is possible that Musk could possibly keep the deal on hold despite having financing ready. To date, Twitter shares are up 4.3%.
On the other hand, Tesla shares have been down 26% since the announcement of the offer on April 14. Many fear that the world’s richest person would get distracted with the acquisition of the social media platform. Mainly this is because Tesla, headquartered at Austin, Texas continues to deal with supply chain issues and open two new factories. Till now in 2022, the shares have tumbled way over 30%.
Legal troubles Musk is currently facing:
Along with the concern of Musk being rather distracted, investors are battling with legal troubles surrounding him. Apparently, the SEC is looking into Musk’s revelations of him buying more than 5% of Twitter shares. Currently, he owns about 9% of its shares. Moreover, last month some of the shareholders of Twitter accused Musk of a late disclosure of his investment on Twitter. This had affected certain less-worthy investors who had sold their stock way before his disclosure.
Moreover, the Tesla CEO was planning with the Saudi Public Investment Fund to bankroll the deal to take Tesla private. However, Judge Edward Chen determined that nothing was concrete about him actually taking it private. Additionally, Musk and Tesla had settled a case with the SEC in 2018 about his tweets.
On Friday, May 13, Musk stated that his $44 billion deal to acquire Twitter is on temporary hold. This was owing to pending details on spam and bot accounts. Twitter had confirmed that spam or fake accounts only comprised 5% of its entire user base. Musk had appeared to remove such accounts from the social media platform after acquiring it.


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Google pushed out Android 4.4.1 last week with the build number KOT49E. We spotted the OTA files for all the Nexus devices shortly thereafter and all was well with the world. Well, until today. Sprint has just posted on its support forums and update page that Nexus 5 users can expect an update on their devices today with build number KOT49H – that's slightly newer than the build we got last week.
Android 4.4.1 continues to wind its way through the air, hitting devices a few at a time. Being a smart young individual, you know you don't need to wait for the OTA to reach your device in the old fashioned way – you can skip the line. The OTA update file for the WiFi version of the new Nexus 7 (that's Flo) has been spotted and we've got it right here for you.
The AT&T-branded Samsung Galaxy S4 is once again getting its Android 4.3 update as an OTA. After an unexplained issue with the last Android 4.3 push, everything looks to be getting back underway according to Samsung's site and early reports on XDA. This is a big update for the GS4, but AT&T is probably going to take it slowly this time.
Remember that Android 4.3 update that started rolling out to the AT&T Galaxy S4 last week? Well, you can stop waiting for it and hitting the update button every 10 minutes – there's been a little hiccup.
Update: The US update just hit our unit in the wee hours of the morning, right on time. It's 273.17MB and takes about 10 minutes to install if you've got the mobile dock (less if you don't). You should be able to get the update by hitting up the system OTA menu. Remember, the full images for the Taiwanese and worldwide SKUs were posted a few days ago, so you can go that route if you want.
We heard yesterday that the newest Transformer Pad was slated to get its Android 4.3 update on November 18th, but it looks like the bits are dropping a little early. Android 4.3 for the TF701T has been posted on the Asus support site, and you can download it right now.


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At the event that had visitors from all over Brazil and other countries, OPTree was chosen as the main meeting point for those who came to check out the latest technologies for Smart Cities
On February 28 and March 1, the city of Curitiba hosted the first Brazilian edition of the largest smart cities event in the world, the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCE).The event, held annually in Barcelona, was hosted at Expo Barigui and received more than 3,000 visitors already on the first day.
The Smart City Expo Curitiba 2018 was separated in congress, which had dozens of speakers world reference in the theme, and exhibition. The 22 stands presented several technological solutions that will soon be part of everyday life, including electric cars and organic photovoltaic films. The Organic Photovoltaics could be seen integrated in the OPTree™, innovative urban furniture that enables the charging of cell phones using clean and off-grid energy.


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A Different Take on Eating Insects
The Food and Agriculture Office of the United Nations says that insects are a sustainable and ecological food source, and they emit less greenhouse gas and ammonia than conventional livestock. According to Fortune magazine, more than 25 startups offering products containing insects have launched in the United States and Canada in the past few years.
Over in Switzerland, there seems to be a lot less "ick" factor, and the country’s federal food safety office (BLV) said it was simplifying the system for unusual foodstuffs such as insect-based products that until now couldn't be sold without special authorization. Beginning May 1, 2017, any food product can be sold commercially as long as it respects food safety regulations. Quickly after the announcment came a welcome invitation for bugs from Coop – the Swiss supermarket chain which that marketshare -- which said it would be putting insect-based products on its shelves next spring.
Here’s what makes this interesting: Coop is working with Swiss startup Essento, which specializes in developing insect-based dishes, to create a range of “surprising” products containing insect proteins, including meatballs and burgers. That’s not what’s interesting, although I would suggest that many U.S.-based supermarkets aren’t ready to make the same commitment – yet I do remember canned chocolate covered ants being sold in my Food Fair in Nutley, N.J., when I was a kid.
It’s what Coop said in its public statement that's game-changing. Coop spokesman Roland Frefel said that adding certain varieties of insects to processed products would allow customers to “discover a new world of flavors” – Wow! A different take on marketing could just be the key to breaking down barriers, especially for Millennials and Gen Z. Push the sustainability and affordability messages to the back – and highlight the flavor of different insects. I can just see -- and taste -- our new product reviews now.


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The game of sandboxes is successful.
Today this Minecraft marks its tenth anniversary, Microsoft and Mojang have revealed that so far the popular game has sold over 176 million copies Worldwide
This is undoubtedly a spectacular figure and a big leap compared to the latest report seven months ago when 156 million units were sold.
Minecraft, the best-selling of all times
It is amazing that with this amount, Minecraft is the best-selling game of all time overtaking Tetris, according to public figures, there are 170 million copies sold and Grand Theft Auto V, which sold 110 million units (MSPowerUser).
And although it is difficult to calculate the actual sales of Tetris, considering its versions and platforms, it is also underlined that Minecraft's 176 million copies only report paid versions and in fact the version free to play "China Edition" already has over 200 million registered users.
Interestingly, things will not stop, as the Minecraft Dungeons and the recently announced Minecraft Earth, which will appear popular, will follow Pokémon GO style with Augmented Reality technology on the mobile.
In addition to all this, Mojang revealed that Minecon Live will be held on September 28 at 23:00 in Mexico City / 12:00 am in Santiago de Chile, an event that will be broadcast live and there will be news franchise , interviews with artists and others.


