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ADM Opens Plant-Based Innovation Lab In Singapore To Meet ‘Rapidly Growing’ Asia Demand
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American multinational food giant ADM has just opened a new plant-based innovation lab in Singapore, as the firm pivots to ramp up alternative protein development and production in response to “rapidly growing consumer demand” across the Asia-Pacific. The Biopolis research hub will feature a wide range of R&D capabilities, from beverages and other dairy alternative applications, to the plant-based meat lab, food and flavour lab and customer innovation centre.
ADM has opened the doors to its new plant-based innovation lab in its Biopolis research hub in Singapore, the firm announced on Wednesday (April 22). The American food conglomerate’s new lab is designed to develop “on-trend and nutritious” plant-based products to meet the fast-growing demand it has observed across the Asian region.
“This new facility will enhance our ability to meet rapidly growing consumer demand in the Asia-Pacific region and bring exciting new products and solutions to the market,” commented Leo Liu, president of Asia-Pacific at ADM.
Housing a team of experts in proteins and texturing ingredients and flavouring specialists, ADM says that the new hub will be able to come up with and scale new plant-based products for customers that are “tailor-made” for Asian appetites and palates.
Protein continues to be a focus for consumers who are experimenting with plant-based options to meet their health and nutrition, sustainability and convenience preferences.Leo Liu, President, ADM Asia-Pacific
“The lab will help us capture key insight and learnings to help drive exciting new solutions for the Asian market, but also help us better serve customers around the world looking to incorporate Asian flavours and preferences into their latest plant-based food and beverage innovations,” said Marie Wright, president of creation, design and development at ADM.
The lab will feature everything from flavour testing capabilities, to in-house medium-scale sampling of their new products, which will range from dairy alternatives and drinks, to bakery and confectionery goods, and savoury foods. Plant-based meat alternatives will be at the core of innovation in the lab, given the significant uptick in the category’s sales globally since the pandemic began.
“Protein continues to be a focus for consumers who are experimenting with plant-based options to meet their health and nutrition, sustainability and convenience preferences,” explained Liu.
If U.S. consumer trends are any indication, research conducted by ADM’s research arm OutsideVoice found last year that a whopping 92% of first-time buyers of plant-based meat alternatives during Covid-19 plan to make their newfound purchases a long-term habit.
In the same report, ADM analysts also noted that nearly half of consumers are now planning to spend more on wellness and health-focused products and basic pantry staples as a part of the coronavirus-driven transformation in shopping values.
The lab will help us capture key insight and learnings to help drive exciting new solutions for the Asian market, but also help us better serve customers around the world looking to incorporate Asian flavours and preferences.Marie Wright, President of Creation, Design & Development, ADM
A separate DuPont report released in 2021 predicts that demand in key Asian markets will see triple-digit growth within the next five years.
“This innovation lab demonstrates our continued investment in plant-based protein and our commitment to finding new ways to solve [these]…changing consumer taste and preferences,” said Wright.
ADM’s decision to open its innovation lab in Singapore will further solidify the island’s strong reputation as an alternative protein hub, which is already home to a whole host of homegrown and foreign food techs and become the world’s first country to approve the sale of cell-based meat developed by San Francisco-based Eat Just.
Shortly after, Eat Just made its intentions clear to make the city-state its Asian headquarters to house its plant-based egg and cell-based meat production facilities to supply Asian markets. Fellow U.S. food tech giant Oatly has also recently teamed up with local established player Yeo’s to begin manufacturing its famous oat milk in Singapore to supply mainland China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
“With Asia being home to 60% of the world’s population, Singapore is a critical hub of innovation and growth around plant-based alternatives,” said Liu, adding that ADM’s move will further drive more “opportunities for young talent in the Asia-Pacific region.”
All images courtesy of ADM.


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In this series of articles, Aaron Green sits down and interviews a number of industry scientists and executives leading cannabis formulation companies. In Part 2, Green chats with Jesse Lopez, CEO and Founder of Geocann, a global cannabis organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado with technical formulation expertise and the exclusive global rights to multi-patented drug delivery system technologies.
The FDA issued warning letters to two companies this month, alleging FD&C Act violations stemming from marketing new drugs without approval. Companies marketing CBD products should be careful not to market OTC drugs containing CBD.
The post FDA Issues Warning Letters on Marketing and Sale of OTC CBD Products appeared first on Cannabis Industry Journal.
In a press release published last week, the two companies announced they have entered an agreement for Jazz to acquire GW Pharma, the producer of the only FDA-approved CBD medication Epidiolex, for a total of $7.2 billion.

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All three companies specialize in providing e-invoicing and tax complaints services primarily to mid-market and enterprise customers.
Upon completion of the transaction, KKR will combine all three companies under one roof, allowing them to cross-sell their services to customers.
“The companies will work together to create a single platform that will lead the way in digital compliance, innovation and transparency for business clients in Latin America,” the equity fund said in a press release.
KKR appointed former Meta4 executive Patricia Santoni as CEO, giving her responsibility for running the combined company.
Indicium Solutions’ technology platform is reportedly popular with Mexican businesses due to the e-invoicing solutions that make it easier for businesses to navigate through Mexico’s cumbersome government regulations.
Based in Mexico City, Indicium claims to serve more than 1,000 customers across the country.
Facture’s operations are limited to Colombia, but they provide essentially the same services as Mexico-based Pegaso Tecnologia and Indicium Solutions. The company claims to know Mexico’s tax rules better than anyone outside the country’s borders.


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Is DeBartolo scaling back plans?
Contractor says Kapolei mall could be reduced to one phase; developer says it’s moving ahead
DeBartolo Development’s plans to build a 1.4-million-square-foot regional shopping center in Kapolei appear to be being scaled back and may include just one phase, the project’s first phase general contractor told PBN.
Glen Kaneshige, president of Honolulu’s Nordic PCL, said that the Florida-based developer has re-designed the proposed 63-acre Ka Makana Alii mall and is calling for an updated budget.
Original estimates put the cost of the mixed-use project, which would have included 200,000 square feet of office space and two business hotels, at $350 million. It was going to be the first regional shopping center built in Hawaii in more than three decades.
Kaneshige says the new budget will allow the numbers to work better for DeBartolo Development and its undisclosed funding partner for this project.
Multiple sources told PBN that DeBartolo Development is in the process of finding another equity partner, and one source said a new partner already may have been secured. In an email, DeBartolo Development did not respond to questions about possible funding partners, and a spokeswoman said the company still plans to build the project in phases.
The project’s slow movement — original plans called for construction to be done in phases between 2011 and 2015 — and the need for a new funding partner say more about what multiple sources are calling an uphill battle to add more than a million square feet of mixed-use space in West Oahu at this time than anything about DeBartolo.
The latest timeline has construction on Ka Makana Alii starting sometime this year, Kaneshige said, with the first stores opening in 2014.
Duane Shimogawa covers energy, real estate and economic development for Pacific Business News.
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California leads the nation in E85 sales, running more flex fuel vehicles than electric
Sales of E85 fuel in California reached a record high in 2021, according to new data from the California Air Resources Board.
Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper tells Brownfield the numbers are “off the charts”.
“They consumed almost 63 million gallons of E85 last year and that was about a 55% increase from 2020. The volume last year, roughly doubled in just three years.”
Cooper says California far outpaces any other state in E85 consumption, a direct result of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard – policy that incentivizes flex fuel vehicles.
“It requires fuel suppliers in that state to reduce the carbon intensity of the fuels they are providing to the marketplace. Via its carbon credit trading program, the LCFS really rewards the lowest carbon fuels in the marketplace and right now that is E85.”
Cooper says you get a 30% to 50% carbon emissions reduction when you use E85 compared to regular gasoline.
He says while California also leads the nation in electric vehicles, there are half as many electric vehicles on the road today as there are flex fuel vehicles in the state.
Cooper expects rising gas prices will further entice consumers to choose E85.
“A gallon of gasoline in California has been selling on average for almost $6 and these stations that are selling E85, in many cases, are selling it for almost half of the gasoline price. That is causing people to sit up and take notice.”
Cooper says California is a great example of a properly structured low carbon fuel program driving demand for ethanol, and he is hopes it sets an example for other states to follow.


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New Student Membership tier just for college students.
Apple has just announced a new pricing plan for college students in addition to its current individual and family membership plans.
The new student membership plan for Apple Music will be available for college students at only 9.99 AED per month, in addition to the current 19.99 AED monthly membership for individuals and the 29.99 AED monthly fee for families.
With that membership, you have unlimited access to millions of tunes available to stream from the iTunes music store and along with that, you will be granted access to exclusive content like new releases and world premieres. There are also curated playlists and you can even download songs for offline listening.
You can also try out Apple Music for free for three months before getting charged.
More information can be found on http://www.apple.com/ae/apple-music/membership/.


