Author: Serkadis

Mobile and social entertainment company Digital Chocolate has launched its newest game, MMA Pro Fighter, on Facebook—and it’s teaming up with Offerpal Media to monetize it. The game lets players create and train their own mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters; players use virtual goods and abilities (like extra stamina) to gain the upper hand, and that’s where Offerpal’s offer-based ads come in.

Players can earn Pro Points, the game’s currency, by completing the offers. I asked Trip Hawkins, Digital Chocolate’s CEO, if the company had taken any of the negative press surrounding offer-based ads—and Offerpal in particular—into account before partnering with them for the game’s launch. His commentary on the ads, the overall “scam” debate, and some insight into what’s coming down the pike in 2010 follows.

Tameka Kee: Is this Digital Chocolate’s first foray into offer-based ads?

Trip Hawkins: “We’ve used offers in previous Facebook games like Tower Bloxx, but we think MMA Pro Fighter has a superior design for the use of virtual currency and offer networks. [This] is a very new economic model [that] will mature over time.”

Did you have any concerns about working with Offerpal? How will the company make sure that the ads aren’t “scamming” users?

“We intend to operate with integrity and transparency; there are several methods available that can help both us as the client company and the offer networks themselves do a good job. There’s been some healthy debate and humility of late that will help the industry improve and mature—but we have confidence in Offerpal.”

Will the Offerpal platform translate to mobile as well? For example, if I’m playing MMA Pro Fighter on the iPhone, can I still access the offers?

“We do see Offerpal and offer completion networks in general making the transition to mobile devices, and expect to see more of this in 2010. For now, MMA Pro Fighter is only on Facebook on the desktop. The goal is to extend all of our games to many platforms—we’re a mobile and cross-platform company—but I don’t have specifics about when this game will be available on mobile, or which device yet.”

Can you offer any insight into the upcoming Nanostars virtual goods project? Will offer-based ads be part of the monetization?

“NanoStars will debut in January and use several payment methods, including offer networks.”

Related

• Digital Chocolate Adds Virtual Goods To Games Mix With NanoStars Project | paidContent
• Amid ‘Scam’ Accusations, Social Ad Firm Offerpal Installs A New CEO

When you put xenomorphs, predators, and gung-ho space marines together in a dark place, you don’t really need a reason for the fighting to erupt. That’s exactly what happens in this Aliens vs. Predator trailer. Yeah, it’s

As markets become more competitive manufacturers are looking to reduce costs wherever they can. CILS has been approached by a number of product manufacturers seeking a cost-effective replacement for metal rating plates.

One such manufacturer called in CILS to review their production systems, as their existing metal plates were outdated and needed replacing. CILS were asked to advise on whether computer imprintable labels would offer the durability needed for the products and what cost savings could be made.

Following a review by the CILS technical team a solution was proposed using CILS computer imprintable polyester labels. This resulted in a cost saving of over $36,000.00 per annum – or around 20% of annual spend.

• CILS durable imprintable labels offer a wide choice of adhesives for any application from low energy plastics to oily and greasy metal components
• Durable print resistant to abrasion, heat and chemicals
• Adhesives to suit any application – eliminate the need for additional fixings
• Produce durable labels in-house using your thermal transfer or office laser printer
• Thermal transfer print packages available consisting of printer, software, ribbons and durable labels matched to your requirements

Label-Aire is proud to introduce improved versions of its label applicator line:

* The NEW 3111-NV Air-Blow
* The NEW 3114-NV Tamp-Blow
* The NEW 3115-NV Wipe-On

All new models now feature a wealth of extra features as standard across the product line.

3111-NV Air-Blow
3114-NV Tamp-Blow

3111-NV & 3114-NV Labelers

The Label-Aire Model 3111-NV was designed for high-speed air-blow labeling applications at a standard dispense speed of up to 1,500″ (38.1 m) of web per minute or up to 2,000″ (50.8 m) with the optional powered rewind. Advanced features include Velocity Compensation for improved label placement accuracy, a microprocessor controller with digital display, and ambidextrous parts. Zero Downtime Labeling allows your production to continue without costly interruptions. Missing label compensation virtually eliminates unlabeled products. Furthermore, the 3111-NV comes standard with a heavy duty double stack stepper motor-at no extra charge. The standard 7.13″ (181 mm) wide applicator can be configured with a 4.13″ (105 mm) wide or a 7.13″ (181 mm) wide air grid. Not only can the 3111-NV be easily converted to left- or right-hand use, it can also apply labels to the top, side, or bottom of products with a label dispense accuracy of up to +/- 1/32″ (.8 mm). Adding to the 3111-NV’s versatility are the availability of tamp-blow and wipe-on conversion kits.

