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KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — The Cabinet has decided to allow several additional economic sectors to operate in phases during the Movement Control Order (MCO), which has been extended until April 28, on condition of strict adherence to health and safety guidelines.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said other industries that are allowed to operate are machinery and equipment, aerospace and science, professional and technical services, including research and development (R&D) related to legal practice, oil & gas, and activities related COVID-19.
In addition, registered traditional medicine services, hardware shops, electrical and electronic shops, optometrist shops, barber shops, and full-service laundry shops are allowed to operate, it said in a statement today.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said companies in the additional sectors listed may submit their application to MITI beginning Monday, April 13, 2020, from 9.00 am.
He said all applications must be made online at MITI, www.miti.gov.my and only applications that are complete and fulfil the conditions will be processed.
Besides adhering to these enhanced terms and guidelines, operating permits are also subject to compliance with the requirements set by Ministry of Health (MoH) and guidelines by other relevant enforcement agencies from time to time.
Azmin said failure to comply will result in the immediate revocation of the operating permit and legal action taken on the offenders.
MITI has reviewed the additional sectors that are allowed to operate based on importance in the global value chain (GVC) and the country’s exports.
The additional economic sectors allowed also have high value-added multiplier, giving impact on the sustainability of SMEs in the economy, particularly in manufacturing and services, as well as size of workforce involved.
The decision was made following MITI’s engagement with various stakeholders, including business and industry associations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and other relevant ministries and agencies, including the MoH and National Security Council (NSC).
The measure is in line with the Cabinet’s decision to establish a Special Cabinet Committee to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19 on the Economy and Labour Market. The committee tabled several proposals to the Cabinet on April 6 and 8..
Azmin said the spread of COVID-19 would not only have a significant impact on health, but would also have detrimental effects on the economy and the well-being of the people, in particular, the SMEs which constitute the largest contributor to the nation’s workforce.
Hence, he said the government would continue to monitor the compliance of the conditions as stipulated by the MoH and would ensure that health screening and preventive measures are implemented for the safety of employees and customers.


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Beats may have been acquired by Apple for $3 billion earlier this year, but that doesn’t mean that the trendy headphone maker is ready to adopt the white Jony Ive-favored minimalism of Apple just yet.
While Apple continues to work on its Cupertino “Mothership” headquarters, an article from Fast Company sheds some light on the new Beats campus being renovated from two industrial buildings in Culver City, Los Angeles.
Featuring reception areas, conference rooms, and offices in one building, and a cafeteria, gym, and double-height workshop for R&D in the other, the article describes the design as featuring “architectural gestures that go from pop to cinematic to downright arty.”
One thing it’s not, though, is reminiscent of Apple.
Color and material-wise, the headquarters contrasts deep blues with custom wallpapers and blond wood floors. Instead of the I.M. Pei glass staircase seen in Apple Stores, the headquarters includes a “brass-lined staircase reminiscent of 1970s minimalist art.” Referring to a previous project, the Beats architect notes that, “Daytime disco is not a bad model for an office. ”
“We come from hip-hop, hardcore punk, and indie rock. Hype Williams to Paul Williams, Robert Mapplethorpe to Robert Kelly,” says Luke Wood, cofounder of the company with Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. “How do you design for that without being cliché?”
With quotes from both Wood and the project’s architect, the article is well worth a read, and sheds some light on both the similarities and differences between Apple and its biggest acquisition to date. Will this cultural disparity cause problems going forwards? I guess we’ll have a better answer for that once we know what Apple actually bought Beats for.
Source: Fast Company

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Looking to get more kids in the game? Based on research by the TIA and USTA, that’s a smart idea for your business. Here a few of the key findings from the recently released 2013 edition of the “State of the Industry” report that have to do with Youth Tennis and what they may mean for tennis providers.
For the first half of 2013 the TIA has been focused on industry efforts to grow the game and the business of tennis. Under the direction of TIA President Greg Mason—whose two-year term commenced at the beginning of 2013—and our board of directors, we continue to focus our efforts on our key strategic platforms.
Like any business, you need to use all the tools you have to get ahead, including industry research, such as the recently released 2013 edition of the “State of the Industry” report. Here a few of the key findings of the report and what they may mean for tennis providers. (You’ll find more analysis of the research in a story in the upcoming July issue of Racquet Sports Industry magazine.)
To learn more about industry research and reports available, visit TennisIndustry.org/Research or email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Cardio Tennis participation grew to over 1.4 million participants in 2012, according to the latest U.S. Sports, Fitness & Recreation Participation Report published by the Physical Activity Council (PAC), a consortium of 6 sports and outdoor trade associations. The study, which surveys participation across 125 different sports, fitness and recreation activities, is the nation’s largest report on physical activity with a sample size of more than 40,000.
With a decline in the average consumer confidence index from January to March 2013 over the same period of 2012 of nearly 5.5 index points, specialty tennis retailers felt the impact of waning consumer confidence on their sales of tennis racquets. The average Consumer Confidence Index, which has typically been an economic indicator which helps predict trends and correlations in tennis industry equipment sales, was down to 62.1 in Q1 2013 from 67.5 in 2012.
In the recently released US Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Participation Report from the Physical Activity Council (PAC) — a consortium of six sports, recreation, and outdoor trade associations — despite fluctuating participation trends among traditional sports, tennis continues to lead the pack in long-term participation growth, which is up 31% from 2000-2012.
The first quarter of 2013 proved challenging for the tennis industry in terms of wholesale distribution from manufacturers and retail sell-through for specialty tennis retailers. These two trends are measured on a quarterly basis by the Tennis Industry Association’s Census Reports and Specialty Store Retail Audits.
Overall factors potentially impacting the declines seen in year-over-year comparisons include weakened consumer confidence, weather trends across the country, and early wholesale deliveries of racquet products from manufacturers in late 2012, which traditionally would have been delivered in early 2013.
The TIA is in the process of exploring a tennis equipment wholesale shipment report that could include data from nations in Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia.
Cardio Tennis participation grew and frequent player play occasions were up nearly 2%, while overall tennis participation remained flat, according to the Physical Activity Council's (PAC) Annual U.S. Participation in Sports, Fitness, and Recreation report. The study, which surveys participation across 125 different sports, fitness and leisure activities, is the nation’s largest report on physical activity. The survey, conducted online with a sample size of more than 40,000, is supported by six sports, fitness, and recreation trade organizations.
In the most recent USTA/TIA tennis participation study, the age demographic that saw the greatest percentage increase in 2012 was young players 6 to 11, which increased 13% from 2011. Clearly, messages about 10 and Under Tennis are reaching kids, their parents, and tennis providers—and all of that is having a positive influence in other industry segments, too.


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latest news releases from the newsroom
Limbo 41414 and Bravo Announce the 'Bid For Bling' Limbo Auction to Win the Life of a Privileged Orange County Woman
BURLINGAME, Calif., Jan. 31, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Ski trips, celebrities, spa days and more...a day in life! Mobile entertainment provider Limbo 41414(tm) and Bravo have teamed up to promote the second season of the smash hit "The Real Housewives of Orange County" (Tuesdays at 10PM ET/PT on Bravo, beginning January 16) in a special series of Limbo Auctions -- called Bid for Bling -- to give Bravo viewers the chance to win the lavish lifestyle of an Orange County woman. Each Tuesday, starting on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 and running through Tuesday, March 20, 2007, Limbo 41414 technology will host cell-phone driven text-messaging-based Limbo Auctions featuring multiple extravagant prizes. The Bid for Bling Limbo Auctions can also be played online at www.41414.com.
Limbo 41414 Teams With REDBOOK Magazine to Launch Year-Long Mobile Marketing Initiative
BURLINGAME, Calif., Jan. 31, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Mobile entertainment pioneer Limbo 41414 and leading women's lifestyle publication REDBOOK are joining forces to launch a year-long mobile marketing initiative. The deal marks burgeoning Limbo 41414's first-ever partnership with a U.S. magazine and makes REDBOOK the exclusive women's lifestyle magazine provider of promotional mobile sweepstakes for Limbo 41414. Starting in March 2007, the REDBOOK program -- RED-BID -- will offer exciting prizes, from priceless experiential events and opportunities to special offerings from advertisers.


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Search Results for 'producer'
170 results found.
Aran Island Ferries has welcomed the announcement of a new Aran Food Tour, created by Aran Goats Cheese producer Gabriel Faherty. The new Aran Food Tour is available to book online at www.arangoatcheeseandfoodtours.com.
Sprig, the online cookery school run by professional chef Eamon Lynch, which has built a reputation for collaborating with food industry A-listers, has just revealed its latest stellar line-up of tutors for the coming months.
NeighbourFood, a new and convenient way to buy from local farmers and food producers, is a weekly online farmers' market with almost 50 outlets nationwide. This autumn, the NeighbourFood revolution comes to Connemara, offering the local community easy access to the finest produce from the region.
FOLLOWING RAVE reviews, awards, and being selected as Ireland’s official entry for the 2021 Oscars, Galway made film Arracht has now been optioned for a Hollywood remake.
FOLLOWING HIS debut single ‘Radio Caroline’, Galway indiepop artist, James Dillon - better known as one of the lead singers in Galway Street Club - returns with new single, ‘Ditch Drinking’.
At a time when timber prices are at an all time high, forest owners must ensure they get full value for their harvested timber.
Check out Joyce’s new and exclusive wine range from Spain and Portugal selected by master of wine student Antonia Dominguez from Antonia’s Wines.
Covid and travel restrictions have not deterred, but helped Galwegians, to declutter their homes.
This year’s Cruinniú na nÓg, a day of free creativity for children and young people, takes place on Saturday, June 12, and Roscommon Arts Centre have two wonderful free family friendly events taking place on the day which can be accessed online at www.roscommonartscentre.ie
It is safe for healthy adults to eat raw or lightly-cooked eggs, but these can cause food poisoning in vulnerable groups.


