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Photo: April 07, 2010: Brussels, Belgium: Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance and Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman and CEO of Daimler AG, at the joint press conference after signing the contract.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler AG have announced a broad strategic cooperation.
The two groups also announced an equity exchange that will give the Renault-Nissan Alliance a 3.1% stake in Daimler and Daimler a 3.1% in Renault and a 3.1% stake in Nissan.
Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, said: "The Renault-Nissan Alliance knows how to work successfully in collaborative partnerships, and this experience is extremely valuable in today's and even more tomorrow's global auto industry. This agreement will extend our strategic collaboration and create lasting value for the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler as we work on broadening and strengthening our product offering, efficiently utilizing all available resources and developing the innovative technologies required in the coming decade."
"Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance are combining common interests to form a promising foundation for a successful, strategically sound cooperation that is based on a number of very concrete and attractive project cooperations," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "Our skills complement each other very well. Right away, we are strengthening our competitiveness in the small and compact car segment and are reducing our CO2 footprint - both on a long-term basis. We know that we can make brand-typical products based on shared architectures. The individual brand identities will remain unaffected."
Highlights of the Cooperation:
Following intensive and productive talks, specific projects have been agreed upon and will be implemented with immediate effect.
Photo: Renault Twingo 2010
• New common architecture for small vehicles
The successor to the current smart fortwo, a new smart four-seater and the next-generation Renault Twingo will be engineered on the basis of a jointly developed architecture. All vehicles will clearly differ from each other in terms of product design. One main characteristic of the new architecture will be the unique rear wheel drive concept used by current smart vehicles.
The launches of the jointly developed models are planned for 2013 onwards. The smart plant in Hambach, France will be the production location for the two-seater versions, while the Renault plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia will be the production location for the four-seater versions. Right from its market launch, the jointly developed future models will also be available with an electric drive.
Photo: 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
• Powertrains
The focus of the cooperation in the powertrain area is on the sharing of highly fuel-efficient, diesel and gasoline engines between the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance will provide 3 and 4 cylinder gasoline and diesel engines out of its portfolio to Daimler, which will then be adapted and modified to reflect Mercedes' characteristics.
Daimler, Renault and Nissan will also cooperate on future gasoline and diesel engines.
A key objective is to increase competitiveness of all partners through a substantial increase in volumes, leading to economies of scale and cost sharing in development.
• Collaboration on light commercial vehicles:
The companies have also agreed on a close cooperation in the light commercial vehicle segment. Mercedes-Benz Vans will expand its portfolio to offer an all-new entry-level, intended for commercial usage, from 2012 onwards. The technical basis of this van will come from Renault and will be produced at the Renault plant in Maubeuge, France. Both partners will benefit from higher unit sales, better capacity utilization, shared investment burden, resulting in a better overall cost basis.
• Equity Exchanges:
This strategic cooperation is underscored through a one-time cross-shareholding structure which enables the three companies to exchange, benchmark and create synergies on the basis of a long-term mutually beneficial relationship. The overall construction of the deal is based on the principle of a 3.1/3.1/3.1 percentage cross-holding between Renault, Nissan and Daimler.
• Further opportunities for collaboration:
Both groups intend to create a long-term framework to work closely on future areas of cooperation between Renault, Nissan and Daimler.
Photo: Nissan LEAF
• Formed in 1999, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is the world's fourth largest automotive group. The Alliance is present in over 190 countries around the world. The Alliance is managed between two distinct and separate companies (Renault SA and Nissan Motor Company Ltd.), each with their own stock market listings (Paris and Tokyo respectively), Board of Directors and governance systems. During the past 11 years, the Alliance has formed strategic ventures with major companies including Dong Feng in China, AvtoVAZ in Russia and Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and Bajaj Auto in India. In late 2010, the Alliance will launch the Nissan LEAF, the world's first affordable all-electric car for the mass-market.
• With its divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Daimler Buses and Daimler Financial Services, Daimler AG is one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the world's biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles with a global reach. The company is listed on the stock exchanges of Frankfurt, New York and Stuttgart. The company's founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history with the invention of the automobile in the year 1886.
Sources: Renault SA, Nissan Motor Company Ltd., Daimler AG.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
"Stepping stone to small car specialization -- that's what this cooperation means to Daimler AG.
Renault is a small car specialist. Daimler is not.
And a quality affordable small car is the key to cracking the mass markets and remaining afloat."