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With the US recently joining a growing number of destinations which have reopened borders to fully vaccinated travellers, a rising vaccination global rate and lower Covid-19 caseloads, travellers are looking to fly — but is the hospitality industry ready?
According to a commentary by hotel management software brand Hotelogix, studies indicate travel to be the second-most-desired activity that respondents wish to indulge in once the pandemic subsides, especially those who have not been affected economically by the pandemic.
However, even as governments manage infected caseloads and vaccination rates, the hospitality industry should ready itself for an imminent travel spike "to take advantage of the valuable opportunities that are bound to arise [as the pandemic recedes]".
Here are four ways to start preparations.
1. Rebuild capacity
The pandemic reduced the scope in several hospitality domains, including many in the travel and hospitality industry losing their jobs or switching to other industries. This means the travel supply chain risks a situation of lack of trained manpower to handle the expected travel rebound.
A similar scene can be noticed in the capacity levels of the global aviation sector, as many aircraft remain in storage and staff suffers due to lay-offs. While bringing the travel supply engine back to ignition may be a costly affair, keeping it inactive could have far greater repercussions.
2. Invest in digital support systems
With the pandemic, the protocols travellers have to follow at every step would only increase and they would need and expect far more assistance, at each point.
For the hospitality industry, a PMS (property management system) like Hotelogix could work effectively in sharing the load. From contactless check-in facilities that help maintain social distancing and quicken the process, to keeping an accurate record of guest data, including their likes, dislikes and preferences to help hoteliers meet specific demands, a PMS could potentially be a resolution to many customer pain points which can prevent degradation in perception.
3. Revisit pre-established commercial approaches
Last-minute bookings, cancellations, even unannounced visits are all going to be common denominators in travel. With the forecasting model losing its relevancy in a volatile pandemic, the hospitality industry should look at flexible or dynamic pricing models to deal with customer discomfort in the ever-changing travel landscape.
Hotels may have to think of ways to repurpose their existing facilities, such as rooms on rent for government use, and Singapore's example of becoming Stay Home Notice facilities for quarantining of Covid-19 patients. Likewise, travel agents may need to utilise their automobiles as cab facilities to beat any downtime.
4. Know your customers better
Differentiating services or offerings has become more pronounced post-pandemic, and technology can give a hand in knowing, understanding, and then reaching clients with products/services that evoke a genuine interest.
Apart from learning to recognise emerging trends and possible hiccups, hospitality businesses can also use data to personalise experiences for a memorable guest experience.


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After learning that a transport trailer carrying 9,000 vials of high-value injectable medications was stolen while in transit in Tennessee, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) recalled several lots of the drugs associated with the shipment.
“To ensure patient safety, Centocor and Ortho Biotech are voluntarily withdrawing products with lot numbers matching those of the stolen product,” the J&J subsidiaries said. The affected medications included three lots of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent Procrit (epoetin alfa), two lots of cancer treatment Doxil (doxorubicin HCl) and two lots of TNF inhibitor Remicade (infliximab).
“The transport trailer and product have not yet been recovered,” J&J said. “If the stolen product were to be reintroduced into distribution channels, the companies cannot guarantee that products were stored at appropriate temperatures, nor can the companies guarantee the products were not damaged.”
The theft occurred May 6 when the driver took a break at a truck stop. The shipment originated from a J&J distribution center in Kentucky operated by JOM Pharmaceutical Services, a J&J subsidiary.
The firm discontinued shipping drugs with lot numbers matching the stolen medicines the next day. Healthcare providers that received the products before the theft were told to consider them safe for use.
Mike Smithers, lead investigator on the case and a police detective in Louisville, Ky., said the perpetrators were suspected of following the transport trailer from the distribution center to the truck stop. He said there has been a rash of transport thefts for all types of goods in the area since UPS opened a distribution center in the region.


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Orange with 6Medias, published on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.
Known to millions of homes thanks to its catalogs and shops, the leader of book clubs in France has been in receivership again since October 25, Sud Ouest announced this Thursday, the fault in particular of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 does not only cause human losses. Companies do not survive it.
France Loisirs stores, often located in shopping centers, have not withstood the successive confinements and closings of shops. They accounted for 60% of the turnover of the Actissia subsidiary, which also owns Chapitre.com.
After one restructuring carried out in 2019, France Loisirs wanted to raise a loan of 20 million euros, but the 150 stores of the France Loisirs network had to lower the curtain in March 2020, explained President Adrian Diaconu to the Actualitté website. In October 2020, Actissia succeeded in obtaining a state guaranteed loan of 10 million euros. But it was not enough to turn the business around.
The number of subscribers has dropped. “Our old model of the obligation to purchase has been greatly affected by the pandemic “, conceded in South West Adrian Diaconu, main shareholder of Actissia. And the new business model based on a subscription system has not had time to be developed.
Even if France Loisirs has registered 13,000 memberships since October 1, contacted by Actualitté after the decision of the Paris Commercial Court, Adrian Diaconu confided a bitter observation: “We have not managed to regain a sufficient level of activity. In July and August, the activity is usually less important, but in 2021, it was catastrophic. Employees told me: ‘We do not ‘never seen that, people disappeared’. “
France Loisirs is looking for a buyer via a call for tenders. In the meantime, the stores remain open with the minimum objective of maintaining the link with the members.


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Vietnam, Canada Establishing Joint Economic Committee
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai and Chief Trade Commissioner and Assistant Deputy Minister Sara Wilshaw at Global Affairs Canada virtually signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing a joint economic committee (JEC) between the two countries on Jan. 11, VNA reported Tuesday.
|Canadian Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng. Source: Global Affairs Canada
Addressing the signing ceremony, Canadian Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng affirmed that Canada recognizes the growing importance of creating trade opportunities with Vietnam and the Indo-Pacific region for its supply chain, long-term economic growth, and competitiveness.
Businesses and laborers in both countries will benefit from strong and diverse supply chains with the support of the JEC, she said.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said in a statement that “To drive a strong, sustainable, and inclusive economic recovery, the Government of Canada is committed to strengthening the country’s international trade ties with fast-growing markets, such as Vietnam’s”.
Vietnam is not only an important global trading partner of Canada but also a dynamic economic player in the Indo-Pacific, it noted.
|At the signing ceremony. Source: Canadian embassy in Vietnam
By establishing the JEC, the Government of Canada is advancing trade diversification in the region based on the success of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and collaboration through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, as well as advancing free trade negotiations between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Vietnam is a member.
The MoU will provide a platform to improve dialogue and collaboration on shared and emerging priorities with Vietnam which is Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, the statement said.
It is hoped to help deepen the Canada-Vietnam bilateral relationship, enhance Canada’s presence in the Indo-Pacific and create opportunities for Canadian businesses to scale up and grow internationally, it added.
Vietnam and Canada will celebrate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
The CPTPP entered into force for Vietnam in January 2019, offering tax incentives for trading in both consumer goods and raw materials. This factor creates favorable conditions for trade, providing goods, services and materials for production lines in the context of the turbulent global economic environment, ensuring human and economic security of the two countries.
Since then, the agreement has provided significant opportunities for Canadian products in the Vietnamese market, especially in the agri-food and seafood sectors.
Despite complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, two-way trade between Vietnam and Canada hit approximately USD 5.4 billion in the first 11 months of 2021, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.6%.
Vietnam has been Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN since 2015. By November 2021, Canada was the 14th biggest foreign investor in Vietnam with 231 projects worth USD 4.81 billion, mainly in the areas of hotel service, insurance, and renewable energy.
Moreover, as a founding member of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Vietnam can act as a bridge for Canadian businesses to reach a market of 2.2 billion people, or almost 30% of the world's population, with a combined GDP of USD 26.2 trillion or about 30% of global GDP. In the opposite direction, Canada can be a door for Vietnamese goods to penetrate the US and Mexican markets - members of the new North American Free Trade Agreement, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong has said at a seminar entitled “Vietnam-Canada Supply Chains Cooperation: Present and Future” held in both virtual and in-person forms in Oct. 2021.
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A woman says an automatic door caused her to injure her back after it swung into her, making her fall.
Paula Daley says she was shopping at the Fairview Heights Aldi on July 5, 2007, when the incident occurred.
"While shopping at the grocery store, a malfunctioning automatic door swung open repeatedly into the plaintiff, causing her to fall and sustain injuries," the complaint filed May 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court states.
In addition to her back injuries, Daley lost large amounts of money because of her inability to work and incurred medical expenses, according to court records.
Aldi was negligent by failing to warn Daley the door was malfunctioning, by failing to maintain the grocery entryway door and by failing to inspect the door for malfunctions, Daley alleges.
She is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus costs.
She is represented by Matthew A. Marison of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer and Shevlin in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-235.


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Google is trialling a new formula for its search rankings which could eventually let any brand or organisation – including charities – have a dedicated Twitter-style feed built into the company’s search engine results.
Google started the trial in the US last month when it allowed politicians to directly post campaign messages and key points into the search engine. Viewers can then click on the ‘results’ to read more in-depth articles.
The trial appears to have worked well as media reports suggest Google is set to offer a similar service to a wide section of businesses and organisations, albeit still under test conditions.
The individual posts can be shared from the search results page but users are not allowed to comment on them.
Online giving rose by 2.2% in 2016, while overall UK giving climbed by 2.8%, according to the latest Blackbaud Charitable Giving Report
A new infographic published on CustomerThink presents 37 key statistics about email marketing and its place in the world of marketing – and how you can use it to gain maximum results
Email remains a central pillar of marketing programmes, but new research from the DMA suggests marketers have some work to do to ensure they’re relevant and trusted
Disability charity Mencap is enjoying positive results from its clever 'Here I am' campaign


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Today Sony took it to Twitter to tease us with the arrival of the next big thing this season, Xperia Z2 Ultra.
Sony’s official @SonyXperia Twitter account tweeted the following: “Shh… do you want to know a secret? Stay tuned for the next big thing this season,” which was accompanied by a picture of what it looks like a huge Xperia series device, that makes us wonder if this isn’t a teaser for the Xperia Z2 Ultra, sequel to last year 6-inch Xperia Z Ultra.
Now that the Xperia Z2 is out, it makes perfect sense for Sony to introduce a second generation Xperia Z Ultra phablet with upgraded hardware and software.
The launch could happen within “this season,” the summer season we presume.


