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Almost a year later, Puerto Rico continues to recover from the devastation cause by Hurricane María. Boricuas all over the world are still trying to get Congress’ attention to address the crisis and raise funds for relief efforts. One of them is Ricardo Muñiz, a Puerto Rican underwear designer, who’s using his platform during New York Fashion Week to bring attention to the economic and political crisis his island is currently facing.
“There are roughly 3.5 million Puerto Ricans on the island and another 6.5 million on the US mainland. Although these communities are distinct, we are still Puerto Rican. And we wave our flag as if that is the only passport we need,” Muñiz tells Remezcla.
Muñiz owns the clothing label Chulo Underwear, which is deeply rooted in his Puerto Rican heritage. With his brand, he constantly donates part of the funds to scholarship programs and community-based organizations. As you might have guessed, Chulo uses the allure of hunky male models in underwear to attract, not only customers, but donors. “Hot models in underwear and a charity fundraiser? I was so there,” reads a Paper Magazine review of one of his events. It’s a clever strategy.
This time, Muñiz is gearing up to help communities in mainland Puerto Rico and the island municipality of Vieques by partnering with Guagua Solidaria, a community-based project that travels around Puerto Rico providing aid, and Finca Conciencia, which focuses on rebuilding a sustainable agriculture environment in Vieques. “This fundraiser is just one of many small and big things Puerto Ricans are doing for each other,” Muñiz says. “We honor those grassroots activists on the island who see the problems [PROMESA, austerity measures, and colonialism] and who are working day and night to bring hope back to a people long colonized and subjugated.”
The Chulo Underwear New York Fashion Week benefit is set for Saturday, September 8 at the legendary Nuyorican Poet’s Café in the Lower East Side. The party and fashion show will also have models such as poet and health educator Simply Rob, boxer Nisa Rodriguez, and singer-songwriter Caridad de la Luz. The show will be more than just a runway. Caridad de la Luz will grace the stage with her music, while body painter Karen Adeva will create a scene from Puerto Rico on her own body.
While the hunky underwear models and special performers may sound like a glamorous affair, Muñiz still wants people to remember it’s all about taking a stance against injustice. “Puerto Rico is a colony, true, and the real Hurricane Maria is the disaster capitalism, displacement,” he says. “And denigration we must endure whether we be on the island of Puerto Rico or the island of Manhattan.”
Check out a preview below.


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The owner of Dreamette icecream in Murray Hill says those who wear their pants sagging below the waist aren't welcome at his store.
Customers say they are glad to hear it.
"They try to hold their pants with one hand and hold something else with another hand" one customer tells our newspartner Action news.
A sign is posted that says, "Saggy pants, no service."
The manager says its been up since January. But not all customers agree.
"I don't know if they should be denied service to icecream. Everybody deserves icecream whether you got saggy pants or not."

domain: news


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Michelin's airless tires will take a front seat in Chevrolet's next-gen EVs
Chevrolet's next-generation Bolt electric vehicle will allegedly come with airless tires that General Motors (GM) and Michelin have been working on. The next-gen EV is set to hit the streets in the next three to five years.
The news came directly from Alexis Garcin, president of Michelin North America in an interview with CNN Business. "We want to bring the next generation of the Chevrolet Bolt with airless tires, and it's going to happen now in the next three to five years," Garcin said.
GM has yet to confirm the name of its next-gen EV but it's no secret that GM and Michelin have been coordinating their efforts to bring airless tires to the automaker's EVs.
Michelin has been working on creating the best possible airless tire since 2005 and just last year the tire maker took its puncture-proof tires for a spin for the first time on an EV — the Chevrolet Bolt, no less.
The airless tires use a flexible rib system to create spring, and given there is zero air involved, the tire can't puncture easily. Minimizing tire blowouts would likely keep drivers and passengers safer, as allegedly around 78,000 accidents a year in the U.S. are caused by tire blowouts.
Naturally, challenges to airless tires arise — there's a reason why we've been using pneumatic tires for over a century. Pressurized air in tires allows us to customize our tires for specific uses: when shifting from off-road to asphalt, for instance. Being able to change the pressure in our tires helps make the ride smoother.
On top of that, vehicles are currently made with air-filled tires in mind. Major reconsiderations in engineering may need to happen if all vehicles switch to airless tires.
With all that said, changing from pneumatic tires to airless ones would have an environmentally better impact on our Earth. Disused tires are typically found in mounds in every landfill or on the side of the road, whereas airless ones are being made in a more environmentally-friendly way, with a reduction in raw materials being used to manufacture them. On top of that, as there would hopefully be fewer punctures, there would be fewer tires in landfills.
Michelin has its work cut out for it, especially as there are other competitors in the market, like South Korea's i-Flex tire.


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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Miss Hadiza Bala-Usman has disclosed that Nigerian ports handled 191 million metric tonnes of export cargo in 2019.
Out of these, crude oil accounted for 78 per cent while non-oil cargo accounted for only 22 per cent.
She disclosed these at a recent BudgIT webinar tagged ‘Non-oil export: Disrupting Nigeria’s Growth Cycle.’
In the webinar, Bala-Usman expressed worry about the data, saying that against the backdrop of dwindling oil prices, it was not a good signal for the economy.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show the monetary value of the goods exported during the period.
According to the NBS, Nigeria shipped $53.6bn worth of goods around the globe in 2019.
Although this shipment amounts to an increase of 10.7 per cent since 2015 and a 1.3 per cent increase from 2018, it shows that Nigeria made $11.8bn from non-oil exports while $41.8bn came from crude oil exports during the period under review.
Bala-Usman said, “Nigeria’s crude shipment is tied to exportation and it contributes the highest revenue of the ports.”
She predicted that with the reduction in oil shipment and price, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the revenue of the government from the port was likely to dip by 75 per cent.
Bala-Usman stated that it was time to increase the shipment of non-oil exports.
She said, “This underscores the importance of diversification of the economy through non-oil exports so that we can reverse this trend.
“There is a need to encourage local investors. We are a large country of consumers; we need to increase local production. We need to make domestic investment a priority.”
Also speaking during the webinar, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, Yewande Sadiku, said the pandemic may witness foreign direct investment into African countries fall by 30-40 per cent.
She agreed with Bala-Usman on the need to strengthen the local production base and increase non-oil export while also attracting more FDI.


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Restaurants are turning to automation in the face of the post-pandemic labor shortage. McDonald’s, one of the largest fast-food companies in the world, is testing an automated store just outside Fort Worth, Texas, powered by kiosks, an app, automatic conveyor belts, and other technologies.
The restaurant has a separate Order Ahead lane for customers who place their orders ahead of time via the McDonald’s app. Location-based technology allows the restaurant staff to begin preparing an individual’s order when they are close to the restaurant. These customers bypass the traditional Drive Thru lane and receive their orders through a conveyor system.
The restaurant interior is much smaller than a standard McDonald’s, no longer catering to dine-in guests. Instead, the space is optimized for takeout and delivery pickup. McDonald’s is not the only restaurant concept to focus on mobile and drive-thru orders. Taco Bell has been expanding its “Go Mobile” concept since 2020.
Not everyone is thrilled with this development. Consumers have taken to social media to share their worries about McDonald’s automated restaurant. One of the top concerns about this phenomenon is job loss. Millions of jobs could be on the line as automation gains more traction.
Customers have also expressed concerns about customer service and the accommodation of special requests such as asking for extra condiments. On the other hand, other customers said they were hopeful that an automated restaurant could improve the guest experience.
Shrinking labor pool
Companies are increasingly deploying automation solutions due to a shrinking labor pool. The labor shortage has pushed wages higher, creating strain on companies.
Amazon and Walgreens have invested in automated robots to perform tasks in warehouses. Jack in the Box has tested the automation of its fry and beverage stations. Chili’s has tested a robotic host to escort guests to their tables and deliver food. Robots are appealing to many organizations because they can improve accuracy and benefit from labor savings. According to the International Federation of Robotics, global robot sales are expected to grow 10 percent in 2023 to a record $17 billion.
McDonald’s new automated store still has a human touch. The company says the Fort Worth restaurant has a human kitchen staff that prepares the orders. Using humans and automation in tandem, McDonald’s hopes to improve order speed and accuracy.
In the Classroom
This article can be used to discuss technology and robotics (Chapter 8: Managing Operations and Supply Chains).
How can automated technology result in labor savings?
What can McDonald’s do to reassure customers who are concerned about automation?
In your opinion, can an automated restaurant satisfy customers?
This article was developed with the support of Kelsey Reddick for and under the direction of O.C. Ferrell, Linda Ferrell, and Geoff Hirt.
Aimee Picchi, "McDonald’s Unveiled an Automated Store. Some Consumers Aren’t Loving It," CBS News, December 23, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcdonalds-automated-restaurant-robots-drive-thru-conveyer-belt/
Daren Fonda, "Robots Are Replacing Workers Lost in the Pandemic. They’re Here to Stay," Barron's, December 23, 2022, https://www.barrons.com/articles/robot-jobs-51671667349
McDonald's "5 Things to Know About McDonald’s New Test Restaurant in Texas," December 1, 2022, https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/texas-order-ahead-lane.html


