Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>Reports suggest <keyword id="6354427" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="apple" source="Orion">Apple</keyword> is expected to annouce the <keyword id="8233031" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airpods-pro" source="Orion">AirPods Pro</keyword> earbuds, a redesigned <keyword id="1774641" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipad-pro" source="Orion">iPad Pro</keyword> next year.</li><li>The AirPods models are expected to feature a new design that resembles the shape of the current-generation AirPods Pro.</li><li>A redesigned <keyword id="455593" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="macbook-air" source="Orion">MacBook Air</keyword>, a new M-series <keyword id="12131742" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mac-pro-tower" source="Orion">Mac Pro tower</keyword> computer, three new Apple Watch models are also expected to launch next year.</li></ul><br />Apple recently launched the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apple-iphone-13-series-ipad-ipad-mini-and-watch-series-7-announced-indian-pricing-availability-and-features/articleshow/86213320.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">iPhone 13 series</a> along with the iPad mini and now a new report has claimed that the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning to launch the new MacBook Pros as well as AirPods next year.<br /><br />The latest issue of Power On, Gurman's weekly newsletter, claimed that 2022 will be an exciting year for hardware redesigns from Apple, reports MacRumors.<br /><br />Gurman expects Apple to announce new AirPods Pro earbuds, a redesigned iPad Pro, redesigned MacBook Air, a new M-series Mac Pro tower computer, three new Apple Watch models, and more.<br /><br />In addition, Apple may also launch mixed-reality headset that combines augmented reality and virtual reality features in 2022.<br /><br />Based on previous rumours, the new AirPods models are expected to feature a new design that resembles the shape of the current-generation AirPods Pro, notably featuring shorter stems on the earbuds themselves.<br /><br />However, the AirPods 3 are not expected to feature active noise cancellation features — that will remain exclusive to AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.<br /><br />AirPods 3 are expected to support head-tracking Spatial Audio however, which lines up neatly with the release of iOS 15 that enhances Dolby Atmos music with the head-tracking effect in addition to video content.<br /><br />SEE ALSO<br /><h2 style="margin-bottom: 8px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; font-family: LabGrotesque-Black, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a class="list-title-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apples-most-dedicated-customers-looking-to-cash-in-on-discounts-on-iphone-13s-using-their-apple-cards-were-met-with-error-messages-and-frustration/articleshow/86299063.cms">Apple's most dedicated customers looking to cash in on discounts on iPhone 13s using their Apple Cards were met with error messages and frustration</a></h2><h2 style="margin-bottom: 8px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; font-family: LabGrotesque-Black, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a class="list-title-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apples-latest-iphone-13-series-will-be-available-for-pre-orders-starting-today/articleshow/86284401.cms">Apple opens pre-orders for iPhone 13 series in India starting today: Availability, pricing and discounts</a></h2>

Report suggests Apple to launch new AirPods Pro, redesigned iPad Pro in 2022

<p class="source"><span>Kyodo News Stills via Getty Images</span></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://businessinsider.com/category/apple">Apple</a>'s new <a href="https://businessinsider.com/category/mac-pro">Mac Pro</a> is now available to order, with a starting price of $5,999.</li><li>That price is far from all-inclusive - Apple charges extra for additional specs, ranging from bulked up memory to $400 wheels.</li><li>A maxed-out Mac Pro costs more than $50,000.</li><li>Here's a breakdown of all the Mac Pro costs beyond the basic computer.</li><li><a href="https://businessinsider.com">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><p>The new <a href="https://businessinsider.com/category/mac-pro">Mac Pro</a> is available for order online - but before buying it, users will have to choose between dozens of options, each with a unique price tag.</p><p>The Mac Pro is designed to process heavy workloads, like handling 8K footage or processing massive data sets simultaneously. Accordingly, its primary audience is professionals that need a video-editing powerhouse, rather than everyday customers - and its add-ons are priced for that professional audience too.</p><p>There are hardware upgrades, like $400 wheels for the Mac Pro "tower" to sit on, and pre-loaded software like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro.</p><p>All of the above come with an additional price tag. If users max out their Mac Pro configurations, the computer will cost more than $50,000 - Apple's most expensive product ever.</p><p>Here's a breakdown of the additional charges that come with configuring the new Mac Pro.</p><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/bi-intelligence-daily?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_subscription&amp;itm_content=apple&amp;itm_campaign=bi-intelligence-daily"></a></p>

From $400 wheels to a $7,000 processor, here are all the pricey extras you can add to the new Mac Pro

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Apple</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Apple just announced and showed off its new Mac Pro computer, a computer that hasn't been updated since 2013.</p><p>The new Mac Pro has a completely different design than the 2013 "trashcan" Mac Pro. It looks like a traditional desktop tower PC, albeit with a little more chrome and shiny metal than you'd find on most PC towers. It's priced starting at $5,999, and will be available later in the fall of this year.</p><p>Apple also announced the new Mac Pro will be modular, which will easily let you switch out parts to customize the Mac Pro the way you want. </p><p>Apple said the Mac Pro can be configured with a new Intel Xeon processor with up to 28 cores, which is insane. Most consumer-level processors have between four to eight cores. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Apple</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>It can also support an insane amount of RAM - up to 1.4 terabytes (1,400 GB) of RAM. For reference, 16GB of RAM is considered pretty good for most people, while 8GB of RAM is about standard these days. </p><p>But that's a Mac Pro with all the bells and whistles, and Apple didn't provide a price tag for <em>that </em>behemoth. </p><p>The Mac Pro will start at $5,999 for an eight-core Intel Xeon processors, 32GB of RAM, an AMD Radeon 580X graphics card, a 256GB SSD, and it'll be available in the fall of 2019. </p><p><em>This story is developing...</em></p><p> </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-delivery-robot-digit-walks-on-two-legs-like-human-2019-5">Watch Ford's delivery robot that walks on two legs like a human</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Apple ends a six-year drought for the Mac Pro with an insanely powerful, redesigned new model that starts at $5,999

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Reuters/Stephen Lam </span></p><p class="caption">Apple CEO Tim Cook</p></div><p></p></div></div>Apple's most vocal critics at the moment tend to be professional Mac users - those who edit videos, program, and do other heavy duty tasks on their Macs.</p><p>A loud contingent of these users are complaining that they are essentially being forced to buy the Mac Pro - a computer that hasn't been updated since 2013 - because it's the only Apple desktop that fits their needs. </p><p>One recent example: Chris Adamson, an author who writes books and guides about how to write apps for Apple devices. He wrote a blog post on Tuesday titled "<a href="http://subfurther.com/blog/2017/01/03/capitulation/"><span>Capitulation</span></a>" in which he discusses his decision to pay thousands of dollars for the 1000-day-old Mac Pro. </p><p>And Apple defenders <a href="http://daringfireball.net/"><span>like John Gruber</span></a> think he made a reasonable decision. In 2013, Apple launched a high-end, $3000 Mac Pro. It replaced an older tower model to which users could add more RAM, newer video cards, and better components. The 2013 Mac Pro turned heads with a sleek and curvy design, but the good looks came at the expense of customization: Unlike earlier models, the 2013 Mac Pro does not allow users to upgrade the system by swapping in newer components (other than extra memory).</p><p>To make matter worse, Apple hasn't updated the  model has since 2013 - leaving Pro users in a tough spot. </p><p>They need the expensive "pro" model for performance, but the only version of the machine that Apple currently offers is running 4-year-old chips. </p><p>Adamson <a href="http://subfurther.com/blog/2017/01/03/capitulation/">writes</a>: </p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">I think my needs, for development and especially for video work (Motion and Wirecast, mainly) are best served<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lokan/15666324895/in/photolist-pSo1zV-2HXHfk-2HXHm6-3eECRc-6wXFVs-jqDMBf-jqCqpW-jzwzse-jzwASD-jzzKwN-jzwBpF-jzwAca-jzyHuS-jWxcWu-jWxdRL-jWxcPW-jWuGAk-w9uDS-oY6Br-jWuH94-jWxcNd-jWxdYQ-jWuHbZ-jWvuS6-jWvv9t-jWuHkX-jWuHsk-jWvv48-jWuHdH-7dBqyP-8MQRWv-jRGLeN-7dFges-7dFg4J-7dBmYi-7dFgbA-7dBmMi-7dFgqE-7dBn1P-7dFjtq-7dFjwY-6ToLf5-jkJVX1-nDE7g7-jqDMf3-4BkAAw-4u13py-nfmZ4-B2fXD-jzxXsT">Flickr/LoKan Sardari</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div> by the Mac Pro. Even the pathetic, three-year-old Mac Pro, because what I want is lots of cores, silent operation, and expandability of RAM and storage, something the iMac and MacBook Pro can't offer.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">I'd been catching up financially for a while, and finally had a $4,000-5,000 budget to work with. What made finally pull the trigger, ironically, was [Apple CEO] Tim Cook's h<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-ceo-tim-cooks-answer-about-the-mac-doesnt-mention-mac-2016-12">am-fisted, half-assed claim </a>that desktop Macs remain strategically important to Apple.</p><p>He's not the only computing professional suddenly faced with the undesirable choice of purchasing an essentially obsolete desktop or an Apple all-in-one that doesn't meet their needs.</p><h2>A lack of focus </h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Apple</span></p><p class="caption">These chips are still in the Mac Pro - four years later.</p></div><p></p></div></div><br />When Apple launched the Mac Pro in 2013, Apple's head of marketing Phil Schiller famously introduced the computer with the line, "can't innovate anymore, my ass." </p><p>But since then, the model, lovingly nicknamed the "Trash Can," has not received a single revision - even just to update the chips inside it and keep it current.</p><p><a href="http://daringfireball.net/">Gruber wrote on Tuesday</a>, in response to a different complaining Apple fan post, that  "'<span>What the hell happened with the Mac Pro?' is the most interesting question about Apple today."</span></p><p><span>Gruber, one of the most tapped-in Apple bloggers, <a href="http://daringfireball.net/">writes</a> about the Mac Pro: </span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">Because something clearly went way wrong with this product. I'm not convinced the basic idea for the design is unsound - the idea is that expansion would come in the form of external peripherals, rather than things you install inside the box. I still think that's probably the future of "expandable" computing.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">If Apple had updated the Mac Pro on a roughly annual basis, we wouldn't be calling this a disaster. I'm sure there would still be people who would wish that Apple had stuck with the traditional tower form factor, but we wouldn't all be saying "What the f---?"</p><p>According to Gruber, Apple seems poised to redesign the pro-level computer, because it hasn't updated it and because the price remains the same as it was in 2013 - starting at $3000 - suggesting Apple hasn't yet abandoned the line. </p><p><span>But regardless, Apple's strategy is putting pro users in a tough spot. "Whatever the explanation is, this situation is an unmitigated disaster," Gruber concludes. </span></p><p><span>The Mac Pro is one of Apple's lowest-volume product, but it remains strategically important, especially for the armies of Apple developers who want professional workstations to develop apps for iPhones and iPads. Apple requires software for its smartphones to be built on its laptops and desktops </span></p><p><span> The Mac Pro is assembled in Texas, a decision that was made as a way to score political points. </span></p><p><span><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-20/how-apple-alienated-mac-loyalists">Bloomberg reported in December</a> that discussions inside Apple about the next-generation Mac Pro included some employees suggesting moving production back to Asia. </span></p><p><span>Regardless of what Apple eventually does with its pro lineup - some suggest that CEO Tim Cook's recent leaked comments mean the new highest-end Mac is the iMac - some of Apple's longest and most dedicated evangelists are starting to become unhappy.</span></p><p><span>Those evangelists are likely to slowly simmer until Apple launches new Mac desktops - what Apple eventually launches will determine whether thier anger spills over into a boil. </span></p>

