text:
Evine Live Inc. to Report Second Quarter 2018 Results on August 29, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evine Live Inc. (“Evine”) (NASDAQ: EVLV), a multiplatform interactive digital commerce company (evine.com), announced today that it will release its fiscal 2018 second quarter results on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, before the market opens at approximately 6:00 a.m. ET. Bob Rosenblatt, Chief Executive Officer, Anne Martin-Vachon, President, Diana Purcel, Chief Financial Officer, and Michael Porter, Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations, will host a conference call later that morning at 8:30 a.m. ET to review the results.
Those interested in participating in the conference call should dial 1-877-407-9039 or 1-201-689-8470 (international) at least five minutes prior to the call. There will be a simultaneous audio webcast available at the following link:
A replay of the conference call will be available on the company's website for a limited time.
Evine Live Inc. (NASDAQ:EVLV) operates Evine, a multiplatform interactive digital commerce company that offers a mix of proprietary, exclusive and name brands directly to consumers in an engaging and informative shopping experience via television, online and mobile. Evine reaches more than 87 million television homes with entertaining content in a comprehensive digital shopping experience 24 hours a day.
Please visit www.evine.com/ir for more investor information.
SHARE THIS POST
EVINE Live NewsMORE
|iMedia Brands, Inc. to Report Second Quarter 2019 Results on August 28, 2019 GlobeNewswire 102d|
|Invicta Launching an Officially Licensed NFL Luxury Watch Collection on Evine GlobeNewswire 115d|
|Evine Live Inc. Becomes iMedia Brands, Inc. GlobeNewswire 124d|
|Evine Live Inc. Announces Completion of Strategic Alternative Process GlobeNewswire 144d|
|Evine Live Inc. Reports First Quarter Results; Announces New Interactive Media Growth Strategy and $15 million Reduction in Overhead Costs GlobeNewswire 172d|
|Here's what Wall Street expects from EVINE Live A's earnings reportMarkets Insider Automation 173d|
|Evine Live Inc. Announces Date Change for Its First Quarter 2019 Earnings Conference Call to May 29, 2019 GlobeNewswire 179d|
|Evine Live Inc. to Report First Quarter 2019 Results on June 5, 2019 GlobeNewswire 188d|
your MARKET VIEW
Your Personalized Market Center


text:
GOG announced today that Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA will be available as a DRM-free download via its storefront at launch. While previous English PC releases in the Ys series have been made available on GOG, and are even on sale right now, they were all published by XSEED Games, whereas the latest entry is being published by NIS America. Fortunately, the latter company has opted to keep the tradition going.
Much like the Steam version of the game, those who purchase the GOG version by September 19th will be given three free DLC: Adol’s Adventure Essentials, a digital mini art book, and a digital soundtrack sampler. The game will be available for pre-order on Steam starting September 5th, but it was not noted whether the GOG version will also be made available for pre-order at that time.
You can find more information about the upcoming GOG release of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA on the GOG store page.

domain: news


text:
In a second reading by the European Parliament's Environment Committee, a new paragraph has been added under article 16c to guarantee that herbal substances used in foods, and below pharmacological levels, will continue to be regulated under food legislation. It also clarifies the difference between herbal preparations sold in food supplements, not targeted under this directive.
"We are very happy with the amendment. We will monitor compromises between the MEPs to ensure this reaches the best outcome," said Pedro Azua Vicente, director of the European Herbal Products Manufacturers (EHPM) association .
A second amendment altered the wording referring to the list of approved substances to be drawn up by the new herbal medicinal products committee.
The amendments are expected to be voted through by ministers at a codecision procedure next week. The directive will then go back to the Council in preparation for its introduction by member states.
The new directive is designed to safeguard the growing number of consumers using herbal medicinal products throughout the EU. It will, however, present a significant rise in costs for the herbal industry. The proposal sets high standards for medicinal herbs and stipulates the inclusion, on labelling and in package leaflets, of rigorously scientific, simple and clear indications regarding the potential toxicity and possible interactions with food or drugs.
The European Council has already adopted key amendments from Parliament's first reading including the tasks and the composition of a new herbal medicines committee, to be set up to assess the safety of herbs, as well as the possibility of registering herbal medicinal products that contain non-herbal ingredients like minerals and vitamins, and the acceptance of non-European tradition when deciding on the status of traditional herbal medicines.
The directive still requires ingredients to have been in medicinal use for at least 30 years before approval, 15 of which must be in Europe. It is feared that a number of products will not be able to demonstrate the recognised efficacy and acceptable level of safety.


text:
Three Seattle friends have developed a wearable device to reduce face touching in light of the coronavirus.
The Immutouch Band can be worn on either wrist and vibrates when the user’s hand enters a recalibrated position, such as near the mouth, nose or eyes.
The artificial intelligence startup leveraged existing hardware designs from a previous project.
“A problem the size of COVID-19 requires everyone to do their part, large or small,” states CEO Matthew Toles, one of the friends. “The three of us happened to be uniquely well equipped to tackle this one task and felt it was our duty to at least try.”
Toles says his father has an autoimmune disease.


text:
Recap: L.A. Auto Show Move-In
Behind the Scenes at the LA Auto Show
The Los Angeles Auto Show is just days away and every automaker you can imagine has been moving their exhibits and vehicles into the Los Angeles Convention Center. The EventMover team has been on the scene tirelessly, ensuring our clients’ displays are delivered safely and on schedule. See the latest pictures from the show floor below.
(Click photos to enlarge)


