text:
Target and Wal-Mart put aside their rivalry on Thursday in their zeal to sell better makeup and toothpaste.
The nation’s two largest discount retailers took the unusual step of co-hosting a meeting in Chicago to push beauty and personal care suppliers to be more transparent about the chemicals that go into their products and to better define what constitutes a sustainable product.
The forum was attended by about 75 people, including representatives from suppliers such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Estee Lauder and L’Oreal as well as other retailers such as CVS, Walgreens and Ulta.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” said Janet Nudelman, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “It’s surprising to see two such staunch competitors come together to tackle this problem.”
Her advocacy group has been pushing for retailers to step in to lead the charge on an issue where there’s little regulation.
In the past few years, both Target and Wal-Mart have begun to use their own internal sustainability indexes to score the products they sell based on the toxicity of chemicals used and the kind of packaging, among other measures. Those grades helped guide which products they stock on their shelves and how prominently they display them, knowing that their customers are clamoring for more natural and greener products.
But both Target and Wal-Mart were looking for ways to do more and to make change happen faster, leading to the decision to team up.
“We have different approaches and what we’re doing here is, through this collaboration, hoping to create a comprehensive approach and one that drives change in these product categories,” said Kate Heiny, Target’s senior manager for sustainability. “This is an unprecedented, uncommon collaboration between Target and Wal-Mart.”
After the summit, Target leaders said they would discuss next steps with Wal-Mart in the coming days.
While this is the first time the two retailers have co-hosted a forum of this sort, they have come together in other venues. For example, they are both members of trade groups such as the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition.
Amy Koo, an analyst with Kantar Retail, said it makes sense for Target and Wal-Mart to come together around this issue because they both are concerned about sustainability and environmental impact. For example, she pointed to Wal-Mart’s announcement earlier this year of a new line of more affordable organic food products. And Target has also introduced a new collection of natural, organic and sustainable items in partnership with brands under the “Made to Matter” label.
Because of their size, they can make things happen.
“Wal-Mart has the sheer clout in the industry as a market mover,” she said, recalling how manufacturers started making high-efficiency detergent after Wal-Mart expressed a strong interest in it.
Target has seen a growing demand from its customers for sustainable and healthier products, particular those that they put in and on their bodies. Sales in natural and organic categories have been growing at a rate of 20 percent, Heiny said.
“They want to know more about where and how they are being manufactured and the long-term health effects on the body,” she said.
So last fall, the Minneapolis-based retailer unveiled a Sustainable Product Standard for about 7,500 products in household cleaning, personal care, beauty and baby care. It has been scoring those products on a scale of 1 to 100.
“But what we learned in that process is that there’s varying degrees of information available,” Heiny said. “The transparency of information is a challenge across the board.”
In some cases, she added, manufacturers themselves don’t even know all of the ingredients in their products because their own suppliers might not disclose them, citing trade secrets.
Wal-Mart has been working with manufacturers on this issue for years, too. Not only does it have its own sustainability index that covers hundreds of product categories, it has also begun pushing suppliers to eliminate or reduce 10 toxic chemicals from beauty products, household cleaners and cosmetics.
Rob Kaplan, Wal-Mart’s director of product sustainability, said the retailer is looking for more change on an industrywide scale, especially amid a lack of agreement about what sustainability entails in these categories.
“We need to move faster toward that goal because the expectations are changing,” he said. “We’re looking for our suppliers to demonstrate voluntary leadership and to make commitments and to move from a conversation to action.”
Critics note that there are loopholes in listing of ingredients on products. For example, the ingredients that make up a fragrance used in a product don’t have to be disclosed even though they can include potentially harmful chemicals.
For their part, some manufacturers have already begun to phase out some chemicals from its products. In April, cosmetics maker Avon said it would phase out triclosan, an antimicrobial agent that some consider potentially harmful, from its products. While it insisted that triclosan is safe, Avon said it made the change because of its customers’ preferences.
Last year, Procter & Gamble also said it would eliminate triclosan as well as diethyl phthalate (DEP), sometimes used in fragrances, from its products by this year.
But while consumer advocates applauded Target and Wal-Mart for taking a lead on this issue, they are still pushing for more transparency in the process.
Nudelman, with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, noted that Target and Wal-Mart’s sustainability scores of products are not readily accessible to consumers. She also wished that consumer groups such as hers had been invited to the summit. “Consumers are the ones that are experiencing the short end of the stick,” she said.


text:
Digital TV News: Ross Video
Extreme Reach gains CTV accreditation from MRC
Oct 5, 2021 – Extreme Reach (ER) has received accreditation for CTV Rendered Video Ad Impressions and related Video Play metrics from the Media Rating Council (MRC), as well as a new accreditation for Mobile App.
News categories: Extreme Reach, Media Rating Council, Tim Conley, George W. Ivie, Olivia Devereux, Advertising, Streaming, USA
Ross Video withdraws from IBC 2021 exhibition
Sep 22, 2021 – Following Ross Video's recent withdrawal from NAB Show 2021 and the subsequent cancellation of the in-person event, Ross have announced that they will not be participating in IBC's physical 2021 exhibition.
News categories: Ross Video, Digital TV, IBC2021, Netherlands, Worldwide
Gracenote expands video metadata coverage to Poland
May 25, 2021 – Gracenote (NYSE: NLSN) has expanded its international video metadata coverage to include Poland, helping pay-TV providers, broadcasters and streamers to provide effective content navigation, search and discovery.
News categories: Gracenote, Raimond van Raamsdonk, Big Data, Digital TV, Poland, UX
DoubleVerify uncovers SSAI fraud hijacking CTV device sessions
Mar 4, 2021 – DoubleVerify (DV) has uncovered the first server-side ad insertion (SSAI) scheme known to hijack real CTV device sessions. At its peak, the scheme spoofed over 2 million devices each day.
News categories: DoubleVerify, Mark Zagorski, Advertising, Content Protection, Digital TV, Streaming, Worldwide
Subscription home entertainment soars in Australia
Aug 17, 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted home entertainment subscription services in Australia according to Telsyte. Australians added 5.6 million new subscriptions to the end of June 2020, an increase of 18% from a year ago.
News categories: Telsyte, Foad Fadaghi, Australia, Digital TV, Market Research
SpotX expands Measurement and Attribution Suite
May 21, 2020 – SpotX has expanded its Measurement and Attribution Suite. By uncovering audience reach metrics like brand lift, incremental reach and frequency, and outcome-based measurement, advertisers can more accurately pinpoint value across all video channels.
News categories: SpotX, Kristen Williams, Patrick Doyle, Michael Parent, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, Streaming, Worldwide
Australia's Network 10 and You.i announce app partnership
Oct 10, 2019 – Network 10 has announced a partnership with You.i TV for its broadcast video on-demand app, 10 Play. The plan is to standardise the 10 Play app user experience across video streaming platforms and unlock new ad formats, beyond pre and mid-roll ads.
News categories: Network 10, You.i TV, Liz Baldwin, Rod Prosser, Jason Flick, Advertising, Apps, Australia, Digital TV, Streaming
MediaMath launches contextual ad targeting for video with IRIS.TV
Jun 11, 2019 – MediaMath has announced the launch of a buy-side video contextual targeting solution for programmatic video in partnership with IRIS.TV. IRIS.TV is able to surface the context of video content to ad servers in any video playback environment.
News categories: IRIS.TV, MediaMath, Richie Hyden, Mike Fisher, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, Worldwide
Over 50 million RDK device deployments
Jun 5, 2019 – At ANGA COM 2019, RDK Management shared details about the adoption of RDK open source software used to power customer-premises equipment from video and broadband services providers worldwide. The number of RDK devices deployed is now over 50 million.
News categories: RDK Management, Steve Heeb, ANGA COM, Digital TV, Gateway, Market Research, Middleware, Worldwide
- FAST growing quickly in the U.S. and across the globe
- Antenna Hungária partners with mediaClass to launch advanced DTT service
- Verizon teams up with B&O to launch soundbars with Stream TV built-in
- VIZIO adds AVOD content to its WatchFree+ streaming service
- Cross Screen Media provides access to Roku ad platform
- CIMM to develop Guide to Converged TV Measurement Providers in the U.S.
- Operations of Digi Communications in Hungary acquired by 4iG
- OTT revenues poised to surpass pay TV revenues in MENA by 2024
- Astro Malaysia debuts addressable TV advertising with Synamedia
- Kaltura powers Vodafone TV in Germany
- Roku #1 TV streaming platform in Mexico
- ATEME brings HDR10+ support to live transcoding
- BBC iPlayer arrives on PlayStation 5
- BARB UK adds SVOD and video-sharing platform measurement
- Baltcom strengthens position in Eastern Latvia with Microlines acquisition
- ATSC issues RFP for broadcast core network technologies to enhance ATSC 3.0
- Verimatrix launches cybersecurity solution against video piracy
- Agama and Antecna to provide video monitoring and analysis for m:tel
- ViacomCBS and NENT Group to roll out Pluto TV in the Nordics
- Iskon launches OTT service in Croatia with Beenius

domain: news


text:
Telecom equipment and smartphone maker ZTE is in the process of launching a new device on US soil. According to a new spotting at FCC, the upcoming handset labelled ZTE Blade A6 Max seems to be a relative of the ZTE Blade A6. Along with the FCC images, we’ve also got some leaked images from its user manual.
ZTE has kept its low key presence in the US by launching budget-oriented products for a while now. The ZTE Blade A6 Max seems to be a similar product. Looking at the images, we can see a pretty basic camera setup at the back along with a single lens sitting at the front. There is a Nexus 6P-like black band running along the top corner at the rear of the phone. It looks neat. The handset also underwent an autopsy and got its innards spilled out. We can clearly see the battery, but it’s a pity we can’t judge the exact capacity.
Gizchina News of the week
The Blade A6 Max doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner. But it does possess a headphone jack and a micro SD card slot. It also seems from the manual instructions that the handset has a removable back.
The Blade A6 Max is expected to have a display of at least 5.5-inches as the A6 had a 5.2-inch panel. This is also presumed by the “Max” label. Apart from what is visible, we are clearly in the blank about the other components of the phone.
Since the handset has received the nod from FCC, it should soon emerge in the near future as an official product.


