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The new A6 Avant model, which is on sale in Europe, has already been poured over, and now the rugged Allroad version has made its debut. The even better news is that this car will come to the United States. There have been many reports of North America’s new A6 car sales, and an Audi spokesman telling C / D that the company continues to consider to take the A6 Allroad to their shores. Since the C5 generation A6, they have not had an A6 Allroad and for the past few years, the A4 Allroad is the only vehicle that Audi has considered worthy of its US buyers.
The all-road treatment is well known now and the new A6 Avant C8-generation looks particularly sleek. The Allroad has additional black cladding, the optional all-wheel drive and an uplifting 1.8 inch higher drive height than the regular A6, comparable to others, including Volvo’s cross country models. The standard adjustable air suspension provides a small amount of off-road capability with features such as hill-descent control.
If this were to come in the United States, they could expect to power A6 Allroad with the same 3.0-liter turbo-charged V-6 as the A6 sedan (Europeans have several options for diesel engines which will certainly not reach their shores). The prices are expected to start in the low 60k dollar range which fits well with other luxury medium-sized wagons in USA such as the Volvo V90 Cross Country and the Mercedes-Benz E450.
We don’t know when the U.S. strategy for the A6 Allroad will be determined by Audi but we hope it will come soon, and definitely we hope it is a YES.


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Tag Archives for " Drake "
Fully updated second edition of Social Media Promotion For Musicians features everything you need to know to market yourself, your band, or your music online. Includes new chapters on Instagram and Streaming Music Playlist marketing!
If you ever wanted to own a piece of an artist’s music, or have your fans own a piece of yours, it’s now possible thanks to a company called Vetz.co. Vetz has set up a system called an ISO (Initial Song Offering) so that an artist can raise some cash by selling ownership in a […]Continue reading
If you were to pick who the most popular artist was for your State, you’d probably be wrong if you’re over 25 or so. Business Insider wanted to find out about the most popular artist in each State so they looked at the Pandora Radio for a list of the artists whose Pandora “artist stations” […]Continue reading
Here’s the Music Industry News Roundup for the week ending on June 2nd, 2017. This week isn’t so much about blockbuster news as it is about trends in the industry, especially streaming. I’m not so sure that all the trends are in the right direction, though. Let’s get into it. Drake beat a copyright infringement lawsuit. This is […]Continue reading
Here’s the Music Industry News Roundup for the week of March 24th, 2017. Spotify gets a lot of attention because it’s getting serious about its upcoming public offering, but lots of other news as well. Let’s get into it. Spotify is nearing a new licensing deal with the major labels. It’s been out of contract for the […]Continue reading
Here’s the Music Industry News Roundup for the week of December 30th, 2016, the last week of the year. As expected, there hasn’t been much in the way of blockbuster news, but there have been some interesting pieces. Mozart was not #1 in album sales. A story made the rounds that a box set by the […]Continue reading
Here’s the Music Industry News Roundup for the week of December 9th, 2016. There’s a lot of news this week, especially on the streaming side of things, so let’s get right into it. The three major labels experienced growth this year, all thanks to streaming. Many feel that the industry has finally turned the corner on revenue, especially […]Continue reading
Here’s the music industry news roundup from the last week. As always, streaming and streaming services are in the news, but so are a number of huge artists, as well as some cool speculation on the future. Let’s get into it. Apple Music is seriously getting into song lyrics. Reports are that it’s hired a new team […]Continue reading
Here’s some interesting music business news from the last week. There’s a lot going on in the streaming world, but as usual, that’s not all. Warner Music had it’s best quarter in a long time. Streaming agrees with this major label, and it’s up around 14% over the same time last year. Guest what? It’s […]Continue reading

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SAN FRANCISCO—Porter Novelli has named Margaret Abeles vice president of West Coast strategic planning. Based in the firm’s San Francisco office, Abeles role is to ensure that client communications strategies and tactics developed are informed by an understanding of business goals. Prior to her position at Porter Novelli, Abeles was the director of market research for a multi-billion dollar division of the Walt Disney Company where she was a key member of the strategy development team and built its market research department. In addition, Abeles held marketing positions at Armor All Products (acquired by Clorox), Lieberman Research, Yardley of London and USA Today.
SUNNYVALE, CA—Verity, a leading provider of enterprise software that enables organizations to maximize the return on their intellectual capital investment, has promoted Derek van Bronkhorst to vice president, corporate marketing. Van Bronkhorst is responsible for corporate and marketing communications, media and analyst relations, all Web presences and advertising. He joined Verity in 2000 from Flexion Systems, a telecommunications equipment supplier, where he served as vice president of global marketing. Before that he was a corporate communications director with Levi Strauss & Company.
CHICAGO—Susan Schreiber Wolfe has joined Golin/Harris International as a senior vice president. Her responsibilities will include leadership of one of the firm’s largest client relationships, McDonald’s. Wolfe comes to Golin/Harris from the U.S. foods division of PepsiCo beverages and food. While there, she developed and directed communications strategies and tactics targeted for consumer education and marketing programs for brands like Quaker Oatmeal, Life and Cap’n Crunch cereals.
SAN FRANCISCO—Panache Communications, a technology public relations agency based in San Francisco, has hired Kathy Stahlman as account supervisor. Stahlman comes to Panache Communications from @Road, a leading provider of wireless-enabled mobile resource management services. Panache also announced the addition of two new clients: @Road and Marsha Shenk, a business anthropologist, trainer and educator. Panache will provide strategic counsel and specialized public relations services to its two new clients.
BOSTON—Greenough Communications has appointed Stephanie Casey, a founding member of the Greenough team, to executive vice president. Casey will continue to lead the agency’s client service and business development efforts in key markets such as information technology, consumer technology and professional services.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ— Howard Christensen, founder and co-chairman of investor relations firm Christensen, is retiring. The firm will continue to operate under the leadership of Rene Vanguestaine, co-chairman and CEO.
IRVINE, CA—BAX Global, a $2 billion supply chain and transportation solutions provider, has named Marie Kroesen Connell as manager, public relations at its worldwide headquarters. In the recently created position, Kroesen Connell will spearhead public relations and media relations activities throughout 133 countries for BAX.


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The Cannabis Control Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, a new agency tasked with creating guidelines for a legal cannabis industry in the state, has more than doubled the maximum number of plants a grower could produce.
The change in the agency’s draft rules for cannabis producers — boosting the cap to as many as 10,000 plants from 4,500 — came in response to concerns that the lower limit would lead to a supply shortage, especially among patients in the state’s Medical Cannabis Program. Critics cited a potential rush to buy recreational cannabis when the legal market opens, likely sometime in early 2022.
It became legal June 29 for people 21 and older in New Mexico to use, grow and possess limited amounts of cannabis.
That same day, the Cannabis Control Division held a virtual hearing with stakeholders on a set of proposed rules from growers. Based on concerns raised at the hearing, the agency increased the initial maximum plant count for growers to 8,000. Producers also would be able to apply for approval of production increases in increments of 500 plants, with a total cap of 10,000.
Read more at santafenewmexican.com


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Pakistan and Japan have agreed to enhance cooperation in the industrial sector especially the modernization of the local engineering industry. According to the press release, the agreement came during a meeting between Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar and newly-appointed Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Wada Mitsuhiro.
The two discussed the business opportunities for Japanese Automobiles companies under the framework of new automobile policy focusing on localization and making the auto sector export-oriented. The minister said these steps would revolutionize the automobile industry of Pakistan by connecting it to the global supply chain and distribution channels.
During the meeting, both shared the key areas of cooperation in the industrial sector and the modernization of the local engineering industry. The Japanese ambassador shed light on mutual cooperation between JICA and the Ministry of Industries and Production to enhance the export base and suggested a bilateral forum for issuance of certificates for international standards of export goods like auto parts, tires, chemicals, IT & communications and enhancement of engineering development skills.
The meeting ended on a high note that mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Japan would be extended in light of new automobile, SME and existing mobile manufacturing policies and improved ease-of-doing-business steps taken by the government of Pakistan for the industrial sector.
A 3d animation professional with over 20 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations & production facilities of Pakistan, an avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver writings to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com


