Cigarette Shares Plummet

Cigarette Shares Plummet 

In today's society, smoking is becoming less and less popular. It is seem as an unhealthy habit that can lead to many bad consequences. To compensate for the declining volume of smokers, many tobacco companies increased the price of cigarettes. This boosted stock prices and profits. However, that strategy is not going to work if the volume of smokers continue to decrease. The increase in prices might even influence current smokers to quit. There have been many large investments in smoking alternatives like E-cigarettes. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine without all of the harmful chemicals. However, the sales for e-cigarettes were not moving up as fast as expected. 

A device called IQOS was the biggest bet for a cigarette alternative. Instead of burning the tobacco, it just heated it to where the user could get the dose of nicotine without the harmful chemicals. It is the closest thing to a cigarette and was predicted to have a great sales result. The device was released in Japan, one of the biggest smoking countries, and it only captures 3% of the smokers there. 

“Device sales were slower than our ambitious expectations,” Philip Morris Chief Financial Officer Martin King said on a call with investors.

We are seeing less and less smokers each year. It seems that today's society is focused more on using their money for more important things. People no longer want to feel good by putting something addictive and possibly harmful into their bodies. 

Written by Shawn Pham

WSJ Article

Sorghum, A Trade Fight Between China and the U.S.

The United States of America and China had been rivals in the economic realm for quite a while. Since the president Trump was elected, their relations got worse. The two economic giants are fighting over everything, lately, Sorghum has been a new subject.

Sorghum is a cereal grain and it grows like a corn. It is usually used for sweating, but it has more usages, especially here the United States. It is used as live feed and then transformed to ethane. Sorghum is drought resistant and has a huge value in drier regions of the States. It is also popular because it can be used as ground into a flour and it can substitute wheat flour. There is no doubt that Sorghum is an important to the farmers and as all to the U.S economy.

China is also one of the countries that benefit from Sorghum, it used for animal feed and the making of liquor. The trick is that it is essentially imported from the United States. The export of Sorghum in China has reached a seal of 2 billion in favor of the U.S in 2015 and made one billion for the past two years. It is an export that really favors the U.S and due to recent invents China wants to make the trade life trickier for them.

After Washington had mad tariffs on import on solar panels and washing machines from China, the minister of economy in China open an investigation on Sorghum surcharge in February. A previous investigation reviled that Sorghum grain being dumped at a price that hurts domestics producers, it also a reason why the minister of economy acted and required the importer to pay 178.6% of the value of the Sorghum shipment form the U.S.

New York City Is Getting a Pizza Museum

New York City is slated to get its very own pizza museum.

Nameless Network, a Brooklyn-based media company, plans on launching the Museum of Pizza—MoPi, for short—at a still-to-be-announced location. Billed as the “world’s first experiential pizza adventure,” the pop-up museum will be open from Oct. 13 to Oct. 28, though Nameless Network Chief Executive Kareem Rahma said the company will consider extending the run.

The museum will give visitors a history of the ever-popular food item, Mr. Rahma said. But it will also celebrate pizza’s place in pop culture through art and interactive elements, such as a “cheese cave” made from silicone and a “pizza beach” where visitors will experience, in Mr. Rahma’s words, “a huge wave of cheese” (via a digital video).

The pizza museum follows the success of the Museum of Ice Cream, another pop-up that sold out its run in New York in 2016 and has gone on to other cities. Similar food museums have since been developed throughout the country, and a Museum of Candy, by the Sugar Factory restaurant chain, is planned for New York.

But a pizza museum should have special appeal in New York because of the city’s storied connection with the food item, said Arthur Bovino, a food writer.

“I guarantee you this will have a line down the block once it opens,” he said.

Still, some say the pop-up food museum concept may have a limited market and audiences could lose interest. “It’s going to run its course,” said Susie Wilkening, a Seattle-based museum consultant.

