The first land plants on Earth may have appeared 100 million years earlier than previously thought, argues a study published  -More-  Reported by SmartBrief 2 hours ago.

Palliative Care Giant Brings Fresh Perspective to the Team

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (PRWEB) February 21, 2018

Acclivity Health Solutions is proud to announce Dianne Gray has joined our team as Chief Innovation and Patient Advocacy Officer. As an author, researcher and global catalyst-for-change, Dianne has spent the past 25 years helping to improve care for the seriously ill, the dying and the grieving. Her professional drive is rooted in her family’s decade-long hospice and palliative care experience, which culminated in the death of her son, Austin, in 2005. Since that time, she has dedicated her life to improving end-of-life care systems for patients everywhere.

“Like many, I found that pain and personal loss provide us with the opportunity for choice. What do we want to do with the time we have left on this earth? How best can we help those within our reach? I feel Acclivity Health Solutions can truly improve how palliative care is provided. What better way to honor the life of my son and the thousands of patients and families I’ve served than by joining a team of powerhouse visionaries, each committed to systemically raising the bar on the end of life care experience?” Dianne commented.

Dianne joins Acclivity Health Solutions after serving as CEO of Hospice & Healthcare Communications, which builds programs, partnerships, and projects to educate families, providers, and businesses on all aspects on end-of-life and palliative care. She also serves as President of the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation, a 501(c)(3) volunteer-based organization that enhances compassionate care and communication for patients needing end of life care.

“It is rare to find the caliber of experience and focus on advocacy in any one person, but with Dianne, there is an incredible wealth of knowledge and compassion,” said Jeremy Powell, CEO of Acclivity Health of the partnership. “While it is certain Dianne’s addition to our team will greatly benefit Acclivity Health Solutions’ growth, it is more certain because of her involvement that our patients, providers, health plans, and family clients will all have greater opportunities to achieve comfortable, dignified, and peaceful outcomes. I am excited and honored to serve with her on healthcare’s biggest mission,” said Jeremy.

About Acclivity
Acclivity Health Solutions provides a platform to support patients, families, providers and health plans with care and dignity. Our solutions serve to provide a managed care approach to the needs of each constituent across the full palliative journey. We improve efficiencies of the clinical staff across the entire workflow and improve the outcomes for patients and proxies. To learn more, visit http://www.acclivityhealth.com Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Burlington, VT, Feb. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Yesterday, you were growing indoor plants using old, fluorescent bulbs.  Today, you’re switching to energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly LED bulbs.  And if not, why not?

First off, grow lights are a great boon to indoor gardening.  Windowsills that are sunny enough to start seeds properly are few and far between.  You want those seedlings to be sturdy and well-rooted, and indoor grow lights do the job.  Houseplants benefit tremendously, too.

But grow lights just got exponentially better, says Gardener’s Supply Company spokesperson, Claudia Marshall.  “Our product development team has engineered new LED bulbs that last up to five times longer than florescent bulbs, and that’s just for starters,” says Marshall.

These newly-designed LED bulbs also use half the energy of their fluorescent predecessors, are made from plastic so don’t shatter like glass and don’t contain poisonous mercury, either.  Marshall says, “You just can’t argue with the math.” 

In addition to selling all its light stands with the new LED bulbs, Gardener’s Supply is offering LED bulbs to retrofit its grow lights that previously used florescent bulbs.  “It’s super easy to snap these new bulbs into place, and the environmental benefits and the cost savings over time are tremendous,” adds Marshall. 

*About Gardener's Supply Company*

Founded in 1983, Gardener’s Supply Company is a 100% employee-owned company of avid gardeners providing garden-tested, earth-friendly products combined with practical information. Located in Burlington, Vermont, the company has won many awards for its innovative gardening products, online gardening content and progressive management style. Gardener's Supply is also a Certified B Corporation and donates 8-percent of its profits to causes that make the world a better place through gardening.   www.gardeners.com

 

 

 

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/945cb506-42f2-4ad0-b099-efc9660e47a9

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/86b61f0d-68e7-4172-a7da-2f04f6809788

CONTACT: Avery Harris
Gardener's Supply Company
8026603521
averyh@gardeners.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 2 hours ago.

Innovative satellite imagery technology helps cities efficiently locate underground leaks within aging piping systems stemming the loss of valuable drinking water

SAN DIEGO (PRWEB) February 21, 2018

UTILIS has been bestowed a significant acknowledgement by Fast Company today having announced its annual ranking of the world’s 50 Most Innovative Companies (MIC) for 2018. This competition honors leading enterprises and rising newcomers that exemplify the best in business and innovation. The 50 Most Innovative Companies were curated from Fast Company's Top 10 lists, which recognize pioneering companies across 36 categories, from artificial intelligence to wellness. UTILIS was one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Israel. More than three dozen Fast Company editors, reporters, and contributors surveyed thousands of companies to create these lists.

Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy. “This year’s MIC list is an inspiring and insightful window into how many companies have embraced innovation and are working to make meaningful change,” said Fast Company deputy editor David Lidsky, who oversaw the issue with senior editor Amy Farley.

“Being chosen as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies is a prestigious honor,” said Elly Perets, CEO of UTILIS. “Each day around the world, six billion gallons of drinking water are lost due to aging and leaking infrastructure putting this precious and limited resource at risk. We are delighted to be recognized in such a manner for our innovation in addressing this serious global issue.”

UTILIS satellite innovation delivers the most efficient and cost-effective way to find specific infrastructure leaks so repairs can be prioritized and expedited. UTILIS uses satellite imagery technology to help cities efficiently locate underground leaks within municipal piping systems. The technology works with microwaves emitted by satellites that penetrate the Earth’s surface by up to 3 meters (nine feet). The signal then bounces back up to the satellite with a signature trait that identifies treated water in contact with soil. These underground pools of water are then placed on geographic info system maps that water utility staff use via access on their mobile devices or computers. A targeted leak would mean that leaks would be occurring within a 50-meter (165 feet) radius of the location on the map. By using this technology, utilities may find up to 4x’s more leaks per day than traditional leak detection methods, thus attacking non-revenue water losses.

Each year 240,000 water main leaks occur throughout North America alone. For more information on Utilis satellite imagery technology for water leak detection, visit http://www.utiliscorp.com.    

