text:
Available in 2008, Hitachi's Chic New HDTVs Mark the Debut of an Entirely New Category of Display
Hitachi has achieved yet another consumer electronics breakthrough with today's announcement of its new line of 1.5-inch (35mm) Ultra Thin HDTV's. Hitachi also expects to be first to market with its new Ultra Thin series, which will be available in the Japan market in December of 2007. U.S. consumers can expect to see Ultra Thin models in early 2008 – many months before thin displays from other manufacturers.
These slim, stylish LCDs from Hitachi represent an important new category of product that is being called Ultra Thin Displays. This new type of display is designed for a highly affluent and refined segment of consumers who seek luxury, style and prestige. This extremely discerning audience also demands a set of features, technologies and design aesthetics that are separate and very distinct from those found in today's traditional Flat Panel Displays.
"As very large consumer markets grow and evolve, sub-segments with particular nuances will emerge," said Daniel Lee, vice president of marketing for Hitachi America, Ltd., Ubiquitous Platform Systems Division. "This is precisely what we're seeing in the HDTV market and our new designs are at the forefront of this shift. What's happening is that the more traditional Flat Panel Displays will continue to focus on 'bigger is better.' Hitachi knows this segment very well, and we have for years held a leadership position with our Director's Series plasmas. But our research shows a new trend emerging: consumers want access to information and entertainment throughout the home. This is the promise behind the 'networked' and 'digital' home. And it's also what's behind the emergence of these new Ultra Thin Displays from Hitachi, which are very thin, versatile, lightweight and stylish and can elegantly be placed in any room or multiple rooms throughout the home. At Hitachi, we will be tailoring our engineering product development and overall go-to-market strategy to address this important and exciting market dynamic."
Initially offered in three sizes (32″, 37″ and 42″), the displays are designed to provide consumers with a range of options for placement throughout the home. Hitachi's research shows consumers want Ultra Thin Displays to be more discreet, flexible, modern and sleek, since they will often be purchased for a kitchen, bathroom, office or bedroom.
Ultra Thin, Yet Feature Rich
"Hitachi understands that when selecting an Ultra Thin Display, consumers want a very modern, thin profile and a lightweight unit but they do not want to trade off any of the features or performance of a top-of-the-line HDTV," said Bill Whalen, director of product development for Hitachi America, Ltd., Ubiquitous Platform Systems Division. "The Ultra Thin Displays from Hitachi pack style and performance into a sleek, compact form factor that makes absolutely no compromises when it comes to innovative technologies, groundbreaking features, theater-quality image optimization, state-of-the-art electronics and wall-shaking sound. Typical of Hitachi's complete line of products, these new displays perform at the top of their class." The new Ultra Thin Displays embody the following features:
- External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp (EEFL) – The thinness of the displays was achieved through Hitachi's proprietary implementation of a technology called EEFL, which affords greater power efficiency, delivers better and more flexible color accuracy and delivers a longer overall life span for the display.
- Wide Viewing Angle – By implementing In Plane Switching (IPS), Hitachi has achieved the sharpest, clearest LCD possible, regardless of the angle at which the viewer is seated. A vertical and horizontal viewing angle of 178 degrees maintains natural colors and brightness, making it ideal for watching TV with the whole family and friends.
- Hitachi's Proprietary "Anti-Judder" Technique (37″ & 42″) – Movies provide the illusion of motion by showing a series of still images over time. In fact, all Hollywood movies flash 24 individual images each second. However, Hollywood's 24 frames-per-second do not match our television systems, which show 60 frames each second. A conversion technique called "3:2 pull-down correction" is used to make the 24 frames of film fit the television's faster 60 frames. As this conversion is done, the viewer can often observe a jerky, troublesome visual effect that is called "judder." It appears as if the image is jittery or stuttering and is especially noticeable when the picture pans or makes sweeping, side-to-side movements. In its new Ultra Thin line, Hitachi has implemented proprietary technology which accurately and automatically eliminates the jerky "judder" motion. It does so by creating interpolated frames based on the original film images. It smoothes out the movement and correctly matches the motion of the original movie.
