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Luxury is a hot segment in hospitality. Grand View Research projects annualized revenue growth of 4.3% in the luxury sector through 2025 with sales expecting to top $115 billion. Consumers’ thirst for experiences and willingness to buy extras is adding even more money to be made beyond the typical charges for rooms, dining, spa services and resort fees. So if you are wondering why a major actor such as Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. has been a bit player in the world of luxury hotels compared to say Marriott International, it’s not an accident.
Hampered for decades by a convoluted ownership structure that divided the iconic Hilton brand between the U.S. and the rest of the world, one of the most famous names in hotels and paparazzi finally looks set to play a starring role. In fact, its slow start and more recently organically-focused approach compared to acquisition-hungry Accor S.A. of France may eventually give the McLean, Virginia-based company an advantage against the bigger rivals when it comes to clarity of what its three luxury brands - Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and now LXR - are all about. But to see why the future is now bright, you first need to take a step back into the past.
From 1967 until 2005 there was one name with two owners. Now defunct Trans World Airlines’ acquisition of Hilton International was its attempt to battle now-defunct Pan American Airways’ InterContinental hotel chain. The reasoning was sound. As commercial aviation entered an era of mass transportation and globalization with the debut of the jumbo Boeing 747, airlines needed to make sure there would be international hotels that knew how to cater to American travelers in the far-flung places they would be flying these new widebody airliners.
It was precisely during the latter part of that divided history that luxury brands like The Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons were taking off while an army of new high-end names such as Aman, Six Senses, Montage, Mandarin Oriental and Shangri-la were coming on the scene or expanding globally from their regional bases. For Hilton Hotels Corp. its expansion in the international high-end market came at a snail’s pace. Its now luxury brand Conrad was simply U.S. Hilton’s way of going international not being able to use its own name. In the U.S., Hilton International tried used Vista International, although a marketing agreement between the two Hiltons in 1997 enabled Conrad to be repositioned into the luxury segment, a late start, but a start none-the-less.
Meanwhile Marriott International was supplementing its JW Marriott brand by acquiring and expanding Ritz-Carlton into over 100 locations, partnering with Italian jeweler Bulgari to launch uber-luxury hotels and Ian Schrager to create Edition Hotels. In suburbs north of New York City Barry Sternlicht was using his acquisitions of Westin and Sheraton as the starting point to build a luxury empire for his Starwood Hotels and Resorts by turning a single New York hotel into the St. Regis brand, expanding Luxury Collection, individually branded 5-star hotels that ITT had purchased from Italy’s Ciga Hotels Spa, and then creating a new take on next gen luxury with W Hotels.
When in 2005 the two Hilton’s became one again and two years later the company was taken private by Blackstone Group LP it was at best a bit player in the high-end market. It was also a company in flux, transitioning from family ownership to private equity and moving its headquarters from Beverly Hills to just outside Washington D.C. What’s worse, in the hotel industry, new hotels don’t generally appear overnight. Most hotels are not owned by the brands whose name you see on the awning but are long-term management contracts negotiated with the owner years before the doors even open.
Hilton did get a bit of boost as several luxury resorts Blackstone had acquired, namely La Quinta Resort in California, El Conquistador in Puerto Rico, Florida’s Boca Raton Resort and Club, Grand Wailea in Maui, and the Arizona Biltmore, were flagged as Waldorf Astoria, the expansion of its New York flagship into a multi-property luxury brand.
Enter Christopher J. Nassetta in 2007 as CEO and a preference not to play “Let’s Make A Deal.” Growing organically Conrad and Waldorf now have 63 properties that are open for business with 38 more in the pipeline, likely to open in the next five years, says Martin Rinck, Hilton's global head of luxury. And yes, sometimes deals do come quickly, as with the new Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas, which Hilton was able to pluck away from Mandarin Oriental.
Just as Hilton was getting its luxury legs, Marriott International acquired Starwood in 2016 creating a behemoth of a half dozen luxury flags that currently has over 400 open locations and another 200 more in the pipeline. Beyond that, there are over 100 Autograph Collection hotels that straddle the between four and five stars (Marriott doesn’t include Autograph in its list of luxury brands).
To make things more interesting, out of left field, France’s Accor showed it wanted to be a force in high-end travel snapping up luxury and near-luxury brands Fairmont, Raffles, Swissotel, Movenpick, luxury home sharing service OneFineStay, and 21c Museum Hotels. It also gulped down a minority interest in Banyan Tree, bought 50% of SLS parent SBE Entertainment Group, signed a deal to re-launch Orient-Express as a hotel brand and is believed to be a potential buyer for Belmond, the hotels formerly known as Orient-Express. With its previous Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, So and M Gallery brands, it now has over 310 properties it designates as luxury and 80 more in its pipeline. Even, still independent Four Seasons is nearly double Hilton’s scale at 113 hotels.
Yet, the winds of change are in the air. All of a sudden, Marriott is facing unexpected turbulence after it was revealed it had suffered a major data breach exposing the personal information of as many as 500 million customers. It came just as it was merging the beloved Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty into its Marriott Rewards, a gargantuan project that has seen both technical hiccups and disappointment in the new benefits.
When over the summer Hilton announced it was launching a 5-star collection brand LXR with just one hotel, a former St. Regis in Dubai, it may not have generated much attention. But that might change. Collection brands are independently branded hotels that each market themselves under their own names but benefit from global sales, distribution and in some cases purchasing networks. For Marriott, it is trying to sort through Autograph and Luxury Collection. One Marriott executive said the company’s scale in luxury means it now is able to push owners to the brands where they would fit best, something it can do since it has so many.
For Hilton, starting with a clean sheet of paper means for Curio, it will now be a four-star collection brand with LXR distinctively top rung. Several industry executives said it’s easier to grow a collection brand quickly because it is less expensive for a hotel owner to convert. For Hilton it means that LXR might be able to reach 100 hotels in the next five years, something that combined with Conrad and Waldorf would give it around 200 luxury hotels, in all likelihood moving Hilton past Four Seasons and ahead of Hyatt Hotels Corporation and InterContinental Hotels Group, both of which also have luxury aspirations despite being nearer to the rear of the pack than the front.
“So far, Hilton has done the best job defining its brands. I really like how they’ve grown Waldorf Astoria,” says W. Anthony Huffman, founder and chairman of Huffman Travel, a travel agency that is part of the $25 billion Virtuoso network catering to affluent travelers.
Michael Holtz, CEO of SmartFlyer, another Virtuoso agency, believes Hilton is on its way to becoming a major player. “It can be done,” he says, noting, “(Hilton has) a strong sales team which along with Hilton Honors will drive distribution which will allow growth.” H. Stuart Foster, Hilton’s vice president of global marketing, says the company’s 400 person strong meetings sales team will provide a big carrot for luxury hotel owners who have meeting space to fill.
During the International Luxury Travel Mart, which ends tonight in Cannes, France, Rinck unveiled a new $50,000 per night three-bedroom villa at its Conrad Maldives resort that includes one bedroom underwater. It’s already attracting guests who spend a night in it, combining with the resort’s other less pricey overwater bungalows. A Waldorf Astoria is also coming to the Indian Ocean destination next year in addition to one in Dubai and one that just opened in Bangkok. Conrad will open in the first quarter of 2019 in Washington D.C. And then in the next few years, the historic Admiralty Arch in London, once a residence for Sir Winston Churchill, will open as a Waldorf as will hotels in San Francisco, Miami and then, of course, the original in New York will reopen.
According to Smith Travel Research, there are over 1,000 hotel brands, including more than 100 that it defines as luxury making it harder for consumers to understand who’s who? While Marriott’s global brand officer Tina Edmundson reportedly told the Skift Forum, “There’s no such thing as too many brands,” one former Ritz-Carlton executive put it this way, “Hilton is never going to be bigger than Marriott or Accor when it comes to numbers, but they may find that owners like their approach better.” He said, “One reason Four Seasons does well is some owners don’t want their management company with four other luxury hotels in a two-mile radius. Waldorf and Conrad are clearly different. I’m not sure the average consumer would say that about St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton.” When I asked if he had any more thoughts about Hilton’s place in the market, he said, “Everyone talks about scale, but in luxury sometimes less more.” For Hilton, in the next five years, less could be 200 luxury hotels.


