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For years, the only option for serious gamers has been Intel. AMD’s chips lagged far behind, to the point where the only question to be asked about desktop processors was i5 or i7.
With its latest generation of chips, called Ryzen, AMD is changing all that. According to the numbers (although we don’t have real-world tests just yet), Ryzen will offer performance that matches the highest-end Core i7 processors, but for half the price. Time to get excited.
The top-end Ryzen 1800X costs $500, which is still not cheap. But it compares to Intel’s Core i7-7700K, and it compares favorably: 8 cores, 16 threads, and a power draw of just 90W, compared to the i7’s 140W. According to AMD’s numbers, that will all allow the 1800X to outperform the i7-7700K by about 10 percent on multithreading tasks. If true, that’s going to be a problem for Intel.
We’ll have to wait just another week to know precisely how AMD’s chip fares in the real world. Full details, pricing and sales all start on March 2nd, but before then we should have some reviews to look forwards to. Some gaming and component publications already have samples of the Ryzen 1800X to test, so it shouldn’t be long until we have benchmarks to answer all your burning questions.


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(PRESS RELEASE)_New Albany, IN, May 6, 2021 – American Queen Steamboat Company™ and Victory Cruise Lines, part of the Hornblower® Group, have announced a Spring Sale for 2022 where guests can save up to $2,000 per stateroom on select American Queen Steamboat Company 2022 itineraries and up to $4,000 per stateroom on Victory Cruise Line 2022 voyages when booked by June 30, 2021.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented demand for our 2021 sailings and are tracking to sell out the entire season,” shares Shawn Bierdz, president American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines. “Looking ahead to our 2022 season, we are excited to offer guests an added incentive as they continue to seek out our close-to-hoe, domestic itineraries.”
The U.S.-flagged American Queen Steamboat Company currently has two boats sailing the Mississippi and Ohio rivers – the newly christened American Countess™ and boutique-style American Duchess,™ which began operating at reduced capacity in March 2021. The river cruise line will resume service of a third vessel, th American Empress™ sailing the Columbia and Snake rivers, June 14, 2021.
The Spring Sale is also applicable to Victory Cruise Lines’ 2022 itineraries. Charting all-new routes in addition to returning favorites, Victory Cruise Lines guests will travel to some of North America’s most desirable destinations on immersive and educational itineraries. Guests who book by June 30, 2021, can maximize savings and enjoy up to $4,000 off per stateroom on select 2022 Victory Cruise Lines itineraries including the Ocean Victory and its inaugural season in Alaska, as well as new itineraries to Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula and sailings along the U.S. southeastern seaboard.
Spring Sale 2022: https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/special-offers/
For additional information on the Spring Sale 2022 and reservations, contact American Queen Steamboat Company or Victory Cruise Lines at 833-598-0119/ 833-926-1817, visit us online at www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com /www.victorycruiselines.com or call a travel agent.
Stay current with the latest news from the cruise lines.
Follow Gerry Barker
on All Things Cruise.

domain: news


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Despite the massive star power behind it, Jay Z’s new streaming service TIDAL isn’t faring so well in the App Store.
Following the star-studded launch in late March — which included a press conference with superstars like Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Usher, Kanye West and Dead Mau5 — the TIDAL app broke the U.S. iPhone top 20 chart.
Since then, just two weeks later, it’s fallen out of the top 700, cementing what many are calling a spectacular flop, reports BGR.
While TIDAL free falls, its rivals seem to be surging. On April 20th, both Pandora and Spotify held the No. 3 and No. 4 spots on the U.S. revenue chart, respectively. Furthermore, it was the first time two music streaming services have hit the top 4 in sales simultaneously.
Apple’s Beats Music is also in the Top 20 of the chart as well.


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Can you hear me now? Verizon joins co-working craze
140 West Street location in Manhattan operated by Grind
Would you like to buy a co-working desk with that cable package? Telecommunications firm Verizon opened its first shared office space at 140 West Street in Manhattan earlier this year and plans to open similar spaces in Boston, Washington D.C. and London.
Unlike WeWork [TRDataCustom], which has to rent office space from landlords, Verizon actually owns plenty of office buildings in neighborhoods popular with yuppies. At 140 West Street, for example, Verizon owns the lower 10 floors (it sold the top portion to developer Ben Shaoul, who is converting them into condos).
Does that mean WeWork has to worry about a serious corporate rival emerging? Probably not. Verizon — which has been negotiating to acquire Yahoo for $4.8 billion — sees its co-working venture mainly as a neat way to use excess space and get “engaged in the [tech] community to see what’s going on,” according to John Vazquez, the firm’s head of real estate. And it isn’t even managing the space — co-working provider Grind is taking care of that, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Still, Verizon’s example shows that major corporations are becoming more comfortable with the concept of co-working. Firms like KPMG and Microsoft have bought WeWork memberships for their employees. Meanwhile, Amazon offers free co-working spaces to promote its cloud-computing products. Earlier this year, Cadillac opened a co-working space in the ground floor of its Manhattan headquarters. The space also includes a coffee shop and art exhibits.
Telecom firm Sprint opened a tech accelerator in Kansas City. “There are a lot of smart people who are trying to figure out how to disrupt my industry,” Sprint’s vice president Kevin McGinnis told the Journal. “I need to be closer to them.” [WSJ] — Konrad Putzier