text:
Two executives of Samsung’s biopharmaceutical unit have been arrested on suspicion of destroying evidence to cover up an alleged Won4.5tn ($3.9bn) accounting fraud, renewing questions about governance at South Korea’s biggest conglomerate.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Monday arrested an executive and another employee at Samsung Bioepis, the biosimilar unit of Samsung Group, for falsifying and destroying evidence and violating the country’s audit law.
A judge at the court said they had to be arrested for their “suspected crimes and concerns of destroying evidence”.
The duo are the first Samsung employees to be arrested after prosecutors launched a probe into the case late last year. The country’s financial watchdog had already ruled that Samsung Biologics violated accounting rules by intentionally inflating the value of affiliate Samsung Bioepis.
The investigation has cast doubt over the long-term growth strategy of Samsung as the group is struggling to find new growth drivers beyond semiconductors and smartphones. Samsung has been trying to expand into biopharmaceuticals and healthcare in recent years.
According to prosecutors, the two employees arrested are suspected of destroying key accounting records and internal documents ahead of the investigation by financial regulators and prosecutors. They are also accused of manipulating accounting data before submitting the data to regulators.
The two employees have admitted that they destroyed the evidence on their own but prosecutors are looking into whether there was an order from their superiors or whether the group’s now-disbanded strategic office orchestrated the process, according to state-run Yonhap News.
South Korea’s Securities and Futures Commission, the country’s market regulator, said in November that Samsung Biologics violated financial rules by changing the way it accounted for its 94.6 per cent stake in Samsung Bioepis, which is a joint venture with US drugmaker Biogen.
Samsung Biologics boosted the value of its stake in the joint venture by changing its accounting methods in 2015 to recognise Bioepis’s market value instead of book value, the commission said. As a result, the company’s valuation of Samsung Bioepis jumped 18 times to nearly $4.5bn.
Biosimilars are similar to biologic drugs that have already been approved for use, but are no longer under patent protection.
Samsung Biologics avoided delisting but its shares were temporarily suspended in November over the accounting fraud. Samsung Biologics said it followed international accounting standards and filed an administrative lawsuit against the regulator’s decision.
Officials at Samsung Biologics and Bioepis were not immediately available for comment on Monday.
Accusations of tampering evidence are likely to further dent the corporate image of Samsung after it grappled with allegations of corruption and union sabotage last year. The group’s billionaire heir, Lee Jae-yong, is serving a suspended sentence for bribery with a final appeal at South Korea’s supreme court expected in coming months.
Yonhap News said prosecutors were likely to look into any link between the accounting fraud and the group’s controversial merger of two group units in 2015, which was aimed at cementing Mr Lee’s control.


text:
Colombia fintechs criticize proposed crowdfunding rules
Colombia's fintech industry chamber said planned new regulations governing crowdfunding platforms would hinder the development of the segment.
The chamber, known as Colombia Fintech and founded in 2016, has published a manifesto detailing the impact of the draft new rules - drawn up by the finance ministry's financial regulation unit - if they are approved unchanged.
The manifesto was drafted by 10 of Colombia Fintech's 60 members - among them crowdfunding platforms Alfuenta, Kuanto and Ideame - and its legal partners.
Colombia Fintech, for example, says authorities have not proposed separate rules for equity crowdfunding and loan crowdfunding platforms - and that these are needed. It also claims the draft regulations would make it difficult for platforms to become officially monitored entities and that the regulations would tend to isolate Colombia's crowdfunding market.
Alternative finance is a growing sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
In LAC, alternative finance markets grew 209% to US$342mn in 2016, according to the 2017 Americas Alternative Finance Industry Study, conducted by the universities of Cambridge and Chicago. Marketplace/P2P business lending remained the largest alternative finance market segment with US$189mn registered in 2016, an increase of 239% over 2015.
In January, Argentina's securities watchdog CNV introduced rules which state that crowdfunding platforms must be formally established as public limited companies. The country's central bank has said it is not planning - at least during the administration of President Mauricio Macri - to regulate fintechs that offer money-lending services to the public.


text:
By Barbara Jorgensen
The supply chain is one of those things that nobody cares about until something goes wrong. Then it’s everybody’s problem.
Remember the iPhone 8? Production was delayed because of problems with OLED screens, which weren’t even manufactured by Apple. Consumers were incensed, Apple was red-faced, and the supply chain took center stage.
Unfortunately, disaster is the main driver of supply-chain innovation. Resilience — the ability to shift all or part of a supply chain as needed— is mitigating disruption. Many of the technologies showcased at CES 2020 are key enablers of resilience, an expert panel told the audience.
For example, the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), which provides supply-chain assistance to disaster relief organizations, uses simulation to prepare for catastrophes, said executive director Kathy Fulton. High-risk areas such as Puerto Rico are plotted on networks as digital twins. Simulated hurricanes or earthquakes then strike the region. If a virtual aid station is destroyed by the event, alternative locations are immediately identified.
“There’s no such thing as shipping something from Point A to Point B,” said Fulton. “The supply chain is now a network.” Organizations should anticipate the loss of a supplier or a physical facility and have alternative plans in the works.
The supply chain’s sphere of influence ranges from individual package delivery to materials flow into factories. But customer-facing organizations are on the front line when something goes wrong.
“We face mini-disasters every day,” said Robin Hensley, vice president for operations technology at UPS. “We call it weather.”
UPS has developed automated sorting centers that can be moved in the event of fires, floods, or other disruption. These centers can be programmed to sort for a specific zip code regardless of location. The process is largely transparent to customers, Hensley said.
Data analytics is the underpinning of many resilience efforts, panelists said. “We have lots of data that is meaningless unless it is used for insight,” Fulton said. “So we use it to improve efficiency, plan routes, or move people and equipment. We can make decisions before a disaster strikes.”
Then there are the gadgets. UPS is already using delivery drones, said Hensley — some of which are FAA-certified. “We are mostly using them on massive campuses, where it could take a half-hour to drive to your destination,” she explained. Drones deliver medical samples that need to be turned around quickly. UPS is also partnering with CVS to deliver medication to individuals.
Tracking technology has become so precise that ALAN uses RFID, electronic barcodes, and other types of tags to ensure that medicine, water, and other aid reaches intended destinations. These supplies are often “hijacked” after they arrive at a distribution hub, Fulton explained. ALAN can pinpoint whether or not medication reaches the right individual. The frequency of lost shipments has been reduced and problematic distribution centers identified.
Even wayward deliveries are improving UPS’s supply chain, Hensley said. UPS uses digital package twins to follow a delivery’s movement. Sometimes, packages head in the wrong direction or even backtrack on their delivery routes.
“We want to know what the heck is happening with those packages,” Hensley said. “So we collect data, analyze it, and plot the best route for delivery. It cuts a lot of time and waste out of the process.”
Consumer items themselves are part of supply-chain resilience efforts. During power outages, Fulton said, phone services are unavailable, but texting services are available. “We use that to get the word out — warning people of impending danger or letting them know where aid services are available,” she said, adding that cities are increasingly moving to 911 text alerts.
UPS has created “pop up” sorting centers that are used during holidays and disasters. Workers use small scanners in these temporary hubs while an earpiece feeds them sorting instructions.
Resilient supply chains anticipate disruption no matter the cause, according to panelists. “Ultimately, the destination is human,” said Hensley.