The Label-Aire Model 3114-NV was designed for high-speed tamp-blow labeling applications at a standard dispense speed of up to 1,500″ (38.1 m) of web per minute or up to 2,000″ (50.8 m) with the optional powered rewind. Advanced features include Velocity Compensation for improved label placement accuracy, a microprocessor controller with digital display, and ambidextrous parts. Zero Downtime Labeling allows your production to continue without costly interruptions. Missing label compensation virtually eliminates unlabeled products. Furthermore, the 3114-NV comes standard with a heavy duty double stack stepper motor-at no extra charge as well as a standard 1″ to 10″ (25.4 mm to 254 mm) adjustable stroke. Not only can the 3114-NV be easily converted to left- or right-hand use, it can also apply labels to the top, side, or bottom of products with a label dispense accuracy of up to +/- 1/32″ (.8 mm). Adding to the 3114-NV’s versatility are the availability of air-blow and wipe-on conversion kits.

3115-NV Labeler

The Label-Aire Model 3115-NV was designed for high-speed wipe-on labeling applications at a standard dispense speed of up to 1,500″ (38.1 m) of web per minute or up to 2,000″ (50.8 m) with the optional powered rewind. Advanced features include Velocity Compensation for improved label placement accuracy, a microprocessor controller with digital display, and ambidextrous parts. Zero Downtime Labeling allows your production to continue without costly interruptions. Missing label compensation virtually eliminates unlabeled products. Furthermore, the 3115-NV comes standard with a heavy duty double stack stepper motor-at no extra charge. Not only can the 3115-NV be easily converted to left- or right-hand use, it can also apply labels to the top, side, or bottom of products with a label dispense accuracy of up to +/- 1/32″ (.8 mm). Adding to the 3115-NV’s versatility are the availability of tamp-blow and air-blow conversion kits.

Filed under: Videos

The Ken Block/DC Shoes marketing machine shows no signs of slowing as we drift bass-ackwards into 2010, and to close out the year, Block and his crew have released four new videos to delight, amaze and discombobulate.

Although the Gymkahana Two Director’s Cut and Block vs. Pastrana: Game of Suck Highlights vids are an entertaining diversion before the holidays, it’s the Gymkhana Two Artist Remix that’s set to challenge Major Lazer’s Pon de Floor (look it up) for the most mind-warping, psychedelic-addled clip of 2009. The less said, the better, so jump first and ask questions later. Tip of the D/C-branded baseball cap to Scotto for the tip.

Continue reading VIDEO: New spots from Ken Block prove he’s got more skills, better drugs

VIDEO: New spots from Ken Block prove he’s got more skills, better drugs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yet interestingly, this demographic disaster starts to unfold next year.

The Economist: SINCE the 1970s China’s birth rate has plummeted while the number of elderly people has risen only gradually. As a result its “dependency ratio”—the proportion of dependents to people at work—is low. This has helped to fuel China’s prodigious growth. But this “demographic dividend” will peak in 2010.

The evolution of China's elderly and child population is shown below in an Economist graphic.

It shows that from 1975 - 2010, China's one child policy helped create an economically-beneficial situation whereby the proportion of dependents in the population fell over time. Thus the country had increasingly more workers (producing economic output) per dependent (consuming output).

However, 2010 and onwards is when it's time to pay the piper. The proportion of elderly dependents will enter a multi-decade growth phase, whereby there will be increasing numbers of non-working dependents for each working-age person to support. Thus what was once a substantial tailwind reverses into a GDP-grinding headwind, starting next year.

Chart via The Economist

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See Also:

• Iraq Doubling Its Oil Supply To China
• CEO Of Goldman Sachs-Owned Molycorp Is Psyched About Treasury's Protectionist Attitude Towards China And Gold Mining
• Bank Of China Official: The World Is Running Out Of Money To Buy US Debt

We don’t normally show “unboxings” here because they are typically targeted at the hardcore geek crowd, and we like to talk about the business of mobile technology. But this one was worth breaking the rule for…

In the video, a UK gadget blog films what is perhaps the most unusual boxing ever. The phone being un-boxed is the Maemo-powered Nokia (NYSE: NOK) N900 smartphone, which is also called a “tablet.” The phone comes packaged in a black shiny cube, called a “hack box,” according to the TracyAndMatt blog (via TechCrunch Europe). To open it, they must connect their computer to the box via a mini-USB port and enter various commands on their computer screen. When the codes are cracked, the lid pops open with a puff of smoke. Inside is the normal assortment of phone gear…The hacker box is not for retail, but rather for tech reviewers, but it makes you wonder how mainstream of a product they expect the phone to be? Video after the jump….