text:
RYNO: A single-wheeled motorcycle for the future of urban transport
AUSTIN–Chris Hoffman, CEO of RYNO Motors, spoke about his single-wheeled motorcycle and vision for a future with vending machine-like on-demand car rental stations at the Start@ETS event put on by ZPryme.
Hoffman was challenged by his daughter to create a single-wheeled motorcycle after seeing one in a video game.
“I couldn’t even picture what she was talking about. So she gets out a piece of paper and sketches out this thing and shows it to me,” Hoffman said.
He says that as an “aging” engineer all he wanted to do was prove that it couldn’t be done. Instead, he set off building one. After several failed attempts, Hoffman was successful in creating the RYNO.
The RYNO uses 2,000 watts of power to travel at max speeds of 10 mph for a range of between 15 and 25 miles. It uses a series of gyroscopes (like those found in your phone), a wheel and handlebars to allow riders to keep themselves balanced. Hoffman says the driver’s body becomes part of the hardware, controlling through reactions that he or she feels while riding.
The actual design of the vehicle was inspired by the unique mating ritual of the male Bowerbird, which builds a structure and decorates it with sticks and brightly colored materials in order to attract a mate (We think the RYNO looks like a sidewalk version of the Batmobile).
“This is a personal transportation product that is in-between the cracks of urban transportation,” Hoffman said. “So I can ride it on the sidewalk, I can ride it in a lobby, I can ride it in a train. I can go anywhere a pedestrian wants to go.”
Hoffman believes that innovations in urban transportation, like the RYNO, should center around saving time. He proposed an entirely different solution to do so: vending machine-like parking structures.
“No one knows where to park,” Hoffman said. “There are people driving around the city looking for a spot right now, and autonomous vehicles will never really happen.”
The CEO of RYNO said that while everyone wants their own vehicle, cars really should be on-demand. He spoke of three main benefits of going to an on-demand system in urban environments:
- Benefits low-income travelers
- Gets rid of stresses of parking
- Gets cars off freeways
- Can be built for less than parking structures
- Generates more revenue than any parking garage


text:
Lab-grown diamonds are becoming more popular these days and now a surprising source is getting in the gem game - Hidden Valley Ranch. Yep, the salad dressing makers. They’ve created a first-of-its-kind diamond that’s made from actual Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning.
“Last year, when one of our custom Valentine's Day bottles was used in a marriage proposal, we were inspired,” explains Deb Crandall, the brand's marketing director. “We saw a love of ranch become part of one of life's most beautiful moments. It made us wonder, how can we make this act of love even more memorable.”
So how does ranch seasoning become a diamond? According to Hidden Valley:
- The Ranch Diamond started as their ranch seasoning that was heated to 25-hundred degrees, then crushed under 400-tons of pressure.
- A short five months later, it became a lab-produced two-carat diamond that was polished and given a round brilliant cut before being set in a 14K white gold band.
- The HVR diamond is now up for auction at TheRanchDiamond.com and all of the proceeds will be going to the charity Feeding America.
- Bidding is open until March 17th and HVR promises the winning bidder will get the ring by March 20th, which happens to be National Proposal Day.
SOURCE: Food and Wine


text:
LifeCare Hospice Fundraiser
Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare will host its first annual Haystack Supper on Friday, May 12, 2023 at Mt. Hope Event Center (8076 State Rt. 241, Millersburg, Ohio 44654). The family-friendly event will include supper and an auction featuring 200 items, including quilts, household items, and lawn and garden tools.
Carry-out begins at 3:30 pm with supper at 4 pm and the auction following at 6 pm. The auctioneer will be Steve Chupp with Steve Chupp Auctions.


text:
There’s been some concern that Sony might be moving away from single-player games toward live service multiplayer titles, but PlayStation studios chief Hermen Hulst insists that isn’t the case.
During an interview with Axios, Hulst spoke on PlayStation’s reputation for prestige story-driven titles and how the company isn’t typically known for multiplayer games like Fortnite or League Of Legends.
“We have a history and a reputation for building these incredible narrative-driven single-player games, such as The Last of Us and Horizon and the upcoming God of War Ragnarok,” Hulst said. “We’re also diversifying now. And we have stood up 12 projects in total in the live ops multiplayer space.”
Back in February, PlayStation announced plans to launch 10 live services titles over the next few years. An effort that Bungie, the Destiny 2 studio that Sony acquired for $3.6 billion, will help bring to fruition. When successful, persistent multiplayer games tend to make more money than single-player affairs — but that isn’t always the case.
“Some of our biggest titles in the single-player narrative-driven space are also our most profitable titles,” Hulst continues.
Despite the commitment to single-player, it seems PlayStation might turn some of its current franchises into live service games.
“We’re not excluding bringing some of our beloved existing franchises into live games,” Hulst says.
This statement lines up neatly with the rumored PS5 re-release of Horizon Zero Dawn that allegedly contains a multiplayer component.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.


text:
American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) will report its second quarter 2022 results by press release on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
The company will also host a summary of AEO Inc.’s second quarter results with a live conference call that will be webcast on Wednesday, Sept 7, 2022 at 4:30pm, Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed by calling:
o Domestic: (877) 407-0789
o International: (201) 689-8562
A replay will be available following the call at:
o Domestic: (844) 512-2921
o International: (412) 317-6671
o Conference ID number 13727573
The call will be archived and made available online in the Investor Relations section on AEO’s website, www.aeo-inc.com
About American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. Our purpose is to show the world that there’s REAL power in the optimism of youth. The company operates stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong, and ships to 81 countries worldwide through its websites. American Eagle and Aerie merchandise also is available at more than 270 international locations operated by licensees in 25 countries. For more information, please visit www.aeo-inc.com.


text:
By Dennis Seid/NEMS Daily Journal
KI is shifting production from its Mississippi operations, which will result in the closure of its Pontotoc facility and a realignment of its Tupelo plant.
It also means the loss of 37 jobs in Pontotoc and another 31 in Tupelo.
The Tupelo facility, which makes folding tables, will become a warehouse and distribution center. Some light manufacturing will continue there, mostly upholstery processes, said Tom Abrahamson, KI’s vice president of manufacturing operations.
The Pontotoc plant made chairs and stools, and a company news release said the Tupelo plant makes similar products. Production of those items will be shifted to the company’s plant in Bonduel, Wis.
“These changes are based purely on economic conditions and business realities and in no way reflect upon the performance of our employees at our Mississippi locations or the quality of the products they produce,” Abrahamson said.
KI, which makes furniture and wall systems for the education, health care, government and corporate markets, said the decision to realign manufacturing and distribution was made after an extensive company-wide review.
Abrahamson said only operations at the Pontotoc and Tupelo locations were affected.
The Tupelo facility opened in 1964, while the Pontotoc plant opened in 1999.
Abrahamson said the changes would begin in January and be completed by June.
Employees laid off in Pontotoc and Tupelo will be able to apply for the same positions in Wisconsin, Abrahamson said.


text:
WESTLAKE, Texas – Solera Holdings, LLC, a global leader in vehicle lifecycle management, announced a strategic partnership with DigniFi, a leading FinTech platform for the automotive industry.
Solera will offer access to DigniFi financing options, funded by WebBank, to consumers seeking payment solutions for a range of vehicle repairs made by auto repair and body shops as well as dealers. Solera is offering the DigniFi solution through several of its platforms and expects to make DigniFi financing options available across three of its operating pillars – Vehicle Claims, Vehicle Repairs, and Vehicle Solutions. Solera dealerships, auto repair facilities, and body shops can enroll for DigniFi financing options by emailing [email protected].
“Adding this offering is a win for Solera’s customers and car owners because DigniFi provides access to a much-needed financing choice for the millions of people not able to pay for an unexpected repair, insurance deductible, or bodywork without assistance,” said Alberto Cairo, Solera Managing Director of Vehicle & Fleet Solutions.
DigniFi solutions can provide access to financing for almost any vehicle-related expense, including mechanical repairs, preventive maintenance, bodywork, insurance deductibles, vehicle service contracts, accessories, tires, and prepaid maintenance packages. Drivers can receive financing from $350 to $7,500 to pay for vehicle-related expenses. To apply, consumers complete a simple, four-step process and receive an answer in minutes.
“It’s a real thrill to collaborate with like-minded, industry-leading partners, like Solera, who share our commitment to supporting main street and hardworking people across the country. I’m convinced that together, we can build a world where inclusive, accessible funding for the needs and aspirations of daily life is the norm,” said Neeraj Mehta, CEO, DigniFi. “At DigniFi, we strive to spark opportunity for small businesses and to delight their consumers through access to visionary, inclusive financing.”