ABOUT UTILIS, LTD.
UTILIS is the only patented technology using satellite microwave technology to penetrate soil and search for drinking water associated with leaking pipes. As the world’s only patented drinking water leak detection technology, the Utilis algorithm is uniquely focused on bringing remote sensing technologies to the forefront of protecting our earth’s resources. Utilis has a progressive, ‘never before done’ focus on innovation in the water industry. Headquartered in Rosh Ha’Ayin, Israel with a United States subsidiary in San Diego, CA, UTILIS is on the leading edge of innovation for utilities around the globe. For more information visit http://www.utiliscorp.com. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

Sequels are hard. For hit games, it’s even harder: following up something that was beloved by millions of people involves a balance of expanding your idea while also maintaining the stuff that made people love it in the first place. You only need to look at the lackluster receptions of recent big-budget gaming sequels that have dashed themselves to pieces on the rocky shores of fan expectations, like Destiny 2, Star Wars Battlefront II, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

On the other side of the equation, there are sequels like Alto’s Odyssey (out today on iOS), the follow-up to the mobile gaming classic Alto’s Adventure. It’s the perfect sequel because it confidently recognizes what made the original work — and then, crucially, it... Reported by The Verge 1 hour ago.

Netflix has released the first look at its upcoming reboot of the classic science fiction TV series Lost in Space, which will debut on the service on April 13th.

The company announced the revival in 2016. The show will keep the premise of the original 1965 show: the Robinson family heads into space to establish a new colony but lands on a different world after an accident. The trailer suggests an updated but retro look for the tech and gear, as various members of the Robinson family board their ship in their space suits, accompanied by narration about the adaptability of humanity. The context suggests that Earth isn’t a safe place to live anymore, prompting the efforts to establish a new colony.

There are plenty of nods to the original... Reported by The Verge 49 minutes ago.

PRESS RELEASE

     *Technicolor: Full year 2017 results*

*Paris (France), 21 February 2018** - *Technicolor (Euronext Paris: TCH; OTCQX: TCLRY) announces today its results for the full year 2017.

*Frederic Rose, Chief Executive Officer of Technicolor, stated:*

"2017 was particularly challenging for Technicolor which, nonetheless, showcased the underlying resilience of its operating businesses. The second half of the year showed significant improvement, versus the first half. The pending sale of our Patent Licensing business will be a watershed moment, simplifying our operational model and clearly increasing visibility on our performance, removing conflicts and complexity for all stakeholders. Post-sale, we can focus our capital resources on our key operating businesses - Entertainment Services and Connected Home - alongside our measures to reduce our corporate cost structure, to ensure Technicolor achieves profitable growth and higher levels of free cash flow."

*Full Year 2017 Key Indicators from continuing operations*

  *Second Half* *Full Year*
In € million *2016* *2017* At constant
 rate *2016* *2017* At constant
rate
*Revenues* from continuing operations *2,374* *2,133* *(5.4)%* *4,628* *4,231* *(6.8)%*
*Adjusted EBITDA* from continuing operations *233* *209* *(6.4)%* *359* *291* *(17.2)%*
As a % of revenues 9.8% 9.8%   - 7.8% 6.9% (90)bps
*Free Cash Flow* from continuing operations *111* *172* *+55.5%* *88* *63* *(26.6)%*

Technicolor announced, on December 18, 2017, its decision to sell its Patent Licensing business and that it was in advanced negotiations with a third party. As a result, the Group reported the financial information of its Patent Licensing business, previously included in the Technology segment, under discontinued operations. 2016 results were represented for comparative purposes. R&I and Trademark Licensing activities are now reported under Corporate & Other segment for both years.

*Full Year 2017 Key Highlights*

· Revenues from continuing activities amounted to €4,231 million, down 6.8% year-on-year at constant rate, with an Adjusted EBITDA of €291 million compared to €359 million in 2016. This is wholly attributable to the Connected Home segment as memory price increases negatively impacted its Adjusted EBITDA by €80 million (of which €50 million in the second half);
· Excluding the memory cost impact, Connected Home would have generated an Adjusted EBITDA equivalent to 2016, as the segment recorded significant margin improvement in the second half;
· Entertainment Services recorded an Adjusted EBITDA broadly flat year-on-year at €230 million, with a material improvement in the second half, in particular in Production Services through an efficient resource allocation;
· Group net income amounted to a loss of €173 million, resulting from low operating profits and a non-cash depreciation of €113 million of the net deferred tax assets as a result of the announcement of the planned Patent Licensing disposal;
· Free cash flow for reconciliation^[1] generation before cash impacts of the Cathode Ray Tube cartel case settlement was €102 million, out of which €63 million was generated by the continuing activities;
· Financial structure at end December 2017 is solid, with a net debt of €784 million, down €132 million compared to June 2017. The Group also had a strong level of liquidity (above €700 million, including €390 million of committed undrawn credit lines);
· 2017 financial performance was also affected by advanced negotiations for the sale of the Patent Licensing business, which is now reported under discontinued operations;
· Simplification of the Group's structure is on track thanks to the anticipated strategic transaction related to the Patent Licensing business with corporate costs reduction initiatives launched in the second half of 2017.

*Strategy Update*

As a result of the strategic transaction for its Patent Licensing activities, Technicolor will focus on developing its two operating business segments as follows:

· Entertainment Services:

· Technicolor will continue to develop Production Services as it pursues growth opportunities driven by the continued increase in original content and the emergence of immersive content. Available Group capital will continue to be allocated in priority to opportunities in this business, organically or by acquisition, including the development of market leading tools;
· DVD Services will maximize cash generation while continuing to develop further opportunities for its world class operating platform.

· Connected Home: going forward, Connected Home will focus on new opportunities in home networking and streaming solutions, including through alliances and partnerships. It will also concentrate its efforts to durably improve its profitability. In this context, the Group has decided to exit from a number of customers and countries which are a drag on the division's profitability.

The Group will continue to rely on its world class Research and Innovation Group to develop new tools, such as mixed reality production and new in-home services.

Technicolor's operational and financial profile will also be strengthened by corporate cost reductions and by applying all cash proceeds related to the Patent Licensing business to pay down debt. This will also include the cash settlement received from Samsung in the first quarter of 2018.

*2018 Assumptions by Segment*

*Entertainment Services:*

· Production Services revenues - mid-single digit revenue growth driven by:

· Very strong order backlog in Film and TV VFX;
· Advertising VFX expected to improve in 2018 compared to 2017;
· Post-production anticipated to continue to benefit from the significant increase in streaming original content;
· Revenue growth mildly impacted by slightly fewer projects in Animation & Games.

· DVD Services - revenues and volumes expected to be around 2017 levels notwithstanding continued overall market decline, reflecting:

· Improvement of the US Box Office at end 2017 which is expected to positively impact new release activity in the first half of 2018;
· Outsourcing agreement from Sony DADC to Technicolor in North America and Australia to start in the second quarter of 2018.

