Новости за 23.12.2017

Tesla

• At the end of 2016, I made some predictions about Tesla. 
• A year later, I'm grading myself on how I — and Tesla — did.
• On balance, Tesla got a higher GPA than I did.

A year ago, I took a gander at everything Tesla had in store for it in 2017 and made some predictions. As the carmaker heads into an even more challenging 2018, I thought it would be worth a look back to grade both Tesla — and myself! 

Here's the report card:

The... Читать дальше...

Pucker up? That adorable little sprig you're smooching under this season is actually a ruthless parasite that sucks trees of their nutrients. Mistletoe has a long history that took it from you malicious tree-killer to an icon that's as synonymous as wreathes and holly. Following is a transcript of the video.

AP

• Kroger's new "Scan, Bag, Go" technology allows customers to scan and pay for goods as they shop.
• The grocery chain is rolling it out to 400 stores in 2018.
• Amazon revealed plans in December to introduce a similar technology to its own brick-and-mortar grocery concept, called Amazon Go, which is still in the planning phases.
• Walmart is also testing its own cashier-less technology in more than a dozen stores in Texas, Florida, South Dakota, Arkansas, Georgia, and Kentucky. Читать дальше...

Courtesy of Jim Manning

Not everyone can play Santa Claus for a living.

Sure, anyone can don a Santa hat, beard, and suit and invite parents to plop kids on their lap.

But to play a convincing Santa Claus that kids will forever cherish, and to make a living at it, you must become Santa Claus — and that process takes a lot of work.

For Jim Manning, a full-time children's entertainer who has played Santa Jim in the Boston area for 14 years, learning how to become the... Читать дальше...

Paramount

• The movie "Downsizing" imagines a world where a small percentage of the population elects to shrink themselves to 5 inches tall.
• In the downsized world, people are richer, and their environmental footprint is smaller.
• Scientists say it's not really possible to shrink people "at the cellular level" like this, but there are real ways to make humans smaller that could help offset carbon emissions. 

No matter what Matt Damon does in the movies... Читать дальше...

BI Intelligence

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing rapidly as companies around the world connect thousands of devices every day. But behind those devices, there’s a sector worth hundreds of billions of dollars supporting the IoT. 

Platforms are the glue that holds the IoT together, allowing users to take full advantage... Читать дальше...

BII

The media landscape is almost shifting more quickly than consumers can keep up.

But certain trends have emerged that will carry the media industry into the future.

For the past eight years, IGNITION, Business Insider’s flagship conference, has collected the best minds in media and technology to share what they see as the future. Through unscripted interviews, cutting-edge demos, and insights from industry pioneers, attendees learn what key trends to be aware of and what they need to do to stay ahead. Читать дальше...

BI Intelligence

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

Smart speakers — Amazon's Echo, for example — are the latest device category poised to take a chunk of our increasingly digital lives. These devices are made primarily for the home and execute a user's voice commands via an integrated digital assistant. These digital assistants can play music, answer questions, and control other devices within a user's home... Читать дальше...

BI Intelligence

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

It hasn't been smooth sailing for telecoms in recent years. Native voice and messaging services, which once accounted for the vast majority of telecoms' subscriber revenue, are struggling to compete with over-the-top (OTT) apps, like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Viber — and they're losing.

A fierce and... Читать дальше...

BII

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

Fintech broke onto the scene as a disruptive force following the 2008 crisis, but the industry's influence on the broader financial services system is changing. 

The fintech industry no longer stands clearly apart from financial services proper, and is increasingly growing embedded in mainstream finance. We’re now seeing the initial stages of this transformation. Читать дальше...

Andrew Burton/Getty

• Oil discoveries in 2017 were the lowest since the 1940s, according to oil-and-gas consultancy Rystad Energy. 
• Discoveries have fallen every year since 2014 along with company budgets for exploration. 
• We could face a shortage in as soon as 10 years, Rystad Energy estimates. 

We're running out of new oil. 

Explorers in 2017 discovered the least amount of oil since at least the 1940s, according to Rystad Energy, an oil and gas consultancy. Читать дальше...

Luke Porter / Unsplash

• It is difficult to tell if you are being lied to, especially if it's over text message.
• New research may have uncovered a few tell-tale signs that the person you're texting might not be telling the truth.

Instant messaging, including text messages, Facebook chat, and Whatsapp, have become our main port of call for contacting each other. Messaging is so ingrained into our society that many people struggle to pick up the phone when it rings. Читать дальше...