Is Amazon Abusing the U.S Postal Service

  It is not breaking news anymore, people felt that coming, the Amazon chairman and owner Jeff Bezos has surpassed Bill Gates as the richest man and thanks to his awesome online retail shop. Unfraternally, success doesn’t come without the problem and one of the problem Amazon faces today is its system delivery. Recently the president Trump called out Amazon and said that there are avoiding taxes and using U.S Postal Service as “their Delivery Boy.”

            For some people the U.S Postal Service should, in fact, thank company like Amazon, and here is why. Last year the Postal Service had their revenue growth to 11.8 % or 2.1 billion in their shipping and package department, a special thanks to the e-commerce.

            In today society, people do not use letter and stamp as they use to back in the 80’s and 90’s, emails and social media have taken over, and the U.S Postal Office is suffering from it. Last year it – U.S Postal Office had encountered a loss of 2.7 billion leaving its pension and healthcare service vulnerable. Is it for those reasons that the president Trump is putting pressure on them? Maybe.

            U.S Postal Service is known for its low pricing, that is why the company such as Amazon does business with them. On the other hand, some think it is maybe time for them to raise their pricing a little bit. So, is Amazon wrong, and the president Trump is right? I personally do not know. All I do know is that USPS is not a business, it is a government service with a profitable structure for e-commerce.  

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Sets Box-Office Records

Walt Disney Co.'s superhero epic "Avengers: Infinity Prom" set new records for the biggest domestic and global opening of all time this weekend, collecting an estimated $250 million in the U.S. and Canada and totaling $630 million around the world.

The studio is on an unprecedented box-office streak. It crossed the $1 billion mark at the domestic box office in 117 days this year—another industry record.

“Infinity War” opened in about 72% of available markets, and its already-staggering overseas haul will rise when it premieres in China on May 11. The movie was No. 1 in all markets where it opened this weekend, setting records in South Korea, Brazil and the Philippines, among others.

With a budget of about $300 million, “Avengers: Infinity War” is the first half of a two-part culmination for Disney's Marvel Studios, which has been building out a “cinematic universe” of interconnected characters and story lines over 19 movies thus far.

Marvel’s success in building a cinematic universe has shifted the strategy of every Hollywood studio now looking for similar narrative and marketing devices, whether in Warner Bros.’s DC Comics franchise or Paramount Pictures’ “Transformers” series. But no rival has had the success of Marvel, which already this year released the hit “Black Panther,” now the third-highest grossing movie of all time at $688 million.

American moviegoers have known Marvel characters like the Incredible Hulk for decades, but since its start in 2008 with “Iron Man,” the Marvel cinematic universe has introduced consumers in countries like Vietnam and Malaysia to characters they turn out to see time and again, said IMAX Entertainment Chief Executive Greg Foster.

“They learned about them in the movies. They didn’t learn about them in comic-book stores,” he said.

Welcome to the New Convenience Store

At Foxtrot in Chicago. PHOTO: LUCY HEWETT FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

With consumer tastes changing, the place where we go for frequently sought, last minute buys must change as well. Convenience Stores, or "C-Stores" are undergoing a much appreciated make over and really blossoming from being the Slim Jim, coffee, and cigarette stop to becoming the kind of place where you can find guilty pleasures like these side by side to vegan offerings, specialty wraps, and green juice.

These new additions are meant to complement the unchanged aspects of the traditional c-store such as the size of the store and late hours. The Choice Market in downtown Denver is a shining example of this new breed of convenience store: they are open 24 hours a day, they carry milk, yogurt, and Doritos as well vegan chips, quinoa, seaweed and multigrain foods. Owner Mike Fogarty says that despite all these hip offerings including beer and Kombucha on tap, The Choice Market is not a restaurant, nor is it a health food stop. It is a convenience store where you are meant to find junk food as well wider range of healthy/vegan options.

Choice Market in Denver offers beer on tap.