text:
I’m utterly delighted with this paragraph:
But as is so often the case, the reality is more complicated. Almost every successful business career is built on the ashes of doomed factories, pink-slipped workers, and towns laid to waste.
Not because it’s true–it’s not! But because I’m so amused that someone (in this case, Matt Yglesias, presumably drawing on his long career as a business tycoon) claiming to complicate a purportedly simplified issue–whether Mitt Romney and other corporate raiders are the same as “the good kind of businessman, the one who launches and grows firms, creating new products and jobs and opportunities”–would make such a claim.
“Almost every successful business career.” Wow. Almost every one, huh? That’s a lot of towns laid to waste. I wonder … is this a one-to-one relationship? One successful business career for every town laid to waste? Does each “successful business career” entail doomed factories, pink-slipped workers, and towns laid to waste–all three–as the “and” logically suggests? Or is, um, “the reality … more complicated”?
And what counts as a “successful business career,” according to Yglesias, anyway? Just those titan-driven technology companies and industries he invokes–Apple, Google, broadcast, cable, Internet–or also the local business owner who succeeds at business by providing goods her customers want with excellent service? It seems laying to waste entire towns implies a scale that doesn’t include many–perhaps most–successful business careers.
Even more telling, though, is the causality. Yglasias admits that Sam Zell’s Tribune takeover of a newspaper was a failure.
A poorly executed leveraged buyout, such as the Sam Zell takeover of Tribune that led to huge cuts and bankruptcy, helps no one.
The article Yglesias links to attributes Zell’s failure, in part, to his cost-cutting and compromises on the integrity of the news.
Behind the collapse of the Tribune deal and the bankruptcy is a classic example of financial hubris. Mr. Zell, a hard-charging real estate mogul with virtually no experience in the newspaper business, decided that a deal financed with heavy borrowing and followed with aggressive cost-cutting could succeed where the longtime Tribune executives he derided as bureaucrats had failed.
And while many media companies tried cost-cutting and new tactics in the last few years, Tribune was particularly aggressive in planning publicity stunts and in mixing advertising with editorial material. Those efforts alienated longtime employees and audiences in the communities its newspapers served.
“They threw out what Tribune had stood for, quality journalism and a real brand integrity, and in just a year, pushed it down into mud and bankruptcy,” said Ken Doctor, a newspaper analyst with Outsell Inc., a consulting firm. “And it’s been wallowing there for the last 20 months with no end in sight.”
But in an article citing what is an extreme example, but no way unusual in type, of why newspapers have failed–aggressive cost cutting and failing to deliver the quality customers wanted–Yglesias gives the Internet and other media advances credit for killing newspapers in general.
Radio, broadcast television, cable, and the Internet all count as technological advances that have helped the economy and improved America’s quality of life. But they’ve harmed newspapers and led to endless rounds of publishing-industry layoffs.
It was the Internet’s creative destruction that killed newspapers, not the greedy owners making big cuts because they demanded unreasonable profits. Capitalism is all about creative destruction, you see, so we must celebrate that creative destruction!
And that’s what seems to be missing from Yglesias’ “more complicated” understanding of how businesses succeed. Nowhere does he consider the possibility that a troubled company would, rather than firing employees wildly, figure out what customers want–perhaps in a new market segment if your old one has become unprofitable–and deliver it.
For an underperforming company, painful restructuring now is generally the alternative to even more painful restructuring down the road.
Serving customers well may involve restructuring, sure, but it doesn’t necessarily have to involve the painful firings that Yglesias calls “a legitimate and even useful element of a dynamic modern economy.”
And while I won’t defend Mitt’s Bain career at all–it is part of the kind of financialization that has doomed our economy generally–what Mitt was talking about when he described “firing” his health insurance company is about that other kind of capitalism, the kind that believes capitalism is about delivering products that customers like. There are a whole host of other reasons why Mitt’s comment deserves criticism. And Mitt did reap unnecessary destruction while pursuing his personal and corporate profit.
But it’s a step even further to try to normalize firings as part of the purportedly inevitable creative destruction of capitalism.
Update: Yglesias, a Harvard grad, claims to be unable to see an argument here. So let me simplify it for him.
First, note what Yglesias claims to be doing: making something that has been simplified–a discussion about what Bain does–more complicated (with all the disdain that suggests about those who have purportedly simplified this issue). But then in the very next sentence, he engages in wild hyperbole, claiming that “most” successful business careers involve a great deal of destruction. Rather than making the issue more complicated, that is, Yglesias engages in a great deal of simplification, simplification which ends up being critical to his attempts to rehabilitate Mitt’s career of firing people.
The only way his hyperbolic comment could be true is if the definition of “successful business careers” includes only those who restructure entire industries. That may, in fact, be what he means–as I noted, he mentioned technologically driven industries, ones that have most often been kicked off by titans, people like Steve Jobs or David Sarnoff, and he later shifts his discussion to innovation, not business generally. That, itself, is telling: a whole lot of successful businesspeople–perhaps most–actually engage in a fairly mundane process of providing customers products they want at a competitive price. That can certainly be destructive, but isn’t necessarily. But that’s also what a lot of people mean when they invoke that “good kind of businessman.” So if Yglesias is leaving these capitalists out of his definition of successful businesspeople, then it’s not a very useful claim, because then his argument becomes, “Bain does only as much damage as the titans who restructure entire industries, so it’s okay.” He’s no longer doing what he claims to be doing, which is showing that Bain is like those good kind of businessmen, because he has defined success to exclude many of them.
As a related issue, the question of how to measure success also raises the role of money and structure in that definition. Is a successful businessperson’s company publicly traded? Does it have to achieve certain levels of profitability? Because if that’s baked into the definition of success, then it obviously might entail more “creative destruction” than other kinds of businesses. That is, a business measured for how well it serves its customers may engage in different behaviors than a business measured for how rich it makes its founders or owners, which is often how Bain is measured. The “good kind of businessman” is usually being measured for something else entirely, and frankly, maybe that’s how we ought to measure businesses.
The other problem with Yglesias’ argument is, even assuming his definition of successful business career makes his comment only a logical oversimplification rather than gross hyperbole, he imagines just one way to deal with such innovation and he imagines that all the destruction wrought by innovation is attributed to the innovator and not those who fail to compete. That’s why his example of newspapers was so odd. Not just because he attributed the challenges to newspapers to technological advance and not changes in advertising practices or, as is the case with Sam Zell that Yglesias himself brought up, greed and a failure to deliver a good product. Newspapers are in trouble, in part, because they no longer deliver the quality product they used to, which is in part because their owners want them to be more profitable than newspapers used to be.
But Yglesias also seemed to imagine that the only way businesses respond to innovations in their field is by laying people off. True, that’s often the case, particularly in this globalized world and with public companies. True, if businesses delay responding, that’s likely to be the case. But other successful businesspeople respond to technological change by changing their own businesses. Yglesias describes all the photo developing shops that have gone out business in his neighborhood. Where I live, a lot of these have not gone out of business, but have instead shifted their business, perhaps into mailing services or general business services shops. Those, too, are admirable, successful businesspeople, perhaps more so, because they continue to deliver customers something they need.
So in fact, the reality is more complicated–more complicated than Yglesias describes. Rather than treating business as it really exists, he instead simplifies it, calls most of it creative destructive, and thereby argues that what Bain does–successful creative destruction, surely, but for what and whose benefit–is not so bad.


text:
For those who came in late, Apple has done its best to derail the movement, it makes a fortune forcing people to use its repair services and its products are really hard to repair.
Woz points that that Apple would not have existed if he had not grown up in a very open technology world.
"It's time to recognise the right to repair more fully. Companies inhibit [the right to repair] because it gives the companies power, control, over everything. It's time to start doing the right things."


text:
Intel and Yahoo can't stop tech-drop
TECHNOLOGY stocks took fright in after-hours trade in New York despite strong increases in net earnings at chip giant Intel and media firm Yahoo.
It has been a roller-coaster week for the sector after betterthanexpected IBM results on Monday pushed prices higher, but Google and eBay were both caught up in the sell-off, their shares falling by more than 2%.
While Intel's result was right on consensus forecasts, a squeeze on margins alarmed investors, who wiped 4.4% off the firm's value.
Yahoo fell even further after reporting revenue of $875m (£503m) against forecasts of $881.8m. Its shares lost 10%. Along with margins concern, Intel investors were alarmed by capacity problems that appear to be putting a lid on growth, even though net profit was up 16% at $2.03bn.
Only a year ago it was feared that Intel had built up stocks too far. The company says it is now facing the opposite problem.
'Right now demand is strong enough that I haven't been able to build up inventory,' chief financial officer Andy Bryant said.
Strong demand for notebook computers was driving sales, he said. 'The momentum of the first half appears to be continuing as we enter the third quarter. Demand is strong. The factories are full.' But he said the company was losing revenue due to lack of capacity.
Yahoo chief executive Terry Semel sought to soothe nerves over ad revenue. 'I don't see any softness in either of our two advertising businesses,' he said.
Revenue from those businesses reached $1.09 billion in the second quarter, up 51% from a year earlier. But investors were not convinced, despite a rise in second-quarter revenue of more than 40% that was below Wall Street expectations.
The firm recorded net profit of $754.7m, including an investment gain of 38 cents a share due in part to its sale of Google stock.
Yahoo has to some extent been a victim of its own success. It has topped Wall Street revenue forecasts in six of the past seven quarters. But this time its forecast third-quarter sales range was less than the more bullish analysts tracking the company expected.
Yahoo's market valuation at about $51bn continues to lag behind rival Google which, at $83bn, is the world's most valuable internet company.
Most watched Money videos
- Three Minute Money: Should we fret over house price indexes?
- Ineos Grenadier 4X4 is tested for sturdiness on the toughest roads
- Will investors see a Roaring Twenties on the stock market?
- Citroen unveil the My Ami Cargo, a dinky electric van
- Jupiter Green: How we invest in companies helping the planet
- Three Minute Money: Should every parent be saving in a Jisa?
- Rare 1960 crashed Jaguar heading to auction for £10k to £15k
- Ocado and Oxbotica team up to develop driverless vehicle software
- Mercedes' new all-electric EQB is a seven-seater compact SUV
- Volkswagen's Up! is a stylish city car with big performance
- Three Minute Money: What does a buying agent do?
- 2007: Levi Roots pitches his Reggae Reggae Sauce to the Dragons
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
We are no longer accepting comments on this article.


text:
The hiring took effect Jan. 21, according to R.D. Abbott, a material science, engineering and distribution company based in Garden Grove, Calif.
Swanton will work with R.D. Abbott materials and application engineers to "solve tough industry problems."
"Brian's vast knowledge of our LSR and HCR material—combined with his considerable experience in product development, commercialization and product quality—make him an excellent addition to our growing NovationSi team," said Bob Bradley, president of NovationSi.
Swanton brings nearly three decades of silicone experience, including stints with Dow (senior industry specialist) and Dupont (senior process engineer).
He also worked as a process engineer for Dow Corning in LSR and HCR.
Swanton has been issued numerous patents and has "developed or scaled up at least 40 products," representing a minimum of $100 million in annual sales.
Besides HCR and LSR, NovationSi focuses on modifiers, additives and colors for silicone, and highly specialized elastomer products.


