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Siding with most the industry, SEC’s Commissioner Hector M. Pierce has said that the crypto industry should regulate itself, instead of government regulating it.
Expressing her opinion that government regulations aren’t the only solution during a public talk with former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chairman Gary Gensler at the MIT Bitcoin Expo 2019, the commissioner has said that better alternative is self-regulation of crypto. Instead of giving the matters in the hands of skeptical governments, crypto should be self-regulated:
“One really important thing to remember is that people regulate each other in their interactions with one another, and that’s the whole purpose of the Bitcoin idea, that it would be a community that would be able to regulate itself. As problems arise, people in that community are thinking about how to deal with those problems. One model would be to have a government regulator, but I don’t think that’s the only model.”
Self-regulations is the act of forming non-government bodies that allow the currency to regulate itself. The crypto at the moment is in dire need of having a more organized structure, whether introduced by government or self-regulations, due to the flocking investors who want to enter the market.
Not only is the SEC’s commissioner of the opinion of keeping crypto out of centralized regulation business, but most of the experts of the industry also think in a similar fashion. Where the regulation is likely to play a major part in crypto’s adoption by bringing in use cases and ETFs, they are also termed to be the centralizing points. Hershel Mehta, the private investor from Mehta Ventures, recently expressed his opinion relating to regulations:
If any regulation is to be undertaken, only non-human entities should do so. Governments should instead push for innovation and creation of stablecoins (Digital currencies pegged to a certain commodity) which act as an intermediary step towards the complete digitization of the economy.
The other half of the crypto world also believes that regulations might bring more good than evil to the crypto space. Co-founder and partner of Morgan Creek Digital, Jason Anthony Williams believes:,
If that [regulation] doesn’t happen, you’ll always have a speculative situation, small-ball, not a lot of money moving into the space, and potentially could kill the whole movement. So I’m a huge supporter of regulations, transparency, roadmaps to understanding what I own, how I own it, and its custody. Those are all really important things.
For the secure operation of crypto for the institutions, and even retail investors, regulations have become necessary. With legality and a better framework involved, more money is likely to flow into the crypto space. And with operations on a government level, like regulations, added use cases, and ETFs, the adoption would naturally grow.
If the core values of blockchain and cryptos are to be maintained, regulations might not be the best move ahead. But, if the cost of minimal centralization can be paid to gain interests of the institutions and retail investors, bull runs, adoption and huge trading volumes come along with the package.


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Today Square Enix announced with a press release the launch of two brand new Final Fantasy XIV playlists on music streaming services.
The two playlists are titled respectively “Epic Encounters” and “Soothing Sanctuary,” and they have been especially selected to convey just the perfect mood.
Each playlist includes 18 tracks, and you can find them at the links below.
To celebrate, Square Enix also released two videos from past concerts, which you can see below alongside with the cover art for both playlists.
Recently, we learned that Final Fantasy XIV has proved to be extremely successful for Square Enix, even more so after the release of the highly-praised expansion Shadowbringers, which has pushed registered users to over 18 million.
We also received a lot of information about the upcoming 5.3 update mentioned above.
I’f you’d rather read something more whimsical, you can enjoy the report on our latest visit to the Eorzea Cafe in Tokyo, one about the latest orchestra concert, and our look at the recent uniqlo collaboration.
Final Fantasy XIV is currently available for PlayStation 4 and PC.

domain: news


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adam feibel Ali Schwabe Andrew Ikeman arts Arts & Culture Basketball Brennan Bova Christopher Radojewski column Darren Sharp dear di di daniels election emily manns featured features football Fulcrum Gee Gees hockey Holiday Jaclyn Lytle Jane Lytvynenko Katherine DeClerq Keeton Wilcock kristyn filip maclaine chadwick Max Szyc News of Online Exclusives opinions Ottawa sex SFUO Sofia Hashi Spencer Van Dyk sports supplement University University of Ottawa U of O uottawa video volleyball
Of course, finishing at the U of O wasn’t the scary part. That would come shortly after, when I had no idea what the hell I was going to do next.
While record stores have been closing down across the city for years—notable closures being Record Runner in 2006 and The Record Shaap last November—the stores that have managed to tough it out celebrate annually in the form of Record Store Day.
Politicians want your vote and that is all.
There are no upcoming events.
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Earlier this year, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W. Bush talked trade in addition to their higher-profile nuclear discussions -- and both seem keen to continue lowering trade barriers between the two nations. But as with many other developing nations, the progress made by India's network of bilateral trade agreements is frequently undermined by massive barriers to trade within India's own borders.
Some of the internal barriers to trade are constructs of the central government. For example, the 1955 Essential Commodities Act introduced a "public interest" litmus test in interstate regulation, establishing barriers to the free flow of goods, particularly in regards to minerals and natural resources. The Food Corporation of India -- set up to prevent the localized food shortages that resulted in famines under colonial rule -- added a layer of inefficiency and corruption to the transport of food.
But it's state-level regulations on transport and interstate commerce that are often the biggest obstacles. A 2005 working paper from the Australia South Asia Research Centre on the integration of rice markets showed that the average grains trader, once licensed (a difficult task in and of itself), faces over four hundred laws governing interstate trade. The regulations were designed to protect the producer and consumer against the alleged evils of arbitrage, but have instead steamrolled over the very players who enable goods to reach the markets most efficiently.
India's sheer size magnifies the problems. In 2004, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi complained that while economic reforms and technology have cut the transport time for Japanese goods entering India to mere hours, it can take weeks for goods to reach destinations within India once they have arrived. The nation is bursting at the seams with economic potential, but the Byzantine network of internal checkpoints on dilapidated roads is hampering economic growth.
What's more, the high cost of transporting goods by the nationalized rail system forces producers to transport goods by road. In June, the Economist gave a glimpse into the horrific world of interstate road transport. A truck bound from Kolkata in the East to Mumbai in the West takes eight days at an average of seven miles (eleven kilometers) per hour.
The hours-long delays for each truck add up. A 2003 paper by Arindam Das-Gupta found that the waiting times at state borders alone cost Indians approximately 0.98% of GDP annually ($4.75 billion in 2002). The states that most often erect such checkpoints are also the most impoverished states.
Regionalism remains a key factor in Indian politics, as states pass confusing, archaic, and xenophobic laws to protect their respective identities. In much of western India, the explosion of industry since Independence brought with it a flow of labor from the de-industrializing East. Nativist cries that would make an Arizona Minuteman blush have led to severe clashes over the decades. Even elements of culture are not immune, as a ban on non-Kannada-language films in the state of Karnataka showed. These regional hostilities harm attempts at reform as well as create extra hurdles for individual producers.
New Delhi has done a commendable job of dismantling the erstwhile protectionist state at the national level, but internal trade remains a nightmare. If India really wants to realize her bright economic future, then she must address her internal trade barriers today.
Nikhil Bhat is a writer living in the Washington, DC area.


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It was the “wink” emoji heard round the Twitterverse.
This week a Twitter user asked Elon Musk if the SpaceX online merchandise store and Starlink’s satellite internet can accept Dogecoin (DOGE) as forms of payment.
Elon’s response: 😉
A long-time Dogecoin bull, Elon is all-in on the cryptocurrency.
In January he tweeted Tesla’s merch is now buyable with Dogecoin, which earned 333,000 likes:
We are also bullish on Dogecoin.
Paul sees Dogecoin as the people’s currency. He predicts a long-term price target of $1.00 — a 567% leap from the $0.15 it’s valued at today.
But the question I always see … is this a joke?
DOGE Is NO Joke!
Dogecoin was created as a parody cryptocurrency in 2013 to poke fun at the unconventional speculation in cryptos at the time.
But Dogecoin is no laughing matter now.
This cryptocurrency is now the bridge between a fiat currency, like the U.S. dollar, and the ever-growing crypto movement.
Dogecoin has become a revolutionary digital currency known for its safety, simplicity and ease of use.
It’s attractive to the investing masses because of its lower price point and its appeal to online retailers, entrepreneurs, creators and consumers for its transacting ease.
Trading any crypto comes with risk. They can be more volatile than stocks. Since last August, DOGE has lost 50% of its value.
But as we have Strong Hands for our America 2.0 stocks, we HODL (hold on for dear life) with our crypto plays.
Just look at bitcoin’s price chart. It’s had a roller-coaster lifespan before ultimately hitting a high of $68,991 on November 10, 2021. And we believe there’s plenty more room for it to soar.
That’s because crypto is changing our entire financial system bringing it into the new digital world.
Volatile or not, you can’t stop tomorrow from coming. And cryptos — like DOGE — are here to stay.
The disruption is already happening…
The list of companies accepting Dogecoin keeps growing.
In addition to Tesla, companies like AMC Entertainment, GameStop, The Dallas Mavericks, AirBaltic, The Kessler Collection and Newegg accept Dogecoin for payment.
Crypto Comeback … Will You Be In?
All told, Dogecoin is the “peoples’ cryptocurrency” with its sights set on the moon.
Dogecoin’s $1 price point will help it rival the U.S. dollar as a medium of exchange over the internet.
In our opinion, Dogecoin has earned its place among the crypto leaders of tomorrow in our 21st-century tech-focused world.
You know our team has super bullish predictions for cryptos.
Paul is calling for bitcoin to reach $250K by June. Ian is even more #BOP (bullish, optimistic, positive) with his 2022 predictions!
He believes bitcoin will hit $350K this year and Ethereum will reach $20K. On top of that, his forecast for the total crypto market cap: $20 trillion!
Even with crypto’s wild year so far, Ian is standing by his targets. He’s now calling this market prime for a great “crypto comeback.”
But here’s the kicker…
The big gains won’t be with just bitcoin or Ethereum. If things play out the way Ian thinks, they’ll go up for sure … but not as much as the tiny altcoins Ian is watching.
Using his Flash strategy, he can identify which altcoins could have huge price moves…
Before they happen.
Don’t let the crypto market intimidate you.
Now, you can take advantage of the rebound without having to sift through the thousands of altcoins out there on your own.
As Paul says: “Ian is the guy you want in your corner when it comes to crypto.” He can act as your guide.
Just click here to see all the details.
All I can say is fasten your seatbelts. When it comes to DOGE, bitcoin and the entire crypto market, it’s time to head to the moon!
Until next time,
Amber LancasterDirector of Investment Research, Banyan Hill Publishing