· Overall, Entertainment Services Adjusted EBITDA expected to remain flat year-on-year due the DVD Services business, of which short-term profitability will be impacted by raw material (polycarbonate) increases which cannot be passed on fully to all customers in 2018 under existing contracts.

*Connected Home:*

· Revenues:

· Customer portfolio review conducted in the last quarter of 2017 expected to lead to a revenue decrease of around €250 million, corresponding to a decline of around 10% year-on-year.

· Adjusted EBITDA:

· Assumptions for NAND Flash and DRAM memory price is that they remain at a high level throughout 2018, with NAND Flash prices decline starting in the second half of 2018, while a decreasing trend for DRAM is expected beginning in early 2019;
· Current mitigation actions including cost savings expected to show results at the end of 2018;
· Adjusted EBITDA therefore expected to be flat year-on-year and to show similar trends to 2017 with a weak first half and solid margin increase in the second half.

Based on these assumptions, Technicolor expects an Adjusted EBITDA from the continuing operations broadly stable at constant rate compared to 2017.

*Mid-term Outlook*

In 2017, the Group initiated a strategic refocus on its core operating businesses with the advanced negotiations regarding the sale of the Patent Licensing activity. This strategy led to a major change in the Group's business model and a significant evolution in its cash generation profile in a more challenging environment. The objectives of the Drive 2020 strategic plan have therefore evolved.

After reaching a low point in 2018, below 2017 levels, Technicolor expects free cash flow from continuing operations to reach a run rate of at least €130 million by 2020, resulting from an Adjusted EBITDA which is expected to be above €350 million, relying on the following drivers:

· Continued 5% to 10% organic revenue growth in Production Services based on market leading capabilities and overall industry growth;
· Resiliency of DVD Services activity with volume decrease being partially offset by cost efficiencies and continued solid cash generation. Raw material (polycarbonate) costs increase will be contractually fully passed on to all customers;
· Single digit revenue growth for Connected Home once the customer portfolio review has been completed (expected to be completed in 2019) with profitability improvement that will progress the division towards its 10% Adjusted EBITDA margin objective;
· Corporate savings amounting to a run-rate of around €10 million by 2020 compared to 2017.

These mid-term objectives are at constant exchange rates compared to 2017.

* Dividend*

The Board of Directors of Technicolor will not propose a dividend to the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in light of 2017 financial performance.

*Management update*

Technicolor announces the departure of Esther Gaide, the Group's Chief Financial Officer, who will leave the Group on 20 March 2018 to pursue a new professional opportunity. Her successor will be announced shortly.

*Segment Review - FY 2017 Result Highlights*

  * FY 2016* * FY 2017* * Change YoY*
*Entertainment Services* In € million As a %
of ES revenues In € million As a %
of ES revenues Reported At constant rate
*Revenues* *1,966* * * *1,790* * * (9.0)% (6.7)%
o/w Production Services 765 39% 766 43% 0.0% +3.0%
  DVD Services 1,201 61% 1,024 57% (14.7)% (12.9)%
*Adj. EBITDA* *238* *12.1%* *230* *12.9%*  (3.1)% (1.2)%

· *Production Services* revenues were broadly stable year-on-year at current rate and up 3% at constant rate. The division recorded a lower revenue growth than anticipated in the second half of 2017 due to an unexpected delay into 2018 in VFX for film. The division achieved, however, significant profitability improvement in the second half of 2017, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA stable compared to the prior year. Production Services' scale and the pipeline of projects allowed the Group to proactively reallocate resources to mitigate production gaps and maintain the utilization rate at a high level.

*Business Highlights:*

The level of activity in Film and TV VFX was sustained, but below the prior year, as the production schedules of some film projects was delayed. These projects will therefore contribute to 2018 performance. The teams worked on more than 25 projects during the year. In the last quarter, they completed work on Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Sony), Justice League (Warner Bros), The Shape of Water (Fox Searchlight), 50 Shades Freed (Universal), The Greatest Showman on Earth (Fox) while continuing work on a large number of projects.

VFX for Advertising returned to revenue growth at the end of September after a weak performance in the first half of 2017. The teams completed several premium and highly popular Christmas ads and started working on several Super Bowl advertising campaigns in the fourth quarter. Overall, this resulted in single digit revenue growth in the second half of 2017 with an improved project mix.

The level of activity in Animation & Games continued its strong growth trajectory in the second half of 2017 and recorded a strong growth rate during the year, primarily driven by the number of theatrical Animation projects.

Post-production revenues grew, particularly in the US market, driven by an increasing amount of work generated by streaming customers, such as Netflix and Amazon.

· *DVD Services *revenues totaled €1,024 million in 2017, down c.13% at constant currency compared to 2016. Standard-Definition DVD and Blu-ray^TM volumes amounted to 1.26 billion units, a year-on-year reduction of 11% driven primarily by weaker 2017 new release activity in both major studio feature film and Xbox game content as compared to 2016. Adjusted EBITDA was slightly down, but margins were broadly stable in 2017 versus 2016, as reductions in volumes and revenues were offset by fixed costs reductions and efficiency gains, leading to a solid improvement in margin as a % of sales in the second half.

     The division successfully maintained its market leadership position and further leveraged its best-in-class operational platform. In January 2018, Sony DADC announced that it will outsource to Technicolor a substantial majority of its CD, DVD and Blu-ray^TM manufacturing and packaging requirements in both the North American and Australian markets. Sony DADC will continue to maintain direct relationships with distributors and will also continue to directly support its PlayStation customers. This outsourcing initiative will start in the second quarter.

*Business Highlights*

     With the worst summer US theatrical box Office performance in over a decade (15% reduction from the summer of 2016), weakness in disc demand was primarily concentrated in the fourth quarter of 2017. Blu-ray^TM was negatively affected by US summer Box Office results, as demand for this format is predominantly driven by new release activity. The Box Office performance started improving at the end of the year, but related disc releases will occur only in the first half of 2018. The ongoing resilience of back catalog on Standard Definition DVD (particularly in North America) helped to partially mitigate the impact of new release weakness.

     In games, Xbox One (Blu-ray^TM based) similarly suffered from a weaker second half 2017 release slate, driven in part by unanticipated delays in the release of several key games titles from 2017 to 2018. Total games volume in 2017 was further impacted by an ongoing sharp year-on-year reduction in demand for the prior generation (DVD based) Xbox console.

