text:
April 25, 2018
Walmart Will Bring “Everyday Low Prices” to Healthcare
by Lisa Bielamowicz
1. Walmart has been testing and refining retail clinics and other healthcare services over the past decade, but has yet to pull the trigger on a broad offering
Back in 2014, every sign pointed to Walmart jumping into healthcare in a big way, starting with a major revamp of their retail clinic strategy. The company had partnered with a handful of health systems over the years to build in-store clinics, but Walmart had been decidedly hands-off in their operation. Health systems described the partnership as a leasing arrangement rather than a joint operation. Unimpressed by the performance of the clinics and their potential to bring foot traffic into the stores, Walmart shifted its strategy toward building fully-owned and branded clinics.
The first clinic of this kind launched in central Texas with a broader value proposition, moving beyond minor acute care toward comprehensive primary care. Staffed by two nurse practitioners, it offered a broad set of services, including basic chronic disease management, onsite labs and specialist referrals, for a cash price of $40 per visit. For Walmart employees, the same services were priced at just $4.
Members of their healthcare leadership team made bold growth statements at the time. We heard their then-president of health and wellness speak at a conference, at which he projected that Walmart would have primary care clinics in 3000 of their stores within five years. Four years later Walmart has just 19 of these clinics operating in Texas, South Carolina and Georgia, with no announced plans to add more.
You can spend hours following the trail of internet rumors of Walmart’s moves into healthcare. Did you hear the one about Walmart putting MRIs in thousands of stores? We did. Supposedly they would price them at $400, and they expected to make money on the scan itself as well as the increased foot traffic it would bring. What about consumer-focused chronic disease bundles for conditions like diabetes, which would include testing supplies, generic medications and care in Walmart clinics for a set price? Walk into a store today and you still can’t buy that.
Indeed, none of these big ideas have come to fruition. But it would be a mistake to underestimate Walmart’s ability to strike when they think the time is right. Each venture has been a learning experience: can we make money on the service alone, or is the value captured in other parts of the business? Can we operate it ourselves, or should we partner? How will consumers respond? Over the past decade Walmart has amassed a huge amount of healthcare knowledge and is getting ever closer to a plan to compete in the space.
2. Walmart used to think about healthcare like any other retailer, but these five insights show how they’re getting serious about it
Over the past several years, we’ve had a few opportunities to talk to leaders on Walmart’s healthcare team. While their strategy (and the executives involved) seem to change from year to year, we’ve been able to piece together how they think about opportunities in healthcare, and their ability to compete against doctors and hospitals:
Walmart leaders believe they can directly make money on a lower-cost healthcare product, but are motivated by other, larger reasons for getting into the space. Walmart’s team was optimistic that a $40 primary care visit could be profitable on its own. But the ability to capture other returns drove their move into the space. Like other retailers, they view healthcare as an in-person service that will increase foot traffic into their stores, providing an opportunity for cross-sell. This was the primary motive behind their 2014 primary care strategy. At that time, Walmart was facing the rise of Amazon and other online retailers. They didn’t need more stores (90 percent of Americans already live within ten miles of a Walmart), but were looking at an array of services (healthcare, banking and gas stations) that would cause customers to visit the store more frequently.
If Walmart can reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending, they see the potential to free up more dollars to be spent on everything else they sell
Walmart is also looking to benefit more broadly from reducing overall healthcare spending for their core customers. Walmart’s average customer is 51 years old and makes $56K a year. This demographic has been hit hard by rising deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses, and Walmart believes that’s reducing overall disposable income. If Walmart can reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending, they see the potential to free up more dollars to be spent on everything else they sell. One executive we spoke with estimated that easing the burden of healthcare spending could allow Walmart to increase sales by 3-5%, which would be an enormous gain.
Walmart delivers “everyday low prices” through relentless cost management—and they will measure any healthcare investment against the ability to use those dollars to lower costs elsewhere. Ask any vendor who has worked with Walmart and they’ll tell you that no company is more focused on managing supply chain and driving out cost wherever they can. A Walmart executive told us that the ethic of reducing prices for their customers is how they would evaluate any investment, including healthcare. Would a dollar spent on a new clinic concept deliver a return that translates into lower price or more efficiency, or would it be better spent just cutting prices in the store?
They learn from their partners—then build those capabilities themselves. Walmart’s retail clinic history illustrates how they form, learn from and exit partnerships. In their first foray into retail clinics they learned that health systems are complex, slow-moving organizations that don’t easily make decisions or change direction. And they discovered that doctors are expensive and hard to work with. Having learned from experience working directly with traditional providers, they moved on.
In shifting to more comprehensive primary care they partnered with QuadMed, a worksite clinic provider, to staff and manage their clinics. A Walmart executive told us that this partnership wasn’t ideal either: Walmart wanted dozens of visits a day, but QuadMed didn’t share their incentive to grow volume. Exiting this partnership (again, after learning what they needed about how QuadMed did their work) and bringing staffing and management in-house likely slowed down Walmart’s clinic expansion. But surely they’ll apply those learnings to their next iteration of investment.
Expect any Walmart strategy to center around the pharmacist. Walmart will tap into the captive healthcare labor they have in every store, the pharmacist. Expect them to take a lead role in chronic disease management (Walmart recently announced they’re investing $11B to upgrade pharmacies, including building pharmacist consultation rooms), and to try to build deeper relationships with their pharmacy customers. The partnership with Humana—which already cobrands a drug plan with Walmart—will likely include a much more prominent role for pharmacists as care managers for Humana’s Medicare Advantage enrollees.
Walmart has the ultimate testing ground for new healthcare ideas—their own employees. As the nation’s largest employer, Walmart has had a vested interest in reducing health care costs for their 1.5 million associates. They’ve attempted to manage high-cost specialty care through a nationwide “center of excellence” strategy. In 2012 they partnered with six leading health systems to purchase spine, joint, cardiac and other high-cost procedures for a fixed, bundled payment for episodes of care for their employees. In recent years they’ve also expanded into ACO-like relationships with a handful of health systems, sharing risk for the total cost of care. Even if the number of employees in these programs remains small, the company is surely learning a great deal about how to manage healthcare cost and quality, how to build a high-performing network and evaluate provider performance.
3. The Humana deal could provide an huge boost to Walmart’s healthcare business, connecting low-cost care networks and insurance plans for Walmart shoppers
To fully garner returns on healthcare, Walmart likely needs one other key capability: an insurance partner that allows them to sell their low-cost network directly to consumers and create incentives for patients to use “Walmart care”. They’ve dabbled in the insurance space before. Four years ago they partnered with DirectHealth, an online insurance brokerage, to assist customers in-store or online in choosing Medicare Advantage and ACA marketplace plans. While the partnership continues, it hasn’t grown into a huge business. But it’s likely provided insight into how consumers select health plans, and how Walmart may fit into a network.
Acquiring Humana provides Walmart the ability to not only directly sell insurance, but to link coverage to a low-cost network with Walmart’s primary care and pharmacy services at the center. As the country’s second largest Medicare Advantage provider (which is also doubling-down on postacute care and other assets targeted at managing aging seniors), Humana could be the ideal partner to create a low-cost healthcare ecosystem for Walmart’s customers as they age into their Medicare years.
While Medicare Advantage would be the main target of this insurance play, the combination would also be well-positioned to build an offering for individuals purchasing coverage on the Obamacare exchanges. Imagine a Walmart network product coming in as the lowest-cost option, a “copper” plan with care centered in their stores and low-cost, narrow referral networks.
If this new vision comes to fruition, hospitals and doctors should prepare to be disrupted. Walmart has the largest reach of any retailer—140 million Americans visit a Walmart every week. They could shift consumer loyalty away from traditional providers by delivering on-demand primary care in the stores and offering low-cost insurance products that steer those patients to Walmart-certified specialists and hospitals. It’s a fair bet they already have the data on which providers meet their bar in each of their markets. Walmart may be about to pull the pieces together to make “everyday low prices” a reality in healthcare.


text:
Avoid Breast Cancer Recurrence with Coffee
Although it has been treated and declared recovered, but some cancer cells can grow back. To menghindarnya recurrence, patients definitely need a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising regularly, avoiding some foods cause cancer, and reduce stress. One of the most recent studies say that regular coffee drinking may avoid a recurrence of breast cancer. Some researchers said that the benefits can be obtained by diligent drinking two cups of coffee daily. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden believe that coffee can increase the effects of drugs. They analyzed 600 breast cancer patients in southern Sweden along increasingly over five years .. Area 300 participants between the consumption of tamoxifen, a drug commonly prescribed after breast cancer surgery. Tamoxifen is an anti-estrogen drug that is widely used in a way to cure breast cancer. Some breast cancer cells usually trust of estrogen in women to grow. Maria Simonsson, researchers from Lund University delivered, patients concurrently taking drugs two or more cups of coffee daily, less likely to report the cancer coming back. Results were compared with those who did not drink coffee, but taking drugs. How coffee associated with the drug is still not known. But there is a theory that says coffee can activate tamoxifen and make it more efficient, said Simonsson. Some researchers first linking coffee consumption with a reduced risk of a specific type of breast cancer. Cafein also show the impact that may hinder the development of cancer cells. Helena Jernstrvm, professor of oncology at Lund University cobatal test provides, he and his team want more know how lifestyle can influence breast cancer treatment. Though so, this study is not the first study to show a tangle of coffee to cure cancer. Some researchers from Harvard Medical School has been found that women who drank three or more cups of coffee / day had a 20% lower risk of skin cancer increases than those who drank less than one cup per month ..