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Drakes throws a $270 million spanner into Metcash’s plans
Drakes Supermarkets has put a spanner in grocery wholesaler Metcash’s plan to bolster fulfilment in South Australia, refusing to agree to a deal that would see its supermarkets supplied by a new purpose-built distribution centre.
The decision signals further trouble in Metcash’s relationship with Drakes and throws a cloud over its supply arrangement with the chain in South Australia, which will expire in June next year.
Metcash will lose around $270 million from the loss of Drakes as a customer in South Australia and could lose more if the plug is pulled on its supply deal in Queensland.
Metcash said in a market statement on Monday morning that it was “well advanced” in its preparations for the construction of a new purpose-built DC in South Australia and had received support from other major clients in the state.
“Disappointingly, Drakes has advised that it will not be making a commitment to have its supermarkets in South Australia supplied from Metcash’s proposed new DC,” Metcash said.
Drakes, which has more than 50 stores in South Australia and Queensland, has yet to advise Metcash of any changes to its supply agreement in QLD.
The independent supermarket chain dropped Metcash’s IGA banner from its Queensland stores late last year, and owner Roger Drake has reportedly been considering a new supply deal for some time.
Metcash said on Monday that it was still assessing the implications of the advice it had received from Drakes, which it signalled could impact the value of its business.
“Metcash is assessing the implications of this advice from Drakes Supermarkets, which will be taken into account in the company’s FY18 year-end review of the carrying value of its goodwill and other assets,” Metcash said.
Metcash also delivered a trading update on Monday which dashed any hopes that its supermarkets and convenience division would reverse FY17 declines.
Metcash said its supermarkets and convenience division is expected to report a 1.2 per cent decline in total sales in FY18, while its wholesale business (excluding tobacco) is slated to fall 3.6 per cent.
Wholesale sales declined 4.3 per cent in FY17, while its supermarkets and convenience business posted a 0.6 per cent increase in sales to $9.1 billion.
FY19 earnings for the supermarket and convenience arm are not expected to be impacted by Drakes’ decision.
Metcash said it expects that the new DC will enable “significant operational efficiencies” and provide its partners with access to a wider range of products.
Metcash shares declined 10 per cent to $3.30 in early Monday trading.
UPDATED – 13:24 AEST
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RUSSIA, Moscow Following the announcement by Russia's deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich that his government was considering ways to mitigate the food embargo, imposed in August last year, for a number of countries in the European Union (EU), Minister of Economic Development Alexei Ulyukayev (Photo) has further revealed the decision would initially affect Greece and Hungary.
Ulyukayev added that the embargo would not be removed completely, but that "some schemes to supply raw materials for further processing inside the country" would be developed. It is anticipated that imports of raw meat, fruit and vegetables would be the first items to be restored.
The issue of lifting the embargo on food supplies from particular EU countries was discussed during a visit to Budapest in February by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to presidential press-secretary Dmitry Peskov. He said "counter-sanctions" could be mitigated if Western companies were to invest in the processing of raw materials in Russia, but the possibility of removing sanctions completely was still out of the question.
Russian government representatives said this would involve a scheme of "lifting the embargo in exchange for investments in processing". However, experts said such a scheme was unknown and unclear for the market.
At the same time, according to Alexander Knobel, head of the laboratory for international trade at the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, the country's authorities still fear that products from
other EU countries will be supplied to Russia under the guise of meat products from Greece and Hungary. So, before embarking on this initiative, some system of strict country-of-origin control on all product supplies should be implemented.
The Russian government introduced a food embargo in August 2014 on meat supplies, as well as several other categories of meat products from the EU, the USA, Canada, Australia and Norway.
According to Russia's Customs Service, imports from Greece to Russia, which are almost all food products, dropped by 20% to $497 mill. in 2014 compared to 2013, while imports from Hungary fell by just 10%, to $2.7 bn.
Source: Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation


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Wizard101' game breaches 10M users
- Christopher Calnan
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Generating revenue from a family friendly game depends on reaching a broad audience of casual users instead of more targeted genres — such as war games — that typically attract the more hard-core players. As a result, there’s a trade off for the publisher, said Gary Gattis, chairman of the local chapter of the International Game Developers Association.
KingsIsle is the third technology company on which Coleman has teamed up with Josef Hall, vice president of development.
In 1999, the two co-founded Wolfpack Studios Inc, a Round Rock-based online gaming company that developed the Shadowbane game. In 2004, France-based Ubisoft Entertainment SA acquired Wolfpack for an undisclosed amount. Before Wolfpack, Coleman and Hall founded Reliant Data Systems Inc., an Austin-based data migration company that was acquired by Detroit-based Compuware Corp. in 1999.
KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian, previously the founder of Richardson-based software maker Inet Technologies Inc., launched KingsIsle with his own capital. He enlisted Hall and Coleman in 2005 to fill a hole in the market for family-focused games instead of a game being a solo experience, Hall said.
The Wizard101 game is told in a narrative format designed to attract users to a story line. Also, it’s designed to be intuitive and easy to use, they said. KingsIsle approach was to make it a shared experience that requires participants to interact with each other, Coleman said.
“At the end of the day, social connections are one of the vital ingredients,” he said. “The reasons they come back (to the game) is because their friends are there.”
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Boyette Bros. to begin shipping organic sweet potato variety in February
wilson, nc — Boyette Bros. Produce, a sweet potato grower established in 1982 in Wilson County, NC, will begin shipping an organic Covington variety of sweet potato this month. Plans are under way for more organic storage space and a new packing facility for organic sweet potatoes, according to Erica Barajas, marketing manager, and Robert Boyette, manager of Boyette Bros. Produce.
The Produce News.“In December, Boyette Bros. exhibited for the first time at the New York Produce Show,” said Barajas. “This was a great show for us and we used it to help us pivot from being a major exporter of sweet potatoes to selling more of what we grow in this country. We felt with our new packing line, now four years in operation, and capacity for year-round storage space, we were ready to expand the portion of our crop sold in the U.S. market,” Barajas told
“With about 5,000 produce executives attending the New York show, we had the opportunity to open new doors and introduce our company to people who had not yet heard of Boyette Bros.,” she explained. “The four-day show gave Boyette Bros. time to spend with existing partners, and also to make new connections with companies looking to expand their sweet potato lines. “We’ll definitely be back next year, exhibiting again,” she added.
The ever-increasing demand for sweet potatoes in this country led to the decision to expand offerings here at home. “Consumer awareness of the health benefits of sweet potatoes has increased over the years,” Barajas noted. “Consumers are attracted to sweet potatoes because they are nutritious, easy to prepare, have longer shelf life and great versatility.”
The addition of facilities to store and pack organic sweet potatoes is a natural extension, Barajas stated. “Organic sweet potatoes are becoming a consumer favorite, and we have steadily increased our organic acreage,” she observed. “We will begin shipping the organic Covington variety this month. We will add more organic storage space and a new packing facility for organics in early spring, and we are confident our organics sales will continue to gain momentum,” she concluded.
Guy Boyette started farming in the small North Carolina community of Rock Ridge in the 1920s. Son Armetus joined him in the 1950s, then Armetus’s sons Wiley, Robert and Michael joined the family business after completing their educations. Fourth-generation family members including Wiley’s daughter Kaitlyn and Robert’s daughter, Regan, play instrumental roles in the family business.


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Business confidence in Wales fell five points during June to -40%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank.
Companies in Wales reported that confidence in their business prospects had fallen month-on-month to -32%. When taken alongside their views on the economy overall, this gives a headline confidence reading of -40%.
The Business Barometer questions 1,200 businesses monthly and provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
When asked about the impact of coronavirus on their business, more than a third (37%) said they expect to be operating at more than 50% of capacity by the end of June, although 19% didn’t expect to be operating at all. A fifth (21%) said it would take six months until they were back to operating at pre-COVID-19 levels, although one in 20 (6)% expect it to take more than 12 months.
Almost one in five (18%) Welsh businesses didn’t feel that they could operate at 100% capacity while complying with social distancing guidelines – though more than half (56%) said they could keep within the rules.
The majority of firms continued to see demand negatively affected during June, but with the picture improving month-on-month. Two thirds (67%) experienced a fall in demand for their products and services, down nine points on May. Meanwhile, 5% saw an increase in demand, down two points on the month before.
Of the 67% of businesses reporting disruption to their supply chain during June, a quarter (25%) expected the situation to improve within three months, while 10% expected it would take more than 12 months to return to normal levels.
Amanda Dorel, regional director for Wales at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “While firms’ outlook had improved in May, a further month of restrictions has dampened the mood of business leaders. The critical summer trading period is already upon hospitality and non-essential retail sectors – and, with slight easing of restrictions and social distancing measures, they hopefully will soon be able to reopen and make the most of the peak season.
“We remain by the side of businesses across Wales, working to provide the right solutions to ensure they can reopen, rebuild and recover as soon as possible.”
Across the UK, business confidence grew marginally month-on-month, rising three points to -30%. The West Midlands was the least pessimistic region at -18%, followed by Yorkshire & the Humber and the North East at -23%. Scotland was the most pessimistic, with confidence dropping eight points month-on-month to -41%.
In June, the construction sector rebounded strongly, increasing 30 percentage points to -14%. The retail sector increased two points to -23% and manufacturing saw an improvement at -35%. These were the highest levels seen since March, however, other services fell to -36% largely reflecting the impact on the hospitality and education sectors.
Hann-Ju Ho, Senior Economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “While the results suggest the economy may be starting to see some improvement, trading conditions remain difficult for most firms as the majority are still experiencing disruption to supply chains. Hopefully the recent Government announcement of further relaxation of restrictions and the slight easing of social distancing measures will enable more businesses to reach their capacity and resume their usual activities, which we would expect to be reflected in further improvements to optimism next month.”


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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – The 32nd annual International Festival is set to take over the Raleigh Convention Center Oct. 20-22.
CBS North Carolina will be there as part of the three-day event that showcases cultures from across the globe.
Dance, music and food from more than 60 ethnic groups will fill the weekend.
There will be a bazaar-style shopping experience and children activities.
CBS North Carolina will have a booth where you can try out your hand at broadcasting! Stop by and say “hello!”