- Picture Master Full HD — Hitachi's enhanced high-resolution image processing engine, Picture Master Full HD, analyzes and processes image at a high speed, providing state-of-the-art high picture quality. It achieves this in three ways:
- Advanced Dynamic Contrast — analyzes every picture that appears on the screen and optimizes its contrast frame by frame.
- 3D Color Management — adjusts the three constituent components of color (hue, saturation, and brightness) pixel by pixel using 3D data.
- Advanced Dynamic Enhancer — expresses images which are simultaneously detailed and dynamic, and controls detail gradation and sharp edges. In addition, Hitachi added a circuit which enhances the crispness in scenes to capture subtle details, such as details in human skin or a three-dimensional expression of mountain ridge, which reduces the grainy effect and pulls out the natural beauty.
High Audio Quality — The 6.0 watt + 6.0 watt digital amplifier produces an exceptionally clear sound. The speakers located at the left and right sides of the bottom of the monitor are Hitachi's newly developed box-type speakers which are high quality and slim enough to fit the 35mm thickness of the monitor. The three sound modes allow consumers to select the most suitable type of audio effect depending on the contents – "clear voice" to pick up human voices clearly, "surround" for natural, clear three-dimensional sound, and "bass boost" for the optimum bass sound depending on the input signal.
Highly Refined and Energy Efficient Design
A glossy and high precision frame surrounds the picture area of each of the displays. The frame is beveled to present the viewing picture as if it were a work of art. The combination of a bevel on the outer frame combined with a radius on the inner frame presents a visually unique addition to any living environment. Not only are the new Ultra Thin Displays gorgeous in their appearance, they are responsible and sustainable in their design due to Hitachi's energy-efficient features such as "auto power off," to prevent consumers from forgetting to turn off the TV. The UT series also feature a "video power save" which allows consumers to switch to stand-by mode when there is no signal coming into the TV.
Resolution and Expected Availability
|Screen Size
About Hitachi
Hitachi America, Ltd., Ubiquitous Platform Systems Division, produces and markets a wide variety of digital products for business and consumers. The division's Consumer Group markets high-definition plasma televisions and monitors, LCD projection and flat panel HDTVs, LCD projectors, and DVD camcorders. The division's Business Group markets LCD projectors, professional plasma monitors, interactive panels and whiteboards and security and observation system products through value added resellers, system integrators, distributors and OEM.
Hitachi has a unique position in the marketplace by manufacturing and developing its own core technologies to provide consumers and businesses with optimal product performance in each of Hitachi's product categories. For consumer products, please visit http://www.hitachi.us/tv. For business products, please visit http://www.hitachi.us/digitalmedia. For more information about electronic whiteboards and Starboard software, please visit Hitachi Software at http://www.hitachi-soft.com. Hitachi brand business products are connected through Hitachi's OneVision program, which makes it possible for any Hitachi business unit dealer to sell Hitachi products from other Hitachi business units.
Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, and consumer electronics, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi.us.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE:HIT) (TOKYO:6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 384,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007) consolidated revenues totaled 10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
(C) 2007, Hitachi,America, Ltd., All trademarks are property of their respective owners.


text:
John Fluevog Boots & Shoes LTD.
John Fluevog Shoes Europe B.V.
John Fluevog Shoes Australia Pty Ltd
John Fluevog Shoes is committed to respecting the privacy rights of all visitors to our web site. The following policy describes how John Fluevog Boots & Shoes collects, protects and uses information it receives from visitors to the website.
John Fluevog Shoes Australia Pty Ltd customers are protected by the Australian Privacy Act.
What information does John Fluevog Shoes collect and how do we use it?
When purchasing a product on the site:
When you purchase a product on the site, we need you to provide your name, e-mail address, mailing address, telephone number and credit card information. This allows us to provide a faster method for users to receive the products desired. Visitors will also be given a choice when purchasing whether they would like to be on John Fluevog Shoes mailing list, or whether they would prefer to opt-out and not receive such mailings from John Fluevog Shoes.
