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Microsoft Plays Down a Sales Lift From Vista
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 15 — Wall Street analysts are being too optimistic about sales of Windows Vista, Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, told financial analysts in New York on Thursday.
Vista, the latest version of the Windows operating system, was released to corporate customers late last year and to retail customers last month. Analysts have said industry growth was slowed by repeated delays in Vista’s introduction.
But Mr. Ballmer suggested that Vista’s release would generate only a “small surge” in PC sales. He said forecasts for sales in the fiscal year beginning in July were too high, noting that the analysts’ spreadsheet models called for strong growth in Vista sales, while at the same time predicting slower growth for the rest of the personal computer industry.
“These things are out of whack,” he said at an analyst conference that was broadcast on the Internet. “If Vista is growing, there should be a lot of people participating,” he said, referring to other companies in the PC industry.
Mr. Ballmer suggested that PC industry growth would not reach the 12 to 15 percent annual rates that some analysts have been predicting.
Mr. Ballmer’s comments also suggest that customers will not rush to upgrade existing machines to the new software, which is reported to be both memory-hungry and less compatible with existing software and hardware than Microsoft had indicated.
At the same time, Mr. Ballmer said he was optimistic about the role that the new Windows software would play in the company’s profit growth, in the long run. He listed Windows as the company’s leading growth business in a list of nine that could potentially create more than a half-billion dollars in profit growth during the next three years.
Mr. Ballmer spoke after the stock market closed. Microsoft stock fell about 1.7 percent in after-hours trading, to $28.95.
During his hourlong presentation, Mr. Ballmer reiterated that the company’s business strategy called for patience and persistence, even in businesses where the company does not find success over a long period of time. He noted that for the first 13 years after the company began selling corporate server software in 1989, it was told that its products were not reliable enough for that market.
He acknowledged that Microsoft was trailing both Google and Yahoo in the Web portal and search markets, which are supported by online advertising, and said the company was unhappy being in a trailing position.
“We need a strong services platform,” he said, pointing to the infrastructure the company is now building under its Live brand in a development effort being led by its chief technology officer, Ray Ozzie.


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Thanks to a parting gift from @evleaks, we may have the cleanest look yet at the new Moto X (aka Moto X+1). The image he shared shows the Moto X on its way to Verizon in both black and white/wood variants, with big camera sensors and a possible button/sensor that also houses a Motorola logo on the back. The images also show a screen that may have even less bezel than last year’s model, at least on the top and bottom of the device, even with dual front-facing speakers.
Since we have such clean images that appear to be official press renders, we decided to match them up next to last year’s Moto X. (more…)
As a retirement gift, @evleaks just Tweeted the image above, which is likely a set of press renders for the new Moto X (or Moto X+1) that is headed for Verizon.
Two variants of the device are shown, one as an all-black base model, the other as a white and wood combo, something that you would see on the original Moto X if it were made through MotoMaker. It looks exactly like the last leak we saw, which showed a device with a wood back, centered Motorola logo/button, big camera housing, and metal trim. (more…)
At the end of last week, a reader of ours pointed out that device made by Motorola under the model number XT1254 had passed through Bluetooth SIG with a description confirming that it was an Android smartphone. No other details were attached, so we ignored it. Then over the weekend, a couple of supposed CPU-Z screens of a Motorola device with a codename of “quark_verizon” surfaced under the same model number, causing the tech world to freak out, toss around conspiracy and fanboy theories involving the rumored Motorola Nexus, and generally sound silly. Names like “DROID Turbo” were mentioned, as were a handful of next-level specs.
So what is this mystery device? Well, let’s see if we can’t find out. (more…)
Thanks to Best Buy going live with a Moto 360 listing a couple of weeks early, we may already know the most important piece of info for Motorola’s smartwatch – the price. Listed at $249.99, I would venture to guess that most of you are ready to throw down cash immediately. Or are you?
There was some worry that a $300+ price tag would accompany the watch, mostly due to the fact that it has been built with high-end materials, yet still packs in all sorts of features, like water resistance. If you compare the 360 to the Samsung Gear Live or LG G Watch, it certainly seems like Motorola could have charged a premium for it, especially with those currently available at $199 and $229, respectively.
$250, though, how does that sound? Are you buying if the Moto 360 drops in at that price?
We are expecting to get official Moto 360 launch details when Motorola hosts press at a September 4 event in Chicago, but Best Buy may have gone ahead and let us in on all sorts of details early. According to a listing on Best Buy’s site for the Moto 360, we could end up paying $249.
The device is also listed as having a 1.5-inch backlit LCD touch screen, with a 320×290 resolution, 205ppi, and Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3. Matching up to what we learned from a leak a week ago, we are also seeing mentions of a heart rate monitor, water resistance (up to 3.3 feet for up to 30 minutes), and an ambient light sensor. On a specs tab, the listing suggests that there is 512MB of RAM, Wireless N connectivity, and a Texas Instruments processor inside. (more…)
A new set of images that HelloMotoHK is claiming to be the front panel of the new Moto X (or Moto X+1) have surfaced, images which show a device that has indeed grown over the last year, but also may include even bigger front speakers than a previous leak led us to believe. In the images, we are getting comparisons of the new panel to the original Moto X, along with what appear to be extra-large speaker cutouts. (more…)
At the end of 2013, we called the Moto X the best phone of the year. Even though it had a pretty terrible camera and a not-even-close-to-class-leading display, the overall package of software features, size and feel, quick updates, and customizability through MotoMaker made it the phone to have, at least in our opinion. But here we are, weeks away from the unveiling of the new version, whether that ends up being called Moto X+1 or new Moto X or something else, you can imagine how excited we are to see what Motorola has in-store.
Still, Motorola needs to step their game up even further if they want to hold onto that “best phone of the year” title. The LG G3 is currently topping the charts (our review), with the OnePlus One and HTC One (M8) close behind it.
There are some specific things we would love to see Motorola address in order to make the next Moto X an amazing phone. Here are five of them. (more…)
When it comes to leaks or information about unreleased devices, benchmarks are almost always hit or miss. In fact, you should almost never fully buy into the data that they provide because from one day to the next, they could show off completely different information for what they claim is the exact same device. With that said, they do often open the bucket of paint to help manufacturers go all Picasso during a press event, so we still like to see them, especially when we are only a couple of weeks away from an unveiling.
And that’s why we are taking a quick look this morning at yet another purported benchmark for the next Moto X, which was long ago dubbed unofficially as the Moto X+1. (more…)

domain: news


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The Internet's top radio service adds station recommendations to its app for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, aiming to stretch listening longer.
Enter a single character before entering a word or phrase in Chrome's omnibox, and you'll strip out browsing history and bookmark suggestions, leaving you with a clean list of suggested search terms.
The app now plays in more countries and pushes people to follow more artists.
Netflix rolls out a gamelike interface called Max -- the "child of Siri and HAL 9000" -- to recommend movies and shows.
The company will not have to remove autocomplete in Germany, but it must evaluate potential defamation claims when they are brought to its attention.
Experiment's recommendations will be based on accounts followed by other Twitter users and Web sites visited.
Nokia spent years ignoring the U.S. Now, as Apple and Google eat its lunch, the new CEO wants a change. Here are a few ideas.
Company adds local suggestions to its maps, creating location-based results when you're searching for a specific type of business.
SAM 4.5 problems: some suggestions
Inspired by Dell's IdeaStorm site, the unofficial MakeOfficeBetter.com lets people suggest product improvements, and rank those suggestions.


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Former Pinellas teacher rides coconut craze with Kelapo, a multi-million dollar business
Local business is selling coconut oil nationwide
9:40 PM, Jun 18, 2013
10:30 PM, Jun 18, 2013
TAMPA - Erin Meagher, barely 30 years old, is a true believer in the future of coconut oil.
"Coconut oil sales are outpacing olive oil sales right now. It's exciting," said Meagher in the aisle of Rollin' Oats Market in Tampa.
The stylish former teacher at Osceola High School found her calling in 2009 just as reports of the healthful properties of coconut oil were making the news.
"I was teaching entrepreneurship. Then I found my product, the coconut oil that I believed in 100 percent, that I could get behind. Then I went and did it and just jumped in," remembered Meagher.
Last year, Meagher's fledgling start up sold $3 million dollars worth of Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil across the country. She sources the organic, free trade oil from Sri Lanka which explains the elephant logo. And she's proud to be the young job creator the Bay Area so desperately seeks to attract and keep.
"We have five employees now here in our office. We're trying to create those jobs that will create the sense that young people do want to live and work in Tampa Bay like we do," said Meagher .
Meagher's been successful in getting her product on the shelves of major chains like Whole Foods and Publix along with smaller grocers like Rollin' Oats in Tampa where even the manager uses the product.
"I use it on my skin and hair and I actually do it in smoothies and if I'm sauteing," said Gina Simmons.
Having tasted the oil out of the jar myself, I can report it has a faint smell and taste of coconut and the oily feeling dissipates quickly in the mouth.
Meagher hopes her sweet taste of success will inspire other young entrepreneurs.
"I think that's really important that they chase their dreams of whatever it is because that's what makes America great, right?"
Meagher says a financial "angel" helped bankroll her start up expenses. She plans an ambitious but gradual expansion in the future.


