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In order to obtain this amazing power increase, the tuner has added Switzer-specific high-flow filters, Switzer’s own high-performance ECU software, and the free-flowing SS90 exhaust that not only helps increase power, but also improves the 3.8L twin-turbo V6 engine’s sound. This allows the P600 GTR to get from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds (one second faster than the standard model) and make it from 60-130 mph 2.5 seconds quicker than the stock car.
Switzer’s main focus was the power increase, so no major aesthetic changes were made to the vehicle. The only change they made was the addition of a new set of new Switzer Signature series lightweight forged aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Supersports tires.
The absence of exterior and interior modifications doesn’t affect the price, however. The P600 PKG by Switzer will set Nissan GTR owners back $12,990.
About two weeks ago, rumors arose that Nissan would be offering just one generation for the GT-R, with no plans for a new model. However, today, the company has revealed a video that proves the contrary.
When talking about the race version of the GT-R, Chief GT-R engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno stated: "After the debut in 2007, this vehicle has been evolving year after year. By changing it to a racing specification to be implemented in the future, no matter what kind of super high performance feature or a new version is developed in the next five years, the durability and reliability in varying conditions can be verified in this race. I would like to make a promise that all this will be reflected in future GT-R."
That just proves that the newest rumors about the Nissan GTR aren’t something to toss out like yesterday’s garbage. Check out the video to see for yourself. Of course, in the process, you will also get a ton of information surrounding history of the GTR since its launch in 2007.
Months have come and gone since we first heard about Nissan’s Project 370Z. If you recall, the Project 370Z was born after Nissan decided to reach out to its Facebook fans and ask them how they would like to bring some more spice to the already sizzling sports coupe.
At that time, Nissan VP of marketing in North America, Jon Brancheau was even quoted saying: "Together we’ll create a vehicle that expands on the already outstanding performance and style of the Nissan 370Z with a balance of street and track ready modification".
After all the suggestions were read, the Japanese automaker decided to build the car themselves, and so ensued three months of waiting for this day to come.
Finally, the Nissan Project 370Z has arrived.
As expected, the sports coupe doesn’t lack in new digs. We already caught wind of the performance enhancements given to its 3.7-liter VQ37VHR engine as part of the Stage 1 build - a Greddy Twin Turbo kit, a Greddy Ti-C catback exhaust, KW Variant 3 coil-over suspension and StopTech Big Brake kit - and we were extremely impressed to find out that Nissan managed to improve the output from the standard 332 horsepower all the way up to 500 horsepower.
With the engine mods already done, Nissan then went about giving the sports coupe a number of aesthetic tweaks as part of its Stage2 build. These include dressing up the sports car’s body in a matte gunmetal gray - "metalloid", as they’re calling it - vinyl wrap while also adding in a new set of lightweight Volk TE37SL wheels, and an interior dress-up that comprises Recaro seats and plenty of suede.
About the only downside to this whole project is that the car isn’t expected to go on sale. Nissan hasn’t mentioned where it’ll end up, but it looks like dealerships are out of the question.
UPDATE 08/08/12: Nissan has decided to update us with new information of the completed Project 370Z, including a new video showing the car taking on the The Tail of the Dragon during the 2012 ZDaZ festival last May. Check out the video by clicking on the photo above!
The Nissan Pathfinder is turning 27 years old in the 2013 model year, which is about 50 years old in car years, as it is starting to get a little long in the tooth. Fortunately, Nissan has continuously made changes to this once-compact SUV throughout the years to keep it up with the times. The 2013 model year is going to be a drastic redo for the Pathfinder, as just like Nissan did in 1996, when it changed from a compact SUV to a mid-size one, this popular SUV will be moving classes again.
In this latest generational change, the Pathfinder is moving away from the shrinking mid-size SUV world and sliding right into the mid-size crossover realm, much like the Explorer recently did. This is mostly due to the fact that sitting on a smaller frame and having a more car-like ride has become more desirable than the truck-like ride given by body-on-frame SUVs. This also makes the Pathfinder a more nimble vehicle.
Though the specifications are still a little bit scarce, we do have a pretty firm grasp of what Nissan is planning with this all-new Pathfinder crossover and we are going to let you in on what we know.
UPDATE 10/10/2012: Nissan has announced pricing for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder SUV, which goes on sale in U.S. Nissan dealers nationwide in late October 2012. Prices will range from $28,270 for the base Pathfinder S 2WD and will go up to $40,770 for the Pathfinder Platinum 4WD. Check out full pricing for packages and accessories after the jump!
Click past the jump to read more on the Nissan Pathfinder.
Since its release in 2009, the R35 Nissan GT-R has been a relative success, given its niche and $90,000 price tag, as it has sold a total of 5,914 models in the U.S. For a while, it seemed as if the R36 GT-R, the replacement for the R35, was a near certainty to be produced. Well, we are getting mighty close to the fourth production year for the R35 and the fifth year is the typical redesign year for any model and according to reports, the R36 GT-R has yet to receive the green light.
Nissan has been pretty preoccupied lately with its development of electric and hybrid models, so we are not too surprised to see the R36 take a back seat. Add in the fact that sales have fallen to just 583 units, as of late July, and we are living with the possibility of Nissan axing the U.S. model altogether. At its current pace, the GT-R is only going to sell just over 1,100 GT-Rs this year, which is its lowest total since 2010 and over 600 units fewer than its debut year.
Nissan may also be worried about the CAFE changes in upcoming years and might be looking for a way to get a few more mpg from its sole sports car. A big possibility is the use of a hybrid drivetrain mated with a 4-cylinder engine to keep its horsepower near the 550 mark, but increase its overall mpg. With the near-$100K price point of the 2013 GT-R, it shouldn’t be too hard to fit a hybrid system somewhere near that price. This could explain the lack of approval, as Nissan would need a little extra time to develop a drivetrain suitable to replace the current twin-boosted 6-pot.
We’ll keep you updated on how things are progressing with the potential R36 GT-R just as soon as there is some information released.
Nissan unveiled the 370Z Coupe in 2009 as a replacement for the 350Z, and the roadster version followed one year later. Over its short life, the car has largely remained the same, with only minor modifications made to the list of equipment.
Compared to the 350Z, the new Nissan 370Z features a more aggressive design language, intentionally picking up elements from the 240Z’s design. These elements provide a sleek aerodynamic shape, a "dynamic motion" feel with a dramatic cantilevered roof, and a "low visual gravity."
Both the coupe and roadster versions of the 370Z are offered in standard and Touring variants, with a 332 HP 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine and choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed automatic transmission. In addition to these options, Nissan also has a Nismo model that delivers a total of 350 HP.
UPDATE 07/20/2012: Nissan has announced prices for the 2013 Z line-up: the coupe version is priced from $33,120; the roadster from $41,470; and the Nismo version is priced at $43,020. All models are now on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide. Hit the jump for full model and accessories pricing details.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2009-2013 Nissan 370Z.
Nissan has announced the first details on the new generation Note - a new global compact car which made its world premiere at the Osanbashi venue in Yokohama. The new model will go on sale in Fall 2012 and aims to become the most user-friendly car in its segment.
When compared to the previous generation, the new Note has adopted a new striking character line - known as the ’Squash Line’ - and an aerodynamic body shape identified thanks to its distinctive front grille, headlamps, and rear combination lamps.
The new Note was built on a lightweight platform and is offered with a choice of two new engines, including the new supercharged HR12DDR (DIG-S) and the HR12DE. The model has also received the next-generation XTRONIC CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) combined with a start-stop system for the new three-cylinder supercharged, direct injection DIG-S engine. With these improvements, the new Note delivers an impressive fuel economy of 25.2 km/L.
A lighter generation Z sports car is not the only priority in Nissan’s future. Inspired by the huge success of their GT-R, the company has decided to bring out a small sports car which will take on models like the newly released Subaru BRZ.
Internally known as the Mini-Z, the new sports car won’t be offered with a rear-wheel-drive system like the Silvia/240SX - that project was cancelled in late 2008 because of the financial crisis. Instead Nissan will use a front-wheel-drive system combined with 1.6-liter turbo-four from the Nissan Juke with power raised to about 200 HP.
To get an idea of what the future small sports car will look like, take a look at the Compact Sports Concept (pictured) unveiled last year at the Shanghai Motor Show. These design elements will be combined with elements taken from the Z sports car to more or less make up the new car’s dimensions.
The new Nissan sports car will arrive in late 2013 and will be priced at about $22K.
Who said police officers can’t drive environmental cars? Nissan has just delivered a fleet of eight Leaf electric cars for Portugal’s PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) - the security force responsible for policing the large urban areas of the country.
The car driven by the police is a standard Leaf, but features flashing blue lights, sirens, and clear "Polícia" markings. The Police Leaf is still powered by the same electric drive motor that delivers a total of 107 HP and 208 lbs-ft of torque. With only 30 minutes of charge, the car has an autonomy of 80 miles.
"We pride ourselves in being the first police force in the world to incorporate cars with zero-emission technology as part of our 5,000 vehicle fleet," said Superintendent Paul Gomes Valente, National Director of PSP. "We want to continue reducing pollution in large urban centres and the introduction of the 100 per cent electric Nissan LEAF sets a new benchmark for our fleet," he added.
When the Nissan Z-car returned in the 2003 model year, Z enthusiasts everywhere rejoiced at the potential of this stylish machine. Even though it was not as powerful or as fast as they had expected, it was still loaded with potential. Well, over the years, enthusiasts became tired of the Z and this resulted in a mild sales fizzle when the 370Z came about. As of the 2012 model year, that fizzle has turned into lackluster sales.
Rumors are pointing to the fact that the Z-car is heading back to its roots. For those that remember, the Z-car was not a powerful machine in its infancy. It was more known for being a lightweight car that had an optimal power-to-weight ratio and precision handling. The current 370Z is anything but like the original, and according to Nissan design boss, Shiro Nakamura, the new Z-car will better reflect the past Z-cars and live up to its legend. We should even be seeing a concept car for this redesigned Z-car soon.
So, how will this car actually stack up? With the little bit of information we have and some speculation, we can give you at least a good idea on what to expect.
Click past the jump to read our full, and constantly growing, review on the upcoming Z-car.
All images are of the current generation Nissan 370Z.