When entering a contest or promotion on the site:
When you enter a contest or other promotional feature, John Fluevog Shoes may again ask for the visitor's name, address, e-mail address and telephone number so that they are able to better administer the contest and notify winners.
We may also use the information we collect during the registration process to occasionally notify you about important functionality changes to the Web site, special offers, and new product information we think you'll find valuable. If you would rather not receive this information, or would like to opt-out of any other information request or distribution, simply submit your email through the unsubscribe form.
How does John Fluevog Shoes protect visitor information?
We employ industry recognized security safeguards to protect the personal information that you have provided to us from loss, misuse and unauthorized alteration. Whenever you transmit sensitive information, such as a credit card number, to us through our Web site, we provide you access to a secure server that allows 128 bit encryption of your data. Your credit card number is never transmitted over the Internet so you don't have to worry about it being seen by third parties while in transit. Your information is only accessible by a limited number of employees who have special access rights to such systems.
Here is how and why we use some common Web technologies to help manage our Web sites:
Cookies. A "cookie" is a small bit of data that gets stored on your computer RAM or hard drive when you access particular Web sites. Cookies help the site recognize your computer when you visit again and save you from having to login repeatedly. Cookies cannot be used to see any other data on your computer, nor can they determine your e-mail address or identity. To buy from the John Fluevog Shoes web site and to download our products, your Internet browser must be able to accept cookie files.
The John Fluevog Boots Shoes Web site, for example, supplies your browser with a cookie that contains a unique identifier that is used to store session information so that a user can order multiple pairs of shoes and only need to fill out one form. These cookies are used to save the state of the shopping experience so you can go away and come back with your shoes still in the checkout line. These cookies are not linked to the personal information that you provide us elsewhere on the site.
You do not have to accept cookies from our Web site. Should you decide that you would like to register and login to special areas of the Web site and you have modified your browser settings not to accept cookies, you will need to re-set your browser to accept the cookies that we send it. Otherwise, we will not be able to let you participate in certain areas of the Web sites. Most browsers are defaulted to accept and maintain cookies.
Does John Fluevog Shoes disclose the information it collects from its visitors to outside parties?
John Fluevog Shoes does not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer outside the company personally identifiable information that visitors voluntarily provide in any registration or contest submission. This information is used to better understand visitors' use of John Fluevog Shoes' site and to support related transactions made on the site.
However, John Fluevog Shoes may use e-mail addresses and other personally identifiable information to contact visitors who communicate with us. For example, we may direct e-mail to visitors who provide us with their e-mail addresses for specific purposes such as receiving our e-mail newsletters, information, or being notified if they have won one of our contests. Each e-mail newsletter always contains instructions on how to discontinue receipt of the newsletter. However, if a visitor at anytime chooses to no longer receive such information and opt-out from any future mailings, they can do so by submitting the e-mail address they wish to unsubscribe through the unsubscribe form.
John Fluevog Shoes note to parents:
John Fluevog Shoes realizes that some children will visit them on the Internet, and John Fluevog Shoes therefore encourages children to consult with their parents before submitting any information to any web site, including www.fluevog.com. However, John Fluevog Shoes believes that it is ultimately the parents' responsibility to supervise their children's online activities and consider using parental control tools available from online services and software manufacturers that help provide a kid-friendly online environment. These tools can also prevent children from disclosing their name, address, and other personal information online without parental permission. For additional information about parental control tools, please consult the "Consumer Assistance" page of the Direct Marketing Association home page.
How does a visitor opt-out, or remove any information they have provided to John Fluevog Shoes?
If you would like only to unsubscribe from our newsletter please visit fluevog.com/unsubscribe.
If you would like to opt out of our mobile text messages simply reply "STOP" to any of the previous messages and you will be automatically unsubscribed from future messages.
You can also have your information removed from our database at anytime. Please send your data removal request to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Your consent:
By using our web site, you consent to the collection and use of this information as described above by John Fluevog Shoes. If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.