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Akamai and IBM plan unveil a service Thursday that they say will speed delivery of Web-based business applications.
By creating copies of a company’s Web-based applications that are closer to customers or partners, businesses can improve the performance of these applications.
Woohoo! Distributed web services. Be 110% buzzword compliant.


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Bedbugs bite into the US economy
In popular culture, New York is the city that never sleeps, the concrete jungle in which dreams are made, a place to walk on the wild side.
The reality is the US financial capital is, above all, a crowded and bustling pool of humanity, in which about nine million people live and work cheek by jowl.
Such proximity makes it the perfect breeding ground for a creature that certainly causes its residents to lose sleep, and for many is the stuff of nightmares.
For the past few summers, New York has been struggling with an epidemic of bedbugs - tiny bloodsucking insects that hide during the day, but come out to feed at night.
An infestation of bedbugs is very easy to acquire, and very difficult to eradicate. They can be picked up in taxis or cinemas, on subway trains or in hotel rooms.
Last year, some of the city's flagship retailers were affected. Lingerie retailer Victoria's Secret and teen fashion store Hollister were among those that had to close outlets while pest controllers were called in.
For businesses, finding bedbugs can be very bad news indeed.
Getting rid of them can be very expensive, with treatment of commercial premises sometimes costing tens of thousands of dollars.
But damage to reputations can be even harder to rectify, according to Scott Bermack of New York legal firm LeClair Ryan.
"It's a public relations nightmare," he says. "There's a perception among the public that one bug is an infestation.
"You hear about one bug in a store or a hotel and the customers are going to run out and tell their friends and tell all the websites."
Disgruntled customers are also likely to take legal action. When bedbugs are found, says Mr Bermack, the writs soon follow.
"You have people suing for damage to furniture, damage to clothing. You have people suing for pain and suffering, for emotional damages or psychological damages.
"There's really no limit to the creativity of the plaintiffs' lawyers in terms of the claims they'll make."
Because companies are anxious to limit bad publicity, many of these cases are settled out of court - adding thousands of dollars to the bills they already face for getting rid of the bugs.
Lawyers, of course, are making money out of the bedbug epidemic, but they are not the only ones.
"It's been terrific in terms of revenue," says Timothy Wong, director of pest control firm M&M Environmental.
His office in Manhattan's Lower East Side is packed with the bulky equipment needed to eradicate bedbugs, and a pervasive smell of insecticide hangs in the air.
"Six or seven years ago, bedbug-related services made up less than 1% of our total revenue. Today, it's more than 25%," he says.
"We're treating almost everything, from commercial offices to retail stores, hotels, giant department stores, airlines - just about everybody."
His company makes its money not only from getting rid of bedbugs, but also from preventing them getting established in the first place.
Inevitably, the surge in demand for pest control services has prompted many entrepreneurs to try their luck in the market. But according to Mr Wong, few have succeeded.
"There were a lot of new players who came in. In 2010, there were more than 125 new entrants into the market."
"But the funny thing is, 60 or 70% of them have already left. They came into an industry that they're not familiar with. The overheads are huge, the equipment is expensive, and the training is expensive.
"So people jumping into the business thinking they can turn up and cash in… well, it's difficult. And I think they're proving that's the case."
But for Mr Wong's own company, business is booming - a fact made all too obvious by the row of sales staff crammed into a narrow corridor, taking calls from anxious homeowners and businesses.
It's a line of work that looks unlikely to dry up any time soon.
Insecticides that used to be effective against bedbugs, such as DDT, have been banned, while the insects have steadily become immune to others.
Bedbug activity increases during warm weather, and experts say this summer will be no exception. New York is bracing itself for another irritating onslaught.
But the uncomfortable fact is that, as in so many areas, where New York leads, other cities look set to follow.
Bedbugs are notoriously good travellers, and signs of similar epidemics are already emerging in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington, London and Paris.
Good business for some, sleepless nights for others.


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PlayStation, in collaboration with Insomniac Games and Marvel Games, announced today the global release of the brand new video game, Marvel’s Spider-Man, available exclusively for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®4 Pro for $59.99 MSRP.
Marvel’s Spider-Man is a brand-new original, action-packed adventure for the famous web-slinger. Play as an experienced Spider-Man who has spent eight years behind the mask, defeating new threats as they emerge. Using his boundless acrobatic agility and active combat style, Spider-Man has mastered an evolved set of moves. Swinging through Marvel’s New York feels exhilarating, flying past iconic districts and Marvel landmarks.
“We’re deeply privileged to collaborate with PlayStation and Marvel Games. We’ve poured our souls into Marvel’s Spider-Man with the hope of creating a compelling new take on the iconic wall-crawler that remains authentic to the character’s core,” said Bryan Intihar, Creative Director of Insomniac Games.
“It’s been thrilling to watch our three powerhouses – Marvel, PlayStation, and Insomniac, come together to make the Spider-Man game we’ve always wanted to play,” said Shawn Layden, Chairman of Worldwide Studios, PlayStation. “Today, fans will finally get the chance to jump into this new completely original adventure available only on PlayStation.”
Alongside the game’s release today, the limited edition Marvel’s Spider-Man PS4 Pro bundle is also now available and includes a customized Amazing Red 1TB PS4 Pro console, a matching DualShock 4 wireless controller, and the Marvel’s Spider-Man game. This bundle is available for $399.99 MSRP.


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Tern is teaming up with Dutch-X to deliver goods to retail customers in New York.
New York-based delivery service provider Dutch-X has recently acquired a fleet of Tern electric cargo bikes to help make greener and more efficient deliveries.
Dutch-X makes more than three million deliveries per year and has paired Tern’s electric cargo bikes with an existing fleet of Carla Cargo trailers, which carry up to 150kg.
“A lot of our customers are asking for logistics solutions that are cleaner, greener, and more sustainable,” said Dutch-X co-founder Marcus Hoed. “For example, about 40% of RFP requirements were related to sustainability. We are really happy to see our customer’s priorities shifting in this direction.”
But Hoed emphasised that just being green is ‘not enough’; any solution also has to make business sense. “Whether it’s initial capital expenditure, deliveries/hour, maintenance/month, or even insurance, electric cargo bikes have proven themselves in a dense city like New York,” stated Hoed.
Delivery cargo bikes and trailers have received special permission from New York City to park in commercial loading zones. This reduces the number of delivery vans double-parking and clogging the city’s narrow streets.
While clients pushed for more environmentally-friendly deliveries, safety concerns pushed Dutch-X to upgrade its fleet with Tern cargo bikes equipped with Bosch motors and batteries. “We worked with the New York City Fire Department and they advised us to choose systems that have undergone UL testing and certification,” said Hoed.
“A lot of bad batteries are coming into the US, and we’ve now shifted to using UL-certified batteries exclusively. Manufacturers keep pushing component prices down, and that often means sacrificing quality and safety.”
Read the July issue of BikeBiz below:


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Here is an interesting tidbit. Concerned about privacy, a 24 year-old Austrian law student last year requested his own Facebook file and what he got back was 1,222 pages long. (Guess what - we can't do that in the US or Canada -only in Europe with its stricter privacy laws, since Facebook's European office is located in Ireland.) His file contained old wall posts he had deleted, old messages that discussed a depressed friend's state of mind, and even information about his physical whereabouts that he didn't enter himself. It rattled him and his discomfort is very reflective of the mood in Europe these days about the ways in which Internet companies like Facebook and Google treat personal information.
Of course here in the US, we are still in denial about much of this. Recently the FTC criticized many children's apps, sold at the Google and Apple online stores, for the amount of information they collect about youngest users. While surveys tell us that teens are very conscious of what putting information up online might mean, they are still asking each other to exchange passwords as a sign of affection, checking their Facebook pages as much out of fear as pleasure, and being monitored by the apps they download. Adults, including myself, have been bitten by the latest craze of "social media curation," on mega-popular sites like Pinterest, where users share pictures related to their niche interests. But of course all this organizing and sharing just opens more windows into our lives as well.
The truth is that data about our lives and wants (remember those familiar ads that pop up in the most unexpected places when you are online) is being collected, scrutinized and retained at a breakneck rate and we all know very little about how long these companies keep it or how they use it. In the United States alone, companies spend up to $2 billion a year to collect this valuable information, according to a recent report from Forrester Research. Some people are asking questions, though. The Electronic Privacy Information Center went to court recently to block Google from making a policy change on March 1 that could lead to the search giant assembling richer behavior profiles of people who use more than one of its popular online services.
Back in Europe, the law student's experience has set off stronger requests for privacy laws. And here is another interesting factoid. Every European country has a privacy law, as do Canada, Australia and many Latin American countries. The United States remains a holdout: We have separate laws that protect our health records and financial information, and even one that keeps private what movies we rent. But there is no law that spells out who owns and can control and use our online data.
Even though technology is changing and morphing every day, and privacy, as it was thought of in the past, may be dead, that doesn't mean we shouldn't protect ourselves. We are living more and more in a world, with a burgeoning population all competing for the same colleges, jobs, and the like, where you increasingly only get one chance to make an impression before being categorized, marginalized, or worse. As second chances fall away because every nuance of one's life is archived online to be brought to light at someone else's discretion, there are going to be less and less opportunities for young people to overcome their past, become a "new person," or just plain grow as a person. This is going to be especially true if everything they ever posted online trails along behind them. It is a sobering thought that today's young people may never be able to overcome a youthful indiscretion, an offhand comment, or a questionable picture posted online. Let's not let those second chances fade away.


