text:
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
The amount of PS3 units on store shelves throughout North America is due to the strength of Sony's manufacturing and supply chain, according to SCEA chief executive Jack Tretton.
While critics have suggested the next-gen console is not a hit with consumers due to the fact it hasn't sold out in many locations, Tretton has stated it's because the company has never been this well organised.
"It's a testament to the fact that we've been able to manufacture and ship units on a greater pace than any previous console," Tretton said in an interview with Reuters.
"Our goal is to fill shelves across the United States. Our goal is not to have empty shelves, it's to have full shelves".
"If we have a empty shelves that's one less consumer who could have bought a PS3," he said.
The PlayStation 3 is on track to reach Sony's sales target of 2 million units in the US by the end of March, according to Tretton.
"We're in pretty good shape to do that. The early returns are quite favourable," he revealed.
The chief executive also predicted there would be no console shortages in the supply chain by May 2007.
"April or May is when we feel like we're going to catch up to demand and have product fully in stock across North America and stay there," he said.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Resistance: Fall of Man and Motorstorm will be some of the first Sony games to hit the shelves at £40. It should be noted that this comes in at $78. New Xbox 360 games cost between 60 and 70 Euros. PS3 games from Sony will cost 60 Euros. Sony says it wants third parties to follow suit.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Sony has changed the specification of the PS3 for Europe, raising doubts over the number of PS2 games that will be compatible with the next-gen machine.
"Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3," said David Reeves, president of SCEE.
Sony has said that 'a new combination of hardware and software emulation will enable the PS3 to be compatible with a broad range of original PlayStation titles, and a limited range of PS2 titles'.
Sony will publish a backwards compatibility list on the PS3's launch day, March 23, with additional titles becoming compatible through downloads via the PlayStation Network.
"The backwards compatibility is not going to be as good as in the US and Japanese models," a Sony spokesperson told Reuters.
Although Sony has yet to detail the new specification fully, analyst Datamonitor suggests that a new PS3 model will feature a "new chassis" designed to bring manufacturing costs of the console down.
"By utilising the latest hardware Sony is able to rationalise the number of components required," said the firm.
"This move is significant, as it will have a positive impact on the PS3’s long-term cost profile".
"By launching the PS3 in Europe with the new chassis, Sony has at a stroke removed one of the barriers to future price reductions, and providing it can make enough units available, Datamonitor believes there will be sustained growth in PS3 ownership as new users seek to benefit from the PS3’s enhanced features and functionality," said the analyst.
Sony was unavailable for further comment at the time of going to press.
Friday, February 23, 2007
It’s no secret that the Cell processor makes the PlayStation 3 a very powerful machine, but its complex architecture also makes it difficult for developers to program their games. While Sony is likely doing its best to improve software tools, some developers are longing for lower-level detail on the Cell.
IBM, one of the creators of the Cell architecture, is stepping in and giving developers tips on how to better harness the PS3 processor. According to Next Generation, IBM engineers are participating at a game developer’s workshop at High Moon Studios in Carlsbad, Calif. with Vivendi Games studios' Radical Entertainment and Swordfish to learn the ins and outs of the multi-core Cell.
High Moon chief technical officer Clinton Keith says that that IBM's expertise goes beyond what Sony's support can offer in regard to the Cell. “We’ve been talking to Sony for almost two years now, but they didn’t create the Cell,” he said.
“They created the architecture for the PS3 and they’ve created a lot of the developer libraries. We’ve had access to those [Sony] engineers… but they’re not the hardware engineers,” continues Keith. “We want to hit [the Cell] on all fronts. We’re talking to the guys [IBM] who designed this chip and have been working on it for five years now.”
As part of the workshop, programming teams will use software development kits from IBM’s Global Engineering Solutions labs to create the best Cell-based game development algorithm. The teams will share their knowledge and findings from their work on the processor.
Sony’s Phil Harrison said that the current PS3 launch window titles use “less than half” of the system’s computational power, and that “nobody will ever use 100 percent of [the PS3’s] capability.”
Developers haven’t kept quiet on the challenges for making games on the Cell. John Carmack, lead programmer of the Quake and DOOM 3D engines, has expressed his thoughts, saying, “I think the decision to use an asymmetric CPU by Sony was a wrong one. There are aspects that could make it a winning decision, but they’re not helpful to the developers … It’s not like the PlayStation 3 is a piece of junk or anything. I was not a fan of the PlayStation 2 and the way its architecture was set up. With the PlayStation 3, it’s not even that it’s ugly--they just took a design decision that wasn’t the best from a development standpoint.”
Japanese developer Hideo Kojima shares Carmack’s sentiment, though his team was able to achieve stunning results on the PS2 with Metal Gear Solid 3. “Overall I think it is difficult, of course. But if it's easy and simple, then how can you differentiate from other games?” posed Kojima. “Other people will do the same thing as you. Therefore, we're trying to use [the Cell's] difficulty to create something different.
“If I say too much, Mr. Kutaragi might get really upset. I think that the PS3 is difficult to work with, but so was the PS2.”
Thursday, February 22, 2007
It may have started off slowly due to stock issues and a controversial price, but after the PlayStation brand scored its best January performance ever, the company believes the PS3 is finally out of the gates and picking up momentum in the next-gen showdown.
NPD sales data for January puts the total of PlayStation 3 consoles at 243,554 in North America, helping the PlayStation business record revenues US $550 million (EUR 419m) during the five weeks of the month.
"We are pleased with the numbers from January as they demonstrate overall sales improvements for our legacy systems year over year and continued momentum for PS3," said David Karraker, director of corporate communications for SCEA.
Admitting the issues of restricted supply at retail, Sony believes the channel is finally getting regular stock, and coupled with increased marketing and a strong line-up of titles, the PlayStation brand as a whole is set to rocket in 2007.
"With supply levels stabilising, you can expect to see increased marketing for PS3 and PS2 in weekly retail circulars, which should garner strong numbers, boosted by big software launches, such as MotorStorm and Virtua Fighter 5," commented Karraker.
According to Sony, tie-ratios for the PS3 have improved by 80 per cent since launch. The company has also finally kick started its marketing campaigns with leading US retailers BestBuy and Target.
Sales data from NPD put the PlayStation 3 in third place throughout January, with the Wii shifting 436,000 units and the X360 selling 294,000 units.
Sony is also bullish about the performance of the PSP in the handheld sector, claiming it is closing the gap on the market-leading Nintendo DS and pinning sales hopes on titles such as the forthcoming Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters.
"PSP sales in January were exceptionally strong with the system quickly closing the gap on the leading competitor," said Karraker.
Despite touting the PS3 figures, sales of the PS2 were still higher than the next-gen console, reaching 299,352 units, a year-over-year increase of 20 per cent.
The current generation system still has a handful of blockbuster titles due in the first half of this year in the US and Europe, including God of War 2 and Okami.
Woolworths told our sister site GamesIndustry.biz that PS3 is "fastest selling games product" it has ever offered through its website. Argos said it was their "most successful pre-ordered campaign for consoles".
Meanwhile Amazon.co.uk described interest as "high and sustained" and said it was confident the machine would be among its top sellers for 2007. "We are only taking pre-orders until all our initial stock from Sony is accounted for - that way, no customer will be disappointed come day of release. We don't expect stocks to last long," a spokesperson said. HMV echoed that satisfaction, telling GI.biz that demand was in line with expectations.
Sony boss Ray Maguire added that the response from retailers had been "incredibly positive", adding that early indications suggest it will be Sony's "biggest hardware launch to date".
All of which came in response to scattered reports of PS3 failing to capture interest among European gamers ahead of its 23rd March launch. And when we say "scattered reports" we mean UK Resistance and some wacky forumites, obviously.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The details of the offer are still unclear, but what is known is that the deal will be limited to a set number of consoles in the chain’s 316 stores. The units will go on sale when Asda’s electrical department opens tomorrow morning – 7.30am in most stores.
One Asda store assistant told MCV: "Yes, we will be selling PS2s for 50 quid tomorrow morning. But I'd get here as early as you can if I were you. We're expecting a massive response once word gets out – and we've only got a certain number available".
It follows a similarly headline-grabbing deal run by the firm last month, when it offered a DVD player for just £9.
Meanwhile, Play.com has started selling the core Xbox 360 console for £150 – a full £50 cheaper that the model’s RRP. Rival Amazon has also cut its price on the console to £189.99.
Retailers are reporting huge demand for PlayStation 3 as Sony gears up for what UK boss Ray Maguire says could be the company's "biggest hardware launch to date".
His comments were echoed by Gerry Berkley, head of games at Woolworths, who told GamesIndustry.biz, "PS3 pre-orders are coming in thick and fast. It is the fastest selling games product we have ever sold online and it is shaping up to be our biggest ever pre-order campaign for a console".
Berkley said Sony's new machine is "the hottest gaming system since the PS2", adding, "Demand will inevitably outstrip supply, so our advice to customers is to pre-order to avoid disappointment".
A spokesperson for Amazon.co.uk revealed that only one other product has seen a more rapid rate of pre-orders during 2007 - J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
"The customer demand for the PlayStation 3 is high and sustained and we are confident that it will take its place as one of the top selling items on Amazon.co.uk throughout 2007," the spokesperson said.
"We are only taking pre-orders until all our initial stock from Sony is accounted for - that way, no customer will be disappointed come day of release. We don't expect stocks to last long".
It's a similar story at Argos, with videogames buyer Anthony Stocker telling GamesIndustry.biz, "We're very pleased with the interest in the new PS3 and it is our most successful pre-ordered campaign for consoles".
Entertainment retailer HMV also said there is healthy demand for the console, as predicted. "Pre-orders are going well in line with expectations," a spokesperson confirmed.
But with such a high level of interest in PlayStation 3 and still just over a month to go until launch, will there be enough consoles to go round?
"Previous console supplies have been restrictive but Sony is promising such a big amount for day one that people can pretty much pre-order from whoever they like, and expect to be happy on the day of release," observed Chips MD Don McCabe.
"We've had they highest level of pre-orders of any machine to date - it's been phenomenal. Sony has guaranteed a healthy amount of units and we have every reason to believe they'll deliver".
The PlayStation 3 will launch in the UK on March 23, priced at GBP 425. Sony has previous stated that it plans to have one million units available in Europe on day one. A sizeable proportion of those will be allocated to Britain as it generally accounts for between 25 and 30 per cent of the market.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss Ray Maguire said, "Feedback from retail has been incredibly positive, with early indications suggesting that this will be our biggest hardware launch to date.
"Whilst a successful launch is great, the real task is to build upon those foundations, in order to create a solid and sustainable platform, for consumers, developers and retailers alike," he concluded.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
- Eight Below
- Chicken Little
- Enemy of the State
- Gone in 60 Seconds
- The Guardian
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Pearl Harbor
- Scary Movie 4
- Sky High
- The Wild
In addition, Buena Vista stated that Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest will both be released on Blu-ray in May along the theatrical release of sure box office hit, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
Other announcements indicate Disney/Pixar Cars will also be released this year with a window set for Summer 07.
Tutorial for PS3 Firmware Bypass in Windows
Here's a simple way to setup your PS3 to bypass the firmware check using a Windows machine as a dns server, its basically the same thing as what Wii users did to use the wii shop as a browser:
1) Download the SimpleDNS software from http://www.simpledns.com/download.aspx
2) Run SimpleDNS (you don't have to reboot despite the installer telling you to..), click on the Records button.
3)In the records window, click on Tools > Quick Domain Wizard.
4)For domain name enter: ps3.update.playstation.net
For Web server IP enter 22.214.171.124
delete the Secondary DNS name entry, you do not need it.
5) Now that you have your new server added, you need to add A Name entries so the ps3 gets redirected on the firmware requests, to do this simply right click and choose New Host Address (A-Record)
6) we need to add two A-Name entries, depending on what region you are in. You can add as many as you'd like if you want to cover your bases though
For the us, we need fus01.ps3.update.playstation.net and dus01.ps3.update.playstation.net
So, In the host address window, enter fus01.ps3.update.playstation.net for Record name, and 126.96.36.199 for IP Address, set the Time To Live to 999 days. Repeat this for dus01.ps3.update.playstation.net.
7) Your end result should be a setup similiar to this, once done simply close the records window in SimpleDNS so that it is back at the activity window
8) On your playstation 3, go into internet settings and enter manual setup and set your PS3's DNS server entry for the IP of the pc on your lan which is running SimpleDNS, then away you go!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
That's according to head of games Gian Luzio, who told GamesIndustry.biz that PS3 is "the most pre-ordered console yet" for Play. The retailer is offering a GBP 524.99 bundle which includes first-party titles MotorStorm, Resistance: Fall of Man and Genji.
Play also ran pre-order schemes for the Wii and Xbox 360, but some customers were left disappointed when they failed to receive their consoles on day one.
"We underestimated the demand and we were very disappointed that we could not fulfil all pre-orders due to stock shortages," admitted Luzio.
However, Play has pledged to deliver all pre-ordered PS3 units on launch day, with Luzio stating, "We have taken the necessary steps to ensure that customers will only be able to pre-order the system up until Play's allocation has been reached.
"We will always want more consoles to satisfy customer demand, however, we are satisfied that Sony are doing all they can to fulfil demand," he added.
Luzio went on to say that the inclusion of a Blu-ray player in the PS3 will have a "massive impact" on the retailer's business.
"Figures from the US show that Blu-ray movie sales are outselling HD-DVD by a factor of 2:1 since the launch of PS3 and we have similar sales expectations.
"In addition to the games and movie growth we expect to see a large increase in the sales of 1080p TVs to make full use of the PS3's superior resolution," he concluded.
It's not just Play which is seeing healthy pre-orders for PS3, according to Sony. A spokesperson told GI.biz, "With an unprecedented day one shipment of 1 million machines into Europe and a software catalogue of over 30 titles available at launch, retailer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Woolworths, Amazon and Play, to name a few, are reporting record breaking pre-orders and an overwhelming demand for PS3".
The PlayStation 3 will launch in Europe on March 23, priced at GBP 425 / EUR 599 for the 60GB model.
Monday, February 12, 2007
While it might have missed out on Best Picture award at last night's BAFTAs, Casino Royale is still the most successful Bond film of all time - grossing more than $560 million at the box office.
For the Blu-ray release you get a "ground breaking collection of added-value features in 1080p high definition visual quality, and with uncompressed audio features for the best possible audio experience". Plus, if you're so inclined, you can keep looking at that bit where Daniel Craig goes topless.
Darren Carter, VP brand and consumer marketing said: "We are offering the phenomenal incentive of Casino Royale, on Blu-ray disc, to PS3 owners who register on the PlayStation Network. Casino Royale not only makes the most of the features and capabilities of the Blu-ray format, but is one of the most exciting and entertaining movies to debut on Blu-ray this year." Yeah, if you don't count 50 First Dates!
Don’t assume that because you’ve pre-registered via the website for Player ID that you will automatically be signed up for the Casino Royale Promotion. To get Casino Royale you must connect your PS3 to the network and register your console.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
The company is quoting a report by consumer research firm Nielsen VideoScan which states that Blu-ray is winning in the cumulative sales stakes. During the first week of January, 47.14 HD-DVD movie discs were sold in the US for every 100 Blu-ray films shifted.
During the second week that ratio increased even further, with 38.36 HD-DVD titles sold per 100 Blu-ray discs.
Sony has also announced the results of an online survey in which 100,000 Playstation 3 owners took part. In total, 90 per cent said they had watched a Blu-ray film on their console, and 80 per cent said they planned to buy more movies in the future. In addition, per cent said they intended to rent Blu-ray films.
Many games industry analysts have predicted that the battle between Blu-ray and the Toshiba-backed HD-DVD format will be key to determining who wins the battle of the next-gen consoles.
Last year, Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter observed that Sony would have an "insurmountable advantage" over Microsoft if movie studios adopt Blu-ray as the standard.
Microsoft released a HD-DVD player for Xbox 360 in the US last November. According to NPD data around 42,000 units were purchased during its first month on sale, rising to 50,000 in December.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Firstly, why no 20GB models? Surely the price controversy could have been played down a little if the cheaper model, with no built-in Wi-Fi and no memory card slots, which Maguire has said in the past would retail for around £350, was also going on sale. Why isn’t it?
Maquire told us that, “The response that we’re getting back from the marketplace – not only from retail, but also from consumers – is that what they really want is the best. They want to go for the wireless model; they do understand that the PlayStation 3 is a machine which has a lot of downloads available right from day one, and that they want to put their own media on it from day one".
He continued, "So a big preference has been shown towards the 60GB model. And when we look at the sales figures from both Japan and the US, that's reflected at retail. You can either have not enough of both in the marketplace for day one, or you can have round about the right amount of one".
But surely consumers can still get their photos and video on to 20GB PS3s via USB cables. Plus, the hard disk is user-upgradeable. Ah well, those arguments are all by the by as we are only getting the £425 60GB model this March, like it or lump it.
Whatever, lets get onto the other important question. How many are we getting?
“[The UK] constitutes just over 22 per cent of the market in PAL – I say PAL rather than Europe, because PAL now extends out to over 100 territories, and some of those territories are quite strong. For instance, we have some of the strongest Middle Eastern and Russian sales forces compared to competing products. That means my overall number is a bit lower than it would be if I had a less well-established product. So we’re round about the 22 per cent mark which, if you divided that into the million would give you 220,000 units".
Maguire adds, “I think if I go down on bended knee, I might get a little bit more… I will try to get as many units as I possibly can. But it will certainly be the biggest launch that the games industry has ever seen, in terms of day one numbers into the marketplace. Probably over four times PlayStation One, and close to double the amount of PS2s. So, it’s going to be a logistical nightmare – that’s a lot of trucks to get around. Product is already on its way, on ships, at the moment, and there is more being generated every single day”.
Woohoo! So there’ll be plenty to go around at least. Finally, we asked Maguire if he was relieved, after the well-documented problems with the delay in Europe, to which he replied, “Absolutely. It’ll be great to finally unleash it upon the world in every area, and give people a chance to see exactly what the machine can do first-hand. Because I think PlayStation 3 is such an all-encompassing product that it’s hard to grasp all its elements until you see it and touch it”.
“Once it’s out with general consumers and they’re seeing it for the first time in many cases, then I think our job really begins. As people get an idea of what they want – more games, better games, wider genres – and we start making sure the games really start doing justice to the 1080 panels they’ve bought, then that’s the start of things”.
More games, better games, wider genres. Yes please Sony!!