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NFT website Hitpiece has been hit with legal action after several artists criticised it for allegedly auctioning off their music without their knowledge or permission.
The website was showing hundreds of what appeared to be active auctions for NFTs tied to artists’ albums and songs, from iconic artists such as The Beatles, Taylor Swift and Bob Dylan to smaller independent acts.
The move led to a backlash from artists with Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz and Sad13 tweeting: “Hey you stupid fucks, we don’t have any deal with you or any NFT site and there SURE DOES LOOK like an active auction going on for a speedy ortiz song.”
Bleachers‘ Jack Antonoff added: “Any bleachers NFTs are fake. At the moment I do not believe in NFTs so anything you see associated with me isn’t real. And thanks to M for sending me this bullshit 🙂 i’m on one today!”
hey you stupid fucks @joinhitpiece we don't have any deal with you or any NFT site and there SURE DOES LOOK like an active auction going on for a speedy ortiz song
— speedy ortiz ÷ sad13 ÷ sadie dupuis ÷ haunted guy (@sad13) February 1, 2022
any bleachers NFTs are fake. at the moment i do not believe in NFTs so anything you see associated with me isn’t real. and thanks to M for sending me this bullshit 🙂 i’m on one today!
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) February 1, 2022
Shortly after the outcry on social media, HitPiece issued a brief statement on Twitter that stated that “artists get paid when digital goods are sold on HitPiece” and it is “continuing to listen to all user feedback and are committed to evolving the product to fit the needs of the artists, labels and fans alike.”
— HitPiece – NFTs (@joinhitpiece) February 2, 2022
Now, according to Billboard, the Recording Industry Association Of America has contacted the site on behalf of major labels, alleging the infringement of their intellectual property rights.
“As you are no doubt aware, your clients, through the HitPiece website, have been engaged in the systematic and flagrant infringement of the intellectual property rights of the record companies and their recording artists on a massive scale,” wrote RIAA senior vice president of litigation Jared Freedman in a letter to HitPiece’s lawyers.
The letter goes on to say that the sound recordings and associated artwork are “owned or exclusively controlled by the record companies” that the association represents and HitPiece’s business model is contingent on “outright theft” that “is as outrageous as it is brazen.”
Even though the site has since been taken down, the RIAA argues that HitPiece is still “liable to the record companies and their artists for damages” for the time that it was live”.
A spokesperson for HitPiece previously told Billboard that “the ability of artists or owners to be paid is a functionality that HitPiece is developing” and that the company “never used or sold any copyright music without permission and [HitPiece] will not do so … HitPiece’s mission is to create a fun experience in the metaverse for music fans and a new revenue stream for artists and owners.”
NME has contacted HitPiece for comment.


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A new report into the impact of the sharing economy reveals that it’s quickly becoming engrained into UK culture, as increasing numbers of people take part in collaborative activities both online and offline...
Since the turn of the year the sharing economy, or the collaborative economy as it is often referred to, has been on a seemingly unstoppable rise. The small start-ups which were once flag-bearers for the movement are now major players in billion dollar, international markets.
The likes of Airbnb, Uber and Hailo are now household names as the user-friendly platforms offer consumers a cheap and easy way to go about their day to day lives, while countless battles against regulators have only succeeded in thrusting their names higher up the mainstream press agenda.
Their prevalence was once again confirmed this week, with the release of a new piece of research from Nesta UK and Collaborative Lab. The numbers tell us that 64% of the UK population take part in collaborative activities, with 25% taking part in ‘internet-enabled’ collaborative activities. The most popular areas in which these activities are taking place in are the fashion, media, household goods, tech, transport and holiday sectors, although the sharing economy is most certainly continuing to widen its reach.
However, despite the high numbers of sharing economy participants, the report’s authors believe that the figures could be even greater were there not a number of barriers preventing the spread of the sharing economy.
"Like any emerging trend, the collaborative economy [sharing economy] faces barriers to adoption. Not everyone immediately wants to plunge into it, and many people have questions and concerns," states the Collaborative Lab report.
"So why do some people use platforms, collaborative or not? People want things that improve and simplify their lives. Most of the respondents were hesitant to try new collaborative models without clearly understanding their benefits beforehand. They were also concerned about potential safety and privacy risks, particularly regarding their own goods.
"In response to collaborative holiday platforms, like Airbnb, one woman (35–44) from Wales said, “I’m too frightened of someone trashing my house.” Similarly, another woman (18–24) from Scotland said of carsharing platforms: “I’m afraid my personal car I would not be willing to share. My company car, you can have it.”"
These apparent fears ring true when compared to research conducted by Virgin and YouGov earlier this year, which demonstrated people’s reluctance to take part in car or lift sharing schemes – despite them being one of the most prominent aspects of the sharing economy.
Three quarters of those asked said they were either fairly or very uncomfortable with the idea of renting their car to a stranger, while over half of those questioned said they would be uncomfortable offering a lift to a stranger – even if they were to receive payment for the ride. The results point towards a lack of trust in these new systems, a conclusion that this week's report appeared to echo.
"Time will tell whether these new collaborative technologies and models gradually get taken up. In the meantime, addressing some of the public’s chief concerns as well as focusing on (and demonstrating) user benefits will be important steps towards encouraging wider participation," concludes the report.
Thumbnail image from gettyimages


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Saint-Quay Port d’Armor has become the first marina in the Channel/Atlantic to switch on an Aqua superPower marine fast-charge station, supporting the development and adoption of electric boats.
To encourage this transition and promote zero-emission boating, Saint-Quay Port d’Armor has decided to offer boaters the supporting infrastructure they need with the Aqua superPower fast electric charging station to set an exemple in environmentally responsive marina manager, holder of the Blue Flag for 26 years, and many times rewarded for its innovative actions.
Proving that both infrastructure and electric boats exist to make the switch, electric boat builder RS Electric Boats, will be offering test rides supercharged by the new Aqua 75 DC marine fast charge station at Saint-Quay Port d’Armor during the “Tour Bretagne Voile”. Its RS Pulse 63, has DC fast charging capabilities that combine seamlessly with Aqua superPower’s network to deliver a safe and reliable user experience.
Showcasing French e-marine expertise and innovation, specialist in electric propulsion for more than 10 years Naviwatt, was also present with the ZenPro 580 equipped with DeepBlue propulsion.
Building the future of yachting, stimulating desire, encouraging innovation,why not set up a boat club or a fleet of electric hire boats – this is the promising future that the Port of Saint-Quay-Portrieux has chosen by taking this pioneer initiative, which demontrates the commitment by Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglo and the department of Côtes d’Armor to create a green future.


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Approaching 2008 with a fresh vigor and ambition, Palm Marine has been gathering momentum since their establishment four years ago.
The Dubai World company has aligned with leading global yacht designers to produce qualitative, modern …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Thursday, March 13 - 2008 @ 15:25
The company recently integrated with sister concern Exomos and has finalized its management restructuring. It is now ready to take on the growing marine leisure market.
The new Palm Marine management team is led by CEO …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, February 06 - 2008 @ 16:03
The company’s current leisure line, featuring the Palm Sports cruisers, Palm Islander Flybridge yachts and Palm Fisher sports fishing yachts, has proved to be very popular with boating aficionados.
Potential buyers in Kuwait have made …Read full article » Kuwait: Saturday, May 17 - 2008 @ 08:15
Palm Marine’s first non-GCC dealership agreement, signed recently by Harald Schlegel, Business Development Manager, Palm Marine and Ahmed Hamza, Director of V.A Private Limited, was formalized with V.A Private Limited placing an order for three …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, July 15 - 2008 @ 15:20
Palm Marine has aligned with top international yacht designers and has put together a strong design and management department under the leadership of CEO Simon Honeybone.
The company recently integrated with sister concern Exomos and …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Thursday, March 06 - 2008 @ 15:47


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Barely two days after a 12.2- inch Samsung Galaxy Note tablet was leaked, a new rumour has reached the surface. Allegedly, the South Korean company is working on a 13.3-inch tablet with a dual-boot option. After the company has released the ATIV Q Windows laptop/Android tablet, which was canceled later, it looks like Samsung isn't over with the idea of having dual-boot feature.
According to various reports, this could be the Galaxy Tab 2014 edition, which was rumored to support dual-boot between Android and Windows RT. We're certainly going to follow closely new rumours about Samsung's new dual-boot tablet.