'Unmitigated disaster': Longtime Apple fans feel forced to buy 'pathetic' and 'old' Macs from 2013

<ul class="summary-list"><li>CEOs' office decor reveals different elements of their personalities.</li><li>Bernard Arnault's office at LVMH features artwork from one of the most famous painters.</li></ul><p>From priceless artwork to "Star Wars" memorabilia, you can tell a lot about a chief executive by how they decorate their office.</p><p>Their high salaries, and even higher net worths, mean CEOs have the power to deck their workspaces out with more than everyday knickknacks. Still, some choose the bare minimum.</p><p>Mark Zuckerberg, for example, has previously boasted about working alongside his Meta employees instead of in his own office. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marc-benioff#the-benioffs-have-several-homes-and-acres-of-hawaiian-land-that-theyve-donated-17">Salesforce's Marc Benioff</a> is surrounded by his favorite science fiction characters.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-daily-routine-schedule-meta-ceo">daily schedule of a CEO</a> typically includes long hours, endless meetings, and sifting through a bombardment of emails. Here's how they decorate the spaces where they run their companies,</p><h2 id="3c659742-0f5a-4523-a448-02170cd1d870">Bernard Arnault</h2><div type="image" title="Bernard Arnault" height="2740" width="3753" msid="111555001" hostid="261" sizebytes="304412"></div><p>With a net worth of $201 billion, according to Bloomberg, LVMH top boss <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-bernard-arnault-owner-louis-vuitton-lvmh-net-worth">Bernard Arnault</a> has <em>very</em> expensive taste. He stands at the helm of a luxury goods empire made up of iconic brands, including Louis Vuitton, Dom Pérignon, and Dior.</p><p>His office at the LVMH headquarters in Paris reflects his status. According to a recent profile with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-lvmh-bernard-arnault/?srnd=homepage-americas">Bloomberg</a>, Arnault's walls are adorned with three paintings by the late artist Andy Warhol. At the time, a framed Picasso sat leaning against the wall, not yet hung.</p><p>The conference room attached to his office has a neutral color palette with brown wood paneling on the walls and artwork featuring the Eiffel Tower, according to the profile.</p><h2 id="d9559819-ae0e-4962-9c7e-d69695bda79f">Tim Cook</h2><div type="image" title="Photo illustration of Tim Cook." height="950" width="1440" msid="111554864" hostid="261" sizebytes="62094"></div><p>When Apple CEO Tim Cook was interviewed for a profile in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/tim-cook-apple-vision-pro">Vanity Fair,</a> which was published in line with the release of the Vision Pro headset in February, he took journalists into his modestly decorated office inside Apple Park.</p><p>He had most of the devices one might expect from the leader of a high-powered tech company like Apple — an iPad and AirPods on his desk with a Mac and Macbook at a separate standing desk behind him.</p><p>But the Alabama native also had pieces of home with him in Cupertino. He had a football helmet from his alma mater, Auburn University, a signed basketball, and — like Arnault — a collection of framed art leaning against the wall. </p><p>The one piece of decor that Cook did manage to hang was a framed photo of the late politician Robert F. Kennedy. The photo features the Apple logo and appears to be in a similar style to Apple's famous "Think Different" campaign.</p><h2 id="dd829ccb-0350-448e-8df1-618f5cf233e7">Marc Benioff</h2><div type="image" title="Marc Benioff" height="3638" width="5361" msid="111554865" hostid="261" sizebytes="627822"></div><p>If his office is any indication, Benioff is a huge sci-fi buff. The Salesforce CEO gave <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2015/11/23/may-the-salesforce-be-with-you-inside-ceo-marc-benioffs-office/#30ac76ae50f5">Forbes</a> an office tour in 2015 where he showed of his collection of figurines from different pop culture phenomena.</p><p>At the time, Benioff had figures of fictional "Star Wars" robot R2-D2, Princess Leia, and Darth Maul. He also had toys like Mr. Potato Head and a stuffed Sully from "Monsters Inc."</p><p>His love for Hawaii has been evident over the years as he and his wife have bought and donated hundreds of acres of Hawaiian land to develop affordable housing. As such, Benioff told Forbes that he keeps surfboards in his office to remind him of the state.</p><p>In 2018, a new headquarters, the Salesforce Tower, opened in San Francisco. It's unclear if Benioff brought along his sci-fi merchandise and surfboards.</p><h2 id="b2142b32-4334-433e-8d58-67226ae0315a">Mark Zuckerberg</h2><div type="image" title="Mark Zuckerberg" height="3744" width="5616" msid="111555004" hostid="261" sizebytes="686818"></div><p>Unlike his fellow top execs, Zuckerberg takes a simpler approach to his workspace.</p><p>In 2015, he gave a live <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-virtual-tour-frank-gehry-designed-building-2015-9">office tour of the Meta</a>, then Facebok, headquarters months after the company moved in. The "massive open floor plan," as Zuck described it, allows people to share and communicate more freely.</p><p>And the CEO isn't excluded from that.</p><p>Zuckerberg emphasized that even people who were "running the company" didn't get special offices. His desk, which was in a cluster of about four other working stations, had stacks of books, his name written in graffiti-style with black paint, and a wooden Facebook logo.</p><p>"We've worked like this for a long time, and it's been a pretty core way for how we do what we do here at Facebook," he said in the video.</p>