text:
Accenture Interactive has entered exclusive talks to purchase French e-commerce specialist Altima, the company announced Tuesday, in what will be the division's 17th acquisition in the past five years.
The Interactive branch of Dublin, Ireland-based Accenture, No. 2 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, believes Altima will enhance its mobile and in-store commerce experience expertise both in France and other regions of interest, including the United States, Canada, China and Germany.
Anatoly Roytman, head of Accenture Interactive Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America and global digital commerce lead for Accenture, said Altima's blend of technical, creative and business acumen made the Roubaix, France-based agency an enticing acquisition target.
Specifically, he pointed to an industry-wide shift within the e-commerce space toward customized client experiences as one of the deal's driving factors.
"It's been happening for the last couple years. Now it's accelerating," Roytman told CRN. "Our clients realize that in order to sell something, it's not enough to just create a checkout or a payment system. You need to think about the entire experience. You need to think about how to present the products."
Some products require more presentation and convincing, he added, which necessitates the need for compelling content published in conjunction with the commerce experience.
Altima, which maintains a team of 370 employees, will be integrated into the Accenture Interactive global commerce practice and report to the head of Accenture Interactive France. The plan is to expand the agency's foothold in France while also bringing its experience-led capabilities to other markets in Europe, North America and China.
Commerce and content are areas of high demand in China, according to the company, making the deal especially valuable to Accenture Interactive's services capabilities in the region. Altima also has an expanded presence in Canada after it recently merged that team with Montreal-based digital marketing agency Konversion.
Common customers exist between the two companies, but Roytman said the ability to expand the Accenture Interactive array of digital commerce services through Altima's "unique" creative and analytical skills outweigh any overlap.
"It's not enough to buy a technology platform. It's not enough to integrate it with a legacy system," Roytman said. "You need to think broader, and you also need to do it quicker. This is why we believe we are different, and Altima is consistent with this view … Their one-stop-shop philosophy is what we find attractive. People like that who can be creative and analytical, they're hard to find."