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(Bloomberg) -- Investors in Chinese cosmetics maker Yatsen Holding Ltd. are suing the company and its executives, along with its largest outside shareholder Hillhouse Capital, alleging they allowed misleading information to inflate the price of the shares.
The class-action complaint was filed with a federal court in New York on Sept. 23 by Nancy Maeshiro on behalf of all independent investors who bought Yatsen’s American depositary receipts between Nov. 19, 2020 and March 10, 2022.
Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Ltd. and other underwriters of Yatsen’s November 2020 US initial public offering were named as co-defendants.
Representatives of Yatsen, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and China Renaissance Securities declined to comment. Hillhouse didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.
The suit highlights an additional source of risk for US-listed Chinese technology and consumer companies, after their share prices slumped on domestic regulatory tightening, geopolitical tensions and an economic slowdown.
A former rising star among China’s technology-enabled consumer companies, Yatsen’s ADRs debuted on Nov. 19, 2020. They more than doubled in value through February 2021, only to tumble later after management revealed a business slowdown. Its US shares closed 88% below the IPO price on Tuesday.
The defendants failed to disclose in its share-sale prospectus any known trends or uncertainties that would have led to business deterioration -- as required by US laws -- making reported financial information a poor indicator of future performance, according to the complaint.
Yatsen was already seeing performance deterioration in its main Perfect Diary and Little Ondine brands in the weeks leading up to the IPO and throughout 2021, the filing added, without saying where it got the information. Yet the defendants only slowly began to reveal it in the second half of 2021 and didn’t disclose both businesses’ results had disappointed until fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results were released on March 10, 2022.
The defendants “played up the fact that Yatsen had become a leader in the Chinese beauty market,” the lawsuit filing said. Yatsen continued to present the brands as “healthy,” “stellar” and “steady,” it added. Defendants “were aware, but did not disclose, that sales in Yatsen’s core brands were declining and that such deterioration was likely to have a material adverse effect on Yatsen’s future performance.”
In a claim against Yatsen, its executives and Hillhouse, the plaintiff said material misrepresentation and omissions “were done knowingly or recklessly and for the purpose and effect of concealing the company’s results and growth prospects, thereby artificially inflating the price of its securities.”
Hillhouse sold nearly 7.8 million Yatsen depositary receipts during the period covered by the suit, while in possession of material, non-public negative information about the company, the lawsuit said, without elaborating on the specifics of the information. It remains Yatsen’s largest shareholder with a 9.4% stake, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The IPO underwriters failed in their duty “to make a reasonable and diligent investigation of the truthfulness and accuracy of the statements contained in the offering documents,” the plaintiff’s filing said.
The case is Maeshiro v. Yatsen Holding Ltd. et al, 22-cv-08165, US District Court, Southern District of New York.
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.


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Spinneys to spend Dh175 million on new headquarters as company looks to expand footprint
The supermarket chain has more than 53 outlets across the UAE
A unit of Spinneys will invest Dh175 million in a state-of-the-art headquarters in Dubai, the company that has 53 stores across the UAE said on Wednesday.
“The investment in our new headquarters sends a very clear message that the future of retail is bright in the UAE and Spinneys will be at the forefront of this development," said Matthew Frost, the incoming chief executive, who takes the helm of Spinneys Dubai in January. Michael Wright continues as the chief executive of Spinneys Group.
"Our appetite for growth is unparalleled and as we approach 2020, this will only increase as we look to expand our footprint across the region and beyond with new stores and a focus on digital innovation."
The grocer expects to see 40 per cent growth by 2020, through expansion and digital product development, with plans to increase its footprint regionally to 79 stores from 61. The company plans to bring an online grocery service to the market as part of its expansion plan. New initiatives will also include a customer loyalty scheme, Spinneys & ME, which is due to be rolled in the first quarter of 2018.
The new Spinneys Dubai HQ will be in Meydan with key retail brands managed from the site, the company said. The new site will also feature a new flagship store and an ultra-modern, on-site cookery school to offer culinary training and development. With construction already under way, the building is expected to be operational by April 2019.
The company's expansion regionally is set to create 2,000 jobs. The grocer started operating in the UAE in 1962.
Updated: December 6, 2017 04:09 PM


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The Best Street Style From Sydney Fashion Week
The fashion set is Down Under in Sydney this week for the city’s annual Resort presentations, and runway shows are taking the lucky visitors from the shores of Bondi Beach to Sydney Harbour. With the sun in the sky and a brisk chill in the air, there will be plenty of summerwear layering on the Australian streets. Keep checking back to see Dan Roberts’s daily updates.
See full article by Vogue.


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For the past 10 years, consumers have demanded more visual content. Thousands of blog articles and think pieces have been
This is the next part in our Best Practices series for eCommerce usability. Over the past month, we have covered
Google I/O is the company’s annual developer conference held in Mountain View each year. The I/O stands for input/output, but
Before Envelopes.com could roll out the newest feature on their website, they had to do a bit of research.
And we’re not just talking about a couple million. The researchers and data pioneers at Jumio expect online retailers to


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TIBCO to Accelerate Cloud Adoption of Banking and Capital Markets Customers via Microsoft Collaboration
June 2016 by Coline Magne
TIBCO Software Inc. announced a collaboration with Microsoft Corp. that enables financial services industry customers to utilize cloud agility and scale to run infinite compute calculations for risk management and regulatory compliance demands.
This will empower customers to use TIBCO’s “HPC virtual super computer,” TIBCO DataSynapse GridServer® software, on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. With the financial markets becoming increasingly electronic, clients are looking for agility to rapidly expand their compute capacities for risk, compliance, trading, and related business needs. Beyond daily calculations, emerging regulations such as the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB) call for exponential capacity to analyze, compute and report to regulators. The alliance offers customers infinite capacity, virtually at the switch of a button, to expand their on-premises grids for regular risk business needs or for unforseen market events.
TIBCO has added new capabilities to GridServer® utilizing its powerful scheduler to dynamically allocate resources in the cloud based on urgency of calculation tasks, allowing it to manage grid overload, SLAs, and many other factors. This flexibility allows customers to tune their compute resources to match demand, avoiding the need to add on-premises resources to meet peak demand that might otherwise be under-utilized. TIBCO has also added support for GPU, a recent addition to Microsoft Azure, accelerating some calculations by two to three orders of magnitude. TIBCO is a strategic technology partner trusted by businesses around the world due to its broad mix of innovative products and services.