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“From the many fun, hugely-successful Tetris games on the market today to its recognition as a global lifestyle brand, Tetris is as popular now as it ever was among fans of all ages, which gives the brand massive licensing potential,” says Gayle Goldsmith, director, Lisle Licensing. “We’re thrilled to announce Ravensburger and Blues Clothing as our newest partners for Tetris and think their products will be a huge hit among consumers.”
This year marks Tetris’ 35th anniversary. The retro video game has recently inked a variety of deals to celebrate the occasion including
across apparel, publishing, footwear and event promotions.
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Beyond Factory Farms: ‘Big Meat’ Comes at High CostJun 30, 2020 08:30AM ● By Melinda Hemmelgarn
Kevin Walker, a Michigan State University professor and author of The Grand Food Bargain and the Mindless Drive for More, says, “Meat is the poster child of industrial food gone awry.” Independent animal farmers are disappearing while factory farms are getting bigger, causing more air, soil and water pollution in rural communities nationwide, reports the Center for a Livable Future (CLF) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Large industrialized farms known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) rely on the routine use of antibiotics to both prevent the spread of disease and promote animal growth and weight gain—a practice known to fuel antibiotic resistance and compromise human health.
High Cost of Cheap Meat
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a push toward greater efficiency created the shift to industrial livestock production. However, attempts to maximize production for higher returns at minimal cost come at a price.
For example, a growing body of evidence shows that CAFOs lead to the social and economic decline of rural communities. “Research has consistently found that living near a CAFO is associated with an array of negative health impacts, including respiratory disease, mental health problems and certain types of infections,” says Keeve Nachman, Ph.D., director of the CLF Food Production and Public Health Program.
Everett Murphy, M.D., a retired pulmonologist from Kansas City, concurs, “Not only are the odors from factory livestock farms offensive, but individuals living within three miles of industrial animal operations are at risk for serious, life-shortening illnesses and permanent disabilities.” Concrete reservoirs designed to hold manure present a problem as well, he adds, “They always leak into the groundwater, spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria and making the source of water to neighboring communities unusable and toxic.”
Joan Olive says she is living proof that exposure to air pollution from factory farms is every bit as harmful as scientists and health experts have warned about for years. On one fateful December day 16 years ago, Olive was outdoors on her family farm near Spencer, Iowa, when she noticed a strong, sickening odor. Feeling nauseous, she went inside, but later that evening, her tongue swelled, she became disoriented and began shaking and sweating profusely.
Olive’s symptoms subsided over the next few days, but since then she has experienced multiple chemical sensitivities, transient symptoms of brain fog, muscle twitching, migraines, and respiratory and circulatory problems. Health experts at the University of Iowa identified the source of the sickening odor as toxic hydrogen sulfide from liquid CAFO waste that had been sprayed on farmland one mile from Olive’s home. In addition to the region’s concentration of hog CAFOs, her home sat two miles from 1.5 million chickens.
Today, Olive drinks filtered water and eats organic food to protect her health, but she notices that her symptoms return when triggered by exposure to CAFO air pollution and pesticides. In March, Olive moved to Spearfish, South Dakota, where she’s breathing easier and enjoying time outdoors. But she believes she left behind “thousands of rural residents who are having their lives and health destroyed by Big Ag.”
There Ought to be a Law
“Government oversight and policies designed to safeguard the health of individuals and the environment from these operations have been inadequate,” says Bob Martin, director of the CLF Food System Policy Program.
Citing environmental and public health hazards, the American Public Health Association issued a new policy statement last November calling for a precautionary moratorium on all new and expanding CAFOs. It advises a complete halt until additional scientific data has been collected and public health concerns addressed.
Bypassing Industrial Eating
Many consumers don’t realize that the majority of beef, pork and chicken sold in supermarkets, served in restaurants and distributed to institutions nationwide comes from the industrial food system. According to the Public Justice Food Project, 85 percent of the meat Americans consume is produced by four corporate giants—Tyson, Smithfield, Cargill and JBS—each accused of hiding labor, animal or environmental abuses behind folksy brand names and packaging images.
To shed light on abuses and steer consumers away from industrial meat, the Center for Food Safety created a website that pulls back the curtain on CAFOs. It recommends replacing half of the meat we eat with humane, sustainably raised, grass-fed and organic meat, while replacing the other half with plant-based sources of protein such as beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds—a dietary approach that benefits our gut microbes and protects us against a host of chronic diseases.
As concerns mount about the health, ethical and environmental impact of animal products, the food industry has responded with more plant-based, lab-grown meat alternatives. Yet, according to the Food and Technology 2019 report by the market research firm The Hartman Group, many meat replacements rely on highly sophisticated technologies that hardly meet consumers’ definitions of “natural”.
“It’s all about what isn’t on the label,” says Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., chief science advisor of the GRACE Communications Foundation. According to Rangan, many plant-based and fake meat products are actually ultra-processed foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients and rely on petroleum-based chemicals that are not required to be listed on the label.
“The Impossible Burger introduces over 48 new proteins to the human diet without a thorough safety investigation,” warns Rangan. She questions whether these new meat alternatives are better than meat from animals raised on pasture without routine drugs and synthetic fertilizers.
There’s a big difference between the health and environmental impact of meat from animals raised in feed lots versus those raised with regenerative agricultural practices. “Industrial agriculture is absolutely harmful,” reports A Greener World, a nonprofit certifier of the trustworthy Animal Welfare Approved label. But thinking we have to go vegan or purchase fake meat to protect our health or the planet is misguided.
Eating Less, But Better Meat
“Our bodies are designed to be omnivores, and animal products are part of a diverse, real food diet,” says Rebecca Thistlethwaite, director of the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network at Oregon State University. Thistlethwaite, author of Farms with a Future and The New Livestock Farmer: The Business of Raising and Selling Ethical Meat, believes in ancestral eating and eating as close to nature as possible. She is mindful of portion size and eats only organic and pasture-raised animal foods to avoid synthetic chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Will Harris, owner of White Oak Pastures, in Bluffton, Georgia, declares, “It’s not the cow, it’s the how.” Harris transitioned his livestock operation from the industrial model to certified humane animal husbandry and sustainable practices that emulate nature. The switch to a pasture-based system yields healthier animals, he explains, and helps take carbon out of the atmosphere and back into the soil.
In Cows Save the Planet and Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth, author Judith Schwartz describes how grazing animals play a key role in restoring soil health, and therefore human health. “Well-managed pastures and grasslands with ruminant animals can sequester more carbon than they emit, improve soil health and increase groundwater recharge,” explains Thistlethwaite. Plus, both livestock and poultry can make use of inedible feeds that humans don’t consume, such as grass and sagebrush.
Power To the People
Rangan and Harris emphasize that the power of consumer spending can shift the market. However, Thistlethwaite says, “We cannot just vote with our forks, as many people don’t have that luxury.” She urges change at both personal and political levels, favoring incentive-based approaches with fewer subsidies going to the industrial system.
“We need more farmers raising high-quality animals in a humane, ecologically responsible manner,” says Thistlethwaite. But we also need more small-scale slaughterhouses and meat processors throughout the country to get quality meat to more of our tables.
In addition to farmers’ markets, cooperatives and community supported agriculture, organizations such as the American Grassfed Association and Local Harvest connect consumers directly to farmers using sustainable practices to help rebuild regional food hubs and networks.
“Start with small steps,” suggests Thistlethwaite. “Buy milk from a local creamery, eggs from a farmer in your community or one-quarter cow to fill your freezer from a local, grass-fed beef producer. Reward the farms and ranches that are doing it right by purchasing from them, promoting them, supporting them.”
Melinda Hemmelgarn, the “Food Sleuth,” is an award-winning registered dietitian, writer and nationally syndicated radio host based in Columbia, MO. Reach her at [email protected]. Tune into Food Sleuth Radio at KOPN Radio.
Critical Questions to Find and Support Good Food
- Where does my food come from?
- Who produced it and under what conditions?
- Were workers treated fairly and animals humanely?
- What’s in or on my food?
- Were pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, genetically modified ingredients or additives used in producing it?
- Is it rich or poor in nutrients?
- What might be the unintended consequences of my food and farming choices?
- How might those choices affect our environment and future generations?
Learn More, Eat Smarter
One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts film
Editor's note: Take Action to Stop Factory Farms
Editor's note: Take Action to Stop Factory Farms
The COVID-19 health crisis highlights inequalities in how we produce and distribute food. A new bill, the Farm System Reform Act (FSRA), will help to create a more healthy, sustainable and equitable model, by placing a moratorium on new Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (commonly known as factory farms), cracking down on the monopolistic practices of multinational meat corporations and supporting farmers to transition to healthier, pasture-based models and organic farming. To support the FSRA, the Sierra Club has made it easy to contact members of Congress.


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Today Google announced that it is in “early engagement with LG to make a consumer-scale” Project Tango device next year.
The announcement came at the tech firm’s annual I/O developer conference in San Francisco.
Google describes Tango as an initiative to “give mobile devices a human-scale understanding of space and motion.” In their current form, Tango devices feature 3D motion and depth sensing — not entirely unlike Amazon’s Fire Phone.
“We are currently working actively with companies as well as universities to improve the software stack,” Google said. “We’re excited to announce that we’re starting early engagement with LG to make a consumer-scale device next year … We have early integrations with both Unity and the Unreal Engine. If you know how to use these tools, you can build a Project Tango app.”
For more on Project Tango, here’s an inside look at how Google’s 3D-modeling phone works, and a peek at Google’s most recent Tango developer device, a 7-inch, $1,024 tablet.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google ... All Google news »
LG Corporation is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation. It is the fourth-largest company of its kind in South Korea, following Samsung Group, Hyundai Motors Group and SK Gro... All LG news »


