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Nissan invited us out to take a spin in its EV-02 electric car prototype.
Nissan shows off pictures and releases details of its electric car, the Leaf, which will launch in 2010.
EV platform, which promises a 100-mile range and online services to find charging stations, is large plank of an efficiency strategy to be further detailed next week.
The U.S. government's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program is designed to promote the development of fuel-efficient cars.
Electric cars are coming faster than you think. CNET Car Tech posts photos of electric cars expected to come out by 2011.
Nissan is rumored to be working on a plug-in hybrid version of its 370Z sports car.
Electrical infrastructure projects continue as Nissan gears up for U.S. commercial release of EVs in 2010.
Ecotality to expand chain of electric charging stations from Tucson to Phoenix in anticipation of launch by end of 2010.
The European Investment Bank's new loans for European automakers are specifically directed to "help design and build cleaner cars with lower carbon dioxide emissions."
Toyota starts a hybrid price war, new Camaro won't get a 4-cylinder or convertible, Twitter on OnStar, and Opera browser on F-150's, plus a ride in the X5 xDrive35d.


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Google has gone techno-chic, debuting fashion designs inspired by the Internet giant.
Why are an increasing number of Turkish women wearing veils in a secular country where the practice is banned in public buildings? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research says one factor is fashion.
A Canadian model has won a landmark case in a New York court after Google was forced to disclose the online identity of a blogger who anonymously posted derogatory comments about the Vogue covergirl.
(AP) -- The way it came on the scene, it could have been a rare perfume or a designer handbag, undaunted by the roiling economy.
Japanese researchers on Monday showed off a robot that will soon strut her stuff down a Tokyo catwalk.

domain: news


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Kristin Llewelyn will open first Seattle studio
Charleston, WV (May 9, 2013) – The Charleston, WV-based Brickhouse Cardio Club fitness studio franchise has announced its first Washington state franchisee, Kristin Llewelyn, who will be opening her Brickhouse Cardio Club studio in the Seattle, Washington area.
Kristin will be Brickhouse Cardio Club’s first Washington franchisee of their fitness studio concept focused on helping members achieve their fitness goals with cardio and other group fitness classes.
Brickhouse Cardio Club has franchisees in 20 states including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington, Rhode Island, Florida, Washington, New Jersey, Kansas, South Carolina, New York, Georgia, and California. It recently announced its expansion into Canada and will open there in 2013.
“We are excited to have Kristin Llewelyn as our first Washington franchisee,” Founder and CEO Vic Sprouse said. “We are pleased to be opening in the Seattle, Washington area and feel strongly Seattle is a prime spot for our first studio in the state. Brickhouse Cardio Club continues our rapid expansion across the country and we are excited to grow into the Pacific Northwest. We look for franchisees the caliber of Kristin throughout the country and we are pleased she will be opening our first studio in Washington.”
Seattle, Washington franchisee Kristin Llewelyn added, “I am excited to open the first Brickhouse Cardio Club in Washington and the Seattle area. Seattle is a perfect location for a Brickhouse Cardio Club. We are opening in the coming months and I can’t wait to help the ladies of Seattle and the surrounding communities meet their fitness goals.”
“We are so pleased to have added Kristin to the Brickhouse family,” Co-owner Misti Janey stated. “We look for franchisees who bring that special something to their community and who are excited and ready to help their members meet their fitness goals. Our entire existence revolves around helping our members succeed. Their success is our success and Brickhouse and our franchisees are singularly focused on helping them better their lives through exercise.”
“Brickhouse Cardio Club continues to help entrepreneurs achieve the dream of owning their own studio,” Co-owner Marie McDavid. “We support our franchisees every step of the way and as Kristin evaluated her options, she decided that her best chance of success was becoming a Brickhouse Cardio Club franchisee and having our entire team behind her.”
“I fell in love with Zumba and with my business and marketing background, I felt that starting my own studio would be a perfect fit. I am ready to get started and look forward to opening my own studio with the help of the Brickhouse Cardio Club fitness studio franchise,” Llewelyn added.
About Brickhouse Cardio Club: Brickhouse opened its first location in Cross Lanes, West Virginia in September 2010 and soon followed with a Charleston location in October 2010. Since then, the Brickhouse Cardio Club fitness studio franchise has added franchisees in 20 states including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington, Rhode Island, Florida, Washington, New Jersey, Kansas, South Carolina, New York, Georgia, and California. It recently announced its expansion into Canada and will open there in 2013.
Brickhouse Cardio Club fitness studio franchise continues its expansion throughout the country and its concept focuses on providing a comfortable, supportive atmosphere to help its members achieve their fitness goals through group fitness classes.
About Kristin Llewelyn: Kristin is in the transition of relocating to the Seattle area with her husband and two amazing dogs. She received her MBA in Marketing from Grand Canyon University in May 2011 and previous experience in marketing, advertising, sales and finance.
Kristin was born and raised in Wyoming where she began dancing at the age of three. She discovered Zumba and Dance Fitness classes in 2011 when she decided to shed some pounds and tone up for her wedding. After falling in love with this form of exercise Kristin received her Zumba Instructor License in 2013.
It has been a dream of Kristin’s to have her own business where she could share her passion for dance, fitness and helping others.
For more information about Brickhouse Cardio, call Vic Sprouse at 304-720-1036 or visit the website, www.brickhousecardio.com.


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In the event of a no deal, agri-food retail and distribution sector in Northern Ireland could require Export Health Certificates (EHCs) to trade with the EU, which it currently does not.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has today (3 October) announced its plan to manage the EHCs needs of the agri-food sector if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
The agri-food retail and distribution sector reportedly accounts for approximately 75% of new certification requirements.
The potential demand for EHCs is likely to exceed the capacity to supply from vets and support staff, the group said in a statement.
DAERA has said that the number of certificates required per annum could increase from the current 18,000 to 1.9 million or more.
"We have scaled up as much as possible but still, demand may exceed capacity," said Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Robert Huey.
The actual demand will depend on the ability of businesses to maintain existing patterns of trade, given the broad range of third country requirements they will need to meet if they wish to continue to trade with the EU.
“DAERA will continue to work with our stakeholders to help them navigate the changes that a no deal Brexit will bring with regard to EHCs and will do our best to find solutions and keep trade flowing.”
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.


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On Tuesday, the 23rd of April 2019, at its quarterly earnings, the Verizon Communication Inc., an American multinational telecommunication conglomerate based at the 1095 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan, had raised its profit forecast for 2019 and beaten Wall St.
forecast for quarterly profit, as the company had centered its focus on expense cuts. However, despite its upbeat quarterly earnings, the US wireless carrier had surprisingly lost more phone subscribers than expected. At a post-earnings press conference, the Verizon officials said that the company was expecting a low and single-digit percentage growth this year.
Nevertheless, earlier this year, the company had said that its 2019 profit estimate would be identical to what it had figured out a year earlier. Adding that the company’s profit margins were pressurized over the first quarter on accounting charges, Verizon Chief Financial Officer, Matt Ellis said in an interview, “the business performed really well,” while an analyst with New Street Research, Jonathan Chaplin had been quoted saying that the results were mixed, as the profit margins seemed to be guided entirely by below-the-line-items.
Followed by the reveal of its quarterly earnings, the shares of Verizon had set off US morning trading hours down by 2.2 percent to $57.09, and, at the market closure, Verizon wrapped up the day down by 2.07 percent to $57.15, while further losses appeared to be on the cards, said multiple analysts.


