text:
In past years, Apple has been criticized for spending far too little on R&D, especially when you compare it to the competition. Indeed, some companies just pour loads of money into projects that have very little potential, or just hope to throw money at insoluble problems in search of the fantasy of success. Google, for example, spends in the range of 15% of its revenue on R&D, and very little of it delivers a return as a retail product or service. Certainly there’s not a lot of revenue from Android, since it’s given away free to handset makers. I realize you can count the revenue from the Google Play app store as an indirect benefit.
Google’s main product, however, remains targeted advertising. So even Google Glass hardly seemed an appropriate venture to deliver ad revenue, or much revenue from the sale of the hardware, which was discontinued last year. In the past, Google tried to enter the mobile handset business with its boneheaded decision to squander $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility. It was sold off at a fire sale price to Lenovo for $2.91 billion. What a waste!
In the past, Apple has been frugal about R&D, experiencing tremendous success with the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. The Apple Watch is still a work-in-progress and it may be several years before its ultimate success is known.
As people wonder what Apple is coming up with next, the R&D budget has soared. In the past nine months alone, it has spent nearly $7.5 billion on R&D. Obviously few outside of Apple or its suppliers knows where that money is going, but it’s certainly not to fund expensive vacations in the Bahamas or to buy fleets of corporate jets. It’s about creating possible successors to current products, or major new versions. It’s also about entering new product categories.
Now one rumor that appears credible is that an Apple Car is under development. This week, it was reported that veteran hardware executive Bob Mansfield has taken control of Project Titan, where hundreds of people are reportedly working on some sort of electric car. I would assume that it will sport an advanced self-driving capability as well should it come to pass.
A few artist renderings of what form it might take have been posted in the last year or two. But the ones I’ve seen aren’t terribly attractive. Compare that to the Tesla, which has Jaguar-style looks and state-of-the-art performance. So would an Apple Car be a high performance luxury vehicle in the same vein, or something more affordable and practical?
Obviously the fact that a car is being developed doesn’t guarantee it will ever see production. It might also serve as a platform or test bed for future iterations of CarPlay or other Apple inventions for existing motor vehicles.
The question not being considered when an Apple Car is mentioned is what sort of difference Apple might make when compared to existing cars. The Tesla has to be a huge factor, and its teething pains will no doubt serve as a lesson on what not to do. If Apple continues with what’s clearly a multi-billion dollar investment, there has to be an immediate payoff, and there’s not going to be much time to make mistakes. It’s one thing if the first version of a gadget costing a few hundred dollars isn’t fully formed. But a product that will cost tens of thousands of dollars has to be perfect on Day One, or close enough that minor ongoing updates will address software glitches and minor hardware oddities. Obviously it would have to meet safety standards around the world.
In addition to an autonomous driving system that actually works — and the existing ones are obviously buggy — Apple might consider ways to advance battery technology. While today’s Tesla vehicles have driving ranges in the 200-300 mile range, more or less, company CEO Elon Musk promises to double that range, to more than 600 miles, by 2017. In an interview last year, Musk also claimed that a range of over 750 miles could be achieved by 2020.
Tesla is notorious for being late, and for the initial versions of new vehicles to be raft with production problems and product defects. So it’s quite possible the extended range vehicles will be postponed.
Now the Apple Car has reportedly been postponed from an expected 2020 release date to 2021. If Tesla Motors succeeds in more than doubling driving range, no doubt with more efficient parts and superior battery technology, Apple will have to raise the bar somehow.
But that’s just one thing. What else might Apple be using that growing R&D budget to fund? What about building out a subscription TV service with a rich roster of original programming, to compete head-on with Amazon Instant Video and Netflix? It would take commitments of hundreds of millions of dollars and more to fund programming and an online streaming infrastructure beyond what iTunes can manage today.
Clearly Apple has more than enough money to build cars and produce TV shows, and cloud services are reportedly undergoing major expansion as we speak. There are no doubt other projects, such as augmented reality, are under development that even the best rumor sites, with their ears glued to the ground, have yet to discover. If Apple gets full value from all those investment dollars, the next few years are going to be mighty interesting.
Print This Article


text:
Visits to shopping centres, high streets and retail parks fall 2.8% over last four weeks, in weakest result for two years
Visits to shopping centres, high streets and retail parks fell 2.8 per cent in the past four weeks, the weakest result for more than two years.
According to data from research firm Springboard, the monthly footfall fell on high streets by 3.7 per cent, dragging the overall total down.
Staying at home: According to data from research firm Springboard, the monthly footfall fell on high streets by 3.7 per cent
Diane Wehrle, Springboard marketing and insights director, said: ‘The results tell a story of two halves – pre and post EU referendum, a political and economic storm against a backdrop of rain downpours and generally inclement weather throughout the whole month.’
The deterioration for retail parks was down 1 per cent, the first drop since December 2013. Ms Wehrle added: ‘The issue for retailers is how quickly shoppers will return to their usual patterns of behaviour.’
Separately, the number of new properties coming to the market have bounced back following a fall due to pre-referendum uncertainty, data shows.
The figure had dropped 8 per cent in early June but recovered to rise 6 per cent in the two weeks since the UK voted to leave the EU, online estate agent Rightmove says.
Most watched Money videos
- Electric cars could reap benefits from new green number plates
- All-New Dacia Sandero supermini will hit UK market later this year
- Lord Blunkett 'never envisaged' disabled Child Trust Fund issues
- The all new Toyota Mirai 2021 hydrogen fuel cell car
- 'UK shares can do well when the world reopens': Tom Becket
- UK's first garage for charging electric vehicles opens in Braintree
- Bentley blower is back! British marque completes reborn 1920s racer
- Can Scottish Mortgage keep climbing? Tom Slater interview
- 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV sold for 11% above market value
- The 311mph supercar Venom F5 worth £2million
- Chinese Nio ET7 electric family car costing £60,000
- Renault 5 EV prototype will look like the 1980s rally car

domain: news


text:
With beach season underway, if you’re in the market for a swim upgrade, CUUP is curating a pop-up shopping experience at Lazypoint.
From Wednesday, June 9 through Sunday, June 13, CUUP will present their inaugural swim collection, which debuted last month, as well as their signature lingerie styles at the Amagansett store.
“This summer is poised to be one for the ages and we’re so excited to reconnect in person with customers at our first ever pop-up in the Hamptons!” shared Abby Morgan, CUUP Co-founder and CMO.
For many, finding the most flattering style can be a challenge. But, luckily for Lazypoint shoppers, CUUP Fit Therapists will be onsite throughout the pop-up. “We will have all CUUP Swim and intimates styles to shop, with a Fit Therapist in-store to support fittings,” Morgan added. “All orders will receive free overnight shipping from our warehouse and opportunities for gift with purchase – including a swim tote bag and water bottle, exclusive to the pop up! We really look forward to diving into the Amagansett community and helping more women find their perfect fit in both intimates and all their outdoor summer activities.”
CUUP Swim x Lazypoint will be open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lazypoint is located at 171 Main Street in Amagansett. For more information, visit shopcuup.com.


text:
Last week, Salvatore Ferragamo hosted the first ever runway show to be held inside the Louvre, and we have exclusive video footage of the historical event. VIP attendees like Hilary Swank, Freida Pinto, and Leighton Meester watched the brand unveil its Mediterranean vacation-inspired Resort 2013 collection on a 460-foot runway under the museum's Denon Wing colonnade. Afterward, they were treated to a lavish dinner under the famous I.M. Pei pyramid. Catch a glimpse, after the cut.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
The Best-Dressed Celebrities at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards
Our favorites from last night's epic red carpet.
All the Red Carpet Looks from the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards
From the salaciously shocking to the classically chic, here are all the looks from tonight's show.


text:
Amazon has handed Alexa recording data over to police in an Arkansas murder case after the defendant gave his permission, according to Associated Press.
The tech company had been fighting efforts from US police to obtain recordings that may have been made by an Amazon Echo speaker in the vicinity of the murder.
According to AP, James Bates pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Victor Collins, who was found floating face-up in a hot tub at Bates’ house. In a filing last week, Bates said Amazon could share the information. Amazon said it gave the data to police on Friday.
Amazon’s Echo devices respond to particular keywords and record audio from a few seconds before, during and after “hearing” one of the words. They will often record accidentally in response to non-keywords. It’s possible Bates’ device recorded what happened in the run-up to Collins’ death.
Amazon had cited consumer privacy rights in refusing to hand over the data, in a court filing last week. It had argued that the Benton County prosecutors hadn’t established that the investigation was more important than its customers’ privacy rights. A hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday to determine whether any Echo data would be relevant.
NOW WATCH: What happens when you eat too much protein
Business Insider Emails & Alerts
Site highlights each day to your inbox.


text:
He’s not a businessman, he’s a business, man. JAY Z is branching out into more business ventures by launching a cannabis line called Monogram. The brand comes from a new partnership with a cannabis company named Caliva, which is based in California. Hov joined forces with them in 2019 when he became the Chief Brand Strategist.
The brand is planning a launch for Monogram through an e-commerce platform.
This is not the only business venture Jay has, considering he’s partnered with D’Usse cognac, Armand de Brignac champagne, and built TIDAL and Roc Nation into billion dollar worth.
Will you be smoking that gas from Hov, though?