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Gary Shapiro, chief executive of the Consumer Electronics Association, said tonight that the tech industry’s biggest trade show in North America has grown its attendance in spite of the ongoing economic uncertainty.
At a leadership dinner at the Consumer Electronics Show, Shapiro (right) said that attendance figures so far in the show, which ends on Sunday, have hit 112,000. At this time last year, there were only 92,000 attendees. The numbers are preliminary and are not yet audited. Last year’s final audited number was 113,000, down from 141,150 the year before. This year, the attendance figures suggest CES will beat last year’s number by a healthy margin. Shapiro was actually expecting a decline in attendance when I talked to him in December, though he said anything was possible.
Shapiro said that this year’s show seemed far more upbeat than a year ago, reflecting a return to optimism for the industry. There were fewer exhibitors this year: 2,500 compared to 2,700 last year. But Shapiro has repeatedly pointed out that there are 330 new exhibitors this year, a huge bump that reflects some of the growth of startups and the churn in the industry caused by economic turmoil.
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A couple hundred readers responded to a recent request for thoughts about making the leap to the new Pentium and PowerMac chips.
You could put the consensus in a tabloid headline:
Public to Pentium: Don't call us, we'll call you.
Roughly eight of every 10 in my small poll said they were inclined to wait a while before buying their first personal computer or their next one.
The poll was unabashedly unscientific in that I had called for comments after stating my personal conclusion that prospects are excellent for a price war that ought to play right into home computer buyers' hands if they will wait awhile.
Those who responded tended to be irked at the computer industry for its efforts to create instant buyers' remorse by saying the hot new machines now entering the market are far superior to the ones they were selling just a couple of months ago as the ultimate in computing power.
Many readers seemed to relish the idea of sending big companies a message by waiting, now that the companies are so eager to sell a new round of machines.
As one reader, who goes by the handle Hot Carl on America Online, put it, "I believe the hardware and software manufacturers have created unnecessary demand for faster systems. Most people just don't need them."
Like most of the respondents, Hot Carl said he's inclined to grab for a lesser machine than the killer Pentiums and PowerMacs now getting all the ink and video time.
The lesser machines, which until a few weeks ago were themselves the ultimate in personal computing power, already are going for record low prices and many industry observers see further drops ahead.
But the Pentium and PowerMac machines now entering the fray to replace them are about twice again as powerful.
The suddenly outdated 486 chips have a stunning 1.5 million transistors crammed into a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp. The Pentiums and PowerMacs have a still-more-stunning 3 million transistors on roughly the same-size wafer.
Three years ago, the 486 generation swept on the scene and blew away the then-reigning 386s, which had about a half million transistors.
In turn, the 386s had blasted away the 286 generation that surfaced around 1988 with a couple of hundred thousand transistors.
The 286s had supplanted the original 8088 chips that had started the personal computer revolution by cramming more than 10,000 transistors onto a single chip, thus bringing much of the power of a mainframe computer to the ordinary desktop.
Each new round of machines came onto the market priced in the $4,000-$6,000 range and then gradually dropped until the next generation came.
Gordon Moore, one of the founding geniuses at chipmaking giant Intel Corp., coined "Moore's Law" to describe the phenomenon: Computing power roughly doubles every 18 months. And as the power doubles, the price drops in half.
This time around, however, a lot of people seem to be telling Moore, now Intel's chairman, and the rest of his industry that they'll sit this one out.
At least they'll try to sit it out. Many realized their sales resistance is going to come under severe attack as the industry dangles some wonderful new technologies before the marketplace in the coming Pentium-PowerMac age.
It won't be easy repealing Moore's law.
The e-mail and snail mail contained a lot of irritation at the industry for creating planned obsolescence with the incessant introductions of ever-more powerful machines before the ones most people own are even paid for.
As Mike51310 on America Online put it: "Computers are like the planned obsolescence of automobiles - phase the old out with something better for no better reason than new sales."
Noting that precious few companies are putting Pentiums out on the desktops of ordinary workers, Mike51310 wrote, "What's the point of having a more powerful computer at home than work?"
Jeff Kedrowski was graphic in his vow to stick with 86:
"The average home user can ... get a tail-kicking high-end 486 at a reasonable price, with all of the multimedia goodies and be well-equipped for a few years to come ..."
A number of respondents cited specific cases in which they thought people have opted for far more powerful machines than they need.
For example, a computer network specialist for Northwestern University who goes by Murrayp454 on America Online wrote, "I personally know of one person who has [but does not know the first thing to do with) a fully loaded Pentium multimedia PC."
I also heard from a few Intel executives on this question, and one of them, Neil Sater, based in the Chicago regional office, made the case for popping for Pentium most eloquently:
"Your readers will likely be using these systems for several years before replacing them. Just as the systems they purchased a couple years ago aren't well-suited for multimedia, rest assured that they will want to run software in the next couple years that isn't well suited for 486s."
He closed with this observation: "I think that the real issue is that while a 486-based system may be a fine system to be USING today, that doesn't mean that it is a good choice to PURCHASE today."
This whole experience has left me feeling a lot like another reader, Terry Mankus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who confessed that he has been reduced to inaction by the raging marketplace.
Mankus wrote: "I have been looking for a personal computer for the last few years and have always put off buying one because I knew that six months from the date of purchase my 'new' machine would be obsolete."
It was that kind of indecisive thinking that got Hamlet into all that trouble with his mom.
James Coates is the computer writer for the Chicago Tribune. He can be reached via the Internet at jcoates1(AT)aol.com or write him at the Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan, 4th Floor, Chicago, Ill. 60611. While he cannot respond individually, he will answer questions of general interest in his column.