BI Intelligence

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is disrupting businesses, governments, and consumers and transforming how they interact with the world. Companies are going to spend almost $5 trillion on the IoT in the next five years — and the proliferation of connected devices and massive increase in data has started an analytical revolution. Читать дальше...

Reuters

• Facebook and Twitter are not cooperating fully with a UK parliamentary committee's inquiry into Russian meddling in Brexit.
• A British minister said their engagement with the issue is "wholly inadequate."
• But the government needs to start asking smarter questions if it wants answers.

The British government is losing patience with Facebook and Twitter.

The US tech companies are not cooperating fully with a parliamentary committee's... Читать дальше...

Corinthia Hotel

Getting the suite experience can be possible even if you're staying in a standard hotel room. Business Insider asked frequent travellers and experts for the things they always do to ensure they have the most comfortable stay possible and receive the best service. Their advice includes things like always arriving at your hotel on time, or requesting the room with the sofa bed. Flying first class and staying in penthouse suites is every traveller's dream, but for those on a regular budget, it's hardly a reality. Читать дальше...

BI Intelligence

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

Social networks are here to stay, and they're constantly evolving. Globally, more than 2.8 billion people — or 37% of the world's population — use social media, but the way those users interact with each other, and the platforms they adopt, vary widely.

In the US market, gender, income, and education level... Читать дальше...

BI Intelligence

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

Media consumption is at a saturation point. After rising for much of the last decade, total digital time spent has been nearly static since the start of 2015. As a result, it's increasingly difficult for content producers to win over minutes of consumers' time.

One platform, though, is poised to move the needle... Читать дальше...

BI Intelligence

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

One of retailers' top priorities is to figure out how to gain an edge over Amazon. To do this, many retailers are attempting to differentiate themselves by creating highly curated experiences that combine the personal feel of in-store shopping with the convenience of online portals. 

These personalized online... Читать дальше...

Reuters/James Lawler Duggan

• A federal appeals court panel ruled Friday that President Donald Trump once again exceeded the scope of his authority with his latest travel ban.
• The ruling says Trump's proclamation makes no finding whatsoever that simply being from one of the countries cited in the ban makes someone a security risk.

HONOLULU (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled Friday that President Donald Trump once again exceeded the scope of his authority with his latest travel ban. Читать дальше...

BII

This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

Nearly every global bank is experimenting with blockchain technology as they try to unleash the cost savings and operational efficiencies it promises to deliver. 

Banks are exploring the technology in a number of ways, including through partnerships with fintechs, membership in global consortia, and via the building of their own in-house solutions. Читать дальше...

Thomson Reuters

Bitcoin is everywhere.

The cryptocurrency is seemingly in the news every day as investors and businesses try to understand the future of this digital finance.

But what is Bitcoin all about?

Why is it suddenly on every financial news program?

And what does it mean to you?

Find out the answers to these questions and more in Bitcoin 101, a brand new FREE report from BI Intelligence.

To get your copy of the FREE slide deck, simply click here. Читать дальше...

Screenshot via Twitter/Ali Maadelat

SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket on Friday night, creating a dazzling display in the sky above Southern California, and baffling some people who had no idea what was happening.

Watch some of the reactions from the ground:

"What did I just witness," one man asked:

"It must be a comet."

"Are we about to die?"

Sharing one Twitter user's video... Читать дальше...

Larry Busacca/Getty

• Theranos has raised $100 million in secured debt financing, according to an investor letter reviewed by Business Insider. 
• The funding is the first for the embattled blood testing company since March 2015. 
• In the letter, Theranos outlined its plans for the next few years, including working toward FDA approval for its Zika blood test. 

Theranos is gearing up for its rebound. 

The embattled blood-testing startup told investors... Читать дальше...

Matthias Hangst/Getty

Sports give us some of the most defining moments of each year.

Looking back through photos not only serves as a reminder of events forgotten, but of the range of emotions that come with it.

From happiness to anger, sadness and celebration, to simply incredible highlights, these are our favorite photos of the year, courtesy of The Associated Press and Getty Images.

Markus Eisenbichler of Germany soars through the air.

Serena... Читать дальше...

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

• Thousands of companies have moved their corporate bases out of Catalonia amid uncertainty over the region’s political future.
• Recent economic data shows rising unemployment and falling retail and tourism activity in the northeastern region of Spain which voted for independence in October.
• The full impact on the Spanish economy is far from determined.

MADRID — Caixabank, Gas Natural and Banco Sabadell made headlines... Читать дальше...