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Subscribe To Why The Nintendo Switch Online Service Has Been Delayed Updates
You can go online right now with the Nintendo Switch. You can play games online and buy games from the eShop. What you can't do is voice chat, and you don't have access to things like parties, or online lobbies outside of games. Well, Nintendo explained why the premium online service containing those aforementioned features for the Switch has been delayed, and it has to do with quality control.
Originally Nintendo had announced that the premium version of the Nintendo Network would go live this fall. It would require a premium fee to access things such as the online multiplayer modes for various games.
However, the company recently announced that the premium Nintendo Network service would be delayed into the early first half of 2018. Along with announcing that the premium service would be delayed, there was also the announcement for the Classic Game Selection, which is an add-on service for those who pay the $20 a year service fee for the Nintendo Network to access various select classic games from Nintendo's archive.
Now originally this just seemed like a bad scheme to get people to pay for old Nintendo titles, but in reality it's a brilliant new feature that allows gamers to play classic NES or SNES titles with brand new Nintendo Network implementation. What this means is that games like Super Mario World or Smash Tennis would enable players to go online and team up with or compete against other players in these classic games instead of being stuck solely with the local multiplayer option.
According to Reggie Fils-Aime, this delay was so that Nintendo could flesh out the quality of the online component and provide users with the highest caliber content available. Fils-Aime uses Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as an example of a Nintendo product that was delayed and worth the wait. Given the high rate of sales and the crazy-high attachment rate for Breath of the Wild, I would definitely say that he has a point.
For now, Nintendo Switch owners can still go online and play various games against other people, for free. In fact, what's available right now has a lot of Nintendo Switch owners quite comfortable with their purchase. Games like Mario Kart 8: Deluxe has fast and fluent online play with quick loading lobbies, and despite the limited forms of communication, voice chat isn't something that's terribly missed. ARMS operates in a very similar fashion to Mario Kart 8, and most people seem to be fine with that.
Of course, for games like Splatoon 2 where teamwork and communication are key for victory, the lack of voice chat could play a detrimental role in the game's online ecosystem. Personally, I wouldn't mind if the online stayed free for the Nintendo Switch even if it meant never getting voice chat, but I know there are a lot of people out there who just can't live without it, especially after playing games like Call of Duty on Xbox Live.


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A major hiring effort is underway to staff Farmer Joe’s Fresh Market, targeted to open in December on Pine Island Road.
The owners are seeking 450 employees for the nearly-completed, 55,000 square-foot grocery store.
“This is going to be the Disneyland of supermarkets,” says Lee Snyder, owner of Farmer Joe’s, which will heavily focus on massive departments on the store’s perimeter. “Our produce department alone is 13,000 square feet.”
The store has hired as many as 150 people so far, but it needs three times that many. Snyder has sponsored job fairs, commercials, and billboards in an effort to communicate that Farmer Joe’s is hiring.


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The "Invent" company is trying to reinvent itself.
For more than a decade, technology titan Hewlett Packard has usually been in media headlines for something other than innovation. Hit in recent years by a rotating slate of CEOs and a relative dearth of hot new products, the company has been unable to reignite the success it once had.
Earlier this month, HP officially split into two companies: HP Enterprise, which sells hardware and software for businesses and HP Inc., which sells personal computers and printers. The split marks a new era for HP, which was famously born in a garage and adopted the "Invent" tagline in 1999. HP is setting the tone for that era with a global rebranding effort themed "Keep Reinventing" that includes this new spot breaking on Thanksgiving.
The film, produced by 180 LA, tugs on the viewer's heartstrings as a father and son pull together hundreds of images using an HP printer to wish their wife and mother good luck. She gets dressed and embarks on her commute, discovering pictures from her past (as a succesful athlete, a new mom, a graduate) posted in unexpected places before arriving at her new office begins her new career. The ad was directed by Frederic Planchon of Anonymous Content and Academy Films, the man behind AT&T's heart-wrenching "Close to Home" film.
The spot follows the "crafty" theme of recent ads out of BBDO co-promoting "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
180, along with other HP shops BBDO and Gyro, have been working closely with Chief Marketing Officer Antonio Lucio, who admits that moving a company the size of HP in a new direction has its share of obstacles. "Everybody thinks their ideas is the best idea," Mr. Lucio said. "But to create something that is meaningful enough that everybody is able to agree with, and when you are doing that at scale, is a dramatic challenge for any marketer."
Mr. Lucio said the company worked with 10,000 of its employees to create a new mission statement, "Create technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere."
Read more about HP's "Reinvention" effort on Adage.com.


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No sooner had Luxottica and Essilor announced their merger plans in mid-January than industry observers began speculating about the changes that might result from it. The history-making mega deal will create a $15 billion optical behemoth that would be involved in virtually every sector of the optical industry, from retail and wholesale to frames, spectacle lenses and managed vision care.
Financial analysts were quick to point out the potential synergies that could result by combining the world’s largest frame supplier with the world’s largest lens maker. On a purely product level, there are some obvious benefits to the matchup, such as Essilor supplying sun lenses for Ray-Ban sunglasses. But let’s consider some other ways the two companies might collaborate in the ophthalmic lens arena.
Luxottica’s Oakley unit has already offered Essilor lenses as options for some of its sunwear styles. But a deeper collaboration could combine Oakley’s proprietary optics with Essilor’s own sun lens expertise and that of its Costa subsidiary. Additionally, Essilor’s strength in lens design, coatings, materials, lens processing and lab systems would add another valuable element.
An Oakley-Essilor hookup might also involve electronic eyewear, a field in which Oakley is a leader. Oakley was one of the first eyewear companies to venture into wearable technology, first with its Airwave ski goggles and more recently with Radar Pace, a smart eyewear coaching system it developed with Intel. Luxottica also has a relationship with Google aimed at redesigning Glass.
Although Essilor has been slow to embrace electronic eyewear, it has been quietly exploring it for years. Essilor holds a majority interest in Humanware, a leading designer and distributor of electronic assistance products for the blind and vision impaired. It also has a stake in DeepOptics, an Israeli tech startup that is developing an electronic focusing lens and glasses system. As the wearable tech category continues to evolve, an Oakley-Essilor partnership could be a formidable force.
Before any of this happens, the Essilor Luxottica merger must clear regulatory hurdles in the U.S. and internationally. And Essilor executives have said that the integration of the two organizations would take several years. Assuming the deal goes through, it will be fascinating to see what new lens technologies emerge.
• Andrew Karp
Group Editor, Lenses and Technology


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Most Recent Articles In Media Features
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WWD’s week in quotes, culled from stories that ran the week of June 17 to June 21.
• “In the area of integrity, you tend to be measured at the lowest point. You know when you have let that slip, that becomes that person’s standard of integrity.” — Mike Duke, Wal-Mart.
• “I go from one thing to another. I have been around artists, film directors, musicians, video producers and actors and taking bits of these people and becoming someone that can do all of these roles.” — Topshop’s Justin Cooke, on the changing role of the CMO.
• “Service is defined by wait time. [Point-of-sale mobile devices] helped us get rid of wait time in the line…we started to remove some of the registers we had in our stores. We freed up space so we can merchandise the store with more products.” — Colin Johnson, Nordstrom.
• “I’m a good red-carpet date. I know what I’m doing.” — Jennifer Lopez.
• “This is a once-in-a-generation prize and we are determined to seize it.” — British Prime Minister David Cameron on the prospects of a trans-Atlantic free trade agreement.
• “I’m feeling the necessity of opening our factories to our customers. This will create solid relationships between the public and those companies promoting the quality of Made in Italy.” — Paolo Zegna.
• “We’re more social because we have more women.” — Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on the rising social profile of the nine Supreme Court justices.
• “Federal judges are good guests because they listen well, and everyone likes a good listener. There’s another reason Supreme Court judges make good dinner guests: When they are there, people tend to be very polite.” — Deecy Gray, a Republican hostess in Washington.
• “Hi-fi brand marketing is traditional advertising assets that feel polished, mass produced and created to fit all channels. Lo-fi is content for individual networks. More often than not, they are created by an iPhone. They are not created in a photo shoot in Long Island City, Queens. It’s created by our consumers.” — Rachel Tiograph, Gap Inc.
• “One of the striking features of the current recovery is the slowdown in income growth.” — John Lonski, Moody’s Capital Markets Group.
• “Data is the new black.” — David Selinger, RichRelevance.
• “I don’t know anything about the fashion world. It’s very mysterious to me.” — Colin Firth.
• “There’s not a lot of fun things you can do with a suit. I mean, there are — but not if you want to sell any.” — Sir Paul Smith.
• “The e-commerce store of the future, I think, will be defined by what Amazon is and isn’t…Amazon doesn’t help build brands, doesn’t help build demand. They just fulfill demand. We will need to focus on creating value above and beyond what demand fulfillment in historical e-commerce was.” — Dan Obegi, DermStore Beauty Group.
• “Instead of fostering the kind of dialogue in the boardroom that has, in part, contributed to our success, the board has inappropriately chosen to silence my concerns by terminating me as an executive officer.” — George Zimmer, founder of Men’s Wearhouse, after being fired by the company.
• “Men’s wear is still so unexplored. So how far can we push ourselves? I don’t mean that men should start dressing like Lady Bunny, but we can go much further than we do.” — Nick Graham.
• “They are all off the table.” — Emanuel Chirico of PVH on the company’s decision to pull back from the acquisitions arena for the next two years.
• “I liked him. He came from the world of haute couture. The authentic one, the one of yesteryear. A bygone world. He had talent.” — Pierre Berge on Jean-Louis Scherrer, who died in Paris at age 78.
• “Sometimes you sort of have to value the importance of the nonimportant.” — Christian Louboutin.
• “We are not looking for new investors or new investment. We do not want to sell more of this company. We don’t want new investment.” — Tom Ford.
• “I told them what had happened to me, and I said, ‘I’m just like you. I’ve lost everything, you’ve lost everything and here we are.'” — Madonna Badger on visiting an orphanage in Thailand after losing her family in a fire in 2011.
• “John [Galliano] and his team really played with makeup. I remember bringing a girl down once and she had on probably 10 pairs of lashes and three pounds of eye shadow and the hugest, glossiest lips. We brought her into the studio for a makeup test, and John said, ‘We’re not doing a beach story. This is not about a natural look.’ He wanted more.” — Pat McGrath on some of her most memorable looks.