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This marks the largest GDPR fine ever issued and comes with orders for Meta to suspend EU-US data transfers within five months, though the company plans to appeal the decision.
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined Meta a record €1.2bn for its Facebook data transfers from the EU to the US.
This is the biggest fine issued by the DPC to date and is also the largest GDPR fine ever issued, trumping the €746m fine issued to Amazon in 2021.
The DPC has also ordered Meta Ireland to suspend future transfers of personal data to the US within five months and to bring its processing operations into GDPR compliance by “ceasing the unlawful processing, including storage, in the US of personal data of EU/EEA users” within six months.
In its decision, the DPC said Meta’s use of a legal instrument known as standard contractual clauses to transfer data “did not address the risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms” of European users of Facebook.
Concerns have been raised by EU authorities for years that data protection in the US is insufficient to be compliant with GDPR.
Meta revealed in a statement that it plans to appeal the DPC’s decision in court, including the “unjustified and unnecessary fine”.
Meta’s president of global affairs Nick Clegg and chief legal officer Jennifer Newstead said the issue is not about a single business, but about issues between the US government’s rules on access to data and European privacy rights “which policymakers are expected to resolve in the summer”.
“We are therefore disappointed to have been singled out when using the same legal mechanism as thousands of other companies looking to provide services in Europe,” Clegg and Newstead said.
“This decision is flawed, unjustified and sets a dangerous precedent for the countless other companies transferring data between the EU and US.”
The DPC has issued multiple GDPR fines to Meta and its platforms over the years. Last year, the Irish data authority fined Instagram €405m for violating children’s privacy, including its publication of kids’ email addresses and phone numbers in some cases. In 2021, the DPC fined WhatsApp €225m for GDPR breaches.
John Magee, head of data protection, privacy and cybersecurity of DLA Piper Ireland said that while the latest fine is “certainly eye-catching”, the suspension order will probably “bite much harder for Meta”.
“The DPC’s decision also carries major implications for businesses across all sectors engaged in the day-to-day activity of international transfers of personal data,” Magee said.
“While global data transfers are still possible to lawfully carry out, the DPC’s decision has now raised the stakes, focussing attention on the controls that organisations need to have in place as well as forcing businesses to think about their overall data governance strategies.”
Meta has previously warned that it may have to pull Facebook and Instagram from the EU market if regulation around data transfers between Europe and the US does not come to fruition.
The DPC investigation
The DPC has been investigating Meta’s data transfers since 2020, with a gap period due to a High Court order until 20 May 2021. The Irish watchdog said it continued its investigation after this date and issued a draft decision on 6 July 2022.
The DPC said four data protection authorities in the EU raised issue with this draft decision and pushed for the fine for the GDPR infringement. Two authorities pushed for an action addressing data that has already been transferred to the US, which the DPC disagreed with.
As consensus could not be reached, the European Data Protection Board stepped in and issued an order on 13 April, which the DPC’s final decision adopted.
In January, the EDPB criticised how the DPC investigated Meta’s handling of personal data and claimed the Irish regulator did not assess the processing of sensitive data in its investigation.
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For months, leaks warned that Apple was preparing to jack up iPhone 14 prices. And now we know it did — in some cases to eye-watering levels — just not in its two biggest markets.
The price hikes were easy to miss. When officially unveiling the iPhone 14 range, Apple only showed prices in dollars, and the iPhone 14 ($799), iPhone 14 Pro ($999) and iPhone 14 Pro Max ($1,099) were unchanged from their predecessors with the midrange iPhone 14 Max added at $899. But this was the exception, not the rule.
Besides China, Apple’s second-largest market behind the US, Apple introduced price increases to some — if not all — iPhone 14 models worldwide. For example, in the UK the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models increased by between £70 ($80) and £100 ($115), respectively.
Similarly, in Europe, there were jumps of up to €110 ($111) for standard models and €170 ($172) for Pro models. While in Japan, iPhone 14 prices rose by an average of 21,000 yen ($145). There were outliers, like the near-doubling price of iPhones in Turkey — but that comes down to exceptional circumstances regarding increased taxation and a currency which has halved in value this year.
In Apple’s defence, currency swings can be blamed (to a lesser degree) for price increases in other markets as well. That said, with manufacturing costs increasing significantly in 2022, Apple is now effectively using the rest of the world to subsidize costs in the United States and China.
Not that either country escaped their own, more subtle, price hikes.
On paper, Apple left iPhone 14 prices unchanged. In reality, the company replaced the $699 iPhone 13 Mini with the $899 iPhone 14 Plus. In turn, the iPhone 14 began the new entry point to the range at $799. All of which explains why US customers are expected to spend up to 15% more, on average, when buying iPhone 14 models.
So whether you live in a country where iPhone prices have skyrocketed, or in the US or China where increases are more subtle, the message is clear. The iPhone 14 range is Apple’s most expensive to date, and you should go in with your eyes wide open.
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A 28-year-old Ugandan innovator, Asher Namanya, has launched a financial tech solution called Cash Chat, working similar to WhatsApp. The tech solution allows users to do financial transactions conveniently without having to exit chat groups.
“It has a wallet in the chat, money transfers, wallet to wallet, airtime top-up, withdraws to mobile, bill payments, member savings, sponsored Ads-to all users, instant chats one on one and group participants of up to 1000 Members among others,” said Namanya in a statement released to media.
According to the young Ugandan innovator, the solution emerged due to the need to digitize payment systems while at the same time to enable users to utilize their quality time spent on social media platforms.
He added, “We are going Cashless in Africa, and so Cash Chat gives that advantage to access all services in one stopover without moving away from where you are as social media users and consumers.”
The Cash Chat app continues to grow with currently over 100,000 active users across different locations around the world. The app is powered by PesaMoni and Bold Casher. PesaMoni is an internet-based app allowing users to transfer money around the globe while Bold Cashers is a payment service provider.
In terms of security, Namanya emphasized that interactive features on the app are secured as it runs end-to-end encryption.
“The companies use rubi & rails, the best and most advanced technology on its systems to connect banks, businesses, and mobile to the last consumer while securing users’ data,” he explains.
In addition to that, Namanya said that both companies he is working with are certified by the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) and Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC).
According to Namanya, the invention not only aims at creating an employment channel but also promoting innovation in Uganda as well as the globe due to the increasing internet population.


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Air quality is important to all of us. Even though wood burning stoves are a relatively low source of emissions, it is important to reduce emissions from wood burning stoves even further. The Ecodesign is a new landmark in the increasing environmental benefits of wood burning stoves.
The Ecodesign label will inform consumers that the stove will meet the new stringent emission limits.
As of January 1st. 2018 the labels will be sent with all stoves being delivered from our side.


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Jason Riley is right that Black Lives Matter’s popularity has declined since its 2020 peak and that news “about the organization’s spending habits” will make things worse (“BLM’s Antipolice Racket is Coming Undone,” Upward Mobility, April 20). And there’s more. The IRS doesn’t know where millions raised in 2020 have gone. California and Washington, no bastions of conservatism, have suspended fundraising by the group’s flagship, the BLM Global Network Foundation, because it is delinquent on its 2020 financial reports.
But the foundation’s biggest problem has never been the grift. Nor has it been that its self-avowed Marxist founders have gone on a mansion-buying spree with money well-intentioned Americans and craven corporations donated.
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Beatport Acquires Plug-in and Sound Pack Company, Loopmasters
Beatport Acquires Plug-in and Sound Pack Company, LoopmastersDecember 16, 2020
At Beatport, we are pleased to announce our acquisition of a company that has established itself as the world’s top seller in music production software and digital tools, Loopmasters.
Established in 2003 to sell sound packs to the professional audio market and function as an online store for producers using Digital Audio Workstations (DAW), the company has become a vital online outlet for music producers of all sounds and skill-levels. Offering a vast amount of VST Plugins, virtual instruments, synth presets, and music plugins through Plugin Boutique, along with cloud-based sound packs through its Loopcloud subscription service, Loopmasters is a seamless one-stop-shop for all your music production needs.
For the last eighteen months, Beatport and Loopmasters have collaborated on several strategic marketing initiatives, such as our remix competitions, VST coupons and giveaways, ReConnect livestreams, and more. And we can’t wait to show you what’s in store.
Robb McDaniels, CEO of Beatport, said about the new partnership: “Matt Pelling (Loopmasters’ CEO) and the entire Loopmasters team are world-class people who have built amazing products for the producer community that simply belong in our ecosystem. The phenomenal growth of Plugin Boutique, the leading global seller of virtual instrument plug-ins, and the recent launch of Loopcloud, an innovative subscription service for the samples market, are a testament to the talent of their team, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome them to the Beatport family.”
Find out more about Loopmasters and its world-class music production services by visiting their website here.


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DENVER (AP) — Hit the slopes — and then a bong?
Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug laws for residents. The measures also open the door for marijuana tourism.
Both marijuana measures make marijuana possession in small amounts OK for all adults over 21 — not just state residents but visitors, too. Tourists may not be able to pack their bowls along with their bags, but as long as out-of-state tourists purchase and use the drug while in Colorado or Washington, they wouldn't violate the marijuana measures.
Of course, that's assuming the recreational marijuana measures take effect at all. That was very much in doubt Friday as the states awaited word on possible lawsuits from the U.S. Department of Justice asserting federal supremacy over drug law.
So the future of marijuana tourism in Colorado and Washington is hazy. But that hasn't stopped rampant speculation, especially in Colorado, where tourism is the No. 2 industry thanks to the Rocky Mountains and a vibrant ski industry.
The day after Colorado approved recreational marijuana by a wide margin, the headline in the Aspen Times asked, "Aspendam?" referring to Amsterdam's marijuana cafes.
Colorado's tourism director, Al White, tried to downplay the prospect of a new marijuana tourism boom.
"It won't be as big a deal as either side hopes or fears," White said.
Maybe not. But many are asking about marijuana tourism.
Ski resorts are "certainly watching it closely," said Jennifer Rudolph of Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade association that represents 21 Colorado resorts.
Any plans for an adults-only après lounge where skiers could get more than an Irish coffee to numb their aches?
"There's a lot that remains to be seen," Rudolph said with a chuckle. "I guess you could say we're waiting for the smoke to clear."
The Colorado counties where big ski resorts are located seem to have made up their minds. The marijuana measure passed by overwhelming margins, with more support than in less visited areas.
The home county of Aspen approved the marijuana measure more than 3-to-1. More than two-thirds approved marijuana in the home county of Colorado's largest ski resort, Vail. The home county of Telluride ski resort gave marijuana legalization its most lopsided victory, nearly 8 in 10 favoring the measure.
"Some folks might come to Colorado to enjoy some marijuana as will be their right. So what?" said Betty Aldworth, advocacy director for the Colorado marijuana campaign.
Washington state already sees a version of marijuana tourism.
Every summer on the shores of the Puget Sound, Seattle is host to "Hempfest," which according to organizers attracted around 250,000 people over three days this year. For those three days, people are largely left alone to smoke publically at a local park, even as police stand by.
"People travel to Seattle from other states and countries to attend Seattle Hempfest every year to experience the limited freedom that happens at the event," said executive director Vivian McPeak. "It's reasonable to assume that people will travel to Washington assuming that the federal government doesn't interfere."
McPeak draw parallels to Amsterdam where an annual "Cannabis Cup" attracts tourists from all over the world and Vancouver, British Columbia, which has lax marijuana rules that have borne marijuana cafes drawing travelers.
Amsterdam's marijuana tourism is in a hazy spot these days, though. The incoming Dutch government suggested a national "weed pass" that would have been available only to residents and that would have effectively banned tourists from Amsterdam's marijuana cafes. The "weed pass" idea was scrapped, but under a provisional governing pact unveiled last week, Dutch cities can bar foreigners from weed shops if they choose.
In Denver, some feared that the Colorado marijuana vote could deter tourists, not to mention business visitors.
"Colorado's brand will be damaged, and we may attract fewer conventions and see a decline in leisure travel," Visit Denver CEO Richard Scharf said in a statement before the vote.
Colorado's governor opposed the measure but said after its passage that he didn't envision marijuana tourism materializing.
"I don't think that's going to happen," Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper said. "They're going to flock here to buy marijuana as if they're going to take it back? On an airplane? That seems unlikely to me."
Colorado's measure specifically bans public use of the drug. But guidelines for commercial sales are still to be worked out. The state's 536 medical marijuana dispensaries are banned from allowing on-site consumption, but lawmakers could set different rules for recreational marijuana shops.
Marijuana backers downplayed the impact on tourism. Aldworth pointed out that pot-smoking tourists wouldn't exactly be new. Colorado ski slopes already are dotted with "smoke shacks," old mining cabins that have been illicitly repurposed as places to smoke pot out of the cold. And the ski resort town of Breckenridge dropped criminal penalties for marijuana use two years ago.
"Some folks come to Colorado and enjoy some marijuana while they are here today," Aldworth said.
The sheriff of the county including Aspen was sanguine about the prospects of pot-smoking visitors.
"For me, it's going to be live and let live. If people want to come to Colorado because pot is legal — and that's the sole reason — it's up to them," Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo told The Aspen Times. "I am not the lifestyle police."
Associated Press reporter Manuel Valdes in Seattle contributed to this report.
Find Kristen Wyatt on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APkristenwyatt