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Despite a history of using fur in their designs, Versace will apparently no longer carry fur, according to the brand's creative director Donatella Versace.
Currently, Versace's website features several items made from fur, including this coat with a Mink collar. But as Versace tells 1843 in the new interview, "Fur? I am out of that. I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesn’t feel right."
As 1843 announces, "Change at Versace is happening fast."
Versace also spoke about the possibility that she might step down as the brand's creative director soon. She revealed, "Somebody came up to me recently and said, 'there will be a huge crisis if you leave–it will be a fashion disaster!'"
But Donatella doesn't share that opinion, as she revealed, "Yes I am Versace. But also Versace needs to mean change. And it needs to be an opportunity for others to express themselves."
The Guardian reports that Versace's declaration sees them join other brands that have already made the decision to boycott fur, such as Armani, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney, Hugo Boss, and Calvin Klein.
But the International Fur Federation isn't happy with Versace's decision, revealing to The Guardian, "With growing concern about the environment and plastics in fashion, I truly believe fur is the natural and responsible choice for designers and consumers." However, consumers and creatives alike will likely welcome the decision.
Versace's interview comes after the announcement this week that Italian brand Furla will be going fur-free, starting with its cruise 2019 collection.

domain: news


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Novel Evidence Based
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Our products are designed to provide best nutritional support for your daily requirements as well as specific disease management
Rising awareness about general health and changing lifestyles are driving the Indian nutraceuticals market, which is likely to cross $ 6.1 billion by 2020 from the current level of $ 2.8 billion growing at compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 17 percent, according to a new study jointly conducted by Assocham and RNCOS, a market research firm.
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Specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to bring evidence based nutraceuticals for chronic disorders
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We produce a comprehensive, diverse and highly complementary portfolio of specialty nutraceuticals and generic products targeting a wide spectrum of chronic and acute treatments.
Our APIs are sourced from world leaders in their respective fields. The products have the hallmark of technology-based differentiation into therapeutic segments like Orthopedics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition.
Anti - Arthritic
Anti Peptic & Antacids
Conditions that need dedicated care
The demand for the vitamin and mineral supplements is likely to increase in the future due to issues arising out of the altered lifestyle.
People may benefit from the extra nutrients found in these supplements. A multivitamin and mineral supplement helps in safeguarding against periodic nutrient shortfalls in the diet.
While penetration of nutraceuticals in urban India is around 22 percent, in rural it is as low as 6 percent due to lack of awareness, said the report.
Due to these reasons the vitamins and minerals market in India is anticipated to grow in the coming years and reach a value of $ 2.1 billion by 2022, added the Assocham-RNCOS study.
Nature has all the best kept secrets
Nutragenix is involved in the business of branded Nutraceuticals with an aim to nourish human health against various lifestyle-oriented diseases.
Our products are manufactured according to international standards (WHO-GMP Certified) in high-tech facilities and are made with high quality ingredients for high efficacy.


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Updated DS 9 introduced in EuropeNovember 26, 2020
Sales of the DS 9 mid-size sedan will kick off in Europe this month, featuring two plug-in hybrids and one petrol engine.
The price of a sedan in France ranges from 47,700 to 80,000 euros. The DS 9 sedan is built on the extended wheelbase version of the PSA Group EMP2 architecture, which underlies the Peugeot 508 and other compact and mid-sized cars of the brand. The sedan is manufactured in China and launched in that market earlier this year. DS, PSA’s premium brand, says it will sell the DS 9 in 40 countries.
It is the third vehicle to be developed by DS engineers after the DS 7 Crossback compact SUV launched in 2018 and the DS 3 Crossback small SUV that hit the market in 2019. Previously, DS cars were based solely on Citroen models.
The compact DS 4 is expected to be unveiled soon, as the brand promised to release a new model every year for six years, with the DS 7 being the first model.
The DS 9 is available in Europe with three powertrains: a 225 hp turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine, a 225 hp plug-in hybrid. with 11.9 kWh battery, capable of traveling 48 km solely on electric traction, plug-in version with 360 hp with four-wheel drive. The last unit is similar to the power plant of the new Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered.
DS says it will add a 250 hp plug-in hybrid powertrain in the future.
Although the DS 9 will be built in China, DS says the all-wheel drive versions will be produced at PSA Group’s plant in Poissy, France, near Paris. This high-performance variant combines two electric motors with 110 and 113 hp. with a 200 hp gasoline engine
- Third generation Haval H6 SUV prices announced
- BMW plans to double EV sales in 2021
- Mercedes-Benz has published details of the new electric crossover EQA
- Automotive brands that patent the most innovations named
- Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn may go to jail for 10 years


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Apple shareholders today will get their first chance since CEO Steve Jobs went on medical leave to check out the company’s caretakers.
The iPhone maker is holding its annual meeting with investors at its headquarters in Cupertino. The company has not said whether Jobs will be in attendance — or which executives or directors will be. But it is a sure bet that Tim Cook, who is running the company’s day-to-day operations in Jobs’ absence, will be there as well as at least some of Apple’s board members.
But the meeting may have some other drama beyond the question of whether Jobs will show. Among other matters, investors will have a deja vu-like chance to vote on a shareholder-sponsored “say on pay” proposal.
Offered by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union, the proposal urges Apple to hold an advisory vote each year on the pay packages provided to top executives. The proposal is similar to others offered at numerous other companies in recent years and to a proposed law that Congress is considering.
Apple pays Steve Jobs only $1 a year. However, earlier this decade, it awarded him two of the largest stock-option grants in history; then, when those options were underwater, it replaced those with a massive grant of restricted stock. The company in 2000 also gave Jobs an airplane worth $90 million, including the taxes related to the gift that the company paid on Jobs’ behalf.
“In our view, senior executive compensation at Apple has not always been structured in ways that best serve shareholders’ interests,” AFSCME said in a statement filed in support of its proposal.
Apple shareholders last year approved a “say on pay” proposal, in what some governance critics saw as a belated response to the company’s stock-option backdating scandal. The company acknowledged in late 2006 that the second of Jobs’ two large options grants — and thousands of grants to other employees — was backdated.
But the vote simply urged the company to adopt the policy — it didn’t mandate it — and the board chose not to do so. Apple’s board, which opposed last year’s proposal, urged shareholders to vote against the proposal again this year.
Apple’s board carefully crafts the pay packages it grants to executives, the company said in a statement opposing the proposal. Shareholders can individually contact the board to express questions or criticisms about executive pay, the company said.
Contact Troy Wolverton at firstname.lastname@example.org or (408) 920-5021.


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“The men who move a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” — Confucius
Reporting in to the new office!
11 November was the day we started operating at our new office for software and support services. The day started off bright and early with a management meeting going through status reports from finance, marketing and software heads of department.
Finance — With the fundraising round coming to a close this month, we have now fine-tuned our budget and expenses accordingly to suit the needs of the exchange from launch and into 2020. The budget will adjust as and when according to marketing requirements and new product development.
Marketing — We have scheduled official press releases and will continue to allocate a sizeable budget for digital marketing and trading competitions. These will be announced as and when via our social media platforms.
Software — The development team has grown in size (now 12) with the additional hires of Quality Assurance and Cybersecurity personnel. We have set high expectations and will ensure that our product is 100% fit for global deployment. Like a rocket flying into orbit, we cannot afford to make any mistakes or allow for failure when we launch the BitOrb Exchange.