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New World's Largest Pool Being Built In Egypt
A company called Crystal Lagoons has announced an ambitious new project, to build the world's largest swimming pool in the Egyptian desert. The pool will consist of twelve giant lagoons at the Sharm El Sheikh beach. The pool is part of a master building plan that includes homes, hotels, a museum and a shopping center. Crystal Lagoons built the current world's largest pool which is at San Alfonso del Mar in Chile. It will be soon be surpassed by its Egyptian relative, which is expected to be finished around July 2009.

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With September’s Apple event looming ever closer, it seems like we get another product release added on every ten friggin’ minutes! The new hotness is a very anticipated refresh of Apple’s AirPods Pro and Mark Gurman gives us the deets!
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that alongside the iPhone 14 and new Apple Watch models… we can also expect to see the second generation of AirPods Pro make their debut:
The new AirPods Pro will update a model that first went on sale in October 2019. I reported last year that new AirPods Pro would arrive in 2022, and now I’m told that Wednesday will be their big unveiling.Mark Gurman
Yes! Finally! The AirPods Pro are still one of Apple’s products that most urgently need a refresh, they’ve been around for almost 3 years so it’s most certainly time. Sadly, Mark doesn’t currently have any pricing or dates for availability of the AirPods Pro 2, or whatever Apple-like name they’ll come up with (hint: they’ll probably just be called AirPods Pro again).
As for new features, we’re pretty in the dark as far as absolutely credible, recent reports are concerned; however, if we take a step into the rumor-room from months past we could anticipate the AirPods Pro second gen to come with a new H2 chip for improved audio, Find-My enabled charging case, as well as better in-ear detection, fitness tracking capabilities, and more (potentially).
Reports have been pretty scarce for the features of an AirPods Pro refresh, and even the report I linked above by Kuo is from December of 2021, so we’re flying blind here. Either way, Apple is a predictable company when it comes to one of their most popular products, so it’s reasonable to expect incremental improvements – with maybe a lil’ touch of fun thrown in.
As long as these things are even slightly better than the current AirPods Pro I’ll be a happy guy, they’re seriously one of the best headphones ever released (in my opinion) and if we just get more of that then I don’t see Apple missing. Let’s cross our fingers for Wednesday!


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But the relief he feels is overshadowed by a lingering uncertainty about whether he can save his summer season.
From beach bars along the Côte d’Azur to campsites in the Dordogne, companies in the battered tourism industry had to face a race against time to get staff off, reactivate supply chains and guarantee reservations.
Few were those who were under illusions: the return to business would be simple, especially in Paris where the virus is more widespread and the restrictions more stringent. Restaurants and cafes, for example, can only open outdoor spaces.
“In a way, this allows us to reopen the kitchen, to move up a gear, to contact suppliers and to reopen little by little,” explained Coeroli, whose restaurant Le Zebre has limited space on the “terrace”.
“But it’s not with three tables outside that we’re going to make a living, that’s for sure. “
From June 2, France reopens its beaches and allows restaurants, bars and cafes to resume their activities. He is also ending travel restrictions in the country and wants Europe to lift internal border restrictions by mid-June. [nL8N2DA5S4]
In Cannes, which normally hosts one of the biggest film festivals in the world, public workers disinfected the beach in front of the expected crowds.
Further east along the Mediterranean coast in Nice, private beach operator René Colomban has no shortage of outdoor space for his restaurant tables and lounge chairs. But there is a lack of visibility on the return of foreign tourists.
“We do not know how it will go,” he said. He will take his 14 permanent employees off the job, but is still waiting 10 seasonal workers to find out if they have a job this summer.
“I think we will be hiring fewer people this year,” he added.
Almost 90 million foreign tourists visited France in 2018, making it the most visited country in the world. Tourism represents around 7% of the French economy of 2.3 trillion euros (2.48 trillion dollars).
Ge Kusters, owner of Le Paradis campsite in the Dordogne, said he anticipated a slow start to June, with most of the first bookings now canceled. But July looked promising, he said.
The opening hours of the pool will be staggered and customers will receive disinfectant wipes to take to the washrooms.
When asked if summer income could be saved, he replied, “The high season accounts for 70-80% of our income. We are quite confident. “
Report by Lucien Libert and Richard Lough in Paris and Eric Gaillard in Nice; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Mike Collett-White
Our standards:Principles of the Thomson Reuters Trust.


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The UK’s business rates appeal system is grinding to a halt, a leading real estate company has warned.
With just weeks to go until the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) releases the new rateable values for non-domestic properties, agency Colliers International has warned over 300,000 rate appeals are still yet to be heard.
John Webber, head of rating at Colliers International, labelled the VOA “under-resourced, undermined and demoralised.”
He said: “The government’s decision to delay the last revaluation will come home to roost in a matter of weeks when we predict massive rates hikes across London and the south east. This leaves HM Treasury with no alternative except to introduce significant relief to ease the pain.”
Colliers is calling on the government to introduce more frequent revaluations, increase funding to the VOA to help handle the backlog and introduce a register of appeal professionals, reducing what it called the “cowboy” element of appeal hearings.
Earlier this year, retail groups including the British Retail Consortium, the British Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses wrote to then chancellor George Osborne demanding an urgent cut in rates to help stimulate growth following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.
Their calls were echoed by retailer’s in London’s West End, including Selfridges and Fenwicks, who argued rate cuts were necessary to help protect the shopping district from economic uncertainties.


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opened at 250 Broadway in June 2012, then moved down the street to 38 Broadway. On December 24, that location will close its doors for good. But Lowbrow isn't over: Owners Lauren Seip and Tymla Welch are going to re-create the business without a permanent brick-and-mortar home.
The original shop focused on arts and crafts workshops, but Seip and Welch realized that while those were fun, the classes were expensive and time-consuming. They decided to focus instead on the retail end of the business, selling art supplies, vinyl toys and other gifts and collectibles; a staple in the store is a vending machine turned display, Xena, which houses a "XXX Section” of coloring books, calendars and other adult-themed gifts.
Lowbrow has also hosted signings, meetups and parties with Kidrobot
, a retailer focusing on limited-edition vinyl toys, and artists including Brandt Peters
, Kathie Olivas
, Ghostfree Hood
. It's hosted 72 shows since opening, too, including displays of works by the Ladies Fancywork Society
, a crochet-art collective. The group had its first show in the space and has resided in the basement of the shop ever since.
“The gallery has been one of our favorite parts of the shop,” Seip says. But the decision to close the doors came as the duo saw their focus shifting toward retail instead of events, installation work and exhibitions.
“As the landscape changed around us, we realized it was time for us to evolve as well,” Seip adds.
Lowbrow is one of many Broadway businesses that have moved from the neighborhood or shut down altogether this year. Famous Pizza
served its last pie in August, and Hazel and Dewey
moved to the River North Arts District.
While Seip is sad to see their storefront go, she’s optimistic about the future of the area.
“The Broadway neighborhood has always been a place of evolution and change, and now is no different,” she explains. “Some of the changes do feel pretty astronomical at the moment, but as long as our favorites still have a home here, we’re excited to see what it brings.”
The store's closure also coincides with the Denver art scene going through rapid changes. With long-term DIY spaces Rhinoceropolis and Glob shut down by the city two years ago and still trying to reopen
and Meow Wolf
coming to town, more short-term DIY and interactive shows have been cropping up around the area.
Lowbrow has already joined the growing trend, hosting pop-up events and partnering with other groups.
“Our goal is to just continue being supportive of the Denver art scene in all the ways we can,” Seip says. “We just want to make sure to do our part to keep the cool and original things about Denver thriving.”
Follow Lowbrow on Facebook for more information about upcoming events.