© GlobalGiants.Com. All Rights Reserved.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:53 PM | View the original post
Apple today announced that it sold over 300,000 iPads in the US as of midnight Saturday, April 3. These sales included deliveries of pre-ordered iPads to customers, deliveries to channel partners and sales at Apple Retail Stores. Apple also announced that iPad users downloaded over one million apps from Apple's App Store and over 250,000 ebooks from its iBookstore during the first day.
"It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world -- it's going to be a game changer," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.
Source: Apple
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:33 AM | View the original post
Photo: The deep blue sea is on display in the remote, isolated sector of the Gulf of Mexico where Shell's Perdido platform sits in water deeper than any other facility in the world.
Photo: Spar on board giant barge, Mighty Servant 1.
Shell today produced its first oil and natural gas from the Perdido Development, the world's deepest offshore drilling and production facility. Located in an isolated, ultra-deep sector of the Gulf of Mexico, The facility sits in approximately 2,450 meters (8,000 feet) of water.
• View the Map: Location of Perdido in the Gulf of Mexico
"Perdido is an impressive project in a strong Gulf of Mexico portfolio that continues to grow," said Marvin Odum, Upstream Americas Director, Shell Energy Resources Company. "Perdido presented technical challenges unlike we've ever seen in the Gulf of Mexico. Shell's team used its expertise to open this new frontier and confront complex reservoir characteristics, extreme marine conditions, and record water depth pressures. Perdido demonstrates what companies like Shell can do when US federal lands and waters are opened to responsible energy exploration and production."
From the first lease purchase to today's production, the Perdido Development required an industry workforce of approximately 12,000 people, including employees and contractors. Shell designed, and operates, the Perdido host spar, a floating production facility, which is jointly owned by Shell (35%), Chevron (37.5%), and BP (27.5%).
Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 100 countries.
Source: Shell Oil Company
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:29 AM | View the original post
Intensify the Natural Beauty of Your Eye Color.
"There are many features on the body that get noticed, but only a few that stay with a person after you leave the room. Gorgeous eyes are at the top of that list," says Revlon. "How can you be sure that you're remembered for your intensely blue, green, brown or hazel gaze? The Almay Intense i-Color collection with Light Interplay Technology enhances your natural eye color to reveal brighter and more intense eye color."
How does it work? According to Revlon, the collection, composed of an eye shadow trio, eyeliner and mascara specially created for brown, blue, hazel and green eyes, uses Light Interplay Technology to instantly brighten and intensify the unique color of your eyes. The way the Light Interplay Technology works is intense pigments are combined with mineral structures to reflect light in such an angle that it creates a more intense and alluring enhanced eye color. Blues, browns, hazels and greens are brighter and more captivating.
The company explains that the collection works best when all used together:
• Almay Intense i-Color Eye Shadow is formulated with rich colors and light reflecting pearls to add brightness and dimension to eye color.
• Almay Intense i-Color Eyeliner is a rich, kohl liner that adds definition and dimension to eyes.
• And finally, Almay Intense i-Color Mascara delivers instantly full, mega sized lashes with an oversized brush that uses light reflecting technology and pigments to intensify your unique eye color.
"So leave an impression with just a gaze using Almay Intense i-Color Eye Shadow, Eyeliner and Mascara," advises Revlon.
Source: Revlon Consumer Products Corporation
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:08 PM | View the original post
Photo: Year: 1950. The classic sports car Porsche in New York City. Model: Porsche 550 Spyder.
Photo: Year: 2010. The classic sports car Porsche in New York City. Model: Porsche 2011 Boxster Spyder.
Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:31 AM | View the original post
Photo: The IMOCA Open 60 "Estrella Damm" designed by Custo Dalmau. (Photo Credit: Nico Martinez, Fundacio Navegacio Oceanica Barcelona, Spain.)
The New York-Barcelona Transoceanic Sailing Record countdown has begun. Hundreds of New Yorkers gathered at the World Financial Center's Winter Garden to take part in the inauguration of the Transoceanic Sailing Exhibit that includes a series of events throughout the city from March 26th through April 3rd, all leading up to the establishment of the first sailing record between New York and Barcelona. Two IMOCA Open 60s, the W Hotels and Estrella Damm, will leave New York harbor between April 5th through April 12th to arrive in Barcelona, Spain, between April 20th and 30th.
Source: Fundacio Navegacio Oceanica Barcelona, Spain.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:39 AM | View the original post
Photos: An unconventional elegant eye-catcher: smart fortwo as a designer piece.
The world-famous Swiss designer Rolf Sachs has taken the smart slogan "open your mind" literally and has come up with his own ideas to design a smart fortwo for the Geneva Motor Show.