text:
Intel is arguing that the case against Qualcomm should stand in a new court filing. Intel sold its 5G modem business to Apple after years of failing to catch hold in the market and blames Qualcomm for the loss.
The carrier will light up its nationwide 5G network on December 6th, promising coverage for 200 million Americans in over 5,000 cities and towns at launch. It’s also announcing several new initiatives most likely aimed at increasing support for its upcoming acquisition of Sprint which some states are still fighting.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) got on-board with the deal months ago, but the Department of Justice (DOJ) was more skeptical. The carriers have now agreed to terms with the DOJ that allow the merger to move forward.
While Sprint is late to the game compared to Verizon and AT&T, its 5G network already covers more people than the other carriers combined.
Subscribe Today to get the latest ExtremeTech news delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our


text:
French drone manufacturer Parrot has released its latest iteration of its ANAFI drone. The new ANAFI FPV (first person view) is being sold as a package with a headset that puts pilots in their drone’s perspective. But instead of a dedicated screen inside the goggles, Parrot’s approach is to have users slot a smartphone in, similar to headsets like the Samsung Gear VR or Google Cardboard.
The ANAFI FPV package will cost $799. It will include the drone, the glasses, a controller, extra propellers, a battery, a 16GB microSD card, a USB-C cable and backpack.
The ANAFI FPV comes with a pair of Cockpit glasses, which pair with the smartphone and the FreeFlight 6.6 app to provide a front-row immersion experience at speeds of up to 31 mph. Using the new FreeFlight app, ANAFI FPV lets users toggle through image controls to fine-tune photos and videos as they watch the view. FPV pilots can fly with manual settings such as shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and exposure compensation, a histogram and more.


text:
The 10 Biggest Software Stories Of 201210:00 AM EST Tue. Dec. 11, 2012
From major product introductions like Microsoft's Windows 8 to major embarrassments like Apple's botched mobile map application and Hewlett-Packard's Autonomy debacle, 2012 was a busy year in the software industry.
The industry continued to undergo some major transformations with the shift away from on-premise software to cloud computing and the explosion of new software technologies to handle "big data." And some major players in the IT industry took big steps to increase their software footprint -- Dell's $2.4-billion acquisition of Quest Software being the prime example.
Here's a look at 10 of biggest software stories of 2012.
When Apple rolled out iOS 6 in September, it bragged about the 200-plus new features in the iPad and iPhone operating system upgrade. But most will remember just one feature: the new map application Apple developed to replace Google Maps.
Within a week it became clear the new map application was a disaster. Users complained about inaccurate directions, wrong location data and downright bizarre glitches. A little more than a week after iOS 6 debuted Apple CEO Tim Cook issued an apology for the problems. By then Richard Williamson, the manager in charge of developing the map application, and Scott Forstall, Apple's iOS software chief, were no longer with the company.
While the fiasco might seem minor compared to other IT vendor screw-ups (see Hewlett-Packard and Autonomy), it came at a time when Apple was on a roll and seemingly could do no wrong. Was it a one-time stumble or a hint of what's to come from a post-Steve Jobs Apple?
Despite competing in a tough market with such giants as SAP, Oracle and Microsoft, Sage North America has remained a player in the market for business applications for SMBs and a key vendor for many application solution providers. But, it's been a difficult year for the company and its channel partners.
The problems began last year when the company announced plans to rebrand some of its products, a move that upset many partners who were heavily invested in older brands such as MAS 200 and 500. Earlier this year came a new subscription pricing plan and changes to perpetual license prices that angered some partners. And at the annual partner conference in August, the company announced plans to phase out some aging products.
All this has created trepidation among the company's resellers, and some have been signing up with other application vendors such as NetSuite, SugarCRM and Microsoft.
The software industry's rife with bitter rivalries, but none were more heated than the competition between Microsoft and VMware. While VMware has long been the king of virtualization, Microsoft's been fighting back with its Hyper-V technology built into Windows Server. Throughout 2012 the two vendors frequently engaged in claims and counter-claims to have the most cost-effective virtualization technology. Microsoft, for example, launched a VMware Costs More campaign early on, while VMware frequently fired back at Microsoft's competitive "trash talking." Microsoft is generally seen as having gained ground with the new Hyper-V technology in its Windows Server 2012 release, which offered expanded support for processors, memory and active virtual machines per host. VMware, in contrast, spent part of the year on defense after it took a lot of heat for its proposed vRAM licensing plan for vSphere 5 that customers said would boost virtualization costs. In August VMware backed off and dropped the plan in what was seen as an effort to stay cost-competitive with Microsoft.
Cloud computing's been on everyone's radar for several years, and it's long-since jumped the chasm from industry buzzword to real technology and deployments. But 2012, a year in which Forrester Research predicts cloud IT sales to hit $61 billion, may well be remembered as the year cloud computing software and services truly went mainstream.
Certainly IT vendors put big bucks behind their cloud efforts. SAP completed its $3.4 billion acquisition of SuccessFactors, while Oracle shelled out $1.9 billion for Taleo. Cloud service companies like Amazon Web Services and Rackspace became increasingly attractive alternatives to on-premise IT systems. And customers seemed more comfortable with the cloud concept: The Environmental Protection Agency jettisoned IBM Lotus Notes in favor of Microsoft's Office 365 cloud applications for 25,000 workers under a $9.8 million contract. Vendors, meanwhile, stepped up their efforts to enlist solution providers in cloud computing. Microsoft was among the most aggressive, launching a number of programs to help solution providers develop cloud-computing practices.
Some of the nastiest patent battles in 2012 were between mobile device makers, with Apple's lawsuit against Samsung drawing the most attention. But, it was hardly peaceful on the patent front in the software industry.
Oracle's suit against Google claiming infringement of its Java patents was the most visible case in 2012. While Oracle had sought up to $1 billion in damages, a jury concluded after a testy trial that Google's use of Java application programming interfaces in Android did not infringe Oracle's patents.
Other vendors focused on arming themselves for future patent battles. Microsoft paid $1 billion in May to buy 800 AOL patents, while Google acquired some 200 patents from IBM for an undisclosed sum in January.
"Big data" went from early-adopter buzzword to full-blown industry trend -- or even an entire industry by itself -- in 2012, judging by the number of big data products that spilled out of startups and established IT vendors alike. Big data conferences packed 'em in, and industry pundits made, um, big forecasts -- such as Gartner's calculation that big data would drive $28 billion of IT spending in 2012. Hype aside, the exploding volume of information stored in the world's IT systems reached an estimated 2.7 zettabytes (or 2.7 billion terabytes) in 2012, and the need for technology to collect, store, manage and analyze all that information is very real. Big data startups like Datameer, Hortonworks, Karmasphere, Mortar Data, Qubole, Splunk and Zettaset were industry darlings while just about every established vendor jumped on the bandwagon. IBM, for example, acquired Vivisimo and its technology for accessing and analyzing big data spread across multiple repositories. Oracle put marketing muscle behind its big data Appliance (which debuted in Oct. 2011). And SAP bet heavily that its HANA in-memory database would be a hit with customers wrestling with big data challenges.
Although Salesforce released Chatter in 2010, it seemed like 2012 brought social media to the fore, with a number of IT vendors scrambling to jump on the bandwagon -- sometimes paying big bucks to do so. Microsoft's $1.2 billion acquisition of Yammer and its cloud-based social networking software for businesses was perhaps the most conspicuous move. SAP launched its Jam employee collaboration application, while Salesforce unveiled plans for its upcoming Salesforce Communities that will connect employees, customers and partners in a single network. Some acquisitions focused on tools for making better use of social networks for marketing purpose, including Oracle's buyout of Collective Intellect and Vitrue, and Salesforce's acquisition of Buddy Media (for $689 million). Others, including IBM's $1.3 billion acquisition of Kenexa, focused on using social networks for employee recruitment. "The social revolution is going on right now, and it is unlike anything we've experienced before," Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff (pictured) said in a Dreamforce keynote. "Business is social. Social networking is the fastest growing segment of the industry."
Dell started out in PCs, later moving into server and storage hardware. But 2012 was the year the company really got serious about adding software to its product lineup and becoming a full IT technology and service provider.
While the company has made a number of software and cloud technology acquisitions in recent year, Dell took a major step in February when it created a separate software group and hired ex-CA Technologies CEO John Swainson (pictured) to run it. That was quickly followed by the company's acquisition of SonicWall, a developer of network security and data protection software. But the real leap came later in the year when it bought Quest Software, a supplier of security, storage and application management software, for $2.4 billion.
Early in 2012, CEO Michael Dell declared: "Dell is not a PC company." Competitors should have listened ...
It must have seemed like a good idea at the time: Acquire a company with a broad information management applications portfolio to expand HP's software offerings. But HP's $11.1 billion acquisition of Autonomy turned into an embarrassing fiasco. The first hints of trouble came in May when Autonomy co-founder and CEO Mike Lynch (pictured) was fired when Autonomy returned what HP CEO Meg Whitman described as "disappointing" financial results. Then channel partners complained they didn't have access to Autonomy products. But the real extent of the mess came to light last month when HP took an $8.8 billion write-down for "serious accounting improprieties" and "disclosure failures" that it said inflated Autonomy's price tag. There's some serious finger-pointing going on between Whitman, Lynch, HP's board of directors, former HP CEO Leo Apotheker, former HP strategy executive Shane Robinson, accounting firms Deloitte and KPMG, and other parties. A shareholder lawsuit has been filed. And all the while HP channel partners and customers can only watch from the sidelines and shake their heads.
Its debut was almost anti-climactic. After more than a year of previews, blog posts, developer conferences, and feature and price announcements, Microsoft launched the next generation of its flagship product in a relatively low-key press event in New York on Oct. 25. The product hit store shelves the next day. Microsoft has struggled to regain its competitive edge in a world where smartphones and tablets are eroding the importance of desktop PCs -- the market Microsoft dominated for years. Windows 8 is something of a gamble because it's the first Microsoft OS designed to support "traditional" PCs as well as touch-screen tablets.
Microsoft doesn't need Windows 8 to be an immediate success as it did with Windows 7 in the wake of the Windows Vista disaster. But Windows 8 represents Microsoft's efforts to regain its technological mojo, and so the product's ultimate success or failure will have a big impact on the company's long-term fortunes. Microsoft has said 40 million Windows 8 licenses were sold in the first month of its availability -- a number that didn't exactly wow Microsoft watchers.