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Papa John’s preparing to appoint Arby’s President Rob Lynch as its CEO
[CHICAGO] Struggling pizza maker Papa John's International Inc is preparing to appoint Arby's President Rob Lynch as its new chief executive officer, a person with knowledge of the matter said.
Mr Lynch, a fast-food industry veteran, will replace Steve Ritchie, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the information isn't yet public. It's the biggest shakeup yet since activist shareholder Starboard Value set its sights on the pizza company.
Papa John's, which operates about 5,300 locations globally, has been facing slowing sales, with revenue declining 12 per cent in 2018. Founder John Schnatter, whose image had once been deeply ingrained with the company's marketing, agreed earlier this year to resign from the board and dismiss a lawsuit related to his departure last year as chairman. Papa John's woes grew last summer after the founder used a racial slur on a conference call, which he said was taken out of context.
The change in Papa John's management will be made as soon as Tuesday, the person said. Representatives for Papa John's, Arby's and Starboard didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
Starboard has invested US$250 million in Papa John's since February. Jeff Smith, Starboard's CEO, became chairman of the pizza maker when they took the stake. The pizza maker's shares fell 29 per cent in 2018 and 34 per cent in 2017.
Mr Lynch joined Inspire Brands-owned Arby's in 2013 as the roast-beef sandwich chain's chief marketing officer. Before that, he worked at Procter & Gamble Co and Yum! Brands Inc as vice president of brand marketing for Taco Bell. He was appointed president of Arby's in 2017 overseeing marketing, operations and development.
At Arby's, Mr Lynch led the chain's heavy meat-focused marketing and bold ad campaigns that poked fun at vegetarians. Arby's has more than 3,300 restaurants across the world. In 2014, Arby's hit social-media marketing gold when it started a back-and-forth with recording artist Pharrell Williams over Twitter over his hat, which resembles the restaurant chain's logo.
"We luckily got our first big win just from being tuned in when we saw Pharrell wearing an ‘Arby's hat' at the Grammys! We quickly sent a tweet to Pharrell, and our conversation went viral," Mr Lynch said in an interview with Marketing Land.
Starboard is known for its turnaround of Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants Inc. Mr Smith's proxy fight to replace Darden's directors included a nearly 300-page Power Point presentation that called for several specific changes at the Italian-dining chain, including adding salt to the water when cooking pasta. Mr Smith took over as chairman of Darden and the company embarked on an effort to improve its lagging performance that included spinning off its real-estate portfolio.
Mr Ritchie, Mr Schnatter's one-time protege, took over the role of Papa John's CEO in January 2018 when his boss stepped down. That came a few months after Mr Schnatter went after the NFL for its handling of football players dropping to one knee in protest during the national anthem.
Papa John's, battered by steep competition from pizza competitors and the explosion of food delivery options, recently announced former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal as an investor. Same-store sales fell 5.7 per cent in the latest quarter in North America. To keep struggling franchisees from going out of business, the company has been offering them royalty reductions and funding for advertising.
Mr Schnatter, long the largest shareholder, has been reducing his stake in Papa John's.


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A worker sorts out parcels in the outbound dock at Amazon fulfillment center in Eastvale, California on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.
Watchara Phomicinda | MediaNews Group | The Riverside Press-Enterprise via Getty Images
Amazon‘s top executive overseeing workplace health and safety is leaving the company next month, CNBC has learned.
Heather MacDougall, who joined Amazon in 2019 from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, is departing the company on Oct. 7, according to a memo that John Felton, Amazon’s head of operations, wrote to employees on Monday.
“After building with us for over three years as an important member of our leadership team, Heather has decided to pursue other opportunities outside Amazon,” Felton wrote in the memo, which was viewed by CNBC. “I want to thank her for her many contributions, and I wish her well on the next step in her journey.”
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed MacDougall’s departure.
MacDougall oversaw the health and safety of Amazon’s global workforce of 1.5 million-plus employees at a crucial period. In early 2020, as Covid-19 was spreading rapidly, causing businesses and office buildings to temporarily shutter, Amazon’s warehouse and delivery employees continued to report to work as consumer demand soared for rapid delivery.
Employees criticized the company’s coronavirus response, arguing it wasn’t doing enough to protect them on the job, and Amazon has faced widespread scrutiny over the injury rates in its warehouses. Workers, labor groups and lawmakers have complained that the company prioritizes speed over safety, which puts employees at a higher risk of injury than rivals. Workplace safety concerns are one major impetus behind the recent organizing wave at Amazon warehouses.
Amazon has disputed reports of unsafe working conditions. During MacDougall’s tenure, the company set ambitious goals to reduce injuries, including a plan to cut recordable incident rates, an OSHA measurement covering injury and illness, by half by 2025. Last year Amazon committed to become “Earth’s Best Employer,” adding it to its list of corporate values, even as labor unrest intensified.
Prior to her tenure at Amazon, MacDougall served two terms as the head of the OSHRC, a federal agency charged with reviewing workplace health and safety disputes between employers and the Labor Department. She was appointed to lead the agency by the Obama administration in 2013.
MacDougall also forged ties with high-profile safety organizations to burnish Amazon’s safety image. In June 2021, Amazon and the National Safety Council announced a partnership to target the reduction of sprains and strains commonly suffered by warehouse workers.
Becky Gansert, who serves as vice president of global specialty fulfillment, will replace MacDougall as head of global workplace health and safety. Gansert will also oversee Amazon’s learning and development teams, which are charged with “improving the everyday experience” of warehouse and delivery workers, among other tasks.
“Safety and the overall associate experience are priorities that are intricately linked, and Becky is uniquely qualified to move us forward with both,” Felton said.
Image and article originally from www.cnbc.com. Read the original article here.


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KANSAS CITY, MO. — Fertilizer may have been thought of by some as a four-letter word in the past, but this year that word is H-E-L-P due to tight supplies and soaring prices. Supplies, or lack thereof, are driving crop production costs upward and may impact planted area in 2022, especially for corn with its high fertilizer (nitrogen) requirements and a high breakeven point.
Several factors have combined to limit supplies and inflate prices of nitrogen, the primary fertilizer applied to “grassy” crops such as corn and wheat, as well as other key fertilizers, including phosphorus and potassium (potash). Fertilizer production in the region responsible for 60% of US ammonia (nitrogen) output was disrupted last winter by arctic weather across the South and in late summer by Hurricane Ida. Prices of natural gas, a primary input that accounts for about 80% of the variable cost of nitrogen fertilizer, have skyrocketed. Key producing countries have curbed production and exports. Soaring freight costs and logistics snarls have added to the disruption in the fertilizer industry.
Global prices of nitrogen in November exceeded $1,000 per tonne for the first time ever, according to Reuters. The cost to produce a ton of ammonia (a popular form of nitrogen fertilizer) currently is $1,000 compared with $110 last summer, Svein Tore Holsether, chief executive officer of Oslo, Norway-based fertilizer maker Yara International, told Fortune magazine on the sidelines of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Yara has reduced its ammonia production by 40% since September due to high energy costs.
Holsether and others have warned that global high prices and tight supplies of fertilizer will contribute to rising food price inflation and may result in global food shortages in the coming year. Global food prices were at a 10-year high in October, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Financial Times noted in a recent column that the last time fertilizer prices spiked like this year was in 2008. But the difference this year is in some parts of the world climate policy has limited funds available to expand natural gas production, which was the supply “bailout” in the past.
Nitrogen fertilizer sales in 2020 were $53 billion globally and are at least 80% higher this year, according to Argus Media. In Nov. 3 testimony at a House Agriculture Committee hearing on “The Immediate Challenges to our Nation’s Food Supply Chain,” Corey Rosenbusch, president and chief executive officer of The Fertilizer Institute, stressed that the fertilizer situation must be “considered within a global context.”
“Nearly 44% of all fertilizers produced globally are exported,” Rosenbusch said. “Moving this material from production facilities to farms requires virtually every mode of transportation.”
Disruptions in countries that are major fertilizer producers, such as Belarus for potash and China for phosphate and nitrogen, affect the global fertilizer supply chain even if they are not major suppliers to the United States, he said. China, which accounts for about a third of the global supply of urea nitrogen fertilizer, has banned phosphate and urea exports until June 2022 after reducing or stopping production to conserve electricity.
Farmers in some countries, including India, have turned to the black market in some cases to secure fertilizer at exorbitant prices, according to industry reports. In the United States, farmers likely won’t turn to the fertilizer black market, but they certainly will be affected.
StoneX recently indicated wholesale anhydrous ammonia nitrogen prices in the Midwest in October had risen about 65% in just over a month’s time. As with most things market related, there are disagreements about how farmers will respond to fertilizer prices. Some expect plantings of corn will decrease because of its high demand for nitrogen. But others note that current high commodity prices, along with limitations from crop rotation schedules, will constrain switching from corn to other crops like soybeans, wheat or cotton. Still others see corn acres increasing in 2022 due to high market prices. Some expect fertilizer supplies will increase and prices will ease in 2022 as the supply chain improves and energy prices level out.
Although nitrogen supplies appear adequate for fall application, a period when many farmers choose to apply the fertilizer rather than cramming another path across fields along with soil preparation and planting in the spring, many growers have delayed purchases due to high prices. At the same time, some farm input sellers have limited forward sales of nitrogen fertilizers due to uncertainty about availability and prices a few months down the road.
The US Department of Agriculture in its initial long-range projections issued in early November (to be revised at the Agricultural Outlook Forum in February 2022) forecast 2022 corn planted area at 92 million acres, down 1.3 million acres from 2021 but up 1.3 million acres from 2020. Soybean planted area was forecast at 87.5 million acres, up 300,000 acres from 2021 and up 4.1 million acres from 2020. Total wheat planted area was projected at 49 million acres, up 2.3 million acres from 2021 and up 4.5 million acres from 2020.
Steve Freed, ADM Investor Services, Inc., Chicago, said he was hearing that most farmers will plant their normal crop rotation in 2022, noting that growers are in “pretty good financial position” after this year’s strong crop prices. Some predict the cost per acre to produce corn may rise by a third or more due mainly to high fertilizer prices, assuming farmers can get supplies.
Read more about supply chain topics affecting the industry on our Operations page.