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Commenting on his involvement with the Daily Express and the green campaign his company is running with the paper Vince said
“People on the left of life who care passionately about a whole bunch of issues can be purists and our own worst enemies. We need to reach outside of our bubbles and get other people involved. And too often, our approach puts off the very people that we need to join us.”
Vince also said about the news that alternative meat protein company Beyond Meat had announced a deal with McDonald’s to produce the new McPlant burger as a good thing. He did however acknowledge that…
“It’s an interesting question of who you choose to work with. You know, it’s a very fine line to tread sometimes.”
Vince revealed that Ecotricity was asked by McDonald’s 20 years ago to power them with green energy and he refused.
“This was a time when they were totally bad in terms of the rainforest and stuff like that. And it was never a question for us. We wouldn’t help McDonald’s green themselves up.
Today, it looks a little different. I don’t know if we would work with them, but they do at least have a plant-based option. And, you know, that’s got to be a good thing.”
“We’ve worked with car companies, we’ve worked with oil and gas companies, and we actually need these people to change their business models. They won’t go out of business. We can’t hope for that. We can’t ignore them and hope they’ll change their behaviour. I think engaging with them is probably the best way to do it.”
Vince also expressed reservations about the growth of cultured meat protein developed in labs.
“Well, I think it is disgusting. But that’s because that’s where I stand on it. I mean, I’m not interested in meat. So the idea of growing in a lab from cells that have been, you know, basically plucked out of the body of an animal, you know, does nothing for me.”
“Also, I think, what’s this meat fixation all about? You know, it was like we can live without meat quite easily and for most of our time on this earth we have done so, it’s only recently that as a species we eat as much meat in the West, not the whole world, as we do now. It’s a fixation as far as I’m concerned.”
However, he added that “it could have a role to play. There are people out there that feel if they don’t eat meat they are missing out and that’s going to hold them back. So let them have the lab-processed meat. If that’s what they want, it doesn’t bother me in that respect.”
The full interview will be available on the Vegan Curious podcast shortly


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Bat-fans wanting to play Rocksteady’s new Batman: Arkham Knight release will have to wait a little longer.
This afternoon Rocksteady and Warner revealed that Batman: Arkham Knight has been delayed slightly and will now release on 23 June. The game was scheduled for a 2 June release. The statement reads:
“We’re a developer that hates to make any compromises, so we are sorry to say this means it’s going to be just a little bit longer until you can play the epic conclusion to the Arkham trilogy.”
As compensation, if you can call it that, Rocksteady has released a new gameplay trailer called “Officer Down” which was captured using a PS4 so it’s probably going to look better on the PC. Keep that in mind when watching this.


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May 1, 2015 |
MUMBAI: Bollywood star Katrina Kaif has joined micro-blogging site Twitter to promote her upcoming maiden appearance at the Cannes International Film Festival. Kaif, 31, will be walking the red carpet on the first day of the 12-day fest (May 13-24) as the ambassador of cosmetic brand L'Oreal Paris and also be a part of the opening ceremony. "Such a fun day with the gorgeous Sonam Kapoor at the LOrealParisIn press conference! #CantWaitForCannes," read Katrina's first tweet.
May 14, 2015 |
CANNES: Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif turned heads in American designer Oscar De La Renta's black off-shoulder gown at the 68th Cannes Film Festival 2015. The 31-year-old British-Indian beauty, who made her first Cannes red carpet appearance at the prestigious festival, looked gorgeous in the elaborate gown with her side-swept red hair adorning soft curls. She kept the make-up minimal and completed the look donning a pair of tear drop diamonds earrings and...
May 21, 2015 |
NEW DELHI: Katrina Kaif's red locks caught more eyeballs than her monochrome and scarlet ensembles at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival. Bollywood's glamour girl, who had ditched her dark tresses for new film " Fitoor ", says she experienced jitters before stepping into a salon for the makeover. Helmed by "Rock On!!" fame director Abhishek Kapoor , the film, an adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous novel "Great Expectations", will present Katrina as a redhead.
August 22, 2012 |
NEW DELHI: Footwear maker Relaxo Footwear today said it has roped in Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif as brand ambassador for its Flite brand. As part of a two year contract, Kaif will endorse the Flite brand that is mainly targetting young consumers. Relaxo Footwear Executive Director Gaurav Dua said the Flite is being positioned as a brand symbolic to youth, comfort and elegance. "And to carry this brand persona a step ahead, we could think of no...
March 19, 2008 |
NEW DELHI: Beverages major PepsiCo has signed film actor Katrina Kaif as brand ambassador for its mango juice drink brand Slice. Katrina, who has become the first brand ambassador of the product, will also be the face for Slice Mangola, the local brand of Slice in Mumbai. Commenting on the development, PepsiCo India Vice-President Homi Battiwalla said, "We are delighted to associate Katrina Kaif as the brand ambassador for Slice and are positive...


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The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released the World Drug Report 2021 highlighting the risks posed during the pandemic.
Around 275 million people used drugs worldwide in the last year, while over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders, according to the 2021 World Drug Report, released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
“Lower perception of drug use risks has been linked to higher rates of drug use, and the findings of UNODC’s 2021 World Drug Report highlight the need to close the gap between perception and reality to educate young people and safeguard public health,” said UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly.
Cannabis is more potent but fewer young people see it as harmful
- Combat misinformation about the potential impact of the increased strength of cannabis.
- Use fact-based information to raise awareness of the potential harm from non-medical use of cannabis.
- Prioritise public health over private business through a comprehensive ban on advertising.
- Increase investment in research both into the harm cannabis use poses to health and the possible medical uses of the drug.
- Monitor the cannabis markets and the perception of risks associated with cannabis use.
Rising web-based sales could transform global drug use patterns
- Improve government response to drug trafficking on the internet by forging public/private partnerships with internet service providers, tech companies, shipping and mailing companies.
- Control the drug supply chain on the Internet by removing drug adverts and listings and sharing information with law enforcement.
- Regulate cryptocurrency markets and monitor electronic payments to detect suspicious transactions and illicit financial flows from drug trafficking.
- Enhance expert access to the dark web in order to take down online markets and platforms.


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Apple announced that iOS 14.5 will go live next week with updates that increase user privacy within mobile apps. Apple’s AppTrackingTransparency, or ATT, requires all mobile apps to secure active consent from users in order to allow device tracking for use by advertisers. ATT has been in the works for a while, and it is just the latest of Apple’s frameworks designed to give customers more control of their data. That said, this iteration of ATT will have a significant impact on advertisers, apps, and the wider ad tech ecosystem. Any advertiser using app-based user data will be affected, so it is important to understand what this update really means and the likely impact on media strategies.
Why is everyone talking about iOS 14.5?
Prior to ATT, users were opted into in-app tracking by default. With consumers becoming more concerned about the privacy of their data, this opt-in framework provides users with greater control over their data. As a result, advertisers and app developers expect to see fairly low opt-in rates once iOS14.5 goes live, making many (if not most) app users untrackable via IDFA. Early data from apps offering consumers this choice showed opt-in rates of 20-40%. Based on data from early adopters, mobile measurement company AppsFlyer found that opt-in rates varied by vertical, with lower rates for gaming apps and higher rates for shopping apps. Assuming these rates hold, the decline in trackable devices would be significant.
How will iOS 14.5 affect advertisers?
Fewer devices tracked will limit audience targeting within apps and reduce granularity for attribution metrics such as recency and revenue. This means advertisers will need to adjust performance benchmarks as they map historical results to post-iOS 14.5 results, creating a continuity challenge.
Recognizing advertisers’ concerns about attribution, Apple has introduced the SKAdNetwork, which aggregates data and measures performance entirely through Apple-controlled APIs. Each major player in the app space has responded to Apple’s requirements with its own approach, and the impact for advertisers varies by platform.
Facebook (high impact): Facebook is making sweeping changes to its ad platform to comply with ATT. Its new measurement infrastructure is designed to be compatible with ATT and better position Facebook for ongoing shifts toward increased user privacy. Aggregated Event Measurement (AEM) will support advertisers’ tracking, attribution and measurement needs on Facebook, but advertisers will see significant effects.
In response to the changing ecosystem, Facebook announced it would retire the current Facebook Attribution tool in August 2021. In Facebook’s words: “As we look to retire Facebook Attribution, we are building the next generation of an attribution tool that will provide comprehensive measurement of ads, organic and commerce activities across the Facebook family of apps.”
Read our point of view on the impact of these changes here.
Snapchat (high impact): Snapchat plans to show Apple’s tracking prompt and will fully support the SKAdNetwork alongside its existing privacy-centric attribution solution, Advanced Conversions.
- Optimization and targeting: The most significant impact will be reduced retargeting pools for Snap’s Dynamic Ad campaigns, custom audiences and Snap Audience Match. Since the SKAdNetwork is only relevant for iOS, campaigns will need to be OS-specific so that one campaign cannot target both operating systems at once.
- Measurement: Hourly attribution windows will no longer be available. Attribution windows will be reduced to: 28 day, 7 day, and 1-day swipe (click), and 7 day and 1-day view windows. Additionally, user-level reporting from mobile measurement partners (MMPs) will no longer be available for users who have opted out.
Google Ads (medium impact): Google will no longer collect the user ID unique to each mobile device (IDFA) on their apps, and it will not show the ATT prompt. Google will support access to the SKAdNetwork to measure performance of app campaigns through their own SDK or other supported SDKs.
- Tools and Infrastructure: Google will rely more heavily on Google login across O & O inventory for targeting, tracking and attribution.
- Optimization and Targeting: First-party data on websites and apps will be less scalable and efficient. Interest-based targeting for app campaigns in YouTube, Discovery and Display will see data loss and performance decline. Overall, reach for iOS app campaigns will drop significantly.
- Measurement: Modeled conversions will be expanded from just Search to other channels.
Twitter (medium impact): Twitter will roll out the required ATT consent prompt and continue to collect IDFA for those users who opt in to tracking, but it will shift tracking infrastructure to rely more on Twitter Click ID, its unique identifier to track site visits.
- Tools and Infrastructure: Advertisers must have a 3rd party mobile conversion tracking partner use App Install campaigns and can only access SKAdNetwork through one of the supported mobile measurement partners (MMPs).
- Optimization and Targeting: The scale of targetable audiences on iOS will decrease, and performance will likely decline.
- Measurement: Post-engagement and post-view attribution will continue to be available. Twitter reporting will continue to be finalized within 24-48 hours of when impressions are served (real-time data is estimated). App install data will be subject to SKAdNetwork attribution limitations.
Linkedin (low impact): LinkedIn will stop collecting IDFA and continue to rely on logged-in user data and 3rd party cookies for audience matching, targeting and conversion tracking.
- Optimization and Targeting: Marketers leveraging IDFA for Matched Audiences will see reduced target audience sizes.
- Measurement: As conversion tracking relies on 3rd party cookies, the impact of removing IDFA will be minimal.
Pinterest (low impact): Pinterest will stop collecting IDFAs and will remove mobile app install ads, a format that is less frequently used among advertisers.
- Measurement: Pinterest will not be integrated with SKAdNetwork when iOS 14.5 rolls out. Instead, it recommends using the “Device” breakout for segmentation and reporting. Pinterest is exploring a potential first-party measurement solution.
Understanding the coming changes to these advertising platforms once iOS 14.5 is live is essential to planning. If they haven’t already, advertisers should create adaptation strategies to reduce disruption in their media plans.