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|By PR Newswire||
|September 3, 2014 03:05 PM EDT||
LONDON, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportbuyer.com has added a new market research report:
World Furniture Outlook 2014
The World Furniture Outlook 2014 by CSIL provides an overview of the world furniture industry with historical statistical data (production, consumption, imports, exports) and 2013, 2014 and 2015 furniture markets scenario for 70 countries.
This market research report also includes:
• Growth of furniture imports worldwide and the role of furniture exporting countries in the marketplace
• Market shares of the major furniture exporters are provided by geographical region and high income countries/middle-low income countries
• Analysis of the opening of furniture markets that covers the past nine years, with trade balance, imports/consumption and exports/production ratio data.
Statistics and outlook data are also available in a country format:
• origin of furniture imports
• destination of furniture exports
• historical series on furniture production
• historical series on furniture market size
• historical series on furniture trade
• country rankings to place all statistics in a broad worldwide context. The seventy country tables have been expanded to include three additional items:
• Total household consumption expenditure (in billions of US$)
• Total GNP at purchasing power parity (in billions of US$)
• Per capita GNP at purchasing power parity (in US$) Key issues of the World Furniture Outlook 2014 market research report:
• a picture of opportunities for furniture exporters arising from the increasing openness of markets
• a rich collection of key country-data, allowing comparisons among specific interest areas.
• prospects of world furniture trade in 2013 and 2014
• 2014 and 2015 forecasts on the evolution of furniture markets in the considered countries, based on the analysis of furniture industry dynamics and of macro-economic indicators Countries covered (selected according to their contribution to production and international trade of furniture): Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam.
PART I: THE OUTLOOK
The world furniture market
The world economy in 2014
The World Furniture Outlook 2014 for 70 countries
2. The world furniture market
Overview of furniture production and trade
High income countries and middle and low income countries
World geographic regions and trade areas
3. Market shares of the leading furniture exporting countries
The main furniture exporting countries
The opening of furniture markets over the past ten years
4. The international scenario
The world economy in 2014
Prospects of the international furniture sector in 2014
PART II: WORLD FURNITURE INDICATORS
Overview of the world furniture industry (by high income/middle and low income countries)
Overview of the world furniture industry (by geographical regions)
Furniture exports, 70 countries, ordered alphabetically and by ranking
Furniture imports, 70 countries, ordered alphabetically and by ranking
The opening of furniture markets 2003-2012
- growth of exports, 40 major exporting countries
- growth of imports, 40 major importing countries
World furniture trade. Destination of exports
World furniture trade. Origin of imports
Furniture market outlook 2013-2015, ordered alphabetically and by ranking
Country Tables for 70 countries
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam
for each country:
- furniture production, exports, imports, consumption 2003-2012
- economic indicators (population, area, total and per capita GNP, household consumption expenditure, data at purchasing power parity)
- real growth of furniture consumption, forecasts 2013-2015
- exchange rates
- main furniture trading partners
Notes, presentation conventions, classification of countries
WSM International, the pioneer and leader in server migration services, has announced an agreement with WHOA.com, a leader in providing secure public, private and hybrid cloud computing services. Under terms of the agreement, WSM will provide migration services to WHOA.com customers to relocate some or all of their applications, digital assets, and other computing workloads to WHOA.com enterprise-class, secure cloud infrastructure. The migration services include detailed evaluation and planning...
Aug. 31, 2015 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 171
SYS-CON Events announced today that DataClear Inc. 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. The DataClear ‘BlackBox’ is the only solution that moves your PC, browsing and data out of the United States and away from prying (and spying) eyes. Its solution automatically builds you a clean, on-demand, virus free, new virtual cloud based PC outside of the United States, and wipes it clean...
Aug. 31, 2015 01:45 PM EDT Reads: 407
Amazon and Google have built software-defined data centers (SDDCs) that deliver massively scalable services with great efficiency. Yet, building SDDCs has proven to be a near impossibility for ‘normal’ companies without hyper-scale resources. In his session at 17th Cloud Expo, David Cauthron, founder and chief executive officer of Nimboxx, will discuss the evolution of virtualization (hardware, application, memory, storage) and how commodity / open source hyper converged infrastructure (HCI) so...
Aug. 31, 2015 01:05 PM EDT
Culture is the most important ingredient of DevOps. The challenge for most organizations is defining and communicating a vision of beneficial DevOps culture for their organizations, and then facilitating the changes needed to achieve that. Often this comes down to an ability to provide true leadership. As a CIO, are your direct reports IT managers or are they IT leaders? The hard truth is that many IT managers have risen through the ranks based on their technical skills, not their leadership ab...
Aug. 31, 2015 12:30 PM EDT Reads: 353
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...
Aug. 31, 2015 12:16 PM EDT
eCube Systems has released NXTmonitor, a full featured application orchestration solution. NXTmonitor, which inherited the code base of NXTminder, has been extended to support multi-discipline processes and will act as a DevOps utility in a heterogeneous enterprise environment. Previously, NXTminder was packaged with NXTera middleware to configure and manage Entera and NXTera RPC servers. “Since we are widening the focus of this solution to DevOps, we felt the need to change the name to NXTmon...
Aug. 31, 2015 12:15 PM EDT
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...
Aug. 31, 2015 12:00 PM EDT
Everyone talks about continuous integration and continuous delivery but those are just two ends of the pipeline. In the middle of DevOps is continuous testing (CT), and many organizations are struggling to implement continuous testing effectively. After all, without continuous testing there is no delivery. And Lab-As-A-Service (LaaS) enhances the CT with dynamic on-demand self-serve test topologies. CT together with LAAS make a powerful combination that perfectly serves complex software developm...
Aug. 31, 2015 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 200
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.
Aug. 31, 2015 11:30 AM EDT Reads: 887
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 tech...
Aug. 31, 2015 11:15 AM EDT Reads: 226
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?
Aug. 31, 2015 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 160
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...
Aug. 31, 2015 10:45 AM EDT Reads: 282
Through WebRTC, audio and video communications are being embedded more easily than ever into applications, helping carriers, enterprises and independent software vendors deliver greater functionality to their end users. With today’s business world increasingly focused on outcomes, users’ growing calls for ease of use, and businesses craving smarter, tighter integration, what’s the next step in delivering a richer, more immersive experience? That richer, more fully integrated experience comes ab...
Aug. 31, 2015 10:30 AM EDT Reads: 642
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, advance...
Aug. 31, 2015 10:15 AM EDT Reads: 300
Cloud and datacenter migration innovator AppZero has joined the Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Alliance Program. AppZero is a fast, flexible way to move Windows Server applications from any source machine – physical or virtual – to any destination server, in any cloud or datacenter, using its patented container technology. AppZero’s container is also called a Virtual Application Appliance (VAA). To facilitate Microsoft Azure onboarding, AppZero has two purpose-built offerings: AppZero SP for Azure,...
Aug. 31, 2015 10:15 AM EDT Reads: 182


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Sustained fall in production in Czech RepublicChristian Fernsby ▼ | November 4, 2019
October PMI survey data signalled a further deterioration in the health of the Czech manufacturing sector.
- Despite a drop in new order volumes, firms increased their charges for the first time in three months
- The headline PMI reached a four-month high
- That said, the rate of contraction signalled by the index remained strong overall
Europe Lower client demand led firms to cut their workforce
Notably, lower client demand led firms to cut their workforce numbers at the quickest pace since November 2009.
In turn, manufacturers expressed negative sentiment towards output over the coming year for the first time since December 2012, as hopes of a pick-up in demand waned.
Meanwhile, lower demand for inputs led to quicker supplier deliveries and only a fractional rise in costs.
Despite a drop in new order volumes, firms increased their charges for the first time in three months.
The headline IHS Markit Czech Republic Manufacturing PMI is a composite single-figure measure of manufacturing performance.
It is derived from indicators for new orders, output, employment, suppliers’ delivery times and stocks of purchases.
Any figure greater than 50.0 indicates overall improvement in the sector.
At 45.0 in October, up slightly from 44.9 in September, the headline PMI reached a four-month high.
That said, the rate of contraction signalled by the index remained strong overall and was among the fastest recorded since mid-2009.
Production decreased across the manufacturing sector for the eleventh successive month in October, albeit at the softest pace since April.
A decline in new business reportedly drove the moderate contraction.
Moreover, a downturn in domestic and foreign demand led to further marked falls in new orders and new export business.
Although the rates of decline eased slightly, they remained among the quickest since 2009 amid reports of a drop in sales to key export partners and clients in the automotive sector.
Amid challenging demand conditions, manufacturers registered the sharpest fall in workforce numbers for almost a decade in October.
The strong decrease was linked to lower production requirements and efforts to cut costs.
A reduction in new order volumes also allowed firms to clear their backlogs of work at the quickest rate for three months.
Meanwhile, firms expressed the lowest degree of sentiment towards future output since late-2012.
Manufacturers expect production to fall over the coming 12 months amid sustained contractions in domestic and foreign demand.
On the price front, input costs rose only fractionally at the beginning of the fourth quarter as lower demand for inputs limited supplier pricing power.
Output charges, however, increased for the first time since July despite weak demand conditions.
Finally, buying activity showed one of the fastest falls since 2012, while lower production requirements also meant stocks of purchases were reduced at a steep rate.
Postproduction inventories, meanwhile, rose moderately. ■


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LG’s newest flagship, the V40 hasn’t even been released on the market and it’s already getting an important update that’s supposed to further improve the camera’s performance. The V40 boasts a triple-camera on the back, featuring two 12-megapixel and one 16-megapixel sensors.In our full LG V40 review, Corey said that the “image quality on the V40’s 12 MP main sensor is very good, holding its own well against top performers on the market,” so the new changes are probably meant to fine-tune some of the already good camera functions. The update weighs in at 390MB and contains the following improvements:
- Improvement of Camera HDR performance;
- Improvement of Sharpness and Color at outdoor condition;
- Improvement of AF improvement with triple shot;
- Improvement of Black phenomenon of video recording.
If you plan to buy LG’s latest flagship next week when it’s likely to hit the shelves in many countries, don’t forget to check for an update to get all the benefits above. Source : https://www.phonearena.com/news/LG-V40-camera-update_id109872


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When you think of great barbecue cities, you think of Memphis, Kansas City, Birmingham, and Sanford.
Yup, the Celery City may soon earn a new nickname as BBQ Town thanks to a new competive barbecue competition that is scheduled for Jan.29 and 30 at the Central Florida Zoo.
Sonny’s Smoking Showdown Invitational (Website | Facebook) is expected to bring 8,000 to 10,000 attendees, the Orlando Business Journal reports (Story). Organizers hope the event can grow to the point where it rivals the Memphis in May festival.
This is an invitation-only competition. Organizers expect 78 teams with more than 300 competitors to compete for $68,000 in prize money. The event will be free to attend by the public, although there will be a $10 charge to park. There will be beer, wine and plenty of barbecue for sale, though none of the barbecue from the competitors will be available.
“Because of health department regulations, the competitors will not be selling their barbecue to the public,” said Montana Smith, manager of public relations and events for Sonny’s BBQ and co-director of the Smoking Showdown.
Smith said Winter Park-based Sonny’s BBQ is sponsoring the competition as part of the company’s effort to extend its brand.
“Brandon Manly, our COO (Chief Operating Officer), was big into the barbecue competition circuit before joining the company, and he knew how important these events are for a company like Sonny’s,” said Smith.
The Central Florida Zoo is providing the land free of charge to Sonny’s, said Charles Davis, chairman of the zoo’s board of directors.
“We’re also working to line up two or three national country acts to perform, as well as some local bands, plus we’ll have stuff for the kids to do,” said Davis. Smith said there will be barbecue demonstrations and exhibits and other family-friendly activities.
While the competition will be located on zoo property, it will not be inside the gates near the exhibits and animals, Davis said. Instead The event will take place on a 17-acre parcel adjacent to the actual zoo.
Believe it or not, Central Florida is becoming a destination for barbecue (Orlando plans to smoke its competition), and all of that BBQ smoke translates into dollars. A study by the Kansas City BBQ Society revealed that each competitor in a barbecue event spends $500-$1,000 in the local economy during a weekend competition. For the Sanford event, that could mean as much as $300,000 in economic impact, just from the competition participants.
When you add the effect of those attending a barbecue competition, the direct economic impact can be as high as $3 million for an established weekend barbecue festival.
I plan on doing my part in aiding the local economy that weekend. I’m curious if anyone can come close to creating those mouth-watering ribs I used to get at Uncle Shoe’s BBQ, over on Brisson Avenue. When you sell ribs out of a broken-down bus, they have to be good.
– by Dan Ping
I am a BBQ Pitmaster and a member of the K.C.B.S. How will the competitors be chosen for this event.