More stores such as this are appearing in the U.S. such as the Green Zebra in Portland, Oregon, the Foxtrot in Chicago, and the Goods Mart in L.A. “People will come in and say this isn’t a convenience store,” said Lisa Sedlar, the founder of Green Zebra Grocery. “And I say, ‘Of course it is.’ We are redefining what it means to be a convenience store in America.” For Foxtrot CEO and Founder Mike LaVitola, the inspiration was to create a new take on the classic convenience store offerings at a higher quality; swapping what repulses some consumers about c-stores like grimy sandwiches for more appealing options with better ingredients. All of these storefronts embody the convenience store ways but with a more hip vibe and as  result, conventional convenience stores are taking note of these changes and even improving the aesthetics of their own shops through improved lighting and hardwood floors or expanding their offerings. The implementation of these changes shows that the traditional format stores are aware of the new competition and are trying to keep up.

There are many forces driving this change based on Hartman Group studies; the emergence of fast-casual restaurants, snacks replacing meals, and the fact that primary shoppers are making stops at a vast range of outlets have all made an impact towards this change. Increasingly, not all customers opt for a fast casual eatery when they want to have an experience on a short time frame. Today, 50% of all "eating occasions" are now replaced by snacks—and the straight shot location to snacks is a convenience store! Additionally, the average number of grocery trips made per purchaser, per month jumped nearly 30% between 2014 and 2017, so it is no surprise that these quasi-specialty food/ quasi-one stop shop are increasing in popularity.

These new stores have a finger on the pulse of what a convenience store should be in the future, and are doing their best to keep it that way. They are meeting consumer’s changing need for finding the finer things along with the comforting items that have been the draw to convenience stores in the first place; I am excited for more! My question now is with consumer tastes changing constantly, what will this become in 20-30 years? Will this new format be the final upgrade to the traditional convenience store? While these convenience store owners suggest that this is the final format for them, with more prestige associated with these locations they could easily cross over to other industries like the restaurant business or increase size to the point they become supermarkets. This article describes only a handful of this new kind of c-store but with their popularity at the beginning of their life cycle, it is a matter or time before new competition arises attempting to jump on the bandwagon. If this is the case, I hope they get it right.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/welcome-to-the-new-convenience-store-1524677133?mod=cx_picks&cx_navSource=cx_picks&cx_tag=collabctx&cx_artPos=6#cxrecs_s

Article by,

Jane Black

April 25, 2018 1:25 p.m. ET

The Million-Dollar Cancer Treatment: Who Will Pay?

     

                                    

Research has recently revealed tremendous break-through’s in the treatment of cancer and the attempt to cure it. Genetics-based medicine has recently came to the forefront of cancer research and treatment, and has shown very promising results. These therapies, “deliver new genes or genetically altered cells to tackle some of the hardest-to-treat diseases, including in children. They come at a high price: Novartis AG listed its newly approved cell therapy for cancer at $475,000, while Gilead Sciences Inc. priced its rival drug at $373,000.” Furthermore, through each treatment the price would creep higher and higher thanks to extended hospital stays and other incurred costs. This is a significant price to pay for most people, and some wonder if insurance will one day step up to the plate and cover this life saving treatment.

In regards to marketing, these pharmaceutical companies should further market the idea and prove how effective this treatment truly is. When people see that this is a truly effective treatment, many millions would be allocated to the further development of the treatment, and therefore the price of the treatment would eventually fall and become more accessible to the majority. However, as everyone knows; medical equipment and treatment is not cheap, and many do not have healthcare. In my humble opinion, if you cannot afford it, you shouldn’t be able to obtain it. And it should not be the job of the taxpayers and the government to pay for these types of treatments. Therefore, the only solution is that these companies develop a way to reduce the price of the treatment low enough where the majority of people can afford it.

Andrew Dibello

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-million-dollar-cancer-treatment-no-one-knows-how-to-pay-for-1524740401

How to Get More Women in the Boardroom? Some Try Blunt Force

Globally, diversifying the work environments has been a popular topic of discussion in recent years. Ideally, there would be no gender discrimination but governments have taken to passing laws to promote more women to top management positions. As a result, in countries such as Italy, Germany and several other European nations, the number of women on big company boards has tripled and, in some cases, quadrupled. 