text:
On July 28, as the first officially registered blockchain association in Guangdong province, Guangzhou Blockchain Industry Association was formally established in Huangpu District and Guangzhou Development District(GDD), filling the gap in the area of blockchain in Guangzhou.
Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum(Davos Forum) said, since the invention of the steam engine, electricity and computer, we have ushered in the fourth industrial revolution - the digital revolution. While The blockchain technology is one of results in this revolution and hailed as “the most important innovation in finance” over the past 500 years by the Wall Street Journal.
It is reported that this association, located in the GDD of the Huangpu District, is a high-end professional industry organizations in the field of blockchain technology,which is available to Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area. It will build four platforms, consisting of blockchain general development platform, blockchain mass entrepreneurship and innovation platform (maker space and incubator), blockchain technology innovation platform (new research and development institution), blockchain industry public service platform, promoting the development the digital economic revolution in the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area.
In face of this opportunity, a number of initiative projects were put forward. At the meeting, the GDD Investment Promotion Agency, Guangzhou Blockchain Industry Association and Ali Health signed an agreement to establish the first domestic medical blockchain joint laboratory. They will make the hospital of GDD and its four subordinate community health centers as the service carrier and make comprehensive cooperation in the health care, the interconnection and intercommunication of the information and other fields. The first Hyperledger Fabric cooperation platform of IBM will be deployed in Guangzhou Science City, which will launch practical exploration in supply chain finance.
1. An interpolation-resistant Hyperledger
In May, WannaCry, a blackmail virus, swept the world. Many universities and institutions in China were infected by this virus. The only way to clear this virus is, according to the hacker request, to pay ransom in bitcoin (a virtual currency) . Since then, bitcoin has become known among more people.
Why does hackers use bitcoin as a means of payment? A major reason is the decentralization and anonymity of bitcoin. That's to say, these hackers' bitcoin accounts cannot be frozen by any agency, and due to the data's interactions following fixed algorithms and privacy encryption, they can escape from being traced.
The virtual currency represented by bitcoin is the most successful application of blockchain technology. Under the condition of no intermediary institutions being involved in, for example, without the bank participating in operation and management, both sides holding bitcoins can trust each other to complete the transfer behaviour mutual trust, and keep operation stable for many years.
In fact, blockchain is not a single technology, but the result of multiple technological integration. These techniques are combined with new structures to form a new way of data recording, storing and expressing .
"This is a hyperledger." Huang Jin, the IBM’s artificial intelligence chief scientist and chief architect in Greater China said, from the perspective of the data, blockchain is a distributed database that could not be changed, "whenever some behavior occurs, such as trading, uploading and modifying, it will be recorded and cannot be erased. It is highly transparent".
“Moreover, the "distributed" is embodied in not only the distributed storage of data, but also the distributed record of data. Anyone can engage in the record of information data as well as their all behaviors are firstly recorded separately in a "small platform", and then gathered into a "platform pool". The data information of the pool is maintained and utilized by participants of all systems without through any third party. This is the biggest difference between the blockchain and the cloud platform, because the cloud platform is managed by an administrator, which is no guarantee of data security and ownership.” Huang explained.
Actually, the application fields of this technology are far more than the virtual currency. At present, more applications are based on the interpolation-resistant feature of the blockchain, which can be used in some registration such as property certificate registration, bond transaction registration and custody registration
Yan Zhihong, a professor at the University of Macao, told the reporter blockchain is conducive to constructing an open and reliable supply chain. As long as the car owner wonders if each part is produced in the original factory and supplied by the formal channel or consumers want to know the food production, distribution and transportation, blockchain will trace the information of each part, which is helpful to the original channel management and government market supervision.
At the same time, the association also signed a cooperation agreement with IBM China at the meeting, marking that the IBM's first hyperledger Fabric cooperation platform project will be deployed in the Guangzhou Science City and the cooperation in supply chain finance will be launched.
“The inter-enterprise transactions in the district will fully practice the electronic contracts through the blockchain technology in six months earliest." Huang said, “The platform will firstly face the more than 6,000 enterprises in the district and all transactions of these enterprise will be implemented in the platform. If so, they can view the integrity records, corporate financial status, the information and contract archiving of transactions at any time.”
The GDD Investment Promotion Bureau, Guangzhou Blockchain Industry Association and Ali Health signed an agreement to establish the first domestic medical blockchain joint laboratory. They will play the hospital of GDD and its four subordinate community health centers as the service carrier and make comprehensive cooperation in the health care, the interconnection and the intercommunication of the information as well as other fields. In addition, the several association members will jointly build the first blockchain innovation base in Guangdong as well as create the largest and the most widely distributed blockchain professional maker space and incubator in China.
Promote the six major application directions and strive to be the pioneer of industrial transformation
In the 11th Guangzhou Municipal CPC Congress report, it pointed out that Guangzhou should develop cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain. Meanwhile, Guangzhou should accelerate the integration of blockchain and innovation-driven development strategy, and remove industrial barriers by taking the technical advantages of blockchain to construct new ecological system of blockchain innovation of "technology core + industry circle".
It is understood that blockchain technology is an important representative of the new generation of information technology and its cross-border and fusion characteristics are particularly obvious, for example, blockchain and industrial Internet information management project, blockchain and new generation of electronic information technology, blockchain and intelligent manufacturing, blockchain and intellectual Property project as well as blockchain and food safety.
"Guangzhou is likely to become a nationwide new flashpoint in China’s blockchain industry, " Deng Di, the chairman of the China Blockchain Application Research Center, said, "based on the construction of the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area, the talent advantage and scientific research strength of Guangzhou as well as the industrial foundation of the Pearl River Delta provide the condition for the technical application ".
Nowadays, Guangzhou is speeding up the implementation of the IAB (a new generation of information technology, artificial intelligence, biological medicine) industry plan. These key layout industries have opened up a good space and development direction for the application scenes of blockchain technology. At the same time, Guangzhou develops resources based on the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area and clears the barriers in the whole industry chain with the use of the technical features of the blockchain.
The reporter learned that the association will focus on IAB and its extension industry. Instead of the six industries, it will give priority to the development of blockchain technology, including blockchain + financial services, blockchain + social management, blockchain + medical health, blockchain + things networking, blockchain + supply chain management (logistics, traceability), blockchain + intellectual property (cultural creation, original certification)
In addition, the association will assist in the planning and design of 10 major pilot scenarios, and gradually set up the application system of this technology.
The Guangzhou Research Institute of O-M-E Technology is the association’s secretariat. Ren Hao, the director of this institute, believed that the "blockchain +" industry application, blockchain + medical health, blockchain + supply chain management (logistics, traceability), blockchain + intellectual property (cultural originality, original certification) will be primarily developed in Guangzhou among the six areas of "blockchain+" application. For the GDD and Huangpu District, there will be great opportunities and conditions to make them become the pioneers of revolutionary technological and industrial reforms.
Zhang Chaoping, the deputy director of the GDD Administrative Committee, said, with profound industry foundation, GDD and Huangpu District are not only old industrial areas and science and technology innovation areas in Guangzhou, but also the main battlefield undertaking Guangzhou’s IAB industry plan, The new generation of information technology has become one of the three industrial clusters with annual revenue of a hundred billion RMB in the district and its output value accounts for 80% of the city’s total. In 2016, The total production value of the district was more than 300 billion yuan and industrial output accounted for 40% of the city’s total. Meanwhile, it also gathered 38,000 enterprises, established 21 national industrial bases and parks, and nurtured six innovative industrial clusters.
Taking the biomedical industry as an example, GDD and Huangpu District are the Top-one highland of Guangzhou biomedical industry. Guangzhou International Bio-Island, with an area of only 1.8 square kilometers, is home to nearly 150 projects, including Kingmed Diagnoistics and South China Biomedical Research Institute. Now, it is creating an international first-class pharmaceutical enterprise headquarter as well as advanced technology research and development base with precision medical treatment as the highlight.
Among those companies,Kingmed Diagnoistics is the largest third-party inspection institution in China and a member of this association. Moreover, its medical testing service network has covered more than 90% of the country's population and collected a large amount of sample data equivalent to 40 provincial large 3A hospitals.
"If these testing data are interconnected, and further to be developed and utilized, maybe one day the patient will not need to do repeated disease examination, and the patient's past medical information can be shared among different hospitals," Deng Di said.
Source： Invest Guangzhou, July 31， 2017