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Oct 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. economic recovery will slow down if unemployed Americans and struggling businesses do not receive more assistance, Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said on Thursday.
Thousands more businesses could fail if they do not get more support, Kashkari said during a virtual discussion organized by New York University Stern Center for Global Economy and Business.
The financial pain felt by jobless consumers who are struggling to pay their bills could also spill over to other parts of the economy, Kashkari said. (Reporting by Jonnelle Marte Editing by Chris Reese)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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- Promotion of energy conservation and renewable energy use
- Joint development of A2W software
Osaka, Japan — Panasonic Corporation has announced that its Heating & Ventilation A/C Company will launch a business alliance with tado°, a German energy control solution company, for the development of software for Panasonic’s air-to-water (A2W) heat pumps, and for proposals and sales of the two companies’ products and services. Through this agreement, Panasonic will enhance the efficiency of A2W operations, assist customers in reducing their energy costs, and promote decarbonization.
There is strong interest in Europe in environmental conservation and measures against climate change, leading to an increased focus on energy-saving measures and energy management. A2W, which warms indoor spaces by circulating hot water produced through the collection of atmospheric heat, is capable of producing fewer CO2 emissions than heating equipment that uses fossil fuels. Demand for A2W has been growing due to the benefits of its low environmental load.
In 2008, Panasonic launched sales of Aquarea, a residential A2W system developed based on energy-saving technologies accumulated through Eco Cute and air conditioners. Aquarea can sustain heating performance in cold climates1 and is suitable for cooling in warm climates. The company has made efforts to broaden its product lineup and was the first Japanese manufacturer to release products adopting a natural refrigerant in May 2023.
The Panasonic’s alliance partner tado° is an industry-leading energy control solution company established in Munich, Germany in 2011. It manufactures and sells Smart Thermostats for connecting air-conditioning equipment, including heating appliances, to the Internet and provides services enabling remote control with mobile applications and supporting energy consumption reduction. Connecting the company’s Smart Thermostats to indoor heating and cooling units, such as radiators, makes it possible to remotely adjust temperatures, monitor usage conditions, and efficiently operate equipment in a range of different conditions, including varying weather and equipment usage patterns. tado° also sells electric power generated from renewable energy. The company concurrently provides solutions for energy cost reduction2 by encouraging customers to use electric power during off-peak hours.
Based on the business alliance, Panasonic will link its A2W to tado°’s Smart Thermostat to enable remote temperature control of indoor units such as radiators, in addition to the A2W main unit installed outdoors. The company will be also able to provide services that allow optimal heating and cooling operations via machine learning based on weather forecasts and customers’ usage patterns. Panasonic will help customers reduce their energy costs and contribute to decarbonization by promoting suggestions for operating equipment using electric power generated from renewable energy at more affordable rates.
Panasonic plans to launch the proposal of solutions that combine its A2W and services provided by tado° by the end of this year in Germany and Italy, and is considering the joint development of software dedicated to its A2W, which will enable additional energy conservation in the future.
Masaharu Michiura, President of the Heating & Ventilation A/C Company, stated that they would contribute to balancing comfortable lifestyles with a sustainable global environment through the business alliance, and further accelerate the ongoing Panasonic GREEN IMPACT initiatives across the Panasonic Group.
Christian Deilmann, the founder of tado°, commented, “I am delighted with our collaboration with Panasonic, a venerable company with a leading market share in the European A2W industry. I am confident that the collaboration between the two companies will be a significant step toward fulfilling our companies’ mission to accelerate the transition to green energy in Europe.”
Panasonic will continue to endeavor to create comfortable and environmentally conscious spaces.
¹ Models equipped with Panasonic’s unique T-CAP technology
² A system called a “dynamic tariff” that varies electric power prices in real time in response to changes in the balance between supply and demand


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Spa days, manicures and even hotels are increasingly popular for pets in Việt Nam. More and more owners are splashing out on five-star treatments for their four-legged companions, and it sure works a treat for these happy animals.
Speaking at a press conference about the event, Japanese Ambassador to Việt Nam Yamada Takio said that the current relationship between Japan and Việt Nam is at its best time, not only in terms of the economy but also in sharing cultural similarities.
Journalist Nguyễn Bông Mai has recently inspired many people in Hà Nội with her photo exhibition titled Dám Sống Một Cuộc Đời Rực Rỡ (Dare to Live a Brilliant Life), which features her journey throughout Việt Nam to gather information and images on traditional costumes of ethnic groups.
The exhibition, titled 'Nghệ Sĩ Là Chiến Sĩ' (When Artists Became Soldiers), presents a unique occasion for aficionados of art to marvel at the masterpieces created by illustrious artists, including graduates from the renowned Indochina School of Fine Arts.


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It looks like Android phones have made a “kill” in the Smartphone market. This has effectively nosed down the iPhone in the top ten Smartphone ranking for the 2nd quarter ending. With Android phones sales gaining momentum each month since 2009, it might be possible that the Android phone’s reign over iPhone might not be just for this quarter.
A recent survey from the Nielsen Company shows that the Android phone has indeed surpassed iPhone sales during the 2nd quarter this year. In the US mobile phone market, Android phones got ahead by gaining a 27% share of the market, while iPhone only has 23% of the market share. In comparison to these Smartphone giants the RIM blackberry still holds the top spot with 33% market share.
Over the past six months, Android’s popularity has risen from six percent on the last quarter of 2009. Back then, Android phones were only peeking from under Windows Mobile’s not so distinct figures. From being third most popular last quarter, Windows mobile has gone down a notch with very disappointing figures set at eleven percent this quarter losing almost nine percent of the market share during the course of six months.
Some might argue that Apple’s figures might well change in the next quarter. This quarter, Apple was really set-up to lose since only a portion of the new iPhone 4 is reflected. After all iPhone 4 was just released almost at the end of June.
When it comes to loyalty though, iPhone still leads the way with ninety percent of its users pledging allegiance to its OS. Moreover, Android and Blackberry has seventy percent and forty-two percent loyalty ratings respectively. The same argument might be said about figures for iPhone 4 about it just being released a week shy of the end of the quarter. Recent publicity coups have had Apple scrambling to quiet down enraged clientele with the “grip of death” iPhone problem.
On a worldwide scale, a survey from Canalys has shown Android shipments hitting a rise of 886% second quarter this year. Androids market share during the first quarter was just around 2.8 percent, and that considerably grew to 17.1 percent in just three months. Nokia Symbian still leads worldwide shipments with a share of 43.5 percent and RIM Blackberry a far second with 18 percent. Apple’s share remains almost static at 13.7 percent. This effectively lets Android take the third spot from Apple’s iPhone
Canalys’ data also show that Android phones have taken almost 34% of the US market with 851% growth making Android phones the largest smart phone platform in the country. Asian sales also look hopeful for Android phones. According Canalys Senior Analyst, Ty Lau, there is an increasing demand for Android phones in China and Korea markets as more and more users are appreciating feature-packed smartphones. In China alone, an impressive number of 475, 000 units have been ordered during the second quarter. And to think that just a year ago not a single unit was present in the country.
The number’s race seem more important to the manufacturers than to the users. These numbers will feed the frenzy of excellence and creativity as one company tries to beat the other in convincing users that they have what you need. For now these figures are dancing to Android phones’ tune.


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Seattle has its coffee; San Francisco has its chocolate. So, you’d have to be unapologetically unaware not to notice the artisanal chocolate surge here in the city — and another sweet shop will be hitting the streets in one of San Francisco buzziest hoods, no less! Owned by cocoa enthusiast Chuck Siegel, Charles Chocolates is tucked away on Florida Street (just a jump from local Mission favorites Salumeria, Trick Dog, and Central Kitchen), in the former Potrero Brewing Company location.
The 7,600-square-foot factory serves up a smorgasbord of chocolate truffles, mendicants, hot cocoa, cookies, brownies, and layered cakes all under one roof. We're more than happy to welcome the roll out — it's been almost two years since Siegel’s Emeryville location shuttered, and now he's back with an expansive new venue that boasts daily tours and a palatial patio. Charles Chocolates will officially swing open this Friday, March 15 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., so get your sweet tooth ready!
Photo: Courtesy of Charles Chocolates


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In Indian market, Samsung has announced the launch of its new Android based smart phone named, Samsung i899 Galaxy. Samsung has already launched the device in US, Europe and China. Samsung i899 Galaxy has stylish looks and is expected to appeal the Indian customers. The Samsung has tied up with Reliance Communication to offer the device on its CDMA network in the country.
Feature of Samsung i899 Galaxy:
- It has a 3.2 inches resistive touch screen with a resolution of 480×480.
- It also features a 3.2MP camera with LED flash.
- It comes with an internal memory of 230MB which can be expanded up to 32GB with a microSD card slot.
- It offers WI-FI and Bluetooth connectivity and for navigation it offers GPRS support.
- It weighs only 128 grams and is available in black color.