In France for instance,  their government passed a law in 2011 which required all blue-chip firms to fill at least 40% of board seats with women and gave them six years to meet this requirement. In that time, the quantity of female directors within the country’s biggest companies more than doubled to 43% of board representation, as illustrated by the Corporate Women Directors International (CWDI), a research and advocacy group's data suggests.

The introduction of these quotas has put a new spin on recruiting tactics, one such female board member suggests; Sophie Bellon, chairwoman of Sodexo SA recently joined the board of cosmetics giant L'Oreal in 2015.  She explains, that “there is more energy and more thought put into how people are chosen, what kind of talent or skills companies want.” Increasing the effort put forth to find these highly qualified women is imperative to bringing about this change.

Although this measure is driving up the number of female board members, this has not increased the number of ladies working in top management positions as the lawmakers had hoped. In Norway, only 15 of the country's 200 largest companies have a female CEO, and in the United States the number is about the same. Diversifying thanks to government intervention is helpful, but it is disheartening that businesses do not see the value of having women in more leadership positions. Today, mounting research links a greater number of women in the boardroom with more positives than ever including greater long-term financial performance and less corporate governance-related scandals than average as compared to those boardrooms with no women.

While there are groups who counter that it is difficult to prove female directors are the true cause of more positive outcomes, companies such as BlackRock Inc. the world’s largest money manager, said earlier this year that companies in which it invests should have at least two female directors. New York State Common Retirement Fund said last month it would oppose the re-election of directors on hundreds of U.S. corporate boards with no women. This change in direction is refreshing however in the United States the change is still on a voluntary basis. For many, rushing companies to comply with a quota could create new problems. 


As a group, women have been unifying for their advancement in a big way in recent years.The demand for better pay, advancement in the workplace, and zero tolerance to sexual harassment have been hotly debated topics and people want change; this part of the external environment has had a big influence on changes such as this. Now that this environmental change has reached our workplaces, hopefully we can expect to see more women leading companies and creating new industries; even seeing women uplifting each other more in the future would be a welcome change.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-get-more-women-in-the-boardroom-some-try-blunt-force-1524648602
Article written by, Vanessa FuhrmansUpdated April 25, 2018 6:28 a.m. ET

So Many Games, So Little Time

There isn't a gamer out there who dreads the single most frustrating problem when it comes to playing video games, time.  One can only choose from a vast amount of video games and stick to one for at least a couple of months until you decide to move on to a different one.  The urge to switch games has become such a problem that you might get the urge to lose patience and switch to a different one.  Today the game that has grasped the attention of 45 million people is none other than Fortnite.  It has become such a viral hit that there's even a scholarship on a certain university that grants it to the person who has mastered the game.  This game has gained massive attention and this has become a problem for other video game publishers.  The per-share earnings from publishers like Activision, Blizzard, or Electronic arts have dropped from 5% to 7% and all due to Fortnite stealing the spotlight.  This "tastical risk" can only be recovered by publishers as soon as the attention from Fortnite drifts off into other newly released games like God of War or Far Cry 5.  If only there was a way to finish the games faster while enjoying them and retaining the experience...

'A Quiet Place' Sneaks Back to Top of Box Office

                          

 
In Los Angeles, it was another competitive weekend between some of the hottest movies in theatres right now. "A Quiet Place" placed first, brining in $22 million, and Rampage was a close second, bringing in $21 million after this past weekend.

Already, "A Quiet Place" has grossed $132.4 million from North American theatres after just three weeks, while only having a $17 million production budget. It's obvious that every penny spent on this movie was definitely worth it. But, Dwayne Johnson is not letting "A Quiet Place" get all of its glory without any competition. Johnson has repeatedly used social-media accounts to thank his audiences, but to also hype his film. But these star's strategies can only benefit the box office, so they aren't complaining to have some extra advertisement from popular stars.