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Six years after ‘The Dress’ confounded social media users — was it black and blue, or white and gold? — another color mystery has the internet buzzing.
And sure enough, one photo shows what seems to very clearly be a light gray sweater, while the other shows the same sweater — which now appears unmistakably purple.
Confounding! A Redditor has shared two pictures of the same sweater, which looks like completely different colors in different lighting
On December 29, Reddit user Megzies1997 shared the pair of side-by-side photos
The images make clear how much lighting can drastically change what something looks likes, and show how people could so easily disagree over the true color of an item of clothing.
The images are so dramatically different that Megzies1997 even included a video in which she moves the sweater from one room to another, capturing the moment that it appears to change color under new lighting.
The video appears to be necessary, as several commenters have demanded proof that it is truly the same shirt.
‘I DEMAND video evidence of this happening,’ wrote one.
‘Lies those are two shirts bet,’ said another.
The proof! She even shared a video showing her moving the sweater around to prove that it changes color in different lighting
She said the shirt is actually camo green — and looks that way in some lighting. But under other lighting, it looks purple or gray
Another change! She later shared another photo of the sweater outside in front of the snow, where it looked brown
As for which is the true color, Megzies1997 said that it’s not gray or purple, but rather camo green — so the first photo more accurately represents the shirt’s hue.
‘I bought it as a camo green color and that is what it appears like most of the time!,’ she said.
‘In the warmer lights it looks more brown though!’ she added, posting yet another image of the sweater outside in front of snow — where it does, in fact, look brown
The Redditor also shared in the comments that the top was recently purchased at Kohl’s.
The post has earned over a thousand comments on Reddit, where users are comparing to past internet debates.
‘S*** not this again,’ wrote one.
‘The first picture is a luscious spring laurel, the second picture is known as a pale yanny,’ quipped another.
In 2015, this image of a body-con dress with lace detailing sparked debate, with some adamant that it was black and blue and others arguing it was white and gold
The debate may feel like déjà vu for those who weighed in on other viral internet debates in the past several years.
In 2015, an image of a body-con dress with lace detailing had friends and family at each other’s throats, with some adamant that it was black and blue and others arguing it was white and gold.
Most people immediately saw one color paring and couldn’t be convinced otherwise, with dozens of celebrities chiming in.
Taylor Swift wrote: ‘I don’t understand this odd dress debate and I feel like it’s a trick somehow.I’m confused and scared.PS it’s OBVIOUSLY BLUE AND BLACK.’
And Justin Bieber kept his fans happy by telling them that he sees ‘blue and black’.
Despite the debate, the body-con dress was in fact royal blue with black lace detailing. It is made by British clothing company Roman Originals, which offers ‘affordable women’s clothing and designer ladies fashion.’
Then, in early 2018, an audio clip had people just as confused, with some thinking the voice in the recording was saying ‘yanny’ and others sure it was saying ‘laurel.’
Posted by Reddit user Roland Camry, the recording had social media users stumped and passionately debating what they were hearing.
‘I hear Laurel and everyone is a liar,’ one person commented, while another wrote: ‘ARE YOU SERIOUS. It’s yanny for me.’
Stars weighed in on this one as well, with Chrissy Teigen and Lily Allenon team Laurel and Mindy Kaling and Stephen King on Team Yanny.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk


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LONDON, March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Adyoulike, the European leader in native advertising technology, today announced its 2014 annual results.
2014 was a year of exponential growth for the company, growing 250% on 2013 performance. Total group sales for 2014 amounted to $10.2m.
Increased investment in improved ad technology and the roll out of innovative native advertising products, combined with the strengthening of key advertising relationships, ensured robust performance and growth for the company throughout 2014. The company also increased revenues via expansion into the UK market in 2014.
Adyoulike has been at the forefront in the global growth in native advertising. In 2014 the company ran the first ever native advertising campaign in the Middle East via a joint partnership. It is estimated that native advertising will be worth $18billion annually in the US alone by 2018.
Commenting on the figures, Adyoulike CEO Julien Verdier said: "Adyoulike established itself as the European leader in premium in-feed native advertising in 2014. We established Adyoulike in the competitive UK market, consolidated our position in the French marketplace and we are expanding into Germany, Spain and Italy.
"The $10.2m in turnover recorded in 2014 is superb, but the native ad market is growing phenomenally and we recognise the huge potential in this market in what is already a multi-billion-dollar-a-year ad sector.
"In 2015 our focus continues to be on growing our European markets while also spearheading the growth of programmatic native advertising buying. In 2015 we anticipate double digit growth as programmatic buying, mobile inventory and our seamless technology combine to create a truly scalable native advertising opportunity for brands and their agencies."
Adyoulike integrates across publishers seamlessly to deliver brand content in the heart of editorial content and user experience.
Verdier continues: "We have a great and expanding team at Adyoulike that has native advertising at its core, and we have been pioneers of native advertising growth in Europe for over three years now. We are passionate about the medium, know the potential and are extremely excited about what the future holds for native advertising across the European market in 2015."
Adyoulike is the European leader in native advertising. Through seamless, scalable technology Adyoulike is able to create premium in-feed native ad placements that fit any connected device - mobile, tablet, desktop and in-app easily.
The world's leading brands use Adyoulike to promote their brand content on premium publisher placements, reaching unparalleled levels of engagement in the process. Publishers use Adyoulike to create their own in-feed native ad units as well as to create new ways to monetise their inventory.
Operating across Europe and spearheading Programmatic native advertising, Adyoulike is at the forefront of growth in an exciting new advertising medium that is focused on user choice and engagement in advertising.


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This Week in Consumer News: 14 Stories You Need to See
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy consumer and retail industry press releases from PR Newswire, including new Wendy's Chili in a can and the launch of YSE Beauty from Molly Sims.
NEW YORK, April 28, 2023 -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the consumer and retail industries stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.
The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.
- Big Lots To Honor Now-Expired Bed Bath & Beyond Coupons Through May 7
Any shopper presenting any Bed Bath & Beyond coupon will receive 20% off their entire purchase of $50 or more. This offer follows Bed Bath & Beyond's recent announcement that its stores will no longer accept coupons as of April 26, 2023, as operations wind down nationwide.
- It's Halfway to Halloween: Spirit Halloween Carves Out a Week of Surprises to Kick Off its 40th Season
To kick off the week, Spirit Halloween is offering fans the chance to win a fully immersive experience at the Winchester Mystery House, one of the world's most haunted destinations.
- Wendy's Chili with Beans Brings Restaurant Quality Taste to the Comfort of Your Home
Carl Loredo, Global Chief Marketing Officer for The Wendy's Company, said, "We're thrilled about the partnership with Conagra Brands and to have the opportunity to bring our brand's iconic chili flavor to even more fans. When the Wendy's chili craving hits, you now have two delicious ways to get your fix – at retail stores or in our restaurants."
- SNICKERS® Ice Cream Partners with 2023 NFL Draft Pick Bryce Young to Introduce First-Ever "SNICKERS® Bryce Cream Bar"
"It's a dream come true to see a SNICKERS Ice Cream bar with my name on it," said Bryce Young. "I am beyond excited to be part of the 2023 NFL Draft alongside SNICKERS Ice Cream and can't wait to share our SNICKERS Bryce Cream Bars with fans."
- Molly Sims Launches YSE Beauty
YSE Beauty provides efficient solutions for women, who just like Molly, have struggled with dark spots, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, photo-aging, and acne scars. With the knowledge that many women are dealing with the visible signs of exposure to environmental pollution, chronic stress, hormonal shifts, excessive sun, and blue light exposure, YSE Beauty products are focused on providing the ultimate solution.
- Wonder Launches Hawaiian Buns with Tropical Flavor and Touch of Sweetness
"Consumers are looking for options in the bun category with a sweeter flavor profile," said John Steed, senior vice president of legacy brands at Flowers Foods. "The formula we've created for our new Wonder Hawaiian Buns is truly the perfect tropical blend."
- Subtle Love Launches T-Shirt Subscription Service Focused on Spreading Love
Subtle Love, a new t-shirt subscription company, has announced its official launch. The company offers premium fitted t-shirts with new designs every month, each of which features a subtle message of love embedded in its design.
- "Guac on The Rock" is Back as Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Teremana® Tequila Pledge to Pay Back up to $1 Million of Guacamole to Support America's Restaurants
Returning for its third year, after huge successes the last two years, Teremana® will reimburse restaurant goers for their guac, up to $1,000,000, when they purchase guacamole with any Teremana® Tequila cocktail from May 1st through May 7th.
- eBay Expands Luxury Offering with New Brand Platform
"Certified by Brand" invites designers and brands to scale their resale efforts, and provides shoppers with access to an expanded selection of authentic luxury watches, handbags, and jewelry.
- Insomnia Cookies and tbh Dream Up a Delicious Dessert Collab
The late-night bakery's latest innovation is in collaboration with tbh (To Be Honest), a delectable and conscious hazelnut spread co-founded by Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp that is taking the world by storm.
- Thrive Causemetics introduces its first ever sibling brand: Bigger Than Beauty™ Skincare
Bigger Than Beauty™ Skincare products are formulated to be highly active — not reactive. These conscientious, vegan formulas form effective regimens that address specific skin concerns and universal skincare goals.
- New OpenTable Data Shows Late Night Dinner on the Rise; Wednesdays and Thursdays Emerge as Trending Dining Days
In March 2023, dining at 8pm and 9pm saw gains nearly every day MoM, with the largest increases on Mondays (8pm up 9%, 9pm up 18%), Wednesdays (8pm up 15%, 9pm up 23%) and Thursdays (8pm up 18%, 9pm up 24%).
- Nearly Half of Shoppers Would Rather Wear a Coffee-Stained Shirt All Day Than Have To Reset Their Store Account Password Multiple Times, According to a New Fashion Survey
Bolt, a leading checkout technology company, released new research today around the fashion trends that shoppers think are a flash in the pan versus those which will remain as timeless pieces.
- Introducing Lipton Hard Iced Tea
Made with real brewed Lipton tea, natural fruit flavors and a triple-filtered, premium malt base, Lipton Hard Iced Tea takes America's favorite tea and reimagines it as a 5% ABV non-carbonated product.
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India’s farm subsidy policies came under the scanner at the World Trade Organization (WTO) during the country’s trade policy review (TPR), with members such as Canada, the US and Australia complaining that India has not declared its agriculture export subsidies for more than eight years, while Brazil held that India’s longstanding support measures for sugar have suppressed global prices by up to 25%.
Summarizing members’ concerns against India’s farm subsidy policies, WTO chairperson Harald Aspelund said the high level of government intervention in the agriculture sector was a sore point for members. “Members recognized the importance of the sector in supporting livelihoods and food security; however, they urged India to reform its agricultural policies that continued to be based on significant levels of domestic and export support for key crops, including through subsidies for certain crops such as sugar, and to inputs,” he added.
India’s quadrennial TPR was released in January by the WTO, but the minutes of the discussions were released last week.
The US argued that the government programme to purchase food products from farmers at minimum support prices distorts domestic market prices and incentivizes over-production of products such as rice and wheat.
“As a result, India’s agricultural trade policy continues to disservice consumers and producers in India,” it added.
The US also asked India to explain why it had not submitted its agri export subsidies (Table ES:1) notification to the committee on agriculture in more than eight years, with its most recent notification covering a marketing year that is more than a decade ago. “We ask India to fulfil its transparency obligations in this area and notify future relevant measures and regulations in a timely manner,” it added.
While praising India’s recent record of WTO notifications, Canada also expressed concern over the lack of transparency in India’s agri export subsidies. “One area where we encourage India to do further work is concerning its agriculture export subsidies (ES:1) notifications where its last notification was for 2009,” it added.
Australia in its intervention said it remains concerned about India’s trade-distorting agricultural policies making global markets less predictable and more unstable. “India’s domestic support for sugarcane and its export subsidies for sugar are of particular concern to Australia, which is why Australia has joined Brazil and Guatemala in initiating a dispute to challenge those measures,” it added.
Brazil also regretted that India’s domestic agriculture reforms did not include the sugar sector. “India’s longstanding support measures for sugar and sugarcane are suppressing global prices by up to 25% and cause losses of around $1.3 billion per year. Brazil is the world’s largest sugar exporter, so these measures are specially damaging to Brazilian producers,” it added.
Guatemala has initiated dispute settlement proceedings questioning India’s sugar subsidy programmes at the WTO and the report of the dispute settlement panel is expected in the June quarter.
India in its response to the WTO members over the concerns raised said the support given is largely to small and marginal farmers, and is in accordance with India’s commitments at the WTO.