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October 19, 2020
Although it didn’t reveal total Prime Day numbers, Amazon stated that small- and medium-size businesses in its marketplace earned $3.5+ billion during the event, a 60 percent increase from last year’s sales and a record for these vendors. It added that third-party sales on Prime Day grew more than Amazon’s own retail business. Prime Day was launched in 2015 and has become one of Amazon’s more crucial retail and marketing events. This year’s event was pushed from July to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CNBC reports that, “the timing means that the holiday shopping season will kick off earlier than ever.” Although Amazon’s “Echo, Ring, Eero and private label products are usually deeply discounted during Prime Day,” the company said that “its smaller and cheaper voice-activated smart speaker, the Echo Dot, was the most popular product this year.”
Prime Day took place in 20 countries this year, with participation from 2.3+ million small and medium-size businesses. Last year’s event produced $2+ billion in sales for third-party sellers. Top-selling categories this year for these vendors “included bedding, wireless accessories, nutrition and wellness, arts and crafts, as well as health care.”
Third-party vendors now account for “about 58 percent of the company’s total merchandise sold.” Given that figure, CNBC estimates that, “Amazon stands to have generated at least $7 billion in sales during this year’s Prime Day.” That’s less than that predicted by JPMorgan at $7.5 billion and eMarketer at almost $10 billion. Analysts interviewed by FactSet reported that, “Amazon is expected to exceed $100 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time ever in the fourth quarter.”
CNN reports that, in the past, Amazon used Prime Day to tout its own sales records but, this year, instead “play[ed] up how small businesses benefited from Prime Day.” The change, it suggests, “comes as Amazon faces intense scrutiny from lawmakers about its power over independent merchants that sell goods through its website and other tactics that critics argue stifle competition.”
Amazon also emphasized that it will invest $18 billion “to help small and medium-sized businesses ‘succeed in its store’.” It also funded a promotion “that helped drive over $900 million in sales for small businesses in the two weeks leading up to Prime Day.” Amazon’s new messaging, said one retail expert, is a signal it is “trying to position itself as a small businesses ally.”
“Every one of the Big Tech platforms is trying to position itself as friends of the little guy during the pandemic,” said eMarketer analyst Andrew Lipsman.
Beyond Amazon Prime Day: 4 Ways E-Commerce Has Shaken Up the Retail Industry Over the Past 5 Years, CNBC, 10/14/20
Amazon’s Prime Day Accelerates Shift to Online Shopping, The Wall Street Journal, 10/16/20


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THE PUBLIC are being again being advised to be wary of phone scams after reports that fraudsters are targeting homes in Scotland.
Tayside Police issued the warning after a woman from Arbroath received a call from a female alleging to be from the Ministry of Justice.
The caller, who was described as having an Indian accent, informed the woman that she was entitled to receive a four figure sum of money but in order to receive it, she would have to go to her local Co-op and make a payment to her organisation via Ukash.
The woman was immediately suspicious and reported the incident to the police after hanging up.
Ukash is a system whereby users are able to carry out online transactions without the need for payment cards as all that is required is the voucher’s unique four-digit code.
A representative from Ukash warned consumers against the dangers of cold callers, highlighting that this is a fraud and anyone who does fall victim to a scam will lose their money.
A Tayside Police spokeswoman stated: “While it is common practice to carry out transactions over the phone, we would advise people not to share financial details with a cold caller.
“Personal information should not be shared in such circumstances either – including simple information such as when you may or may not be at home.
“Such callers may be very convincing, but householders must keep in mind the fact that the person at the other end of the line has put time and effort into rehearsing their lines with the hope of catching them out.
“Be suspicious of all such calls and always make every effort to ensure that the person at end of the line is who they claim to be, represent who they claim to represent and are legitimate and reputable.
“If you are unsure, take details of their company so you can check their credentials. You can even take a number with a view to checking out their details and calling the company they say they are from at a later time using a number you have obtained independently.
“Above all else if you have concerns of suspicions hang up and contact the police on 0300 111 2222.”


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A Xpeng P7 electric car is on display during the 18th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition at China Import and Export Fair Complex on November 20, 2020 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province of China.
VCG | Visual China Group | Getty Images
GUANGZHOU, China — Chinese electric carmaker Xpeng is doubling the production capacity at one of its key plants as competition heats up.
Xpeng said it will increase the planned production capacity of its Zhaoqing manufacturing site from 100,000 cars a year to 200,000. The Zhaoqing plant opened last year, and is located in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.
Xpeng has looked to boost production capacity by building its own factories. Earlier…


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Toilet paper has once again been stripped from the shelves.
Stock was running low at several Southern Highlands supermarkets on Saturday, including Woolworths and Coles stores.
This week Woolworths reinstated a two-pack limit on toilet paper and paper towel, following a surge in demand across Australia.
This was triggered by a spike of COVID-19 cases in Victoria.
Toilet paper panic-buying hit the Southern Highlands in March.
Some shoppers purchased more packets than they needed and left other customers to go without.
Woolworths Supermarkets managing director Claire Peters said the company was "taking preventative action now to get ahead of any excessive buying".
"We have plenty of stock for all of us, so we encourage our customers to buy only what they need and think of others in the community as they shop this weekend," she said.
"If customers already have enough toilet roll at home, there is no need to buy more."
Coles Supermarkets introduced a one packet per customer rule for toilet paper and paper towel.
The limit applies to in-store and online purchases as well as Coles Express stores.


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Welcome to EnsoulRecords.com!
Ensoul is proud to finally announce the launch of its website.
Its purpose is to shed light on some of Montreal’s most talented artists and for music lovers to spread the word.
The online pages are the result of an in-house joint effort by the Ensoul Team.
A big thanks to Siou’s creative mind who’s behind the web design and to Fabien’s recently honed coding abilities!


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Taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the Cannabis Industry
Recently, the cannabis industry has been lobbying the state and county for tax reductions. They claim the recent drop in prices make cultivation and manufacturing taxes unaffordable. Before granting tax relief, let’s review how the industry arrived at this point, the real problem and if county tax relief is the right solution.
Proposition 64’s selling points were to legalize and grow the cannabis market, and lower cannabis prices to benefit consumers. This, along with Sonoma County’s voter initiative, promised that taxes would not just pay for the program itself but they would be sufficient to offset the secondary impacts of cannabis use with tax revenue spent on drug treatment, law enforcement, safety and youth programs and environmental protection. The county set the tax rate relatively low and now there is serious doubt that the program costs are covered, let alone these secondary impacts.
Although the legalization process had a slow start, California now has over 9,400 licensed cultivators. A recent Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) report indicates legal growers have doubled their output, while retail sales growth is slowing.
A Cannabis Growers Alliance representative attributed the dramatic fall in price to massive overproduction, “…California farmers are producing four to five times more cannabis than our legal market can consume,” …. “Simple supply and demand economics demonstrates when your supply outpaces your demand, the prices go down….”
By the industry’s own admission, they are victims of their own success. 2020 was a bumper year, prices up, sales up — not a peep about taxes. For 2021 cultivators assumed the same growth rate and accordingly increased production. All the while the market was softening. This is a normal business cycle; cannabis cultivation overshot the distributor market and faces lower prices.
Now the industry is pressuring our Senator and Supervisors for special treatment in the form of tax relief. However, typical market forces of over-supply cannot be deemed a “disaster” (such as fire damage requiring tax relief) or used to justify an urgency ordinance, which requires a finding of impacts to “…peace, health or public safety.”
Our Senator Mike McGuire justifies tax relief to help “the small family farmer.” However, a review of the cannabis permits revealed that the government’s actions and inactions, not taxes, are creating problems for the small cultivator. First, the county fast-tracked over 100 low-cost permits for 10,000 sq. ft. cultivations. Analyses revealed that two large cannabis operators and their affiliates own 70% of these permits. Then, the county granted 5-year extensions thereby, providing competitive advantage to these large operators.
Permitted cannabis operations are also impacted by illegal grows. There has been little concerted effort by the state or county to reel in unpermitted growers or illegal cannabis. Again, over- supply depresses market prices.
On Jan. 4, the Supervisors requested more complete financial information that covers all revenue sources – permits, taxes, penalties and fines – and all program direct and indirect costs. The economic analyses must include the long-term public costs of enforcement, environmental remediation for abandoned cannabis sites and eradication of illegal grows. The costs to bring the cannabis program into compliance with state environmental law and properly integrate within our county must be considered.
The growers face a supply/demand problem, not a tax problem. Our government officials need to give up popular sound bites and do the serious work of closing large corporation permitting loopholes and eliminating unpermitted grows. Cannabis taxes are the price of legitimizing the industry. Lowering taxes effectively means taxpayers will be subsidizing this industry.
NOW, Neighbors of West County Sebastopol


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Whilst we are only one month into the year – it’s clear to see there are some rising consumer trends to look out for. The
Three billion people now use social media (40% of the world’s population). These people are spending at least two hours every day sharing, liking, watching
Today, Hootsuite held it’s summit on The Future Of Customer Engagement. Hootsuite is an online platform which allows companies to organise their digital content calendars.


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Sensor skin patch could spell end to sunburn
A new stretchable skin sensor specifically designed to monitor UV exposure could mean the end of sunburn for holidaymakers.
Unveiling its new technological advance to fight the dangers of over-exposure to the sun, cosmetics firm L'Oreal believe their product could help users to properly protect themselves against health dangers associated with sun-bathing.
The MailOnline reports that the patch is being launched in the US this summer where the emphasis will be placed on how the patch can significantly reduce skin cancer.
The device works by monitoring a person’s time in the sun before sending signals and readings to a connected app. The high-tech sensor resembles a small band aid and is half the thickness of a strand of hair. It contains photosensitive dyes that factor in your baseline skin tone and changes colour when you are exposed to UV rays.
Users can check on their levels of exposure by taking a picture of the patch on their smartphones before uploading them to the new app.
At that stage, the wearer is advised to head for the shade, take a break or quickly apply more suncream.
The patch is being launched at a time when skin cancer and the importance of covering up when on sun holidays has become a major health issue. Up to 90% of non-melanoma cancers can be traced to overexposure to UV radiation from the sun.
The new mobile app will become available on iOS and Android when it is launched within the next six months.
Consultant dermatologist to The London Clinic, Dr Christopher Rowland Payne, believes the device could act as a motivation for holidaymakers to control their sun exposure. He said it was an “ingenious way” of getting the information to the people on safe sun exposure.