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Japanese haute cuisine restaurant Antcicada has long practiced the bugs-as-food philosophy that we’ve been looking at recently. Foodies rave about their cricket ramen, made with two kinds of local crickets, in which “[n]oodles, sauces and oils were also developed […] to express the charm of crickets in various ways.” At their new permanent Tokyo location, you can even wash down the umami-rich soup with their in-house cricket beer!
Antcicada is now poised to reach even further into Japanese cuisine with a new collaboration with traditional miso manufacturer Noda Miso Co.: a “soy” sauce that has no soy in it at all, but instead uses as its base — three guesses — crickets! Noda Miso president Yoshinari Noda came up with the idea after developing cricket miso five years ago, after a student in one of his miso-making classes asked if it was possible.
“Noda, an avid traveler who had tried insects overseas, found the bugs rich in protein, like soybeans. […]
The two-spotted cricket, which has a ‘strong savory and aromatic flavor,’ and the house cricket, characterized by its ‘delicate and elegant taste,’ were used.
The crickets were provided by a start-up company in Tokushima Prefecture and another Japanese company.
The insects were pulverized into powder and treated with rice malt and salt in wooden buckets at Noda Miso Syoten. No soybeans were used in the production.
‘The flavor makes a difference,’ said Noda, referring to the finished soy sauce. ‘I cannot come up with any good descriptions of the flavor other than “cricket-like,” but it resembles that of nam pla and other kinds of fish sauce.’”
As we’ve seen in this space before, much is being made of crickets and insects as a protein alternative to meat. But Antcicada and Noda Miso’s collab is the first time I’ve seen flavour as the main selling point. It’s an interesting (and to me, far more appealing) approach! I wonder how long we’ll wait before that attitude — and possibly this soy sauce — make it to our shores?
Much like a local dive bar who obeys liquor laws by keeping a dusty package of Miss Vickie’s behind the counter, UK pubs are getting creative in order to reopen after the end of their most recent lockdown. According to the law, a pub must be able to serve a “substantial meal” along with the pints of cask ale that form the usual menu. The trick is, many of these establishments don’t have kitchens, instead of serving light, cold foods or bar snacks, which means they must stay closed. This is bad news for the livelihoods of the folks who run these quintessentially British establishments.
To help their publican constituents, Conservative ministers are attempting to define the classic pub nosh, the scotch egg, as an official “substantial meal.” As a result, manufacturers of the sausage-and-breadcrumb-covered soft-boiled eggs are struggling to keep up with the sudden demand. In some markets, ten times the usual number of orders are coming in as the debate rages on. From The Guardian:
“[Gourmet scotch egg company] Happy Belly normally produces about 10,000 scotch eggs a week, said [owner Brendan] Baury. This week he has made 15,000 following a huge increase in enquiries from new customers, particularly kitchenless pubs. […]
Images and repeated discussions about scotch eggs on the news have also helped to drive up sales by putting the old-fashioned delicacy front and centre of people’s minds this week, according to Peter Nutt, who runs Nutts Scotch Eggs in Weston-super-Mare. ‘I think there was subliminal advertising going on. If you hear the phrase “scotch egg” mentioned enough times, it gets into your consciousness.’”
There’s a lot of fun British food out there; I’m glad this unique local snack is rising above the rest and bringing home the bacon for the UK’s small businesses. Whether or not this nosh qualifies as a “meal” is just semantics!
Just in time for National Cotton Candy Day!: A physicist from OIST University in Okinawa has repurposed a trusty piece of fairground culinary equipment — the humble cotton candy spinner — into an inexpensive, quick, and effective method of manufacturing N95 filters for respirators. N95s are the most effective anti-COVID masks, filtering 95% of viruses breathed into or out of the wearer. This comes from the filter material’s non-woven nature, and its electrostatic charge; both features which make it tricky and slow to produce, leading to shortages. Enter Mahesh Bandi, with his MacGyvered method!
First, Bandi heated common plastics, like those from water bottles, as the “sugar base” analogue in the cotton candy process. Then he loaded the cotton candy machine hopper with this material, and spun the liquified plastic into a complex matrix of threads, making a mesh. The spinning process already electrostatically charged the textile a bit; Bandi later charged it fully by holding it next to an air ionizer vent. And voila: an N95-quality filter created with the ease of a county fair snack!
“Bandi tested his filters by placing several inside of surgical masks. He found the filters worked very well, but the masks were not a viable option. He then designed his own mask to allow easy insertion and removal of the filters (each mask requires three) and used a 3-D printer to produce the result. Rigorous testing (which included microscopic inspections and comparisons with N95 filters) showed the filters to be as effective at preventing inhalation of SARS-CoV-2 viruses as standard N95-type respirators.”
Bandi has published his results in Proceedings of the Royal Society A; with no plans to mass manufacture these filters himself, he hopes by offering his research, another organization with greater resources can pick up the baton. Here’s hoping this fascinating and deliciously simple technique gets wider use and helps with potential mask shortages — with the winter we’re expecting, we’re going to need all the innovation we can get.
While we in North America remain squeamish, other parts of the world have long boasted tasty traditions of insect-based cuisine. Over here, food innovators have been laying the groundwork for the adoption of crickets, mealworms, and grasshoppers as an alternative protein for a while now, but progress is slow.
At least in the human food department: Purina, a sub-brand of (the still problematic) Nestlé is piloting a dog and cat food line that features chicken, fava beans, and black soldier fly larvae. (A second flavour — chicken, pig liver, and millet, is bug free.)
This is in response to a general consumer pivot to more environmentally friendly protein options. Meat production is a stunningly resource-heavy undertaking, and the methane that is a byproduct of cow digestion is a big contributor to climate change. Farming insects for food could popularize a low-impact protein source for both humans and their furry friends.
“Purina also plans to offer U.S. consumers an insect-based dry dog formula in January online, Lorie Westhoff, a Purina spokeswoman said. It will be rolled out along with several other formulas using protein alternatives, like the invasive Asian carp, she said. […]
Nestlé doesn’t have an estimate on the potential environmental impact of switching pets to a bug-based diet yet, the company told NPR. But they said they ‘generally see the need to diversify sources of protein in food for a variety of reasons, including environmental goals such as fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity.’”
As a dog owner and a foodie, I look forward to further developments in bug-based pet foods with interest. However, as a human, I’ll take anything Nestlé says it’s doing to be a moral entity with a giant grain of salt. Maybe I can learn from this industry change, and incorporate insects into the homemade food we cook up for our liege, Samson? Though he may be too picky; instead, I may have more luck flipping the script — and perhaps a burger with some of our sauce — and starting with us!
At the risk of becoming an all-chili-pepper, all-the-time newsletter, I’m bringing you more news this week from the capsaicin front. (Maybe it’s the wintery weather? I’m subconsciously seeking out all sources of heat…?)
A new study points to spicy pepper consumption as an overall mortality reducer, especially from cardiovascular or cancer-related causes. This study is the first-time chili’s blood-glucose-reducing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties have been looked at in concert, amalgamating the results of nearly 5000 (!) previous studies to create a bigger picture.
“The health and dietary records of more than 570,000 individuals in the United States, Italy, China and Iran were used to compare the outcomes of those who consumed chili pepper to those who rarely or never ate chili pepper. Compared to individuals who rarely or never ate chili pepper, the analysis found that people who ate chili pepper had:
These rates of reduction are stunning and immediately left me wanting to know more. But the study’s lead author, cardiologist Dr Bo Xu, says that this data is only a tantalizing taste (pun intended) of possible dietary influences of heart health and cancer prevention. In particular, future studies need to regularize exact amounts and type of chili peppers that net results, as well as other variables like study participant health info. Doing this will narrow down the “why” of chili’s effect on human health.
So, while the researchers work on their data and a final paper, I’ll kill the time by thinking about incorporating chili pepper into my diet more. While I still maintain I have nothing to prove in the spice-withstanding department, I’m happy to take a little heat for some potential health payoff. Maybe once my tolerance is up, the results will be in!
Soup season is coming for us! The colder temps and shorter days have prompted me to haul out my giant pot and start simmering some of my family’s favourites. (Not to toot my own horn, but my classic chicken soup is legendary.)
Soup is the great unifier: Not only do most individual humans like it, but every culture boasts its own unique bowls of goodness.
Especially Ukraine; or, so says chef Ievgen Klopotenko. The Kyiv restauranteur and TV host bristles at the longstanding Russian claim to borscht, which he believes to be a dish of Ukrainian origin. He is so passionate about the issue that he has founded a non-profit and brought in the big guns — UNESCO — to claim borscht for his own country, rather than a powerful state that still represents the culturally homogenizing USSR.
“After months of research to back up his claim, Klopotenko says his application is now supported by the Ukrainian government.
This, despite that the Russian Foreign Ministry tweeted last year that borscht is the country’s ‘most famous and beloved dishes.’
But Klopotenko wants to be clear that he is not looking to stir up his country’s already tense relationship with Russia over the dish. Since 2014, more than 13,000 people have been killed in Ukraine’s battle against Kremlin-supported militants in the country’s east, according to the Washington Post.
‘It’s not about fighting. It’s about how it is — that this dish is ours. It’s not Russian,’ Klopotenko said. ‘But Russians, they want to take that because they think that there is no such nation as Ukrainians.’”
Though this dispute seems small, it is symbolically huge, mixing ingredients like national identity, autonomy, and sovereignty in the simmering pot of international relations. But Klopotenko isn’t losing sight of the uniting force of soup. He believes that staking a Ukrainian claim in this small, tasty way, might serve to ease tensions between the two countries. (He also provides tips on what to look for in an authentic borscht: A sweet-sour balance and the inclusion of kvass, or fermented beet juice, for depth of flavour!)
I am inspired both politically and culinarily by Klopotenko’s quest. The latter is easier to respond to: The least I can do is try out an authentic borscht recipe, and see how we like it. Good thing my giant pot is still out and ready…!
I am wary of spicy foods. I’m not like those competitive Carolina-Reaper-eating maniacs; I have nothing to prove. I like a little bit of heat, but not so much it becomes an impediment to enjoying my dinner, rather than an enhancement. The problem with spice though is that it’s subjective — and once you tuck into that vindaloo, or taco, or mapo tofu, you are well past the point of no return.
Well, a team from Prince of Songkla University in Thailand (a country well-experienced in spicy cuisine) is here to save the cautious among us! They have invented an adorable widget that plugs into a smartphone, which can assess capsaicin levels of samples dropped into it, instantly. Shaped like a classic red chili, the portable device uses a paper sensor to soak up the chili pepper or food sample, and turn around a result that is then displayed on the smartphone screen. The technology behind this invention is tiny and fascinating. From the American Chemical Society:
“The paper-based electrochemical sensor within the device consisted of graphene nanoplatelets doped with nitrogen atoms to improve their electrical conductivity. When the team added a drop of diluted capsaicin to the sensor, the compound underwent oxidation and reduction reactions, producing an electrical current that the device detected. After optimizing the sensor, the researchers used it to determine capsaicin concentrations in six dried chili samples.”
The team focussed on portability, ease of use, and low cost. (While other capsaicin sensors do exist, they are too bulky and expensive to bring to the dinner table with you.) For me, this invention is a game-changer: no more guessing, tip-of-the-tongue-testing, or trying to decipher what the waiter really means by “medium.” Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on a commercial rollout of this device, but I await it with bated — and fiery — breath!
Finally, a scientific reason why I keep forgetting that bag of carrots in the back of my fridge until they turn into a mouldy, noodley tangle! Researchers at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands have shown one particular way in which humans have retained our “Stone age brains”: We are hardwired to remember the locations of calorie-dense foods far more accurately than “lighter” foods. Bye-bye, carrot sticks; hello carrot cake.
The study involved 512 participants, who were each guided through a room where the researchers had planted eight samples of actual foods or eight food scents (on cotton pads). The participants smelled the foods or food scents, and then rated them by how appealing they found them. Half of each kind of sample were high calorie (like brownies and potato chips), and half were low calorie (like apples and cherry tomatoes). When the participants were later asked to point out the samples on a map of the room, they were 30% more accurate at recalling the locations of the high-calorie samples — and 243% more accurate when the foods were real, instead of just scents.
“‘Our main takeaway message is that human minds seem to be designed for efficiently locating high-calorie foods in our environment,’ says Rachelle de Vries, a Ph.D. candidate in human nutrition and health at Wageningen University and lead author of the new paper. De Vries feels her team’s findings support the idea that locating valuable caloric resources was an important and regularly occurring problem for early humans weathering the climate shifts of the Pleistocene epoch. ‘Those with a better memory for where and when high-calorie food resources would be available were likely to have a survival — or fitness — advantage,’ she explains.”
Once upon a Pleistocene, this cool talent saved our bacon. But there is a downside for today’s humans. For those of us lucky enough to live where sugar and fat are readily available, the ancient instinct to zero in on it and eat as much as possible (lest we not find another source for months, or get gored by a mammoth tomorrow) is a contributing factor to the modern scourges of obesity and diabetes. Retraining our brains in a habit that is so deeply ingrained may not be possible — so I plan to rely on my frontal lobe writing me a sticky note on my fridge, that just says “CARROTS.” Once remembered, whether or not I eat them is another story…!
With Halloween approaching, DFC’s staff fancies are lightly turning to thoughts of… CANDY! We’ll likely be keeping the traditional bowl by the front door to ourselves though, as celebrations all over are in upheaval because of COVID-19. (Besides, given our rural location, we probably wouldn’t be handing out the good stuff to the assorted Black Panthers and mermaids and Baby Yodas hoping to score big anyway.)
Which may be a good thing, given news that has come out about a particular type of candy’s very particular type of lethality. A 54-year-old construction worker in Massachusetts died last month after consuming his favourite sweet, black licorice, at the staggering rate of “a bag and a half every day for a few weeks.” According to doctors, the man’s heart stopped due to an arrhythmia caused by low potassium — the direct result of consuming an excess of glycyrrhizic acid. Glycyrrhizic acid comes from licorice root, which can be used in a variety of foods, both obvious, and scarily not.
“‘It’s more than licorice sticks. It could be jelly beans, licorice teas, a lot of things over the counter. Even some beers, like Belgian beers, have this compound in it,” as do some chewing tobaccos, said Dr. Robert Eckel, a University of Colorado cardiologist and former American Heart Association president. He had no role in the Massachusetts man’s care. […]
The FDA permits up to 3.1% of a food’s content to have glycyrrhizic acid, but many candies and other licorice products don’t reveal how much of it is contained per ounce, [cardiologist Dr. Neel] Butala said. Doctors have reported the case to the FDA in hope of raising attention to the risk.”
Black licorice is loved and hated, and the fate of the unfortunate Massachusetts fan has only rendered the treat’s reputation even more complicated. This Halloween, remember to enjoy everything in moderation — and when in doubt about your candy tastes, check with a doctor!
I have a stumper for you: When is a sandwich bread not a sandwich bread? When the Supreme Court of Ireland rules it’s too sugary for that title, that’s when!
Jokes aside, this is not a thought experiment — the highest judicial body of an already starch-knowledgeable nation has come down hard on Subway (the sandwich chain) for the sugar content of their bread. Interestingly, it has nothing to do with nutrition but is rather a confusing tussle over taxes.
It involves an exemption of Value-Added Tax (a different name for what we know as GST) that an Irish Subway franchisee requested. The franchisee, Bookfinders Ltd. cited the fact that bread is considered to be a staple food in Ireland, and because of that, their hot takeout sandwiches (of which bread is a key component, naturally) should not be subject to VAT. The Supreme Court countered with the judicial zinger that Subway’s bread had so much sugar it could not be legally defined as “bread,” so couldn’t be tax-exempt.
“[T]he judges ruled that Subway’s bread is not a staple food because its sugar content is 10 percent of the weight of the flour in the dough; the Value-Added Tax Act 1972 stipulates that sugar, fat, and ‘bread improver’ cannot add up to more than 2 percent of the weight of the flour. (Those limits are in place to prevent things like pastries and other sweet baked goods from being labeled as ‘staple foods’ and exempt from being taxed.)
Justice Donal O’Donnell dismissed Bookfinders’ appeal on Tuesday, although he did acknowledge that some of the arguments presented on their behalf were ‘ingenious.’ An Appeal Commissioner also said that Subway’s hot sandwiches were not eligible for a zero-percent tax rate, so Bookfinders was doubly denied.”
I remember the first time Subway had trouble with the contents of its bread: Back in 2014, the scientifically-questionable “Food Babe” blogger, Vani Hari took them to task for using the dough conditioner azodicarbonamide (ADA) in their buns because ADA was also used in yoga mats and shoe soles. While the ADA flap caused Subway to drop the ingredient from their bread recipe, I doubt they will revisit the sugar content today, to benefit one tax-objecting franchisee. Besides, if Subway bread is too sweet to be “bread,” it follows that it must be… cake? A pivot to Subway cakewiches would be “ingenious” indeed!