John Fluevog Shoes welcomes your questions, comments, and concerns about privacy. Please send us any and all feedback pertaining to this, or any other issue.
Your email may be sent to: email@example.com
Written feedback can be forwarded to:
John Fluevog Shoes Ltd.
65 Water St.
Vancouver, BC

subset: commoncrawl


text:
DAP 10 - Fastest Free Download Manager
You are welcome to test DAP 10 Beta and enjoy its new powerful features.This version may contain some bugs and performance issues.
You are invited to report any bugs or issues.
Version: 10.0.6.0
File Size: 0.89 MB
Release Date: 21.7.2014
Supported Browsers:IE 9 | IE 8 | IE7, Mozilla | Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera 11.5, Netscape 7 | 6
Supported Platforms:Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT4,
This is the pre-release version of DAP that is still under development. You are welcome to test out DAP 10 Beta, and enjoy its new features and improved technology. Below are listed known and fixed issues for your reference. Please report any bugs or issues.
Fixed Issues & Improvements for version 10.0.6.0:
- New - Bandwidth Control for individual files
- Updated YouTube DAPster
- Bug in "Download with DAP" option in IE10 - fixed
- Fixed Link Verifier context menu for IE10
- Improved Bandwidth Control implementation – better "delay" calculation and more frequent "fine tuning" checks.
- New "Auto Resume" feature - DAP will automatically resume downloads that stopped due to a broken internet connection.
- New Download and Convert Video - Easily download and convert Videos from our browser
- Some general bug fixes and enhancements
Available DAPsters
- 5giga.net
- dailymotion.com
- datafilehost.com
- depositfiles.com
- extabit.com
- filefactory.com
- fileflyer.com
- fileJungle.com
- filepost.com
- fileserve.com
- filesonic.com
- filestube.com
- hotfile.com
- letitbit.net
- mediafire.com
- metacafe.com
- netload.in
- oron.com
- rapidshare.com
- sendspace.com
- Shareflare.net
- Spdfile.com
- unibytes.com
- uploading.com
- uploadstation.com
- weup.co.il
- wupload.com
- ziddu.com
- zshare.ma
- zshare.net
Known Issues:
- Some general performance issues with Download MP3 add-on
- Sometimes after setup it takes DAP a long time to launch
- When incorrect premium account details are entered for a hosting site, the download fails instead of prompting the user
- Resuming a DAPster download will display as Complete, even though it is not possible to resume DAPster downloads
- When .NET is not installed, the DAPsters add-on will not load
- When pausing downloads, DAP might crash
- When selecting text in a webpage, the option "Download with DAP" does not always appear in the right-click contextual menu
- In the History window search field, the search won't work if you press the Enter key. You need to click the search icon
- Previous search terms aren't displayed in the History window search field
- When you install DAP 10, and Chrome is not installed on your computer, DAP creates a folder on the desktop with the npdap.dll file inside it. This has no effect on your system
- If the Monitor URL's in clipboard option is enabled, and you copy a URL and click the Add button, DAP might freeze
- If DAP isn't running and you try and download a file with Internet Explorer, DAP will automatically launch but won't download the file.
- On Windows Vista Systems, clicking a download in the download list makes a sound
- DAP's interface isn't compatible with Windows "Large DPI" screen settings
- The scroll bar at the bottom of DAP's main window is sometimes displayed incorrectly
- Sometimes the MAV security icon doesn't display properly
- The file shredder is unable to remove more than 16 files at a time
- When DAP is integrated with Internet Explorer, the dapie.dll file is loaded in applications in which it is not required. This may cause these applications to malfunction
- If an incorrect FTP Proxy is entered in the Options menu, when a download is started the download window doesn't open and no error message appears
- The DAP10 folder is not removed from the Program Files folder after DAP is uninstalled
- The Shredder plugin is not removed after DAP is uninstalled. It is located in C:\ProgramData\SpeedBit\DAP10\Plugins
- The Uninstall process requires the user to manually close all running applications. The uninstall process continues normally after all applications are closed
- When DAP handles Windows "GDI Objects" a malfunction might occur


text:
Detroit's financial watchdogs will continue investigating policies at the city's pension funds that likely cost the city billions, according to a report released Thursday.