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The results are in: People like to stay, eat and shop at San Francisco International Airport.
During the fiscal year that ended June 30, SFO recorded $715 million in gross sales — a 13 percent increase from the prior year — and spending per passenger at the hub was the third highest in North America.
The average passenger spent $11.65 at SFO, a rate that was more than all North American hubs save for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Pittsburgh International.
And airport officials expect passenger spending to surge even more this year, thanks to the recent reopening of Terminal 2. During the first two months of that terminal’s operations, passengers spent an average of $13 to $14 per trip, a rate that is expected to bring up the overall levels of the airport, according to documents that will be presented at Tuesday’s Airport Commission meeting.
Sales at duty-free shops marked the biggest jump last fiscal year, with revenue totals topping out at $78.7 million, a 30 percent increase from the prior year’s $60 million.
SFO’s strong revenue totals were backed up by recognition for best practices from industry followers. Airport Revenue News gave SFO two honors last year, Best Overall Concession Program and Best Concession Design.


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The service would compete with cable and satellite pay TV services if it goes ahead.
A New York court has forced Ross Ulbricht to forfeit 29,655 bitcoins and the Silk Road website.
A California woman won't have to pay that ticket she got in October, though a court commissioner affirmed that it's illegal to drive and use Glass at the same time.
A settlement with a notorious patent troll should serve as a warning to other companies, said the New York State Attorney General
Forthcoming spectrum auctions will determine availability of additional blocks of unlicensed spectrum.
The ruling confirms an earlier trade court ruling and marks another victory for Apple.
TV networks are suing the startup for streaming local broadcast TV over the Internet.
Data collection by companies, particularly related to the Internet of things, need to be discussed
Movement on the controversial issue should be possible this year, says Penny Pritzker
At this year's International CES, the most valuable real estate isn't the prime exhibit areas in the huge halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. It's you.
The new TV sets already make up at least 10 percent of Sony's TV sales
The Salinas circle was part of the launch of the company's new Tegra K1 chip
The next model in the in iconic range will feature an advanced telemetry system from Cosworth
MRAM and RRAM chips are starting to move beyond niche and could change your PC experience in a few years.
Display makers are still struggling to reliably produce OLED screens at screen sizes large enough for televisions


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InBev has called a pitch to find an agency to handle advertising for the launch of a new Stella Artois variant.
Lowe London and TBWA\London are going head-to-head for the brief to create advertising for a lower-strength version of the drink, designed to reverse flagging sales. The drink, which will have a 4 per cent ABV, is expected to be introduced in the UK later this year.
The winning agency will be briefed to create a campaign to include TV and digital.
It is thought that if the new variant is successful in the UK, it will be launched across Europe while the existing Stella Artois, which has a 5.2 per cent ABV, will be relaunched as a super-strength brand.
InBev has been desperate to move Stella away from its "wife beater" nickname and the image that goes along with it for years.
In 2006, it relaunched the brand as part of the Artois Family, which also includes the 4 per cent Peeterman Artois and the 6.2 per cent dark beer, Artois Bock.
Last year, it also scrapped the "reassuringly expensive" line, launched in 1982, from its advertising.
For the year ending March 2008, sales of the Stella brand, which includes Peeterman and Bock, fell by almost 1 per cent to 491 million pints in supermarkets and off-licences, according to AC Nielsen.
InBev is embroiled in a messy bid for Anheuser-Busch after making a $46 billion offer for the company last week. However, Anheuser has filed a lawsuit against InBev saying the bid is an "illegal scheme" to defraud shareholders.


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The “act of God” winter freeze in Texas had a direct impact on the cost that Homewood-Flossmoor High School paid for natural gas.
The district’s winter gas bill would normally be $30,000 but this year it was $280,000 due to a spike in the gas commodity prices when about a third of the natural gas supply in Texas was lost to the freeze, said Lawrence Cook, District 233 business manager, at the April 6 board meeting.
The February winter storm left thousands of people without power resulting in an estimated $195 . . .
You have reached content available exclusively to Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle digital subscribers.


text:
- All Tech
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November 27, 2014 -- “Wekho” was featured on NewsWatch as part of its monthly AppWatch, which features the latest and coolest...
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November 27, 2014 -- Latest Hewlett-Packard laptop and desktop coupon deals have just been listed on the Bizwaremagic.com site - get up to $250 off.
November 27, 2014 -- Operators will continue to spend significantly on capital investments, with many project timelines continuing into 2019 and beyond. For these reasons, industry research firm IBISWorld has added a...


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(iterates, adds comment and updates prices)
* Dollar hits one-year high
* US CPI posted biggest annual gain in 31 years last month
Nov 11 (Businesshala) – Gold prices fell on Thursday after rallying to a five-month high in the previous session, as investors reassured how the US Federal Reserve would respond to a jump in consumer prices last month.
Spot gold fell 0.1% to $1,847.23 an ounce, down by 0419 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.1% to $1,850.10.
The metal on Wednesday rose to its highest level since June 15 after US consumer prices recorded the biggest annual gain in 31 years last month, fueling interest in gold as an inflation hedge.
DailyFX currency strategist Ilya Spivak said, “The upshot could be a knee-jerk reaction to the data and gold could go lower as the market digests it, especially in the face of a more accelerated and prolonged Fed rate hike cycle.” amid concerns.
“If inflation expectations freeze, it could start to impact consumption, potentially leading to stagflation. But this is unlikely to benefit gold as monetary policy would be uncertain in such a scenario and investors are unlikely to be comfortable with that level of uncertainty.
Several Fed officials this week expressed growing concern over more prolonged inflation, even though they expect price hikes to eventually ease.
Easing monetary policies to spur economic growth during the pandemic have pushed gold prices to new highs in the past two years. But any hike in interest rates to pacify inflation should impact gold as it will increase the opportunity cost of the non-yielding metal.
Apart from this, the pressure on gold was a strong dollar, which reached its highest level in a year. A higher dollar increases the price of gold for buyers holding other currencies.
Spot silver rose 0.3% to $24.69 an ounce. Platinum was steady at $1,066.71 and Palladium rose 0.3% to $2,026.80. (Reporting by Nakul Iyer in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Subhranshu Sahu)


text: You may have noticed that this month Fresh Market Foods is Thinking Pink! Why you ask? In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Breast Cancer Society of Canada is holding their annual “Dress for the Cause” on October 28. The team at Fresh Market Foods has set a fundraising goal and YOU can help us reach it! By purchasing a Pink Paper Ribbon for $1, you too will be helping in the fight against Breast Cancer!