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360pi: Most Black Friday deals a myth
Ottawa, Ontario — Black Friday deep discounts could be a myth, with only a few retailers dropping prices on only a few categories. Some key findings from pricing intelligence technology provider 360pi based on Amazon’s own assortment in eight categories, including TVs, video games, tablets and digital cameras, show that:
- Amazon was the only retailer who adjusted prices on over 20% of its assortment, changing prices on almost a third of its merchandise on Black Friday.
- On Cyber Monday, all the multichannel retailers were trending closer to Amazon’s pricing than the pureplay online stores. You would think the exact opposite given the cost differential in physical stores.
- Walmart actually raised its prices almost 5% on average on Black Friday, and had been increasing prices steadily in the days leading up to it.
- Sam’s Club and Amazon dropped their prices most aggressively on Black Friday.
- Target was the mass merchant with the most significant decrease in its own prices for this assortment from two weeks prior to Black Friday to Black Friday.
- A majority of retailers either did not lower prices, or even raised prices slightly, on Black Friday.
Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s to anchor new Mall at Miami Worldcenter
Cincinnati — Macy’s announced an agreement for Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores to anchor the new Mall at Miami Worldcenter, to be built in downtown Miami. Current plans call for the stores to open in fall 2016.
Miami Worldcenter, a major mixed-use project with retail, hotel, residential and convention space, is being planned by The Forbes Company and Taubman Centers.
The development is located to attract both resident and tourist customers, with easy access to interstate highways and rail, museums, The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, American Airlines Arena and the Port of Miami cruise ship terminals.
The Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores – each on three levels – will anchor the north and south ends of the retail mall, respectively.
Dollar General Q3 rises 14%; ups 2014 expansion to 700 new stores
Goodlettsville, Tenn. – Dollar General delivered some impressive financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 as traffic improved and shoppers spent more per transaction on average. The retailer said it plans to open approximately 700 stores in fiscal 2014 and remodel or relocate approximately 525 locations, expanding store selling square footage by 6% to 7%.
Dollar General’s net income increased by a better-than-expected 14% to $237 million in the 2013 third quarter compared to $208 million in year-ago period.
Net sales increased 10.5% to $4.38 billion in the 2013 third quarter compared to $3.96 billion in the 2012 third quarter. Same-store sales increased 4.4%, with increases in both customer traffic and average transaction value. Consumables sales continued to increase at a higher rate than non-consumables in the 2013 third quarter, with the most significant growth due to strong sales of tobacco products, perishables and candy and snacks.
Dollar General once again delivered strong results in the third quarter, even in the face of an ongoing challenging consumer environment,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “Our merchandising initiatives have continued to be successful in driving traffic and sales. We had solid financial performance across key metrics.”
During the first nine months of this year, the company opened 577 new stores and remodeled or relocated 534 units as part of a full-year plan to open approximately 650 new stores and remodel or relocate another 550 locations. The company said it operated 11,061 stores as of Nov. 1.
Dollar General now expects total net sales for the 2013 fiscal year to increase by 10% to 10.5% from the 2012 fiscal year, including an expected increase in same-store sales of 4% to 4.5%. Previous guidance reflected an increase in total net sales of 10% to 11% and an increase in same-store sales of 4% to 5%.
"Looking ahead, while we are cautious on the current macroeconomic trends, we remain excited about the long-term growth prospects for our business,” Dreiling said. “Dollar General is committed to delivering everyday low prices and convenience for our customers, which has proven to be a winning formula given our long track record of success.”


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Immutable, a leading Web3 gaming platform, has recently announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This collaboration is set to revolutionize the world of blockchain gaming and usher in a new era of possibilities for game developers in the crypto space.
According to a recent statement by Immutable, the company has joined AWS’s ISV Accelerate Program, a sales program designed for companies leveraging AWS services in their products. Immutable’s blockchain gaming technology, particularly Immutable X, which is Ethereum-compatible, will now be seamlessly integrated with AWS’s Activate program.
Jason Suen, Immutable’s Chief Commercial Officer, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that by joining AWS ISV Accelerate and AWS Activate programs, they can provide their vast network of game developers with a turnkey solution for quickly building and scaling Web3 games.
The significance of the gaming sector within the blockchain industry was highlighted by AWS Head of Startups, John Kearney, who noted that numerous studios are exploring crypto technology’s integration into their games. AWS is actively engaged with the Blockchain Game Alliance, showcasing its commitment to advancing blockchain gaming.
AWS, known for its cloud computing platforms and data storage services, offers various services tailored to the gaming sector. These include cloud gaming services, game servers, game security services, game analytics, video game artificial intelligence, and machine learning offerings.
The partnership with AWS will open up a vast pipeline of game studio leads for Immutable and provide critical support for deal closures. This collaboration offers the potential to simplify the growth and expansion of blockchain games by providing access to AWS resources, enhancing security for potential clients, and facilitating agreements with prominent game studios globally.
Immutable’s platform is built on Amazon EventBridge and AWS Lambda, utilizing serverless services that use events to connect application components. This architecture enables the platform to scale effectively, handling a 10x increase in partnered games.
Developers seeking to build on Immutable’s blockchain can also take advantage of AWS Activate, a program offering essential perks such as technical support, training, and a substantial $100,000 worth of AWS cloud credits.
In addition to the partnership with AWS, Immutable has been making strides with its zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM), which underwent public testing in collaboration with Polygon Labs in August. The zkEVM promises to lower development costs for game developers while providing the security and network effects associated with the Ethereum ecosystem.
Immutable has gained recognition and valuation, reaching $2.5 billion in March 2022, following a remarkable $200 million Series C funding round primarily led by Singaporean state-owned investment firm Temasek.
Overall, the partnership between Immutable and AWS represents a significant step forward for the blockchain gaming industry. With AWS’s resources and support, game developers can now leverage Immutable’s technology more easily, leading to the creation of innovative and engaging Web3 games. The future of blockchain gaming looks promising, and this collaboration paves the way for exciting developments in this dynamic field.


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Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto has admitted during a Q&A session with shareholders that development for HD games on Wii U was difficult.
The original Wii did not have HD capabilities and making games for the system was easy and inexpensive. With the Wii U now in HD, Nintendo didn’t anticipate the more work that is needed to be done to develop HD video games.
Miyamoto explained the following:
“When it comes to the scale of software development, Wii U with HD graphics requires about twice the human resources than before. We may have underestimated the scale of this change and as a result, the overall software development took more time than originally anticipated just as we tried to polish the software at the completion phase of development.”
A lot of Wii U games are now in development with new titles announced at E3 this year.