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TECHNOLOGY | August 1-7, 2014
By By Stephen Nellis
An Ojai company’s creation that started as a way to run camera and lighting gear for on-location film shoots has evolved into a battery system that can power everything from military forces in Afghanistan to an off-grid organic vodka distillery in Hawaii.
Ojai Energy Systems, or OES for short, just moved into a new space on Bryant Circle to accommodate its booming production. At the facility, OES takes raw cells and its proprietary power electronics designs and manufactures complete power systems.
At roughly the size of an iPad, the Baby Genny can draw in power from any source — wind, solar, house current, even a car battery — to power small devices. The Big Genny provides more power but at the size of a carry-on luggage item.
At the larger end, the company’s battery systems power monitoring stations in the Owens Valley for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and have been used along with foldable solar panels and small wind turbines to provide portable power for troops. A Whole Foods Market store in Folsom runs its signage off solar while the store pulls from the grid. And at Ocean Vodka in Hawaii, the batteries work along with solar panels to provide uninterrupted off-grid power.
But the idea got its start in 2002, with a product called the LibertyPak. Stu Lennox, an art director in the film industry, had seen lithium ion batterers on e-bikes. He started developing belts of batteries that could power digital and film photography gear while on remote locations where noisy, polluting generators would be infeasible.
The products sold well to the film industry, but Lennox saw other applications. In 2010, OES was born to take the technology to a variety of different markets. Along the way, Lennox had switched away from lithium ion technology and to lithium iron phosphate chemistry. That eliminates one of the risks that have plagued lithium ion batteries in everything from laptops to cars — thermal runaway, otherwise known as randomly bursting into flames.
Catherine Von Burg, who now heads OES while Lennox remains its technology chief, said the tradeoff with lithium ferrous phosphate batteries is that they have slightly less power density but far better durability.
“If we had a pound of material, the lithium cobalt ion would give you 100 watts, but it’s only going to last 500 to 600 cycles. With our chemistry, for that pound you’re going to get 75 to 80 watts but it’s going to last 2,500 to 5,000 cycles,” Von Burg said. “We warranty our residential OES 2 and OES 3 products for 10 years. Even though it’s a little less dense and you have a little larger battery for the same watts, they’re going to last exponentially longer.”
Another advantage of chemistry OES uses is that it isn’t sensitive to temperature changes the way that lead acid batteries are and doesn’t need ventilation. “We can pack a megawatt into a 20-foot shipping container, without cooling or ventilation,” Von Burg said.
The batteries also don’t need maintenance. The system produced for the L.A. water authority powers remote environmental monitors. “That’s a fiberglass box sitting in the middle of nowhere with ambient temperatures from 20 to 120 degrees,” Von Burg said.
In the next few years, OES is hoping to push into the residential and commercial battery markets. There’s currently tension between utility companies and homeowners over homeowners who zero out their bills or even generate more power than they use. OES is hoping that batteries could smooth out power from solar systems to make it more feasible for distributed power to become a significant portion of the power supply, possibly eliminating the need for new peaker plants. “If you can augment the grid infrastructure with distributed power, it makes it so much more effective and resilient,” Von Burg said.
In the larger scheme of things, OES aims to helps empower the disenfranchised around the world by literally empowering them with portable energy systems that can capture and store energy in the absence of centralized infrastructure.
OES is on a mission to “create power independence for people above and beyond centralized delivery systems,” Von Burg said. “People literally become empowered to farm, to have schools, to have clinics, to have resources that start with power.”


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Looks the same, lasts long and costs only $185
Xiaomi, which competes with Apple for the top position in the wearable market, today made the competition a little more interesting. The Chinese electronics giant has launched its first smartwatch called the Mi Watch that looks strikingly similar to the Apple Watch in its home market.
They can be disconnected from the net
A publicly-funded group of designers, artists and privacy experts from Amsterdam have designed an intelligent home system prototype to "prove it's technically possible to build a privacy respecting smart home while maintaining convenience".
IoT throws everything down the pan
Bog standard research from hardware security company nCipher suggests that IT security professionals are rather insecure about IoT and are becoming worried that even their toilets are leaking secret information.


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A Pemberton, British Columbia, young-un blazes a trail for mountain millennials.
Zapped Outfitters is a Kootenay-based brand that’s created a line of durable streetwear for school-aged kids with secret superpowers.
Christina Lustenberger is considered one of the foremost big-mountain skiers of her generation. We chronicle the career of a down-to-earth athlete who lives for more than shredding the edge.
Sherpas Cinema, the production house behind Imagination, has released its latest film, “Children of Columbia: A Skier’s Odyssey.” Watch it here.
An excerpt: How the builders of boards and bikes are tackling the issues of sustainability and consumer consciousness. By Ryan Stuart.
The Mountain Culture Group has just learned that the final payment on the Kinnaird Bluffs rock climbing area purchase has been completed. In the Summer…
The Cedar Shaker Cyclocross race at Revelstoke Mountain Resort returned for its fifth year last weekend. These are our favourite photos from the event.
%%excerpt%% Seattle, Washington-based action sports retailer evo has announced the completion of its purchase of Whistler Village Sports Ltd.
The Columbia River is one of the most famous waterways in the world. In their latest film, the Sherpas explore its legacy from power generator to adventure playground.
We revisit a story that first appeared in Issue #12 about a century’s worth of legal subjugation of the Kootenay’s famously illicit lifestyle.
CMC writer Vince Hempsall burns rubber at one of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest and toughest raceways — following in the tread marks of his grandfather’s checkered past.
The Cedar Shaker Cyclocross race at Revelstoke Mountain Resort returns for its fifth year on October 21, 2018.
The Josie Hotel in Rossland is set to open its doors on November 28, 2018.