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AGC: The recession is over! But not for construction
According to the Associated General Contractors of America it is growing more likely that real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product will rise slightly in the quarter that began on April 1 from the dismal levels of the first quarter. The growth is likely to pick up gradually through the rest of the year. But it will be very uneven, unlike the downturn, which affected all sectors.
Tax withholding was reduced on April 1 and unemployment benefits were increased and extended in duration. These factors alone may be enough to help raise consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of GDP. Federal government purchases of goods and services should rise enough to offset declining state and local spending as the stimulus outlays for construction begin. But business investment and net exports, the other components of GDP, may continue shrinking into next year, according to an April 2 Data DIGest report.


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Rihanna Celebrates Christmas "All Over Again" As Fashion Brands Shower Her With Gifts
14 January 2013, 17:23
The 'We Found Love' star celebrated receiving a flurry of gifts with a big night out clubbing in Hollywood.
Rihanna says she has been enjoying "Christmas all over again" after being showered with gifts from some of the world's biggest fashion designers.
The 'Diamonds' singer shared pictures online of her recent presents from designers ranging from Manolo Blahnik to Marc Jacobs, and was pictured celebrating her snowfall of high fashion freebies with a big night out in Hollywood.
Rihanna was spotted on Sunday evening (13th January) accompanied by several bodyguards as she partied at My Studio nightclub in Tinsel Town with friends, while showing off her new longer hair for the paparazzi gathered outside.
The 'Where Have You Been' singer stood out from the crowd in a bright red patterned shirt and high-waisted blue jeans, which she accessorised with large gold hoop earrings, a black leather cap and dark maroon lipstick.
Check out a picture of Rihanna out clubbing in Hollywood over the weekend below (Credit: Splash):
24 year-old Rihanna has had a relaxing start to 2013, including a holiday break in her home country of Barbados, as she gears up for a year of heavy promotion and touring which includes a confirmed performance at the Grammy Awards 2013 next month (10th February).
Rihanna will launch her 'Diamonds' world tour across North America with a show in Buffalo, New York on 8th March, before bringing the tour over to the UK this summer starting at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 10th June.


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Back in 2012, Pioneer released the RMX-1000 DJ Effects unit, which allowed DJs a multitude of effects and sample possibilities for their sets.
Becoming an instantly popular piece of hardware, Pioneer has now announced that the RMX-1000 will come to the iPad with a nearly identical look to its non-digital brother. Drawing audio from a users ITunes Library, and compatible with Garageband, as well as a host of iPad synths and drum machines, the RMX-1000 seeks to be more of a tool for production than live performance emulating the hardware to deliver touchscreen control of Scene FX, Isolate FX, X-PAD FX and Release FX..
The app is available for iOS at £14.99, but is half price until November 11.
Source: Business Wire


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Therecently released April version of the Nigeria Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) has expectedly revealed a decline in the private sector.
According to the report, the Nigeria PMI headline sank to 37.1 index points in April 2020 compared to 53.8 index points recorded in March. New orders, output, and employment witnessed sharp falls as prices rise amid supply chain disruption.
The Nigeria PMI report, published by Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, reflects economic indicators gotten from monthly surveys of private sector companies and it is targeted at providing information about current business conditions to various stakeholders. Readings above 50.0 indicate an improvement in business conditions while readings below 50.0 show a deterioration.
The advent of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the lockdown imposed to curtail its spread have led to a severe deterioration in business conditions across the Nigerian private sector during April. Both output and new orders decreased at rates unprecedented in more than six years, the report revealed.
The report also showed that firms scaled back employment as most companies kept their staffing levels unchanged at the start of the second quarter. Concerning purchasing activity, difficulties in securing materials led to a sharp rise in purchase costs, and this was passed on in the form of higher output prices. As companies continued to increase their selling prices at a marked pace in April as a result of the higher purchase costs, the rate of inflation rose to a new high.
The introduction of the lockdown prevented many firms from completing outstanding orders, thereby making backlogs of work to increase for the first time in three months.
Specifically, the Nigeria PMI survey report for April is a weighted average of the following five indices: New Orders (30%), Output (25%), Employment (20%), Suppliers’ Delivery Times (15%) and Stocks of Purchases (10%), the report stated.
Despite many companies experiencing a drop in confidence due to a severe decline in business activities across the country when compared to the index of the previous six months, there is optimism that businesses will begin to bounce back steadily once the pandemic eases.


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By: K R Sudhaman
It is a no brainier that India’s economic growth would look impressive after a virtual shut down in the previous year due to Covid Pandemic. But the question to be asked is the double digit growth is good enough and to the desired level and are their worrying factors in the economy? One need not be naysayers and spread gloom all over but it is undisputable that there are worrying factors in the economy that has every chance of pulling down the growth momentum as the economy chugs along in the current financial year.
The data released by the National Statistical Organisation for the first quarter of financial year 2022-23 estimated the gross domestic product at 13.5 per cent as compared to the previous year. This double-digit growth is no doubt impressive but one should not forget the fact that this is mainly due to the economic recovery that was taking place after Covid that virtually shut down the economy in the same quarter last year. This is deceptively high level, given the base effect. April-June 2021 witnessed the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic, which raged through the entire country. In such a scenario the growth rate of 13.5 per cent is in fact a clear disappointment. Most expectations were for quarterly GDP growth in the 15-16 per cent range year on year.
The National Statistical Office, which is under the Union Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, has released its estimates for gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter (Q1) of this fiscal year, 2022-23. The headline number is that GDP at constant prices in the first quarter showed 13.5 per cent growth year on year. This is a deceptively high level, given the base effect. It needs to be remembered that the equivalent quarter of the previous year, April-June 2021, was when the devastating second wave of the coronavirus epidemic was raging through the country. Even though there was no national lockdown as draconian as that observed during the first wave in 2020, activity nevertheless slowed considerably as a consequence of the high mortality and sickness. Given the base effect, the growth rate of 13.5 per cent is in fact a clear disappointment. Most expectations were for quarterly GDP growth in the 15-16 per cent range year on year. Rating agency ICRA has projected 15.7 per cent.
Crisil chief economist Dharmakirti Joshi has cautioned that the next few quarters will see slower growth as the base effect wanes. While the ongoing broad basing of domestic economic activity is supportive, the key risks are slowing global growth, which would curb India’s exports and create uncertainty in private capex plans. These would put downward pressure on our GDP growth forecast of 7.3 per cent for the whole of current fiscal year.
Joshi also said the first quarter GDP growth came in lower than expected. High net imports and weaker government consumption expenditure kept overall growth soft. Private consumption is improving, with urban demand getting support from contact-intensive services. Had it not been for high inflation and subdued rural demand due to negative real rural wage growth, private consumption would have grown faster.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had said that the real GDP growth for Q1 of Fiscal Year 2023-24 is projected at 6.7%. So there is no need to be gung ho about the first quarter double digit growth, which is an aberration. Also RBI had forecast a growth of 16.2 per cent in the first quarter and it turned out be much lower despite the base effect, which is not a welcome development.
What is worrying is “nominal GDP or GDP at current prices in Q1 2022-23 is estimated at Rs 64.95 lakh crore as against Rs 51.27 lakh crore in Q1 2021-22, a growth of 26.7 per cent”. This meant WPI inflation is as high as 14.2 per cent, which is not sustainable. One often quotes consumer price Inflation which is around 7 per cent. This is what is worrying. High WPI, which reflects the real price pressure on the economy, is not good. Also because of the difficult geo-political situation and slowing global growth and high global inflation, India’s exports are bound to slow down. This will certainly impact Indian economy which has now started looking up.
Achieving 7-8 per cent GDP growth this financial year may not indicate returning to high growth path. India, which is just a trillion dollar economy, growing at 10 per cent annually on a sustained basis is not enough to catch up with China’s growth, now a $18 trillion. Even a 4-5 per cent growth in China in this difficult situation add more to its economy For example India growing at 10 per cent can add only $300 billion in one year. Whereas a five per cent growth by China adds $900 billion to its economy. So even at 5 per cent growth of China against 10 per cent growth of India adds three times more to the economy. So India needs to do a lot of catching up and one should not get carried away by this statistics. Hence a 13.5 per cent growth in first quarter is good but it is not something to be elated about as the Indian economy has a long way to go to become a developed economy. (IPA Service)


