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Taiwan’s economy is highly dependent on international trade, with net exports driving the country’s 21st-century growth. But despite its important role in economic development, an overreliance on trade poses significant national security concerns. Taiwan’s dependence on the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the island’s top trade partner, makes it vulnerable to Chinese pressure campaigns. Some cite this concern in arguing that Taiwan should “decouple” from China, seeking to trade less with Beijing and more with countries like the United States, Japan, and Australia. This approach would also weaken China, which relies on Taiwan for intermediate goods—most prominently, semiconductors—to drive its own manufacturing sector.
But Taiwan’s trade-related problems do not end with China. Taiwanese exports are far too concentrated, with semiconductor chips and related materials comprising a disproportionate segment of total exports. Such overdependence on a single sector poses risks to Taiwan’s national and economic security, suggesting that Taipei should diversify not only its trading partners, but its exports, too.
The question, then, is how Taiwan can more effectively use trade to protect itself, safeguard its economy, and enlarge its global footprint. This article offers specific suggestions, centered on two points in particular: 1) reducing Taiwan’s reliance on China, which currently makes up 40 percent of the island’s total goods exports; and 2) diversifying Taiwan’s portfolio of goods exports, which is overly focused on machinery and electrical equipment. Although Taiwan has taken some steps in addressing these points, it should act now to achieve broader-based, sustainable diversification.
Why Trade Matters to Taiwan
With a relatively small domestic consumer base of 23 million people, Taiwan’s export-import sector has long powered its economy. The island’s trade-to-GDP ratio, an indicator of how relevant trade is to a country’s growth, was 127 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022—much larger than that of China (less than 40 percent) and the US (25 percent). Taiwan consistently ranks among the world’s top export economies.
Moreover, trade in manufactured goods is only becoming more central as a catalyst of Taiwanese growth. According to data promoted by Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance (財政部), Taiwanese exports and imports of goods have increased significantly in recent years, following a general upward trend since 2016.
Graphic 1: Taiwanese imports and exports of goods, 2003-2022. (Data source: Taiwan Ministry of Finance)
Taiwan’s Top Trade Partners
China remains Taiwan’s top export partner, receiving nearly 40 percent of the island’s exported goods. Though the share of goods sent west across the Taiwan Strait has fallen since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwanese exports are still highly focused on the Chinese marketplace.
Graphic 2: Top destinations for Taiwanese exports, 2003-2022. (Data source: Taiwan Ministry of Finance)
Taiwanese goods imports are significantly less concentrated, as China is not as dominant in this realm: Taiwan imports only one-fifth of its goods from across the Strait. Still, in the last two decades, Japan has declined as an importer of Taiwanese goods while the United States has stayed steady. Beijing has filled in the resultant gaps, rising from just 10 percent of Taiwanese goods imports in 2003 to 20 percent last year.
Taiwan’s Trade in Goods
Taiwan is heavily reliant on exports of machinery and electrical equipment and far less active in outward trade in other categories of goods, including base metals, plastics, and chemical products. This emphasis has only intensified in the past decade.
Graphic: Taiwan’s top export categories, 2003-2022. (Data source: Taiwan Ministry of Finance)
Machinery and electrical equipment is also Taiwan’s most popular import class—it covered nearly half of all goods imports in 2022—though Taiwanese importers have demanded more mineral products (20 percent of import goods in 2022) since the pandemic.
Given this snapshot of Taiwanese trading patterns, an important question follows: how can Taiwan use trade to protect itself from a Chinese invasion, strengthen its domestic economy, and enhance its global standing?
Taiwan Should Expand Trade to Export Partners besides China
Partner diversification is key. First, Taiwan should continue to pursue trade with the United States, to which it exported 18 percent of its goods in 2022. For their part, US businesses have reduced their trade with China since 2020, and Taiwan can help fill the void. Doing so would boost its own economy, remind the United States of Taiwan’s integral role in the global economy, and offer Washington an additional reason to defend Taipei against Chinese aggression.
Graphic: US trade with Taiwan and China, 1999-2022. (Data source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis)
On this front, the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act of 2023 is a meaningful start. Signed by President Joseph Biden last August, this law covers relevant trade issues like good regulatory practices, small- and medium-sized enterprises, anticorruption, and multinational cooperation. Though it generates no new market-access commitments, it demonstrates the United States’ interest in bolstering ties with Taipei.
But the 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act is not just a sign that Congress and the Biden Administration are open to further agreements with Taiwan. It also makes such agreements more likely by outlining requirements for future negotiations and creating binding commitments for both governments to reduce trade barriers. Taiwan should take advantage of this pact by increasing its trade with the United States, particularly as both countries seek to lessen their reliance on China.
Further, Taiwan should use the 2023 US-Taiwan trade agreement as momentum for further progress on other priorities, including its application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Signed in 2018 as an effort to reduce tariffs and facilitate trade between member states, the CPTPP has 11 members, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Great Britain. Both Taiwan and China have applied for membership. Taiwan’s acceptance—in the face of Chinese opposition—would help it diversify its partner portfolio by boosting exports to Australia, Japan, and other CPTPP states.
Taiwan has begun lobbying existing member states for membership (see here, here, and here), and it should continue its efforts to convince CPTPP countries that Taiwanese involvement would bolster economic security and supply-chain resilience in the Indo-Pacific region. Naysayers will point to Chinese opposition as the chief reason that Taiwan’s application will be rejected, but precedent exists for a different result: in 2001, Taiwan lobbied to join the World Trade Organization at the same time as China and was accepted a mere 21 days after Beijing.
Taiwan should also remind existing CPTPP members of the downsides of letting China in. Beijing has ongoing territorial disputes with other members, including Japan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam; it has employed economic coercion to pressure CTPP nations like Canada, Japan, and Australia; and it is already facing sanctions from countries like Canada for alleged human rights violations. Paired with Taiwan’s general compliance with the rules-based international order, these concerns suggest that Taiwan could leverage China as a foil, strengthening its own case for joining the CPTPP.
Taiwan Should Lessen Its Dependence on Exports of Semiconductor-Related Materials
Taiwan is the world’s leading producer of microchips, exporting USD $164 billion annually, almost one quarter of the global supply. These chips are essential for the production of electronic devices and machinery, from cars and smartphones to fighter jets.
Why is Taiwan’s reliance on chip-making risky? First, the semiconductor chip race has the United States, China, and many European countries eager to establish their own technological prowess. These efforts could threaten Taiwan’s dominance in the industry, especially if the United States continues its efforts to onshore its chip development and production. Second, overreliance on the high-tech sector in general is economically unwise, for it risks benefiting the high-skilled upper class—more likely to see their wages rise as tech firms increase their profits—at the expense of the middle and lower classes.
Given these concerns, Taiwan should push for greater economic diversification. A 2023 analysis from Harvard’s Growth Lab identified industries in specific Taiwanese cities that represent opportunities for diversification. Examples include Hsinchu, Tainan, and Changhua City for photographic equipment; Taipei for chemical manufacturing; and various metro areas for sectors like apparel manufacturing, telecommunications, and textiles. The analysis also explores Taiwan’s strategic goal of positioning itself as a worldwide hub for pioneering research into biomedical and life sciences, which would allow the island to use its tech expertise to further diversify its exports.
In conclusion, Taiwan’s technological and trading prowess has given the island of 23 million people economic influence that far exceeds its size. Still, Taipei should consider diversifying its export portfolio to be less reliant on China and semiconductor materials. The 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act is a step in the right direction, but more must be done—and concrete actions like joining the CPTPP and investing in sectors unrelated to semiconductors are two priorities that would make Taiwanese trade more resilient and sustainable.
The main point: Taiwan is a trade-driven economy whose goods are disproportionately exported to China, which routinely uses this economic dependence to exert political leverage. Taiwan should thus diversify its international commercial ties. Further, Taiwan’s export-import sector is also overly concentrated on trade in semiconductors. Though it would be foolish to make the Taiwanese economy less complex and technologically advanced, enhanced proficiencies in other industries would enhance Taiwan’s resiliency and make its economy more robust.


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Denison thrift store has second burglary in a week
A local resale store has its second burglary in the past week. They're asking for the community's help in identifying the suspect.
Round 2 Resale in Denison reported someone had broken into and burglarized their store a week ago.
They put up cameras after that, and are glad they did. The suspect came back on Wednesday, and was caught on camera.
Owners are offering a reward if information leads to an arrest.

domain: news


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Millknit investment to revive Nicaragua garment industry
Nicaragua is set to begin manufacturing fabrics and textiles for apparel companies in the country’s free zone sector this year.
US-capital textiles firm Millknit Industries is set to start operations any time soon in the Las Mercedes industrial park in Managua. An initial investment of $25 million has been allocated for the initiative.
Until Millknit, Nicaragua had only one garment-producing company, Cone Denim, which was closed down in March 2009, after operating for less than a year.


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Beer Calendar: Parties at OMF, Caution, Lowdown and Cannonball Creek
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 12:33 p.m. by Jonathan Shikes
Crazy Mountain Brewing said this week that it plans to open its own importation company in the United Kingdom so that it can better manage and control how it sends beer to Europe. "Establishing an importing company headquartered in ...
The Brewability Lab Will Fill Caution's Denver Brewery With Good Works and Good Beer
Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 7:49 a.m. by Jonathan Shikes
The Brewability Lab, a startup brewery with the novel idea of providing jobs in the brewing industry for adults with developmental disabilities, will take over Caution Brewing's original location in east Denver sometime later this y...
Beer calendar: Caution, Cannonball Creek, cans and coffee are cause for celebration
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 11:03 a.m. by Jonathan Shikes
Oskar Blues has introduced a new kind of vessel for taking beer to go from its Tasty Weasel taproom in Longmont. The Crowler, a cross between a can and a traditional growler, is a 32-ounce recyclable aluminum can that can be filled,...
Denver's Caution Brewing opens its second location, in Lakewood
Thursday, December 19, 2013 at 7:56 a.m. by Jonathan Shikes
Last night Caution Brewing opened its second brewery, a Lakewood spot called Caution West, and became the first Denver-based beermaker with two metro locations. Founded in April 2011 by Danny Wang and Betty Fey, Caution's original b...