The city said an initial investigation revealed "questionable practices" and that further examination would be needed. The practices include excessive reliance on risky real estate investments and a policy that rewarded pension recipients with bonus payments.
The report also outlined possible problems with how the city handled employee health care and other benefits, noting that the investigation uncovered that 13% of city unemployment claims reviewed were likely fraudulent.
In June, roughly a month before Detroit's historic bankruptcy filing, state-appointed Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr called for the city's inspector general and auditor to examine "possible waste, abuse, fraud and corruption" at the two funds, one for police and firefighters and the other for general city workers.
"The purpose of the audit is to help identify how the city can address its present financial crisis and going forward help determine the basis for and what, if any, actions that must be taken," Orr said in a statement.
Related: Just how generous are Detroit's pensions?
In a joint statement, the pension funds said they "are currently operating well within industry standards," and will continue to cooperate with the auditors' investigation.
Although the report did not go into detail about the questionable practices, the bonus payments were previously criticized in the city's bankruptcy filings.
According to city records, officials who oversaw the city's general pension fund regularly approved extra payments for current and retired employees in addition to the promised pension benefits, based on the belief that the funds could be more generous when their investments generated positive returns.
A report given to the City Council two years ago showed that the general fund's overpayments cost the city at least $1.9 billion from 1987 through 2008. It's unclear how common (or costly) extra payments were at the police and fire fund.
Related: Detroit pensions: Bribes, a $5,000 poker chip and a big financial hole
The practice was eventually stopped by the City Council in 2011. But one of the city's unions has argued it was halted incorrectly and should be reinstated, according to a motion filed with the bankruptcy court this week.
This week, Orr ordered city officials to turn over records related to bonus payments by both pension funds, which will likely be used as part of the further investigation.
Orr has previously said the funds have a $3.5 billion financial shortfall that makes benefits cuts for both current workers and retirees inevitable. The trustees who control the funds are opposing the city's bankruptcy filing and have countered that the funding situation is far less dire than Orr indicates.
He is also proposing to freeze any future pension benefits for current workers and would instead shift those workers to a 401(k)-style plan for future benefits.


text:
Platts, John T. (John Thompson). A dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English. London: W. H. Allen & Co., 1884.
A dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English includes Perso-Arabic, Devanagari and roman alphabets. In order to display the non-roman characters a Unicode font must be installed. Information and instructions are available on the Font help page.
This site honors Professor C. M. Naim's scholarly contributions to Urdu language and literature.
The data conversion and presentation of this dictionary was sponsored by the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison with support from the U.S. Department of Education and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Data for this dictionary was most recently updated in February 2015.


text:
Rules and Responsibilities
Our anime convention has a number of rules, policies, and regulations that help make the convention run smoothly and be as fun as possible for everyone. We encourage you to read our rules to understand what is expected to help make the best, most successful, and most fun weekend possible. In addition to these general conduct policies, we also have rules and guidelines for cosplay, press, exhibitors, and others. Violations of these rules and responsibilities can result in loss of privileges, up to and including ejection without refund, legal action, or involvement of the authorities.
Rule Number One: Do not do anything that could make the convention less fun for other attendees, the hotel, the staff, or for yourself. If it's dangerous, obnoxious, uncomfortable, or otherwise, do not do it. It is all of our responsibility to let everyone have a safe, respectful, and fun weekend.
If it is illegal outside of the convention, it is illegal here. Excessive or underage alcohol use, drug use, harassment, carrying firearms, and many other things are illegal, and will result in your loss of the privilege to attend our convention. If you have a safety or security concern, bring it to the convention's operations center immediately. In emergencies, dial 911.
If you are hosting a party where alcohol is being served, it is your responsibility as host to ensure that the age of anyone drinking alcohol is checked. You should also designate someone not to drink, so that there is a fully competent person present to deal with any emergencies that might arise.