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[Proposals to be received by 18 June] The Aerogenerator Project in association with Grimshaw and the Groucho Club have launched an open contest to design a bicycle stand for the famous London venue
Submissions must be wall mounted, support at least five bicycles and cost less than £1,500.
The judging panel includes Nicholas Grimshaw, designer Clare Brass and Channel 4 News presented Jon Snow.
Selected entries will be exhibited at Grimshaw’s London office during the London Festival of Architecture. The winner receives a bed and breakfast stay at the Groucho Club.
Proposals to be received by 18 June


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One of the biggest unknowns in the ongoing labor negotiations between the United Automobile Workers Union and General Motors is not related to pay or benefits.
Electric vehicles are shutting down the industry, saving some jobs as factories are rebuilt to build zero. vehicles with emissions but cost many times more in the long run. This is a major concern for union leaders as they negotiate a new labor deal for 158,000 combined workers at three Detroit auto manufacturers: Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler.
GM CEO Mary Bar announced plans last November to cut up to 14,000 jobs, close five plants in North America by the end of this year and relocate the company's workforce and model to build more electric and autonomous vehicles .
"We are transforming our workforce through rental and executive reductions as we move toward an all-electric future," she told investors, outlining the company's new strategy in January. "These actions also help us fund the EV development race. and AV technologies as automakers and technology companies compete to unlock new and potentially lucrative revenue streams through mobility services. "
About 48,000 GM manufacturers are on strike right now as the UAW negotiates a new employment contract that could save some of these factories from closure.
Not only is the industry struggling with declining consumer demand for cars, its move to EVs will cost even more jobs. they are simply easier to build and require less engineless parts, and UAW expects moving away from gas engines could cut 35,000 jobs in the next few years, according to a study last year by the union. This means that the union is essentially negotiating new products, which could ultimately mean fewer jobs for its members.
"EV powertrains are simpler than internal combustion engines," UAW research director Jennifer Kelly said during a March conference to discuss upcoming contract talks with GM, Ford Motor and Fiat Chrysler. "Simplicity could reduce manpower and thus jobs related to vehicle production."
Internal combustion engines can require thousands of parts, while electric "engines" and drive wheels require only a few hundred, according to the study. Fewer parts mean fewer jobs to assemble workers.
The situation is a modern paradox in production. In order to create "jobs of the future", as UAW leaders refer to them, GM and other automakers are expected to have to cut or change many of the existing ones today.
New jobs are likely to pay more than those who replace, but require more skilled workers and additional training from traditional assembly work, something the union has said its members are ready and willing to do.
"I will tell you that UAW is excited to be a part of the developing workforce: EV propulsion and energy storage; autonomous vehicles and related components, new mobility companies and joint ventures, "UAW President Gary Jones said when opening negotiations with GM in July.
Whether automakers and UAW are ready for such a change in production can be determined last year, the automaker announced plans to halt production and potentially shut down up to four US assembly plants, including major assembly plants in Ohio and Michigan,
As part of a potential deal with the union, the company told union negotiators that it could produce an all-electric pickup to the Detroit-Hamtramk Assembly in Michigan and production of all-electric battery cells vehicles in or near the Lordstown assembly in Ohio, according to a person familiar with the conversations.The Lordstown plant closed in March and Detroit-Hamtramck is scheduled to halt production in January.
The new job, according to details of a potential union deal released by GM on September 1
"I've been in electric vehicle factories, they don't take that many assembly workers," said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst at Autotrader who visited the Audi E-Tron plant. in Belgium last year. "It's very quiet. There aren't many people in the factory because basically you build the vehicle, then slide the battery under the floor in their case and there are far fewer parts."
All-electric pickup and battery production are part of GM's plan to introduce 20 new, all-electric models by 2023, eventually phasing out gasoline and diesel vehicles.
Not only GM makes these movements.
Job losses would expire. in other countries. Even a moderate switch to electric mobility could leave up to 7,530 Germans unemployed by 2030, even after the creation of 25,000 new jobs, the German Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering said in a study last year.
Ford CEO Jim Hackett, in discussing Electric Investor Engines in 2017, told investors that switching to electric could shorten the time it takes to build an electric car by 30%, compared to conventional vehicles, according to Reuters.
Hyundai Automobile Union boss Ha Bo-young also said, "There are no fleshly words when he told Reuters last year that the company's switch to electric could cut jobs in the Korean automaker by up to 70%.
"Electric cars are disasters. They are evil. We are very nervous," he said at the time.


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* Date : 2017-02-16
Business Daily Ep.485
Data theft via overseas buying
Buying products from overseas directly via the internet has become hot among cost-savvy consumers in Korea. This has also led to more credit card data theft, reminding consumers to be more vigilant while online.
Commercial vs. state-run banks
As entire industries undergo restructuring amid a low interest rate environment, the fear was that Korea's major banks would take a hit. The reality is turning out to be quite different. Commercial banks are turning around profits, while state-run banks are being bogged down by the costs. We discuss the why with an expert.