text:
On July 31, the labor contract of over 340,000 UPS workers will expire, and if their demands aren’t met in a new collective bargaining agreement, they may launch one of the largest strikes in US history. The contract fight by the Teamsters union, which represents the workers, may be the most important fight for the labor movement in a generation.
Through interviews with UPS workers themselves, as well as experts and other workers and activists, The Upsurge explores what makes this an unprecedented moment in US history. Please become a patron to keep this show going. The show is produced by NYGP with the help of Ruby Walsh and in partnership with In These Times. Teddy Ostrow is host and co-producer of the show.
Listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or anywhere you can listen to podcasts.
Watch and listen:
After forty-four days on the picket line, the UAW reached tentative agreements with each of the Big Three automakers. GM was the last domino to fall on Saturday, Oct. 30, just days after Ford and then Stellantis acquiesced to their own tentative deals.
The Stand Up strike has already forced General Motors to fold its electric vehicle battery plants into UAW’s master contract. Now, Ford’s largest truck plant in Kentucky is on strike.
Auto workers give updates on the UAW strike against the Big Three along with their thoughts on COLA, the two-tiered wage system, and more.
150,000 United Auto Workers members are on the verge of launching a strike against the Big Three automakers—Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. The electric vehicle transition’s effects on the industry are a major catalyst.
With record turnout and 86.3% of members voting to ratify the new contract, the Teamsters have a major victory under their belt. But the fight doesn’t stop here.
UPS Teamsters nationwide are voting on the tentative agreement for the largest private-sector labor contract in the United States. The vote will end on August 22. A majority decision will determine whether the contract is ratified, or the national negotiating committee will return to the bargaining table and potentially call a strike.
In this special July 25 live panel discussion with Teamster UPSers—a collaboration between The Real News, In These Times, and The Upsurge podcast—we hear workers’ live reactions to the new tentative agreement and discuss where we go from here.
150,000 UAW workers at the Big 3 automakers—Ford, GM, and Stellantis—could follow the lead of their UPS union siblings in a strike come September unless a new contract can be negotiated.
With their UPS contract set to expire at the end of the month, the Teamsters have walked away from negotiations and begun practice pickets.
UPS still has until Aug. 1 to meet workers’ demands, but picket lines will start forming in the week ahead.
Amazon’s non-unionized workforce is an existential threat to the Teamsters—but signs of Amazon workers unionizing with the IBT could change the game.
Sexual harassment and gender discrimination are among workers’ many grievances against UPS, which is facing an upcoming contract battle that could see 300,000 Teamsters hit the picket lines.
A UPS strike could shake the world economy. Historian Joe Allen explains how the rise of modern logistics owes everything to workers.
Workers say management has blown off some of their meetings, and retaliated with layoffs against attempts to take negotiations out of the bargaining room.


text:
As part of the agreement, starting this month, Netflix will wait 28 days before offering Warner Bros. DVDs and Blu-ray discs to its customers.
The waiting period is an attempt for the studio to cash in on DVD sales. If Netflix customers can't rent the hottest Warner Bros. titles, perhaps they'll be willing to buy them. As the Associated Press points out, nearly three-fourths of DVD sales are made during the first four weeks the discs are in the stores.
U.S. & World
Other studios are expected to follow, signing similar deals with Netflix this year.
In exchange for the waiting period, Warners has agreed to offer Netflix hundreds of additional movies for its online streaming service. In addition, Netflix will get a discount on Warners titles. The savings will be used to acquire even more instant-viewing titles, the AP reported.
This could be a win-win-win situation. Studios can keep cashing in on retail sales, Netflix will continue its quest to eventually stream every piece of content ever made and viewers can still get movies without leaving the couch.
The deal sacrifices just enough convenience for customers to keep them from pirating movies -- or at least that's what the powers that be are banking on.
Netflix customers -- by definition -- have already given up on immediacy. That's the whole business model. Pick a bunch of movies and eventually they'll get to your house. And even with online streaming, Netflix users aren't accustomed to new releases. Other than the Starz deal, the instant viewing option is mostly filled with older movies.
As an asterisk to the deal, Blockbuster may actually come out ahead. The brick-and-mortar giant will be able to rent new DVDs without a waiting period.
Turns out, this deal really does have something for everyone.


text:
Leaked roadmap slides imply that Intel might be prepping six-core chips for the mobile segment — but the new cores won’t arrive until the second-generation refresh of Intel’s upcoming Cannon Lake 10nm technology.
A new report from the NRDC suggests that the Xbox One and PS4 draw substantially more power than previous systems, but it’s not the calamity the organization paints it as. Optimizations will bring the cost down and replacement costs should be minimal.
For almost as long as there have been Windows laptops, there has always been a giant squid in the room: Why is Windows’ battery life so damn pitiful? The battery life discrepancy between Windows and other operating systems has never been clearer than with the Surface Pro 2 and the 2013 MacBook Air — both have very similar specs (Haswell Core i5 CPU/GPU, battery size), and yet Apple’s laptop has almost twice the battery life of Microsoft’s tablet.
Smart grids have been widely discussed for about a decade now, but most of the US is still years away from seeing a real smart grid. However, a successful large-scale rollout of a smart grid in Florida might just be what the rest of the country needs to get motivated. Installing and networking sensors all over the power grid is an expensive proposition, but the increased efficiency and reduced outages make it the obvious next step for modern infrastructure.
What’s more power-efficient? Intel’s Atom, Qualcomm’s Krait, Nvidia’s Tegra, or Samsung’s Exynos 5 Dual? Glad you asked, because we have the answers.
Subscribe Today to get the latest ExtremeTech news delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our


text:
Microsoft Allows Third-Party Retailers to Sell Surface with Windows RT
December 12, 2012 12:44 PM
comment(s) - last by
Microsoft didn't announce any specific retailers that will carry the device, but Staples said it will stock the Surface with Windows RT starting today
It turns out that you can't sell a product that
doesn't have broad availability
(who would've thought?), so Microsoft is putting the Surface with Windows RT on the shelves of third-party retailers this week.
Up until this point, Surface with Windows RT was only available in Windows Stores and kiosks. The problem with that is the number of Windows Stores and kiosks available -- a total of 65 in the U.S.
This posed a problem for Microsoft, as potential buyers may have to go out of their way to find a Surface RT rather than visit the local Best Buy, for example.
Microsoft is now looking to fix that issue and try to meet customer demand with wider availability of its first own-brand computer.
"The public reaction to Surface has been exciting to see," said Panos Panay, general manager of Microsoft's Surface project. "We've increased production and are expanding the ways in which customers can interact with, experience and purchase Surface."
Microsoft didn't announce any specific retailers that will carry the device, but Staples said it will stock the Surface with Windows RT starting today.
Surface with Windows RT will also make its way to Australia in mid-December as well as other countries in the following months.
Just last week,
Boston-based brokerage firm Detwiler Fenton told
lack of distribution was killing sales and demand for the Surface RT
Detwiler Fenton even estimated that Microsoft will only sell 500,000 to 600,000 Surface RTs in the December quarter. This was a strong hit to previous estimates of 1 million to 2 million.
Surface with Windows RT isn't the only Windows 8-based gadget that isn't hitting store shelves.
The Seattle Times
echoed Detwiler Fenton's concerns: there just aren't very many
Windows 8 tablets
out yet, and those that are are impossible to find. However, other Windows 8 tablets are sold in major retailers like Best Buy; not just Microsoft Stores.
Surface with Windows RT was released October 26 alongside the new Windows 8 operating system. It features the Windows RT version of Windows 8, which is specifically for ARM processors, and starts at $499. Surface with Windows 8 Pro, which features the full version of Windows 8, will be released in January starting at $899.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Samsung ATIV Smart PC 500t with Clover Trail was not that hard to find
12/13/2012 1:48:27 PM
You're welcome to your opinion, Win8 tablet people have choices because different companies make tablets, and we all win. That (competition) itself is something the iOS fans really don't grasp!
(I'm personally a bit sceptical about ARM-based ... I'll have to get my desktop Win8 up, fire up Visual Studio, and make a sample app to see if I think it's a big loss vs. full x86 compatibility in the tablet space.)
"DailyTech is the best kept secret on the Internet." -- Larry Barber
Microsoft Surface RT Sales Hurt by Lack of Distribution
December 8, 2012, 9:53 AM
Touchscreen Windows 8 Devices: Hot or Not?
December 5, 2012, 1:17 PM
Report: DISH CEO Makes Aggressive $2B USD Bid for LightSquared's Spectrum
May 20, 2013, 10:25 PM
Apple Releases Tim Cook's Testimony on Corporate Tax Laws
May 20, 2013, 7:40 PM
Apple's Tim Cook to Talk Profit Shifting, Taxes at U.S. Senate Hearing
May 20, 2013, 1:44 PM
HTC to Double Production Capacity for "One" Flagship Smartphone This Month
May 20, 2013, 10:10 AM
LG Showcases 5" Flexible OLED Technology at SID 2013
May 20, 2013, 8:18 AM
Air Force Expects to Save Over $50 Million in 10 Years by Using iPads
May 17, 2013, 12:26 PM
Most Popular Articles
Windows 8.1 Will Be Free; Microsoft Holds Onto Struggling ARM Variant
May 14, 2013, 2:57 PM
Google Announces "Pure" Galaxy Nexus S4 for $649, Android Updates
May 15, 2013, 1:42 PM
Bill Gates Gets Teary-Eyed While Discussing Steve Jobs, Shows Off Life-Saving Tech on 60 Minutes
May 13, 2013, 12:30 PM
U.S. Federal Traffic Board Wants to Make Drunk Driving Threshold Far Harsher
May 15, 2013, 11:32 AM
Google's Eric Schmidt: "Don't Be Evil" was Stupid
May 14, 2013, 11:00 AM
Latest Blog Posts
Quick Note: Sony "Teases" PS4 Ahead of Xbox Reveal in New Video
May 20, 2013, 12:33 PM
Nokia Introduces Instagram-Like App of Its Own to Help Lumia Sales
May 20, 2013, 7:10 AM
Parents of Pre-Teen Drivers Commonly Practice Distracted Driving Says Study
May 9, 2013, 7:16 AM
Apple's iOS 7 Running Into Internal Delays Due to Massive Overhaul
May 1, 2013, 4:26 PM
Elon Musk Willing to Spend More Money on Widening of 405 Freeway
Apr 26, 2013, 7:28 PM
More Blog Posts
Copyright 2013 DailyTech LLC. -
Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information


text:
NASCAR drivers might not be the most recognizable athletes in the world, after all they do have to spend most of their time competing wearing helmets.
But you would think that if Jeff Gordon was in an auto supply store, standing near a cardboard cutout of himself, trying to shill bottles of Quaker State with his photo on them, he'd be recognized.
But that's not always the case. Check out this video where a customer seems to get angry when Gordon insists he purchase Quaker State.
The clip is from a one-hour television special of "I Get That A Lot," which will air Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. on CBS.
The show will feature celebrities tricking everyday citizens in cases of supposed "mistaken identity." Working ordinary jobs, the celebrities confuse customers who can't decide if it's the actual celebrity or a look-alike.
Gordon's episode will also feature actress Jane Seymour, actor Cheech Marin and former Olympian Bruce Jenner.