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We’ve compiled a list of enticing and educational video resources. Dim the lights, grab a snack and enjoy!
Colorado farmers that depend on water are scrambling to repair flood-damaged irrigation networks in time for the crucial spring planting season.
A watchdog reveals key flaws in new FDA guidelines designed to reduce the use of antibiotics to fatten livestock.
Organic farmers are raising opposition to FDA food safety rules that will put the squeeze on small-production farms.
Some parts of California haven't seen rain since July 1. This week, farmers were told they will not receive water from government reservoirs.
The 2012 Census of Agriculture shows the number of farmers under 35 years-old has grown slightly, about 1 percent nationally.
On Farmplicity.com, farmers can list the products they're selling and restaurants can purchase local ingredients directly from the growers.
In a major win for organized labor groups, Wal-Mart has agreed to pay 1 cent more per pound of tomatoes.
A new wheat variety may have cracked the code to marry the fluffiness of white bread with whole grain nutrition.
This week's snow and subzero temperatures put stress on farmers and their animals, but there could be a sweet upside to the cold snap.
With rootworms building resistance to GM corn that makes its own pesticide, seed companies are working on new crops that target the insects’ genes.
Use of antibiotics to grow farm animals has been blamed for growing antibiotic resistance in humans across the United States. New rules could help curb that.
Some microbiologists are focused on how to harness the good things microbes can do, with the goal of increasing farmers’ yields.
As farmers across the Midwest have plowed up grassland to grow more corn and soybeans, habitat for grassland birds has become increasingly scarce.
Due to increased competition amongst hog farmers, indoor confined animal feeding operations are growing, even in the most environmentally sensitive areas.
Sales of organic food over the last five years have grown 35 percent, but there’s a problem in the supply chain – not enough organic grain.
While the final numbers haven’t been tallied, it looks like American farmers may have shipped a record $140 billion worth of product overseas in the last year.
We celebrate figs in unlikely places today with a poem by Ross Gay. Persimmon jam to enjoy in the winter. And, where did all the sheep go?
Over the last 20 years, the number of sheep in the U.S. has been cut in half. Today, the domestic sheep herd is one-tenth the size it was during World War II.
Corn farmers have been riding high prices for the last few years. But an expected bumper crop has prices falling this harvest season.


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Google CEO Sundar Pichai was upbeat Monday when he told WIRED about internal tests of a censored search engine designed to win approval from Chinese officials. It will take more than a government nod for Google to succeed, however.
That’s not only because of the political tensions raised by President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods, which analysts say make Google’s expansion unlikely. China’s competitive—and cooling—search market doesn’t seem to offer much space for a US entrant. “Because Google has been absent for years, it has a lot of distance to make up,” says Raymond Feng, director of research at Pacific Epoch in Shanghai, which tracks China’s internet markets. Google declined to comment on its strategy around search in China.
Google offered a censored version of its search engine for China’s tightly regulated internet between 2006 and 2010. The company shut it down after complaining that its corporate network was subject to a sophisticated attack from inside China, targeting the Gmail accounts of human rights activists.
During Google’s absence, China’s internet population swelled by nearly 70 percent, to 772 million. One challenge for Google is that it knows relatively little about those consumers.
The US company is famed for collecting broad data about online activity, and mining it smartly to sell ads and improve its services. In China, Google would start with a mostly blank slate compared with local rivals such as the dominant Baidu, which serves about 60 percent of all searches, says Feng.
In recent years, Baidu’s closest challengers, Haosou and Sogou, have succeeded in wresting a portion of China’s search market for themselves. But the strategies they’ve used to do that would not be easy for Google to emulate, says Kai-Fu Lee, who was president of Google in China between 2005 and 2009. The two challengers have grown their userbases by leveraging companion internet products, and partnerships with other companies.
Haosou has benefited from integration with parent company Qihoo 360’s web browser, much like Google supports its search offering by integrating it into its own Chrome browser. Chrome dominates outside China, but the browser’s download page is blocked by Chinese authorities, like other Google services such as Youtube and Gmail.
Sogou has grown in part thanks to an alliance with Tencent, which owns a major stake in the company, and integrated the search engine into China’s dominant mobile messaging service WeChat. WeChat has become a powerful multi-functional platform used for shopping, banking, and much more. “I spend 90 percent of my time in WeChat, and my wife spends 98 percent,” Lee says. “If you want to do a search, Sogou is right there.” Sogou also indexes some WeChat content, giving it a powerful lens into what Chinese internet users are doing.
Analyst eMarketer estimates that $25 billion will be spent on search ads in China in 2018, about half as much as in the US. However, an English-language Chinese government report on internet trends in 2017 noted that that “the search engine industry was faced with great pressure of competition” and that revenue and profit growth have been falling.
On Monday, Pichai said Google could win Chinese users by providing more reliable information than existing Chinese search engines. He suggested that a cancer patient researching treatments in China today might be poorly served. “Today people either get fake cancer treatments or they actually get useful information,” he said. The remark was a pointed reference to a 2016 scandal in which Baidu was investigated by China’s government, because a student with cancer died after paying for an unproven treatment discovered in a search ad.
It’s a smart strategy, but not original. When Sogou listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2017, its filings touted a dedicated healthcare search feature, plugged into government-backed health information. Google might benefit from a perception in China that overseas companies can be more trustworthy, one reason many families import baby formula instead of buying local brands.
Pichai didn’t mention another case study from China’s search market his team has probably thought about. While Google has been responding to internal and external protests over its China project, Microsoft’s Bing search engine has been quietly serving—and censoring—search results inside China. Asked about the company’s willingness to work with censorship, a Microsoft spokesperson said: “We work to comply with laws around the world while adhering to our strong commitments to human rights.”
Microsoft launched Bing in China in 2009, tweaking its brand to something closer to “biying” (??) to avoid sounding like a Mandarin word for sickness. Despite the change, and Microsoft’s large and long-established research lab in Beijing, the project has not been healthy. Biying has never won more than a tiny fraction of Chinese searches; in 2015 Microsoft struck a deal that makes Baidu the default search engine for the Edge browser built into Windows.
Charlie Smith, the pseudonymous co-founder of GreatFire.org, a nonprofit that monitors Chinese internet censorship, says it shows that China’s internet users don’t necessarily see American search engines as an upgrade. “The Chinese already have that alternative and it’s terrible,” he says.


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Davis-Standard is pleased to announce that Engineering Customer Centric Solutions (ENGICCS) Ltd. is the company’s new sales representative in West Africa. ENGICCS is a global player in the design, development and distribution of innovative solutions for packaging film, polymer electronics and converting systems. As Davis-Standard’s representative, they will be responsible for facilitating direct contact with plastics converters and stakeholders in West Africa to identify converting needs and market plastic packaging solutions throughout the region.
According to Dr. Anye Chifen, Managing Director of ENGICCS, “We look forward to increasing awareness of the Davis-Standard brand through strategic marketing avenues, while also providing more facetime with customers. A key part of our role in this region is to cultivate long-term partnerships and offer value-added solutions. This is an important step in gaining a greater understanding of customer needs and providing outstanding solutions to the industry.”
Davis-Standard recently participated in the Nigeria Plastprintpack + Agro Food Exhibition in late March. The exhibition proved to be a timely opportunity to discuss Davis-Standard’s solutions in flexible packaging and to learn more about Nigerian-based manufacturing companies. According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria, the country’s plastic and packaging sector has experienced substantial growth in recent decades from around 50 companies in the 1960’s to more than 3,000 manufacturers today. Based on feedback from the show, Davis-Standard looks forward to supporting Nigeria’s rapidly growing converting and extrusion markets, specifically in the area of packaging films.