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Researchers at the University of Minnesota say the COVID-19 pandemic stands a good chance of leading to shortages of critically needed medications in the United States, given the nation's heavy dependence on drugs made in other countries, especially India and China.
That concern is among the preliminary findings of a study of the US medication supply chain, revealed this week by the university's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), publisher of CIDRAP News. The effort, called the Resilient Drug Supply Project, aims to provide a detailed map of the entire supply chain for important drugs used in the United States.
CIDRAP leaders hope to induce drug companies to share more information about their inventories and supply chains so that shortages can be prevented or their impact blunted. They say little information is currently available.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic expected to last many more months and with more patients in need of life-saving drugs, we call upon the pharmaceutical companies and their partners to publicly come forward with current inventory levels and information on the status and relative resiliency of their critical drug supply chains,” said Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, co-principal investigator of the project and director of CIDRAP, in a university press release yesterday.
Drugs such as epinephrine, various antibiotics, and albuterol (used to treat asthma) are among those of most concern, said Stephen Schondelmeyer, PharmD, PhD, co-principal investigator with the project and a professor in the University of Minnesota's College of Pharmacy.
Some drugs ran short before COVID-19 emerged
The CIDRAP team has compiled a list of 156 drugs used in acute care that, if unavailable for a few hours or days, can lead to increased patient death rates. Schondelmeyer said about 60 of those were already affected by a shortage even before the emergence of COVID-19.
"We're getting reports from pharmacies that there's a shortage of albuterol inhalers, for people with asthma," he said. "There seems to be a run on getting asthma inhalers. . . . There may also be some production issues." He noted that people who have debilitating conditions like asthma are more vulnerable to severe illness if they contact COVID-19.
Osterholm said more than 80% of the drugs marketed in the United States, including 19 of the 20 top-selling brand name ones, are made overseas. "I think most people would be surprised that 18 of the 21 critical antibiotics we use here are all generics, and they'll be critical in treating secondary infections in people hospitalized with COVID, and that the US drug supply is so dependent on foreign sources," he told CIDRAP News.
As for factors that can cause shortages, Schondelmeyer observed that the pandemic itself may lead to increased demand for normal uses of certain drugs, such as acetaminophen to treat fever, and the crisis may also prompt hoarding. In addition, drug production may be slowed or stopped in countries hit hard by the virus.
China makes many active ingredients
He explained that many active pharmaceutical ingredients are made in China and then shipped to India for manufacturing into finished products. For example, at least two thirds of the active ingredients for generic drugs used in the United States come from China.
"The Indian government has put a ban on exporting more than 25 drugs, and one is hydroxychloroquine," a malaria drug that is being tested as a possible therapy for COVID-19, Schodelmeyer said. "If we find in clinical trials that that is useful for COVID, one of the major sources of it in finished form is India, but it's banned for export now. We'd be limited to what we have in stock in the US."
The press release notes that the precise risk of drug shortages is hard to assess because of "the lack of structural transparency and available supply chain data about drugs, which may be known by pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers, suppliers, and contract manufacturers, but not shared with the Food and Drug Administration or the public."
"We're asking manufacturers to work with the FDA and, for products we know come out of China and India, identify how much product is in the supply chain and where it is," said Schondelmeyer. "If we have to come up with rules to prioritize these, what would those rules be, and how do we make sure the products will get to where they're needed most? And where do we look for alternative sources of production?"
Companies stingy with information
David J. Margraf, PharmD, MS, a research project specialist with the CIDRAP team, said pharmaceutical companies are required to report some supply-chain information to the FDA, but the data can be up to 6 months old and tends to be very vague. The companies "don't give a clear reason as to why there might be a shortage."
Osterholm said the researchers have directly asked the drug companies for details on their supply chains, but "none of them have been willing to share information. And for that matter, the US government doesn't have it either." He added that his team has asked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to include critical drugs in an executive order he issued demanding transparency about medical products.
"In general we'd like more transparency about where dugs are coming from and, if and where there's a shortage, how we might address that," said Margraf.
"If a person with asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) can't get albuterol, they're going need to go to the ER," he commented. "If they can be managed in the community, that would be much better, but we don’t have an insight as to what's going on with the manufacturers or wholesalers."
New Zealand a key source of data
A major source of supply-chain data for the CIDRAP team has been the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Safety Authority, a partner in the research project. "They're the only country we could find that had transparent public information about the supply chain," said Schondelmeyer. "They require approved marketers of products to disclose the supply chain—where was the active ingredient made, where was it packaged. New Zealand gave us their entire database."
Many brand-name drugs used in New Zealand are the same as those used in the United States, he said, "so we know for most of the brand-name drugs what the supply chain is by looking at New Zealand data. We can also see how much of their supply is coming through India or China."
"We need a similar process in the US, but we're not there yet," Schondelmeyer added.
For further information on supply chains, the researchers have been using what's available from the FDA and gleaning material from some public databases that "show little bits and pieces of what's going on," said Schondelmeyer. Also, some clues can be harvested from shipping data available from the United Nations, he added.
The research project has been supported for the past 18 months by Christy Walton through the Walton Family Foundation. "We've been very appreciative of working with the Walton Foundation on this," said Osterholm. "Without Christy Walton's support, none of this would be available."
Margraf said plans call for eventually issuing a white paper to present the project's detailed findings, but no date has been set.


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South Korea is now the second-largest supplier of phone parts.
According to sources, the cost of parts for the most recent iPhones is increased by 20%, setting a record. The A16 Bionic chip, which costs $110 alone, is the primary factor in the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s production cost of $501, which is a significant rise from the $461 cost of its predecessor.
Since the Pro Max model’s launch in 2018, Nikkei reported that prices have ranged between $400 and $450. The news source reasoned that if Apple’s production costs increased while its US prices remained unchanged, the company’s profits would undoubtedly suffer.
The A16 Bionic chip is 2.4 times more expensive than its predecessor, the A15, which is still used in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus non-Pro variants. Sony’s new CMOS sensors, which are now 30% larger in size but 50% more expensive, with a raw cost of $15, are another factor contributing to the price hike. Additionally, Apple purchases its panels from Samsung Display under a long-standing agreement.
Nearly a third of the entire cost and a 10% increase from 2021 are made up by components for the iPhone 14 devices manufactured by US-based companies. South Korea is now the second-largest supplier of phone parts, primarily as a result of Apple creating its own goods like the chipset.
As Cupertino works to reduce reliance on the Asian market, China’s proportion of the market decreased even further. According to earlier reports, not only the parts but also the assembly process are leaving the nation. The emergency SOS capability is software-based rather than hardware-based, which means it may soon be available in additional areas, according to sources.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max price in Pakistan & specs
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a strong A16 Bionic chipset and...


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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sherrill Manufacturing of Oneida County, America's only remaining flatware maker, has won a dispute over companies that falsely claimed their forks, knives and spoons are made in the United States, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer.
The victory is expected to boost Sherrill Manufacturing, which took over the Oneida Ltd. factory in 2005 and has since become one of the top flatware suppliers to the U.S. military and federal agencies that buy American-made products.
Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday he was notified by the U.S. General Services Administration that it completed an initial review of the "Made in America" claims from flatware makers who sell to the government through the GSA Advantage website.
As a result of the review, 11 companies will no longer be able to claim their flatware products are American-made on the website, Schumer said, because the investigation found they are made overseas.
That leaves Sherrill Manufacturing's flatware brand, Liberty Tabletop, as the only brand made in the United States.
"It was flat wrong for the GSA to allow these other companies to falsely claim they were 'Made in America' and putting a stop to that lie will help put Sherrill on a level playing field and help protect the valuable jobs there," Schumer said.
The senator filed a complaint with the GSA in January, asking for an investigation into the claims from the other manufacturers.
The federal government buys about 500,000 utensils a year from Sherrill, most of it sent to military bases around the world. The plant in the city of Sherrill in Oneida County employs about 40 people.
Sherrill Manufacturing sells directly to the public through its Liberty Tabletop website and through online retailers that specialize in American-made products.
Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751


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Tomorrow, Jordan Brand is bringing back one of their most iconic creations known to-date — the Jordan 13 “Flint”. For those just now learning about these classic kicks, this will be the third time out that these have been retro’d as they previously released in 2005 and 2010. Of course, for those who were keeping up with “The Last Dance” you already know that they also saw an early shock drop release that aligned with the docu-series’ final episodes. But for those who still have yet to add them to their closet, note that Nike SNKRS, as well as plenty of retailers will have them available for you to cop both in men’s and kid’s sizes. Judging from how fast MJ fans scooped these up a couple of weeks ago, you’re going to want to make sure that you set your alarms bright and early for this release.
For other news, here’s a detailed look at the upcoming Space Hippie 03.
Official Store List
Link: Flint 13
Air Jordan 13 “Flint”
Release Date: May 30th, 2020
Color: Navy/University Blue/Flint Grey/White
Style Code: 414571-404 (Mens)
Style Code: 884129-404 (Grade School)
Style Code: 414575-404 (Pre-School)
Style Code: 414571-404 (Toddler)


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|Photo by: diddi4 via Pixabay|
Two ex-Google engineers founded a startup called Nuro to work on a self-driving car project that is more focused on the logistics platform. Although the vehicle will be driverless, it will be delivering customers' take-out orders instead of transporting humans.
Nuro is claimed to be a self-driving car that collects goods from a local business and delivers it to a customer. For instance, it can deliver laundry and groceries from one person to another, said founders Dave Ferguson and Jiajun Zhu. The two just raised $92 million to go after the area of commercial deliveries.
The vehicle is shaped like a narrow, small box but it is on wheels. Its width is half that of the regular car and was created to bring the benefits of robots to ordinary people for everyday use, said the company. The startup also believes that by using this different spin of an autonomous vehicle, it will boost the local businesses and reduce road accidents.
Ferguson said, “By custom-designing vehicles that are specifically for goods transportation you can actually create the safest vehicle on the road.”
Considering that more consumers are now ordering goods and items online, management consulting firm McKinsey & Company’s study also shows that last-mile delivery will experience staggering growth rates year over year.


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Xbox released beautiful gameplay video from Gamescom of the upcoming Lara Croft video game Rise of the Tomb Raider, the follow-up to the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. The game is scheduled to be released November 10th on Xbox
In addition to this blog, Laughing Squid is also an independent web hosting company that focuses on WordPress hosting. The revenue from our hosting services helps support this blog.
We recently announced that we are now offering Managed WordPress, our new hosting service that is highly optimized for WordPress. If you are interested in hosting with us, you can sign-up here and if you know of anyone who needs WordPress hosting, please send them our way. Thanks!