     CD volumes declined as a result of ongoing market-based reductions, in addition to a difficult comparison to the second half 2016 which benefited from selected, non-recurring major releases*.*

      

*Volume Data for DVD Services*

  *Full Year*
In million units *2016* *2017* Change
*Total combined volumes* *1,551.9* *1,344.8* *(13)%*
By format DVD 1,076.9 953.5 (11)%
  Blu-ray(TM) 341.2 303.7 (11)%
  CD 133.8 87.6 (35)%
By segment Theatrical/Broadcast 1,327.3 1,192.0 (10)%
  Games 65.8 48.8 (26)%
  Software & Kiosk 25.0 16.4 (34)%
  Music & Audio 133.8 87.6 (35)%

*###*

* * * FY 2016* * FY 2017* * Change YoY*
*Connected Home* In € million As a % of revenues In € million As a % of revenues Reported At constant rate
*Revenues* *2,637* * * *2,419* * * (8.3)% (6.8)%
*Adj. EBITDA* *218* *8.3%* *137* *5.7%* (37.1)% (36.0)%

     *Connected Home* revenues totaled €2,419 million in 2017, down 6.8% year-on-year at constant rate. During the second half of the year, revenue trends improved as expected compared to the first half, while remaining slightly negative. The business environment was mainly impacted by continued pricing pressures on memories resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA of €137 million or 5.7% of the revenue, down 260 basis points compared to last year. Overall this performance reflected a solid improvement in the second half of 2017, with margin at 6.8% versus 4.6% in the first half. Without the impact of memory cost increases which amounted to €80 million in 2017, the Adjusted EBITDA margin would have reached 9% of sales in 2017, equivalent to the prior year, and 11.1% of sales in the second half excluding the memory price increases.

     Gross margin reached 14.2%, down 260 basis points compared to 2016, mainly due to the negative impact of memory price increases. Excluding the impact of these cost increase, the margin reduction linked to volume decrease was compensated by an improved product mix and cost optimization measures implemented to adapt the business to a continued challenging environment. These actions included negotiations with Connected Home customers, the review of the customer portfolio, cost-cutting initiatives and the streamlining of the geographical footprint.

*Business Highlights*

*North America: *

· Revenues in North America were up 2% year-on-year at constant rate while the market was down 3%, representing 57% of total revenues;  
· This solid performance was driven by a very strong growth in the second half at major Cable customers in the US and in Canada which included the first material DOCSIS 3.1 gateways deliveries;
· This was in contrast with the weakness of the satellite and telecom segment with soft demand and several programs being delayed by the customers;
· Commercial activity remained strong with a win rate above 70% on different tender offers. Several new high-runner products have also been awarded to Technicolor during the year with expected impact in 2018.

*Europe, Middle-East and Africa: *

· Revenues in Europe, Middle-East and Africa were down 27% year-on-year due to the end-of-life of some high-runner products, delay at a large operator due to a component quality issue and weak demand from customers;
· The situation started to improve in the fourth quarter with the introduction of new products, which are expected to lead to volume deliveries in 2018, supported by a positive trend for high end products both in video and broadband.

*Latin America:*

· Latin America saw an overall decline of 21% year-on-year, mainly due to Mexico, reflecting the adverse economic conditions in that part of the region. The video segment continues to experience headwinds while broadband demand has started to rebound as competition for higher bandwidth speed grows;
· On the other hand, Brazil had a strong rebound with a 29% growth year-on-year.

*Asia Pacific: *

· Revenues in Asia-Pacific showed a strong year-on-year growth of 17% following the successful integration of acquisitions in Japan and Korea;
· Excluding the acquisitions, the Asia-Pacific region is broadly flat year-on-year as growth in India offset Technicolor's decision to exit the Chinese market and softer demand from one Australian customer.

           

*Revenue Breakdown for Connected Home*

  *Full Year*
In € million *2016* *2017* Change^[2]
*Total revenues* 2,637 *2,419* (6.8)%
By region North America 1,380 *1,364* +1.6%
  Europe, Middle-East and Africa 592 *434* (26.7)%
  Latin America 409 *324* (21.4)%
  Asia-Pacific 256 *297* +16.8%
By product Video 1,470 *1,495* +5.9%
  Broadband 1,167 *924* (21.2)%

*###*

  * FY 2016* * FY 2017* * Change YoY*
*Corporate & Other*
(Represented) In € million As a % of revenues In € million As a % of revenues Reported At constant rate
*Revenues* *25* * * *22* * * (10.3)% (9.8)%
*Adj. EBITDA* *(97)* *-* *(76)* *-* +21.4% +20.7%

*Corporate & Other *now includes Research & Innovation activities and Trademark Licensing business in addition to unallocated corporate functions.

Following this transfer, Corporate & Other recorded revenues of €22 million in 2017, primarily driven by the Trademark Licensing business. Adjusted EBITDA amounted to €(76) million, a significant improvement compared to prior year, reflecting mostly cost cutting initiatives. Research & Innovation expenses remained stable year-on-year and its cost was partially covered by the Trademark Licensing contribution.

As a result of the planned Patent Licensing disposal, Technicolor has reviewed its corporate costs and decided to reallocate those which are incurred to support a division's business activity. This reallocation will be effective as of 2018 and would have impacted the P&L as follows:

*Impact of Reallocation by Segment *

In € million *Entertainment services* *Connected Home* *Corporate & Other*
  FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2016 FY 2017
Adj. EBITDA as reported 238 230 218 137 (97) (76)
Cost reallocation^[3] (15) (15) (9) (9) 24 24
*Adj. EBITDA post reallocation* *223* *216* *209* *128* *(73)* *(53)*

*###*

*Discontinued operations *revenues amounted to €131 million in 2017, with an Adjusted EBITDA of €80 million. The Patent Licensing business generated all the revenues and contributed €79 million to the Adjusted EBITDA. The decline over prior year resulted from the negotiations related to the sale of this business, which led Technicolor to suspend its commercial Patent Licensing discussions in the fourth quarter of 2017.  