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- Latest News
- Fire Cases Update
- East Coast furniture shop razed
East Coast furniture shop razed
A fire engulfed a furniture shop at 135 Upper East Coast Road early yesterday morning (3 Feb 2019).
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a series of Facebook posts that it had been alerted to a fire at the furniture shop at 3.33am.
Eleven emergency vehicles and about 35 firefighters were involved. At one point, five water jets were used to get the fire under control.
Residents who had been evacuated by the police and the SCDF as a safety precaution were allowed to return to their homes. There were no reported injuries and the SCDF is investigating the cause of the fire.
Published : 18-Feb-2019


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Feat: Kotak 811, Manforce, Axis Bank, Under Armour, Star Sports, Engage, Toppr...
Paytm Payments Bank has to clock close to 1 billion additional transactions at over 5.9 billion from the earlier target of 5 billion
The micro-blogging platform has evolved into a key communication component for brands around festivals, and other major occasions…
Feat: Samsonite, Vivo, Axis Bank, ICICI Lombard, Oppo, HP, Pantaloons. Coca Cola, RuPay, Petronas...
WhatsApp close to meeting data localisation norms, payments service should be on in two months: NPCI
Many think WhatsApp can help India emulate China's WeChat story, and help achieve the cashless payments objectives
Co-branded card program is a meaningful incentive for users interacting with the brand: Manasi Narasimhan of Mastercard
Co-branded cards have emerged as a key way to cater to this aspiring middle class that invests in experiences
ICICI Lombard and Max life insurance emerge as top advertisers, while YouTube is the most preferred publisher: TAM AdEx
TataAIG.com tops the charts as the most advertised brand
To aggressively push sales in festive season, ecommerce firms led by Amazon, Flipkart and FMCG cos hiring more staffers.
While the used cars transaction services business (used cars, insurance, financing services) grew 263%, the new auto division saw revenues shoot up 44%
Average monthly ARPU in April-June may drop to Rs 124
From being a ‘human’ task to being technology driven; how the process of recruitment has gone through as change
Algorithms analyse expressions, tone to check for traits such as confidence, anger in video interviews
Their appointment, which is with effect from May 7, 2019 for five years, will be subject to the approval of shareholders in the ensuing annual general meeting, the company said in a regulatory filing
The campaign has been conceptualised by Lowe Lintas
Just saying ‘you’ve come a long way, baby’ doesn’t cut it anymore
How do you effectively enrich your SMEs? Axis Bank has the answer, and they're taking it all over India!
(Brand Connect Initiative)
His last role was as the head of branch banking and retail trade forex.
It had said the acquisition would boost its e-commerce enablement capabilities and expand the product offerings for existing clients
The 2018 edition of Brand Equity's Hot Young Marketers features the most promising and exciting marketing talent in the country
Jishtu's role at Axis Bank involves growing the bank’s forex card category and shaping a relevant brand positioning in a category facing low awareness and penetration
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Beijing (Gasgoo)- On July 19, XPeng and eHi, the Chinese car rental service provider, signed a strategic cooperation agreement at XPeng R&D headquarters in Guangzhou.
P7; photo credit: XPeng
The two companies also delivered their first vehicle at the event. Under the agreement, eHi will purchase vehicles from XPeng over the next three years. During this time, the duo will work to build a supercharging network, enhance the vehicle use and service experience, as well as promote their joint brand images.
The cooperation with eHi marked XPeng’s new attempt in the field of smart mobility. The startup believes the cooperation will help popularize smart electric vehicles while enriching application scenarios.
The first vehicles delivered at the event are long-range P7s. XPeng will successively deliver its P5 and G3 models to the car rental company and then provide corresponding services to eHi branches in major transportation hubs and tourist cities in China.
As one of China’s leading car rental companies, eHi has more than 10,000 service outlets in over 500 cities across the country. It currently has a fleet of over 80,000 vehicles with over 200 models to choose from.
Gasgoo not only offers timely news and in-depth insights on the Chinese automotive industry, but also assists in the business connection and expansion of suppliers and buyers through multiple channels and methods. Buyer service: email@example.com Seller service: firstname.lastname@example.org
All rights reserved. Do not reproduce, copy and use editorial content without permission. Contact us: email@example.com.


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Base Brands has introduced a set of pastel-colored reusable water bottles called Reduce WaterWeek Kids Simply Sweet Set. With its soft hues and carefree imagery, the Simply Sweet collection is aimed at the grade school girls market, the company said.
The five-bottle set includes eco-friendly, reusable 10-ounce bottles and comes with a convenient tray that keeps the bottles organized in the fridge, the company stated.
“Our objective is to cover the kids market with styles for everyone, from cute cupcakes and butterflies to wicked monsters and space aliens. This beverage system has broad appeal because it allows families to ditch the disposables and use dishwasher-safe reusable bottles instead,” said Ken Kreafle, president of Base Brands.
Suggested retail for the set is $16.99 and is available immediately.


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Mobile payment start-up Square has its first luxury-brand partner all but squared away, a report from The Next Web said on Wednesday.
The report said that Square and Burberry, a high-end clothing retail chain, are currently testing out a partnership to use the San Francisco-based tech company's mobile payment processing services in stores nationwide. Citing people familiar with the matter, The Next Web said that an official announcement will be coming soon.
Last week, Burberry chief technology officer John Douglas all but revealed the news on Twitter.
“#Square live in live in our #Burberry Brit store in #sanfrancisco,” Douglas wrote.
“Love it @jack,” he concluded -- mentioning Dorsey himself, who recently stepped down from an operational role at Twitter to focus solely on his work as the founder and CEO of Square.
Partnering with high-end brands could help any tech company with an ambitious concept gain prestige, though doing so may not reach the largest possible audience as quickly as possible. But even then, Square has already enjoyed strong growth in recent months. Late in October, the company made its first steps toward gaining international audiences when it announced it would bring its mobile payment service to Canada. Early in November, the company finalized a deal with Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX), the world’s largest coffee chain, to bring its service to 7,000 retail locations across the U.S. Little more than a week later, Square revealed that it is now processing $10 million annually in transactions, an $8 million increase from October 2011.
Dorsey is well known as a very fashion-friendly tech icon, speaking in many magazine profiles such as Wired’s about his admiration for particular designers.


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In the wake of the Sears and Toys ‘R’ Us bankruptcies, Amazon is seeking to fill the gaps this holiday season with a traditional marketing tool: its first-ever holiday toy catalog. The print catalog, “A Holiday of Play,” will be mailed to millions of consumers this month.
Amazon is aggressively pursuing a greater share of holiday spending overall, eliminating the $25 minimum shipping requirement for “hundreds of millions” of items during this holiday season. Since Amazon has a significantly smaller store footprint than its rivals, a paper catalog would deliver a touch-and-feel experience that gives the e-Commerce giant a unique edge in toy display. The catalogs also will be available at Amazon Books and 4-star locations.