text:
CHINA: GM JV hopes for Chongqing plant start in new year
General Motors' joint venture with local partners SAIC and Wuling will start building a new plant in Chongqing, China early next year, pending government approvals.
Reuters reported the CNY6.6bn first phase is scheduled to open in 2015 and the plant will have annual production capacity of 400,000 vehicles and engines.
The JV will announce the models to be built there closer to the start of production.
The new plant will help the JV reach its production target of 2m vehicles a year by the end of 2015.
More read-it-and-weep news for struggling European rivals from Volkswagen group this week as it chalked up another little milestone - selling over 3m vehicles in the first four months of a year....
Vehicle assembly in Colombia began in 1956 when the government signed an agreement to build Austin trucks locally. Colombian entrepreneurs soon saw the opportunity to invest in technology to be part o...
I wouldn't have thought that, with the current state of play in the European auto industry, there'd be too much niggle in the union ranks. But we've reported on a bit this week....
What are Opel's 3,000 odd workers at its Bochum plant in the heavily-industrialised region of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) thinking today?...
Geely's Volvo Cars has named former GM marketing executive Alain Visser, who joined last year, as its new senior vice president marketing, sales and customer service, replacing Doug Speck who is leavi...
After announcing an after-tax operating loss of A$141m for the 2012 financial year, following a A$290m loss in 2011, Ford has finally thrown in the manufacturing towel in Australia and will close its ...
The board of directors of Geely Automobile have announced management changes....
Chinese business interests are again reportedly moving to buy financially crippled electric car start-up Fisker Automotive....
- COMMENT: Volvo's US sales surge as China reverses
- COMMENT: Ford F-Series production soars
- China's economic turbulence worries auto industry
- Baking Kias at 45C
- THE WEEK THAT WAS: Trouble in Tianjin
- UPDATED IAA debuts list: Audi SQ5 TDI plus added
- Land Rover develops 'see-through trailer' concept
- Jaguar Land Rover scraps Saudi plant plan
- Nissan allocates redesigned Juke to Sunderland
- Brazil Four losing sales faster than industry rate
- Ford Motor Company (F) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review
- General Motors Company (GM) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review
- Global light vehicle engine technologies market- forecasts to 2030
- Global light vehicle safety systems market- forecasts to 2030
- Global heavy trucks market


text:
The Russian version of the famous McDonald’s franchise has been unveiled and the new restaurants are getting ready to be opened on Sunday however the name remains a secret until the grand opening.
The logo of the new restaurant which will replace McDonald’s in Russia is represented by two yellow lines and a red circle on a green background – the geometric shapes symbolizing two fries and a hamburger.
The company that took over the McDonald’s buildings in Russia, controlled by Russian oligarch Alexander Govor, has not revealed the name of the new restaurant although there was some speculation earlier.
15 new fast food restaurants will be opened this weekend, according to TASS. ” The green background of the logo symbolizes the quality of the products and services our clients already got used to” a representative of the company said.
McDonald’s left Russia after 30 years
McDonald’s has temporarily shutdown its operations in Russia back in March, less than two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Last month, McDonald’s announced that the company will leave the Russia market as a consequence of the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia in Ukraine.
McDonald’s also announced that Alexander Gavor, who was in charge of 25 McDonald’s restaurants in Siberia will take over the restaurants. According to a previous agreement, McDonald’s will keep its trademark in Russia and has the option to re-buy the restaurants in the next 15 years.
McDonald’s has operated in Russia for 30 years. The first McDonald’s restaurant made its grand opening in January of 1990 in Moscow, a key moment of the Soviet Union’s economy, shortly before it fell.


text:
Yes, Essex! You are reading this correctly! Lidl have launched a special Prosecco just in time for Christmas that promises to keep you hangover free.
The bottle, which is called Organic Prosecco Spumante, costs just £7.99 and is in store this weekend – although you’ll have to be quick as they are expected to sell out.
According to Aldi’s master of wine, Richard Bampfield, the bottle of bubbly does not taste “rustic” and instead “has bright aromas of pear and white peach”.
As reported by Get Reading, the organic Prosecco uses less sulphites which have been linked to hangovers and Mr Bampfield said: “We’ve all had that shocking wine hangover.
“This is sometimes attributed to the sulphite preservatives used in wine to keep them fresher for longer.
“Generally, organic wine producers use a lower level of sulphites in the production process, which means they are less likely to contribute to hangovers.
“So if you don’t react well to sulphites you could be saying good riddance to hangovers with Lidl’s Organic Prosecco Spumante.”
Essex residents will be rushing to their closest Lidl to grab a bottle of the special Prosecco this weekend, giving them a perfect way to celebrate the end of their working week.
According to industry body IWSR (International Wines and Spirits Record), the UK market is expected to soar by more than 17% by 2020 to 8.3 million cases, making it double the size of the US market which is predictted to reach 4.2m cases by then.
Globally, sales of Prosecco are set to rocket by 36% over the next five years, giving the Italian bubbly 9.2% of the sparkling wine market.
By comparison, Champagne sales are only expected to rise by 1% while Cava will remain unchanged.


text:
Microsoft’s new Windows Phone is a fresh and exciting new platform. MASL is exploring Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, Kinect, and related technologies, thanks to a generous gift by Eric Maino, and matching gift from Microsoft.
MASL is working on a funded project with a group of researchers led by Dr. Venu Vasudevan in Motorola Mobility’s Applied Research and Technology Center.
Mobile Technology Association of Michigan (MTAM) is a Michigan-based trade association for the mobile / wireless industry. The GVSU Mobile Apps and Services Lab is working closely with MTAM to promote the development and adoption of mobile technology in the great State of Michigan.


text:
Last Monday, a federal judge temporarily barred California from requiring cancer warnings on products that contain detectable amounts of glyphosate—the main ingredient in Monsanto’s flagship herbicide Roundup. Trace residues of glyphosate in food products had already become a potential target of Proposition 65 bounty hunters, who presumably had already begun testing foods purchased in California grocery stores to determine which companies would receive their first round of 60-day intent to sue notices.
The preliminary injunction by U.S. District Court Judge William B. Shubb declined to remove glyphosate on the Proposition 65 list of chemicals “known to the State of California to cause cancer,” but, at least for now, bars the State from imposing the corresponding warning requirement while the case challenging its listing proceeds on its merits. The court’s ruling is based on a First Amendment, compelled false speech analysis—Judge Shubb determined that a Prop 65 cancer warning on glyphosate or glyphosate residues could mislead a reasonable consumer since the vast majority of scientific and health organizations have found no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in humans.
The preliminary injunction is a win for glyphosate manufacturers, agriculture, and food companies as trace amounts of glyphosate—one of the most widely used herbicides in agriculture—can remain on crops after they are harvested. Residues of it can be detected in a variety of produce, processed commodities, and finished food products. Indeed, testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and environmental groups have detected trace amounts of glyphosate in an assortment of agricultural commodities and food products, including in soybeans, corn, oats, and baby food to name just a few.
Read our client alert.


text:
Maruti Suzuki to introduce two new models in 2019-20
Maruti Suzuki recently announced that it will launch two new models in the 2020 financial year. This is in addition to the new Wagon R that the company will launch later this month. One of these cars will be a premium product sold through the Nexa channel while the other one will be a more mainstream offering sold via the Arena network.
Last year, Maruti Suzuki updated the Ciaz and launched new generations of the Ertiga MPV and Swift hatchback. The company says that these new models launches make it quite optimistic about its sales forecast for the upcoming year. The company further added that this is also an election year, when traditionally sales have been higher.
The company will also update its range to include safety features like airbags, seat belt reminder and reverse parking sensors by June to comply with new safety norms. Seven of the company's models are already compliant with the new rules, the company is in the process of implementing these changes on three more cars.
- NewsMercedes-Benz takes bigger stake in Aston Martin in new technical partnership
- NewsIndia-bound 2021 Yamaha MT-09 unveiled, launch expected in 2021
- NewsFacelifted Honda CR-V Special Edition launched in India at Rs 29.50 lakh
- NewsKarnataka Govt. offers support to Tesla to setup manufacturing and R&D base
- NewsHero MotoCorp to develop and sell motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson brand


text:
BMW Group, General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and other car companies could hit a roadblock in their efforts to put more electric vehicles on the market: a cobalt shortage.
The silvery metal, a byproduct of copper mining, is in high demand as a component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. But there might not be enough cobalt to go around, forcing car companies to look for alternatives, potentially delaying the transition to electric motoring.
Even in a scenario in which battery technology is improved to minimize the need for cobalt, the metal will be in short supply from 2025 on, according to projections published this month by the Joint Research Centre, the in-house science service of the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm. Continue Reading →


text:
Across the world, 2013 saw a huge increase in the number of smartphones in use, as well as the amount of people using the Internet on their handsets. Recent research shows that over 50% of the global population accesses the internet on their mobile phones at least once a week, with 35% using the mobile internet daily.
This would suggest a continued growth throughout 2014, but also a change in the mind-set of consumers. Mobile brings the ability to purchase whenever, straight to the pockets of users, bringing the dawn of the “always-connected consumer.”
No longer does the end-user need to put in a lot of effort to purchase, and throughout 2014, marketers will no doubt look to make the buying process even quicker and seamless, to take advantage of this.
Already, marketers have taken advantage of the “anywhere and everywhere” culture, developed by the popularity of mobile devices, trying solutions like augmented reality, QR codes and timely messaging.
Of course, the potential drawback with this change in thinking is that the mobile consumer needs to be gripped in a shorter space of time. Long text pieces, ten minute videos and complicated websites are less and less likely to work for the low-attention span of the mobile shopper.
Fast and Reactive
Businesses will need to be more reactive than ever before, making sure they stand out with innovation and relevance. The “always-connected consumer” brings in a need for effective and quick insights with Big Data as well as swift delivery of messaging.
For those who keep up, 2014 is sure to be an exciting year, with much competition, interesting mobile marketing campaigns and a fast pace.
Image credit: Robert Scoble via flickr