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|By Marketwired .||
|January 7, 2013 10:16 AM EST||
GENEVA and TAIPEI, TAIWAN -- (Marketwire) -- 01/07/13 -- The era of the smart, connected home that offers its occupants a greener, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable lifestyle has been brought closer through a unique collaboration announced today by STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and Tatung, a leading electronics company for smart-home solutions. Working together, the two companies have developed an array of smart-home appliances that can be interconnected to form a smart-home ecosystem.
The products, implemented by Tatung using a variety of platforms and reference designs developed by ST, are designed to leverage the popular HomePlug powerline communication (PLC) protocols and hybrid networks. The HomePlug technology transforms ordinary electric wires into a high-speed communication network available in every power outlet. Hybrid networks are based on the emerging IEEE 1905.1 standard and allow devices to take advantage of all available communication media including HomePlug and WiFi. Illustrating the huge range of creative possibilities open to smart-home equipment designers, one of the products demonstrated is an innovative combination of a remotely-controllable LED room light, a networked loudspeaker, and a WiFi access point in a single unit.
All of the modules are based on a unique intelligent communication hub/gateway System-on-Chip (SoC) technology from ST that is the first in the world to integrate both the powerline modem and a powerful applications processor based on an ARM926EJ-S core running at 330MHz. Because the connected homes of the future will leverage many wired and wireless communication technologies, ST's new hub/gateway solution was designed to support the emerging IEEE P1905.1 standard.
For the initial roll-out, ST has worked with Tatung to develop some prototype products that could be easily commercialized and customized and/or branded by Tatung for other OEMs. This family of HomePlug powerline-enabled products, all targeting smart-home applications, includes a smart meter, a smart plug capable of controlling and measuring the electrical product plugged into it and its power consumption, and video surveillance cameras supporting H.264 and MJPEG video streaming. Additional products include a smart-Home Services Gateway supporting HomePlug, ZigBee, WiFi, NFC, and other communication standards, a smart In-Home Display, a Touch Control Panel, and a revolutionary LED Light, Speaker, and WiFi Access Point.
"This ecosystem of connected products brings the "Internet of Things" into the smart home, enabling the convergence of energy management, entertainment, surveillance and monitoring, and other functions such as Electric Vehicle charging," said Matteo Lo Presti, STMicroelectronics Group VP and Industrial and Power Conversion General Manager. "We believe that working with a strong and well-known OEM such as Tatung will accelerate the market availability of products that leverage the unique combination of PLC modem and powerful application processor in a single SoC solution."
By combining entertainment, energy management and other applications via low-cost, reliable and secure connectivity, smart-home products such as the ones that will be shown in Las Vegas will make it easier for consumers to control their homes and reduce their energy bills. The user interface can span across many screens in the home, including smart phones and tablets, TVs, computers, and dedicated In-Home Displays. In the demonstration, all of the smart-home products communicate with the main home gateway that is based on ST's leading-edge STiH416 connected-home System-on-Chip device and Linux/OSGi (Open Services Gateway Initiative), which provides a future-proof, scalable, and secure platform for the delivery of entertainment, information, social and home services.
"The convergence of Home Automation, Energy Management, and Infotainment creates exciting opportunities to develop new types of products, from essential smart-home building blocks such as smart plugs, to innovative functional combinations such the LED/Loudspeaker/WiFi unit," said W. Y. Lin, President of Tatung. "This collaboration will enable OEMs to bring innovative new ST-enabled smart-home products to market as quickly and cost-effectively as possible."
Initially implemented in Tatung's prototype smart-home products, ST's new intelligent communication hub/gateway technology will be available on the open market later in 2013.
ST is a global leader in the semiconductor market serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power and automotive products and embedded processing solutions. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented.
In 2011, the Company's net revenues were $9.73 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
About Tatung (www.tatung.com)
As the company that best represents Taiwan by media's choice, Tatung Company has three business groups covering power related business, consumer electronics, and system integration. The Company focuses particularly on the development of advanced technologies and global network of operation. Specializing in serving branded customers on a global basis, Tatung offers its customers tremendous advantages on cost, speed, and seamless backend support.
With smart home solutions and smart grid applications, Tatung demonstrates its synergy on home area networking (HAN) and energy management to make it affordable and complete. Its cutting-edge new products include PLC module, machine-to-machine bridge, smart plug with HomePlug & ZigBee, smart meter with command & control, in-home display, surveillance camera, and addressable LED lighting speaker.
Research and development collaborations between the Company and Tatung University also lay a solid foundation for Tatung to yield advancement and excellence.
ST and Tatung Smart Home: http://hugin.info/152740/R/1668562/541788.pdf
ST and Tatung Smart Home_IMAGE: http://hugin.info/152740/R/1668562/541789.jpg
SYS-CON Events announced today that HPM Networks will exhibit at the 17th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. For 20 years, HPM Networks has been integrating technology solutions that solve complex business challenges. HPM Networks has designed solutions for both SMB and enterprise customers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sep. 5, 2015 01:30 AM EDT Reads: 987
All major researchers estimate there will be tens of billions devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, and sensors - connected to the Internet by 2020. This number will continue to grow at a rapid pace for the next several decades. With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing IoT strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @ThingsExpo, November 3-5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is as "IoT-Ready" as it can be.
Sep. 5, 2015 01:00 AM EDT Reads: 247
SYS-CON Events announced today that Pythian, a global IT services company specializing in helping companies leverage disruptive technologies to optimize revenue-generating systems, has been named “Bronze Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 17th Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Founded in 1997, Pythian is a global IT services company that helps companies compete by adopting disruptive technologies such as cloud, Big Data, advanced analytics, and DevOps to advance innovation and increase agility. Specializing in designing, imple...
Sep. 5, 2015 01:00 AM EDT Reads: 403
Too often with compelling new technologies market participants become overly enamored with that attractiveness of the technology and neglect underlying business drivers. This tendency, what some call the “newest shiny object syndrome,” is understandable given that virtually all of us are heavily engaged in technology. But it is also mistaken. Without concrete business cases driving its deployment, IoT, like many other technologies before it, will fade into obscurity.
Sep. 4, 2015 06:45 PM EDT Reads: 456
With the proliferation of connected devices underpinning new Internet of Things systems, Brandon Schulz, Director of Luxoft IoT – Retail, will be looking at the transformation of the retail customer experience in brick and mortar stores in his session at @ThingsExpo. Questions he will address include: Will beacons drop to the wayside like QR codes, or be a proximity-based profit driver? How will the customer experience change in stores of all types when everything can be instrumented and analyzed? As an area of investment, how might a retail company move towards an innovation methodolo...
Sep. 4, 2015 04:15 PM EDT Reads: 534
Contrary to mainstream media attention, the multiple possibilities of how consumer IoT will transform our everyday lives aren’t the only angle of this headline-gaining trend. There’s a huge opportunity for “industrial IoT” and “Smart Cities” to impact the world in the same capacity – especially during critical situations. For example, a community water dam that needs to release water can leverage embedded critical communications logic to alert the appropriate individuals, on the right device, as soon as they are needed to take action.
Sep. 4, 2015 04:00 PM EDT
Manufacturing connected IoT versions of traditional products requires more than multiple deep technology skills. It also requires a shift in mindset, to realize that connected, sensor-enabled “things” act more like services than what we usually think of as products. In his session at @ThingsExpo, David Friedman, CEO and co-founder of Ayla Networks, will discuss how when sensors start generating detailed real-world data about products and how they’re being used, smart manufacturers can use the data to create additional revenue streams, such as improved warranties or premium features. Or slash...
Sep. 4, 2015 04:00 PM EDT
WebRTC services have already permeated corporate communications in the form of videoconferencing solutions. However, WebRTC has the potential of going beyond and catalyzing a new class of services providing more than calls with capabilities such as mass-scale real-time media broadcasting, enriched and augmented video, person-to-machine and machine-to-machine communications. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Luis Lopez, CEO of Kurento, will introduce the technologies required for implementing these ideas and some early experiments performed in the Kurento open source software community in areas ...
Sep. 4, 2015 03:45 PM EDT Reads: 150
While many app developers are comfortable building apps for the smartphone, there is a whole new world out there. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Narayan Sainaney, Co-founder and CTO of Mojio, will discuss how the business case for connected car apps is growing and, with open platform companies having already done the heavy lifting, there really is no barrier to entry.
Sep. 4, 2015 03:00 PM EDT Reads: 230
As more intelligent IoT applications shift into gear, they’re merging into the ever-increasing traffic flow of the Internet. It won’t be long before we experience bottlenecks, as IoT traffic peaks during rush hours. Organizations that are unprepared will find themselves by the side of the road unable to cross back into the fast lane. As billions of new devices begin to communicate and exchange data – will your infrastructure be scalable enough to handle this new interconnected world?
Sep. 4, 2015 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 275
The Internet of Things is in the early stages of mainstream deployment but it promises to unlock value and rapidly transform how organizations manage, operationalize, and monetize their assets. IoT is a complex structure of hardware, sensors, applications, analytics and devices that need to be able to communicate geographically and across all functions. Once the data is collected from numerous endpoints, the challenge then becomes converting it into actionable insight.
Sep. 4, 2015 12:30 PM EDT Reads: 123
SYS-CON Events announced today that Micron Technology, Inc., a global leader in advanced semiconductor systems, will exhibit at the 17th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Micron’s broad portfolio of high-performance memory technologies – including DRAM, NAND and NOR Flash – is the basis for solid state drives, modules, multichip packages and other system solutions. Backed by more than 35 years of technology leadership, Micron's memory solutions enable the world's most innovative computing, consumer,...
Sep. 4, 2015 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 298
With the Apple Watch making its way onto wrists all over the world, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a staple in the workplace. In fact, Forrester reported that 68 percent of technology and business decision-makers characterize wearables as a top priority for 2015. Recognizing their business value early on, FinancialForce.com was the first to bring ERP to wearables, helping streamline communication across front and back office functions. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Kevin Roberts, GM of Platform at FinancialForce.com, will discuss the value of business applications on wearable ...
Sep. 4, 2015 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 114
SYS-CON Events announced today that IceWarp will exhibit at the 17th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 3–5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. IceWarp, the leader of cloud and on-premise messaging, delivers secured email, chat, documents, conferencing and collaboration to today's mobile workforce, all in one unified interface
Sep. 4, 2015 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 504
As more and more data is generated from a variety of connected devices, the need to get insights from this data and predict future behavior and trends is increasingly essential for businesses. Real-time stream processing is needed in a variety of different industries such as Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Automobile, Finance, Online Retail, Smart Grids, and Healthcare. Azure Stream Analytics is a fully managed distributed stream computation service that provides low latency, scalable processing of streaming data in the cloud with an enterprise grade SLA. It features built-in integration with Azur...
Sep. 4, 2015 11:45 AM EDT Reads: 404
17th Cloud Expo, taking place Nov 3-5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world. Cloud computing is now being embraced by a majority of enterprises of all sizes. Yesterday's debate about public vs. private has transformed into the reality of hybrid cloud: a recent survey shows that 74% of enterprises have a hybrid cloud strategy. Meanwhile, 94% of enterprises are using some form of XaaS – software, platform, and infrastructure as a service.
Sep. 4, 2015 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,620
SYS-CON Events announced today the Containers & Microservices Bootcamp, being held November 3-4, 2015, in conjunction with 17th Cloud Expo, @ThingsExpo, and @DevOpsSummit at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. This is your chance to get started with the latest technology in the industry. Combined with real-world scenarios and use cases, the Containers and Microservices Bootcamp, led by Janakiram MSV, a Microsoft Regional Director, will include presentations as well as hands-on demos and comprehensive walkthroughs.
Sep. 4, 2015 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 435
SYS-CON Events announced today that the "Second Containers & Microservices Expo" will take place November 3-5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Containers and microservices have become topics of intense interest throughout the cloud developer and enterprise IT communities.
Sep. 4, 2015 10:45 AM EDT Reads: 668
Akana has announced the availability of the new Akana Healthcare Solution. The API-driven solution helps healthcare organizations accelerate their transition to being secure, digitally interoperable businesses. It leverages the Health Level Seven International Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (HL7 FHIR) standard to enable broader business use of medical data. Akana developed the Healthcare Solution in response to healthcare businesses that want to increase electronic, multi-device access to health records while reducing operating costs and complying with government regulations.
Sep. 4, 2015 09:30 AM EDT Reads: 338
Containers are not new, but renewed commitments to performance, flexibility, and agility have propelled them to the top of the agenda today. By working without the need for virtualization and its overhead, containers are seen as the perfect way to deploy apps and services across multiple clouds. Containers can handle anything from file types to operating systems and services, including microservices. What are microservices? Unlike what the name implies, microservices are not necessarily small, but are focused on specific tasks. The ability for developers to deploy multiple containers – thous...
Sep. 4, 2015 09:00 AM EDT Reads: 220