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- Industrial production and manufacturing fall.
- Retail sales were broadly weak in December.
- Inventories were largely stable in November.
- Housing starts and permits continue their declines.
- Sales of existing homes fall for 11th straight month.
- Mortgage rates ease in the latest week.
- Producer prices were tame in December.
- Initial jobless claims fall to a nine-month low.
- Diesel prices continue to decline modestly.
- Truck spot rates fall sharply in the latest week.
- Carload, intermodal volumes rise.
- Intermodal remains weaker than carload.
- STB chairman talks agenda at industry event.
Economic indicators released this week suggest far more weakness in the consumer and industrial sectors than had appeared to be the case previously. Not only were December indicators broadly weaker, but preliminary November figures were re-vised downward in several cases.
Industrial production and manufacturing
Despite a sizeable jump in utilities output due to cold weather, industrial production (IP) declined 0.7%, seasonally adjusted, in December. Manufacturing output fell 1.3% – the steepest decline since February 2021 when extreme winter conditions slammed the industrial and construction sectors. Downward revisions in prior-month estimates com-pounded the weakness for both manufacturing and the broader IP sector. The revised decrease for IP for November was 0.6%, down from 0.2% previously. The revised manufacturing decrease was 1.1%, down from 0.6%.
Manufacturing output was weaker in December in almost all sectors as durables were down 1.1% and non-durables fell 1.5%. IP and manufacturing output are still above levels during the pre-pandemic month of February 2020 but just barely so. IP in December was 1.7% higher; manufacturing was just 0.8% higher.
Retail and food service sales
Retail and food sales in December suffered their largest seasonally adjusted drop in a year. Sales fell 1.1% following a downwardly revised 1.0% decrease in November. On a not-seasonally adjusted basis, sales rose in December as they always do owing to holiday shopping and entertaining. However, the 7.8% unadjusted gain was the smallest for a December since 2018. Sales were broadly weaker with only a couple of major retail sectors posting any seasonally adjusted increase at all. Due to falling gasoline prices, gas station sales led the weakness at a 4.6% drop, but even excluding gas stations, sales were down 0.8%.
While pricing distorts gasoline sales, cooling inflation elsewhere is bringing current-dollar and inflation-adjusted figures in line. Real sales also were down 1.1%, and the revised November decline was just barely larger than the nominal figure at 1.1%. Current-dollar sales in December were nearly 29% ahead of February 2020. Real sales were almost 12% higher.
Retail inventories barely moved in November after a notable decrease in October. Total retail inventories ticked up 0.1%, seasonally adjusted. Inventories of motor vehicles and parts rose by 1.1%, but all other retail inventories declined 0.3%. After 26 straight months of m/m gains, retail inventories excluding automotive have fallen for three straight months. The scope of the decreases implies more of an orderly drawdown than a major correction, which could further weaken freight demand. The ratio of inventories to sales in retail rose to 1.24 in November from 1.22 in October. However, motor vehicles and parts were the principal factor. The automotive sector’s ratio jumped to 1.56 from 1.5 in October. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, the retail ratio was essentially flat at 1.15.
The inventories-to-sales ratio in the key general merchandise sector continued to ease in November but only slightly so. Seasonally adjusted inventories in that sector are the leanest they have been since the end of 2021.
Changes in most other retail sectors were incremental, but building materials and garden supplies saw a large jump in the inventories-to-sales ratio.
Key indicators of residential construction activity were modestly weaker in December. Housing starts declined 1.4%, seasonally adjusted, and the Census Bureau also revised downward its preliminary figures for October and November. In a reversal of recent trends, single-family housing starts rose 11.3% while starts of units in multi-family buildings with five or more units fell 18.9%. Permits authorized for future construction decreased 1.6%. Single-family permits fell 6.5% for the tenth straight decrease. Multi-family permits, which have been far less consistent, were up 7.1%.
Overall housing starts in December were 12% lower than they were in February 2020. Single-family starts were down 12.4% while multi-family starts were down 9.9%. After a sharp – and upwardly adjusted – increase in housing unit completions in November, housing completions fell 8.4% in December. Housing units under construction remain at an all-time high.
Sales of existing homes
Sales of existing single-family homes declined for the 11th straight month in December, easing 1.1% to the lowest annualized rate since November 2010. One glimmer of good news is that the m/m decrease was the second smallest during the 11 months.
The National Association of Realtors attributed the continuing decline in sales not only to high mortgage rates but also to a limited supply of homes on the market. The inventory of single-family homes for sale at the current sales rate fell in December to 2.9 months, which is the tightest supply since May.
Sales prices remain highly elevated compared to the pre-pandemic period, but they have fallen for six straight months. The median sales price of single-family homes sold in December was $372,700, down more than 11% from June’s record of $420,900 but up nearly 37% from the February 2020 median price of $272,800.
Mortgage rates declined in the latest week to their lowest level since September. The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage eased nearly two-tenths of a point to 6.15%. Freddie Mac said that declining rates are boosting the housing market but that the supply of homes remains a concern.
Producer Price Index
Falling energy prices and a tamer environment for many other items in December resulted in the largest drop in the Producer Price Index since April 2020. The PPI for final demand declined 0.5%. The PPI for final-demand goods saw an even sharper drop of 1.6%. The energy index fell 7.9%, and the food index declined 1.2%.
Excluding food, energy, and trade services, the PPI for final demand ticked up just 0.1%, which is the smallest increase since one of the same scope in November 2020. Pricing for some key industrial commodities continues to ease. The PPI for steel mill products declined 2.7% for the seventh straight decrease. The PPI for lumber was down 4.5% for the fifth straight drop.
PPIs for freight transportation services were mixed. The general freight truckload PPI increased 1%, but specialized long-distance was down 1.9%, and LTL declined 3.2% – the largest drop since July. The PPI for rail intermodal fell 2.4% after a 3.1% increase in November. The freight brokerage PPI ticked up 1% after the record 11.1% plunge in November.
Announcements of major layoffs are grabbing headlines, but comprehensive data continues to show a low level of claims for unemployment benefits. In the latest week, first-time claims for benefits fell by 15,000 to 190,000, seasonally adjusted, which is the lowest level since April aside from a week in September that also was 190,000.
After a couple of weeks of notable declines, continued claims for unemployment benefits rose by 17,000 to 1.65 million. Continued claims have taken a step up since mid-November and are running at close to their highest level in about a year.
Diesel and petroleum prices
The national average price of diesel declined 2.5 cents to $4.524 a gallon during the week ended Jan-uary 16. Coupled with the decrease in the previous week, diesel prices are now at their lowest level since the week ended February 28, although they are 42 cents higher than they were that week. Prices are about 80 cents higher y/y.
The Central Atlantic region was an outlier with a 16.4-cent drop in the average price. As of the latest week, only three regions are seeing average prices above $5 a gallon: The Central Atlantic, New England, and California. The first two easily could fall below $5 a gallon in the next week or two.
The underlying factors behind price movements have not changed much recently. West Texas Inter-mediate continues to trade mostly between $75 and $80 a barrel. Distillate inventories declined in the latest week, but the change was not sharp.


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From Ars Technica: Apple pays sites’ legal fees in free speech victory
From the article: “The Mac News Network is reporting that Apple has declined to to appeal its loss in last year’s Apple v. Does decision. MacNN says that Apple has paid nearly $700,000 to cover the sites’ legal fees.”
Very cool. It’s past time blogs and on-line magazines were granted a little respect, legally-speaking.


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Pricing on prime central London (PCL) properties has “more than” adjusted to take into account the higher transaction costs with average asking prices discounted by up to 10%, Knight Frank claims.
The agent’s February PCL Sales Index highlights LonRes data showing that the average asking price reduction for sales between £1m and £5m was 9.9% in the year to February.
Knight Frank could not say whether these discounts have led to sales, but there was a 2% increase in its own sales volumes in the year to February.
The number of prime properties on the market also increased 5.4% over the same period.
Tom Bill, head of London residential research for Knight Frank, said: “The impact of Stamp Duty has been substantially absorbed and is now an accepted cost of transacting.”
The index found that average PCL prices fell 1.1% in the year to March.
In the PCL lettings market, Knight Frank found that rental values fell 1.5%, the most modest rate of decline in almost two years, while rents were up for the first time since September 2015 by 0.2%.
However, the number of new lettings listings fell 5% in the year to February, the largest such decline since July 2015.
Knight Frank attributed the fall to increased confidence in the sales market, and it said: “Pricing in the sales market has shown increased signs of stability as Stamp Duty hikes have become more fully absorbed.
“Political uncertainty means the market is not set for an upswing in the short term, but signs of stability are likely to have caused some property owners to explore the option of a sale.
“The other reason behind this trend is the succession of tax changes in recent years, which include a Stamp Duty surcharge and tighter restrictions around tax relief and other allowances for landlords.”


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Mike Thornbrugh, a spokesperson for the QuikTrip Corporation, said his company deals in coins. Now, signs are posted at all of QT locations letting customers know that at this time, debit or credit is preferred. If you pay in cash and need change, it may come in the form of a QT gift card. If you have extra change just lying around, they’ll take it.
“We’re just getting old fashioned with you,” said Thornbrugh. “If you have coins in your piggy bank, your dresser drawer or your car come in, and we’re redeeming, you know, penny for penny. So we’re asking everybody to kind of help us. So we can help you in the short term.”
Thornbrugh said he understands people normally don’t use credit cards when they come in to make minor purchases. Plus, he said the store ends up on the losing end.
“Selfishly, the more people use credit cards, the credit card fees that we have to pay really add up. So, you’re really in a short term kind of teaching people. Change your habits a little bit if you can. And hopefully, we’re doing everybody a favor, get rid of all the excess coins because we’ll take ’em,” Thornbrugh said.
QuikTrip isn’t the only business affected by the shortage. Thornbrugh said any business that accepts currency or coins will be impacted. He said the federal reserve chairman sent out a notice last week informing businesses of a possible coin shortage due to the coronavirus and people not out spending and redeeming coins, mints reducing production and places that you could go redeem coins, like banks, closing their doors to visitors.


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Danish furniture retailer Jysk is to open three new stores in the UK, ahead of a “significant roll out”.
The retailer, which launched in the UK four years ago, now has five stores in the country. It said it is on the hunt for suitable property in popular retail parks throughout the country to support its “major expansion”.
Jysk, which has close to 2000 stores across the world, admitted its opening programme in the UK has been slower than it initially planned however it insisted it remained committed to the country.
Jysk UK country manager Steve Stenhouse said: “Jysk is finding favour with British shoppers in some of the most challenging economic conditions and part of the reason for its success is its commitment to offering customers a good deal with good quality goods at low prices.”
Its three new stores will be its most southern step into the UK. The first new store will open in Swadlincote, Derbyshire at the end of September.
Jysk has a global turnover of €2.5bn.


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BELLEVUE, WASH. – Labor Day weekend (2-3 September) is one of the busiest travel periods of the summer, spurring more air travel in 2016 than other midyear holidays such as Memorial Day and Independence Day1. A recent Expedia survey2 confirmed that nearly 25 percent of Americans plan to get out of town for Labor Day this year. To help travelers get in one last summer getaway, Expedia today released data on the busiest destinations and where to go for a great deal.
“Just because a destination is in-demand doesn’t necessarily mean travelers will pay a premium,” says Sarah Gavin, vice president of global communications, expedia. “Places like London are over 35 percent more popular this year, but roughly 15 percent less expensive. And when you combine that with the hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars you can save when you bundle your flight and hotel, that’s an incredible value.”
New York and Las Vegas Among Busiest Cities for Labor Day3
Expedia flight booking data suggests that these North American cities are shaping up to be the busiest destinations for Labor Day weekend:
- New York
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
The best deals for Labor Day weekend
Many destinations that are seeing a rise in popularity this year versus last year are actually less expensive. For example, while Las Vegas is twice as popular this year versus last year, it is 10 percent cheaper, as are Honolulu and Austin4.
Internationally, Reykjavik is seeing nearly twice the interest this year, but coming in around 25 percent cheaper this August compared to last. Similarly, Paris and Barcelona are experiencing rising demand yet represent a great deal for travelers, with savings of roughly 15 percent, respectively5.
You can read more of the news on source