How CEOs like Bernard Arnault and Tim Cook decorate their offices

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In Alexandria, Virginia, $31 billion landlord CIM Group bought a massive apartment complex in 2020.</li><li>Tenants, fed up with eviction threats and neglect, pressured the company through its investors.</li></ul><p>Sami Bourma was girding for the battle of his lifetime.</p><p>It was a July evening in 2021, and three to four dozen of Bourma's neighbors had assembled in a courtyard of their home at Southern Towers, a 60-year-old complex of five apartment buildings in Northern Virginia on the outskirts of Washington, DC. The group was organizing against CIM Group, the landlord they said had upended their lives.</p><p>"This is our time to fight back," Bourma<strong>, </strong>a Saudi-born immigrant whose parents were from Sudan, told the crowd. "Corporations don't come here to help us. They come here to take an opportunity to invest their money, make a couple of dollars out of hardworking people, and then leave."</p><p>CIM, a $31.3 billion Los Angeles-based real-estate owner-operator run by a pair of former Israeli paratroopers and Richard Ressler, a veteran of the junk-bond pioneer Drexel Burnham Lambert, bought Southern Towers in August 2020. It was one of the largest apartment deals of the year, and in keeping with one of the hottest trends in real estate: big investors buying multifamily properties for their rent potential at a time of faster inflation.</p><p>CIM had a vision to meet the needs of the greater Washington community with the Towers joining a range of office, hotel, and apartment assets owned by the firm in the area, a representative said.</p><p>But instead of improvements and upgrades, tenants received eviction notices during a nationwide ban on evictions — and mold, pest, and other maintenance issues went unresolved. The tenants, many of them African immigrants who have grown to love the community, were worried by their new landlord's agenda. They wondered whether CIM wanted them gone, in favor of the 25,000 Amazon employees who would soon work at the company's planned second headquarters just 5 miles away.</p><p>"They want us to get tired so we quit and move, but we love this area," Bourma told Insider in December<strong>.</strong></p><p>So Bourma and his neighbors forged alliances they hoped could prevent their landlords from brushing them aside. First, they made political appeals, joining Virginia Democrat Terry McAuliffe's failed 2021 gubernatorial campaign, and engaged in public protests in front of the Towers, to little effect.</p><div type="image" title="The Sherwood at Southern Towers in Alexandria, VA" height="3024" width="4032" msid="96548940" hostid="261"></div><p>Then they saw a fresh strategy: Follow the money.</p><p>African Communities Together, an immigrant advocacy group working with the tenants, began sending letters to pension funds that have billions of dollars tied up in CIM projects. At pension board meetings, Bourma spread the word about landlord neglect and tenant hardships.</p><p>"Public pensions are a critical funding source for private institutional investors," and hold tremendous influence over the money managers, said David Webber, a Boston University law professor who focuses on shareholder activism.</p><p>The tactic has started to pay dividends. In July, residents of Southern Towers had their first private meeting with CIM and an observer from the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System pension fund, which had invested with CIM and — according to a PSERS representative — is responsive to "citizens' concerns."</p><p>Two more meetings led to some concessions from CIM, including a temporary rent cap and a timeline for repairs to broken elevators and playground equipment. Tenants say these are half measures, but also signs of progress.</p><p>Insider spoke with 10 Southern Towers tenants. Some are identified in full, while others asked that their last names be withheld for fear of professional consequences. Insider also spoke with two former CIM property managers and two witnesses to discussions between CIM and investors at a professional conference, with each asking for anonymity to avoid the possibility of retribution. Their identities are known to Insider.</p><p>The tenants have a long road ahead of them, with many of their demands outstanding. But capturing the attention of the company has been a major feat in a state with relatively weak rent laws. Landlords have no obligation to bargain with tenant associations anywhere in the country <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-renters-unions-organize-law-landlords-listen-tenants-veritas-2022-4">except for San Francisco</a>. </p><p>"For a landlord with billions of dollars, making them come to the table is a win," Bourma said in December. "To have them sit with us to hear our complaints, that's a win."</p><p>Tenants across the US are feeling increasing pressure, as rents hit all-time highs just as inflation added to the cost of everyday items.</p><p>Meanwhile, multifamily investment hit a record high of <a href="https://www.multifamilyexecutive.com/property-management/apartment-trends/multifamily-sees-record-demand-in-2021_o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$335 billion invested in 2021</a>, according to CBRE. Big-money investors are pumping billions into the sector, leaving many renters to find that their new landlord is a Wall Street giant practiced in extracting as much income as possible from its investments. </p><p>That has put tenants and landlords on a collision course. The battle between the Southern Towers tenants and CIM could presage what's to come across America.</p><h2><strong>Hidden gems in Alexandria's gold rush </strong></h2><p>Southern Towers' five 16-story buildings in Alexandria, Virginia, about 10 miles from the US Capitol, are a haven for the working class. They comprise their own census tract, and as of 2020, three-quarters of tenants were people of color. More than 60% are immigrants, most from Africa. </p><p>CIM — a major player in the Northern Virginia area with 5,500 apartment units — wants to keep Southern Towers as "quality workforce housing" in an area saturated with luxury housing, according to the company representative. It's part of CIM's strategy of enhancing communities with properties from affordable housing to data centers, the person added.</p><p>Southern Towers was already in a bad way. Tenants had been <a href="https://www.alxnow.com/2020/04/20/tenants-and-supporters-protest-for-rent-freeze-at-southern-towers/">demanding a rent freeze</a> from their previous landlord Bell Partners. When CIM snapped up the properties, it did so at a discount <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=698434674210586&amp;ref=watch_permalink">because of unpaid rent</a>. The investor planned to make a "significant investment" into the "deteriorated" properties when it struck the deal, according to the representative.</p><p>The deal was financed with the help of a 10-year, $346 million loan with a 2.2% interest rate from Freddie Mac. The <a href="https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2020&amp;no=904734#:~:text=South%20Korea%27s%20second%20largest%20institutional,Washington%20D.C%2C%20the%20United%20States">Korean Teachers' Credit Union</a>, which also participated in the deal, put the total size of the deal at $700 million: $506 million to acquire the Towers, with almost $200 million earmarked to redevelop the property.</p><p>The terms of the deal were favorable, with borrowing costs near record lows. The same couldn't be said for the condition of the property. </p><p>"They bought a lemon," a former property manager said of the situation faced by CIM at Southern Towers. "They didn't realize it wasn't just a lemon. It was a rotten lemon."</p><p>The former manager used to visit a family member in the Towers during the 1990s. Little had improved, and most things seemed worse, with leaks, moldy rooms, and "infestations" of roaches and mice so large that they looked like inflatables, the manager said. </p><p>"When I walked into some of those apartments, it was almost like a death scene in a scary movie," the former manager said. "It's like someone would come out of the closet and kill you."</p><div type="image" title="A heating/cooling unit in the Sherwood at Southern Towers with black mold." height="3024" width="4032" msid="96548941" hostid="261"></div><p>Insider visited Southern Towers in July and witnessed borderline living conditions, including what appeared to be dark mold around heating units of five apartments. In one, the 6-year-old autistic son of Laila, a woman from Morocco who was then pregnant with another child, was sick for much of the past winter, the mother said.</p><p>The CIM representative told Insider in October that an environmental assessment done at the time of the purchase found no campus-wide mold issue.</p><p>Tenants, especially immigrants who weren't native English speakers, complained that CIM didn't take their complaints seriously. One property manager told Laila that if she didn't like the conditions in her apartment, she could move to a more expensive apartment, or leave, she said.</p><h2>Evictions pile up</h2><p>Many tenants faced difficulties in paying rent early in the coronavirus pandemic because their service-industry jobs were disrupted or they felt forced to quit. Bourma, who was a cafeteria chef, was laid off in March 2020. </p><div type="image" title="Sami Bourma and Roslyn, two tenant leaders at the Southern Towers." height="2274" width="3024" msid="96548944" hostid="261"></div><p>The US government scrambled to mitigate the economic pain. By March 2020, the regulated housing enterprises Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae adopted a range of anti-eviction policies. By June 2020, Virginia had launched its Rent Relief Program, which would pay landlords back for unpaid rent.</p><p>But CIM forged ahead with eviction measures, filing proceedings across 255 households in its first six months of ownership, or more than 10% of all households, according to an Insider evaluation of a study commissioned by African Communities Together, the activist group helping the tenants. </p><p>Many of these households had multiple proceedings filed against them, bringing the total number of measures filed to 541. According to the study, the Towers represented 21% of the filings in Alexandria during the period, even though Southern Towers was just 6% of the city's rental stock.</p><p>CIM did not dispute the eviction-related activity but noted that the Towers had actual eviction rates of just 0.43% and 0.78% in 2021 and 2020, compared with the city's 2021 rate of 1.62%. </p><p>Still, even though CIM was barred from actually kicking anyone out for not paying rent, the eviction notices still had a significant impact on the community, according to tenant leaders and the two former property managers. Many tenants, perhaps unaware of their rights or terrified of going to court, left the Towers after receiving a notice, they said.</p><p>"There's a lot of immigrants in this community, and if you tell them they have to go to court, they get scared," Bourma said.</p><h2>Turn to investors</h2><p>CIM has been hired by pension funds to <a href="https://www.perenews.com/the-pere-100-bounces-back/">invest billions in real estate</a>. ACT sent some of these funds a letter earlier this year, asking them to intervene and make sure that CIM not "displace immigrant residents" and that it provide "livable conditions."</p><p>Bourma started to speak out at pension-fund meetings, including at a PSERS public forum in June. PSERS wasn't a direct investor into Southern Towers but had given the group $250 million for an infrastructure fund earlier in 2022. He explained why the tenants were fighting.</p><p>"They're pushing us out of our city — they're pushing us out of the place we've built for years," Bourma said, according to an excerpted recording of the meeting, provided by ACT.</p><p>The pressure appeared to pay off. By July, the tenants and ACT had won a seat at the table with CIM executives. There, they demanded a pause in evictions, better maintenance, and a more compassionate attitude from the building staff.</p><p>Disagreements ensued. At the first meeting, CIM said it had filed evictions only to help tenants apply for Virginia's Rent Relief Program. Tenants blasted the explanation because eviction filings weren't required for them to collect state rent relief. Their credit was unnecessarily tarnished, they said.</p><p>The back and forth continued over two more meetings, culminating with some concessions from CIM: a short-term cap on rent increases, more money for pest removal and lobby staff, frequent efforts to gather feedback from tenants, and repairs for leaky windows and roofs that may have caused some mold growth.</p><p>Still, Bourma kept up with the pressure. Sometimes, the tension has boiled over in public forums.</p><p>In September, Bourma joined a panel about ethical housing investment at a gathering of the Council of Institutional Investors, where CIM investors would be in attendance. He described the issues he said he and other tenants had faced in an appeal to the conscience of investors who he hoped were <a href="https://www.plansponsor.com/institutional-investors-increasingly-including-esg-factors-portfolios/">factoring social and governance issues into their investments</a>.</p><p>For Jerry Thomas, a managing director of CIM's on-site property team who showed up unexpectedly, it was time to set the record straight, as he saw it. After distributing three-page flyers with CIM's position, Thomas disputed Bourma's characterizations in a tone so aggressive that it jarred some audience members, according to two who attended and were not affiliated with CIM or the tenants.</p><p>A CIM representative dismissed Thomas' behavior as unsurprising given what the person called the "unfair characterizations" of his staff and their work.</p><h2>"We're not going to leave"</h2><p>The Southern Towers tenants aren't the only ones following the money. Minnesota tenants of HavenBrook Homes, which is ultimately owned by the investment firm Pretium — asked <a href="https://www.perenews.com/citizens-group-asks-minnesota-to-review-landmark-relationship-2/">the Minnesota State Board of Investment</a> in 2021 to review its relationship with Landmark Partners, a private-equity real-estate firm that has worked with Pretium, because of poor living conditions and high fees. Similar scenes have played out in California as well. </p><p>The tenants' actions come at a time of growing tension between renters and landlords with close Wall Street connections. In Cincinnati, the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cincinnati-buying-back-homes-from-investors-2022-6">stepped in to buy properties</a> to stop them from falling into the hands of out-of-town investors. In November, Southern Towers resident Roslyn Gadley joined a group of dozens of tenants from across the country organized by advocacy group <a href="https://peoplesaction.org/2022/11/homes-guarantee-wraps-tenant-reckoning-with-white-house-meeting-rally-and-congressional-briefing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">People's Action</a> to push the White House to pass a <a href="https://peoplesaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Executive-Order-to-Regulate-Rents-Sign-ons-.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pro-tenant executive order</a> that would boost federal oversight of institutional landlords, with the help of progressive Congresspeople like Elizabeth Warren and Cori Bush. And tenant movements from <a href="https://therealdeal.com/2022/09/02/new-rent-regulations-would-squeeze-landlords-even-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York State</a> to <a href="https://www.globest.com/sbm-gbst/2022/11/11/voters-approve-rent-control-in-florida-county/?slreturn=20221123104542" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orange County, Florida</a>, have helped pass rent control and tenant rights laws.</p><p>Bourma told Insider in December that he had seen some improvement since the tenant meetings. His air-conditioning unit, and those of a few other tenant leaders, have been cleaned of mold. </p><div type="image" title="The broken back door entrance to the Sherwood at Southern Towers." height="2268" width="3023" msid="96548945" hostid="261"></div><p>CIM, most likely eager to put the issue behind it, says it worked "individually" with its renters over "specific issues." It cited a high level of recent lease renewals and a building survey as signs of contentment, though responses to the survey totaled just 117, a fraction of a complex with 2,300 units.</p><p>But Bourma and the tenants are far from satisfied. He said less-vocal tenants continued to have issues, and a back door to one of the buildings remains broken since Insider's visit. This, he said, means the fight will drag on.</p><p>"We're not going to leave," Bourma said. "We're going to continue to put pressure on. You can make your money, but we need a peaceful place to live."</p>