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The fate of the cross-Strait services trade agreement, signed on June 21st, remains uncertain. Taiwan's government, led by the president, Ma Ying–jeou of the Kuomintang (KMT), has urged the Legislative Yuan (parliament) to ratify the pact. However, concerns about the impact of Chinese competition on the local services sector, which is dominated by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), have encouraged caution among legislators. Mainland China looks askance upon the situation, and may delay broader cross-Strait agreements until the pact is passed.
The Cross-Strait Agreement on Trade in Services is one among several follow-up agreements under the broader Economic Co–operation Framework Agreement (ECFA) that mainland China and Taiwan concluded in 2010. It proposes opening up over 100 services sectors, covering commerce, culture, entertainment, financial services, logistics, tourism and transport. The commitments made by the two sides involve a mixture of eliminating or reducing limitations on equity participation, expanding business scope in terms of geography or lines of business, and undertaking trade-facilitation measures. Partial steps towards liberalising cross-Strait services trade were taken under the ECFA's "early harvest" measures, but the latest deal proposes deeper measures and affects a greater number of industries.
On the table
On paper, mainland China has been the more generous. It has committed to deregulation in 80 services sectors, while Taiwan has said that it will adopt measures in 64 areas. The mainland authorities have argued that the terms on offer are among the most favourable to which it has ever assented: sectors not included in similar agreements with other countries or regions, such as e–commerce, are included on this occasion. Negotiators have also been careful to tread carefully over some obvious areas of potential conflict. For example, the agreement does not propose a loosening of the rules governing cross-Strait labour flows.
The agreement also seems to offer several potentially attractive rewards for Taiwan's service providers. The services sector represents a relatively small proportion of the mainland's GDP—44.6% in 2012—but is set to expand rapidly in coming years, as the economy's growth becomes increasingly driven by consumer spending. Taiwan's services sector represents 68.2% of its GDP, suggesting that its service industries are well developed and in a position to compete effectively. A number of the island's services companies already have a significant presence on the mainland: Taiwan's Ruentex is the largest foreign-invested retail chain by sales in the country through its grocery joint venture with France's Auchan.
The pact also offers Taiwan companies competitive advantages over other foreign firms in several sectors. For example, if operating from the mainland's coastal province of Fujian, Taiwan e–commerce firms can own a 55% stake in joint ventures with local companies, whereas foreign companies are otherwise prevented from owning no more than 50%. Similarly, the island's stockbrokers will be allowed to hold 51% stakes in joint-venture operations based in Shanghai, Shenzhen or Fujian, a provision not extended to other overseas investors. Preferential policies have also been outlined for the banking, creative, entertainment and medical sectors.
Concerns in Taiwan
Nevertheless, the deal has still encountered significant opposition in Taiwan. This partly reflects the government's cumbersome approach to negotiating the agreement. It has been criticised for not consulting with legislators and industry groups prior to committing itself to the deal, which has raised concerns about a lack of transparency. Mr Ma's administration has attempted to set out the benefits of the agreement for local jobs and investment, but the government's tendency to chastise its opponents as protectionist or anti-China has been counterproductive.
It has been particularly challenging for the government to convince the public that Taiwan's firms will be able to stand up to mainland-Chinese competition. The local services sector is dominated by SMEs, many of whom it is feared will struggle to match the spending power of their mainland counterparts. Companies in areas such as hairdressing and beauty services, printing and tourism, all of which will be opened to Chinese investment under the deal, are thought to be especially vulnerable. Even Taiwan's mightier services sector firms, such as the island's leading online retailer, PCHome, could struggle in the face of greater competition from mainland China. An online marketplace, Taobao, operated by China's Alibaba, has already made significant in-roads into the Taiwan market.
Critics also point out, with some justification, that Taiwan offers a more friendly business environment than the mainland. In this sense, the deal may not fall short of the standards of reciprocity normally demanded by free-trade agreements (FTAs). Mainland firms will enjoy the benefits of a relatively transparent business environment in Taiwan. However, the island's companies will still be confronted by often difficult operating conditions in mainland China. Foreign SMEs in China, for example, face particular difficulties, as they often carry little weight with local officials.
With the government struggling to make its case, public opinion has turned against the services pact. In contrast to the ECFA, which at the time had the support of the majority of the population, opinion polls have highlighted broad opposition to the latest deal. In turn, this has encouraged legislators to drag their feet. Under pressure from the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the parliamentary speaker, Wang Jin–pyng of the KMT, agreed to subject the agreement to a line-by-line review in the legislature. This decision may have been the most important reason behind his recent, public falling out with Mr Ma.
The prospects for an early ratification are poor. Six of the 16 public hearings on the agreement are still to be completed in parliament, with the remaining ones to be hosted by a DPP legislator, who is expected deliberately to slow down proceedings. This would be likely to push back the passing of the bill until the next parliamentary session, beginning in early February after the Lunar New Year holiday, a time that will coincide with the onset of the campaign season for the important "seven-in-one" local elections due to be held in November 2014. Thus, although the KMT holds a majority in parliament, its legislators may prove difficult to marshal. The possibility also remains that the services trade agreement could be rejected out of hand: according to the legislative stipulations, if any of the provisions are rejected, the whole agreement will be annulled.
The mainland watches
The services trade pact is one of only several follow–ups to the ECFA. The mainland has viewed the delay over passing the agreement with barely disguised disdain, and has hinted that it may delay progress on other fronts as a result. The most important in this regard is the proposed Cross-Strait Agreement on Trade in Goods, which is intended as a follow–up to the "early harvest" tariff reductions on merchandise trade outlined in the ECFA. This deal has taken on a particular urgency for Taiwan, given that the mainland and South Korea appear to be inching towards a bilateral FTA. Should this deal pass before the cross-Strait accord, it would give South Korean manufacturers of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, petrochemicals and semiconductors a potentially decisive advantage in the mainland-Chinese market over their Taiwan rivals.
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit


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Vishal Sikka, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys, USA capture during the Session: "Artificial Intelligence Unleashed" at the World Economic Forum – Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, People’s Republic of China 2017. Copyright by World Economic Forum / Sikarin Fon Thanachaiary
Artificial Intelligence Unleashed
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way businesses operate and the way we live our lives. AI has the potential to unleash a new era of innovation and productivity, transforming industries, solving complex problems, and bringing about new opportunities. The impact of AI is already being felt across a wide range of sectors, from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and transportation.
There are various applications of AI that are currently revolutionizing the business world. One such application is data normalization, which involves the process of organizing data in a database to ensure that it is consistent and accurate. AI can be used to automate this process, saving time and reducing the risk of errors.
Another important use case for AI in business is the generation of synthetic data. Synthetic data is artificially created data that imitates real data, but does not contain any sensitive or private information. This can be extremely useful for testing and training AI models without compromising the privacy of individuals or organizations.
AI is also being used in content generation, where it can create high-quality, relevant content at scale. This can include anything from writing articles and reports to creating marketing materials and advertisements. By leveraging AI for content generation, businesses can save time and resources, while also maintaining a high level of quality and relevance.
The use of AI in the field of natural language processing (NLP) is also making a significant impact on businesses. NLP technology, such as Large Language Models (LLM), allows AI to understand and interpret human language, enabling advanced capabilities such as language translation, sentiment analysis, and chatbot development. This can greatly enhance customer service, marketing, and communication efforts for businesses.
One specific area where AI is revolutionizing the business landscape is in the field of mobile app development. Technologies such as Flutter, a popular open-source UI software development kit created by Google, allow developers to build high-quality native interfaces for Android and iOS with a single codebase. AI-powered features can be integrated into these apps, providing users with personalized experiences and intelligent functionalities.
In addition to mobile app development, AI is also playing a crucial role in the development and deployment of conversational agents and chatbots. Platforms like Dialogflow, a natural language understanding platform created by Google, enable businesses to build and deploy AI-powered virtual agents to engage with customers and provide support. These virtual agents can handle a wide range of inquiries and tasks, freeing up human resources to focus on more complex or strategic activities.
Furthermore, AI is driving innovation in the field of data analytics and decision support systems. With tools like Firebase, a mobile and web application development platform developed by Google, businesses can collect, analyze, and utilize data to gain actionable insights and make more informed decisions. This can lead to improved operational efficiency, better customer understanding, and enhanced overall performance.
The introduction of OpenAI’s GPT-3, a state-of-the-art language model, has further expanded the capabilities of AI in business. GPT-3 can generate human-like text based on the input it receives, making it a powerful tool for a wide range of applications, including content creation, language translation, and conversational interfaces. This technology has the potential to reshape the way businesses communicate and interact with their customers.
In summary, AI has unleashed a wave of technological innovation and transformation across various industries, providing businesses with new capabilities and opportunities. From data normalization and content generation to mobile app development and conversational agents, the applications of AI are wide-ranging and impactful. As AI continues to advance, it will undoubtedly play a vital role in shaping the future of business and society as a whole.
Tagged: , #amnc17 , #amnc , #wef , #wef17 , #davos , #davos17 , #weforum , #worldeconomicforum , #summerdavos , #dalian , #4IR , Session , ID:a0Wb0000006TUtLEAW , #amnc17 #amnc #wef #wef17 #davos #davos17 #weforum #worldeconomi , #amnc17 #amnc #wef #wef17 #davos #davos17 #weforum #worldeconomicforum #summerdavos #dalian #4IR Session ID:a0Wb0000006TUtLEAW


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IKEA profits surge as hard-up home decorators the world over opt for flat-pack frugality
IKEA reported rising profits, as hard-up home decorators the world over opted for flat-pack frugality over designer homeware.
Total group sales at the Swedish furniture giant rose by 9.5 per cent to nearly £23bn, including the impact of 11 new stores, boosting net profit by 8 per cent to £2.7bn for 2012.
IKEA said it had sacrificed profit margins by cutting the price of its products by 0.8 per cent despite the fact that it was also squeezed by a 7.9 per cent increase in its costs.
But although costs were up, they fell as a percentage of sales, thanks to a revenue boost from customers turning to IKEA for cut-price ways to beautify their homes amid economic stagnation.
The effect of customers seeking a bargain was particularly great because 70 per cent of IKEA’s sales are in Europe, which has been hit hard by the downturn.
‘The IKEA business idea is more relevant than ever,’ boss Mikael Ohlsson, adding that ‘people around the world are more value conscious’.
IKEA did not break out detailed results by country, but said last November that UK sales rose by 6.3 per centc to hit £1.23bn, about 5 per cent of its latest worldwide sales figure.
The fastest growing markets were China, Russia and Poland, closely followed by the US and Germany, IKEA’s top two countries by revenue.
During the year, the group opened 11 stores and hired 8,000 people, taking its global workforce to 139,000. It welcomed some 690m visitors to its stores, while a further one billion visited its website, a 22pc increase on the 870m who did so the previous year.
IKEA also took the opportunity to display its green credentials, after committing to spend £1.3bn on renewable energy, with the aim of generating 100 per centc of its own electricity by 2020.
By the end of 2012 IKEA had installed 250,000 solar panels and invested in 126 wind turbines in six countries.
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The MSCI China Index is off 18% from its February high. That’s dangerously close to a 20% slide, which officially defines a bear market.
Slumps like that may be enough to chase some investors from equities in the world’s second-largest economy, but hasty decisions like that could ultimately prove regrettable, particularly when many market observers are reiterating that portfolios should feature China exposure.
Advisors can deliver that exposure in non-direct fashion with WisdomTree’s emerging markets multi-factor model portfolio. That’s part of a trio of model portfolios comprised of multi-factor exchange traded funds focusing on domestic, ex-U.S. developed markets, and emerging markets equities.
“This model uses factor-tilted equity ETFs designed to provide improved risk factor diversification,” according to WisdomTree. “Our multi-factor models are available in U.S., Developed International, and Emerging Market versions, and can be used as standalone equity models or as complementary sleeves aimed at improving the overall diversification profile of an existing portfolio.”
China Exposure via ETFs
The emerging markets model portfolio is comprised of five fundamentally-weighted ETFs, including three from the WisdomTree stable. Each are broad-based funds, but each also features, to varying degrees, strong China exposure.
That’s an important point for advisors considering China – something some clients may be interested in given the post-pandemic strength of that economy.
“China has emerged from the pandemic with renewed confidence – just as it did after the global financial crisis,” according to BlackRock. “Growth has bounced back to trend and foreign direct investment inflows are surging. A stable economic backdrop has made authorities more comfortable emphasizing structural reforms over short-term growth targets, in our view.”
China is also prioritizing issues such as pollution reduction and lowering dependence on tech imports. Those are government policies, but ones more attainable through private sector investment. The aforementioned model portfolio leverages that theme via the WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises ETF (XSOE).
Though XSOE offers sizable China exposure, it excludes lumbering state-controlled companies that often reduce a strategy’s quality profile.
“China wants to become a more productive economy with each unit of incremental GDP generating proportionately less pollution, inequality and financial risk (debt),” says BlackRock. “We believe China will prioritize reforms that emphasize these goals as policymakers view them as mission-critical in achieving a more prosperous and powerful country.”
For more on how to implement model portfolios, visit our Model Portfolio Channel.
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.