text:
By Laura Petrecca, USA TODAY Tue Sep 6, 8:59 AM ET
Forget the Barbie Dream House. Today's 9-year-old wants her own cell phone -- and Mattel will be happy to provide one.
The toymaker is one of many companies vying to connect with the preteen and younger market through mobile phones, services and accessories. The goal is not just to tap new revenue - it's also to establish brand loyalty early.
Some parents welcome the appearance of kid-friendly cell phones, while some critics worry that easy-to-influence preteens will be exposed to a barrage of marketing messages.
About 16 million teens and younger kids have cell phones, with the bulk of them older teens, according to the researcher GFK's NOP World Technology. But as the teen market gets saturated, cell providers and other companies are eyeing the younger set.
In February 2002, 13% of 12-to-14-year-olds had cell phones. That number jumped to 40% in December 2004, according to NOP. Some 14% of10-to-11-year-olds now own cell phones. While NOP doesn't have comparison data for that group yet, Vice President Ben Rogers says its ownership is rising.
Even kids under 10 are using personal cells to call for rides home. "We're seeing cell phone growth from ages 8 and 9 on," says technology analyst Rob Enderle.
Mattel licensed its "My Scene" brand name, which focuses on preteens, to Single Touch Interactive. This month, they'll sell a full-service $79.99 cell phone with prepaid minutes priced at 25 cents each. Next year, Walt Disney launches Disney Mobile service through Sprint. It is designed for families with kids as young as 10.
Some companies are aiming even younger.
Just in time for the new school year, educational tech company LeapFrog and wireless firm Enfora are launching the $99.99 TicTalk phone for children ages 6 and older. Courtesy Firefly Mobile Inc.Firefly Mobile's phone is geared to kids ages 8 to 12.
Firefly Mobile has a simple $99.99 phone with five "speed-dial" buttons for "mobile kids."
Many parents are buying in.
Gaithersburg, Md., mom Phyllis Corrao just got her 10-year-old son, Daniel Mangle, a full-service Nextel phone so she can stay in touch when he's at school.
Eric Webber of Austin says he's about to cave in and buy his11-year-old son, Jake, one. "I have the cell phone debate every day," says Webber, adding that his son has worn him down.
When parents put phones in kids' hands, they're likely creating a lifelong cell phone customer, say experts. That gives both the service providers -- such as Sprint or Verizon -- as well as brands with names on the handsets -- such as Mattel's "My Scene" -- access to new customers and sets the stage for future sales.
"Once you give it to them, you can't take it away," Rogers says. He adds that as kids get older and are exposed to more advanced phones, "Parents are going to experience a lot of pressure to upgrade."
He says the simpler phones, such as the Firefly, are seeding the way for future growth. "There is a role for those limited phones to get people in young and then drive intake of fully functional phones at a younger age," Rogers says.
In addition to paying for upgraded phones, parents and kids are also buying ring tones, cell phone shells and hip carrying cases.
Firefly's Web site, for instance, promotes a $12.99 wristlet purse to carry the phone, as well as colorful "bubble gum" and "limeade" exchangeable outer shells for the phone at $12.99 each.
That might be just the start. While Disney hasn't disclosed all its plans, some telecom analysts already are speculating about the potential it has to market an array of products through Disney Mobile.
Enderle says Disney could sell ring tones that promote its movie characters or include discount coupons to its theme parks with the monthly cell phone bill.
That vast marketing potential has some children's advocates worried about exploitation.
"It's open season on kids," says Gary Ruskin, executive director of advocacy group Commercial Alert. Ruskin rattles off a range of concerns, from children being exposed to marketing messages on the phone itself (such as Mattel's "My Scene" design) to the potential for kids to be pressured to buy ring tones and accessories.
Ruskin says some companies will harness the nag factor -- when a kid harasses a parent for so long, the parent gives in -- to sell their goods.
Marketers defend their phone products. Mattel says: "We believe it is ultimately the choice of the parent to decide when his or her child is ready for a cell phone. Research shows that kids are going wireless, and we wanted to provide girls with a communication device that is not only functional and fashionable but that also encourages responsible cell phone use."
It appears that more parents are on Mattel's side. Webber, who works in the ad industry, says he sees how marketers can take advantage of kids. His son is already turning ad messages he's heard into arguments for a phone. "He's playing the safety and security card on me, saying, 'Wouldn't you feel safer if I had it?' " Webber says.
At this point, Webber is just about sold. Both he and Corrao agree that cell phones can teach their kids about responsibility. Corrao's son, Daniel, does chores to earn the talk time, and Webber says he'll do the same with Jake.
Corrao says giving Daniel a phone has paid off in other ways: "He's called to say he loves me."
Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at
Read USA Today on line here each day at:


text:
It took online outdoor products retailer iWarehouse.co.za three years to come around to the idea of accepting credit cards on its website – but, says owner John Guthrie, “It turned my business around. I should have done it from the beginning.”
Guthrie was wary of accepting credit cards when iWarehouse.co.za opened its virtual doors in 2008 for several reasons: “We operate on very tight margins and we were afraid the credit card fees would wipe us out. We were also very afraid of fraudulent transactions and bank clawbacks.”
For three years iWarehouse.co.za operated purely on an EFT basis, until increasing customer pressure forced Guthrie to find a credit card solution.
His homework eventually led him to PayGate: “They were the most cost effective payment service provider, and even though service wasn’t actually on my shopping list their responsiveness and the ease of dealing with their support staff sealed the deal for me. Their technical support and backup systems are great.”
The effect on his business was instantaneous, says Guthrie: “We doubled our turnover within a month or two. I hadn’t realised how many sales I was losing – customers feel much more secure paying with their credit cards, and it’s much easier for them.”
Guthrie’s fear of fraud and clawbacks proved unfounded: “We thought we would be at the mercy of the banks, but to this day we haven’t had one clawback due to fraud. Partly that’s because we’ve been very vigilant, but PayGate also has great systems in place. Our guys are well trained and pick up most fraud attempts, but PayGate’s Pay Protector service catches what we miss.”
This is despite the fact that many of the products on sale at iWarehouse.co.za are high-value portable items and tempting targets for fraudsters. “With GPS systems and iPads about 50% of sales are fraud attempts,” says Guthrie. “But with good systems in place it’s not a problem.”
The only element of the protection system that doesn’t work is the card associations’ 3D Secure, says Guthrie. “Lots of people abandon their transactions when they reach that hurdle – the password systems don’t always work and the banks haven’t done a good job on consumer education, so people are suspicious. Fortunately, we don’t have to rely on it for security.”


text:
The end of 2021 is just around the corner — and what a year it's been. The sneaker industry continues to grow at a terrifying pace, with no end in sight for the hype machine. As we do every quarter, we’ve teamed up exclusively with StockX and collated data from the secondary sneaker market to bring this past quarter’s biggest stories to life.
In Q3 2021, a storyline that we’ve covered in a previous article has stolen the spotlight — specifically on social media. We’re talking about the “Mid Agenda” that several of you believe is being pushed by publications, retailers, and Instagram mood boards. It’s evident that Nike Air Jordan 1 Mids are getting more play than they have in previous years, so this quarter, we dove deep into the data and try to find out why.
The resale platform’s data paints an interesting picture, and the AJ1 Mid’s surging popularity begins to make more sense when you zoom out and take into account other major trends in sneaker culture. For one, the rapid growth of female users on the platform (and in the community) has played a big role in changing the perception of the Nike Air Jordan Mid. The increased diversity among consumers — both at the retail and resale level — means the share of voice has evolved, resulting in different tastes having more of an effect on the performance of specific brands and models on the secondary market.
Another big factor in the Air Jordan 1 Mid’s surprising performance over the last year has been the globalization of the culture. With more people across a wider range of geographic territories gaining access to sneaker drops at all levels, the resale prices of sneakers better reflect global trends and tastes. This, like the growth of the female share of voice, has been covered by Highsnobiety and StockX multiple times in the past.
Below, we let data explain whether there really is a “Mid Agenda,” or if AJ1 Mids are just finally getting the love they’ve deserved all along.
The Female Voice
A big driver in the surge in popularity of the silhouette on StockX has been the increase in female users on the platform. A lot of Air Jordan 1 Mids come in women’s-exclusive colorways and releases, and when the share of female sneakerheads increases, so too will the popularity of models that are popular with that demographic. That’s an incredibly simple way to look at the cause and effect, as the increasing popularity of Mids is a lot more complex than that.
To begin, if the colorways of and stories behind the releases weren’t cool or appealing to the new generation of female sneakerheads, Mids would still be sitting on shelves. Highsnobiety’s own (and one of the foremost voices on the topic of gender equality in our culture) Lucy Thorpe, says: “After years of being overlooked, brands are finally learning to speak to women in more insightful and authentic ways, and cater to them with appropriate product. Classic models, in particular, have been notoriously hard for women to access due to limited size runs, so it’s no surprise that they’re jumping on exclusive colorways that are generally easier to get hold of.”
Over the past few years, Nike has done a good job putting more effort into creating clean colorways for the Air Jordan 1 Mid. In previous years, the model almost seemed like an after-thought, expected to sit on shelves of mass-market retailers, such as Foot Locker, and offer shoppers a budget (in every sense of the word) version of the OG Air Jordan 1 High. Collaborations with Melody Ehsani and Sneakersnstuff, as well as limited releases such as the City pack, have changed the perception of the sneaker — specifically with female shoppers.
“I still don’t believe exclusive colorways are the way forward, particularly for classic models such as the Jordan 1. However, it does enable us to look at women’s demand in isolation, which is clearly only going one way: upwards,” adds Thorpe. “But product sales are only a small part of a greater shift that's happening in the industry. More than ever before, women are collaborating, fronting campaigns, signing sponsorship deals, holding decision-making positions, and bringing a new energy and creative point of view to an industry that was getting pretty tired. You don’t have to look very hard to realise that a lot of the more exciting things happening in the industry are being heralded by women — buying power is just the start.”
StockX data shows that over the past two years, the share of women’s-exclusive colorways in the top 10 best-selling AJ1 Mids has grown significantly. Whereas in Q3 2019 only one pair cracked the top 10, there are now four women’s-exclusive colorways included in the ranking in Q3 2021. “We’ve seen an incredible surge in demand for Jordan 1 Mids over the past two years,” says StockX’s chief economist Jesse Einhorn. “What we’re seeing in the Mid market is consistent with a broader trend across the global sneaker space. As women’s participation in sneaker culture — and recognition thereof — moves closer to its long-overdue parity with men’s, brands are devoting more energy to creating authentic products and, as a result, top styles and trends are being fueled by women’s releases.”
Air Jordan 1 Mids aren’t the only product or category to benefit from the sharp increase in female participation in sneaker culture. Brands such as Reebok and Alexander McQueen have seen humungous growth on StockX over the past year, mainly due to Cardi B’s involvement with the former, and women’s interest in the latter’s chunky take on the Stan Smith. But more mainstream products, such as the Air Jordan 1 Low and the Nike Dunk Low, have also benefited, showing just how influential female sneakerheads have the potential to be.
“The Jordan 1 Low and Nike Dunk Low are two of the fastest-growing silhouettes on StockX, with each seeing triple-digit trade growth between 2020 and 2021. In both cases, women’s releases are fueling the boom,” explains Einhorn. In 2021 so far, women’s sales of the AJ1 Low is growing at 2x the rate of men’s, while the Dunk Low is growing at 5x the men’s rate.
The Air Jordan 1 Mid Goes Global
In addition to the growing female voice on StockX, the platform’s increasingly global reach has had a positive effect on the AJ1 Mid’s popularity. As we’ve noticed in previous iterations of this series, different geographic territories have different tastes and, when they’re given a chance to act on those tastes by buying and selling on StockX, it has an unsurprisingly significant effect on the numbers.
Taking a look at data pertaining to AJ1 Mid trades dating back to 2019, it’s clear that the sneaker’s boom started in Europe. This makes sense because, while there are certainly hardcore Jordan fans in Europe, Europeans don’t generally see the sneaker as the ugly stepbrother to the Highs and Lows. In Europe, Mids are seen as an accessible way to participate in sneaker culture. Due to the height of Mids — and this is personal opinion — they are also a lot easier to wear than Highs. Without the preconceived notions that Mids are somehow less than Highs, it’s not surprising to see the silhouette flourish there first.
According to the StockX data, Mid sales really started blowing up in early 2020. “By June 2020, Jordan 1 Mids accounted for more than half of all Jordan Brand sneaker trades in Italy and the UK, and more than 35 percent of sneaker trades in Germany,” Einhorn shares. “StockX customers in the United States were quick to follow Europe’s lead. Jordan 1 Mid sales, as a share of the overall Jordan market in the US, grew from around 10% in early-2020 to over 20 percent by the end of the year.”
In Q3 2021, Europe is still one of the biggest lovers of the Mid globally, though when comparing trades for the sneaker in the USA across the past two years, they are significantly higher today than in 2020. It’s unlikely that the Mid will ever replace the Low or the High in America, however, it’s established itself as a valid option over the past 24 months — and the US has Europe to thank for that.
“This is an example of a familiar dynamic we see repeated across the StockX marketplace. A silhouette or brand will catch fire in one country or region, and then within a few months, other markets around the world will follow their lead,” explains Einhorn. “Style is contagious, and when you have a global, integrated marketplace and culture, it is only a matter of time before trends migrate across borders.”
Of course, the Mid’s surging popularity would never have happened without a concerted effort by Nike to bring some exclusivity, collaborative power, and subjectively nice colorways to the silhouette. The fact that brands are finally beginning to scratch the surface of how to cater to women and unlock their enormous cultural power, and Europe’s unbiased demand for the silhouette, have both played a role in propelling the Air Jordan 1 Mid out of obscurity and into a new age of popularity.
Q3 2021 Snackables: Most Expensive, Most Popular, and Biggest Price Increases
To stay updated on everything happening in the sneaker world, check out the best sneakers to add to your rotation this week, follow @highsnobietysneakers on Instagram, and sign up to our newsletter for early access to the best drops sent straight to your inbox.