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Jewelry purchases in Russia down by 24% in the past 11 months of 2020
The number of jewelry purchases in Russia decreased by
almost a quarter in the past 11 months of 2020, said TASS citing Platform OFD,
the largest Russian operator of fiscal data.
“Retail jewelry sales decreased by 14% in the past 11 months of 2020 in value terms compared to the same period of 2019 and by 24% in volume (the number of purchases). At the same time, in April, the decline in sales exceeded 70%,” the company said in a statement.
The average purchase receipt was 6,970 rubles – 14% higher than last year.
In November 2020, sales were 11% lower than last year’s level, according to Platform OFD.
The Guild of Jewelers of Russia informed that sales of the country’s jewelry industry in rubles increased by 15% compared to last year, according to preliminary estimates.
At the same time, prices for jewelry products also increased – by about 60%, TASS said.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished


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USA: US Military Extends McRae Combat Boot Contract
Military boot maker McRae Industries Inc on Thursday said the US government had extended its combat boot contract in a move seen by some as a clear sign the country is set to go to war on Iraq. The North Carolina-based company said the contract, originally scheduled to expire on April 15, had been extended for a second time covering an ordering period from September 30 to December 30.
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- US Q3 in brief – Destination Maternity, Cherokee
- Taiwan textile maker investing in first US plant
- Esquel efficiency drive continues to boost brands
- Outdoor apparel sector set for double-digit growth
- Myanmar garment industry "lacking labour rights"


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Asus ZenFone 3 Max
Asus has announced a price cut on its Asus ZenFone 3 Max smartphone in India. This smartphone with the model number ZC520TL with a price cut now will be available at Rs. 9,999. Earlier this smartphone was priced at Rs. 10,999 and now with a price cut, it will be available in 9,999. The company also claimed that the latest price will be available in all the online stores like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal and other online stores and on other retail stores including Asus stores in India.
ZenFone 3 Max(ZC520TL) comes with a 5.2-inch(720x1280pixels) HD Display. This device is powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6737T SoC. It supports 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage which can also be expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD card. This device runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow based on ASUS ZenUI 3.0. It boasts a massive 4100mAh of the battery.
Talking about its camera, this device sports a 13MP rear camera and on the front, it bears a 5MP selfie camera. This device also supports fingerprint sensor mounted on the rear panel of the device. It also supports 4G VoLTE and other connectivity features like Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and Micro USB. This device also supports sensors like accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity and ambient light sensor.
This device was launched in November in the last year with a price tag of Rs. 12,999.


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Former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson is seen as the bookmaker's favorite to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.Europe Politicsread more
J.P. Morgan Chase economists said they now see second quarter growth of just 1%, down from their prior forecast of 2.25% and way off the 3.2% reported in the first quarter.Market Insiderread more
An analyst for Ark Invest, which has a major investment in Tesla, says recent drastic price-target cuts by others on Wall Street are missing the big picture.Investingread more
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, has objected to a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill that was expected to pass unanimously Friday. The bill is likely to next be considered when...Politicsread more
The markets have been slow to recognize the high-stakes game that's playing out on the world stage.Economyread more
Stocks were headed for weekly losses on Friday as investors worry the U.S.-China trade war is hurting economic growth.US Marketsread more
One of the biggest Chinese chipmakers is delisting from the New York Stock Exchange amid the trade war, but the company said the decision is not related to the intensifying...Marketsread more
President Donald Trump, his businesses and members of his family on Friday appealed a federal judge's decision that Deutsche Bank and Capital One can turn over years of...Politicsread more
While the holiday generally marks a big sales push, this year it comes as cars are sitting on dealer lots longer before getting sold.Personal Financeread more
Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg has held talks with the Winklevoss twins, his old rivals, about the social media giant's developing digital currency, the Financial Times...Bitcoinread more
May had failed to win a parliamentary majority on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.Europe Politicsread more
On Tuesday, Amazon said its Alexa Fund invested in Plant Prefab, a Southern California company that says it uses sustainable construction processes and materials to build prefabricated custom single- and multifamily houses. The start-up is aiming to use automation to build homes faster and bring down costs.
It's a new market for Amazon and the Alexa Fund, which typically backs start-ups focused on voice technology. The investment comes less than a week after Amazon launched more than a dozen Alexa-powered smart home devices, including a microwave oven and an amplifier that can be controlled by the Alexa voice assistant. Earlier this year, Amazon acquired the smart doorbell maker Ring, and the company is also reportedly working on a secretive home robot.
The smart home market is expected to grow into a $53 billion industry by 2022, according to Zion Market Research.
"Voice has emerged as a delightful technology in the home, and there are now more than 20,000 Alexa-compatible smart home devices from 3,500 different brands," Paul Bernard, director of the Alexa Fund, said in a statement on Tuesday. "We're thrilled to support [Plant Prefab] as they make sustainable, connected homes more accessible to customers and developers."
Amazon joined Obvious Ventures, the firm co-founded by Twitter's Ev Williams, in Plant Prefab's $6.7 million financing round.


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Lincoln’s craft beer scene brews strong community
Many people think about Huskers and corn when they come to Lincoln, Nebraska. The craft breweries in town want them to also think about something else: beer.
Craft breweries have been on the rise in Nebraska, growing quickly in the last seven years, and Lincoln is no exception. Nine breweries are contributing to the craft brewing community and together they strive to put Lincoln on the map.
“We work together because we want people to come to Lincoln as a beer destination,” said Marcus Powers, co-founder of Zipline Brewing Company. “So I want other breweries around Lincoln to be really good so that somebody from Denver will be like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna go to Lincoln, get a hotel, and I’m gonna go visit six breweries and try something new.’”
This rise in breweries is a national trend. According to Powers, just five years ago, the U.S. had 1,200 breweries; now it has about 6,000.
When the Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild started, the state had just three breweries, said spokesman Colby Coash. The National Brewers Association now reports 42 breweries in the state. Last year,1.25 million gallons of beer were brewed in Nebraska.
Coash and Powers attribute this growth to consumers returning to local products.
“Consumers are looking for more variety,” Coash said. “They are more adventurous with the beers that they like, and then the other thing I think is driving it is sourcing local. Consumers really like to have a beer here that was produced right over there.”
Desire for quality
Cory Sinclair of Backswing Brewing Company also sees the rise as a desire for the quality beer that craft brewing offers.
“Mostly, it’s a better product,” Sinclair said.
The flavors are what attracted Cora McKnight, a history and sociology major at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and craft beer enthusiast, to craft beers.
“I used to say I hated beer,” she said. “Because all I would see is like Bud Light, which is like pee water.”
Zipline was the first brewery she visited. Trying a variety of craft beers made her realize there were different flavors.
“And I was shocked,” she said. “I was shocked.”
Each of the breweries in Lincoln provide that local, quality experience. However, they each bring different experiences to the table.
Backswing focuses on distribution. Sinclair said they have five beers that are produced exactly same every time. They also make sure their patrons are enjoying what they are making.
“It’s a very community-oriented business, and you have focus your product on your community,” Sinclair said.
Boiler Brewing Company does the opposite. They focus on small batches that rotate often, exploring different flavors.
The other breweries in Lincoln fall along this spectrum from experimenting with small batches to perfecting brews for distribution. But each has their own story.
One example is Zipline. The name comes from one of Powers’ partners who had decided to build a zipline in his backyard. It resulted in his son breaking a few bones.
“Before they could make sure it’s safe, his son gets on and breaks his collar bone and his arm,” Powers said. “Fast forward a few years, and James tells his friends about wanting to start a brewery. They tell him how bad of an idea it is, and somebody equates it to his idea to build a zipline in his back yard, like it’s that bad of an idea. And they’re like you should call it Zipline.”
Future of craft brewing
While this industry has seen enormous growth in the last few years, a conversation is happening about where craft brewing is headed. Coash and Sinclair see room for more growth.
“I think it’s just gonna keep getting bigger and bigger,” Sinclair said. “I think there’s some point where we will get saturated, but I don’t think we are anywhere close to it yet. There’s people who will tell you every day like, ‘Hey I’m a Bud Light drinker or a Busch Light drinker,’ and then they find something else that they like.”
Powers said he thinks the growth will slow, but the industry isn’t going away. He said the fast rise to saturation has been reached, and now breweries with good business plans will continue and bad business plans will fail.
Wherever craft brewing ends up, it has created a new community in Lincoln. One those involved hope it also will make people excited to come to Lincoln.
“One of the things about breweries is that they do draw people in, you know,” Coash said. “Craft beer enthusiasts will stop at a brewery to try different beer, which is pretty cool.”