                                         

After "A Quiet Place" and "Rampage," Amy Schumer's "I Feel Pretty" scored third place in the box office, "Super Troopers 2" scored fourth, and the horror film "Truth or Dare" scored fifth.

However, despite the successes of these big film's, the box office's numbers for the year remains down about 2.4% from last year. But, that is expected to change in the coming week because they are expecting to see a huge turnaround with "Avengers: Infinity War." In fact, the film is expected to make more than $200 million in its first weekend in theatres and could have the highest opening of all time.

In this article, the box office is using a S.W.O.T. analysis of their business. They are analyzing what weaknesses they have by comparing their numbers from last year to their numbers from this year. They are analyzing their customers and seeing what they are demanding from the box office to have the match the profit they have made from the previous year. However, the box office has a strategy in place. They are relying on the newest and soon to be hottest action film, "Avengers: Infinity War," to push their numbers beyond anything they have ever  had in the past. The office is relying on this movie to pass up numbers that "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" produced, which is currently in first place for having the highest opening of all time. They have a plan for overcoming their weaknesses that this year has brought, and they are hoping that the opening of the newest action film will push their profits over the edge, and their numbers will ultimately surpass their numbers from last year.



Kelsie Walker



https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-quiet-place-sneaks-back-to-top-of-box-office-1524424680

Coca-Cola Earnings Boosted by New Diet Flavors

Coca-Cola Co. has added four new flavors in skinny, redesigned cans and they have already sold more Diet Coke in its latest quarter for the first time since 2010. 

The new drinks haven't been on shelves very long and the increase was modest but the company said early results suggest its plan to reinvigorate the Diet Coke brand is working. 

The launch appeared to be "bold enough and interesting enough" to not just engage long-time Diet Coke drinkers but also millennials. The last time Diet Coke’s quarterly volumes increased in North America, its largest region by sales, was the fourth quarter of 2010, a company spokesman said. Diet Coke’s sales volume in the U.S. has declined every year since 2006, according to industry-publication Beverage Digest.

The modest improvement reflects only the first several weeks of sales and sales could soften but their new campaign is hoping to attract different audiences to boost their sales revenue. 

The Future of VR

The Future of VR

I've always been an avid gamer since I was 6 years old. I always wondered if it would be possible to be totally immersed in a game where I could control everything with my mind instead of a handheld controller. When the first VR, virtual reality, headset was introduced I knew the gaming industry would be taking great strides. Just recently, Steven Spielberg's "Ready Player One" highlights the possibility on a movie screen. It's like watching your dreams become closer to reality, but it's on a screen which fuels the dream to one day transform into a reality. 

Hardlight VR Inc. took their first steps into making VR more immersive by releasing a $300 haptic jacket that is equipped with haptic sensors in October 2017. This jacket allows users, for example, to feel the impacts of a punch, a bullet hit, or a sword hit.

Now, HaptX is developing a full body suit that is also equipped with haptic sensors  as well as a better representation of a user's movement in VR games instead of holding controllers. These types of simulation equipment can be used for recreational purposes or training purposes for law enforcement or military purposes. Other companies are developing ways for a VR user to stay in one place but move freely and naturally to mimic running, walking, rolling, crouching, crawling, etc. While companies are innovating to get their "new" product out there, others are waiting to copy the product to make it cheaper for consumers. Hopefully one day we will achieve total VR but until then, we'll see where technology takes us.

WSJ

    Netflix Breaks Up Audience 

                                  Romance With Telenovela

By: Dalila Perez

      The effect of increasing numbers of Latin viewers on Netflix is beginning to have an intense impact on the Mexican broadcast channel Televisa, the world’s biggest creator of Spanish-language television programming. Primetime novelas that once were the highest generators of revenue for Televisa are now decreasing rather quickly due to Netflix creating higher quality dramas and racier "narcovelas". Netflix is introducing new shows that are sparking the interest of those who are beginning to become tired of the same old, basic storylines that their old novelas follow every time on Televisa. 