All attendees must wear their badge at all times throughout the convention, and it must be presented to convention staff on request at any time.
Selling anything of any kind at the convention is prohibited unless you are a registered exhibitor with the convention.
Pets and animals are not allowed in the convention space or hotel, unless they are working animals (such as seeing eye dogs). Smoking is not allowed in our hotel.
By attending the convention you understand that convention staff may take video footage and photographs throughout the convention which may be used in highlights, marketing endeavors, or other media. You consent to be filmed or photographed by staff, approved industry, or media during the entire convention without compensation to you. Your attendance constitutes a grant of rights to the convention to reproduce, display, distribute, perform, creative derivitive works of, or otherwise use any video or pictures that it obtains and in any manner throughout the world in perpetuity, including online, for broadcast, or other transmissions.
Photography and video recording of any kind are strictly prohibited during any AMV contest or anime screening.
Attendees may not take photos and videos of individuals without the permission of the individuals.
These rules apply to all types of attendees, including exhibitors, press, and other congoers. We may also establish additional policies covering press, exhibitors, and others.
The convention's code of conduct and other rules are subject to change at any time, and without notice, at the discretion of the convention. Violation of the rules is grounds for immediate loss of your convention badge and suspension from the convention.
Weapons Policy
All weapons and large props must be inspected and approved by our operations or security staff at the convention. We will then "peace mark" them, by affixing a ribbon or mark that indicates we have checked them, and, if necessary "peace bond" them by using ribbon or ties to keep your weapon from being drawn or used (for example, by someone who doesn't know the rules and sneaks up behind you and grabs it). Attendees must realize that it is a privilege to bring large props and weapons to the convention, and everyone must take great care to be careful not to damage things, whack people, or otherwise do anything that seems dangerous. We allow certain specific prop weapons and large prop items, but anything not listed below is not allowed. Please understand that due to crowding, space, or safety issues, we may have to change the rules mid-convention at any time.
- Guns: Realistic looking guns are only allowed if they have a very bright, obvious orange tip that shows they are non-working. Guns that actually work, or have the potential to work, or might be mistaken by the public as real, are not allowed. Toy or fantasy guns that are "obviously fake" are allowed.
- Swords are allowed if they can be tied shut in their sheath, or if they are made of wood or plastic. Swords must never be waved around or wielded, but they can be used for still posing for photographs.
- Bows: Toy, or otherwise wooden or plastic bows can sometimes be okay, but professional or compound bows are not. Equipping an arrow to a bow is absolutely never acceptable, even for photos.
- Large Props: Large props are generally okay, if you are extremely mindful of them. However if we find that we have large crowds, or if they become a problem, we may ask you to return them to your hotel room or car at any time. We will not store them for you.
- Dangerous Things: Please keep your extremely dangerous things, like your Class IV lasers and missile launchers, at home. (Of course these examples are fictional, but please remember to use some common sense... imagine if someone decides to pick up your missile launcher to find out if it's real!)
- Pretend Weapons: Anything that is entirely obviously a play/pretend weapon that can not be mistaken for something that is actually a real weapon.
Any weapons may be disallowed at any time at the discretion of con staff.


text:
DETROIT – The market for battery-powered delivery vehicles and equipment has so much potential that General Motors is forming a new business unit to serve it, a move that lifted the automaker's stock to a multiyear high.
The first product for the new venture called BrightDrop will be an electric-powered wheeled pallet that will take goods from the warehouse to trucks and from trucks to destinations. Then GM will roll out a clean electric delivery van.
The pallet, named EP1, will go on sale early this year, with the EV600 van on the roads late in the year with 500 going to FedEx, the company's first customer.
BrightDrop also will offer software and operational support for delivery businesses such as location services, battery status and remote unlocking.
But GM doesn't intend to get into the delivery business, said Pamela Fletcher, GM's vice president of global innovation. "One thing we are not is a logistics company," she said, adding that GM is working with many companies with experience in the field.