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Looking for reasons to send a press release? An informative press release provides free advertising and a marketing venue. But here’s how smart companies prosper by sending press releases…
1. Send a press release to build credibility among existing and potential clients.
Let’s face it, we all know that print advertising is biased. The message is written—and controlled—by the advertiser and/or a hired PR firm. What’s better? A news article (press release) written by a third party (reporter), and of course all of the information, background, and quotes provided by you. The message is still controlled to a degree, just not in the form of traditional advertising. Essentially sending a press release works like a supporter tooting your horn on Facebook or Twitter, and everyone perks up to listen.
[pullquote]Providing a steady stream of newsworthy information via a well-written press release: company changes or moves, new hires or promotions, expansion information, new products or services, etc.[/pullquote]
2. Send a press release to develop relationships with influencers.
Editors and even reporters decide the news that’s fit to print, so make an effort to get to know them. Stay in their good graces by providing a steady stream of newsworthy information via a well-written press release: company changes or moves, new hires or promotions, expansion information, new products or services, etc. Be sure to address the editor/reporter/blogger by name, instead of, ‘To whom it may concern,’ or the like. You can’t develop relationships without knowing names. Be polite and friendly, and don’t make repeated follow-ups. Newspapers receive a number of press releases daily. If everyone followed up, they’d hardly have time to write. Once (if that) is enough. Consider the reporter your target audience. If you think about their needs first, then they’re sure to start thinking—and talking—about you.
3. Send a press release to cultivate your brand’s image.
You’ve planted a seed. Now you have to water and fertilize it—put it out in the sunlight. Plants don’t grow in the dark and neither do companies. So, get your name out there. Define what sets you apart from direct and indirect competitors and make that a cohesive unit with your brand. Press releases help you cast a wider net, just be sure you have something to say. Make every communication worth your customers’ time.
[pullquote]Consider the reporter your target audience. If you think about their needs first, then they’re sure to start thinking—and talking—about you.[/pullquote]
4. Send a press release to paint yourself as an expert in your field.
You may think that your efforts are futile if you’re not seeing any direct coverage as a result of a persistent PR campaign. But have no fear—even if media outlets don’t run your story, it’s likely they’ll remember you. Your name will get filed away as a resource when a related story breaks. And when it does, all of those press releases will pay off and you’ll be ready and waiting for that call.
If you liked this, you might also like…
Nikki Corbett is owner of Precise and
Be Smarter Now, wordsmith, writer,
editor, poet, and mom. She developed
a love of writing and the English language
early in life and has been writing stories
since she could pick up a pencil. She
holds degrees in Communications/
Journalism as well as Creative
Writing and Business Administration.


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Consumers will pay more for less this Christmas despite spending more than what they did in 2022, , economists have warned.
According to data from the Centre for Economics and Business Research, average UK household will shell out £550 on festive goods and services, including food, alcohol, toys, games and clothing. This is up £70 from last year.
However, in real terms, the value of that outlay will only be slightly better than 2022 – and consumers would have to spend another 20 per cent more on top to get the kind of Christmas they enjoyed in 2019.
According to Cebr, an economic consultancy, the cost of Christmas is up nearly a quarter in three years. Those looking to drown their sorrows through the cost-of-Christmas crisis will feel the pain even more, with the price of booze rising even faster than food in the last year.
Alcohol and tobacco only accounts for £26 in the average basket, with spending on drink expected to rise 26% this year.
Food is the biggest portion, accounting for an average £135, up about 23 per cent. Average expenditure on toys, games, and clothing, is expected to go up by about 20 per cent for Christmas 2023.
Fierce competition between supermarkets over the headline cost of the staples means the average price of dinner for four is up only 1.3 per cent this year to £31.71, according to research from Kantar last week – well below the 9.1 per cent rate of general grocery inflation recorded last month.
Brussels sprouts are now 4.3 per cent cheaper than in December 2022 in contrast to cranberry sauce that is about 26.5 per cent pricier.


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Brizamila is the company that distributes Capcom's DS games in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, or at least, they usually are. They are passing on Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, as they fear that R4-enabled pirating of the game has already doomed it to commercial failure. Bad news for the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and even worse news for the people who spent months working to make Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth the great game that it is.
From what I've gathered, pirating has caused many quality DS games to fail at retail. Rumor has it that Retro Game Challenge had been downloaded over a million times. If just a fraction of those downloads were sales, we'd all probably be playing the sequel to the game right now. Same goes for plenty of "hardcore" Wii games. As of last December, House of the Dead:Overkill had been downloaded nearly a million times. I'm sure that the creators of the game are happy that people are playing their stuff, but not at the cost of their jobs, and more importantly to us, their ability to make more games.
So screw you Nintendo for making your consoles so easy to hack. That may be OK for you, considering you make so many games that appeal to people who couldn't hack their way out of a paper bag, but for third parties working to make core-friendly games, easily hacked consoles can be a death sentence.
And double-screw you to the people who pirate these games and never buy them. You suck and I hate you.
I know you're all worried to the point of a nervous breakdown over whether or not the recently released console version of Resident Evil Revelations will have lots of downloadable content. You may now put your terrors to bed,...more
Ladies and gentlemen, a new Archie Mega Man graphic novel is arriving this Wednesday, May 22. I have confirmation from fellow editor Chris Carter that he's been picking up back issues and graphic novels to prep himself for th...more
Resident Evil Revelations was a great action horror title. So good, it absolutely humiliated Resident Evil 6 by being superior in every single way -- a fact made especially delicious considering it was a 3DS game in contrast ...more


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Trex, a manufacturer of composite decking and railing products, reported net sales for the first quarter of 2012 of $96.1 million, a 39% increase over net sales of $69.0 million for the same period in 2011.
The Winchester, Va.-based company reported net income of $12.3 million for its first quarter, which ended March 31, 2012. This compares to net income of $5.1 million for the prior-year period.
In a prepared statement, chairman, president and CEO Ronald Kaplan noted: “Our first quarter sales were 7% above guidance. Our best-in-class product platform, combined with market share gains, helped us exceed our revenue target. [These] results also represent the second highest first-quarter EPS performance since the company went public in 1999.”
Kaplan concluded, “We continue to see a strong shift in the market towards ultra-low-maintenance wood alternative products. With our expanding [product portfolio], we are off to a great start for the year. Based on the market demand we are currently seeing, we expect net sales of approximately $90 million for the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 15% from last year’s period.”


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In August, Amazon went on a binge and acquired high-end grocer Whole Foods for 13.6 billion dollars. Many wondered what changes would come and how the high-tech and modernized Amazon approach to retail would impact the grocery chain.
A few months late, a look inside some stores shows the results aren't good.
Shelves that once showed off fresh fruit and vegetables at a premium price are bare. And customers aren't happy.
A new food ordering system called Order-to-shelf, or OTS may be the leading culprit.
OTS is a tightly controlled system designed to streamline and track product. It allows outlets to carry items that move almost literally from daily delivery trucks to store shelves. Its goal is to reduce storage costs, waste and provide a cheaper and more efficient system of managing products.
But is this effort for an almost militaristic efficiency costing Whole Foods customers, demoralizing employees and hurting the store's brand?
Is this a matter of a learning curve that will sort itself out?
Or did Amazon make a mistake implementing OTS?
And will these empty shelves leave a lasting and negative impression on customers?
There are a lot of scenarios and questions - that's where the experts from can help.
Ryan Hamilton is a is a consumer psychologist and an expert in marketing, branding and consumer decision making. Ryan is available to speak with media regarding Whole
Foods and the OTS system. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
Ryan Hamilton Associate Professor of Marketing


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In an interesting turn of events, Twitch streamer and OTK founder Zack "Asmongold" has finally broken his silence on cryptocurrency and NFT's recent massive crash in the market. During the most recent livestream, Asmon celebrated the massive dip in both crypto and NFTs as he's been a constant opponent of the technology since its inception.
Notably, this is not the first time the streamer has spoken against NFTs and crypto. Back in February 2022, Asmon compared NFT trends to Astrology, claiming that they are even dumber than astrology and how the new technology is nothing more than a scam.
Taking a hilarious dig at the massive crash, the streamer notes:
"You know what? It doesn't matter how I feel, I'm not gonna miss the day where NFT'S f****** died. "
Asmongold lauds ongoing NFT crash in the market
During the most recent livestream, Twitch star Asmongold broke into a mini rant on cryptocurrency and NFT's recent crash in the market. The cryptocurrency market has recently collapsed entirely, losing nearly all of its value in just 24 hours.
As fans might already know, Asmon has always been an opponent of crypto and NFT investment. He provided an ecstatic reaction to its most recent freefall.
During his May 13, 2022 livestream, the 30-year-old streamer admitted that he hadn't planned to go live today, but when he heard about the recent crypto crash in the market, he couldn't help but turn the camera on. Cracking up with immense joy, the streamer hilariously notes:
"Oh my god, I can't f****** , I can't miss this day. Oh man, yeah, that's right, I am watching it. All those red, all those red numbers man. "
Asmon even talked about NFT investment and why crypto is crashing at this point. Reading some of the tweets regarding the massive dip, he notes
"I'm sorry, maybe this makes me a terrible person but I literally don't f****** care. I think these people are just morons.
I never feel bad for people who lose their money in this stuff. Because you’re betting on nothing. And as soon as people realize it’s nothing, they start selling and the price goes down.”
Giving his final thoughts on the crash, the Twitch streamer talked about NFT risks and how stupid it is to invest in this.
"It has no intrinsic value. If everybody thinks it’s not worth anything, well, then it’s not wort anything.”
Fans react to Asmongold's take on recent NFT crash
As expected, Asmon's reaction to the recent crash in the market elicited a wave of reaction from viewers. Unsurprisingly, this started a debate in the comment section since there are people who favor one side over the other.
With the issue still fresh, it seems like more comments are expected to roll out over time.
The YouTube video has already gone viral on YouTube, fetching over 200k views and 2710 comments in just a couple of hours. Notably, NFTs and crytocurency are a hot topic of debate on the internet right now.
Some feel like they are a good investment and can change the whole game within a few days while others claim that it's just a scam and is terrible for the entire environment.
This is certainly a polarizing discourse, but as far as Asmon is concerned, it's inane and over for good.