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GM, Chevy Bolt Saga Continues
Sept. 1, 2021—General Motors will keep its Orion Assembly plant idled and not start repairs on the nearly 141,000 recalled Chevrolet Bolts EVs and EUVs until it is confident its supplier can make a defect-free EV battery that does not pose a potential fire risk, the Detroit Free Press reported.
This marks the latest in a saga between GM and LG Chem regarding the Chevy Bolt that dates back to last year. GM has issued several recalls over the past year trying to fix an issue with the vehicle’s battery that is causing a fire risk. Last week, GM officially halted production of the vehicle and said it would take a $1.8 billion hit to expand the recall even further as they searched for an answer to the issue.
GM also opened an investigation into LG Chem to understand their processes with hopes of finding a cause for the defects.
“If we took the battery stock that’s in the field right now or at a warehouse, we’re not confident that it is defect-free," GM spokesman Dan Flores told the Detroit Free Press. "Because we are not confident that LG has the capability to build defect-free products, we’ve put the repairs on hold and we are not building new Bolts. We’re not going to start recall repairs or start building new Bolts until we’re confident LG will build defect-free products."


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Over pumpkin spice lattes? Greater Lafayette cafes have the drink for you
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — It’s officially fall, which means it’s the time of year when the whole world goes pumpkin spice crazy.
Pumpkin spice isn’t just a latte flavor anymore; you can find it in everything from potato chips to Pop-Tarts. Most cafes around Greater Lafayette, from Starbucks to Star City Coffee & Ale House, offer the beloved pumpkin spiced lattes, but they also are whipping up some new fall favorites. So, if you’re suffering from pumpkin spice fatigue, check out these other fall-themed drink options.
Sarah Reinert, owner of Java Roaster, said, of course, everyone likes a pumpkin spice latte.
“With the help of big companies like Starbucks pumpkin spice became very popular, which is a good thing because it’s so good,” Reinert said. But so are a lot of other warm fall beverages.
Java will begin offering all their pumpkin-themed drinks on October 2 but currently has a French apple crumple drip coffee and a caramel apple latte.
People get nostalgic around the fall, Reinert added, and warm, spicy drinks help them feel cozy and cheerful.
On the west side, Greyhouse Coffee & Supply Co. is serving up a caramel apple cider and a masala chai on nitro as signature seasonal beverages.
Fuel Coffee Shop is putting a twist on the traditional pumpkin spice with a pumpkin spice chai latte and pumpkin bread pudding.
Barista Megan O’Neal said although fall is still young, they’ve already seen an uptick in pumpkin flavored coffee orders.
Tom Daniel, barista at Star City, said although the coffee house hasn’t solidified its seasonal menu it will be serving a maple brown sugar latte for those brisk fall mornings.
The piece de resistance of fall coffee specials, however, may belong to Sacred Grounds. This fall, the coffee shop is serving up the “sacred hippie." April O’Brien, who helps run the cafe, said it’s basically just dessert in a cup.
The drink is a spiced chai with espresso shots and Ghirardelli white chocolate all topped with real (an important specification) whipped cream and Sacred Grounds' signature cinnamon salt.
“It just tastes like fall to me,” O’Brien said.
Reach Journal & Courier reporter Emma Ea Ambrose at firstname.lastname@example.org or 765-431-1192.


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Waymo: Versatility key to autonomous automobile technique
“When you concentrate on freeways, it is advisable to clear up that for ride-hailing,” stated Shai Ben Nun, till lately a program supervisor for Waymo Through, the corporate’s trucking and supply division. “That has actually paved the way in which.”
There’s been crossover in some apparent areas resembling creating long-range sensing functionality, and in some not-so-obvious areas: As Waymo ready its robotaxis to deal with hills in San Francisco, it borrowed what it realized about climbing steep grades from self-driving truck testing performed all through the Southwest.
It is an ideal instance of what Ludwick describes as “unlocking capabilities” vs. pondering by way of particular geographies or automobile platforms.
“The purpose is to be as surgical as potential, with small tweaks right here and there,” he stated. “That is the philosophy that allows you to transfer as quick as potential for the entire program.”
Not everybody agrees with that philosophy. Most corporations within the self-driving truck area focus on trucking purposes and don’t consider a self-driving system can be utilized for such diverse platforms as Class 8 vehicles and minivans.
“We have now robotaxi gamers which have taken the motive force out, and in principle, you need to be capable of do this fairly simply on the trucking aspect if you’re pushing the story that it is transferable,” stated Cheng Lu, CEO of self-driving truck firm TuSimple. “I believe that could possibly be a reasonably simple litmus take a look at.”
Whereas Waymo is creating vehicles and vehicles concurrently, it didn’t start its trucking efforts in earnest till 2017, and the corporate says it intends to proceed its focus on robotaxis for now. There may be not but a timetable for Waymo deploying vehicles in business operation with no human backups aboard.
Aurora, a competitor engaged on each vehicles and minivans, intends to focus on vehicles first and launch business service in late 2023.
For now, Waymo is working with companions resembling UPS Inc., J.B. Hunt and C.H. Robinson to organize for self-driving operations.


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The imports of the mobile phone in the country has drastically declined. According to recent media reports during the current fiscal year 2016-2017 the imports of mobile phones have declined by 5.78 percent when compared to the precursory fiscal year.
The government of Pakistan in Budget 2017-18 has reduced the customs duty on mobile phones to attract foreign brands to come to Pakistan. Govt has also reduced withholding tax on mobile phones from 14pc. Moreover, customs duty on smartphone sets will be cut to Rs 650 per set.
The above-mentioned reduction in customs duty and withholding tax on mobile phones might prove fruitful for the upcoming fiscal year as the 2016-17 fiscal year has seen a dip in imports of mobile phones.
There is an overall decline in imports of the mobile phone in 2016-17 fiscal year, however, according to PBS ( Pakistan Bureau of Statics) imports of mobile phones gradually increased to 12.02 percent in May of 2017 and 9.97 percent in June of 2016.
Moreover, the phone imports soared to $72.549 million in June 2017 when comparing it to imports in June 2016 which was around $65.972 million.
Read also: Software and Telecom exports to be $6 billion by 2020
Furthermore, in the 2016-17 fiscal year the overall mobile imports record at $709.69 million when compared to preceding year’s fiscal year 2015-16 which stood at $753.224 million.
Not only the mobile imports is in decline, the telecom import as a whole is also decreased by 0.38 percent in the fiscal year 2016-17. The import of telecom sector fell from $1.361 billion to $1.356 billion. However, the decreased percentage of telecom imports are not that much of a concern and would not damage the telecom sector on a big scale.
Similarly, year-on-year basis the imports of telecom sector also saw the dip as it fell from $104.441 million in June of 2016 to $102.796 million in June 2017.


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11:49 PM CDT, April 19, 2012
It is pretty easy to remember the two biggest construction projects going on in Aberdeen — Northern Beef Packers plant and the new Sanford Hospital — but there are a lot of other major construction projects going on right now or are planned for later this year. Here is a top 10 list. Construction is ongoing at the first seven.
This list does not include the many houses and apartment buildings under construction or planned.
Watertown for years had the slogan, "The City On The Grow." I think it applies more to Aberdeen these days.
Carpet Plus moves
The Carpet Plus Home Gallery moved into its new location earlier this week. Previously, the store was at 1812 Sixth Ave. S.E. and now it is at Brown County 19, one block north of Menards.
The business sells all kinds of floor coverings including carpets, hardwoods, laminates, vinyl, ceramic, tile and luxury vinyl. It also has furniture and home decor items for sale.
The new store is bigger than the previous one and allows the business to be all under one roof, said owner Steve Gunckel. The carpet warehouse has been on Brown County 19, but items had to be trucked to the store was on Sixth Avenue Southeast. Now the buildings are connected, he said. The new store will have an expanded line of products, he said.
Boyd Weiszhaar manages the Aberdeen store. Gunckel, who owns a Carpet Plus in Redfield, oversees both the Aberdeen and Redfield stores.
Hong Kong Restaurant
The Hong Kong Restaurant at 1721 Sixth Ave. S.E. will open Sunday at 11 a.m. under a new name. It will be called the Asian Garden Restaurant, said manager Yuxing Kang.
The building has been remodeled and is ready to go, he said.
In addition to serving Chinese food, it will serve Thai, Korean and Japanese food.
Hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Follow @Business_AAN on Twitter or email email@example.com.
Copyright © 2013, Aberdeen News


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Andy Rubin’s company is in turmoil as the shipments of PH-1 smartphones haven’t started yet. Two key employees of the company were forced to leave the company last week.
Just a few days after the resignation of Andy Fouché, Head of Communications of Essential Co, another member of the company that announced the PH-1 model left. This time it was VP of marketing, Brian Wallace who was forced to leave after failing to fulfill the company’s promise to send the Essential PH-1 by the end of June.
Honestly, I don’t know why the heads of communication and marketing are the first to blame since they aren’t responsible with the production, but at this rate, Essential might end up changing its staff if the PH-1 won’t be delivered sooner.