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The e-book is heavier than a typical book, more expensive ($300 to $1,500), harder to read and easier to ruin.
And yet . . . there is something undeniably fascinating, even appealing, about this electronic gadget. It does things no ordinary book can. It holds up to 10 books in its plastic case. By touching its screen with a finger, I can enlarge the type, highlight a phrase, or summon up the dictionary definition of a word.
Is this the future of reading?
``Do we know whether consumers will prefer a book delivered electronically to a book in print?'' said Jonathan Guttenberg (with two Ts, one more than the 15th-century Johannes, who invented moveable type), vice president of new media at Random House.
``It'll depend on the category of the book and the nature of the reader,'' Guttenberg said. ``Ultimately, the customer is going to make the choice.''
And the customer is unlikely to race to buy electronic gadgets that today cost $300 to $1,500. But in the eyes of some analysts, these devices represent one alternative in the future of reading. They won't soon replace ink and paper for pleasure reading, but in time might become a convenient option in business and education.
Besides the SoftBook and the Rocket eBook, both sold over the Internet, two or three other e-books will be available in the coming months.
The chairman of the Texas Board of Education, which has budgeted $1.8 billion for textbooks over the next six years, has already spoken about buying or leasing electronic devices for the state's 3.9 million students.
``This isn't necessarily a consumer product today,'' acknowledged Marcus V. Colombano, director of marketing for NuvoMedia in Palo Alto, Calif., which makes the Rocket eBook. Colombano said the device is aimed at ``early adopters'' of technology and business readers who read ``to be competitive.''
Clearly, 1998 isn't the year of the electronic book. Maybe 1999 won't be either. But that time is coming.
``It's still early,'' said Roger F. Fidler, coordinator of the information design laboratory at Kent State University. ``The display technology is not there yet to make it comfortable for reading on these devices. But what we're seeing now is the beginning of the ramp-up toward the acceptance of e-books.''
What makes that possible, in part, is our growing familiarity with technology. More and more people have computers - and increasingly, are using them to buy books and other goods on the Internet, in the same kind of process used to buy an electronic text.
And millions are using tiny digital organizers such as the Palm Pilot to track appointments, keep addresses and respond to e-mail (and even, incredibly, to read books).
In addition, the quality of liquid crystal display screens is improving, although analysts agree it's still vastly inferior to the clarity of ink on paper. And new lightweight and flat display technologies are on the horizon.
A big question, Fidler said, is whether the companies can agree on standards. Industry talks are underway. Right now, the electronic text for a Rocket eBook won't work on a SoftBook. The PDF format used by Everybook doesn't fit either of the others. ``Until there is a common standard, people will be very suspect about buying these devices,'' Fidler said.
If anyone gets it right, there's money to be made. SoftBook Press, of Menlo Park, Calif., said the potential market is huge. In 1996 more than $70 billion was spent by businesses, consumers and educational organizations on books, magazines, newspapers and other information.
Others in the industry say, more conservatively, that e-books could become 10 percent of online book sales.
Among the earliest e-books:
* The Rocket eBook, whose investors include Barnes & Noble and media giant Bertelsmann AG, which owns Random House. The $499 eBook - http://www.rocket-ebook.com - weighs 1.25 lbs., has a monochrome screen that measures 5.6 inches diagonally, and has a battery life of 17 hours and up. The size of a paperback novel, it requires the use of a computer to download text over the Internet.
* The SoftBook - http://www.softbook.com - the size of a clipboard, weighs 2.9 pounds and has a 9.5-inch monochrome screen. Battery life is 3 hours or more. It has a distinctive leather cover flap. The book is $299 with a contract to order $19.95 worth of material every month for the next 24 months, or $599 outright. It has a built-in modem and plugs directly into a phone line to download text. Books must be purchased from its own network.
* The EB Dedicated Reader from Everybook - http://www.everybook.net - in Middletown, Pa., near Harrisburg, is expected to debut in the spring. It will be the most expensive, at $1,500, and the most like a book in shape, with twin hinged color panels. It also will be the heaviest, at 3.7 pounds, and have the largest screens, 13.3 inches.
``We believe the real competition we have is not an electronic device but paper,'' said Daniel Munyan, Everybook's president and founder. ``We believe the book, as it appears, is perfect. We want to add features to what the book already does. We don't want to take away anything.''
What he wants to add to the book is mass storage (his e-book will hold 1,000 books on a removable card); around-the-clock access to a nearly unlimited bookstore, such as what the Internet offers; and instant delivery.
Munyan said his electronic book is not aimed at ordinary consumers, but at doctors, lawyers, pharmaceutical workers, engineers and other professionals who spend a lot of money to frequently update reference materials. Less expensive versions for the education and consumer markets will follow, he said.
SoftBook, too, said it hopes to appeal to business and government users. ``We're primarily going after the person who must read a lot of essential information regularly,'' said Jim Sachs, chairman and chief executive of SoftBook.
Sachs said SoftBook would be useful for businesses that need to load and update the same information regularly for many employees - for example, drug-company salespeople. Its nearly three-pound weight ``is a fraction of what they'd otherwise be carrying around,'' he said.
Munyan said the gadgets are aimed at businesses because they can afford them. Electronic books arent't meant to be mass-market replacements for paperback novels, he says, and they shouldn't be judged as such. But the SoftBook and the Rocket eBook are just as clearly hoping for consumer buzz, because their demo models offer not just business tomes but Alice in Wonderland and Angela's Ashes.
``I don't see electronic books replacing actual books, except in certain categories. I see it expanding the availability of reading materials, just as videotapes expanded the market for movies,'' said Sachs, who came up with the idea of an electronic book in August 1995, when he ran out of things to read on a flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong.
Trying out the SoftBook and the eBook over several weeks, some of their advantages and disadvantages become clear. Both are hard to read in an office with overhead lights, because of the glare. Their backlit screens are easiest to read in a dimly lit environment or one with indirect light.
The eBook, which fits snugly in the hand, has a dictionary, which is wonderful if limited: it didn't, for example, have ``obi,'' a kimono sash, a word from Memoirs of a Geisha. Reading can be little frustrating because the eBook lacks page numbers, and measures in percentages (who ever thought, gee, I'd like to read up to 39 percent tonight?). And it is ill-suited for graphics; without any maps, Fodor's Bermuda 1998 seemed useless to me. (Colombano said it was up to the publisher to provide those.)
It took SoftBook three tries to ship me a demo model that worked. The first had a broken control, the second had obsolete software. Even with the third, I still had trouble connecting to its network.
The SoftBook has a larger screen than the eBook, making it easier to follow the text, and has page numbers which change with the small and large fonts. It has adjustable brightness and contrast, though the eBook still has the edge on readability.
The SoftBook, which uses Web-page HTML formatting, says it can handle complex graphics. It's also possible to send your own documents over the Internet into the SoftBook. It comes with a plastic stylus, which can highlight words or draw on the screen. Both it and the eBook can search for words.
The reading choices are presently limited. As of last week, Barnes & Noble's Internet site listed about 150 titles for the eBook. For a recent book, such as Joseph J. Ellis' biography of Thomas Jefferson, American Sphinx, the electronic version was the same price as the discounted paperback, $11.20.
Why should an electronic book cost as much as a printed text, when analysts say that publishers can save 40 percent to 60 percent of their costs? Because finding ways to make text attractive on-screen is an R&D project that costs money, says Guttenberg, of Random House.
Last week, SoftBook had seven titles available: three classics and four business books. But its bookstore's ``grand opening'' wasn't until this week, and it planned to have 100 titles by year's end, a spokeswoman said. It also has a free daily news summary.
Maureen Fleming, an analyst at the Gartner Group in Stamford, Conn., said e-books make good sense for publishers who can cut their printing and inventory costs and almost ``print on demand'' electronically.
But she's much more skeptical about why consumers want or need such a gadget. She said it's neither entertaining enough nor useful enough to justify its purchase. It might become more useful if it added the features of a PalmPilot or another digital organizer, she said.
``It's difficult to understand why someone would spend several hundred dollars on a device that only reads books,'' Fleming said.
Fidler, who once ran a design lab for Knight Ridder Inc. (which owns The Inquirer), plans to test the Everybook and the SoftBook with journalism classes at Kent State in the spring. It'll take a few years until the devices are truly useful, he said. Until then, everyone should be patient.
``I'm frightened that the hype surrounding this - and in the next year, you'll see a lot of hype - will disappoint people. The reality won't match expectations,'' Fidler said.
``What we're establishing at this point is a beachhead.''


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We are delighted to welcome Play AV to the Avocor dealer program as a Silver partner.
Play is a leading provider of audio-visual technology in Belgium and will have access to the complete range of Avocor interactive solutions designed to enhance communication and collaboration in the modern workspace.
Glenn Wastyn, VP of EMEA commented on the partnership “It is an incredibly exciting time at Avocor and we are witnessing huge interest from new reseller partners and end-users alike as they see the benefit in the Avocor brand and our agnostic approach to collaboration. We have an incredible number of strategic partnerships including leading brands such as Zoom, Crestron and Microsoft and our partnership with Play AV will enable us to bring the Avocor USP to corporate clients across Belgium.
Talking about the partnership, Kristof Favere said: "Play AV is excited to be a partner of Avocor, we understand that AV is at the heart of any organization, enabling efficient communication and enhancing workplace productivity."


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Yesterday, ZTE announced that it will launch the Nubia Z9 on May 6, and if the teaser image is anything to go by, the phone will arrive with bezelless screen sides.
A couple of days ago, a couple of alleged renders of the Z9 found their way online, showing the design in question, and it seems that the phone also curves a bit at the sides, similar to the Galaxy S6 Edge. The bezel-free design seems to be becoming more and more popular – Oppo’s upcoming R7 will also feature with no bezels.
The Nubia Z9 will boast all the specs of a proper flagship smartphone: a Snapdragon 810 processor, 3 or 4GB of RAM, a 21-megapixel rear camera,and possibly a fingerprint sensor on its back. Pricing and exact launch details are yet to be revealed.