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The other was that more than half of the stuff sold on Amazon in 2017 came from third-party sellers, not Amazon.
Amazon’s third-party marketplace has helped thousands of small and medium-sized businesses reach shoppers online. But it also gets Amazon into trouble with both brands and shoppers over counterfeits and plainly inappropriate products. The bigger it gets, the bigger the problem is likely to get.
Here’s what the CEO says in his letter:
In 2017, for the first time in our history, more than half of the units sold on Amazon worldwide were from our third-party sellers, including small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Over 300,000 U.S.-based SMBs started selling on Amazon in 2017, and Fulfillment by Amazon shipped billions of items for SMBs worldwide…Our Global Selling program (enabling SMBs to sell products across national borders) grew by over 50% in 2017 and cross-border ecommerce by SMBs now represents more than 25% of total third-party sales.
The sheer size of that marketplace, though, makes it impossible for Amazon to police every product that goes up for sale. Earlier this year Amazon had to pull children’s clothing posted by a third party that read, “Slavery gets shit done,” set against a backdrop of Egypt’s pyramids.
In a statement, Amazon said all its marketplace sellers “must follow our selling guidelines and those who don’t will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.” But it highlighted how much Amazon relies on the sellers to follow the rules themselves.
The company has also been fighting against people selling counterfeits on its marketplace. Birkenstock has publicly attacked Amazon and pulled its business from the site over the issue, and it accused Amazon of being complicit in profiting off the fakes. Daimler AG, parent company of Mercedes-Benz, made a similar claim over sales of fake Mercedes wheel center caps. (Amazon isn’t alone in this; Alibaba has faced similar accusations overs its Taobao marketplace.)
Customers may or may not know they’re buying fake products. Either way, the brands claim it’s causing serious damage to their image and reputation.
Amazon’s dominance in US e-commerce, much of which comes from its giant marketplace, gives it considerable leverage, too. Nike didn’t sell through Amazon directly until recently. It signed up partly in hopes that working with Amazon would give it more control over the sea of Nike products being sold by independent sellers on the site.
Meanwhile, the bigger its third-party marketplace gets, the more Amazon profits, and the harder it gets to monitor what’s for sale.


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The University of California is nationally-renowned and viewed as a leader in the public sector procurement industry. Their astounding response to COVID-19 sourcing challenges were highlighted in this month's issue of the Educational Procurement Journal, published by the National Association of Education Procurement (NAEP). See below for the full article:
UC Procurement: Behind-the-Scenes but on the Frontline
by Bara Waters
With the COVID-19 pandemic, UC Procurement’s role in strategic sourcing has become increasingly vital and visible. In an everyday world, procurement and supply chain functions are behind-the-scenes operations to which few people give a second thought. But as supply chains experienced disruption worldwide, even those who never thought about where their toilet paper comes from are thinking about it now.
With five campus health centers and ten large research campus operations to outfit, UC Procurement is the hub of supply chain operations throughout the University of California (UC) system. From the moment pandemic-fighting supplies like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) became scarce, this centralized role in sourcing critical items took on greater immediacy and significance.
UC Procurement Strategic Sourcing mobilized swiftly in response to the crisis. "UC benefits from having experienced, talented supply chain professionals that can quickly pivot from negotiating long term contracts to helping our campuses find and procure personal protective equipment and other items that were suddenly in high demand and short supply," said Justin Sullivan, UC Procurement Executive Director of Strategic Sourcing.
The Strategic Sourcing team quickly established a daily systemwide Supply Chain status meeting with over 100 commodity managers, contract managers, data and sourcing analysts, eProcurement, and communications staff across the UC system. This daily information exchange and centralized coordination allowed UC campuses to share sourcing and "spot buy" (immediate one-time purchase) opportunities to help reduce product lead times and match supplies quickly to locations where they were most needed.
"It’s been an extraordinary opportunity for our systemwide and campus-based commodity managers to coordinate for maximum efficiency," said Sullivan. "Daily reporting and sharing information on the best available deals, and developing the flexibility to shift resources rapidly helped us optimize operations and respond quickly in an extremely high-pressure situation," Sullivan said.
During the initial phase, Jeremy Meadows, Associate Director for Strategic Sourcing, ran the daily status meetings and oversaw efforts to reach suppliers and track available goods and services. "We had to be creative and flexible in our supplier outreach and sourcing methods," said Meadows. "As the need for PPE skyrocketed, we had to engage non-UC suppliers along with current UC suppliers to source high-demand items."
Meadows tapped the UC Procurement communications team to launch a supplier outreach campaign and create an online centralized repository to collect supplier responses and organize and track available PPE goods. "We also pulled together an ad hoc team to vet supplier offers so commodity managers could act quickly and with confidence," said Meadows. "And our Analytics team tracked back-ordered reports to monitor lead times on critical items."
As the pandemic matured, UC Procurement’s focus expanded to plan for reopening campuses and health centers in the safest and most thoughtful manner. Daily meetings were reduced to three-times-a-week. One session now focused on strategy and contingency planning for reopening while the others continued with current supply chain offerings and updates.
Looking further into the future, UC Procurement is transforming this crisis into an opportunity. "Demanding times highlight the need for new approaches and bold solutions," said Bill Cooper, UC Associate Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer. "We’ve shown that we can mobilize and respond heroically to dynamic sourcing challenges, and now our goal is to apply the same agility to optimizing our organization and practices systemwide."
As the University of California faces unprecedented financial fallout from the pandemic, UC Procurement is a bright spot in a darkened sky. "Our strategic and collaborative sourcing methods already create significant savings for the University. But procurement and supply chain operations can also be powerful revenue-generating engines," said Cooper. "COVID-19 will significantly stress the University’s financial posture for several years to come. UC Procurement’s new frontline is to be a major contributor to the restoration of UC’s financial and operational stability."
Bara Waters is the Communications & Training Manager for UC Procurement, the central procurement/supply chain operation for the University of California system of ten research campuses, five medical centers and three national laboratories. UC Procurement develops and implements supply chain strategies and policies that leverage the University of California’s vast purchasing power to optimize University spend. Waters has done marketing communications, education and training, and organizational and economic development in K-12/higher education, technology and government sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Community Development from the University of Michigan.
OMNIA Partners is proud to be the Lead Agency Marketing Partner for the University of California. The UC's process is viewed as a best practice in the industry and we are thrilled to offer their robust portfolio of solutions to allow access to OMNIA Partners participants nationwide. View the University of California portfolio or contact your dedicated resource for more information.


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Google’s new Daydream VR headset, the Daydream View, has finally gone on sale, one month after being announced.
Back in october, Google confirmed that the headset would be available November 10 on the Google Store and through retailers in five countries.
In the UK, the headset is available for £69 through EE or Carphone Warehouse, while US customers can get their hands on the View for $79 through either Verizon or Best Buy.
Elsewhere, Canadians will have to pay $99, those in Germany €69, and in Australia the View sells for $119. You can find a full list of retailers on the Google Blog.
In order to use the headset, you’ll need a ‘Daydream-ready’ phone, only one of which currently exists in the form of the Google Pixel.
However, next year’s crop of smartphones is sure to bring numerous new additions to that list, so the View has a bright future ahead of it.
The headset works by dropping a Daydream-ready phone into the compartment on the headset, Samsung Gear-style, which prompt the View to auto-align with that phone and pair wirelessly.
Google also recently announced the first 30 VR experiences that will be available through the Daydream View:
- Wonderglade – Resolution Games
- Fantastic Beasts – Warner Bros/Frame Store
- Danger Goat
- Gunjack 2: End of Shift – CCP Games
- EarthShape – Bithell Games
- Need for Speed: No Limits – EA
- Hungry Shark World – Future Games of London
- Hunters Gate – Climax Studios
- Action Bowling – Atomic Bullfrog
- VR Karts Sprint – Viewpoint Games
- The Arcslinger
- Home Run Derby
- Archer E. Bowman – voidAlpha
- Underworld Overlord – Otherside Entertainment
- Affected: The Manor – Fallen Planet Studios
- Cosmic Chef
- Daydream Blue – RalphVR
- DRIFT – SharpSense
- Classroom Aquatic – Sunken Places
- Layers of Fear
- Loco Motors
- Poly Runner – Lucid Sight
- Frostbound – Schell Games
- Sisters – Otherworld Interactive
- Avakin Life
- Baskhead – VRLines
- Orbital Loop
- Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes – Steel Crate Games
In terms of personal cinema-style apps, YouTube, Hulu, Google Play Movies, HBO Now and Netflix will all be available.
WATCH: Pixel phone
Let us know if you’ll be picking up the View in the comments.