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TMM Lines has launched a weekly fixed day service between Asia, South Africa and East Coast South America.
The service, known as the Asia-Africa-Americas Service, began with the M/V “Harmony Container” sailing southbound on August 31 from Shanghai.
Juan Manuel Gonzalez, vice president, TMM Lines says the service was established in response to demand from customers, looking beyond TMM’s traditional trade routes.
“Our East Coast South America clients now have a new link with South Africa and Asia. This service will also allow us to offer a link between South Africa and the US Gulf/Mexico via transhipment in South America,” he said.
Transit times include just 11 days from Singapore to Durban, 29 days from Hong Kong to Buenos Aires and 15 days from Durban to Laem Chabang.
Port rotation is Shanghai, Pusan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santos, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Singapore, Laem Chabang, Hong Kong, Shanghai.
TMM Lines operates shipping services between ports in Asia, Mexico, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, the US West Coast, the US East Coast and US Gulf, North Europe and the Mediterranean.
TMM Lines is part of the CP Ships group, the container shipping subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Limited.
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Non-airbrushed models: new marketing strategy?
When Dove released their Real Beauty campaign back in 2004, they paved the way for natural beauty in advertising. Since then, marketers have slowly started to realize that marketing to women is not about airbrushing away imperfections but rather is about celebrating what is natural and unique about every woman and inspiring 'her' to be confident and comfortable in her own skin. Read First Post's article to learn more about the industry's positive transformation.
Men Marketing to Women: Who's the Biggest Demographic in Tech Consumerism?
Women account for 85% of all consumer purchases, including everything from cars to health care, so it's not surprising that they're slowly becoming the dominant spenders in the technology industry.
In August 2012, Pew found that 27% of U.S. women owned tablets, compared to 24% of men. In July of that year, four of the top 10 grossing iPad apps were designed for women, compared to three aimed at men. Read Huffington's article to learn how electronics and software companies are marketing to women.
Women Engage More with Social Media New Study Shows
This revelation is no shocker to those of us at Bounce Ideas. There have been several reports released within the last couple of years that concludes the same findings, but it's always great to see that the numbers continue to increase. Read SBWire's article to find out Ipsos and Microsoft's latest social media findings.


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Last week, Nike announced that it would create a new virtual world, Nikeland, on the metaverse platform Roblox. Modeled after its real-life headquarters, Nikeland will consist of stadiums, fields, and arenas, where players can compete in dozens of virtual games such as tag and dodgeball. They will even be able to dress their avatars in the latest Nike sneakers and apparel, which they will buy at a virtual shop nested in the platform.
There’s a reason the Collins Dictionary declared “NFT” the 2021 word of the year, and why “metaverse” made its annual short list. Like Nike, several companies—from luxury players such as Balenciaga, Gucci, and Sotheby’s to mass-market ones such as Coke, Chipotle, and Wendy’s—are rushing to create, or use, the metaverse. That term encompasses the idea of persistent, immersive, and shared virtual 3D spaces that people can explore with a sense of their own presence. NFTs are deeply connected with the metaverse, and business has also invested in NFTs, with Christie’s recently auctioning a digital artwork by Beeple for $69 million, while a plot of digital land in Decentraland sold last week for $2.43 million worth of the platform’s cryptocurrency (618,000 MANA)—higher than the price of the average “real-world” Manhattan apartment.
The concept of the metaverse is no longer under the radar, but grasping its concrete implications may not come naturally to many companies. While digital-first brands can apply their existing skill sets to the metaverse, using their digital personas and content to connect with consumers, other companies will have to learn quickly if they are to stay abreast of rivals. Our recent analyses and experience threw up two guardrails that will help companies think through their metaverse strategies.
The metaverse—and its underlying platforms—need brands more than brands realize. Building new worlds, even virtual ones, is costly and time-consuming; Meta (formerly Facebook), for instance, will invest $10 billion in metaverse construction in 2021, more in future years, and expects to lose money on it for the foreseeable future. Like other multisided markets, metaverse platforms (or m-platforms) rely on network effects, and brands help trigger them so they can grow.
None of the current major m-platforms—such as Animal Crossing, Decentraland, Discord, Fortnite, Roblox, or Topia—will be able to survive for very long without real-world brands helping them generate revenues. Many, like Roblox, offer free-to-play games, with in-game purchases being the backbone of their business model. Over 150 million people play on Roblox every month, and they generated $920 million of revenues in 2020, but the m-platform still reported a loss of $253 million last year.
If the m-platforms are to make money, they will need to ensure that the volume, and size, of in-game transactions rises, including by attracting many more people to their virtual worlds. However, if m-platforms become interlinked and interoperable, as many people anticipate, consumers’ avatars would be able to buy skins, accessories, and houses on one m-platform and use them in another (yes, you could wear your favorite Roblox virtual jacket in Fortnite). Players will start shopping for the cheapest products across platforms, which could trigger price wars and shrink revenues. Even so, brands will be central to commanding premiums in the metaverse.
M-platforms will also have to grow advertising revenues, even though many metizens aren’t exactly fond of advertising. Many m-platforms are sensitive about offending users and disrupting their business models. However, they’re learning to work with companies to create products, events, and worlds that contribute to the metaverse experience in a native way. In fact, Roblox describes its partnerships as shared experiences, rather than as ads, underlining the fact that the environment’s interactivity turns the brand-consumer relationship into a two-way street.
That provides the perfect segue to our second guardrail: Focusing only on advertising in the metaverse may not maximize results for most companies. The metaverse may appear to be virgin territory, with untapped shares of mind and low customer acquisition costs, but this should not last long, and it won’t be easy to make inroads. To succeed, companies will need to embrace the metaverse as an opportunity to expand what their brands do.
The interactions in a metaverse usually involve the integration of physical and virtual spaces. For example, Coke recently auctioned a Friendship Box in Decentraland containing three NFTs: a custom Coca-Cola bubble jacket; a sound visualizer featuring audio clips as you sipped or poured virtual Coke; and a Friendship Card, with revamped artwork from the 1940s. And the auction winner received a real cooler filled with cans of Coke.
In an increasingly digital world where the lines between the real and the virtual are blurred, brands have to craft interactions that engage consumers at a personalized, deeper level and offer value in a noninvasive way—exactly the type of experiences that the metaverse can make happen. And conveniently, m-platforms will leverage those experiences to remain fresh and interesting.
Companies are therefore likely to win if they can develop metaverse-appropriate strategies, which should be three-pronged:
Capture more emotion-related data in real time
Powered by a more potent generation of microchips, VR headsets enable companies to collect a variety of novel data—how people’s legs, hands, and bodies move, when the pupils of their eyes contract and expand, how their minds react—from users that visit metaverses. A 2018 Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab paper estimated that 20 minutes in a VR simulation allows almost 2 million body language recordings. The first companies to collect and analyze data when people’s avatars use their virtual products or interact with employees’ avatars in their virtual stores will enjoy an edge. They will have more data than later entrants, be able to refine data-driven insights over time, and be able to negotiate from a position of strength with companies that need to access their data.
Cocreate and test products virtually
Companies can use the metaverse to share ideas and advanced concepts with potential users; codesign virtual prototypes; and get feedback from a variety of consumers. Doing so could accelerate product development cycles, and help predict whether innovations will succeed—or fail. In addition to familiarizing young people with their products, business could plant the seeds of long-lasting relationships.
In October, for example, Hyundai Motor launched Hyundai Mobility Adventure, a shared virtual space on Roblox in which avatars can experience Hyundai’s offerings and communicate with each other. They can test-drive Hyundai’s new vehicles and transportation solutions; operate robotic vehicles and urban air-mobility devices; and participate in several social activities and experiences.
Test the metaverse market
There’s no doubt that the metaverse economy is going to grow—and become big. With global metaverse revenue forecasted to reach $400 billion by 2025 and driven by millions of visitors, brands that focus on them, particularly premium ones, will be able to foster a sense of community as well as inculcate brand loyalty among younger customers before they can buy the real thing! For high-end brands, selling NFTs of their products in the metaverse could become revenue streams in their own right. It isn’t an exaggeration; several luxury brands such as Balenciaga, D&G, and Rebecca Minkoff are showing the way. They have launched digital products that can be bought in-game; launched limited-edition NFT collections; and created branded worlds.
To be sure, metaverses are far from an enduring reality (sic!), but when they become part of our daily lives, not every company will be able to find the room to grow in those competitive markets. Like the human beings who control them, avatars will have limited time, opportunities, and energy to engage with brands. Companies that hope to prosper in the metaverse tomorrow should explore its frontiers today, and plant their stakes before there are no virtual worlds left to conquer.
Read more columns by François Candelon.
François Candelon is a managing director and senior partner at BCG and global director of the BCG Henderson Institute. Karen Lellouche Tordjman is a managing director and partner at BCG, and fellow at the BCG Henderson Institute. Ariane Lafolie is a consultant at BCG and ambassador at the BCG Henderson Institute.
Fortune’s upcoming Brainstorm Design conference is going to dive into how businesses are building experiences in the metaverse. Apply to attend the event on May 23-24 in New York.