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How KFC became China's most popular fast-food chain and made nearly $5 billion last year
KFC was one of the first American fast-food chains to open in China and remains one of the most popular in the region.
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The latest news from academia, regulators
research labs and other things of interest
Posted: July 30, 2009
Inventors look to crack electric car conundrum
(Nanowerk News) Researchers grappling with the problem of developing the most fuel-efficient electric cars are using micro-jet turbine engines and 'supercapacity' batteries to help energy-conscious consumers drive further.
Companies from Europe, Japan and Israel believe on-board chargers and high-powered battery technology could give them an edge in the race to produce a commercially viable electric car – and investors are beginning to buy into the idea.
A Tel Aviv-based start-up, ETV Motors, has raised €8.4 million for R&D, and has adapted the top-selling Toyota Prius petrol-electric hybrid to test its theory. The new model does not have an internal combustion engine, but instead features an electric engine with a supercapacity battery and a mirco-jet turbine which powers the vehicle from the rear.
The notion of a turbine-powered electric car is not entirely new, but ETV wants to fine-tune its design for the mass market. It says it has developed a micro-turbine engine to act as an on-board charger and a high-density battery that can power a vehicle for about 60-80 km (35-50 miles) on one charge.
The test car uses newly-designed components which are still undergoing development, the company said, adding that the final product should be ready for tests next year.
Another Israeli project, Better Place, was launched in 2007 with €140 million of venture funding. It has been gaining momentum across the globe, pushing for fully electric cars that recharge by plugging in to a grid network.
Better Place has partnered with Renault and Nissan to develop electric car infrastructure, with Nissan expected to focus on the Japanese market, while Renault looks to bring electric cars to European roads by the end of the decade.
Renault unveiled its first demonstration model in Tel Aviv in May 2008, pledging to begin sales by late 2010 – which would make it one of the quickest vehicles to go from concept to market in automotive history.
Renault and Nissan will hold large-scale joint testing events for its new electric cars in Paris and Milan next year, ahead of mass production scheduled for 2012. The trial conducted in the Paris region will include testing of a new car-charging network, which is being developed in conjunction with electricity giant EDF.
"One hundred electric cars from the Renault-Nissan alliance [...] will be tested from September 2010 for a year by individuals, companies and local authority employees," Renault-Nissan and EDF said in a statement.
Toyota Motor Corp, another of the auto giants developing hybrid and plug-in technologies, said it would start leasing 500 plug-in cars globally by the end of this year.
Toyota said its car will be powered by lithium-ion batteries, and Japan's Nikkei business daily reported this month that the plug-in will be able to run 20-30 km (12-18 miles) on battery power alone at full charge.
ETV Motors says its batteries will power a car for more than twice as long. With its on-board charger, the vehicle will not be dependent on a complicated electric charging infrastructure, although it will be plug-in compatible.
The jet turbine system is also a departure from General Motors Corp's Chevy Volt plug-in, which is also powered by a traditional internal combustion engine. GM aims to introduce the Volt, with its 64 km (40 mile) range, by late 2010.
The game-changing development, said chief technology officer Arieh Meitav, was a higher density battery, based on Lithium Manganese Nickel Oxide.
The batteries will be the first to have 4.7 volt cells, in place of existing Lithium-ion batteries with 3.2 volts. This allows for a longer range with a smaller battery, and it is projected to last throughout the car's lifetime, he said.
The second part of the system, the electricity producing micro-turbine, is being developed with the help of an aviation company – though ETV Motors would not say which one.
The turbine can run off a variety of fuel sources, like gasoline, diesel and biofuel, the company said, and will only operate to charge the battery when it runs low, spinning at a constant 80,000 RPM for maximum efficiency.
At an event in Japan this week (27 July), Nissan showcased a prototype of its new zero-emission electric car and said it would cut gas emissions by 90% by 2050. "Nissan will be a leader in zero-emission vehicles," Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said ahead of a test-drive event at the automaker's facility in a Tokyo suburb. "EV is the answer."
Last week (20 July), Nissan revealed plans to build an electric car battery plant in Sunderland, north-east England. The new facility will produce around 60,000 batteries per year and create 350 jobs.
For its part, Renault is expected to exhibit three electric cars at the Frankfurt motor show in September, which the company said would have a unique style. "We want a real signature for our electric range, so when people see one in the street they will know it is a Renault electric car," said Christian Steyer, Renault's development chief for small cars.
"The key is to do this without frightening customers away. Customers must be tempted, and not rushed too fast. Maybe there is room for something very radical to rewrite the design rules that can be found from electric. So far we can't find it, though. But it is certainly possible in the future thanks to the changes and possibilities of battery technology."
Felix Kramer, founder of CalCars.org, an independent Palo Alto-based non-profit startup promoting plug-in hybrids, said the company had two very promising solutions but that they were far from commercialisation.
"Today, every major automaker is now hard at work developing its first production plug-in vehicles in the next four years using existing technology," Kramer said. "Once ETV Motors has fully developed prototypes, potential customers will be able to analyse both the performance and cost benefits of the new systems compared to other contending advanced technologies," he said.
Arnold Roth, ETV Motors' chief operating officer, said the company was discussing options to either manufacture parts of the system itself or license it out to a larger company.
"We have been approached by Tier 1 manufacturers, who are interested in our technology," Roth said.
The CEO said their hybrid system will be cheaper than other hybrids on the market today.
Sept. 2009: Renault-Nissan will test its electric cars in Paris and Milan.
Sept. 2009: Renault will unveil three electric vehicles at the Frankfurt motor show.
Late 2010: GM aims to introduce Volt, its jet turbine-powered electric car.
Late 2010: Renault plans to begin sales of its new electric cars.
2012: Renault-Nissan plan mass production of electric vehicles.
The push to develop a viable electric car has been driven by the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to curb climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
However, technical and logistical difficulties mean developing a mass market electric vehicle is not so straightforward. Critics say electric cars do not have a long enough 'range' (meaning they are not well suited to long-distance driving) and a major overhaul of power supply infrastructure will be required to make electric cars convenient for consumers.
Nonetheless, political support for greener transport has been growing. In an economic recovery package released last year, the European Union earmarked €5 billion for its Green Car Initiative. The US government is also heaping pressure on US automakers to lead the way on clean technologies.
The EU plan includes support for research into electric and hybrid vehicles, but also allocates funds for hydrogen powered-vehicles and fuel cell technology. High density batteries are seen as key to unlocking the problem of making electric cars compete with contemporary petrol engines.
Earlier this year, EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Poto?nik challenged Europe's automotive industry to come up with workable solutions to electrify Europe's transport system by next year


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A store owner who set up shop in Rushden before moving to Wellingborough in 1988 is celebrating 50 years of trading.
Karl Zaremba owns women’s clothes shop Au Bon Marche in Park Road, where he moved to from Market Street seven years ago.
Mr Zaremba, 67, had previously sold tableware and other items from Newton Road in Rushden after opening in 1967.
Now he’s celebrating 50 years of trading today (Friday).
He said: “Over the years I’ve sold tableware, shoes, decorations, everything.
“There’s not many things I haven’t sold.
“Everything has changed and I’ve seen so many things change in the last 50 years.
“Everyone says that this is the only shop for women of a certain age that caters for them.”
Mr Zaremba’s shop has several thousands of items crammed and is all colour-coded.
But despite the sheer volume of clothing items, he would know exactly where to find something if asked.
The shop sells women’s shoes from sizes 1 to 10 and clothes from size 6 to 30 and has been visited by June Brown, better known as EastEnders’ Dot Cotton.
Mr Zaremba spent many years in Wymington before moving to Shoreditch, where he commutes to Wellingborough daily by train.
The 50-year anniversary comes on Friday the 13th – just as it was on the day he opened for business.
Mr Zaremba added: “We’ve got a book of 400 loyal customers from as far as Leigh-on-Sea and Stockport.
“We sell so much here and it’s all quality.
“When we opened it was Friday the 13th and now we’re celebrating 50 years on a Friday the 13th as well.
“And Friday the 13th is supposed to be unlucky!”


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The Palm handheld platform continued to dominate the
handheld arena in February, but Palm-branded handhelds lost
ground to competitors including, for the first time, Sony,
according to market research firm NPD Intelect.
Overall, handhelds based on the Palm platform accounted for
86 percent of all handheld sales, according to the report. The
Palm platform has held about that level of market share
consistently for more than a year although Palm-based
products from vendors such as Handspring have taken unit
share away from Palm-branded handhelds.
For instance, Palm-branded handhelds accounted for about 80
percent of the market about a year ago, but now account for only
64.4 percent. The Palm-based Sony Clie broke into the top five for
the first time in February, notching a two percent market share.
The report covers the retail channel, not direct sales. According to the
study company, Unit shares for handhelds in February were:
|Brand (Platform)||% Unit Sales|
|Casio (Pocket PC)||6.1|
|Hewlett Packard (Pocket PC)||3.7|
Missing from the list are Pocket PC handhelds from Compaq, which are sold largely via
direct sales, not through the retail channel. Speculatively, adding Compaq sales
would put market share for the Pocket PC platform over 10 percent.
Despite losing market share, dramatically increasing sales of handhelds overall have
led to a continuing increase in revenues for Palm, it said recently.


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MORUYA Rotary in conjunction with Bay Removals have organised a container to take furniture and working electrical appliances to the flood victims in Bundaberg.
When the president of Moruya Rotary, Steve Young found out that the Rotary Club of Pambula were doing a collection of furniture for the flood victims in Bundaberg and they had organised with Bobbins Transport to have it delivered he decided to try and help in much the same way.
Mr Young contacted his friends Bruce and Anne Reid of Bay Removals to see if they could help with transport and they agreed that they would supply a container and if it can be filled they will transport it to Bundaberg.
They are calling for goods such as furniture and working electrical goods to be delivered to Bay Removals, located at Lynches Creek, Princes Highway, just near the Broulee turn-off during business hours. The deadline for dropping off items is the end of this month.
Mr Young urged people to have a look in their garages and sheds for usable furniture and electrical items that are in good working order.
“Fridges, washing machines, bedside lamps, electric jugs and cookers are just some of the things that have already been donated,” he said. “If it’s a bit iffy please don’t drop it off.”
Items for consideration are tables and chairs, beds, mattresses, sofas, settees, crockery, cutlery, in fact any decent household items.
Bay Removals will take the full container to Bundaberg during March when the goods will then be distributed by one of Bundaberg’s three Rotary Clubs and the Salvation Army.
Local Rotary Clubs have already sent a number of Rotary Shelter Boxes that contain a 10 person tent, 10 thermal blankets, multi-fuel cooker with pans, utensils, bowls and mugs along with other basic equipment to the Bundaberg floods victims and the Tasmanian fire victims.
President of Rotary Narooma, Terry Irvine said that there were families in Tassie that still had stock on their property after their homes had been destroyed by the fire.
“We have placed shelter boxes on those properties so the people could stay there and care for their livestock,” he said.
The program is being run across Narooma, Moruya and Bateman’s Bay.
If anyone has any enquiries they can contact president of Moruya Rotary on 0438 739 246


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The company added the feature to the desktop version of YouTube previous year and has been met with much demand from consumers to implement the same feature in the mobile apps. Apple's iOS will be the first to get Dark Mode as YouTube starts pushing it out today.
It looks like Google is in the process of rolling out a new update for the YouTube app, which will add a new dark mode, similar to the one that's been released on desktop past year.
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According to Google, a dark mode was one of the most requested features for its mobile apps. Lo and behold, YouTube for Android and iOS is finally gaining the elusive dark mode, reports The Verge. But even with new evidence that the whole app was going dark, it was clear that significant work remained, with some screens stuck in a halfway state: white text, but also a white background.
Having a dark theme has its advantages.
For those who like to watch YouTube in bed at night, this Dark theme will help keep brightness to a minimum, especially if you have a partner who is sensitive to light at night.