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Great news! We are excited to officially announce our ReCharge integration for Octane AI -- the premier ecommerce Messenger platform now integrates with one of the leading recurring billing and subscription platforms for Shopify. This was first announced at ReCharge's Recur Conference on October 18, 2018.
You can watch our President and Co-Founder Ben Parr announce the Recharge integration on stage with ReCharge and SUBTA:
Optimize revenue for your Shopify store with a Facebook Messenger bot with Octane AI's ReCharge integration. With Octane AI + ReCharge, you can now automatically recover abandoned carts for subscription products. If a customer abandons their cart, they will receive a message in Facebook Messenger, with a reminder to complete their purchase.
As with all of our abandoned cart messages, when a customer clicks "Checkout" from the messages, they will be taken to checkout with the product(s) already pre-populated in their cart.
Our customers repeatedly tell us that integrations between their Shopify apps saves them time, improves their efficiency, and helps them make more money. We worked closely with the ReCharge team to make this integration possible and easy for Shopify merchants. Stay tuned for more exciting updates to come from the integration! We're working hard with the ReCharge team to add even more new features.
Using these two tools together leads to better results. According to Octane AI’s data, customers who connect with a merchant on Facebook Message have a revenue per cart of $7.97!


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With consumer confidence diving 11.5 points in October - its fourth consecutive monthly dive and the lowest reading since February 1994 - retail credits across the capital markets are feeling the crunch, particularly in the credit-focused world of credit tenant leases, where below-investment-grade retail issuers are getting all but shut out.
"The CTL structure right now for strong investment-grade companies is still a very viable structure," said one commercial real estate banker, "but when you start looking at triple-B or triple-B-minus companies that are retailers trying to do twenty-year paper, there's just not a lot of takers right now. I'm not sure that there were that many pre-September 11, and I think there's a lot less now."
According to market sources, one recent sale/leaseback transaction for a well-known convenience-store chain got the cold shoulder from investors when packaged as a CTL. The agent on the deal is reportedly exploring other options, including an all-cash REIT bid which one source outside the transaction said he would recommend - were he the advisor on the deal - "without hesitation".
"CTLs are, by their nature, high leverage deals," said the commercial real estate banker. "From a sale/leaseback standpoint, there's very little equity being put into them, so the debt economics drive the deal. You can always get someone to buy it, but once you go above a 350 spread, there's a better way to get that deal done."
One market player, however, took the opposite tack.
"The only alternatives to the CTL structure put the buyer in a worse position," said Larry Reitman, managing director of private placements at Phoenix Investment Partners.
"The CTL structure gives you the mortgage," he continued, "so you have the cashflow, you have an iron-clad lease, so you're really looking at credit. Should your credit go belly up, you have underlying collateral. Anything other than that doesn't sound as good for the investor to me."
He points out that issuers have a known cashflow, known expenses, and they know what they can spend on debt-service coverage, therefore the crux of the matter is the coupon, which remains the same regardless of spread.


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Victorville Motors puts land on market
VICTORVILLE • Victorville Motors has put its land up for sale contingent on a 20-year sale leaseback for a price of $8 million.
CB Richard Ellis is handling the listing, which includes only the land. If the land sells, the Chrysler dealership would lease it from its new owner for 20 years. The lease would carry a dual guaranty from both Chrysler Group Realty Company and Victorville Motors, according to the listing information from the Ontario office of CB Richard Ellis.
Tim Watts, chief operating officer for the dealership, did not return repeated phone calls for comment.
Victorville Motors asked for a $1 million line of credit from the city of Victorville in January 2009. The city voted to advance the dealership $200,000 but later denied it the other $800,000 after other business owners and community members criticized the loan.
Since the dealership's land was used for collateral for the loan, the city would receive any balance due immediately when it sells, city spokeswoman Yvonne Hester said.


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|Bid||0.00 x 0|
|Ask||0.00 x 0|
|Day's Range||27.70 - 30.00|
|52 Week Range||18.56 - 48.72|
|Beta (5Y Monthly)||1.47|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||7.39|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||0.56 (1.98%)|
|Ex-Dividend Date||Jul 23, 2021|
|1y Target Est||34.49|
Subscribe to Yahoo Finance Plus to view Fair Value for VWAGYLearn more
Volkswagen is considering listing its Porsche luxury car unit to help fund its ambitious plan to switch to electric vehicles, according to several media reports. Porsche AG the maker of the eponymous cars of the same name, could have a market capitalization of between €45 billion and €90 billion ($101 billion), according to Reuters and other reports. The Piech and Porsche families who own 31.4% of Volkswagen (ticker XE:VOW) and 53.3% of its voting rights through their holding company Porsche SE would sell part of their stake in Volkswagen to funds a direct shareholding of the luxury car maker, the daily Handelsblatt reported.
Volkswagen on Wednesday announced key partnerships to secure raw materials Europe's largest carmaker needs to realise its ambitious electric vehicle strategy, eager to close a gap with rival Tesla . At the core of the three agreements, which are part of VW's 30 billion euro ($34 billion) plan to build battery plants and procure materials, lies a planned joint venture with Belgian chemicals and recycling company Umicore. The venture aims to supply cathode materials to Volkswagen's European battery cell factories, which it plans to build by 2030.
(Bloomberg) -- In March, Herbert Diess enthralled investors with his vision for turning Volkswagen AG into the global leader in electric cars. VW would deliver 1 million battery-powered and plug-in hybrid vehicles this year, and soon build half a dozen factories in Europe alone, the chief executive officer proclaimed. The stock shot up by 29% on a single day.Most Read from BloombergThe World’s Relentless Demand for Chips Turns Deadly in MalaysiaSand and Soldiers Mix as Troops Move In to Protect


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Back in November, a couple of weeks after Google unveiled Android 5.0 Lollipop, HTC confirmed that its flagship One M8 handset, and its One M7 predecessor, would get the update within 90 days. However, as its self-imposed deadline passed by yesterday, HTC has now admitted that it will take a bit longer than planned to roll out the update.
HTC actually began to push Lollipop to the One M8 last month, but only to Google Play, Developer and Unlocked editions of the device. However, carrier versions of the M8 - along with all One M7 models - are still awaiting the update.
Mo Versi, Vice President of HTC Product Management, says that the company has been working closely with both Google and its carrier partners, but reminded users that "Google has had to address several issues with this release". He added that they are "diligently working to fix some of them on our end and incorporating Google's fixes as quickly as possible", but conceded that the company has missed its 90-day target.
Unfortunately, there's no firm date for when owners of the One M7 and M8 should expect to receive the update, as HTC is clearly keen to avoid making further promises that it may not be able to keep. Versi explained: "We are taking every precaution to ensure the rollout is right and we aren't willing to compromise at your expense", adding that the company hopes "to have good news to share soon" on its progress.
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HMG Strategy Market Update and Tech News Digest
Markets Sink After Higher-Than-Expected Inflation Report
The latest figure on inflation confirmed the fears of investors, sending stock prices sharply downward.
“Stocks dropped on Friday morning after a highly anticipated inflation report showed a faster-than-expected rise in prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 815 points, or 2.5%. The S&P 500 fell 2.8%, while Nasdaq Composite sank 3.3%,” writes Jesse Pound of CNBC. “The May consumer price index report came in at its highest level since 1981, putting pressure on the stock market. The report showed prices rising 8.6% year over year, and 6% when excluding food and energy prices. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones were expecting year over year increases of 8.3% for the main index and 5.9% for the core index.”
Twitter to Give Musk Access to its ‘Firehose’ of More than 500 Million Daily Tweets
In a move that may make it more difficult for Elon Musk to walk away from his proposed purchase of Twitter, the social media company has agreed to make its daily stream of Tweets available for inspection.
“After a weeks-long impasse, Twitter’s board plans to comply with Elon Musk’s demands for internal data by offering access to its full “firehose,” the massive stream of data comprising more than 500 million tweets posted each day, according to a person familiar with the company’s thinking, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the state of negotiations,” writes Elizabeth Dwoskin of The Washington Post. “The move aims to end a standoff with the billionaire, who has threatened to pull out of his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter unless the company provides access to data he says is necessary to evaluate the number of fake users on the platform.”
EU to Require Standard Charging for Mobile Devices
In an effort to reduce waste and “clutter,” the European Union will require standard charging for electronic mobile devices.
“Apple and other smartphone makers will be required to support USB-C as part of a single charging standard for mobile devices across the European Union by as early as the fall of 2024 under a new law announced Tuesday by EU officials,” writes Brian Fung of CNN Business. “The legislation is aimed at reducing e-waste and eliminating ‘cable clutter,’ said Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Vice President.”
Former Amazon Consumer Chief Heads to Freight and Customs Startup
This item caught my eye because it reveals how the convergence of technology and business has altered the trajectory of top executives at major companies.
“Dave Clark, the former Amazon consumer chief, will take over as CEO of freight forwarding and customs brokerage startup Flexport starting September 1, 2022,” writes of Rebecca Bellan TechCrunch. “Clark resigned from his role as CEO of Amazon’s worldwide consumer division on Friday. His last day at the big tech company will be July 1, after which time he’ll join Flexport as co-CEO alongside current leader Ryan Petersen. Petersen, who founded the $8 billion-valued supply chain startup in 2013, will step into an executive chairman role six months after Clark joins, according to the current CEO.”