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The New York Times is reporting that Sony's press conference has confirmed the delay of the PS3, which is now slated to come out in November. More interestingly, the article claims that PS3 will ship with a 60-gig hard drive, built-in network card, and Linux!" Serious stuff here, with Sony's shares falling on the delay confirmation. There was a lot more news handed out at the conference than just the delay. Next Generation has details from Ken Kutaragi's 10 Point Breakdown. From the NYT article: "'We were discussing selling it in September, and some even said put it out in July,' Mr. Kutaragi said. Some analysts were immediately skeptical of this explanation, saying Sony needed to get the console out as soon as possible to combat Microsoft's head start, and the expected release this year of Nintendo's next game console, Revolution. They said Sony may be trying to buy time to bring down the production cost of key components, particularly untested technologies like Blu-ray and Cell. While Mr. Kutaragi did not reveal a price on Wednesday, analysts say Sony will likely try to sell PlayStation 3 for about $500."
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Times change, trends come and go, technology evolves, but in terms of the automotive world, as long as there are people that value individuality and style, automotive personality above all, there will always be room for companies like Morgan and Touring.
The Morgan Aero 8
Morgan is a tiny UK carmaker in business since 1909 and to this day still uses hand-cut, hand-shaped and hand-built ash frames for all of its cars.
And the company's latest hand-built supercar, the Aero 8, is no exception. A genuine Geneva surprise -- Morgan only announced it was bringing a new car to the show two weeks before the event -- it has some nods to modernity underneath in the form of an aluminum space frame chassis, a proven 4.8-liter BMW V8 engine, ABS and a limited slip differential, but that's limit of the 21st century influence.
The fame that sits on top of the chassis is wood, wrapped in hand-cut, hand-shaped and hand-formed aluminum panels to create an outer shell that captures the classic 1940s Morgan aesthetic, but then mixes it up with flowing lines of classic 60s sportscars like the E-Type Jaguar.
The result is a car that looks like a prop from a film set in today's world but that was made in the 1950s.
And every single Aero 8 will be unique.
Production will start towards the end of 2015 and the company is aiming to build around 300 over the next two years.
Touring Berlinetta Lusso
However, the latest offering from Touring Superleggera, which also made its debut at this year's show takes exclusivity further, limited to a production run of just five examples,
The Italian coachbuilder sent many a pulse racing last year when it unveiled the Touring Berlinetta Lusso. Like the Morgan, it blends 21st century technology with mid-20th century style, but Touring started its project with a Ferrari.
And not just any Ferrari: the current F12 Berlinetta, probably the best V12 GT car to carry the Prancing Horse badge in decades. Yet, the company has somehow managed to improve on what many supercar aficionados consider perfection.
Gone is the angular masculine outer shell in favor of swooping curves reminiscent of 1950s GTs. Also gone is some of the original car's weight thanks to hand-shaped carbon fibre and hand-formed aluminum panels.
The show car was a client commission, a Ferrari owner who wanted something more, and the end result has been such a hit that Touring has committed to building four more.


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Lenovo K6 Note launched in India; on sale from December 17
Back at IFA 2016, Lenovo announced the K6 family of smartphones — the K6, K6 Power, and K6 Note. The company already released the K6 Power in India last week for Rs. 9,999 and now, Lenovo has announced that the K6 Note will soon be available for purchase as well.
The device will start selling on Saturday, December 17, in around 15,000 retail stores across the country. It will be available in two different variants. You’ll be able to get your hands on a model with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB of storage or a slightly more powerful version that has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of space. The devices will retail for Rs. 13,999 and Rs. 15,499 respectively.
With enhanced features like Theatermax and Dolby Atmos, this generation takes the multimedia experience to the next level and redefines entertainment. We are also introducing the K-Series for the 1st time in the offline retail channel. — Sudhin Mathur, Lenovo’s Executive Director in India.
Other specifications of the device include a 5.5-inch 1080p display, the Snapdragon 430 processor, a 16 MP camera with phase detection autofocus, and an 8 MP selfie snapper. The device also features a 4,000 mAh battery, runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and has a fingerprint scanner located on the back, below the camera. It will be available in Dark Gray, Gold, and Silver.
So, what do you think about the Lenovo K6 Note? Would you consider buying it, or would you rather get the more affordable K6 Power instead?


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Six Days In Fallujah, the controversial war game which was cancelled and then re-announced this year was reportedly in development at Sony Santa Monica at one point.
This news come by way of David Jaffe, who on his recent YouTube show spoke with Days Gone Creative Director, John Garvin. During the show Jaffe asked “Did you know Six Days in Fallujah was actually in development at Sony Santa Monica for a while?” Garvin then followed up by saying he was actually at the greenlight meeting.
Jaffe then followed up with “And any time that game started to really become something that they wanted it to be a real look at war, companies kind of said ‘yeah, thanks but no thanks”. Garvin then rounded off the conversation about the game with “We’re in a climate where, man, you’re just stepping literally in landmines.”
This comes as a bit of surprise as previously we had not known that Santa Monica Studio were developing the game at one point. But, it seems like ultimately Sony passed on it for the same reason multiple companies have, because it wanted to take a real look at war.
And, with the game now releasing under publisher Victura, the game has been met with similar controversy. The publisher has explained that they don’t want to make a political commentary with the game and CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) has called for Sony, Microsoft, and Valve not to release the game on their storefronts.
Six Days In Fallujah is now set to release for consoles in 2021.


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Christmas came early for one North Shields teenager after her artistic flair won a national competition.
Hayley Anderson beat thousands of artists to be crowned winner of ITV Daybreak’s ‘Sketch Santa’ competition.
The 16-year-old will see her design – capturing two children watching Santa fly past their window – in a limited edition charity card pack, which also features designs by pop group Little Mix.
The cards are being produced by Hallmark and sold to raise funds for ITV’s ‘Text Santa’ appeal.
Hayley said: “I’m always looking for art competitions to enter.
“The inspiration for the card was from when I was little and I always wanted to stay up and see Santa out of the window.
“It feels amazing knowing the nation is sending my card to each other. It is a Christmas present for me.”
Tamsyn Johnston Hughes, Sketch Santa judge and campaign manager for Hallmark, said: “You can tell that Hayley has put a lot of effort into creating her beautifully crafted design.
“She has managed to capture the essence of Christmas while crafting a card that makes a great visual impact. We’re sure it will be kept in the hearts of homes across the country, used to decorate mantelpieces, windowsills and walls.
“We’ve already invited Hayley to the Hallmark head office, over in Bradford, to meet our creative team. You never know, she might one day be sitting alongside them if this is something she wishes to pursue.”
For more about Text Santa or the Sketch Santa cards visit www.itv.com/textsanta or www.hallmark.co.uk


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Business News of Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Source: Daily Guide
As part of efforts to curb the influx of counterfeit Toyota spare parts in Ghana, Toyota Ghana has launched the 2012 Anti-Counterfeit Educational Campaign dubbed, “One Little Mistake, Big Trouble in Accra.
It will hold seminars to create awareness about fake spare parts, among other activities.
Toyota Ghana called on users to visit its certified servicing shops across the country and desist from engaging the services of untrained mechanics.
Jingles on radio, website advertisements and publications including posters and flyers will also be distributed to gas stations customers and repair shops to create awareness on the market.
Wilfred Atuobi, National Parts Manager of Toyota Ghana, launching the anti-counterfeit campaign in Accra, said a survey conducted by the company indicated an increase in the use of counterfeit parts.
Mr. Atuobi said the sophistication and advancement of the counterfeit spare parts compel vehicle owners to use fake spare parts.
He said Toyota parts such as oil filter, air filter, brake pads, spark plugs, V-belts, bulb, body parts, clutch, shock absorber, long life coolant, fuel filter and wiper blade have imitations on the market.
“The public must be aware and know the danger involved in using counterfeit Toyota spare parts,” he said.
Atuobi said the use of counterfeit spare parts such as clutch, bulb and wiper blade is dangerous, as it will not only cost those who purchase them, but claim their lives.
“The parts are dangerous. They have a short life span, high maintenance cost and demands frequent visits to the workshop as well as uncomfortable driving which can’t guarantee safety and also the security of drivers and passengers.”
He therefore encouraged vehicle owners and users to purchase genuine Toyota spare parts.
He said Toyota spare parts costs less than the counterfeit ones, adding, “If you buy a counterfeit oil filter for GH¢5 and it lasts for 30 days and buy the genuine Toyota oil filter at GH¢20 and it lasts for 12 months which costs more,” he asked.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Ghana, Takahiko Takabayashi, who officially launched the campaign, said the campaign formed part of the company’s duty to support Toyota customers.