text:
EE Times updates list of emerging startups
February 01, 2008 //
The EE Times 60 Emerging Startups list, first published in April 2004, has been updated to version 7.0 to reflect the latest corporate, commercial, technology and market conditions.
Some companies have dropped off the list otherwise known as the Silicon 60 because they have been acquired; some have moved on to an initial public offering of shares; and others have moved beyond the list with the passage of time. As they have matured other, younger startups have been nominated to be moved off the EE Times radar list and on to the main list. At this iteration 15 companies have been brought on to the list.
The companies in version 7.0 of the EE Times Emerging Startups list have been selected by editors based on a mix of criteria including: technology, intended market, maturity, financial position and management and investment profile.
The startups on the Silicon 60 list are the companies involved in semiconductor chips, memory, MEMS, EDA software, embedded applications, foundry manufacturing, semiconductor production equipment, electronics subsystems, packaging and materials that have made an impression on EE Times editors. They are emerging companies to watch for a wide variety of reasons.
Readers are welcome to nominate their own emerging startups for inclusion in a future iteration of the EE Times 60 Emerging Startups list. Nominations should be supported by a short citation explaining why the company is suitable for inclusion on the list.
Send comments and nominations to Peter Clarke (firstname.lastname@example.org).
EE Times 60 emerging startups list version 7.0
Achronix Semiconductor Corp. (San Jose, Calif.) is a startup company associated with Cornell University from where it has licensed patents. In April 2006 the company announced a prototype field programmable gate array that it said can operate at clock frequencies of 1.93-GHz. www.achronix.comAll news
Cadence breaks into top four in semi IP core ranking
April 23, 2014
Cadence Design Systems Inc. moved into the top four of semiconductor IP core suppliers in 2013 spurred by its renewed IP ...
Get your IT infrastructure assessed for free
Custom processor tool wins $2.8m backing
Mixture of graphene/carbon nanotubes produce low-cost ultracapacitors
OLEDs help NASA focus space biology research
Display Stream Compression standard boosts display interfaces to 8K
April 23, 2014
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), working in liaison with the MIPI Alliance, has unveiled the Display Stream ...
Hard wired floating point changes FPGA
Printoo: printed electronics made Arduino-compatible
Magnetic RAM set for 50% CAGR, says report
- USB 5V 2.5A Output, 42V Input Synchronous Buck with Cable Drop Compensation
- Measurement applications across multiple test platforms
- Supplying DC input power to string inverters
- Supplying DC input power for HEV testing
InterviewHeartbleed challenges the Internet of Thing
The Heartbleed security bug is a key example of the fundamental security challenge for the Internet of Things says Green Hills Software as it launches a new security group.
Filter WizardCheck out the Filter Wizard Series of articles by Filter Guru Kendall Castor-Perry which provide invaluable practical Analog Design guidelines.
Linear video channel
READER OFFERRead more
This month, Arrow Electronics is giving away ten XMC1200 lighting application kits, worth 100 Euros each, for EETimes Europe's readers to win.
Each kit combines Infineon’s brightness and colour control XMC1200 CPU board to drive flicker free LED dimming and colour changing, together with a colour LED card and a white LED card.
December 15, 2011 | Texas instruments | 222901974
Unique Ser/Des technology supports encrypted video and audio content with full duplex bi-directional control channel over a single wire interface.


text:
In this digital age, companies are coming up with new and innovative solutions to longstanding challenges enterprises face.
In my lifetime, I’ve seen us abandon cassette tapes, VHS tapes, floppy disks, dial-up modems, pagers, beepers, dumb phones, MP3 players, CD players, tube TVs, and countless others. Those have all been replaced with more efficient high-tech gadgets, technology and services.
As I came across the story of a company that is threatening the walkie-talkie market, I was sort of amazed that walkie-talkies were still around.
Relay makes a $50 push-to-talk device that was first marketed to families to give children an alternative to a smartphone that would let parents communicate with and track the location of their kids.
The devices uses 4G LTE radios, Wi-Fi, GPS, a Qualcomm chipset, headphone jack and long-lasting battery.
According to Fast Company, the device was meant to provide the connectivity of a smartphone without the addiction of another screen.
However, those same features made it popular with businesses, as the device replaced smartphones with walkie talkie apps that brought the possibility of distractions with social media and other apps.
Fast Company notes that the unpredictability of Wi-Fi and cellular networks can be an issue, but the article didn’t present those issues.
The publication cited Cofounder and CEO Chris Chuang, who said Relay could eventually become something like a workflow automation system for active workers.
“With speech recognition, a concession worker might be able to put requests into a resupply queue, and with automation tools, managers might be able to schedule messages for their staff. Chuang doesn’t like to say it publicly, but internally Relay thinks of itself as a Slack for active workers, the implication being that it’s a platform whose usefulness will extend as more businesses get on board.”
Could this IoT walkie-talkie device finally make the walkie-talkie obsolete? Well, Fast Company says it isn’t slowing down, despite walkie-talkie technology being three quarters of a century old.
It’s widely accepted that 5G and IoT will shape the future of the connected world. If you’ve been looking for a more affordable and current upgrade to how your fleet communicates, consider checking this company out.