domain: news


text:
Gearing up for growth
Intrinsic Paper Straws are delighted to announce that it is expanding its production site and facilities as part of a major investment to support its long-term growth ambitions.
Already, work on the extension is well underway, including redevelopment of existing units, with the project expected to be completed by the end of April 2022 in readiness for the installation of a new high speed paper straw machine.
Supplied by Tembo Paper, the new production line utilises the latest paper spiralling technology, which combines quality and convenience of production with sustainability. The manufacturing process is designed to ensure each paper straw produced is of the highest quality, while adhesives and other external ingredients are kept to a minimum. Therefore, the end product is sustainable, biodegradable, and free from chemicals that may affect taste and safety.
Managing Director, Paul Rigby said, “This initial significant expenditure is part of a multi-million pound investment strategy to transform the group. It will fuel further growth as customers increasingly turn to paper straws to replace plastic. There currently isn’t the capacity to cope with demand, so the decision to invest was a straightforward one as it will go a long way to reducing the supply shortfall.”
“Before committing to Tembo we did our due diligence on a variety of straw production machines available on the market, but soon realised that the Tembo machine was the standout option for our business. The order was placed last year with a six-month lead time due to the large and complex nature of the machine, and is all on track for it to be installed at our site in May and a target of being fully operational by June.”
This latest investment comes on the back of four paper straw machines purchased in early 2021 in response to the surge in demand for sustainable alternatives largely created by the ban on single use plastic. Alongside the extra machines, the introduction of new shift patterns and extended operational hours has enabled the company to substantially increase output.
Sales Director, Karl Lee added, “The Tembo machine is a seriously impressive bit of kit and could be considered a game changer for the UK straw market, as it will be the first machine of its type in the country. The machine alone will significantly increase our capacity and give us greater scope and flexibility to service B2B, B2C, and especially large volume work.”
“However, we are not just focusing our efforts on producing volume. We recognise that customers want a quality, sustainable and environmentally friendly product that performs across a variety of beverages and the Tembo machine will still enable us to achieve these goals. Even though our machine is still being assembled at the factory in Europe, we are working with Tembo on a variety of trials to ensure that everything from the materials used to the final product meets the high standards that customers come to expect.”


text:
A render of a Jeep Wrangler in the back of a minivan appeared on the webJanuary 11, 2021
The artist presented his vision of the legendary Jeep Wrangler SUV in the back of a minivan. According to the creator of this car, the novelty received additional space in the cabin and retained all its off-road capabilities.
If you’re looking for a more practical Jeep Wrangler, we might have a solution. Thanks to the renders posted on Instagram by artist samircustoms, we have the opportunity to see a new Jeep model that we never knew existed. Dubbed the Vangler from its designer, this Jeep van is ready to go where no van has gone before.
The Jeep Wrangler is the ultimate family SUV with room for only five passengers and a large trunk.
This is where Vangler comes in. Thanks to the forward-facing cockpit, the Vangler can easily accommodate three rows of seats, as the driver and front passenger can sit directly “on the engine”. This means the Vangler can offer much more interior space without increasing the Jeep Wrangler’s wheelbase.
In addition to the extra space for passengers, the Vangler also provides a large roof that can accommodate a large tent, or that space can become an extra and very roomy trunk.
This virtual Vangler’s ability to create a more practical version of the Jeep Wrangler SUV without sacrificing its off-road capabilities makes it an ideal candidate for production.
Not so long ago, AutoTimesNews wrote that Mahindra was allowed to sell a copy of the Wrangler. Indian company Mahindra unveiled the Roxor SUV in 2018, and Jeep has tried to stop sales of the model as soon as possible due to its similarity to the Wrangler.
- Third generation Haval H6 SUV prices announced
- BMW plans to double EV sales in 2021
- Mercedes-Benz has published details of the new electric crossover EQA
- Automotive brands that patent the most innovations named
- Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn may go to jail for 10 years


text:
JoTo PR Disruptors commentary on Adweek’s article: Marketers Plan To Increase PR Spending Over the Next 5 Years, According to New Report
Maybe it’s because businesses seem to be under incredible scrutiny or maybe it’s because people are starting to click with what I’ve been saying these past couple of years, but Adweek comments that ANA (Association of National Advertisers) will be increasing spending on PR over the next 5 years.1
Obviously—I’m a little happy about this.
What this says to me is that the recognized need for PR is there and people are starting to ramp up for it.
I’m starting to see how shrewd businesses are realizing how marketing dollars can and will go farther when working in tandem with public relations. PR is like the grease to the machine that keeps it purring nice and smooth. In fact – marketing works better with PR than on its own and it’s looking like many businesses are coming to that conclusion.
62% of businesses said they plan to increase internal PR staffing and 75% said they would be spending more on PR at the same time.2 They said that businesses are aligning the two categories closer and closer together in hopes that work together for company expansion.
I’ve seen it with my all my clients over the years; how the two working together leads to expansion that is, forgive the cliché, off the charts. It’s gotten to the point where I’m not even surprised anymore. It’s a PR world, disregard that at your own peril.
The PR train is running through the station and the time to buy a ticket is NOW.
We don’t want to leave you behind.


text:
In July of 2018, Starbucks announced that they would eliminate plastic straws from the inventory of their 28,000 stores by 2020. This declaration came after several major cities, Vancouver and Seattle being among them, legally banned the use of plastic straws and utensils in restaurants. Instead of using disposable, plastic straws, Starbucks customers would use a recyclable strawless lid for their drinks, with paper straws still available upon request. For a lot of environmental activists, this push for anti-straw legislation and business practices was a massive success and the culmination of years of anti-plastic activism.
The plastic straw revolution really took off in August of 2015, when Marine Biologist Christine Figgener posted a video showing her colleagues removing a plastic straw from a turtle’s bleeding nasal cavity. The video went viral, and soon after people all over the Internet were condemning the use of plastic straws and encouraging others to do the same. Companies like Starbucks, American Airlines, McDonald's, and even Marriot International, who were already facing increased pressure to make their products more sustainable, saw an opportunity to boost their PR and joined the movement, opting for paper straws or only giving customers plastic straws upon request. Suddenly, corporate bosses and politicians worldwide were recognizing the damage that plastics could have on the environment, and humans were finally redeeming themselves for the 8 million tons of plastic waste that wind up in the ocean annually. Real change was finally being enacted.
As it turns out, though, the global straw bans were having less of an impact than people expected. Plastic straws only account for 0.025% of the ocean’s 8 millions tons of plastic pollution, and banning them wouldn’t even come close to solving the plastic pandemic that’s suffocating our marine environments. Many people, including Steve Russell, the Vice President of plastics for the American Chemistry Council (ACC), claim that we must look beyond plastic straws and ban all single-use plastics (including plastic bags and bottles) and help develop better waste management practices in countries that desperately need it. In fact, the five countries responsible for 60% of ocean plastics are China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, all countries experiencing rapid economic growth without the waste management infrastructure able to handle the large amount of plastics they are consuming. Even when we look at the specific kinds of ocean pollution, the majority of plastics found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (the world’s largest collection of floating trash) was actually composed of abandoned fishing gear. Putting further regulations on the fishing industry and making sure that large fisheries are held responsible for their lost equipment could have resounding effects on our total ocean plastics way greater than any straw ban could ever accomplish.
Obviously, pessimism aside, banning straws is a step in the right direction. The whole movement demonstrates that, when people actually unite in their activism, large-scale change can happen. However, we must stay vigilant and continue to put pressure on companies and lawmakers to maintain the standards of clean, recyclable, reusable production, and not just whine about straws. In a foreboding example, it turns out that the new Starbucks’ strawless lids use more plastic by weight than the straw and lid combo that they provided before. Starbucks claims that their strawless lids are made of a more recyclable material than their predecessor, but their increase in weight combined with poor recycling infrastructure could mean even more plastics end up in the water as a result of their anti-straw resolution.
Poor activism leads to poor reform. If we allow only straws to be the focus of our protests, the oceans will never be clean. Hopefully, we’ll use the momentum gained in the anti-straw movement to focus on some of the larger conflicts impacting marine pollution, like poor waste management and improper fishing practices. Changes in these fields are going to be extremely difficult to execute, and it’ll take more than posting some hashtags on social media to get them done. Use some reusable bags at the grocery store, make sure you are fully aware of your city’s recycling practices, vote for more green, eco-conscious policies and politicians, and participate in your local climate rallies. Those turtles need you!