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Can Virtual Reality Help Sports Fans Experience Game Day In A Post COVID-19 World?
(CBS Local/CBSLA)- "If I really do want to establish a feeling that I'm there, then there needs to be some capacity for me to make a decision to move myself forwards, backwards, around and in doing that, for there to be a response. The responsiveness and that resonance has to be established and maintained in order for it to feel like a live event."- Jessica Brillhart, Director of USC's Institute for Creative Technologies MxR (mixed reality) Lab.
What will sports, and sports fandom, look like in a post COVID-19 world? While states across America and countries around the world continue to re-open, large gatherings remain a non-starter. The sports events and live concerts of old, in which tens or hundreds of thousands of fans all crowded into a stadium, appear a long ways off.
At the moment, that's just fine, with fans eager to see live action, even if it means empty stadiums with just the players on the field. But, at a certain point, the live broadcast of a game with no fans can seem eerie or not quite complete. One needs to only look so far as John Ourand's recent piece for the Sports Business Journal discussing network executives wanting to pipe in crowd noise to their broadcasts.
In searching for that stadium atmosphere experience, is it possible that virtual reality could fill the void?
"There's a lot of broadcasts and clubs that have already experimented with VR already particularly clubs like Manchester City* and Juventus for example," said Dr. Alex Fenton, a lecturer in Digital Business at the University of Salford Business School in the United Kingdom. "City and Juventus created apps within Oculus. And then the broadcasters like Sky (Sports) and Netflix are offering VR experiences. These seem to be a value added to the subscription rather than paying for standalone matches."
In the U.S., the Minnesota Vikings created their own app, "Vikings VR" within the Oculus store a few years ago to give their fans that additional perspective. But, the headsets, while helpful for gaming and some interactive experiences, are likely out of reach for the everyday sports consumer. Prices start at around $200 and go up from there depending on the model. But, they're not the only way to get the experience of a stadium or game in a virtual environment.
Jessica Brillhart, the Director of USC's Institute for Creative Technologies MxR Lab, points to audio AR (augmented reality) as a way to bridge the gap for fans unable to make it to the arena who still want a gameday experience. Prior to joining USC's MxR lab, Brillhart's Vrai Pictures debuted a spatial audio platform called Traverse at South by Southwest in 2019 that allowed users to move around a space in which a mix of the Elvis Presley song "Power of My Love" played from various viewpoints. As a user moved around the space, getting closer to, or further away from, different parts of Presley's band, the volume and sounds they heard emulated what it would be like walking around the studio while the song was recorded.
You can see how that kind of experience would be translatable to sports. Brillhart points out that players could be mic'ed up, in a similar way they are now, but then mapped to the room the fan is in allowing them as they use the app to move towards or away from different players on points of the field. Or, in another case, sports leagues could take the number of people watching their stream and use that data to deliver a soundscape that emulates what it would sound like in a stadium filled with that many people.
"You can know with any sort of live stream, how many people are watching and say 10,000 people are watching a particular game. Knowing that data then increases the level of the crowd by x-amount," said Brillhart. "So you actually hear a realistic interpretation of the data of the amount of people that are there. You're finding new ways of thinking about what an audience is."
Imagine for a minute, you are in your favorite team's home stadium. The sounds that come with that, from the shouting of the program vendor (programs, get your programs here!) to the growing tension in the crowd as a near scoring opportunity unfolds, could all be theoretically programmed within an app to augment the viewing experience. And all that the consumer would need is a phone and a pair of headphones.
In a similar vein, Beyond Sports, a virtual reality company based in the Netherlands, is closing in on debuting an app that would allow fans to design their own viewing experience down to allowing them to insert a virtual avatar of themselves into the virtual world.
"I think what will change after COVID is that there is also a new generation stepping up as in Gen Z's turn is up and they will start spending money on sports. I think the biggest gamechanger will be in that. It's not just that coronavirus happened to them, it's that they just like to consume sports completely different than the generation before them. I think that's what we're tapping into rather than just having a VR experience," said Sander Schouten, CEO and Co-Founder of Beyond Sports. "Basically what we're going to launch soon here in Holland and then spread out over the world is we're going to have virtual worlds where you can interact, engage with in a different way, tailor made for a Gen Z environment. Meaning, if you want to be the star of the show, you just add your own virtual character with your own face into that environment and then you can share it as if you made that final shot to win the game."
Schouten's company is focused on gearing its soon to launch app to the Gen Z experience, but they are also in the virtual reality space from a broadcast perspective. They've worked with Sky Sports and NBC Sports, among others, on presenting new viewpoints and perspectives to the viewers that allow for a greater appreciation of the speed of the action on the field.
Thinking about new ways of engaging the audience is something that Dr. Fenton and his colleague, Professor Andy Miah, Chair in Science Communication and Future Media at the University of Salford, have thought a lot about. For Miah, the current crisis has him wondering if the relationship between fans and their favorite players/sports will change in new ways.
"How do you make sure people feel like they're enjoying themselves, having an experience that is worthwhile? And that they're happy to certainly pay for it clearly, but keep coming back to at least," said Miah. "I suppose we can see a lot of how this works in Formula E racing, it's quite instructive with the idea of fan boosts. If you're a spectator of Formula E racing, you can cheer for the driver you think is the best and the ones that receive the biggest cheer will receive a performance boost inside the car. It's really fascinating to me in this time is how this challenging situation could give rise to a completely different relationship between the athlete and the spectator."
We have seen examples of that already in the various esports tournaments that leagues have been putting on to entertain fans in their absence. The NBA and ESPN held the 2K League with NBA players. In Europe, there was the Quarantine Cup, featuring soccer stars of various clubs playing in a FIFA 20 tournament to determine a champion.
But, part of the experience that still needs to be worked on is the social aspect. As a fan, attending a game can be as much about the tailgate or the pre-game festivities as it is the play on the field. How does VR capture that? It's a tougher nut to crack.
"It's a tricky situation where can you ever truly replicate the exact stadium environment? There is the whole pre-game thing when you're walking to the stadium and, depending on the age, you have a couple of drinks. You go, you have the stadium experience in the stadium and go through all of these motions. Can you actually have the same thing," asked Konstantin Dieterle, head of business development for Beyond Sports. "Or is it something where you don't try to just copy it, or can you give them a story where it is, 'hey this is something additional.' That's something that we're trying to do. It's not just, 'hey here is the substitute, put on the VR headset and it's like it is in the stadium' because, in the end, it's not really going to be the same."
Dr. Fenton agrees, saying that while there is some experimentation with VR experiences, it tends to be more as an additional experience to the normal presentation.
"The technology is not quite here yet but it might be something where you have the next version of Google Glass where you have holograms in an augmented reality experience," said Dr. Fenton. "But I don't think the technology is quite there yet where you would be able to sell season tickets or individual tickets in a VR experience."
Professor Miah agrees, though he points out, like the folks at Beyond Sports, it's worth considering what the next generation of sports fans is going to want from their viewing experience in the process.
"The experience of being in a stadium is a multi-sensorial experience where your attention is able to wander in different directions. I think VR is an alternative experience certainly," said Miah. "I think that one of the things we need to consider is not so much what today's spectator enjoys or sees as their traditional game experience but, the kind of habits that are being developed by younger people who are the next generation of spectators. I think we can see that there is an expectation for their to be a digital offer around sports. Just going and watching isn't enough. People feel they want to share and are involved to some extent."