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While Android Pie has now been announced and will be headed to various high-end and high-profile handsets before too long, those using mid-range and low-end Samsung phones will in many cases still be waiting for Android Oreo.
But we now know that update is coming to many of them – though not until 2019.
SamMobile (opens in new tab) has spotted that Samsung’s latest update roadmap lists various devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017), Samsung Galaxy Tab A (2017), Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro and others (all shown in the image below), as getting Android Oreo in January 2019.
However, for many of these devices this seems to be a delay, as a previous roadmap had them listed for December 2018. And some will be waiting even longer, with the Galaxy J7 Max down for a February update and the Galaxy J7 (2016) not scheduled to get Oreo until March.
However, the Galaxy J7 Neo at least seems to be sticking with the old schedule and getting a December 2018 update.
It’s also worth noting that the Galaxy J7 (2016) is an oddity here as it has already had one major Android update and usually Samsung’s budget devices are only eligible for one. Whether this is an exception or a sign that this policy is changing is unclear.
Given that this roadmap has changed once, don’t be surprised if it changes again, so the wait might be even longer for some of these devices or they might not get the update at all. Indeed the roadmap notes that “if a review finds that certain models cannot ensure optimal usability, they may be excluded from the OS update.”
Further complicating things is the fact that the schedule can vary by region. We wouldn’t expect massive differences, but if you have a Samsung phone you can check for yourself in the Samsung Members app.
Via AndroidCommunity (opens in new tab)


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J.M. Smucker Co. shares SJM, -1.79% surged 2.3% in premarket trade Thurday, after the maker of Folgers, Dunkin' Donuts and Cafe Bustelo coffee beat earnings estimates for its second fiscal quarter. Smucker said it had net income of $194.6 million, or $1.71 a share, in the quarter, up from $177.3 million, or $1.52 a share, in the year-earlier period. Adjusted per-share earnings came to $2.02, ahead of the FactSet consensus of $1.90. Sales rose 1% to $1.924 billion from $1.914 billion, also ahead of the FactSet consensus of $1.900 billion. Chief Executive Mark Smucker said earnings were driven by the pet food business, as well as Dunkin' Donuts coffee and Jif peanut butter. The company said it is adjusting its fiscal 2018 guidance to reflect "industry-wide headwinds," and now expects adjusted EPS of $7.75 to $7.90, compared with prior guidance of $7.75 to $7.95. Sales are expected to be flat to down slightly.
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Written by Ethan Huff
Roughly five months before the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) reared its ugly head, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing about America’s growing reliance on Chinese pharmaceuticals. And one of the things discussed – or perhaps admitted, depending on how you look at it – is the fact that a shocking 97 percent of all antibiotics in the United States now come from China.
During the discussion, Gary Cohn, who was President Trump’s chief economic advisor at the time, warned against the Commander-in-Chief waging a trade war against China because China could retaliate by simply cutting off the supply of life-saving medications to our own citizens.
“If you’re the Chinese and you want to really just destroy us, just stop sending us antibiotics,” Cohn stated, citing a report by the Department of Commerce showing that nearly all antibiotics are now made in China.
It was almost a shot heard ’round the world concerning the national security risks inherent to a U.S.-China trade war, seeing as how not just antibiotics but all other drugs, as well as many other consumer products, originate there. By outsourcing even our system of medicine to a communist country that in many ways hates us really wasn’t a smart thing to do, in other words.
But that’s where we currently stand nearly half a year later as Trump’s trade war has coincided with the unleashing of a deadly new virus that has the potential to become a global pandemic. We’re already seeing it spread to the four corners of the earth, including in areas where people didn’t necessarily even visit Wuhan, the epicenter of this latest disease outbreak […]
97% of antibiotics are made in China ‘supply chain Armageddon’
I have no words. What really is our, Australia’s, relationship with China? With America? I don’t know anything anymore. How on earth can we be waging a trade war against China the way USA is planning it? It absolutel does not make sense to me!!
I feel exactly the same, Aunty. China is New Zealand’s major trading partner – I think it’s the same for Australia isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed, Stuart. We seem to be reliant on a lot of things from China. I did not know that it goes as far as growing to be reliant on Chinese pharmaceuticals: That is, if this goes for America, it probably goes for Australia too!
Does the FDA have any say in this 98% of Chinese antibiotics which we Americans consume? It appears that no one in the US passes on their safety. Why do we need the FDA? Chinese antibiotics could be ‘anything’ Yes, difficult to understand other than the apparent fact that we are being had !! And no one cares.
Friendly reminder from across the border: your “American” system of things – all things – is strictly about money, specifically about profits, and more profits, in $$$ terms only. We call it predatory capitalism in which you, your health and wellbeing and that of your family are entirely irrelevant unless they cut into that profit margin, in which case they must be extracted from you. That’s your reality. It’s always been that way but at times the “extraction” pressure has been worse (think the dirty Thirties’ Great Depression) and eased off as in the Fifties and Sixties when the good times and profits from the Vietnam war made the “extractors” from Wall Street a little more relaxed (and helped make the book, Valley of the Dolls, the best seller of all times). They were sucking so much profit from Third World exploitation, manufactured revolutions and drugs that they allowed you to have a temporary break. That is no longer the case (or they just got greedier) so they are extracting their profits directly at your expense now, and will continue to do so until nothing is left worth taking.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Sha Tara. You write the truth. I see my children and grand children with diabetes suffer from the rising cost of insulin and their bleak outlook as they wonder how they will stay alive … it breaks me up!


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Recycling is the processing of used materials into new products. The process helps preserve useful materials and, by extension, reduces the consumption of fresh raw materials. In turn, recycling helps reduce energy usage, air pollution, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
MIT researchers design a super cell that can convert light into energy more efficiently than conventional solar cells.
September 6, 2010 9:58am |
Self-assembling solar cells; Ecstasy for PTSD; big box growing centers; value-added teacher data; most ambitious transport projects.
September 2, 2010 2:19pm |
Cereplast founder Frederic Scheer wants to change the world with bioplastics. SmartPlanet stops in to check in on his quest and evaluate the market.
4 | September 2, 2010 7:48am |
SEPTA and Viridity Energy are adding a big battery to Philly's transit system. The plan is to capture energy from braking trains and feed some of it into the city's grid.
15 | September 2, 2010 4:00am |
What do companies do with their old electronics? They give them to CloudBlue CEO Ken Beyer, who reuses them, harvests from them or recycles them -- and turns a profit, too.
2 | August 31, 2010 6:00am |
Derived from sugarcane, the recyclable plastic will show up on beauty products starting in 2011.
1 | August 31, 2010 5:48am |
Nobel laureate Robert Richardson of Cornell University says the United States is squandering the Earth's limited supply of helium. His solution? Make it cost-effective to recycle.
16 | August 25, 2010 4:00am |
Company has reset timeline with respect to eliminating certain hazardous materials.
2 | August 23, 2010 6:03am |
We underestimate -- by a lot -- how much we use.
20 | August 19, 2010 10:05pm |
Footprinting pioneer Timberland is teaming up with an industry association to inspire the broader practice of eco-labeling for hiking shoes, clothing.
1 | August 18, 2010 7:09am |
Las Vegas' sustainability officer admits that his city--an 'island in the desert'--is not a very sustainable place. But between the government's fleet of electric bikes, a residential lawn...
5 | August 16, 2010 2:00am |
Coinstar has announced an investment in EcoATM, a company that provides kiosks that receive and recycle portable electronics and pay you for it.
August 12, 2010 8:51am |
The head of Intel's Eco-Technology Program Office talks about improving efficiency, and how technology can reduce energy consumption by providing consumers information about their usage.
August 11, 2010 2:00am |
Cleantech firms seek to reuse a variety of rare, potentially toxic materials. New businesses emerge as manufacturers prepare for modules' end of life.
1 | August 9, 2010 1:28pm |
San Jose's Happy Hollow Park & Zoo claims status as first U.S. amusement park to be LEED Gold-certified.
August 9, 2010 4:41am |
Ford's latest Explorer SUV is 85 percent recyclable due to the use of bio foam, recycled fabric and a reduction in new steel.
3 | August 5, 2010 4:39am |
Increasingly, executives are looking at species variety and abundance as an opportunity for innovation.
1 | August 4, 2010 5:21am |
Increasingly, local governments say producers and actual consumers -- not all taxpayers -- should pick up the disposal tab.
5 | August 3, 2010 12:17pm |
Is your company heavy-handed with precious resources? You could save money and create a more sustainable business model by rethinking your approach to materials
1 | July 26, 2010 5:12am |
Airbus has unveiled its vision of the future of flying in 2030: a concept plane that's sleek, slim and smart.
10 | July 21, 2010 7:10am |


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Scotty McCreery Goes Gold With ‘I Love You This Big’
Last week's appearance on 'Good Morning America' was enough to earn 'American Idol' winner Scotty McCreery some hardware for the walls of his home in Garner, N.C. Digital singles of 'I Love You This Big' were up 29 percent to 24,000, according to USA Today. That's enough to bring the song gold certification for over 500,000 in sales.
Lauren Alaina also saw a huge boost in sales. Fans were impressed by her courageous performance of 'Like My Mother Does.' Alaina could barely speak during the interview portion of the appearance. To date, the song has sold almost 250,000 digital singles. Last week, she sold 8,000, more than double the previous week's total.
These figures were no doubt helped along by the release of both McCreery and Alaina's debut music videos. The singing friends also announced they would both release their debut albums in less than two months. Last week, Alaina announced that 'Wildflower' would be available on October 11, while McCreery told fans they could expect 'Clear as Day' on October 4. Both singers are on the American Idols Live Tour through September 10.