domain: news


text:
Cambodia Fintech Association launches
The Cambodia Fintech Association (CFA) has been unveiled as the nation gets start-ups and banks fired up for innovation.
On Facebook, the CFA said its official launch in Phnom Penh “only marks the beginning of an exciting journey ahead for the future of fintech in Cambodia”.
According to The Phnom Penh Post, the CFA will operate out of a 464-square metre coworking space in the capital’s Daun Penh district. It counts digital payment companies, banks and financial operators among its members.
CFA vice-president Eddie Lee says Cambodia is making some fintech progress, and points to the central bank which explored using blockchain to track interbank transactions.
“Fintech start-ups are slowly but surely starting to surface in Cambodia,” he says.
Lee says a CFA representative has signed memoranda of understandings with the Taiwan Fintech Association, Thailand Fintech Association and Singapore Fintech Association to establish bridges with similar groups in the region.
He says the next step will be to register the CFA as part of the Asean Fintech Network.
We haven’t published many fintech stories on Cambodia over the years, but back in February, WorldRemit, and mobile services provider, Wing Cambodia Limited Specialised Bank, launched money transfers to Cambodia.
The new service enables Cambodians living and working in over 50 countries to send money to Wing’s bank accounts. Wing account holders are then able to send money domestically, pay bills, use these funds in over 8,000 merchants, or cash out through Wing’s agent network.
The Banking Technology Awards 2018 are now open to entries! Click here to apply.


text:
Beyond Diamonds: Building Businesses in Botswana
April 30, 2015
A public-private partnership is helping Botswana's entrepreneurs grow their businesses and create sustainable jobs in their communities.
For more than four decades, the diamond industry has fueled economic growth in Botswana. Diamonds currently account for one-third of the GDP and nearly 80 percent of the country’s export revenue. But the diamond supply will not last forever. As reserves dwindle, Botswana’s entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly leading role in creating new jobs and diversifying the economy.
Many Batswana entrepreneurs, while passionate about what they do, lack vital business skills in planning, financial management, marketing and operations. Tokafala, a new enterprise development program, is helping entrepreneurs develop the skills they need to build successful and sustainable businesses.
Tokafala is a public-private partnership between the Government of Botswana and three leading diamond companies – Anglo American, De Beers and Debswana. TechnoServe is the implementing partner for the program, which aims to support 900 entrepreneurs in the next three years.
Tokafala advisors work with entrepreneurs to address challenges and chart individualized plans for growth that can help businesses reach their full potential. One year into the program, the results are promising. Close to 100 small and growing businesses have enrolled, representing more than 800 jobs. From a butcher in Gabarone to a construction company near the Orapa mine, these businesses are accessing new markets, tapping into additional financing and streamlining their operations.
“Tokafala has instilled in me a feeling of confidence. It has helped me to translate my academic training into everyday practice,” said Pauline Phologolo, the owner of a clothing company that employs eight people and specializes in corporate wear and school uniforms. Working with her advisor, Pauline is improving areas such as record-keeping and customer relationship management. Together, they have identified solid growth opportunities and developed a robust two-year plan to take her business to the next level.
Entrepreneurs like Pauline hold the key to Botswana’s future. With the right support, these small and growing businesses can drive sustainable economic growth for years to come.
Learn more about the Tokafala program.
Related Blog Posts
Caroline Lundberg has been a member of the Global Advisory Council since 2010. In this Q&A, she shares how she got involved, why she supports TechnoServe, and how seeing the organization's work firsthand changed her perceptions of development.
In sub-Saharan Africa, TechnoServe is testing sustainable, cost-effective, and measurable innovations for development. A surprising potential win for smallholders: drone technology.
The Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) project helps food companies increase their capacity to produce and sell fortified foods, improving nutrition and health outcomes. Today, we're sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the daily activities of the SAPFF Tanzania team.


text:
This week, it was confirmed that Naughty Dog is releasing The Last of Us Part II Remastered for the PlayStation 5. Although the blockbuster sequel was only just released in 2020 and is playable on the PS5, we’ve never had a native PlayStation 5 version. That will change next year.
And what better time to remind everyone that after all these years, we still don’t have Bloodborne Remastered for PlayStation 5. The 2015 action role-playing game from FromSoftware received universal acclaim from critics, sold millions of copies and is widely considered to be a masterpiece. To this day, it remains one of the best Souls-like games.
It’s a hit in every sense of the word. But for some reason we still haven’t gotten a remaster.
Like The Last of Us II, Bloodborne is playable on PlayStation, but it’s without any visual upgrades or performance improvements. I actually tried to revisit the game recently on PS5 but at this point, it just feels dated. At the time, Bloodborne was an incredible experience. But since the release of games like Elden Ring and Lies of P, it just feels old.
It’s not bad, it’s just outdated. It needs a facelift. It needs a remake.
But rather than remaster a game that is now eight years old, Sony opted to remaster a game that is just three years old.
To be honest, Bloodborne was never the hit that The Last of Us was. It never got a sequel nor an HBO series. Sony probably feels that The Last of Us Part II Remastered has a better chance of selling more copies than Bloodborne Remastered, especially since Souls-like games can be a bit more niche.
But as someone who has been desperately craving to revisit the world of Yharnma, it’s incredibly disappointing that I can’t do so with the visual and performance upgrades of a remaster. Hopefully, we get one in 2024, but right now there are no signs pointing to it.


text:
News - 15 Jun 2013
UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles – are not exactly ubiquitous yet. But that future may not be far away.
The day after it was reported that Dominos is testing drones for pizza delivery,...
News - 13 Jun 2013
Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Global Markets for Machine Vision Technologies
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
News - 11 Jun 2013
Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Global Markets for Machine Vision Technologies -- Focus on Manufacturing Markets
News - 29 May 2013
According to a new market research report of "Substation Automation Market (2013 - 2018)By Components - IEDS (Digital Relays, Smart meters, Recloser Controller, Capacitor Bank Controller) &...
News - 9 May 2013
Collaborative robots from Danish manufacturer Universal Robots are now distributed nationwide in both United States and Canada. The lightweight robot arms are quickly becoming sought after solutions...
News - 29 Apr 2013
This week, more than 10,000 students from around the globe travelled to St. Louis, Mo., to put their engineering skills to the test at the annual FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science...
News - 28 Mar 2013
What makes these micro computers different is their compact, turnkey design, which not only saves space but means they can be quickly and easily deployed without prohibitive integration costs.
News - 6 Mar 2013
N-able Technologies, the global leader in remote monitoring and management (RMM) and service automation software, today announced the immediate availability of N-central 9.1, an award-winning managed...
News - 6 Dec 2012
The continuous downturn faced by the international economy since the beginning of the year has adversely affected the growth of the entire electronics industry. Almost all electronic components...
Article - 20 Sep 2022
Robotics is being used in an increasing number of applications in the agricultural space. As such, advances in technology are driving growth in the global agricultural robot market.


text:
Middle East crisis hits River Island
THE owner of River Island has seen profits from the High Street fashion chain almost wiped out by the Middle East crisis.
Accounts filed with Companies House by Lewis Trust Group show that despite a strong performance by its retail division, which includes the River Island stores, overall profits fell from £12.1m to £8.7m.
Lewis Trust Group, a privately owned company based in London, owns and operates hotels in Spain and Israel as well as its UK operation. The accounts state: 'The consolidated results of the group have been impacted by the very poor trading environment in Israel, which has had a considerable effect on profitability.'
Figures for the retail division show that pre-tax profits rose from £29.2m to £39m.
However, the hotels division recorded a £35.6m deficit, up from £18.7m last year.
The company's Israeli division operates ten hotels, most of them wholly owned. Business was badly disrupted last year by the worsening Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a series of suicide bombings, which closed the group's Isrotel Tower hotel in Jerusalem.
Profits were hit further by a £6 million provision against loans due from the owner of the Isrotel Tower, as well as changes in exchange rates.
The Lewis dynasty, which controls the Lewis Trust Group, is one of Britain's biggest private retailers. As well as River Island, the company's interests include property in the UK and America.
Most watched Money videos
- Door comes off Volkswagen Sharan during Euro NCAP safety tests
- What will 2020 hold for investors and the UK stock market?
- Durability of Tesla Model X examined in Euro NCAP clip
- Vauxhall launches fifth generation of top-selling Corsa hatchback
- Introducing the new Ford Puma with fuel-saving powertrain technology
- Wireless charging network will be installed in Britain from 2020
- Euro NCAP safety tests of new Porsche Taycan shown in clip
- Volkswagen unveils concept for robots to deliver chargers to cars
- Hyundai Uber concept flying taxi shown off in promo vid
- How a biotech trust invests in the future of medicine
- Blue Whale: We want companies that can grow whatever happens
- Urban Electric's new pop-up chargers rise from the pavement


text:
The Skokie Economic Development Commission is considering loosening village restrictions on commercial electronic signs and sandwich or A-frame signs.
The commission recently held a public hearing about Skokie’s sign code. The consensus among commissioners, Chairman Scott "Shalom" Klein said, is regulations on these two types of signs are too restrictive and not business-friendly enough.
The current village ordinance requires owners of electronic signs not to change messages more than once every 24 hours, which some commissioners say is excessively strict.
“I’d like to think Skokie is in the curve and not behind it,” said Village Inn restaurant owner Randy Miles, a commission member and president of the Independent Merchants of Downtown Skokie. “I travel a fair amount, and I see a lot of different communities, and I think there is a case for moving electronic signs. I’ve felt that way for quite some time.”
Miles made those comments at the commission’s public hearing last month, and there seemed to be agreement among many of the commissioners when they met Sept. 30.
“There were some heated comments about electronic signs [at the hearing], and my personal feeling is that the comments were spot-on,” Klein said. “How can it be that the village has a Skokie Swift sign that changes however often it changes, but meanwhile businesses that are investing thousands of dollars aren’t allowed the same?”
If it’s a safety hazard, Klein said, then shouldn’t it be a safety hazard for all?
“Let’s not have a double standard over here when we are a very business-friendly community. This doesn’t send the right message,” he said.
In 2010, downtown merchants, who needed a boost as a result of the sluggish economy, asked for and were granted a reprieve from the village’s ban against sidewalk signs outside their establishments.
But even then, there were merchants who said there should be greater allowances for these type of signs on a permanent basis.
“The issue has been talked about now for years,” Klein said.
Some business owners have erected sandwich signs, which technically are illegal under the ordinance. Business owners can be subject to $200 fines.
“It’s not being regulated right now, but the ordinance that’s in place only allows signs within 10 feet of the door of a business,” Klein said.
The commission is not only looking to address tight restrictions about these two types of signs but to clarify what is and isn’t allowed for a Skokie business when it comes to erecting signs. There has been confusion, Klein said.
“We’re business friendly, and it’s about time we make it clear what a business can and can’t do before they invest thousands of dollars into signage,” he said. “They should know. That’s really the third piece I hope we accomplish — the education.”
Right now, Klein said, the sign code is confusing because some ordinances on the books are being regulated while others are not.
Klein and Economic Development Commission Vice Chairman Howard Meyer, who also heads up the Skokie Chamber of Commerce, will review all comments with Corporation Counsel Michael Lorge. Klein hopes to have recommendations drafted for the Economic Development Commission to consider at its Nov. 25 meeting.
The recommendations will likely be run past the Skokie Appearance Commission before the Village Board takes a final vote.
“I don’t think it’s much of a contentious issue,” Klein said. “I think everyone will pretty much agree that these are changes that are long overdue. We are living in 2014 and almost 2015 and digital signs and sandwich signs are not a bad thing if they’re done properly.”


text:
How the GOP tax overhaul could affect the food industry
Companies should brace for change.
The 30-plus-year drought since the last tax code overhaul may be finally over as Congress sets out to vote on and place a now-finalized tax bill on President Donald Trump's desk.
The bill slashes the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, and also includes massive changes to how income earned or kept offshore is treated.
In other words, this week could be monumental for business accounts nationwide. Every industry could see effects — including food and grocery. Here's a 60-second overview of what the bill could change, and where industry associations stand on it:
FOOD AND GROCERY
IMPACT: The tax bill is universally welcomed in the food and grocery industry. The lower tax rate would give companies more money to invest in their businesses or to acquire companies working on clean label, organic or other products consumers demand.
POSITION: Major grocers and food manufacturers support the tax reform bill, and believe the legislation will level the playing field for the industry and retail corporations.
ANALYSIS: The Grocery Manufacturers’ Association, a trade group representing more than 250 food, beverage and consumer product companies, said earlier this month that “tax reform will benefit consumers, workers and manufacturers.” The association urged Congress to move aggressively to finish the legislation and sign it into law.
Independent supermarket operators want to ensure the bill achieves rate parity between major players and pass-through entities, such as partnerships and S corporations. Under the current proposal, the corporate tax rate would be lowered to 21% while the pass-through level would be nearly identical at 20%. In an industry beset with razor-thin margins, tax cuts are particularly helpful for retailers, especially smaller, mom-and-pop establishments.
“Supermarkets are a high tax industry with the majority of independent grocers operating on just one to two percent net profit margins, meaning any reduction in the effective tax rate will significantly help these entrepreneurs hire additional staff, expand offerings, and upgrade their stores," the National Grocers Association said late last month.
The Food Marketing Institute has previously expressed support with the proposed tax changes. Jennifer Hatcher, the trade association’s chief policy officer, said in November that FMI wants to make sure the final legislation “lowers effective rates, treats all industries and business structures fairly, and helps promote job creation and economic growth.”
Emma Liem / Food Dive
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The tax reform does not just food and grocery. Here's how the bill may alter other industries.
IMPACT: Due to deep cuts for businesses and mild reductions for middle-class consumers, the tax bill would spur economic growth at a time when retailers could really use it.
POSITION: Passing tax reform, with the priority on lowering the corporate tax rate, has been the retail industry's biggest public policy push for years.
ANALYSIS: Retail trade groups are eagerly heralding the GOP-led House and Senate bills a must-pass measure that, due to deep cuts for businesses and mild reductions for middle-class consumers, would spur economic growth at a time when retailers could really use it.
Despite the differences between the Senate and House bills, the National Retail Federation has been adamant in its stance that "there is far more that the two chambers agree on than they disagree on," from the perspective of retailers, which according to NRF CEO Matthew Shay pay among the highest effective tax rates (although onlookers argue that few pay as high as 35%, currently the effective corporate tax rate). The Retail Industry Leaders Association has also backed the recent GOP-led proposals, which notably exclude the controversial (and now dead) border adjustment tax which retailers fought against earlier this year. The trade association is pushing for "quick" passage of a plan it said will stimulate economic growth and fuel the creation of new jobs.
Retailers also say the tax plan will cut taxes on middle-income consumers, freeing up more money to spend at retail businesses. However, as Morgan Stanley noted in a December report, consumers are spending more on experiences than things, and there's no guarantee any tax savings would go toward retail purchases.
According to a Dec. 4 report from Wolfe Research, the biggest specialty apparel winner under the Senate's tax plan would be Gap, whose corporate tax rate would drop from 39.6% last year to 23.5% once the plan goes into place. Other big winners would include: Nordstrom, Restoration Hardware, Dick's Sporting Goods, Williams-Sonoma and Ulta, which are expected to see their rate drop from the high 30s to between 22.3%-24.2%. Overall, most retailers would be enthusiastic about Congress meeting President Donald Trump's Christmas deadline.
Corinne Ruff / Retail Dive
IMPACT: A cut in the corporate tax rate could increase cash flow, allowing more investment in technology, business expansion and new jobs along the supply chain.
POSITION: Manufacturers and freight industries are for the bill, but ports and airlines have some reservations.
ANALYSIS: For business, the tax reform bill appears to deliver. Increased cash flow from a lower tax rate could prompt the different modes of freight and 3PLs to invest more in supply chain visibility tools, predictive analytics and blockchain alliances.
But if signed into law, the bill would also tax companies for making payments to foreign companies, which could hurt the global supply chain.
In that respect, the bill is a bit of a mixed bag. While the bill may spur expansion and job growth for big and small American businesses, the bill’s “America First” slant could pose serious difficulties for supply chain managers dealing with foreign suppliers, 3PLs or carriers.
The bill will disrupt supply chains, affecting the flow of supplies and products and potentially making it more expensive for American companies to do business and trade with foreigners. While it’s too soon to know whether the lower tax rate will compensate for that provision, supply chains are in for a shakeup in 2018.
- The House of Representatives Tax Cuts And Jobs Act
Follow Emma Liem on Twitter


text:
This morning, Lending Club announced their Q3 2016 earnings. In the third quarter, the company originated $1.97 billion in loans, marginally up from $1.95 billion in the second quarter. The financial highlights from the company’s press release are shown below:
From strictly an origination perspective the company did not have much growth in the quarter, but financials did improve from the prior quarter. The company highlighted $14 million of investor incentives that occurred in Q2 and $11 million in Q3. Also effecting the company’s financials were the $15 million and $14 million in expenses related to the board review that took place in Q2 and Q3 respectively.
The biggest news coming out of earnings was that Lending Club announced a large funding deal with Credigy, a subsidiary of the National Bank of Canada. Credigy will invest up to $1.3 billion in Lending Club loans and has already committed $325 million. Credigy is a consumer finance investment company which makes them a perfect fit to invest on the platform. Lending Club has long had banks investing through their platform but this is one of the few deals made public and the investment amount is significant.
One of the other topics on the minds of investors is the funding mix on the platform. While CEO Scott Sanborn noted that they have re-engaged virtually all of their largest investors on the platform, he also said that there is a ramp up for banks to reach target investment levels. Lending Club’s target mix for bank funding on the platform is 25% and for the third quarter it came in at 13%. In the Q & A, Scott said that the return of banks spills over into the fourth quarter so I expect we will see a bounce back of bank involvement in the next quarter, especially with the newly announced Credigy deal.
Managed accounts, which includes a few of the new 40 act funds represented 55% of the platform mix, funding over $1 billion in loans. This is not surprising given they are able to move quickly at scale and were able to take advantage of the incentives offered by Lending Club. As expected Lending Club ended their investor incentives that were put in place post May 9th, using only half the amount planned. Retail investors and Other Institutional remained relatively stable over the quarter.
Below are a few questions summarized from the conference call where many analysts asked about Lending Club’s recently announced auto refinance product:
Q: Is there any additional color you can provide on the Credigy deal?
A: They will be a broad buyer of loans across the platform. We looked at a number of arrangements in our effort to secure up a portion of our funding. We feel good about where we are now combining with retail investors and other banks. The program is at market terms, but there are other economics that are reasonable that will be triggered if the full $1.3 billion is deployed, subject to other terms and conditions.
Q: As you’ve gone through the transition of implementing more compliance and legal controls, how much of this cost do you think is temporary? Are long term margins attainable?
A: We view these investments not as large structural costs. A lot of what we’re doing is automating things like document storage & validation, end to end data, change management processes, etc. While we are increasing size of audit and compliance, those aren’t big numbers that won’t meaningful move margins.
Q: What is the investor interest in the new auto finance product? How will your balance sheet be affected?
A: We are still in the early days of the new auto product. In Q4, there will be no significant impact but we believe the cash position lets us launch and learn. The balance sheet gives us flexibility and we can eventually move loans off of the balance sheet. We can give a better outlook in 2017 but are already in significant conversations with a number of investors.
Q: There is no origination fee on the new auto refinancing product, what is the revenue model?
A: There is a premium charged to the investor or a gain on sale margin.
Q: Do you think the cost of borrower acquisition will be materially different with the auto refinance product? What is your perspective of consumer overlap of auto refi and those who have existing unsecured loans?
A: It’s too early to get a full read of overall acquisition costs but the auto refinance product uses a lot of the same channels and techniques. The value proposition is also a similar: “You have a loan, you’re paying to much, and we can get you a better one.” The consumer overlap is something we are excited about as we have 1.7 million borrowers and they are users of credit. A significant percentage of them have car loans.
Q: What is the average yield or borrower cost to the new refinanced borrower?
A: The target is the used car market where we tend to see average rates in the 8% range. Savings to the borrower are estimated to be between 100-300 bps. We have issued a few loans and our first customer saved over 600 bps on their cost of credit. We look at this as saving the borrower a years worths of gas or two sets of tires, providing real value.
What’s going to be interesting in the coming quarters is to see how originations are affected by new investments such as the Credigy deal announced today as well as the new auto refinance product. The company is still rebounding from one time expenses but they will soon put that in the past. Investors are responding favorably to today’s news with the stock up 14.72% at $5.89.
Disclosure: Peter Renton, the founder and CEO of Lend Academy, and Ryan Lichtenwald, Senior Writer at Lend Academy own LC stock.