text:
Binance – the arena’s biggest cryptocurrency trade – introduced on Wednesday a function that may permit its neighborhood to simply give you the corporate with feedback and comments.
The software will let customers successfully take part in forming Binance’s product roadmap.
Being attentive to the Group
In a press free up shared with CryptoPotato on Wednesday, Binance stated the principle function of the brand new software is to collect neighborhood enter on what new options it desires to peer applied.
Group comments might be accumulated and reviewed by way of Binance, and then the product staff will free up a public-facing roadmap for user-suggested options in March.
Following the roadmap’s free up, the neighborhood will vote at the proposed options, and the highest advised options might be added to Binance’s legit roadmap. It is going to supply updates at the construction standing of the ones options, and the neighborhood might later supply comments on user-suggested options that experience already been introduced.
“Binance has at all times constructed comments into the product construction procedure,” stated Binance Head of Product Mayur Kamat within the press free up. “On reasonable, we get round 1000 items of comments each and every month – now we have now a devoted position for the neighborhood to make tips and go away an enduring affect on long run Binance product traits.”
CZ’s Appeals to the Public
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is extremely lively on Twitter, the place he ceaselessly discusses the newest happenings within the trade together with his fans. He was once a particularly vocal member of public dialog within the occasions previous and following the cave in of FTX, discussing his dating with the bankrupt trade, and distinguishing Binance’s operations from its fallen competition.
FTX’s fallout was once a part of what spurred Binance to check out enforcing a “evidence of reserves” gadget at his neighborhood’s request. Evidence of reserves comes to verifying the safety of consumers’ property the use of on-chain knowledge – despite the fact that this type of gadget isn’t whole with out an unbiased auditor analyzing the corporate’s liabilities.
Despite the fact that the trade printed a temporary evidence of reserves in December, the document was once taken down days later as its auditor, Mazars Crew, deserted paintings with crypto firms altogether.
CZ has additionally attempted to face out by way of making Binance one of the most best firms hiring staff all the way through the crypto endure marketplace closing yr. Whilst Coinbase minimize its workforce by way of some other 20% in January, CZ introduced plans to enlarge Binance’s staff by way of 30% closing month.
The publish Binance Introduces Person Comments Characteristic to Strengthen Trade gave the impression first on CryptoPotato.


text:
The economic downturn may be over, but bargain hunters are still increasingly flocking to thrift shops, causing revenue to surge at the Boston-area nonprofits that run the stores.
Boston-based Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries’ retail revenue at its 11 stores rose 14 percent last year to $14.1 million, up from $12.4 million the year before. Meanwhile, at the Salvation Army Massachusetts Division, revenue from its 31 stores rose 14 percent to $26.6 million last year from $23.3 million. And AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, which operates four thrift stores under the Boomerangs name, generated about $711,000 in revenue for the fiscal year that ended on April 30, a nearly 20 percent increase from a year ago.
“I’m not surprised,” said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. “People are still very cautious and they’re watching every dime.”
As their thrift store revenue grows, nonprofits are becoming increasingly dependent on it — with thrift store operations representing between 20 percent of total revenue in the case of AIDS Action Committee to 70 percent for Goodwill.
The Michigan-based Association of Resale Professionals has seen its thrift store membership nationwide jump to more than 1,200 today, up from 700 in 2010. “We don’t lose customers when the economy gets better,” said Adele Meyer, executive director. “Once people find their first good buy, they’re hooked.”
That’s what motivated the Holbrook-based Big Brother Big Sister Foundation to open a storefront location in Brockton a year ago. Since the mid-1990s, the organization has raised revenue doing door-to-door pickups of used clothes and household items and selling them in bulk to distributors, but this is its first retail store.
“It became clear that the retail side of things is really, really growing,” said Steve Beck, executive director of Big Brother Big Sister. Thrift stores make money, but they also provide a platform for job training and to build awareness about their nonprofit operators’ missions.
“We’re thrift stores, and that’s a really good thing,” said Joanne Hilferty, Goodwill’s CEO. “But we’re so much more than that.”
Goodwill has spent more than $1 million on renovating its stores in the past decade, and in some instances relocating the stores to more high-profile locations. The Goodwill store in Quincy moved from the city’s downtown area to a prominent spot on the Southern Artery.
The renovated Goodwill store on West Broadway in South Boston is decorated with vibrant Goodwill logos, hanging placards and messages that reflect the organization’s mission of training people with disabilities for jobs.
As it has upgraded its retail operations, Goodwill has increased its training numbers of people in various aspects of retail operations and it also is attracting more employers to recruit these trainees. Home Depot recently hired six workers in one session, and TJX Cos. has interviewed as many as 700 Goodwill trainees in one week, Hilferty said.
With signs and posters hanging in its Boomerangs stores, AIDS Action also uses its retail operation to educate shoppers about AIDS with the hope of cultivating new donors. The goal, said Rebecca Haag, CEO of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, is to remind shoppers that money spent at Boomerangs goes toward providing services to people living with the disease.
Like Goodwill, AIDS Action two years ago launched a job-training program in its stores for people living with HIV. Many of the trainees may never have held a steady job and have little income, Haag said.
“For our population living with HIV, it’s really important that we give them a sense of economic security,” Haag said. “We want to build confidence and self-reliance.”


text:
SAN DIEGO - A big name coffee shop will be shutting its doors in Ocean Beach and some residents are celebrating.
Starbucks will close its location on Newport Ave and Bacon St sometime next month, much to the delight of some residents of the beach community, which has historically rejected corporate stores in favor or supporting locally owned shops.
“You just don’t see anything corporate,” Anthony Enricht told NBC 7. “You don’t see anything and everything’s kind of unique in its own way.”
Ocean Beach residents protested the opening of the Starbucks in 2001 and they've protested other national corporate brands that have opened stores in the community, including CVS and Target. But, residents of the beach community were glad to hear that all of the staff are getting jobs at other Starbucks locations.
Starbucks didn't give a reason why the location will be closing.


text:
Sewing sector in Bangladesh is the backbone of the RMG industry. And the sector people are forecasting that within the next 10 years the sewing sector will gain growth of an average 15%.
In 2015, Bangladesh RMG sector exported around US$21 billion, and the sewing sector supplied near about $21 million of thread. In FY 18-19, local sewing thread factories supplied $29 millions of thread. Making the backward linkage industry more capable and noteworthy.
As the apparel export is growing at a healthy stage in parallel with increasing the demand for locally made sewing thread. And can be termed as a vital implicit export sector.
Currently, there are more than 30 sewing thread factories in Bangladesh. Major six factories – three of them are a foreign-local joint investment and the rest three are locally owned company – are supplying 72% of the current demand.
The sector people highlighted that, buyers fix the quality of sewing thread when they place an order. Sometimes, foreign buyers also fix the sewing thread supplier company! And unsurprisingly, foreign companies tend to get a major share of orders.
Sewing sector experts said the demand for the cotton thread is lower than of polyester thread. Local thread producers import the white sewing thread and dye it here, or some like Well Thread produce thread locally.
World’s biggest sewing thread producer, US-based COATS, with A.K. Khan & Co. jointly founded COATS Bangladesh, is the largest shareholder in the sewing producing market, supplying 31% of the market share.
One of a pioneer in sewing thread business in Bangladesh, Well Thread, founded back in 1973. Currently, they have 7% of the Bangladesh sewing market share, making them 4th in the list.
Well, Thread is also one of the largest sewing thread producers in South East Asia, has a versatile product range, making them a dominating sewing entity in the South Asian region.
With its integrated facilities – from spinning, twisting, dying, finishing – all things combined it is one of the largest producers of sewing thread in this region.
Syed Nurul Islam, Chairman of Well Group expressed to Textile Today, on the matter of extreme price competitiveness in the global sewing market, “Challenges will be always there. As CEO of Well Group, from my experience, I should say that manufacturers have to be a lot more hard worker and exceptionally innovative.”
“And yes, we must also have to increase productivity and efficiency. Otherwise, we cannot sustain this business. What I do believe, global competitiveness is very important,” Nurul Islam further added.
Amann Bangladesh – a German-Bangladesh joint investment company – supplies 8% of the local sewing thread demand. Making them 3rd largest supplier in the market.
Apart from the state-of-the-art factory, AMANN Bangladesh has the most experienced and versatile of professionals from the sewing threads sector of Bangladesh leading the team.
Md. Rokonuzzaman, FCA, Managing Director of AMANN Bangladesh Ltd. said, “Sewing business is mainly operated by back-to-back LC (letter of credit). Where numerous banks and NBR is involved. Making the sewing thread delivery process lengthy, which makes the customers dissatisfied. This is a paramount area where the concerned authorities should look to ease.”
“To make Bangladesh more competitive in the global arena, the government should provide additional and financial benefits to the locally produced raw materials for sewing thread. Then this sector will be more self-dependent,” Rokonuzzaman hoped.
Currently, the global sewing thread market is well fragmented and intensely competitive. But the investment in the sector also increased considering the positive growth or RMG export.
Although the sewing thread growth is good, there is always uncertainty as the demand is constantly fluctuating. To ride on the market wave the sector needs to bring production diversification.
The sector people have voiced that, there is a practice of unhealthy competition regarding prices among the international and local sewing thread producers. Though the locally made thread is cheaper the majority market share is still in the hands of foreign companies.
But why? The sector people highlighted that, buyers fix the quality of sewing thread when they place an order. Sometimes, foreign buyers also fix the sewing thread supplier company! And unsurprisingly, foreign companies tend to get a major share of orders.
However, considering all the factors there is huge untapped potential for Bangladesh sewing thread sector. Global textile and apparel market is observing an unstable situation as the trade war between the US and China is escalating. The US companies are coming more to Bangladesh for business. And China is moving out of the textile business, which is a golden opportunity for Bangladesh.
Considering these factors, the sewing thread sector will expand. And in the new economic zones, most investors are interested in the textiles and apparel sector. Meaning the future of the sewing thread sector bright.