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Three-plus Pittsburgh funny guys are launching a line of greeting cards only available at Gi’n’ Iggle stores in Western Pennsylvania, where people know what that means.
Yinzer Cards are a project of comic Jim Krenn, radio host Larry Richert and Post-Gazette editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers. The idea is that of public relations guy and fourth partner Dick Roberts of Giant Eagle.
The artwork and the text are pronouncedly Pittsburghese, the dialect often spoken and even more widely appreciated by yinz who shop at the 42 Giant Eagle and Market District stores where the cards are being sold exclusively in Allegheny, Washington, Westmoreland and Butler counties.
The cards — two dozen ones for birthdays and other occasions and holidays — are $4.99 each, with 10 percent of net proceeds going to Animal Friends, a charity long supported by Mr. Krenn.
Their creation is a team effort that doesn’t seem to take much effort. Sounds more like a party.
“Believe me, we’ve had many meetings where we’re laughing 85 percent of the time,” says Mr. Roberts. “It’s been fun putting it all together, and hopefully we can do some good for Animal Friends.”
The Mother’s Day message is a little untraditional, including the couplet, “You sent me to buy your smokes and your beer/ But to me you’ll always be Mum of the Year.”
But that’s the point, says Mr. Krenn. “I’m a card writer now! Who knew?”
He’s doing this new and different kind of writing by channeling his longtime yinzer character, Stanley P. Kachowski. The mum in his card is Mr. Krenn’s mother, Lu, the kind of woman for whom breakfast is a cigarette and a Dr Pepper.
“The yinzer thing — I’m proud of that,” says Mr. Krenn. “It’s me. It’s ours. No one else can claim that.”
Fans can meet all five guys, if you count Stanley, at Yinzer Cards launch events on Wednesday — at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Market District at Settlers Ridge.
They’ve also lauched a website, http://yinzercards.com where the cards “and other merchandise ’n at” are to be available to order soon.
Bob Batz Jr.: firstname.lastname@example.org, 412-263-1930 and on Twitter @bobbatzjr.


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Kellogg is expanding its Kashi and Eggo brands in the US with the addition of new frozen products, including Kashi’s first frozen soups.
Kellogg is introducing Kashi Moroccan Minestrone and Savoury Chicken Noodle frozen soups. It is also adding two frozen steamed meals – mushroom and asparagus risotto and three cheese ravioli – to the Kashi brand.
Under the Eggo brand Kellogg is introducing “chocolatey chip muffin” Wafflers, designed to be eated “straight from the toaster”.
“Kellogg Company’s frozen food lineup is anchored by strong brands and attractive, on-trend innovation,” said Michael Allen, president of Kellogg frozen food division. “We have a clear understanding of what our consumers want for their families and are committed to create new foods to meet these needs.”


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Wireless temperature monitoring specialist Monika has been working with a leading B&I operator to facilitate the introduction of “staff-less” catering facilities in what it regards as a landmark development for the sector.
Rag Hulait, senior sales consultant at Monika, says the project is designed to “take vending to the next level” and will allow employees to choose from a range of fresh meals before using a swipe card or wireless payment system to purchase their goods.
“With CCTV recording to check for accuracy and the very latest PathFinder system from Monika installed to continuously record the temperature of individual fridges, staff presence is not required for the catering establishment to function,” explains Hulait.
“We are working closely with the client to develop the system so that should the temperature in a fridge exceed the pre-set parameters, the door will automatically lock and the light will go out to prevent customers from consuming the food inside.”
Hulait says that not only does this arrangement provide ongoing food safety, but it also allows for a greater choice of fresh food and significant labour efficiencies across the business.
“We see this as the future of B&I and are proud to be working with the contractors to ensure the continued growth and profitability in the sector,” he adds.


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Crossplay has been a highly requested feature in Warframe for years, and Digital Extremes are finally bowing down to the will of the community. At Tennocon 2021, the developers announced that crossplay and cross-save support would be coming to the game later this year.
Once the updated feature arrives, Tenno will be able to play with their friends no matter what platform they are on, be it PC, Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox. For years, one of the biggest issues in the Warframe community has been that updates would normally release on PC first, then arrive on a console a few weeks later.
This is one of the major reasons why crossplay was not an option in the game, as it was impossible to ensure that all players would have access to the same content at the same time. Those days are over, however. In the future, all players will be getting the game’s updates at the same time, opening the door for crossplay across all platforms.
Also announced at the event is the fact that Digital Extremes are working on a mobile version of Warframe. Little additional information was given about this development, but it is certainly an interesting course for the game.
Last but by no means least, the meat of Tennocon 2021 for many players was the first look at The New War, the next major expansion that will be arriving in Warframe. Fans were surprised to see Grineer Solider Kahl-175, Corpus Engineer Veso, and Teshin all playable in a quest for the first time. With the Sentinets arriving at Cetus, it would seem that players will be forging new alliances to deal with the devastating alien threat.
“The New War will continue Warframe’s very personal and intimate storyline with a dramatic narrative, unexpected experiences, and cinematic action sequences like we showcased today,” said Rebecca Ford, Live Operations and Community Director at Digital Extremes. 2021 is shaping up to be a huge year for Warframe fans as the game takes a huge step forward with exciting new features and content.


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HE FOR SHE: Junya Watanabe’s year-old men’s wear line is being reinterpreted for women. "It’s a new collection, not just a size-down," Adrian Joffe, managing director of Comme des Garçons, said. "It’ll be based on the...
HE FOR SHE: Junya Watanabe’s year-old men’s wear line is being reinterpreted for women. "It’s a new collection, not just a size-down," Adrian Joffe, managing director of Comme des Garçons, said. "It’ll be based on the Junya Watanabe Man concept, but for women." The collection, still unnamed, will debut for spring 2003 retailing, initially in Japan only. Watanabe, a protégé of Rei Kawakubo, is best known for his avant-garde and whimsical women’s collection. By contrast, his men’s wear is more classic-with-a-twist, but it has quickly won a cult following. Watanabe’s first two men’s collections, in collaboration with Levi’s, were based on jeans and shirts printed with quirky sayings and poetry excerpts. His spring 2003 men’s collection, shown in Paris last June, was a mix of motocross and Hawaii.
FIRST SERVE: Steffi Graf may have left competitive tennis behind for good, but she is hoping that her new accessories venture will be an ace. The former tennis champion — the last woman to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in one year — launched a collection of handbags and travel goods with three groups, Basic, Modern and Travel. "The idea of designing my own collection came from the constant travel in my life," said Graf, who now lives in Las Vegas with her husband, Andre Agassi. "I’ve carried many different bags, but most couldn’t bring together all the things I expect." The collection will hit retail in October. It’s made by German leather-goods firm Goldpfeil and priced from about $37 to $537.
@fearofgod and @maxfieldla have teamed up on a pop-up installation. The store, located in the gallery space across from Maxfield’s Melrose Ave location, is the site of the brand’s House of God pop-up in which Fear of God founder @jerrylorenzo has created a church-inspired installation. A dozen vintage church pews sit in front of an LED screen playing 90s gospel singers in an effort to re-create an environment akin to a Southern Baptist Church, Lorenzo explained. Read more about the pop-up on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: Jennifer Johnson)
Known for his sleek, sophisticated American glamour, Norman Norell is the subject of an upcoming exhibition at @fitnyc. “Norell: Dean of American Fashion,” which runs from February 9 through April 14, will feature approximately 100 ensembles and accessories. His best work is exemplified by the designer’s glittering “mermaid” gowns frosted with thousands of hand-sewn sequins – like the one pictured. (📷: William Helburn) #wwdfashion
For pre-fall 2018, @balmain didn’t let go of the glitz. A crystal embroidered baseball jacket priced at around $40,000 hangs in the “couture” section of the brand’s first men’s pre-collection. Sporting the words “Balmain Army” across the back, the item took around two months to make. “When it was completed, it was like Christmas, it was like, ‘It’s done, it’s exactly what I wanted,’” said Balmain’s creative director @olivier_rousteing during a tour of the collection in a Paris showroom on Monday. #wwdfashion
Eighty degree temperatures and outdoor installations at the annual Art Basel Miami Beach called for bright, elevated beachwear. See more street style pictures on WWD.com. #theyarewearing #ABMB (📷: @lifeinreverie)
Following September’s emotional tribute to her brother Gianni, Donatella Versace wanted to bring the spring show’s deep sense of intimacy to her @versace_official pre-fall collection. Donatella found inspiration in Versace Palazzo in Milan and from Gianni’s opulent apartment. Archival patterns and new motifs were splashed on silk shirtdresses and fitted jersey frocks. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com. #wwdfashion
Demna Gvasalia continues to shake up the Paris fashion calendar — and experiment with new runway timetables for his @vetements_official brand. WWD has learned that Vetements plans to stage its next coed show for the fall 2018 season on January 19 during Men’s Fashion Week in the French capital. Details about the timing and venue have not been confirmed — stay tuned on WWD.com to catch the latest. #wwdnews (📷: @giovanni_giannoni_photo)
@zacposen's go-to holiday gift? Cookies! "I'll usually bake cookies and send them as a gift," said the designer, who recently released his cookbook "Cooking With Zac: Recipes from Rustic to Refined." Get the recipe for his Brown Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies via link in bio 🍪🍪🍪 #wwdeye #cookingwithzac
For @monsemaison’s pre-fall 2018 collection, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim honed in on the brand’s many signatures — men’s wear, which was tweaked and feminized through deconstruction, proportion play and lots of bare shoulders. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
On Friday night, @yohjiyamamotoofficial received the Design for Asia Lifetime Achievement Award in Hong Kong. The 75-year-old designer has been celebrated for many years and is best known for his dark and avant-garde tailoring. “In my long career, in design, architecture, [I’ve been to] so many parties, this is the very first time that I have such a warm feeling, I really appreciate this,” Yamamoto said. #wwdfashion (📷: @dominiquemaitre)