text:
21 December 2022
UPDATE (July 15th, 2022):
Google has expanded the Play Games beta to a couple of new regions: Thailand and Australia. The change was first reported by 9to5Google folks who spotted the new names on the official support page. It seems like the expansion is still under process and not completed as the home page of does not mention the two countries yet. However, users from these two regions can now join the waitlist to get notified when the service will become available.
Original (January 20th, 2022)
It is just a little over a month since Google announced plans to bring Android games to Windows PCs through Play Games. It has now released a limited beta of Play Games for Windows PCs. It is currently available only for users from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea with possible expansion to other regions in the coming weeks.
The beta application will allow Windows users to play Android games on a bigger screen and with additional controls like keyboard and mouse. Google has added support for select titles like Asphalt 9: Legends, Mobile Legends, Dragon Mania Legends, and Rise of Empires: Ice and Fire among others. It seems like Google is moving ahead at a gradual pace and will likely add more games depending on the feedback.
One interesting feature that Google is touting about the beta is support for cross-platform syncing. It means you will be able to start playing Android games on one device and then continue to it from the same point on another device. All you will need is to sign in using the same Google account. This is similar to cloud-based game streaming services like Google Stadia and NVIDIA GeForce Now.
All players will receive Google Play Points as rewards while playing games including for in-app purchases and subscriptions. These points can be redeemed through the PC as well as a mobile phone.
As for Google Play Games PC requirements, here is the official list:
- Windows 10 (v2004)
- Solid-state drive (SSD)
- Gaming-class GPU
- 8 logical cores of CPU
- 8 GB of RAM
- 20 GB of available storage space
- Windows admin account
- Hardware virtualization must be turned on
- Compatible PC device and configuration


text:
Melissa McCarthy Seven7 is already being sold on HSN and will soon be available in major retailers.
NEW YORK (AP) — How do you get to the fashion runway shows at Lincoln Center? Hop on The Fashion Line subway train, of course. That’s what New York City has dubbed the No. […]