text:
Perspective: Did social conservatives get played by the Ulta controversy?
The company’s stock value declined after backlash over videos that celebrate fatness and trans girlhood. But it’s hard to believe Ulta didn’t see this coming
At first glance, the Ulta Beauty controversy seems to be another social-media blunder by a company that doesn’t understand its customers, or the risks of woke activism in the marketplace.
But is it really?
It’s hard to believe that Ulta, one of the leading cosmetics retailers in the U.S., didn’t see this coming. Were social conservatives played in order for the company to get a larger share of the young-adult market?
In a world where companies compete for attention, and where “earned” media coverage is prized, it’s not only worth considering, but likely.
Ulta’s stock value fell this week after widespread backlash to a series of videos called “The Beauty of ….” that features, among other things, a trans influencer talking about girlhood, and a woman who celebrated “the beauty of fatness” by suggesting that society oppresses people with its insistence that we ought to be not just thin, but healthy.
“No one has to be healthy. Right? ... No one owes anybody that,” said Virgie Tovar, the author of “You Have the Right to Remain Fat,” while her interviewer, David Lopez, who identifies as gender fluid, nodded enthusiastically and decried societal “fatphobia.”
The biggest uproar, however, came when Ulta tweeted about the episode on “The Beauty of ... Girlhood,” which featured trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney talking about why beauty is important to her.
Mulvaney was already controversial because she calls herself a girl, not a woman, and has produced videos that equate girlhood with being a “bimbo” obsessed with make-up, high heels and mid-afternoon martinis. But most people were upset that Ulta chose her to represent the topic of girlhood.
Defenders of the company said the outcry reflected bigotry and hate toward transgender people. But commentator Megyn Kelly said on her show, “Ulta Beauty: We can respect these two without making them the focus of a video about girlhood. Thanks, but no thanks.”
Ulta’s stock value seemed to reflect the controversy this week.
But there were also people who applauded Ulta and said they planned to shop there to support the company, which announced earlier this year that it would spend $50 million on “diversity, equity and inclusive initiatives.” The company also said it would donate $2 million to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC nonprofits.
The new Dove?
Eighteen years ago, the skin care company Dove launched an initiative called the “Campaign for Real Beauty.” It was radical at the time. The company said it would no longer use models in its ads but “real women” whose images were not digitally enhanced.
Despite some missteps — including an ad that seemed to show a Black woman morphing into a white one, and a collection of weirdly shaped bottles meant to represent diversity of shapes — the “Campaign for Real Beauty” is widely perceived as a success. Today, Dove’s website is as much about its social mission as its products, promising “We can end appearance hate.”
Is Ulta trying to be the new Dove, at least in terms of social advocacy?
That’s possible, but it’s also likely that the company is shrewdly angling for younger customers.
Younger Americans are more accepting of transgender men and women than their parents. As Pew Research reported earlier this year, “When it comes to issues surrounding gender identity, young adults are at the leading edge of change and acceptance. Half of adults ages 18 to 29 say someone can be a man or a woman even if that differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.”
The problem for Ulta right now is that its customer base skews a little older than its competitor Sephora. “While Ulta is particularly strong among the under-34 set, as is Sephora, Ulta attracts a wider age range of customers. In terms of its online traffic, 32% of Ulta visitors are 45 years and older, as compared with 25% for Sephora,” Forbes reported in 2019.
And Ulta has been favored by older shoppers who are less likely to embrace transgenderism. “Considering age, Ulta has higher favorability ratings than Sephora with the over-30 crowd, especially those 55 and over,” the polling company CivicScience said about its findings.
The biggest problem facing Ulta right now, however, may be what CivicScience polling found about loyalty: “One-half of Sephora fans say they are ‘very loyal’ to their favorite brands, compared to just one-third of Ulta fans.”
In other words, when Ulta customers tweet that they’re done with the company, they may be gone for good.
On Sunday, the company tweeted a statement that sounded a little bit like damage control, saying, “While we recognize some conversations we host will challenge perspectives and opinions, we believe constructive dialogue is one important way to move beauty forward.”
The premise of ‘The Beauty Of…’ is to feature conversations that widen the lens surrounding traditional beauty standards. We believe beauty is for everyone. And while we recognize some conversations we host will challenge perspectives and opinions, we believe constructive (1/2)— Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty) October 16, 2022
But for a brand that has been talking for years about being a “diversity-forward’ company, it’s a safe bet that everything is going according to plan.
Ulta’s ESG report in 2020 talked about wanting employees to be their “true, authentic selves” and also said, “As a leader in the beauty industry, we have a responsibility to shape how the world sees and experiences beauty.”
There is breathtaking hubris in that statement, that a business that sells lipstick and deep-cleaning pore strips believes it should shape how the world — not just its customers —perceives beauty.
But it’s clear that Ulta is doing exactly what it’s been saying it would do for several years. The company is betting that its future lies with young progressives, not social conservatives. It may well be right.
Then again, older conservatives tend to have more money than young progressives, which could cause Ulta some grief in the short term, if not the long.
That’s the beauty of ... the free market.


text:
Town of Pima is now accepting sewer payments for entire year.
In the past, payments would be accepted only in June, but town hall will now allow sewer customers to pay by the year, anytime.
Call town hall at (928) 485-2611 with questions.
© 2022 Town of Pima, AZ
Copyright 2017 Town of Pima


text:
Posted on April 17, 2013 AT 11:25am
Nintendo announced today that Pikmin 3 hit retail shelves and launch on the Nintendo eShop August 4.
Pikmin 3 was originally expected to be a Wii U launch window title, but then slipped into a nebulous “2013″ release timeframe.
Nintendo also revealed a new breed of Pikmin, the flying Winged Pikmin. These pink-colored Pikmin can carry items in the air, and according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, “will be helpful in different ways than the other Pikmin types.”
Today's Top 10 Stories
Top Partner Stories
Website Interface © 2012 EGM Digital Media, LLC.


text:
Feliza and Ken Wilson live and breathe the restaurant life.
The couple have worked at multiple restaurants, diners and coffee shops over the years. Feliza as a server, and Ken as a chef.
The couple also met at a restaurant; Feliza waited tables, and Ken cooked.
After working in various establishments for 13 years, Feliza and Ken decided to open their own place: the DoLittle Cafe.
DoLittle, named after a family member's logging company, is located at 613 Chetco Ave. It is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day except Tuesday. It opened Oct. 24, and is starting to turn a profit.
It's "a cozy little cafe," Feliza said. It's a "place to just sit comfortably, have a cup of coffee and be downtown."
The restaurant may be a cafe, but the Wilsons offer customers a large menu.
"It's not just a coffee house," Wilson said. "People can eat something substantial."
Breakfast is served all day as well.
The Wilsons also strive to offer quality products; they don't use a deep fryer; and they offer spring greens instead of iceberg lettuce and red potatoes rather than frozen French fries.
The couple decided to move to Brookings from Idaho two months ago because they wanted to operate a small restaurant, and because they love the downtown location.
"We wanted to blend in with the block," Feliza said.
The Wilsons also want to be able to sit down and chat with regular customers.
"Get to know people, get to know the locals," Feliza said.
Feliza and Ken have already started to become acquainted with customer Laurie Pedesta-Daniels, who has dined at DoLittle Cafe every day since it opened.
"I think it's great," she said. "I think it's just what this town needed."
Pedesta-Daniels loves the homestyle cooking, and that breakfast is served all day. She also likes that they are open for breakfast on Sundays.
Without pause, she said her favorite item is the eggs Benedict. For lunch items, Pedesta-Daniels recommends the burger, decker sandwich or soup.
An added element is Ken's daughter Sadie, a senior at Brookings-Harbor High School. She helps out in the kitchen after school.
Feliza's goal is to be consistent.
"You can't just go in and open a business and then leave," Feliza said. "You have to be involved."
Feliza said she's tried other jobs, but sitting at a desk is not her cup of tea.
"I've always gone back to the restaurant business," Feliza said.


text:
Aussie gamers are set to get their hands on a slew of new gaming gear from the world of video games as part of the Australian Government’s 2017 gaming strategy.
Key points:The government has set out to boost digital literacy and encourage game players to play more video games in schoolsThe program includes an Australian Gaming Expo on March 18, 2019In a bid to bolster digital literacy, the government is set to roll out a new gaming strategy aimed at boosting digital literacy.
Key Points:The Government is setting out to improve digital literacy across AustraliaThe goal is to encourage more Australians to play video gamesThe Expo will be held on March 12 and 13 in the country’s largest city, Melbourne, with the Government providing free accommodation and food vouchers to attendeesThe Government will be hosting an interactive digital game session in the city on March 17 and 18 and the Australian Games Expo on April 5 and 6.
The Expo, which will be hosted by Australian Games Australia, will be an opportunity for consumers to learn more about the world’s largest video game industry and its latest releases.
“The goal of the Expo is to enable consumers to discover the gaming world and the latest game titles through a digital gaming experience,” said a spokesperson for the Minister for Communications, Media and Sport, Senator Scott Ludlam.
“This Expo will also provide Australians with the opportunity to interact with industry experts and see new games, features and updates.”
It will be the first major Australian event to showcase the Australian industry’s latest releases and products.
“The Government’s gaming strategy will also be aimed at encouraging more Australians who play video gaming to participate in schools.”
Our aim is to create a more engaged community through games, entertainment and community,” said the spokesperson.”
By supporting schools and community organisations, we can create an engaging and engaged digital learning environment.
“At the Australian Expo, we will encourage more young people to be more involved in the digital life of their communities, and we are working with schools to create digital literacy programs that are aligned with their learning needs.”
Participants will have the chance to test out the latest games, and learn more information about them through a live stream on their smart phones.
In addition to the Expo, the Government is also encouraging the public to join a gaming social club in order to find out more about new games they may have missed out on.
“Gaming clubs and events provide a unique opportunity for Australians to meet like-minded gamers in their communities,” the spokesperson said.
“We know there are many people who want to play games and we hope these experiences will help them find new friends and games to play.”
The Expo is set for a three-day event, with all attendees given a free hotel stay.
It will be attended by the Federal Minister for Communication, Media, Sport and Sport Participation, Senator Ludlam, and other government officials.