As with most real world problems, there is no one perfect solution. But, a combination of these technologies can give us an insight into what the future for fans may be.
"I'm of the belief that the highest fidelity visual representation, while great, isn't necessarily what we're trying to get at which is the feeling of the presence of someone else. I think the presence of another person isn't as photorealistic as we think it is, it's more in the energy, the sounds, the way they resonate with you there's a lot of stuff going on," said Brillhart. "There's something there where audio as the general fan's way of getting into things, the box seats as something more high tech. You could also leverage things like web VR or even on your phone incorporate different views. It's going to be a play of a couple different technologies, but they have to be accessible and they have to be low barrier for entry."
(*a previous version of this piece mistakenly identified Manchester United rather than Manchester City here. The issue has been corrected.)
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You’ve probably heard of Herbalife (HLF) before… whether it be from a friend who tried to get you into the company, or if you watched the Netflix documentary, Betting on Zero, starring billionaire hedge fund investor Bill Ackman.
Heck, there was even a CNBC Special — the “Battle Of The Billionaires” — featuring Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman— all centered around Herbalife.
Bill Ackman came out at the Sohn Conference in 2012 and attacked Herbalife with a 300+ slide presentation, and put his money where his mouth was.
He noted HLF was a pyramid scheme doomed to fail. However, 5 years after his massive bet against the company… he had to take his licks and unwind his position—losing nearly $1B for his investors.
Icahn won the battle… and that’s because he didn’t let his emotions get in the way.
Not only that, but he used the options market to establish his bullish opinion in HLF. He was able to become a corporate “insider” on the cheap, and of course, he knew what his downside was.
When it comes to trading and investing, Icahn is what many would call a genius… and he got out of a chunk of his position when the time was right.
It was what seemed like a well-timed trade, but since he was close to the company… he may have known something.
There’s something we could learn about the Herbalife battle… and I think it could help us tap into the minds of the Wall Street whales.
Herbalife’s Intricate Business Model
Herbalife is currently available in 94 different countries, the company’s global presence is what got Herbalife into a $20M jam for misleading investors.
You see, slinging Herbalife products in the U.S. and most places around the world is a whole different game than trying to sell those shakes in China. China’s laws allow people to directly sell their products. However, the structure of the company is completely forbidden.
Herbalife is a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, technically not a pyramid scheme (that’s why it’s 100% legal in the U.S).
Basically, the way MLMs work is simple — it’s recruiting, on top of recruiting, on top of recruiting, with bit sales sprinkled in. The more people someone recruits to sell Herbalife products, and the more they recruit, the more money they make.
93 countries let Herbalife follow this typical format. However, China is a whole different game because MLMs are against the law.
HLF Didn’t Care About Investors
What’s worse is investors didn’t get informed about the risks involved in Herbalife’s unusual compensation procedure in China, which brought rise to the matter. Of course, the company didn’t care. Instead, they tried to cover their tracks.
Herbalife made a statement explaining its operations in China, “Our independent service providers in China are compensated with service fees instead of the distributor allowances and royalty overrides utilized in our traditional marketing program.”
Herbalife even alleged that its service providers were paid an hourly wage, a substantial difference from anywhere else in the world.
The issue here was the fact the company’s statement was 100% false and misleading to investors.
Herbalife’s compensation model in China is damn similar to the other 93 countries it operates in. In fact, the compensation is almost exactly the same despite the MLM issue.
Smells fishy, right?
Herbalife’s Web Of Lies
Here’s how they tried to fineness the MLM issue.
HLF calculated the pay in the Chinese market based on downline purchases, with bit of accounting adjustments. The result being the pay for selling Herbalife in China is almost the exact same as MLM friendly countries.
To top off Herbalife’s web of lies, China’s service providers didn’t even have to list their hours or describe the work they did on the invoices they sent in! The company kindly provided pre-printed sheets with hours for services rendered. All they needed to do was sign the papers.
Why this is all so important is Herbalife’s public fillings had China as Herbalife’s LARGEST region of revenue growth from 2012 to 2015.
In 2015 it accounted for 19% of all worldwide sales. In 2017 and 2018 it accounted for about 20% of Herbalife’s sales worldwide. In 2017 and 2018 China had around $886 million and $1 billion in net sales.
Think about it, all these numbers came from little pre-printed invoices to skirt pyramid scheme laws.
Former Herbalife salespeople in China spoke out and noted the invoices they received didn’t even remotely resemble the actual hours they worked. Most salespeople’s invoices typically had identical hours to that of the Herbalife text they received telling them their eligible hours.
In 2015 and 2016, out of the 389,539 Herbalife salespeople who submitted invoices in China, only .05% of the payments differed from the texted amount.
Herbalife cruised along with this business model for years, reporting bogus numbers and making false public statements.
Finally, after 6 years Herbalife got caught.
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Herbalife with making false and misleading public statements about China’s service provider compensation. Which in turn denied investors of the vital data they needed to fully gauge the risk of investing in Herbalife stock.
Herbalife tapped out to the SEC’s findings that it violated specific anti-fraud and reporting provisions under the federal securities laws. But it never admitted or denied a thing. However, Herbalife had to chalk up a $20 million penalty as well as cease and desist from making this error again. That’s just a slap on the wrist for the multi-billion dollar company.
How To Profit Off The Backs Of Wall Street “Insiders”
The thing is, if you were able to spot Carl Icahn’s massive buying in HLF… you could’ve locked down a monster winner.
He started to purchase call options in Herbalife and started off with a 13% stake in the company, controlling a whopping 11M shares. He more than doubled his money at one point on a portion of his options position… and you actually could’ve taken part if you had the right strategy in place.
When it comes to the options market, it becomes very hard to hide your moves. Every options trade that goes off on U.S. exchanges must be reported to the Options Price Reporting Authority (OPRA).
That means the information is there for the world to see. The only thing we don’t know is why the Wall Street whales are placing these massive bets… and of course, we don’t know who is actually behind the trade.
When I see a massive options order hits the tape, all I know is the someone is buying and I should keep an eye on the trade.
Let me show you how it all works.
I spotted a massive options order go off in Beyond Meat (BYND).
A massive options player swept up about 1,000 calls in BYND… and there was a potential catalyst event. Not only that, but the chart signaled BYND could catch a massive bounce.
BYND found support and the next resistance level to keep an eye on was around $85. So I figured that the stock could get there real quick. Not only that, but if it broke above that level, it could test the $100 level and fill the gap.
Here’s what happened with BYND just a few days after I got in…
Right to that resistance level!
Now, rather than holding onto the trade (the expiration date on the calls I purchased was fast approaching), I decided to take my profits and re-evaluate the play.
I was able to lock in a 33% winner, but some of my clients were able to do much better than I did…
I had a 260% win on BYND calls, my largest ever, so no, not sleepy LOL ~ Craig M.
How were we able to lock in this massive winner?
By using my Dollar Ace strategy. It’s designed to sniff out the moves of Wall Street’s best options traders, and we can legally ride their coattails.
My Dollar Ace scanner flags down smart-money bets and tells me what they’re buying and the type of move they’re expecting from the trade.
By tracking their footprints, we’re able to get into the same trades, and profit alongside them. If you’re ready to take advantage of this unfair edge in the options market, click here