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International Markets Week is Enterprise Ireland’s biggest event in the calendar each year so, and as they have been hugely supportive of Abrel over the years, we couldn’t miss out on heading along for a bit of networking with our EI friends and other client companies.
Over the three-day event more than 2000 meetings were held as approximately 600 Enterprise Ireland Client Companies attended to take advantage of meeting EI’s International Market Advisors who flew in from around the world.
We love getting out to meet up with our contacts and are always happy to make new connections!
Obviously, Brexit was a hot topic at the event and for the first time there was a dedicated ‘Brexit Zone’. The UK is an excellent market for Irish exporters like Abrel as it has no language barriers and logistics are obviously very easy and quick. Traditionally Irish companies have grown strong ties with the UK and these have become a little bit uncertain due to Brexit.
Many of the companies attending were given the opportunity to discuss their preparedness for Brexit and it has been reported that more than 60% said they had not taking any steps to get themselves ready for the changes coming down the line.
At Abrel we have put in place a number of steps to be ‘Brexit Ready’ and continue to monitor events as they unfold. Part of our strategy is to keep in close contact with our clients in the UK and we take regular trips to meet with them.
For any business that feels they might be exposed in this respect, EI has produced a handy tool
Get Brexit Ready – Prepare for Brexit with the Enterprise Ireland Brexit SME Scorecard.
The Irish Advantage
During International Markets Week Enterprise Ireland launched a new campaign, The Irish Advantage, with the aim of supporting the growth of Irish exports into the Eurozone.
The campaign is designed to offer support to Irish companies along this journey. At the launch Julie Sinnamon, EI CEO, said that the goal is to grow exports into the Eurozone by up to 50%.
Central to our growth strategy at Abrel is to continue to develop strong relationships with companies throughout the EU, Eurozone and further afield. Over the past 2 decades our European sales team has won several key contracts that has seen us supply our burn-in boards and burn-in test systems to numerous leading tech companies within the EU. Obviously, we also operate extensively in other regions across the globe too – check out a recent US trip to visit clients.
Innovation in Burn-in Solutions
Innovation is key in creating competitive advantage and according to the European Innovation Scoreboard 2017 Irish SME’s were ranked number one for innovation.
At Abrel our focus on innovation has earned us the reputation as the leading provider of burn-in solutions to the semiconductor industry. Our product development team are highly skilled and continue to engineer innovative solutions for our customers. Burn-in boards can be produced for a full range systems and solutions are available for several test conditions from HAST, LTOL, PTC and HTOL.
Get in Touch
If you would like to get any more details or have our team design a burn-in solution for your organisation please contact us. We will then be able to discuss your requirements, add value and create the perfect test solution.


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The Scottish economy will experience modest growth this year, but at a rate below that previously forecast and less than the rest of the UK, a leading financial report has predicted.
The EY Scottish ITEM Club 2018 summer update published today said Scotland’s non-oil GDP forecast will grow by 1.3 per cent in 2018, a figure downgraded from the 1.4 per cent predicted in December last year.
Furthermore, the UK is expected to stretch ahead of Scotland with 1.6 per cent GDP growth forecast for this year. In December last year it had been predicted that Scottish growth would match the performance of the UK as a whole.
According to the report, Scotland’s growth will be driven by consumer spending, albeit at a slower pace.
The rate of consumers’ expenditure is expected to fall from 1.1 per cent last year to 0.5 per cent in 2018.
The report said export performance would have a have an influential bearing on growth.
Last year the strength of Scottish exports led to net trade boosting the Scottish economy. The document predicted that this would continue – although a strengthening pound, making products more expensive to international buyers, would temper some of the positive impact this year.
The report predicted modest employment growth of 0.7 per cent in 2018, falling to 0.3 per cent in 2019. Office-based private services are again expected to generate the bulk of new jobs (33,800 from 2017 to 2021), the construction sector is expected to create 14,500 jobs as output in the sector recovers.
Sectors reliant on consumer spending and tourism, such as accommodation and food services, wholesale and retail, and arts, entertainment and recreation are also expected to grow in employment terms. While retail is expected to experience modest job losses in 2018.
Mark Gregory, EY’s UK chief economist, said: “Economic growth in Scotland is moving beyond the 0.8 per cent growth rate we saw in 2017.
“While this demonstrates that Scotland is set to successfully pull out of an economic tailspin and return to growth of above 1 per cent, there are also signs that UK-wide economic growth will remain firmly ahead of Scotland’s in the near term.”
Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: “Slow growth has dogged Scotland’s economy for too long, and it’s happened on the SNP’s watch.
“It’s the consequence of a government that has an anti-business approach and has prioritised squabbling about constitutional issues above the economy.”


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Kojima Productions founder Hideo Kojima teased Death Stranding‘s upcoming appearance at E3 2018 in a tweet today with a new screenshot.
“+1 on the T-minus 3 weeks,” Kojima said in response to a similar tweet from Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann teasing The Last of Us Part II‘s appearance at the event. “#E3 2018 Decima x Kojima = DS.”
As previously announced, both Death Stranding and The Last of Us Part II will be a core focus for Sony Interactive Entertainment at E3 2018, alongside Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Tsushima and Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man.
E3 2018 runs from June 12 to 14.


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Curious about how to burn through $2.5 billion in less than a year? Nokia might have some suggestions. According to a Reuters poll of analysts, Nokia is on track to lose 2 billion euros, or $2.5 billion, of its cash pile in the next three quarters -- after already losing $2.7 billion of its cash reserves in the past five quarters.
And that's not even the most pessimistic of outlooks.
More bullish analysts predict that the Finnish mobile company will wipe out the entirety of its 4.9 billion euro, or $6.2 billion, cash pile by the end of 2012. It's a worsening outlook for Nokia, which suffered a $1.7 billion loss in Q1. And less than a month ago, the once-largest mobile handset company lost its position to Samsung and had its bonds downgraded to "junk" status.
"I would not rule out the possibility of Nokia being downgraded further," Nancy Utterback, credit strategist at Aviva Investors, told Reuters. "The company is in a negative spiral that will be hard to reverse."
Nokia declined to comment on the poll's findings.
There is, however, still hope for Nokia, according to the 30 banks and brokerages polled by Reuters. The poll found that, on average, analysts believe Nokia will end the year with an actual cash buffer, albeit a small one, of 2.9 billion euros, or $3.6 billion.
It's a significant loss compared to the company's 2007 cash pile of more than 10 billion euros, or $12.7 billion. But at least there's a sliver of hope that Nokia can survive longer than a couple of years.
And Nokia still has the potential to bounce back with its Lumia line of smartphones and the growth of Microsoft's Windows Phone platform. The polled analysts predict that Nokia will sell a total of 46 million smartphones next year, more than double the expected 20 million units for this year.


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Y Combinator, the renowned Silicon Valley incubator, has once again set the tone for innovation with its annual “Requests for Startups” report. In this report, released on February 15, Y Combinator identifies stablecoins, the metaverse, and artificial intelligence (AI) as some of the most promising areas for entrepreneurial endeavor.
Stablecoins: The Future of Money
Stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, have emerged as a focal point for financial innovation. Y Combinator recognizes the immense potential of stablecoins, citing their viability as low-cost cross-border payment solutions. Brad Flora, a partner at Y Combinator, draws parallels between the rise of stablecoins and the development of digital music in the early 2000s.
Flora asserts, “Stablecoins seem to be an important part of the future of money,” comparing the industry’s trajectory to the transformation of digital music. He notes that just as Spotify disrupted the music industry during a period of transition, startups in the stablecoin space have the opportunity to revolutionize traditional finance.
With a current market size of approximately $136 billion, stablecoins represent a burgeoning market ripe for innovation. Flora highlights that despite this sizeable market, only a fraction of the world’s population has engaged in stablecoin transactions, indicating significant room for growth, particularly in regions plagued by high inflation rates.
The world is full of founders with expertise that could be tapped into something new and great.
— Y Combinator (@ycombinator) February 14, 2024
The Metaverse: Redefining Digital Interaction
Y Combinator recognizes the transformative potential of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, commonly referred to as the metaverse. While recent advances, such as the release of Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, have improved user experiences, Y Combinator underscores the need for further innovation beyond gaming applications.
Diana Hu, another partner at Y Combinator, emphasizes the continued evolution of AR and VR technologies and envisions startups using these platforms to create innovative software solutions. Hu expresses enthusiasm for working with founders at the forefront of this technological frontier, recognizing the challenges and opportunities inherent in shaping the future of digital interaction.
Artificial Intelligence: Powering Next-Generation Solutions
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a cornerstone of Y Combinator’s investment thesis, with a focus on leveraging AI to drive personalized and efficient business processes. Harj Taggar, a managing director at Y Combinator, envisions AI-powered solutions tailored to a wide range of business needs, from customer relationship management to human resources and planning.
The proliferation of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Explanable AI underscores Y Combinator’s commitment to fostering disruptive innovation. These technologies have the potential to streamline traditionally manual administrative tasks, paving the way for improved efficiency and decision-making across industries.
Funding the Future of Innovation
Y Combinator’s Requests for Startups serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurial ventures in cutting-edge industries. By identifying stablecoins, the metaverse, and AI as strategic areas for investment, Y Combinator is signaling its commitment to supporting founders who are poised to redefine the technological landscape.
Entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in these burgeoning industries are encouraged to heed Y Combinator’s call to innovation. With a track record of nurturing successful startups, Y Combinator provides not only financial support, but also invaluable mentorship and resources to turn visionary ideas into reality.
Collaborating for progress
Y Combinator’s forward-thinking approach aligns with broader industry initiatives to drive innovation and shape the future of technology. Collaborations between corporations, academia, and startup accelerators underscore a shared commitment to advancing transformative solutions in stablecoins, the metaverse, and AI.
In an ever-evolving landscape marked by technological disruption, Y Combinator stands as a beacon of innovation, empowering entrepreneurs to realize their vision and usher in a new era of progress.
Y Combinator’s Requests for Startups report sheds light on the transformative potential of stablecoins, the metaverse, and artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation across industries. With a strong focus on emerging technologies and disruptive solutions, Y Combinator continues to serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurial ventures at the forefront of technological advancement.
As the digital landscape evolves and new opportunities emerge, entrepreneurs are encouraged to heed Y Combinator’s call to innovation and take advantage of the resources and mentorship offered by the renowned Silicon Valley incubator. By embracing cutting-edge technologies and collaborative approaches, startups can forge a path to success and help shape the future of the digital economy.
1. What is Y Combinator’s “Requests for Startups” report?
Y Combinator’s Requests for Startups report is an annual publication that identifies emerging trends and sectors considered ripe for entrepreneurial innovation. It serves as a guide for founders seeking to address pressing challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the technology industry.
2. What are stablecoins and why are they important?
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that are pegged to the value of fiat currencies, such as the US dollar, to mitigate the price volatility commonly associated with other cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. They have immense potential as low-cost cross-border payment solutions and have attracted interest from investors and financial institutions worldwide.
3. How does Y Combinator support metaverse and AI startups?
Y Combinator provides funding, mentorship, and resources to startups focused on developing innovative solutions in the metaverse and AI. By fostering a supportive ecosystem and providing guidance from experienced industry professionals, Y Combinator empowers founders to navigate the complexities of these rapidly evolving fields and create meaningful impact.
4. What are the opportunities for entrepreneurs in emerging technologies?
Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pioneer breakthrough innovations in emerging technologies such as AR, VR, and AI. By leveraging these technologies to address unmet needs and disrupt traditional industries, startups can unlock new growth opportunities and position themselves at the forefront of technological advancement.
5. How can aspiring entrepreneurs get involved with Y Combinator?
Aspiring entrepreneurs can apply to Y Combinator’s startup accelerator program by submitting a detailed application outlining their business idea, team, and market opportunity. Successful applicants gain access to funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities to accelerate their startup’s growth and achieve success in their respective industries.
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Head of the jury in the Apple and Samsung patent case has spoken to the technology website Ars Technica, saying they believed that Samsung "knew or should have known what they were doing was infringing."
More top news
Stanley May - who was a regular at the supermarket in Truro in Cornwall - hit his head on the wet floor.
May has implicitly admitted that her flagship manifesto pledge was not properly thought through.
American superbike racer Nicky Hayden has died - days after being involved in a serious bicycle collision with a car.