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The pandemic has sent the retail industry on a K-shaped trajectory — the final straw that has sent many retail chains into bankruptcy while also contributing to a surge in sales for many of the leading chains. The difference has been not only offering products that customers are seeking, but also the impact of scale and supply chain sophistication that many smaller chains could not match.
Supply chain sophistication promises to become even more important going forward as Amazon has raised consumers’ expectations for service that should be both immediate and free at the same time. Meanwhile, national-branded consumer goods companies gained share from private labels during the pandemic and many are launching direct-to-consumer and subscription services looking to reduce their reliance on retail and reach their most loyal customers.
Those challenges and others have put pressure on retailers to build omnichannel offerings that “meet customers where they are.” That has also increased the pressure on retailers to keep other freight and logistics costs low with more capital and expense being dedicated to the development of new omnichannel strategies.
In this report, we discuss several use cases for retailers to utilize the FreightWaves SONAR platform to increase efficiency throughout their supply chains.
Those use cases include:
- Monitoring import volume, global trade and port activity.
- Evaluating freight flows for private fleet conversion.
- Evaluating truckload to intermodal conversion.
- Deciding on the timing of freight bids.
- Using SONAR data in contract negotiations with carriers and 3PLs.
In addition, we discuss what the financial impact can be on a large retailer that is able to reduce freight spend. We estimate that retailers with average margins and an average relative freight spend could save $225 for every $1 million in retail revenue by improving freight efficiencies by 1%. That scales nicely when put in the context of multibillion dollar retail chains as we illustrate in this report.


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Here’s what caught our attention on Thursday:
1. Omnia CEO resigns
Chemicals and fertiliser producer Omnia announced the resignation of its CEO Adriaan de Lange on Wednesday. The resignation comes at a time when the company says it is planning a R2 billion rights issue to reduce its debt. De Lange is stepping down for personal reasons but will be stay on in an advisory role, the company says. He is being replaced by the group’s current finance director Seelan Gobalsamy, who previously worked in senior executive roles at Liberty, Stanlib and Old Mutual. Gobalsamy is taking over with immediate effect.
2. Exxaro Resources results
Coal and mineral mining company Exxaro Resources is reporting a 42% increase in headline earnings per share to 1 730 cents for the six months ended June 30, 2019. The company’s revenue declined by 2% to R12 billion and net operating profit fell by 24% to R2.4 billion. The company says its expects domestic coal demand to remain stable for the remainder of 2019. It is declaring an interim dividend of 864 cents per share and a special dividend of 897 cents per share for the period.
3. Italtile reports a 7% increase in Heps
Tile retailer Italtile, whose chains include CTM and Top T, is reporting a 7% increase in headline earnings per share to 101.8 cents and an 8% increase in earnings per share to 102.6 cents for the year ended June 30, 2019. The company’s trading profit for the period increased by 18% to R1.79 billion. The company says its store network also increased by 7% to 189 stores from 176 stores in 2018. The retailer says it delivered results in line with guidance and the improvements were as a result of a low-base effect. Italtile is declaring an ordinary dividend of 41 cents per share and a special dividend per share of 50 cents.
4. Mr Price taking strain
Clothing and homeware retailer Mr Price anticipates the first half of the financial year ending March 28, 2020 to be a challenging period, saying the ‘continued poor retail environment and a generally strong performance in the base relative to the rest of the market’ is contributing to its performance. Mr Price says retail sales and other income increased 1.1% to R7.5 billion and total retail sales increased 0.5% to R6.9 billion. The company says it faces challenges in the Mr Price apparel division, which constitutes 59.5% of group sales, but signs of a performance recovery into spring and summer are beginning to emerge.
5. Ramaphosa to answer questions in parliament
President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to answer questions in parliament on Thursday. Some of the issues potentially on the agenda include funding for Ramaphosa’s presidential campaign, which is being brought forward by both the DA and EFF, the NHI Bill and his plans to spur the struggling economy, which contracted in the first quarter.