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Escape from Tarkov is celebrating five years of existence this year in closed beta form. The long development time (and infrequent updates) in many games can frustrate players and lead to the destruction of servers, EFT The community works well and is constantly evolving. The latest update, incidentally the biggest of the year, is likely to increase the number of players even more, especially since the developers have prepared attractive discounts for new and old players.
Huge patch with new content
The latest patch, 0.13, is described Forum of the gameIntroduces a new, already ninth mp called “Streets of Tarkov”.. A new location departs from forests or villages, favoring a dense urban infrastructure consisting of dilapidated buildings and car wrecks. The new map is adjacent to the “Laboratory” map and is expected to be connected to the “Suburbs” location in the future (when the relevant patch comes out). You can watch a trailer showing off Patch 0.13 below.
The new update also introduces new weapons to the game. We will have the opportunity to fire the AUG bullpup rifle, the SR-2 submachine gun and the RSh-12 revolver. What’s more, developers put at our disposal GP-34 and M203 under-barrel grenade launchers, a new barrel attachment for AK-series rifles, and a tourniquet. The patch also adds some new content, including a new merchant and a menacing boss.
According to the latest message On Twitter, Patch 0.13 is already being installed on game servers. Everything is combined, of course, by a wipe.
Two weeks of attractive discounts
If you’ve been thinking about purchasing access to the closed beta, now’s a great opportunity to do so. According to a Official news Posted on the game’s website, All editions of the game are discounted by 25 percent. Thanks to this, for example, for the basic edition, giving access to the game, we pay 26.24 euros, instead of 34.99 euros. You can find the store with all the editions Here. This sale will continue till January 7.


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Men Hooked to Beer, Women Prefer Wine
People have one favorite beverage they would go for, at any given time. In U.S., for men its beer while wine does the magic for women and the elderly, a recent poll showed.
According to the annual Gallup poll, like the findings of the previous years, wine drinkers are mostly from East Coast and beer lovers live in the Midwest.
Nearly 66 percent of Americans admit to consuming alcohol while 44 percent say they drank at least one alcoholic beverage a week.
The poll results revealed that 12 percent consumed eight or more drinks over the past week and 22 percent said they sometimes drink too much.
Moderate alcohol consumption as defined under the government guidelines is one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. However, as per the survey the average number of drinks consumed in a week was 4.2.
Another revelation of the poll was that compared to the statistics of last year, there is a considerable increase in the number of excessive drinkers. However, it was consistence with the figures of the past decade.
Among U.S. drinkers, it was found that while 39 percent of them most often drink beer, 35 percent said they drank wine and 22 percent said they preferred liquor.
Wine was found to be preferred by more than half of the women in U.S. (52 percent), while only 20 percent men said they preferred wine.
Among the elderly, wine was found to be the favorite drink for 59 percent of older women aged 50 years and above while just 28 percent of the elderly men said the same.
In conclusion, the poll results revealed that while beer is preferred by those between the age group of 18 and 54, adults aged 55 and older opt for wine.
The poll was conducted via telephone and surveyed 1,014 adults nationwide between July 9-12, with a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points for the total sample of national adults, and plus or minus five percentage points for adult drinkers, Medical Xpress reported.


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Deutrom to lead Blinkbox section
LONDON - Blinkbox, the video-on-demand website, has appointed former BSkyB executive Scott Deutrom as its first director of advertising and sponsorship.
In his new role, he will lead the advertising division, which includes developing its sales targets and sponsorship and product placement opportunities, as well as managing Blinkbox's third-party sales houses.
Deutrom joins after a 20 month stint at ad network Vibrant Media, where he was European sales director.
Prior to Vibrant Media, Deutrom worked at broadcaster BSkyB for nearly 10 years, joining as TV group head between August 1997 and November 1999 before becoming head of the online sales department within Sky Media.
He began his career at as a TV buyer at MediaVest in 1987.
Blinkbox has also appointed Ana Iglesias as its first managing director to head the website's editorial strategy.
She brings more than eight years' experience in online retail, including most recently as e-commerce and trading manager at Zavvi and, before that, as online content manager at Virgin Entertainment Group.
Both Deutrom and Iglesias will report to chief operating offier and co-founder Adrian Letts.
This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
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Firms gloomier about economy, hiring intentions
OTTAWA - A new business outlook survey from the Bank of Canada offers little comfort to those hoping for a quick turnaround in the country's sluggish economy.
The bank says its survey has found that many Canadian companies are refusing to commit to new investments in either equipment or new employees until they see more improvement in the economy.
It says most were generally optimistic that sales will pick up over the next 12 months, but that was largely because they saw the growth of sales deteriorate over the previous 12.
However, there is some positive news in the quarterly sampling, including that more companies are reporting labour shortages and say they would face difficulty meeting an unexpected increase in demand for their products.
But the overall tone of the survey of 100 selected firms shows Canada's business leaders are taking a cautious approach â€” planning to invest and hire only after they see the economy and demand pick up.
On the key question of investment intentions, only 34 per cent said they expect to hike spending on new machinery and equipment, while almost as many â€” 27 per cent â€” said they planned to spend less in the upcoming 12 months. The positive seven-point balance is the lowest in four years.


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FFVII Remake gameplay trailer released
During today’s PlayStation Experience, Square Enix has released the gameplay footage for Final Fantasy VII Remake.
For those who have been living under a rock for the past few months, Final Fantasy VII Remake was announced during Sony’s E3 2015 press conference, it was a move that took many (including myself) by surprise as no one expected to see Square Enix release a HD remaster let alone remake of the 1997 released Final Fantasy VII.
The gameplay trailer was the only piece of information regarding the game, but it is great to see how far the game is into production, especially when Square Enix stated the game had only entered full production in June this year.
Author: Aaron Meehan
Hi, I’m the creator of SG Gaming Info. When I’m not working on my writing or creating content for this site’s YouTube channel, I like to relax and enjoy character driven story games.


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MBW 882: Hello (Again) - iMac 25th Anniversary, Apple September Event, Amazon One
Apple released its first iMac 25 years ago today. Is September 12th the rumored date for Apple's upcoming event? And, could Amazon's One palm reading payment service directly compete with Google and Apple in the digital wallet space?
- iMac turns 25 today.
- Apple Event September 12, 2023: Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2; Watch X later.
- An Apple malware-flagging tool is 'trivially' easy to bypass.
- Five new features coming to AirPods Pro 2.
- Apple didn't infringe on Bluetooth pairing lawsuit, court declares.
- Amazon wants you to pay with your palm. It's a sneak attack on Apple and Google.
- Why do people save their empty Apple boxes?
- Ford hires ex-Apple TV Plus chief Peter Stern to lead the customer software team.
- Ireland's Alchemy battles e-waste by giving Apple products a new life.
- Lionel Messi's inter Miami CF journey subject of new Apple TV+ docuseries.
- Apple to Finally Pay Out $500M Over iPhone Slowdown Lawsuit, after final appeal nixed by judge.
- iPhone 14 satellite emergency call 'literally' saved a family trapped in the Hawaii wildfires.
- Researcher says they were behind iPhone popups at Def Con.
An underrated icon shines in Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie.
Picks of the Week
- Jason's Pick: Callsheet by Casey Liss
- Alex's Pick: Feather
- Andy's Pick: The Nib
- Leo's Pick: LG StanbyME Go Portable Smart Touch Screen.
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit


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By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's biggest business lobby on Tuesday called for easing regulations in the labor- and environment-related sectors, calling them hurdles to attracting more investment from local and foreign companies.
Lee Dong-geun, vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), in talks with reporters cited ordinary wage calculations and low-carbon car subsidy as needing reconsideration.
A new regulation taking effect next year that gives subsidy to consumers who buy low-carbon emission cars is a measure that Lee said is favorable to foreign cars with better gas mileage. Locally made luxury cars like Hyundai Grandeur, on the other hand, would have to pay fees for high carbon emission, jacking up its price tag, he said.
Labor regulations on ordinary wages, working hours and legal retirement age are also a burden on the local and foreign companies that discourages investment, he said.
In mid-December, the country's top court ruled that regular bonuses paid to employees should be counted as ordinary wages, which is used as a basis for main allowances like overtime pay, holiday shift pay and paid annual leave.
Defying stiff opposition from the business community, including the KCCI, the National Assembly passed a bill in early May to delay the legal retirement age to 60 from 58 starting in 2016. The government is also pushing a bill to reduce the maximum weekly working hours to 52 from the current 56 to improve the quality of life of workers and help create more hourly jobs.
The KCCI's stance comes ahead of the government's so-called three-year economic innovation plan set to be announced late February.
In a New Year's news conference earlier this month, President Park Geun-hye said she will implement steps this year for an economic leap through deregulation and foreign investment.
"Companies find it more difficult to accept the regulations than before," Lee said.
"In order to lure more foreign companies to make investment in South Korea, top priority should be to deregulate in the labor and environment sector," Lee added.
A recent KCCI poll said more than half of foreign companies in South Korea cited a volatile economy and lack of policy consistency as key reasons for an unfavorable investment climate in the country.
<All rights reserved by Yonhap News Agency>