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Riot Blockchain, an American mining company, is experiencing “serious disruptions” in bitcoin mining operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such risks are described in the annual report for the SEC.
Unlike the previous year, the “General Risks” section of the report contains a subsection that reflects management’s opinion on the impact of coronavirus on the company’s business. It was noted that employees went into quarantine or self-isolation, while the supply chain has failed due to the closure of factories and transportation restrictions.
“If we are unable to effectively service our miners, our ability to mine bitcoin will be adversely affected as miners go offline, which would have an adverse effect on our business and the results of our operations,” Riot Blockchain mentions in the report.
The company’s fears echo the situation of Chinese miners, who fell into similar circumstances in February-March, when quarantine was effective in the country due to the spread of coronavirus.
Currently, the Riot Blockchain capacities consist of 4 thousand Antminer S17 Pro devices purchased in December 2019 to replace 8 thousand outdated Antminer S9 analogs.
“If not resolved quickly, the impact of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our business,” the company warns.
Recall, on March 26, the complexity of mining in the Bitcoin network experienced the second-largest decrease in history.


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The Makers are heading Down Under
Heading to Australia for the first time on Saturday, January 14th, Maker Faire is set to turn Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology into a DIY showcase.
It takes a certain quirky flair to stand out from the crowd in this environment, and you can be sure that with projects ranging from rockets to robots, DIY tech to engaging workshops and installations, there will be surprises in store for everyone.
Tinkerers, enthusiasts, hackers and specialist groups from across Australia are all heading down to Melbourne to share their own versions of the weird and wonderful creativity that Maker Faire has become known for.
When: Saturday, January 14th, 2012, 10 am to 4pm
Where: The Atrium, Swinburne University of Technology,
Hawthorn campus, 467 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122
Head over to the Maker Faire Melbourne website to see a few profiles of Featured Makers; and although it is a free event, pre-registration has already sold out… so for those lucky ones who scored a ticket, have a great day at the Faire this weekend!


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UK: Nissan confirms 24 hour Sunderland operation
Following yesterday's story on just-auto.com concerning Nissan UK adopting round the clock production, the company has today confirmed that it is considering 24-hour production at its Sunderland, UK plant. The move, which would involve a 3-shift pattern, would cut costs and strengthen it's bid to secure the £150m new Micra contract.
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The crypto industry did actually age a few years within the last bull run, maturing occasionally while barreling ahead in committed brand new activities, including DeFi, NFTs and web3. Although frauds proceeded to proliferate and hacker heists became a regular incident, the room onboarded an onslaught of retail investors and fostered feverish excitement among young technologists desperate to bet their jobs regarding blockchain.
We’re delighted to make use of this debate and excitement yet again even as we declare the star-studded agenda for TechCrunch Sessions: Crypto 2022.
The occasion — happening November 17 in Miami — will offer you a chance for founders and investors to listen to war tales from a number of the crypto world’s most effective decision-makers, whilst additionally picking right on up learnings from industry veterans with weathered a crypto wintertime or two. Make the most of our unique launch prices — save $250 on General Admission passes while materials final. Purchase your pass today, after which join the web3, DeFi and NFT communities to steadfastly keep up aided by the ever-evolving and constantly exciting cryptoverse.
We’re therefore excited to put on this occasion inside town of Miami, which includes encapsulated plenty regarding the current excitement surrounding appearing technology development and investment inside crypto sector. Our visitors only at that occasion involve some regarding the brightest minds available and have now intimately shaped crypto being an asset course and social touchstone.
We have actually much more news and speakers to share with you inside coming months, but this is a very first peek!
Live onstage: TechCrunch’s Chain effect
Join united states for real time podcast recording of Chain response as TechCrunch’s crypto group dives into lively conversations regarding latest blockchain news, drama, and styles.
Keeping the Web3 Dream Funded
with Michelle Bailhe (Sequoia), Tom Schmidt (Dragonfly)
Billions in money had been raised by crypto indigenous funds and web3 VCs during an unprecedented bull run, but due to the fact crypto areas turn bearish, just how will investors keep their web3 dream alive? We speak to a few of the most influential investors inside crypto area about which prospective wagers are way too very early, far too late and close to time.
Bringing Crypto on Crowds
with Amy Wu (FTX)
Former Lightspeed partner Amy Wu made waves in 2010 whenever she left the VC company to lead startup opportunities away from a fresh $2 billion investment at Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto powerhouse FTX. Subsequently, the Coinbase challenger has changed into a critical existence inside crypto M&A globe since it has wanted to supply a lifeline to blockchain finance companies wrecked by the unexpected downturn all while supporting young, committed efforts inside customer web3 area also. Listen from Wu how the woman company is assisting guide the crypto industry through doubt while wagering on its next course of champions.
Building for Normies
with Alex Adelman (Lolli), Devin Lewtan (angry Realities), and Brandon Millman (Phantom)
The most-hyped decentralized apps have actually typically been designed for crypto speculators or decentralized finance acolytes, however a brand new strain of items are being crafted aided by the typical internet individual in your mind. Join united states even as we speak to the founders of a few of web3’s many exciting customer apps, and select their minds on traditional market possibilities as well as the challenges to build customer crypto companies in a bear market.
Building a Blockchain Behemoth
with Changpeng Zhao (Binance)
Binance could be the biggest crypto change on the planet, and its particular creator and CEO, Chinese Canadian billionaire Changpeng Zhao, is indeed well-known that he’s frequently described by their initials alone — “CZ.” Binance’s scale has drawn scrutiny from regulators around the world, the change has was able to keep a cult-like appeal among its clients. Zhao can give united states a uncommon peek behind the curtain at Binance, sharing their insights about what it requires to operate the organization in a choppy market and their biggest hopes, worries and predictions about its future.
TechCrunch Crypto Pitch-Off
The industry’s brightest business owners takes the phase facing a real time market plus panel of skillfully developed, pitching revolutionary technologies.
Is Crypto Regulation Set?
with Katherine Dowling (Bitwise resource Management), more speakers become established
As crypto areas consistently gain conventional use, regulators globally are viewing the young industry with laser focus. But which crypto businesses, protocols and jobs would be compliant in the present regulatory framework? And exactly how will the crypto industry respond whenever federal government agencies begin supplying brand new directions? We speak to a number of the brightest individuals inside area, who’ll dig into exactly what legislation opportinity for a in 2022.
A Non-Fungible kingdom
with Devin Finzer (OpenSea)
Few inside crypto area saw the explosive use of NFTs taking place this quickly this quickly, but NFT market startup OpenSea, that has been created back 2017, had been sat on the subs bench. Fast ahead presenting time, and there has been tens of vast amounts of bucks in NFT deal amount with OpenSea managing the lion’s share of the product sales. CEO Devin Finzer has up to now fended down market rivals from well-funded general public behemoths and upstart threats, but can the $13.3 billion startup hold its lead by way of a bear market?
Fundraising in a Crypto Winter
with Flori Marquez (BlockFi), Nikil Viswanathan (Alchemy), and John Wu (Ava laboratories)
The times of fancy deal terms for pre-product crypto startups can be a subject put to rest due to the fact industry stares down an uncertain next several years. We consult with many veteran crypto founders how young founders are able to keep a reliable supply of financing throughout the bear market and exactly what their investors might want to see.
Apeing in to the Metaverse
with Nicole Muniz (Yuga laboratories)
There’s never ever been such a thing that can compare with the increase of Bored Ape Yacht Club. The pricey monkey JPEGs have actually prompted endless incredulity among crypto outsiders while owners regarding the NFT collection have actually showcased a devotion unusual outside spiritual teams. Yuga, the startup behind the collection, is desperate to turn this social anomaly into an kingdom. After increasing a seed round in 2010 at a mind-boggling $4 billion valuation, Yuga CEO Nicole Muniz is concentrating the woman efforts on building Otherside, an NFT-centric metaverse looking to challenge the efforts of Meta, Roblox yet others.
Don’t miss your opportunity to get this amazing content and my own for prime networking possibilities at TC Sessions: Crypto on November 17 in Miami. Purchase your pass now and save your self — prior to the unique launch prices vanishes. We’ll see you in November!
Is business enthusiastic about sponsoring or displaying at TC Sessions: Crypto? Contact our sponsorship sales force by filling out this kind.