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Today Qualcomm proudly "announced that it has entered into accelerated share repurchase agreements (ASR Agreements) with each of Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC to repurchase an aggregate of $16 billion of Qualcomm's common stock, with an initial delivery to Qualcomm of approximately 178 million shares in the aggregate". Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf notes that the company is "continue to execute on [its] previously announced $30 billion stock repurchase program."
A few days ago, Qualcomm's stock hit $70 for the first time in three years.
It's just that all this good news is in stark contrast to what Qualcomm's lead counsel, Cravath's Evan Chesler, told Judge Gonzalo Curiel of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California about a year ago when Qualcomm was seeking a preliminary injunction requiring four Apple contract manufacturers to make royalty payments prior to a final ruling on the Apple v. Qualcomm dispute. Judge Curiel didn't buy Qualcomm's "irreparable harm" theory and denied the motion. The course of events since--showcased by this week's news on Qualcomm's stock price and the share repurchase programm--clearly has validated the judge's decision. It means Qualcomm has tens of billions to distribute, but claimed that Apple, through its contract manufacturers, withholding half a billion a quarter would put the whole company in jeopardy.
Just like in yesterday's post on a previously-unknown antitrust complaint lodged by Apple against Qualcomm in the EU, which has given rise to preliminary investigations, I'll point to MLex. Mike Swift reported on the San Diego hearing last year:
"The house is on fire when one the largest manufacturers in the world says I'm watching [what's happening in the Apple litigation] and I'm telling you that I'm stopping all payments as well," Qualcomm lawyer Evan Chesler said at a hearing in San Diego, California. "It ought not to be the case that the house must burn down before we can restore the status quo." (emphasis added)
The discrepancies between Qualcomm's courtroom arguments and shareholder communications (and financial facts) have previously cost Qualcomm credibility with financial analysts. Shortly after the said hearing, Barron's quoted Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon who found "the magnitude of the disparity troubling."
That report came a week after I had stated essentially the same thing on this blog.
If I were in Qualcomm's shoes, I'd really hope Judge Curiel isn't aware of Qualcomm's investor relations announcements, such as (especially) today's news of the acceleration of its huge share repurchase program. In case he is aware, Qualcomm will have an even bigger credibility problem with him than with some analysts or bloggers.
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White House tech adviser Michael Kratsios addresses scores of executives, experts and officials at a White House summit focusing on artificial intelligence in May 2018. (OSTP via Twitter) For months, the White House has been talking up artificial intelligence as one of America’s most important tech frontiers. Now we’re starting to see some of the dollar signs behind the talk. In newly released budget documents, the Trump administration says it wants to split $850 million in civilian federal spending on AI research and development between the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Energy Department. This is in addition to for AI and machine learning, including $208 million for the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Based on the agency-by-agency breakdowns, NSF would get the lion’s share of the $850 million — specifically, The Department of Energy says it’s that would “improve the robustness, reliability, and transparency of Big Data and AI technologies, as well as quantification and development of software tools for DOE mission applications.” About $71 million would go to DOE’s Office of Science, and $48 million would go to the National Nuclear Security Administration, which safeguards the nation’s nuclear arsenal. The National Institutes of Health doesn’t lay out exactly how much it’s requesting in its , but it does detail what the money would be used for: “NIH is focused on the promise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for catalyzing advances in basic (e.g., image interpretation, neuroscience, genomic variants and disease risk, gene structure, and epigenomics) and clinical research (e.g., robotic surgery, natural language processing of electronic health record data, inferring treatment options for cancer, reading radiology results). NIH recognizes that there are many areas of biomedical research where novel computing, machine intelligence, and deep learning techniques have the potential to advance human health.” NIST hasn’t yet provided details about the funds it’s aiming to devote to AI, but its total R&D budget would be trimmed by 8 percent if the administration’s proposal is accepted. NSF would face a 10 percent cut, and NIH would see its total R&D budget reduced by 13 percent. The White House says fiscal austerity is forcing a narrowing of R&D priorities. “While recognizing the continued importance of R&D spending to support innovation, fiscal prudence demands a more focused approach to the Federal R&D budget in the context of America’s multi-sector R&D enterprise. This approach prioritizes maintaining peace through strength and ensures U.S. leadership in the Industries of the Future,” the White House said in its R&D overview. AI is considered one of four Industries of the Future, along with quantum information science, advanced communications systems such as 5G and advanced manufacturing. Today the White House sent another signal that it wants to raise the profile of AI research by launching a new internet portal about its policy: . The website pulls together the administration’s policies, documents and program descriptions relating to AI. “The White House’s newly unveiled illustrates our whole of government approach to national artificial intelligence policy and the historic strides this administration has made over the past two years,” Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to the president for technology policy, said in a news release. “We look forward to continued advancements solidifying America’s position as the world leader in AI and ensuring this emerging technology is developed and applied for the benefit of the American people.” Will the White House’s AI spending plan get through Congress? It’s likely to get some tweaks along the way, but lawmakers have been generally supportive of AI initiatives. In contrast, the White House’s wider plan to trim back on R&D spending is facing pushback from the scientific community and some congressional leaders.
Tesla has started offering the long-promised $35,000 standard version of its Model 3 electric car. (Tesla Photo) Tesla is finally following through on its pledge to sell its Model 3 electric cars at the standard price of $35,000, but says it’s shutting down on-the-spot showroom sales to remain “financially sustainable” at the lower price point. Going forward, worldwide sales will shift to online only, the company says. Many of Tesla’s stores will be shut down over the next few months, . A small number of stores in high-traffic locations will remain open as galleries, showcases and information centers, but would-be buyers will have to go online to close the deal. Tesla touted the ease of online sales: “You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute, and that capability will soon be extended worldwide. We are also making it much easier to try out and return a Tesla, so that a test drive prior to purchase isn’t needed. You can now return a car within 7 days or 1,000 miles for a full refund. Quite literally, you could buy a Tesla, drive several hundred miles for a weekend road trip with friends and then return it for free.” In a conference call with reporters, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said reducing overhead would boost the company’s long-term financial stability. “Ultimately this will be a very strong competitive strength for Tesla,” he said. The announcement came after Musk built up the mystery surrounding today’s 2 p.m. PT announcement. Some speculated that Tesla would lift the curtain on its Model Y crossover SUV, or provide a surprise sneak peek at the all-electric pickup truck that Musk said would be “something quite unique.” Instead, the announcement made good on Musk’s years-old promise that the Model 3 would be offered at the “affordable” base price of $35,000. Up to this point, Tesla had been selling only versions with longer range, steeper price tags and bigger profit margins. The standard Model 3 will have 220 miles of range, a top speed of 130 mph and the ability to go from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. There’ll also be a Model 3 Standard Range Plus that offers a 240-mile range, 140 mph top speed and zero-to-60 mph acceleration in 5.3 seconds, with a price tag of $37,000 before incentives. Tesla said the shift to online-only sales, plus “other ongoing cost efficiencies,” will open the way for reducing vehicle prices by an average of about 6 percent, “allowing us to achieve the $35,000 Model 3 price point earlier than we expected.” Hitting the $35,000 price point should boost Tesla’s sales, but the move could also raise questions about the company’s profit margin. Musk acknowledged that Tesla is likely to report a loss for the first quarter of 2019, after turning a profit in the and of 2018. “Given that there is a lot happening in Q1, and we are taking a lot of one-time charges — there are a lot of challenges getting cars to China and Europe — we do not expect to be profitable.” Musk said. “We do think that profitability in Q2 is likely.” Tesla has also had to deal with a controversy sparked by Musk’s tweets about Model 3 production rates, which . Due to this week’s rush of developments, — including an after-hours dip that came in the wake of today’s announcement.
Today at MWC Barcelona CEO Pete Lau to spur apps for 5G networks. The timing is right, too. With 5G launching around the world this year, carriers, phone makers and consumers alike have yet to develop a killer app for the massive increase of speed provided by 5G. Basically, OnePlus is asking for help developing uses for 5G. OnePlus sees a lacking of imagination around 5G in the long term. Speaking on a panel, CEO stated he does not believe people have thought enough about how 5G can change lives in the long term. This contest will select 20 finalists, who will get OnePlus devices. The winners will get a trip to OnePlus HQ and access to 5G testing labs, and support from Oneplus and EE. Such contest were common around the launch of 4G as mobile device makers were attempting to bolster app marketplaces. But 5G apps, could look much different from 4G apps as much of the processing is offloaded to a central data center instead of happening on the device. The promise of 5G is nearly here, but it will take initiatives and programs like this one from OnePlus to help make the possibilities clear to consumers. Earlier this week OnePlus,, .
The Smith family takes a break from their entrepreneurial ventures to go on vacation. (Photo courtesy of the Smith family) Soojung Smith thought entrepreneurship was a grownup pursuit. Then her sons schooled her. The up-and-coming Generation Z-cohort that includes her two boys, “tend to be more independent minded and have seen the success of starting a business from social media and their icons,” Smith said. “And they have less fear. They’re like, ‘Hey, I want to try this.’” And that’s just what they’re doing. Soojung and her 17-year-old son Douglas are co-CEO of , a Bellevue-based education startup. Her 12-year-old Jonathan works on technology for the company. All three are co-founders, and the boys’ dad, Doug, is their advisor as well as a business development executive at Microsoft. They launched KuriousMinds last year. Their first effort is a program called Young Sharks that’s focused on teaching kids the fundamentals of starting a business, including building a business plan and pitching it in front of a simulated panel of investors. “There is no shortage of ideas,” Smith said. “But whittling them down to something meaningful that will really bring value to their intended audience, that is something that they really struggle with.” The program targets kids in later elementary years and middle school — a sweet spot where there are few options for young entrepreneurs, Smith said. Her sons have additional ventures already under their belts. Douglas launched a tutoring business in eighth grade, and Jonathan has created two aquarium products: a filter diffuser showcased at the 2016 and an automatic fish feeder with AI integration that he’ll debut at this year’s fair. Soojung Smith has worked as a product and marketing executive at Dr Pepper/7 Up, Anheuser-Busch, AT&T and Microsoft where she helped incubate new products and businesses. Smith said that Douglas plays a key role in developing curriculum for Young Sharks and figuring out which digital tools are best suited to the students. Soojung and Douglas co-teach the program. They collaborate well, she said — at least most of the time. “We’re family. We are very passionate individuals. He gets passionate and I get passionate and sometimes we need a time out,” Smith said. “And sometimes my husband jumps in and serves as a referee.” We caught up with Smith for this Mother’s Day edition of Startup Spotlight, a regular GeekWire feature. Continue reading for her answers to our questionnaire. Explain what you do so our parents can understand it: “We are on a mission to help enable Generation Z to become a generation of confident future entrepreneurs.” Inspiration hit us when: “I’ve always had a dream of building something impactful and long lasting as a family.” Soojung and Douglas Smith, the mother-son co-CEOs of KuriousMinds. (Kurious Minds Photo) VC, Angel or Bootstrap: “We are an entirely self-funded, bootstrapped business. Client work in education coaching is funding our work for the design and delivery of the Young Sharks program. This is our second startup, and we are determined to build a solid foundation by growing at a measured pace.” Our ‘secret sauce’ is: “The deep involvement of our kids provides us with a unique view into effective learning styles for this generation. In addition, we are building an active local community of mentors and coaches with domain expertise who can guide and support young student entrepreneurs.” The smartest move we’ve made so far: “Working with partners in the community is integral to our success. We deliver our project-based experiential entrepreneurship program in partnership with city governments, educational institutions, homeschool co-ops and camp organizers with the programs tailored to the student profiles for their communities.” The biggest mistake we’ve made so far: “Building a business as a family comes with both opportunities and challenges. Trust, loyalty and shared values are the ones that glue us together. Of course, there are challenges when stress and pressure from the business side sometimes spill over into family relationships. We have learned to leverage each other’s strengths to get the benefit of operating as a family while minimizing the stress.” Would you rather have Gates, Zuckerberg or Bezos in your corner: “Bill Gates because he is such an inspiration to everyone not only for his business success, but, more importantly, his philanthropic work to provide opportunities through education. His work in this area speaks to us most in terms of who we’d most want to back our endeavors. We admire Bill and Melinda’s commitment to impacting the lives of others and investing in a better world.” Our favorite team-building activity is: “Cooking as a family. We try to improvise and create our favorite dishes including crossovers between Korean and Mexican food.” The biggest thing we look for when hiring is: “We look for curiosity, creativity, passion for entrepreneurship, empathy and strong success in working and connecting with kids.” What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other entrepreneurs just starting out: “Ideas on a piece of paper without sufficient experimentation won’t help you to build a business. Planning is critical, but implementation is king. Be proactive about learning from your customers, partners, competitors and everyone around you. Be gracious about receiving feedback from them.”