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Bravely Second: End Layer Videos
Apr 25, 2016 -
Use the Grapp Keep location to quickly and easily level grind in Chapter 2 of Bravely Second: End Layer.
For more ...
Apr 11, 2016 -
Nintendo provides an in-depth look at the battle system in the RPG.
Apr 05, 2016 -
Check out new areas of Luxendarc and get a look at the 30 different jobs available in the 3DS game.
Most Popular Videos on IGN
Mar 28, 2016 -
Meet the cast of the handheld RPG.
Mar 03, 2016 -
Learn the story of upcoming 3DS RPG Bravely Second: End Layer in this trailer from Nintendo.
Jan 28, 2016 -
Learn more about guardians, exorcists, wizards, catmancers and more in the handheld RPG sequel.
Jan 26, 2016 -
Near-endless battles, cool new classes, and more await in the sequel to Bravely Default on 3DS.
Nov 10, 2015 -
IGN's Jose Otero and Brian Altano trade their best guesses for this week's Nintendo Direct.
Jun 11, 2015 -
A few months ago, IGN's Nintendo show dropped some E3 2015 predictions. But now it's time to look at what Nintendo ha...
Jun 01, 2015 -
Nintendo announced today that the sequel to the hit RPG Bravely Default, called Bravely Second, is coming to the West...
Apr 10, 2015 -
Get a look at the 20-plus jobs available in the Square Enix RPG for Nintendo 3DS.
Apr 02, 2015 -
Check out the introductory cinematic for this Square Enix RPG on Nintendo 3DS.
Mar 16, 2015 -
The latest gameplay trailer reveals new characters, and the return of some fan favorites.
Feb 02, 2015 -
This latest footage reveals Edea's return and shows off new classes and villains.
Jan 08, 2015 -
Here's 21 reasons 2015 will be a big year for Nintendo.
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Researchers from the National University of Singapore and the University of Yeonsa in South Korea have developed a method to detect the hidden activation of the microphone on a laptop, using Raspberry Pi 4, an amplifier and a programmable receiver to create a prototype device called TickTock that can detect the activation of the microphone with harmful or spy software to audition the victim.
The method of determining the hidden activation of the laptop is relevant because it is not easy and not always clear when it works. The technique proposed is that in the course of operating the microphone circuit, which transmits tactical signals to the digital converter, it emits a specific background signal that can be captured and separated from other noises. When the microphone-specific electromagnetic radiation can be detected, it can be concluded that a recording is being made.
The TickTock device needs to be adapted to different laptop models because the radiation pattern can vary according to the sound chip used. In addition, researchers have had to filter noise from other electrical circuits and take into account the signal change depending on the connection. However, the device has been able to adapt 27 of the 30 laptops tested to determine the activity of the microphone, including the Lenovo, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Samsung, HP, Asus and Dell models. However, on Apple MacBook 2014, 2017 and 2019 releases, it has not been possible to determine the activation of the microphone in this way.
Researchers have also tried to use their design for other types of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart columns and USB cameras. Of the 40 tested devices, only 21 were able to detect the activation of the microphone, which is due to the use of analog microphones instead of digital, other connections and shorter conductors that emit an electromagnetic signal.


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That didn't take long.
Apple's Mac App Store tallied 1 million downloads in its first day of availability, the company announced today.
"We're amazed at the incredible response the Mac App Store is getting," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. "Developers have done a great job bringing apps to the store and users are loving how easy and fun the Mac App Store is."
Appleto Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users. It was made available in the free Mac OS X 10.6.6 software update. According to Apple, the store currently has over 1,000 free and paid apps in categories ranging from education to games.
But the Mac App Store's first day didn't bring only good news for Apple.
Aallows users to take digital receipts from free applications and use them on pirated copies of a paid app. The receipts effectively fool the paid app into believing use has been authorized, thus allowing users to run the programs and pay nothing for them. Apple has yet to comment on the problem.
Apple - USE TAG
reading•Mac App Store hits 1 million downloads in first day
Oct 17•Samsung carves faster processors with new, sharper light scalpel
Oct 17•The Red Hydrogen One is out this week: Here's everything you need to know
Oct 17•iPhone XR: Why the cheapest 2018 iPhone might be the one you want
Oct 17•Apple's privacy portal now lets US customers download their data


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Cafe opening in former vacuum repair shop near Front and Snyder
A new business called Valena’s Simple Cafe is coming to the former vacuum repair shop and “music spot” near the corner of Front and Snyder.
At this time we don’t know much about this new business, but a “coming soon” banner is currently hanging outside of the location.
A peek inside the storefront, located on Front Street next to the Metro PCS store, revealed a case already setup for pastries or other prepared goods. While it does not look ready to open just yet, the small space appears to be coming along nicely.
We’ll update you once we know more about this new Pennsport business.


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We are excited to share with our followers that FileWall™ is now available in the ALSO catalog for Microsoft 365 resellers.
ALSO Holding AG is one of the leading technology providers for the ICT industry, currently active in 28 countries in Europe and in a total of 94 countries worldwide via PaaS partners.
Placement in the ALSO’s reseller marketplace extends the availability of our essential ransomware protection tool to a premier ecosystem of more than 110,000 resellers around the world who look to enhance Microsoft 365’s security for their customers.
FileWall’s target audience
Microsoft is one of the top targeted platforms for hackers. Research shows that 94% of malware attacks are delivered via email and 90% of the files used by hackers as an attack vector are commonly-used file types like Office, PDF, and archives.
As new unknown malware are released, they manage to bypass the standard security systems which use detection-based methods for anti-malware.
FileWall minimizes the attack surface dramatically for its users.
FileWall’s addition to the ALSO catalog positions odix’s Deep-File Analysis products among the leading security vendors providing cyber protection products in their marketplace. FileWall provides;
- Proven preventive technology that effectively eliminates hidden malware in files
- Click deployment
- Fully integrated with Microsoft 365
- The reasonable price point for great value
FileWall’s sweet-spot customers are medium-large companies with 100 –10,000 employees (users) who use Microsoft 365 email service, with or without Microsoft Defender.
With Microsoft controlling the lion’s share of the enterprise email and authoring market, with nearly 88% of the $18.2 billion market in 2019, according to Gartner, the need for third-party security solutions to complement Microsoft 365 deployment has never been stronger.
According to odix CEO, Dr. Oren Eytan “With FileWall’s inclusion into the ALSO reseller marketplace odix is making its dynamic native-level Microsoft 365 security solution accessible to the broadest market of MSPs and CSPs worldwide. It is truly an honor to have our product listed in the ALSO marketplace.”


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In repsonse to the actress' statement that no designers would dress her for the premiere, Christian Siriano volunteered for the job.
Earlier this month, the Saturday Night Live actress tweeted that designers refused to dress her for Saturday evening's Ghostbusters premiere. "It's so funny how there are no designers wanting to help me with a premiere dress for movie," she tweeted. "Hmmm that will change and I remember everything."
16:04 10 iconic looks from Michelle Obama's days as first lady17
03:50 Melania Trump picks patriotism and international glamour for her debut as First Lady17
16:36 Melania Trump, Wearing Ralph Lauren, Channels a Predecessor: Jacqueline Kennedy20
14:19 Melania Trump debuts sky blue Ralph Lauren Inaugural outfit...and an updo!18