A band of immigrant tenants went to war with their $31 billion landlord. It's a sneak peek at what's to come across America.

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Shutterstock</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Monday.</p><ol><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-bans-vaping-apps-app-store-2019-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">Apple banned all vaping apps from the App Store</a>.</strong> The firm banned all 181 vaping-related apps from the App Store amidst growing health concerns.<strong><br /></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-50427414/xbox-s-boss-years-before-game-streaming-is-mainstream">Xbox head Phil Spencer says it'll be "many years" before video game streaming becomes mainstream</a>.</strong> Spencer was speaking to the BBC about Xbox's Project xCloud, a rival to Google's upcoming game streaming service Stadia.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/tiktok-hits-1-5-billion-downloads-report-says/">TikTok has now been downloaded more than 1.5 billion downloads worldwide on the App Store and Google Play</a>.</strong> Mobile intelligence firm Sensor Tower says the app has been downloaded more than 600 million times so far this year.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-owner-bytedance-plans-to-launch-music-streaming-ft-2019-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">The owner of TikTok is reportedly in talks with major record labels to launch a music streaming service</a>.</strong> ByteDance is in talks with big music labels - Universal Music, Sony Music and Warner Music - for global licensing deals to include their songs on its new music subscription service, according to the Financial Times. </li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/labour-proposes-25bn-tax-tech-giants-fund-free-internet-2019-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">The UK Labour party wants to tax Amazon, Facebook and Google to fund a $25 billion plan for free, high-speed internet for the whole country</a>.</strong> The party floated plans on Thursday to buy up most of the UK's existing internet infrastructures for an estimated cost of £20 billion (around $25 billion), which it pledged to massively expand. </li><li><strong><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-18/apple-iphone-11-scores-early-china-success-official-data-shows?srnd=technology-vp">Apple's iPhone 11 is proving an early success in China, according to official data</a>.</strong> Apple shipped 10 million iPhones in China during September and October, Bloomberg reports.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-political-ads-ban-new-details-2019-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">Twitter will ban all politicians from advertising on its platform, but it will make a few exceptions for news publishers and causes</a>.</strong> Twitter's political ads policy prohibits any ads mentioning political candidates, elections, and ballot measures, but exempts news publishers and certain "cause-based" ads.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-cuts-back-weekly-meetings-stamp-out-leaks?r=US&amp;IR=T">Google is cutting back on its popular TGIF all-hands meetings as it reels from unprecedented leaks and unrest</a>.</strong> CEO Sundar Pichai said the move was in response to a "coordinated effort" to share conversations outside Google as well as a desire to make better use of employees' time.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-17/softbank-aims-to-combine-yahoo-japan-with-line-messaging-service?srnd=technology-vp">SoftBank is planning to combine Yahoo Japan with messaging service Line</a>.</strong> According to Bloomberg, the deal is pencilled in to happen in October 2020.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/17/trump-to-visit-apples-manufacturing-plant-in-austin-on-wednesday.html">President Trump will tour Apple's manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, CNBC reports</a>.</strong> The tech giant shifted production of its Mac Pro to Austin in September after securing a series of tariff exemptions for computer parts.</li></ol><p>Have an Amazon Alexa device? Now you can hear 10 Things in Tech each morning. Just search for "Business Insider" in your Alexa's flash briefing settings.</p><p>You can also <a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/free">subscribe to this newsletter</a> here - just tick "10 Things in Tech You Need to Know."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-airpods-review-wireless-headphones-sound-quality-battery-life-2019-8">Apple just revealed its AirPods Pro for $249, which feature noise cancellation. Here's everything that was wrong with the $159 pair of the wireless headphones.</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

10 things in tech you need to know today

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Business Insider/Bumble</span></p><p class="caption">A photo of the female-focused dating app Bumble.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Dating apps like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tinder">Tinder</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/match">Match,</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/bumble">Bumble</a> will see their user base numbers in the US increase in 2019, but grow slower than in recent years, eMarketer research analysts predict.</li><li>According to the new report, eMarketer estimates 25.1 million users will use a dating app at least monthly, a 5.3% increase from the amount of users in 2018.</li><li>Analysts say there are more users switching between apps than new users entering the dating-app market.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><p>Although more than 25 million people are expected to regularly turn to dating apps this year, analysts are predicting a slow-down in growth for many popular dating apps. </p><p>In a new forecast on app usage, research analytics firm eMarketer predicts that user growth for dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, Match, and OKCupid, will "slow significantly" in the US in 2019. Dating apps are anticipated to see their collective user base grow by 5.3% this year, compared with a 6.5% increase in 2018.</p><p>While an estimated 23.8 million adults used dating apps in 2018, the monthly user base is expected to reach 25.1 million in the US this year. Analysts attributes the slow in growth to a lower number of new users entering the dating app market.</p><p>"<span>At this point, we see existing users switching between apps rather than new users trying dating apps for the first time," eMarketer analyst Nazmul Islam said.</span></p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/relationship-expert-takes-over-online-dating-profile-tips-2019-4">A relationship expert helped me create the "perfect" online dating profile and the results were almost immediate</a></em></p><p>When reached for comment about eMarketer's revised forecast, a spokesperson for Match Group (Tinder's parent company) pointed to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-06/match-beats-estimates-as-global-love-affair-with-tinder-heats-up">Tinder's growth in the international market outside</a> of the US. </p><p><span>"Our data shows that half of all singles in the US use or have tried a dating app. There are also huge single populations in the rest of the world where dating products are becoming the new normal," Match Group spokesperson Justine Sacco told Business Insider. "We expect to see both revenue and user growth for our company continue to grow."</span></p><p><span>Looking forward, eMarketer predicts dating app user growth in the US to slow to a 2.3% increase by 2022, barely topping 28 million.</span></p><p><span>Nevertheless, the dating app industry as a whole is still seeing its revenue continue to grow. From February 2018 to February 2019, the top 10 mobile dating apps in the US saw around $679 million in gross consumer spending, <a href="https://sensortower.com/blog/dating-app-revenue-2018">according to Sensor Tower data</a>. Tinder increased its revenue by 62% during this period with an industry-leading $367 million, while Bumble grew 135% to $117 million.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-launched-6000-mac-pro-2019-worldwide-developer-conference-2019-6">Apple just launched a $6,000 Mac Pro, available this fall</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Dating apps like Tinder, Match, and Bumble are still growing, but analysts predict that growth will 'slow significantly' in 2019

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p class="source"><span>Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>A new kind of Apple mapping vehicle has been spotted around Los Angeles.</strong></li><li><strong>They are white Subaru Impreza wagons with a tower of gear sprouting from the roof and quite different-looking than the previously known Apple Maps vehicles, which were minivans.&#xa0;</strong></li><li><strong>These mapping vehicles are also different than the self-driving Lexus SUVs that are in testing in California.&#xa0;</strong></li><li><strong>Apple wants to collect all the data needed to operate Apple Maps, instead of licensing it from partners.&#xa0;</strong></li></ul><p>Since 2015, Apple has operated a fleet of vans driving streets around the world. Apple <a href="https://maps.apple.com/vehicles/">publishes</a> a list of where you can spot these vehicles.&#xa0;&#xa0;</p><p>These vans are equipped with special sensors and cameras on their roofs, and collect data and images to improve Apple Maps.</p><p>Now it appears that Apple has developed a second-generation version of its mapping vehicles - and this time, they're not vans.</p><p>Two different people in the Los Angeles area in recent weeks have sent Business Insider pictures of a new model of Apple Maps car.</p><p>The white Subaru Impreza wagons can be identified by two main characteristics: The ones spotted in the LA area are clearly marked as Apple vehicles. And they've got a tall beehive-like protrusion extending from the roof covered in Apple's iconic white plastic.&#xa0;</p><p>The cars appear to be equipped with laser-based LIDAR sensors as well, which collect depth data that's useful for autonomous vehicles and augmented reality applications.&#xa0;</p><p>Take a look:</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p class="source"><span>Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><p>Here's another Apple-operated Subaru that's been spotted in LA:</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Here's a close-up of the white housing:</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>What's under that plastic shell? We don't know, but the Subarus spotted in Los Angeles look a lot like this unmarked rigged up Subaru Impreza spotted by Business Insider in San Francisco a few months ago. The triple-stack of lidars sprouting from the roof look the same as the Apple car, and the cluster at the top of the tower looks familiar - just without the plastic covering.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Here's an example of one of Apple's vans:</p><p>These cars are separate from the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-self-driving-cars-california-tesla-waymo-uber-2018-5">fleet of autonomous Lexus SUVs</a> that Apple is testing around California.&#xa0;</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/apple-is-rebuilding-maps-from-the-ground-up/">According to TechCrunch</a>, the latest version of Apple's iPhone software, iOS, is the first to use Apple's own data from its cars in Apple Maps.&#xa0;</p><p>Apple's goal for its maps software is to own all the data that goes into making a map, as opposed to licensing it from groups like OpenStreetMap and TomTom.&#xa0;</p><p>"We decided to do this just over four years ago. We said, 'Where do we want to take Maps? What are the things that we want to do in Maps?' We realized that, given what we wanted to do and where we wanted to take it, we needed to do this ourselves," Eddy Cue, Apple's head of online services, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/apple-is-rebuilding-maps-from-the-ground-up/">told TechCrunch</a>.&#xa0;</p><p>Here's how TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/apple-is-rebuilding-maps-from-the-ground-up/">described the sensors on Apple's vans:</a></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"In addition to a beefed-up GPS rig on the roof, four LIDAR arrays mounted at the corners and eight cameras shooting overlapping high-resolution images, there's also the standard physical measuring tool attached to a rear wheel that allows for precise tracking of distance and image capture. In the rear there is a surprising lack of bulky equipment. Instead, it's a straightforward Mac Pro bolted to the floor, attached to an array of solid state drives for storage. A single USB cable routes up to the dashboard where the actual mapping-capture software runs on an iPad."</p><p>An Apple spokesman didn't immediately return a request for comment.&#xa0;</p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lg-v40-thinq-5-camera-smartphone-2018-10">This smartphone has 5 cameras - here's what it's like</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Next-generation Apple Maps cars have been spotted in Los Angeles