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Faced with the prospect of a long war with U.S regulators it seemed destined to lose, AT&T announced on Monday it would give up on its $39-billion attempt to purchase T-Mobile, even though the decision will cost the nation’s number-two carrier at least $4 billion to walk away from the deal.
The proposed merger would have brought together the second- and fourth-largest telecommunications carriers in the United States, ultimately surpassing Verizon Wireless to be the largest telecom in the country. As recently as 11 days ago AT&T said it would not back down (though Chief Financial Officer John Stephens did seem to betray a bit of uncertainty). Instead, AT&T is out $4 billion with nothing to show for a proposed merger that drew instant fire from consumer groups and spectrum geeks.
Further, AT&T will be forced to transfer radio spectrum to T-Mobile, as well as “enter a mutually beneficial roaming agreement with Deutsche Telekom,” according to AT&T’s statement. The entire package will cost AT&T $3 billion in cash, plus at least another billion or more in spectrum and network sharing agreements.
Not that AT&T is conceding the merger was a bad idea.
“The actions by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice to block this transaction do not change the realities of the U.S. wireless industry,” the company said in a statement. “It is one of the most fiercely competitive industries in the world, with a mounting need for more spectrum that has not diminished and must be addressed immediately. The AT&T and T-Mobile USA combination would have offered an interim solution to this spectrum shortage.”
AT&T claims the failure of the deal to go through will ultimately impact customers negatively: “Customers will be harmed and needed investment will be stifled,” the company said.
The decision to end the merger comes after a key loss at the FCC last month, in which chairman Julius Genachowski circulated a draft order to seek a further administrative hearing on the deal. Though the move from Genachowski read as procedural, it was yet another stumbling block in a long line of obstacles on the company’s road to acquiring T-Mobile.
Similarly, in August AT&T faced a stare-down from the Department of Justice, who filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against AT&T, stating that the merger would be bad for consumers as well as unnecessary for AT&T to further expand its wireless network.
“The combination of AT&T and T-Mobile would result in tens of millions of consumers all across the United States facing higher prices, fewer choices and lower-quality products for mobile wireless services,” said deputy attorney general James M. Cole in an August statement.
As the third largest carrier in the United States behind Verizon and AT&T, Sprint has long been the most vocal opponent of the deal, filing its own lawsuit against the AT&T-T-Mobile merger in September. The suit claimed that such a proposed merger would create a duopoly, with AT&T and Verizon controlling over 75 percent of the wireless market. Already marginalized to a degree as the current third-place title holder, Sprint would sink further down the competition leaderboard if the merger were to have gone through.
“This is the right decision for consumers, competition and innovation in the wireless industry,” SVP Government Affairs for Sprint Vonya B. McCann said in a statement. ”
UPDATE 4:30 P.M. PST with Sprint statement
Photo: AT&T customer appreciation token. Credit: MrVJtod


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Landmark Equipment, a long-time member of the Pettibone dealer network based in Portland, Oregon, has announced a change in ownership. Serving material handling customers in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and northern California, Landmark Equipment has sold and serviced the Pettibone Cary-Lift product line for more than 30 years, and now also carries Pettibone Extendo and Traverse telehandlers.
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Walton expanding television exports to European countries
BI Report || BusinessInsider
Bangladeshi global electronics brand Walton is significantly expanding its television exports to Denmark, Ireland and other European countries due to a surge in demand for Walton televisions in these regions.
Syed Al Imran, vice-president of Walton Global Business Unit, revealed that Walton has been exporting TVs to Denmark and Ireland since 2020 as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
The remarkable appeal of Walton-made TVs to customers in these countries is primarily attributed to Walton's proactive sales strategies, he said.
Furthermore, Imran emphasized that Walton continues to increase its TV exports to Denmark and Ireland annually because customers in these EU countries are enamored with Walton's exceptional picture quality and European-standard design and features.
Walton has exported TVs worth nearly $2.5 million to these markets so far.
Mostafa Nahid Hossain, chief executive officer of Walton, highlighted that Europe has emerged as one of Walton's largest export markets for televisions.
Walton has successfully expanded its TV export market to approximately 14 European countries, including Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, and Romania, he said.
An impressive 95 percent of Walton's total TV export revenue originates from these countries, he said.
Nahid expressed his satisfaction as Walton's position is the leading TV exporter in Bangladesh.
The company's current mission is to elevate Bangladesh's international reputation by exporting televisions bearing the "Made in Bangladesh" label, he said.
Walton is committed to relentless efforts to become one of the top five global TV manufacturing brands in the near future, according to him.
Notably, Walton-branded TVs are now being exported to more than 35 countries through a network of over 100 worldwide business partners.
The breakdown of Walton TV exports includes 34 percent to Denmark, 18 percent to Germany, 22 percent to Greece, 15 percent to Croatia and Ireland, 6 percent to Poland, and 5 percent to Africa and other countries.


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Anna Collins is the chief operating officer of Bulletproof.
Year-to-date e-commerce sales increase 10%.
E-commerce held its own in the third quarter for Aeropostale Inc., no mean feat in a period when the specialty apparel chain retailer’s total sales fell 15%.
For the quarter ended Nov. 2, Aeropostale, No. 111 in the 2013 Internet Retailer Top 500, Aeropostale reported:
- Flat e-commerce sales of $51.5 million.
- Total sales decreased 15.1% to $514.6 million from $605.9 million in the third quarter of 2012.
- Comparable-store sales declined 15%.
- Net loss was $25.6 million compared with net income of $25 million in the third quarter of 2012.
- The web accounted for 10.0% of total sales compared to 8.5% in the prior year.
For the first nine months:
- E-commerce sales increased 9.8% to $132.4 million from $120.6 million.
- Total sales decreased 10.7% to $1.42 billion from $1.59 million in the first three quarters of 2012.
- Net loss was $71.5 million compared with net income of $35.6 million in the third quarter of 2012.
- The web accounted for 9.3% of total sales compared to 7.6% in the prior year.
Aeropostale blames the drop in sales and net loss on a shift in the apparel buying trends of younger shoppers as the company looks to reposition its brand with more relevant merchandise and new ways for teenagers and young people to shop.
“The structural changes that have been happening within the world of teen retail have profoundly influenced how we think and the way we approach our customer,” CEO Thomas Johnson told Wall Street analysts on the company’s third quarter earnings call. “Today's teen wants more options, more personal interaction with brands and more flexibility in how they access these brands. We understand the shifts that have taken place, and we continue to aggressively respond to these changes.”
In 2014, Aeropostale expects to close between 40 and 50 under-performing Aeropostale stores, open 11 new stores and continue to invest in e-commerce. “We plan to continue to grow e-commerce,” Johnson told analysts. “We will continue to invest in social media, connect with our consumers through crowd-sourcing and new engagement techniques, and leverage our industry-leading number of fans and followers on social media channels.”


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NCD and Intel to leanly dally
Old lamps for new, or just old lamps?
Network Computing Devices (NCD) will show off a lean Windows terminal at Comdex next week using Intel's spec. But industry observers, ie. us, wonder if this is the last throw of the dice for the NC and its ilk. IBM, which promised so much this time last year, has gone all quiet on its NetStation, while even Oracle's Larry Ellison seems to have kept his gob shut on the topic. This makes us wonder deeply when we hear the grey-hairs in the industry say that the IT industry is maturing. If maturing is behaving like a gang of ten-year-old schoolboys, then that may be true. After Ellison shocked the world three years ago by saying at an IDG conference that the NC is a paradigm for the future, Microsoft, Intel, Compaq, even Tulip, thought the guy was talking sense and spent many many hours and mucho mucho money developing a rival to the NC called the NetPC. What happened to that? And when Compaq, in all seriousness, attempted to sell these doshless workstations to the corporate marketplace+dog, did anyone buy them? And if they bought them, did they feel they had bought a pup? NCD said that the device, called the ThinStar 300, is a CE-based unit which uses the Intel Architecture Lean Client (IALC) guidelines. The product will have an auto-sensing 10/100-BaseT Ethernet interface (should that be baste?), resolution of 1600x1200, dial-up modem support for RDP and ICA, and multi-language keyboard support. It also has two serial and one parallel ports, and two USB ports. NCD didn't say how much the device costs. Strangely, Intel itself doesn't seem to have any clear idea of the direction it is taking on thin clients. At the Intel Developer Forum earlier this year, no one seemed to have heard of its thin client model, while senior VP Mike Aymar told The Register two weeks ago that all these things, including networking kit, "belonged to a different division". ® Click here for more stories


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Within a period of less than 1 year, HMD Global has brought back the Nokia phones in the market. According to the Counterpoint Research, HMD Global Shipped 16 Million Nokia Phones in Q3 2017. Among them, HMD shipped 2.8 Million Nokia Android smartphones.
HMD Global Shipped 16 Million Nokia Phones in Q3 2017: Counterpoint
Moreover, the company also shipped 13.5 million Nokia feature phones in Q3 2017. This figure puts Nokia on the third position in the feature phones vendor list. Not only this, Nokia also gets 16th position in the smartphones vendor list.
Counterpoint Research was quoted as saying.
“With in quarters of its re-entry in the market Nokia HMD quickly graduated to the 3rd spot in the feature phone segment. Nokia’s smartphones have also been well received in the market making it grow rapidly in recent quarters. The brands sentimental value within dealers and customers paired with quality smartphone launches is helping Nokia gain further market share,”
Ever since its emergence, HMD Global has regularly launched smartphones in the Nokia range. Nokia has launched many budget friendly smartphones like Nokia 2. The company also launched some high-end flagship devices Nokia 8 and Nokia 6. Not only this, the company also redesigned its most famous phone Nokia 3310. All these smartphones and featured phones help HMD Global to retain its market position.
Now the company is working on the processor of Nokia 8 which is Nokia 9. Nokia 9 is considered to be more premium phone than Nokia 8. The phone will launch in the first quarter of 2018. Not only this, the company is also working on a 4G version of Nokia 3310.