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Internal industry figures show hotels in Dublin city center are facing a catastrophic summer, with average occupancy rates of around 13% only forecast for the peak of the summer based on current reservations.
This contrasts with hotels in many areas outside the capital which have seen an increase in bookings since the sector reopened on June 2 and domestic tourism resumed.
Hoteliers and their representatives have criticized the government’s decision this week to impose strict quarantine measures even on vaccinated travelers from Britain in their efforts to slow down the more transmissible variant of the delta virus, which originated in India .
The joint travel zone with the UK effectively remains suspended on this side of the Irish Sea, as vaccinated UK travelers must quarantine themselves in their accommodation for five days, while those not fully vaccinated must isolate yourself for 10 days.
Dublin hotels, by far the hardest hit in the industry during the pandemic, were counting on an increase in UK visitors to save some trade in the coming months. The relative importance of British visitors is more pronounced in the capital, with domestic tourists more likely to leave Dublin.
That hope has now been dashed by stricter-than-expected rules announced this week following meetings between the government and public health officials. Vaccinated UK visitors were expected to be spared isolation or quarantine requirements when international travel resumes on July 19.
The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) called the measures a “blow” to the city’s hotels. Paul Gallagher, general manager of the Buswells Hotel, a well-known political haunt near Leinster House, said vaccinated travelers “should have the freedom” to visit without restriction.
“The quarantine measures are like telling even vaccinated British visitors not to come. On a list of things to do when traveling to Dublin, staying alone in your hotel room for five days isn’t very high, ”he said.
Figures released to the industry by data research firm STR illustrate the shortage of bookings in the capital. Earlier this week, less than one in four hotel rooms were expected to be occupied this weekend among a sample of the city’s more than 40 hotels.
No pickup is evident for school closings. On most days in July, fewer than one in 10 hotel rooms are booked in the city. This jumps up to mid-to-late teens in percentage terms on Friday and Saturday nights.
There is a slight increase for the month of August. Even so, Dublin hotels are booked for less than a fifth on most weekend nights. Average bookings are 13% over the next 28 and 90 days.
Mr Gallagher said five-star hotels would perform better as domestic tourists indulge in luxury nights.
He said Dublin hotels were burning money by rehiring staff they didn’t need to avoid staff shortages after the pandemic.
The IHF said the new UK restrictions come “at a time when Dublin hotels already have occupancy levels at historic lows”.
“This is a very worrying development, especially given the increasing level of demand in recent weeks for travel to Ireland from our nearest neighbor.”


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[Sponsored Report] Memorandum signed with Chinese free trade zone
Officials from Korea’s Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone (BJFEZ) and northeastern China’s Quingdao Free Trade Zone (QDFTZ) signed a memorandum of understanding to support cooperation on foreign direct investment and other important trade issues between the two countries on Dec. 26.
Established in 1992 and operated by the Chinese government, the QDFTZ is located in China’s coastal Shandong Province and hosts 40 businesses from the list of Fortune 500 companies. In total, more than 4,000 companies operate in the zone in a variety of fields, including the technology, distribution and manufacturing industries.
The newly minted agreement between the two zones will provide administrative support for companies of one zone when they invest in the other and calls for exchanges of officials from the two countries and sharing of economic information that should prove helpful to all parties involved.
The head of the QDFTZ voiced hopes that the new agreement between the two countries will be beneficial to both parties.
And in anticipation of a potential free trade agreement between Korea and China, the two zones will conduct research together on the possible impact of such an agreement so that they will be prepared should one ever come into force.
Recently, Korea has entered into FTAs with the United States and the European Union, and given the large volume of trade between Korea and China, some see an FTA with the Chinese government as the next logical step.
Officials from the BJFEZ plan to sign MOUs in the future with business areas in other parts of China, such as Guangzhou and Jilin, in order to strengthen efforts to promote investment in emerging markets and attract further investment from Chinese firms who want to do business in Korea.
By Lee Ji-hyun [firstname.lastname@example.org]


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RALEIGH, NC (WNCN) – Freshpet is recalling dog food sold at retailers in 12 states and Puerto Rico due to possible salmonella contamination.
According to a recall notice issued by FreshPet, the recall involves a 4.5-pound bag of FreshPet Select Fresh from Kitchen dog food — specifically, the “Home Cooked Chicken Recipe” variety — with an “sell by” date of October 29, 2022. Inc., and shared by the Food and Drug Administration.
Affected dog food may have been sold at some Walmart locations in Alabama and Georgia, as well as Target locations and other stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia. Puerto Rico as advertised.
The recall notice warns of risks for humans and animals. The advisory states that children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk when handling products contaminated with Salmonella.
Freshpet Inc. said it has received no reports of “sickness, injury or adverse reaction” as a result of possible contamination.
Walmart is removing MyPillow products from stores
People who may be infected with Salmonella should contact a doctor or nurse if they experience any of the following symptoms:
- Stomach cramps
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infected people may experience bloody stools or signs of dehydration, in addition to more severe symptoms.
Dogs with a Salmonella infection may experience symptoms of diarrhea, fever, vomiting or lethargy, the recall notice added. Dogs with salmonella can also infect other animals or people.
Anyone who has fed the recalled product to a pet who has later shown symptoms of salmonella poisoning is urged to contact a veterinarian.
Owners of the recalled dog food are instructed to dispose of the product.
“No other Freshpet products or lot numbers are affected by this recall,” the company said.
Concerned customers can contact Freshpet on the company’s website or by calling 1.800.85.0563.