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Cheers: International recognition celebrated as Welsh Wine Week gets underway
Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has marked the start Welsh Wine Week today with the official opening of a new Tasting Lodge at Llanerch Vineyard in Hensol.
Now in its third year, Welsh Wine Week celebrates the wines produced at vineyards across Wales.
The annual event is organised by the Welsh Drinks Cluster, supported by the Welsh Government, and works with vineyards, retailers and wholesalers to promote the sector and its products.
Since the last annual event, Wales’ wines have become recognised internationally as Monmouthshire’s White Castle Vineyard beat the world’s best producers to win Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards for its Pinot Noir Reserve 2018.
This was the first Welsh wine to win Gold at the prestigious awards and provided a boost for Welsh wine production on the international stage.
Llanerch has become the largest commercial vineyard in Wales and attracts visitors from around the world with its award-winning restaurant and bar, unique marquee and lodge wedding venues, and wine tasting and vineyard tours.
Ryan Davies took over the vineyard in 2010, with the aim to replicate the successful wine tourism models he had seen whilst working in vineyards in New Zealand and Australia.
Ryan said: “It was great to welcome Lesley Griffiths to Llanerch, to show how we have diversified and grown into a tourism destination based around a vineyard over the last 10 years.
“Wales has some fantastic vineyards, producing a great range of wines that are helping to complement the tourism offer for visitors coming to Wales.
“With the number of vineyards increasing and additional vines being planted it’s a rewarding time to be working in an industry that is rapidly growing and proving itself on the world stage.”
Lesley Griffiths said: “The Welsh wine industry continues to thrive, and more and more people each year can enjoy the wonderful flavours of Wales by attending Welsh Wine Week events.
“Vineyards in Wales have shown their resilience during a difficult past two years, and we have seen fantastic innovation and skill which has been recognised with major awards.”
A number of event are taking place over the next seven day to celebrate Welsh Wine Week, including expert guided tours and tastings.
Full event listings can be found on the dedicated Welsh Wine Week website here.
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By Keith Naughton, Bloomberg News
DETROIT — Ford Motor Co., is attempting to push back against criticism by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for moving work to Mexico by highlighting its booming business in big trucks after shifting production to an Ohio factory from south of the border.
The auto maker has sold 10,160 of its F-650 and F-750 trucks this year through August. That's up 59 percent from the same period in 2015 and the highest sales of those models since 1997, the auto maker said in a statement Sept. 19. The big trucks are used as commercial vehicles, including beer haulers and tow, moving and dump trucks.
Ford is firing back at Mr. Trump, who recently called the auto maker “a disgrace” after CEO Mark Fields told investors that the second-largest U.S. auto maker is moving North American small-car production to Mexico, where labor costs are lower than in the U.S. After the candidate threatened to levy a 35 percent tariff on Ford's Mexican-built cars should he become president, Mr. Fields said the company is “absolutely not” cutting U.S. jobs to move small-car operations south because the Michigan plant currently building them will manufacture other models.
It wasn't the first time the Republican presidential candidate, businessman and golf course magnate has teed off on Ford. In August 2015 Mr. Trump came to the home state of the auto industry and attacked Ford for building factories in Mexico.
“It's really unfortunate when politics get in the way of the facts,” Mr. Fields said in a Sept. 15 interview on CNN. “And the facts are, Ford's investment in the U.S. and commitment to American jobs has never been stronger.


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Consumers Electronic Show (CES) is the world’s largest tech show. CES 2019 (Las Vegas) revolves around two companies: Google and Amazon. The post-New Year annual conference has become the traditional battle stage for the two giants.
Google and Amazon are hoping Las Vegas gives one of them the definite leading position in the smart home and IoT (Internet of Things) market.
So, today we’re not talking about PC build. Instead, hang with us to learn about the leaders of the AI-assistant market.
Google Vs. Amazon
Amazon’s AI-enable assistant Alexa is on one of the corners. The voice assistant single-handled pioneered the smart speaker market back in 2014. It became the industry leader back then and still is.
Amazon first sold Alexa as part of its Echo smart speakers. Over the years, Alexa has become a household name.
On the other side, we have the Google Assistant. Google’s contender entered the fray in 2016, two years after Alexa.
The Assistant powers the Google Home line of product, and features as well on Android devices. Users can power the Assistant by saying the phrase “Hey Google.”
Google Home takes advantage of the IoT to give users control of their home appliances via voice commands. It works similarly to Amazon Alexa’s Echo dot.
Google Assistant is more advanced on Google’s own line of flagship smartphones, the Pixel series. The AI can program your schedule, search info, play music, open an app, recognize songs, call people, respond messages, and more.
Both Amazon Alexa and Google Home showed their power even before CES 2019 started.
Amazon shared they have sold more than 100 million Alexa devices, while Google states they are building 1 billion Assistant-enabled devices by the end of January. However, keep in mind most of these devices are Android phones, which come with the software installed by default.
How Google and Amazon fared at CES 2019?
Each company faced CES 2019 with a different strategy. Google was loud and over the top and marketed the “Hey Google” across town.
Amazon had a subtle approach and remain present through their partner’s booths, stage presentations, and many “Works with Alexa” marks on all kinds of products.
In fact, Google has been making CES one of its main stages since they launched the Assistant in 2016. Before that, the tech giant preferred sticking to their own conferences.
2019’s Google booth was a big as a Las Vegas city block. Their site was right outside Las Vegas Convention Center and it even included an It’s a Small World” ride.
All of Google’s marketing blitz came with new features for the Assistant as well. Now, Google Assistant has an interpreter mode that translates conversations in real time.
Aside from that, Google also showed some new hardware the partners have made. New hardware includes a Lenovo Smart Clock (which is similar to the Echo Spot), and the KitchenAid smart display.
Amazon took the stage to show new Alexa-powered devices. Such devices include the Lenovo Smart Tab, Ford’s new infotainment system, and the Vuzix smart glasses.
There’s also a new smart security camera for households that run with Alexa. And lastly, Key by Amazon, the company’s in-home delivery, announced in-garage delivery.


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Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, today announced that Archroma India Private Limited and BASF India Limited (BIL) have signed an agreement for the acquisition by Archroma of BASF’s stilbene-based OBA (optical brightening agents) business for paper and powder detergent applications.
The transaction includes BASF’s manufacturing unit at Ankleshwar, India, where approximately 100 people are currently employed.
Archroma is a member of the SK Capital Partners group. In July 2015 the company acquired the global textile chemicals business of BASF, and, between 2014 and 2018, M. Dohmen, an international group specializing in the production of textile dyes and chemicals for the automotive, carpet and apparel sectors.
“We are extremely pleased with this opportunity to further consolidate our position as a global leader in the chemical industry by expanding both our supply capacity and application markets,” said Marcos Furrer, President of Packaging & Paper Specialties, Archroma. “This acquisition will not only allow Archroma to strengthen our OBA supply to customers in the packaging & paper industry, in particular in India and Asia; it will also help us develop our portfolio offering to customers in the detergents market with high performance powder OBAs”.
“In line with BASF’s strategy of actively managing its portfolio, this transaction allows us to better fulfill our business potential,” said Narayan Krishnamohan, Managing Director, BASF India Limited and Head, South Asia. “Archroma is a global leader in color and specialty chemicals. Ensuring a smooth transition of our customers, suppliers and employees to Archroma will be a priority.”
The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019.


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Grass-fed protein drink brand Iconic Protein announced today the completion of a $8 million round of fundraising led by private equity firm KarpReilly and includes KeVita co-founder and former CEO Bill Moses, who was named the company’s executive chairman.
“We’re thrilled to announce the funding as well as the addition of these key investors who have proven themselves in the industry,” said Iconic co-founder and CEO, Billy Bosch, in a press release. “KarpReilly is one of the savviest investors in the food and beverage space and we welcome both their guidance and Bill’s leadership as we continue to disrupt the protein category.”
KarpReilly has been an active investor in beverage over the last year, pouring millions into companies like Spindrift, Zola, and, most recently, plant-based protein drink brand Koia. Additional investors in the round include CORE Nutrition founder and serial beverage entrepreneur Lance Collins, as well as Gunnar Lovelace and Nick Green, founders of e-commerce retailer Thrive Market.
The announcement marks the second funding round for Iconic in just over a year, having raised $1 million from angel investors last July. Founded in 2013, the New Orleans-based brand markets a three-SKU line of low sugar nutritional smoothies made with dairy protein from grass-fed cows in New Zealand. The product is sold in at natural and conventional retailers such as Kroger, Wegmans and H-E-B.
Iconic will use the funding to build out its senior leadership team and develop product innovations. Bosch told BevNET that after experiencing strong incremental growth in retail over the past 12 months, the company would now focus on bringing in talent and experience.
“We have capital in place — now we are looking to add the human capital,” said Bosch, noting the recent addition of Soylent co-founder and former chief technology officer John Coogan as an e-commerce consultant for the brand. He also identified sales and marketing as departments that may see new hires. “In the early stages, we had a feel for where we should go with things — you can focus group things, talk to customers in the field and figure out what resonates,” he continued. “I think having someone at the helm [in marketing] who has some CPG experience is going to be really important.”
The big get was Moses, whom Bosch said he connected with at Natural Products Expo West 2017 this spring. Moses, who recently joined the board of directors at Koia, will help advise on strategy and innovation in his new role as executive director. Moses said that he was attracted to Iconic’s combination of grass fed protein, taste and clean ingredient profile.
“I tested all the dairy proteins on the market and found many leading brands to have high levels of toxins. Iconic tested clean,” said Moses. He declined to answer at this time which toxins he found during product testing. “So we believe major disruption can be effected with a truth in labeling program like the one I did in the kombucha category [for KeVita].”
In terms of product innovation, Bosch said Iconic is working on several new flavors that would be announced before the end of the year.
Even as the brand continues to expand its retail presence, Bosch emphasized that Iconic remains focused on nurturing its existing customer base rather than aiming for mass consumption, saying “for us, it’s not about being appealing to everyone.”
“At our stage of brand building, we are really about building a tribe around brand,” he said, calling Iconic’s target consumer a “mindful athlete” who is health-conscious but may not exercise religiously. “We provide a more approachable brand for them to come in and have a positive first experience in the space. It happens to be heavily female, and then we’ll go from there.”