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p><p class="caption">Google CEO Sundar Pichai.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Good morning. Here's everything you need to know in the world of <keyword id="35666" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="advertising">advertising</keyword> today.</p><p><strong>1. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alphabets-q3-earnings-2016-10">Google's earnings topped Wall Street expectations in the third quarter and the company also announced a $7 billion stock repurchase</a>. </strong>But its stock barely budged in after hours trading, rising 1%.</p><p><strong>2. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-q3-earnings-2016-10">Twitter beat analysts' expectations for both revenue and earnings per share in its third quarter, but confirmed that it plans to lay off 9% of its workforce</a></strong>. Despite these gains, Twitter continues to be a loss-making company, posting a GAAP loss net loss of $103 million in the period. </p><p><strong>3. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-earnings-q3-2016-2016-10">Amazon reported a big miss on profit in its third quarter earnings and its stock fell 7%</a>.</strong><strong> </strong>Investors were also spooked by the lower than expected revenue guidance for the fourth quarter, traditionally the biggest quarter for Amazon. </p><p><strong>4. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-shutting-vine-down-2016-10">Twitter is shutting down video-sharing service Vine "in the coming months</a>"</strong>. Twitter said: "Nothing is happening to the apps, website or your Vines today," in a release on Thursday, adding that users will be given a heads-up and will be able to download their Vines before the app shuts for good.</p><p><strong>5. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/10/27/the-fcc-just-passed-sweeping-new-rules-to-protect-your-online-privacy/">The FCC passed new rules to protect consumers' online privacy, The Washington Post reported</a>. </strong>The new rules require that internet service providers obtain consent from consumers before sharing data around their web browsing with advertisers.</p><p><strong>6. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-tv-app-2016-10">Apple announced a new Apple TV app that is says will bring all your shows and videos into a central app</a></strong><strong>. </strong>It's simply called "TV" and is designed to tie together whichever services you have and provide you with one place to find new shows to watch and pick up where you left off. </p><p><strong>7. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/googles-cfo-defends-alphabet-2016-10">Google's CFO kicked off the Q3 earnings call with a lengthy defense of the corporate restructuring into the Alphabet holding company</a>. </strong>CFO Ruth Porat defended Alphabet's setbacks but struggled to justify its purpose.  </p><p><strong>8. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-nfls-ratings-are-bad-news-for-restaurants-2016-10">NFL viewership is falling, and restaurant chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Papa John's should be worried</a>. </strong>Pro-football viewership is down 11% this year, according to Sports Illustrated, and this decline could mean a slump in sales for chains that rely on football fans either watching games in their restaurants or ordering takeout to watch at home. </p><p><strong>9. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-built-a-giant-online-pickup-tower-2016-10">Walmart is testing a giant tower inside one of its stores that acts as a vending machine for online orders</a>. </strong>The automatic pickup machine - as it's called internally - is so big that the company had to remove a chunk of the ceiling to fit it inside the store.</p><p><strong>10. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/google-changing-index-splitting-into-desktop-and-mobile-2016-10">Google is splitting its search index into desktop and mobile - and there will be winners and losers</a>. </strong>Counterintuitively, publishers with mobile sites designed specifically to make life easier for smartphone users may suffer.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/big-mac-mcdonalds-burger-millennials-first-time-2016-10">Watch millennials try a McDonald's Big Mac for the first time</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="U3OTZtNjE6xaoHL1g3r74eb-AMAhfe3q" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

The 10 things in advertising you need to know today

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>The highly-anticipated virtual reality headset Oculus Rift is finally going to be available for purchase early next year. But there's a problem: If you own a Mac or Linux system, or a basic PC, you're out of luck. At least for now.</p><p>Facebook-owned Oculus VR on Friday <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oculus-rift-tech-specs-2015-5">released the technical requirements</a> for running the Oculus Rift - it will require a PC with a powerful graphics card. But it won't work on any Apple or Linux computers. And the system specifications are far above the levels of any basic PC.</p><p>"Our development for OS X and Linux has been paused in order to focus on delivering a high quality consumer-level VR experience at launch across hardware, software, and content on Windows," Oculus' chief architect Atman Binstock wrote in a <a href="https://www.oculus.com/blog/powering-the-rift/">blog post</a>. "We want to get back to development for OS X and Linux but we don't have a timeline."</p><p><span>We always knew the first-generation Oculus Rift would require a computer to work, but it's disappointing that it won't work across all platforms just yet. And furthermore, you'll have to own an at least $1000 PC with a beefy graphics card if you want a quality experience.</span></p><h2><span>Delayed gratification</span></h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>The Oculus Rift was responsible for re-sparking interest in virtual reality back in 2012, when gaming enthusiast Palmer Luckey promised a better virtual reality experience that was also accessible and affordable for most people.</span></p><p>Luckey's <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1523379957/oculus-rift-step-into-the-game">original Kickstarter campaign</a> surpassed its goal in less than 24 hours on its way to raising over $2.4 million. It was endorsed by countless gaming executives, including Valve CEO Gabe Newell and "Doom" creator John Carmack. It became an even bigger deal when Facebook saw its potential and acquired the company for $2 billion in March 2014.</p><p><span>Over that time, Oculus built three official development kits for the Rift headset, but everyone wanted to know when they could expect the first consumer version to ship. The company finally answered that question earlier this month, promising the first units of the Oculus Rift would ship early next year.</span></p><p><span>Unfortunately, just because it's officially called the "consumer version" doesn't mean the first-generation Rift is for "all consumers." </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Due to these technical requirements and restrictions, it sounds like the Oculus Rift will only appeal to hardcore gamers at this point, who already own a gaming rig that can handle the computational load.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></p><p><span>Personally, I was looking forward to buying the first-generation Oculus Rift, but I probably won't at this point. I'm a big gaming enthusiast but only a casual gamer - I don't have a crazy setup like a massive computer tower with three monitors, I just have a MacBook Pro. I would need to buy a completely separate PC just to play around with the Rift.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br /></span></p><p><span>Here's what they say you'll need to actually use this thing:</span></p><ul><li><span>NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD 290 equivalent or greater</span></li><li><span>Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater</span></li><li><span>8GB+ RAM</span></li><li><span>Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output</span></li><li><span>2x USB 3.0 ports</span></li><li><span>Windows 7 SP1 or newer</span></li></ul><p><span>That is not going to come anywhere near approaching the average user's home computer system. And as a result, it's going to leave a lot of people who want to experience virtual reality out of the loop.</span></p><p>Of course, this is not what Oculus wants, either. Most virtual reality companies say their goal is to get their VR products untethered from computers to simply become plug-and-play experiences like many living room game consoles. But that future isn't quite here yet, and unfortunately, that means many people - non-gamers and casual gamers included - will be missing out on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/virtual-reality-is-getting-real-2015-5">first wave of virtual reality</a>. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-tries-oculus-rift-virtual-reality-2015-1">Watch Henry Blodget Freak Out When He Tries Oculus Rift And Looks Down From A Virtual Skyscraper</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="wyZXVhcjqlAiaZTCD-lgoWLwGFPi_WF0" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