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Bicycles with automatic gearshift are ready to roll
- Steve Wilhelm
- Staff Writer
After more than 20 years of development, the inventors of the Browning SmartShift automatic transmission are finally bringing their device onto the market.
This spring several small bicycle manufacturers are introducing bicycles featuring the transmission, said Marc Browning, chairman and CEO of Bellevue-based Browning Component Inc. Most of these are a new genre of bicycles known as "comfort bikes," favored by aging boomers because they're set up to be ridden gently, with upright seats and soft suspensions.
The new models include Grisley Metropole, a commuter bike made by the Grisley bicycle company of Salt Lake City; an upright bike being launched by Lynnwood-based Advanced Transportation Products Inc., which also makes the well-known Vision recumbents; and a high-end bike being launched by R & E Cycles, a prominent bike shop in Seattle's University District.
"I'm very much a believer it will open up cycling to other people," Browning said, "The smaller players have been the early adopters."
A key question will be if there are enough bike riders willing to pay a premium for a bicycle that shifts gears automatically, instead of manually.
On the skeptical side is Michael Gamsetter, editor in chief of Bicycle Retailer Industry News, published in Laguna Beach, Calif.
Gamsetter likes the SmartShift technology and said there's a potential market for a bicycle automatic transmission because many potential customers "have a phobia" about shifting gears on a normal bicycle derailleur.
But Gamsetter said he's dubious many consumers will pay much extra for an automatic-transmission bicycle, at a time when most bicycles, other than expensive high-performance models, are sold as commodities and mass-produced in Asia.
"Product managers are reluctant to introduce $700 bikes for mom and dad to ride around the neighborhood on," he said.
But Peter Grisley, owner of Grisley Bicycle Co. in Salt Lake City, is enthusiastic about prospects for his new line of Browning-equipped "Metropole" bicycles. He will receive his first shipment of the bikes from Taiwan this year, and believes the price of the Browning transmission will drop as volumes rise.
"I think it's a huge potential market. I'm betting on it," he said. "I think that's greatest thing I've seen in the bicycle market in five or 10 years."
Browning expects Browning Component will win $3 million in sales this year, up from $30,000 in 2001, increasing to $16 million by 2004.
While the bicycle industry is in a slump now, following the waning of the mountain-bike craze, Browning expects his company's technology, and a new generation of more comfortable bikes, could bring a return to growth.
"I believe very strongly that the bike industry is a good place to place money, and it has a tremendous future," he said.
The transmission itself works very smoothly. At its heart is a mechanism, in the restructured rear cog and front chain ring, that moves the chain to a next gear even under full pressure from a rider. The device is driven by a tiny logic chip, and powered by a small battery. It either shifts automatically in response to pedal speed, or can be shifted manually.
Marc is one of the sons of inventor Bruce Browning, who invented the transmission. Bruce is in turn an heir to the fortune of Marc's great grandfather Jonathan Browning, who made firearms. Several of Marc's siblings also work for the company, and it has been largely backed by the Browning fortune.
"Their patience is incredible,"' Gamsetter said. "There's no way it could have been done if funded by the outside."
Reach Steve Wilhelm at 206-447-8505 ext. 113 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Lee DeWyze Goes to Disney World for Christmas
Lee DeWyze will be a part of the Christmas festivities at Walt Disney World…
Lee will sing “Little Drummer Boy” during the Disney Parks Christmas Parade, which will be shown December 25th beginning at noon on ABC.
Ryan Seacrest will again host.
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Will lab-grown meat gain popularity?
Lab-grown meat is made by extracting animal cells, which are then fed with nutrients such as proteins, sugars and fats. The cells can divide and grow, and after a while, they are placed in a large steel bioreactor that acts as a fermentation tank. After four to six weeks, the material is “taken” from the bioreactor, some vegetable protein is added, and then moulded and 3D printed to give it shape and texture. However, lab-grown meat production technology is very energy-intensive, negating the potential benefits of reducing land and livestock use and carbon emissions.
Currently, Singapore is the only country in the world that allows the sale of lab-grown meat. Huber’s Butchery and Bistro is the only restaurant that offers lab-grown meat produced by California-based company Eat Just.
JBS, a Brazilian meat company, has started constructing Spain’s first cultured meat factory. A project by BioTech Foods, a subsidiary of JBS, aims to increase the production of lab-grown meat. The plant is expected to produce over 1,000 tons of beef annually, and it is planned to increase this number to 4,000 t in the future. BioTech Foods also aims to meet the growing demand for meat in Australia, Brazil, the EU, Japan, Singapore and the USA. The company uses animal cells to grow meat tissues, and its initiative aims to contribute to the stabilisation of food security and global protein production.


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Another United States government agency is dropping RIM's BlackBerry in favor of Apple's latest iPhone.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is ditching the device in order for its employees to utilize the iPhone 5 instead. The agency announced its plan during a government filing last week, with the reason being that BlackBerry isn't reliable.
BlackBerry devices have been "failing both at inopportune times and at an unacceptable rate," the agency said. The organization, which has 400 employees, "requires effective, reliable and stable communication capabilities to carry out its primary investigative mission and to ensure employee safety in remote locations."
The NTSB is responsible for instantly investigating airplane accidents alongside other transportation disasters. RIM has experienced two global service disruptions on its network, including one that occurred in September, which may have played its part in the agency's decision.
Research in Motion, however, pointed towards the number of government employees it currently provides its services to. "Government organizations globally have trusted the reliability and security of BlackBerry for over a decade. They can continue to do so," the firm told CNET.
"We have 1 million government customers in North America alone who depend on BlackBerry, and more than 400,000 government customers worldwide upgraded their devices in the past year," it added. "We are committed to the mobility needs of government agencies around the world and will continue to meet these needs with BlackBerry 10."
The Pentagon is another high-profile government agency that had announced plans to drop RIM's devices. It's looking to move up to 8 million employees to the iPhone and Android-powered smartphones. Authorities aren't the only ones moving away from BlackBerry, however; a total of 25,000 staff members will also make the same transition from consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, as will the 17,600 employees stemming from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
BlackBerry 10, meanwhile, is due for a launch on January 30, 2013. The upcoming mobile platform has passed government security certification, allowing the operating system to be used within secure government workplaces.


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How much money does NELK make off of merch?
It’s no big secret that the Nelk Boys are one of the most popular channels on YouTube, but according to a new report, they pull in over $70 million a year – all without any kind of revenue from the site.
How is SteveWillDoIt rich?
The primary source of his income comes through his YouTube channel, other social media accounts, brand endorsements and various sponsorships. Currently, steve’s channel has over 3 million subscribers, while his first video was posted by him in 2019 as the title ‘I am taking over YouTube’.
How much money does happy dad make?
On May 31, Nelk announced a new venture with Shahidi called Happy Dad Hard Seltzer’s. Since running the Nelk operations, the company has begun launching and optimizing its own products and brought over $70M USD in revenue in 2020.


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Solution Provides Transparency into Advertiser’s Identity, Allowing Users to Discern the Origins of Ads
In an effort to bring transparency into the programmatic ecosystem, moment-based marketing technology company DeepIntent is launching a new feature for verifying the origin of political ads trafficked through its demand-side platform (DSP). The feature, called Verified Ads, scans the ad creative and destination page to classify whether the ad is politically-oriented.
The solution then renders the ad with a Verified icon, which allows users to hover over it and see information about the advertiser, such as the advertiser’s registered entity name and in which state the corporate entity is registered.
When a creative is determined to be political on DeepIntent’s platform, the advertiser must follow a thorough validation process. The advertiser must prove that domains are owned and operated by the same entity by submitting the advertisers’ Articles of Formation, whether the message is authorized by a political candidate, and whether the ad is financed by a candidate.
DeepIntent then confirms that the advertiser is a reputable and valid U.S.-based and U.S.-operated entity, and that the click-through domains in the ad are owned and operated by the same entity. The entity’s information is also added to a publicly available ledger that DeepIntent will maintain online.
“With the recent discovery of interference in the 2016 presidential election, the spread of fake news and deceitful political ads, we felt there was an urgent need to facilitate a layer of transparency into political ads that are bought through the programmatic ecosystem,” said Chris Paquette, DeepIntent’s CEO and Co-Founder. “Our Verified Ads product is among the first in the industry to add a verification layer to political advertising across the web. We encourage others to follow suit as we enter the 2018 political advertising season.”


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In the letter, sent out on May 30, DFI hasn’t accused the foundation of violating any California laws but, has said that it “may be engaged” in activities such as money transmission without a valid license which according to California laws entails violating organizations to pay up to $1,000 per violation or $1,000 per day and face criminal prosecution. The letter also notes that the California Attorney General “may also institute” the Foundation to Business and Profession code violations which could bring up the fines to up to $2,500 per day / transaction.
The Bitcoin Foundation had 20 days to comply from the date of the letter but, there have been no information whether the foundation has complied with the requirements or not. The Foundation is based out of Seattle and has been established to promote Bitcoin as well as guide the software development efforts related to the virtual currency. The non-profit organization does sell individual and corporate memberships but does not sell or trade in Bitcoins.
Reports of the letter first emerged on Forbes through an article by Jon Matonis who serves as the secretary of the Bitcoin Foundation.


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Google has started to roll out a major redesign to the YouTube application on Apple TV with tvOS. This update brings the latest YouTube interface that Google uses on other platforms to Apple’s streaming box, nearly a year after it first came to Google TV.
Google first started rolling out the basis of this new user interface to Google TV in November 2019. It then made some additional tweaks to the interface in March of the following year, bringing new borders, darker backgrounds, and other aesthetic changes.
This redesign is now rolling out to Apple TV users around the world. It represents a pretty noticeable update compared to the previous Apple TV interface, bringing a more modern and less boxy overall design. If you’re not a YouTube Premium subscriber, you might notice a large Masthead ad as well.
The YouTube app for Apple TV has faced some criticism for disobeying the tvOS platform consistencies, such as gestures on the trackpad behaving differently than in other tvOS applications. The jury’s still out on whether or not this latest update makes any improvements to that aspect of the application.
The new version of YouTube for Apple TV appears to be rolling out slowly, so you might not have it just yet. It was first spotted by a Reddit user in Germany, and we’ve confirmed that it’s also rolling out in the United States, but your mileage may vary.
What do you think of this newest YouTube app design for Apple TV? Is it an improvement over the previous design? Let us know down in the comments!
Read more about Apple TV and YouTube:
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Alt Legal IP News – Issue # 157
Bri Van Til | September 24, 2019
Who Knows Huawei They’ll Go?
– Last week, Huawei announced that it was considering selling its 5G patents to a Western buyer, but was that a bluff? Either way, will the technology transfer ban hurt U.S. companies?
– Hauwei recently submitted an EUIPO trademark application for “Harmony Studio,” projected to be a developer portal to help the company compete with Android. Is the trademark application a “defiant message to Google and Trump”?
– A recent patent granted to Huawei is for technology that would detect signs of road rage and perhaps cause the car to decelerate or brake if drivers are angry.
On the Road Again
– Kawasaki’s recent patent application for a new steering mechanism for a motorcycle has fans wondering if it’s the new Batmobile.
– Toyota’s recent patent reveals it’s engineering AI “nanny” software that would assess an inexperienced driver’s skills and take over when deficits are detected.
– The varied legality of cannabis and cannabis-derived products has made cannabis IP complicated, but McCarter & English attorneys offer suggestion for how to protect cannabis trademarks.
– Charlotte’s Web, a high-CBD strain of cannabis, recently became the first cannabis strain to successfully obtain patent protection with the USPTO.
– Brooks Kushman attorney Dustin Zak argues that recent developments in hemp agriculture and business opportunities now make the plant a “viable advanced material.”
Odds and Ends
– The nonprofit Software Freedom Conservancy recently issued a statement to the USPTO urging them to reconsider requiring applicants to submit personal addresses, saying the requirement could threaten individuals’ personal safety.
– On the Odds side, Chuck Yeager is suing Airbus for mentioning him in their ads, and Aftechmobile is suing Apple for infringing their 2018 patent with its Shortcuts app, first released in 2014.
– Starting next month, the USPTO is tightening security for TEAS applications.