text:
GST: Mercedes-Benz, Audi, JLR say hike in cess on luxury cars to impact growth
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved promulgation of an ordinance to amend the GST compensation law to pave the way for increasing cess on mid and large cars to 25 percent, from 15 percent
New Delhi: Automobile firms, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi and JLR, on Wednesday said the proposed hike in cess on luxury cars and SUVs will adversely impact growth momentum of the segment.
They also criticised the governments "hurry to implement the hike in cess" saying a review could have been taken after six months when impact of GST would have been clearer.
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved promulgation of an ordinance to amend the GST compensation law to pave the way for increasing cess on mid and large cars to 25 percent, from 15 percent.
"This decision, contradictory to the requirement of creating a sustained demand for the luxury car in this market, would rather affect the growth momentum adversely," Mercedes- Benz India MD & CEO Roland Folger said in a statement.
The automotive segment has not even settled in to see the effect of the marginal relief in terms of rationalisation of taxes in the GST regime, he added.
Folger further said the auto industry attracts one of the highest rate under the GST and even without the proposed increase the luxury segment is already highly taxed, which constrains its growth.
"Now, with this proposed measure, the luxury car industry is going to decelerate. If at all it was required, a review could have been taken after six months when the outcome of GST regime would have been clearer," he added.
Expressing similar views, Audi India Head Rahil Ansari said: "The taxes on this industry are already very high and this increase in cess rate will be detrimental to the luxury car industry as we will be forced to hike our prices to levels higher than pre-GST period".
He asked the GST Council to "carefully evaluate the negative impact on this and, if a decision is taken on a 10 percent cess increase, postpone the implementation for another 6-12 months to evaluate the real impact of the GST on the automobile sector, in particular the luxury segment".
Mahindra & Mahindra Managing Director Pawan Goenka, however, said the passing of ordinance to increase limit of cess to 25 percent on certain class of vehicles, was along the expected lines.
"What is critical to the industry is when, how much and on what criteria will the cess be increased. Industry has made a representation to the government and we await the final decision," he added.
Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd President and Managing Director Rohit Suri said reduced prices after GST implementation had helped in expanding the market, which had been declining because of high taxation.
Expansion in demand would have helped the industry invest more in local manufacturing and job creation across the value chain, he added.
"We earnestly hope that the government and the GST Council will give due consideration to this matter and desist from raising the cess and putting a dampener on the positive momentum in demand that the industry had started to witness since July 1," Suri said.
Grant Thornton India Partner Sridhar V said the ordinance sets right the anomalies which crept in while the rates were finalised for the passenger car segment.
However, the additional 10 percent cess will have a dampening impact on the otherwise increased demand expectation for luxury cars and SUV, which in recent times have been picking up, he added.
Many Twitter agreed with the automobile enthusiast’s opinion on thoughtless spending while others expressed themselves saying that the car is not made of gold but is wrapped in gold vinyl
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on last Independence Day had announced that a new university would be established in Ladakh
One of the biggest challenges for the NDA government will be to push deep economic reforms when many Opposition-ruled states are determined to oppose them.


text:
Hates Journalists Named James
For someone like Ek to even have a shot at buying us the logical step would be to get former players involved. That’s the only way you’ll grab the attention of fans and keep them protesting. Kroenke won’t sell unless he gets a decent profit though. He bought us for £1bn and we’re worth £2bn according to Forbes. I can’t see him settling for much less than that.


text:
WASHINGTON - With millions of customization options for their signature products that pose signage nightmare scenarios under a proposed menu-labeling plan, pizza chains united yesterday on Capitol Hill to address lawmakers, The Washington Post reports.
Representatives from Domino€™s, Papa John€™s, Little Caesar€™s, Godfather€™s Pizza and Pizza argued that the federal government€™s plan to require owners to pay for in-store menu boards that post calorie counts of their menu items will make it impossible to include all of their potential offerings on the boards. Additionally, the group said the law would fail to achieve its key objective €" educating consumers and help them make informed choices €" because 90% of their orders are placed online and over the phone.
"A light bulb goes on when people hear about all the possible combinations for pizza," said Lynn Liddle, a Domino€™s executive. "They start to realize how difficult it would be to take a one-size-fits-all approach."
Pizza chains said the FDA menu-labeling bill as written is unfair on a number of counts. First, it would require a menu board to display the calorie count for an entire pizza, though the average customer consumes 2.1 slices. Second, while the proposal allows for posting a calorie range for customizable foods, the ranges are so wide that they€™re useless.
Mary Lyne Carraway, owner of nearly five dozen Domino€™s stores in the Washington area, said the proposal would require new menu boards at each of her locations, signage that would cost up to $5,000 each €" and that would require a replacement nearly annually.
Under the plan, pizza chains would not need to list calories for every possible pizza combination, just the items they choose to present on their menu boards.


text:
With Microsoft Bing’s increase in market share, and Samsung considering replacing Google Search with Bing as its default search engine, looks like Google is working double time to beat back its A.I. rivals and prove who really is king.
The New York Times has reported that Google is racing to build an all-new search engine powered by A.I technology. Aside from the all-new search engine in the works, it is also working on upgrading its existing search engine with AI features under the project name Magi.
The new search engine being developed offers users a more personalized experience compared to the current search, in order to anticipate the user’s needs. The system would learn what users want to know based on what they’re searching, and offer lists of preselected options for objects to buy, information to research, and other additional information. It would also be more conversational — a bit like chatting with a helpful person.
As to when this new search engine is set to release, it is still in the early stages and there is no clear timetable on when it will be made available.
On the other hand, the new features in the existing Google search under Project Magi are being created by designers, engineers, and executives, with more than 160 people working on it full-time.
Magi would keep ads in the mix of search results. Search queries that could lead to a financial transaction, such as buying shoes or booking a flight, for example, would still feature ads on their results pages.
Keeping ads is important for Google as it is the primary way that they make money off of Search.
The planned additions could also answer questions about software coding and write code based on a user’s request. Google may place an ad under the computer code answers, according to a document obtained by the Times.
Google has also invited some of their employees to test the features of Magi and has encouraged them to ask the search engine follow-up questions to judge its ability to hold a conversation.
The new additions to search are expected to be released to the public next month, and more features will be added in the fall. The company plans to initially release the features to a maximum of one million people and progressively increase to 30 million by the end of the year. Unfortunately, the features will be made available exclusively in the United States.
Aside from the work on the new search engine and Project Magi, Google has also been working on a couple more A.I focused projects:
Google has been in the forefront of A.I. research for years and has been a pioneer in A.I. projects such as self-driving cars and large language models (LLMs) which has been used in the development of generative A.I and chatbots. Google has used LLMs to improve the quality of search but has held off on fully adopting AI because of its issues with generating false and biased statements.
With OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in November, and Microsoft incorporating the technology to Bing, their priority is winning control of the industry’s next big thing. They have released Bard, which is now on experimental access, however, the technology has not made much of a dent in the popularity of its rivals.
According to the report, modernizing its search engine has been an obsession at Google and all these planned changes could put new A.I technology in phones and homes all over the world.
With all these projects, features, and tools coming up, will Google be able to maintain its stronghold or will more and more companies, brands, and users, consider shifting to their more popular rivals instead? Are all their efforts going to bear fruit? We can only wait and see.
Read more on The New York Times report here.


text:
Company’s suite of products provides agents with technology necessary to thrive in real estate industry.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) — via PRWEB – RealBiz Media Group, Inc. (OTCQB: RBIZ) today announced, based on industry research, its recently launched products provide the technology that real estate agents need to enhance their businesses.
RealBiz Media’s suite of products capitalizes on current real estate market trends, which suggest mobile applications and video content are becoming most important to agents and homeowning customers alike.
According to research conducted by the National Association of Realtors, in 2013, 92 percent of homebuyers used the Internet in their search, with over half saying that going online was the first step in the home buying process. Additionally, 45 percent of home owner customers used a mobile website or application to search for a home in 2013, with 22 percent of mobile searchers reporting they found the home they ultimately purchased with a mobile application. It is also anticipated that these percentages will continue to rise in coming years.
Another study, the Google & Compete Home Shopper Survey, 2011, reported home shoppers use video content to find out more about a specific community (86%), tour the inside of a home (70%), obtain general information (54%) and more. Video is being used by home owning customers to satisfy multiple research needs.
From an agent’s position, video marketing is proving to be one of the most effective ways to increase SEO, lead generation and build brand identity, resulting in a collective hike in profits by 40 percent from video marketing alone.
Given these statistics, RealBiz Media is poised to provide the technology and products agents need to thrive in the real estate market. The Ezflix mobile app is the only app to automatically display an agent’s listings pulled from his or her local MLS. Agents can also create unique video content for home listings, right from their own mobile device and share it instantly with clients, his or her preferred websites and social pages as well as the company’s consumer portal, NestBuilder.com. Moreover, Exflix allows agents to create and store local video-based stories and cameos to introduce listings, which can then be attached and sent to clients at a touch of a button.
In addition, agents can manage their video content and notify home owner customers of new or criteria-matching listings through RealBiz’s agent platform known as NestBuilder Agent. The NestBuilder online platform makes the home owning process more efficient for both the customer and agent.
The recently launched Home and Away Club, a unique rewards program for real estate agents, and the completion and availability of RealBiz Media’s products across the majority of mobile operating systems have allowed the company to align with many of the larger companies in the industry. The acceptance of the company’s technology within the industry is occurring at a rapid rate. RealBiz Media expects its suite of products and advanced technology, in tandem with industry trends, to lead the company to over $10 million in recurring revenue in 2015, with faster growth during 2016.
About RealBiz Media Group, Inc.
RealBiz Media Group, Inc. is a real estate digital media and technology company whose proprietary video processing technology makes it one of the leaders in providing home video tours to the real estate industry. Its client base reaches more than 350,000 real estate agents and brokers. The company provides a series of products including a consumer portal at http://www.nestbuilder.com, an agent-only platform known as Nestbuilder Agent, an agent social media and marketing solution known as ReachFactor, a growing MVA network, virtual tours and mobile apps. The company enjoys access to many of the nation’s largest real estate companies with numerous approved vendors and national contracts.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plan, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulation, and other risks described in statements filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such forward-looking statements whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements that may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.