text:
TORONTO - With the Blue Jays back in the ALCS, fans coast to coast are feeling the excitement, and some are filling their online shopping baskets with Jays memorabilia.
Online auction and ecommerce giant eBay Canada has seen a 35% increase in new Jays memorabilia listings since Sunday, when the hometown boys swept the Texas Rangers in the ALDS.
“With all of the activity that occurs every day on eBay, the site can act as a social barometer of trends and pop culture moments, like major sporting events,” eBay Canada spokesman Camille Kowalewski said. “The Toronto Blue Jays are on a hot winning streak, and we see that reflected through fan activity on eBay.”
It appears online-shopping Jays fans have picked Jose Bautista as their MVP, with most of the spending leaning toward Joey Bats memorabilia. Jays legends Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar are also seeing some love.
The site has observed a spike in Jays merchandise since 2015, when Toronto steamrolled into their first postseason in decades.
“Since last year, we’ve seen a 20% year-over-year growth in purchases of Blue Jays items during the regular season,” Kowalewski said.
“Also, last year, from the regular season to the postseason, we saw a 135% increase in daily spending on Blue Jays items by Canadians. In the first 11 days into (this) month, we’re already seeing a 60% increase in daily spending on Blue Jays items by Canadians versus the regular season.”
The site has a page specifically for Jays memorabilia.
Among the items at eBay.ca/rpp/sales-events/baseball (as of Wednesday evening, with prices in Canadian dollars):
- Relive the Jays’ previous playoff glory with a 1992 Toronto Blue Jays World Series jacket, with an auction price sitting around $1,650.
- Josh Donaldson’s 2015 MVP campaign was a big reason the Jays made a deep playoff run. This mint-condition 2015 National Treasures Josh Donaldson one of one baseball card is topping $700.
- Unlike other teams that have already hit the golf course, the Jays are still in it. If golf is your game, you can get a Toronto Blue Jays golf bag for about $365.
- For the Jays fan who wants to make a fashion statement while out and about, this Dooney and Bourke Toronto Blue Jays handbag is available for around $300.


text:
Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts is scheduled to give the keynote speech this morning at the International Consumer Electronics Show. As of this writing, the keynote hadn't begun yet, but fortunately for us, Roberts' speech has been getting a lot of advance coverage.
Roberts reportedly will tell the crowd the Comcast is now the fourth largest telephone company in the U.S. market, with 4.1 million voice customers. He also reportedly will discuss a new video plan call Project Infinity. That sounds a lot more daunting than "Project Runway" and something Buzz Lightyear might be into, but it's the new effort by Comcast to boost its available video programming in the face of increasing competition. The plan includes a commitment to offer more than 1000 scheduled video, video-on-demand and Web video choices by the end of this year.


text:
Coffee startup Luckin is continuing its fundraising spree as it sets its sight on becoming an alternative to Starbucks in China.
The a-year-and-a-half old company announced on Thursday that it closed a Series B-plus raise totaling $150 million. The fresh proceeds valued Luckin at $2.9 billion post-money, up from $2.2 billion just four months ago.
While many question Luckin’s cash-fueled expansion, Blackrock, which owns a 6.58 percent stake in Starbucks, shows its confidence in the Chinese startup by pumping $125 million through its private equity fund into Luckin’s new round.
With that, the New York-based investment firm has its bet on two contrasting models for China’s coffee consumption. While Starbucks zeroes in on the brick-and-mortar experience, Luckin is a network of last-mile coffee delivery centers plus places for people to pick up orders and sit down targeting busy white-collar workers.
In a move that would amp up its battle with Luckin, Starbucks teamed up with Alibaba’s food delivery unit Ele.me last August to put hot and cold drinks in people’s hands.
Luckin did not disclose how it will spend the fresh capital infusion, but the pace at which it’s raising suggests the startup is in dire need of cash. The new


text:
Each week, Criswell Chevrolet’s Mike Furman delivers new Corvettes to his customers who come from all across the country to work with the nation’s top individual Corvette seller.
The C8 Corvettes began shipping from the plant last week and Mike breaks down his first month of orders. Mike’s customers can choose to take standard delivery at his dealership, or they can do the R8C Museum Delivery, a Courtesy Delivery at another Chevrolet dealership, or having the car shipped directly to your door via enclosed trailer. It’s good to have options, right! So look for the first photos of 2020 Corvettes being delivered next week Sunday. To share the excitement with the trucks rolling out of the assembly plant, Mike offers a took at transporting Corvettes over the years. A great collection of vintage photos follows so keep scrolling to the end!
Visit Mike’s facebook page for even more photos and videos of his new Corvette deliveries: CorvetteFurman.
~It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn…did you turn your clocks forward 1 hour? With all the hoopla of the C8’s being shipped this week, I thought back to how the Corvettes were transported over the past generations. Seems simple enough back in the day but in today’s world news travels faster than the dual-clutch transmission that resides in the new 2020 Mid Engine Corvette! The 8th generation deliveries have officially begun as yesterday Dealers got invoiced for their initial builds. I got credit for 32 Corvette deliveries yesterday alone in which I plan on sharing my customer pics over the next week(s). The 32 added up with 7 being delivered through the Corvette Museum program, 9 drop-shipped for Courtesy delivery, 10 on-site here at Criswell and another 6 being shipped here and enclosed trailer by Plycar Trucking to various customers all over the USA. I most likely will deliver close to 600 Corvettes from March-December and that will allow me to pass the career total of 5,000 Corvettes delivered by October time frame as I am right on top of 4,500 as I type…along with 8,000 others! No, my career isn’t over yet. I never dreamed of reaching 5,000 Corvette deliveries but the 7th and now 8th Generation has certainly adjusted my goals. Take a look at my Corvette dedicated web site when you have time:
Enjoy the ride.
301-212-4420 desk direct
Off Fridays and Sundays
"I sell and ship Nationwide and have done so for 42+ years!
Mike can deliver new Corvettes at Criswell Chevrolet in Gaithersburg, MD or through the National Corvette Museum’s R8C delivery program. He can also deliver new Corvettes via covered transport direct to your door or a courtesy delivery to the Chevrolet dealer near you.
Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for March 1st
Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Feb. 9thh>
Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Feb. 2nd
Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for Jan 19th


text:
Brand Licensing Europe 2012 is chock full of companies with unique and exciting properties, but which will translate best into retail sales?
There are several new brands and off-shoot franchises on the way later this year and next, from Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ The Hobbit to Mind Candy’s Moshi Monster Poppet, the latter of which is being introduced as a stand alone brand.
We’ve listed our top ten retail drivers for BLE 2012 below:
Poppet (Mind Candy)
Moshi Monsters continues to go from strength to strength, with the children’s online virtual pet game translating extraordinarily well into the market for physical consumer goods.
Sales of the Moshling figurines from Vivid have reached well over 45 million, while over one million books from Penguin and more than 170 million trading cards from Topps have been sold globally. But now the company wants to expand even further in 2013, with plans to focus on its Poppet character (pictured) as a stand alone brand.
Cars may have been a very well received Disney Pixar animated movie, but no one could have predicted the weight and phenomenal success of its merchandise campaign. One sequel and hundreds of millions of dollars in retail sales later, and now Disney is focusing on its next big transformation of the franchise: Planes.
The film arrives next year and Disney is working on a host of licensee partnerships for branded consumer products around its launch.
Monsters University (Disney)
The prequel to the popular Disney Pixar movie Monsters Inc arrives in cinemas next year, but not before the original gets the 3D treatment in theatres. With new DVDs on the way and a broad line-up of plush toys, figures and role-play items to accompany them, Disney will want to tap into its huge original Monsters Inc family fanbase, while attracting newcomers and younger children with Monsters University.
Cut the Rope (ITV Studios Global Entertainment)
While not quite as huge as Angry Birds, Cut the Rope is a highly popular app game in its own right, and now it has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Rovio’s classic, with an enviable licensing programme.
While Angry Birds has been busy launching itself into all manner of categories over the past couple of years, it has proved there is room for app brands in toys, clothing and accessories. With a brand like Cut the Rope already lending itself well to the app toy market (Mattel’s Apptivity range, for example), it has the opportunity to make a strong impact at retail in other categories.
The Hobbit (Warner Bros. Consumer Products)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is set to be arguably one of, if not the Christmas movie blockbuster for 2012. It’s the first of a fresh trilogy, and follows the hugely successful Peter Jackson trilogy The Lord of the Rings, and acts as a precursor to those epic fantasy movies based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien.
A whole host of deals have already been announced, including Lego Lord of the Rings toys, official 3D puzzles from Coiledspring and more.
WBCP will share its licensing plans for with guests during screening suite presentations of The Hobbit on October 16th and 17th at BLE.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products)
As one of the biggest boys’ properties of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is now on its way back with a brand new cartoon and its own licensing programme, which already includes action figures from Flair, wheeled goods from Sambro and more.
Over 30 UK licensees have been signed up, marking the largest number of UK agreements attached to a Nickelodeon property before a series premiere.
Lego and Nickelodeon have also just announced that official Lego play-sets will hit stores next year.
The Great British Bake Off (Metrostar)
This competitive BBC2 cookery show celebrates Britain’s love of desserts, cakes and puddings, and viewing figures prove the UK has a sweet tooth for programmes like it. The TV show has gone from attracting a couple of million viewers per episode to topping the 5 million mark in the past few months.
Time will tell whether the public has a massive appetite for a range of consumer products too, but viewing figures show there is certainly a massive audience enjoying the show.
Earlier this year Metrostar inked new licensing deals for the show. Portico Designs will be producing calendars, diaries and other dated products; Quadrille is lining up stationery and PBFA is creating a giftware collection exclusively for Marks & Spencer. Kitchenware partner, Ethos International, and consumer events partner, BBC Haymarket, are on board too.
Fifty Shades of Grey
Book phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey has already sold well over a million copies in the UK to date and more than 13 million in the US. And now Caroline Mickler is on board to move the popular adult female-targeted brand into a range of consumer products, from nightwear to stockings.
With a Fifty Shades of Grey movie on the way, expect demand for the franchise at retail to continue to rise in possible Twilight-esque fashion.
Doctor Who (BBC Worldwide Consumer Products)
The much-loved sci-fi TV show celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, and BBC Worldwide already has a wide range of licensees on board producing everything from figures to games and even Sonic Screwdriver toothbrushes.
The appeal of Doctor Who also spans generations, with all members of the family drawn to the Time Lord.
Despicable Me 2 (Universal Partnerships & Licensing)
Universal Partnerships & Licensing will be presenting an array of properties at BLE 2012, including Despicable Me 2, the hotly tipped sequel to 2010’s $540 million blockbuster movie.
Universal will be working hard to ensure the licensing programme encompasses a host of toys and other consumer products, in order to meet the strong demand for the sequel.
Want to receive up to the minute licensing industry news straight to your inbox? Click here to sign up for the free Licensing.biz Daily Digest and Newsflash services. You can also follow Licensing.biz on Twitter and Facebook.