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Keen on trying VR, but put off by the price? Newegg has your back with a special offer.
PC-powered virtual reality, while the definitive way to experience VR, is quite expensive. An HTC Vive costs $800, and an Oculus Rift will run you $599--and those are just the headsets. That price doesn't count the VR-ready PC you need to experience the new frontier. But Newegg's new promotion gives you a free GIGABYTE Radeon RX 480 GPU with the purchase of an HTC Vive.
AMD's Radeon RX 480 is two video cards above the Vive's minimum Radeon R9 290 requirement, but it's worth mentioning the free GIGABYTE RX 480 is a 4GB model and not the more expensive variant with 8GB of VRAM. Still, though, it's a pretty sweet deal for anyone who's on the fence about VR adoption, and the free GIGABYTE RX 480 is valued at $185 MSRP.
NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conference is always a massive technology overload, something I love more and more every year - but at GTC 2017, the company will be awarding $30,000 in cash and prizes for the winners of its VR Content Showcase.
NVIDIA's upcoming VR Content Showcase will see submissions of VR content that isn't gaming, and either has plans to - or already uses NVIDIA GPU technology, including GameWorks, DesignWorks, or VRWorks. Submissions will be accepted for another week, ending on March 15.
There will be 10 teams participating in NVIDIA's VR Content Showcase, with each developer receiving space on the show floor to show off their VR content at GTC 2017 - not only that, but they will need to make a presentation in front of a set of judges, for the consideration to win the prizes on offer.
GDC 2017 -Acer is one of the many OEMS who partnered with Microsoft to make cheap and accessible VR/AR headsets, and now the company has unveiled the fruits of its labor.
Acer's new Mixed Reality headset is now ready for developer testing, and the company has revealed the specs of the HMD:
- Two high-resolution liquid crystal displays at 1440 x 1440
- Display refresh rate up to 90 Hz (native)
- Built-in audio out and microphone support through 3.5mm jack
- Single cable with HDMI 2.0 (display) and USB 3.0 (data) for connectivity
"We are pleased to be working with Microsoft to deliver these first-ever Windows Mixed Reality development kits, to help developers realize the potential of the Windows Mixed Reality platform, and to further enrich the experience when Acer's Windows Mixed Reality headsets for consumers and commercial customers ship later this year," an Acer spokesperson told us.
MWC 2017 - Samsung has announced the next generation of their VR headset powered by Oculus.
The new Gear VR comes with a Controller (yes, capital "C"), similar to the one that is used in Google's Daydream. The company stated that the Gear VR with Controller expands Samsung's virtual reality ecosystem and makes it easier for consumers to enjoy Gear VR experiences.
The Controller has a touchpad and a number of buttons (trigger, home key, back key, volume key) allowing the user to "point, drag and drop, tilt, shoot, among other actions, while the Trigger allows for enhanced gaming experiences."
Valve's Doug Lombardi today announced that LG has partnered with the Vive-maker to craft a next-gen virtual reality headset.
LG is aiming to make quite a splash with its first-ever VR HMD. The VR HMD is "designed to deliver high fidelity, next generation VR experience," and a prototype will be showcased and demoed at GDC 2017. LG has partnered with Valve and the new headset will leverage the company's established Steam VR platform.
Technically this isn't the first VR device LG has made: the company rolled out the LG VR 360, a mobile-powered entry-level virtual reality headset, but this new prototype will be a dedicated head-mounted display versus a slot-in style device.
"During the show, LG will be meeting with developers to collect feedback and impressions as part of its effort to define the first commercial units. Pricing, launch dates, and territories will be announced at a later date," Lombardi revealed.
The court battle between ZeniMax and Oculus saw Oculus handing over a swift $500 million when the jury found Oculus had violated a NDA, and illegally used code from ZeniMax.
Well, this could just be the start of a legal battle that is much bigger - as ZeniMax has asked the court to block Oculus from using the stolen code. If this happens, it could stop the sales of a massive chunk of games that use the technology. Oculus is of course appealing the case, saying that the prior ruling was "legally flawed and factually unwarranted".
If the judge grants the injunction, Oculus would be forced to write new code for their SDK - replacing the stolen code it is still using from ZeniMax. This would have large effects across the market, as it would hurt the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR products, both of which use the ZeniMax source code.
Qualcomm announced its Snapdragon 835 VRDK program alongside the news that it had teamed with Leap Motion, a company that has been on the edge of hand tracking technology.
The partnership between Qualcomm and Leap Motion is an interesting one, that could reshape the control methods used in VR: as the companies are demonstrating Qualcomm's own positional tracking technology, with Leap Motion's hand tracking tech. This partnership could lead to "natural human computer interaction" for standalone Snapdragon 835-powered VR headsets, and as Qualcomm puts it: "sets a new standard for mobile VR content development".
Tim Leland, VP of Product Management with Qualcomm, said: "As we deliver the new Snapdragon mobile platform for greater immersion with untethered virtual reality HMDs, natural user interfaces like hand movements will help consumers more intuitively interact with VR content, therefore we're delighted to be working closely with a VR technology leader like Leap Motion. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 was designed to combine six degrees of positional tracking, high VR frame rates, immersive audio and enhanced 3D graphics with real-time rendering in a compact, stand-alone headset for the ultimate VR experience".
Samsung will be unveiling something different at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain next week - from their in-house tech incubator C-Lab.
We should expect four devices shown off with Relúmĭno, Monitorless, VuildUs, and traVRer. These four different technologies are all intriguing, a nice direction for Samsung to see what could stick around in a few years.
Relúmĭno - A 'Smart Visual Aid'
Samsung's strangely named Relúmĭno is a "smart visual aid" for the Gear VR that will benefit the visually impaired so that they could read and watch TV with "new levels of clarity".
This is what excites me the most, is Samsung's tease of Monitorless - a pair of "sunglasses" that are capable of VR and VR tech. They would connect to your smartphone or PC, letting you use your products in AR or VR - impressive.
According to a well-known leaker Roland Quandt, Samsung's next Gear VR headset could come with a controller, similar to the one that is used in Google's Daydream.
It is possible that Samsung will unveil the new Gear VR next month because it is apparently designed to work with the Galaxy S8 and S8+.
The design of the headset looks similar to the one of the current-generation Gear VR, but it does come with certain adjustments and improvements.
Microsoft first kicked off its intruiging HoloLens product two years ago now, as Windows 10 was being pushed onto PCs, and while developers are using the first-gen HoloLens it looks like Microsoft might be skipping HoloLens 2 in favor of the third generation headset.
The news is coming from Microsoft insider Paul Thurrott, who sources said that Microsoft is skipping the second-gen HoloLens headset for the "third generation" that Microsoft had been planning at the same time. It looks like Microsoft might have been priming a true leap in AR headsets in the background, and is now ready to compete with Apple's purported mixed reality (MR) headset that will arrive with the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X smartphones in June.
A company spokesperson said: "Mixed reality is the future of computing, and Microsoft HoloLens is the future and present of mixed reality. Our commitment requires no roadmap". This new HoloLens 3 headset would reportedly arrive in 2019.


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Juiced spills onto PSP
THQ packages Juiced: Eliminator to go; PSP edition has new characters, crews, cars, and multiplayer modes.
The road to retail for the console version of Juiced was bumpy, to say the least. The game crashed headfirst into several delays--its original publisher going out of business and a bidding war between big-name companies for its rights--before parking in THQ's lot to the tune of more than $10 million. After sputtering along for more than a year, the game finally rolled into stores, tailed by slightly better than average reviews.
THQ hopes it will be smooth cruising for its portable version, announced today. The PSP will get another street-racing game in Juiced: Eliminator, scheduled for release next summer. UK-based Juiced Games will once again be behind the wheel of the game and will incorporate some of the unique features of the PSP.
"From the beginning, our goal with Juiced: Eliminator was to design the game from the ground up, creating the next evolution in the Juiced racing experience," said Colin Bell, managing director of Juice Games. "While the game will be immediately recognizable to all Juiced fans, we're very excited to bring a new dimension to the brand by tailoring to the inherent capabilities of the PSP."
One of those inherent capabilities is of course the built-in wireless function. Through ad hoc connectivity, gamers will be able to race against other drivers in multiplayer crew races, pink-slip races, and the new eliminator mode, which sees the slowest racer eliminated from competition on each lap.
In addition, the game will feature eight new characters and crews, two new racing locales with eight tracks, and nine new cars with dozens of new body-kit parts.
GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.