text:
Calling himself the “world’s greatest consumer,” utility watchdog Michael Shames helped in 1981 to create the Utility Consumers’ Action Network (UCAN), where he has served as executive director...
A land rush in the burgeoning home energy management market.
The Prius Effect—a term that’s gained currency in sustainability circles—is shorthand for the strong link between information and behavior demonstrated by the popular Toyota hybrid.
The car was among the first to provide a real-time fuel consumption gage on the dash; step hard on the gas, watch the MPG gage go down. Coast gently along and see the savings. Drivers with the gage become aware of—even obsessive about—the way their driving habits affect consumption, and by extension, cost.
It’s a simple idea with a big efficiency impact, and it shows clearly that when consumers are given timely, meaningful information about energy use, they make different decisions. Not surprisingly, the Prius Effect often is referenced in discussions of the burgeoning home energy management market.
“Customers like information,” says Dan Delurey, executive director of the Demand Response Coordinating Committee, an energy policy non-profit. “They use that information to change the way they use electricity. Numerous pilot programs and research efforts have demonstrated the Prius Effect. It’s one of the things that’s driving this market.”
And driven it is. The last year has seen a veritable explosion in an area that previously was a nascent extension of the greater smart grid—the stuff of small pilot programs and futurists. Not anymore.
“Last year there was a lot of stuff out there that was just vaporware, but now it’s like, ‘kaboom!’” says Lynne Kiesling, an economist at Northwestern University who focuses on the utility sector. “The land rush is a good metaphor. Part of what’s driving the frenzy is the federal stimulus money, much like the government opening Oklahoma drove the original land rush.”
The pioneer analogy works on another level, too. Like the Sooners, companies racing to plant their stakes in the home energy management landscape aren’t really sure what they’re in for. Standards are still coalescing for privacy, security and interoperability.
“Another thing that’s still not there is a convergence of efficiency, demand response, smart grid and climate-change mitigation programs,” Delurey says. “These have to be in silos for certain reasons, obviously. But there’s a lot of convergence needed, and that will be a big factor in how this ramps up.”
Then there’s the big question of how or whether utilities will adapt their business models to incorporate the real potential of home-energy management. The technology is ready for a robust, nuanced customer relationship, dynamic pricing and vibrant retail competition. But disparate regulation and the industry’s traditional caution present enormous forces of inertia.
“The utilities can talk a mean streak about innovating their business model to be more consumer oriented, which is a good thing, because for the past hundred years they haven’t been, and it would be nice if they would try,” Kiesling says. “But utilities have an interest in keeping electricity as a boring, in-the-background, don’t-think-about-it product, because that reinforces their business model.”
In any event, third-party entrants to the market aren’t waiting for utilities to sort it out. They’re pushing


text:
According to Axel Baumanns, Product Management and Sales, Kannegiesser, the garment industry in India is suffering. Speaking at the recently held GTE exhibition, he said, “Countries like Bangladesh, which proves to be an ideal manufacturing base for the US and Europe, have picked up business since 1998.”Though other countries have also picked up in garment manufacturing, mass production by US and Europe ensures the quality of these garments.
Bangladesh -an ideal destination for garment manufacturing
However, these garments need to be produced on a mass scale for which Bangladesh proves to be an ideal destination. As these garments don’t have many downtimes, they can be fully automated. “You can’t put fabrics at one end and expect a garment to emerge from another,” says Baumanns. These garments need to be customised to different sizes and preferences. Machines can’t achieve this. They deliver the same result every time.
Job creation to fuel sector development
According to Baumanns, Indians have it in their blood to make garments. “Tailoring shops abroad are run by Indians. However, they need to transfer their abilities to big garmenting companies. Countries like Vietnam and Indonesia have been doing this quite efficiently. However, these countries can’t do high fashion as they are far from the US,” he adds.
However, India is much closer. The country has improved immensely in the last 20 years as people have broadened their mindsets. They are traveling more. However, the country needs jobs which the garment industry can provide. Since sewing is something every woman can do, people can earn money and spend. It is a chain reaction. The more you earn, the more you spend.


text:
Nearly three years after voters in the state approved legalized marijuana, Maine is finally inching closer to fully regulated pot sales.
Janet Mills, Maine’s Democratic governor, said Friday that she intended to sign a law that establishes rules over the sale of recreational marijuana. A day earlier, the state’s legislature passed the bill at the 11th, approving the measure just before the summer recess.
A spokesperson for Mills told the Associated Press that the governor would sign the bill in the next few days, and Maine officials have indicated that stores selling marijuana could open their doors by 2020.
For Maine, it represents a major breakthrough in a legalization push that has been marked by delays and setbacks. Voters there approved a referendum in 2016 to legalize recreational pot use by fewer than 5,000 votes — a razor-thin margin that prompted calls for a recount. The result stood after a partial recount was suspended in January of 2017, but Paul LePage, the state’s Republican governor at the time, defied voters and remained steadfast in his opposition to the measure. He vetoed a bill to move ahead with legalization in November of 2017, saying he remained “concerned about expanded legalization of


text:
Pizza and personal belongings were taken from a pizza delivery driver yesterday (Thursday).
The incident happened after the driver found that no one at the given address (the 12800 block of Longleaf Lane) had ordered the pizza.
As the driver left the home around 10:26 p.m., a man displayed a stun gun and stole the pizza, a cellphone and other personal belongings from the driver.
The suspect is described as a black man in his 20s.
More outdoor seating will soon be on the way for &pizza, a fast-casual pizza restaurant that’s known for its oblong-shaped pizzas.
The restaurant, which opened over the summer last year, plans to add roughly 20 seats, a railing perimeter and minor lighting, a company spokesperson told Reston Now.
Currently, &pizza has an outdoor patio section that seats between 25 to 30 people.
County permits indicate a permit to complete the work was processed in mid-November.
Photo via Google Maps
Jerry’s Subs and Pizza in North Point Village Center appears to have closed.
The restaurant’s signage was removed late last week.
Jerry’s was located at 1432 North Point Village Center. The Reston location reopened in the center in June after a fire forced the business to close in January.
No other information was immediately available.
The village center has several other vacancies. Great China closed in early September. A building permit indicates a new restaurant is expected to replace the Chinese restaurant.
Photo by Laura Crielly
North Italia, which the company describes as a “modern Italian concept,” will officially open its doors in Reston Town Center on Wednesday (July 31).
Fox Restaurant Concepts — which also brought True Food Kitchen to Mosaic District — is behind th restaurant, which is located at 11898 Market Street.
It takes over space previously occupied by Neyla Mediterranean Bistro.
The menu includes a mix of pastas, pizza and salads. Brunch is available on the weekend.
The manager of the Reston location said reopening took some time because of construction and replacements required for kitchen hoods.
“We’re excited to be open. Business has been good so far,” the manager told Reston Now.
The fast-casual cheesesteak, sub sandwich and pizza franchise has more than two dozen locations in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, according to its website.
Image via Google Maps
Pupatella, an award-winning Neopolitan pizzeria, is coming to Reston in early 2020, according to a company news release.
The 2,700-square-foot restaurant will be located at 1821 Wiehle Avenue. It will also include a patio for outdoor dining.
The news comes as the business eyes major expansion. Another new location will open in Arlington this summer. More openings could be on the way in the District and Montgomery County.
“As a native Restonian, I know all the wonderful things Reston has to offer, but one thing that has been missing is authentic Neapolitan pizza. I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring Pupatella to the neighborhood,” said founding partner and head of real estate and supply chain, Michael Berger.
Enzo and Anastasiya Algarme started Pupatella as a food truck in 2007. The business has been named a top pizzeria, with recognition from The Today Show, The Washington Post, USA Today and the Washingtonian.
The location is currently home to Pizza Hut, which will remain open through the end of its lease, according to Eater.
This story will be updated.
Photo by Pupatella


text:
CCN (Crazy Cal News) - Pasadena, CA - The dreams of Star Trek TNG are coming true. The replicator, which the New York Times writer, Saul Hansell wrongly calls a "transporter" (he obviously isn't a Star Trek fan) is being developed by several companies.
The companies are now working on a "printer" that will replicate 3-D objects out of nylon dust. They are used for testing part designs for cars, airplanes and other products before they are sent to manufacturing. They were once over $100,000 each, but such machines can now be had for $15,000.
They can replicate almost anything made of plastic. You might want a doll, a battery compartment cover that you lost, a guitar pick, or a blow-up doll. You can download a design off of the web and create the design in your own home with these beauties. You could go to Mattel.com and download a Barbie and "print it out."
Research in the field is stated toward developing materials of various properties that can be applied in tiny digital specifications. Cornell's 3-D printer, called Fab@Home, for instance, can move a syringe in three dimensions that can be filled with any substance. So far, it has built objects out of silicone, plaster, Cheez Whiz and Play-Doh.
A high school student, Noy Schaal, modified the design and added a heater so that he could "print" chocolate bars with his school's initials.
"I had the muchies real bad, and I wanted something to eat. I figured adding a heater would allow me to melt the chocolate in my mom's kitchen and make a candy bar out of it," said Schaal.
"High School kids come up with the best ideas," said the company spokesman, "so we exploit them to the fullest extent of the law."
A company that wants to be the first to deliver a 3-D printer for consumers is Desktop Factory, by IdeaLab, a technology research and development company. The company says that it will start selling its first printer for $4,995 this year.
The technology it has developed, that uses a halogen light bulb to melt nylon powder, will allow the price of the printers to fall to $1,000 in four years.
"What maroons! What suckers! We can build the things for only $300 in parts. We'll keep the price out of reach of the "average consumer" and sock it to the doctors, the lawyers, and the Indian chiefs first, then we'll gradually reduce the price over an artificially prolonged period until most consumers can afford them," said I.M. Greedy, a company spokesperson.
The companies dream is to be able to develop robots that can walk off the printer. They are already working on the SEXUMUP3000 and the GAYSEX0000.
"If we can create robots that can have sex with the computer user, it will give a whole new meaning to 'computer sex,'" said the spokesperson.