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Popular Little India restaurant opening on Queen St.
Good news for fans of Siddhartha, the long-standing Indian buffet destination on Gerrard East - they're opening a take-out location on Queen East near Broadview. The tiny spot that will assume the former Pretty Hair Salon space at 734 Queen St. East won't offer any AYCE or table service. Instead, it will be a strictly take-out and delivery affair.
This is good news for area residents who seems tired of the unending pubs and Italian restaurants that keep opening in the neighbourhood. Riverside and Leslieville need more good Indian food - especially in the wake of the recent closure of Amaya near Queen and Jones.
What other types of restaurants do you want to see open in Riverside and Leslieville? Let us know in the comments.
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Three former Google employees believe that artificial intelligence could be the secret to making you happier at work. Their startup, called Humu, uses machine learning to parse through employee data and then 'nudges' workers to help them improve in areas that might make their work lives better, according to the New York Times. Nudges are delivered to employees via emails or text messages and are expected to motivate employees around small tasks, with the eventual goal of improving the broader organization as a whole. Scroll down for video Three former Google employees believe that artificial intelligence could be the secret to making you happier at work via their startup, called Humu, that's based in California Humu was founded in 2017 and now counts 15 companies, both big and small, as its customers, according to the Times. It's based around a 'nudge engine' that encourages people to make decisions based on what's in their best interest, instead of … [Read more...] about Can an AI keep you happy at work? Ex-Google team reveal software that ‘nudges’ workers with messages throughout the day
Self learning ai assistant
A headset that helps track your sleep, a smart cat bowl and a motorised suitcase are among some of the innovative gadgets going on display at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week. The largest technology convention in the world is taking place in a conference hall in Las Vegas, showcasing a mix of aspiring tech companies' innovations and a small handful of gems from established names. Members of the media were given a sneak preview of some of the stars of the show at a 'CES Unveiled' event, held ahead of its official opening tomorrow. CES is one of the biggest dates in the tech industry calendar and is expected to draw more than 180,000 visitors hoping for a chance to see the kind of tech likely to dominate the coming year's agenda. Scroll down for video CES is one of the biggest dates in the tech industry calendar and is expected to draw more than 180,000 visitors hoping for a chance to see the kind of tech likely to dominate the coming … [Read more...] about A sleep tracking helmet, facial recognition bowl that will only feed YOUR cat and a $600 ‘voice-controlled’ piece of wood: Just some of the weird and wonderful gadgets unveiled at this year’s CES
They are hailed as the gadgets that will revolutionise our lives – or those of our pets. But just how many of us will consider these hi-tech innovations as must-haves is open to question. They range from a toothbrush that can clean your teeth in ten seconds to a feeding bowl that can recognise your cat and send pictures of it eating. Other gadgets on show this week at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas include ‘walking’ emergency vehicles that could be deployed in rough terrain in areas devastated by earthquake or flood. Then there is a hand-held wand that takes close-up pictures of the face and applies tiny amounts of make-up serum to cover any imperfections such as broken veins or age spots. And, in a sign of the times, there are even sex toys that link to your Amazon Alexa or Apple Watch devices. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Moment hoverboard explodes into flames while charging inside... Meghan will insist on being called a 'co-parent' … [Read more...] about Back tooth the future! Brush that cleans teeth in 10 seconds heads up gadgets at the CES tech fair in Las Vegas (alongside a smart cat bowl)
The BBC has revealed its list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2019. This year 100 Women is asking: What would the future look like if it were driven by women?From the architect planning to rebuild her destroyed city in Syria, to Nasa's project manager of the Mars helicopter, many on the list are at the cutting edge of their fields. They give us their vision of what life will look like in 2030. Others, such as the "ghost" politician defying the mafia, and the footballer battling misogyny, are using their extraordinary personal experiences to blaze a path for those who follow. The BBC's 100 women of 2019 You can filter the list using the categories below Precious Adams US Ballet dancer preciousagram Precious Adams spent so much time dancing round the living room at the age of eight, that her mum signed her up for dance lessons. By the age of 16, she had won places at three of the world's most prestigious ballet schools, including the … [Read more...] about BBC 100 Women 2019: Who is on the list this year?


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More trouble may be ahead for Facebook as the Philippine government said it is investigating the social media giant over reports information from more than a million users in the Philippines was breached by British data firm Cambridge Analytica.
The Phliippines’ National Privacy Commission, or NPC, said it sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to let him know the NPC is requiring that the company “submit a number of documents relevant to the case, to establish the scope and impact of the incident to Filipino data subjects.”
The privacy watchdog also said through its website it wants to determine whether there is unauthorized processing of personal data of Filipinos. The letter was dated April 11.
A Facebook spokesperson tells the Reuters news agency the company is committed to protecting people’s privacy and is engaged with the privacy watchdog.
During U.S. congressional hearings this past week, Zuckerberg apologized for how Facebook has handled the uproar over online privacy and revelations the data breach allowed Cambridge Analytica to access the personal information of about 87 million Facebook users.
As Zuckerberg sat through about 10 hours of questioning over two days, nearly 100 members of Congress expressed their anger over Facebook’s data privacy controversy and delved into the social media platform’s practices.
And many legislators made it clear they did not think current U.S. laws were sufficient to protect users.
“As has been noted by many people already, we’ve been relying on self-regulation in your industry for the most part,” said Diana DeGette, a Democrat from Colorado. “We’re trying to explore what we can do to prevent further breaches.”
For Congress, the hearings proved to be an education in how internet companies handle user data and the legal protections for consumers.
While Zuckerberg said many times that Facebook doesn’t sell user data, congressional leaders wanted to know how 87 million people’s data ended up in the hands of Cambridge Analytica without their knowledge or permission.
“I think what we’re getting to here is, who owns the virtual you? Who owns your presence online?” asked Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican.
“Congresswoman, I believe that everyone owns their own content online,” answered Zuckerberg.
But can Facebook users see all the information that the social media platform has about them, including what it has picked up from outside firms?
That is something congressional leaders probed in questions about “shadow profiles,” information the social network has collected about people who do not have Facebook accounts.
Zuckerberg maintained that Facebook collects this information for security reasons but congressional leaders wanted to know more about what non-Facebook users can do to find out what the company knows about them.
New federal agency?
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission has taken the lead in overseeing internet firms and is investigating Facebook in the Cambridge Analytica case. Congressional leaders, however, pointed out the FTC cannot make new rules. They asked whether the FTC should be given new powers, or whether a new agency focused on privacy in the digital age should be created.
“Would it be helpful if there was an entity clearly tasked with overseeing how consumer data is being collected, shared and used, and which could offer guidelines, at least guidelines for companies like yours to ensure your business practices are not in violation of the law?” Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-California), asked. “Something like a digital consumer protection agency?”
“Congressman, I think it’s an idea that deserves a lot of consideration,” Zuckerberg replied. “But I think the details on this really matter.”
During the two days of hearings, congressional leaders repeatedly looked to Europe, where new regulation known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, governing people’s digital lives, goes into effect May 25. Zuckerberg said the regulation would apply to people in the U.S.
Zuckerberg said the company already has some of the new regulation’s privacy controls in place; but, the GDPR requires the company to do a few more things, “and we’re going to extend that to the world.”
A website dedicated to GDPR notes that organizations “in non-compliance may face heavy fines.”
Analysts note the controversy may lead to changes in how digital privacy issues are handled.
“We saw during these hearings that many, many members of Congress are ready and willing to get to work on privacy legislation,” said Natasha Duarte, a policy analyst at the Center for Democracy & Technology, an advocacy group focused on digital rights. “I think the details of what is the right legislation for the U.S. are very complex and we all need to come together and hammer it out.”
User privacy vs. monetized data
Ideas such as an outside auditor who will be checking on Facebook’s handling of user data will run into the business model of many internet firms that need data about people to offer them targeted ads.
“Monetizing data, for better or worse, is the model free services rely on,” she said.
That tension was on display in questions from Rep. Anna Eshoo, (D-California), who counts Zuckerberg among her Palo Alto constituents.
“Are you willing to change your business model in the interest of protecting individual privacy,” she asked.
In that instant, Zuckerberg demurred, saying he didn’t understand what the congresswoman meant, but acknowledged that there likely would be more internet regulation.
“The internet is growing in importance around the world and in people’s lives,” he said. “And I think it will be inevitable that there will need to be some regulation. So my position is not that there should be no regulation. But I think you have to be careful about the regulation you put in place.”
In light of the furor involving user data privacy, Facebook announced last month it was suspending Cambridge Analytica after finding such policies had been violated. Cambridge Analytica has counted U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign among its clients.
Separately, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has denied reports in the local media that his own 2016 election campaign worked with Cambridge Analytica. Duterte was quoted as saying, “I might have lost with them.”


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Pivotree Unites Key Ecommerce Practices Globally Under One Banner
Pivotree brings together three leading ecommerce providers – Tenzing, Spark::red and Thinkwrap, uniting diverse commerce expertise into a distinctive, valuable, harmonized service.
TORONTO (PRWEB) MARCH 20, 2019
Pivotree today introduced a new trade name to unify its group of companies, setting itself apart as a new and formidable competitor in the sector of Commerce Service Providers.“The current rate and magnitude of technological change places companies at a crossroads: keep up, or get left behind,” stated Bill DiNardo, CEO, Pivotree. “The people who work at Pivotree are uncommonly motivated to help clients who find themselves at this digital crossroads. Clients who need to extract every last dollar of value from installed IT, while simultaneously upgrading capabilities and maintaining uptime.”
“At Pivotree we modify and stretch your existing resources, new systems and ongoing innovation to help your company reach new heights and grow,” continued DiNardo. “There is no magic solution in-a-box, just clear strategy, astute technology and an uncommon will to adapt relentlessly, keeping our clients’ companies ahead and winning.”
“Working with the best available MDM and ecommerce platforms such as SAP, Oracle, Magento, and other leading solutions, we are the only end-to-end provider that supports clients from strategy and platform selection through deployment, hosting and ongoing support,” said Russell Moore, COO, Managed Services. “But it takes more than technology and tangible assets to realize an effective ecommerce strategy. It requires the wisdom of having worked with multiple platforms across multiple sectors and an attitude of relentless adaptation.”
“We see the vast and complex relationship between commerce, technology and people and how it might connect us more meaningfully in the future,” said Joanne Desforges, COO, Professional Services. “Knowledge acquired through ecommerce is the root of customer relationships, and a critical component of the commerce ecosystem for high-performing companies. Pivotree offers a full suite of data management services to help companies earn the greatest value from their customer relationships. Ecommerce done right isn’t a channel, it’s a source of competitive advantage.”
“We have a rare team of motivated experts at Pivotree,” concluded DiNardo. “People who know adaptation isn’t a choice, it’s the only way to win. That spirit will drive us to innovate and integrate machine learning, headless UI, connections of online and offline experiences with whatever else we need to invent or adapt to help our clients earn deeper, more valuable relationships with their customers.”
Pivotree is a leading Global Commerce Services Provider. It is the only end-to-end vendor supporting clients from strategy, platform selection, deployment, and hosting through to ongoing support: a single expert resource to help companies succeed in an ever-changing digital commerce landscape. Pivotree solutions start with reliable, world-class Commerce and MDM platforms fitting a variety of client needs, situations, and budgets. Pivotree is a trusted partner to over 200 market-leading brands and forward-thinking B2C and B2B companies, including many Fortune 1000. With offices and customers in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, Pivotree is widely recognized as a high-growth company and industry leader around the globe.For more information, visit https://www.pivotree.com.
Dilya Abushayeva, Pivotree
T 1-877-767-5577 x 484
E [email protected]