text:
Home Tags Graphic and Web Design
Tag: Graphic and Web Design
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and NEW YORK, N.Y., June 2, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that its marketing and design team has been recognized for multiple Communicator Awards for its work in 2021. The Communicator Awards are an international awards program recognizing big ideas in marketing and communications.
CAYCE, S.C., May 3, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Pops Mart, LLC recently signed Sokal, the Raleigh, N.C. based automotive advertising agency firm, as their agency of record. Pops Mart, LLC, whose chain includes 24 stores currently, will utilize Sokal to provide website design, digital, and a variety of creative design services.
GYMPIE, Australia, Jan. 21, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- ArtistScope, a leading developer of DRM and copy protection software for more than 20 years, celebrates the 10th anniversary of the release of the ArtistScope Site Protection Software (ASPS) and the release of ArtisBrowser for all Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices.
ATLANTA, Ga., Oct. 25, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- With more than 3,000 entries from around the globe, The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts just announced the winners of its 16th Annual w3 Awards. FlexCare Digital Health, a leading provider of online and on-demand healthcare delivery, brought home a total of four awards and was recognized in the Mobile Apps and Mobile Features' categories.
FLORENCE, Ala., Sept. 10, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- As a result of continued growth and client success, Lime Group, LLC, will begin offering marketing services tailored to specific business' needs and goals. In the past, Lime Group has offered a flat rate for access to all of their resources from website development and maintenance to social media management and print advertising.
HONG KONG, Aug. 10, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- In today's digital world, explainer videos have become extremely popular for their affordability and proven effectiveness in growing a business. PearlMountain, a multimedia software development company founded in 2006, enables businesses to create engaging explainer videos with its FlexClip video creation platform.
RIVERSIDE, Ill., July 15, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- NationDigital.io is now a Social Enterprise venture of the EveryLibrary Institute, NFP, a non-partisan library-focused 501(c3) organization dedicated to the future of libraries and literacy across the globe. This acquisition will allow us to expand what we're able to offer you!
HONG KONG, July 7, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Millions of people around the world access tutorial videos to learn skills ranging from baking to mechanics. PearlMountain, a multimedia software development company launched in 2006, has expanded the functionality of its popular FlexClip video creation solution to include a tutorial video maker.
HitPaw Screen Recorder Simplifies Process for Educators, Gamers, Bloggers or Any Other Content Creators to Make Videos
NEW YORK, N.Y., May 26, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- HitPaw releases a new software - HitPaw Screen Recorder. With its easy-to-use UI, all beginners can use it without any hassle. The first version of HitPaw Screen Recorder is only compatible with Windows 7/8/10 64 bit. A Mac version will come in 2 months.
ATLANTA, Ga., April 14, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- For more than 20 years Indigo Studios has been creating beautiful CGI content for its long-standing clients like Caterpillar, Ford, Daimler AG and Hasbro, to name a few. Once again, Indigo has pushed the creative bar even further by launching Indigo in Motion.
WARE, Mass., Jan. 26, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time, Turrem is proud to help customers purchase citation packages that benefit local small business owners. Turrem, a Western Massachusetts-based web design and SEO agency, provides quality manual citation services.
STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 6, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The time is now. planet .ECO® affirms that environmental justice is social justice and is illustrating that belief through its creation - .ECO, a transformative brand that unites individuals and organizations committed to combatting climate change. .ECO empowers digital eco like no other product or service by helping consumers, brands and advocates to globally advance sustainability solutions.
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 30, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Christ Lutheran Church, located in Santa Clarita, California, has launched an updated website to increase their reach and accessibility in the community while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
CHR Builders Launches New Website to Showcase Hospitality Renovation Services in Southern California
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 29, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- 95Visual is pleased to announce the launch of CHR Builders' new website: chrbuildersinc.com. The new features that CHR Builders chose to include in the redesign captivate users with an easy to navigate format.
NEW YORK and HONG KONG, Aug. 18, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- DataNumen recently announced the release of PSD Repair 2.1 - one of the leading FREE Photoshop repair tools used world-wide to fix corrupt and broken PSD files. The newest version improves the batch recovery engine, provides better performance and a higher recovery rate than before, plus fixes small bugs.
DAYTON, Ohio, July 15, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Bash Foo, a digital marketing agency located in Dayton, Ohio has worked for 21 years in web development and lead generation, serving dozens of clients in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Powered with a common set of goals, Bash Foo will deliver combined capabilities that reach 1.1 million registered buyers, engineers, MROs, and decision-makers on the Thomasnet.com platform.
WILLOW GROVE, Pa., May 21, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Holmes Dental, a family-owned and operated business, is serving Dentists since 1975 with an innovative line of dental solutions including QYK-SET line of Acrylics, deMark dental tools, Sore Spotters for dentures, and Temp and Perm Grippers to handle crowns.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 6, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Three weeks ago ETA challenged WiT Group to develop an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of emergency vehicles. WiT Group, a Charlotte, N.C. based marketing agency, completed a full website redesign including the development of custom-designed responsive web pages, a fully functional online marketplace, and a search engine optimized web platform that will lead the way for the emergency vehicle industry.
BOGART, Ga., April 23, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- StickTogether.Family, whose mission is to promote awareness of the impact a community spread virus can have on the immunosuppressed, announced today the creation of a universal icon that visually communicates being immunosuppressed and encourages physical distancing efforts during the current pandemic.
PORTLAND, Ore., April 9, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Matter Supply Co. responds with a technology solution after Powell's Books layoffs. The company announced today that it will also donate significant efforts to create 20 eCommerce websites for small Portland-area retailers most threatened by closure during the outbreak.
12Page 1 of 2