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The Plan ₿ Forum, taking place in Lugano, Switzerland, will present visitors with a technological advancement in the world of payments, inspired by Satoshi Nakamoto's vision of a peer-to-peer network. During an event speech, NAKA's CEO, Dejan Roljić, will execute the inaugural NAKA transaction, thereby showcasing the potential of pure blockchain technology to the world.
NAKA enabling Bitcoin on Lightning and Tether payments
Since 2022, Lugano has been undergoing a transformation into what is now recognized as the world's leading Bitcoin City. Known as "Lugano's Plan ₿," this initiative is a collaborative endeavor between the City of Lugano and Tether, aimed at expediting the adoption of Bitcoin technology as the foundation for an overhaul of the city's financial infrastructure.
In partnership with Tether and the City of Lugano, NAKA has developed a comprehensive point-of-sale network throughout the city, enabling seamless Bitcoin and Tether transactions across multiple blockchain networks. This user-friendly blockchain-based infrastructure supports cryptocurrency payments for businesses of all sizes, from small merchants to large corporations and public services. The network already comprises of over 400 POS devices
This transformation not only positions Lugano as an attractive destination for both local and international visitors but also as a hub for crypto investors and innovative blockchain projects. Furthermore, it grants local merchants access to a vast customer base of over 420 million cryptocurrency users worldwide.
NAKA showcases its first card transaction during a live speech
At this year's Plan ₿ Forum, NAKA's CEO, Dejan Roljić, will take the stage to introduce the pioneering NAKA mission and its cutting-edge payment technology. During his live presentation, he will demonstrate the first-ever payment transaction using a NAKA card on one of the numerous NAKA POS terminals distributed throughout Lugano.
NAKA has unveiled a revolutionary self-custody payment card that can be linked to a user's MetaMask via the NAKA dApp. Once connected, cardholders can conveniently fund the card with Tether (USDt) either from their MetaMask balance or directly on the Polygon network.
NAKA card distribution at Plan ₿ Forum
During the event, NAKA will distribute NAKA cards to selected participants of the Plan ₿ Forum. The cardholders will have the opportunity to test real-life non-custodial card payments on any of the POS devices throughout the venue, as well as on NAKA POS terminals located in the city of Lugano.
NAKA will be sponsoring the Plan ₿ Forum event and will showcase its line of payment products at the NAKA booth at Villa Ciani.
Join us at Plan ₿ Forum on October 20th and 21st, 2023, and witness the future of decentralized finances.


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There is no other solution than to keep the internal combustion engine alive, says Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung.
The world cannot do without the internal combustion engine. Not today, tomorrow, next year or in 2060.
That's how clear Bosch's managing director Stefan Hartung is in a new interview with the German media The Pioneer .
Although the automotive industry is moving in the direction of electric cars, Bosch has an obligation to stick with the internal combustion engine, Stefan Hartung believes. It will still be in demand.
– The world cannot do without the petrol engine in 2060.
– We need to continue to supply internal combustion engine technology in Germany, otherwise the world will not be able to cope, says Hartung to the media.
The Bosch director estimates that it will take the automotive industry at least 35 years to undergo electrification on a global scale.
And even by then, i.e. in 2060, it will not be all transport where the electric car makes sense. If ever at all. It is especially outside of Europe that Hartung believes that motorists will not be forced into electric cars.
It is estimated that there are currently 1.4 billion passenger cars in the world. To that must be added the 90 million new cars that hit the roads every single year.
Assuming that all the car brands stopped building fossil-fuel cars today, it would still take at least 16 years to build enough electric cars to cover the needs of all the world's motorists, Stefan Hartung believes.
By the way, Bosch is not alone in this attitude. At Toyota, they refuse to put the internal combustion engine in the grave. Conversely, the brand takes a critical look at the electric cars.
– The customers – neither rules nor politics – must make that decision (in relation to the propellant, ed.), board chairman Aiko Toyoda said back in January.
The competitors also seem to have found the reverse gear on their electric car ambitions. Among other things, Mercedes now says that 'it will take years, because the electric car is competitive. And BMW absolutely refuses to put an end date on the technology.


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BEIJING (AP) - China’s economy grew at its slowest pace in at least a decade in the first quarter as the global financial crisis battered trade, but the government said the performance was better than expected amid huge stimulus spending.
The world’s third-largest economy grew 6.1 percent from a year earlier, down from the previous quarter’s 6.8 percent expansion, the government reported Thursday.
“The overall national economy showed positive changes, with better performance than expected,” Li Xiaochao, a spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics, said at a news conference. But Li warned that the economy still “faces pressures to slow in the coming period.”
The quarterly growth appeared to be lowest in at least a decade though China has repeatedly revised its historical data, making comparisons difficult. Analysts said the 6.8 percent rate in the fourth quarter was the lowest since 2001 and possibly earlier.
The economy has shown tentative signs its slump might be bottoming out, with bank lending and investment rising and auto sales hitting a new monthly high in March. But the government has cautioned that a possible rebound is still fragile and not yet certain, and has called for renewed efforts to boost growth.
Beijing is carrying out a 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus package to shield the country from the global slump. It hopes to reduce reliance on slumping trade by boosting domestic consumption.
The collapse in global demand for Chinese goods threw at least 20 million people out of work as factories closed. It is unclear how many of those workers might have found new jobs in projects financed by the stimulus package.
Chinese exports fell 17 percent in March, the fifth straight monthly decline, but that decline was less severe than February’s 25.7 percent plunge. Analysts said that suggested trade was stabilizing, though they said exports should remain weak this year.
Consumer spending rose 15 percent in the quarter, the bureau reported, though that rate was slightly lower than growth reported for previous months.
Consumer prices fell by 1.2 percent in March, the data showed, leaving Beijing room to cut interest rates further to boost growth while avoiding fueling pressure for prices to rise.
Industrial production rose 5.1 percent in the quarter, though that was 11.3 percentage points lower than the growth for the same period of 2007.
Investment in factories and other fixed assets during the quarter grew by 28.6 percent from the year-earlier period, the bureau reported. Li said that was higher than the growth rate for the same period of 2008, though he gave no details.
On the Net:
National Bureau of Statistics of China (in Chinese): https://www.stats.gov.cn


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Mahesh Sharma July 18, 2012
Albert, CommBank's new merchant terminal.
The Commonwealth Bank has stepped up its fight for attention, launching yet another technology-led product, this time with an Android-powered retailer device it will call Albert.
The bank is betting on changing the way customers pay for goods and services, in the process by-passing eftpos machines and upping the ante on contactless payments. It has also developed a new merchant-focused app store - somewhere for Albert to go shopping.
In a tangent from its consumer-focused innovation efforts to date which include the Kaching iPhone and now Android app, the upcoming Facebook social banking push; and Bump which allows people to pay each other by "bumping" phones; the bank is now targetting the merchants and retailers to close the loop on the payment process.
The "Albert" retail point-of-sale device will be launched in the second quarter of next year and will allow shoppers to make credit/debit card payments via swipe, near-field-communications (NFC) chip, and PIN transaction. It combines the functionality of eftpos terminals with the features of smartphones. Merchant apps will be developed on the "Pi" software development framework and hosted in a CommBank app store. The technology was developed jointly by CommBank, German payments device manufacturer Wincor-Nixdorf and Californian design firm Ideo.
It follows a launch last week by Westpac, also aimed at retailers. The iPhone app 'Westpac Mobile PayWay' allows small business merchants to process MasterCard and Visa card payments in real time. The launch coincided with the release of new research from Westpac, which showed one in five Australians want more banking applications on their smartphones.
CommBank is pushing its security credentials, with executive general manager of corporate banking solutions Kelly Bayer Rosmarin saying all apps and developers must be pre-approved by the bank. She said the bank developed the world's first touch-screen, encrypted, EMV PIN pad, so customers can securely enter their PIN on the Albert device, not on other smartphones and mobile devices.
"Every app will go through a vetting process," Bayer Rosmarin said. "It's not like a consumer device, we have to know the company building the application is a legitimate business entity with a legitimate business purpose. We'll make sure they're not doing anything untoward that could compromise the security."
She did not reveal how much it would charge retailers for the new device, but admitted that not every retailer will want one.
"We purchase a huge number of terminals and buy thousands and thousands of terminals every year," she said. The bank would consult with merchants over the next few months. "We'll work with customers on a bespoke basis, to see who's going to get it at what point, but they need to be ready to roll it out."
There are ten apps available now, but she didn't know how many there would be at launch. She hoped third-party developers would take to the device.
Developers prefer to create applications that will reach bigger audiences, such as the iPhone and Android platforms, and there are question marks over whether they would devote resources to a platform that will only reach the market next year, and have a potential audience of a few thousand users.
The involvement of developers will be a decisive factor in the success of the device, according to Telsyte analyst Rodney Gedda, and whether they can create useful applications that leverage the device's position as a conduit between customers, merchants and the bank. However, it could also just replace the traditional "dumb" point-of-sale terminals.
"It could be used in a dumb fashion, the way that you use a smartphone as a phone, but to get the biggest benefit, you want to use the apps.
"You can split the bills, donate to charity, integrate with other finance systems but the real benefit for merchants is to take the advantage of the apps. They don't have to, they can use it as a stand-alone device."
CommBank also announced "Leo", a case that functions as a cradle, by terminal maker Ingenico, that can be attached to merchants' iPhone 4, 4s and iPod Touch devices to turn them into mobile payment terminals.