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Food delivery subscriptions are becoming wildly popular in the U.S. And typically, things go smoothly. But every once in a while, customers might receive a delivery they were not expecting. That’s exactly what happened to a woman in Greene County, New York, who recently opened a mail order box of snacks to discover that it was full of weed.
A Surprise Delivery
According to local news sources, Jeanine Mulholland ran into her surprise delivery at some point toward the end of last week. The way Mulholland describes it, her 11 year old son opened a box from Graze, which sends them bi-monthly snack deliveries.
Typically, the boxes from Graze are filled with a variety of healthy snacks. But this box was different. There were reportedly multiple sealed packages of marijuana laying on top of the usual snacks.
After discovering the unexpected delivery, Mulholland called Graze and local law enforcement.
Graze reportedly reviewed their security footage. Representatives from the company said it didn’t look like anyone had tampered with the package in their facilities.
As of now, police are investigating the case. So far, they haven’t figured out how the cannabis got into the snack box or who put it there.
Mulholland said she’s been a Graze subscriber for around six months. After this most recent delivery, she has put her subscription on hold.
Cannabis in the Mail
It’s not uncommon for people to ship marijuana in the mail. In fact, there has been an increase in the amount of weed being shipped in the mail over the past few years. For example, U.S. Postal Service workers intercepted 34,000 pounds of cannabis in the mail in 2015.
When things go wrong with a mail shipment of flower, it can get a little messy. Most immediately, there’s the confusion that comes when a person like Mulholland opens a package to discover a bunch of herb.
Beyond that, botched shipments can often lead to criminal busts and arrests. For example, a 32 year old man in Connecticut got in legal trouble earlier this year when authorities caught him shipping 1,500 packs of weed-infused gummies in the mail.
But it’s not just individuals who sometimes get in trouble for shipping weed. Every once in a while, mail busts lead to much larger crackdowns. That’s exactly what happened in Canada earlier this summer.
In June, Canadian authorities busted what they said was a full-fledged mail order drug ring. The operation apparently used a website where customers could place orders. Those orders were then sent to customers’ homes directly through the mail.
Although slightly different than mail order drugs, the concept of home delivery weed services is actually fairly commonplace. There are already companies in certain parts of the U.S. and Canada that offer these services to customers.
Similarly, in places like Washington D.C., cannabis sellers have found ways to use legal loopholes to make home cannabis deliveries. The most classic approach is to sell and deliver a legal product such as juice or clothing. Then, when a customer purchases the legal product, the seller also throws in a special “thank you gift” which is also delivered directly to the customer’s door.
Utah’s Largest Healthcare Provider Authorizes Medical Marijuana Recommendations
Man Arrested After Offering Weed Wax in Exchange for Fast Food Delivery on Facebook
Iconic Florida Bar Will Be Converted Into Medical Marijuana Dispensary
North Carolina Bill Would Legalize Possession of Up To Three Ounces of Weed
The ‘420 Bill’ to Federally Legalize Marijuana Has Officially Been Introduced
New Study Shows Joints Waste 300 Percent More THC Than Dabs
Professional Skateboarder Suspended After Testing Positive for Weed
Massachusetts Rakes in Almost $24 Million in First Two Months of Legal Cannabis
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Intel unveils expanded process roadmap beyond 5N4Y and new design wins
- Striving to gain lost ground; Intel 14A and specialised node evolutions added to strategic process roadmap
- Design win from Microsoft validates Intel Foundry Services, shows Intel’s big bets on chip manufacturing starting to pay off
- Intel continues to face margin headwinds associated with start-up costs of its 5N4Y strategy alongside capacity expansion for IFS commitments. Maintain HOLD with TP US$45.30
Striving to gain lost ground; Intel 14A and specialised node evolutions added to strategic process roadmap. Intel maintains that it remains on track to deliver on its 5N4Y plan and is set to regain process leadership by 2025 with Intel 18A. The latest foundry process roadmap features Intel 14A, and evolutions to Intel 3 and Intel 18A the likes of Intel 18A-P, Intel 3-E, and Intel 3-PT that are tailored to more specific needs of customers. Additionally, Intel announced Intel Foundry FCBGA (Flip Chip Ball Grid Array, a type of packaging solution) 2D+ to its set of advanced system assembly and test capabilities which already comprises packaging technologies FCBGA 3D, EMIB, Foveros, and Foveros Direct.
Design win from Microsoft validates Intel Foundry Services, shows Intel’s big bets on foundries starting to pay off. Microsoft plans to produce an upcoming chip using Intel’s 18A process technology. Customer commitments appears to be gaining traction as Intel has taped out (final phase chip design prior to manufacturing) more than 75 ecosystem and customer test chips, with more than 50 test chips in the pipeline through 2024 and 2025. Electronic design automation and IP (intellectual property) partners such as Cadence, Synopsys, and Siemens have also revealed the qualification of tools and readiness of intellectual property, enabling foundry customers to expedite advanced chip design on Intel 18A. We believe that IFS contributions are poised on an uptrend but will be relatively small compared to established client computing and data centre and AI businesses. From FY25 onwards, consensus is forecasting IFS topline growth at c.50% yoy through FY27, although it will only account for 2/3/4% of group revenue in FY25/FY26/FY27. Meanwhile, Intel continues to face margin headwinds associated with the start-up costs of its 5N4Y strategy alongside capacity expansion for IFS commitments. Consensus forecasts shows gross margin forecasts of 43%/45% for FY24/FY25, which is far off from Intel’s longer term gross margin target of 60%. Maintain HOLD with TP US$45.30


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German engineering giant Siemens drew a line under its joint venture with Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia on Monday, selling its 50-percent stake in Nokia Siemens Networks for 1.7 billion euros ($2.2 billion).
Nokia shares, which have fallen sharply reflecting a decline of Nokia's once-dominant position in making mobile phones, jumped 7.24 percent on the news.
On the Frankfurt stock exchange, Siemens' shares were the biggest gainers, adding 1.88 percent in a generally softer market.
Once the deal was concluded in the third quarter of 2013, "Nokia Siemens Networks will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Nokia", both companies said in a statement.
Siemens' decision to sell its stake comes as part of a strategic repositioning in the market: Siemens announced in June it would shut down its loss-making solar energy unit after failing to find a buyer.
The NSN deal will allow Nokia, which has been subject to speculation it could be up for sale, to take full control of its most profitable business.
Once the star performer on the Helsinki stock exchange, Nokia has seen its market value has plunge 30 percent in the past two years.
The firm reported a net loss in seven of the past eight quarters amid fierce competition from Apple's high-end iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy.
The NSN joint venture, which specialises in high-speed mobile broadband, was set up in 2007 and the partnership agreement expired in April.
Nokia said NSN would retain its headquarters in Espoo, Finland and press on with its restructuring plan, which includes the closure of 16 sites in Germany, shedding 1,000 jobs.
The buy-out will see Siemens receiving 1.2 billion euros in cash at the closing of the transaction, the statement added. The remaining 500 million euros will be paid through a secured loan from Siemens due one year from closing.
Nokia said it had obtained bank financing for the cash portion.
DZ Bank analyst jasko Terzic saw the price as a "fair" one.
At one time, the two partners had mulled floating NSN on the stock exchange and since then Siemens has not made any secret of plans to pull out of the joint venture.
The expiry of a shareholder pact in April cleared the way for Siemens to press ahead.
A number of different scenarios have been speculated in the media, including the possible sale of Siemens' stake to Alcatel-Lucent of France or to an investment fund.
Andalys analyst Ari Hakkarainen saw the move as a way for Nokia to "get back to their starting point in 2007 when Nokia was still the biggest mobile phone company in the world."
The analyst suggested that Nokia could now seek to sell either its networks or its mobile business.
Nokia has itself been the target of takeover speculation and "whoever wants to buy Nokia will want to buy either the Nokia phones or only the networks business. It is difficult to see that anybody wants to buy both," Hakkarainen said.
"They want to bring themselves in a starting position so that one or the other can be bought," the analyst said.


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We bet that headline means “fightin’ words” to some who take their coffee and coffee houses personally.
The morning brew is not only a prized pick-me-up, people attach feelings to the coffee house experience—even when their noses are buried in their iPads and they’re not talking to anyone. Continue reading Zagat Guide picks Sunergos as Louisville’s best stop for coffee
From the team that brought you Wiltshire Pantry (one of the top rated catering companies in the state) and Wiltshire on Market (a solid favorite in NuLu’s hot restaurant row) is on the verge of another new venue — a retail bakery and café.
The appropriately named Wiltshire Pantry Bakery and Café will be located at what was most recently Joe Davola’s (901 Barret Avenue), just down the road from the Lynne’s Paradise Café. Continue reading Wiltshire to add another foodie Mecca.
A new downtown bar and grille featuring more than 100 Bourbons, specialty cocktails, and locally produced craft beers officially opened today.
The address of the new spot is 321 W. Main St., in the Waterfront Plaza Building. Continue reading “Down One Bourbon Bar” opens today.
Looks like The Comfy Cow ice cream and dessert company could soon add a new item to its menu: franchise opportunities.
The three-unit concept has been a hit since opening in 2009, and along the way it has attracted the attention of at least one well-heeled restaurant veteran who sees its potential as a regional, and potentially national, concept. Continue reading The Comfy Cow is moooving on to franchising
Seemed all the talk for the past two weeks centered on better burger restaurants opening up.
This week the talk shifts to pizza places, specifically one in J-Town and one in the Phoenix Hill/Highlands area. Continue reading Louisville pizza boom replacing burger boom?
Last week Maker’s Mark announced a plan to cut the proof of their Bourbon from 90 to 84 proof in what they said was the “best way to meet demand.”
What followed was a week of customer and public outcry prompting Forbes to question if Maker’s Mark was committing brand suicide. Continue reading Maker’s Mark reverses decision.
Chef John Plymale has been with Porcini since before its 1992 opening. Twenty-plus years later, the restaurant seems like an extension of the chef himself.
A thoughtful and affable guy, Plymale sat down for a conversation before the ritual of a nightly staff meal, which he cited as one factor in the staff’s dedication and longevity. “We can take fifteen minutes out of our crazy day,” Plymale says, “and sit down together and eat and talk and have that bond.” Continue reading Q&A: Chef John Plymale of Porcini
In case you missed it.
Hot on the heels of serving their four millionth egg, Wild Eggs is serving up a deal that is sure to satisfy the pancake lover in you. Continue reading Wild Eggs is offering all-you-can-eat pancakes for $4.99


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Realme Smart TV 4K India launch this month end
New Delhi: Fast-growing smartphone and TV brand realme on Monday announced it will launch realme Smart TV 4K in India on May 31.
The realme Smart TV 4K will come in two sizes — 50-inch and 43-inch, featuring a spectacular viewing experience with Dolby Vision enabled 4K display and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.
“From a disruptive brand to a tech trendsetter, realme is now working on a comprehensive ecosystem of Techlife products, including smartphones and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) products, to offer a life driven by technology to everyone in India,” the company said in a statement.
The fastest growing TV brand after its inception, realme in 2020 launched smart TV (43-inch and 32-inch) and realme smart TV SLED 4K in 55-inch size in 2020.
The SLED display technology is co-developed by Realme and John Rooymans, chief scientist of SPD Technology (Spectral Power Distribution).
While most LED TVs including QLED use only a blue backlight which is then turned to white, SLED uses Red, Green and Blue (RGB) LED light for the initial stage, hence reducing the harmful effects of blue light and providing higher colour purity.
“The year 2021 marks a new phase of our growth with cutting-edge advanced innovation and technology in the smart TV segment,” the company said.