There's one glaring problem with Oculus Rift's plan to conquer virtual reality

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Plant-based versions of fast-food classics flooded menus in 2019, as partnerships with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/beyond-meat">Beyond Meat</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/impossible-foods">Impossible Foods</a> produced offerings such as KFC's Beyond Fried Chicken and Burger King's Impossible Whopper.</li><li>Beyond Meat sees fast-food partnerships as a major part of its future, executives told Business Insider. </li><li>"It's not a one-size-fits-all," said Beyond Meat's chief growth officer, Chuck Muth. Each chain that enters a partnership with Beyond Meat has its own team at the plant-based "meat" company, and CEO Ethan Brown signs off on each new menu item. </li><li>Fast-food partnerships help put plant-based "meat" in front of a massive amount of potential customers, helping change people's perception of meat-free products and build Beyond's sales.</li><li>"It's not that interesting to me that really rich people eat super healthy food. It's not moving the needle," CEO Ethan <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dunkin-beyond-meat-ceos-explain-faux-meat-breakfast-sandwiches-2019-7">Brown told Business Insider</a> on the day that Dunkin' debuted its Beyond Sausage Sandwich. </li><li><a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/drivethru">Sign up for Business Insider's retail newsletter, The Drive-Thru, to get more stories like this in your inbox</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet"><strong>Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</strong></a><strong>.</strong></li></ul><p>On August 27, a KFC in Atlanta, Georgia, descended into chaos as lines of cars and people stretched around the location, which had been painted green for the day. </p><p>The reason for the chaos? For a single day, at this single location, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-tasted-kfc-meatless-chicken-review-2019-8">KFC was serving Beyond Fried Chicken.</a> </p><p>The Beyond Fried Chicken - made in partnership with Beyond Meat - sold out in five hours. According to a KFC representative, the location had been stocked with the plant-based equivalent of the amount of popcorn chicken that could normally last the chain a week. </p><p>KFC and Beyond Meat executives told Business Insider that the massive response was overwhelming and surprising, especially since it came just three months after KFC President Kevin Hochman mentioned, offhand, that he had been casually meeting with plant-based "meat" makers. </p><p>However, it was just one of countless partnerships that Beyond Meat announced in 2020. Restaurant industry reporters found their inboxes flooded with announcements from Beyond and rival Impossible Foods, with new partnerships being penned on what felt like a weekly - if not daily - basis. And, increasingly, chains had their own take on plant-based foods, created with the help of Impossible or Beyond. </p><p>In addition to Beyond Fried Chicken, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-tgi-fridays-chains-sell-plant-based-meat-2019-5#little-caesars-14">2019 saw the arrival of</a> Burger King's Impossible Whopper, Del Taco's Beyond Taco, and Carl's Jr.'s Beyond Famous Star, as well as the Beyond BBQ Cheeseburger. McDonald's tested Beyond's P.L.T. in Canada, and Little Caesars tested the Impossible Supreme Pizza. </p><p>"It's been a gradual momentum build," Beyond Meat's chief growth officer, Chuck Muth, told Business Insider in an interview in November. </p><p>Each new test and menu launch was met with a flurry of articles and, in Beyond's early post-IPO days, a bump in its stock price. But, the long-term impact of the new menu items is far greater than a proportion of people swapping out a hamburger for a meat-free version of the same menu item.</p><p>Quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry partnerships are set to be a major part of Beyond Meat's growth plan moving forward, Muth says. And, fast-food executives and industry analysts believe their future is also full of plant-based "meat."</p><h2>Why fast food loves Beyond Meat</h2><p>When a massive trend hits, from CBD to chicken sandwiches, fast-food industry executives quickly realize that they're going to have to have an answer ready. In 2019, that trend was plant-based "meat," with Amanda Norris, executive director of Chick-fil-A's menu, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-explores-vegan-meat-substitutes-potential-2019-5">telling Business Insider earlier this year</a> that she anticipates every chain is soon going to have a "point of view" on the topic.  </p><p>This "point of view" could be amping up vegetarian options, which is the road that Chick-fil-A has chosen so far, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-panera-snub-beyond-meat-impossible-food-2019-6">as have chains such as Taco Bell and Panera.</a> But, for many other chains, developing a point of view means taking a meeting with Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, and other companies entering the plant-based "meat" business. </p><p>Muth says that just a few years ago, Beyond went into these meetings hoping that grocery store sales could help convince fast-food chains to partner with the plant-based "meat" maker.</p><p>While Impossible Foods started out with deals with fine-dining chefs such as David Chang, Beyond Meat first appeared in grocery stores <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-a-startup-that-makes-fake-meat-from-plants-caught-the-attention-of-bill-gates-and-the-founders-of-twitter-2015-7">such as Whole Foods and Target.</a> When Muth joined in 2017 after a career at Honest Tea and Coca-Cola, he said one of his missions was to ensure that Beyond products were sold in the meat aisles, not alongside vegetarian or vegan offerings. </p><p>Muth said early partnerships with chains such as A&amp;W in Canada and TGI Fridays required executives, many of whom believed in Beyond's pro-environment message, to trust that Beyond's grocery sales would translate into success at restaurants. Now, Beyond Meat can show figures from public companies' earnings reports, like with Del Taco, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/del-taco-launches-beyond-meat-burritos-after-taco-success-2019-6">which sold two million plant-based Beyond Meat tacos in less than two months. </a></p><p>Analysts are increasingly predicting that plant-based "meat" will be a long-term necessity for most chains, as opposed to a short-term sales bump.</p><p>A Cowen report published in October found that Beyond and Impossible Burgers have a 79% retrial rate among omnivore respondents. Cowen also found that people are willing to pay more for plant-based burgers. The majority of people surveyed, including the majority of people in households making less than $60,000 a year, strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that Beyond's plant-based burgers were worth a premium price. </p><p>The report adds: "Further supporting the pricing power is virtually all concepts discussed plant-based products attracting new and lapsed users to the brand, which skew more affluent and younger."</p><p>Plant-based "meat" has also gained a certain cultural cachet that many fast-food brands would spend millions of dollars to get in 2019. Lingerie brand Yandy only deemed a few foods sufficiently sexy to transform into skimpy Halloween costumes this year. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sexy-plant-based-beyond-burger-costume-yandy-for-halloween-2019-9">The Beyond Burger made the cut,</a> joining the meme-able ranks of Sexy White Claw and Sexy Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. </p><h2>Beyond's mission to be the faux meat maker of choice</h2><p>If plant-based products become part of doing business, Beyond Meat's job is to convince chains that it is the best partner to work with as the industry evolves. </p><p>A major piece of the puzzle in these partnerships is the creation of the perfect collaboration: a new menu item that combines fast-food sensibility with plant-based startup buzziness. While originally chains simply served the Beyond Burger (or, the Impossible Burger), the new normal is the creation of a new, original item highlighting the plant-based "meat" maker's identity. </p><p>"These large QSRs want something that is unique and special that also reflects their culinary direction," Muth said. </p><p>"That's where our capabilities come in," Muth added. "We have the capabilities here of customizing items that work. And that's part of the entrepreneur scrappiness. It's not a one-size-fits-all."</p><p>Today, every restaurant partner has its own corresponding team at Beyond Meat. Chains guide the conversation but work closely with Beyond, including the company's leadership. According to Muth, every new menu item needs Beyond CEO Ethan Brown's seal of approval. Brown is involved even in seemingly smaller-scale partnerships, with a KFC source saying that leadership was impressed by how hands-on the CEO was in what was, at that point, just a one-day test of Beyond Fried Chicken. </p><p>Despite Brown's involvement, speed is crucial. Muth says creating a new burger for Carl's Jr. took about four months. According to a KFC source, Beyond was able to go from presenting a potential menu item to creating the Beyond Fried Chicken Version 1.0, which was served in Atlanta, in just four weeks. </p><p>Beyond Meat has built out its development lab to include a space adjusted to replicate the kitchen of all of its partners. Since Carl's Jr. charbroils its burgers, for example, Beyond Meat is now equipped with charbroilers to properly develop plant-based versions.