*Summary of consolidated results for the full year of 2017 *

  * Second Half* * Full Year*
In € million *2016* *2017* *Change^4* *2016* *2017* *Change^[4]*
*Revenues from continuing operations* *2,374* *2,133* *(10.2)%* *4,628* *4,231* *(8.6)%*
Change at constant currency (%)     (5.4)%     (6.8)%
o/w Entertainment Services 1,103 952 (13.7)% 1,966 1,790 (9.0)%
  Connected Home 1,259 1,168 (7.2)% 2,637 2,419 (8.3)%
  Corporate & Other 12 14 +11.1% 25 22 (10.3)%
*Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations* *233* *209* *(10.3)%* *359* *291* *(19.0)%*
Change at constant currency (%)     (6.4)%     (17.2)%
As a % of revenues 9.8% 9.8% +0.0bps 7.8% 6.9% (90)bps
o/w Entertainment Services 167 159 (4.7)% 238 230 (3.1)%
  Connected Home 111 80 (28.5)% 218 137 (37.1)%
  Corporate & Other (45) (30) +34.5% (97) (76) +21.4%
*Adjusted EBIT from continuing operations* *113* *78* *(30.9)%* *132* *53* *(60.2)%*
Change at constant currency (%)     (28.2)%     (59.0)%
As a % of revenues 4.8% 3.7% (110)bps 2.9% 1.2% (170)bps
*EBIT* from continuing operations *109* *47* *(56.7)%* *76* *(10)* *ns*
Change at constant currency (%)     (55.3)%     ns
As a % of revenues 4.6% 2.2% (240)bps 1.6% (0.2)% (180)bps
Financial result (80) (33) +47 (154) (97) +58
Income tax 3 (98) (95) (30) (112) (82)
Share of profit/(loss) from associates 2 ns 2 ns
*Profit/(loss)* from continuing operations *34* *(84)* *(118)* *(106)* *(219)* *(112)*
Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations (8) 16 +25 80 46 (34)
*Net income* *26* *(67)* *(93)* *(26)* *(173)* *(147)*

Revenues from continuing operations totaled €4,231 million in 2017, down by 6.8% at constant currency compared to 2016, resulting mainly from lower revenues in the Connected Home segment and in DVD Services division.

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations amounted to €291 million in 2017, down 17.2% at constant currency compared to 2016. The Adjusted EBITDA margin amounted to 6.9%, down by 90 points year-on-year, due to the Connected Home segment. This margin squeeze was attributable to the memory cost impact. Including the contribution from the discontinued operations, the Adjusted EBITDA of Technicolor amounted to €371 million, a significant decline compared to 2016 as the Patent Licensing business generated €79 million of profit compared to €206 million in 2016. Technicolor implemented several cost-cutting measures in the second half of 2017 to reflect the more challenging environment. As a result of these initiatives, Technicolor already reported lower selling and administrative expenses, down 7.5% year-on-year at current currency.

Depreciation and Amortization ("D&A")^[5] amounted to €238 million compared to €227 million in 2016, reflecting higher capitalized Research & Development expenses in the Connected Home segment following the high success rate in terms of commercial wins recorded by the segment in 2016 and 2017. D&A also included €48 million of amortization related to purchase price allocation, mostly related to the 2015 acquisitions. As result, the Adjusted EBIT from the continuing operations amounted to €53 million, down by 59% year-on-year at constant rate.

Restructuring provisions were flat year-on-year and mainly taken in the Connected Home segment (site closures in the US and in the Asia-Pacific region) and DVD Services division. Technicolor also recorded around €20 million of R&D write-off and other non-current items. As a result, the EBIT from continuing operations was a loss of €(10) million in 2017. Excluding the purchase price allocation amortization, EBIT from continuing operations was a profit of €38 million in 2017.

Financial result totaled €(97) million in 2017 compared to €(154) million in 2016, reflecting:

· Net interest costs amounted to €43 million in 2017 compared to €81 million in 2016, reflecting lower interest expense both related to the lower level of debt (€317 million of net repayments in 2016 and €50 million in 2017) and lower average interest rates due to the 2016 and 2017 refinancing;
· Other financial charges amounted to €(54) million in 2017 compared to €(73) million in 2016. This decline reflected a lower IFRS adjustment than last year and an improvement of the foreign exchange result, due to Brazil and UK positive exchange results.

Income tax charges included current income tax for €(12) million, lower by €3 million compared to last year, mostly driven by the lower tax charge in France, reflecting the much lower contribution of the Patent Licensing business. The tax charge also included a non-cash depreciation of €113 million of Technicolor's net deferred tax assets. This was primarily due to the change in Technicolor's projections from a fourteen year to a five-year tax planning basis in France as a result of the announcement of Patent Licensing business disposal. 

Group net income was a loss of €173 million in 2017 compared to a loss of €26 million in 2016. This deterioration was mostly attributable to the charge related to the Group's net deferred tax assets.

*Free Cash Flow Reconciliation and Summarized financial structure (unaudited)*

Technicolor defines "Free Cash Flow" as net cash from operating activities (continuing and discontinued) plus proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment ("PPE") and intangible assets, minus purchases of PPE, purchases of intangible assets including capitalization of development costs.

In € million *December 31, 2016*
*Published* *December 31, 2016*
*Represented* *December 31, 2017*

 
*Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations * *565* *359* *291*
Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities 106 56 72
Pension cash usage of the period (28) (28) (27)
Restructuring provisions - cash usage of the period (56) (47) (40)
Interest paid (74) (74) (46)
Interest received 3 3 2
Income tax paid (44) (5) (9)
Other items (26) (24) (34)
*Net operating cash generated from continuing activities* *446* *240* *209*
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (PPE) (68) (68) (52)
Proceeds from sale of PPE and intangible assets 1 1 1
Purchases of intangible assets including capitalization
 of development costs (85) (85) (95)
Net operating cash used in discontinued activities (46) 160 (39)
*Free cash flow* *248* *248* *24*
Nominal gross debt 1,083 1,083 1,103
Cash position 371 371 319
*Net financial debt at nominal value (non IFRS)* *712* *712* *784*
IFRS adjustment *(33)* *(33)* *(6)*
*Net financial debt* (IFRS) *679* *679* *778*

· The intangible capex included €47 million of capitalized R&D for Connected Home and cash outflow for restructuring were mostly related by Connected Home and DVD Services;
· The change in working capital & other assets and liabilities was positive, driven by a tight and efficient management of the Group's working capital requirements, including better management of suppliers' payment terms, in particular in the Connected Home segment;
· The addition of the EIB loan drawn in January 2017 offset the positive impact of the Term Loan repayments, resulting in a nominal gross debt of €1,103 million, up €20 million compared to end December 2016;
· Cash position at €319 million at end December 2017, down €52 million compared to end December 2016, as free cash flow contribution was offset by debt repayments (€50 million of repayments in 2017), the negative forex impacts and the acquisitions of LG and Pioneer.

The board of directors approved today these consolidated financial statements which have been audited by our statutory auditors who are in the process of issuing an unqualified opinion. 

An analyst audio webcast hosted by Frederic Rose, CEO, and Esther Gaide, CFO, will be held Wednesday, 21 February 2018 at 6:30pm CET.

*Link to the Audio Webcast                                                                                                                                                           *
http://www.technicolor.com/webcastFY2017
(The presentation slides will be made available on our website prior to the webcast)
*The replay *will be available at the latest by 9:30pm (CET) on February 21^st, 2018

*Financial calendar*

Q1 2018 business update 25 April 2018
H1 2018 results 25 July 2018

*###*

*Warning: Forward Looking Statements*

This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements", including but not limited to statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives, based on certain assumptions or which do not directly relate to historical or current facts. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed, forecasted or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more complete list and description of such risks and uncertainties, refer to Technicolor's filings with the French Autorité des marchés financiers.