text:
eCommerce giant Amazon’s growth in the 25 years since appearing as a small book-selling enterprise made it into the largest online marketplace and multi-media platform globally. Today, it has worldwide fulfillment centers, sells nearly everything, and includes special membership programs to speed up deliveries.
However, its growth hasn’t come without the inevitable scandals, particularly around company culture leading to accidents and the treatment of workers.
These are the nine most famous court cases against Amazon, in no particular order.
1. Amazon Discrimination Lawsuits Based on Race and Sex
Early in 2021, some current and former managers at Amazon claimed they faced discrimination from their higher-ranking company officials based on race and sex.
One woman, Charlotte Newman, reported that she continually experienced both types of discrimination when the company repeatedly passed her over for promotions given to less experienced and younger white men.
Additionally, accusations were made against Amazon management by several women who claimed sexual harassment.
2. Amazon Lawsuit for Infant Death Caused By A Delivery Driver
A 9-month-old infant died in an accident caused by an Amazon delivery driver in 2019. Speedy delivery can cause accidents, leading to deaths, and Amazon stands accused of not taking responsibility for accidents caused by its drivers.
The driver attested not seeing the SUV he slammed into because he ran late on his many deliveries. This is one of the tens of accidents caused by Amazon’s network of delivery contractors. Since Amazon does not employ permanent drivers, it insists it can’t bear the responsibility for drivers branded with Amazon logos. Inhuman working conditions cannot compensate for the close watch they keep on drivers.
3. Amazon Discrimination Lawsuit for Firing Pregnant Women
Amazon’s discrimination charges include firing pregnant women before they meet the required legal health work adjustments. So far, Amazon has settled several of these cases out of court.
4. Amazon Sued By Exhausted Driver
Timothy Weakley, a delivery driver for Amazon, sued them for the exhaustion that caused him to crash after falling asleep while driving. He claimed that he spent close to 50 hours behind the wheel with minimal rest to meet the demands made on him by Amazon.
5. Amazon Sued By Paralyzed Man
A medical student was left paralyzed after an accident with an Amazon van, and he wants them held responsible for the accident. His legal representation maintains that Amazon pressurizes drivers to make their record delivery times with tracking technology, and drivers get punished for not meeting the standards. The resulting stress and tiredness lead to accidents, like the one that paralyzed their young client.
6. Amazon Sued Over Remote Work Costs for Employees
In another case, Amazon.com Inc. faces a Californian lawsuit accusing it of violating state law for the non-existent reimbursement of employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. These employees say they received no remuneration for their internet, cell phone usage, and other expenses incurred (like electricity) for working from home.
The lawsuit, based on a unique California law called the Private Attorney General Act, allows large groups of employees to sue companies on behalf of the state. They keep 25% of any penalties won.
7. Amazon Lawsuits Over Negligence for Warehouse Collapse
Late last year, the collapse of a warehouse after a tornado in Edwardsville, Illinois, resulted in a new lawsuit against Amazon. DeAndre Morrow, the mother of an employee who lost their life, instituted the case against Amazon for its alleged failure to protect employees through negligence.
Four drivers hurt during the collapse of the warehouse filed another lawsuit. Jamarco Hickman, Evan Jensen, and Jada Williams claim they received threats from Amazon for employment termination when they tried to leave the warehouse to shelter in their homes safely. In addition, Morrow had to work an extra shift on his day off despite tornado warnings. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump says that Amazon puts business before its employee safety.
In another lawsuit relating to the same incident, the family of driver Austin McEwan, killed by the warehouse collapse, has filed a negligence case against Amazon. Meanwhile, Amazon also faces an investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
8. Amazon Price-Fixing Lawsuit
Price fixing has led to a fine of $2.25 million after an investigation and lawsuit by the attorney general of Washington.
“Sold By Amazon” was the program by which Amazon would contact a third-party seller and ask them to agree on a minimum price for an item. If Amazon sold the thing for more, they would split the profits.
These agreements are commonplace in wholesale and reselling. Still, Amazon would increase prices to levels of other dealers, preventing sellers from offering discounts. This practice led to buyers preferring better-priced Amazon brands.
Washington AG Bob Ferguson alleged the practice violated the state’s antitrust laws since Amazon sells its goods while competing with third-party sellers. When two competitors agree to control the cost of goods, it’s considered price-fixing.
Despite disputing the AG’s lawsuits, Amazon shut down the program before the case came to court, agreeing to pay $2.25 million for the AG’s antitrust division funding. In addition, a DC Superior Court recently dismissed another similar lawsuit.
9. Lawsuit Against Amazon for Failing to Provide Safe Working Environment
Finally, a New York appeals court dismissed a lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Letitia James earlier in May. The AG accused Amazon of failing to sensibly protect workers against COVID-19 in some of its state facilities and illegally retaliating against workers speaking up about their poor working conditions.
According to the appellate court ruling, federal labor law precedes state labor law, requiring disputes to go to the National Labor Relations Board. As for the COVID-19 workplace safety guidelines claims, the court dismissed


text:
The Active Network, a San Diego events registration software company, reported a $5.5 million profit for its second quarter last week, its first official financial results posted as a publicly traded company.
The company went public on May 26, opening at $16 per share. The company's performance beat the same quarter last year, when it lost $1.9 million.
The Active Network provides event registration and other software products to parks, churches, golf courses, race organizers and governments on a monthly subscription basis.
Total revenue for the quarter was $99 million, up 21% from $81.7 million for the same quarter last year. During the quarter, registrations grew 7 percent to 22.9 million and net revenue per registration increased 8 percent to $3.04.
Looking ahead, the company expects a net loss in the upcoming third quarter of $1.5 million to $3.5 million on sales of $84 million to $88 million. The reason behind the revenue increase is the seasonal nature of Active's business, since registration activity for camps and events tends to be higher in summer months.
Dave Alberga, chief executive of Active Network, said the company is "continuing to make key investments in our technology platform to help drive future growth. Looking ahead, we are focused on adding more organizations in our existing markets, increasing our customer’s online conversion rates and deepening our relationships with existing customers.”
The company ended the quarter with $157.5 million in cash and short term investments.


text:
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s shaved ice is among the world's top desserts and has become available all year long, with new creative flavors made with fresh seasonal ingredients.
Taiwan News went to three shaved ice shops to see the different flavors offered at each place.
Jingjimoo (金雞母), a popular spot on Taipei's Yongkang Street, has come up with a Mid-Autumn specialty to welcome fall. The ice is flavored with mashed plums and pomelos, giving it a purple appearance. This is a reference to the dress of Chang'e, the heroine of the Moon Festival legend.
Meanwhile, the candied lemon placed on top symbolizes the full moon. The ice has a sweet, citrusy taste, which is enhanced by dried strawberries and a layer of blueberry cream.
"We design different flavors of shaved ice according to the season and festival," Jingjimoo Manager Chih-ying told Taiwan News. For spring, they make shaved ice out of roses sourced from Pingtung. Mango and lemon are the usual flavors for summer and fall, respectively, while the shop uses strawberries and cream in the winter for a strong, rich taste.
Mango shaved ice. (Taiwan News photo)
Shaved ice with mangoes is Taiwan's best-known combination. The country is often referred to as the world's "tropical fruit king," with an annual output of more than 170,000 tons.
After chunks of mango are scattered on the ice is shaved into a bowl, condensed milk is then poured over the whole dish. Mango ice cream and mango sherbet are also typically added.
Shaved ice shops like Smoothie House(思慕昔) are well-known for this mango creation. Their mango snowflake ice has seen record-breaking sales — enough to reach the height of Taipei 101 if they were piled up.
The snowflake ice is smooth and melts in the mouth right away, according to one Smoothie House customer. Fresh food is always a plus for the dessert, she added.
Traditional shaved ice (Taiwan News photo)
Though there are now shaved ice treats for all seasons, traditional shaved ice will never fade away. Dad's Taro Balls (阿爸の芋圓) has the most traditional flavors, offering toppings like red beans, peanuts, boba, and taro. Their signature dish has mashed taro, taro balls, and rice cakes.
The store has also been busy innovating the traditional dessert. It currently has one made of frozen sugar cane juice that is shaved into the shape of sugar cane slivers.
"It makes the ice sweeter and rich in fiber," said the shop owner Yen Hsiao-Chuan (顏孝全). The freshly cooked toppings pair perfectly with the shaved sugar cane ice, satisfying any sweet tooth.
Dad's Taro Balls was founded when a father tried to cook his daughters fresh, healthy desserts. He used sugar cane from southern Taiwan and taro from Taitung to make the signature shaved ice, said Yen.
Mixing innovation with tradition is one of the reasons why Taiwan's shaved ice has been popular for so long. Turning it into year-long treats is just another step in the evolution of this popular and refreshing dessert.