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By Nimish Dwivedi
India is officially top in cricket. It also has almost the fastest-growing major economy in the world and has been projected by some to exceed China’s growth in the years to come. And, recently, it came out number one in remittances, according to the World Bank.
Indians remitted $52 billion to India in 2010, closely followed by China at $51 billion and trailed significantly by Mexico, which received $22 billion from its overseas population.
–Nimish Dwivedi is a consumer marketing and banking professional. He is based in Singapore. Read More »


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42 Australian suburbs earmarked to receive the “Fibre to the distribution point” (FTTdp) version of NBN have been revealed.
[related title=”More Stories on NBN” tag=”NBN” items=”5″]
As reported by IT News, almost 450,000 premises are included in the areas.
- Edensor Park
- Frenchs Forest
- Hunters Hill
- Mona Vale
- Orchard Hill
- Mount Eliza
- North Esssendon
In April last year lobby group Internet Australia called for Fibre to the Node (FTTN) to be abandoned in favour of FTTdp after the revelation of new, lower cost, optical fibre used in FTTdp trials – and survey results that showed 80 per cent of Internet Australia members were dissatisfied with the mixed-technology method (MTM).
Nestled in between FTTN and Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) in speed, cost and complexity, it promises to be cheaper than FTTP, faster than FTTN and equally quick to roll out.


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Slot manufacturer AGS bears little resemblance to the Class III supplier that former CEO Bob Miodunski took over five years ago with an eye toward cracking Class III markets.
It doesn’t look much like the company taken over two years ago by Apollo Global Management and current CEO David Lopez, either.
That’s because Lopez has spent the past two years reinventing AGS through acquisitions and the formulation of a new direction in game design. First came the acquisition of Colossal Games, the firm headed by CDS founder and gaming supply legend Steve Weiss that specialized in super-sized novelty games and quirky video slots. Next came the purchase of Casino War Blackjack, Inc. and a move into table games.
While those deals certainly broadened the scope of offerings from AGS, two acquisitions this summer have completed the company once known as American Gaming Systems as a competitive casino industry supplier. First came Cadillac Jack, the Georgia-based company which, like AGS, had successfully expanded from Class II to Class III, with more than 13,000 units installed across the U.S. and Mexico.
The acquisition “made a ton of sense,” says Andrew Burke, vice president of slot products for AGS. “Cadillac Jack and AGS are like cousins. We both grew up in Class II markets, with Class II experience and knowledge, and we both transitioned from founder/owners to corporate owners.”
He adds that the markets of the companies were complementary. “Our areas where our products are strong in the market do not really overlap much,” he says. “They are very strong in Alabama and Wisconsin, and extremely strong in Mexico. We’re very strong in Oklahoma and Florida, among other markets. It was a perfect marriage.”
Burke says the people were the other big asset acquired with Cadillac Jack. “It’s gone the way you hope all acquisitions will go—we’ve really built one awesome team, picking the best folks from both sides, without compromising our standard of excellence.”
Shortly after the Cadillac Jack deal closed at the beginning of June, the company announced a move into social gaming with the acquisition of leading social gaming supplier RocketPlay, which has offices in San Francisco and Tel Aviv.
The Cadillac Jack name is history, RocketPlay is now AGS Interactive, and the leadership of the reinvented company is now all in one office, a new headquarters facility in Las Vegas that opened in April.
According to Burke, the company has benefited from having all creative staff under one roof. (AGS and the former Colossal facilities had been in separate buildings.)
The bulk of manufacturing for AGS, including the former Cadillac Jack games, will remain in Oklahoma, the AGS manufacturing hub. Satellite offices will be maintained in Las Vegas and in the former location of Cadillac Jack near Atlanta.
With the new digs has come a new direction in game design. The “It Pays To Know” series of trivia-based games—Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! and Family Feud are the hits of that series—is being phased out, as is the premium-game platform Roadrunner. Burke says the company’s engineers are busy creating a new core platform.
The combined R&D team is headed by Chief Technology Officer Sigmund Lee, who was Cadillac’s CTO. He will report to Mauro Franic, who brings his former Cadillac role of chief operating officer to AGS. According to Burke, the R&D team in Atlanta will focus on dual-screen core video slots, and the team in Las Vegas will focus on niche products like the Colossal games and high-limit slots.
Burke says having an R&D team in Atlanta, home of Georgia Tech, is a big advantage. Much like the former Multimedia Games in Austin, Texas, having a local university provides a steady stream of engineering talent. “R&D talent in Las Vegas is hard to get, so it’s awesome to have a presence there.”
Kevin Reilly, assistant director of product management at AGS, adds that the Georgia engineers are all passionate slot players. “They’re gamers; they’re out there experiencing the ride themselves,” he says. “We have a passion for our games as well, and sharing that with the Georgia R&D team is great.”
Burke says the main game style of the future will be that of Cadillac Jack, which itself only recently launched a new core platform. He says that platform represents the direction the company is taking in game design—more volatile, low-denomination, multi-line video that promotes repeat play. Burke calls it “Aussie-style,” as opposed to the entertainment-based, bonus-packed features of Roadrunner.
Burke notes that these games are built for extended play with very short event sequences, creating the kind of steady, uninterrupted game play that entertainment-style games do not have.
“We’re really pushing hard to be a meaningful player in the core game space,” Burke says. “We’ve always had a skill set at AGS that lends itself to premium or specialty games, but we’ve always had a big need for core games—the skill sets are really different. Now, we’re going at that core space aggressively.”
Adds Reilly, “That really helps us, because when we’ve been going into new markets, we’ve been doing it with games like Ripley’s and Family Feud, but we can only sell two of those (to a casino), maybe three or four. Having access to more core video content is certainly going to add more to the arsenal we can offer casinos.”
This year will be the first Global Gaming Expo show in which AGS presents a combined display of the equipment from all its newly acquired companies along with legacy products in a cohesive collection representing the new AGS—a total of around 60 games, including 14 new titles.
Highlights will include Tiger! Tiger!, a four-by-five-reel, 50- line game aimed at both the Class II and Class III markets. The base game centers around a feature AGS calls Dynamic Streaming Stacks, in which multiple large stacks of symbols are randomly inserted from spin to spin. Anywhere from eight to 20 free spins can be awarded based on the number of scattered bonus symbols displayed.
The company also is using the volatile game style it inherited from Cadillac Jack to release its first games to court Asian players, Golden Wins and Jade Wins. The Class III games will be the first titles on the “Da Ji Da Li Multi Linked Progressive.”
Featuring a three-by-five reel configuration, the games use the former Cadillac game style called “PowerXStream,” featuring several different unique reel configurations, including varying symbol sets—referring to number of symbols per reel, the games include 3-4-4-4-3, 4-4-3-4-4, 4-4-4-4-4 and 3-3-4-4-4 configurations. They are all “ways-to-win” setups, nearly all with wins occurring for adjacent symbols paying both left-to-right starting with the first reel and right-to-left starting with the fifth reel. The primary reel setups result in 576 possible ways to win on every spin.
Tiger! Tiger! and Golden Wins will be the launch games for a new cabinet from AGS called “Icon,” which features a thin profile along with new lighting and improved sound. Burke says Icon is going to be the dual-monitor core-product cabinet going forward, with the first installs already in the field.
Other Asian-style AGS titles to be on display at G2E are Fu Panda and Gold Dragon, the latter of which incorporates “Fierce Factor,” another former Cadillac Jack program feature that returns higher wins for higher line bets.
Asian themes will be accompanied by Dreamcatcher, a Native American-themed game; and Fire Wolf. These are core former Cadillac titles onto which AGS has added a tall top box housing a multi-level progressive tower, creating a genre Burke calls “Core Plus.” Fire Wolf is another PowerXStream title.
Other new games include updated versions of the Super 10X and Super 5X titles, featuring player-friendly math, familiar symbols and single paylines. Both games, on the AGS GT5000 cabinet, are designed for high-denomination play.
Parade of Favorites
The new games will be accompanied by unique AGS offerings that are already doing well in the market, including Colossal Diamonds, the giant slot on the “Big Red” cabinet that Burke says is one of the top-performing products in each market where it has been introduced.
“Colossal Diamonds continues to be a fantastic product for us,” Burke says. “We’re still aggressively rolling that product out, and it continues to be a huge focus for us. We’re committed to continuing the life cycle of that product with different games, long-term.”
The high-performing Ripley’s and Family Feud games also will be displayed, as well as Cadillac favorites like Peter & Wendy: Hook’s Revenge and White Buffalo.
Additionally, player favorites acquired by the recent acquisitions will include a complete lineup of table-game products such as Double Ball Roulette and Count’s Kustoms, the latter a hugely popular blackjack side bet with the prize of a custom car, truck or motorcycle built by the crew from the History Channel reality show Counting Cars.
Count’s Kustoms will be included on a game at the AGS booth incorporating a second new side bet, called Bonus Spin Blackjack. With that bet, if one of the first two cards is an Ace, players are paid even money, or if a blackjack is dealt, the player will press a button which spins a virtual wheel to win cash or a unique prize.
Finally, AGS Interactive will display games included on the former RocketPlay social, online and mobile-game platform, including Royal Reels—the No. 1 AGS game in Oklahoma and the first AGS title to be added to the RocketPlay’s Lucky Play social casino—So Hot, Double the Devil, Monkey in the Bank, Going Gnome and White Buffalo.
For the future, the company is developing a new premium cabinet as a follow-up to its Stratos and Skytower cabinets, developing new Bonus Spin Blackjack versions, and converging the former technologies of its predecessor companies into a new slot platform.
The new platform will most likely look a lot like the legacy Cadillac Jack platform—and generate the kind of repeat play that promises to be the bread and butter of the new AGS.