*###*

*About Technicolor*

Technicolor, a worldwide technology leader in the media and entertainment sector, is at the forefront of digital innovation. Our world class research and innovation laboratories enable us to lead the market in delivering advanced video services to content creators and distributors. Our commitment: supporting the delivery of exciting new experiences for consumers in theaters, homes and on-the-go.

www.technicolor.com - Follow us: @Technicolor - linkedin.com/company/technicolor

*Technicolor shares are on the NYSE Euronext Paris exchange (TCH) and traded in the USA on the OTCQX marketplace (OTCQX: TCLRY).*

*Investor Relations*

Emilie Megel : +33 1 41 86 61 48
emilie.megel@technicolor.comChristophe Le Mignan : +33 1 41 86 58 83
christophe.lemignan@technicolor.com

*UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS*

    *December 31,*
(€ in million)   *2017*   *2016*
         
*CONTINUING OPERATIONS*        
Revenues    4,231    4,628
Cost of sales    (3,651)    (3,935)
*Gross Margin*   * 580 *   * 693 *
Selling and administrative expenses    (355)    (384)
Research and development expenses    (172)    (177)
Restructuring costs    (43)    (44)
Net impairment gains (losses) on non-current operating assets    (9)    (13)
Other income (expense)    (11)    1
*Earning before Interest & Tax from continuing operations*   * (10)*   * 76 *
         
Interest income    3    4
Interest expense    (46)    (85)
Other financial income (expense)    (54)    (73)
*Net financial income (expense)*   * (97)*   * (154)*
         
Share of gain (loss) from associates    -    2
Income tax    (112)    (30)
*Profit (loss) from continuing operations*   * (219)*   * (106)*
         
*DISCONTINUING OPERATIONS*        
Net profit (loss) from discontinuing operations    46    80
         
*Net income (loss)*   * (173)*   * (26)*
Attributable to:        
- Equity holders of the parent    (172)    (26)
- Non-controlling interest    (1)    -
         
*EARNINGS PER SHARE*   *December 31,*
(in euro, except number of shares)   *2017*   *2016*
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (basic net of treasury shares held)    412,716,772    411,932,346
*Earnings (losses) per share from continuing operations*        
- basic    (0.53)    (0.26)
- diluted    (0.53)    (0.26)
*Earnings (losses) per share from discontinuing operations*        
- basic    0.11    0.20
- diluted    0.11    0.20
*Total earnings (losses) per share*        
- basic    (0.42)    (0.06)
- diluted    (0.42)    (0.06)

*UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION*

  (€ in million)   *December 31, 2017*   *December 31, 2016*
           
*ASSETS*        
  Goodwill    942    1,019
  Intangible assets    625    771
  Property, plant & equipment    243    286
  Other operating non-current assets    38    56
*TOTAL OPERATING NON-CURRENT ASSETS*   * 1,848 *   * 2,132 *
           
  Investments and available-for-sale financial assets     17       19
  Other non-current financial assets    19    39
*TOTAL FINANCIAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS*   * **36 *   * 58 *
           
  Investments in associates and joint-ventures     2      3 
  Deferred tax assets    275    423
*TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS*   * 2,161 *   * 2,616 *
           
  Inventories    238    234
  Trade accounts and notes receivable    684    806
  Other operating current assets    256    284
*TOTAL OPERATING CURRENT ASSETS*   * 1,178 *   * 1,324 *
           
  Income tax receivable    37    53
  Other financial current assets    10    17
  Cash and cash equivalents    319    371
  Assets classified as held for sale    7     - 
*TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS*   * 1,551 *   * 1,765 *
           
*TOTAL ASSETS*   * 3,712 *   * 4,381 **UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION*

  (€ in million)   *December 31, 2017*   *December 31, 2016*
           
*EQUITY & LIABILITIES*        
  Common stock (414,461,178 shares at December 31, 2017 with nominal value
of 1 euro per share)    414    413
  Treasury shares    (158)    (157)
  Subordinated Perpetual Notes    500    500
  Additional paid-in capital & reserves    (38)    174
  Cumulative translation adjustment    (385)    (229)
*Shareholders' equity attributable to owners of the parent*   * 333 *   * 701 *
  Non-controlling interest    3    3
*TOTAL EQUITY*   * 336 *   * 704 *
           
  Retirement benefits obligations    355    376
  Provisions    23    35
  Other operating non-current liabilities    59    153
*TOTAL OPERATING NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES*   * 437 *   * 564 *
           
  Borrowings    1,077    998
  Deferred tax liabilities    193    217
*TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES*   * 1,707 *   * 1,779 *
           
  Retirement benefits obligations    27    28
  Provisions    110    133
  Trade accounts and notes payable    947    992
  Accrued employee expenses    129    152
  Other current operating liabilities    334    504
*TOTAL OPERATING CURRENT LIABILITIES*   * 1,547 *   * 1,809 *
           
  Borrowings    20    52
  Income tax payable    33    35
  Other current financial liabilities    1    2
  Liabilities classified as held for sale    68     - 
*TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES*   * 1,669 *   * 1,898 *
           
*TOTAL LIABILITIES*   * 3,376 *   * 3,677 *
           
*TOTAL EQUITY & LIABILITIES*   * 3,712 *   * 4,381 **UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS*

    *December 31,*
(€ in million)   *2017*   *2016*
*Net income (loss)*   *(173)*   *(26)*
Income (loss) from discontinuing activities   46   80
*Profit (loss) from continuing activities*   *(219)*   *(106)*
Summary adjustments to reconcile profit from continuing activities to cash generated from continuing operations        
Depreciation and amortization   240   223
Impairment of assets   9   14
Net changes in provisions   (37)   (25)
Gain (loss) on asset disposals   (1)   (18)
Interest (income) and expense   43   81
Other non-cash items (including tax)   155   91
Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities   72   56
*Cash generated from continuing activities*   *262*   *316*
Interest paid   (46)   (74)
Interest received   2   3
Income tax paid   (9)   (5)
*NET OPERATING CASH GENERATED FROM CONTINUING ACTIVITIES (I)*   *209*   *240*
Acquisition of subsidiaries, associates and investments, net of cash acquired   (25)   (21)
Proceeds from sale of investments, net of cash   11   52
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (PPE)   (52)   (68)
Proceeds from sale of PPE and intangible assets   1   1
Purchases of intangible assets including capitalization of development costs   (95)   (85)
Cash collateral and security deposits granted to third parties   (1)   (4)
Cash collateral and security deposits reimbursed by third parties   9   8
Loans (granted to) / reimbursed by third parties   1   -
*NET INVESTING CASH USED IN CONTINUING ACTIVITIES (II)*   *(151)*   *(117)*
Increase of Capital   1   15
Proceeds from borrowings   646   450
Repayments of borrowings   (612)   (775)
Fees paid linked to the debt   (7)   (10)
Dividends and distributions paid to Group's shareholders   (25)   (25)
Other   (31)   14
*NET FINANCING CASH GENERATED IN CONTINUING ACTIVITIES (III)*   *(28)*   *(331)*
         