</p><p>These new plant-based products are based on the tastes and preferences of different customers. But, they also give Beyond fans a reason to visit a specific chain and avoid Beyond burnout. </p><p>"To not be commoditized as a brand, you have to have uniqueness with each restaurant," Muth said. "If you can buy the same Beyond Burger at every one of the restaurants, how is that special for that restaurant?" </p><p>Essentially, this is the promise that Beyond make to fast-food chains: We'll make you whatever you want. We'll get it done fast, and it will be far cooler than anything else on the menu. Traditional suppliers cannot compete in terms of speed or brand value, according to one executive who worked with Beyond on a fast-food menu test. </p><p>Impossible Foods offers a similar bargain. Cowen identified Burger King as the best positioned chain on plant-based "meat," with the national rollout of the Impossible Whopper happening in August. Impossible's burgers earn the edge in reviews among taste testers -<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/veggie-burger-taste-test-burger-king-impossible-burger-beyond-meat-2019-9"> including those at Business Insider</a> - who value the "real" bloody burger texture, which comes thanks to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/impossible-foods-bleeding-veggie-burger-ingredient-gets-fda-green-light-2018-7">use of the ingredient heme.</a> </p><p>According to one executive whose chain partnered with Beyond instead of Impossible, Beyond offers a few advantages. Since Beyond's products do not use heme, the executive said, companies that partner with Beyond can say that their foods do not contain genetically modified ingredients. Beyond also currently offers a wider range of products, from meatballs on Subway sandwiches to Beyond Fried Chicken. </p><p>"We always let the customer guide the conversation," Muth said, noting that Beyond is building capabilities to create new types of products.</p><p>"We don't like saying no," Muth said. "I can't remember if we've ever said no." </p><h2><strong>Why Beyond Meat loves fast food</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><strong></strong><p>Beyond Meat's and Impossible Foods' fast-food takeover can be seen, cynically, as an incredible money-making opportunity or, idealistically, as a democratizing of plant-based "meat." </p><p>Impossible started high-brow, with fine-dining partnerships, and has essentially trickled down into low-brow culture through menu items like the Impossible Whopper. </p><p>Beyond, meanwhile, started from the bottom of the food chain, with fast-food chains as its bread-and-butter as it entered the restaurant space. CEO Brown has been insistent that this is by design. </p><p>"It's not that interesting to me that really rich people eat super healthy food. It's not moving the needle," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dunkin-beyond-meat-ceos-explain-faux-meat-breakfast-sandwiches-2019-7">Brown told Business Insider on the day that Dunkin' debuted its Beyond Sausage Sandwich. </a></p><p>"Democratizing" plant-based "meat," to borrow a phrase from Dunkin' CEO David Hoffmann, also creates an incredible opportunity for Beyond. When plant-based "meat" is readily available at chains that they trust, closely mimicking the flavor of menu items they already love, people are more likely convinced to try the menu item at least once. </p><p>Muth and Brown often emphasize that they want plant-based proteins to thrive, no matter who is making them. The competition adds a sense of urgency and, crucially, helps force plant-based "meat" further into the mainstream. Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown (no relation to Beyond's CEO) has voiced <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/impossible-foods-ceo-slams-rivals-awful-products-2019-9">similar sentiments about the positives around more companies producing high-quality plant-based "meat."</a> </p><p>"On the one hand I feel like it's great," Pat Brown told Busines Insider in September. "It's a great sign about the demand. On the other side, I feel like - and it may sound ironic to say this - I wish they would make better products, basically."</p><p>"Every time someone uses one of those products and it sucks, it's a setback" for Impossible Foods and plant-based meat alternatives more generally, Brown added. </p><p>Conversely, every time someone eats a plant-based faux meat product, it helps build demand for Beyond and Impossible. According to Cowen, "several concepts cited that as Beyond and Impossible offerings are adopted by competitors, the concept sees a halo benefit from growing awareness of plant-based offerings." </p><p>In May, Barclays estimated that the market for alternative meat could reach roughly $140 billion over the next 10 years, up from $14 billion. When Dunkin' launched its Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich, Beyond's Brown said that it has been fascinating to see "a brand morph into a movement." </p><p>"That's not what we're doing, that's what the world is doing," Brown said. </p><h2><strong>The future of fast food</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><strong></strong><p>With a symbiotic relationship between Beyond Meat and fast food, chains are set for a significantly more plant-based future. Citing NPD Group data, Cowen said in its October report that plant-based burgers currently represent 3% to 4% of all fast-food orders. Beef burger sales are somewhat stagnant, with the NPD Group finding that traditional burger sales were flat for the year ending in May 2019, with 6.4 billion beef burgers sold. In the same period, sales of plant-based burgers grew 10% to 228 million, according to NPD. </p><p>"Longer term, when plant-based proteins will presumably be permeated throughout the industry, we expect plant-based to be a cost of doing business," the Cowen report reads. </p><p>According to Barclays' report, 12% of people who had tried either the Impossible or the Beyond Burger said that their primary reason for trying the burger was social responsibility.</p><p>With climate change becoming more of a direct threat, the motivation to do more will also grow. </p><p>Scientists and analysts alike are anticipating climate change to have a major impact on the future. In November, more than 11,250 scientists from 153 countries <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-declare-climate-emergency-solutions-fewer-children-2019-11">co-signed a warning in the journal BioScience stating</a> "clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency." The same month, Federal Reserve official Kevin Stiroh declared that climate change and related events <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/climate-change-impact-on-economy-has-cost-500-billion-fed-2019-11-1028675379">directly cost the US more than $500 billion over the past five years</a>.</p><p>Beyond Meat is also working to become increasingly relevant, both in terms of individuals and fast-food partners. Muth says the company's priorities are improving on nutrition, price, and taste. If Beyond's last earnings call is any indication, nutrition, in particular, will be front and center as Beyond moves into 2020, <a href="https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2019/10/31/food-scientist-marion-nestle-meat-industry-hires-zombie-lobbyist-group-to-attack-beyond-impossible-burgers/">especially following attacks from the meat industry.</a></p><p>For fast food, price might prove to be just as appealing. With Wells Fargo's Jon Tower calling protein inflation a matter of "when, not if (i.e., late 2020 or early 2021, in our view)" in a December note, plant-based proteins could provide a way to keep prices steady. Beyond has pledged to match beef in price in the next five years, meaning that striking a deal with Beyond now could pay off down the line. </p><p>"Should beef inflation meaningfully accelerate, we would not be surprised to see a greater number of restaurants embrace plant-based proteins," Cowen's Charles wrote in a note in December. </p><p>As plant-based "meat" becomes more mainstream, both from Beyond's work and global necessity, plant-based startups are becoming the fast food of vegetarianism - mainstream and, by design, intended to appeal to as many people as possible. </p><p>Beyond Meat's Brown has never wanted to be principled and niche; he wants the company to be everywhere. Today, there is no better way to be everywhere than to be aligned with the thousands of fast-food chains across the country. Roughly a third of American adults eat fast food on any given day, according to a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db322.htm">2018 survey by the National Center for Health Statistics.</a> By grilling plant-based burgers alongside Big Macs, the burgers may no longer, technically, be vegan - but they do reach the largest possible customer base. </p><p>"I think that we're providing people with the opportunity to continue to do what they love: to eat meat," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/beyond-meat-ceo-says-company-has-become-movement-2019-7">Brown told Business Insider in July.</a> "But, it releases them from some of the inner anxiety they may have about it, or the inner questions they may have about it." </p>