text:
The BMW German based is planning to introduce the M6 GT3 racing car into the Motorsport racing in 2016, the model replacing the BMW Z4 GT3.
With that in mind, BMW has already taken the upcoming M6 GT3 for some tests, with the model to be also available for purchase at the end of 2015.
With the newly BMW M6 GT3 into their own garages, customers will be able to race the model in the 2016 BMW Sports Trophy, starting in 2016 as well.
The BMW M6 GT3 is coming with a 4.4-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo V8 petrol unit, which has been specially modified for the racing.
More than that, the chassis has been also modified by hand at the BMW Motorsport plant in Munich, to cope with the high demands on the racing track.
In terms of technology, the BMW M6 GT3 imported the state-of-the-art motorsport development, focusing on a newly racing box, racing ABS as well as racing electronics.
These technological changes would make the M6 GT3 racing car much more safety, reliable and affordable in terms of running costs.


text:
The Bernie Sanders meme, which has gone viral on social media, has helped boost the designer’s sales of his mittens.
Image: Brendan Smialowski/AFP
IIf we asked you to think of a “pop culture moment”, what would come to mind? A movie release, a sporting event or the launch of a new TV series? While Millennials have different tastes than Gen Z, both generations agree that the pop culture moments they care about most involve social media, with memes and viral videos leading the way.
What is the magic formula to seduce Generation Z and Millennials? According to a study conducted by YPulse*, memes and viral videos are now the pop culture moments these younger generations care about the most, more than movie releases or sporting events. Some 55% of Gen Z respondents say their generation cares about viral videos and social media memes, while 48% of millennials think the same. Music comes in second, with a new album or song scoring 48% for Gen Z and 38% for Gen Y. Finally, the world of video games comes in third, with 48% of Gen Z and 33% of Millennials say their generation is interested in new video game releases.
The use of memes has exploded on social media since the Covid-19 pandemic. A phenomenon explained by the American Psychological Association in a study highlighting how funny or cute memes can help reduce stress and boost people’s confidence in their ability to cope with the pandemic. Besides being a source of comfort or serving as an escape in these gloomy times, memes and viral videos are also being used by younger people to keep up with the news online and in the world of pop culture.
Another takeaway from the “Pop Culture Redefined” report is that while Gen Z is unpredictable, driven by social media and not a fixed schedule of popular events, Millennials still value such moments. For example, 44% of Millennials say their generation is interested in a movie release, and the same number in celebrity scandals. The launch or finale of a TV series and major sporting events are also among their interests, unlike Gen Z.
However, if an event involves multiple factors, such as memes associated with a political event, both generations can be affected, as seen with the Bernie Sanders meme of Joe Biden’s inauguration as President of the United States in January 2021.
What pop culture moments do Gen Z and Millennials think their generation cares about?
Social media meme / viral video – Gen Z: 55% / Millennials: 48%
Release of a new album/song – Gen Z: 48% / Millennials: 38%
Release of a new video game – Gen Z: 42% / Millennials: 33%
Release of a new film – Gen Z: 41% / Millennials: 44%
Trending hashtags on social media – Gen Z: 39% / Millennials: 34%
Celebrity Scandal – Gen Z: 37% / Millennials: 44%
Popular TV show finale – Gen Z: 34% / Millennials: 38%
Release of a new TV show – Gen Z: 32% / Millennials: 37%
A major sporting event – Gen Z: 31% / Millennials: 37%
A major fashion event – Gen Z: 29% / Millennials: 22%
Political events – Gen Z: 27% / Millennials: 32%
A discount – Gen Z: 26% / Millennials: 26%
Celebrity/brand product drops – Gen Z: 26% / Millennials: 23%
Streaming or virtual concert – Gen Z: 23% / Millennials: 21%
Brand wars on social networks – Gen Z: 20% / Millennials: 17%
My generation doesn’t care about pop culture – Gen Z: 6% / Millennials: 9%
*Based on an October 2021 survey of 1,450 people aged 13-39 in North America.
Click here to see Forbes India‘s full coverage of the Covid-19 situation and its impact on life, business and economy
Discover our end of season subscription discounts with an absolutely free Moneycontrol pro subscription. Use code EOSO2021. Click here for more details.


text:
A hood latch issue has resulted in a 930,000 vehicle recall for auto maker Nissan, which announced plans to recall and repair the affected vehicles on Friday. This recall covers vehicles located around the globe, and marks Nissan’s third recall attempt to fix its hood latch woes. The issue affects some Nissan Altima sedans spanning the 2013 to 2015 model years.
The issue revolves around the cars’ second hood latch and, in this case, a rust coating said to have been applied incorrectly. That improper coating could cause the secondary hood latch to bind and stay unlatched despite the hood being closed, possibly allowing the hood to fly up when the car is being driven.
Of the 930,000 or so vehicles being recalled, 846,000 of them are located in the United States, while 24,895 are located in Canada and 58,644 are being recalled elsewhere around the globe. Fortunately, there haven’t been any crashes or injuries from this issue, according to a Nissan spokesperson.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received complaints from Altima owners who have had their hoods open when they shouldn’t. As with other recalls, Nissan’s dealers will repair the issue, in this case replacing the hood latch. The repairs are expected to start in February.


text:
- Home /
- Archive by category "Economy"
- (Page 18)
FEBRUARY 17, viagra sale 2015 // WRITTEN BY: Anna Coote, buy viagra Head of Social Policy Via: www.neweconomics.org These are NEF’s…Read more
In a highly unusual move the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have agreed to…Read more
The 20th annual Merseyside Innovation Awards launched this week to find the most ground-breaking products and businesses across Merseyside. For…Read more
Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce will be delivering a programme of exciting events designed to help SME’s reduce their…Read more


text:
FinTech industry giant's $1.25 billion acquisition will extend its footprint internationally.
The $1B Utah credit union reports strong Apple Pay adoption and expects big numbers after local grocery stores go live.
Learn why some credit unions find it easier and less expensive to outsource ATM management.
In place at 624 credit unions is some form of remote deposit capture that allows members to deposit checks from any location using a desktop scanner, high-speed scanner or mobile smartphone camera.
Online payment service PiggyBanc of Amherst, N.H., said it has waived its e-check fees.


text:
Our guest this week is John Smee, the VP of engineering and head of cellular research at Qualcomm, who explains everything you need to know about 5G for the IoT. We discuss the recently approved release 16 version of the 5G standard and how it helps with enterprise and industrial IoT. That release includes the ability to combine licensed and unlicensed spectrum, offers better positioning and lower latency. And then we move onto the Release 17 standard that will come out in 18 months. This standard is what I call the Goldilocks standard that will provide a mix of capabilities between the superfast multi-gigabit 5G on phones today and the very low-data-rate NB-IoT capabilities. You’ll learn what it will enable and when to expect it. Enjoy the show.
Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: John Smee, the VP of engineering and head of cellular research at Qualcomm Sponsor: Very
Amazon’s Alexa updates make it smarter and put Alexa inside apps
Wyze wants its “friends” to donate for person detection
Smart lighting and outlets get two new products
This upcoming 5G update will give us 100 Mbps speeds for IoT devices
This week’s guest is Karen Herter, Level III energy specialist at the California Energy Commission, who explains how we’re going to get to a dynamic energy grid that helps consumers and businesses react in real time to the price of energy. We have plenty of energy-saving devices and even the ability to turn off or lower the energy demands in our home, using smart tech, but there’s not much of an incentive. If states and utilities work to make real-time pricing changes available to the home (likely a governing device) then the home can react by reducing electrical demand. She talks about the tech and regulations that will make this possible and informs me that FM broadcasts might be the best way to disseminate the pricing information cheaply. It’s a good interview.
Our guest this week brings us back to where we started, with Sarah Cooper, GM of outcome-driven engineering at Amazon Web Services, coming on the show to talk about how Amazon plans to compete in the industrial and enterprise IoT with cloud and on-premise services. She talks about the latest news, the architecture required for the IoT, and the three laws of building a connected service. Plus, she explains why containers and serverless computing matter so much for the internet of things. You’ll learn a lot.
Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Sarah Cooper, GM of outcome-driven engineering at AWS Sponsors: Legrand and Schlage
Amazon doubles down on the cloud for Alexa
What’s up with the lightweight-encryption debate
I loved the Hue Smart Button but Kevin didn’t go for the RoomMe sensors
How Amazon plans to compete for enterprise and industrial cloud services
Our guest this week is Michele Chambers Turner, senior director Google Smart Home Ecosystem, who explains why Google had to kill its Works with Nest program and what it means for users. You’ll also learn how Google thinks about privacy, that it doesn’t keep device state data and how it cordons off home data from its advertising network. We also talk about the local SDK and making it easier to add devices to the Google Home network. It’s an essential episode for Google fans.
Our guest this week touches on a topic many of our listeners will love — pets! Leonid Sudakov is the CEO of Kinship, a newly created business of Mars Petcare. Sudakov comes on the show to talk about the newly created business he’s running that combines connected gadgets and data analytics to understand the secret lives of our pets. He talks about what Kinship is looking for in partners and how technology can help people communicate with our companion animals.
This week I was at Google’s cloud event in San Francisco while Kevin swapped out his video doorbells. We discuss Google’s news related to edge computing and several pieces of doorbell news before talking about a few recentarticles that show how far the smart home has to come. Kevin talks about the first NB-IoT tracker for the U.S., a new Bluetooth security flaw, and how Google’s cloud differs from AWS in his experience connecting our voicemail hotline to the cloud. We also cover a surprise contender for the worst connected device seen this week and answer a question on Alexa and hubs that is probably pretty common.
This week’s guest is Elana Fishman, COO of Wyze Labs, who came on to explain how the company can make a high-quality HD camera for between $20 and $30. The combo of a low price and a good camera obviously works. Wyze has sold more than 500,000 cameras so far! She also answers questions about security, privacy and the company’s recent integration with Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem. You’ll enjoy the show.
This week’s guest is Gabriel Halimi, CEO and co-founder of Flo Technologies who discusses his leak detection technology as well as the insurance market. We talk about why consumers will end up sharing their data with an insurance firm, what you can learn from water flow data, and Halimi poses a somewhat scary future where your insurance firm will know if you actually set your alarm that they offer a discount for. Enjoy the show.
At CES I made the decision to traumatize my family and swap out the Amazon Echo for the Google Home despite Wi-Fi challenges. We kick off this week’s show explaining why, and discussing some newtricks the Home has. From there, we hit the partnership between Maersk and IBM to create a digitized supply chain using the blockchain. Then we talk about a startup that might help with that effort. Add in news bits ranging from BMW acquiring ParkMobile to a new low power wide area network module that can last 15 years, and we round out the first half of the show. We also answer a listener question about radiation from IoT devices. If you’re not clued in on this subject, we’re living among radiation with things like WI-Fi and phone signals in our homes, which is why some are resorting to purchasing an EMF Meter to measure these levels of radiation. Listen on if you’re interested.
Our guest takes us back to the topic of IoT networks and the future 5G holds for the internet of things. Chetan Sharma is the founder of Chetan Sharma Consulting, and is a widely respected telecom analyst. He talks about what networks are likely to succeed and why, and then also digs into his thoughts on how we should rethink competition and M&A in the digital economy. He also asks if it’s too late to regulate anticompetitive data practices in the U.S. I hope you enjoy the show.
After all the news, things get a bit grim as I discuss the future of battle with Tarek Abdelzaher, a professor of computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. He’s part of a team that won a research grant from the U.S. Army Research Lab to figure out how to bring the internet of things to the battlefield. Our discussion ranges from technical elements to the ethics of having machines kill people. It will make you think.
Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Tarek Abdelzaher, a professor of computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Sponsors: Spark Cognition and ADT