Since late 2018, Fletcher, has been in charge of monetizing GM technology by turning ideas into businesses. "We really need to leverage our electrification expertise to other industries," she said.
Showing Wall Street's fascination with electric vehicles, GM shares rose to their highest intraday price since the company left bankruptcy protection in 2010. Shares were up 4.9% to $47.23 in midday trading Tuesday after trading as high as $48.95.
Fletcher wouldn't comment on whether BrightDrop products would be sold through existing GM dealerships or directly by the company. But spokesman Stuart Fowle the company is working with its independent dealers on a separate BrightDrop sales network, with details to come later.
On a webcast, Fletcher said the EP1 pallet can travel up to 3 mph, carrying up to 23 cubic feet of cargo weighing up to 200 pounds. The pallets can reduce the strain on workers but would not operate autonomously, at least to start.
They're already being tested with FedEx, allowing workers to transport 25% more packages per day, GM said in a statement.
The EV600 van will have a range of up to 250 miles when fully charged, Fletcher said.
As BrightDrop evolves, it will offer more electric-powered products including a medium-distance vehicle that can carry multiple pallets, the company said.
GM CEO Mary Barra announced BrightDrop in a keynote address address as part of the virtual CES gadget show on Tuesday.
She said some countries have set limits on petroleum-powered delivery vehicles to fight pollution at a time when the coronavirus has brought dramatic increases in packages. "The pandemic has only accelerated those challenges as this sector became our lifeline to goods and services we could no longer access in person," she said.
During its CES presentation, GM even showed a video a four-rotor autonomous flying Cadillac pod concept vehicle.
Fletcher said she expects BrightDrop to contribute to GM's bottom line very quickly after its products go on sale.
Last year, Ford Motor Co., GM's main U.S. competitor, announced plans for an electric commercial van that will go on sale late in 2021.
GM has pledged to roll out 30 new electric vehicles globally and spend $27 billion developing them by 2025. New vehicles coming out this year include the electric GMC Hummer pickup, a Chevrolet Bolt electric utility vehicle and the Cadillac Lyriq luxury SUV.


text:
[Page breaks are indicated in the following manner [263/264] so readers can cite locations in the original text. GPL]
ery little is known of the life of GEORGE PAYNE RAINSFORD JAMES; yet he was the author of forty novels, each in three volumes, and. produced other works, outnumbering, indeed, the productions of Sir Walter Scott. He began to publish in 1822, his first book being a "Life of the Black Prince." In 1829 "Richelieu" appeared, and from that time the issues of his fertile brain came so rapidly before the public as to create astonishment at his industry, and the "speed." at which he worked with his pen.
G.P.R. James. Drawn by F. Cruikshank and engraved by J. C. Armytage. From the Berg Collection, New York Public Library (digital id no. 483543). [Click on image to enlarge it.]
I knew him and esteemed him much as an agreeable and kindly gentleman, somewhat handsome in person, and of very pleasant manners. He had the aspect, and indeed the character, that usually marks a man of sedentary occupations. His work all day long, and often into the night, must have been untiring, for he by no means drew exclusively on his fancy; he must have resorted much to books, and have been a great reader, not only of English, but of continental histories ; and he travelled a good deal in the countries in which the scenes of his historic fictions were principally laid.
His novels have always been popular — they are so now — although many competitors for fame, with higher aims and perhaps loftier genius, have of late years supplied the circulating libraries. It was no light thing to run a race with Sir Walter Scott and not be altogether beaten out of the field. His great charm was the interest he created in relating a story, but he had masterly skill in delineating character, and in "chivalric essays" none of his brethren surpassed him. He received this tribute, and it is a just one, from the historian Alison: —
"There is a constant appeal in his brilliant pages, not only to the pure and generous, but to the elevated and noble sentiments. He is imbued with the very soul of chivalry, and all his stories turn on the final triumph of those who are influenced by such feeling's. Not a word or a thought which can give pain to the purest heart ever escapes from his pen."