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It looks like Mike Ashley did want his Debenhams stake after all. After buying a 4.6% stake in the retailer in January, only to sell it again four days later for a tidy £5m profit, Sports Direct has now bought the same stake back, at a much reduced price. Debenhams shares were trading slightly down at £61.90 this morning, nearly 30% lower than their January peak of £85.65.
Besides admiring another one of Ashley’s zany risks gone right, investors might pause to consider his other motives. Sports Direct already has an interest in Debenhams, through a put option that it sold in January (the same day it sold the original 4.6%). An undisclosed financial partner paid Sports Direct an undisclosed premium (this is all very hush hush, clearly) for the right to sell it a 6.6% stake in Debenhams at an agreed share price, likely to be roughly where it was back then.
As Debenhams shares are well down from that level and the put option will expire next year, the chances are that Sports Direct will be obliged to cough up and acquire a 6.6% stake in the department store at the higher price. The result, of course, is that it will probably end up with over 11%.
Does this mean the recent purchase is an early move towards buying a controlling stake in Debenhams? Possibly, or maybe it’s designed just to increase Ashley’s influence there. Since the put option in January, Sports Direct has been trialling concessions inside Debenhams stores, where it rents space to sell its own wares. This could be leverage to expand that or similar programmes.
Alternatively, it could be a straight bet. The put option already constituted a so-far unsuccessful gamble that Debenhams' share price would not fall over the year. By buying more stock, Ashley is putting even more behind the shares rising.
Indeed, even if the price does drop, this week’s £33m investment and the put option itself won’t be loss-making so long as Debenhams and its shares perform well over the long term. However you look at it, Sports Direct is backing Debenhams.
Then again, Ashley has had some odd investing habits of late, particularly when it comes to declining retailers. He sold another put option for Tesco this week, and also spent £890,000 expanding his share in Rangers football club from 3.69% to 8.92% – a month after he declined the option as a current shareholder to buy more equity in the firm. What he’s doing with Debenhams, then, could be anyone’s guess, which may of course be exactly what Ashley wants.


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Just one day ahead of its meeting with financial analysts Advanced Micro Devices said that the value it paid for graphics and multimedia chip designer ATI Technologies last year was too high and the actual...
Say hello to the Surface 3
Review: Dell XPS 13
Windows 10 build 10049 with Spartan has arrived
windows 10 technical preview
Eve T1 Review: An 8in entry level tablet worth checking out
Intel Corp. today (December 4, 2003) said it would take a fourth-quarter goodwill impairment charge of about $600 million related to its Wireless Communications and Computing Group (WCCG). Intel said the long-term growth...


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U.S. economic data released in September was quite positive for the markets. Excluding higher fuel costs, retail sales, for example, increased 0.2%. Similarly, excluding energy, the producer price index rose only 0.1% in August, a small increase that will probably keep the Fed from increasing rates. Meanwhile, the labor market remains quite healthy as jobless claims came in at a historically low 220,000. With further improvements, markets could push even higher, which could benefit these undervalued stocks.
Undervalued Stocks: Intel (INTC)
Positive catalysts continue to pile up for Intel (NASDAQ:INTC). For one, analysts at Citi just said Intel’s third-quarter results would come in above its guidance. All thanks to higher-than-expected shipments of notebook computers. Two, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) has suggested that it would be open to letting Intel manufacture its chips. And three, as I noted just a few days ago, tech site, wccftech believes that “Intel’s new AI chip could go toe-to-toe with Nvidia’s equivalent offering. Moreover, the chips are significantly less expensive.” Despite positive catalysts, Intel only has a forward price-earnings ratio of 22. That’s roughly in line with the S&P 500’s average price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio.
Luckin Coffee (LKNCY)
Luckin Coffee (OTCMKTS:LKNCY) created a positive stir in China by unveiling an alcohol-infused coffee drink — which reportedly uses China’s widely loved Moutai. According to Seeking Alpha, “Moutai Coffee” was trending on a popular Chinese social media website, Weibo, while “more than 5 million cups” of the beverage were sold on the day that it went on sale. Even better, company revenues reportedly jumped 88% year over year. Meanwhile, same-store sales jumped 21% year-over-year. Despite the company’s rapid growth and the positive boost that I believe Moutai Coffee will provide to the company, its shares are changing hands at a relatively low forward price-earnings ratio of 17.5.
Undervalued Stocks: Adobe (ADBE)
Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) is harnessesing artificial intelligence to enhance the power of its software. For example, the company’s Firefly generative AI model gives customers access to apps, such as Illustrator’s vector recoloring, Express text-to-image effects, and Generative Fill tools with Photoshop. Adobe only released the general version of Firefly on Sept. 13, so it may take a while for its full impact to be fully reflected in the company’s financial results.
ADBE stock has a relatively low forward price-earnings ratio of 31.
General Motors (GM)
Most of the headlines about General Motors (NYSE:GM) now focus on the United Auto Workers strike. But that issue should be resolved in a relatively short time. I believe that the longer-term outlook of GM stock is quite upbeat, given its very popular trucks and SUVs, along with its strong lineup of electric vehicles and low valuation. Also bullish on GM is Swiss bank UBS which recently started coverage of GM with a $44 price target and a “buy” rating. The firm believes that GM’s profits from gasoline-powered vehicles will enable it to effectively build up its EV lineup.
Also noteworthy is that GM plans to greatly increase the number of EV brands that it offers and intends to start offering EV versions of a number of its most popular trucks. As a result, the automaker is well-positioned to become a global leader in the EV race. In addition, over the long term, the company’s self-driving unit, Cruise, should meaningfully boost its top and bottom lines.
Undervalued Stocks: Six Flags Entertainment (SIX)
In-line with my previous predictions, some amusement park operators appear to be gaining from the pain of Disney’s parks. The latter phenomenon has been sparked by Disney’s (NYSE:DIS) political battles and its decision to sharply hike the amount it costs to visit its parks. One of the beneficiaries could be Six Flags (NYSE:SIX), where analysts predict earnings will jump to $2.14 in 2024 from just $1.24 in 2023. It’s also reportedly benefiting from “a solid growth trajectory in attendance, revenue, and earnings,” as noted by President and CEO Selim Bassoul.
EVgo (NASDAQ:EVGO) operates one of America’s largest networks of fast electric vehicle chargers. It has also partnered with many impressive companies, including General Motors, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), Ford (NYSE:F), and Hyundai (OTCMKTS:HYMTF).
Encouragingly, EVgo recently noted its fast chargers meet the Biden administration’s guidelines for being reimbursed by the federal government. The news indicates that Washington will release funding for thousands of EV chargers to states, in line with the terms of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, relatively soon. Even better, the company is growing quickly. In fact, its top line just soared about 457% year over year to $50.6 million.
According to CEO Cathy Zoi, “EVgo had a phenomenal second quarter with significant growth in key areas including stalls, throughput, customer accounts, utilization, and revenue. We are pleased to report EVgo’s network throughput growth is accelerating, demonstrating the leverage in our business and financial model as the auto sector rapidly electrifies.”
Powell Industries (POWL)
As I noted in a prior column, Powell (NASDAQ:POWL) is well-positioned to benefit from the electrification of transportation and Washington’s spending on infrastructure improvements. Helping, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that by 2045 electricity demand in the U.S. would triple from current levels. That could be a sizable catalyst for Powell moving forward. In addition, given the company’s rapid growth and potential, its forward price-earnings ratio of 20.5 is quite low.
On the date of publication, Larry Ramer held long positions in EVGO and INTC. His wife held a long position in LKNCY. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.


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CHICAGO / MEXICO CITY–March 31, 2022 –Today,Athena Bitcoin Global announcesthat Elektra,part of Grupo Salinas, has appointed Athenato process Bitcoin paymentsusing the Lightning Network.Athena Bitcoin is providingthe fiat crypto bridge, assuring processing and liquidity in compliance with national regulatory requirements, makingLightning Network paymentspossible.Elektra has more than 1,300 points of sale in Mexicoand in Latin America. In December2021,Elektra became the first Mexican retailer to accept bitcoin. All goods and services available online and in-store can now be paid instantly with the Lightning Network.
Athena helps clients cross the “last mile” that connects crypto commerce to local currencies by providing custom solutions and 24-hour bank settlement. “Elektra realizes the potential for bitcoin to transform online payments and bring electronic payments to many who are shut out of the existing financial system,” said Eric Gravengaard, CEO and founder of Athena Bitcoin Global. “Our goal at Athena Bitcoin is to make accessing bitcoin easier for businesses, individuals, and governments who believe in financial freedom; we are honored to collaborate with like-minded partners.”
Athena Bitcoin Global owns and operates a global network of Athena Bitcoin ATMs. Ruru is Athena Bitcoin’s comprehensive platform that facilitates the use of digital currency and electronic bankingto power economies in need of access and inclusion. Ruru components include Athena Bitcoin ATMs, Wallet, POS, OTC servicesand more, all are usable for ordinary people, businesses and governments.Contact: Georgia Ruiz, Communications, Athena Bitcoin Global, firstname.lastname@example.org