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Open letter to South Africa’s students‚ universities and government‚ represented by Minister in the .
JSE-listed IT company GijimaAST recorded a growth rate twice that of the rest of the information and communications technology industry. During Jonas Bogoshi's tenure as chief executive he has managed to boost revenue by 25percent, twice the growth rate of the overall IT industry. "Our long-standing involvement in the public sector, mining, manufacturing, financial services and retail gives us an in-depth understanding of operating environments in these sectors, and it is starting to pay-off," Bogoshi said. - Zweli Mokgata


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Small business loss compensation received from yesterday… Apply from an odd number of businesses
The payment of KRW 2.4 trillion in compensation for losses to 800,000 small businesses and small businesses that suffered losses due to COVID-19 quarantine measures started yesterday (27th).
You can apply for the odd-even system up to 30 days, and you will receive a minimum of 100,000 won and a maximum of 100 million won.
This is reporter Han Ji-yi.
Applications for loss compensation due to quarantine measures are accepted online at the ‘Small Business Loss Compensation Website’.
If you enter your business number and verify your identity, you can receive compensation within two days at the latest without any additional proof.
Small business owners who find it difficult to apply online can apply at the loss compensation window at the Si/Gun/Gu office near the location of their business site from the 3rd of the following month.
“I feel fortunate to be able to compensate small business owners who have cooperated with quarantine measures through a systematic system.”
If you do not agree to the expedited compensation amount, or if you are not included in the compensation target even after taking measures to ban gatherings and limit business hours, you can apply for confirmation compensation by submitting evidence.
Also, if you do not receive the compensation application guide, you can check through the loss compensation website, call center, or online chat consultation.
The government plans to release support measures such as providing low-interest policy funds to industries excluded from this compensation, such as indoor sports facilities and travel industries, within the next month.
This is Yonhap News TV Han Ji-yi. ([email protected])
Yonhap News TV Article Inquiries and Reports: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23


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Virgin Mobile USA gets the LG Pulse, HTC Desire 816, ZTE Emblem and LG Unify
Virgin Mobile isn’t a name that rings out as much as AT&T or Verizon in the states, but they are bolstering their smartphone lineup with four new Android devices according to a new leak that’s just hit the web.
The four devices headed to Virgin Mobile USA are the HTC Desire 816, LG Pulse, LG Unify and ZTE Emblem. We’ve covered the HTC Desire 816 at length, and you can even find out how it stacks up against the One Mini 2Â in a mid-range battle. It can’t compete with the HTC One M8, but it’s a respectable device that won’t break the bank.
As for the other three devices, there’s not a detail to be found on the LG Pulse or LG Unify, and the ZTE Emblem is about as mysterious as they come. Virgin Mobile runs off Sprint’s Network in the U.S., so they could be LTE-enabled, and we’re going to assume they are mid-range smartphones (possibly rebranded) like the HTC Desire 816, but it’s anyone’s guess at this point.
Variety is the spice of life, and it’s good to see Virgin Mobile USA adding new smartphones to their roster, even if we have no idea what lies under the hood of three of them. Are you intrigued by Virgin Mobile USA’s new handsets?
Via – evleaks.at


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News tagged Sampo
Last update: Monday 27 January 2014 [26 news items]
Taiwan-based TV brands promoting LED TVs
Mar 14, 16:00
Taiwan-based household appliance vendors including Tatung, Teco, and Sampo have been promoting LED-backlit TVs due to government incentive policies. The Taiwan government has been...
Sampo posts on-year revenue growth in November
Dec 15, 15:54
Taiwan-based household appliance vendor Sampo has posted revenues of NT$982 million (US$32.45 million) for November, up 7% on year. For the first 11 months of 2011, revenues amounted...
TCL to continue purchasing AUO TV panels
Dec 6, 14:26
TCL will produce about 15 million TV panels from its own 8.5G flat panel lines in 2012 but will continue to cooperate with AU Optronics (AUO) as it still has to outsource about 50-60%...
TCL anticipates increase in December shipments
Dec 6, 01:30
China-based TV brand TCL's September shipments reached a high for the year. The firm now anticipates December shipments to reach the same level due to the upcoming Lunar New Year...
TCL, Sampo to sign cooperation pact
Dec 1, 10:32
China-based vendor TCL is expected to sign a strategic alliance agreement with Taiwan-based vendor Sampo for purchases and distribution of each other's products. Sampo is expected...
Taiwan market: Sampo launches 3D plasma TVs
Aug 25, 15:22
Local vendor Sampo has launched 58- and 63-inch 3D plasma TVs, and 32-, 40-, 46- and 55-inch LED-backlit LCD TVs in the Taiwan market, with a goal of shipping 100,000 flat-panel TVs...


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Energy cap will save you nothing
Hefty price rises by companies last year have already wiped out potential gains
Industry experts have condemned the government’s energy price cap introduced on January 1, claiming it is ineffectual and will leave most people worse off.
Under the cap, a typical household on an energy supplier’s standard variable rate (SVR) can be billed no more than £1,137 a year. It was introduced to protect the poorest customers and those who do not shop around, and Ofgem, the industry regulator, claims it will save 11 million households on SVR plans an average of £75 a year.
However, an examination of the price rises undertaken last year by the “Big Six” companies — British Gas, EDF, Eon, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE — which supply energy to 21 million of the UK’s 27 million households, shows they raised their


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CES 2020 is the biggest event in the tech industry. Anybody who wants to be anybody in the tech industry shows up to make an appearance, give (or attend) a speech, network, and put on a big show for the press about new consumer and enterprise technologies and trends.
Because it’s the first event of a new decade, CES 2020 is especially well-attended, with over 175,000 attendees and 4,500 exhibitors representing over 160 countries. Here are some highlights
CTA President and CEO Gary Shapiro welcomes Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian for his keynote. It’s the first major airline to make an appearance at CES, showing the strength of the show in this new decade.
Here’s a shot of CES attendees lining up for passes. We have a great guide on how to attend CES if you’re ever interested. It’s closed to the public, but journalists, investors, and industry insiders gallore attend.
Sony was hoping to stir up excitement for its PlayStation 5, but the lack of any reveal beyond changing the 4 to a 5 left the Twitterverse in stitches.
Massive 8K HDR screens are the big sell of CES 2020, with companies like TCL showcasing a wide variety of 8K-certified TVs.
Even on the software side, the UHD Alliance showcased Filmmaker Mode, which makes screen settings easier to apply to content and viewed by different devices. This will make ultra high-definition (UHD) devices much easier to introduce to the broader consumer market.
As always, CES has constant crowds throughout the entire cities of Las Vegas and Paradise, Nevada. Here are some key findings for marketers in from MediaLink and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) at CES 2020.
At CES Unveiled 2020 press and industry analysts were given an exclusive, early-access preview to all the hotest gadgets being announced at the show. There were some definite wierd prototypes spanning a wide range of interests.
We tasted the first Impossible Burger at its launch in 2019 at Thought for Your Penny (Thanks, Amy for forcing us!). It’s actually great, and the surge in popularity that followed was unexpected. Now a staple in Burger King’s “Impossible” Whopper, the company unveiled Impossible Pork for 2020.
Samsung showed up with some insanse Neon chat bots. These hyper-realistic (but still computer-genrerated and fictional) people can act as virtual friends in the future, making AI a lot more realistic than we’re used to today.
Samsung Consumer Electronics Division President and CEO Hyun-Suk Kim also showed off a range of consumer electronics sure to be popular when they hit shelves in 2020.
Daimler’s Chairman of the Board of Management Ola Kallenius has a simple question for the crows, as he unveils the brand’s latest concept car, which looks straight out the future.
Boating company Brunswick represented the boating industry at CES, something that’s been missing from the event in past years. They make it clear the marine and boating industries are technology-focused.
Intel’s presentation lacked zest, although Zotac, Project Athena, and a few other devices were cool but overall viewed as lackluster by the general media.
Hyundai unveiled a flying car concept, along with some cool gear that got the crowd more excited.
Taiwain’s startup community continues showcasing rapid development in technology. It’s always an impressive stop for anyone going to CES.
AMD far outshined Intel when it unveiled its Ryzen 7 4000-series processors, along with a slew of hardware focused on gamers and creators. These are the two professional groups who need the most advanced GPU and CPU power.
Toyota shifted its focus outside the car and on smart cities. This “woven city” is what it views as the future of condensed cities in Japan.
Bosch unveiled its Virtual Viser, smart home support for Apple Homekit, and more.
Qualcom unveiled the many platforms using its chips, and focuses on autonomous driving in a 5G world.
Hisense unveiled several new technologies in its fancy laser TVs, including dual-cell LCD, ULED Quantom Dot, and self-rising mechanics for that extra bit of flair.
Monster introduced its new Multilink Bluetooth technology at CES. It’s meant to make audio sound better in our inevitable shift to wireless headphones and speakers.
Proctor and Gamble (P&G) always has a presence at CES, and 2020 was no different. The company showcased a new electric toothbrush, a robot that carries Charmin toilet paper, and more in its LIfeLab at CES.
LG showed off a $60,000 rollable TV that stunned those in attendance. It also had practically bezeless OLED 4K smart TVs with AI ThinQ and OLED 8K smart TVs up to 88 inches.
CES always has its share of speakers. After skipping out last year, FCC chair Ajit Pai showed up with reinforcements to try and look cool and hip for the new decade.
Presidential daugther Ivanka Trump followed suit, showing up for a conversation with the CTA about the role of technology in society.
C/Net is continuing hosting expert panels that are a little more digestible, and coverage from Wired, The Verge, Digital Trends, Engadget, Ars Technica, and other reputable tech outlests makes CES much more palatable.
It looks like 2020 will be a great year for consumer and enterprise electronics. Both hardware and software are being infused with new ideas, and everyone from Hollywood to the White House and everywhere across the globe, wants in on the action.