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Document-sharing site Scribd kicked up a firestorm this summer when it slapped a paywall around older content. Users protested loudly, both about the move itself and the lack of prior warning.
Scribd is just one of several sites to put up a paywall recently, as social media companies come under pressure to start making money.
A site's move from free to paid often incenses users -- but sometimes the sites have no choice. Cool services don't always mean a lot when a site doesn't have a massive user base to attract venture capital, advertisements or potential buyers.
That means more Web companies may be faced with a tough choice: Start charging, or die.
The Scribd debacle: Scribd, founded in 2006, is trying the first option. The site lets users upload and share documents, as well as embed them into a web page. All Scribd features were free until July, when Scribd posted in its FAQ section about the new archiving system it had been testing for a few weeks.
After "an initial period of time on Scribd" -- users report it's two months after upload -- documents would then be available only with a daily $5 subscription, $9 monthly pass or $59 fee for the year. Users erupted with anger as they realized what was happening, and a law professor's rage-filled blog post made its way onto TechCrunch.
Scribd posted an apology on its blog, promising to notify users when their documents are about to be archived and to offer an opt-out version. Despite the user complaints, the paywall stayed in place.
Other sites go to a paid model: Scribd isn't the only previously free service to start charging.
Skysa, a service that lets website owners add a toolbar with social networking apps, announced last week it was phasing out its free service. As of Sept. 23, varying service plans will cost between $5 and $20 a month or $50 to $200 per year -- though current free account holders will get a two-month trial.
"While I am sure many of our Free users will be disappointed by this news, we hope you can understand the value behind this," Skysa said in its blog post. "At the end of the day, free is just is not sustainable and we would rather provide quality."
TeachStreet, a site that helps students find classes in their areas, was able to stay free for two years. In early April, the site "pre-announced" that it was moving to a pricing plan at the end of the month for all new class listings. TeachStreet's CEO explained the company had tried other ways to make money but ultimately failed, forcing it to start charging.
In a post on TechCrunch, the TeachStreet CEO said his customers appreciated the prior notice and he even received several supportive emails.
Charging isn't an option: Some Web companies aren't willing to forgo the spirit of free, and they'd rather close down than charge their users.
XMarks, a service that syncs Web site bookmarks across several browsers, is one that decided to shut down instead of charge users a fee. In a goodbye blog post this week, XMarks co-founder Todd Agulnick said the service had amassed 2 million users but never found a way to make money.
He said XMarks tried several ways to make money rather than charge users, including the creation of a search tool, selling advertising and putting the business up for sale. Nothing worked.
Also this month, SixApart blog network Vox announced its site would be closing on Sept. 30. The goodbye posts from both XMarks and Vox were met with an outpouring of support in the form of "we'll miss you" comments.
Bigger is better if you want to stay free ... for now: When it comes to making money, a big user base doesn't mean as much as a paying user base -- even for the huge sites.
Facebook hit 500 million user accounts in July, and the company is reportedly preparing for an IPO in 2012. But the massive social network has yet to detail a business plan that will earn it a profit.
Twitter is in the same boat. Since its creation, questions have circled about how the microblogging site can turn a profit. This month, Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) chief executive Eric Schmidt said Twitter "should be able to come up with advertising and monetization products that are very lucrative."
The massive popularity of Facebook and Twitter have kept them going so far, and at this point it's hard to imagine the Web without them.
Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford charts her career path, from her first job to becoming the first openly gay CEO at a Fortune 500 company in an interview with CNN's Boss Files. More
Honda and General Motors are creating a new generation of fully autonomous vehicles. More
In 1998, Ntsiki Biyela won a scholarship to study wine making. Now she's about to launch her own brand. More
Whether you hedge inflation or look for a return that outpaces inflation, here's how to prepare. More


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Styched, an online youth fashion brand, has announced its acquisition of Flatheads, a Direct-to-Customer (D2C) online casual sneaker startup that gained fame in Shark Tank India season 2.
This is Styched's first acquisition. The deal, structured as an all-equity transaction, represents Styched's foray into the footwear segment.
Founded in 2018 by Ganesh Balakrishnan and Utkarsh Biradar, Bangalore-based Flatheads is a D2C brand specialising in designing all-day wear casual sneakers for the urban audience.
Styched said that Flatheads is the first Indian brand to introduce bamboo fibre shoes. It raised funds from We Founder Circle, LetsVenture, and angel investors, among others.
Leveraging its expertise in production, Styched plans to incorporate its production-on-demand technology into the footwear category, enabling the seamless expansion of Flatheads' existing collection.
Soumajit Bhowmik, CEO at Styched, said, “We have been following Flatheads for quite some time, and I have personally interacted with Ganesh earlier. The acquisition opportunity came to us through a common investor, and we felt it would be a perfect deal for us considering we wanted to launch sneakers in a big way within Styched as well. The technical know-how of Flatheads would really help us create a wide range of affordable sneakers collections. So, while Styched will continue to play in the sub-1000 INR segment, the semi-premium segment would have Flatheads as the flagship brand.
“The Flatheads-Styched deal gives new wings to our idea of creating unique footwear for the young Indian. Styched has changed the operating model of creating and delivering fashion, and I'm very excited to see Flatheads taking the next leap together. Young Indians are just starting to flaunt their sneakers as a new fashion and lifestyle statement. The market is evolving, and it will be a unique journey for the category, different from other parts of the world. It will be fulfilling to see Flatheads being an integral part of the market creation and growth,” said Ganesh Balakrishnan, Co-Founder of Flatheads.
Initially, Flatheads will continue offering its existing range of products, with all departments now being operated and managed by Styched. This development will be followed by a hiring phase aimed at strengthening the footwear department within Styched.


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The Slocan Valley Co-op has announced the purchase of two Husky retail fuel sites, one in Nelson and the other in Trail.
“We’re so proud to share this announcement today. As a co-op, it has been our vision to increase products, services, and benefits to a growing membership while strengthening communities,” said Chris Sapriken, general manager of the co-op in a release.
“Adding these sites to our fuel network signals our co-op’s commitment to growing and serving in more communities for the long term. We also aim to make future investments to provide our members and communities more diverse services.”
The retail fuel sites were purchased from Federated Co-operatives Limited as part of its agreement to acquire 171 Husky retail fuel sites from Cenovus Energy Inc., which was announced in November 2021. The Slocan Valley Co-op will officially take ownership of these sites on Sept. 13.
These fuel sites will continue to operate under the Husky brand until they are re-branded as Co-op or Tempo brands.
Co-op members will not be able to use their co-op numbers at these new locations while they are branded as Husky.


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Boasting a community of 10,500 certified professionals across 40+ countries, SISA’s CPISI, CPISI-Advanced and CPISI-D programs now stand as the first and sole Payment Industry Security Certification to earn the esteemed ISO/IEC 17024:2012 accreditation from ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
August 1, 2023: SISA Institute, a pioneer in cybersecurity education, is proud to announce that ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) has granted accreditation to our esteemed payment Industry security certification programs: CPISI, CPISI-Advanced, and CPISI-Developers. This prestigious accreditation validates the quality and integrity of SISA’s programs, ensuring that they meet the highest standard for the cybersecurity industry.
The payment industry, at the heart of digital transformation with breakthrough technologies such as blockchain, contactless payments, mobile wallets, and digital currencies; is facing an unprecedented era of cyber threats despite the conveniences and speed of modern transactions. Today, organizations handle an extensive volume of sensitive data during payment transactions, making them a prime target for cyber criminals, causing a significant rise in data breaches, fraud, and financial losses.
It is in this context that the need for specialized training in payment Industry security has become acute. The payments industry requires a workforce armed with the knowledge and skills to understand, navigate, and protect against these evolving threats. Professionals need to be adept at handling diverse payment modes, conversant with international standards, and capable of implementing best practices in data security. They also need to understand the legal and regulatory implications of payment security and how to ensure compliance. As a result, the demand for cybersecurity professionals with a profound understanding of digital payment protection is skyrocketing.
Dr. Vijay Krishna, VP of Credentialing at ANAB handing over the ANSI certificate to Paul G Witt, VP – North America, SISA.
“The CPISI, CPISI-Advanced, and CPISI-Developers certifications, designed to satisfy the rigorous demands of payment Industry security in our digitized age, encompass all payment form factors and adhere to the most relevant standards, regulations, and best practices. Our objective with these ANAB-accredited programs is to address the pressing skill gap in the industry head-on,” said Dharshan Shanthamurthy, Founder and CEO of SISA. “This prestigious accreditation will empower organizations to recruit and promote professionals with internationally recognized credentials, reinforcing their ability to safeguard the integrity of digital payment ecosystems.”
The value of SISA’s ANAB-accredited certification programs is two-fold, providing significant benefits for both candidates and employers within the realm of cybersecurity and digital payments. For employers, it provides reassurance in the hiring process and guarantees that the certified professionals they are hiring possess the skills and knowledge necessary to safeguard their digital payment systems and sensitive data from evolving threats.
“We are thrilled to have received accreditation from ANAB, a respected body recognized for setting high-quality standards,” Abhishek Shukla, Director, SISA Institute. “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to providing top-notch education and training for payment Industry security professionals. With this, we hope to help mitigate the talent shortage in the cybersecurity industry, especially within the payments sector.”
On the other hand, for individuals, SISA’s ANAB-accredited certification programs provide a robust and recognized pathway to advancement within the field of cybersecurity. The certifications act as a valuable addition to their professional portfolio, substantially enhancing their marketability and employability in a competitive job market. Beyond just a proof of technical competence, these certifications also validate an individual’s understanding of industry standards, regulatory requirements, and best practices in digital payment security.
ANAB vice president of credentialing, Dr. Vijay Krishna, highlighted the strategic importance of SISA’s recent accomplishment, stating “ANAB accreditation under ISO/IEC 17024:2012 requires a certification body to demonstrate that their certification examination is fair, valid, and reliable. The standard also requires the certification body to be structured in a manner that assures impartiality, independence, transparency, accountability, and a balanced representation of stakeholders, among other requirements. Certifications offered by ANAB-accredited certification bodies are industry recognized and portable, offering advantages that include career advancement, better job performance, and practitioner credibility.”
In essence, SISA’s ANAB-accredited certification programs not only fuel the professional growth of aspiring cybersecurity experts but also fortify organizations’ defenses in a rapidly evolving digital payment landscape. They provide a concrete platform for individuals to excel and for businesses to foster a competent and secure operational environment.
SISA is a global forensics-driven cybersecurity solutions company, trusted by leading organizations for securing their businesses with robust preventive, detective, and corrective cybersecurity solutions. Our problem-first, human-centric approach helps businesses strengthen their cybersecurity posture. We apply the power of forensic intelligence and advanced technology to offer true security to 2,000+ customers in 40+ countries.
ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and has signed the ILAC and IAF multilateral recognition agreements. The ANSI/ISO/IEC Standard 17024 accreditation holds international relevance as it is a global standard. As a result, accredited programs like SISA’s CPISI, CPISI-A, and CPISI-D gain global significance and IAF acceptance, improving their standing across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. The ANAB accreditation ensures that the certification program was designed and will be maintained to stringent criteria for existing and future certification holders.
For more information, visit www.anab.org.