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Cars that drive themselves used to be a pipe dream, only to be seen in the movies. But with cars already packed with information technology, the idea is no longer far-fetched for global automakers, and the competition is heating up.
U.S. companies are leading the way. Last year, Google Inc. posted a video on YouTube showing a car traveling on its own while its “driver” eats a hamburger, with his hands completely off the steering wheel. The clip, covering a slice of the firm’s 320,000 km of computer-led driving tests on public roads, has been viewed almost 5 million times.
Google is aiming to introduce the technology by 2017, while General Motors Co. has announced a plan to put its own automated driving technology into practical use in the second half of the decade.
With the new technology expected to reduce accidents caused by human error and give opportunities for the elderly and the disabled to travel by car, rivals are also entering the race.
Nissan Motor Co. was among the first of Japan’s automakers to announce plans to market self-driving cars. The firm is looking to put the technology on the market by 2020, and has set up a driving test facility near Tokyo.
“Obviously, we’ve seen the reaction from the public. There is a lot of attention and thirst from everybody about the automated car,” Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said earlier this month as he sat behind the wheel to test his firm’s prototype self-driving car at the CEATEC high-tech show in Tokyo.
“We are under pressure from a lot of competition. . . . We’re going to get there even sooner than we think. What’s going to be left is only the reliability of the system.”
Nissan is looking to begin the first tests of its driverless car, equipped with artificial intelligence, on public roads in Japan.
Toyota Motor Corp. has also recently announced it is joining the battle. It is planning to launch a safety system for highways featuring automated driving technology in the middle of this decade, but its approach differs slightly from Google and Nissan, both of which aim to build completely driverless cars.
“Of course we want to establish a perfect technology for automated driving, but we believe it always needs to be a human that drives a car, and such technology would just serve as a support for drivers. We are not planning to market cars that run without a driver,” said Susumu Umemura, general manager at Toyota’s future project division.
“But it will definitely be one of the most important technologies we need to put resources into down the road. We would like to deliver it to our customers as soon as possible.”
Honda Motor Co. unveiled a prototype of its automated driving car Tuesday at the ITS World Congress held in Tokyo. The car is equipped with camera, sensor and telecommunication systems. It stops when it senses danger, and can drive itself from point to point.
Though Honda has not unveiled a specific date for putting the vehicle on the market, it is a “must-win game and we will definitely put a lot of effort into this area,” said Naoki Hayashibe, general manager at the technology development division.
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Chamber aims to build community with new program
VIRGINIA – New Laurentian Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jaimie Niska is hoping to strengthen community relationships and promote businesses through a new (to the area) monthly program featuring food and education.
The “Lunch & Learn” series, as it is being called, is open to the public, including both business and non-business owners, and will feature sessions throughout the course of 2016 and 2017, held at various places and lead by variety of professionals.
The first session under Niska’s watch will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board building on Highway 53 south of Eveleth.
Food will be served by Kunnari’s, and will feature a boxed lunch for those who RSVP by Sept. 23. The cost is $15 for Laurentian members and $20 for non-members.
The event will feature information about programs available through the IRRRB including the Downtown & Business Corridor Program; the Business Energy Retrofit Program; Commercial Redevelopment; Culture & Tourism; and FLUXX Grants Management Program.
According to Niska, while Lunch & Learn is fairly new for the Laurentian Chamber, it’s a program that has been successful in other places.
“Chambers of commerce throughout the region have held and continue to hold similar educational opportunities in their respective service areas,” Niska said. “It’s not a brand new idea. However it is, in a sense, a brand new series for the Laurentian Chamber of Commerce, its members and our service area. The Laurentian Chamber of Commerce is bringing it to our chamber members (and non-members) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen our community partnerships and better promote business through educational opportunities like this.”
Niska said the first session is a partnership with the IRRRB because it was timely.
“The IRRRB currently has a variety of programs available to small businesses – like their Downtown and Business Corridor program, Business Energy Retrofit program, Commercial Redevelopment and Culture & Tourism programs — some of which have impending deadlines for funding consideration” she said. “It was a good fit as businesses start to plan for the following calendar year and a great way to kick off the Laurentian Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch & Learn series.”
Future sessions will feature topics such as stress management, financial planning, health and fitness, human resources (team building and employee engagement), Google Places business listings, small business websites, advanced care planning, as well as updates from the region’s industry leaders, Niska added.
“We are continuing to provide value-added opportunities like this for our chamber members and the surrounding region,” Niska said. “Right now, we have tentatively scheduled the Lunch & Learn series through July of 2017 and are in the process of filling the remaining Lunch & Learn slots for 2017.”
Those interested in attending the Lunch & Learn session at the IRRRB must RSVP by Friday, Sept. 23, by contacting the Laurentian at 218-741-2717. It can also be done by email at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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I'm an interior designer and Wilko has the best high-end homeware dupes – including fancy lanterns for a third less | The Sun
AN INTERIOR stylist has taken to TikTok to share her bargain Wilko finds – including homeware designer dupes at just a fraction of the price.
Maxine revealed that the retail store had items similar to those she’d spotted in The White Company, Anthropology, and Oliver Bonas – and some were a third of their competitor’s price.
The interior designer and TV presenter, known online as @maxinebradystyling, regularly shares interior design tips with her 5,200 followers.
In a new reel, she shared what she found on a recent visit to her local Wilko store, including a dupe for The White Company’s popular Finmere Lantern, priced at £35.
Holding up Wilko’s Medium Chrome Lantern, costing just £13, she said: “These lanterns are just like ones I’ve seen in The White Company.”
Her followers also liked Wilko’s Gold Hexagon Hanging Mirror, which Maxine claimed was almost identical to the Cox & Cox Brass Octagonal Mirror costing £150.
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She added: “This I’ve seen on Cox and Cox’s website.”
Talking about an orange ‘Be Positive’ mug, she said: “Love this, very much like Oliver Bonas.”
Holding up a pattern bath sheet, she continued: “This is like Marimekko towels, great quality as well.
“Made.com, little storage mirror unit for your bathroom.
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“I’ve got a set like this from La Redoute but this is a fraction of the cost.
“This is like an Anglepoise lamp. Again, it’s cheap.
“This is giving me Anthropologie vibes.”
Maxine also spotted a gorgeous jute rug, which she claimed could be a dupe for the £219 Eccleston Rug at The Cotswold Company.
“I definitely spotted one of these in the Cotswold Company.
“And finally these gold handles which look like Buster & Punch.”
Fans loved her dupes, with the video gaining more than 810 likes and 32,100 views.
In the comments, Maxine’s followers shared their praise for her thrifty finds, with one writing: “I love Wilkos so much.”
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Another said: “I got the lamp a week ago, it's great.”
A third put: “Love that first mirror.”
Source: Read Full Article


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If you love pasta but don't eat it for fear it'll make you gain weight, we've got some smashing news for you.
Researchers have discovered that, despite popular belief that pasta makes you pile on the pounds, eating it has actually been associated with weight loss.
But that's not to say you should over-indulge. Researchers suggest eating it "in moderation", as part of a balanced diet.
The research, published in the journal Nutrition and Diabetes, examined over 23,000 people who participated in two large epidemiological studies.
They analysed data of the participants and their eating habits and found that, contrary to popular belief, consumption of pasta is not associated with weight gain.
"Our data shows that enjoying pasta according to individuals' needs contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio," said lead author George Pounis.
The Mediterranean diet has been touted for its many health benefits over the years. But the role of pasta in this diet has not been evaluated on its own.
Licia Iacoviello, head of the laboratory of molecular and nutritional epidemiology at Neuromed Institute, said: "In popular views pasta is often considered not adequate when you want to lose weight. And some people completely ban it from their meals.
"In light of this research, we can say that this is not a correct attitude.
"We're talking about a fundamental component of Italian Mediterranean tradition, and there is no reason to do without it."
She added: "The message emerging from this study, as from other scientific analyses conducted in the context of the Moli-sani Project and INHES, is that Mediterranean diet, consumed in moderation and respecting the variety of all its elements (pasta in the first place), is good for your health."