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Monday, September 07, 2015
By Manoj Kumawat
Toyota to upgrade its technology by investing $50 million in next five years
With an objective to provide comfort driving experience to car drivers Japanese car maker Toyota Motors has announced to invest $ 50 million (INR about Rs. 333 crores) in collaboration with Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology for equipping its upcoming products with latest technical features. According to announcement made by company in this regard this investment by company would be made during next five years at its research centers located at Silicon Valley and Massachusetts institute located at Cambridge.
To implement this strategy in proper direction Japanese car maker has acquired the services of technical maven Gill Pratt who will look after the chances of integrating new technical features in forthcoming cars minimizing the actions performed by humans while driving their vehicle. Addressing the event Mr. Kiyotaka Ise, Company Executive who look after company’s overseas research and development activities said that introduction of new technical features will enhance driving experience of drivers by offering them complete safety and freedom while driving in congested areas.
It would be interested to know that where its contenders are focusing on enhancing the features of upcoming self driving car, Japanese car maker is interested in making the cars your trusted assistant on which you can rely blindly. This intelligent assistant will realize the driving conditions according to traffic conditions existing on road and will even entertain driver by playing his favorite song when it will recognize that mood of his master is not good.


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Legend has it that Atari buried a massive stock of unsold E.T. cartridge alongside Atari hardware and other games in an Alamogordo, New Mexico landfill after the famous 1983 video game crash. The Alamogordo Daily News reported in September 1983 that between 10 and 20 semi-trailers from an Atari facility in El Paso, Texas were buried at the landfill. Sounds like an urban legend and you would wouldn’t be alone in thinking that. However, the story even appeared in The New York Times, and an Atari spokesman confirmed the report at the time.
No specific Atari merchandise was mentioned to have been dumped, many reports have stated that upwards of 3.5 million copies of the 2600 game E.T. The Extra Terrestrial be found in the mythical landfill. It seems entirely probable that the Atari dump contains a wide variety of Atari game consoles and computer hardware not to mention unsold video game cartridges.
Fuel Entertainment has received permission from the city to excavate the site on April 26, 2014. They plan on creating a documentary film surrounding the myths, facts and exploration of this legend. The general public has been invited to attend this dig, so if you’re an Atari fan and in the area, be sure to attend!
2014 would appear to be the biggest year of the E.T. game since 1983 as the Angry Video Game Nerd has also based his first feature film about the landfill with an outlandish quest to discover it.


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Posts with #tech news tag
Samsung already confirmed that a refurbished version of the Galaxy Note 7 will return to stores this year in certain markets, without specifying a firm release date or pricing for the handset. A new report from Korea indicates that the launch is now imminent, and the phone is expected to be priced about 50% cheaper than the original.
Rumors about the phone have been swirling for months, but now we have the official announcement date for the HTC U 11, which was confirmed to be the final name for the HTC Ocean, as per a new report from Venturebeat. The “U” indicates the family of phones the newest handset will join (the U Ultra and the U Play), whereas the “11” denotes that the phone succeeds the HTC 10, the company’s last flagship phone released in 2016.
The squeezing part of the teaser links to rumors the phone will have pressure sensitive pads in its sides, for activating certain features. Additionally, HTC also tweeted a short video showing a glimpse of the phone, and hinting at this squeezable functionality.
Our first supposed image of HTC’s new flagship comes courtesy of well-known Twitter leaker Evan Blass. The device shown unsurprisingly mimics the recently revealed HTC U Ultra, with a glossy backside, center-mounted camera, and minimal bezels to the left and right of the screen.
Naming: Is HTC Ocean really the HTC U 11?
The HTC Ocean is going to be called the HTC U 11 when it’s released. It will be the third device in the HTC U series — following the HTC U Play and HTC U Ultra — and the U name has been used in HTC’s teaser material for the phone’s May 16 launch. And because it’s part of the U family, the phone will feature the line’s signature vibrant color, and customers will be able to choose among white, black, blue, red, and silver.
So what kind of specs should we expect from the phone? According to an article from VentureBeat, the device will be powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. The device will also sport a 2560 x 1440-pixel display, and will have a 16-megapixel Sony IMX351 camera on the back coupled with a 12-megapixel Sony IMX362 camera on the front.
Article Source: HTC Ocean/HTC U 11: leaks, news, and rumors
Xiaomi will make the Mi 6 in black, white, blue or a beautiful silver, plus a special ceramic edition with 18-karat gold camera trim, just like the limited edition Mi Mix. The ceramic Mi 6 will be the most expensive at the equivalent of $435 at today’s exchange rate, while the 128GB model in any other color will be around $420, and the 64GB Mi 6 will cost about $365. All will be available in China from April 28.
Article Source: Xiaomi Mi 6 packs Snapdragon 835, dual-lens cameras, slick design for $365
eatures and specs
Bixby personal assistant
We've speculated that Samsung was holding back a two-camera setup on the Galaxy S8, so it can introduce the design on the upcoming Galaxy Note 8. And apparently, we're not alone.
Apart from the Note family's stylus, the dual camera mount on the Note 8's back could be the most significant design difference from the S8 and larger Galaxy S8 Plus, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. If true, that would make the Note 8 the first dual-camera Samsung phone.
With the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus making their way to buyers' hands this week to generally positive reviews, Samsung could be getting the home run it needs to extinguish any flames of mistrust left from the Galaxy Note 7 recall. (Claiming a large amount of preorders it seems like Samsung did just that.) However, CNET and others have pointed out some flaws that Samsung could fix in the Note 8, including jumping on the dual camera trend followed by Apple, LG and Huawei.
Specifically, the iPhone 7 Plus, Xiaomi Mi 6, LG G6, and Huawei P10 all boast two rear cameras, and the list goes on. The Note 8 could give Samsung the perfect opportunity to catch up to the cameras offered by its rivals. Otherwise a non-dual-camera premium phone may soon feel outdated.
What are the issues? The Galaxy S8 won't ship with the voice part of its Bixby AI assistant (but that should roll out to phone owners on April 21). And the awkward placement of the fingerprint sensor makes for inaccurate unlocking (the iris scanner doesn't work 100 percent of the time, either).
As for the Note 8 camera lenses, one is rumored to be a 12-megapixel wide angle camera, while the other a 13-megapixel telephoto sensor.
Keep in mind that the Galaxy S8 was also rumored to get dual-cameras, and since then alleged S8 Plus prototypes leaks show off a dual-camera setup. Even Samsung itself tweeted about dual-camera support in its Exynos 9 chip, but the company doesn't currently make any phones that could take advantage of this...yet
The Note 8 is also rumored to get a 6.4-inch Quad HD+ display, Snapdragon 835/Exynos 9 processors, and a rear-facing fingerprint sensor, according to KGI. If this ends up being true and Samsung keeps the fingerprint sensor on the back, let's at least hope that it doesn't result in smudges on those dual-cameras.
Samsung declined to comment.


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Tasked with finding a new way to show his spring/summer 2021 collection during a pandemic, Christian Louboutin hit upon a characteristically inventive approach. Rather than a film or lookbook, the famed shoemaker has unveiled an immersive virtual world to rival any FROW.
“I’m really a traveller, and digital offers the possibility to imagine any kind of world you want to be projected into,” he tells British Vogue. Thanks to the technology of Zepeto, a Korea-based app that allows users to explore different environments via personalised avatars, fans can take in the latest Christian Louboutin spring styles in a virtual setting. Step right this way: Loubi World awaits!
Invited to create their own characters with which to discover the romantic delights of Paris in Loubi World, the British Vogue editors were amongst the members of the press and customers duly transformed into avatars to explore the designer’s virtual universe, having styled their alter-egos in clothes available on the app.
A carousel, the glistening lights of the Eiffel Tower, an ice cream stand, a classic French brasserie, and screens showing the spring/summer 2021 campaign are just some of the details included in the virtual Loubi World, along with Galerie Véro-Dodat, the covered gallery passage in Paris’s 1er arrondissement where Louboutin opened his first store back in 1991. Visitors can also interact with other avatars, visit the disco room – where you might catch a live performance from King Princess – or head to the colourful boutique to “try on” the new-season shoes.
Louboutin’s reimagining of the fashion show is a welcome distraction from London’s grey skies; what’s more, its an inclusive way of expanding the brand’s audience and reach – particularly among Gen Z, Zepeto’s main demographic.
Over 60 designs from the latest release have been digitised for Loubi World. Among them: patchwork booties and fringed knee-highs for winter, plus summer-ready suede mules and flats, and kitten heels in an array of pastel colours. Key styles include the Pic Heel stiletto, the showstopping platform Stage boots, and the Vida Viva sneaker (complete with detachable sole). They are thrillingly realistic – the designer insisted the definition should allow his shoes to shine. After all, if he was going to go digital, he says, “the discovery had to be as good as a presentation in real life. And it’s definitely the case here!”
Fans should also keep their eyes peeled for Christian’s favourite pair – the Loubishark – a pair of trainers which feature a unique shark-teeth sole. “It’s a very manga mood,” he says. “Playful and colourful.”
More from British Vogue:


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General Motors to lay off all 1,500 plant workers in ThailandChristian Fernsby ▼ | February 19, 2020
General Motors will begin laying off around 1,500 employees in Thailand in June, after announcing the sale of its production plants in the country, a government official said today.
Business in Thailand General Motors
Topics: General Motors worker Thailand
Jak Punchoopet, adviser to the Minister of Labour, told Reuters all of the Rayong plants’ employees would be laid off under terms of GM’s sale agreement with Great Wall.
“The agreement was only for the sales of the plants and didn’t include the transfer of employees,” he said.
“Their plan is to lay off 1,000 employees in the auto parts manufacturing line in June, and then around 300 to 400 in the assembly line in October,” Jak said, adding that the rest of the staff at the two plants would be let go towards the end of 2020.
“Everything will be done by the end of the year,” he said. ■