James Altucher, one of our favorite market mavens, has just published his list of predictions for 2010.

The most striking: AOL gets picked up by Microsoft.

From the Wall Street Journal:

AOL is a private-equity dream come true at current levels.  Over the next four years it is going to generate more cash than market cap and then the rest is gravy if it can figure out how to wind down or sell the business without losing too much money or, heaven forbid, transform the business so it becomes exciting again. But, before that happens, why wouldn’t Microsoft buy it? Check out this chart comparing aol.com + yahoo.com + msn.com. 

Rather than buy Yahoo for $22 billion it can buy AOL for one-tenth of that and now compete face-to-face against Yahoo. It’s a no-brainer and I expect it to happen in 2010 once the dust settles around its spinoff/IPO from Time Warner (TWX).

Eddie Elfenbein has summarized the nine other predictions for next year.

1.) The S&P 500 will touch 1300 at some point during the year.
2.) Unemployment goes down to 8%.
3.) GDP hits an annualized 6% by Q2 as inventories get restocked.
4.) Dendreon (DNDN) is acquired.
5.) B will the best letter in the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China.
6.) Health care will greatly outperform the S&P in 2010.
7.) Banks start lending money again.
8.) Either Apple or Amazon will develop the killer tablet computing product (or be close to it for 2011).
9.) The world will not end.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Have We Been Slumming Around AOL HQ?
• Will Microsoft Join Google’s Acquisition Feeding Frenzy, Or Cry Foul?
• Doug Kass’s 20 Big Surprises For 2010 Now Free To Read

Last week we flagged an interesting announcement from The Treasury regarding a proposed invesment from China in a gold mine in Nevada.

In announcing its intention to block the deal, the Treasury cited national security issues.

Well this is music to the ears of Molycorp — a company engaged in the mining of rare earth metals — which has received subsidies from the government, as well as a major investment from Goldman Sachs (GS).

The company has made a big deal out of the fact that that China is expanding its global mining share, and thus it should be eligible for subsidies. In fact, it’s big strategy seems to be playing the scare card.

And so we’re not surprise to see this approving Tweet out of the company in regards to the move from Treasury. Protectionism ahoy!

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Treasury Tells Obama To Block Chinese Investment In Nevada Gold Mine
• Goldman’s Mining Subsidiary Using China Fears To Get Taxpayer Money
• Why Did Goldman Get A $3 Million Gov’t Gift For "National Security"

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Japan, Hatchback, Honda, Toyota

The latest issue of EVO hasn’t dropped into our laps yet, but our favorite Brit pub apparently got the scoop on another variant of the Toyota FT-86 — one that’s supposedly track tuned and considerably cheaper than the model due to arrive in 2011.

Powered by the same Subaru-sourced, Toyota-tuned boxer four, this supposedly stripped out variant could dispatch some of the standard model’s amenities and come equipped with upgraded brakes and suspension components specifically designed for track work and drifting duty. According to EVO, a fully optioned FT-86 would carry a price tag of around $27,000, while this budget-oriented performance model will retail for around $22,000 — a similar setup to the Hyundai Genesis Coupe RSpec.

EVO goes on to report that Toyota’s crosstown rivals are working on a one-make race series for the Honda CR-Z and plan to campaign the hybrid hatch at the 24 hours of Nurburgring enduro in May. The more the merrier we say…

[Source: EVO via FT86Club via Jalopnik]

REPORT: Track-focused, budget-oriented Toyota FT-86 on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turns out Capcom has more pseudo-NES goodness in store for early next year. Aside from Mega Man 10, They’re also putting a retro sheen on Dark Void with the DSi platforming title, Dark Void Zero.

»  Some startups say the iPhone is more than just a cash machine for app developers … It’s the bridge to building “the next generation of big tech companies.” [LAT]

»  Mozilla is “thisclose” to launching a Firefox for mobile browser. Code-named “Fennec,” the Nokia N900 will supposedly get it first. [BBC News]

»  When it comes to being the fastest 3G network—at least in terms of data—*AT&T* wins, hands down. [Gizmodo]

»  TuneWiki, Flixter and Google Voice make it into Digits’ list of the “best-reviewed” Android apps of 2009 [WSJ]

»  A video review of Google and Yahoo’s free WIFI campaigns for the holidays. [AdAge]

»  U.S. netbook sales revenue is forecast to hit $11.4 billion this year, up 72 percent vs. 2008. But growth in 2010 will be flat. [DisplaySearch]

We’ve heard so many stories of copyfraud that many of us have been wondering why there aren’t greater penalties for making bogus copyright claims. It appears at least someone over in the UK is asking the same question. We already noted how Lord Lucas, a technology aware member of the House of Lords who can program and has run some digital businesses, was speaking out against Peter Mandelson’s Digital Economy Bill, noting that the entertainment industry is to blame for not adapting.