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Standing in Harvard Hall of New York’s eponymous Club years ago, I was privileged to overhear a conversation among Vernon Davis, Arian Foster, and John Elway. Together, the Hall of Famer and two NFL greats were promoting a new venture called Fantex, which, months later, would be written up by the New York Times.
Through Fantex, fans could buy stock in star athletes they supported, granting them rights to their share of the athlete’s future earnings. As contract values increase, so do endorsement deals, and the stockholder would be paid a greater dividend in step with that growth. They could also sell their holdings in the secondary market to another potential shareholder and profit. The value proposition was said to be the first of its kind.
Not everyone was convinced. One older gentlemen in the room argued that the value proposition wasn’t, in fact, the first of its kind. He witnessed the internet’s role in the demise of Fantex’s predecessor, the Bowie bond. In 1997, famed musician David Bowie and banker David Pullman marketed and sold asset-backed securities that gave investors a 10-year stake in future royalties.
The securities, which were bought by US insurance giant Prudential Financial for $55m (£38m), committed Mr Bowie to repay his new creditors out of future income, and gave a fixed annual return of 7.9%. He struck a deal with record label EMI which allowed him to package up and sell bonds on royalties for 25 albums released between 1969 and 1990 – which included classics such as The Man Who Sold The World, Ziggy Stardust, and Heroes, according to the Financial Times.
Timing was against the success of the Bowie bond. By 2001, Napster launched and would soon change music forever by commoditizing it and making it freely and readily available. Pirated music pummeled the music industry and the record sales required to mint royalties for music’s biggest acts. As Bowie bonds sold and rose in value, the market closed to many of the other musicians hoping to duplicate Bowie’s efforts. Then Bowie bonds tanked.
In 2004 rating agency Moody’s Investors Services downgraded Bowie bonds to only one level above “junk”, the lowest rating, after a downturn in the music industry. Mr Bowie had himself predicted the decline in traditional music sales, telling the New York Times in 2002 that music would become “like running water or electricity”.
The gentleman finished his brandy, placed his glass on a wooden table and left with a parting shot to Fantex. If I remember correctly, he said, “I have seen this before. The market is not ready for this bullshit.”
Nearly 20 years after the Bowie bond, it appears to be ready. The Bowie bond walked so that Fantex could fly. Fantex flew so that today’s creator economy could take orbit.
The same internet that commoditized music is today its own commerce destination. Where Napster once diminished value, today’s internet is capable of taking a commodity as irrelevant as a .jpg file and turning it into a multimillion dollar asset. We’ve witnessed a fundamental shift in how we monetize the value of digital creation. Through technologies like non-fungible tokens (NFTs), new wealth is being minted through the sale of digital art and properties. In the process, it is making creators the revenue that they’ve long desired. But there’s a much bigger picture to understand.
Consider 2PM’s Law of Linear Commerce: “the lines of demarcation between media and commerce are fading. For the brands that are most suited to the modern retail economy: media and commerce operations work to optimize for audience and sales conversion. This is the efficient path for sustained growth, retention, and profitability” [2PM, 2]
Linear commerce is now a business model for everyday individuals. The digital economy that once rewarded media companies or professional creators with eCommerce opportunities has made its way to the individual by allowing them to market themselves as growth opportunities.
The Economy of One
In a recent report by New York Times technology reporter Taylor Lorenz, she highlights a third wave of the shareholder creator economy pioneered by David Bowie and then Fantex, this time with a unique spin. Consider NewNew, a creator platform that allows users to sell moments in their own lives to fans. Lorenz writes:
Courtne Smith, the founder and chief executive of NewNew, said the company was “similar to the stock market” in that “you can buy shares, which are essentially votes, to be able to control a certain level of a person’s life.” “We’re building an economy of attention where you purchase moments in other people’s lives, and we take it a step further by allowing and enabling people to control those moments,” she said.
While NewNew received most of the attention, Rally.io is the closest analog to the shareholder system that Bowie once pioneered. Lorenz highlights Bomani X, a Clubhouse icon who recently launched his own coin with the hope of monetizing his trajectory as a creator.
With 25,000 followers on Twitter, you would expect that the digital strategist and musician would not have the audience to live solely as an “Economy of One” creator. The difference is that today, the velocity of creator development has never been faster. Bomani X boasts 3.4 million listeners on Clubhouse. And with creation comes the constant need for activity and access that Courtne Smith of NewNew seems to be working towards remedying.
I’m off @joinClubhouse for a bit
The Rally coin allows you to buy futures in the individual much like a bet on the value of an NFT presents the opportunity for the art or its creator to grow in esteem, increasing the value of the NFT itself. For Bomani X, his temporary departure from Clubhouse led to a succession of sell orders on Rally, a short-sighted action but an indicator that even a creator’s 100 fans can be fickle.
The Incredible Kat Cole
When I stood in Harvard Hall, I listened to a stodgy older gentleman explain why the individualization of the stock market would never appeal to retail investors. Perhaps the best example of why he was wrong lies in the well-earned trajectory of former retail executive Kat Cole’s transition from COO and President of FOCUS brands to coveted speaker, board member, and creator.
Cole has accumulated 1.2 million listeners on Clubhouse and became a cultural icon in her own right. You can find Cole on a Clubhouse stage with R&B singers, rappers, startup icons, mentors, investors, and even spiritual leaders. She seems to be the one person that has found a way to belong wherever she speaks. As a result, the New York Times recently published a report on the creator house she helped found, Audio Collective.
Audio Collective’s founding members produce all kinds of content. Mir Harris produced a performance of the Disney musical “The Lion King” on Clubhouse. Leiti Hsu runs a popular dinner party variety show. Kat Cole, a former business executive, hosts rooms focused on leadership.
Her recent departure from Focus Brands allowed her to contribute more of her time to the genuine and caring mentorship that has become her trademark. With a platform opportunity, Cole was able to maximize her abilities in ways she couldn’t on Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook. This is what shareholders are betting on as platforms arise and monetization opportunities continue to evolve.
Cole is exactly the type of creator that our new culture seems to be looking for – one that sort of comes out of nowhere. It’s often the banter found on Twitter or in private forums where you would hear mentees, friends, and colleagues suggest:
If I could buy stock in anyone, it would be Kat Cole.
Bowie bonds and Fantex were before their time. Thanks to newly popularized technologies like NFTs and platforms like Rally and NewNew, consumers technically could buy stock in Kat Cole. The commerce and decentralized finance technologies of today have enabled us to monetize our belief in the potential of others. Though, knowing Kat, it’s unlikely that she’d profit off her potential as a creative icon or media personality. Her generosity is what’s helped her transition from inspiring retail executive to a solo creator and professional mentor known beyond the confines of retail or business.
It’ll be her sincerity and generosity that sends her rocketing beyond where she is today. She’s become an economy of one by positively impacting many.
By Web Smith | Editor: Hilary Milnes | Art: Alex Remy


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Sony decided to ditch the Summer Games Fest and E3 this year as well, as it seems to be favoring its State of Play events to share the news with the gaming community.
With a new event possibly slated for July, gamers are eager to see what the company has to offer.
While there are many leaks regarding the event, one credible insider has claimed that Sony has an ace in the hole, which has yet not been leaked.
State Of Play has been the go-to event for PlayStation to talk about its upcoming titles. In previous years, the event has been used to update fans on Horizon: Forbidden West, reveal The Last of Us Part 2’s release date, and show off some Ghost of Tsushima gameplay.
The following State of Play event date has been leaked, so some fans are looking forward to Thursday, July 8th, to hear from Sony. However, Sony has not yet officially confirmed this, so maybe don’t pen it into your calendar just yet.
Nick “Shpeshal Nick” Baker, Co-Founder of XboxEra, co-host of the XboxEra Podcast, and credible insider/leaker, is the one who has said that PlayStation is keeping a “big surprise” under wraps.
He tweeted that he is not sure how much of Sony’s show will be leaked, but he is sure that there is one big surprise that has yet to make it to the general public.
He has said that he hopes it remains unspoiled for the sake of the fans. Nick recently also leaked an upcoming standalone expansion to Ghost of Tsushima, titled Ghost of Ikishima, so this stance on not wanting things spoiled isn’t typical.
Fans are already making predictions on what this “big surprise” may be during this Sony’s Summer State Of Play.
Some popular theories are a second spotlight of Horzion: Forbidden West with a potential release date, news about other first-party exclusives such as God of War: Ragnarok, which was delayed this year, or the much-awaited The Last of Us multiplayer game.
There is also the expectation of seeing more third-party exclusives such as Final Fantasy 16 or the upcoming Forspoken.
It’s also been recently confirmed that Insomniac Games is working on a new multiplayer game, but details are still scarce. It is possible that this project too may make an appearance at the upcoming State of Play event.
But it is difficult to say which, if any, of these rumors would correspond to the “big surprise” Shpeshal Nick had mentioned on Twitter. So we’ll have to wait for the actual event, whenever it is, to know what Sony has in store for us.
Sony Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Kōnan, Minato, Tokyo. The company operates as one of the most comprehensive media companies on the planet and also holds the distinctions of being the largest video game console company and the second largest video game publisher in the world.
Its gaming and network services arm Sony Interactive Entertainment (formerly Sony Computer Entertainment) is best known for producing the popular line of PlayStation consoles.


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Women's apparel retailer Talbots Inc., struggling with declining sales and high debt, will be bought by longtime suitor Sycamore Partners for $193.3 million, a price that is lower than the private equity firm's previous offers.
Talbots rejected a $212 million buyout proposal from Sycamore in December but allowed the private equity firm to look at its books less than two months later as its business continued to deteriorate.
Following months of discussions, Sycamore raised its offer to $214.6 million in early May but Talbots announced on Friday that the talks had ended without a merger agreement, which sent its shares plunging 41 percent.
"While a successful turnaround has thus far eluded Talbots, we think it will have a better chance of success as a private company away from the scrutiny and demands of public investors," Jefferies analyst Randal Konik said in a client note.
The retailer, which built its reputation on traditional pearls-and-classics fashions, has seen its sales fall for five straight years as shoppers flocked to Ann Inc. — owner of Ann Taylor and Loft stores — and Chico's FAS Inc.
Talbots' efforts to reach out to younger shoppers also failed and alienated its core shoppers, women over the age of 35.
The company tried to convince Wall Street by cutting jobs and announcing that it would look for a new CEO, but the business had declined so sharply that some even questioned if the retailer would have enough cash to operate beyond the next 12 months.
"The company has been on a long and difficult journey over the past several years as it struggled to regain relevance with its customer base," Konik said.
The company said on Thursday that the deal with Sycamore was valued at about $369 million, including debt.
Sycamore, which is Talbots' second-largest shareholder, will pay $2.75 per share, representing a premium of 113 percent to the stock's close on Wednesday.
Talbots' shares rose to $2.58 before the bell. The stock was trading in the mid-20s, before sales began sliding five years ago.
Sycamore was founded last year by retail industry veteran Stefan Kaluzny, a former retail specialist at the well-known PE firm Golden Gate Capital.
Kaluzny, who serves as a director at retailers such as Zale Corp., Apogee Retail and Eddie Bauer, had earlier worked with Talbots when Golden Gate bought the retailer's J. Jill division in 2009.
© 2023 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.