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RAMONA, Calif. (KGTV) - In the past decade, the Ramona Valley has become an unlikely destination for wine enthusiasts, with nearly 30 wineries opening.
The boom started in 2010 when the county eased regulations, allowing smaller wineries the ability to open tasting rooms.
"That was a tremendous boost," said Marilyn Kahle.
Kahle and her husband, Steve, own Woof'n Rose Winery and they've been making wine since 2007.
"This is a lot of hard work and it's a passion," she said. "If you don't have the passion, it's really not worth it."
Click map image to enlarge
This weekend, the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association is hosting it's "Summer of Wine Kick Off," with wineries staying open longer hours and offering specials on tasting. They're hoping it's the start of another banner year for the industry in Ramona.
For more information, visit www.ramonavalleyvineyards.com.


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The Indian smartphone manufacturer Intex who is well known for providing affordable affordable smartphones launched one latest budget 4G smartphone Intex Aqua Strong 5.1+ in Indian market at the cost of Rs.5490. It is...
- Oppo A7 with dual rear cameras, 4230mAh battery announced in China @ 1599 yuan (US$ 230)
- Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) User Manual PDF Guide Download
- Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) with quad rear cameras launched in Russia at RUB39,990 ($605)
- Sharp Aquos R2 Compact with dual-notch design announced in Japan
- Motorola Moto G7 received FCC Certification, specs leaked


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Google has updated its privacy and terms and conditions policy to spell out exactly how it will use your publicly available data to train and improve its AI models. As noted by Techspot, the policy discloses that any information from publicly available sources (i.e., local newspapers) will be collected and included in the Google search engine index and made available to AI to improve Google Translate, Bard and Cloud AI capabilities.
The policy explicitly states: “we may collect information publicly available online or from other public sources to train Google’s AI models and build products and features such as Google Translate, Bard and Cloud AI capabilities. Or, if your company’s information is displayed on a website, we can index it and display it in Google services.
Judging by the fact that Bard, Google’s answer to ChatGPT, has been accused of being a “pathological liar,” it is probably a good thing that it is being trained with more data. As for how the tech giant collects data for its AI, that may open the door to a few headaches for Google, as not all publicly available data is considered fair game and there is currently a lot of legal gray area with what can and should not be used to improve AI systems.


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Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Joe Weisenthal needs to start reading my Weekly Indicators column again
- by New Deal democrat
I guess Joe Weisenthal of Business Insider must have stopped reading my Weekly Indicators columns, because otherwise he would have known two weekends ago that Gallup personal spending is at its highest since 2008, instead of posting it on Monday, and he would have known about the Spring spring two months ago instead of yesterday.
By the way, Joe, our new agreement with XE.com allows Business Insider to pick up the items we publish there, so long as credit for the original publication goes to XE along with a link.
So BI readers could have found out about the downturn in corporate profits, and why it isn't a big deal yet, last week instead of waiting to Hussman and Shedlock yesterday to claim it as a harbinger of DOOOOOM!
P.S.: On another matter, the new post-recession high in vehicle sales in May is about the 101st confirmation that there isn't going to be any economic downturn this year. According to Prof. Edward Leamer's research, car sales are typically the second domino to fall, before the onset of a recession, after housing. Typically vehicle sales have turned down over half a year before the onset of any recession.


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Royal Caribbean was forced to postpone some July sailings and push back its June volunteer test cruise after eight crew members tested positive for COVID-19, the company's president and CEO announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening.
The positive cases were discovered during routine testing of crew onboard the brand-new Odyssey of the Seas, wrote Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean's president and CEO. Of the eight people who tested positive, six were asymptomatic and two had mild symptoms.
As a result of the positive tests, Royal Caribbean has pushed back its inaugural Odyssey of the Seas sailing from July 3 to July 31 out of Fort Lauderdale. Additionally, Bayley said the June test cruise would be rescheduled.
A spokesperson for the cruise line told Travel + Leisure a new date for the test sailing has not been set yet.
The company still plans to sail several other cruises out of international and U.S. ports in June and July.
The positive tests were discovered after the ship's 1,400 crew were vaccinated on June 4, but not before they will be considered fully vaccinated on June 18. All crew are now quarantined for 14 days "to protect the remaining crew and prevent any further cases."
The cruise line has made vaccines optional for guests on most sailings, but requires them for crew.
"Two steps forward and one step back!" Bayley said, adding, "Guests and travel partners will be notified and given several options to consider. While disappointing, this is the right decision for the health and well-being of our crew and guests."
Last month, Royal Caribbean became the first U.S. cruise line to be approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin test sailings ahead of a summer restart.
The CDC requires cruise lines to sail "simulated voyages" with volunteer passengers before resuming normal operations out of the United States to test COVID-19-related protocols. The agency has made an exception for any cruise that sails with 98% of crew and 95% of passengers fully vaccinated.
Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
Source: Read Full Article