text:
SAN FRANCISCO — Scooter company Bird, which has enjoyed a stratospheric rise while also causing mayhem in cities such as San Francisco, said on Thursday it raised $300 million as it looks to dominate a burgeoning transportation sector.
The most recent financing values Bird at $2 billion, according to a source close to the matter.
The funding round is Bird's third this year, after making its debut in Southern California last autumn, and puts its total financing at $418 million, a spokeswoman said, an unusually quick accumulation of cash for an early-stage startup.
Santa Monica, California-based Bird is an electric scooter service, providing dockless scooters that users can locate and unlock through a smartphone app.
It has enjoyed fanfare in several cities, but has also in places raised the ire of regulators and residents because the scooters, which can be left anywhere, have littered sidewalks and parks and blocked driveways and doorways. Scooter riders on crowded sidewalks have also caused problems.
San Francisco city officials issued a ban on scooters this month, requiring the companies first obtain permits and mandating a cap on the number of scooters allowed. Other electric scooter providers include Lime and Ofo. Ride-hailing companies Lyft Inc and Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] are also getting into the scooter business.
The $300 million round was led by Sequoia Capital, and joined by investors Accel, B Capital, CRV, Sound Ventures, Greycroft and e.ventures, the company said. Sequoia's investing partner Roelof Botha will join Bird's board of directors.
The company proposes to be a last-mile transportation solution, offering commuters an alternative to cars for travel between a public transit station and the final destination, for instance.
Bird raised $15 million from investors in February and another $100 million round in March.


text:
Samsung quarterly profits slip as competition with Apple intensifies
Samsung has revealed its first drop in quarterly profit in two years, as the brand's smartphone battle with Apple intensifies.
Samsung: 2013 Super Bowl campaign with Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd
The Korean consumer electronics manufacturer revealed that operating profit between October and December 2013 fell 6% year on year to 8.3tr won (£4.65bn), in line with its previous estimate.
This decrease was in part caused by a one-off 800bn won (£445m) employee bonus payment to mark 20 years since chairman Lee Kun-hee announced a management strategy, which is widely credited as having been the catalyst for Samsung’s recent success.
It also claimed a strong domestic currency wiped around 700bn won (£390m) off its profits.
However, the world’s bigger smartphone maker is facing increasing competition from Apple, which launched its 5S and 5C handsets at the end of last year.
In its results presentation, Samsung said it expected price and product competition to "intensify", adding, "it will be challenging for Samsung to improve its earnings in the first quarter as the weak seasonality of the IT industry will put pressure on demand for components and TV products."
Earlier this month, Samsung revealed its new curved TV product at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a botched presentation by Michael Bay, the director of the 'Transformers' action films, who fluffed his lines and walked off stage.
This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Business Development Executive Bullfrog Digital LTD Up to £30k + Commission and benifits, Shoreditch
- Head of Strategy, Insight & External Relations London & Partners COMPETITIVE + PRP + BENEFITS, London Bridge
- Senior Account Manager Hot Cow Between £32,000 - £35,000 with discretionary bonuses., Near Chiswick Business Park, a fun and vibrant location to work with events, a lake and bars.
- Project Manager - Integrated / Digital - Superb London Agency Fill Recruitment Ltd £40k - £50k plus bonus and superb benefits!, Central London
- Senior Category Manager Ball & Hoolahan £55,000 + Car/Car Allowance, Sputh East
- Regional Assistant Brand Manager- Europe Ball & Hoolahan £25,000 per annum, South East


text:
The food and beverage industry including processors, packagers and tableware manufacturers continues to deliver a greater number of sustainable products to meet growing demand from environmentally-conscious consumers and retailers to lower the environmental impact of their packaging.
According to a recent Datamonitor survey, consumers are starting to make their buying decisions based on concerns about excessive packaging.
As one recent example, Bumble Bee Foods LLC introduced its first 100 percent biodegradable packaging for multipacking its 5-oz cans of Prime Fillet Atlantic Salmon, reports Greener Packaging. The four-pack cans are packaged together by shrink-sleeve labeling supplied and printed by Printpack, Inc., which are manufactured from Earthfirst PLA plant-based, biodegradable, compostable film from Plastic Suppliers, according to the article.
In addition, the 5-oz steel cans, from multiple suppliers, are 100 percent recyclable, and the sustainable packaging gives the multipacks an upscale look on the store shelf and provides excellent printability, according to Greener Packaging.
In its efforts to become more environmentally friendly, Sutter Home Winery is now using PET bottles from Ball Corp. for all of its 187-mL wine bottles sold in the U.S., reports Greener Packaging. The bottles feature Plasmax, a transparent, internal silicon oxide (SiOx) barrier-coating technology from KHS Plasmax GmbH that protects the wine inside the bottle, while providing exceptional clarity, according to the news site.
A recycling study conducted according to the European Petcore protocols demonstrated that Plasmax is removable during the recycling process and does not negatively affect any of the test requirements, reports Greener Packaging.
The article also notes that the results were shared with the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), the trade industry representing more than 90 percent of the post-consumer plastic processing capacity in North America, and it raised no objections to the results.
Sutter Home Winery said in the article that the PET bottles generates 60 percent fewer greenhouse gasses than producing the glass bottles and the PET bottles allow the company to use less fuel and gain supply-chain efficiencies because it can get more bottles on a pallet and on a truck.
Be Green Packaging, LLC (Be Green) recently announced that its line of tree-free compostable bulrush food packaging for food and industrial packaging industries has been re-certified “Silver” Cradle to Cradle by environmental consulting firm McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC (MBDC).
The company said the bulrush packaging continues to meet the certification criteria for materials, material reutilization/design for environment, energy, water and social responsibility. To achieve re-certification, Be Green had to develop a strategy to improve its product’s chances of achieving a closed loop life cycle.


text:
New online service to protect people against deception and fraud
- 192.com launches the UK’s first Background Reports on individuals by collating millions of public records.
- Background Reports offer protection from deceitful dates, fake Facebookers, and cowboy traders.
- As fraud hits individuals for £9 billion1, a national survey finds 45% have been victims of a con.
- 192.com has launched the first ever online Background Reports service for UK consumers offering protection from deception and fraud.
Background Reports draw on vast amounts of data to create an in-depth profile of an individual within seconds. The reports detail residential histories and cohabitees, negative financial indicators, property ownership, company director information, and more.
192.com’s reports will enable anyone wishing to build trust in a person to quickly check them out; whether it be babysitters, employees, tradesmen, landlords, lodgers or new partners.
Dominic Blackburn, Head of Product at 192.com said: “Background Reports offer protection from falsehoods and fraud. They will counter the lies told in range of circumstances, from employing a tradesman to work on your home, to renting a room, or going on a date.”
Insolvency records and county court judgments in the Background Reports will reveal unpaid debts, and mortality data will help expose identities stolen from the deceased. Address information will show details of where someone lives, has lived previously, and who with.
The reports will counter the smoke and mirrors of the intertet2. Where online profiles are often fictional, Background Reports will help thwart online dishonesty and fraud, as evidenced by Facebook’s disclosure of up to 83 million faked accounts3 by the sharing of official, public data.
In a nationally representative poll of 2,000, people commissioned by 192.com, the online directory found:
50 per cent of people admitted to disguising an aspect of their personal profile.
45 per cent had been conned when dealing with other people, with 12 per cent being conned by a tradesman.
28 per cent admitted to fabricating details on their online profiles.
One in 10 will be untruthful to make money.
192.com’s Background Reports will also counter romance fraud. According to Action Fraud4, romance fraud grew by 33% in 2012 and a Leicester University study in 2011 found that up to 200,000 people in the UK had been victims of dodgy dates. Among those surveyed by the University, one in 50 knew a victim.5
Dominic Blackburn says: “192.com Background Reports make people think twice before lying about themselves, either in a transactional or personal situation, and encourage a safer online environment. As a company with a history of reuniting people, this new service is about reassuring them.”
192.com Background Reports will be available for purchase through 192.com’s website.
National Fraud Authority’s June 2013 Fraud Indicator Report: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206552/nfa-annual-fraud-indicator-2013.pdf
The survey was conducted by One Poll. The nationally representative sample was of 2000 adults, with responses broken up by age, gender and location. The poll was conducted online on the 19th of April 2013.
Facebook profiles: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/aug/02/facebook-83m-profiles-bogus-fake
Action Fraud stats disclosed to 192.com: There were 987 reported cases of dating or romance fraud in 2012, 248 more than the previous year.
Fraud in 2011 according to the University of Leicester
192.com is the UK's most awarded online directory, helping find people, businesses and places for 11 million users a month. On 192.com, users can search over 700 million records including free directory enquiries, edited electoral roll information, local business listings, interactive mapping, aerial photography and property reports.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Rocket Pop PR, on Friday 19 July, 2013. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
Business & Finance