        Being a Hispanic myself, I am surrounded by people who have been watching the creations of Televisa since I was born and I can agree that these shows are very predictable. They follow "a Cinderella-style" storyline. Where the protagonist falls in love. But it is an impossible love—standing in the way is either a gap in social class or a scheming villain. Along the way, there are tears, slammed doors, betrayals and more tears. However, in the end, love wins. This basic storyline gets boring over time and I have seen first hand how the new and improved shows that Netflix has been introducing lately have impacted the Televisa programming company. 

       These new shows on Netflix are robbing Televisa of their target market and taking their business. In all honesty, Netflix is smart for making this decision. The Latin market is growing and by adding them to their target market, they are expanding the ways in which they will be able to make money for their company. 

     

https://www.wsj.com/articles/viewers-spurn-the-telenovela-for-a-new-love-netflix-1524501901?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=3

    

Amazon to Start Offering In-Car Deliveries

Amazon is now delivering packages right to your car. 

The company announced on Tuesday that is has joined General Motors and Volvo Cars to start offering in-car deliveries. This deal will expand Amazon's effort to get consumers comfortable with the idea of strangers entering their homes and cars as the company handles more packages. The car service is free for Amazon Prime members who own certain newer GM and Volvo models. 

The new delivery option is part of the Amazon Key program which was launched last year. This system allows the company's delivery drivers to drop off packages inside homes of customers. Amazon said this delivery method will ensure an authorized driver is at the right location with the correct package before the vehicle is remotely unlocked. 

The entire Amazon Key program relies on customers allowing strangers to access their most personal spaces. But unlike with the home, where security cameras can record a delivery person’s entry and exit, there are no easy ways to view a delivery person’s interaction with vehicles and whatever items people store inside them.

This new program is another way Amazon is trying to integrate itself into customer's lives and to control every step in the retail process. Still, it's unclear whether there will be a widespread demand for in-car delivery. While many car companies are equipping vehicles with a growing amount of technology, many owners tend to use only the basics. The use of in-car delivery doesn't seem appealing to many customers. 

Problems Sleeping with your Significant Other?

Problems Sleeping with your Significant Other?

To all the couples out there that do share a bed every night together, you all know very well the pros and cons of that experience. While it is nice to have someone next to you to cuddle, small nuisances like snoring, unbalanced sharing of the blankets, or possibly the bed itself can lead to a negative nightly slumber. "In a 2012 National Sleep Foundation survey, 1,000 adults aged between 25 and 55 ranked the factors most important for their best night’s sleep. One can almost see the pillows sailing while reading the list: room temperature, noise and the number of blankets piled on the bed rated high."

Here are some ways you can improve your nightly experience with your partner:

1. ThisWorks Sleep Plus Spray: Using lavender, vetiver, chamomile, and more essential oils, this spray can improves quality and length a user's sleep. Price: ~$46  https://www.thisworks.com/us

2.  The Magic Blanket: This blanket is weighted and acts like a blanket that you would use for infants. This "magical" blanket claims to help you snooze within minutes. Price: ~$109 https://magicweightedblanket.com/

3. Somnox Sleep Robot: A body pillow that mimics the breathing of a human for those who want the comfort of the living but their partner doesn't want to cuddle. This pillow is fuzzy too! Price: ~$549 https://somnox.nl/

4. ZEEQ Smart Pillow: Raises a sleeper's head when the pillow detects snoring with built-in microphones. Price: ~$200 https://rem-fit.com/

While many of these companies are offering these products, they should consider their target market's budget and willingness to pay for such services or products. I personally wouldn't spend this much money on these products unless I have insomnia. I usually look at reviews on products too so they should show good reviews/bad reviews on their websites.