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A small Illinois manufacturer of telecommunications equipment has taken on Japanese giant Nippon Electric Co. Ltd. (NEC) in a lawsuit that could help determine how foreign firms will be allowed to compete in the rapidly expanding U.S. Market for electronic communications systems.
MCL Inc., a $5-million maker of high-powered microwave amplifiers and satellite communication devices in LaGrange, Ill., has joined with Aydin Corp., a larger supplier based in Fort Washington, Pa., in charging that NEC sold equipment in the United States at prices far less than their fair market price in Japan -- a practice known as "dumping."
The complaint stems from contracts for powerful amplifiers used to transmit signals to satellites from earth-stations. Communications Satellite Corp., known as Comsat, awarded the Japanese firm two contracts in January 1981. MCL and Aydin had submitted bids to Comsat for negotiation. They were both unsuccessful. The lawsuit charges NEC with violating the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, which requires companies to price products sold in the United States no lower than fair value price, the price at which they would be sold at home. The two companies argue that NEC sold the amplifiers to Comsat for nearly 40% less than Japanese fair value prices.
The case may be crucial to the domestic telecommunications industry, contends David M. F. Lambert, the Washington, D.C., attorney representing MCL and Aydin. Having won the key Comsat contract, Lambert maintains that Japanese competitors have captured a major share of the U.S. market for high-powered amplifiers used in satellite transmission equipment for the next few years. And, he adds, "they now have the potential to gain a significant advantage in the markets for ground receivers, too."
MCL's decision to engage in legal action was not easy, given its size and limited resources, says Robert E. Morgan, president of the family-owned company. But high-powered amplifiers account for half of the firm's sales. With MCL so highly dependent on volume production, Morgan says he would "have to phase out of the business in two or three years if NEC can get away with this kind of thing." Adds Morgan, "The important thing was to stand up and be counted." Legal fees amounting to more than $100,000 have been footed by the two firms with help from other members of the Electronic Industries Association.
If U.S. trade officials find fault, they can impose duties on the Japanese products in order to bring prices to fair market levels. A preliminary study found NEC guilty of dumping, and the International Trade Administration levied a tariff of 16.6% of equipment value. Whether or not they are successful, the companies must absorb the legal costs; neither company will receive any damages. Says Morgan, "All we want is equal competition in the marketplace."


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Change is ahead for island businesses at both ends of town, with Subway and the building that holds the laundromat and frozen yogurt shop for sale and Maven Mercantile closing.
Vinny Kumar and his wife, Bneeda Kaur, have owned the island’s Subway franchise for the past eight years. They employ a team of six people in the sandwich shop, which is Vashon’s only fast-food chain restaurant.
Kumar declined to state a price for the franchise but said business in the shop has been so good that it has enabled him to buy two additional Subway franchises and a house in Auburn, Washington, where he and his wife moved a year and a half ago. They still own a rental property on Vashon.
His goal, he said, is to own 10 Subways in the Auburn area — an expansion that would be easier to manage without the commute to Vashon.
Kumar said he is grateful to islanders for supporting his restaurant and hopes to sell it to a local family. Kumar and Kaur are the fourth and most long-standing owners of the franchise since Subway opened on Vashon in 2003.
As for his own menu choice at Subway, Kumar said he likes all the restaurant’s sandwiches, but typically chooses a vegetarian option.
Kumar can be reached for inquiries about buying the business at 425-268-2541 or email@example.com.
Just steps away from Subway, since July, a “for sale” sign has been advertising the building where Suds and Kenny’s Brain Freeze are located. It is owned by the Parks and Sudduth families. Doug Sudduth said they have fielded a few inquiries, but have not received any offers.
“We are just waiting for the right person,” he said.
Suds Laundromat opened in November of 2015, and Kenny’s Brain Freeze opened shortly after, in February, 2016.
Sudduth noted that the owners are open to selling just the building or one or both businesses with it. He added that his mom, Rebecca Parks, runs the business and is ready to retire.
But islanders who are concerned about losing the laundromat should not be worried, Sudduth said. If a new owner did not want to keep the laundromat in its current location, the families would move that business elsewhere.
“No one is losing the laundromat,” he said.
At the other end of town, Maven Mercantile is closing its doors, today, Sept. 26, but the business will continue delivering meals to islanders’ doorsteps each Monday. Islander Heidi Finley opened Maven Mercantile in August 2017 and sold food to go, with a focus on nutritious prepared meals, including hearty entrees, soups and salads, as well as handmade granola and cookies and an assortment of pantry items.
The island store is part of what Finley calls “the Maven group.” It includes the original Maven Mercantile in Burien, which will remain open, Maven Market and Maven Meals, an online meal delivery service that serves the greater Seattle, Tacoma and Eastside areas.
In a press release, Finley said that it was a pleasure to meet so many islanders through the shop, but growth of her business necessitated the change.
“While the Vashon Mercantile is thriving, the primary arm of our business trifecta, Maven Meals, continues to grow rapidly, and production efforts must be streamlined to meet the increasing demand,” she said, adding that the island is under served by convenient fresh food delivery services. “We’re thrilled to offer the convenience of healthy, quick meals to the community.”
Islanders who are interested in food deliveries should place their orders at mavenmeals.com.


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Solae, part of the DuPont Nutrition & Health business, and the Italian company Enervit recently conducted a consumer survey amongst 527 active adults—59 percent females and 41 percent males—during the trade show Rimini Wellness 2012.
The survey shows that the overall perception of soya protein in this segment is positive as 77 percent of them rated their perception of soya protein as Good or Excellent while only 2 percent rated their perception as Negative.
This is confirmed when asking these consumers which are the perceived barriers to soya protein consumption. More than 90 percent of participants see no barriers to soya consumption for active nutrition.
The main soya benefits mentioned are No-cholesterol (53 percent), useful for heart health (44 percent), useful for weight management (42 percent) and No-lactose (40 percent), while the concepts of aiding in satiety and muscle recovery still need to be better communicated (respectively 18 percent and 14 percent). “Once again”, commented Dr Stefano Frittoli, from Enervit Marketing Department, “this shows us that the end consumer understands the benefits that soya may bring for active nutrition.”
Many soya foods and soya protein in particular are low in saturated fat and are cholesterol free, making soya an ideal food choice for people who are looking to increase their protein consumption while trying to maintain a healthy diet and reduce cholesterol intake.
Finally, when asking which protein they would recommend for active nutrition between, soya, whey, casein, or a blend, 51 percent of the surveyed consumer stated they would recommend soya while 43 percent of them would recommend a blend of protein.
This is supportive for the findings of the clinical study Effect of Protein Blend vs. Whey Protein Ingestion on Muscle Protein Synthesis Following Resistance Exercise, presented at the Experimental Biology 2012 by Dr. Blake Rasmussen and colleagues. “This clinical study confirms that consuming a blend of proteins (soya, whey and casein) versus whey protein alone provides a prolonged delivery of amino acids to the muscles, making it optimal for consumption following resistance exercise,” said Dr. Rasmussen, professor and interim chair of the Department of Nutrition & Metabolism at the University of Texas Medical Branch and the senior author of this study. “The results of this study are critical for sports nutrition consumers and regularly active individuals.”
“Surveying consumers, as we have been doing in Rimini, allows us to better understand the perception of soya amongst consumer, but also shows us that active consumers understand the importance of getting the right nutrients as almost 75 percent of the consumers surveyed regularly consume nutrition bars, snacks or beverages”, said Greg Paul, global marketing director for sports nutrition and weight management, Solae.