text:
In recent years we've experienced a retail apocalypse, with major stores closing their doors on multiple locations or all of them for good. While Disney shut down 60 locations in favor of online sales, Fry's Electronics said goodbye to 36 years of business, permanently locking the doors on all locations.
And they're not the only retail giants suffering on-site closures. Take a look because it's closing time for these stores.
Known for its large store and a wide variety of electronic products, Fry's Electronics has been a go-to for many people since its grand opening in 1985. At its peak, Fry's expanded into nine states with 34 stores.
The success came to a halt in 2021 when they permanently shut down all their locations. A statement on the company's website said the closure was due to "changes in the retail industry and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic."
While GameStop operates 4,816 locations worldwide, there has been a noticeable decrease in locations over the past few years. In 2019 there were around 300 stores that shut their doors.
In 2020, another 300 closed with an announcement stating there were plans to close another 400 to 450 stores in 2021, including all Canadian locations.
The department store Sears has been in a steady decline for the past few years. In 2019, 36 stores permanently shut their doors, while the number of closures jumped to a startling 100 in 2020.
When 2021 finally rolled around, Sears continued its closing procedures, only keeping 29 stores open and operational.
In 2020, it was announced that the physical Microsoft Store was going to take a new approach to retail. The first step: closing all of its locations. Today, there are no more Microsoft Store locations to be found.
The company plans to use its "Experience Center locations" to help promote its products.
The year 2021 was the beginning of the end for Disney stores across the United States and Canada. Wanting to focus more on its e-commerce sales, Disney announced that they planned to close at least 155 of its locations, including its European outlets.
As of 2022, only 23 stores remain open and operational in the United States.
Francesca's is a little boutique found in malls across the United States. Unfortunately, between the lack of foot traffic in malls nowadays and the retail apocalypse, the company has seen better days.
After filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Francesca's has made the decision to close 140 of its 700 United States-based stores.
The off-price retail store Tuesday Morning has recently come into some hard times. In 2020, they had to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to keep their head above water while the economy collapsed.
Unfortunately, they never got re-settled. With 687 stores nationwide, Tuesday morning plans on going through the process of closing up to 230 stores.
The lingerie, clothing, and beauty retail giant Victoria's Secret has had a steady decline in sales. Between their branding and then the crash of 2020, people are looking elsewhere for their undergarments.
Because of this, Victoria's Secret's foot traffic has been rapidly dropping, resulting in the closure of 250 stores in the United States and Canada in 2020 and 30-50 more locations in 2021.
The shoe retail store DSW has a long-term closing plan. After filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 2020, DSW's parent company, Designer Brands, announced its plan to close 65 of its stores within the next four years.
Well, those next four years began in 2021 with the permanent closure of 24 United States-based locations.
The vitamin and dietary supplement company GNC has been slowly closing its stores in the past few years. In 2019 alone, the company closed the doors on 1,400 locations, mostly located within shopping malls.
Fast forward to 2020, and GNC filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and announced the closure of 800 - 1,200 by the end of 2021. Today there are few remaining locations!
Abercrombie & Fitch
Once very popular in the early 2000s, Abercrombie & Fitch clothing has since dropped off the radar of many people. And the retail stores have definitely noticed. In 2020, the company closed seven of its flagship stores and 129 other locations.
That's on top of the 450 locations Abercrombie closed between 2010 and 2018.
H&M is a fashion retail chain that operates worldwide. With the retail collapse of 2020, though, the clothing company had to reconfigure some of its business plans, starting with the permanent closing of some of its locations.
In 2021, H&M announced plans to close 5% of its 5,076 stores across the globe.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Movie theaters were hit hard in 2020, and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is no exception. In 2021, they finally had to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, shutting down multiple expansion projects, including opening the Orlando, Florida, location.
The company also permanently shut down two of its Texas location, including downtown Austin and one in Missouri.
Even though Best Buy is one of the more popular electronics stores, it didn't save the company from the retail apocalypse of 2020. Starting off that year with around 977 stores across the United States, Best Buy began silently closing more locations throughout 2021.
In 2021, Best Buy permanently closed their Carbondale, Illinois, Syracuse, New York, Brockton, Massachusetts locations and two in Richmond, Virginia. Now, 956 locations are standing.
Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works has been going strong since 1990, becoming the largest soap store chain in the United States seven years later. Their luck has come to an end in recent years, though, with the once-popular retail store closing up shops.
According to L Brands, Bath & Body Works closes more than 50 of its in-mall locations across the United States in 2021.
The year 2020 was hard for the greeting card and stationery store Paper Source. They hardly kept their head above water and, eventually, when 2021 came around, had to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
According to USA Today, Chicago alone plans to close 11 of its 158 stores "while attempting to secure rent concessions and evaluating other locations."
The clothing and accessories retailer Chico's was founded back in 1983 and catered to more formal wear. With many people working from home, the retail company has had to make some adjustments.
Not only are they restyling their catalog with more casual wear, but they're also closing around 100 locations throughout the United States.
After decreased sales due to the retail blunder of 2020, the clothing chain Fossil has had to make some adjustments. In 2021, not only did the fashion chain have to cut their employee numbers down substantially, going from 10,200 to 7,500, but they decided to close locations.
In 2021, Fossil permanently shut the doors on 65 of their United States-based locations.
The Children's Place
The Children's Place specializes in children's clothing and has been a popular store for back-to-school shopping. Unfortunately, the lack of foot traffic and retail collapse has resulted in the company shutting down locations throughout 2020 and 2021.
The company permanently shut down 200 stores in 2020 and closed the doors on another 300 United States, Canadian, and Puerto Rican-based stores in 2021.
Founded in 1926, Godiva Chocolatier has expanded to over 600 locations worldwide, including stores in the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe. Unfortunately for this chocolate manufacturer, their stores are located somewhere that has lost a lot of traffic in recent years -- malls.
Due to low foot traffic, Godiva Chocolatier decided to close all 128 of its brick-and-mortar locations throughout the United States in 2021.


text: Ten years ago, Amazon sued Barnes & Noble for allegedly infringing the now-infamous “1-click” patent. This suit created a frenzy among techno-geeks who vomited up a mountain of prior art and vituperative rant in an unsuccessful attempt to invalidate the Amazon patent. Now, Amazon is being sued by Cordance Corp. which has a patent on – you guessed it – a “1-click” ordering system. Cordance claims that its patent predates the Amazon patent. Amazon maintains that the Cordance patent is invalid and is relying on – you guessed it – the very prior art previously asserted against the Amazon patent. We can’t wait to see how this turns out.


text:
A startup called Paglo has launched the public test of a different kind of search service, one that helps an IT team see the hardware and software that’s connected to a company’s network.
The Palo Alto, Calif. company first released its search tool, which is available as a free online service, in private testing mode last November. Paglo tells CNET that it has already been used by 800 companies, and targets customers with between 50 and 1,000 employees. Paglo’s search can be used, for example, to learn how many computers have Microsoft Office installed (to make sure the company isn’t violating the licensing agreement), to see which users have what administrative privileges or to just get a list of all devices connected to the network.
VCs are pouring real money into this market — Splunk, another IT search engine, has raised a total of $40 million in three rounds. Splunk is already available in both free and pay versions, which sounds like the business model that Paglo describes to CNET.
But Splunk seems more focused on logs, messages and other data, while Paglo says its crawler offers “universal search.” Also cool are Paglo’s “share-its,” which allow users to share searches, alerts and dashboards, which creates the opportunity for more IT collaboration.
Paglo was founded by Brian de Haaff and Chris Waters of Network Chemistry, who sold Network Chemistry’s wireless security business to Aruba Networks last July and used the funds to refocus on IT search.
Update: De Haaff tells me Paglo has been seed funded by a few angel investors and venture firms, including Innovacom, the venture arm of France Telecom.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


text:
This week in the stock market has been one of the most difficult in years. We experienced pull-backs in 2011 when Europe sunk back into recession, in 2015 when Brexit first became a possible reality, and in 2018 under the weight of trade tariffs. And yet despite those challenges, solid U.S. companies continued to grow their revenues, propelling the stock market to higher levels. It is important to keep a cool head, but within the barrage of a hyped-up 24×7 news cycle it can be extremely challenging. At this point, economists and analysts are projecting that there will be a very modest drop in corporate earnings as a result of sales and supply chain disruptions caused by quarantines and shutdowns. In the meantime, there are a few recent developments that the press didn’t put in the headlines:
1. Starbucks and Marriott have reopened most locations in China.
2. Airbus, GM, and Toyota started re-opening factories in China last week, and today Apple announced factories are going back into production.
3. The U.S. Leading Economic Indicators for January were released at +0.8%.
4. Today The Atlanta Fed adjusted Q1 2020 GDP projections up to 2.7% from 2.6%, driven largely by a solid housing market.
A few days ago, the World Health Organization referred to the virus as an “infodemic,” with false information being proliferated by social media and the non-stop news cycle, and recommended a “vaccine” against misinformation. As for the markets, since February 12th, the Dow has fallen -12.8%. More importantly the VIX, which is a measure of volatility, has spiked a dizzying +175% within the same time period. That combination is indicative of a very short-term, unsustainable sell-off. We will continue to monitor the markets and economy, and also keep a close eye on the potential impact of the Coronavirus. Please keep your questions and concerns coming by e-mail or phone. It is so important to us that we do everything possible to make times such as these easier for everyone, and ensure that we stay on track to meet your financial goals.
Thank you very much!