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By My Pham and A. Ananthalakshmi
HANOI (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s new trade representative held his first face-to-face meetings with some key partners on Saturday as the United States charts an “America First” policy that has upended the old global order and sparked fears of protectionism.
Robert Lighthizer met ministers from Canada and Japan on the sidelines of a gathering of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, the biggest trade meeting since Trump took office.
Its members account for over 40 percent of world trade.
Lighthizer and Japan’s economy, trade and industry minister, Hiroshige Seko, agreed on strengthening bilateral trade and removing barriers, a statement from the U.S. trade representative said.
“In particular, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to address common concerns with respect to unfair trade practices utilized by third-countries,” it said.
Lighthizer has in the past criticized China for what he described as unfair practices, although Trump has dropped the anti-China rhetoric of his election campaign.
The word “fair” has increasingly entered the U.S. trade lexicon alongside its old mantra of “free” as Trump seeks to do more to enforce or renegotiate trade agreements in the name of protecting American jobs – particularly in manufacturing.
A draft seen by Reuters of the APEC meeting statement to be issued on Sunday emphasised free trade and warned of the dangers of protectionism.
But the different approaches were evident in Hanoi.
Lighthizer was due to meet about a dozen counterparts there, including China’s representative, a U.S. official said. The veteran lawyer and Reagan-era trade negotiator was only confirmed in his new role earlier this month.
CHINA PUSHES ASIAN DEAL
China, putting itself forward as a global free trade champion in light of the U.S. shift, is pushing a free trade agreement to encompass the vast majority of Asian economies. The Asia trade deal it favours is called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Meanwhile, Japan is leading countries that want to persist with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal ditched by Trump in one of his first acts in office. TPP excludes China and covers a broader scope than the trade agreement favoured by Beijing.
Negotiators from the so-called TPP-11 met to discuss how the agreement could be taken forward. Ministers from the group will take a decision early on Sunday.
The greatest challenge is keeping on board Vietnam and Malaysia, which joined largely to benefit from better access to the U.S. market. Officials from both countries have said that without the Americans they would want to renegotiate.
New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay said he did not expect a big decision this weekend on how to go forward with the agreement, but hoped for a commitment on working out how to do so.
“That will take some time. It will take most of this year,” he told Reuters. “We think the agreement is well balanced. We are willing to engage in conversation to better understand the positions of Malaysia and Vietnam and other countries.”
Japan hopes the United States will one day rejoin the TPP agreement. But renegotiating the existing North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a bigger immediate priority for Washington.
Canada’s trade minister said his meeting with Lighthizer went well and they discussed “a number of multilateral issues”. Lighthizer was also due to meet Mexico’s trade minister.
(Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)


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Famous Yoga guru Baba Ramdev is known across the country thanks to his FMCG products brand 'Patanjali'. His company Patanjali now stands as a tough competition for a number MNCs who have been facing a huge cut in their sales after Patanjali came into the market. Baba Ramdev has been dominating the market for his claims of his products having Ayurvedic Values.
However, Ramdev has surprised everyone with his latest announcement as he now plans to make roads in the telecommunication sector. Ramdev has launched 'swadeshi samriddhi' SIM card in partnership with BSNL.
Speaking about the latest developments, he said, the motives of BSNL and Patanjali are in the same line and will help each other in accomplishing their single objective that is the welfare of the country.
"There are five lakh counters of BSNL and from there people can soon get Patanjali Swadeshi Samriddhi card," Ramdev said.
The Company has announced that at a recharge of Rs 144 will let customers make calls across the country, along with that the users will also get 2GB of data and 100 SMSes daily.
Only Patanjali employees will be able to avail the benefits in the initial days. However, in the coming months, Patanjali will come with a full-fledged strategy to make its presence be felt in the market.
That's not all, it seems Patanjali has to put health on their agenda always and every time as they have also included a scheme of Rs 2.5 lakh worth of accidental and life insurance for all the Patanjali sim users. Moreover, there is a provision of Rs 5lakh insurance cover in case of death in a road accident.
The Rs 144 plan comes in the direct fight with the market leaders in terms of data rates, Jio. Who provide 1.5 GB of daily data at a price of Rs 149.
It will be interesting to see the clash of these two giants.


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By Tatiana Walk-Morris
As water scarcity intensifies, it’s critical for businesses to reduce their water footprint not only for the welfare of the surrounding communities, but also for the company’s bottom line. In fact, understanding the financial benefits of optimizing water use could catalyze overall sustainability efforts.
Forbes Insights and Ecolab, a global sustainability leader providing water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, surveyed 308 U.S. and European executives focused on organizational water use. They found that while these leaders recognize the need to update their water management practices, few have met their targets and can articulate the return on investment.
According to the survey results, the top three challenges impeding companies from reaching their sustainability goals are:
- An inability to show ROI on sustainability investments (40%)
- A lack of understanding of the risks associated with not investing in sustainability (37%)
- The lack of innovative technology to implement sustainability solutions (33%)
Emilio Tenuta, senior vice-president and chief sustainability officer at Ecolab, explains how business leaders can address these challenges to better serve their communities and make the business case for sustainable water use.
1. Understanding ROI
Four in 10 executives surveyed cited the inability to make a business case as one of the top challenges associated with designing and implementing smart water use strategies within their company.
The key to proving the business case, Tenuta said, is to measure the outcomes.
Ecolab helps companies assess the returns on their investments in Ecolab solutions and services through eROI, or exponential return on investment, Tenuta said. Created by Ecolab, eROI specifically looks at three outcomes:
- Improved performance to ensure safe, clean and healthy environments
- Operational efficiency to ultimately reduce total cost
- Sustainable impact as measured against industry-specific indicators
“We take what matters most to our customers—performance—and link it to environmental data, social metrics and cost savings to demonstrate the triple-bottom-line benefits of sustainability,” Tenuta said.
In 2021, Ecolab’s work with customers to implement solutions for environmental projects resulted in more than $750 million globally in total value delivered, according to Tenuta.
2. Knowing The Consequences Of Inaction
The survey results also demonstrated the complicated relationship companies have with assessing the consequences of their water management strategies, or lack thereof.
Following the inability to demonstrate ROI, 37% of respondents cited the lack of understanding of the risks associated with not investing in sustainability as a top challenge to achieving success with sustainability efforts.
Some respondents said they were very well protected from common corporate risks, including wastewater compliance or permit limits (40%), water scarcity (41%) and supply chain disruptions (37%). But less than half (48%) of respondents said they were very well protected from public health consequences, the survey found.
Companies must begin updating their water management practices to continue operating amid increasing regulatory scrutiny, Tenuta said. Emerging regulations and policies in the U.S. and EU especially will “have reverberations for business,” Tenuta added.
“Staying within the bounds of regulations remains a top concern, especially as the landscape shifts as new regulations come into effect, for water and climate writ large,” Tenuta said.
3. Tapping Into Tech For Sustainability Solutions
Though executives recognize the need to update their water management systems, the survey suggests that some leaders don’t have the tools to implement their plans. One-third of executives cited a lack of innovative tech to implement sustainability tools and services as one of the top challenges to reaching their goals.
The survey also found numerous areas where companies need to use technology to create a better picture of their water use. Less than half (43%) of executives surveyed said their companies were “extremely mature” in using tools that provide real-time insight into the efficiency, quality and safety of water.
Without clear visibility into their day-to-day operations, companies can’t measure the return on investment of their sustainability efforts and determine how much progress they’ve made. But with the help of Ecolab, organizations can steer their sustainability efforts in the right direction.


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Tester pushing for credit card reform
Senator Jon Tester wants to change the credit card industry — and he's speaking out about it in Washington.
Tester helped write a credit card reform bill that would give cardholders an extra week to pay their bills. The act would also limit fees and ban credit card companies from taking advantage of people under age 21.
Tester says he wants to stop credit card companies from increasing interest rates on customers who pay their bills on time. It's a practice called "universal default."
"They may call that universal default, but where I come from in Montana, we call that a rip-off," said Tester. "This reform legislation puts common sense and honesty back into the credit card industry. It will establish a new set of standards at a time when hardworking, honest folks are getting squeezed in this tough economy."
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the Credit CARD Act next week.


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This story originally appeared on 6abc.
Following the success of their debut LP, Philadelphia Eagles Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata will release a second holiday album.
A “Philly Special Christmas Special” will donate proceeds from vinyl sales to local charities with the hope of surpassing the $1.25 million raised from their first album, “A Philly Special Christmas”, in 2022.
A limited-edition LP will be released on red vinyl and a double disc of “A Philly Special Christmas Special” and 2022’s “A Philly Special Christmas” will be released on limited edition gold vinyl. The album will also be released digitally and made available on all streaming services.
The album, which was recorded in the NFL off season, will include 10 holiday classics and an original song by Kelce.
Vinyl will be available to order on November 3.