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Foreign tourists make ceramics at the traditional ceramics village of Bát Tràng, Gia Lâm District. Photo Trọng Đạt
HÀ NỘI — The city of Hà Nội is supporting traditional craft villages to help them modernise and invest in developing a technical infrastructure.
It’s hoped this will help the many craft villages in the capital improve capacity and product quality.
Over the next three years, 50 development projects will be implemented at a number of villages including Bát Tràng Pottery Village (Gia Lâm), Vạn Phúc Silk Village (Hà Đông), and Sơn Đồng Handicrafts Village (Hoài Đức).
As the country opens up to international tourists, more and more visitors are expected to join in activities at the many craft villages dotted around the capital.
Statistics from the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reveal the total revenue from 318 craft villages was more than VNĐ20 trillion per year.
Each village has diverse products with beautiful designs, and good quality, with some exporting their items overseas.
Chairman of the Liên Hà Commune People's Committee, Đan Phượng District, Nguyễn Quang Lục said that the development of traditional carpentry village in the commune has created regular jobs for more than 94 per cent of local labourers, each earning around VNĐ75 million per year.
Last year, the commune was among five in the city that gained the criteria of new-rural area models.
Thạch Thất District has many craft villages such as Chàng Sơn carpentry, Bình Phú rattan, and Thạch Xá nutty ginger sticky rice bar-making, which have created jobs and increased income for tens of thousands of people.
Head of the district’s Economic Office, Hoàng Chí Lượng said that the income of labourers was high and there were almost no poor households.
The city has implemented many solutions to make full use of the advantages of craft villages, including management, orientation and planning.
Hà Nội also diversified forms of capital mobilisation and promotion of activities.
The city has promoted solutions to ensure the raw materials for production, adapting to the specific development needs of each village.
At the same time, authorities strengthened market research and trade promotions, and supported villages to display products at domestic and international fairs and exhibitions.
In particular, the city has focused on developing value chains; combining production and trading activities with tourism, creating a new driving force for rural economic development.
Recently, Hà Nội has issued a plan on conservation and development of craft villages and rural industries for the period of 2022 - 2025.
The five main contents are: Reviewing and perfecting the policy on conservation and industry development; conservation and development; training human resources; strengthening environmental protection and handling environmental pollution; building brands associated with product development The One Commune One Product programme.
Nguyễn Văn Chí, permanent deputy chief of the Hà Nội Office of New Rural Development Programme Coordination, said: “The new content in the conservation and development of traditional craft villages is that Hà Nội will collect and preserve documents on traditional values and its products.
“The city will support the construction of galleries, craft museums, handicraft villages and demonstration areas; build promotion centres; as well as focus human resources, prioritise the preservation of seven craft villages on the list of the city’s typical traditional craft villages.”
The city also encouraged the application of science and advanced technology to production, focusing on preserving traditional crafts and craft village products imbued with specific and unique cultures, and orienting towards innovation, developing advanced and modern technology suitable to products.
Director of the Hà Nội Agricultural Extension Centre, Vũ Thị Hương said “In the period of 2022 - 25, the city needs to strengthen vocational training, research and implement support policies to maintain and develop the workforce, artisans, especially in craft villages that tend to be disappeared." VNS
Thắng Lợi livestock farm in Thọ An Commune, Đan Phượng District, annually provides more than 1,000 beef cows, and creates jobs for 20 local labourers. Photo Vũ Sinh


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- Nov 7, 2007
- Under your bed
- Visit site
QUOTE said:Greetings Program. With a sequel to 80s nerdgasm TRON set to digitize theaters in a couple years, Disney Interactive Studios is already rumored to be working to put an adaptation of the upcoming film on the Game Grid. The news follows reports earlier this week of layoffs and studio shrinkage at Disney's video game arm, though according to Variety this hasn't stopped the company from talking to potential game developers about the project.
Master Control has not yet revealed what the rumored game will be like. Perhaps it will be a shooter like Monolith's TRON 2.0, or simply let us dress up a grizzled Jeff Bridges in a variety of rotoscoped outfits. End of line.


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// Asda appointed Waitrose trading & merchandising operations director Sam Dickson as VP of own brand
// It also appointed Sky group corporate development director Sonal Dash as VP of non-edible & healthcare
Asda has announced new appointments from Waitrose and Sky as it seeks to strengthen its commercial team.
The supermarket has appointed Waitrose trading and merchandising operations director Sam Dickson as vice president of own brand.
Asda also hired Sky group corporate development director Sonal Dash as vice president of non-edible and healthcare.
Previously Dash led the strategy and M&A team at Tate & Lyle and was an associate partner at Bain & Company. She replaces Lizzy Massey, who left Asda in November.
“Sam and Sonal are key strategic hires to our senior leadership team and both bring a wealth of experience to the business,” Asda chief merchandising officer Derek Lawlor said.
“Sam has a proven track record developing successful grocery own-label strategies, while Sonal is skilled in identifying and executing strategic business opportunities.
“We are delighted to welcome them to Asda as we step on our strategy of delivering outstanding value, choice and range for customers.”
Meanwhile, Paul Gillow has joined Asda in a new role as vice president of commercial transformation and strategy.
The latest hires follow the appointment of Carl Dawson who joined from Marks & Spencer as Asda’s new chief information officer last month.


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RENKUM, The Netherlands, Feb. 15, 2016 (Press Release) -In June 2015 graphic paper manufacturer Parenco announced the conversion of its PM2, an investment of 100 million Euro. This machine was idled in 2009 due to the declining demand of newsprint paper. After the conversion, PM2 will produce packaging paper, intended for the production of corrugated board.
Update PM2 conversionRead more
MASON, OH, Feb. 12, 2016 (Press Release) -Kadant Black Clawson Inc., a subsidiary of Kadant Inc., announced it received an order from Kruger Packaging L.P. for a recycled fiber processing line to produce lightweight, high-strength linerboard on its PM10 in Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.Read more
HELSINKI, Feb. 10, 2016 (Press Release) -The renewable materials company Stora Enso is a leading supplier of renewable packaging board for pharmaceutical cartons. At Pharmapack 2016, the company will present its board selection, which includes grades tailored for various sub-segments such as medicine, OTC (Over-The-Counter) and generic drugs.Read more
DALLAS, TX, Feb. 9, 2016 (Press Release) -Ultimate Paper Box (UPBX), a fast-growing custom packaging manufacturer located in City of Industry, CA, is expanding its pressroom capabilities with the installation of a new seven-color, 57″ KBA Rapida 145 with a host of unique automated KBA technology including full UV. This delivery marks the third large-format press from KBA to Ultimate Paper Box.Read more
DENTON, TX , Feb. 8, 2016 (Press Release) -Tetra Pak, the world's leading food processing and packaging equipment company, announces the successful production of the first fully renewable Gable Top package in the United States. Tetra Pak Gable Top Bio-based packages are made solely from renewable materials, defined as natural resources that can be replenished over time. The innovative new cartons are developed from a combination of paperboard and sugar cane derived plastics.Read more
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 9, 2016 (PRNewswire) -Packsize provides access to lean compliant service professionals, technology, accessories and consumables, giving customers an easy, one-stop experience for all corrugated packaging needs.Read more
OAK CREEK, WI , Feb. 8, 2016 (Press Release) -Wisconsin based, American International Machinery, Inc. announced the recent installation of a new Signature Premier 110SLB46 in Southern Michigan. The Premier was equipped with an Inline Ejector for inspection/quality control and a Z-Fold Attachment for special folds. American reported a 55% increase in new Signature folder gluer sales at the end of 2015 compared to the previous year. "Customer feedback has been very positive on the Michigan installation.Read more
ST ALBANS, UK, Feb. 8, 2016 (Press Release) -Zünd Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd will demonstrate its advanced digital cutting equipment at Packaging Innovations 2016 on February 24th and 25th 2016 at Birmingham's NEC.
A regular exhibitor at the specialist packaging event, Zünd UK's stand (H26) will showcase the Zünd S3 M-1600 with tandem vacuum system – a fast, efficient digital cutting table ideal for packaging and print companies requiring continuous production.Read more


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Originally published on EVAdoption.com.
Many electric vehicle advocates like to chastise American auto buyers for their love of pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, but like it or not, the growing popularity of these model types has significant implications for the future adoption of electric vehicles.
In the last year, various auto company executives have stated that “American consumers don’t want electric cars.” In a way, they are correct. What American auto consumers actually want are pickups, SUVs, and crossovers that are affordable and meet their needs. And if they are also electric, I believe they will buy them.
But the reality is, these options don’t currently exist, so of course American consumers don’t want electric vehicles (EVs). The auto companies have simply made few vehicles that align with what consumers actually want to buy.
Crossovers & Small SUVs Are Hot
We Americans like the feeling of riding up high, feeling safe while surrounded by lots of steel, and comfy with lots of passenger and cargo room. But we also like decent handling, not bouncing around when going over speed bumps in our neighborhood, and, if possible, getting reasonably good gas mileage.
We want it all.
And that helps explain the current and growing popularity of small SUVs and crossovers, the Swiss Army knives of automobiles.
So, how popular are crossovers and small SUVs?
Overall, for the year 2016, pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers comprised 59.5% of all passenger vehicle sales and grew at a rate of 7.2% over 2015, according to Autodata Corp. Let’s say that another way. Six out of 10 cars sold in America were NOT conventional cars – sedans and station wagons.
In looking at the top 12 vehicles sold in the US in 2016, and as has been the recent trend, pickup trucks dominate the top spots, with small- and mid-sized sedans filling out many of the other top slots. But the growing class of small SUVs are now nearly matching the sales of the Japanese-brand small- and mid-sized sedans.
2016 sales in the compact SUV segment increased by 3.9% over 2015, to 3,067,307 cars sold – the first time ever any one vehicle segment has sold more than 3 million units, according to CarSalesBase.com.
The Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape — the four best-selling SUVs/crossovers in the US — all reported record sales. Together, these four vehicles accounted for 21% of the SUV market, an increase of 19.5% over 2015, according to GoodCarBadCar.com.
The sales growth of compact SUVs is not just a US trend either, and IHS Automotive predicts this segment will reach 2.2 million in sales by 2020, up from a predicted 1.9 million in 2017.
Sales of SUVs and crossover models are mostly on the rise. On the other hand, 6 of the top 10 selling sedans in 2016 declined in sales. While the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Civic saw solid year-over-year (YoY) sales growth, the 10 car models combined for a decline in sales of nearly 2.5% in 2016.
Overall, 2016 in fact was not a strong year for the conventional passenger car, with that sector’s market share declining to 38%. Sales of car models have declined 8 percentage points in the last 3 years. With overall vehicle sales increasing only 0.4% in 2016, it is clear the shift toward SUVs, crossovers, and pickups will continue as a key long-term trend in the industry.
Currently Available SUVs/Crossovers
But then where are the currently available electric versions of small SUVs and crossovers?
EV advocates always seem to live in the future, myself included. We say: “Just wait until most EVs have a range of 250+ miles and can charge 80% in 15 minutes or less.” Just wait. And that is the problem — we are still waiting. But the parallel problem is we are still waiting for those long-range and quick-charging EVs that are also available in affordable SUV/crossover models.
Today, however, these models are basically nonexistent. And let’s not even bring up pickup trucks, a category where we might not see the first model (a PHEV version, no less, of the Ford F-150) until 2020.
In the US, the only fully-electric SUV or crossover is the Tesla Model X, out of reach financially for most consumers. The Volvo XC90 T8, Mercedes GLE550e, and BMW Xdrive 40e — which range in price from about $70,000 to $90,000+ out the door (not including any incentives) — are also within reach of only a minority of the population. These PHEV models also tend to cost from about $5,000 (BMW) to $20,000 (Volvo) more than their non-electric counterparts. And the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, a strong seller in Europe for years, has yet to make it to US shores.
So, except for people in the upper income brackets, no SUV/crossover options yet exist for US auto buyers. (Note: One could argue that the Kia Soul EV, Chevy Bolt, and Ford C-MAX PHEV are variations of SUVs/crossovers, but they seem to sit a bit outside the standard category classifications.)
So, to auto company executives, I say: “So much for trying to sell EVs.”
It seems that the European and South Korean brands are the main ones paying serious attention to the growing rein of SUVs and crossovers when it comes to electrified models. Maybe Ford, GM, and Fiat Chrysler Automotive will catch up quickly when the category takes off, but their current lack of investment puts them at risk of giving up a sweet part of the market in the future.
Looking at the above chart of various SUV/crossover models that auto companies have announced or strongly hinted were in the works, all except for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are likely a few years away.
So What Does The SUV/Crossover Craze Mean for the Next Phase of EV Sales and Adoption?
While the traditional form factor of the sedan is clearly not dead, a decade from now, they may comprise less than 20% of new car sales. The roominess, better access to cargo, ease of getting in and out, the feeling of riding higher and being safe all simply make SUVs and crossovers better-functioning vehicles and more attractive than sedans for a growing percentage of US consumers.
The two key factors that have kept sedan sales alive is their lower cost and better gas mileage. But electrification removes the gas mileage factor and as the volume of SUVs and crossovers continues to soar, there will be less price disparity between the model types. The one significant variable in this trend of course is the potential impact of a significant rise in gas prices. However, if gas prices rose significantly, consumers might opt for the growing number of smaller SUVs and crossovers, including hybrids, PHEV, and future BEV options.
While still early, sales to date of the Chevy Bolt are a bit disappointing in light of the positive reviews the car has been receiving. Lower-than-hoped Bolt sales can be blamed on the car still being rolled out across the US (but California is the key state anyway and was where the car was launched), minimal marketing and advertising, and a lack of fast-charging stations along interstates to make long trips convenient in light of the car’s 238 mile range.
All of these factors are legitimate, but I think that the key factor is that it just isn’t an exciting car. It is still the car of very early adopters. It is a car likely of interest to buyers who were considering or may have already owned a Toyota Prius, Ford C-MAX, or Nissan LEAF. But so far at least, the Bolt does not seem to be capturing that next wave of EV buyers.
And so while I can’t prove it, I bet that if the Bolt had been designed as a true small SUV or crossover, its sales would be double what they are currently. Consumers considering one of the high-end versions of the small SUVs and crossovers on the market might have added the Bolt to their short list of models to consider. Instead, the Bolt is competing with conventional cars in a declining segment.
And that’s my point.
While there is clearly demand for small- and mid-sized electric sedans, if an auto company is serious about selling EVs in America, they need to start producing attractive and reasonably affordable SUVs and crossovers.
In a future post, I’ll outline why I think then that the Tesla Model Y (not the Model 3), may eventually be remembered as the most important electric car in automotive history – largely because of its form factor as a crossover.


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HomeGoods to take up space inside Marshalls in Ansonia
Published 7:18 pm, Thursday, June 15, 2017
ANSONIA >> One of nation’s largest discount retailers of home furnishings and décor, HomeGoods, is planning to open shop this fall in the Big Y shopping plaza downtown.
Cassetti said property owner Alan Schwarz, president of Glen Equities, which owns the Big Y plaza, called him a few days ago to share the news about HomeGoods planning to make Ansonia its newest home.
“This is exciting news for Ansonia,” Cassetti said. “HomeGoods is a global leader in retail.”
The retail giant, owned by TJX Companies, which also owns Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, will occupy space within the existing Marshalls store, which has approximately 35,000 square feet, according to Schwarz.
Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley echoed Cassetti’s enthusiasm.
“HomeGoods is one of the most popular discount home furnishings stores in the country,” said O’Malley. “This is exciting news for Ansonia. We are seeing a real uptick in retail and restaurants and momentum in building.”
According to its website, HomeGoods has 596 stores in 45 states. The first store opened in 1992 and is “a leading off-price retailer of home fashions” in the U.S. and the world.
HomeGoods Public Relations person Lisa Zahn would not confirm Thursday that HomeGoods is coming to the city, but Schwarz said otherwise.
“At this time, HomeGoods has not announced plans to open in Ansonia,” Zahn said in an email. “For competitive reasons we tend to announce grand opening plans closer to a confirmed date.”
Schwarz on Thursday, however, said HomeGoods is in fact coming to Ansonia, and while initially reported by some media outlets that HomeGoods would move into the vacant space formerly occupied by Aaron’s retail store next door, it will not.
“They’re going to share the Marshalls space and use what’s there by reconfiguring some of the space,” Schwarz said.
As far as any issues regarding zoning, Schwarz said the tenant would be dealing with the city’s land-use boards for any necessary permits. O’Malley said some permits likely would be needed in order to do some minor demolition inside, such as knocking down some walls.
O’Malley said HomeGoods coming to Ansonia is a sign of great things to come.
“It’s a sign that our other retail stores are doing well and that the demographic landscape of purchasers is changing,” O’Malley said.
O’Malley expects annual revenue generated to Ansonia’s tax base with HomeGoods coming onboard would be “approximately $500,000.”
Cassetti told the aldermen he expects HomeGoods will bring in about 40 new jobs.
HomeGoods has other stores across Connecticut, including in Danbury, Milford, New Milford, Norwalk, Southington, Trumbull and Westport.


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On the front edge….
Frontline of Economic Development
February 8, 2019
Today I had the pleasure of attending a lunch for the next Cohort of Launch participants. There are __ companies that have been admitted into this learning session that will last until May 2019. Launch accelerator has been around since 2012 and this is the __ Cohort with over __ companies.
I wanted to share what I heard over lunch today. I moved around and talked to new Cohort members including Pobium, Data Graph, City News Beat, IndyCare and EveryWhereAd. It is always exciting to meet the new Cohort and see the energy they are bringing to their company creation. This process gives these participants access to learning from mentors, classroom time with other entrepreneurs, professors from UNC and a place to call their home during the Cohort they have admitted to. Launch also offer co-working to those who are beginning to scale and want to remain associated for an extended period of time.
City News Beat: City News Beat is currently developing a localized news & weather experience for users of Smart TVs who have cut-the-cord from Cable. We’re invested in producing content that improves the daily news experience, by informing communities of the issues with facts, not commentary, and a current stream of Entertainment, Science, Lifestyle and World News stories. City News Beat is News & Weather, for the Untethered.
IndyCare: Indycare, a company started by two UNC CH Pharmacy School graduates, plans to put health and wellness centers into independently owned pharmacies across the state and eventually around the country. These reimagined pharmacies will offer technology-enhanced, direct consumer care at an affordable price. Their business model combines one-on-one concierge style service like the ‘house call’ doctors from an era gone by with innovative digital health technology that puts advanced care and diagnostics at your fingertips. IndyCare centers will be equipped to provide acute care needs like concussion treatment and telemedicine visits to treat the flu from the comfort of your home, as well as proactive health screening such as a new cancer blood test recently approved by the FDA. Ultimately they foresee IndyCare pharmacies functioning as collaborative healthcare hubs enabling their local communities to thrive through exceptional health. The first pharmacy-based IndyCare clinic is opening in March of this year in Hillsborough, NC.
EveryWhereAd: Everywhere Ad is a rideshare advertising platform for small businesses. Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare drivers are paid to market small/local businesses to their passengers through a mobile advertising platform. Drivers increase their income, passengers get exclusive deals, and small businesses can grow their customer base!
The company has been around for about seven months and has taken advantage of programs such as NC IDEA Labs, National Science Foundation’s I-corps grant program at UNCG, and now Launch Chapel Hill. Everywhere Ad is currently entering a beta test phase and will do a paid test that will actually be in the town of Chapel Hill with a few select local drivers and beta customers. If you are an Uber or Lyft driver in the area or a small business owner in the area who is looking for an innovative, creative marketing tactic then please reach out to email@example.com to learn more about how we can help one another create value for the whole community!
These companies can be the next generation of employers to help make Chapel Hill an even better place to live, work and play.


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How red wine could help you toast your 150th birthday3/11/2013
Scientists working for pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline believe they've discovered the fabled fountain of youth — at the bottom of a bottle of cab sav. They've been testing synthetic versions of resveratrol — a chemical found in red wine — and believe the drugs effectively slow aging. The 117 drugs trialed have shown promising results against a range of illnesses, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, muscle wasting, cataracts and skin conditions. Yes, that's right: There's seemingly nothing that red wine can't do. "We're finding that ageing isn't the irreversible affliction that we thought it was," said Harvard genetics professor David Sinclair. "Some of us could live to 150." Cheers to that! [Source]
Click to see more on msnNOW.com, updated 24 hours a day.
What's your view on people living to 150?


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With in-depth interviews, focused features and fashion-forward editorials, our print publication features long-form coverage of the topics valued by readers.
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- Japanese brokerage Nomura will reportedly launch a subsidiary to supply bitcoin and different cryptocurrency providers to institutional shoppers.
- The wholly-owned unit can have a employees of 100 by 2023, a report stated.
- Nomura executed a few of its first trades with bitcoin derivatives final week.
Nomura Holdings Inc., Japan’s largest funding banking group, is launching a brand new subsidiary targeted on institutional consumer providers for bitcoin and different cryptocurrencies, in accordance to a report from the Financial Times.
Sources shut to Nomura defined to FT that the employees of the wholly-owned subsidiary will attain 100 folks by the tip of 2023 and compile a number of cryptocurrency providers below one roof. The employees will reportedly be largely recruited from outdoors, nevertheless Nomura executives will nonetheless oversee the corporate.
One of Nomura’s executives reportedly acknowledged, “If we don’t do this, then it’s going to be more difficult down the line to be competitive.”
The govt continued to clarify that whereas there is danger concerned in providing cryptocurrency-based providers, the chance price of failing to supply these providers is just too excessive.
“Any asset class at the moment that has discounted cash flow is all under huge stress in an inflationary environment. But I think…many managers will be looking and thinking about potentially allocating towards blockchain technology and blockchain opportunities,” the chief added.
Initially, Nomua will switch 15 staff to the brand new cryptocurrency-focused subsidiary which is able to see Jez Mohideen, Nomura’s present chief digital officer, on the helm of its new wholesale enterprise. As of now, Nomura’s new enterprise is but unnamed.
Last week, Nomura made headlines because it started buying and selling bitcoin derivatives with non-deliverable, cash-settled choices and a mixture of different futures with customary choices. The institutional curiosity Nomura is witnessing occurs because the Bitcoin worth has endured a large correction, erasing all positive factors made in 2021.


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• Two years ago, if you told anyone President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga would travel to Kisumu for the launch of the refurbished port, no one would have believed.
• The launch, earlier scheduled for today, marks a major step towards not only re-energising the economy of not only of Kisumu but the entire Western region.
The hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise, who replied, laughing: “Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race.”
The Hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal and they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the goal.
The Tortoise never for a moment stopped but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last, waking up and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal and was comfortably dozing due to fatigue.
Two years ago, if you told anyone President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga would travel to Kisumu for the launch of the refurbished port, no one would have believed.
And so while the country was being treated to unending politics and other sideshows in the last two years, Kisumu was getting a new lease of life.
The launch, earlier scheduled for today, marks a major step towards not only re-energising the economy of not only of Kisumu but the entire Western region. Kisumu is now a major economic hub in the region, especially for the countries that rely on Kenya for imports.
This port will be a major boost for regional trade as Uganda and Tanzania have already set up offices there. This makes it a major game-changer especially with the SGR getting to Naivasha and the refurbishment of the railway line to Western Kenya set to kick off.
Anyone who was keen on the news last week would have noted that the refurbished Kisumu port resumed oil exports to Uganda in December with the first consignment of 22 wagons loaded with 894,000 litres of diesel.
On average, Uganda imports 85 million litres of fuel through Kenya and Tanzania. Kenya’s port of Mombasa handles 92 per cent of these imports with the remainder going through Dar es Salaam.
The majority of the petroleum products, 92 per cent, is imported through the Mombasa port in Kenya, while only eight per cent arrives via Dar es Salaam on the Tanzanian coast. With the enhanced connectivity through Lake Victoria, Kenya is set to benefit further from these Ugandan imports as it will be faster than the Tanzania route.
This means the multi-billion investment in the port, jetty and rail facilities in Kisumu has already started paying-off and will help Kenya’s economy even grow further. Commercial activities at the port have been dormant for more than two decades now and the resumption of bulk exports through Lake Victoria is more than welcome.
The re-launch of the port is expected to create at least 10,000 jobs directly and indirectly, which will be a big boost to the lakeside. During its former vibrant days, Kisumu port connected Kenya to Uganda and Tanzania through Bell, Jinja, Bukoba and Mwanza ports.
The revival of the Kisumu Port is also key to the ongoing implementation of the country’s blue economy blueprint, which is seeking the harness the use of our water bodies for economic development.
The blue economy sector has the potential of creating up to 50,000 new jobs, which would be a great boost for the country. In addition, the sector can contribute more than three times what it has been contributing to the country’s GDP.
The leadership of Western Kenya should take advantage of the port.
This new opportunity created by the port can enhance other sectors of the region’s economy such as tourism and hospitality. Traders with unique goods can also use the port to export them to Tanzania and Uganda.
When the port is launched today, let it mark the beginning of economic prosperity for the people of Kisumu and the Western Kenya region. It should herald a new era of trade between the East Africa Community nations.


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Regal is closing all cinemas within the US and UK on Thursday
The second largest cinema chain within the US is quickly closing its doorways nationwide. Cineworld, father or mother firm of Regal, introduced that it is going to be suspending operations of its 536 Regal theaters as of Thursday, October 8. The suspension additionally impacts 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse cinemas within the UK.
Cineworld had solely simply reopened theaters in August. The closures will affect roughly 40,000 staff throughout the US, the corporate introduced. It additionally impacts 5,500 staff within the UK, The Guardian reviews.
In the present day’s announcement follows information over the weekend that the discharge of the twenty fifth James Bond movie, No Time to Die, has once more been pushed again to April 2021 because of the ongoing pandemic. Theaters have been relying on the newest 007 installment to drive sagging ticket gross sales.
“We’re like a grocery store that doesn’t have greens, fruit, meat,” Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger tells The Wall Avenue Journal. “We can’t function for a very long time with out a product.”
Cineworld reported a lack of $1.6 billion within the first half of 2020. The biggest US theater chain, AMC, has additionally been hit laborious by the pandemic.
The Cineworld closure is indefinite. Reopening will rely upon the discharge schedule set by the studios, in line with Regal.
“Regal will proceed to watch the scenario intently and can talk any future plans to renew operations on the acceptable time, when key markets have extra concrete steerage on their reopening standing and, in flip, studios are capable of carry their pipeline of main releases again to the massive display,” the corporate says in a press release.
#Regal #closing #cinemas #Thursday


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Nintendo’s next-generation venture into the world of high-definition may not compete with the current generation, graphically.
According to multiple developers, speaking on condition of anonymity to GamesIndustry.biz, the Wii U is not as powerful as PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
“The graphics are just not as powerful,” said one developer.
“It doesn’t produce graphics as well as the PS3 or the 360,” said another developer. “There aren’t as many shaders, it’s not as capable. Sure, some things are better, mostly as a result of it being a more modern design. But overall the Wii U just can’t quite keep up.”
Nintendo has been silent on Wii U since its E3 reveal last year. Though, that should change at E3 this June, where Nintendo has promised it will share new details.


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A Digital Direction: The first 100 days
24 October 2018
The digital landscape is an ever-changing environment.
There are sectors ranging from the mundane (the broadband connection to your home) to the mind-boggling (quantum computers use subatomic particles in superposition to, in theory, perform data analysis so far beyond the capabilities of classical computers that cryptographically-secured systems become as vulnerable as unlocked doors).
Back on the terra firma of the Isle of Man, where doors are frequently left unlocked simply because we can, the newly formed Digital Isle of Man Agency (Digital IOM), a partnership that brings together experts from a range of industry areas and government that works in the same way as any normal board does, is tasked with the oversight, strategy and future of the digital economy, which recently became the island’s highest revenue-generating sector.
Digital IOM works in the same way as any other private company boards and is responsible for providing the strategy, vision and governance to the department.
Coming from New York, one of the first questions I asked when I got here was, ‘How do I get an Uber?’ It didn’t take me long to realise that this isn’t the concrete jungle I’d just moved my family from, and it was all the better for it. An island with a population of 85,000 where an average commute time is 20 minutes? Now that definitely is a world away from how I’ve been living the past 20 years.
However, that isn’t to say that the Isle of Man isn’t ‘digital’. Historically and at present, the island punches above its weight. We were the first place in Europe to introduce 3G back in 2002 after running trials here, for instance. In addition to the head offices for digital businesses of significant size, we have six world class data centres, far more than expected given our population size. And the new telecommunications strategy aims to place the Isle of Man in a lead position when it comes to local telecoms provision.
In order to focus our efforts on the sectors within the digital space with the greatest opportunities for the Isle of Man, the Digital IOM has identified four quadrants: infrastructure, e-gaming, digital media and innovative tech. Below is a glimpse into some of the work undergone in these areas since the first meeting of the Digital Agency Board in July 2018.
Last week the Department for Enterprise announced the proposed national telecoms strategy. This strategy, if approved when it goes to Tynwald later this month, will put the Isle of Man at the forefront of telecoms innovation.
The delivery of high speed, high quality broadband will allow businesses and residents on the Island to gain access to ultrafast broadband with speeds of up to 1Gbps within a five year proposed time frame. This is well ahead of the UK’s 15-year timeframe to achieve the same goal.
Forward-thinking infrastructure developments such as this fibre network will deliver fast, reliable telecommunication services which can help businesses looking to roll out 5G in the future. Getting this right is essential foundational work that will benefit island residents and support the growth of existing sectors and the development of new ones.
E-gaming is a growing and reliably sustainable sector for the island, with e-gaming and IT combined now making up 30% of the island’s economy. Jobs within this industry have also grown by 16.5% year on year and are continuing to increase in demand.
To ensure the continued success of the e-gaming sector, Digital IOM has begun work on a new, ambitious strategy that leverages the island’s strengths and uniqueness whilst supporting existing businesses.
The island’s E-gaming sector is renowned for being at the cutting edge of innovation and regulation, with many first mover actions, including being the first legislation for virtual items such as skins (a cosmetic finishing to in-game items), to be used as a stake and a prize in online gaming, as well as being the first to introduce legislation specifically designed to benefit E-gaming firms and fully protecting customers.
With the support of the E-gaming team’s extensive knowledge and varied experience in the industry, and the strong ambitious direction of a revised E-gaming strategy, I’m confident we will be able to continue to grow this sector going forward.
Digital IOM’s ambition in the digital media sector is to create and nurture a sustainable environment for media businesses. The media sector is a big earner for the UK economy, following the increase in the industry’s home viewing market. Research undertaken in the UK has shown that the economic value of the UK’s film, TV and music industries has grown by 72.4% since 2014, compared to just 0.5% in the European Union.
The recent BFI-commissioned report found that in the UK, £632m in tax relief since 2013 has prompted additional spending of more than £3bn on the creation of films, high-end television, such as The Crown, and computer games. HM Revenue and Customs got more than that money back, gaining £2bn tax.
The media landscape has also grown quickly in recent decades on the Isle of Man, where we have a strong history as being a production partner. There is no reason why the island’s agility and receptiveness to new technology won’t play in our own benefit when developing this sector further.
Many content providers such as Netflix and streaming media platforms are driving the demand for more and more content production, creating the opportunity for the island to reach out to companies who specialise in areas such as post-production, who can help generate jobs and economic benefits which will grow the island’s economy and reputation in the media space.
The Department for Enterprise works closely with the national development agency, Isle of Media, who are responsible for driving inward investment in Digital Media to the Isle of Man through numerous marketing initiatives.
Blockchain Working Group
Blockchain is considered by many to be one of the most significant technological advances in recent years. Some consider blockchain to be the new internet. Where the internet enabled the exchange of information more quickly and with lower overhead, blockchain enables the exchange of value with similar benefits.
Support for blockchain businesses forms part of the Digital Agency’s innovative tech pillar.
Earlier this year Digital IOM established a blockchain working group made up of industry representatives with the purpose of defining the island’s blockchain proposition.
This group is working closely with the Financial Services Authority to develop on a number of recommendations that will support existing blockchain-related businesses and welcome new ones to our shores. The result of this collaboration will be a clear and strong direction for the Isle of Man on this technology, something that we have not previously had.
Tech Trials Working Group
Highlighting the Isle of Man as a destination for technology trials has worked well for the island in the past, as reflected in our early introduction of 3G. Utilising and showcasing the island in this light is key to raising awareness and attracting new business to the Island. I recently attended the 5G demonstration at the Manx Telecom office and was impressed by the amount of technological development that will be taking place globally between now and 2020 and subsequently 2022, when the final iteration of 5G is expected to be available at a consumer level.
The tech trials working group, also made up of industry representatives, has been formed with the aim of exploring the opportunities available to the island in this area. The group will look at our infrastructure and frameworks, as well as potential new technologies, to build a supportive environment for businesses to test new technologies.
eSports Working Group
E-sports is growing explosively around the world. League of Legends, an online video game has an estimated 100 million monthly users worldwide. That’s just a single title, the most popular out of many in eSports. By comparison an estimated 24 million play basketball in the United States and 265 million play football (soccer) globally.
Our aim for the e-sports working group is to first establish what value e-sports can add value as a sector to the island, and then to define and provide recommendations for what we need to do to develop this sector.
E-sports is said to be the spectator sport of the future, with recent statistics showing an annual audience of 400 million people logging 6 billion total viewing hours last year. If the outcome of the E-sports working group highlights that there is value for us, we will then be able to explore the opportunities that are available on the Island.
Although the Isle of Man may not be likely to host a conference on the scale of 173,000 fans as has been seen in elsewhere in the world, there are certainly other opportunities for us to explore that can enable us to benefit from this fast-growing industry. The Isle of Man already has licences issued for Rivalry, Luckbox and Unikrn, all operating within the E-sports sector. These companies may be the start of a new cluster on the Isle.
Looking ahead, the island has a strong heritage and potentially bright future in the digital space. These working groups have been formed to provide a laser focus on determining the best approaches for the Island.
The four pillars will ultimately form the structure for an overarching strategy for Digital IOM, which will work in concert with the Programme for Government and the Department for Enterprise’s strategic goals.
A set of ambitious but realistic KPIs will form part of this strategy, which will be communicated to the wider community once firmed up.
In addition to this, we will be reviewing and developing our digitalisleofman.com website in line with our strategic direction, creating clear calls to action, strong messaging and a user-friendly website designed to be a resource for business looking to start, grow or relocate to the Isle of Man.
With the experience and expertise of the new public/private partnership that the Digital IOM board has in place, we expect great things.
To date, Digital IOM has focused on action at the expense of outward communication, but the communication channels and frequency of messaging will also improve as we continue to make progress towards our ultimate goal of securing the island’s future as a leader in the fast-moving, ever-shifting digital landscape.


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Prior to this time, air travels during weekdays from Nairobi to Kisumu would have cost you about $60 or Sh6. 800. But with virtually all the routes recording full bookings ahead of Christmas, airlines have taken advantage of the huge demand to hike rates. Note that even fares for flights from Nairobi to Eldoret which, prior to this time was always the cheapest, have also increased from an average of $46 (Sh5,300) to $98 (Sh11,100).
"Demand for air travel has gone up and this is what is pushing the prices up. We are fully booked in the coastal routes from December 20th all the way to December 25th," explained Alex Avedi, the CEO of Nairobi-based Safarilink Aviation Ltd while speaking to Business Daily.
Meanwhile, over in Nigeria, air travelers have lamented over the high ticket costs, especially for flights going to the Eastern part of the country. Apparently, most of the country's local airlines have sold out their tickets due to huge demands. And much like it is the case in Kenya, the high demands have helped to push up airfares.
Take for instance, while a return ticket in October cost an average of $243 (N100, 000), a one way ticket in December now costs about $268 (N110, 000).
It's important to note that asides the Christmas frenzy, another factor that is driving up airfares in Africa's most populous country is insecurity on the highways. In 2021 alone, there has been many incidents of kidnappings along major highways. So, in a bid to avoid that, travelers prefer to fly and this inevitably result in increased demand which invariably cause airfares to rise.


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A concept in numerous video games is when characters reach a checkpoint to save the progress they have made during the game. Should the character lose, they will go back to the checkpoint instead of having to restart at the beginning. Although lemonades have been a staple in many consumer homes, concerns about its sugar content have beverage-makers reverting to a checkpoint where they are maintaining the goodwill with consumers but altering their formulation strategy.
“Consumer avoidance of sugar-heavy beverages due to their perceived health detriments has posed an increasing threat to juice producers, including lemonade beverages,” says Dmitry Diment, senior industry research analyst at IBISWorld, New York. “A 2015 study published in the Nutrition Journal found that, on average, fruit juice contains 45.5 grams of fructose concentrate per liter, which is slightly less than the 50 grams of fructose contained in a liter of soda.
“A May 2019 publication by the American Medical Association reported similar health consequences when consuming 100% fruit juice as other sugary beverages,” he continues. “As consumers have become more health conscious, they have shied away from sugary lemonade drinks.”
Diment notes that beverage-makers in response are adapting their formulations to support these health conscious goals.
“Although lemonade contains natural and added sugars, producers have rebranded and reformulated goods,” he says. “Producers have successfully commercialized the benefits of fruit as an essential part of a healthy diet.”
Laura Harper, marketing associate at Imbibe, Niles, Ill., also highlights the impact that sugar reduction and overall health-and-wellness trends has had on the lemonades segment.
“With health and wellness being a top priority for many Americans, especially coming out of the pandemic, the lemonade market is not exempt from innovation to remain competitive and relevant,” Harper says. “According to a 2022 U.S. survey by Statista, 59% of participants (U.S. adults) said they were trying to limit sugars in their diet.
“Meanwhile, food and beverage companies are waiting for the FDA to rule on their Healthy proposal, which will regulate when and what healthy claims can be made on packaging based on several factors including the amount of sugar,” she continues. “This means many companies will be turning to sugar substitutes following those that have already prioritized low and no sugar formulations, like Swoon, Uncle Matt’s Organic no sugar added Classic Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade (which uses stevia), Minute Maid Zero Sugar, and Poppilu (acquired by Juicy Juice parent company in 2022).”
Yet, sugar reduction is not the only way that manufacturers are changing the course for the lemonade market. The addition of functional attributes also is proliferating throughout lemonades.
“Because of the wholesomeness and nostalgia associated with lemonade, it’s a popular flavor in products that may or may not actually have juice in them,” Harper explains. “Even so, there are lemonade-type products that boast adaptogens, antioxidants, electrolytes, BCAAs, vitamins, nootropics, and probiotics, such as newly released Space Tea Iced Tea Lemonade with adaptogenic mushrooms and Smoothie King’s 2023 Summer X-Treme Watermelon Lemonade Smoothie, which contains coconut water (naturally hydrating) and dairy whey (for a punch of protein).
Stepping into alcohol
Although lemonade has been known as a liquid refreshment beverage, the market also is seeing lemonade become a major player on the beverage alcohol side.
“While traditional brands like Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Smirnoff Ice comprised almost all of [ready-to-drink] (RTD) mixed spirits’ sales a few years ago, new and attractive brands like White Claw and Truly have climbed to the top of the charts,” IBISWorld’s Diment says. “Here too lemonade flavor profiles have benefited from the perceived health benefits of fruit. Producers have expanded product lineups to include low-calorie options, where lemonade flavor profiles feature prominently.”
Diment further emphasizes the growing influence that sugar and calorie reduction is having on lemonade-associated beverage alcohol products.
“The shift to lower calorie variants will ultimately be the primary driving force for lemonade-flavored drinks,” he says. “Indicative of this, Mike’s Hard Lemonade initially appealed to young drinkers with their sweet flavors and captured a large share of the RTD cocktails market. But coming in at 220 calories and 32 grams of sugar, Mike’s Hard Lemonade had been isolating its sales away from the growing number of individuals who are placing greater emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle. Brands like Mike’s Hard Lemonade have reformulated their strategies to appeal to these consumers by introducing RTD cocktails that are both refreshing and have reduced amounts of sugar and calories.”
Imbibe’s Harper adds that the integration of lemonade into beverage alcohol is not a new concept, but instead has been re-centered as vanguard brands have embraced this flavor profile.
“Lemonade has been popular in alcohol for decades ― think ’70s lemon drop martini, ’90s Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and ’00s Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy ― and has flourished with the RTD cocktail craze, which was globally valued at $782.8 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% from 2022 to 2030, according to Grand View Research,” Harper says. “Lemonade cocktails, shandies, and radlers have been around for over a century.
“Truly and White Claw Lemonade Seltzers have helped re-center a conversation around alcoholic lemonades, and we wouldn’t be surprised if more lemonade inspired hard seltzers make it to market in the next five years in an attempt to grab market share,” she continues. “Though innovations continue with novel categories and flavor combinations, lemonade in alcohol is certainly a sustainable staple in alcoholic beverages.”
Smirnoff Vodka, a brand of New York-based Diageo North America, recently extended its lemonade offerings with the release of Blue Raspberry Lemonade. With a burst of tart and sweet and the nostalgic taste of blue raspberry, Smirnoff Blue Raspberry Lemonade contains a 30% ABV. Also available this summer is Smirnoff ICE Blue Raspberry Lemonade, the brand’s latest premium malt beverage containing a 4.5% ABV.
With how engrained lemonade is with consumers, IBISWorld’s Diment anticipates that alcohol versions of lemonades will continues to proliferate the market, but with a more conscious approach to sugar and calories.
“The previous success of lemonade-flavored beverages is indicative of its staying profile. Lemonade is, after all, as American as apple pie,” he says. “The key for lemonade cocktail drinks will reflect the broader RTD cocktail market. With consumers on the hunt for tasty, low-calorie, and reduced-sugar options, producers can be expected to play up to the fruit drinks’ perceived nutritional benefits while actually rolling out products with slimmed down calorie counts.”


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Pitti Immagine is a major, twice yearly trade show in Florence where basically the entire fashion universe descends on the tiny Italian city. Last year Ashley covered the events for Icon, but this year I was fortunate enough to attend myself as I was already in town for Luisa Via Roma’s Firenze4Ever.
Super quick post because I am running for my flight to London right now, and then back to Los Angeles today. As I previously mentioned, in addition to attending Luisa Via Roma‘s Firenze4Ever event I was also in Florence for Pitti. Here are some quick snapshots from the Peter Pilotto
Pitti Immagine capped off another successful season with a much anticipated and lauded runway show from Valentino. The Florence-based trade show, which I and correspondent Ashley Stefan covered last year, held various events and special presentations with designers and fashion from around the world.
In June The Icon Concierge was invited to Pitti Immagine in Florence, Italy to attend the trade show, enjoy a personal shopping event at Luisa Via Roma and view exclusive shows by Rodarte and Band of Outsiders. The highlight of the trip was definitely attending the Rodarte couture debut. Staged in a museum, the exhibition was absolutely
As we wrap up our coverage from Pitti Immagine this season, I wanted to highlight one of the designers at Pitti Uomo (the men’s section) called Piombo. The colors, textures and cuts in this iconic Italian line were unmatched by almost anyone or any


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The cryptocurrency crackdown in India has taken an interesting turn. Following the regulatory measures from the Reserve Bank of India of prohibiting local banks from providing services to cryptocurrency businesses, some Indian banks have taken drastic measures to discourage cryptocurrency adoption.
According to reports, the banks are forcing customers to sign contracts stating that they “will not deal with any transactions related to cryptocurrency including bitcoins”, while signing up for an account. Furthermore, these new terms of service agreement are also applied to existing accounts as the banks are reportedly blocking accounts of their existing customers if they are found to have made crypto-related transactions.
While the banking restrictions imposed by India’s central bank are still under contest in the apex court of the country, the major banks in the country have been asking their customers to declare that they will not deal with any cryptocurrency transactions.
Twitter user Indiancryptogirl, “@Desicryptohodlr,” tweeted a screenshot of Kotak Mahindra Bank’s account opening agreement on Tuesday. One of the items customers must agree to reads:
“I hereby declare that I will not deal with any transactions related to cryptocurrency including bitcoins. I also understand and agree that the bank reserves all right to close my account without further intimation in case I am found to undertake such transactions.”
Indian Banks now forcefully taking permission from us to ‘reserve right to close our account without further intimation’ if we deal in #cryptocurrency transactions
Ability to decide what to do with our own money is the very reason we need to invest, #BUIDL, & believe in #bitcoin pic.twitter.com/MpP34uqGKe
— Shalini? (@DesiCryptoHodlr) January 9, 2019
The official website of Kotak Mahindra Bank also reiterates their stance, it says that all of its branches carry a notice stating that the bank has disallowed “credit, debit, or prepaid cards for purchasing or trading in bitcoins, cryptocurrencies, or virtual currencies.” The notice continues:
If the bank were to receive instructions from the authorities, it would have to close any account that transacts in virtual currencies, possibly without any intimation, and would not be able to provide assistance in case of any losses incurred due to such dealings.
A spokesperson for Indian exchange Instashift explained to news.Bitcoin.com that Kotak Mahindra Bank is “a non-nationalized private bank so they have to certainly adhere to all RBI regulations, else their banking license would be ceased.” He further elaborated that such banks need to be extremely cautious “about how their customers are using their system so that they don’t come under any RBI scrutiny in the future. ”
Furthermore, the spokesperson added, based on his experience that banks “are keeping an eye on everyone’s account and checking the remarks of a transaction.” The banks are “strictly adhering to the RBI directions and blocking accounts which they feel are being used to trade cryptocurrency,” customer accounts come “under scrutiny and the bank officers read the crypto keywords in remarks,” the accounts “would definitely get blocked.” Nonetheless, he emphasized:
But as per law, it’s the individual’s choice what to do with his hard earned money and the RBI has not banned cryptocurrency.
Also in Pakistan
@IAmCryptoLegend, another Twitter user commented in the Indiancryptogirl’s thread to say that that banks are implementing similar measures in Pakistan as well.
Same texts we received on our cells here in Pakistan ????
— SMansoorN (@IamCryptoLegend) January 9, 2019
Such news does present the Indian regulator in a negative light as far as cryptocurrency enthusiasts are concerned. However, a recent report from the RBI itself states that Cryptocurrencies are not a threat. Well, only time will tell whether the ban over the Indian banks for cryptocurrency is lifted or not, for now, all the ecosystem is eyeing the upcoming hearing of the matter, and the subsequent decision of the country’s supreme court on the matter.


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There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has already caused serious disruption across nearly every sector, with businesses that depend on physical retail spaces being hit the hardest.
Despite the more recent discussions and plans to relax the stay at home orders and non-essential business closures in some states, foot traffic will continue to be affected for some time.
The effects of this pandemic have disrupted BAU across the retail industry—but this will also create new opportunities for those intrepid and adaptable enough to forge an unconventional path forward. Forget traditional retail best practices: from rethinking the supply chain to refocusing on customer-centricity, changes in the short and medium term can help businesses build the resilience necessary to weather this storm.
Consumers’ Day-to-Day Behavior is Shifting Rapidly
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen the spread of COVID-19 alter consumer behavior on the most basic level. As of March 16, 71% of consumers reported that the coronavirus outbreak was affecting what they do in their spare time, according to internal research from Google—a figure that has no doubt spiked in the weeks since.
There has also been huge growth around search terms for bottled water, online grocery shopping, and prepared foods. In other words, consumers are taking a cautious, conservative approach and focusing on the here and now, shifting their spending to “new essential” categories that are relevant to their immediate needs.
Early Retail Trends as Coronavirus Picks up Steam Globally
For many retailers, these massive shifts in consumer sentiment and spending have dealt a significant blow to sales—especially for those that offer products and services viewed as “non-essential” in the current environment. As of the first week of March, there had been a 14.7% decline in foot traffic to luxury shops and a 9.1% decline in foot traffic to retail shops in North America. Google also reports an 18% decline in searches for fashion luxury brands since March 10.
While luxury retailers have certainly been hit hard, they’re not the only ones who are scrambling to adjust: according to Klaviyo’s ecommerce marketing report , as of March 24, 58.3% of retailers across categories reported that sales had declined from the previous week. Yet, many have voiced optimism after seeing a rebound in April: as of April 15th, 61% of respondents believed that consumers would spend the same amount or more once the pandemic passes.
So, what’s a retailer to do? Taking an unconventional approach to these key areas can yield positive results not just under current conditions, but for the long haul.
1. More experimentation around conversion and sales tactics
Over the past two weeks, retailers of all sizes have leaned into heavy discounts to maintain sales volume amid turbulent markets. However, this strategy can create a vicious cycle: “the danger is the retail environment will soon echo that of the 2008 financial crisis, when retail discounts were massive — up to 80% — as stores became desperate for people to shop,” says Glossy’s Danny Parisi .
Discounts can certainly act as a worthwhile retail stimulus by boosting sales in the short term as businesses adapt more sustainable long-term strategies. However, “gaining back the trust and enthusiasm of cash-strapped consumers…cannot be achieved by discounting alone,” according to The State of Fashion 2020: Coronavirus Update report released on April 8 by McKinsey & Company and the Business of Fashion.
Crafty retailers can supplement this traditional approach by experimenting with more unconventional tools and methodologies that enhance conversion, deliver an elevated customer experience, and ultimately boost sales. To appeal to increasingly price-sensitive consumers, retailers should consider the benefits of distributing merchandise in new channels, including ecommerce marketplaces like Farfetch, Outnet, and Yoox. Offering an integrated buy now, pay later solution at checkout is another way to appeal to customers for whom budgeting has become a predominant concern.
2. A shift from in-person to digital experiences
Early ingenuity across other industries that have been massively affected by COVID-19 offers a valuable lesson for retailers. One example can be found in the entertainment space: according to Google, 21% of consumers who’ve signed up for a streaming service this year say coronavirus helped drive their decision, while 63% say they are streaming more films or TV shows since the outbreak. Movie studios, which have faced huge losses in box office sales, have been quick to adapt to these changing behaviors. Many are now offering new releases via streaming services and finding new ways to monetize these digital experiences.
This philosophy has translated into early successes for retailers in China, offering a roadmap for U.S. retailers looking to head off revenue losses resulting from COVID-19 and its effects on consumer sentiment. Nike, for example, managed to increase digital sales in China by 36% in the first months of 2020, largely because of a marketing strategy that leveraged Taobao livestream bloggers to promote its wares during the region’s lockdown.
Similarly, many retailers in China have turned towards digital channels like WeChat, through which store assistants can virtually communicate with customers to provide support and help them complete purchases. This digital-first approach has even been extended to Shanghai Fashion Week, during which designer showrooms were conducted via livestream and video conferencing.
3. Realignment around a customer-centric approach
In their fight for survival, retailers across the board are treating customer relationships with a high level of care. By really getting in tune with your existing customer base and what they need and want today, you can leverage these insights to deliver additional products and services or simply to finetune your approach to marketing and CRM.
In a sea of relatively standard messaging from retailers, Levi’s approach stands out. In a note to their community, the brand tells customers that “Levi.com and the Levi’s app are always open, but we understand shopping for jeans is probably the last thing on your mind right now.”
Rather than encouraging customers to continue shopping with a self-serving plug for its denim, Levi’s takes an utterly human approach to this crisis. And, sure: this type of empathetic messaging and consumer-centrism may lead to short-term losses, but retailers will benefit from a longer-term boost in brand image and customer loyalty. By genuinely addressing consumers’ immediate needs, you may even earn organic word-of-mouth growth via social media and other channels.
In short, it pays to be attuned to the mood your products are evoking in the current environment. Can you be truly honest with your customers in this moment of fear and uncertainty?
4. Defensive supply chain management
The sluggishness of luxury retail in Q1 has been compounded by disruptions to global supply chains—notably in China, where exports were down 17.2% in January and February, with a record high jobless rate of 5.7% in February, according to the Google report.
This type of massive supply chain disruption will lead to a need for more diverse sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution methods for many retailers, resulting in more sustainable and resilient business practices in the long term.
One example of a retailer that has been affected by these changes, but is well-poised to emerge on the other side, is Everlane. The brand “does business worldwide with a supply chain spanning four continents. It works with facilities in China, Italy, Vietnam, Spain, India, Sri Lanka, Peru and the U.S. Pressure any link in that chain and adjustments must be made,” says Bloomberg’s Kim Bhasin.
In addition to shifting sourcing away from impacted regions, the State of Fashion 2020 report offers a number of fruitful suggestions to make the most of supply chain disruptions in the short term: “For many players, repurposing existing stock for new seasons will be a more viable option than recycling or upcycling with fabric additions or extractions. Other opportunities include…a re-evaluation of the company’s fashion calendar, such as moving monthly drops into later seasons.”
While COVID-19 has had a seismic impact on retail in a relatively short period of time, retailers that embrace innovation will emerge stronger than those that take a myopic attitude towards survival in the short term. In these times of unprecedented uncertainty and change, it pays for retailers to take a page out of Everlane’s book to future-proof their supply chains—and ultimately, to build resilience for years and decades to come.
Interested in learning more about how innovative retailers are approaching the challenges of COVID-19? Sign up for our webinar on Thursday 5/7 at 2pm EST, featuring retail leaders from Famous Footwear, Violet Grey, and Summersalt.


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Apple has the lead in the US smart phone market with a 26% market share. In the third quarter of this year, the smart phone market grew a whopping 95% over the same quarter a year ago to 80.9 million shipped units--that's a whole heck of a lot of people adopting smart phones. Apple's performance this year saw its market share grow 17% worldwide, with RIM trailing behind in worldwide sales.
Apple COO Tim Cook took the stage at the company’s “Back to the Mac” media event in Cupertino to give a “state of the Mac” address, revealing some amazing statistics about how the Mac is growing faster than the rest of the PC industry.
It's been months now since Valve's Steam cloud gaming client has been around for the Mac operating system, and we've noticed a generally happier disposition from the Mac gaming community--especially after they've managed to shoot our faces off in Frag the Editor Friday (never mind the fact that we're having a tough time getting through a whole campaign in Left 4 Dead 2). Valve has announced that Steam's year-over-year user growth has gone up 178% from last year.
While most of the media hysteria tends to focus on the runaway success of Apple’s mobile products such as the iPhone and the iPad, the company is quietly increasing their market share on desktop and laptop computers at the same time.
Just a few short years ago, most folks would have laughed if you had told them that Apple would be sitting so pretty in 2010. Despite consistent upward growth with their Macs and iPods, few could have seen the approach of the iPhone and now iPad, which at least one analyst seems to think has put Cupertino at the top of the PC industry heap.
Even though it's only a first generation piece of hardware, the iPad is already holding significant sway the technology landscape, from roots to horizon. Whether it's nom-noming at the netbook market or cannibalizing the sales of its diminutive iPhone or iPod touch brethren, the tablet's influence is being felt. What's next? We'll tell you: Gaming.
Even though Apple’s popular mobile devices, computers and accessories are manufactured in China, one CEO of a leading consumer electronics firm there thinks that Cupertino is “missing a huge opportunity” in the country -- but is thankful for it.
The iPhone is clearly a huge hit for Apple judging from Cupertino’s quarterly results released this week -- particularly in The Land of the Rising Sun, where the device now accounts for a whopping 72 percent of all smartphones shipped there.


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After a falling out with publisher Nacon, formerly known as BigBen InteractiveBigBen Interactive, Ukraine-based developer Frogwares has spoken out about issues surrounding the distribution of The Sinking City across multiple platforms.
The game has been delisted on a number of stores as a result of this relationship breakdown, although thanks to Frogwares self-publishing the game on Switch, that version is still intact. Frogwares says that "We were forced to terminate the contract with our licensee," releasing an official statement which can be read below.
As you can see, the statement details how Frogwares believes that the actions of its former licensee partner have breached their initial agreement.
As mentioned above, the game is still available to download from the Switch eShop. Frogwares hopes to have the game available on all major stores again in the future and plans to inform fans of when this will take place.


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A local council is imploring ratepayers to avoid Airbnb and put their properties up for long-term rental instead.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Car manufacturers want to sell directly to Australians over the internet without the need for dealerships, as they argue against more regulations of the market.
- by Rob Harris
Suspended champion jockey Jamie Kah will be allowed to participate in a virtual broadcast this weekend honouring last season’s Victorian heroes
- by Michael Lynch
The owner of a Mornington AirBNB which hosted six people on Wednesday night including Victoria’s leading jockey Jamie Kah and three other riders, said she feels disgusted her holiday home was used for an illegal party.
- by Damien Ractliffe
An accommodation provider in Victoria falsely claimed that vaccinated guests might infect her family and lead to fertility issues.
- by Henrietta Cook
WA tourism operators face financial hits on two fronts after the state’s border was closed to most of Australia and holidaymakers from Perth and Peel cancelled school holiday trips.
- by David Prestipino
Sydney renters in the inner city, eastern suburbs and northern beaches have reaped the benefits of a slump in the holiday rental market during the pandemic, as Airbnb landlords converted their properties to traditional long-term lettings.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Tech giant Airbnb is battling gig economy startup Airtasker in a trademark stoush in Europe that could impact Airtasker’s ambitions for expansion in the region.
- by Cara Waters
The rollout of the short-term letting laws across the state has been postponed until November following concerns from councils and industry.
- by Matt O'Sullivan


text: Shortly after the ‘Foppen affair’ (salmonella in salmon), an oyster farmer is notified by the NVWA that salmonella has been found in a sample of his oysters. After the entire batch of oysters has been recalled, with extensive media coverage, the NVWA reports that a mistake was made at the test; the oysters didn’t contain salmonella after all. The Recall Solutions lawyers of Kennedy Van der Laan assist the farmer to recover the loss from the NVWA. The Dutch State is held liable and there are rounds of talks with the NVWA about out-of-court compensation. When they turn out unsuccessful, the State is sued. To substantiate the loss of profits claim, the lawyers have a report drawn up by a registered accountant and a marketing expert on the effects of the media attention on the oyster sales and the farm’s reputation. Eventually, the State agrees to a settlement.


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IBM to offer ‘BAAS’
IBM is offering ‘Blockchain as a Service’. The facility has been developed on the open source Hyperledger Fabric, version 1.0 from The Linux Foundation. It will be a public cloud service that customers can use to build secure blockchain networks. A spokesperson for IBM said the company is offering a set of cloud services to help customers create, deploy and manage blockchain networks. This fits in with IBM’s broader strategy to offer a wide range of cloud services to its customers. IBM has added a set of security services to make it more palatable for enterprise customers, while offering it as a cloud service helps simplify a complex set of technologies, making it more accessible than trying to do this alone in a private data center.