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With revenues from streaming music services skyrocketing while digital music sales are falling, it was only a matter of time before Apple's iTunes was outpaced by more modern ways of consuming music. And so it goes: According to Kobalt, a music publishing service that represents over 6,000 artists, European earnings from Spotify have overtaken those from iTunes.
"Spotify overtaking iTunes in Europe is an important new milestone in streaming," Kobalt founder and CEO Willard Ahdritz said in a prepared statement. "What Kobalt offers to artists, songwriters, and publishers has become more important than ever as the music industry's infrastructure is failing them, unable to efficiently account for the enormous volumes of data from digital transactions."
Once seen as a savior for the music industry, iTunes has never been able to make up for falling unit sales or revenues in traditional music formats like CDs. But with Steve Jobs infamously declaring that "people want to own their music," Apple was also slow to embrace subscription music services, which provide consumers with access to 10s of millions of songs for a set price.
It's unclear what it even means to "own" digital music, but consumers are waking up to the benefits of the alternative: A typical music subscription service, like Spotify, typically costs less per month than buying a single album on iTunes.
Kobalt doesn't represent the entire music industry, of course, and certainly Europe isn't the world. But these trends have been telegraphed over the past few years as iTunes first peaked and then declined by double digits this past year. During 2014, revenues from streaming music services jumped almost 30 percent in the United States, and "total streams" on these services are up 46 percent.
As for Kobalt, it reports that iTunes royalties for its artists had outpaced those of streaming services by 32 percent in mid-2013, but that the gap had fallen to 8 percent by the beginning of this year. This year, global streaming royalties overall—including those from subscription services, YouTube, and Internet radio—have tripled and surpassed those of iTunes. And as noted, Spotify, the most popular streaming service, is now beating iTunes in Europe.
Seeing the trends, Apple belatedly launched iTunes Radio in 2013, but the service was met with ambivalence by the company's normally ardent fans. So Apple purchased Beats, and its well-regarded Beats Music subscription service-in May for an astonishing $3 billion price tag. The firm has yet to integrate Beats into iTunes, and still maintains it as a separate service.
And for its part, Microsoft of course offers a competing Xbox Music service with Xbox Music subscription. But don't tell anyone. Microsoft certainly hasn't.


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Ready for the big league?
FIFA boss "feels" for Murphy, hopes management "appreciate" him
Kinect and Skill Games make up a FIFA that's all about the unpredictable.
Rumours of an iDevice for the living room highlight the huge challenges facing next-gen gaming systems.
Sony's mascots line up in this familiar brawler.
Wouldn't let it lie.
How the gaming greats of the '80s are trying to encourage the legends of tomorrow.
The toast of Christmas past.
Transition from PS2 to PS3 marked studio's "darkest days".
"Storytelling is so poor right now," claims creative director.
Naughty Dog: "We're going for emotion not horror."
The last piece to the Vita puzzle is perhaps the most important.
Sony and its studios make their pre-launch pitch.
Euro boss Ryan "pretty certain" of a sell-out.
Multiple price-points expected, but publisher confident it can "sustain" premium pricing on triple-A games.
But Sony "defended and protected us", says Matt Southern.
But, "there's still a lot of unfinished business on PS3."
Studio is "friends" with DICE, producer blasts EA "silly talk".
Co-founder not sure where "some of the anger came from".


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By Richard Menta 4/7/05
Brand awareness is a powerful thing and in the world of digital music players it is what keeps the Apple iPod chugging along with close to two-thirds of the market. In its continued survey of high school students called "Taking Stock With Teens" Piper Jaffray & Co. found that the iPod continues to be the overwhelming favorite among young adults.
Of the 518 students surveyed over half (56%) say they now own an iPod, up from 40% reported in the companys survey last fall. It shows that Apple had a very good Christmas this year.
Number 2 on this list was Sony with 14 percent, significant because that is a high jump for a company that the previous year wasn't even in the top five. iRiver followed in third place at 7 percent and fourth place goes to Rio at 5 percent.
But what is even more interesting is how the competition is lining up for place and show for future sales. Apple is again number one, but the winner for the number two position continues to be Sony.
According to the research 59 percent of the teens surveyed said they did not own a digital music portable. Of those looking to buy one soon, 15% said it will be a Sony. Next came the Rio and Dell brands at 3% each followed by Creative and iRiver at 1%.
This bodes well for the Sony brand, which has taken a beating in the digital player market due to several missteps. This is significant because Sony was an early entrant into this market, introducing their first digital music portable two years before Apple released the iPod (called the Sony Music Clip, it failed). They also built the first site to sell major label downloads online, a good three years before iTunes (it also failed).
Despite these setbacks, young consumers appear to be still drawn by the Sony name and reputation. The recent hype by the company's new PSP game unit, which plays digital music, has probably helped this. Sony has promised a significant committment into reclaiming this market, announcing several new devices in the last 30 days alone.
The losers in this scenario are Creative and iRiver who, like Sony, also have made sizeable investments in marketing dollars and new products. Both hold more than 1% of the market presently, so such a low projection for future sales is a serious step back for them. Creative is committing $100 million in marketing to promote their latest batch of portables. Their CEO Sim Wong Hoo says that his company has a goal of reaching 40 percent market share for MP3 players by the end of 2005. To do that he will need to boost that 1% awareness figure.
iRiver too has committed to new products and marketing muscle and will also have to be extra savvy with regards to how they promote themselves through the next several months. It is curious to me, though, how the brand can hold 7% of the market today, yet have a projection of only 1% of the teen market in the future?
It must be pointed out that Piper's survey size of 518 students is less than half of the number of respondents usually used in a national survey (about 1,300), so the error margin is significant. My suspicion is that the survey is slightly tilted and that both Creative and iRiver will grab quite a bit more than 1% of the market this summer and fall.
As for Sony will it grab that 15%? If you count the sales of Sony's new PSP game unit, which plays movie and song files, it may already have surpassed that. The inclusion/exclusion of that player is another factor that will skew the final results.
Piper Jaffray also surveyed paid digital music sites and not surprising iTunes came way ahead with 60% of students using the service. After iTunes comes Napster (9%), followed by MusicMatch (4%) and Real (3%).
iRiver H10 5GB Audio Jukebox is available on Amazon
Other MP3 stories:
Pew Internet Study on File Sharing and the Press
What Makes a Journalist? Thoughts on Apple and Think Secret
Can Free Broadcast TV Really Be Napsterized?


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updated 12:10 pm EDT, Tue April 6, 2004
PrintFab printer driver
ZEDOnet GmbH has released (€70), a new printer driver suite that features RIP functionality, a CMYK proof mode for prepress, and new "dynamic" PrintFab color profiles, which offer full control over color mixture and ink consumption on any kind of paper, offering "more realistic, more colorful and brilliant photos than economy mode." ZEDOnet says that the intelligent ink saving system reduces ink consumption by 25-50% without a noticeable loss in print quality; it additionally offers a color profiling service for creating profiles specifically for specific printer, paper and ink combinatinos (€20 per color profile). PrintFab runs on Mac OS X 10.2; a 30-day demo is available.


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Sr. Director, Marketing
Just a few years ago, no one thought that readers would pay for online content. Then the media industry woke up and realized “free” was not a sustainable business model. The NY Times and WSJ put up paywalls. Readers did start to pay, but, as many titles closed their doors, the myth propogated that only the largest publishers could charge for content. Today, some independent publishers are proving that customers will pay for worthwhile content – as a result, subscriptions are emerging as the future model of success.
Andrew Sullivan, the pedigreed former editor of the New Republic, decided this year to leave the mainstream media behind and publish The Dish with paid subscriptions as its sole source of income. Sullivan has written a commercially successful blog, The Daily Dish, since 2000 and it’s resided on prominent publishers such as Time, the Atlantic Monthly, and The Daily Beast. Why did he make this switch to a subscription-only model?
Sullivan said he reached a point where he had to stop being beholden to advertisers. “It was either quit blogging or suck it up and become a businessman,” he told NPR in an interview story published last week. He now charges readers $19.99 a year to get full access to his content. This new business model funds a staff of eight who can focus the content on topics they believe appeal most to its readers. His posts range from light social commentary to meaty political essays.
Sullivan’s strategy seems to be working for both editorial and business. He has noticed a surge in clicks to subscribe on his longer posts. His monetary goal is to reach a million dollars in paid subscriptions by the end of the year – and he’s just over halfway there after 2 months. According to Metro.uk, The Dish ranks in the top 10 ten of money making blogs and is the only one that does not have paid advertising.
Yet, there’s a tradeoff and calculated risk – he says he tracks thousands of readers who hit the paywall and leave without subscribing. However, his readership is more focused and loyal than on an advertising-based site. He’s banking on this loyalty to build and maintain a healthy subscriber base over time.
They key to subscription success is building customer relationships. Instead of wringing their hands over whether they should build paywalls, publishers should focus on delivering content that readers covet and surprise, they will pay. We at Zuora applaud Andrew Sullivan for embracing the Subscription Economy and wish him future success.