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OnePlus will be revealing its highly-anticipated 7 Series smartphones on May 14, in what may be its most ambitious launch yet. The company is expected to launch two smartphones - the OnePlus 7 and the higher-end OnePlus 7 Pro. OnePlus is holding three simultaneous events across the world to unveil their devices, in Bengaluru, London, and New York.
The sold-out Bengaluru event will begin at 8:15 pm IST. Those unable to attend the event at the BIEC (Bengaluru International Exhibition Center) can watch it live on the OnePlus YouTube channel, and the company has also created a separate site for the livestream, with a livechat and a Twitter feed featuring the company's official Twitter page.
Anticipation is running high, and a number of the devices’ specs have been leaked online already. Amazon closed its pre-orders for the 7 Pro a week ago.
Full details of the phones will be made available at the launch. OnePlus has teased a few details of the higher-end its 7 Pro model. Here is a lowdown:
With the Pro, the company is getting rid of the notch on its screen and features an edge-to-edge HDR10+ display, which will provide crisp picture quality, tweeted the company from its official Twitter handle. OnePlus is expected to keep the notch for the 7 model, however, and update the smartphone’s specs from the 6T.
In addition to this, media reports also speculate that OnePlus 7 will come with a 6.2-inch full-HD+ flat display along with a waterdrop-style notch sporting a 1080x2340 pixel screen.
The OnePlus 7 Pro, in contrast, is rumoured to come with a 6.7-inch curved Quad HD+ (1440x3120 pixels) Super AMOLED display, along with a pop-up selfie camera, reports NDTV.
Camera used by professional photographers
The OnePlus 7 Pro also has a triple camera, with 3x optical zoom, that the company has been using to collaborate with magazines and media networks. The Pro was recently used by Harper's Bazaar magazine to shoot their May cover edition with “The Good Place” actress and body-positivity activist Jameela Jamil.
The company also worked with Netflix India to use OnePlus 7 Pro phones for Sacred Games promotions.
The company also tweeted stating that the new OnePlus 7 Pro will also feature a cutting-edge haptic vibration motor, and users will be able to move files faster with the UFS 3.0 storage technology.
Tapping into the widespread popularity and excitement for its phones, the company opened up the launch event to the public, for a Rs 999 price tag. The event allows attendees to test out the latest devices, but OnePlus will not selling any devices at the function.
All attendees will receive a goody-bag with official merchandise, including a pair of OnePlus earphones. The company has been having a stellar run with its phones, recording a three-fold jump in profits to Rs 2.8 crore in 2017-18, as well as being named as the phone Indian users would most recommend in 2018, according to a 91mobiles consumer insights study.
The OnePlus 6 became its highest-selling flagship smartphone within five months of its launch in May last year, while its successor OnePlus 6T was released in October.


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Tracking Internet users who had a "do not track" privacy setting switched on has cost Google $22.5 million. The fine, the largest the Federal Trade Commission has ever levied against a company, came after investigators found that the search firm had bypassed privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser to track users and show them personalized ads, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Google—which does not have to admit to wrongdoing as part of the settlement—exploited a loophole that let its cookies be installed via advertisements on popular websites, even if users' browser preferences had been set to reject them.
"This sends the message that the FTC isn't kidding around," said the chief of the commission's competition bureau. The head of the Big Brother Watch privacy group applauded the heavy fine. "It's an essential part of a properly functioning market that consumers are in control of their personal information, and are able to take steps to protect their privacy," he said. "The size of the fine in this case should deter any company from seeking to exploit underhanded means of tracking consumers. It is essential that anyone who seeks to over-ride consumer choices about sharing their data is held to account." (Read more Internet privacy stories.)


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Givex Installs Technology into Milestones Restaurants
Givex (TSX: GIVX) is very happy to announce the successful installation of its leading-edge restaurant technology platform in 40 Milestones restaurants Canada-wide. With this latest round of installations, Givex has implemented its end-to-end technology solution in more than a third of Foodtastic’s 650 restaurants across 21 brands.
Today, Milestones restaurants in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick use a full suite of Givex technology, including point-of-sale (POS), kitchen display, gift card and payment systems in addition to an online ordering app. Notably, the installations were completed in less than two months despite the challenges of the holiday season, winter weather and supply chain issues.
“We are happy that Foodtastic selected Givex as its restaurant technology platform,” said Mo Chaar, Givex chief commercial officer. “The Givex platform, including GivexPOS, gift cards, online ordering and Pay@Table, provides Foodtastic with full insight into their business so they can better serve their franchisees and customers,” added Chaar.
Foodtastic is a major player in the Canadian food and beverage business, with 650 restaurants across 21 brands, including Milestones, Second Cup and Pita Pit. It was Givex’s technology, efficiency, service and the ability to quickly generate and provide relevant data that led Foodtastic to choose Givex as its restaurant technology partner when it decided to replace its legacy POS system.
“Givex clearly supports its clients, and we are very happy with how well the platform rollout went, especially Givex’s flexibility to work with our partners to ensure our restaurants have everything they need for operations,” said Gerry Kakaroubas, Foodtastic vice president of operations. “Our staff adapted to the new system very well and are excited about the overall functionality of the GivexPOS system,” he continued.
Givex (TSX: GIVX) is a global fintech company providing merchants with customer engagement, point-of-sale, and payment solutions in a single platform. We are integrated with more than 1,000 technology partners, creating a fully end-to-end solution that delivers powerful customer insights. Our platform is used by some of the world’s largest brands, comprising approximately 113,000 locations across more than 100 countries.


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The newly announced joint venture agreement between General Motors Corp. and Volvo may prompt other makers to consider partnerships to produce heavy-duty trucks, a GM official said.
John Rock, manager of the GMC Truck & Bus Division, which last week reached accord with Volvo to merge heavy-duty truck operations, said:
``Executives from every competitor who makes heavy-duty trucks will have to go back and ask, `Why did they do that; what are they doing to get out of it; how will this change my role?`
``It`s logical Ford will have to think about this,`` he told a news conference in the O`Hare Marriott Hotel.
Under the joint venture agreement, Volvo basically is taking over heavy-duty truck production and sales for GM. The move, GM has said, frees it to devote its time and money to other markets, such as medium-duty trucks.
It has about a third of that market, though only 8 percent of the heavy-duty segment.
``We have 33 percent of the medium-size truck market, and that`s a lot to protect,`` Rock said, noting that the Japanese are preparing entries for that market.
``In the next two to three years, there will be 11 competitors for a piece of the market. We had 8 competitors in the heavy-duty market, and industry production was only half of capacity. With mediums, we`ll have 11 competitors and production will be only a third to a fourth of capacity.``
With Volvo handling heavy-duty trucks, ``It will help us fend off those 11 medium rivals,`` Rock said. ``We intend to be stronger than horseradish in the medium-duty segment and hope to have an all new medium-duty truck in the 1989-`90 time frame.``


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01 November 2019
It is official. Apple TV Plus streaming service is coming to screens near you starting November 1st. Apple made the announcement at its annual launch event where it also unveiled the new iPhone 11 series, iPad 7th generation, and Apple Watch Series 5. The service will go live in over 100 countries around the world on the same day.
Apple TV Plus has been priced at $4.99 per month which is half of what the rumors suggested. The best part is that it is a family plan which means a single subscription can be shared with up to six family members. And if you happen to buy a new iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV or a Mac, then you will get a one-year free subscription of Apple TV Plus. This offer will need to be availed within three months of the new device activation.
The service will allow users to download Apple originals for offline viewing which is a feature offered by most of the major streaming service providers. Apple further said that most of the shows will be launched with three episodes followed by one new episode per week. There will also be some shows that will have all the episodes available right at the time of launch like Netflix has been doing it.
Apple TV Plus will launch with a total of nine TV shows which seems to be the reason behind such lower pricing. Some of these shows include See starring Jason Momoa, The Morning Show featuring Steve Carell, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon; Dickinson starring Hailee Steinfeld, and For All Mankind by Ronald D. Moore.
The service will be accessible via the Apple TV app on your Apple devices as well as select Samsung smart TVs. The team is working on bringing the app to Amazon Fire TV, LG, Roku, Sony, and VIZIO devices. You can also stream Apple TV shows by visiting the official website (tv.apple.com) once the service launches on November 1st.


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Citigroup and América Móvil have created a US$50m joint venture to explore opportunities in mobile payments and banking. The venture, called Transfer, will open in Mexico before rolling out to other Latin American countries. América Móvil, Latin America’s leading wireless services provider, operates in 18 markets and has more than 225 million mobile customers.
- Apple Pay goes live in Austria
- Apple to open up the iPhone’s NFC chip at WWDC?
- Alipay to invest $448m promoting face recognition payments in stores
- Visa unveils next generation payments platform
- German central banker calls for European payments network


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Buffalo Wild Wings recently announced its hand picked Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Select Bourbon offering will be served at its locations in sixteen states across the country.
As of May 2021, Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Select Bourbon is available at Buffalo Wild Wings sports bars in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Last year, Buffalo Wild Wings, the largest sports bar brand in the United States, initially had released a limited amount of hand-picked Single Barrel Select Bourbon at locations in Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Nevada and California.
“Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley personally selected each barrel from the Single Barrel Select series,” said David McPhillips, Director of Beverage Strategy & Innovation for Buffalo Wild Wings, in a prepared statement. “This bourbon is perfect for fans to drink while watching the game. And it can be enjoyed on an ice block, neat or mixed into an Old Fashioned or one of our classic cocktails.”
The Single Barrel Select Bourbon, according to information from the brand, has notes of caramel, dark fruit, and a hint of black cherry with an oaky sweet flavor and smooth finish. The bourbon has rich and smoky flavors that are said to complement the barbecue wing sauces and the new brisket platform that features savory entrees such as the Smoked Brisket Burger and Smoked Brisket Sandwich.
The eight-year aged bourbon joins the assortment of craft beer and spirits at Buffalo Wild Wings.
“By including Single Barrel Select Bourbon in our beverage program, we’re holding ourselves to a high standard as a sports bar,” McPhillips said. “We’re showing guests that we’re trying to be a bit different and they can expect us to keep innovating across our menu.
Hannah Kanik is a freelance writer from California. Two years ago, she found herself drinking Scottish whisky atop Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh and found her love for whisky and its storytelling side-effects.