text:
The world’s first-ever self-driving taxis hit the roads in Singapore on Thursday in a limited public trial. The “robo-taxi” service is taking place in a hi-tech business district in the western part of the country, where developer nuTonomy has been conducting daily autonomous vehicle testing since April.
The company said that it had invited select Singapore residents to use its ride-hailing smartphone app to book a free ride in a nuTonomy self-driving car that employs the company’s sophisticated software. The company’s plan is to get feedback ahead of a planned launch of the service in Singapore in 2018.
“Throughout the trial, nuTonomy will collect and evaluate valuable data related to software system performance, vehicle routing efficiency, the vehicle booking process, and the overall passenger experience,” the company said in a statement.
The rides will be provided in a Renault Zoe or Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle, specially configured by nuTonomy for autonomous driving. The pilot scheme will also have a nuTonomy engineer riding in the vehicle to observe system performance and assume control if needed, the company said.
According to Doug Parker, nuTonomy's chief operating officer, self-driving taxis could ultimately reduce the number of cars running on Singapore’s streets from 900,000 to 300,000, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
“When you are able to take that many cars off the road, it creates a lot of possibilities. You can create smaller roads, you can create much smaller car parks,” AP quoted Parker as saying. “I think it will change how people interact with the city going forward.”
Earlier this month, the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) selected nuTonomy as an R&D partner to support the development of a commercial autonomous vehicle service in the country.
“The trial represents an extraordinary opportunity to collect feedback from riders in a real-world setting, and this feedback will give nuTonomy a unique advantage as we work toward deployment of a self-driving vehicle fleet in 2018,” said Karl Iagnemma, CEO and co-founder of nuTonomy.
In addition to Singapore, nuTonomy is also operating self-driving cars in Michigan and the United Kingdom, where it has tested software in partnership with major automotive manufacturers such as Jaguar Land Rover.
Several automakers and technology firms have been striking new alliances of late to launch self-driving vehicles. Swedish automaker Volvo announced last week that it had agreed to a $300 million deal with ride-hailing service Uber to develop a driverless vehicle. Ford also announced last week that it plans to build fully automated, driverless cars for commercial ride-sharing by 2021. Earlier this month, automotive parts manufacturing company Delphi also announced a partnership with the Singapore government to test its driverless car service in the country.


text:
MARIONVILLE, MO – Convenience store robberies caught on camera are unfortunately an all-too familiar sight. But a store robbery in Marionville, Missouri came with a twist.
Jon Lewis was doing his usual shift at the liquor store when a man walked in. Except the guy didn`t want to buy anything; he pulled out a gun and tried robbing Jon. There was one problem, though. The thief didn`t know who he was messing with. Jon`s a veteran, a former undercover detective and a former prison guard. So armed with his gun and some quick thinking, Jon pulled out his gun and shoved it in the thief`s mouth. He told the guy to take off and he did.
The suspect got away and police are now looking for him. But something tells us he`s going to stay far away from Jon`s liquor store.


text:
The TV shows are currently available to download for customers in the continental US, and will play on XP and Vista PCs and the Tivo set-top box.
NBC announced last week that it was not renewing its deal with Apple to distribute its shows via the iTunes store.
Apple claimed that the deal fell through because NBC wanted to push per-show prices as high as $5, while NBC claimed that Apple had refused to allow multiple episodes to be bundled at a discount.
By using Unbox, NBC is allowing users to purchase entire seasons of its shows at a discounted price. The current price for individual episodes is $1.99, the same as the iTunes store.
If customers follow NBC over to the new service, the move could provide a large boost to Unbox. Apple estimated that NBC shows accounted for 30 per cent of all TV show purchases on iTunes.
Latest Tesla news: Tesla stock price tanks amid reports of 'widening probe' by SEC and claims the base Model 3 loses money
SEC 'probe' takes its toll on Tesla as new research suggests that Tesla loses $6,000 on every $35,000 Model 3
10nm Cannon Lake Core i3-8121U CPUs make a rare outing with Intel's NUC mini PC
'Notorious' Australian child hacker thought he had executed 'flawless' hack
The former employee says that Tesla fired him for bringing the accusations to management internally


text:
Around 8:45 in the morning, upon arriving at the Salem Civic Center, author M.R. Hooley had a good feeling that he was going to have a productive day.
The small indie publisher is always looking for new venues to get his books out, which was why he paid to be a vendor at the Mistletoe Market on Saturday, December 15. Th e purpose of the annual event is to provide toys and holiday food staples to the less fortunate in addition to connecting unique area artisans with local shoppers for the holidays. “My wife and I are fairly new to the area.
We just recently learned of the Mistletoe Market and were eager to give it a try,” Hooley said. “We could not have been happier with how the day went. We sold a lot of books, despite the weather not being optimal.” Over 100 artisans, local businesses, vendors and crafters showed up this year.
Roanoke County resident Barbara Robinson said that she was eager to meet as many vendors as possible because “you should always gather as much information as you can before making a fi nal purchase.” Candace Rippey saw a social media ad about the Mistletoe Market and immediately inquired on what needed to be done to become a vendor. “I had a wonderful time. I enjoyed meeting people in the area and making new connections in the community with customers,” Rippey, an independent Senegence makeup and skincare distributor, said. “I personally like the venue of the event. For me, it is much diff erent from other events I’ve attended.”
Morgan McAfee’s introduction to the Mistletoe Market wasn’t planned. It just sort of happened in 2015 when her friend Melissa brought it to her attention. She has been a regular participant ever since. “From day one, I have had a great experience, meeting new vendors and seeing old ones that I had networked with before,” McAfee, owner of Eklectically Urs, said.
“My sales went really well this year, and everyone was in a cheerful Christmas spirit.” Helyn Stowe makes all natural dog products as well as custommade leashes and collars. She describes the Mistletoe Market as “an event for area vendors to showcase their unique items for shoppers to purchase during the holiday season.” When Lisa English initially heard about the Mistletoe Market, she thought it was an event for couples. After experiencing it, she instantly became a huge supporter. “It turns out that you don’t need a signifi cant other to appreciate this event,” said English with a smile. “Normally, I don’t like to stand on my feet for more than two hours, but that’s not the case here. Th e Mistletoe Market off ers something unique for everyone.” After moving to Salem in 2011, Kendall Styles says it only took a few months to make new friends and ingratiate herself with area business owners. Attending events like the Mistletoe Market helped make that possible. Th e mother of three encourages everyone to attend the annual event at least once.


text:
Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Oct. 3 /Trend H.Hasanov/
Latvian Transport Minister Aivis Ronis and the administrator of the major Riga free port Leonid Loginov have planned an official visit to Turkmenistan to get acquainted with work of the Turkmenbashi port, Russian media report.
"Turkmenistan is especially interested in experience of Latvian companies in construction of port infrastructure, as well as experience of managing Riga free port," Rosbalt said.
The two countries are researching cooperation potential in the field of development of Turkmenbashi Caspian port and logistics system. The agreement has been reached according to results of negotiations between Turkmen president Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedow and Latvian president Andris Berzins during the visit of Turkmen head of state to Riga on September 11-12.
The presidents underlined necessity of research in field of cooperation possibilities on land transit and route logistics between Turkmenistan and Latvia in order to develop effective and mutually beneficial solutions for fraud transportation.
Cooperation possibilities transport infrastructure forming, in particular, port construction were discussed during negotiations in Riga. Turkmen leader expressed his gratitude over a possibility to attend Riga free port during his visit.
"Latvia's experience in terms of plans on modernization of ports and construction of new multifunctional port at Caspian sea is very helpful for our country," Berdimuhamedow noted.
The volumes of mutual trade between countries are currently increasing. The mutual trade turnover has increased 1.5 times in comparison with previous year, reaching $125 million. This indicator is expected to increase twice.


text:
Vegetable prices are set to rise five per cent in the coming months following this year’s extreme weather, research suggests.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research predicted that the cold, wet spring and hot, dry summer would push up each UK household’s grocery bill by £7.15 a month – a £45 million price rise for the nation as a whole.
The consultancy reported that from March to July the farm gate price of several vegetables and fruits rose by more than a quarter, with carrots up 80 per cent, lettuce up 61 per cent, onions up 41 per cent, and strawberries up 28 per cent.
Despite this, the organisation explained that commodity price rises can take 18 months to fully feed through into inflation and affect the consumer.
“So, while the worst of the recent heat may have passed, the cost to consumers looks set to climb," the CEBR warned.
“Summer 2018 has been one of the warmest in living memory, with above average temperatures recorded since April and dry spells lasting more than 50 days in parts of the country,” the consultancy added.
“While this has made Britain’s weather more conducive to barbecuing, it looks set to raise the price of the food on the grill and the drink in hand”
Price rises are also expected in meat, dairy and wheat, with the extreme weather across Europe affecting grass growth, animal feed supplies and wheat yields.