text:
Latest Sony Reader Stories
Sony Corp said it has made over 1 million books available on its electronic readers through Googleâ€™s Book project, which digitizes classic books not under copyright protection.
RICHMOND, Va., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Diesel eBooks (www.diesel-ebooks.com) is the first eBookstore to take part in the in the Google Books Preview program, which is an endeavor by Google Books to facilitate discovery of a wide variety of book content on the Internet. "We are delighted that Diesel eBooks is working with us by taking advantage of our free Preview API for Retailers.
Discovery Communications is alleging a patent infringement suit against Amazon over the development of its Kindle reader.
Sony's electronic book-reading device will be updated with half a million free books from Google that are not protected by copyright.
SAN DIEGO, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Content for the Reader Digital Book by Sony just blew wide open.
Plastic Logic, the manufacturer of an electronic book reader, will publicly announce partnership deals this Monday and adds that they will release several huge publications to its future device.
LOS GATOS, Calif., Feb.
Libraries Give Booklovers another Choice for Content DENVER, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- American Library Association Mid-Winter Meeting -- Libraries have a new alternative for providing access to compelling reading material.
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- BooksOnBoard, the web's premiere ebookstore, has released over 30,000 eBook titles for iPhones.
For a while now, consumers have ignored the electronic book because of its difficulty and the limited options to read. But thanks to Amazon.comâ€™s wireless Kindle gadget, the e-book has started to take hold.


text:
iCrowd Newswire - May 18, 2020
Logistics Automation market is estimated to reach US$ 121,343.3 Mn by 2027 from US$ 39,286.3 Mn in 2018. The report includes a key understanding of the driving factors of this growth and also highlights the prominent players in the market and their developments.
Growing advancement in technology has encouraged increasing adoption of robots for various industries. Logistics automation is becoming essential for retailers owing to growing retail & e-commerce sectors worldwide. Market players are trying to achieve omnichannel and online strategies. Thus, logistics automation is necessary for retailers. The logistics automation ensures the management of the inventory, tracking, reporting and forecasting, packaging, transportation of goods, and warehouse management. The constant growth in the retail & e-commerce sector is expected to create new opportunities for the global logistics automation market during the forecasted period.
Get Sample Copy at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00005708
Europe is a technologically advanced region. The e-commerce and online retail are key drivers for the upsurge in the demand for diverse types of warehouses such as parcel sorting centers, mega fulfillment centers (merchandise storage and pick-up), local parcel delivery centers, return processing centers, dot.com warehouses (fulfillment of online orders), and local delivery centers (for same-day deliveries). The global warehouse and storage market in Europe has grown annually by ~2-3% due to growth in the online retail and e-commerce sector. These factors are contributing to the high growth of the logistics automation market in this region.
The global market for logistics automation market is segmented based on the parameters such as component, mode of freight transport, application, end-user industry, and geography. Based on component, the hardware segment dominates the logistics automation market heavily and is expected to dominate the market in the forecast period from 2019 – 2027. On the basis of mode of freight transport, road segment led the market in 2018 with a maximum market share and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. On the basisi of application, the warehouse management segement dominates the logistics automation market. Further, based on end-user industry, retail and e-commerce segment led the market with the maximum market share. Key players operating in the market are partnering with the small as well as large and other companies which are helping them to gain customer traction. The major companies offering logistics automation market include Beumer Group, Daifuku Co., Ltd., Dematic (KION Group), Honeywell Intelligrated, KNAPP AG, Mecalux, S.A., Murata Machinery, Ltd., Swisslog Holding AG, TGW Logistics Group, and VITRONIC among others. Several other companies are also offering these logistics automationb for various manufacturers, which is facilitating the market to propel over the years.
Market Initiatives was observed as the most adopted strategy in global logistics automation market. Few of the recent market initiatives are listed below:
2019: Swisslog announced completion of a major project for the Middle East’s leading telecom distributor for handsets and accessories, Axiom Telecom, for the design and implementation of a new Dubai-based automated warehouse facility with AutoStore.
2018: Honeywell announced completion of its acquisition of warehouse automation solutions provider Transnorm. Transnorm would be the part of Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions (SPS) and will complement its Honeywell Intelligrated business.
2017: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation (machine tools) and Murata Machinery, Ltd. (AS/RS) collaborated in the development of the MAZATEC SMS (Smart Manufacturing System).
Buy Complete Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00005708
Contact Information:Phone : +1-646-491-9876
Email Id :[email protected]
Keywords: Logistics Automation Market 2020, Logistics Automation, Logistics Automation Market


text:
The Mini Doughnut Factory has gone uptown.
That's St. Petersburg's Historic Uptown neighborhood, where the second location of the Tampa-based chain opened Monday. The original, at 2109 S Dale Mabry Highway, was opened in 2015 by Patrick and Zezura Ruddell. According to its website, it has sold 1.2 million doughnuts.
The new store at 730 Fourth St. N is easy to spot, thanks to the mural on its south wall of happy people enjoying doughnuts, painted by Tony Krol and Michelle Sawyer of Illsol Gallery in Tampa. The store's pale gray, industrial-style interior has big windows and seating for a few dozen at tall tables and counters.
The mini doughnuts — each just a couple of bites — don't sit under glass drying out. They're assembled when you order them, and it doesn't take long. I waited less than 10 minutes for a box of 25 to be iced and topped.
Most of the standard flavors start with a vanilla cake doughnut with a tender crumb and golden exterior. They're dressed up in 16 combinations, from sophisticated tastes like Espresso Chip — espresso icing, mini chocolate chips, caramel drizzle — to classics like the Homer Simpson, with strawberry icing and rainbow sprinkles. One of the most popular, the Sweet Pig, features maple icing and bacon crumbles. There are seasonal flavors as well.
Or you can create custom doughnuts, starting with vanilla (gluten free is available) or, on weekends, chocolate or blueberry. Then go crazy with 14 icings, 19 toppings and seven drizzles. Vanilla bacon sriracha? Chocolate Pop Rocks marshmallow? Up to you.
The menu also offers doughnut sundaes, doughnut shakes and a variety of coffee drinks. Mini doughnut prices start at $2.25 for three and go to $24.95 for a box of 36.
Store hours in St. Petersburg are 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 a.m.-
6:30 p.m. Sunday. Order online at minidoughnutfactory.com or call (727) 258-7531.


text:
A LAKE District holiday company is to launch a new lodge at a major trade show in East Yorkshire next weekend.
Fallbarrow Park in Bowness says the Skylantern lodge is the largest and most high spec of any lodge on ioits site on the shores of Windermere.
It has been being manufactured by North Wales company, Cambrian, and features a glass roof which Fallbarrow says makes it 'perfect for star gazing close to the shore of Windermere'.
The Lawns Show is a major showcase for the 2015 range of new caravans and lodges from UK manufacturers.
The three-bed, three-bath lodge will be for sale for £800,000.
MORE TOP STORIES:
- United Utilities fined £750,000 after seven million litres of raw sewage flowed into Duddon Estuary
- Pressure group opposes wind turbine plan for Kirkby Moor
- Diamond ring, watches and bracelet among items stolen in burglary
- Labour Party's South Lakes candidate backs proposals to cut student tuition fees


text:
‘Day 251: Bibiana’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
Esquire has released their list of the 20 best new restaurants of 2010, and D.C. has made it with downtown Italian eatery Bibiana. Mentioned alongside heavy hitters like Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s ABC Kitchen in New York and Wolfgang Puck’s WP24 in Los Angeles, Bibiana is the only representation from our nation’s capital.
Though they use the standard criteria of good food, friendly servers and boozy cocktails, this year Esquire also judged restaurants on the somewhat amorphous criteria of if the customers were “having fun” during their meal. One might claim that the level of fun is tied to the aforementioned boozy cocktails, but according to Esquire, fun means communal tables, day-of-the-week dinners, and Grandma-inspired Sunday suppers.
So does Bibiana deserve this high fun rating? And is it one of the best new restaurants in the country?
Eater has the full list here.