Christopher North proclaimed his works to be those of "a gentleman," while he spoke highly of their graphic power; and Leigh Hunt "hit the vein" in which he wrote, and which constituted the charm of his writings : — "Interest without violence, and entertainment at once animated and mild; novels which have been tonics to the critic in illness and in convalescence."
As "next to nothing" is known of the life of so remarkable a man — one who has, for half a century, kept a foremost place among British writers of fiction — I gladly avail myself of some notes furnished to me by a lady who knew him well and long.
"He was born in London, August 9th, 1800. He first studied medicine, but at an early age showed a love of letters, and, when very young, published several short tales and poems — among them the 'String of Pearls.' During the exciting times that followed the abdication of Napoleon, he visited France and Spain, and no doubt thus obtained the perfect knowledge of the history of those countries afterwards displayed in his writings. He married a daughter of Dr. Thomas, and for some time after his marriage resided in different parts of France, Italy, and Scotland, where he became acquainted with, and gained the friendship of, Sir Walter Scott. It was Sir Walter who, after perusing 'Richelieu,' advised him to adopt literature as a [233/264] profession. 'Richelieu' was published, in 1829, and it is well known how successful was the career of the author, and how eagerly the appearance of a new work from his pen was looked for by the public; but to those who knew him in his home, in addition to the admiration felt for him as an author, there could not fail to be joined sincere esteem for him as a man. He had a large and noble heart, and was always a kind friend to those who needed assistance, especially to his poorer literary brethren, whilst his courteous, gentlemanly bearing gained him friends in all ranks of society.
"About 1842 Mr. James took up his residence at Walmer, and was a frequent guest of the Duke of Wellington at Walmer Castle. In 1845 he left England with his family for a short visit to Germany, partly for recreation and partly to collect some information connected with the 'History of Richard Coeur de Lion,' a work he was then writing. The illness of two of his children detained him for a year, and at Carlsruhe and Baden-Baden 'Heidelberg' and the 'Castle of Ehrenstein' were composed. Soon after his return to England, he removed to the neighbourhood of Farnham, Surrey, and there he wrote with great rapidity. His industry was immense; his custom was to rise at five o'clock and write till nine. For four or five hours later in the day he employed an amanuensis, and usually walked to and from his study while dictating. In June, 1850, Mr. James left England with his family to visit the United States, and purchased an estate in Massachusetts, where he continued to reside till he was appointed British Consul at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1852. His duties there were very arduous, and his health suffered greatly from the climate, which was rendered more than usually trying to European residents, at that time, by the terrible scourge which frequently ravages the Southern States — yellow fever.
"During Mr. James's residence in the States he wrote several works, taking American life and history for their subjects, such as 'Ticonderoga,' 'The Old Dominion' &c. The last work he published in Philadelphia was 'Lord Montague's Page,' in 1858. 'Bernard Marsh,' a sequel to this, appeared afterwards, and was the last work that emanated from the pen of this highly-gifted author, making a total of about one hundred and ninety volumes.
In 1859 Mr. James was removed, at his earnest request, from the Consulate of Norfolk to that of Venice, his friends hoping that the Italian climate might benefit his health and restore his strength, but although he at first seemed to improve from the change, the demands upon his mental powers were so great that even his untiring energy was unequal to the task imposed upon it. Soon after the arrival of Mr. James in Italy, war broke out, and Venice was besieged, which added greatly to the fatigue and anxiety of the consul's position, and in the early part of 1860 he was seized with an illness that proved fatal in the April of that year. He was interred in the Protestant Cemetery at Venice, and a monument was erected to his memory by the English residents of that city.
Mr. James left a widow, one daughter, and three sons. He was a most kind and affectionate husband and father, a warm-hearted, faithful friend, a genial companion, and to sum up all good qualities in one comprehensive title, a Christian gentleman."
Hall, S. C. A Book of Memories of Great Men and Women of the Age, from Personal Acquaintance. 3rd ed. London: J. S. Virtue, [1871].
Last modified 29 July 2016