He used his unique splashing and marking technique as an unusual means of expression to create an enthusiastic and lively look with fine splashes of color.
Rolf Sachs is the son of wealthy industrialist and photographer Gunter Sachs and has lived and worked in London since 1994. Rolf Sachs is regarded as one of the big names in the creative design scene.
"smart and Rolf Sachs are a great team as both the young car brand and the work of the unconventional designer are characterised by new ideas, joie de vivre and responsibility towards the environment," explained Daimler AG. "This is why Rolf Sachs was commissioned to design the smart lounge at the Geneva Motor Show and give it a special ambience with his own personal style."
Source: Daimler AG, Stuttgart, Germany
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:26 AM | View the original post
Hyundai, Kia and Ford Accelerate on Cars.com as Longtime Market Leaders See Declining Interest.
Amidst concerns over the Toyota recall, interest in several of the brand's popular models declined sharply in February on Cars.com. According to the most recent Cars.com Consumer Search Index, which tracks the fluctuation of consumer contact with dealers originating from the site, 6 of the top 10 decreases were for Toyota models including Rav4, Corolla, Camry, Highlander, Prius and FJ Cruiser.
GM rounded out the top ten decreases, with four models experiencing sharp declines in consumer interest - Sierra 1500, Corvette, Tahoe and Equinox.
The Korean manufacturers Hyundai and Kia benefited directly from Toyota's troubles. Interest in the new Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sorento skyrocketed in the month of February according to Cars.com.
In addition to the two Korean manufacturers, Ford continued its strong performance on the site which has helped propel the manufacturer past GM in terms of total sales for the first time since 1998.
The Hyundai Sonata topped Cars.com's list of new cars experiencing the largest increase in consumer contacts to dealers, with a whopping 106 percent increase. The Sonata was followed by the Hyundai Tucson at 83 percent and the Kia Sorento at 69 percent. Ford also had three cars in the top 10. The new Fusion, Escape and F-150 ranked 6th, 7th and 8th respectively.
The Toyota Sienna, which wasn't part of the recall, bucked the trend and ranked 4th out of the 10 vehicles experiencing the largest increase in consumer contacts to dealers.
"The aggressive marketing efforts on the part of Hyundai and Kia are working when it comes to generating interest among car shoppers," said Cars.com Editor in Chief Patrick Olsen. "It's nothing short of surprising to see the activity that the new Toyota Sienna has generated, considering all the turmoil surrounding the automaker's recalls."
Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by some media companies, including Belo, Gannett Co., Inc., The McClatchy Company, Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company.
Cars.com Consumer Search Index - February 2010:
• Consumer Contacts to Dealers:
February Movers ------ % Increase
-------------------------------------------
Hyundai Sonata ------ 106%
Hyundai Tucson ------ 83%
Kia Sorento ------ 69%
Toyota Sienna ------ 30%
Honda Odyssey ------ 19%
Ford Fusion ------ 15%
Ford Escape ------ 11%
Ford F150 ------ 10%
Honda Civic ------ 9%
Chevrolet Camaro ------ 7%
------------------------------------------
February Losers ------ % Decrease
------------------------------------------
GMC Sierra 1500 ------ 51%
Toyota RAV4 ------ 50%
Toyota Camry ------ 38%
Toyota Corolla ------ 37%
Toyota Highlander ------ 37%
Chevrolet Corvette ------ 35%
Toyota Prius ------ 34%
Chevrolet Tahoe ------ 33%
Chevrolet Equinox ------ 28%
Toyota FJ Cruiser ------ 25%
------------------------------------------
Source: Cars.com
|GlobalGiants.Com|
"The news from the car sales front corroborates that the marketing and communications structure of a big automobile company is flawed without the following two distinct specialist divisions working in conjunction:
• One that specializes in long term advertising & marketing strategy, studies the genuine needs of diverse auto consumers, and keeps itself abreast of the trends and developments in the auto industry.
• One that specializes in short term advertising & marketing strategy, remains alert, monitors the changes and fluctuations in the wants and preferences of various categories of car buyers, watches the movements of the competitors, and looks after the situation."
© GlobalGiants.Com. All Rights Reserved.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:09 AM | View the original post
Efficient and Fast Plug-in Hybrid Super Sports Car.
Photo: Porsche debuts three advanced hybrids at this year's Geneva Auto Show: the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept (front center); the 911 GT3 R Hybrid (left); and the Cayenne S Hybrid (back).
On the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche has unveiled an ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car featuring hybrid and electric drive technology.
Photo: Michael Macht, President and CEO of Porsche AG, presents the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept Car in Geneva.