*NET CASH FROM DISCONTINUED ACTIVITIES (IV)*   *(43)*   *168*
         
*CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINING OF THE YEAR*   *371*   *385*
*Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (I+II+III+IV)*   *(13)*   *(40)*
Exchange gains / (losses) on cash and cash equivalents   (39)   26
*CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR*   *319*   *371**Reconciliation of adjusted indicators **(unaudited)*

Technicolor is presenting, in addition to published results and with the aim to provide a more comparable view of the evolution of its operating performance in 2017 compared to 2016 a set of adjusted indicators which exclude the following items as per the statement of operations of the Group's consolidated financial statements:

· Restructuring costs, net;
· Net impairment charges;
· Other income and expenses (other non-current items).

These adjustments, the reconciliation of which is detailed in the following table, amounted to an impact on EBIT from continuing operations of €(63) million in the 2017 compared to €(56) million in 2016.

* * *Full Year*
In € million *2016*
*Represented* *2017* Change^[6]
*EBIT* from continuing operations *76* *(10)* *(86)*
Restructuring charges, net (44) (43) +1
Net impairment losses on non-current operating assets (13) (9) +4
Other income/(expense) 1 (11) (12)
*Adjusted EBIT* from continuing operations *132* *53* *(79)*
As a % of revenues 2.9% 1.2% (170)bps
Depreciation and amortization ("D&A")* ^[7]* 227 238 +11
*Adjusted EBITDA* from continuing operations *359* *291* *(68)*
As a % of revenues 7.8% 6.9% (90)bps
^[1] FCF for reconciliation includes the free cash flow from the discontinued operations.

^[2] Year-on-year change at constant currency.

^[3] At budget rate 2018

^[4] Year-on-year change at current currency.
.

^[5] Including impact of provisions for risks, litigations and warranties.

^[6] Change at current currency.

^[7] Including impact of provisions for risks, litigations and warranties.

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e18d4263-3c4d-48da-a37f-baac53715beb Reported by GlobeNewswire 30 minutes ago.

BERLIN (AP) — A European space probe has swung into position around Mars in preparation to analyze its atmosphere for possible signs of life. The European Space Agency said Wednesday its Trace Gas Orbiter successfully performed a delicate maneuver known as aerobraking that involved dipping into the red planet's upper atmosphere to slow the probe. The agency says the orbiter will start looking for trace gases such as methane, which can result from biological or geological activity, in April. It will also search for ice that could help future Mars landings. A NASA-made radio on board will also help relay signals from U.S. rovers on the surface back to Earth. Europe plans to land its own rover on Mars in 2021. Reported by SeattlePI.com 35 minutes ago.

*Welcome to Finance Insider, Business Insider's summary of the top stories of the past 24 hours. Sign up here to get the best of Business Insider delivered direct to your inbox.*

Hedge funds just made a big mistake on tech stocks.

Following the recent market correction, hedge funds and other large speculators made a poorly-timed decision to go net short tech stocks for the first time in 21 months. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 responded with a 5.6% gain, its best weekly performance since October 2014.

The prospect of rising inflation and the Federal Reserve's possible reaction to it is Wall Street's favorite new thing to worry about. And, after years of false alarms, "a sustained rise in inflation will hold the Fed's feet to the fire," according to Capital Economics.

Morgan Stanley says the stock market's meltdown was just an "appetizer"— here's how to protect against the next sell-off. Credit Suisse has identified what could be the next big breaking point for stocks.

Here's what else is happening today:

· JPMorgan is building a new headquarters in New York City
· Something unusual is going on with gold
· There's a surefire way to make a killing on the type of turmoil that sends stocks spiraling
· Amazon is zooming towards a record high
· Ex-JPMorgan trader turned bitcoin fund manager says ICOs are 'a better mousetrap' than IPOs — but only 5% are worth investing in
· A blunder at a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange let investors briefly buy bitcoins for free
· The South Korean government official in charge of cryptocurrency crackdown was found dead at his home

SpaceX is about to quietly launch the first 2 of nearly 12,000 satellites to blanket Earth in high-speed internet. Google has developed a way to predict your risk of a heart attack just by scanning your eye.

A startup is working with IBM's Watson to tell marketers exactly where they should spend their media budget, and it claims it "can predict the future." Tesla will face a reckoning this year if it doesn't make a fundamental change.

Silicon Valley is so expensive that people who make $400,000 a year think they are middle-class.

Lastly, we drove the $65,000 Audi S5 Coupe — and it's pretty much flawless.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A $445 billion fund manager explains what everyone gets wrong about the economy Reported by Business Insider 5 hours ago.

The Netflix remake of Lost in Space is set to arrive on April 13 and here's your first look, in the form of a trailer.

Much like the original, the Netflix series tells the story of the Robinson family, one of many selected to fly off and colonize a new world in Earth's future. Disaster strikes when their ship is thrown off course, leaving the Robinsons – along with fellow crew members Don West (Ignacio Serricchio) and Dr. Smith (Parker Posey!) – stranded on the surface of a dangerous alien planet.

This trailer offers a look at the Lost in Space crew and sets up the premise, but that's as far as it goes. Assuming the new series sticks to the basic formula as the original, each episode will follow the Robinsons and their friends as they deal with the assorted threats and challenges of surviving in a hostile alien environment. Read more...

More about Entertainment, Tv, Netflix, Lost In Space, and Entertainment Reported by Mashable 5 hours ago.

The UN Secretary General is calling for an end to the fighting so aid can enter the rebel-held area. Reported by BBC News 5 hours ago.

Radiators are not renowned for their good looks. To paraphrase Douglas Adams, it can hardly be a coincidence that no language on Earth has ever produced the expression ‘As pretty as a radiator’.

Utilitarian would be a charitable way to describe them. They’re fine. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In the age of Instagram and Pinterest and Houzz, every detail of our homes can – nay, must – be carefully (and expensively) curated. Enter the designer radiator.