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Incoterms revision looks set for approval
A new set of Incoterms looks set for approval by International Chamber of Commerce delegates in mid-September, according to the United States' lone delegate in the process.
Incoterms, short for International Commercial Terms, are standard trade definitions most commonly used in international sales contracts. The rules are devised and published by the ICC, which has been updating the terms, a process it dubs Incoterms 2010. It's the seventh such update since Incoterms were first introduced in 1936 and the first since 2000.
• ASC take surcharge fight to Incoterms arena
'This revision is massive,' Frank Reynolds, the U.S. delegate in the process, said in an update this week. 'The number, presentation and definition of Incoterms rules have changed. Even the way we refer to them as 'Incoterms rules' is new.'
Reynolds said the United States Council for International Business will conduct seminars beginning in September to acquaint the industry with the revisions.
If approved, the new edition of Incoterms is expected to enter into force on Jan. 1. ' Eric Johnson


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Stacey Vanek Smith
Jul 28, 2014 We look at the real estate business following the $3.5 billion Zillow-Trulia deal.
Jul 23, 2014 YellowWood Group CEO Olalah Njenga is hopeful about the future of her business
Jul 22, 2014 Giants like Google and Apple and Pfizer are raking it in. But where is the money going?
Jul 10, 2014 The hard winter doesn't skip toy stores. Now, it's bouncing back.
Jun 19, 2014 It's a line that's often repeated, but is it true?
Jun 3, 2014 Small business models across the U.S. ease young people with autism into work.
Apr 18, 2014 A look at how one pattern maker in Chicago thinks about her profession.
May 4, 2014 Wharton professor Adam Grant tells us who is more successful in business
Apr 1, 2014 Many baby boomers were unable to sell during the Great Recession


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It was a week of milestones and petty in-fighting in the automotive world this past week. As one of the potential future directions of the automotive world reached a technological milestone, a much-vaunted car hire company found itself red-faced in a bizarre and underhanded stunt aimed at hurting a competitor.
Tesla announced that their pioneering Supercharger network has reached a new landmark, with owners of Tesla electric vehicles now able to travel from coast-to-coast across the United States without leaving the range of a Supercharger charging station. The stations, available exclusively for Tesla owners, are free to use, can provide 170 miles of range in just 30 minutes and derive part of their power from solar energy. They are part of a nationwide network of charging stations that Tesla is rolling out across the country, with Tesla aiming for nationwide coverage in all 50 states and parts of Canada by 2015.
As it currently stands, a Tesla owner living in Seattle can travel along the Supercharger network south to Los Angeles, before driving up through Colorado, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Ohio and other states in a rather circuitous route to New York City. From there, they can travel south to Miami — all without ever paying to charge up their Tesla. That’s pretty incredible, and a testament to how far electric technology has come, though it’s aided in no small part by the highest-powered Model S’s 265-mile range.
A father and daughter team have already claimed the first cross-country trip from New York to LA, taking a week to travel from Kentucky to New York City, and then over to Los Angeles, racking up 3,600 miles in the process. Their trip bolsters Tesla’s claims that 80 percent of the US population now lives within driving range of a Supercharger station, while CEO Elon Musk has planned a family trip across the country this spring using his company’s charging network.
Uber, meanwhile, is one of the most ubiquitous car hire firms at the moment, with the company continuing to spread its operations throughout the U.S. However, its rapid expansion hasn’t been without teething troubles — certainly not aided by some incredibly shady business practices. The latest revelation comes from New York City, where Uber has been accused by rival hire firm Gett of deliberately disrupting their drivers.
Gett claim that Uber employees called and canceled more than 100 cars over the course of several days, with Uber’s general manager, several community managers and operations managers and the company’s social media strategist allegedly all involved in the scheme. Gett also accuse Uber employees of allegedly attempting to recruit their drivers after repeatedly canceling orders. Gett sends the phone number of a driver to the person that books a car, which Uber apparently used to text the drivers, offering incentives to persuade them to switch firms.
For its part, Uber hasn’t denied the actions, instead stating, “Our local teams can be pretty determined when spreading the word about Uber and how our platform opens up new economic opportunities for drivers. In this instance, the New York City team was a bit too ambitious and we’ll make sure they tone down their sales tactics.” Gett hasn’t commented on whether it will seek legal action against Uber, but the bad press will hopefully be a deterrent against future underhanded methods. Whatever happens, it’s clear that firms are willing to do whatever it takes to emerge on top in the growing private hire segment.
Rhuaridh Marr covers the automotive industry. Read more on the Gears blog at metroweekly.com/auto.
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India’s leading trivia app, BrainBaazi has partnered with Airtel TV to launch a live cricket quiz show called ‘Airtel TV Free Hit Live’. BrainBaazi is owned by Times Internet, the largest digital products company in India.
Airtel TV Free Hit Live can be played live everyday on the Airtel TV app at 7:30pm, just before the IPL match begins. An anchor will ask 11 IPL related questions, giving users a few seconds to answer every question. Daily prizes are shared among the users who answer all questions correctly. Currently available only on Android, Airtel’s new show will run for the entire duration of the ongoing IPL tournament.
The live, interactive experience of ‘Airtel TV Free Hit Live’, is powered by BrainBaazi’s technology platform. BrainBaazi’s proprietary two-way interaction platform coupled with live streaming, is built to handle millions of users playing simultaneously. Players will also recognize the quiz anchors on Airtel’s new show, all of whom appear regularly on BrainBaazi’s own live quiz show at 9pm everyday.
Sameer Batra, CEO of Content and Apps, Bharti Airtel said, “With this new, intuitive platform, we are offering everyone the chance to be a winner during this ongoing T20 extravaganza. We invite our users to participate in this exciting contest and make their experience more rewarding.”
Launched in February 2018, BrainBaazi has already become India’s most popular trivia app on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It clocks over 500,000 concurrent users everyday and targets to reach 1 million concurrent users In the next three months.
Gautam Sinha, the CEO of Times Internet added, “We are happy to partner with Airtel to create a custom-built live cricket gaming show for them to entertain & reward all the IPL enthusiasts across the country. BrainBaazi’s live video format is ripe for innovation and we look forward to partner with brands to create many more such exciting and interactive experiences that can reach millions of people everyday.”


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According to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like blind-spot monitoring (BSM) and forward collision warning (FCW), when used correctly by drivers, could potentially prevent more than 2.7 million crashes, 1.1 million injuries, and nearly 9,500 deaths each year.
Currently, however, these systems are available only in some vehicles—not all. Groups like the AAA and the National Safety Council (NSC) are working to change that. Even in those cars that have the features, drivers may be unaware of how best to use them, so programs like the NSC’s “My Car Does What?” program seeks to educate the public on the ever-changing world of car safety features.
Drivers Appreciate Blind Spot Warning System
Many drivers are already catching on to the benefits of these systems. Consumer Reports released the results of a recent survey in which they asked consumers to share their experiences with the ADAS in their vehicles. The majority (57 percent) reported at least one of these systems have prevented them from getting into a crash.
As for which systems they preferred, survey respondents listed the automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control (ACC), and blind-spot warning (BSW). They listed the lane-keeping features as least satisfying because they create annoying alerts and vibrations and because they cause overly aggressive steering corrections. Owners reported frequently disabling them.
The most popular system for keeping drivers out of a crash was the BSW—60 percent of respondents reported it had prevented a collision. One respondent described an experience in which she was about to change lanes when a motorcycle “appeared out of nowhere.” The BSW lit up a warning in the passenger-side mirror, which prevented her from crashing into the bike.
Consumer Groups Advocating for Driver Assist Systems in All Vehicles
While over half of drivers appreciated driver assistance systems in their cars, many did not seek them out when shopping for a car and stated they would not pay extra for them. Instead, many drivers simply got them in the cars they chose and found out about their usefulness later on.
That is why Consumer Reports (CR) and other organizations have been pushing to have many of these systems placed as standard equipment in all vehicles. “Many drivers don’t realize that they’ll need these features or that they’re available,” said Kelly Funkhouser, program manager for vehicle usability and automation at CR,
“so they’re less likely to spend extra money to get them.”
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) states that vehicles equipped with front crash prevention—a system that detects when a vehicle is getting too close to the one in front of it and provides a warning and perhaps automatic braking when needed—are
“much less likely to rear-end other vehicles than the same models without the technology.”
The institute adds that according to its own study, systems with forward collision warning and automatic braking cut rear-end crashes in half.
More Vehicles to Come Equipped with ADAS in the Coming Years
Many auto manufacturers are voluntarily adding these systems to all their vehicles. Whereas only 29 percent of new cars sold in 2018 had standard AEB, 48 percent of them did by 2019. Twenty automakers have pledged to include FCW and city-speed AEB in almost every new vehicle by 2022.
Exclusively focused on representing plaintiffs, especially in mass tort litigation, Eric Chaffin prides himself on providing unsurpassed professional legal services in pursuit of the specific goals of his clients and their families. Both his work and his cases have been featured in the national press, including on ABC’s Good Morning America.
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bud.com, a California benefit corporation delivering recreational cannabis, raised $1m in seed funding.
The round was led by Serruya Private Equity.
The company intends to use the funds for staffing and marketing and for the expansion of its delivery areas, which have grown to include much of the Bay Area. New locations in California, including Sacramento and Southern California, will be announced later in October, with further expansion expected in 2019.
Led by Dean Arbit, CEO, and Justin Hall, CTO, bud.com provides consumers in California with recreational cannabis delivery. The company works with licensed regional dispensary partners to establish local bud.com delivery and a co-curated menu representing both distinct local fare as well as statewide premium brands.
Lat week, bud.com also announced the launch of an exclusive brand partnership with Cypress Hill, which has launched a new cannabis brand named Cypress Hill Bhang in partnership with Bhang, a purveyor of cannabis chocolates, vapes, and oils.
Cypress Hill selected bud.com to serve as the exclusive partner selling CHB online. The CHB products include ultra premium flower strains in a collectible crystal skull jar with the iconic Cypress Hill bucket hat. The second product is a cassette tape stash box containing 6 premium pre-rolls and is available in two custom styles: a rare homage to the new Elephants on Acid album and a classic, old-school version.