2019 was the year that Beyond Meat took over fast food. Here is the inside story of how it plans to change how we eat forever.

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>I didn't become a fan of wrestling until I was 22 years old.<p>As a kid I was smug about it, dismissing WWE fans in my elementary peer group as ill-informed. Didn't they realize it was fake? Who cares about guys fake fighting in a ring with a system of rules that are followed at a comically low rate? As a kid, I was no fun and the worst.</p><p>But in college I tagged along to a party for WrestleMania 30 and was immediately hooked -&#xa0;the entrances, the over-the-top characters, and the drama that inherently comes with any event being broadcast live in front of millions of people was immediately captivating.</p><p>Chances are you've noticed an uptick in wrestling coverage in mainstream media. WWE athletes are now somewhat regular features on ESPN, and among sports journalists being a wrestling fan is almost as common as keeping up with "The Bachelor."</p><p>As you might've heard by now, WrestleMania 33 takes place this Sunday in Orlando, Florida. It's a stacked card, filled with matches that could surely make instant fans out of a few of you, just as it happened to me three years ago. And since I'm willing to bet there are more than a few people out there still bewildered, yet curious at the idea of wrestling, and maybe you're not lucky enough to have a friend who will invite you to his or her Mania party, feel free to consider this your invitation.</p><p>Below is a breakdown of the storylines heading into Sunday. I do my best to introduce you to the stories as they stand before the match, what's at stake, what fans expect to happen, and what could leave people in shock. Because if there's one thing I've learned watching wrestling, it's that when the lights are on, anything can happen.</p><h3><strong>The Hosts of WrestleMania: The New Day</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> The New Day are the most entertaining act in wrestling, full stop. Since uniting under what is best described as a gospel choir gimmick, Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods were given a degree of freedom rarely seen in the WWE, embraced the power of positivity, and became the longest reigning champions in Tag Team history. Since dropping their title, they've held on to their pizzazz while searching for a new place show off their talent.&#xa0;</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> Very little. The role of "host" at WrestleMania is rarely used, with Hulk Hogan and The Rock as the most notable masters of ceremonies in the past. The New Day will come out, get cheered like you can't believe, and leave the crowd extremely excited for what is to come.</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> Dancing, joy, and hopefully a trombone.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> There is a very slight chance that The New Day get involved in some chicanery. They could potentially interfere with the Raw Tag Team Championship, or possibly mix it up with the Hardys, one of the best tag teams in the world whose recently rumored return to the WWE is a poorly kept secret. But chances are anything this insane would happen the next night on RAW.</p><h3><strong>Gallows &amp; Anderson (c) v Enzo &amp; Cass v Cesaro &amp; Sheamus</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> Gallows and Anderson are powerhouses from New Japan Pro Wrestling that debuted with WWE last year and have finally claimed the Raw Tag Team Championship. Cesaro and Sheamus are an odd couple pairing of in-ring workhorses that started off as enemies before finding common ground in a shared love of beating the crap out of people. Enzo Amore and Big Cass are fan favorites who while showing strength on the main roster have yet to claim their first title.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> The RAW Tag Team Championship&#xa0;</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> Enzo and Cass have an entrance that you have to see (embedded above for your viewing pleasure!) to believe, and at WrestleMania there will be 50,000 people chanting along with Enzo Amore as he proclaims himself as " A Certified G, and a Bonafide Stud." It's going to be great. The match itself is a ladder match, so you can look forward to a few high spots. Gallows and Anderson can both give out and take a beating, so be ready for some hard hits. And chances are Cesaro swings somebody and Sheamus gives someone a boot to the face. In my fantasy, Enzo and Cass will climb to the top of the ladder and finally claim their titles, but a lot could happen in this one.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> Back when they wrestled in New Japan, Gallows and Anderson were both members of "The Club," a crew of bad guys that brought havoc to anyone that dared to cross their path. Since their move to WWE, a few other members of The Club have followed, including AJ Styles and Finn Balor. Fans have been waiting for the moment The Club would reunite to take over WWE, and while I highly highly doubt it happens here, it's something to look for in the near future.</p><h3><strong>Dean Ambrose (c) v Baron Corbin</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin are both bad dudes that don't really like each other. This is wrestling distilled.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> The Intercontinental Title</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> Baron Corbin is the younger guy here and less well established but shows a ton of promise, so chances are he comes away with the title in a show of strength. Dean Ambrose cut his teeth in hardcore matches that are too bloody to believe, so this match has the potential to get pretty crazy. Baron Corbin's finisher, "End of Days," is one of my favorites in wrestling and Dean will sell it like a million bucks.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> Blood. Blood is not something that happens a ton in modern WWE, but knowing these two there's a chance we see some color in this match, which would be notable.</p><h3><strong>Chris Jericho (c) v Kevin Owens</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> OH MAN WHERE TO BEGIN. Chris Jericho is a legend in wrestling and involved in any conversation for the best to ever enter the squared circle. Kevin Owens made it to WWE last year after being an indie sensation, and quickly made his mark after pinning John Cena clean in his debut. The duo got together and quickly became best friends, staying true to each other and putting any potential enemies on "The List of Jericho" which Chris dutifully kept on his clipboard. After a run of success where both men stood as champions, Jericho decided that they deserved a "Festival of Friendship" to celebrate the glory that they had gained together. Then, in a turn that shocked the WWE Universe, Kevin Owens turned on Jericho, leaving the former best friends as mortal enemies, destined to fight at WrestleMania.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> The United States Championship. The Future of Friendship.</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> This could be the match of the night. Despite his age, Jericho is down for anything (he took a body slam into tacs last year), and he will want to do anything and everything to make KO look amazing. I'm hoping this match gets at least 20 minutes and becomes an instant classic.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> Kevin Owens has a plethora of moves that he honed in his indie days that he still hasn't shown off in the WWE. We could see some amazingly dangerous and beautiful flying here. Also, a powerbomb from the top rope is well in play - you'll know it when you see it.</p><h3><strong>Bailey (c) v Charlotte Flair v Sasha Banks v Nia Jax</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> Bayley, the perennial underdog who fights with all her might to overcome the odds is the RAW Women's Champion, thanks in part to a little help from her good friend Sasha Banks. Charlotte Flair, daughter of Hall of Famer Ric Flair is a former champion that is probably the most impressive woman currently in WWE. Nia Jax is a giant that towers over all three of her opponents.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> The RAW Women's Championship</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> This match could go so many ways. It's an elimination match as opposed to a traditional Fatal Fourway, meaning the champion will be the last woman standing as opposed to the first to score a pinfall or submission. Expect Nia to toss her opponents around and land more than one Samoan Drop, but other than that, anyone could take the title here.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> Sasha Banks could turn on Bayley, which would be absolutely heartbreaking. There are few people as positive and loving as Bayley (her shirts are often emblazoned with the words "I'm a Hugger"), and to see her best friend slam her to the ground would be devastating, but also extremely entertaining.</p><h3><strong>John Cena &amp; Nikki Bella v The Miz &amp; Maryse</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:&#xa0;</strong>It's a tale of two couples. Cena and Bella are two of the biggest names in wrestling and rightfully so, while The Miz and Maryse are both self-absorbed with their own greatness. It's been an amazing storyline to follow because it's very real, see above for some of the low blows The Miz has fired off at Cena.&#xa0;</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> A lot of bragging rights. The Miz has already pinned Cena at WrestleMania before, and Cena is not a man that like to lose twice in a row to an opponent on wrestling's biggest stage.</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> A whole lot of fun. Few characters are as compelling as The Miz on mic, and Cena will not be looking to let the crowd down. Nikki Bella has a ton of talent as a wrestler while Maryse is well practiced at the art of pulling off cheap moves without the referee noticing.&#xa0;</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> Women and men rarely enter the ring against each other in the WWE Universe - even in intergender matches like this one. But The Miz is quite a weasel in the ring, and Nikki Bella can take a hit… a combination that could lead to a very angry John Cena.</p><h3><strong>Shane McMahon v AJ Styles</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> AJ Styles, The Phenomenal One, has been the best wrestler on the roster since his debut at the Royal Rumble last year. He's been the leading draw on SmackDown Live, and put on absolutely incredible matches - he's a guy you have to see to believe. His opponent at Mania is Shane McMahon, commissioner of SmackDown Live and son of WWE Uberlord Vincent K McMahon. AJ has been disrespected, and is angry (rightfully so!) that he does not have a title match at Mania, and recently showed his frustration by putting Shane through a car window. Shane recovered, and challenged Styles to settle their differences in the ring.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> The balance of power at SmackDown Live</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> Absolute insanity. Shane McMahon is known less as a wrestler and more as a madman. While he's far from a regular in-ring competitor, when he does enter the squared circle, Shane-O-Mac is fearless in terms of putting his body on the line. He's jumped from the top of cages and broken through more walls and windows than the Kool-Aid man. AJ Styles is something of a daredevil himself, and with a few weeks preparation there is no telling what could happen in terms of carnage.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> When Mania opens, scan the set for the highest spot in the arena. Shane might jump off of it.</p><h3><strong>Triple H v Seth Rollins</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> Seth Rollins was chosen by Triple H as the heir apparent to the throne of evil wrestler, with both men using The Pedigree as their finishing move of choice. But Triple H turned on Seth, enlisting the help of Samoa Joe to break Rollins into pieces. The plan worked, with Rollins sustaining a real injury that has kept him out of action for weeks now. Rollins is still not cleared to perform, but Triple H challenged him to a non-sanctioned match and had Seth sign a "Hold Harmless Agreement" that assures that he can't sue Triple H if he&#xa0;does irreperable damage.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> Seth Rollins leg</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> Seth will figure out a way to pull this out. Triple H is evil, but Seth is one of the best wrestlers in the company and needs to land on his feet after a few recent injuries. Ideally, the duo will trade pedigrees much to the crowd's delight.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> Samoa Joe might&#xa0;show up in an effort to aid Trpile H and help finish what he started.</p><h3><strong>The Undertaker v Roman Reigns</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:&#xa0;</strong>The Undertaker is a force at WrestleMania, having only lost on wrestling's biggest stage once in his entire career. The story on Roman Reigns is that he has been chosen by management to be the next face of the WWE, and many fans hate him for it. In recent weeks Taker and Roman have been claiming ownership of the "yard," an abstract concept that you learn to accept because The Undertaker says it matters and you do not question The Undertaker under any circumstances.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:&#xa0;</strong>The proverbial "Yard," possibly the career of The Undertaker</p><p><strong>What to expect:&#xa0;</strong>The latest rumor is this match might go on last, which will undoubtedly fuel speculation that this is Taker's last match ever. That makes picking a winner even tougher - legends like to "go out on their back," losing their last match in order to help make an up-and-comer look strong, but if WWE really let Roman put Taker in the ground the arena will be filled with some of the loudest boos you've ever heard.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:&#xa0;</strong>Braun Strowman, another former Wyatt brother and essentially a giant, has inserted himself into a few moments leading into this match, so there's a chance he shows up unannounced and tries to dig a few graves of his own.</p><h3><strong>Bray Wyatt (c) v Randy Orton</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> Bray Wyatt is something of a cult leader out of season one of "True Detective" and had temporarily recruited The Viper Randy Orton to be a part of the family. Orton betrayed Wyatt and is now using the title opportunity promised to him after his win at the Royal Rumble to take down his former brother. Also, a few weeks ago Orton burnt down Bray's house for good measure.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> The WWE World Heavyweight Championship</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> A great match. These are two wrestlers who can really work.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> A few former members of the Wyatt family - Luke Harper and Erick Rowan - could both potentially insert themselves into this match to sway it one way or the other. The question is, if they do come down the ramp, whose side will they be on?</p><h3><strong>Goldberg (c) v Brock Lesnar</strong></h3><p><strong>The story going in:</strong> Two of the most powerful forces in wrestling collide, this time with a title on the line. Goldberg shocked the WWE Universe at SummerSlam when he destroyed Brock Lesnar in seconds. When the pair faced each other down in the Royal Rumble back in January, the story was much of the same -&#xa0;Lesnar entered the ring and within seconds was speared, thrown over the top rope, and eliminated. In this rematch, Lesnar will be looking to take revenge and send Goldberg to Suplex City.</p><p><strong>What's at stake:</strong> The WWE Universal Title</p><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> Brock Lesnar does not lose all that often, and I'm not sure off the top of my head if anyone has ever beaten him twice. After being caught off guard twice in a row by spears to start the match, I'm thinking Lesnar has the move scoped out and is going to be ready for it this time.</p><p><strong>Potential shocker:</strong> First, there is a chance that Goldberg beats Lesnar once again, and WWE leans into a story line where Goldberg "has his number!" for lack of a better term. This would be shocking. Goldberg is not expected to remain a regular attraction much longer, and again, no one beats Brock twice.</p><p><strong>BONUS Potential shocker:</strong> Last year my favorite performer Finn Balor was called up from NXT and shotgunned right to the top, defeating Seth Rollins at SummerSlam to become the first ever WWE Universal Champion. Sadly, in the match that won him the title, he sustained a shoulder injury that has kept him out of competition since. It was truly devastating. Today, thanks to social media and reports from house shows, we know that Finn is now back in fighting shape, although he has yet to be seen on camera yet. While I expect them to save it for RAW the next day, there is a chance that after Brock wins the title and is standing tall in the middle of the ring, the lights suddenly fall dark and The Demon enters. It's the best entrance in wrestling, and if this happens you can safely assuming I am openly sobbing.</p><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>

You Searched For "mac pro tower" and got 13 results

Report suggests Apple to launch new AirPods Pro, redesigned iPad Pro in 2022

IANS

From $400 wheels to a $7,000 processor, here are all the pricey extras you can add to the new Mac Pro

Aaron Holmes

Apple ends a six-year drought for the Mac Pro with an insanely powerful, redesigned new model that starts at $5,999

Antonio Villas-Boas

'Unmitigated disaster': Longtime Apple fans feel forced to buy 'pathetic' and 'old' Macs from 2013

Kif Leswing

How CEOs like Bernard Arnault and Tim Cook decorate their offices

Jordan Hart

A band of immigrant tenants went to war with their $31 billion landlord. It's a sneak peek at what's to come across America.

Alex Nicoll

10 things in tech you need to know today

Charlie Wood

Dating apps like Tinder, Match, and Bumble are still growing, but analysts predict that growth will 'slow significantly' in 2019

Paige Leskin

Next-generation Apple Maps cars have been spotted in Los Angeles

Kif Leswing

The 10 things in advertising you need to know today

Hannah Roberts

There's one glaring problem with Oculus Rift's plan to conquer virtual reality

Dave Smith

2019 was the year that Beyond Meat took over fast food. Here is the inside story of how it plans to change how we eat forever.

Kate Taylor

A Beginner's Guide to WrestleMania

Tyler Lauletta

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides