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Your Next Ride
Whether you're struggling to afford your first set of wheels or looking for a luxury-mobile, you'll find it here.
Shakespeare once described the “seven ages” of a person’s life. Clearly, he wasn’t a car guy. For when it comes to the sheet metal in the driveway, there are actually just five stages of life and, thanks to new technology, each is poised for a dramatic makeover. From more powerful and efficient engines to voice recognition and Web access, automakers are introducing innovations designed to appeal to a variety of tastes. Here’s what’s coming to a driveway near you, next year and beyond.
Young Man with Attitude
He has poor cash flow but a desire to impress friends.
A first car doesn’t have to be fast, but it helps. If only satisfying the yearn for burn (as in rubber) wasn’t so darn expensive.
Well, soon it won’t have to be. Inspired by the growing West Coast trend of highly modifying import cars, automakers are now introducing a crop of low-cost speed machines with high-tech, high-output engines. These factory-built mini-muscle cars manage to stuff close to 200 horsepower under the hood, while keeping the price just south of 20 grand.
Putting so much power in a small package isn’t easy. Street-modified Hondas can pump out 400 or more horsepower when equipped with big turbochargers. But production cars have to meet strict emission and reliability standards. This effort has produced powerplants that rev up to 8,000 rpm. The valve system in Honda’s latest engine, for example, which debuted in the 2002 Acura RSX and later will appear in the new Civic Si, takes metallurgy from Honda’s Formula One cars.
Ford, meanwhile, is working with Britain’s Cosworth Technology to develop a 180-horsepower version of its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for the 2002 SVT Focus. With a suspension tweaked by Ford’s special vehicles team, this sport sedan is at home on the highway or the autocross. Nissan brings back the Sentra SE-R for 2002, with 175 hp and sport-tuned suspension. Even General Motors will enter the fray in 2003, with the Vibe. Its unveiling will coincide with the U.S. intro of the new Mini-the revival of the car that, long ago, made England swing.
Boy, how times have changed.
The Couple Who Have It All
They’re reliving their youth; money is no object.
News flash! Older people don’t all want to drive boring sedans.
The success of several nostalgic cars-such as the New Beetle-that evoke memories of better (and younger) days is encouraging a host of followers. The new Ford Thunderbird is an example, taking a famous name and redesigning it with all the modern amenities. It features a fully independent suspension and an overhead-cam V8. Likewise, the new Mini, re-engineered by BMW, takes the theme to a far more refined level. This new version is larger, quieter, and much quicker than the bare-bones original.
Of course, with lots of space, a soft ride, and many comfort features, the mainstream full-size sedan won’t just disappear. What will, though, is its old-fashioned chassis, as domestic automakers shift to modern rear-wheel-drive chassis with sophisticated, European-inspired suspensions.
And as the baby boomers near 60, technology that offsets the signs of aging is becoming more popular. Older buyers love Cadillac’s night-vision system, introduced two years ago. Now, DaimlerChrysler is developing a similar system using infrared technology.
It’s something these drivers will want, as new technology brings more power and sporty handling to the Sunday drive.
Mom by Day, Woman 24/7
She wants to ferry kids safely to baseball games and dance lessons, without feeling like she’s lost her charms.
Truth be told, the sport-utility vehicle has never lived up to the hype. Why? Consider its conflicting ambitions: the room of a minivan, the drivability of a car, the traction of a snowplow, and the image of a ranch hand. The good news is that the SUV of the future promises improved safety and ride, more room, and even better fuel efficiency-all without messing with the coolness factor.
Even the vehicles that started the SUV craze-the Ford Explorer, Chevy Blazer, and Jeep Cherokee-are undergoing dramatic changes for 2002. The Explorer gets a new independent rear suspension, which greatly improves ride and handling. General Motors, meanwhile, has enlarged its stable of midsize SUVs (which include the GMC Envoy, Olds Bravada, and Chevy Blazer, renamed the Trailblazer), which are now powered by a new line of fuel-efficient powerplants. And Chrysler’s Jeep division replaced the popular Cherokee with the Liberty-which is roomier and, thanks to an independent front suspension, drives much better.
The future of these vehicles, however, depends on shedding their truck DNA. Most current SUVs are built on truck platforms, but many future models will be based on cars or even minivans. The end result: a more stable, more spacious, and lighter vehicle-one far more suited for day-to-day use. The 2002 Toyota Highlander is a good example. Like several Japanese models before it, it’s built on a car platform (the Camry’s).
And in an effort to improve safety, automakers are introducing electronic controls that prevent dangerous skids by applying individual brakes. This stability technology is gravitating from luxury cars to SUVs and vans; the Highlander and Volkswagen’s new Eurovan now offer the system. Because SUVs have a high center of gravity, losing control can lead to a rollover. So Ford will add a rollover-protection airbag to the Explorer, which already has optional side airbags. Jeep, meanwhile, now offers a new tire-pressure sensor to monitor stability on the Grand Cherokee. Up to now these devices were only available with run-flat tires.
As midsize SUVs become more car-like, they start looking more like station wagons, which themselves are undergoing a revival, especially in Europe. The newest wagons have high-tech drive systems and lots of space-and rate high on the cool meter too.
Responsibilities leave little time to play, but he wants to anyway.
Real trucks built for real off-roading . . . an outdated notion? Seems so. But still, a third of big pickups are used in the workplace, and there’s a hard-core group of sportsmen among the 5 percent of sport-utility owners who actually take their SUVs off-road.
Real hauling takes real power, and that means fuel economy takes a hit. But help is on the way, in the form of huge gas-mileage improvements-in the neighborhood of 20 percent-within the next five years. Right now, the Big Three are in a dead heat to build hybrid SUVs-trucks that’d use electric power in short boosts to supplement smaller gas engines. Clean diesels, which would likewise improve fuel economy, are also on the drawing board.
In the meantime, General Motors is launching a series of high-tech gas engines, including an inline six-cylinder as powerful as many V8s. The engines, which will appear in the 2002 Chevy Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, and Olds Bravada, also get better fuel efficiency. In addition, next year GM will unveil an engine that closes four cylinders of a V8 under light loads to raise economy. At DaimlerChrysler, the 2002 Dodge Ram gets two new V8s that produce more power from smaller displacements.
And automakers are looking at more than just fuel economy. Ford, for example, has redone the Explorer, adding a fully independent suspension that improves ride and handling. The new Chevrolet Avalanche morphs from a pickup to an SUV (Cadillac’s version is called the EXT). And towing will never be the same with GM’s Quadrasteer, which turns the rear wheels of big pickups. The system debuts on the GMC Sierra this fall, allowing long-wheelbase trucks to cut turns as tightly as a small car.
Land Rover’s new Freelander, meanwhile, incorporates the high ground clearance and wheel travel essential for climbing. Mountain men also are watching Nissan-which plans to introduce a rugged full-size pickup in 2003-and GM’s Hummer division, which intends to launch a modest version of the famous military vehicle by 2004.
Until then, the macho truck award goes to DaimlerChrysler’s hulking G-Class, a semicommercial SUV coming to the U.S. next spring. It’s sure to appeal to the hard-core outdoor guy, but is also intimidating enough to ensure a front-row parking spot at the mall.
Executive on the Go
His car takes the place of an office, and it’s just as comfortable and well-wired.
Say goodbye to the days of long, lonely drives-the kind where you rely on the radio and a cup of Joe to keep you awake. In fact, future cars will have so many communications choices, mostly designed for business travelers, that driver distraction becomes more of a concern.
This tech trend is starting-where else?-with luxury cars. One example is the 2002 BMW 745i, which features so many techno-gadgets that the company had to re-engineer the basic driving controls. The gearshift lever looks more like a turn signal, while the center console sports a kind of aluminum mushroom joystick that operates the heating, cooling, and audio systems. It also controls a data screen that’s on the instrument panel. It’s a radical idea that takes some getting used to, but it does consolidate the usual controls so there are fewer buttons to push. The 745i also has an exotic new powerplant with no actual throttle; this setup significantly improves power and fuel economy.
The road to the wired car has been a long and windy one. The major issue: By the time automakers produce a new model,
the communications technology inside is basically obsolete. (Used-car buyers would end up with an electronic junkyard on the dashboard.) One way to overcome this is to build cars on rolling platforms that can be upgraded at any time. A second is a technology like Bluetooth, the wireless communications protocol that would add capability without more wires. And rather than creating what’s essentially a mobile PC, some automakers are looking to develop communications links that operate via the Internet.
And considering the ongoing debate about driver distraction, particularly related to cellphones, voice recognition systems will play a big role in the future. Several vehicles, including a few new Jaguars and the Infiniti Q45, already respond to verbal commands to, say, turn on the radio or the air conditioning.
And there’s even a technology in development that monitors your eyes, alerting you if it senses that you’re falling asleep. It could be the end of Starbucks.
by Top: Prisma Design Bottom: Mika Grondahl
With drive-by-wire technology, the car can be operated via remote control. Above, the driver fine-tunes his parking from the sidewalk.


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Chinese social media giant Weibo is making a push into foreign markets and is considering launching new products in different languages, a senior executive told AFP, brushing off concerns over censorship and credibility.
The Twitter-style platform has long been prominent in China, known for its heavy censorship and Great Firewall, but it now wants to reach Chinese audiences overseas, Weibo Sports senior operations director Zhang Zhe said.
“We want everyone in the Chinese-speaking world to use Weibo,” he said on the sidelines of this week’s Sports Connects sport-business conference in Dongguan, southern China.
Mr Zhang added that Weibo is also looking into hiving off new, more niche products in different languages, including English, partly inspired by the success of China’s TikTok overseas.
The short-form video-sharing app has proved wildly popular this year. Its Beijing-based creator, Bytedance, this week announced a global tie-up with basketball’s NBA that will allow it to show highlights in several countries, including the US.
“Weibo is a very comprehensively developed product. We not only have videos, we also have images, graphics, articles, even live streams. So we’ve got everything,” said Mr Zhang, speaking through a translator.
“We can’t just introduce Weibo outside the country, because there’s already Twitter, Facebook.
“It doesn’t really make sense to compete directly so if Weibo is going abroad, we think maybe if we have just one dedicated area of the product, we can really cut into the market, like TikTok did.”

domain: news


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That virtually every company in Canada will eventually have some sort of bring-your-own-device policy surrounding mobile gadgets seems no longer to be an “if,” but rather a “when.”
The inevitability of BYOD in the workplace is reinforced by a recent IDC survey commissioned by Samsung Electronics Canada, which found that technology trends such as BYOD are driving significant change for chief information officers in businesses across Canada.
Of the CIOs surveyed, 58% said the number of mobile workers at their company has increased and that 68% of these workers use tablets in addition to mobile phones.
From the study:
BYOD is quickly becoming the new norm for companies across Canada with 53% of CIOs open to employees bringing their own devices to work. When asked why CIOs have a bring their own device policy, 51% responded saying it was to appeal to young workers which will make up 75 per cent of the workforce by 2028. While security still remains a core component, CIOs are being driven by workplace trends to help future-proof their organization.
The key takeaway from that bit is “future-proof”: in 2014, companies rejecting the notion of BYOD are already considered relics of the past by many young and up-and-coming workers.
“The CIO role is shifting from a concentrated focus on managing and protecting centralized back office IT resources to driving employee productivity and empowerment,” aid Warren Shiau, Director, Buyer Behaviour Research Practice, IDC Canada.
The survey reveals that 55% of CIOs are actually adjusting their IT policies based on employee feedback and beginning to recognize the value of these insights in helping to create a more empowered workforce.


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Merchants who use the services of credit card processing giant Square, which was founded by a former PayPal executive, can no longer count on flat rates for payment transactions. According to a news report recently published by Bloomberg, Square has rolled out a new fee structure that no longer sticks to the 2.75% in-store transaction charges that the company had in place for years. The fee has been reduced to 2.6%; however, there is now an additional charge of $0.10 per transaction, when the payment amount is $65 and under.
When Will the Change Take Place?
New Square users will be subject to the new pricing structure right away while existing merchants can expect to see the change in early November. In a blog post published by Square in October, the company explained that the new fee schedule corresponds to an effort to align with competitors in terms of transaction costs.
Industry analysts believe that Square is starting to feel the impact of operating costs related to acquiring new merchants, particularly those that have a higher volume of micro transactions. Square is doing business in a sector that sees retailers spending $108 billion every year to accept electronic payments, and the methods the company has widely utilized to sign up new clients include innovative card readers, terminals, mobile apps, and simplified point-of-sale systems; these value-added services, which are heavily geared towards micro companies such as hot dog carts, translate into high operating costs. The $0.10 fee is intended to offset some of these costs, which can hurt a small businesses’ overhead.
Why the Increase?
When compared to other merchant processing companies, the new fee schedule posted by Square is typical; nonetheless, this is a company that has a disproportionate number of users for whom low-ticket transactions are their bread and butter, and they are the ones who are more likely to complain about being charged an extra $0.10. To a certain extent, Square risks losing clients such as the aforementioned hot dog cart operators, coffee shops, and convenience stores, but average retail transactions are estimated to be between $30 and $35. If anything, Square is attempting to gain more new clients, which could be at the expense of their current ones.
According to WCYB, an NBC News affiliate based in Tennessee, small business owners in the region are not happy with the higher fees being charged by Square. The operators of a bakery, a cafe, and a catering provider explained that they will be passing on costs to customers, and they are strongly considering shopping around for a new merchant processor that specializes in small businesses.


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Karen and Greg Osmon had outgrown the three-bedroom Winston-Salem, N.C., home they lived in with their two children, so they put it up for sale. Unfortunately, they did so in December of 2008, at the height of the financial crisis. With the economy in a downward spiral, they couldn’t find a buyer, and when the property didn’t move for over a year, they were forced to pull it off the market.
The Osmons decided to try selling again in early May of this year, but they’d missed a chance to capitalize on an incentive that had boosted home sales in the months prior: the first-time homebuyer tax credit, an $8,000 federal rebate whose April 30 deadline boosted sales of new homes in that month by 48% over the previous year, according to the Census Bureau.
So they sought out real estate company Coldwell Banker to handle their sale. The company was marketing its own “credit”–a 3% discount or up to $8,000 off the purchase price for buyers who bought from participating sellers. The Osmons had to bring their price down even further from its original $199,900, but given how sluggish the market was, they were willing.
The Bonus Buyer sales event, as Coldwell Banker called it, attracted enough buyer interest that this time the Osmon’s home sold after just over a month on the market.
“We got a lot of traffic really quickly, whereas before we’d go months without a showing,” says Karen Osmon. “Being part of the Buyer Bonus program kind of shows your willingness to work with prospective buyers.”
Many real estate industry players took note of the new customers the government’s homebuyer tax credit brought to the table. And now that it has all but wound down–on Thursday Congress passed a bill giving buyers who had entered contracts before April 30 an extra three months to close their sales–they are looking for ways to imitate its success.
“It’s the right thing to do,” says Coldwell Banker CEO Jim Gillespie, of his company’s program.
Private companies aren’t the only organizations looking to offer housing credits: In March the California state legislature passed a bill offering up to $10,000 to homebuyers who purchased between May 1 and the end of the year.
Some say the credit has been a failure and trying to imitate it doesn’t make sense. Citing a dramatic drop in home sales after the credit expired, economists say it did little more than pull inevitable summer home sales forward and delay a recovery.
“The problem with the housing market is that we built too many homes, and when you have a recession you don’t need that many homes. Household formation pulls back; people move in with their parents or share homes,” says Ted Gayer, an economist at the Brookings Institution. “To the extent that the tax credit isn’t giving away money to people who would have bought anyway, you’re just turning a renter into a buyer. You used up one empty house, but now you have a rental that’s empty.”
“People are moving around because of the tax credit,” says Gayer, “but it’s not getting at the underlying problem.”
So why do so many want to keep it alive?
Housing statistics released for the month of May show that as soon as the deadline for contracts on new homes to be eligible for the credit expired, the market fell into an even deeper slump than economists expected. Contracts signed on homes fell by 30%, new housing starts fell 10% and new home sales fell 33%.
Yet Coldwell Banker’s Gillespie says that focusing only on these statistics is misleading, and that observers shouldn’t be surprised by the post-tax-credit swoon.
“Some people feel the tax credit took buyers from the future out of real estate forever. That’s flawed thinking to me,” says Gillespie. “What’s taking place in the market right now is a drop-off in homes sold after the expiration. We expected this.”
Private initiatives like Coldwell Banker’s won’t hurt the economy, says Gayer, but if they are anything like the federal initiative, they won’t help much either.
“I would have no objection to them spending their own dollar,” he says. “I think looking at both existing sales and new sales numbers for May is striking, and it bodes poorly for the housing market.”
It’s clear why Realtors and home builders favor the credit–the initiative successfully inflated demand, if only temporarily. But whether the economy will benefit from it in the long run isn’t so clear. Some say a tax credit that needlessly spends government money will only hurt homebuyers.
“We’ve spent billions of dollars in a world where people are increasingly skeptical about stimulus spending. There’s only so much we can do with the tax dollar,” says Gayer. “It’s not helping to lead us out of the recession. Maybe it would have been better if we just ripped the Band Aid off.”


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STEWART Industries to open Battle Creek's first Foreign Trade Zone division
STEWART Industries will be the first Battle Creek company to utilize Foreign Trade Zone 43 as the company opens a Foreign Trade Zone division at its location this fall.
A Foreign Trade Zone is an international port of entry where customs agents clear shipments. The benefit of a Foreign Trade Zone is that imported goods can be stored and distributed there without being subject to customs duty. They were created under the Foreign Trade Zone Act of 1934.
“It’s a way for companies to defer their tariffs,” said Mousa Kassis, director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center Export Assistance Network. “It buys leeway for them.”
Foreign Trade Zone 43 covers 14 counties in west Michigan, including Calhoun County. There are currently four other divisions within Foreign Trade Zone 43, which includes Mead Johnson Nutritionals in Zeeland, Ross Products Division of Abbott Labs in Sturgis, Perrigo Company in Allegan and Pfizer Inc. in Kalamazoo.
The port for Foreign Trade Zone 43 has already been in Battle Creek, so Battle Creek Unlimited oversees managing it, since they are the economic developers of the city. Adam Reid, the manager of Port of Battle Creek wanted to give a local business the opportunity to become a user of the trade zone.
“We felt that Battle Creek, as well as many individual businesses, could really benefit if we had a user in the city,” Reid said.
Erick Stewart, President of STEWART Industries, said they began to work with Battle Creek Unlimited more than a year ago to open the division at their location.
“It was a long process, but we should actually be able to get this up and running before we even anticipated,” he said, adding that it should be open by October 1 at the latest.
Stewart said that this gives another reason for people to build relationships with Battle Creek.
“As a member of the community, STEWART Industries is always trying to benefit Battle Creek,” Stewart said. “This is a way to get people to come to Battle Creek. It’s an attraction.”
What are the benefits?
Businesses that utilize STEWART Industries’ Foreign Trade Zone division will not have to pay for the entirety of these tariffs because the area technically falls out of the United States commerce for customs purposes. The company said that they can save their clients up to 80% on foreign tariffs.
If products get transferred to a Foreign Trade Zone, then exported to another country, no duties must be paid on those goods.
Stewart said that another benefit is that goods can be shipped from division to division within Foreign Trade Zone 43 without paying for these custom duties as well.
A benefit of using a foreign trade zone is that duties only must be paid once the products leave the Foreign Trade Zone, so all products that get thrown out because they are considered waste or yield loss will never have duty payments.
“It’s a very smart investment for both STEWART and any of their clients that utilize it,” Reid said.
Kassis said that this will eventually have a positive effect on Battle Creek’s economy in the long-term.
“Companies will come here and invest in the area,” he said. “The biggest benefit of this is that it brings employment into the area. That’s where you will see it the most.”
The national effect
President Donald Trump has imposed a series of foreign trade tariffs during his presidency known as the “Trump Tariffs,” to emphasize production of goods in America. Some of these tariffs include solar panels (30% to 50%), washing machines (30% to 50%), steel (25%) and aluminum (10%). Recently, Trump set a 25% tariff on 818 products imported from China, which has come out to about $50 million, according to the World Trade Organization.
There has also been a tariff put on all goods from Mexico which started at 5% in May and will rise by another 5% each month until it reaches 25% in October.
This has made the use of foreign trades zones more important for American businesses to avoid some of these tariffs.
Kassis believes that trade zones will be utilized more once we start seeing the effects of these recent tariffs.
“We haven’t seen the effects make a major impact yet,” he said. “But a company can go from paying 30% on tariffs to 5%, which could mean paying $5,000 as opposed to $30,000. It’s a numbers game that saves you cash.”
Who is STEWART Industries?
STEWART Industries is a manufacturing company that helps companies improve their product quality, line-balance issues and off-line processes.
They serve clients in industries such as automotive, military, medical, lawn and garden and furniture, among others. Stewart said that while many assemblies have moved toward automatic assemblies, they focus on products that are too complex for a machine to assemble.
“We make some pretty unique parts,” he said. “The products we have assembled have gotten more complicated as we’ve grown as a company.”
They have been in contact with many employers locally in Battle Creek, as well as all over west Michigan who will use their Foreign Trade Zone division once it opens in the fall.
Stewart said that operations at STEWART Industries will not change much once they are cleared to be a foreign trade zone division.
“Our operation isn’t going to look any different in here,” he said. “It’s just an economic benefit for both us and our clients.”
Contact Brooks Hepp at (269) 223-0114 or firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow him on Twitter at @BrooksHepp.


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Just as everyone was curiously waiting for the next Panda update, there is a lot of buzz online about the new Panda update from Google. There is a renewed interest online lately about the much anticipated Google Panda update. Google has seemingly confirmed its latest Panda update, which is popularly known as Panda 26. However, this update is expected to bring some good news to the webmasters because this update is more finely targeted.
There are claims that Google has confirmed the next Panda update and that Google will be targeting those bad sites and leave the good sites alone. Those who have been hit badly in the past with the Panda update are reporting positive changes in their website’s ranking.
Discussions at the Webmasterworld and other SEO blogs and forums point to Google Panda update. One of the Webmasterhelp videos from Matt Cutts from May this year points to a ‘Softer’ Panda update. Google will look for more authority signals in this Panda update and if adequate authority signals are identified, then it will help the websites.
Google has already indicated that it is not keen confirming to external sources on Panda updates any longer. Despite this fact, webmasters believe that there are enough clues to put together that Panda update might be out. Google has also pointed out earlier that in one of the videos of Matt Cutts that Google is keen on softening the Panda update. Putting all these factors together and taking into account the latest changes some of the blogs and websites are experiencing, webmasters suspect that the latest, more finely targeted Google Panda update may be underway. Number of websites report more traffic and better ranking already after 19 July.
The positive changes are attributed to the Panda recovery. According to Barry Schwartz, Google has confirmed the panda update. Though this source indicates that Google has confirmed the Panda update, no other direct sources from Google have indicated the latest Google Panda update. The forum discussions are just pointing to the fact that the update may have already been effected based on the positive changes experienced by various website owners and bloggers online. The buzz could be based on inferential posts that are seen in the popular forums and blogs on SEO.
Whatever be the case, many webmasters are breathing a great sigh of relief because their websites are experiencing positive results. Keep a tab on your website’s ranking in Google and observe the motion. The Panda updates are pushed on monthly basis according to Google and they run for a period of 10 days as per the earlier reports of Google. Your website is likely to experience some changes in the next week. As Google is not really ready to spill the beans on Panda update, we can only go with the inferences.


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Saturday, November 30, 2013: ACME has plans to install 110 MWh of Lithium Ion batteries in India and Africa in telecom, solar power, defence sectors along with other allied industries in both the countries. ACME is a leading player in energy management and innovative solutions for alternate energy sector.
The firm has come together with Samsung SDI to manufacture and marketing of lithium ion batteries.
TelecomTiger reported that as per the agreement, ACME will be the Sole Partners of Samsung SDI in India and Africa markets, has the exclusive right to use Samsung SDI’s technology and will aim sale of upto 110 MWh of lithium ion batteries by FY 2016in the above two regions.
An estimate given by Frost & Sullivan states that the global market for Li-Ion segment was around $11.7 billion in year 2012 with 64 per cent share of consumer batteries i.e. mobile phone, cameras, laptop, tablet PC and power tools, etc. This number is expected to grow to double by 2016 .
This technology will help a number of industries in India raning from telecom, utilities, defense, off-grid, logistics and others.
“Samsung SDI being world’s biggest Lithium Ion Battery manufacturer and leader in technology and innovation, is our partner for manufacturing and marketing Energy Storage System (ESS) solution in India and Africa. We believe the unique strength of the two partners will be able to create and offer disruptive and right solutions for the Indian market to resolve issues related to back up power and distributed generation,” said Manoj Kumar Upadhyay, chairman and managing director, ACME.
KH Kim, vice president, Marketing and Sales, Samsung SDI told TelecomTiger,” By this strategic alliance with ACME, Samsung SDI will make a milestone to expand our business of the energy storage system in India and Africa market. As a leading company of LIB-ESS industry, we will keep continuing to explore the market in India and Africa. We believe, with Samsung’s quality, capability and ACME’s network, we can reach our goal to become No.1 in this LIB-ESS business.”


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We've improved Slashdot's video section; now you can view our video interviews, product close-ups and site visits with all the usual Slashdot options to comment, share, etc. No more walled garden! It's a work in progress -- we hope you'll check it out (Learn more about the recent updates).
satuon (1822492) writes "In a recently screened BBC documentary called 'Secrets of the Superbrands', UK neuroscientists found that the brains of Apple fans are stimulated by images of Apple products in the same areas as those triggered by religious imagery in a person of faith.
According to the scientists, this suggests that the big tech brands have harnessed, or exploit, the brain areas that have evolved to process religion." Link to Original Source
"One Architecture, One OS" also translates as "One Egg, One Basket".


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Crouching tiger, hidden dragon?
Volatility is nothing new for Asian markets, however the last few months have seen the substantial gains of the previous twelve months unwind, with uncertainty creeping into the sector.
We see three key stories emerging from the Asian technology sector:
- The threat of ongoing regulation of Chinese businesses at home and of Chinese companies listing offshore
- The relative price discount relative to international counterparts due to this uncertainty
- Why this might represent a long-term buying opportunity
Asian technology markets are off 15% from their February highs – should we buy the dip?
Household Asian technology names have seen
increased volatility, and unwound some of the gains enjoyed during the Covid
crisis. For example, Alibaba has lost around one third of its value since its
peak last year and is currently trading at a significant discount to its
American counterpart Amazon. Similarly, Samsung is down around 15% and is
currently trading at a significant discount to the PE of its American
counterpart Apple. (1)
It is worth considering the demographic case for investing in technology, specifically in Asia.
Over 900 million people are currently online in China (2), and this extends to 2.7 billion (3) people in greater Asia. We are seeing the expansion of a strong middle class in the Asia-Pacific region, which is forecast to make up nearly 66% of the global middle-class population by 2030 and should continue to bolster consumer spending domestically (4) over the course of this century.
With this in mind, it is clear that Asian companies that operate online will benefit from multiple tailwinds over the course of the next fifty years.
Asian technology companies tend to have diverse revenue streams, and are able to drive revenue and earnings across multiple platforms and sectors. For example, advertising slumped on Tencent’s WeChat network last year, but its video-gaming franchise surged during lockdowns. Similarly, Alibaba was able to offset falling consumer spending with rising demand for its cloud services over the course of the last few years.
Solid earnings growth is expected.
The titans of Asian technology and online retail are forecast to maintain significant sales and earnings momentum as online payments are established as the predominant transaction platform.
Regulatory issues are ‘short term pain – long term gain’
Regulatory issues are a valid concern when considering an investment in the Asian technology sector, however, we need to remember that the Chinese Government recognises the technology sector is a growing, and already crucial part of their economy, and is an industry which is now maturing. The benefits from increased investment and growth within the Chinese technology sector flow not only to the industry and the Chinese economy, but also to the Chinese Government.
It’s also important to understand that ongoing regulatory risk affects other technology economies as well, for example U.S. regulators are looking at antitrust proceedings against the big U.S. tech names. As is the case in China, however, the technology space is vital for the U.S. economy. Regulators know this, and want to protect competition and foster continued investment and growth.
Alibaba, Tencent and other major Chinese tech companies have been targeted by Chinese regulators looking to assert control, and up until this point, they have been keen to keep the regulators happy.
These companies are local champions, and have an innate understanding that they must keep the state onside, so they have recently announced increased investment in the cloud, artificial intelligence (A.I.), autonomous driving, robotics, and logistics – all tech priorities for the state.
Tencent has even earmarked US$8 billion for public welfare investments. The tech companies are ensuring they remain onside with the state, while for the state’s part, they are keenly aware of the importance of these companies to the Chinese economy.
Part of the situation is political positioning, with Chinese regulators wanting to encourage domestic listings. However, regulators are also concerned about longstanding problems such as personal information collection and cross-border data flow, which from a national security point of view may be valid.
“Internet giants with immense data and advanced algorithms should shoulder greater responsibility, aim higher and do more in tech innovation… but this is a fine line to tread for the state, as the state and its tech firms need each other, as tech companies drive innovation, efficiency and stimulate the consumer economy”
It is clear that there lies a middle ground between regulation and unabashed growth.
Semiconductors could protect from reflationary worry
In discussions with clients, we have spoken of the global semiconductor shortage given that auto manufacturers scaled back car production at the beginning of the pandemic, only to see a huge increase in the demand for chips in other areas of the market as Covid dragged on.
Asian giants Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor are household names when it comes to the production of semiconductors. Should we see further interest rate speculation on the upside, this could be seen as a positive for these businesses, given the price inelasticity and relative specialisation that goes into making semiconductor chips.
Furthermore, China is investing heavily in semiconductor manufacturing complexes — accounting for more than half of global construction spending in this space - though Chinese manufacturing capabilities are reportedly still far behind (approximately five years) that of Taiwan or South Korea – further good news for the Chinese technology growth story.
Asian tech may be one of the best spots to look for emerging markets growth in this environment
Traditional BRIC emerging markets exposure is somewhat skewed in terms of growth profile, e.g. Russian oil and gas and Brazilian iron ore in our view aren’t necessarily attractive investments at this point in time. This leaves you with emerging Asia and its rising technology sector, which can produce scalable growth alongside its huge online population.
Australian investors can gain exposure to Asian technology companies via the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA), which provides exposure to the 50 largest Asian technology companies (ex-Japan) in a single ASX trade. Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor currently make up around 20% of ASIA’s portfolio.
(2) InternetLiveStats.com - 21/07/2021
(3) https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm - 21/07/2021
(4) Asian Consumers.” Deloitte Insights, Deloitte, www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/economy/asian-consumer-spending-growth.html
(5) (VIEW LINK)
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Blair is responsible for supporting the distribution of BetaShares funds to Advisers across Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Previously, Blair worked at Macquarie Bank in Distribution and Key Account roles within the Specialised Investments...


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Independent video game development studio Double Fine Productions shouldn’t have any problems keeping its latest project under budget. Looking to begin development on its upcoming title, the San Francisco-based company took the project to crowd-funding site Kickstarter earlier this month and now finds itself up to its forehead in cash.
With nearly three weeks still remaining, Double Fine Adventure has already received more than $2 million in donations, an astounding 500 percent above the studio’s initial goal of $400,000. On the current pace, Double Fine may have as much as $4 million to spend developing its point-and-click adventure game.
After achieving its goal in less than eight hours, Double Fine Founder Tim Schafer said that the studio is planning a number of enhancements for the game, including greater production value, an accompanying documentary, a soundtrack and support for additional languages.
The company later updated its Kickstarter page with more ways to spend its newfound cash, headlined by a closed beta and digital-rights-management-free version of the game available only to backers who pledged more than $15.
As promised, Double Fine also plans on paying back its supporters with a host of other extras, all depending upon how much each backer donated. No word as to when the game will be ready, but Double Fine did say it is being developing for PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
The success of Double Fine’s campaign underscores the brilliance of Kickstarter and the desire for your everyday consumer to help fund ideas that they feel have real value. Two other inspirations – a comic book and an iPhone dock – each surpassed the $1 million threshold this month, with hundreds of other ideas achieving less lofty donation goals.
Many successful companies, ranging from solidified industry veterans to thriving start-ups, have begun heading to the Kickstarter to get funding from their supporters, rather than from banks or venture capitalist firms.
Portable storage device maker Hypershop was one of the more successful Kickstarter companies, raising over $260,000 to make a gadget that connects USB storage devices like hard drives, flash drives and cameras to iPads and other iOS devices. For a $69 pledge, backers were the first to get their hands on the $99 CloudFTP device.
The gadget, which is now available for sale on the general market, made its debut at CES 2012 in Las Vegas. Check out the video below for an insider’s look at the device and a more in-depth take on the Kickstarter campaign.


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VerHeul, who was appointed corporate vice president of silicon design, will head up development of all future AMD computing chips, including product road maps and design at all engineering sites globally, the company said in a statement.
Earlier this week, the two companies extended and expanded a. In an arrangement set to last through 2011, they plan to work on chip-manufacturing techniques using 32- and 22-nanometer processes, among other things.
AMD ranks a distant second in the market for microprocessor chips that serve as the central controls of personal computers.
Its development of chips capable ofat a time, or twice as much data as conventional 32-bit chips used in most PCs, has helped AMD to snatch back market share from in PC microprocessors.
In a statement, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said the hiring of VerHeul strengthens AMD's ability to bring the benefits of its 64-bit microprocessor technology to a wider range of customers and markets around the world.
VerHeul worked at IBM for 25 years. Most recently, he led the creation of the company's engineering and technology services business, a contract engineering business that designs chips on a custom basis for customers such as Honeywell and Nortel Networks.
Previously, VerHeul was IBM's vice president of workstation and server computer development.


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Report: Is Apple’s iPhone losing fans?
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The report found that 88 percent of iPhone owners in the U.S. will buy their next phone from Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), down from 93 percent in 2011, per the report from Strategy Analytics Inc. in Boston.
The report found that chinks in Apple’s image began to manifest in recent months; first with the release of the iPhone 5, which has a flawed map function, and then the more recent iPad mini announcement.
“There is no doubt that Apple is continuing its success in retaining existing user base while attracting new customers,” said Paul Brown, a director at Strategy Analytics, in a statement. “However, negative press prompted by a perceived lack of recent innovation by Apple has meant we are starting to see some growth in the number of previously highly loyal consumers who are now reconsidering whether or not they will purchase a new iPhone for their next device.”
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Asics sees record Q1 as all regions boom
Japanese sports giant Asics has reported its Q1 results and said it achieved record sales as the “normalisation of social and economic activities is progressing with in-person sporting events having truly reopened and people able to move freely for the first time in several years”.
Net sales were ¥152.2 billion (€1bn/£891m/$1.1bn) in the January to March period, the highest ever for a first quarter (excluding irregular accounting periods for FY2014), growing by 44.6% year on year in total and by 35% currency-neutral.
Net sales of Onitsuka Tiger increased by 38.8% year on year to ¥12.1 billion due to increased revenue in the Japan region, “which is experiencing a trend of recovery in inbound net sales, [and] the Southeast and South Asia regions, which are experiencing tremendous growth”.
In Japan, company-wide net sales rose 61.9% while in Greater China they were up 41.2%, and the Southeast/South Asia regions (“one of the company’s future growth drivers”) increased by 91.1%, “demonstrating significant growth in each region”.
The company also said e-commerce sales grew by 45.1% year on year to ¥22.2 billion.
Despite deteriorating foreign exchange rates in purchasing goods, the gross profit ratio improved by 0.3 points year on year to 50.2%, “demonstrating our success with optimising selling prices”.
Operating income was ¥22.1 billion, the highest ever for the first quarter, more than doubling on the year. Ordinary income increased 99.3% to ¥21.9 billion, and net profit increased 86.9% to ¥16.3 billion.
The firm’s EMEA division added that it saw record revenues as well with a 30.2% year on year rise (excluding Onitsuka Tiger) and an operating income margin of 15%.
The region saw profitable growth across all its categories in Q1, including Performance Running, Tennis, Indoor and SportStyle.
Wholesale channels reported year on year growth of 34.4% with significant increases in Benelux (45.2%), France (69.5%), Germany (39.2%), Iberia (55.5%), Italy (57%), Sweden (55.1%) and the UK (15.6%) versus Q1 2022.
EMEA e-commerce growth was 31.9%.
The region’s CEO Carsten Unbehaun said: “This has been an incredibly strong financial quarter. As we look ahead, despite the challenging market circumstances, we remain confident. We continue to drive new product innovation and are receiving incredible product reviews and recommendations from consumers, experts and athletes.”
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IT professionals with skills in Amazon Web Services will once again swarm Las Vegas come October.
FCC votes in new U.S. net neutrality rules
Supporters of drone technology gave a mostly warm response to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposals that would open U.S. skies to commercial drone flight.
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Amazon will launch an enterprise email and calendar service that competes against products from Microsoft and Google, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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Amazon has pulled the plug on its Wallet app, a service the company launched in beta six months ago to dip its toes into the burgeoning area of mobile payments.
It's been a week of milestones for Amazon's ambitions as content producer, as it makes its way down a path paved by another Internet-based company -- Netflix. Both companies are now giving legacy producers of quality TV content a run for their money,...
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Amazon.com continued to increase its sales last quarter but losses also mounted, to the growing consternation of investors.
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GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.


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Had your eye on Samsung’s new 5.5-inch Galaxy Note, but been hesitant to embrace the unlocked model’s $799 price point? Well, eBay’s Daily Deals is having a sale on the newfangled phablet, offering the unlocked 16GB international model for $579.99 off-contract, in your choice of grey or white. This particular variant will support 3G on HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 bands, meaning both T-Mobile and AT&T’s networks will be suitable.
The Galaxy Note II sports a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1280 x 720 resolution and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. The new model also comes equipped with a revitalized S-Pen, which has been enhanced to offer more precise and accurate functionality. As with most other Samsung handsets, the device’s storage is expandable via MicroSD, so having enough space shouldn’e be an issue. Hit the source link below to get in on the action.
The Holidays seem to come sooner each year and with them comes everyone favorite 5AM mall rampage known as Black Friday. For many of us, Black Friday is a chance to score a new phone at a reasonable price, and the latest leak of RadioShack’s Black Friday deals seem to promise just that.
So far the deals look to include an HTC One X for free with a new 2-year contract, as well as a Galaxy S III on Sprint for $50 or AT&T for $100. Other free phones include the Samsung Stratosphere 2 on Verizon, AT&T’s Galaxy SII Skyrocket, and Sprint’s Galaxy S II. Phones aren’t the only thing on sale either– all Zagg screen protectors are 25% off as well as many cases and headphones are marked down as well.
So, if you happen to be looking for a new phone or maybe just some extra accessories for your current device, this is definitely worth a look, especially when RadioShack is offering $10 store credit for every $50 spent.
As we inch closer to the impending launch of LG’s Nexus 4, Verizon has put the Galaxy Nexus on sale. Last year’s Nexus smartphone is now available for $230, with no need to sign up for a painful new contract. Keep in mind the units in question are “Certified Pre-owned”, but Verizon claims that each phone has passed over 100 quality checkpoints to assure the utmost condition. And, each device comes with a full 1-year warranty, meaning if something happens to the device, Verizon will replace it free of charge.
Sure, the Galaxy Nexus may not be the latest and greatest, or even sport relatively fresh hardware, but at just $230 it’s difficult to pass up this opportunity. For comparison, Sony’s unlocked Xperia Activ –which sports a single core processor, a 3-inch display (320×480) and 3G– costs $250. Add this to the fact that this deal won’t affect your contract or future upgrades, and you’re left with one incredible deal. Hit the source link below before they’re sold out.
It’s time to break out the bubbly and party favors as Google has just achieved another major milestone. As Google now has 675,000 apps and games available in the Play Store, it can now lay claim to having over a whopping 25 billion downloads. This means as the number of Android users continues to trend upwards, so too the number of downloads in the Play Store. To celebrate this joyous feat, Google has announced major discounts of popular apps and games over the next five days. Users will be able to find offerings from developers such as Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Rovio, runtastic, Full Fat and more– for just 25¢ each. In addition, Google will also be offer some special collections like 25 movies you must own, 25 banned books, 25 albums that changed the world and our 25 top selling magazines, all at special prices.
The special deals aren’t up in the Play Store just yet— but should be available at some point later today.
source: Official Android Blog
Google is going all out with its End of Summer Sale. Developers have teamed up with the search giant to offer some incredible deals on some of the hottest apps and games inside the Play Store. Top titles like Max Payne and Crystal Defenders, as well as Modern Combat 3 and N.O.V.A. 3 have been slashed down to just 99 cents for the special occasion. There’s also a healthy slew of productivity apps available, so you’re bound to find something that suits you.
To make your life easier, we’ve compiled a list of the apps included in the sale as well as direct links to the Play Store after the break. Yes, you’re welcome.
Considering the Samsung Galaxy S III is the most hyped phone currently out, who wouldn’t want to pick up this phone on a sweet deal right? Radio Shack has your back and is currently offering the Sprint Galaxy SIII (Pebble Blue, 16GB) for just $149.99 for those opening a new account or upgrading their current device. In case you haven’t read about the phones specs enough, the Galaxy S III sports a 4.8″ HD Super AMOLED display, Android 4.0.4 (with TouchWiz overlay), 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera and 1.9MP FFC, and all powered by a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor. If the specs still aren’t convincing you about this device, then check out our review of the Galaxy S III!
If you’re a Sprint customer looking for an affordable super-phone upgrade, then this should be right up your alley. Any of our Sprint readers looking to take advantage of this deal? Hit up the source link!
source: Radio Shack
Unhappy with your existing mobile carrier and considering Verizon’s awesome mobile service, while also desiring that
almost pure Android experience found in the Galaxy Nexus smartphone? Online retailer Amazon Wireless may just have the deal for you. It has just announced a very sexy deal where it is offering the awesome device for a mere 1¢. Yes you read that right… new Verizon customers will be able to grab the 4G LTE and Android 4.0.4-powered smarphone for a penny. While this deal is only for new customers, Amazon hasn’t forgotten existing customers may very well be interested in the device as well. That’s why it will be offering the Galaxy Nexus to existing customers for a not-too-shabby price of $50 as well.
The Amazon promotion link is currently not live yet, but be sure to keep checking as it will appear anytime now. Oh and you’ll want to make sure you do that too— the deal for both new and existing customers is a limited time only.
source: Amazon Wireless
Last week we reported that game developer group Because We May had announced 39 titles that they would offer for 50% off between May 24 and June 1. Pretty awesome deal, right? As of today, the list has gained another 50 more titles giving Memorial Day weekenders something to do while relaxing at home. The games can be found in the Play Store as well as links to them on BWM’s website. Hit the link below to get the goods!
Remember when everyone was frantically looking for an HP TouchPad during their fire sale? I must have called 5 different Best Buy stores in my area with no luck. I have to say that, even today, I still love the beauty and finesse of WebOS. Of course the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich offers a very similar charm, but WebOS was clearly ahead of its time. That said, if you were burned from the fire sale (no pun intended) and would still consider a TouchPad for a good price, then look no further than Woot.com.
For today only, Woot is offering refurbished 32 GB HP TouchPads for only $194.99. In case anyone has forgotten, the HP TouchPad specs include a 9.7-inch 1024×768 IPS display, dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, and let’s not forget that gorgeous WebOS software under the hood. Many TouchPad owners have taken to the development streets and have flashed custom Android ROMs on their TPs.
So no matter what software you fancy, $200 for the hardware alone is a great deal. Hurry and hit the source link below to get the goods before they run out!
With Google continuing its push into the TV market and not letting Google TV die it’s hard being an early adopter of new technology. The Logitech Revue is a prime example of an early adoption device that didn’t receive much fanfare. The once $299 device dropped to just $99 in hopes that the product would move. Well if you’re hesitant about Google TV and are not wanting to drop a serious chunk of change on a device then this deal might be for you. Newegg is selling a refurbished model of the Revue for just $73.99.
This box goes beyond Apple TV and the Roku media streaming option by packing in the ability to download apps, having a web browser and coming with a keyboard. It was knocked, however, for lacking support for Hulu and having a lack of app selection options. Netflix and Pandora seem to be the only highlight in regards to media sources.
The device was updated to Google TV 2.0 in hopes to remedy the fully admitted flop the device was. However even though it was reported that the device was sold out it’s still safe to say the device did not fair well. So why would you want one you ask? Well because it’s yet another Android device that can be tinkered with. I know that appeals to some Android fanatics out there. While I am waiting on the next batch of Google TV devices to arrive, it’s hard not to jump on this deal.


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The Middle East broadcasting industry has reached a defining moment in its development that could see a shift away from today’s free-to-air (FTA) dominated landscape towards subscription-based, on demand services, according to YahLive CEO Mohamed Youssif.
The growth of FTA channels in the region has levelled-off during the past year and Youssif believes this is the beginning of a major reorganisation of the broadcast industry as a whole.
“At the moment people give their spare time to view free entertainment,” said Youssif, speaking exclusively to DPME.com. “But this model will not last much longer. People don’t have much free time these days, now they want to watch what they want, when they want.”
“We are at a crossroads and the [business] has to change to accommodate this. With broadcasters being squeezed by expensive content and a challenging advertising market, they have to start looking at another source of revenue – a viewer supported model – pay TV,” said Youssif.
“If you look at the figures around the world subscription is outpacing advertising as a source of revenue. Many broadcasters are starting to realise this and are looking for a new business model,” claimed Youssif. “The FTA networks are looking at ways to monetise their content and once they figure that out they will start to launch new services and new channels to address this.
“I feel it is about time that people get used to the idea of paying for their TV. We do pay for everything else – our electricity, water, phone calls, when we drive on the roads – why does TV have to be free? People demand top quality content even though they are paying nothing.”
With viewers now increasingly expecting HD and to a lesser extent 3D services, broadcasters are also being asked to find new funds to back these ventures. This combination of factors means the industry is now in “the calm before the storm”, according to Youssif.


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Rarely can a company’s financial performance be deemed successful with seemingly mediocre financial results, but Universal Music Group is having a decent 2020 all things considered. Its segments either did great or poorly, with little in between: Recorded music streaming revenue dropped 4.5% from Q1 to Q2, digital downloads cratered 26.3% and, with no artists touring since mid-March, merchandise revenues fell 27.2% from Q1 and 80.8% from Q2 2019. Including Q1 revenues that were little affected by the pandemic, Universal’s revenue grew 6.2% to €3.5 billion ($4.1 billion at current conversion rates) in the first half of the year.
The first wave of music’s Q2 earnings reports — from Spotify, SiriusXM and UMG, all last week — reinforce the importance of the subscription streaming model in today’s music business, and its necessity during a pandemic-created economic recession. In spite of sharp declines in physical product and merchandise sales, and although advertising-supported services suffered from brands’ cutbacks on spending, UMG’s total revenue declined only 4.5% from Q1 to Q2 and 3.8% from Q2 2019. The recorded music division’s streaming revenue fell 6.5% from Q1 to Q2 and 3.6% from Q2 2019. For the first half of 2020, total revenue was up 6.2% year over year.
Universal’s bottom line helps show why record labels and publishers have not laid off workers during the pandemic: while first-half revenues grew 6.2%, earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITA) rose 18% from €481 million to €567 million ($566 million to $667 million). Half-year cash flow from operations improved 20.7%, from €372 million in 2019 to €449 million in 2020 ($438 million to $528 million) before adjustments for acquisitions, net payments to artists and other capital expenditures. Which is to say UMG is in good financial health. Parent company Vivendi has €3.7 billion ($4.4 billion) of available credit and €2.13 billion ($2.5 billion) of cash and cash equivalents, more than enough for a diversified, profitable company.
Looking forward, streaming revenue should fare better in Q3 than Q2: Subscription revenue will most likely be stable — judging from Spotify’s expectation of continued subscriber growth in Q3 — and advertising revenue will continue the rebound from the dismal April at Spotify and Pandora.
Universal’s Q2 results didn’t break out subscription and advertising revenue, although three earnings releases last week provide clues. We know Spotify grew subscription revenue 2% and advertising revenue dropped 11.5% from Q1 to Q2, Pandora’s advertising revenue fell 17% from Q1 to Q2, and YouTube’s Q2 revenue — on all videos, including music — dropped about 6% from Q1. Asked about the subscription-advertising revenue breakdown, the company pointed to IFPI’s global data for 2019: 75% of streaming revenue came from subscriptions and 25% from ad-supported audio and video services.
Publishing also carried Universal in the first half of the year, accounting for 52.7% of the company’s revenue growth. Part of the gain came from a €15-million, one-time gain related to a royalties claim that led publishing royalties’ growth from €271 million to €302 million, making it the only division to post a gain from Q1 to Q2. Even without the one-time gain, publishing revenues would have grown 6%.
Here are six other questions answered in the Vivendi earnings report and call:
What was Vivendi’s profit on its sale of a 10% stake to Tencent for €3 billion?
Vivendi recorded a capital gain of €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) on the €3 billion sale ($3.5 billion) sale.
What did Vivendi do with the €3 billion it received from Tencent’s purchase of a 10% stake in Universal in March?
Half of the proceeds were returned to shareholders through share buybacks.
Tencent — along with other investors — has the right to acquire an additional 10% stake in Universal. What’s the status of that potential deal?
Vivendi CEO Arnaud de Puyfontaine said, “We have been approached by many different interests and the process is currently happening.”
Could Universal move up its IPO date?
It is open to the idea. Warner’s successful IPO — following a COVID-19-led market downturn — and current $18.1 billion enterprise is evidence investors view streaming services like Spotify as gold mines. (Access Industries acquired Warner in 2011 at a $3.3 billion valuation.) Tencent’s investment of a 10% stake in March valued Universal at $33 billion. Could Universal do better? “We are welcoming the good results on the Warner Music IPO,” de Puyfontaine said. He reiterated Universal’s plan for an IPO “no later than early 2023” but added it “could consider an earlier IPO” depending on unnamed “different factors.”
What is Universal doing with its roughly 4% stake in Spotify? Warner Music Group, Sony Music and Merlin all sold their shares soon after Spotify’s 2018 IPO.
Universal will hold its Spotify shares — worth approximately $1.9 billion at the July 31 closing price — for the foreseeable future. And judging from de Puyfontaine’s comments, Universal treats the equity stake like a strategic investment; all major rights holders received Spotify shares as part of previous licensing agreements. “We do consider that the long-term relationship is in the best interest of both our shareholders and our artists,” said de Puyfontaine.
Do Universal and Spotify really have that close a relationship?
It’s certainly being painted as a mutual admiration society the way executives talk about the other company. As Spotify said multiple times during its July 29 earnings call, Universal is the first label group to take Spotify’s marketing tools for a spin en masse. The relationship between Spotify and Universal “is based on working together,” said de Puyfontaine, continuing that he expects “the agreement will help bring innovation” and give UMG’s music “the “highest possible proportion” of listeners.


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Magician Bart Glatt will share his magician’s secrets with children at Chick-fli-A on Saturday. (Special to the American Press)
Last Modified: Thursday, June 20, 2013 10:43 AM
Chick-fil-A will serve up a side of magic with its usual offerings of chicken and waffle fries when it hosts an appearance by local magician Bart Glatt on Saturday.
Glatt will share his magician’s secrets with children and will teach tricks that use household objects. The performance will be 1-5 p.m. at Chick-fil-A at 3435 Nelson Road.
“The magician’s code says that you should never reveal the secrets of your illusions, so normally doing something like this would be breaking that code. But we’re allowed to break it when it’s to educate future magicians,” Glatt said.
“Learning magic is just a really good way for the kids to do something not everyone can do. Not everyone can sing, not everyone can draw, but if they are willing to give themselves to it, they can do magic.”
Glatt said it’s important to pass on the tradition of magic — a tradition that has captivated him since he learned a trick to fulfill an assignment when he was a seventh-grader at F.K. White. He said it changed his life.
“Before that I was a really shy person, but magic has opened all kinds of doors for me and now I’ve traveled all over the world, performed for over 2 million people, including celebrities and presidents,” he said. “If you really apply yourself in magic, you’d be surprised where you can go.”
Glatt said he’ll teach the children, in a step-by-step way, tricks that can easily be reproduced at home using ordinary objects — cards, rubber bands, coins, pencils.
A representative of Chick-fil-A said the restaurant is always looking for new family-friendly ways to entertain its guests.
“At Chick-fil-A, we have our normal events like Cow Appreciation Day, where kids come to the restaurant dressed as cows and eat for free,” said Irene Vandever, marketing director. “With Bart Glatt’s magic you have something that appeals to the children but that parents are just as enthralled by.”


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A third of U.S. small businesses have reinstated COVID-19 restrictions, survey finds
A third of small business owners across the U.S. have voluntarily reinstated pandemic restrictions during the latest surge in COVID-19 cases, new data show.
That's a big change from as early as May, when 85% of small businesses were fully open, as infections subsided and government-mandated rules for businesses lifted. But by August that figure had dropped to 63%, according to a survey by Kabbage, a small business lender owned by American Express.
Among the safety measures employers have reinstituted, as the Delta variant spreads, are the limiting of customer capacity as well as the requirement that both workers and patrons be vaccinated.
But those steps can create tensions for businesses, Kathryn Petralia, co-founder of Kabbage, told CBS MoneyWatch.
"Businesses would like for somebody else to make a decision about this. As a business, it's hard to impose restrictions and be the only one suggesting that people do something they don't want to do," she said. "More federal- and state-level mandates have emboldened and reinforced business owners' desire to protect themselves, their employees and customers."
Between July and August, Kabbage polled 550 small business leaders across the retail, health care, financial services, technology, food and other sectors. Some 35% of small business owners said they would require proof of vaccination for customers wishing to unmask.
But owners of the smallest firms — those with fewer than 20 employees — were the least likely to adopt and enforce such a requirement, presumably to avoid conflict with customers or the extra cost of requiring the vaccine by employees.
"Smaller businesses are the the most vulnerable and have fewer expectations that customers and employees will be vaccinated because restrictions are hard to impose," Petralia said.
A year and a half into the pandemic, another ongoing challenge for small businesses: finding workers. Nearly a third of small business leaders say they are having difficulty filling open roles, up from 28% in May, Kabbage found.
Other business owners say it's hard to ramp back up because they are caring for their own family members, including young children and older parents.
"Smaller small-businesses continue to struggle. This is a tale of two recoveries, with businesses in good industries and geographies faring much better than others," Petralia said.
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The all-cash transaction will be funded primarily with debt, Smucker said in a news release on Tuesday, May 30. Products in the 100-year-old Wesson brand include vegetable, canola, corn and blended oils.
Smucker expects annual net sales of $230 million from the Wesson business, and additional adjusted earnings of 10 cents per share in the first full year after closing.
Annual cost savings of about $20 million are expected to be fully realized within two years after closing, Smucker said.
Chicago-based Conagra will continue to make Wesson products and provide other services for up to a year following the close of the transaction. Smucker then expects to consolidate Wesson production into its existing oils manufacturing operation in Cincinnati.
"The addition of Wesson creates a strong complement to our Crisco brand," said Mark Smucker, CEO of Smucker, in a statement. "By allowing us to more efficiently use existing supply chain and go-to-market resources, this acquisition will lead to significant cost savings that can further fuel growth and innovation opportunities across the company."
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals, Smucker said in the release.
"We continue to reshape our portfolio and focus our resources on priorities that support Conagra's business strategy and drive value creation for shareholders," said Sean Connolly, president and CEO of Conagra, in a statement.
"We believe The J.M. Smucker Co. will be a terrific steward of the Wesson brand," he added.
The Reuters news service reported that Conagra "has been divesting many of its private label and condiment businesses to become a branded foods-only company." Last year, for instance, it sold its private-label business to TreeHouse Foods Inc. and spun off its Lamb Weston frozen potato business.


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2022 is a year to Reth!nk and consider how we as passionate gardens can create beautiful eco-friendly spaces, be more socially responsible gardeners, and commit ourselves to adopting a more planet-friendly way of life.
GARDENA is partnering with eco-garden designer and warrior on waste, Lynne Lambourne to create a completely unique experience, focusing on sustainability at the world’s biggest flower show.
Lynne has worked to inspire sustainable interior and garden designs, winning Grand Designs Live for her room based on repurposing and sustainability in 2017.
Lynne is also passionate about teaching future generations about how to take better care of our planet with her ‘Warriors on Waste’ movement.
After working with GARDENA back in 2019, Lynne saw synergies between both her and GARDENA’s passion for sustainability. So when the opportunity arose for her to design GARDENA’s Chelsea garden, it was a natural fit.
Lynne believes that sustainability is not an option that a company chooses to include, but something that should be embraced and implemented thoughtfully. Lynne wants to raise awareness of sustainable practices within gardening and inspire people to reuse their past to style their future, something she will be mirroring in her garden design.


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Sunday newspaper share tips
We round up the stock picks from the Sunday financial sections.
Shares in car dealership Inchcape jumped 11% in the wake of full-year results two weeks ago, when profits were just shy of the level achieved in 2007.
It has been cutting costs from its business over the last few years, leaving it in a lean position to benefit for a market improvement.
Despite a 66% hike in its total dividend, which will be paid in May, shares have fallen back since the results-day boost.
However, for investors with a long-term view, this has presented a buying opportunity, with the stock currently at 378.2p.
The recent fourth-quarter update from supermarket Sainsbury's impressed the City, even though comparisons in 2010 were weak.
Sales were up by more than 2.6% on a like-for-like basis, with the company's convenience stores, online business and non-food retailing growing ahead of its rivals.
And the company appears to be gaining market share without sacrificing too much margin. Sainsbury's shares,
which are currently at 316.4p, are a long-term buy.
MAIL ON SUNDAY
Spirent Communications, which is based in Crawley, West Sussex, makes sophisticated testing equipment and its customers include Apple, Samsung, BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion and numerous SatNav equipment makers...
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Hy-Vee project transforming historic site
Construction crews have hauled 64 truckloads of brick from the empty lot where Hy-Vee and Knapp Properties plan to build Des Moines' downtown grocery store.
The project was on display Monday when the two companies led a tour of the construction site at 420 Court Ave. Excavators tore out the parking lot that most recently occupied the site and dug into the ground, exposing the brick foundations of buildings that stood there decades ago.
The site was home to carriage repair shops in the 1880s and eventually auto repair shops. Later, office buildings were constructed at the site, said Stuart Ruddy, general counsel for West Des Moines-based Knapp Properties.
The $30 million project will include a 35,000-square-foot grocery store, 82 apartments above the store, a two-story parking ramp and space for a possible second phase of housing. Hy-Vee officials said Monday the grocery store will include a Starbucks and a drive-thru pharmacy.
The grocery store, which downtown advocates say will eliminate a food desert in the city’s core, is scheduled to open in November 2016.


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“The future is here. It’s just not widely distributed yet.” That quote by an unknown pundit sums up Blockchain Technology.
Developed for the Bitcoin industry, Blockchain technology comes with the promise of revolutionizing the way people think of data and the manner in which it’s used.
Experts believe that Blockchain Technology, first Conceptualized in 2008 and implemented a year later as a central component of bitcoin, will have the same impact as the Internet did when the world wide web took off.
Themes, as diversified as democracy, energy, and agriculture, are already feeling the impact although on an experimental basis.
The testing phases have sufficient promise what significant sized companies are getting involved.
Right now, no one knows what the future holds for Blockchain Technology. But it’s looking bright.
Online Voting For Digital Democracy
The 2016 American presidential election was rife with accusations and countercharges of voter fraud. The competing allegations were partly the result of two separate claims. Politicians claimed to want a digitally literate citizenry as well as a hack proof voting mechanism. Somewhere in the background were businesses hoping to jumpstart the technology if politicians didn’t embrace the trend.
According to a recent article in BBC the most notable case of using digital technology to fight voter fraud is Estonia. The European nation launched online voting in 2005 with an approach that wasn’t a ‘point solution.’ That simply means a standalone single function unit as America’s voting kiosks wasn’t chosen.
Each aspect of Estonia is digitized, and the country has matured quickly as a Digital Nation. There, improved democratic methods are working hand in hand with leaner government processes.
The defining technology underpinning digital voting in Estonia is the Blockchain. The Market Mogul provides a summary of the role Blockchain technology may play in enabling the capability to grow globally.
New Type of Energy Grid
Using Blockchain Technology, members of the Brooklyn (USA) Microgrid are purchasing and marketing grassroots generated energy over a peer-to-peer network locally.
For years individuals who used solar panels could sell excess energy electric company. The Blockchain Technology makes the same system possible so excess capacity can be transferred and sold to a neighbor.
LO3 Energy has formed a system allowing people to buy and sell within their neighborhoods. Using Blockchain, sale and purchase deals are expedited and the transactions recorded.
Lawrence Orsini, LO3’s founder, claims energy distribution between neighbors within communities is more effective than transferring power across large ranges.
The result is more resilience of neighborhoods to power interruptions, and during peaks of high demand, energy is easily diverted in the decentralized system.
LO3 Energy initiated its peer-to-peer transaction system in 2016. The small utility network links persons who own solar panels in several parts of Brooklyn with acquaintances and friends who want to purchase locally produced green energy.
An ex-banker at Wells Fargo joined with a former executive at Nasdaq and began looking for opportunities to utilize Blockchain Technology.
The took a look at using the technology in the insurance industry, law, and even music. They landed on farming.
Raja Ramachandram and Phil Harris a decade after meeting on Wall Street in 2005. The duo decided to leave finance and start Ripe.io which utilizes Blockchain in agriculture. The pair has aspirations to thread the technology through the food supply chain.
The first step for Ripe was a kick-off project on Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon Massachusetts. The fields at Ward’s spill over with baby beets, bok choy, kale, onions and other crops.
Now, Jim Ward, owner, is adding blockchain tomatoes to his produce list.
Ripe partnered with Sweetgreen, a farm-to-counter salad franchise, to show how tracking crops and provide higher-quality produce and better information to farmers, food distributors, and restaurants.
In 2017, IBM partnered with Dole Food, Nestle, Unilever and WalMart to add blockchain in a trial run. The goal: to see if technology can show where produce comes from within seconds as compared to 7-days using traditional methods.
An easy-to-use database is a key to managing a complex supply chain. The test runs show there needs to be a little adaptation. Data exists only on a blockchain; tomatoes live in the real world. What Ripe hopes to provide is a detailed record of quality and condition at each step of the production and distribution process.