text:
The facelifted Tesla Model S is more than just a fresh nose. Continue Reading...
Electric Cars NewsAll News
Browse by News Category
- Alfa Romeo
- Aston Martin
- Land Rover
- Other Categories
- Concept Cars
- Recall Notice
- Spy Photos
- Compact Cars
- Diesel Cars
- Economy Cars
- Electric Cars
- Family Sedans
- Luxury Cars
- Sports Cars
- Auto Show News
The reborn Karma Automotive will rename its electric sedan the Karma Revero. Continue Reading...
It actually depends on what kind of energy is powering the grid being used to charge the Tesla. Continue Reading...
Tesla has nearly 400,000 preorders for its Model 3 electric car. Continue Reading...
A Chinese automaker debuted an electric car today that could preview what Faraday Future is up to. Continue Reading...
BMW has reportedly slowed the program for developing the next i model. Continue Reading...
Apple is aggressively recruiting experts in the automotive industry. Continue Reading...
Early Tesla Model X owners are finding a variety of quality issues with their new crossovers. Continue Reading...
Tesla is letting its customers try out its Autopilot autonomous technology for a trial period of one month. Continue Reading...
The Tesla Model 3 is no longer a secret, so it’s time to speculate about how the Model Y will look. Continue Reading...
Ford isn’t working to build a Tesla Model 3 competitor, at least not in the near future. Continue Reading...
The mysterious company recently teased a crossover that could be produced here. Continue Reading...
Like we predicted, the whole thing was just a stunt. Continue Reading...
Is the world finally going to see what the Apple Car is going to look like? Continue Reading...
Tesla released an online configurator for its Model X, revealing a new base model that packs more power and a higher price. Continue Reading...
Tesla has revealed the updated Model S, sporting a new face and some fresh features. Continue Reading...
A cryptic tweet from Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed a fun hidden feature in the Model X crossover and Model S sedan. Continue Reading...
Tesla is recalling about 2,700 Model X crossovers over a concern that the third-row seats can could fold forward in a crash. Continue Reading...
What if the Tesla Model 3 was offered as a hatchback? Continue Reading...
There’s a reason why motorsports is so important in the development of next-generation automotive technologies. Continue Reading...
Nissan is working on a new modular platform for its electric vehicles. Continue Reading...
The BMW Group has launched its car sharing service called ReachNow. Continue Reading...
The Tesla Model S is reportedly getting an update and could debut as early as next week. Continue Reading...
No, the Bolt doesn’t have the trendiness the Tesla does, but the Chevy offering still has a lot going for it. Continue Reading...


text:
Immediately after the acquisition of a health care company, amazon has announced its intention to buy iRobot in an all-cash deal worth $1.7 billion. Amazon will pay 67 dollars per share for the manufacturer of the popular Roomba robot vacuum cleaners.
“We know that saving time matters, and tasks take precious time that can be better spent doing something customers love,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president of Amazon Devices, in a press release. “For many years, the iRobot team has proven its ability to reinvent the way people clean with products that are incredibly convenient and inventive, from cleaning when and where customers want while avoiding common household obstacles, to emptying automatically the collection container. Customers love iRobot products, and I’m excited to work with the iRobot team to invent ways to make customers’ lives easier and more enjoyable.”
Amazon said iRobot CEO Colin Angle will remain in his place as long as the deal closes.
“Since we started iRobot, our team has been on a mission to create innovative and practical products that make customers’ lives easier, leading to inventions like the Roomba and iRobot operating system,” Angle said in the press release. “Amazon shares our passion for creating thoughtful innovations that empower people to do more at home, and I can’t think of a better place for our team to continue our mission. I am very excited to be a part of Amazon and to see what we can build together for customers in the years to come.”
The deal is the latest high-profile acquisition for Amazon, which acquired primary health care organization One Medical in a $3.9 billion deal in July. It’s also in the process of shutting down movie studio MGM in an $8.45 billion deal, and bought consumer router company Eero for $97 million in February 2019. Before that, it gobbled up Ring in 2018 for $839 million. , and Whole Foods in 2017 for nearly $14 billion.


text: China Hotel Market has grown significantly in recent years and is … “It is difficult to quantify the impact Coronavirus has already had on the luxury hotel market due to the fact it is a relatively recent development and is still ongoing,” he said. Growth Drivers4.1 Rising Disposable Income4.2 Growing China's Middle Class 4.3 Increasing inbound tourists in China5. While it is still too early to determine any long-term impact to China’s still-recovering hotel industry, occupancy rates in Beijing dropped from 50 percent to 20 percent in a week, Rossman said. Independence Day holiday weekend may defer any negative impact to the hotel industry. The U.S. is now grappling with its own case spike. Research and Markets partners with charity: water. “In China, Marriott International, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group account for a major share of luxury hotels in pipeline,” said Hollister. Monthly Data; Quarterly Data; Annual Data; Census Data Executive Summary4. Latest trends in the Tourism and Hotel Industry in China, growth prospects, industry competitiveness, major players, value/supply chain, regional market share and forecast to 2023. Download the china tourism and hotel industry report (2018-23) now. Introduction2. Opportunities 7. Rising case counts in Sun Belt states last week could even take a toll on what had been strong-performing resort destinations. The product is a PDF. Continuing the momentum, the country dominated the market in 2019, maintaining a YOY growth rate of 10.2%, according to data and analytics company GlobalData. Their demand for personalized and unique accommodation experiences has become more specific.”. Hoteliers have already acknowledged the U.S. hotel recovery can only go so far on leisure travel alone, as roughly a third of room revenue at luxury and upper upscale hotels comes from group business travel. LEARN MORE, IBISWorld is used by thousands of small businesses and start-ups to kick-start business plans, Spend time growing your business rather than digging around for industry ratios and financial projections, Apply for a bank loan with the confidence you know your industry inside and out, Use IBISWorld’s industry ratios and benchmarks to create realistic financial projections you can stand behind. Photo Credit: A spike in new coronavirus cases in both China and the U.S. in June threatens to plateau both countries' hotel recovery momentum. Please submit your order within that time frame to avail of this price as all prices are subject to change. Any adverse changes in political and economic consequences may hinder the growth of the market. Why Won’t Washington Act? “Hilton plans to build 1,000 hotels in China by 2025, which illustrates the profitability it associates with the Chinese market.”. Presently, catering industry and cultural and entertaining industry in China develops to a higher level. Given China’s earlier outbreak and lockdowns, it is leading the U.S. by about seven weeks in their similar recovery path. China's own hotel companies are comparatively small and immature when compared to foreign multinational companies. in the online hotel reservation industry in China in H1 2019 Meituan Hotel Ctrip Qunar Tongcheng-Elong Fliggy Others Meituan tops the online hotel reservation industry in H1 2019, gaining over 50% of orders in the industry Note: data on this page are statistics of users … Having built the world's largest hotel performance database, we understand our role in providing the solutions needed to help the industry operate through the best and worst of times. Since the lockdown has been lifted in many parts of the country, however, business activity in China’s hospitality industry has begun to pick up. We aim to respond to all questions on the same business day. Our clients rely on our information and data to stay up-to-date on industry trends across all industries. Year End 2019 Hotel Statistics: 82.5% Occupancy | $261.31 ADR | $215.61 RevPAR Source: Pinnacle Advisory Group 2018-2022 Hotel Openings & Projections. The product is a PDF. Our first round of speakers has been announced. The strong growth in the domestic and inbound tourism leads to the growth in the hotel industry in China. Hotel Type - China Hotel Market9.1 High-End Hotel Market9.2 Mid Scale Hotel Marketa9.3 Budget Hotel Market10. China’s per capita GDP is expected to exceed $10,000 in 2019, accelerating the increase of new tourists and boosting the demand for hotel reservations 4. * The price quoted above is only valid for 30 days. Still haven't found what you're looking for? The total contribution of the Travel and Tourism sector in China to the nation's GDP stood at 11% in 2017, which is more than that of the world which stands at 10.4% in 2017. Enquire about COVID-19 updates for this product. The hospitality industry has increased steadily, growing by 17% between 2004 and 2014. The sharp decline was enough to drag Mainland China’s overall hotel occupancy down from its 52 percent high to 47 percent two weeks ago and reverse some of the positive growth in the country’s largest cities. The China Hotel Market is expected to be USD 136 Billion (Yuan 938 Billion) by the end of the year 2023. Expert Insight: Thousands of Hotels are on the Brink. INTERNATIONAL REPORT—In 2018, China was the largest market for luxury hotels in the world, registering year-over-year (YOY) growth of 18.3% in revenue. “Hopefully, it’s a short-term thing and recovery continues when that gets resolved.”. The 40,173 new cases reported across the U.S. Friday was a new single-day record for the country. This is a 1-5 user license, allowing up to five users have access to the product. China Hotel Market is expanding further to meet the growing demand from both domestic and international travellers. With that, we have been pleased to provide a significant amount of complimentary insights via the webinars, press releases, blogs and social posts below. Perform a mouse-over on each data to view additional information. “In terms of international visitation, China is becoming temporarily shut off from inbound tourism,” he added. 3. At any stage, a flare-up can cause that to dip back down.”. Shanghai - Five Star Hotel Status13.1 Room Average Daily Rate (ADR)13.2 Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR)13.3 Occupancy Rate13.4 Room Stock13.5 International Visitors in City14. Annual Data. Ordering Platform - China Hotel Market10.1 Online Hotel Market10.2 Offline Hotel Market11. China and the U.S. have similarly strong domestic traveler fundamentals to their respective tourism economies, so much so that Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson predicted the two countries would significantly lead Europe in the hotel industry’s recovery from coronavirus shutdowns. With this IBISWorld Industry Research Report on , you can expect thoroughly researched, reliable and current information that will help you to make faster, better business decisions. With the situation of the coronavirus being controlled in Beijing, it has now reopened to the public. Share - China Hotel Analysis8.1 Hotel Type Market8.2 Hotel Type Volume8.3 Ordering Platform9. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning), China Hotel Market & Forecast by Type (High End, Mid Scale, Budget), Platform (Online, Offline), City, Hotel, Numbers (Up-Scale Hotel, Mid-Scale & Budget Hotel, Total). Clearing the 50 percent threshold meant business travel had begun to return, and data even showed mid-week demand eclipsed weekend demand, Rossman said. With political and social stability, rapid economic growth, and the vast population base and natural resources, China have lured many multinational hotels, including the world's leading hotel chains to its potentially huge market. China’s Luxury Hotels Had 10% 2019 Revenue Growth, Shatterproof Hospitality Hosts Third Heroes Reception at ALIS, BMS Helps Hoteliers to Adopt Green Cleaning Practices, APAC Hotel Construction Pipeline Continues Growth Through Q2, Hilton to Develop 1K Home2 Suites in China, China’s Hotel Construction Pipeline Hits All-Time High in Q1 Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, Peggy Bianco Joins Journera as Senior Advisor, Four Companies Report Third-Quarter Results, Marriott Reports 65.9% Global RevPAR Decline, Adds 127 Properties in Q3, First Atwell Suites Hotel Under Construction in Miami.


text:
Chalk up another Google Drive update for iOS as Google just announced a new sorting feature for files. Google’s iOS version of Google Drive has received quite a few updates in recent months to bring it in line with its Android counterpart. The new sorting feature should prove useful to just about every Google Drive user as it’s a much-needed and important feature.
Google is rolling out support to its take out service for exporting email and appointment data from its Gmail and Google Calendar services, the company announced today.
While Google often supports data exporting when sunsetting a service, the company says in this instance it’s simply allowing users the ability to better archive personal data and switch to other services with less friction. Read more
Billed as ‘the lockscreen that learns,’ Cover is an Andoid app that notes which apps you use in which locations, and then puts the apps you’re most likely to need onto your lockscreen.
At home you might get weather, news, traffic and Twitter; at work, calendar, Google drive and LinkedIn; in the car, maps and music … Read more
HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today announced the HTC One max, a super-sized smartphone that brings the award-winning design, functionality and performance of the HTC One to fans of larger handsets. A new Fingerprint Scan feature takes convenience to a new level while acclaimed features including HTC BlinkFeed™, HTC Zoe™ and HTC BoomSound™, combined with the new HTC Sense 5.5, which are all enhanced to continue to deliver the best overall smartphone experience, now on a larger screen.
Most of the specs are as per the rumors we’ve reported over the last few months, including the almost non-existent bezel, 5.9″ full HD1080p display, 3300mAH battery, (optional) capacitive stylus and fingerprint scanner. The fingerprint sensor unlocks the phone, of course, but also has a neat feature where you can assign a different app to each finger, switching on the device with that app loaded.
The CPU is, however, less powerful than rumored. Everyone had been expecting a Snapdragon 800 processor running at 2.3GHz, but instead the Max has the same 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 chip as the phone on which it’s based, the HTC One … Read more
A new update for the Google+ Android app rolling out in the coming days will make it easier for users to switch between multiple accounts, improve location sharing controls, and finally get rid of the in-app Messenger to make way for Google’s new Hangouts app.
Google employee Virgil Dobjanschi shared details on the new version of the app, noting that switching accounts will now be as easy as it is with Gmail:
Just like Gmail for Android, you can now switch between multiple Google+ accounts with a couple of taps (vs. signing out and signing in again). And the Google+ pages you manage are likewise in the app menu at all times.
The updated app also brings the ability to view and share photos and videos that are stored in Google Drive, and improved location sharing controls: Read more
Google’s new $35 Chromecast device has huge potential in a living-room environment, but as PC World notes, the device also could be a major player in the enterprise market as a presentation tool. If you have to give a presentation now, it’s tricky to make sure you have the right converters to connect to the projector at the office, and if you get there and it turns out you needed VGA, not DVI, you’re in big trouble. With the Chromecast, all you would have to do is bring it to your meeting and have your documents stored in Google Drive. From there you can cast all of your Chrome tabs to the big screen with no issues.
The Chromecast would also be the perfect device to take on a family outing, as it would allow you to easily watch Netflix content on any TV with an HDMI connection at your hotel.
While it may take a little work to get all your documents in Google Drive, the process has gotten simpler and simpler over time and with more businesses switching to Google Apps anyway, there’s no reason not to use a Chromecast in the office. Read more


text:
Fan-out R&D; display inspection; SSDs; M&A mania.
Fab tools and T&M
Applied Materials and the Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), have announced a five-year extension of their R&D collaboration at the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Packaging in Singapore. The organizations will expand the scope of their R&D collaboration to focus on advancing fan-out wafer-level packaging.
In addition, Applied Materials has introduced an inline, e-beam review system for displays. The system enables optimum yields for manufacturers of OLEDs and LCDs.
At its 2016 Analyst Day, Applied Materials detailed its strategy to drive sustainable growth and announced target non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share of $2.45 to $3.17 for fiscal 2019, with a midpoint of $2.80. This would represent compound earnings growth of approximately 17% over the next three years.
National Instruments (NI) has previewed its new 802.11ad, or WiGig, test solution. Highlighting new capabilities in the emerging field of mmWave test, NI is demonstrating parametric testing of an 802.11ad radio using its mmWave instrument technology.
Samsung Electronics has rolled out two new solid-state drives (SSDs)—the 960 PRO and 960 EVO. Using its 3D NAND technology, the SSDs are based on the M.2 form factor.
Samsung has sold stakes in four companies—ASML, Seagate, Rambus and Sharp, according to a report from Bloomberg. The total value of the stakes is about $891 million, according to the report, which stated that Samsung wanted to “free up money and focus on its main business.” Samsung sold half its shares in ASML and its entire 4.2% stake in Seagate, according to the report. It also sold its 4.5% holding in Rambus and the 0.7% of Sharp stock, the report said.
ON Semiconductor has finally completed its previously announced $2.4 billion cash acquisition of Fairchild Semiconductor.
Tessera Technologies has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DTS for $42.50 per share. The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $850 million. DTS is an audio solutions provider for mobile, home, and automotive markets.
Analogix Semiconductor and Beijing Shanhai Capital Management (Shanhai Capital) have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which a consortium led by Shanhai Capital will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Analogix for over $500 million. China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (China IC Fund) also joined Shanhai Capital’s fund as one of the limited partners. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in late 2016.
It was a frenetic year in the semiconductor merger and acquisition arena in 2015. The M&A activity has slowed down, but 2016 is already the second-largest year ever for chip industry M&A announcements, according to IC Insights. This is due to three major and recent deals, which have a combined total value of $51 billion. This includes SoftBank’s recent purchase of ARM, Analog Devices’ intended purchase of Linear Technology, and Renesas‘ potential acquisition of Intersil.
Prior Week In Review: Manufacturing (Sept 16)
UMC’s finFETs; GF’s finFETs; mask survey; iPhone 7 teardown.
Manufacturing Research Bits (Sept 20)
Crystal database; fractography; sputtering standard.


text:
Culver’s, the Wisconsin-based chain restaurant announced its intentions to open a Sandusky location in October. Construction crews have been working on the 5,000-square-foot building for several months.
The restaurant was originally expected to open sometime this month, but Paul Pitas, a Culver’s spokesman, said they are now hoping to open by mid-June, but he didn’t have a specific date.
Culver’s has 700 locations across the country and is known for its “ButterBurgers,” cheese-stuffed tater tots and fresh-frozen custard.
Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A, the restaurant known for its chicken sandwiches, has been a long-anticipated addition to the area, but residents will have to wait a little longer before it opens with no official dates being released at this time.
“While we’re still early in the process, we’re excited to confirm we’re coming to Sandusky and look forward to serving the community delicious food in an environment of genuine hospitality,” company spokeswoman Jackie Jags said. “We’ll have more information to share about the projected grand opening date and franchise owner in the future.”
The zoning department approved the finalized plans for the location on April 17. But it’s still not known when construction will start on its 5,300-square-foot location between Mickey Mart and Culver’s.
“They are currently working on constructing the right turn lane on U.S. 250 prior to starting building construction,” zoning inspector Megan Sherlund said.


text:
Irish Manufacturing Research CTO Michéal Cassidy and Research Lead Ken Horan were recently interviewed by Barry McCall Irish Times for their expert views on Industry 4.0.
The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0 as it has become known, is set to fundamentally transform the way in which manufacturers make, distribute and sell their products. It has the potential to usher in an era of mass customisation, where products are tailored to meet the needs and tastes of individual customers rather than mass markets. It will also bring opportunities and quite daunting challenges for Irish-based manufacturers.
“If you look at the last 100 years of technological advance in manufacturing, it has been about varying degrees of mechanisation of manual labour,” explains Ken Horan, industrial research lead with IMR, the IDA- and Enterprise Ireland-backed manufacturing research organisation. “Industry 4.0 is about the beginnings of the mechanisation of intellectual labour.”
Michéal Cassidy, chief technology officer with IMR, says one of the big challenges for industry is the scale of the change taking place. “If you look at Industry 4.0 and the smart factory, it’s about the system, the process and the products all being intelligent,” he says. “There is what is known as a digital twin, a representation of everything happening on the factory floor up in the cloud which enables the optimisation of everything going on in the facility. You can get overwhelmed by the scale of it but there are some quick wins to be had.”
These quick wins include the improved efficiencies in elements of the manufacturing process. “It might be a small level of customisation,” says Cassidy. “One big promise of Industry 4.0 is mass customisation, where every product is bespoke to the customer without adding to the cost. This will apply to everything, including garments or running shoes or even cars.”
However, by using just part of the enabling technology, a running shoe manufacturer could add value through part customisation. “They could integrate a service offering into the shoe by embroidering the customer’s name or initials on it,” he explains. “Manufacturers don’t know who is getting the shoes at the moment but in future, every product through the line will have a digital representation allowing the customer’s initials to be embroidered during the process. In much the same way medical devices could be customised to individuals based on a scan of their body.”
Cormac Russell of leading medical device manufacturer Boston Scientific sees these possibilities already become a reality. “Our mission is to develop solutions that transform people’s lives,” he says. “Our focus is on the development of products which improve patients’ lives more effectively and less invasively and more efficiently. Innovation in medical devices will never stop.”
The trend now is towards personalised rather than population-based medicine, he adds. “It’s about more empowered patients and individuals deciding on their own treatment. Also, the cost of healthcare is going up. How do you fund expensive new solutions? We have to continually provide added value and this is leading to devices becoming smarter.”
These smarter medical devices have sensors which track body parameters and adjust their activity accordingly. For example, a heart pacemaker which reacts to the heartbeat of the patient in real time.
“Connectivity is also important,” Russell adds. “The devices will be able to upload data about their performance and the patient. That data can then be translated into decisions about whether to schedule an appointment or even cancel one.”
On the manufacturing side, Industry 4.0 technologies will help continually improve quality. “We produce life-saving or life-enhancing products that go into
a patient’s body and will last five or 10 years. Quality is vitally important and we strive to continually improve what we do. Medtech is a relatively low-volume but high-quality industry. Automation is not as critical to us for production efficiency but we use it to reduce errors and take variation out of the process. We use the data we gather to see what exactly is going on in the factory in order to enhance performance and quality.”
Gearóid Mooney of Enterprise Ireland says that one of the problems for Ireland is the large SME manufacturing base here – but there is help at hand. “SMEs will face particular challenges. The technology is moving at the speed of software and this presents challenges in terms of the resources required to keep pace with the speed of change. They need an environment where they can talk to their peers and try out technologies before they invest in them. IMR is doing valuable work in this area. It brings large and small companies together to cross-share ideas, talk about the issues, and collaborate on projects.”


text:
The new and improved Hewlett-Packard
Tuesday posted a its quarterly earnings for the first time since it officially merged with Compaq Computer.
The last time HP posted quarterly earnings, it did so as a solo company.
For its third quarter revenue, HP reported of $16.5 billion, compared to $18.2 billion on a combined company basis in the prior quarter. The combined company’s revenue declined 9 percent, while pro forma gross margin increased from 25.5 percent to 25.7 percent. However, except for a number of items, HP reported a $420 million profit, or 14 cents per share.
A smattering of analysts with Thomson Financial/First Call estimated the company would show revenue of $16.8 billion and per-share earnings of 14 cents.
“Throughout our first 100 days, we’ve kept our eye on the ball,” said HP chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina. “We’re hitting all our integration milestones and are on track to meet our second-half targets. The top 50 contracts we won in the quarter totaled $2 billion in new long-term revenue, and we exit the quarter with almost $12 billion in cash and equivalents. While we have more work ahead, given the tough economy and a major integration, we’ve accomplished a great deal.”
The company said the merger opened up an opportunity to advance its market position and invest in key technologies. The revenue declines in personal and enterprise systems were just what Hewlett Packard said it was expecting.
“As we approach the one-year mark of our merger announcement, the competitive landscape has, indeed, been transformed,” said Fiorina. “We acted early and are moving through implementation, while our competitors are just now coming to grips with their own strategic and business model shifts. With our unique combination of standards-based platforms, advanced technologies, imaging and printing leadership, and world-class infrastructure services, we are more confident than ever of HP’s opportunity to lead the industry.”
Obviously with Compaq by its side, HP is making enough of a presence that it is rattling the cages of rivals like IBM
and Dell Computer
Threatened by H-P’s services division, IBM went out and spent $3.5 billion in cash and stock to acquire PricewaterhouseCooper’s PwC Consulting unit. Dell even got a little envious of HP’s printing cash cow and appears ready to take the plunge into offering printers.
Currently, Hewlett-Packard is the No. 1 printer maker and the No. 2 computer maker behind IBM.
“Clearly the most difficult product transitions were in the enterprise space. We made tough decisions in all areas, from servers to storage to software,” said HP president Michael Capellas. “Our industry-standard server and storage businesses sustained market leadership, and our services business continued to contribute significantly to the company’s profitability. It’s a promising start, and we’re in a strong position to take the fight to the streets even harder, but we’re mindful that there’s much more to do.”
During the quarter, the company smoothed out its personal systems product portfolio and introduced new Compaq Evo desktop PCs, five new notebook platforms and the world’s first Itanium 2-based workstations. Key customer wins included Walt Disney Feature Animation’s selection of Linux-based HP workstations for its next-generation digital animation; and a $35 million U.S. Internal Revenue Service computer contract.
Overall, HP said its business-critical servers revenue was down 31 percent over last year and down 13 percent sequentially. Industry-standard servers revenue was down 18 percent over last year and down 4 percent sequentially. Revenue in storage was down 15 percent year over year, less than half the decline of HP’s nearest competitor, and down 10 percent sequentially. Revenue in software was down 21 percent year over year and 5 percent sequentially.
Highlights included continued strong Superdome adoption, up 9 percent sequentially in unit shipments; the 17th quarter of Linux market-share leadership for HP ProLiant servers; and announcement of a strategic partnership with BEA Systems for middleware solutions. On the sunny side, HP was pleased with a joint $200 million contract with Reuters, Intel and Red Hat to make Reuters Market Data Systems available on Linux; and with partner Lockheed Martin, a $70 million contract with Air Force Material Command for technical services and data storage solutions.
The company also said it had identified 83 “must stop” IT projects and initiated 27 “must start” IT projects – most notably, its decision to modify its middleware lineup.
Fiorina has has been bullish on Hewlett Packard’s outlook for the rest of the year.
For the second half of 2002 HP re-affirmed its second-half integration targets and said it expects overall revenues to reach between $35 billion to $36 billion. That would put its year-end revenues somewhere between $72.8 billion and $73.8 billion.
For the fourth quarter 2002, HP affirmed Wall Street consensus estimates of $17.4 billion in revenues and $0.22 earnings per share on a pro forma basis.
The computer and printer maker is also in the middle of cutting 10,000 jobs by November 1 and another 5,000 jobs next year, for a total of about 10 percent of its combined workforce. HP said it is also under a company-wide salary freeze until 2003.


text:
Jon Gorey-Global Correspondent
By now, you may have heard of heat pumps. But do you know how these mysterious machines actually work? Or do they make sense to your home?
Author: James Hercher // Tuesday, October 26, 2021 – 2:21 PM
Get mops and vacuum cleaners ready, because the clean room craze has just begun.
Amazon launched Amazon Mar
Design and Construction | Finance | Food
Mondial Pack chose to cooperate with ColPro Technical Solutions in several ground floor clean rooms with interlocking door systems
When launched in 2022, the GOES-T satellite will monitor the earth and provide us with early warning of natural disasters. But for Lockheed Martin, preparing it is a difficult task.
In a huge
MediPharm Labs, a leader in CBN products, has added CBN: CBD products to its health product portfolio for consumers and patients who are looking for THC-free products.
New CBN products includ
Author: James Hercher // Tuesday, November 16, 2021 – 12:35 AM
Not long ago, about one-fifth or more adults in the United States would sit down and watch TV programs at the s
The choice of clean room doors is not just to save space. As explained by Adrian Murtagh and Simon White from Dortek, airflow, cleanliness and compliance also need to be considered
With the d
Meat processing plant could bring 1,300 jobs to Missouri
Officials announced on Tuesday that a Wisconsin-based company plans to build a meat processing plant in eastern Missouri next year, wh


text:
Nov 7, 2011 - Addition could help bring scale to exchange advertisers looking to buy cross-platform. Comments
Jul 29, 2011 - Rich media ad exchanges could be on the horizon, says PointRoll CEO Rob Gatto. Comments
Apr 18, 2011 - Gannett today reported a 12 percent boost in its company-wide digital revenues in Q1 2011. Comments
Feb 15, 2011 - Robert Gatto, former SVP of sales, replaces cofounder Jason Tafler. Comments
Oct 29, 2010 - Here's a rundown of the most recent offerings. Comments
Jun 5, 2009 - David&Goliath hires an associate creative director; Leo Burnett's Arc Worldwide names chief creative officer; PointRoll expands its West Coast team. Comments
Marketing Apps for Landing Pages White Paper
Marketing apps can elevate a formulaic landing page into a highly interactive user experience. Learn how to turn your static content into exciting marketing apps.
Redefining 'Mobile-Only' Users: Millions Selectively Avoid the Desktop
A new breed of selective mobile-only consumers has emerged. What are the demos of these users and how and where can marketers reach them?
March 19, 2014


text:
Monday, Oct. 16
Do What You Love, Miami | WeWork — This is WeWork’s first installment of an event series called “Do What You Love, Miami,” which will feature a panel discussion with local industry leaders around the rise of tech companies in South Florida. The inaugural event features Wyncode’s Juha and Johanna Mikkola, eMerge Americas CEO Xavier Gonzalez and Party Tap’s Jordan Hamilton.It is moderated by the Miami Herald’s Nancy Dahlberg. Details here.
Tuesday, Oct. 17
Brainfood | The LAB — John Santiago, a pioneer in Hispanic digital marketing, will discuss what it’s like representing General Mills, Hertz, and other Fortune 500 brands. Details here.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
The Venture City Presents: Facebook Developer Circles — The Venture City, Miami’s newest accelerator program, is hosting its own launch event at the Frost Museum for Miami’s Facebook Developer’s Circle, a group designed to bring the city’s tech community together. The event will revolve around a panel featuring several high-profile Miami CTOs, including ones from Boatsetter and The Fastmind, who will discuss what challenges they face, how they build their teams, and how they work. A demonstration of Frost’s planetarium is also planned. Details here.
Zuke Music Presents: The Music Networking Show — Artists, producers, engineers, attorneys looking to advance their music industry careers should check out this networking, music and arts event programmed by Zuke Music, the WIN Lab Miami-winning app that is aspiring to be the LinkedIn of the music community. Details here.
StartUP 101: Capital Raising in Silicon Valley | StartUP FIU — John Duffy of mobile marketing company 3CInteractive, will discuss opportunities and challenges of venture capital investing, and offer insights into best-practices for maintaining a competitive advantage in your space. Details here.
[email protected] Think Tank – Brainstorm Ideas on Harnessing the Power of Energy | StartUP FIU — For the second year in a row, StartUP FIU will host [email protected], a social entrepreneurship student competition focused on creating social enterprises to address our world’s most pressing issues. The FIU entrepreneurial community, including alums, will be brainstorming ideas and forming teams for [email protected]’s pitch day in December. The winners of that will move on to represent FIU at the Boston Global Regionals in March (your trip will be fully paid for!). Details here.
Thursday, Oct. 19
After Irma Fundraiser/Pitch Day | Wyncode — Wyncode is turning its 18th pitch day into an Irma Fundraiser; all proceeds will benefit Shake-A-Leg Miami, a charity devoted to introducing special needs individuals to marine life. Details here.
eMerge Americas Rendezvous — Two members of 500 Startups Latin America will share insights about funding, investing, operations and scaling teams throughout LatAm. Moderated by Miami’s Antonio Manueco. Details here.
Saturday, Oct. 21
Miami Day Of Civic Hacking — The National Day of Civic ‘Hacking’ is an annual international event centered on promoting open data initiatives and locals hacking ways to help improve their community. Thousands of people from around the world will tackle challenges using datasets central to their environment, government, public services, and other civic-oriented topics. Here in Miami, the program, led by Code for Miami, will be focused on how the city can stay resilient in the face of natural disasters like Irma. Details here.
Endeavor Miami 2017 Gala | Endeavor — This year, Endeavor will honor Salim Ismail, founding executive director of Singularity University. Tickets start at $500. Details here.
Saturday, Oct. 21-Sunday, Oct. 22
IoT & AI Hackathon Presented by MATRIX Labs and Visa | MATRIX Labs — The challenge of the IoT and AI Hackathon is to re-imagine the retail and consumer payments experience by building on MATRIX Creators and integrating Visa APIs. First place wins $5,000. Staff from Visa and MATRIX Labs will be present throughout the day for answering questions, and will also lead morning and afternoon training sessions on how to work with the Visa API and the MATRIX Creator. Details here.
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Pitch Deck Bootcamp | 10xU — Join 10xU for an interactive Pitch Day Bootcamp where they will show you how to effectively get funding from your favorite investors or accelerators. Details here.
Thursday, Oct. 26
Food Innovation Pitch Night Miami | Better Food Movement + Seed Food & Wine Week — Come pitch your food startup idea for the chance to win three months-free co-working space at CIC Miami, three promotional videos produced with FYI News, promoted for one month on Facebook from Natcom; cash prizes and more. Moderated by Indulge Magazine’s Evan Benn. Details here.
Friday, Oct. 27
Demo Day | Refresh Miami — Six startups have been selected to pitch to a panel of investors. Details here.
Wednesday, Nov. 1 – Thursday, Nov. 2
unbound Conference — The global unbound conference is coming to Miami. Dozens of speakers are scheduled to present, and the event will also feature networking opportunities and pitch contest. The event takes place at Mana Wynwood. Details here.


text:
When it comes to unveiling new products, no company generates social media chatter like Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) does. The London-based social media agency We Are Social recently conducted a study that examined the number of social media conversations that were related to the launches of four major smartphones over the past 12 months.
We Are Social looked at the launches of the Apple iPhone 5, BlackBerry (NASDAQ:BBRY) Z10, Nokia (NYSE:NOK) Lumia 920, and Samsung (SSNLF.PK) Galaxy S4. After comparing the resultant social media conversations surrounding each launch, the agency found that Apple was the overwhelming leader in the amount of conversation that its flagship device initiated.
In fact, Apple’s iPhone 5 launch generated over 1.7 million mentions on various social media platforms, giving it a 78 percent share of the total amount of conversations surrounding the four separate launches. However, the agency also noted that Apple wasn’t “proactive enough pushing positive messages about the iPhone 5 and any innovation it offered.” As a result, nearly 20 percent of the conversation surrounding the iPhone 5 was categorized as “criticism.”


text:
Energy Drinks: The Truth About the Buzz
Eggnog and apple cider are holiday season favorites, but before enjoying either, students often find themselves gulping down untold amounts of caffeine and energy drinks to get through final exams. With that season upon us once again, the recent New York Times article exposing the possible involvement of the popular “5-Hour Energy” drink with 13 deaths over the last four years couldn’t have been more appropriately timed.
In the article, FDA officials confirmed those records, and also stated that in October, they had received another five fatality filings mentioning Monster, a popular energy drink. Moreover, since 2009, the FDA has received 30 filings implicating 5-Hour Energy in life-threatening cases including heart attacks, convulsions and a spontaneous abortion.
However, just because a report is filed on a product does not mean that the product was responsible for the associated injury or death. The Times article also states that “the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported late last year that more than 13,000 emergency room visits in 2009 were associated with energy drinks alone.”
On a medical science campus like UCSF, caffeine and energy drink use and abuse is widespread. With students studying for finals, interns working round the clock, and faculty juggling teaching, research and clinical responsibilities, caffeine becomes a way of life.
UCSF experts weigh in
But how much is too much? Caffeine, after all, is a potent compound that affects multiple physiological systems.
“Caffeine is a central stimulant, and it acts to prevent inhibition of the brain’s inherent stimulants, the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate,” explains Marieke Kruidering-Hall, associate professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology. “Effectively, the brain goes in overdrive."
In addition, caffeine intake results in the release of neurotransmitters that act on the heart, increasing its rate and contractility. Recent reports in the news media about deaths associated with energy drinks have particularly focused on caffeine’s effect on the heart. However, the risk of having an adverse cardiac event from knocking back a few coffees or an energy drink seems to be minimal for the majority of people.
“For the most part, the usual amount of caffeine the people get with a regular cup of coffee or even two cups of coffee is generally safe,” remarked Dr. Byron Lee, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Cardiology. “People who have normal hearts don’t have dangerous outcomes when they drink that much coffee.”
There is a risk, however, for individuals with heart disease who are particularly sensitive to changes in heart function. These include those predisposed to arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms, and those prone to having seizures.
So what’s the cardiologist’s recommendation for patients who want to consume energy drinks? “I would say that if you use these drinks, feel fine and haven’t had any problems with it, and you have no medical condition, then you’re probably fine,” remarked Dr. Byron Lee. “But if you have medical conditions that may be exacerbated by increases in adrenergic tone or sympathetic stimulation [essentially, an increase in heart rate and contractility], then you need more caution.”
The facts on caffeine content
It is often impressive to consider the number of people who consume caffeinated beverages but have no clue about the relative amounts of caffeine in them. For example, a 16-ounce brewed coffee has almost double the caffeine of a 16-ounce single latte (300 milligrams vs. 150 milligrams, on average). Staying with the coffee theme, medium roast coffee has more caffeine than dark roast, because the prolonged heat of heavier roasting breaks down caffeine molecules.
Likewise, more finely ground coffee has a higher caffeine content, and the longer a coffee is brewed, the greater its caffeine level. One scoop of coffee ice cream has more caffeine (45-75 mg per serving) than a can of Coke. In fact, coffee has so much caffeine that you would have to drink an entire 2-liter bottle of Coke to equal the amount of caffeine in a 12-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee!
Getting your fix on campus
For those of you who are looking to use caffeine and energy drinks responsibly, there are many options on UCSF’s campus. If coffee is your jam, just look up — it’s everywhere, from Palio, Peet’s and Starbucks to the humble coffee machines that grace various lounges and offices on campus. But for those looking for other sources of energy, you’ll have to look a little harder. The only places Rockstar (sugar-free and regular) and Monster energy drinks can be found on campus are in the vending machines adjacent to the Moffitt Cafeteria, and at the Do UC Us food truck on Parnassus (just east of Millberry Union). Mountain Dew can also be found at both of these locations and in the Nursing Cafeteria. Pepsi Max drinkers will need to make a special trip to Panda Express for their drink of choice. For Red Bull, you’ll have to head to the Moffitt Gift Shop or the pharmacy across from Starbucks.
Another go-to for a boost of energy on campus is actually Jamba Juice. Its 3G Charger Boost is “a natural blend of green tea, guarana and ginseng with 120 mg of natural caffeine,” and works in combination with the sugar, carbs and protein in its smoothies to keep you on your toes or focused on your work for hours. And of course, if you do choose to caffeinate this finals season, please make sure you do so wisely — armed with knowledge of numbers and side effects.


text:
July 20, 2016 : Production of the current generation CLS-Class has almost come to an end. However, Mercedes-Benz has revealed their Final Edition of the CLS-Class which will make its way to the next generation car and is expected to launch by 2017-end. If this car makes its way to India it will most likely be launched somewhere around 2018
Brand name, Performance, Opulence, Elegance
An executive four door coupe, the CLS is a unique car that has a very high status value
Magnetite Black Metallic
Designo Hyacinth Red Metallic
Diamond White Bright
The charm of a four door coupe with the efficiency of a diesel, the CLS-Class is now offered in the right combination for India. So should you buy one?
Last year Mercedes-Benz launched the 2014 CLS-Class in India but it only came with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit. Now Mercedes-Benz is about to introduce a diesel mill in the CLS-Class. Get new Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI detailed review for prices, looks, design, engine specifications and other features on zigwheels.
It's fast, gregarious and immaculately luxurious. What more could the upper crust ask for from the face-lift Mercedes-Benz CLS 350? A diesel option perhaps...
Be the first to know about latest offers on CLS in your city. Click Allow


text:
On June 30, I closed the doors to my Toys R Us store that has been my home and livelihood for 30 years. I was awash with memories of happy kids, young parents and birthday parties. I was also angry.
I feel betrayed by Bain Capital, KKR and Vornado Realty Trust for how they abandoned Toys R Us employees and their families.
In March, when I found out that all Toys R Us stores would be closing, I was devastated. “How am I going to pay my bills? What will I do without medical benefits? Will I be unemployed? For how long?”
That same week, I lost my mother.
I took solace in the company’s long track record of providing severance to all employees facing a layoff and was gutted to realize that I wouldn’t receive a penny.
I felt betrayed and alone, until I found a group of other Toys R Us employees who were fighting to get what we’re owed. I joined Rise Up Retail to fight for all of us who are left to fend for ourselves against greedy Wall Street giants.
This didn’t have to happen. Toys R Us has been a profitable company, bringing in $11 billion in sales every year. It’s always been America’s favorite toy store. But Bain Capital, KKR and Vornado burdened Toys R Us with more than $5 billion in debt, which meant the company needed to pay more than $400 million in interest every year. It’s tough to compete with debt like that.
I made sure everyone in my store knew who was really responsible for Toys R Us bankruptcy — Wall Street billionaires. They were mad, too.
So we came together and took action. We flew from Florida to New York City to march directly into the offices of Bain Capital, KKR and Vornado. We shared our stories, our memories and cried from the pain of losing it all. When I came back to Florida, I organized more. I talked to every single one of my coworkers — and workers at other stores, too.
Our store closed, just like hundreds of stores all over the country. Every day this week, employees somewhere protested or walked out of their stores. My store and others across Florida joined in calling for severance pay for all our years of service.
As a leader in Rise Up Retail, I find comfort and support in a community that believes we have to fight for what’s right. There are a million people just like me who work for retailers owned by private-equity firms — Staples, PetSmart, Nine West, Burlington Coat Factory and many more.
You better believe that now tens of thousands of us are unemployed, and we’re doubling down to demand severance. We have all the time in the world to fight Wall Street, and we’re not going away.
Madelyn Garcia of West Palm Beach is a leader for Rise Up Retail, a national movement to win severance pay for Toys R Us employees. She managed the Boynton Beach store until it closed on June 30.


text:
Image: Stephane Bidouze / Shutterstock
From a meagre 2.3 percent of the Household Insecticide (HI) market in 2015, incense sticks have leapfrogged to 12.6 percent by the end of this September. The share of incense sticks as a percentage of coils has increased from 5 percent in 2015 to 31 percent this year, clearly signifying their increasing prominence, notes Edelweiss Securities in its latest report on incense sticks.
In fact, during the first nine months of this year, incense sticks have overtaken mosquito repellent cards in terms of market size. Though incense sticks will not fully replace coils or other forms of HI, risk of market share loss for Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) and Jyothy Labs is quite real, the report predicts, adding that Jyothy labs has recently rolled out Maxo Agarbathi as part of corrective action. “Incense sticks as a format is gaining more acceptance in rural areas given high efficacy,” adds the report. Forbes India brings you the low-down on the new disruptor:


text:
Blockchain has been making its presence felt in every sector starting from education and financial institution to liquor industry. It has also made its way into the art industry. Ethereum blockchain will be employed to facilitate the auction of Andy Warhol’s 1980 work-14 Small Electric Chairs, in exchange for cryptocurrencies.
The auction executed by Dadiani Fine Art at the London’s Mayfair district in partnership with blockchain platform Maecenas Fine Art will put 49% of the Warhol work up for sale on June 20th. The auction house will accept Bitcoin and Ethereum as payment.
The piece is currently estimated at $5.6 million, which is about 730 Bitcoin. This is not the first time that an art piece is purchased using cryptocurrency, but it is said to be the most expensive and high profile. In January 2018, the Art Stage Singapore validated sale of four painting using cryptocurrencies.
The founder of Dadiani Syndicate, Eleesa Dadiani, explained the development:
“We aim to render the future of fine art investments to global reach. The cryptocurrency will broaden the market, bringing a new type of buyer to art and luxury.”
The auction will be commenced on the Ethereum blockchain and using smart contracts, the final price of the painting will be determined. At a recent convention in London, the co-founder of blockchain identify company Codex Protocol, Jess Houlgrave, stated:
“The highest estimate of fraudulent art pieces in the market is 40 percent. In this regard, blockchain’s benefits immediately come to mind – specifically the maintenance of traceable records on a public database that art collectors can view to verify their pieces.”
Eleesa Dadiani, who is popularly called ‘Queen of Crypto’ on May 6th had also tweeted an article, “tokenized Diamonds to Explore ‘Space of What’s Possible With Blockchain” with an opinion that she shared with Times of London newspaper that:
“The world’s wealthy are looking for new ways to invest and the millionaire is changing.”
The post Ethereum [ETH] blockchain to sell art – $5.6 Million Andy Warhol painting to be sold appeared first on AMBCrypto.


text:
Foldable flip phones are seeing their biggest year yet, with launches such as the Motorola Razr+ and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. And, now, it’s looking like the Oppo Find N3 Flip is right around the corner with a new camera design, but the same outer display.
Oppo’s first foldable flip phone, the Find N2 Flip, was announced late last year with what was, at the time, a pretty groundbreaking offer. The device hit the global market in February/March with a 3.26-inch cover display that was more capable than anything else available at the time, and the rest of the device was pretty great too with a solid camera, good hardware, and software that worked well on the foldable.
But several months later, Oppo’s “lead” has somewhat evaporated. The return of the Motorola Razr and the new release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 deliver flip phones with bigger and more capable outer displays than ever.
With Oppo Find N3 Flip, it seems the company won’t be changing anything with that outer display. A new sketch of the Find N3 Flip shared by PriceBaba shows the design with the same display shape and overall size, but with a new camera module next to it. Instead of two individual cutouts, there’s a single circular module with three camera sensors. A flash sits outside of that circle, and there’s Hasselblad branding too.
Besides that, it doesn’t seem the design will change much. A previous leak also suggested this would be the case, but that one didn’t have the updated camera design.
We won’t have to wait long to find out, though. This latest report claims that Oppo will launch the Find N3 Flip as soon as this month, at least in China. A global release wouldn’t be too far behind, though, with that coming in September. That’s much earlier than expected, as Oppo usually announces new foldables towards the end of the year.
More on Oppo:
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


text:
Hadley police arrest three women allegedly shoplifting on Black Friday
Mountain Farms Mall in Hadley, MA (File)
HADLEY, MA (WSHM) -
Hadley police arrested three women early Friday morning in connection with allegedly taking $2,760.46 worth of goods from area shopping malls.
Hadley police officer Mitchell Kuc told CBS 3 three women were arrested at 6:40 a.m. after finding them locked out of their car with a backpack filled with supposed stolen goods at Mountain Farms Mall in front of Wal-Mart.
Arrested were Yessenia Santos, 35, Julissa Rivera, 41 and Michel Maldonado, 24, all of Springfield. Each will be charged with six counts of larceny over $250 and a single count of attempting to commit a crime, larceny over $250.
Officer Kuc had been assigned to Wal-Mart for security purposes during Black Friday morning hours and found an abandoned shopping cart filled with $459.02 worth of merchandise.
Wal-Mart loss prevention employees proceeded to review surveillance video as a result of the findings and saw three people abandon the cart. One was carrying a backpack filled with items.
According to police, the three women contacted a store employee to help them after being locked of their car.
Officer Kuc, who reviewed the camera footage with Wal-Mart employees, responded to the call and recognized the women from the surveillance tape.
Additional officers responded on scene to find the backpack in the parking lot near the women's car.
Hadley officers were able to recover merchandise from Holyoke Mall stores Zumiez, Bath & Body Works, H&M and American Eagle with a value of $2,472.30. Copyright 2014 WSHM (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.


text:
April is National Poetry Month, and Trexler Library is celebrating with our third annual Poetry Contest! The contest is open to the entire DeSales community, and students are eligible for our $50 Bookstore gift card first place prize. In addition, we’ll select a second place student winner who will receive a $25 Bookstore gift card. The contest is open from April 1-30, 2021.
You can enter the contest at the Poetry Month display in our lobby, where you can post your original poem. You can also submit your poem through email to email@example.com. All entries will be posted online at our National Poetry Month guide.
The Academy of American Poets began National Poetry Month in 1996 in order to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the US. Since then, it has grown to become the largest literary celebration in world.