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The fitness industry is struggling during COVID-19.
In May, five of the strongest national brands saw their visitor numbers fall by an average of 84.5% year on year, according to Placer.ai.
But with the pandemic now spanning six months, the gyms are beginning a modest comeback. It turns out that being stuck at home has increased people's craving for a workout in the gym.
In September, these brands are gradually recovering as traffic only declined 46.5%, according to Placer.ai. The top performers are Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness, whose visitor numbers in September only fell by 23.7% and 35.4% compared to the previous year.
Placer.ai looked at the weeks from August 31, September 7, September 14, and September 21. Planet Fitness saw an average drop in visitor numbers of just 37.4% over those four weeks, an improvement of 10.9% over the drop in visitor numbers over the four weeks prior. LA Fitness and Gold's Gym saw increases of 7.9% and 4.9% respectively over the same period over this average decrease.
Where gyms are located was a huge factor in how quickly they recovered. As California grapples with a COVID resurgence and further shutdowns, Planet Fitness faces declines, according to Placer.ai.
Placer.ai's data are consistent with those Yelp reported in September. While restaurants, retail stores, gyms, and the beauty industry all suffered, things generally stabilized.
A central tenant
For commercial real estate, fitness center restoration is critical. When soft goods retailers closed their doors, many became malls landlords relied on gyms to take their place.
The gyms didn't just fill up space. They also brought energy, visibility, and pedestrian traffic to shopping malls, even when they had tied parking spaces.
"While there were still some of these parking problems, it was better than having a large open space that was just empty and no one knew what we were going to do with it," said Nick Banks, principal, managing director and global leader of Avison Young's retail affinity group said in a previous interview with GlobeSt. "Before COVID, fitness studios were one of the bright spots in retail that we occupy with a lot of space. So it was a real success story."
It can be again when people keep coming back to the gym.


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Tesla Motors is taking its electric power from the roads to the home with the launch of Tesla Energy.
Best known for its electric vehicles, Tesla unveiled its solar-power storage systems on Thursday. The batteries can be used in homes, businesses and utilities and CEO Elon Musk says the company’s goal is to "fundamentally change the way the world uses energy on an extreme scale."
In Tesla’s view, such storage systems could become part of a fossil-fuel-free lifestyle in which people can have solar panels on their roofs generating electricity to power their homes and recharge their electric car batteries.
The smallest battery unveiled on Thursday, known as Powerwall, is housed in a six-inch-wide container that is meant to be hung inside a garage or on the outside wall of a house and can be used for backup power or to store solar energy.
Tesla isn’t the first or only company to create such a product. Major players including Total, GE and Siemens are backing some startups and Solantro has a similar product.
"Elon Musk creates big news, but there is valid paradigm shift going on in the electricity sector. Our ability to generate our own power because of (the) decreasing cost of solar energy is nearly there," University of Ottawa professor and expert on sustainable electricity Joan Haysom said.
How it works
Solar panels on the roof of a house convert the sun’s energy into electricity. The challenge with solar power has always been how to store energy generated during the day for use at night.
"The issue with existing batteries is that they suck," Musk said during the product launch, adding that they are expensive, unreliable, ugly and inefficient.
Powerwall stores the batteries in a wall-mounted unit that can hold up to 90 kWh per Powerwall, which can be joined together.
The Powerwall can be used to totally replace traditional power sources for home use — with solar panels — or as a supplemental or back-up power source. Even without solar panels, the batteries can save money by storing grid energy from low-demand times to use during peak — and more expensive — periods.
What you need to know
1. What does it mean for Canadians?
Tesla hasn’t released a set timeline for an international launch, saying only that it’s aiming for next year.
But as more Canadians start to use Tesla’s technology, or similar products, Haysom says policies and regulations will need to be adapted for their use, especially for people who don’t want to be entirely off the grid.
Places like California are looking at a straight connection fee.
"So if I use solar panels and charge my batteries, but I still want that connection just in case … if we can figure out a way to say by agreement that I will never use very much at all, then the grid optimization can take a different and more efficient route," Haysom said.
The technology has more applications outside saving money on electricity bills, and could be used to help with electricity access and stability in remote areas and Canada’s North, Haysom said.
2. How much will this cost you?
Once they start shipping, you could install a Powerwall battery in your home for roughly the cost of three Macbooks.
Tesla plans to sell them for about $4,257 a pop for the 10kWh model, excluding inverter and installation prices. Haysom says that’s pretty good bang for your buck, considering how much you could potentially save on your power bills in the long term. And as more people adopt this kind of technology, the more affordable it will become. "This will end up changing the cost of electricity," she said. To get the most of out it, you’ll want to pair your Powerwall with solar panels, which can cost upwards of $40,000 for a mid-sized home. But you don’t need the panels to use the battery. "To be self sufficient even when the grid is down? Sure. But it’s possible to have just the battery."
3. Is this the beginning of the end for the power grid?
A world without a power grid — where everyone uses solar panels and chargeable batteries — is, indeed, possible. But it’s very unlikely, Haysom said. "We won’t ever see a point where there’s no grid," Haysom said. "It’s feasible and it’s possible, but not everyone will want their own system. Some people will want to plug in. And it’s sometimes more convenient to be plugged into a grid. There’s a role for both."
But even though these technologies won’t replace the grid, she said, they will change how we use it for the better. "If we can store energy in batteries by charging them at low-demand times and use the energy from the batteries at peak-demand times, that means we can use the grid more efficiently," she said.
4. How will this affect developing countries?
The Powerwall might not replace the grid in developed countries, but what about places where there is no grid? Or, at least, no reliable one? In remote areas or developing countries, the battery-solar panel combo is actually a more affordable option than traditional electricity.
"Self-sufficient solar and battery systems in areas of the world that don’t currently have a reliable grid are very attractive to them economically. Even in places where electricity needs are low, like for radio, a cellphone, charging a computer and a small amount of lighting," Haysom said.
"Getting that to lots of places in the world helps improve quality of life and development in a much more affordable way than trying to run transition lines across remote areas."
— With files from Reuters


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In January 2021, Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and TikTok earned nearly $128 million in App Store and Google Play worldwide, 3.8 times more than last January, and once again topped the global mobile app (non-game) revenue chart, according to Sensor Tower data.
The US market was second in terms of revenue contribution to Douyin and TikTok, accounting for 8% of revenue. The Turkish market ranked third, contributing 2% of revenue.
Piccoma was second on the list, with more than $96 million in revenue coming from Japan, 6.9 times more than the same period last year.
The other three apps in the top five of the list were YouTube, Tinder, and the Chinese video platform Tencent Video.


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In the wake of COVID-19, national governments are taking a stand to ensure that organisations and their suppliers are held accountable for their environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact.
Being among the world’s most sustainable countries, Germany ranks highly for its growth, employment, social security, and environmental protection. Continuing to lead the global ESG efforts Germany has established new legislation that will apply to all operating businesses within its borders.
What is the German ‘Supply Chain Act’?
Known as ‘Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz’ or ‘Lieferkettengesetz’, Germany’s latest supply chain act, once in effect, will require organisations to undertake significant due diligence on their entire supply chain, regardless of where they are located.
Supply chains will be expected to monitor for human rights violations and compliance against certain environmental standards.
The legislation will come into effect on 1 January 2023, applying initially to registered offices and branches in Germany with 3,000 or more employees. By 2024, the legislation will extend to companies with over 1,000 employees.
Should organisations violate their due diligence or reporting, they will face fines of up to US$8.9mn depending on the nature and severity of their violation.
Companies with an average annual turnover of more than US$446.8mn could be fined up to 2% of their average turnover for any violation.
Coupled with monetary fines and negative publicity, organisations will also face exclusion from signing contracts with German public entities.
How can organisations ensure they comply?
Organisations will need to align their suppliers - as well as third, fourth, and fifth party companies - across their multi-tier supply chain. In doing so they will be able to ensure appropriate steps are taken to monitor, aggregate, and report relevant information in order to verify their compliance.
Organisations will also be asked to publish their internal policies detailing their due diligence practices, as well as annually report their measures taken and any breaches to the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control.
Coupa Software’s best practices to comply with the ‘German Supply Chain Act’ in time
- Those that will be top performers will ensure their senior leaders and directors are in support, understanding the importance of a strong risk management program.
- Adopting a centralised control approach will allow organisations to save costs and avoid duplicating efforts when it comes to vendor approvals and vetting.
- Organisations should look to incorporate third-party risk management into vetting and sourcing criteria when awarding new business. Vendors should vet their own suppliers and third parties for security, compliance, and ethical concerns.
- Provide visibility into amplified risk and conduct regular in-depth audits.
- Transition from spreadsheets and legacy systems to modern digital platforms for third-party risk management processes and supply chain planning. Organisations can benefit from real-time data collection and threat detection, as well as improved risk management outcomes and reduced costs.
Join global business leaders and sustainability experts taking meaningful action at Sustainability LIVE, held at Tobacco Dock, London, 23-24 February 2022. Register to attend today! Click here to learn more.


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Upcoming Mahindra Imperio teaser revealed
Mahindra has revealed a teaser of its upcoming premium commercial pickup truck, the Imperio. The video mainly reveals the new grille, which might also make it to the upcoming facelifted Quanto. The Imperio was recently seen completely undisguised, and we know that there are other changes such as a new bumper, headlights and a different bonnet that distinguish it from the Genio.
More from OVERDRIVE on the Mahindra Imperio:
- Tata Motors experience a 38 percent rise in sales for the month of November 2021
- Bounce Infinity E1 electric scooter launched, prices start from Rs 45,099
- Yamaha Aerox 155 first ride review
- Supreme Court allows registration of BS4 vehicles sold before April 1, 2020
- 2021 Audi A4 Premium base variant launched in India at Rs 39.99 lakh


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Panasonic have announced and launched their very first 4K Ultra HDTV at IFA 2013 in Berlin.
Their 65-inch Panasonic TX-L65WT600 Ultra HD TV from the WT600 series also grabs a world’s first, by being the first 4K TV to support the newly announced HDMI 2.0 input. This means it can support a 4K video singal with 60p, 50/60Hz allowing a frame rate of upto 60fps rather than 24fps. Sony has announced that their new “cheaper” XBR-55X850A, XBR-65X850A (X8) will support HDMI 2.0 out of the box, and their X9 models will receive a firmware update shortly adding support.
The Panasonic TX-L65WT600 of course has a 4K Ultra HD resoltuion of 3840 x 2160 pixels, 4x that of standard 1080p full HD, and is LED edge lit. It makes use of an LCD panel, so no famous Panasonic plasma here, but we doubt we will see a 4K plasma panel from anyone as everyone is slowly moving towards OLED.Read more