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Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd, a financial services and investment management innovator in the digital asset, cryptocurrency, and blockchain technology sectors, announced it intends to acquire GK8, a secure institutional digital asset self-custody platform.
The acquisition will be the result of a sale process executed in connection with Celsius Network LLC‘s Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is subject to court approvals and other closing conditions.
GK8 is a leading technology provider for institutions looking to custody their digital assets with the high security, using patented technology to safely store cryptocurrencies and execute blockchain transactions without connecting to the internet. Galaxy intends to support GK8’s ongoing operations in offering unique self-custody technology to the world’s leading financial services firms, as well as utilize GK8’s custody solution in the ongoing development of GalaxyOne.
As previously announced, GalaxyOne is a new prime offering for institutional investors that will combine trading, lending, cross-portfolio margining, and derivatives with the Company’s market-tested risk-management processes, supported by a range of custodial options, which will include those from GK8.
“The acquisition of GK8 is a crucial cornerstone in our effort to create a truly full-service financial platform for digital assets, ensuring our clients will have the option to store their digital assets at or separate from Galaxy without compromising versatility and functionality,” said Mike Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Galaxy.
“Adding GK8 to our prime offering at this pivotal moment for our industry also highlights our continued willingness to take advantage of strategic opportunities to grow Galaxy in a sustainable manner.”
The transaction will accelerate Galaxy’s product innovation and development by adding a team of nearly 40 people, including cryptographers and blockchain engineers. The deal will also expand Galaxy’s geographic reach with the addition of an office in Tel Aviv.
GK8 founders CEO Lior Lamesh and CTO Shahar Shamai will stay on to lead Galaxy’s new custodial technologies business. In addition to providing self-custody solutions to GalaxyOne and institutional investors, GK8 will also continue to directly support financial institutions’ efforts to safeguard their clients’ digital assets, including banks, trust companies, broker-dealers, and retail platforms.
Backing up its secure custody solutions, GK8 recently announced a partnership with USI Insurance Services to offer institutional clients access to up to $1 billion of insurance coverage for digital assets custodied on the platform.
Following a downturn in the crypto market, Celsius filed for bankruptcy in July and put a few of its assets up for sale.
Galaxy, for its part, abandoned its plan to buy crypto custody specialist BitGo for $1.2 billion. At the time in August, Galaxy said that BitGo had failed to provide financial statements by a deadline of July 31. The cancellation of the deal prompted BitGo to sue Galaxy for damages in September.


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A growing group of owners of the MacBook Pro at the end of 2016 with 15 inch screen have begun to comment that they are having problems of strange noises on the laptop. It seems noise appears after intense use equipment in tasks that require a high performance like playing or streaming video in high definition.
At the moment Apple has not ruled on the issue, although there are several users who after hearing the noise have been investigating and believe the problem couldbe in the hinges that unite with the rest of the computer screen.
Do you have a MacBook Pro 15-inch from the end of 2016? Refine the ear to see if it also affected
According to believe these users, the hinges are suffering with the heat the equipment generated when faced with heavy tasks and after a while they can start to cause that noise as “one-piece jumping”. The reason could be damage on any plastic parts inside the equipment or even the expansion of own aluminum hinges are made.
Up to now the problem seems to not apply generally to all MacBook Pro 15-inch, but the number of affected users seems to be growing and now that the problem is public perhaps more people will realize
As I said, Apple has not acted on this problem with the MacBook Pro 15-inch from the end of 2016, so at the moment are not covering this repair under warranty. Even so, and bearing in mind what has happened in the past, hopefully that an investigation of the company and if they detect that it is a widespread problem of manufacturing finished repairing the problem free of charge for all concerned.


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Helena Girl Scout Troop #3264 decided to do something a little different with their cookie money this year.
The Scouts sold over 4,100 boxes of cookies, and decided to take some of that money to buy coats and gloves for kids in need at Jefferson Elementary School in Helena.
The girls were able to go to the store and pick out different-colored coats and gloves, and then deliver them to the school.
They're already planning to do another good deed next year with the cookie money they earn.
"So kids could have jackets for the winter so they could be warm. We should do something different, like buy something different, but what other people need, like we could give them food," one of the Scouts said.
Troop 3264 is one of the younger troops in the Helena area.
The girls leaders say they were blown away at how many boxes of cookies the girl had sold, and they're beyond proud!


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AMD formally announced its forthcoming Bristol Ridge-based APUs and CPUs a few weeks ago and while we have seen a few industry insiders take a peak regading performance ond overclocking headroom, there are still plenty of questions surrounding the new platform.
The good news is that a few days ago Anandtech’s Dr Ian Cutress published a pretty detailed analysis of the new platform, pulling together all the details and clues that we have on hand. It’s an interesting read for anyone who wants to understand the company’s latest strategy, the new AM4 socket, new chipsets and the likely performance we can expect from AMD moving forward.
Here’s a taste of what Ian had to say about Bristol Ridge’s potential from an overclocking perspective:
“Given that technically the systems with the new APUs have been released for a couple of weeks, some vendors have their internal enthusiasts play around with the platform. Bearing in mind that AMD has not announced any formal overclocking support on these new APUs, NAMEGT, a South Korean overclocker with ties to ASUS, has pushed the A12-9800 APU to 4.8 GHz by adjusting the multiplier. To do this, he used an unreleased ASUS Octopus AM4 motherboard and AMD’s 125W Wraith air cooler (which will presumably be bundled with PIBs later in the product cycle).”
Visit Anandtech for the full and very detailed article the covers pretty much everything related to Bristol Ridge.


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Padma Lakshmi Get Political, Talks To Texans About The Wall In New Series "Taste the Nation" sees the celebrity foodie go to El Paso and talk to locals about the wall.
After 286 Days In Dallas Hospital Discharged Stroke Victim Wants TacosA Dallas man got to go home from the hospital after being there since last August.
OKC Police Looking For Gunman Who Shot Taco Bell Worker In Drive-Thru WindowThe search is on in Oklahoma City for a gunman who police say shot a Taco Bell employee through the drive-through window.
El Tiz Makes Oak Cliff Debut Serving Tacos And MoreIf tacos are what you're after, look no further than this new business.
Dallas Business That Caters To Federal Workers Offering Them Discounts During ShutdownA taco shop across the street from the federal building downtown is offering $1 tacos to federal employees who bring in their badge.
Taco Bueno Closing Some North Texas LocationsSaying the move will better position the company for "future growth" Taco Bueno has closed 16 locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.
North Texas Company Recalls Nearly 4 Tons Of Raw BeefA North Texas company has recalled nearly four tons of raw beef wrongly produced and packaged without federal inspection.
Singing Cowboy Making Fans As They Fuel UpAlong with a tank of gas and tacos customers at the Fuel City gas station in Haltom City are enjoying plenty of entertainment.
Popular North Texas Gas Chain On List Of Price GougersFuel City’s appearance on a list of gas stations suspected of price-gouging came as a surprise, both to customers and to the company itself.
Texan A Finalist In New Potato Chip Flavor ContestA Texas woman is hoping to find a "chunk of change" at the bottom of a potato chip bag. Ellen Sarem is one of three finalists in the Lay's "Do Us a Flavor" contest.
Woman Hopes To Marry In Dress Made Of Taco Bell WrappersThe wedding of someone's dreams will take place in a Taco Bell while she's wearing a dress made of burrito wrappers. The winner of the Taco Bell contest gets an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas and a wedding!
Chipotle, Seeking A Turnaround, Shakes Up Its BoardChipotle, which is still hurting from food safety scares last year, is adding four new people to its board as the burrito chain tries to turn its business around.
Chipotle Sales Fall Again As It Tries To Win Back CustomersChipotle says its sales fell for the fourth-straight quarter, as the company struggles to win back customers after an E. coli scare last year.
'Guac The Vote:' Texas Taco Trucks Seek To Register VotersAt Tacos Tierra Caliente — a Texas food truck where Spanish is spoken as often as English — there are menu boards and one of them, in red, white and blue, commands: "Registrarse y Votar" (Register and Vote).