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The PIM process starts with ordinary plastic waste
Environmental Recycling Technologies (ERT), a developer of innovative technologies specifically focussing on plastic waste recycling, has announced collaboration with UK-based reprocessor, Axion, for the supply of materials for the company’s patented Powder Impression Moulding (PIM) process.
The collaboration between the two companies will reportedly see Axion producing bespoke recipes of blended recycled plastic material for use by ERT's existing and future licensees.
ERT says this will enable the licensees to focus on manufacturing PIM products by ensuring the consistent supply of quality-assured recycled plastic material. Axion will be the preferred source of supply of recycled polymers for ERT's licensees in the UK.
"We are delighted to have secured this strategic commercial agreement with such a respected firm as Axion,” commented Lee Clayton, ERT’s Managing Director. “As our materials supply partner, Axion will develop and supply bespoke recycled plastic materials appropriate to our licensees' requirements."
Axion is one of the UK's largest processors of automotive plastic waste and operates one of the most advanced plastic recycling facilities in Europe. The company has historically supplied several of ERT's licensees with material produced from its recycling facility in Manchester.
Axion Director, Keith Freegard, said: "The timing of this exciting business development opportunity could not be better. As we continue to grow our capability to recycle plastic materials from end-of-life vehicles and waste electronics, we need to be creating new markets for those mixed plastic fractions which are the inevitable by-product of all high-grade polymer refinery operations. We see the PIM process as an excellent new technology to make shaped performance products for a diverse range of end-markets, including both automotive and electrical goods in which we are already active players."


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By Gugulethu Hughes
For the last couple of days, civil unrest has engulfed South Africa. This is characterized by looting of shops and burning down of strategic infrastructure.
At first, protests were against the South African Constitutional Court’s incarceration of President J.G. Zuma without trial. However, they ended up becoming a confluence of distinct grievances.
At the heart of the protests are the government’s decision to put the country in perpetual Covid-19 lockdown without supplying much stimulus to the general citizenry. The impact of the past few days has to a greater extent exposed both the government and the private sector for poor risk management, a humongous error of judgement.
What Exactly is Politics?
Politics refers to those activities concerned with the governance of a particular area. In democratic societies, political parties barter their manifestos in exchange for electoral votes.
South Africa is one such country, unique in that the governance system is a hybrid model of tyranny, aristocracy, and oligarchy. This type of political management gives rise to an eruption of different societal classes in constant collision over ownership of means of production and having influence on the government of the day.
South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world. The income shares of the top 10% of households is estimated at 65%, more than Asia where the top 10% households capture 49% of income. Such a scenario points to the undeniable fact that the means of production are in the hands of the minority, maintenance of exploitation, and exclusionist corporate attitudes.
But something happened in 2017. The ruling ANC party held its elective conference at Nasrec Expo Centre where Cyril Ramaphosa emerged as the winner. His victory has led to speculation that unethical use of resources to influence delegates swayed votes in his favour.
Since then, he’s had to produce bank statements detailing the money trail. Also, contributions into his campaign by private businesses and other rich individuals, sealed by the country’s High Court.
Who is Cyril Ramaphosa?
During apartheid years, Cyril was instrumental in the formation of National Union of Mine Workers. He’s also served as ANC Secretary General and participated in CODESA negotiations that led to a transition from apartheid to “democracy.”
Then, he took part in the drafting of the country’s constitution and served as the Deputy President in the 3rd Republic. In August 2012, he directed the shooting and killing of miners who protested for a salary increase at Lonmin Mine in the country’s platinum belt province of Northwest.
When he took a hiatus from government, he managed to amass wealth through his businesses and various positions he held in several monopolistic corporate entities. He enjoys proximity to the 10% households that own the means of production.
More so, the judiciary has formulated a culture of ruling in his favour. He’s currently busy purging all dissenting voices within the ANC through suspensions and expulsions. For a man who doesn’t enjoy popular support within the ANC branches, his actions are a recipe for disaster.
They form a key part of the reasons why South Africa is at war with itself.
Clearly, Cyril Ramaphosa’s policies don’t serve the interests of the majority black and poor people. He’s more interested in meeting the needs of private capital. He’s also pushing for privatization of State-Owned Entities.
Additionally, he’s making redundant all existing policies that looked to ensure fair participation of disadvantaged communities in the economics of production and service provision.
The port city of Durban has been the citadel of attacks on supply chain infrastructure and looting.
The busiest port in Africa is in Durban. Recent events including the blocking of strategic logistics routes out of Durban to Johannesburg has led to a total disruption of the supply chain.
Protestors have burned down Distribution Centres and warehouses, leading to immediate closure of some firms and suspension of production in others. Some other businesses have declared force majeure as they’re no longer able to meet some of their supply contract obligations.
The average person on the street isn’t privy to supply chain operations, attacks on logistics, and distribution infrastructure including burning down of trucks in being executed by people who are masters of economics.
An important outcome appears. Service provision, a key element of governance politics, is negatively affected by supply chain disruption, particularly premeditated attacks of this size. The unfortunate part is that this may only be the beginning, using supply chain attacks to settle political scores.
But wait, there’s yet another dimension – the government’s level of response to the crisis is suspect. There does seem to be a deliberate ploy to make Durban a dysfunctional port city that poses many risks to investors and businesses. This could justify the relocation of critical logistics functions to another port city.
Racism and Genocide
Attacks on shops and distribution lines have led to food and medical supply disruptions. This has led to people driving to unaffected areas to buy necessities. This has in turn brought up the ugly face of racism.
Now, black people are being prevented from entering affluent areas of Durban. Barricades have been put in points of entry manned by gun wielding young and old white men while black soldiers look helpless.
In another area of Durban called Phoenix, a predominantly Indian neighbourhood, black people are being shot and killed like flies – I call it a genocide. Durban is commonly known as Little India as it has the biggest population and concentration of Indians outside of India.
Lessons for Businesses
Ensuring supply chain security includes having risk management measures in place. These measures include timeous stakeholder engagement where threats emanating from external factors are found. Most importantly, businesses need effective communication.
Your supply chain is the heartbeat of your business; it’s a strategic function. Collaboration with other businesses is pivotal for the efficient sharing of data. Supply chains are generally interconnected and only when businesses adopt an attitude of partnership compared to that of competition will they be able to avert some external threats.
Regardless, Durban is still open for business. It will forever remain a strategic location for any businesses looking to service different markets, local and global. The positioning of Durban gives it the edge over all other African cities, purely from a production and logistics standpoint.
It’s also a beautiful holiday destination with amazing weather. Altogether, it’s a perfect place for those services companies that want to set up their headquarters in Africa.
But South Africa’s government must learn aesthetics isn’t a sustainable mode of governance. With every burning supply chain, the government loses its value.
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The manager of Hewitt’s barbers has thanked customers for their support following the opening of a new shop, which he says is a fitting legacy to former villager and hairdresser Hayley Hewitt.
The opening of the new shop in Waddesdon comes just a couple of months after the Haddenham shop celebrated ten years in business.
This shop was founded by hairdresser Hayley Hewitt, who died in a car accident last year.
Her boyfriend for nearly 15 years Jack Ewing took over the management of the Haddenham shop after her passing.
He has now opened a second shop in Waddesdon, which has added poignancy as it was where the couple lived.
Mr Ewing said: “Hayley always wanted to open in Waddesdon because it didn’t have a hairdressers.
“There weren’t any free shops at the time so when an opportunity to open one in Haddenham came up she took it.
“Her hope was that we would have two shops and manage one each.”
Mr Ewing is an extremely talented hairdresser in his own right, having won hairdressing awards in his native Scotland.
He said: “I had hoped to be able to open this shop in Waddesdon around the time of the tenth anniversary of the Haddenham shop but it wasn’t possible.
“The key with the new shop is getting people to come and try it out.
“Some of the visitors we have already had say it is a godsend to have it in Waddesdon.”
Mr Ewing is currently the only person working at the Waddesdon shop, but says he hopes to employ some more staff at the barbers in the High Street.
He added: “This is the start of creating a Hewitt’s barbers brand.
“There are some dreams of Hayley’s that I won’t be able to fulfil - but this is one that I can complete.
“We were accepted into the community very quickly when we started up in Haddenham and I have had some wonderful support there as well and I’m very grateful for that.”
Hewitt’s barbers in Waddesdon is open normal shop hours from Monday to Friday and from 8am to 3pm on Saturdays.


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Amid observations by geopolitical experts that China and Russia are closer than ever in the aftermath of the West's collective front against Moscow, a new report has said that Chinese brands are flooding Russia.
The Chinese 'takeover' happened after hundreds of global brands left Russia in protest against Moscow's military operation in Ukraine that started a year ago. The Russian search for alternatives opened up the vistas for Chinese products ranging from smartphones to cars.
Chinese brands like smartphone giant Xiaomi and automaker Geely had bumper sales in recent months, spurred by rising Russian demand. According to a Counterpoint Research, the gain of Chinese brands has meant losses for brands like Apple, whose iPhones were hugely popular in Russia.
Chinese handset manufacturers now account for 95 percent of the market share, the data showed. A year ago, their share had stood at a lowly 40 percent. At the same time, Samsung and Apple saw their combined market share drop from 53 percent a year ago to a mere 3 percent.
Another sector that displays a distinct Chinese slant is automobiles. The sales of Chinese carmakers like Chery and Great Wall rose so much that they are now in the top 10 passenger vehicle brands in Russia. In the process, German giants like BMW and Mercedes have disappeared from that list. Chinese car sales in Russia rose 7 percent in 2022 to 121,800 vehicles, though the overall sales crashed, according to Autostat.
China's Role in War?
There is increasing speculation that China will start supplying lethal weapons to Russia. Though China has ruled out offering major military equipment to Russia, the two superpowers are closer now than ever before. The potential of a broader conflict involving China is something that right-thinking people anywhere in the world would not want to have.