text:
In a scheduled Xbox presentation, Microsoft revealed its plans for the next console generation with its new console, named Xbox One. The new console is being branded as an ‘All-in-one’ entertainment box that will allow perfect integration of TV, web browsing, social connectivity and, of course, gaming. The Xbox One will feature a newly designed controller and Kinect 2.0 device which can be seen below.
The console will feature a custom built CPU designed by AMD, an eight-core x86 processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, 500GB of Hard Drive space, USB 3.0 and a Blu-ray drive.
There are still some foggy details surrounding the new console, such as its apparent need to connect to the internet at regular intervals and the need to pay a fee for used games. Also, no price was given, which is not surprising at this stage, and the release date is currently set as holiday 2013.
During a recent Nintendo Direct broadcast, Satoru Iwata revealed that Nintendo has entered into a partnership with SEGA and they will release the next main Sonic The Hedgehog title exclusively on Nintendo hardware. Sonic: Lost World will release for both Wii U and 3DS sometime in the future. Apart from a single screenshot, no other information was revealed. Expect to hear more during E3 time in the next few weeks.
Also, Nintendo announced another Mario and Sonic team up game with the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games. The title, currently named Mario & Sonic at the Sochi Winter Games, will allow for use with various Wii U controllers, including the GamePad and Wii Motion Plus. Release information was not given, and just as Sonic: Lost World, expect more information very soon.
Source: Nintendo Direct
The Wonderful 101, a Wii U exclusive title that looks to feature a hefty dose of action and Pikmin-esque style gameplay has finally been given an official Australian release date. The Platinum Studios title was first revealed at E3 last year and has now been given a firm release date of August 24 for Australia, as well as a shiny, new logo.
Source: Nintendo Direct
It has been revealed that the next Gran Turismo game is indeed in development for a PlayStation 3 release this holiday season. The game engine will be re-worked and re-tweeked to ensure smoother games in the future. Gran Turismo 6 will feature roughly 1200 cars, 200 more than Gran Turismo 5. A demo will be available in July and more information will be revealed about the game at E3 and Gamescom this year.
A new trailer has been released for Pokémon X Version and Pokémon Y Version. The new trailer shows that the game will feature mountable Pokémon, the ability to walk in any direction and also shows the four recently revealed Pokémon in action. Pokémon X Version and Pokémon Y Version releases worldwide this October.
In the latest issue of Japanese magazine CoroCoro, four new Pokémon were revealed. In the image above, the panda-like creature is a Fighting-type Pokémon and has the Japanese name of Yancham. The bird Pokémon on the left is a Normal/Flying-type named Yayakoma. The animal Pokémon on the right is called Gogoat and is a Grass-Type Pokémon and the Pokémon on the bottom is an Electric/Normal-type Pokémon named Elikiteru. The new Pokémon will appear this October on the first ever 3DS Pokémon games, Pokémon X Version and Pokémon Y Version.
Source: Nintendo Life
The upcoming HD re-release of Kingdom Hearts, which includes the never before released in Australia Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, will be released in Australia on September 12. A limited edition version has also been announced which will include an art book alongside the game.
Nintendo have officially confirmed that they will be present at the first ever Penny Arcade Expo in Australia this July. Nintendo is currently one of the only game publishers so far to announce their presence at the expo. Seeing as PAX Australia will be held a month after this years E3 Expo, we may be one of the first countries to experience currently unannounced future Nintendo titles. Stay tuned for more PAX related news.
Nintendo recently announced the next entry in The Legend of Zelda series, revealing that the game will be set in the same world as The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past and take place after the events in said game. The original featured a mechanic in which players would travel to an alternate version of the games world, known as the Dark World. Eiji Aonuma has confirmed that this parallel world will be featured in the follow-up to the Super Nintendo title. The currently unnamed Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past sequel will release before the year is out.


text:
Mel Styles on Monday announced the grand opening of its first physical studio this weekend.
Owner and founder Archie Sudue on Saturday is opening the first Black-owned men’s fashion store in downtown Grand Rapids, at 315 S. Division Ave.
“My goal is to bring elegance and affordable suits to downtown Grand Rapids,” Sudue said. “One of the biggest things is to be able to have a diverse environment where everybody feels free to shop. Instead of renting a suit, here you can own a suit for a similar price.”
Mel Styles originally was slated to open in July, but the COVID-19 crisis forced Sudue to go into “survival mode” after his usually reliable customer base was lost with continuous prom and wedding cancellations.
Sudue said he quickly pivoted to making and selling face masks and selling them out in bundles to the local NAACP and other organizations in Grand Rapids.
The public open house for Mel Styles runs from 3-7 p.m. Saturday. Regular business hours will be 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sundays by appointment only.
Sudue is a graduate of SpringGR’s fall 2017 class, where he was among the three pitch night winners. He also was a winner at a Start Garden pitch night. Initially an engineering student, he chose to pursue his passion for fashion. This took him to managing the men’s clothing department at Macys and Men’s Warehouse.
“With Archie, he’s extremely skilled,” said Attah Obande, director of dream fulfillment at SpringGR. “He’s obviously got eyes for fashion and is a skilled tailor, but turning those skills into a business is what I believe we helped him with.”
SpringGR is a nonprofit organization helping aspiring entrepreneurs and startups succeed in the business world through a 12-week foundational training program.
“I think the most notable thing to me is having a Black-owned suit store in downtown Grand Rapids,” Obande said. “He’s the only one, and one of the things I think he’s been able to do well — which is part of his success coming out of SpringGR — is he’s really connected with the business ecosystem at large … because of that, I think he’s built some really strong support in opening his store.”
Following his graduation from SpringGR, Sudue has been part of fashion shows all over the country, including in Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago and New York.


text:
YouTube has made a big difference in the music charting system after discovering that artists and labels use a growing nucleus to increase the number of people watching videos.
When the company calculates the music chart, YouTube no longer counts “ad views.” According to a new blog post, the placement of popular music videos is based on organic play.
Running a music video as an ad in front of other YouTube videos has become a common practice as it can be counted as a view count for a long time in the music industry.
This will allow you to work out a calculated advertising campaign specifically launched to post music videos on YouTube charts during the first 24 hours of publishing.
YouTube’s blog post is using this statistic (often displaying many record 24-hour views) as a “clear representation of direct cultural influences” and we want to make sure these figures are accurate.
The blog post says, “I’m really honored and taken it seriously.” “We made some modifications to our methodology to report 24-hour record debuts to maintain consistency and reliability across the platform.”
“It’s an honor and we take it very seriously.”
Due to the new changes, videos that can be debuted must be taken from organic sources such as ‘links directly to the video, search results, YouTube features such as external sites and homepages incorporating the video, next and trend views’ and more. According to the blog post.
The YouTube music card system has had some controversy over the last few months. In July, Indian rapper Badshah had the most records in 24 hours, with BTS reaching 7.46 million in seven months, with BTS surpassing 75 million.
However, people suspected that the sum of the rappers expanded with artificial views. Bloomberg later reported that Badshah and his team bought an ad to integrate or promote the video. This drastically increased the number of counts. YouTube has decided not to recognize the number of records.
The blog post reads, “Video ads are an effective way to reach a specific audience through song debuts, but YouTube paid advertising views will no longer be considered when viewing 24-hour history.”
Similar tactics are often used to fight record numbers in film studios and television networks, but they are not affected.
A YouTube spokesman told The Verge that this change “focuses on how YouTube music charts and records are aligned to industry standards and reported to Nielsen and other third-party charter companies.” The company does not change the entire platform.
You might like:
The Indonesian superhero film Gundala is out to launch a vast cinematic universe
Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame are almost better performed by high school dancers
Adobe Premiere Pro will use AI to reframe videos for all of your social apps
Free stock trading could come to Square’s Cash app
Music publishers say: Peloton stole even more music, ask for $300 million


text:
Japan has always been a difficult market for Microsoft since they entered the console business. They were non existent in japan for the fist X-Box and try as the may, they could not gain market share over Sony or Nintendo in the land of the rising sun with the X-Box 360. So much so that some games that were released on both PS3 and X-Box 360, the X-Box version never made it to Japan. One such game was Final Fantasy 13. Now Konami has announced that the 360 version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is cancelled for Japan.
They released statement that assures that the western release of the game will not be affected. It reads, “Metal Gear Rising Revengeance for Xbox 360 and PS3 will be released in the West as planned in February 2013.” They have not given a definitive reason as to why the Japanese version was cancelled but one can easily guess the answer to that riddle.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance will be released on February 19 in America and February 21 in Europe on PS3 and Xbox 360.Cool Posts Around The Web:


text:
Goodbye Machinery Directive
Say hello to Machinery Product Regulation
Driven by the digital era of smartphones new requirements are coming up, with the Machinery Product Regulation. The need of digital safety regulations covering AI, safety connected to AI, new High Risk machinery and some more new requirements are about to evolve.
It’s been more than 15 years since the last (3rd) edition of the Machinery Directive was published. The latest and current edition brought increased safety requirements especially in the area of control system and instructions of use. Now driven by the digitalization there are new requirements coming with the Machinery Product Regulation (MPR). We’re talking about AI, safety connected to AI, new High Risk machinery and some more new requirements. AFRY follow the development closely as a part of the important task of making sure all our offerings, services and solutions are in compliance with the latest techniques and regulations.
So what’s next step?
During the first quartal of 2022 there is going to be a vote within the IMCO (Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection) if the existing draft should be sent to the European Commission for voting.
If the draft is passed in IMCO and European Commission we can expect to have a new regulation this year. After that there is a 30-48 months transition period for the industry to adapt to the new rules.
Considering that the new regulations covers the machinery/manufacturing industry in EU worth roughly 650 billion Euro consisting of more than 80,000 manufacturers the impact of the MPR will be significant.
It's going to be interesting to see what the outcome of the IMCO vote will bring.


text:
Polish pay TV operator Cyfrowy Polsat is adding its Polsat Sport HD and Polsat Futbol channels to its Family and Family HD packages for a promotional period.
Until September 30, Family and Family HD package customers will be able to watch both channels for no additional fee, giving them the chance to watch live matches from the Ekstraklasę domestic football league.
DTVE: the week in view – Amazon’s understated video dominance should not go unnoticed digitaltveurope.com/comment/amazon… https://t.co/UYOKHenOZ8
18 April 2021 @ 19:00:01 UTC
Join us next week for "Outsource, automate, optimise: how to meet the video delivery challenge in a hyper-competiti… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
18 April 2021 @ 14:00:00 UTC
Into the Cloud: Migration Strategies, Challenges and Opportunities for Media Companies digitaltveurope.com/intelligence/w…
17 April 2021 @ 15:00:01 UTC