Now, via Michael Scott, we learn that Lord Lucas has introduced an addition to the Digital Economy Bill adding remedies against those who bring “groundless” copyright claims:

“169A. Remedy for groundless threats of infringement proceedings

(1) Where a person threatens another person with proceedings for infringement of copyright, a person aggrieved by the threats may bring an action against him claiming–
(a) a declaration to the effect that the threats are unjustifiable;
(b) an injunction against the continuance of the threats;
(c) damages in respect of any loss which he has sustained by the threats.
(2) If the claimant proves that the threats were made and that he is a person aggrieved by them, he is entitled to the relief claimed unless the defendant shows that the acts in respect of which proceedings were threatened did constitute, or if done would have constituted, an infringement of the copyright concerned.
(3) Mere notification that work is protected by copyright does not constitute a threat of proceedings for the purposes of this section.
(4) A copyright infringement report within the meaning of section 124A(3) of the Communications Act 2003, if notified to a subscriber under section 124A(4) of the Communications Act 2003, does constitute a threat of proceedings for the purposes of this section.”

While it would be nice to see those who are falsely accused of copyright infringement have at least some stronger legal rights, it seems unlikely that this gets anywhere.

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Como muchos de vosotros sabreis, los Ford del mercado americano disponen del sistema Sync, una solución tecnológica de entretenimiento que incorpora conectividad a Internet. Por el momento no esta disponible en Europa aunque se afirma que llegará a lo largo del 2010.

Gracias a este sistema, los pasajeros podrán navegar por Internet si se pincha un modem HSPA en el puerto USB del coche. Este creará un punto de acceso WiFi que estará protegido por encriptación WPA2 (lo mismo que un router doméstico recien instalado) y una lista de usuarios autorizados para evitar el gorroneo.

Por otra parte, actualmente en Estados Unidos es mucho más barato acceder a internet mediante móvil mientras que en España y el resto de paises europeos es más caro. Lo más seguro es que el resto de fabricantes adopten una posición similar a la de Ford en los próximos años.

Related posts:

1. Ford confirma el motor V8 de 5.0 litros para el Mustang GT
2. Fotos del Ford Focus RS
3. Ford C-Max 2010, imágenes oficiales

General Motors (GM) plans to experiment with running auto factories 24-hours a day.

It’s a bold move to become the most efficient auto producer in the world.

Even Toyota (TM) doesn’t run 24-hours, despite the fact that in many other industries 24-7 factories are common.

Given GM’s current overcapacity, this means that some factories will experiment with this new 24-hour operation, while others will be shuttered.

WSJ: The move comes as GM is closing other plants around the country. That means the 23-year-old Kansas City factory, which will add more than 900 jobs, as well as two other GM plants scheduled later for a third shift will become boom towns of sorts as other plants go dark.

What’s shocking is how, traditionally, only operating 69% of the days in a year used to be considered running at 100% capacity.

That’s no accident. The Obama administration auto task force that oversaw GM’s reorganization last spring was startled to learn that the industry standard for plants to be considered at 100% capacity was two shifts working about 250 days a year. In recommending that the government invest about $50 billion in GM, the task force urged the company to strive toward operating at 120% capacity by traditional standards.

Keep in mind that was just two shifts working 250 days a year, which is 500 shifts. Three shifts working 365 days could theoretically create output could be 1,085 shifts. That means that true output potential, from the same factories simply run more intensely could be 120% more than the industry currently imagines.

Yet some in the auto industry question whether 24-hour operation would ever be possible.

But industry manufacturing experts are skeptical, noting that the federal task force had limited automotive experience. “Do those guys understand the business?” asked Ron Harbour, whose Harbour Report is a widely followed analysis of auto-plant efficiency.

But come on, 24-hour operation has to be possible, even if difficult at first. The same goes for working more the 250 days a year.

In the long-run if done well, maximum intensity just makes sense from an efficiency stand point. In the future we’ll probably laugh about two shifts x 250 days a year. If we can fit entire libraries of data inside a mobile phone, or create biologically engineered drugs, running an auto factory 24 hours a day surely must be within reach as well.

Hopefully this GM gamble works out — and hopefully the auto union doesn’t prevent it from becoming the standard.

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See Also:

• Microsoft’s Departing CFO Joins GM As CFO And Vice-Chair
• GM CEO Fritz Henderson Stepping Down
• Fritz Henderson’s Daughter Calls GM Chairman "A SELFISH PIECE OF SH*T"