The 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
In addition to this two-seater high-performance 918 Spyder mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology, the other two models on display are:
1. Porsche's new Cayenne S Hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive
2. 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car with electric drive on the front axle and a flywheel mass battery
Photo: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept.
The 918 Spyder concept combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility.
A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes:
1. The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16 miles.
2. In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.
3. The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance. Most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels.
4. In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused on pure performance with the high standard of driving dynamics on the track.
According to Porsche, with the hybrid drive system offering this wide range of individual modes and applications, the 918 Spyder is able either to achieve lap times comparable to those of a thoroughbred racing car, or the extremely low emissions and high fuel economy figures of a plug-in hybrid.
Porsche 918 Spyder has lightweight body structure.
Photo: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept.
"The driver and passenger are not only embedded in contoured sports bucket seats but also form part of the cockpit, which provides a synthesis of efficient functionality and ergonomic high-tech operation," explains the company.
The center console rises up towards the front in the 918 Spyder and houses a touch screen for intuitive control of the car's functions, serving to reduce the number of visible controls and maintain the principle of direct operation.
The control units relevant to the driver are mainly concentrated on the three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel, while the variable driving modes are supplemented by a switch enabling the driver to call up various drive programs.
Photo: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept.
The Porsche 918 Spyder concept also comes with further innovative functions such as the Range Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover, naturally allowing the driver to influence that range through the appropriate choice of power and performance.
In cities with environmental alert areas the Range Manager also states whether the driver is able to reach a certain destination on electric power alone.
Applying this information and using further info on the availability and location of special energy filling stations, the driver is then able to choose his personal style of driving as well as the right battery charge and filling strategy.
Source: Porsche AG
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:22 AM | View the original post
Photo: Singapore Airshow 2010 - A330-200F on display. (© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2010)
Airbus had a major presence at this year's Singapore Airshow, showcasing both its commercial and military transport products. The highlight was the first public presentation of the new A330-200F Freighter. The aircraft, which is currently undergoing its certification program, was on static display throughout the show.
The new freighter is the latest addition to the highly successful A330 Family and will enter service later this year. According to Airbus, offering the lowest operating costs in the medium sized freighter category, the A330-200F can carry more than 69 tonnes of cargo on non-stop flights of 3,200 nautical miles. The aircraft features a versatile main-deck cargo loading system, which can accommodate both pallets and containers, enabling operators to serve the freight lift needs of varying markets.
Photo: The A380 made its first visit to Switzerland for airport compatibility tests in advance of Singapore Airlines' new service with the jetliner to Zurich, which will begin in March. (© SWISS AIR FORCE 2010)
Photo: The A330-200 Freighter completed successful cold-weather testing in Canada, keeping this new cargo aircraft programme on track for its planned certification in March. (© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2010)
Meanwhile, Airbus welcomed over 50 Spanish students at its headquarters and final assembly lines in Toulouse, South of France as part of its commitment to establish relations with the future international engineering generations. The visiting students, mainly made up of those studying aeronautical engineering at the Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya in Terrassa in Northern Spain, spent a day at Airbus where they met industry experts, were given tailored presentations on Airbus products and had a guided tour of the company's A380 and A330/A340 Final Assembly Lines.
Photo: Underscoring its commitment to establishing ties with future international engineers, Airbus welcomed more than 50 Spanish university students to its Toulouse, France headquarters. (© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2010)
The Spanish students belonged to The European Association of Aerospace Students, EUROAVIA, an association which aims to stimulate contacts between students and the aerospace industry. "With over 80 different nationalities working at Airbus sites across the world, Airbus is a living example of how successful an international company with cross-cultural diversity can be," said Thomas Ehm, Head of Employment, Training and Competence management at Airbus. "As an expanding company in a highly innovative industry, it is important to support young engineers and establish strong links with universities and dynamic young people who may well go on to become innovative employees of tomorrow" he added.
Source: Airbus Headquarters, France
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:39 PM | View the original post
Goodyear continues long tradition of providing aerial coverage of the Olympic Games.
Viewers of the winter Olympic Games from Vancouver, British Columbia may have seen some spectacular aerial views of the event brought to them by Goodyear.
According to Goodyear, it provided its first Olympic coverage almost 88 years ago.
• Goodyear, one of the world's largest tire companies, manufactures its products in 59 facilities in 24 countries around the world.
Photo: Goodyear Blimp
In 1932, the Goodyear blimp Volunteer gave a local radio station a bird's-eye view of the summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles - starting the first of nine Olympics in which the company would coordinate the aerial views.
"Goodyear works at the request of the networks and has supported the Olympic Games in Los Angeles twice, Lillehammer, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Turin, Beijing and now Vancouver," said Sara Waldman, Goodyear's airship public relations manager. "We've used our famous blimps, planes, helicopters and tethered aerostats to provide the aerial views."
Goodyear has used a variety of aerial camera platforms due to the challenges and limitations of Olympic Winter Games in mountainous regions with heavy snow and ice, explained Waldman.
Goodyear's coverage of the Vancouver games is being provided by an airplane and a helicopter equipped with high-definition cameras and working with the production teams at the various venues around Vancouver.
For more than 50 years, Goodyear's blimps have provided aerial coverage of the most watched sports, entertainment and news events around the world, says the company.
According to the company, the partial list of events covered by the Goodyear blimps includes the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, and championships for NASCAR, the PGA, World Cup Soccer, the America's Cup, Grand Slam Tennis, Triple Crown horse races and the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:35 AM | View the original post
For Spring 2010, Cole Haan has partnered with fashion photographer Todd Selby to create a new advertising campaign, "The Inspired Life."
According to Cole Haan, the imagery celebrates family, friends, art, nature, community, competition, adventure, and love -- the forces that drive and color our lives.
The campaign portrays real life individuals wearing Cole Haan, chosen for their unique approaches to life and style. Each individual was shot in his/her natural environment, producing a campaign that reveals everyday interests rendered meaningful and beautiful, explains the company.
The campaign will be supported with a fully integrated marketing including a debut in the March issues of top women's and men's fashion titles, online, out of home, direct mail and in-store.
Cole Haan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc., is America's style and luxury brand offering handcrafted men's and women's footwear, accessories and outerwear. The brand has stores in Japan as well. Recent expansion in Asia includes first new concept store in Macao, along with presence in Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, and two new stores in Dubai. Cole Haan is looking for global expansion in Europe, Latin America, India, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Cole Haan
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:58 AM | View the original post
Advertising that a toy is made in China can be as successful as saying a watch is "Swiss Made", if the marketing is done right, a Queensland University of Technology researcher says.
Professor Brett Martin found that promoting a product's country of manufacture could help it to sell, even if it was made in a country associated with lower quality.
"It is standard advertising practice to market a product's country of origin if the country is perceived as a high quality producer and not mention the country if it is not," Professor Martin said.
"However, my research has found consumers can easily be persuaded to think positively about a 'low quality' country."
Professor Martin said the trick was to get consumers to imagine positive thoughts when reading product information.
"This is because getting people to use their imagination weakens the stereotypes people use about goods from different countries," he said.
His study tested 516 young adults after they viewed product information for digital cameras made in Germany, which is seen as a manufacturer of high quality products, and Poland, which is regarded as a maker of lower quality products.
Measuring their purchase intentions and emotions, the study found that sparking the consumers' imaginations about Poland created a lasting positive response towards the Polish-made camera which equalled the positive response felt towards the German-made camera.
"These findings form an interesting consideration for marketers," he said.
"Having a strong country of manufacture can be effective for advertising, but if you get people to imagine how good a supposedly weaker country is, the advantage for the high quality country drops substantially.
"This is because many people form a quick impression when they find out where a product is from, like a t-shirt from Hawaii.
"Getting them to imagine the islands' great beaches and surf culture interrupts that thinking and lets a product sell on its merits, rather than being dismissed without consideration."
Professor Martin said his research which is forthcoming in the Journal of Consumer Behaviour meant companies which manufactured their products in countries associated with lower quality should rethink their marketing strategies and not just compete on price.
He said that a strong country of manufacture was not necessarily the great advantage that many advertisers think and cautioned against resting on the laurels of a country's good reputation.
Source: Queensland University of Technology, Australia
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:18 AM | View the original post
Apple today introduced iPad, a device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, viewing photos, watching videos, listening to music, and playing games.
iPad's responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch(TM) display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds-- thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. "iPad includes 12 new innovative applications designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 applications in the Apple Store," says Apple.
iPad will be available in late March worldwide.
"iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before."
Source: Apple
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:33 PM | View the original post
Photo: IBM inventor, John Gunnels, holds U.S. Patent #7,506,196, one of 4,914 patents IBM received from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2009 -- the 17th consecutive year IBM topped the annual list of patent holders. Gunnels received patent #7,506,196 for an invention that enables IBM's Blue Gene supercomputer to run with the assurance that its internal communications network is functioning properly.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:35 AM | View the original post
Advanced Battery R&D and Manufacturing Capacity will Rise with Scheduled Roll-out of Plug-in Hybrids, Fuel Cells and Battery Electric Vehicles.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today unveiled the FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
The FT-CH is a concept that would address Toyota's stated strategy to offer a wider variety of conventional hybrid choices to its customers, as it begins to introduce plug-in hybrids (PHVs) and battery electrics (BEVs) in model year 2012, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCHVs) in 2015 in global markets.
"Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply," said Jim Lentz, TMS president. "A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels. One of many alternatives is through what is commonly called the electrification of the automobile. By far, the single most successful example of this has been the gas-electric hybrid."
The CH stands for compact hybrid. According to Toyota, the FT-CH captures the spirit and functionality of a car that thrives in the inner-city environment; sized right to be nimble, responsive and maneuverable.
"It's a package Toyota dealers and customers have been asking for," added Lentz.
The FT-CH was styled at Toyota's European Design and Development (ED2) center in Nice, France.
In the early 2010s, Toyota plans to sell a million hybrids per year globally, a majority of those in North America. To accomplish this, Toyota will launch eight all new hybrid models over the next few years. These will not include next generation versions of current hybrids; instead, they will be all new dedicated hybrid vehicles, or all new hybrid versions of existing gas engine models.
The heart of hybrid technology is its battery. According to Toyota, it has systematically reduced size, weight and cost of the battery while improving its energy density, quality and reliability.
Like hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, battery electrics will require the creation of infrastructure for recharging on the go. This issue of range is also a challenge to overcome. Toyota believes these are hurdles that will be cleared.
Source: Toyota
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:27 PM | View the original post
The United Colors of Benetton collection for Spring 2010 brings together small stories to be discovered.
For women, outerwear remains the key player for the spring, together with shirts which often become dresses. Trousers, available as Bermuda shorts, play an important role both in women's and men's wardrobes.
• The Womenswear Collection
The well known garment, the jacket, takes centre stage, with dresses, shirts, sweaters, skirts and trousers as its co-stars.
New textiles & patterns revive drapery. Reversible fabrics with patterns on one side & plain on the other create a special "double" effect. Denim is understated. Plain and yarn-dyed poplin is used for a wide range of shirts. Cotton chenille and plush viscose create the jersey collection. Outerwear is in medium-lightweight cotton yarns.
The waist & shoulders are the focus of silhouette, whilst the trousers are full length.
The white, blue, pale blue and cherry red are the colors of the first theme. The second pallete includes white, grape red, blue, beige and grey; while brown, purple, green, yellow and orange are the colors of the third theme.
Description: Cotton top with sequins. Cotton jodhpur trousers. Leather sandals with cork sole.
Description: Cotton jumpsuit with gathered waist. Eco-leather shoulder bag with applied pocket. Leather sandals with cork sole.
Description: Cotton muslin shirt with gathering. ¾-length sweatpants with applied pockets. Eco-leather maxibag. Leather sandals with cork sole.
Description: Linen waistcoat with belt. Cotton shirt with gathering. Satin trousers with drawstring waist. Leather sandals with cork sole.
Description: Viscose vest top. Cotton muslin jodhpur trousers. Leather sandals with cork sole.
Description: Eco-leather jacket with zip. Eco-leather belt. High-heel leather court shoes.
Description: Delavé denim jacket. Cotton muslin maxi-shirt with all over print. Cotton t-shirt with central print. Microfibre leggings. Delavé canvas sneakers.
Description: Delavé denim jacket. Stretch cotton t-shirt with print. Cotton jodhpur trousers. Delavé canvas sneakers.
• The Menswear collection
London, Paris, New York, or any other large city in the world, after a busy day at work. The look? A pullover, a t-shirt and a pair of comfortable trousers, and outerwear.
A mix of classic and sports fabrics. Double cotton for trench coats, blends of cotton/wool or cotton/linen suitable for jacket and trouser suits. Check patterns, windowpane checks, houndstooth checks on cotton for jackets, trousers and shirts. There is a range of greys and browns/beige with touches of red and pink for the first theme, while white, electric blue, lime green, red, indigo blue and steel grey are the colors proposed for the second theme.
Description: Unlined nylon trench coat. Round-neck cotton sweater. Slim-fit cotton trousers. Braided leather belt.
Description: Lined cotton/nylon jacket with applied pockets. Yarn-dyed crinkled cotton shirt. Slim-fit cotton trousers. Braided leather belt. Delavé canvas sneakers.
Description: Suede leather jacket. V-neck cotton sweater. Cotton scarf with fringes. Braided leather belt. Delavé canvas sneakers.
• United Colors of Benetton is a global brand with a strong Italian character. The Benetton Group is present in 120 countries around the world.
Source: Benetton Headquarters, Italy.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:56 AM | View the original post
Photo: The Refined New Longines PrimaLuna. The circular rose gold case, set with 48 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds (total weight 0.403 carats), surrounds a white mother-of-pearl dial decorated with 11 arabesque Arabic numerals. The case houses an automatic self-winding mechanical movement L595 that shows the hours, minutes, seconds and date. This model is fitted on a rose gold bracelet with a folding safety clasp. Water-resistant to 30 meters.
Photo: A symbol of passing time, living time, the moon that enchants us. The New Longines PrimaLuna. The circular stainless steel and rose gold case, set with 48 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds (total weight 0.403 carats), surrounds a silvered dial with a flinqué decoration featuring 11 blue Roman numerals. The watch houses an automatic self-winding mechanical movement L595 that shows the hours, minutes, seconds and date. This model is fitted on a stainless steel and rose gold bracelet with a folding safety clasp. Water-resistant to 30 meters.
• Elegant, contemporary, subtle and carefree, the new Longines PrimaLuna offers a new collection of exquisite models.
• This ladies' watch is also a piece of jewelry. The pleasing curves of the case are enhanced by a play of diamonds.
Photo: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, wearing the Longines PrimaLuna. (Photo © Longines.)
Photo: The New Longines PrimaLuna. The circular stainless steel case, set with 48 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds (total weight 0.403 carats), surrounds a white mother-of-pearl dial set with 11 diamonds and houses a quartz movement L129 that shows the hours, minutes, seconds and date. This model is fitted on a stainless steel bracelet with a folding safety clasp. Water-resistant to 30 meters.
This is how Longines describes PrimaLuna: "A silvery moon on a spring night; a star that glistens reaches its peak and then disappears. A symbol of passing time, living time, the new Longines PrimaLuna is a tribute to the silvery star the moon that entrances us with its rounded, delicate lines. Its soft silhouette is enhanced by the exquisite purity of the dial and the whole is illuminated by a play of sparkling diamonds. Graceful, magical, this is a model that will seduce women who appreciate contemporary, sophisticated elegance."
Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World's leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 130 countries. Based in St. Imier in Switzerland since 1832, Longines has been timekeeper for world championships in various sports.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:59 PM | View the original post
• Volvo XC90 R-Design makes its first appearance in Bollywood with "3 Idiots" starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The film will be released on December 25.
"We are delighted to be a part of a big banner Bollywood movie. Bollywood is a cult in India," says Paul De Voijs, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India.
For the first time in India, Volvo Cars gets associated with Bollywood with the debut of its red XC90 R-Design in the much awaited releases of 2009 - 3 Idiots. Produced by Vinod Chopra Films and directed by Raj Kumar Hirani, the film's cast includes Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi.
Aamir Khan has scored successes in all the movies in which he has been involved since the start of the 2000s. Today he is somewhat more restrained in his on-screen output and performs in no more than two movies a year. The female co-star Kareena Kapoor is also immensely popular. The other two stars R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi, are also among Bollywood's acting elite.
"The movie and its lead characters emanate vibrancy, energy and sportiness; exactly the qualities represented by our XC90 R-Design. Hence the ideal integration of our brand and the movie," says Paul De Voijs.
"Artistic integrity is crucial for successful brand placements and the utility of the product has to be woven properly into the script. The placement should be a natural fit," Paul de Voijs further adds.
The film is about the journey two friends undertake in their search for a third compatriot, played by Aamir Khan. The backdrop of the movie is along the length and breadth of India, covering the scenic beauty of the mountainous region of Ladakh. The film has been shot along the world's highest-altitude road, at 5,590 metres or 18,340 feet above sea level. The landscape is dramatic and breathtaking.
Volvo Auto India is a new operator in India, a gigantic, fast-growing market and one of the most competitive in the world. Volvo established a presence in India just over two years ago and has since then worked intensively to market the Swedish brand.
With a corporate office in Gurgaon, Volvo Cars opened its first dealership in Chandigarh in March 2008 and currently market's its products through its dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Pune.
So far Volvo Auto India has chosen to launch two models, the Volvo XC90 and Volvo S80 but the coming years they are lining up more new models. The first one to be launched during 2010 is the Volvo XC60. The focus is on positioning the brand in the luxury car segment.