text:
Happy Weekend! IoT Weekender is a collection of our favorite mobile news of the week, delivered Saturday mornings exclusively to BI Intelligence members.
BLUETOOTH GETS INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
Thetrade association has updated the specifications for its proprietary Bluetooth connectivity. The new specification give some Bluetooth-compatible devices direct internet connectivity, meaning that the Bluetooth devices no longer rely on other connected devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) to communicate with the cloud.
In total, the new Bluetooth version 4.2 has three important updates. Devices can now perform large data transfers as much as 2.5 times faster when connected to the internet.
Additionally, better security has been added. For instance, consumers must give express permissions in order to be tracked by outside Bluetooth-enabled programs attempting to make contact with their devices.
And perhaps most importantly, devices no longer rely on a secondary device, like a smartphone or tablet, to be connected to the internet. The Bluetooth devices will be assigned their own IP addresses under the Internet Protocol IPv6. In essence, Bluetooth Smart devices can bypass remotes and access internet hubs directly.
Though a small technical update, this could have big IoT ramifications down the line. Up until now, BI Intelligence has not included Bluetooth connected devices under the Internet of Things umbrella. Now some objects, connected via Bluetooth Smart, will be added to the mix. This makes it possible for Bluetooth devices to interact with other Bluetooth devices without needing a remote like a smartphone.
The connectivity is a new “optional implementation feature,” Errett Kroeter, Bluetooth SIG’s director of global industry and brand marketing told BI Intelligence. This means that device makers will now have to opt-in their Bluetooth devices to the new protocol for internet connectivity.
He described the new option as an “enabling technology… particularly for those that are in remote locations and run on tiny batteries.” That is, connected sensors often connect with each other using Wifi, which can be a battery drain.
Conversely, Bluetooth connection requires little energy. Said Kroeter, “It gets you that distance that is often difficult to bridge.”
THERE WILL BE 150M CONNECTED CARS IN 2020
Connected car adoption is about to explode. In fact, more than 150 million vehicles will be considered “connected” by 2020, according to a new Gartner report. Of those 150 million, as many as 75% will be able to share and generate its own web content.
We reported last month that the FTC filed comments on new proposed rules from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for Vehicles-to-Vehicle communication. If these rules get approved, passenger cars and light truck vehicles will be required to have V2V capabilities by 2019.
At the heart of the connected car’s future is whether car manufacturers or wireless platforms will spur adoption. Insiders familiar with the M2M market have informed us that numerous car makers are already working with M2M component manufacturers to have connectivity preinstalled in vehicles.
All the same, many believe true mainstream adoption is dependent on mobile providers creating new wireless plans. “Automotive organizations need to partner with existing ecosystems like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay,” said Gartner’s Thilo Koslowski in the report.
Gartner says that 58% of US car owners would prefer players like Android and Apple to lead the way.
FDA LOOKING TO REGULATE MED-TECH DEVICES
The FDA is making sure med-tech devices are properly secured. Bakul Patel, a senior policy adviser at the FDA, was quoted as saying that his administration is working to create guidelines for connected health technology security.
“It’s a work in progress,” he admitted. The proposed guidelines try to ensure that security precautions are an integral part of the early development process of all new medical technology devices.
Additionally, Patel and the FDA have announced that they are working with groups around the globe to draft a set of common med-tech software guidelines. He and his colleagues have been making the rounds at events, trying to instill FDA cooperation with health-tech entrepreneurs.
Samsung Open Innovation Center principal Andrew Atwell told an audience during a recent keynote speech, "don't be afraid of the FDA."
THE FRIGHTENING FUTURE OF UNSECURED IoT
As more and more once-inert objects get connectivity, the possibility for a potential security attack becomes more real, causing incredible destruction, including murder, according to Jeff Williams, CTO of Contrast Security to Computer World.
Many of the IoT programs being installed contain “very sloppy engineering from a security perspective,” said Williams.
The Contrast executive pointed out that a connected furnace could have a severe vulnerability, enabling a hacker to turn up the temperature so high that a fire occurs.
This is all speculation from Williams but the reality of IoT security remains palpable. Said Williams: “the Internet of Things will kill someone.”
FARM IoT PLATFORM GETS EPA APPROVAL FOR PHEROMONE PRODUCT
Semios, a networking platform for farmers that monitors pests and plant growth, has received EPA approval for a series of pheromone products that control fruit moth mating.
The pheromone products are monitored using Semios sensors, which also take into account variables like wind and temperature.
This, according to the company, helps “optimize pheromone deployment.” Semios’s suite of products are meant to reduce labor costs for farmers, as well as track crop progress.
With this EPA approval, the company is able to meld its connected technology with more analog methods of pest management.
UN ORGANIZATION SEES SENSOR USE GROW AS IoT BECOMES MORE WIDESPREAD
The UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has released its annual “Measure the Information Society” report, exhibiting more widespread global internet use. Overall, the two take-aways were that by 2020 55% of households will have access to the internet, and 60% of individuals will be using the internet.
In terms of IoT, global sensor use is skyrocketing. The report says that Big Data is one of the biggest issues it keeps track of, and the sources generating big data continue to grow.
The organization believes that these data collection methods will become more commonly used for "prediction and planning", as opposed to “measurement and real-time feedback.”
For large-scale IoT programs to happen, the ITU believes scalability and ease of use will be the biggest impediment to overcome.
“Future efforts will have to overcome a number of barriers to scale, including the development of models which protect user privacy while still allowing for the extraction of insights that can service development purposes,” the ITU concludes.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!


text:
OMAHA, NE — With the pandemic keeping people at home, a lot of people are not taking vacation time from work. A new travel book may help encourage people to get out and go exploring.
Lisa and Tim Trudell have written about sites and attractions in Omaha as well as the best places to eat here, and now they have expanded their travel writing to the entire state of Nebraska.
Their new book, 100 Things To Do in Nebraska Before You Die, still includes the Omaha area, but also looks at a lot of fun things to do across the state.
“We really feel like there are a lot of unique attractions across the state and gems that people don’t really realize,” said Lisa Trudell.
The book came out at an unusual time, when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Despite that, the Trudells say there are lots of things in the book that are safe ways to get out of the house and stay inside Nebraska.
“There are things in the book and there are things around the state and places to visit safely," said Tim Trudell. "For instance, a lot of the state parks you can fish, you can hike, you can do a lot of activities where you aren’t necessarily around a lot of people.”
The Trudells say they hope the book will get people in eastern Nebraska to head west, and vice versa.
One of the fun things about the book are the off beat and the off the beaten trail attractions.
“One that pops into my head is the Museum of Shadows," said Tim Trudell. "It’s been named one of the best museums of the occult and the spiritual world in the world.”
From standard bearers like Chimney Rock and the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge to haunted hotels and incredible restaurants outside the metro area, the Trudells are hoping that their book expands everyone's curiosity to get to know the entire state.
If you would like to get the book, click here to visit the Trudells' website.


text:
Michael Young, a designer out of Hong King, has brought his interpretation of the Moke to life. The Moke International By Michael Young ($TBA) comes more than 60 years after it was originally introduced. Michael was approached by Moke after he completed a rebuild of the storied truck and the rest is history. The Moke has been modernized while keeping its visual appeal intact. About 1000 will be produced each year and they’ll be available in a left or right-hand drive.
Toyota is bringing back the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 ($35,000) for one year only. That’s not the worst of it. It will only be sold in Japan. Toyota is doing this to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic Land Cruiser. In addition to the traditionally closed cab, they will also be offering a double-cab […]


text:
Greece’s Agricultural Development and Food Ministry released a set of guidelines for the cultivation of cannabis for industrial and medical use.
The framework emerged after consultation with the Justice Ministry and includes stricter penalties for improper documentation and production.
According to the Ministry statement, the framework allows:
– The import of cannabis seeds and the cultivation of cannabis varieties not listed in EU specimen catalogues, only for approved producers, not for the marketing of seeds.
– The growing of cannabis plants in pots or in hydroponic systems inside greenhouses.
– The pre-germination of seeds for the purpose of transplanting seedlings and separating male-female plants before planting in the field.
– The notification of the sowing or planting date must be given three days after the fact, instead of prior notice.
– The licensing of cannabis varieties outside of EU lists list will be available throughout the year.
It becomes compulsory for producers to keep all sales notes of raw cannabis for three years after sales, or three years after harvesting if processed by the same producer.
The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food is also expected to immediately demarcate areas with an average annual rainfall, where the water supply licensing obligation does not apply for licenced crops.
Finally, it was also announced that the Ministry will also enable the production of industrial cannabis clones and determine soon the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limits in edible products containing cannabis.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Vassilis Kokkalis said the guidelines are expected to help Greece “become attractive to serious foreign investments.” [amna]


text:
Pips squeak in war of cold-press juicers
A wi-fi enabled juicer that has become a symbol of Silicon Valley excess has been called a “$400 paperweight” in the latest round of an increasingly bitter and entertaining legal battle.
Juicero invited ridicule last year when its cold-press juicer — which squeezes pouches rather than fruit and vegetables — went on sale for $700 (£540). The price dropped to $400 in January.
The company, started by Doug Evans, a vegan former paratrooper, had raised an astonishing $120m from blue-chip backers such as venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers and Google Ventures to create a subscription-based juice business. Its sleek machine only works with special bags of fruit bought from Juicero.
In April, it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against a Chinese rival with


text:
UTA’s finest glass art was on display and up for sale Saturday at the 17th annual Glass Art Show and Sale in the Studio Arts Center.
Residents from around the Metroplex filled the studio and examined pieces of glass art that ranged from trinkets to Christmas ornaments, plates and vases.
“We wanted to showcase the best of UTA glass work,” said Neal Paustian, adjunct glass art professor. “We chose the best 12 of the 2,200 pieces submitted and we put them up for auction.”
All 12 of the items, including a $2,200 piece made by Jason Christian, a visiting artist from Seattle, were sold at the auction.
Paustian said half of the proceeds from the show will go to the artists while the other half is allocated to the glass art program at UTA.
The Glass Art Show and Sale began in the mid 1990s, but today’s sale marked the first time it was held on a Saturday.
News outlets such as CBS, UTA News and arlingtontx.gov advertised the sale, which also included pieces not up for auction, but available to buy separately.
By around 3:30 p.m., Paustian said about 1,500 pieces had been sold.
“I like glass,” Dallas resident Sharon Steele said. “I’ve always loved glass. It’s so pretty, so unique, so different.”
Steele said she saw the sale on TV this morning and had never heard of a glass art sale at UTA before.
Irving resident Laura Smith also saw coverage of the sale on TV and stopped by to check out the art.
“I thought I’d swing by,” Smith said. “I like art and different art pieces.”