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Prosser Wine Industry Continues to Grow, Brings in New Wineries
PROSSER, Wash. -- While the nation's economy continues to slowly recover, one industry with local ties is enjoying some impressive growth or at least that's what we're hearing from those in the wine industry. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is one of the biggest wine makers in Washington, producing about two million cases of wine a year.
Much of their production is done in Paterson, but the Vice President of Operations, Rob McKinney said the demand for red wine especially continues to rise, which is why they're expanding. "The wine industry is alive and well in this area. There's currently not necessarily enough fruit in the ground to meet the demand," said McKinney.
McKinney said the company plans to open 14 Hands winery in Prosser, Washington by fall 2013, one of their most popular wines that are fairly priced.
"The performance of 14 Hands has been nothing short of remarkable," said Ted Baseler, President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. "Since its initial introduction in 2005, we have watched 14 Hands evolve into a Washington powerhouse and the fastest growing wine brand to reach one million cases sold in the history of the Washington wine industry.
"We are excited to respond to consumer demand by creating a unique 14 Hands winery destination," Baseler said. The winery announcement comes on the heels of a major brand milestone: more than one million cases of wine were shipped nationally in 2012, just seven years after 14 Hands was introduced to a limited number of restaurants.
The winery will replace Snoqualme Winery, which has stood off Frontier Road for the last 12 years. Guest amenities will feature a tasting bar, lounge and a barrel room for Reserve wine tastings. Barn wood, stone and earth tones will be used throughout the interior and exterior courtyard to reflect the winery's location at the base of the Horse Heaven Hills appellation. Extensive renovations will transform the facility into an important destination along the town's wine tourism corridor. In addition to several wineries, this area also will be the home of the Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center which began construction in January. The "Clore" Center will be a tourism showcase for the Washington state wine industry.
"It's a place for tourists who are coming to the Valley and to Eastern Washington to stop and be the first place to get an idea about the wine industry. We'll also have a large teaching classroom. We will have a full catered kitchen so we can hold banquets up to 300 people," said President of the Clore, Bob Stevens.
Stevens said the $4 million project should be open by the end of October, and many believe its worth the investment, including the Executive Director of the Prosser Economic Development, Deb Heintz. "The first year at the Clore Center, we anticipate 25,000 visitors and that's being very conservative," said Heintz.
Heintz also said industry as a whole is growing, so much that it's doubled the construction in the city. "Over the past ten years, we've averaged about roughly $8 million in new construction projects within the city limits. Last year we saw over $16 million," said Heintz.


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NEW YORK (AP) ? Stocks wavered between slight gains and losses in early trading as investors weigh worries about Europe against an increase in U.S. retail spending.
The Commerce Department said early Tuesday that Americans spent more on autos, electronics and building supplies in October, raising retail sales for a fifth straight month. Sales increased 0.5 percent from the previous month, better than forecasts.
Wal-Mart Stores and Staples fell in early trading after reporting quarterly earnings. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posted a drop in profits and fell 2 percent.
Sales at Staples Inc. fell short of analysts’ expectations, and the company also cut its earnings forecast for the year. Its stock dropped 4 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 5 points to 12,084 as of 10 a.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index edged up 1 point to 1,253. The Nasdaq composite index rose 6 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,658.
Higher interest rates on government debt from Italy, Spain and other European countries rattled stock markets in Europe early Tuesday. The market rate for Italy’s 10-year bond jumped back above 7 percent. When rates crossed the 7 percent threshold last week, it raised worries about the country’s ability to manage its debts. Greece, Ireland and Portugal were forced to seek lifelines when their borrowing rates crossed the same mark.
Among other companies reporting quarterly results, Home Depot said spending on home projects and storm-related repairs helped lift earnings. The country’s largest home-improvement retailer also raised its earnings estimate for the year. The stock rose nearly 1 percent. Department store chain Saks Inc posted stronger sales and rose 1.4 percent.
Dell Inc. reports quarterly results after the market closes.
Renewed worries over Europe’s debt crisis weighed on markets Monday. Italy had to pay the highest rate at an auction of five-year bonds since 1997, a sign investors are still worried about Italy’s ability to pay its debts. The Dow lost nearly 75 points. Bank stocks led the market lower.


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Dell, in collaboration with Intel, launched an IoT lab in Singapore which will focus on public safety, industrial automation, and healthcare.
Intel has officially launched in Malaysia the Intel Compute Stick, an Intel Atom powered 4-inch-long plug-and-play device which it said transforms any HDMI display into a computer, as well as Intel Atom x3 Processor Series reference designs.
SNS Network Sdn Bhd has introduced Joi 8, which it said was Malaysia’s first local branded tablet powered by Intel Corp and running on Microsoft Corp’s Windows 8.1 operating system.
Intel has announced that Prakash Mallya has been appointed managing director for South-East Asia. He was most recently Intel’s country manager for Malaysia and Singapore.
Open standards, security and cost issues among key concerns for IoT adoption Regulators need to have clearer guidelines on areas like NFC and e-payment
Dell has expanded its workstation portfolio and also unveiled the newest additions to its line of commercial PCs.
Intel Malaysia and SME Bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore making available two training progammes, Intel Learn Easy Steps and Intel Entrepreneurship Basics (E-Basics), to complement the bank's existing small and medium enterprises (SME) community training and development programmes.
Lenovo pulled the wraps off its latest smartphones, with new models ranging from entry-level to top-end performance devices.
Malaysian students bagged three awards at this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a programme of the Society for Science & the Public, which took place in Phoenix, Arizona from May 12 to 17.
MDeC has appointed Intel Malaysia technical advisor to the ‘Grow the Embedded Systems Industry’ Project (Embedded Project), one of eight projects identified for the first wave of the Digital Malaysia program.


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At today's Samsung Premiere 2013 event in London, the Korean smartphone giant announced that it will begin selling the Galaxy S4 in five additional colors. These new models won't be different internally from what's currently available, just more eye-catching. It remains to be seen if this colorful strategy will give a boost to the Galaxy S4's sales numbers, not that it needs all that much help. The Galaxy S4 is still outselling all other Android smartphones by a wide margin, even if it isn't doing so quite as spectacularly as investors would want.
Two days ago, we reported on the rumored existence of a new Galaxy S4 iteration with LTE-Advanced support headed to Korea. It seems that device has been all but confirmed today, thanks to a leaked user manual with device specifications found by Japanese blog rbmen.
The device, known as model number SHV-E330, contains an MSM8974 CPU, which will be the first Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC to debut in handsets later this year.
Most Android phones have big batteries these days, but that doesn't mean they always have enough juice for today's go-go smartphone user. Luckily, ZeroLemon has just started selling gigantic batteries for the Samsung Galaxy S4 and LG Optimus G Pro. Sometimes form has to take a backseat to function.
A great cheer rose up from the internet early this month when Samsung added listings for the Qi wireless charging accessories compatible with the Galaxy S4. The cheer then quickly faded into a confused murmur as everyone realized you couldn't actually order them. The accessories have been listed as backordered ever since. At last, the white replacement back and the Samsung-branded Qi charger have shown up as in stock.
We knew Samsung's latest entry to the Galaxy Note series was getting an AT&T LTE version, and today the carrier has released more detailed information about its launch. Those of you that want to take your notation on the go can pick up a Galaxy Note 8.0 On June 21st (this Friday) for $399.99, with a two-year contract. That's pretty pricey, especially after other carriers have moved towards no-contract pricing for tablets - it's just as expensive as the commitment-free WiFi version.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 might be a new phone, but there are already some great deals to be had online. Amazon previously lowered the price to $168, but now it's down to just $129.99 for new lines, and $139.99 for upgrades on existing ones.
It's fun to joke about Samsung's phones feeling cheap because they're made of slippery plastic, but that doesn't mean they're actually cheap. Samsung just posted a video tour of the lab where the Galaxy S4 is tested for reliability, but let's call it what it is – this is Samsung's smartphone torture chamber. The video is in Korean, but you can turn on English closed captioning.
The Galaxy S4 takes everything from drops to impacts and comes out fully functional.
Developers take note: Samsung is getting some more source code out the door, but it's just one device this time. The kernel source for AT&T's version of the Galaxy S4 is out, and it's up for grabs at Samsung's open source site.
Kernel source for a few other variants of Samsung's flagship have already been posted. In fact, this development means T-Mobile is the only major carrier whose GS4 hasn't joined the open source club.
A few days ago, Dell dropped the price of both Sprint's and Verizon's variants of the Galaxy S 4 to $119 and $129 respectively. Not to be outdone, Amazon Wireless has now undercut Big D by $10, and is offering Verizon's GS4 for $119 for new contracts ($170 for upgrades). That's a pretty solid deal if you don't want to buy from Dell, though I'd be remiss not to mention the $50 eGift card that Dell is throwing in if you do decide to buy through them.
Back in May, we teamed up with Samsung to offer one lucky person a chance to show their mum how much they care with a Galaxy Note II. Since dads are pretty awesome, too, we've once again joined forces with Sammy to give one lucky soul a chance to show his or her dad that he's the man with a Galaxy S4.
The Galaxy S 4 (our review) has all the things that a dad can appreciate – a good camera, a blazing-fast user experience, and more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at (not sure why you'd shake a stick at something like bells and whistles in the first place though).