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(MENAFN - AFP) Twinkie manufacturer Hostess said Monday it would enter mediation with its union aimed at resolving differences that forced it to shut down national operations and seek liquidation last week.
Hostess Brands, the maker of iconic super-sweet snacks and Wonder Bread, said it would start the confidential mediation with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union on Tuesday, after a request from the New York district bankruptcy court.
On Friday Hostess, already in bankruptcy proceedings, announced it was shutting down its hundreds of bakeries and outlets because it could not reach a deal with workers that would allow it to keep going.
The shutdown put most of its 18,500 staff out of work and ended production of its most famous item, the cream-filled sponge cake Twinkie, sending fans to clean the shelves of supermarkets and convenience stores where they are normally sold.
Hostess kept its production lines closed Monday and said the court hearing to wind down the company and sell its assets had been rescheduled for Wednesday.
The 82-year-old Irving, Texas-based company, with 33 bakeries, 553 distribution centers and 527 bakery outlets nationwide, produces famous baked snacks like Sno Balls, Ding Dongs, Ho Ho's, and Hostess CupCakes, and controls a number of brands like Wonder Bread and Nature's Pride.
The company was hit by the economic downturn and a shift in public tastes, but management has also blamed staff costs for its problems.
In a court filing Monday, the union pointed the finger at a management which it described as determined to shut down plants well before workers who were members of the BCTGM union walked out on strike on November 9.
"Blaming the BCTGM for the company's liquidation is no more credible than blaming an isolated gust of wind for blowing over a tree, when it was the tree's shallow, rotted root structure that was actually responsible."
The union said it hoped to transfer Hostess's assets to "true baking industry operators who will have a fighting chance of operating a baking business, rather than leave them with management and lenders whose intransigence and unwillingness to face directly the company's real problems has driven it into bankruptcy twice."


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A recent report by Valour Consultancy explores in-seat power trends over the next decade. APEX Media spoke with Craig Foster, senior consultant and cofounder of Valour, to learn about the various power options coming to the fore.
USB outlets will outnumber 110V AC outlets.
Most outlets that ship over the next decade will be USB outlets, according to Foster.
“USB outlets accounted for about 56% of total deliveries in 2018. By 2028, this will increase to 86%,” he says. “In the single-aisle segment, the move away from seatback IFE in favor of wireless IFE means in-seat power will increasingly be integrated into the seat architecture.”
Power outlet vendors are already partnering with seat manufacturers on pre-integrated in-seat power as a competitive strategy, Foster points out.
There is still room for the international multi-plug, though mainly in premium cabins.
“Our belief is that the AC+USB combo plugs—AC and USB ports in the same housing—will be favored over the standalone AC outlets to give passengers more choice, and to ease the transition to Type-C. Passengers will likely carry Type-A PEDs [personal electronic devices] for a little while yet,” Foster says.
The new Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900, which will be deployed on domestic routes, offers passengers across all classes both options of USB and 110V AC outlets, with combination plugs in first class and independent AC/USB plugs in business and economy.
USB Type-C demand will grow dramatically.
“We expect Type-C to dominate in future as it offers several advantages over Type-A and 110V AC,” Foster adds. “All new smartphones, as well as a range of other PEDs now ship with the Type-C adapter. With Power Delivery, there is the ability to provide up to 60W of power, which means it will be possible to charge all future PEDs with the Type-C outlet using a single, standardized cable. A USB Type-C system is less expensive than a 110V AC power system, weighs less, and hardware is less obtrusive too.”
As the popularity of wireless charging grows in consumer tech and in other transportation services, airlines will need to keep up.
Wireless charging is an attractive passenger experience feature because it eliminates the tangle of cables which can further impede movement in a crowded cabin. It also means there are no USB sockets that can be broken by mishandling or shorted by incompatible devices, Foster suggests, but the technology is not quite ready to take off.
“First, charging pads are easier to deploy in premium cabins because there is more real estate to play with. Although, we’re hearing of strong demand for the technology in economy cabins too; presumably, as part of a PED holder that would also serve to keep the device upright and at a favorable viewing angle,” Foster says. “Second, power efficiency of inductive charging pads is currently 60-70%, compared to >90% for traditional outlets. This requires bigger, more expensive power supply units with more heat dissipation. Additionally, devices take longer to charge, which may be of more concern on shorter journeys. And third, the cost and complexity of manufacturing wireless charging pads is higher than for traditional outlets.”
The push for power is leading to greater supplier diversification.
“Astronics and, to a lesser extent, KID, dominate the market right now,” Foster says. “Their combined share of 2018 revenues was 98%. The USB market will become more competitive, though. Several newcomers have won sizable contracts recently: IMAGIK (GOL, Air Europa and Neos), Inflight Canada (British Airways, Japan Airlines and Air Transat) and Burrana (a major carrier in Latin America and another in APAC—neither of which I am able to name). And companies like True Blue Power, Eirtech Aviation Services and Mythopoeia are all winning business as well.”


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“ICOULD be handy, mending a fuse / When your lights have gone”. The Beatles were singing about turning 64, but they might well have been singing about Ireland’s original console obsession. The lights went out on the Commodore 64 decades ago – but tomorrow they will flicker back into life.
The Commodore 64 Mini hits Gamestop on March 29 for €99.99, bringing with it collective sighs of nostalgia from gamers between the age of 35-45, and collective groans from their
parents, the erstwhile software mechanics who kept the machine running.
“Mum, the loading screen is frozen again.”
“Dad, the tape is stuck in the machine.”
Thankfully, the only tape the Commodore 64 Mini needs is the sticky kind, sealing the box. Once you’ve ripped that off, the only thing left to do is plug the console into your TV. The Commodore 64 Mini, like its hugely successful cousin the SNES mini, keeps the look and
form of the original console, while making it compatible with modern screens. The result is likely to be a lengthy trip down memory lane for many gamers in Ireland, where the original Commodore was particularly successful.
Unlike the widespread success of Nintendo and Sega in later generations, the Commodore was not a truly global phenomenon. It will be
interesting to see if Irish gamers receive the
Commodore 64 Mini with the same warmth and fervour as the SNES Mini.
Thomas Mallon, marketing manager for
GameStop Northern Europe, has no doubts.
“The demand for the C64 Mini has been
phenomenal,” says Mallon. “We’ve received huge amounts of pre-orders and are encouraging customers to look at the pre-order option to ensure they get their hands on one. The expectation from customers has already far surpassed that of the SNES Mini, so we expect this to be the biggest selling gaming item of 2018, so far.”
Unsurprisingly, the Commodore 64 Mini comes with a specific number of games: 64.
Included are the likes of California Games, which introduced Irish gamers to bad skating long before Tony Hawk, and Impossible Mission I and II. The machine is, effectively, a 50%-scale version of the original console, so you can even plug in a full-size keyboard to
program in BASIC. Many successful game
developers made their first games on a Commodore 64. This writer programmed a pixelated balloon to travel across the screen and promptly retired.
For younger gamers curious as to the real difference between a SNES and a Commodore 64, the best answer might lie with the iconic joystick, which comes packaged with the 64 Mini. With just two buttons and an arcade stick, it really does represent a time when games were simpler. While it may be harder to argue that games were better back then, to Irish gamers of a certain age, the Commodore will always be king.
The current Irish king of gaming is
undoubtedly Brendan Greene, the creator of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Greene has slowly started to acclimatise to his role as
spokesperson for the game, which is developed by Korean outfit Bluehole.
Speaking at the recent San Francisco Game Developer’s Conference, Greene said that he wanted Battlegrounds to become “more
intense” and he announced a new 4KMx4KM map. He also remarked that the goal of
Battlegrounds was to become more realistic, which may be as a direct result of Fortnite, a huge battle royale competitor with a much more cartoonish style.
When asked about rivals series Fortnite, Greene was magnanimous: “It’s great. It’s
getting battle royale to a lot more people. It grows the genre.”
Unfortunately for Greene and Battlegrounds, Fortnite is doing far more than just “growing” the battle royale genre. It is fast becoming the genre. Fortnite released on iPhones last week and immediately topped the charts in 13
countries. If that wasn’t impressive enough,
developers Epic also announced that the
mobile port made them $1.5m in just three days. Considering Fortnite is invite-only on iPhones and is free-to-play (meaning players are not obligated to spend money) that number is extremely healthy.
Fortnite has grown tremendously since first ‘copying’ Brendan Greene’s battle royale
concept last year. It remains to be seen whether Greene and Battlegrounds, which is still hugely popular, can keep apace.


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Robbery detectives arrested a 15-year-old boy after he was identified during a months-long investigation into armed Craigslist robberies in the city.
Detectives have linked three armed robbery cases reaching all the way back to December 20, 2015 when the suspect answered an ad on Craigslist looking to purchase some high-end basketball shoes. When the seller arrived in the 6700 block of 28 Ave S. the suspect drew a handgun and took the shoes and other items before running away.
In a second case a shoe seller met with a man in an attempt to sell a pair of $800 sneakers January 20, 2016. The seller agreed to a met up in the 7000 block of 32 Ave S where upon seeing the shoes the suspect grabbed them and ran away. The seller gave chase, but the suspect turned and fired a single shot in the air. The seller stopped following and called 911. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect.
In a third case a man was attempting to sell three pairs of Jordan basketball shoes on Craigslist. The man agreed to meet the suspect in the 7000 block of 32 Ave S. The suspect spoke to the victim for a minute before a second suspect approached carrying an Uzi-type firearm. The two suspects took all three pairs of shoes and ran off.
Detectives found and arrested one of the suspects yesterday afternoon while he attended school. Detectives interviewed the 15-year-old who admitted to “wheeling and dealing”with shoes. Detectives later that day served a search warrant on his home, recovering many items linked to the robberies. Detectives booked the teen into the King County Youth Services Center for investigation of robbery.
Remember that you can always use a precinct lobby when attempting to resell items online.