As befits the interior design ethos of the last decade, the most popular ones look backward for inspiration. Industrial-looking cast-iron radiators, which I vividly remember from my primary school, are in particularly high demand.

Luxury plumbing and interiors companies have reported a spike in sales, with customers pimping out their window bays with this season’s hottest home accessory. This type of radiator has changed little since the end of the 19th century, when they were known as “hot boxes”, a nickname bestowed by the man credited for inventing the steam-based home heating system, Franz Sans Galli.

Most London terraces and townhouses will have been built before central heating was installed as standard, so whatever you have now is unlikely to be ‘original’. The vast majority will be kitted out with the 70s-style steel-panel radiators, which have become ubiquitous over the last fifty years.

Even if cast iron ones had once been present, they were often torn out and replaced with less conspicuous steel panel units, just as wooden sash windows – now considered the height of sophistication – were replaced with plastic double-glazing.Left: The Zero Otto figure-eight radiator by designer Francesco Lucchese; Right: The Blade radiator by Peter Rankin

“People are looking at radiators as a design choice,” says Jayson Branch, creative director at radiator company Castrads. “It’s like choosing a piece of furniture, only this is something that makes a real, permanent difference to the value of a property.”

Castrads produces a vast range of cast iron radiators, which customers build up one ‘column’ – each vertical section – at a time, picking out style, height, depth and finish, including a range of Farrow & Ball colours to match your wallpaper. Branch says he’s even created ‘rainbow’ radiators for a corporate buyer who wanted to brighten up their office.

“Demand for ‘feature radiators’ has steadily increased over the past 15 years,” agrees Feature Radiators’ Helena Gerwitz. “The ‘Grand Designs’ effect and the availability of credit has led to UK homeowners investing heavily in interior design products, while high house prices encourage customers to improve rather than move.

“Consequently the range of designs available is ever increasing; options include every size, shape and finish imaginable, from chrome spirals to walnut panels, from purple vertical designs to long and low traditional cast iron radiators. This type of product is becomming the norm, considered alongside wallpaper and carpets, and no bathroom is fitted without a heated towel rail.”

More unusual radiators include a figure-eight concept from Italian designer Francesco Lucchese, a walnut-covered version from super-high-end manufacturer Eskimo, and a bizarre, cigar-shaped creation that comes in gold, silver or black by Peter Rankin (prices for these out-there designs start at ‘how much?’ and go all the way up to ‘please stop’).

When choosing a designer radiator you should go for a company willing to look at your home layout and calculate heat-loss hot-spots, which is helpful given that the science of heat isn’t always intuitive; putting a radiator beneath a window, for instance, insulates a room, keeping it warmer for longer, rather than losing heat as you might imagine (bonus fact: radiators don’t actually radiate much heat, they convect it).

So there you have it: radiators are officially hot right now. Time for an upgrade.

 
 

• To buy your own designer radiator visit castrads.com or featureradiators.co.uk Reported by City A.M. 4 hours ago.

The arrival of plants on Earth changed the planet and its inhabitants in big ways, and a new study suggests they arrived far earlier than thought. Reported by FOXNews.com 3 hours ago.

At least 296 people have been killed in the district in the last three days. Reported by Khaleej Times 4 hours ago.

Toyota Motor Corp, Asia’s No.1 carmaker, has found a way to make electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable and less vulnerable to shortages in supply of the key elements needed to produce the rechargeable batteries that power them. The key for such new wave of EVs is a magnet for electric motors developed by the Japanese firm, which halves the use of a rare earth called neodymium and eliminates the use of others called terbium and dysprosium, the company revealed on Tuesday. In their place, Toyota will use the more abundant rare earths lanthanum… Reported by OilPrice.com 3 hours ago.

Tropical trees in the Amazon Rainforest may be more drought resistant than previously thought, according to a new study. That's good news, since the Amazon stores about 20 percent of all carbon in the Earth's biomass, which helps reduce global warming by lowering the planet's greenhouse gas levels. Reported by Science Daily 41 minutes ago.

Watch VideoCould the fantastic droids of "Star Wars" ever lead us to build better robots here on Earth? Yes, and maybe in more ways than you think. A new review of our robotics research shows it's already happening.

When it comes to communication, R2-D2 and BB-8 don't ever use words you or I could understand. But their chatter shows they're paying attention to things and reacting to them accordingly.

Ben Burtt, sound designer on the original "Star Wars," said that was no accident.

"The idea came up to really combine the sort of human sound with the electronic sound," Burtt said. "That way, we still might be able to have the character of the machine with the personality and emotion of a living organism."

And it works. Research has shown that robots don't need words to communicate on some rudimentary level. Both children and adults assign emotions to the beeps and whistles of robot-speak.

How about mobility? R2's three-wheeled arrangement is stable enough that it's apparently universal; it can be found on semi-autonomous Earth robots, like the Roomba.

*SEE MORE: These Exercising Robots Could Help Other Bots Move More Like Humans*

But robotics experts say BB-8's single sphere wouldn't be a good way to get around on the fictional planet of Jakku or on any one of Earth's real beaches or deserts. Biomimicry, where a robot borrows movements like running or slithering from living creatures, would probably be more efficient.

Maybe the ultimate in biomimicry is a robot that looks and moves like a human. Balance and dexterity can still challenge our humanoid bots, but some of our newest models already have C-3PO outclassed.

That shape is also useful where there's no gravity. NASA once kept a robotic upper body on the space station, which has arms and hands to grab things. The goal is to create a machine that can be even more dexterous than a human in a spacesuit.

And weightless environments also present unique options for getting around. NASA once developed a companion robot for astronauts that would push itself around with built-in fans — inspired by none other than the lightsaber-training bot Luke Skywalker used. Reported by Newsy 3 hours ago.

Michael Reagan, the best-selling author and political commentator, extolled the late Rev. Billy Graham as "America's minister … America's preacher … a living God on earth." Reported by Newsmax 17 minutes ago.

Dr. Billy Graham has departed earth to receive A Warrior’s Reward. Many will note the many contributions of the life and legacy of Dr. Billy Graham today in honor and recognition of this great Christian warrior who has reached millions of lives for Christ during his 99 years on earth.

--

*Please support CNSNews today! (a 501c3 non-profit production of the Media Research Center)*

DONATE Reported by CNSNews.com 55 minutes ago.

Green Lantern is back and better than ever. Green Lantern: Earth One Vol. 1 brings us a new glance into the story of Hal Jordan, providing us with a taste of a revamped […]

The post Corinna Sara Bechko and Gabriel Hardman Talk About Bringing One of the Coolest Lanterns to Life appeared first on Geek.com. Reported by geek.com 2 hours ago.