text:
McDonald's Twitter Account Brands Trump 'Disgusting Excuse of a President'
An official McDonald’s Twitter account has described Donald Trump as a “disgusting excuse of a President” and favored a return for Barack Obama.
To add insult to injury, the bizarre tweet fired at Trump added “also you have tiny hands.”
The tweet disappeared after 30 minutes, leaving many to wonder who was the rogue Twitter user?
The tweet was sent on Thursday from @McDonaldCorp, an official McDonald’s Twitter account, promoting company news and initiatives and boasting 151,000 followers.
McDonald’s later acknowledged the rogue tweet, saying their account had been compromised and the circumstances around the post were being investigated.
The tweet from the giant fast-food chain gave little detail on the culprit, leaving many to speculate if it was the work of a hacker – or an employee still annoyed at Trump’s preference for KFC.
Read more: https://www.rt.com/viral/381020-mcdonalds-twitter-account-trump/


text:
Ian Anderson 11 a.m., Dec. 9
Public Sparring Between Prop 37 Supporters, Opponents Begins
As predicted by supporters late last month, opponents of Propostion 37, which would mandate the disclosure of whether genetically modified crops have been used in the production of California food products, have come out swinging.
In a recent press release, opponents of the measure predicted food prices for the typical California family would rise $350-400 per year as a result of the proposition, “while providing absolutely no benefits” to consumers.
In calculating their figures, the No crowd cites a study performed by Northbridge Environmental Management Consultants, which assumes the most likely step taken by food manufacturers and distributors if Prop 37 were to pass would be to move away from using genetically engineered ingredients, which opponents say “the majority of packaged food and beverage products contain.”
This switch would be the costlier of two potential options, with the other being to comply with the law by redesigning packaging to properly disclose the presence of genetically engineered substances, and to cease labeling as “natural” products made using laboratory-modified plant stock.
Relabeling is the less-likely outcome because both sides agree that consumers would likely avoid products with genetically modified substances were the contents of their food to be disclosed to them. From there the agreement ends, as the No side argues that ignorance as to the relative safety of such crops would be the driving factor in consumers’ decisions, while the Yes crowd says it would be because of the host of prevalent fears regarding the crops that many referred to “Franken-food” in years past as nearly 50 countries including Japan, China, Australia, Russia, and the entire European Union passed similar disclosure laws.
“The overwhelming scientific evidence has shown that foods with genetically engineered ingredients are safe, and that requiring special labels is both unnecessary and misleading. In fact, the National Academy of Sciences, World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and many other venerable and independent scientific bodies have studied genetically engineered foods and found them to be safe,” continues the statement from Prop 37 opponents.
Not so, say the measure’s proponents, who say that both the American Medical Association and World Health Organization have recommended further testing be completed on the risks surrounding genetically engineered crops, and point out that neither has ever issued a statement specifically deeming them “safe.”
Another argument from the opponents says that since alcoholic beverages, meats and seafood (which may have been produced using feed from genetically modified sources), and food prepared in restaurants would be exempt from labeling requirements, the proposal constitutes a “complex labeling scheme” that should be scrapped altogether.
Heavy advertising, with most funding coming from out-of-state interests, is expected to soon hit the airwaves. Major donors to the No campaign include chemical companies Monsanto ($4.2 million), DuPont ($4 million), BASF ($1.6 million), Bayer CropScience ($1.6 million), and Dow AgroSciences ($1 million). Other donors of $1 million or more include Coca-Cola, Pepsi, ConAgra, and Nestle USA. None of the 20 biggest donors to the opposition of Prop 37 is located within California, say backers of the proposition.
Given a considerably smaller budget to work with, the Yes campaign is counting on grassroots outreach, including a public outreach campaign that will be conducted in the coming weeks at the Ocean Beach Peoples’ Food Store and at Jimbo’s Naturally supermarkets.


text:
More wine drinkers are waking up to the fact that the West Coast goes beyond California. Washington state winemakers, for example, now bask in rave reviews from critics and increased attention from consumers, particularly for their reds.
One sign of the growing appreciation: The reds were the featured pour last month at a late night tasting party thrown for the city's sommeliers by Belinda Chang at Osteria Via Stato. It is a sure bet more Washington reds will be turning up on the city's restaurant wine lists and store shelves.
"What's exciting for us is the quality of the wine, the Bordeaux-style cabs and merlot and also the syrah," said Mike Baker, manager of the Wine Discount Center in Chicago.
Ironically, and here is another telling sign of the popularity of these wines, visiting Washingtonians are the biggest customers for Washington State syrahs at Fox & Obel, the Streeterville market. Seems the tourists are delighted to find syrahs on Chicago shelves that are sold out back home.
"I've shipped wine back to Washington twice," said Ashley Stockstill, Fox & Obel's wine director.
The buzz in the trade is focused on the syrahs from Walla Walla Valley, a subregion of the Columbia Valley in southeast Washington. (Both valleys dip across the line into Oregon.)
"[Walla Walla] is making world-class syrahs, complex and aromatic," said Todd Hess, wine director of Sam's Wines & Spirits. These syrahs, he said, are designed for wine drinkers looking for "a big, rich red wine" who are not afraid to experiment. Long-term California cab drinkers are prime candidates, he said.
The problem may come in finding these wines. The selection of Washington syrahs, particularly those from Walla Walla, was small in a number of area wine shops.
And Washington syrahs can be pricey, said Greg Wolter of Von Beaumont Distributing of Downers Grove, a distributor of many Washington wines.
"For the average person to venture into something new and spend $28 is a leap of faith, a leap not many are willing to make," he said.
"I could sell Washington syrah in Bucktown or Wicker Park," he said, referring to two of Chicago's apparently more vino-adventurous neighborhoods.
Still, Wolter said Washington syrahs are the best in the United States, with "more earthiness and depth" than California syrah.
California, of course, continues to dominate domestic wines in terms of production and sales. ACNielsen, the consumer marketing firm, reports sales of California syrah nationally totaled $55 million over the last year. That's 695,643 cases of wine. Compare that to 107,950 cases of Washington syrah with a price tag of $10 million. But as Oregon famously proved with its pinot noirs, consumers will look beyond California for wines that have something unique to say. So it is with Washington as a whole and Walla Walla in particular. Sales of Washington syrah are up 41 percent from a year ago, ACNielsen reports, while Walla Walla syrahs are up a whopping 269 percent. California syrah sales were up just 19 percent.
"There's a different personality. The wines are more restrained in fruit," said Don Sheil, wine manager of Binny's Downtown.
When the Walla Walla appellation was established in 1984, there were just 4 wineries and 60 acres of vineyards, according to the Web site of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, a trade group (wallawallawine.com). As of August, the region boasted 65 wineries and more than 1,200 acres of vineyards.
Established "names" include such biggies as Columbia Crest and the venerable Chateau Ste. Michelle, which is located near Seattle but maintains vineyards in the Columbia Valley. Then there's L'Ecole No. 41, Betz Family Winery, and K Vintners with its iconic black and white labels (K's "House" wine is a very popular, inexpensive red blend), Cayuse Vineyards and Isenhower Cellars.
"These winemakers know what they're doing," said an admiring Baker. Among his favorites are Christophe Baron, the French-born owner of Cayuse, who is doing "big, powerful stuff" with syrah and Bordeaux-style blends; Charles Smith of K Vintners, who is making "huge wines" and Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery who is making "fantastic" wines in the $35 to $55 price range.
Wolter said his job is becoming easier as Washington wines enjoy greater prominence.
"The hill I try to run up is a lot easier to climb," he said. "I don't have to sell the idea of Washington state as much as I used to. People are starting to ask for the product."
What Washington wine will they be asking for?
"I think the long story will be syrah because the climate does well with the grape," Wolter replied.
- - -
Wines that demand attention
Inky black with red highlights, these five Washington syrahs cut an impressive figure. No matter which one you choose, be prepared to sit up and pay attention. Of particular note was the 2003 Sequel Syrah from the Columbia Valley. It achieved the rarely awarded four-corkscrew from the Good Eating taste panel.


text:
Portugal wine exports up in UK as quality message hits home
Portugal’s wine exports to the UK grew 4% in value in 2015, according to figures released yesterday by ViniPortugal.
The UK market for still wine contracted 2% by volume and value over the same period.
The uplift reflects the steadily growing reputation of Portugal as a producer of high-quality wines and its ability to command better prices.
The average price Portuguese of wine has grown from €2.75/litre to €2.86/litre in the past twelve months, ViniPortugal revealed.
This is in line with a trend that has seen the average price rise from €2.46/litre in 2011 to its current level, a 17% increase.
The overall value of Portuguese DO exports to the UK has risen 19% rise in the four-year period.
The same trend is evident worldwide, with global exports of Portuguese wine up 1.5% in value while volumes have fallen back by 1.1%.
Jorge Monteiro, President of ViniPortugal, said: “This steady growth in shows how much the perception of Portuguese wines is changing. Portugal is uniquely placed to give UK customers an authentic alternative while providing great value for money.
“The growing momentum behind Portuguese wines, and UK customers’ desire to discover more interesting wines suits Portugal very well.”
Wines of Portugal is planning to build on the succes of Portuguese wines with a range of trade-focused initiatives across 2016.
These include the Wines of Portugal Select Dinner Series, a series of informal networking and educational dinners for independent wine retailers which will take place in London and Manchester in the spring; the return of the Wines of Portugal Discovery Bar at London Wine Week in May; and Wine Quest, a bespoke trip to Portugal organised for 15 leading sommeliers led by Charles Metcalfe, Sarah Ahmed and Ronan Sayburn MS.