• In 2012, India is expected to be the world's fifth or sixth largest car market.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:43 AM | View the original post
Overall satisfaction with the new-vehicle purchase experience has improved from 2008, but automakers are losing 12 percent of new-vehicle sales to other brands, on average, as a result of poor customer treatment at dealerships, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study.
The study is a comprehensive analysis of the new-vehicle purchase experience. Overall customer satisfaction is measured for five factors:
Dealership Facility;
Salesperson;
Paperwork, Finance Process;
Delivery process; and
Vehicle Price.
Overall satisfaction averages 836 points on a 1,000-point scale in 2009, up by 11 points from 2008. Satisfaction with each of the five factors improves from 2008, with the greatest improvements in the two areas that are most within the dealer's control -- the salesperson and delivery process factors.
According to J.D. Power, salespeople have improved most notably from 2008 in helping buyers stay within their budgets and in negotiating prices quickly. Within the delivery process, dealerships have improved considerably in providing complete explanations of the owner's manual and explaining vehicle features.
"In this difficult economy, dealerships are working particularly hard to close sales, but need to be attentive to customers without exerting unwanted sales pressure," said Jon Osborn, director of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "Nearly one in four buyers in 2009 reports experiencing sales pressure from their selling dealer."
The study finds that more than one in five shoppers who leave a dealership without purchasing a vehicle do so because they experienced poor treatment or dealer performance issues such as pricing games, sales pressure tactics or discourteous treatment. While 43 percent of these buyers ultimately purchased from a different dealer of the same brand, 57 percent decided to purchase from a different brand altogether. For the industry as a whole, this equals a 12 percent loss of retail sales to other brands.
"With the billions of dollars that automakers spend designing, producing and marketing new vehicles, as well as in driving customers to showrooms, it is critical that potential buyers are not pushed out the dealer's door because of a poor customer experience," said Osborn. "Manufacturers and dealers should be concerned with the experiences of all shoppers, whether they purchase or not. From a buyer's perspective, recollections of their shopping experience include not only the selling dealer, but also all of the other dealers they visited."
The 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study is based on responses from approximately 48,000 new-vehicle buyers who purchased or leased their new vehicles in May or June 2009. The study was fielded between August and October 2009.
Sales Satisfaction Index Ranking --------- J.D. Power Circle Rating
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)
• Luxury Brands
Jaguar ---------------------- 898 ---------------- 5
Cadillac ---------------------- 893 --------------- 5
Lexus ----------------------- 877 ---------------- 4
Mercedes-Benz ------------ 877 ---------------- 4
Land Rover ------------------ 872 --------------- 4
(Average) ------------------- 864 ---------------- 3
Lincoln ----------------------- 863 --------------- 3
BMW ------------------------ 861 ---------------- 3
Porsche ---------------------- 861 --------------- 3
SAAB ------------------------- 857 --------------- 3
Acura ------------------------ 856 ---------------- 3
Infiniti ------------------------ 845 --------------- 2
Volvo ------------------------- 842 --------------- 2
Audi -------------------------- 828 --------------- 2
• Mass Market Brands
Mercury ---------------------- 867 --------------- 5
smart ------------------------- 865 --------------- 5
Buick ------------------------- 864 --------------- 5
Pontiac ----------------------- 864 --------------- 5
Chevrolet -------------------- 863 --------------- 5
MINI -------------------------- 862 --------------- 5
Saturn ------------------------ 858 --------------- 4
HUMMER --------------------- 856 --------------- 4
GMC -------------------------- 853 ---------------- 4
Ford --------------------------- 847 --------------- 4
Subaru ------------------------ 834 -------------- 3
Suzuki ------------------------ 832 --------------- 3
(Average) -------------------- 832 --------------- 3
Honda ------------------------ 830 --------------- 3
Volkswagen ------------------ 828 --------------- 3
Scion -------------------------- 826 --------------- 3
Kia ----------------------------- 823 -------------- 3
Toyota ------------------------ 823 --------------- 3
Chrysler ---------------------- 822 --------------- 3
Hyundai ---------------------- 819 --------------- 3
Nissan ------------------------ 815 --------------- 3
Mazda ------------------------- 809 --------------- 2
Dodge ------------------------ 805 ---------------- 2
Jeep -------------------------- 805 ---------------- 2
Mitsubishi ------------------- 778 ---------------- 2
Source: J.D. Power and Associates
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"A typical car buyer trusts others' advice rather than any traditional advertising.
Hence, the Word of Mouth is the forgotten most powerful publicity tool that an automobile manufacturer may explore and employ to advertise its products as well as to promote its dealer showrooms."
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:58 AM | View the original post
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