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According to an article published by Autocar today Land Rover is intending to drop the Freelander name when the new model is launched late next year.
Speculation is that the Freelander will join the Discovery ‘family’ to streamline the model lineage, it’s also expected that the new model will be based on an elongated Evoque platform.
The Freelander name hasn’t been used in the American market since 2006 when the current incarnation of the model was launched over there, instead the model was rebranded the ‘LR2’
This latest speculation that the Freelander name will be dropped was given further credence at the beginning of the month when Land Rover’s global brand director John Edwards told journalists that the company was based on “three iconic brands: Range Rover, Discovery and Defender”. I guess time will tell.
It would be a shame to lose the Freelander name but in Land Rover’s relentless quest to rebrand and drive sales it would seem there is little room for sentiment.
The full Autocar article can be found here.


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May 10, 2021
ENEOS / Toyota / Woven Planet
ENEOS Corporation (ENEOS) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced that they have agreed on a new partnership to explore the utilization and application of hydrogen energy at Woven City, the prototype city of the future that Toyota has started to develop in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture. ENEOS and Toyota, together with Woven Planet Holdings (Woven Planet), a subsidiary of Toyota, leading the Woven City project, intend to conduct testing and demonstration in areas related to a hydrogen-based supply chain, from production, delivery to usage of hydrogen, in and around Woven City. Through this effort, they aim to help achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050 as Japan and many other countries around the world have committed.


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In the beginning, there was unlimited promise. A startup born out of an innovative mind and nurtured with federal grants was setting up shop in, of all places, Little Elm—a tiny speck of a suburb on the shores of Lake Lewisville. Some two decades later and for a variety of reasons, however, the company’s once-bright promise remains largely unfulfilled.
Back in 1996, things were different. The idea of a projected 600 jobs coming to Retractable Technologies’ new 22,500-square-foot plant was huge for local officials, who pitched in $300,000 for roads and other improvements. “This is the project of the century for Little Elm,” the town mayor proclaimed at the startup’s announcement.
And Thomas J. Shaw, a mechanical and structural engineer, expected his revolutionary product to make waves beyond Little Elm as well. With the help of $650,000 in grants from the National Institutes of Health, Shaw had developed a medical syringe with an automatic retraction feature. After the plunger is fully depressed, the needle pops back into the syringe’s cavity, where it can’t stick the nurse or technician. The design offered a solution to the roughly 600,000 accidental needle sticks that occurred each year at hospitals—accidental sticks that put medical workers at risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other serious diseases.
Shaw secured patents on his design, began gathering investment cash from North Texas doctors and others who saw promise in the business, and formed Retractable Technologies Inc., a public company trading under the symbol RVP on the New York Stock Exchange.
Soon after launching production, however, Shaw realized he was being shut out of selling to hospitals by an alliance of major medical supply manufacturers and powerful purchasing consortiums that buy supplies in bulk for about 80 percent of the nation’s health systems.
Shaw’s upstart company—which encouraged publicity with press releases decrying the power of the giant group purchasing organizations—was soon gathering national media attention that painted Retractable as the victim of a market rigged against innovative entrants. And, there was ample evidence that the portrait was valid, though many accounts left out the caveat that the purchasing systems had been established to help hospitals cut their expenses and tamp down healthcare costs.
Despite having the most foolproof “safety needle” on the market, Shaw told reporters, his company was rejected by most of the more than 2,000 hospitals his salespeople had visited because, among other things, they were bound by agreements to buy from incumbent companies. “There’s an AIDS and hepatitis C epidemic, and we can’t even show our retractable safety needles in most hospitals,” he told the Houston Chronicle. “Free competition as it stands in healthcare is dead.”
Shaw’s complaint eventually took the form of a federal lawsuit naming as defendants several of the purchasing organizations, as well as several rival medical supply manufacturers, including industry heavyweight Becton Dickinson and Co., of Franklin Lakes, N.J. The 119-year-old company, often referred to as BD, currently has about $10 billion in annual revenue and as much as 80 percent of the total needle and syringe market. On the eve of trial in 2004, and in a series of earlier settlements, the defendants paid out a total of $100 million to Shaw’s company to drop its federal suit.
The award, which was cut nearly in half by legal fees and costs, still was several times Retractable’s net annual sales that year of $21 million. Last year, a dozen years after the big settlement, Retractable would have shown an operating loss had it not collected yet another jury award: a $7 million judgment from BD for patent infringement arising from BD’s attempt to market its own retractable syringe. As of this writing, Retractable is awaiting an appellate court decision in still another antitrust case it brought against BD in 2007—that one involving its rival’s contracting and advertising.
Retractable may have winning ways in court—and in media stories portraying it as a noble David in a world of anti-competitive Goliaths—but, more than 20 years on, it still can’t find much traction or sales growth in the marketplace. In fact, its net sales have been flat or down for the last five years. According to a BD court filing, Retractable’s share of the “safety” market, a subset of the total needle and syringe maket, stood in 2010 at just 6 percent, compared to 49 percent for BD. And, after outsourcing much of its production to China, Retractable’s workforce now numbers 136, down from the 175 it employed 15 years ago.
Company executives say Retractable continues to be the victim of its rivals’ anti-competitive schemes. But, some observers say Retractable has ridden that horse a bit too long. Some of the company’s growth problems, they contend, have been self-made, or an honest consequence of normal competition. Just because you believe your product is aces—as Sony did in the 1980s with its Betamax videotape system—doesn’t mean that you automatically get to win.
This story is a feature from the October issue of D CEO magazine. Head here to finish the piece.


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EU Industry Days 2022 will take place in Brussels between 8 - 11 February 2022. The 2022 edition will stimulate discussions across industrial ecosystems on their green and digital pathways, to strengthen the resilience of EU companies and SME.
EU Industry Days is Europe's flagship annual event, highlighting industrial frontrunners and ongoing industrial policy discussions whilst improving the knowledge base of European industry.
It is the main platform to discuss industry challenges and co-develop opportunities and policy responses in an inclusive dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders.
The 2022 edition will take place in hybrid format in Brussels between 8 - 11 February 2022, and it will stimulate discussions across industrial ecosystems on their green and digital transition, in support of strengthening the resilience of EU companies (including SMEs).
It will also hold discussions on how the young generation can shape the future of EU industry, in line with the Commission proposal to make 2022 the European Year of Youth.
Indeed, young people are the future of EU industry, but they are also the recipients of current industry leaders' decisions, which affect them as consumers, employees, and entrepreneurs. That is why this edition of the EU Industry Days will also feature a Special Youth Programme, which will place the focus of the event on some of the most urgent concerns for young Europeans today: social equality, youth unemployment and precarious work, and the urgent call for sustainable and socially responsible business models.


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The new Hare Brewery, in Warmley, Bristol, has doubled the West Country brewer’s previous brewing capacity. The multi-million-pound investment project will enable Bath Ales to produce 50,000 brewers’ barrels of beer - close to 14.5m pints - a year.
More than 500 guests throughout the course of the day joined celebrations at the brewery, which was officially opened by Tarquin McDonald, chief executive of Bath Rugby.
To mark the occasion a bronze hare statue, crafted by Cornish artist Hamish Mackie, was also unveiled – a symbolic gesture to mark the coming together of Bath and Cornwall following the purchase of Bath Ales by St Austell Brewery in 2016.
Wider range of beers
Sophisticated new equipment at the four-vessel brewery will enable the team to produce a wider variety of beer styles to complement Bath Ales’ existing range.
Darren James, senior brewer, who has been at Bath Ales for more than 15 years, described the opening of the Hare Brewery as “a very exciting moment”.
“Extra capacity means more beer for Bath Ales’ drinkers including our flagship ale Gem,” he said. We’ve already started brewing a wider range of beer styles on the new equipment including Sulis, our first lager.
“We’re quite literally opening the doors to the brewhouse in that beer fans will be able to see it for themselves – we’ll be holding regular brewery tours, which will mean people can see our new kit and visit our tap room to taste our beers at their freshest.”
Bespoke brew house
Fellow West Country brewer and pub company St Austell Brewery, first announced its multi-million-pound plans for Bath Ales shortly after the acquisition in July 2016.
The independent company, which is still family-owned, is committed to a long-term investment growth plan for the Bath Ales brand and business.
Brewing director Roger Ryman, who oversees brewing and production at Bath Ales and St Austell Brewery, said: “From the very start of the project we’ve all shared a clear vision for Hare Brewery: to build one of the region’s most technologically advanced and fully bespoke brewhouses. To see this come to fruition today is a milestone moment for us.
“We hope the new brewery will play its part in shining a light on the vibrant south-west beer scene. Since Bath Ales joined the St Austell Brewery family, there’s been a continued passion and appreciation of only brewing the highest-quality beers.
Our commitment to building the new brewery demonstrates our commitment to the brand’s long-term future.”