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Last Updated: January 18, 2022
The way we consume entertainment has changed drastically over just a few years. From increased cord-cutting, focusing on online services, and updated ways to listen and purchase music, it’s pretty clear that we’re living in a digital age that can’t be turned back.
Websites and streaming apps have become the new norm for entertainment consumption, with streaming giant Spotify, along with iTunes, Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, being the most popular choices for consumers.
However, trouble has arisen for iTunes, as it’s in danger of facing a putative class action for including a “Buy” button for media in the iTunes Store. The issue? Even after you “buy” the media, Apple reserves the right to terminate your access if that piece of content is no longer offered on their platform. This is clear deception that the lead plaintiff, David Andino, is claiming.
Unreasonable Customers or Deceitful Practice?
Andino’s main complaint isn’t about the possibility of sustaining injuries from Apple’s policy (such as being denied access to a purchased song or TV show)—it’s about the misleading nature of this feature, which makes him believe he has permanent ownership after buying media on the platform. Had he been made aware of the true ownership properties of purchasing an item, he (and many other users) may have chosen not to buy it.
You might be aware of a similar lawsuit Amazon was served in April 2020. Adding to its list of shady business practices, like its fake reviews issue and maltreatment of employees, the company was accused of the same type of deception as iTunes with Prime Video purchases. Amazon responded to the accusation by filing a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, pointing out that its Terms and Conditions included a clause stating buyers obtained a “limited license to view video content.” Talk about generating a good Terms page! However, that case is still ongoing.
In response to their potential lawsuit, Apple stated that “no reasonable consumer” would assume permanent ownership of any purchased media. However, U.S. District Court Judge John Mendez expressed disagreement with the statement, saying, “In common usage, the term ‘buy’ means to acquire possession over something. It seems plausible, at least at the motion to dismiss stage, that reasonable consumers would expect their access couldn’t be revoked.”
Apple’s motion to dismiss was rejected, leaving the case open to injunction. If the lawsuit goes through—and huge companies such as Apple and Amazon lose their cases—it will signal a turning point for the way content is sold and advertised, making way for heightened transparency between services and consumers.


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The Fight for Safer Chemicals - July 2016
Buyer Beware! BPA and other chemicals found in cans
Despite public outcry against BPA, a recent report showed that 67% of the nearly 200 canned food items collected in 19 states (including CT) and 1 Canadian province had BPA-based epoxy in the lining and/or lid of the can! Read the full report here.
Clean Water Action and the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy CT is keeping up the pressure on major retailers through our work with the Mind the Store Campaign. We're targeting the nation's biggest grocers, urging corporate leaders to work with their suppliers of canned foods to avoid BPA and similar endocrine disrupting chemicals and to not substitute with another toxic chemical--like PVC! We participated in a national "day of action" at Shaw's market to meet with the store manager and shoppers urging them to beware of BPA in canned foods! Watch the video on the Day of Action here.
Together with dozens of participants from around the country, we're working hard to make sure that toxic BPA and other harmful chemicals are not in food packaging!
FDA Petition on Phthalates in Food
Like BPA in cans, other endocrine disruptors known as phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) are commonly used as food additives. These chemicals are linked to learning disabilities and other health problems. Right now, the Food and Drug Administration is considering a petition to change the status of 30 phthalates so that they are no longer permitted in our food. Want to help? Submit a comment here!
Leading Experts Urge Action on Toxic Chemicals Affecting Neurodevelopment
On July 1, an historic report and consensus statement by leading physicians, scientists and health professionals was released. Project Tendr: Targeting Environmental Neurodevelopmental Risks stated that "[c]hildren in America today are at an unacceptably high risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders that affect the brain and nervous system including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disabilities, and other learning and behavioral disabilities." The group urged a "call to action" urging adoption of policies that significantly reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in our air, food, water and consumer products. Read the report here.
Federal Reform of TSCA: The good and bad news.
After years pressing for reform of our inadequate federal chemical policy---the Toxic Substances Control Act--the new Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act has been passed and signed into law. The Clean Water Action worked closely with our partners at Safer Chemicals Healthy Families to assure that important changes were included in the new law. Read about the highlights here. Though we did not endorse the final version, we are pleased with some provisions of the new law but will work aggressively at the state level to continue to enact policies that reduce exposure to the most toxic chemicals.
Getting Ready for Baby! Urging Babies R Us to get rid of toxic chemicals in their products!
The Coalition for a Safe and Healthy CT is proud to support our partners at the Getting Ready for Baby Campaign. Parents have a lot to think about when they are expecting and shouldn't have to worry about harmful chemicals in products they purchase for babies! The Getting Ready for Baby Campaign's report highlights the retailers that are disclosing and getting rid of harmful chemicals and the laggards that are not. Read the full report here.


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Now it seems Chipzilla is planning to dump the lot and release a new logo in January 3, as we reported some weeks ago.
According to the Economic Times you can expect to see a huge advertising campaign to launch the new logo. Apparently the new logo has been seen in internal documents already. 'Intel Inside' has been with us since 1991. The new design is similar, however the word 'inside' has been dropped. The change is part of some other branding ideas that the back room boys and girls in Intel's marketing department have been having.
Yonah will be called 'Core Solo' for the single core processor, the dual core Pentium M will have the label 'Core Duo'. Future plans for any Dick Van Dyke processor called 'Core Blimey' can be safely discounted.
More here. µ
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Zynga bought OMGPOP, the maker of Draw Something (the number one app on the iPhone app store) for $200,000,000 !!! We’ll give you a huge discount Zynga… oh wait, OMGPOP has 14 million users on its game.
IF YOU PLAY DRAW SOMETHING, TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT KLOODOO.COM!
In theory, entertainment brands could trademark the hell out of their properties, but why even bother for a single game? (Oddly enough, words like “Katniss” are absent.) Plus, to have a term from your brand in Draw Something is like advertising to 14 million people daily for absolutely free. But here’s the best part: It’s all user-generated, it has character and it’s personal.
OMGPOP CEO Dan Porter told Mashable that features like live chat and the ability to save drawings are incoming. With the latter, Draw Something even has meme generator potential, which in this day and age, is more powerful than you might think. Just ask Chuck Norris. Hey OMGPOP, we hear an Avengers movie is coming–yeah, Draw Something ain’t goin’ nowhere.”


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As operations manager for Local Farmers Delivery, McDonald dispatches trucks full of milk to homes throughout Portland, Oregon. The company also delivers a few staples, like bread and eggs, and is focused on milk delivery. Delivery persons even wear the traditional all-white uniforms of yore, with a neat bowtie and cap.
Since milkmen started making door-to-door deliveries to local neighborhoods earlier this year, McDonald has raced to keep up with demand, which more than tripled in the first three months.
“The biggest response [to the service] is surprise,” McDonald says. “People can’t believe the milkman is back.”
‘The biggest response [to the service] is surprise. People can’t believe the milkman is back.’
Most milk trucks disappeared from the landscape in the 1960s, making the milkman a relic of black and white TV shows and vintage advertising posters. Until now. As a growing number of small dairies reintroduce home milk deliveries, the milkman is making a comeback.
“It’s a wholesome product from a local farm that reminds people of how things used to be,” says Andy Gutierrez, operations manager for Longmont Dairy in Longmont, Colorado.
Longmont Dairy is a rare dairy that has continuously delivered milk to customers since its founding in 1965. Within 24 hours of milking a herd of 500 Holsteins, a team of 30 milkmen is dispatched to deliver bottled milk to 20,000 customers statewide.
“The one thing that has changed [about the service] is the number of customers we deliver to,” Gutierrez says. “There has been a steady increase in demand.”
In the first two months of operations, Local Farmers Delivery signed up more than 100 customers in Portland; McDonald believes “thousands more” will be accepting deliveries from milkmen as word of the service spreads.
“It’s a convenient way for people to support local farms,” explains McDonald.
The excitement over home milk delivery was so high that South Mountain Creamery in Middletown, Maryland, had to establish a waiting list and, earlier this year, temporarily stopped accepting new applications because their milkmen can’t keep up with the demand.
Unlike much of the milk sold at the supermarket, which is sold to a co-op, mixed with milk from several farms and bottled under a national label, most milkmen deliver milk from a single dairy. But it’s not just traceability that has customers raving about milk deliveries.
Gutierrez believes the “superior taste” is a combination of the freshness of farm-to-front porch milk combined with the iconic glass bottles, which, unlike plastic, don’t impact the flavor of the milk.
“You can definitely taste the difference,” Gutierrez says.
Although the concept is catching on, modern milkmen aren’t as ubiquitous as they were when the Cleavers were raising Beaver.
Despite a thriving farm to table movement in Asheville, Jonathan Flaum is the only milkman in town. The first time he approached local dairy farmers with the idea of partnering for home milk deliveries through his business, Farm to Home Milk, the reactions were mixed; one former dairy farmer questioned whether it was possible to make a living as a milkman.
“He told me that he got out of [delivering milk] because it wasn’t profitable,” Flaum recalls.
But the farmers at two North Carolina dairies, Maple View Farm and Country Wholesome Creamery, were intrigued. Both are small dairies ”“ together the dairies milk 200 Holsteins ”“ and the farmers were eager to expand their direct-to-consumer operations.
The interest in sourcing foods from local farms is the main reason small-scale dairies introduce the service.
Flaum’s new career as a milkman has taken off. Demand for home milk deliveries has doubled in the last year; Farm to Home Milk delivers to more than 180 homes across Asheville. The interest in sourcing foods from local farms is the main reason small-scale dairies introduce the service, according Flaum.
Unlike the milkmen of yesteryear, Flaum delivers eggs, butter, bread and other staples from local producers as well as fresh milk.
“The delivery method hasn’t changed since 1955 but modern milkmen have a lot more products on their trucks,” he says.
Even though it takes him longer to make deliveries, Flaum welcomes the chance to talk to curious neighbors who have a lot of questions when he drives up in a vintage milk truck and leaves coolers filled with bottled milk on neighborhood front porches.
“The one thing I hear a lot is, ‘I didn’t know milkmen still existed,’” he says. “I think people love the idea of the convenience and the nostalgic experience of having milk delivered right to their doors.”
Photographs courtesy of Jonathan Flaum