WSJ

Retail Rivals Amazon and Best Buy Team Up to Sell Smart TVs

Lately many business have been foreclosed due to an increase in web purchases. Now a days people would rather stay at home and make purchases online rather than getting out of bed or making extra runs to the store. This has made many business think of new tactics on how to keep their sales from going down. Best Buy, for example, has teamed up with Amazon. Amazon is one of Americas greatest retail rivals, you can find anything you want for a cheaper price with a 2 day mail delivery. Amazon and Best Buy have already been in business together by selling each others products but they want to increase their sales and expand the market which is why they have teamed up to sell smart TV's. Best buy will exclusively be selling 11 models of Fire TV, made by Toshiba and Insignia, in stores, online and now through Amazon! Not only that but Amazon Alexa products will be in Best Buy stores for you to check out! This can attract people to come and check out both products and decide whether it is something they want, which most likely they will, and buy online if they prefer it. These new TV's will have a voice-capable remote, ran by Alexa,  which can be used to verbally change channels, apps or powering on/off these TV's. 

Talk about strategizing! Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. What better way to boost up your sales than by teaming up with the competition. This is an excellent way to increase the sales in both retail stores. Best buy will now have access to Amazons online customers while Amazon will widen their target market for products that feature Alexa. This is also a good way to see the product in person. I know I am always skeptical when buying things online, especially when it comes to electronics, but with this team up I can physically go check out the products. Even if I purchase the product online and don't like it, it will be easier to return it in stores and get a refund or exchange it rather than wait. It is usually really fast to purchase items but to exchange or return items it always takes forever! 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/retail-rivals-amazon-and-best-buy-team-up-to-sell-smart-tvs-1524045603

Why Parents Are Fans of Games Like 'Fortnite'

There is something familiar about a parent hating the idea that their children play video games instead of going outside and spending time with friends.  Both playing a videogame and socializing can be done thanks to a video game called Fortnite which parents are beginning to actually warm up to.  The game includes voicechat where you can speak to your friends and others about making up a strategy to fulfull the game goal.  This game isn't new to the idea of voicechat, World of Warcraft from previous years has done so, but it has revolutionized the way we play games with its core concept.  Any person can join in and have a blast.  Parents are even encouraging their kids to connect with friends.  The games popularity itself is massive making it popular amongst gamers.

Another aspect that makes Fortnite popular amongst parents is the fact that it isn't violent at all.  It is a game which includes cartoony characters that run around a map and destroy each other before time runs out.  What also makes parents approve Fortnite even more than other social media plataforms is that it has the socializing aspect but it is also a game that is interactive.  It makes players work as a team and talk about soccer practice or school as well.  It is huge on the friend aspect where you can invite three people to join as a team to defeat a total of 100 players who are also teamed up.  Not only are Facebook or Instagram big on connecting people, games like Fortnite do as well.  There has been a case in particular where two boys, one from Chicago and another from New York, became real friends within the game and talked to their parents about meeting up in real life.  Fortnite is changing not only the video game landscape but the way we communicate in real life as well.  Now who would see the day that a parent encourages their kid to play video games?

A toothbrush by Apple?

The New Toothbrush by Apple with Colgate

     The Colgate paired up with Apple to make the new Smart Electronic Toothbrush E1. This toothbrush is an iPhone linked dental brush which lets you see in real time how well you are brushing your teeth. This new toothbrush connects to your phone via Bluetooth and by running the app. When first opening the app, it guides you how to pair your toothbrush with your phone. Next, it asks to basically map out your teeth and your mouth. It uses a "smart brushing analyzer" which can gain the area in where your specific teeth are inside of your mouth. With this, the app will use this information to tell you if you missed a spot on your tooth or which teeth need more attention.
     