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LAS VEGAS (October 19, 2021) – Legendary Rockstar Rod Stewart will return to Las Vegas in 2022 for 10 shows of his acclaimed residency “Rod Stewart: The Hits.”, presented in partnership by Caesars Entertainment and
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 18, 2021) — Acclaimed Chef Bobby Flay and Caesars Entertainment today announced plans to expand Flay’s fast-casual brand, Bobby’s Burgers, to two new locations on the Las Vegas Strip at Harrah’s Las
LAS VEGAS – The Neon Museum recently acquired the famed Planet Hollywood Restaurant sign that originally rotated upon an iconic column pedestal in A picture containing tree, sky, outdoor, building Description automatically generated front of
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Caesars Entertainment (“Caesars” or the “Company”), the largest gaming and entertainment company in the U.S., today inked a monumental deal with Spiegelworld, the Las Vegas-based entertainment trailblazer, collectively
LAS VEGAS – Gear up football fans. Downtown Las Vegas is ramping up for a variety of thrilling Big Game watch events at Circa Resort & Casino and the D Las Vegas on Sunday, February 13.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (October 13, 2021) – Aristocrat Gaming™ and Boyd Gaming today announced the successful launch in Nevada of Boyd Pay Wallet™, a cashless payment solution for table games powered by Aristocrat’s digital wallet
NEW YORK (Oct. 11, 2021) – The National Hockey League and Vegas Golden Knights today unveiled the 2022 Honda NHL® All-Star logo as the Golden Knights and the city of Las Vegas prepare to host
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 12, 2021) — Starting this Saturday, Oct. 16, Sugar Factory American Brasserie, located at Harmon Corner Retail Center, will introduce a new brunch menu featuring a limited edition Insane Pink Cloud Pancake
LAS VEGAS – A popular holiday tradition is returning to the Las Vegas Strip this year with “A Very Terry Christmas,” a special holiday-themed show from famed singer, comedian, ventriloquist and “America’s Got Talent” winner
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is thrilled to announce the return of the beloved Ice Rink for its tenth consecutive season, open to the public daily from Tuesday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.


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IDG Capital has led a $53 million series B round in Chongqing city-based e-commerce platform Epet.com, while Kaitai Capital invested in the $17 million series C round in new e-car transaction platform Niuniuqiche, the China Money Network reported.
IDG leads $53m funding in Epet.com
Launched in 2009, Epet.com offers over 30,000 high-end pet products, like food, toys, healthcare, clothes and cosmetics from 800 brands for cats and dogs.
The Chongqing city-based company plans to use the latest investments to improve local partnerships with high-end pet products brands, and also to expand its imported products from countries including US, Australia, and New Zealand.
Currently, over half of its listed products are imported from overseas. Last year, the startup’s revenue hit $80 million (RMB500 million), up over 200 per cent year-on-year.
Epet.com claims its platform has reached 2.3 million registered users and 100,000 daily unique visitors. It has logistics teams in 11 cities, including Nanjing, Hangzhou and Suzhou, and has launched overseas branches in Hong Kong and the US.
In June 2016, Shenzhen Capital Group Co Ltd, Sealand Capital, and Yongchuang Capital invested in Epet.com’s $24 million series A+ round.
Epet.com in 2015 raised $8 million in its series A round led by DT Capital Partners.
Kaitai completes $17m round in e-commerce firm Niuniuqiche
Niuniuqiche, a Shanghai-based business-to-business new car transaction platform, has raised $17 million in its series A round led by Hangzhou-based Kaitai Capital, a venture capital firm founded by a former partner at SAIF Partners.
Existing investor Zhongjun Fund also joined in the round.
Founded in in 2015, Niuniuqiche is a new vehicle B2B e-commerce platform focused on tier 3 and tier-4 cities in China.
The startup plans to use the fresh capital to upgrade its logistics, financing services, and open offline stores.
Niuniuqiche reportedly provides sales, logistics and finance services to over 100,000 car distributors, and has partnered with over 20 car manufacturers covering over 80 per cent tier-three and tier-four cities in the countries.
Niuniuqiche previously received $1.6 million in its series A round led by Zhongjun Capital in January 2016. Unity Ventures invested an undisclosed sum in the startup a year earlier.


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OnePlus is a newly established Chinese smartphone brand officially announced today in Beijing.
It’s not just another phone brand by low-cost manufacturing China or aimed at less developed markets. OnePlus will be about high specs, comparatively low prices, selling directly online and shipping to the rest of the world, especially developed markets.
It sounds like Google Nexus model but also similar to that of Xiaomi, the rising star in China’s smartphone market. Like Xiaomi, OnePlus invites early adopters to make decisions on specs and features, using online forum or other forms of social media to engage audience. And Xiaomi is expanding to overseas markets too that has established presence in Taiwan and recently announced to enter Singapore. The latest rumor is that the company plans to ship low-cost phones in countries like Japan.
One big difference OnePlus is from Xiaomi is the former partners with CyanogenMod on a custom system while the latter has a big team working on customized Android ROM, named MIUI.
OnePlus One, the startup’s first flagship model, will be launched in the second quarter. Considering consumer preferences in some western countries, OnePlus One will come in black and white. For this year the company will be focusing on the phone. More gadgets or appcessories will be added later. OnePlus products will be sold on its own website and delivered by partner delivery companies.
It’s not that OnePlus team started from scratch. It’s venture backed by people behind OPPO, a Chinese consumer electronics brand where the core team of OnePlus are from. Pete Lau, founder of OnePlus, was VP at OPPO in charge of Blue-ray DVD player. OnePlus will take advantage of OPPO’s smartphone manufacturing capability.
OPPO is a spinoff from BBK, one of the most famous consumer electronics makers in China in late 1990’s and early 2000’s. BBK VCD player was one of the most popular back then. The establishment of OPPO itself several years ago was for international expansion.
OPPO smartphone, positioned as a premium brand for ladies, is one of the most profitable smartphone makers (including Xiaomi ) in China. Different from Xiaomi, OPPO has a whole supply chain, from factories to R&D. The company promises to use the highest quality components and the best hardware available. It’s a smartphone brand that has been trying to be creative. OPPO Finder, launched in mid-2012, claims it’s the thinnest smartphone around the world. N1, the latest flagship model released in September 2013, has a touch panel on the back, a rotating camera, and an accompanying gadget.
OPPO phones, according to Mr. Lau, are sold well in Southeast countries such as Indonesia. But OPPO Blue-ray DVD player turned out to be a more successful product line as an international brand. OPPO’s are sold well in high-end DVD and Blue-ray player markets in the U.S.and Europe.
To design good quality Blue-ray players for international markets, Pete Lau invited designers from various countries. This time he has already had employees from 12 countries. He doesn’t think there is too big a difference between producing an international Blue-ray player brand and one for smartphone and other mobile gadgets.
But one big difference is smartphone runs an operating system that a whole software ecosystem behind it. It’s interesting that a lot of people from the traditional hardware manufacturing world don’t buy the idea of building an ecosystem and making money there, as Xiaomi has always touted. Xiaomi said again and again that MIUI is the long tail in terms of future revenue after one-time gains from smartphone sales. What’s true is Xiaomi has made a considerable number of revenues from mobile gaming, paid non-gaming apps, search, paid themes, etc. OnePlus has a reason for choosing CyanogenMod as it wants to appeal western users who, so far, prefer clean ROMs to those with more features.
It takes three years for Xiaomi to arrive where it is, with 30 million MIUI users and over 26 million phones sold as of 2013. The Xiaomi way in distribution and user engagement has been recognized by some phone makers, old or new, in China. But more than a few think Xiaomi model can be surpassed. As for OnePlus, Mr. Lau said the smartphone market is big enough to accommodate one more player. But OnePlus cannot be the only Chinese brand of this kind to emerge this year or is targeting overseas markets. Behold.


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The weather might be miserable but there's a Bank Holiday supermarket offer that will raise a few smiles.
Lidl is brightening it up with six bottles of Prosecco for just £20.
Yes, that's a crate of the sparkling stuff for the equivalent of £3.33 each.
Next Saturday and Sunday (August 26 and 27), the supermarket chain is offering the bottles of the fizz for cheaper than you would get for a glass in Cheltenham.
Allini Prosecco is usually priced at £5.79, so customers will save £14.74 by taking advantage of the offer.
Rated as 'very good', it is described online as “fresh, pear-scented fruit, highly moreish.”
Plans for a brand new Lidl, plus a new Starbucks in Tewkesbury Road were given the green light by Cheltenham Borough Council earlier this week.


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Apple Watch SE 2 reportedly keeping same screen size as current model
Apple’s next-generation Apple Watch SE 2 will reportedly keep the same screen size as the current model, with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman suggesting in this week’s edition of his “Power On” newsletter that the wearable won’t see a display increase to match the size of the Apple Watch Series 7, although the new wearable could get the same S8 chip expected to launch with this year’s new Apple Watch Series 8.
Apple launched the original Apple Watch SE in 2018, featuring the S5 chip with 44mm a 40mm case sizes. This year’s second-generation is expected to replace the ageing Apple Watch Series 3 which Apple continues to sell, despite the device not being capable of running watchOS 9, which will release later this year, and requiring a factory reset each time a new watchOS update is released.
Gurman has previously said that he expects Apple to release three new Apple Watch models this year: the Apple Watch Series 8, updated next-generation Apple Watch SE 2 and an all-new rugged Apple Watch model targeted towards athletes, hikers and others who would use the device in extreme sporting environments.
Gurman has previously reported that the device will offer extra impact-resistance and protection to appeal to users who want to wear an Apple Watch but fear to do so because of the environments they would wear it in, where it is important the device would be robust and durable enough to withstand daily use, similar to Casio’s G-Shock watches.
Touching on the Apple Watch Series 8, Gurman says the new wearable will offer a speed increase over the Apple Watch Series 7, although next year’s model will boast “an all-new processor.”
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