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European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes is touring the United States this week. Her visit comes during a nasty spat between the commission and Microsoft that could seriously hurt technology businesses and consumers.
Microsoft is planning to launch its new operating system, Windows Vista, in November for corporate clients and in January for consumers. Before launching in Europe, it hopes the EC will explain if there is anything in its software to which the commission seriously objects. Normally, a corporation shouldn’t have to get permission from a government body in order to launch a product, but in this case, Microsoft and the EC have a history that changes the norm.
In March 2004, the EC ruled that in addition to paying a record fine of 497 million euros (US$632 million), Microsoft had to sell a copy of Windows without Media Player software and hand over the specifics of its Windows server technology to rivals. Both these mandates were meant to correct Microsoft’s allegedly harmful market power.
The company appealed the decision, and in July, the commission slapped Microsoft with an additional fine of 280.5 million euros ($356.9 million) for supposedly not complying with its orders. Given this history, it isn’t hard to see why Microsoft would want to know in advance of its next product if the commission has problems with it. Unfortunately for everyone except EC bureaucrats, an answer will not arrive in the near future.
“It is not up to the commission to give Microsoft a green light before Vista is put on the market, it is up to Microsoft to accept and implement its responsibilities as a near-monopolist to ensure full compliance with EU competition rules,” said EU spokesperson Jonathan Todd. That’s tough to swallow, given that the commission has also said it has concerns with Vista.
“Diversity and innovation could be at risk if Microsoft was allowed to foreclose the existing competition in computer security markets … by bundling its own security products into its dominant operating system,” Todd said.
This game-playing by the commission should make entrepreneurs everywhere sick. Kroes and her staff are acting like spoiled children, as they are basically telling Microsoft, “We think you have problems, but we won’t tell you how to fix them.” That’s disappointing leadership from Kroes, who was recently named by Forbes as one of the “World’s Most Powerful Women.”
Who Needs Enemies?
Of course, if one takes a hard look at Todd’s comments, the natural conclusion is that the commission doesn’t want Microsoft to build security features into its product. That’s not just anti-consumer, it’s downright stupid. With friends like that, Europeans certainly don’t need any enemies.
Conducting business in this kind of environment is obviously dangerous, and one of the reasons why Microsoft cited the EC’s concerns about Vista as a “risk factor” in a recent filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. But not all Europeans accept the EC’s poor behavior.
In a letter to Kroes, European parliament members Chris Heaton-Harris, Sharon Bowles, Peter Skinner and Michal Kaminski said, “It is alarming that one of the world’s most successful technology companies considers the European Commission’s attitude a risk factor.”
It is indeed alarming, and it becomes even more so with the possibility that this risk might force Microsoft to delay its launch of Vista in Europe. If that happens, European businesses will join consumers in feeling the unfortunate harm caused by the commission’s missteps.
Seeing the Light
According to European computer retailer PC World, “The possibility of a further delay in the introduction of Microsoft’s new operating system Vista in Europe, due to regulatory uncertainty, would disrupt the computing industry.” Many other companies also expressed concerns, as delays cause loss of revenue and harm the economy.
Consumers are better off when companies add new features to their products, a truism that even antitrust officials in the United States acknowledge. In suggesting that consumers would be better off if Microsoft refrained from adding new security features to its system, the commission reveals where its real concerns reside: helping competitors and showing the world that the EC isn’t afraid to wield its power, even if it does hurt those it was meant to protect.
Neelie Kroes may be powerful, but she needs a new perspective on the technology industry and consumer needs. Perhaps she will get it during her American tour this week. If she doesn’t, a lot of people will suffer.
Sonia Arrison, a TechNewsWorld columnist, is director of Technology Studies at the California-based Pacific Research Institute.


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The 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid Is Better Than You Think
We’re celebrating the Ford Escape Hybrid because it’s finally getting the respect it deserves. It’s always been a great SUV to consider, with an excellent fuel economy. It just looked a little plain and didn’t have the best reliability rating. Now the 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid has fresh updates that you seriously need to consider.
What’s new for the 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
Don’t call it a comeback. The 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid was never gone! It just wasn’t as spicy as it is now, thanks to a fresh redesign. Now it’s up there with rivals such as the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid.
So what exactly changed? Well, for starters, the 2023 Escape Hybrid got a glow-up. It received an attractive makeover with a revised front end that replaces the old happy bug-eyed look with a more confident style.
The LED headlights have a new shape, the grille is slightly larger, and the front bumper has a boxier shape. Overall, it’s a more upscale look. Plus, higher trims in the lineup have an LED light that spans the width of the grille.
To highlight its new style, the Escape added Base, Active, Platinum, and ST-Line trims. The Escape ST-Line has body-colored cladding, 18- or 19-inch wheels, and black faux leather upholstery with red accent stitching.
How much power does the 2023 Escape Hybrid have?
The 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s paired with an electric motor to generate 210 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. According to Edmunds, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds, which is adequate. It could be sportier.
However, the 2023 Escape Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 41 mpg in the city and up to 44 mpg on the highway. This beats the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which gets an EPA-estimated 41 mpg in the city and up to 38 mpg on the highway.
You can opt for the Escape PHEV, which adds an 11.2-kWh battery pack to provide 37 miles of electric range. It also can achieve an EPA-estimated 105 MPGe. It reached 60 mph in 7.7 seconds.
If you stick to gas, the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine cranks out 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine cranks out 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.9 seconds.
Did the 2023 Escape Hybrid get new tech?
Yes, the 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid is loaded with new tech. The entry-level model has a new 8.0-inch infotainment screen and an 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster. Higher trims get a 13.2-inch infotainment screen and an optional 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster.
The systems are powered by Ford Sync 4 software and can receive over-the-air updates. Plus, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The Escape features a wireless phone charging pad too.
New safety features include an optional 360-degree surround view camera and an evasive steering assist system. The 2023 Escape Hybrid starts at $32,340 and begins with the ST-Line trim. It should arrive at dealerships at the beginning of 2023.
We can’t wait to get behind the wheel to see how the refreshed Ford Escape Hybrid performs. We’re glad that critics are finally recognizing its value.


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Apple would have to pay 750 million pounds if it loses the lawsuit imposed in the United Kingdom by a consumer advocate.
The apple company adds one more demand to its portfolio. According to The Guardian, Apple is facing consumer rights activist Justin Gutmann in the Competition Court of Appeal over slowing down iPhones in 2017.
Those from Cupertino have already admitted that an update was released that year to slow down iPhones with old batteries to prevent them from turning off suddenly. But now, five years later, Gutmann says Apple didn't disclose its plans to users before doing so, and the company didn't give users the option to turn off the update to avoid it.
In the event that the lawsuit goes ahead and Apple is declared guilty, the company may face a fine of 750 million pounds sterling, about 877 million euros, which would be distributed among the affected users.
The complaint covers the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, SE, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X models. According to the plaintiff, Apple introduced the slowdown feature to hide the fact that older batteries old ones could no longer cope with new OS updates. "Instead of doing the honorable and legal thing for its customers and offering a free battery replacement, repair or compensation, Apple tricked people by hiding a tool in software updates that slowed down their devices by up to 58%."
For its part, Apple has issued a statement in which it ensures that "we have never done, and would never do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer updates. Our Our goal has always been to create products our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that."
It is not the first time that those from Cupertino have faced lawsuits for shortening the life of their devices. In 2020, Apple agreed to pay $113 million in the face of accusations from 33 US states that the company intentionally slowed down its devices to push users to buy new ones.
That same year, consumer advocacy groups in Spain, Italy, Belgium and Portugal sued the tech giant for allegedly tricking users into downloading updates that deliberately slowed down their iPhones, exactly what Gutmann claims. On that occasion they demanded 180 million.