     If the user brushes their teeth for less than the two-minute recommendation, it records it and lets you know how many teeth you missed. Next time you use the toothbrush, it gives you a guide to follow on how to properly clean those teeth which were previously missed. It guides you through each tooth by providing an illustrated view of your teeth. The app also provides family-friendly

 games for younger children to learn to brush their teeth correctly-- and in a fun way! This toothbrush by Colgate is only available to use with Apple products. However, there are other similar options like the Philips Sonicare diamondclean Smart toothbrush-- which is available for android and apple users alike; however, it is double the price of the Colgate smart toothbrush.

    This article was appealing to me because I am a huge Apple fan. I have always supported and bought their products and it interested me how they were able to team up with Colgate and put out such a great product! It is interesting how they can put such an amazing product out there and it not have much coverage. This WSJ article was the first i had ever heard of it-- which surprised me because Apple usually promotes new products/services right away.

    When relating this product to the four Cs, this is not something that the consumer wanted or knew they needed before it came out. When it comes to cost, the price is not incredibly high. $100 dollars for a toothbrush which gives you accurate information on your brushing techniques is not crazy; however, compared to a regular Colgate brush which costs about $3 at the drug store shows the difference in price and quality. The convenience  of buying this product is not very appealing; moreover, one has to purchase this toothbrush at the Apple store (if it is in stock) or online at www.apple.com. It is more convenient to go buy a $3 toothbrush at the drug store than going to the galleria and buying one. The Communication aspect of this toothbrush is relatively low; moreover, not many people are asking for this or looking for it specifically-- it is something extra that might be "nice to have" but it is not a necessity.


Submission 5/5
WSJ Link

Plug in vacuums a thing of the past?

Do Cordless Vacuums really work as well as the plugin Vacuums?

     The New Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute was just introduced into the market. While it belongs to a bigger market of vacuums, it has created a new form of vacuums. This Vacuum is a light, cordless, powerful machine. It comes with a built-in dust chamber which can hold .2 gallons of dirt and trash. This is a new addition to the series of Dyson cordless vacuums. with this vacuum being the most powerful cordless one yet, it now comes with an option of powers when vacuuming. The user can choose from levels such as low, medium, and max suction. 

     While there are many pros to cordless vacuums, the cons are a big enough problem which will cause the buyer to second think this expensive purchase. It is noted on the box that the battery lasts "up to 60 minutes;" however, when used on the max setting, the battery will only last 10 minutes at best. while this may seem like a decent amount of time, it makes the weekly chores even longer when you need to take 3 hours breaks to charge the Vacuum in between rooms. This Vacuum may be useful for those who have a small amount of carpet in their homes/apartments or are looking for a nice mobile vacuum for small tasks-- such as cleaning a car. The new Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute retails at $699. The price tag is also a huge drawback for many. The pros and cons of any cordless vacuums have to be examined before taking the leap-- and opening your wallet. There are other less expensive options presented below; however, in comparison to those shown below, the Dyson Cyclone V10 is the one highest in power and battery life. These, among others, are things to consider when investing in an expensive piece of technology.

     This article was interesting to me because I am very invested in the new technology which is released. While I, personally, do not vacuum my home, it is something interesting to know where the future of the vacuum technology is headed. In the past, I remember having a huge vacuum that needed to be plugged in and lugged around the house which could make this already long task even longer. The direction in which this business is moving is one which will make chores less of a hassle and more appealing to do.

     The 4 Cs of this product are as follows:
- The consumer needs and wants: A cordless vacuum is something many desire; however, because of how steep the price point can be can lead people to refrain from buying such a desired item. Depending on how much one really wants the product will determine how much they are willing to pay.
- The cost to satisfy: for having such a high price point, one may expect a longer battery life than what is given. some may not buy this Dyson because of its battery duration of 30 minutes on the highest power.
- Convenience: it is very convenient to buy this product. many can find it in stores such as Target, Walmart, Lowe's and the like. One would not have to go out of their way to purchase this product.
- Communication: I think consumers have spoken up about what they wanted and Dyson is in the process of giving it. they provided a wireless and efficient vacuum; however, they do need to improve the battery life to fully meet the consumer's needs. 

Submission 4/5

WSJ Link