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Leave a Comment
A lot of people follow and hang onto just about every word that Xbox's head honcho Phil Spencer types onto the Twitter meta-verse. His latest set of tweets actually praised Nintendo for both the Nintendo NX and the upcoming Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Gamespot is reporting that Phil Spencer replied on Twitter to someone asking him about his opinion about the Nintendo NX, stating...
When Nintendo launches a new console it's an exciting time for the industry. [...] And Zelda looked good at E3,
It usually is an exciting time for the industry because it usually opens the door for something radically different from what we're used to. They really made waves back in the mid aughts with the Wii, given that it was the first home console to successfully utilize motion controls in a way that was both intuitive and (sometimes) fun. The Wii managed to become a runaway success with its both its games and hardware, with titles like Mario Kart and Wii Sports selling tens of millions of copies the world around.
Nintendo's success with the Wii was so forward thinking that both Microsoft and Sony tried adopting similar technologies further into their lifespans with the PlayStation Move and the Xbox Kinect. Both devices struggled to find an audience (and fun games), but managed to survive into the eighth generation nonetheless.
The PlayStation Move is now making a resurgence on the market this fall given that they're required for the use of the PlayStation VR headset. The Kinect, sadly, has been left by the wayside. After being bundled with the Xbox One at launch, and was at one point supposed to be a mandatory peripheral to have on in order to even use the Xbox One, the device was later unbundled from the Xbox and has not had any major titles made for it since launch.
Nintendo took a different route, opting to focus on tablet-style gameplay for their Wii U. It was a big gamble that did not pay off. The lack of innovation coupled with confusion among casual consumers left many people ambivalent to the Wii U. The system had an awful 2013 before rebounding somewhat in 2014 with the release of Mario Kart 8 and later on Super Smash Bros. Nintendo is now looking to move forward with their upcoming Nintendo NX.
No one knows what they're planning on doing with the device, but many suspect some sort of integration with mobile devices. Others are thinking that maybe they're getting into the VR game, even though Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has denied those rumors.
One thing we do know is that it will be a powerful enough system to run the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The open-world Zelda title has been receiving a lot of positive feedback from gamers and media alike, giving Nintendo a good heads-up on what they can expect from the sales of the title on both the Wii U and Nintendo NX next year. The only thing left for them to do is actually unveil the Nintendo NX.


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Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com
Amazon has removed nearly all listings for Tablo digital video recorder (DVR) devices from its site on the grounds of copyright infringement, according to reports.
Tablo DVRs, manufactured by Canadian company Nuvvyo, collect over-the-air HDTV and can stream live content or record programs to watch later.
They have been labelled part of the so-called “cord cutting” trend, which sees more users than before cancelling traditional cable and satellite-based TV subscription packages in favour of alternative, cheaper avenues of accessing TV content.
An email Amazon sent to sellers of the devices said they had been “identified as a streaming media player that is facilitating copyright infringement”, according to Cord Cutter News.
Nuvvyo told the site that it was “aware” of the issue and was “working with Amazon towards a positive resolution”.
“It looks like our devices have been improperly categorised in their system as streaming media devices instead of DVRs. Tablo is an over-the-air DVR, the same type of device as the Amazon Fire TV Recast, and is 100% legal,” said Nuvvyo vice president of marketing, Renata Scorsone.
“We’re working as fast as we can to resolve this with the Amazon team in order to get Tablo DVRs back in the marketplace for over-the-air fans,” Scorsone said.
At the time of publication, many listings for Tablo devices remain inaccessible on Amazon.
Tablo, DVRs, Amazon, copyright infringement, cord cutting, TV, television, Nuvvyo


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Paleo Diet Helps with Weight Loss and Health Improvements
Hop in a time machine and travel back to the Paleolithic period. It's a point in human history that dates from 10,000 to 2.5 million years ago. You'll be sans your smartphone, wifi connection, fast food, and TV-show binge watching. But that just might be a good thing.
Why? In a new study presented at the Endocrine Society annual meeting, researchers identified some key health benefits of the eating habits of people who lived during the Paleolithic period. The eating habits of early humans have been popularized today by what's known as the Paleo Diet.
So what's so special about eating like a caveman? No fast food, sugar-sweetened sodas, chocolate candy bars, and mammoth-sized milkshakes, that's what. The Paleo Diet is based on eating like early humans which included foods such as lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and a very limited amount of dairy products, grains, and beans.
Going "Paleo" may seem like nothing more than a popular fad diet. But researchers have identified some specific benefits of eating this way. In a recent study, researchers tracked the eating habits of 35 obese women for two years, who committed to following the Paleo Diet. They found that going "Paleo" helped them lose weight, lower cholesterol, cut their risk for diabetes, and reduce their risk for heart disease.
And it's not that hard to understand why. Today's typical diet includes an excess of processed foods high in manufactured ingredients, sugar, sodium, and bad fats. Eating less processed foods and more whole foods like early humans is good for your overall health. Researchers did point out that a strict Paleo Diet long-term may not be ideal, because it lacks essential nutrients you need in your diet that come from low-fat dairy products, beans, and whole grains.
Some of the restricted foods include No Sugar or Artificial Sugar, No Junk Food or sweets, No Grains, including quinoa and brown rice, No Legumes/Beans, No Dairy, and No Alcohol.That last one is a deal-breaker for those who love a glass of wine with dinner. But don't worry, you can still enjoy Portion Controlled meals. You won’t have to do any hunting, gathering, or cooking on an open fire. We’ve made these meals from fresh ingredients, and they can be ready to eat in just minutes. So go ahead, clean up your diet to lose weight and improve your health!