text:
The 2020 Met Gala has just been announced, from the A-list co-chairs to the theme.
Today, November 7, Vogue revealed that the theme for next year’s exhibition and gala is Time: Fashion and Duration.
Curator Andrew Bolton told the publication that it will be “a reimagining of fashion history that’s fragmented, discontinuous and heterogeneous.”
He claimed to have found the inspiration for the exhibit in a 1992 film based off of a Virginia Woolf novel, both called Orlando.
“There’s a wonderful scene in which Tilda Swinton enters the maze in an 18th-century woman’s robe à la Francaise, and as she runs through it, her clothes change to mid-19th-century dress, and she reemerges in 1850s England,” he said. “That’s where the original idea came from.”
So to tie it all together, Woolf will be the “ghost narrator” throughout the gallery, with quotes from many of her books appearing throughout. “What I like about Woolf’s version of time is the idea of a continuum,” Bolton said. “There’s no beginning, middle, or end. It’s one big fat middle. I always felt the same about fashion. Fashion is the present.”
But possibly the most exciting part of the news is that the co-chairs for the first Monday in May are Meryl Streep, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Louis Vuitton designer Nicolas Ghesquière with face of the brand Emma Stone.
This isn’t only major because both Streep and Miranda are legends in their own right, but also neither of them have ever attended the super bowl of fashion before, making it a truly monumental moment. Stone, on the other hand, has been six times, cementing herself as a staple and anticipated guest.
The Met Gala will be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2020, and the exhibit will be open to the public from May 7 until September 7.
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


text:
A Lakewood petroleum distribution company with 10,000 customers in 12 Western Washington counties Friday shut down its operations after a plan to reorganize its business foundered.
Pettit Oil Co. will liquidate its assets, said the company's bankruptcy attorney, Brian Budsberg of Olympia.
Those assets include a fleet of some 70 vehicles and facilities in some 20 Western Washington cities.
Budsberg said the decision to sell the company's assets came after a federal bankruptcy judge Thursday declined to order the company's sale to Associated Petroleum Products of Tacoma because one of Pettit's largest creditors, U.S. Bank, objected.
Pettit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization late last year in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tacoma. Pettit President Chris Sather listed the company's assets at $18.69 million and liabilities of $22.47 million.
The company initially sought to keep its operations running while it reorganized under the bankruptcy code.
But the banks providing ongoing credit to Pettit in its high cash flow business, declined to give the company a large enough credit line to maintain its business volume, said the oil company's attorney.
That credit shortage led to customers abandoning Pettit and a downward business spiral, said Budsberg.
The company, according to its web site, once employed some 200 workers. At the end, that workforce had been reduced to about 125. All were paid up for their labor up to the end, said Budsberg though they received no money for unused vacation days or sick leave.
Pettit provided petroleum products to individuals and businesses.
The oil distributor first encountered major problems in November when one supplier refused to load Pettit's trucks with petroleum products because it had not been paid for prior loads.
Pettit claimed in court documents that the failure to pay was the result of a bank error. Pettit's controller called the supplier and paid the bill promptly, but the supplier cut how much product it would give Pettit on credit until it had conducted a credit investigation.
Pettit reported to the court that it sold some $319 million worth of petroleum products in 2012. The company had sold substantially less in 2013 through mid-November.


text:
When John Carmack gets out of Oculus Connect this week one of the three “major directions” he’s considering spending his considerable brainpower on is using stereo inside out cameras to solve positional tracking on a mobile headset. Solving the problem remains one of the great prizes of the VR industry as it would enable a wireless VR experience where you could move around a room in a virtual environment untethered to a PC.
Hope for the technology to be unveiled this week was so high Rift creator Palmer Luckey had to set expectations by saying “VR-grade inside-out tracking is not currently workable on mobile devices.”
Carmack, the chief technology officer at Oculus, elaborated on the problem in an impromptu talk he gave in the lobby outside Oculus Connect session theaters, surrounded by a semi-circle of interested VR enthusiasts.
“It does not look good for making an inside out tracking system that doesn’t consume a whole lot of battery power,” Carmack said. “We have like 30 computer vision experts at Oculus from the different companies we’ve acquired and none of them want to just go solve this problem. They’re all working on their esoteric, kind of researchy things while this is a problem that I want solved right now. I wish somebody had spent all of this last year on it.”
In true Carmack fashion his talk was dense and filled with tons of interesting tidbits, including Facebook’s relationship with Google, and my arm got tired filming him before he got tired of talking.
“I wish we had better relations with Google. Everybody is friendly, there’s no animosity but there’s just that sense of like, sooner or later, we’re going to be at cross purposes,” Carmack said.
I recorded 20 minutes of the talk for Periscope, so the video is vertical. It is embedded in this post for your viewing pleasure.
I came back to the press room to write this blog post but hopefully Carmack has stopped talking by now so that he still has a voice for a lengthy keynote he has planned for Thursday afternoon.


text:
German navigation system manufacturer Raytheon Anschütz announced the launch of navigation system innovations as well as improvements to existing technologies for this year’s SMM.
Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) announced expansion in its service, location, inventory and personnel due to increasing demand for connectivity solutions in Brazil.
Eighteen marine electronics products from four manufacturers--BEP, Garmin, Humminbird, and Veethree--have received NMEA 2000 Certification in recent weeks. The
Simrad Yachting, a designer and manufacturer of marine navigation, autopilot, radar, communications and fishfinding systems, announced today an exclusive partnership
NavPlay, manufacturer of iPad apps for boaters, announced today the latest set of feature driven environments for its NavPlay navigation app, Navigation and Navigation Bridge.
Intelsat S.A. today announced that Patricia Cooper has been named as the company's Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy, effective August 25.
In this newly created role,
AVEVA launches a new application for governing asset information using a standards-based methodology.
AVEVA announced the launch of AVEVA Information Standards Manager (AVEVA ISM),
Global electronic chart provider Jeppesen along with Lowrance, Simrad and B&G brands in marine electronics, have announced the global release of C-MAP MAX-N+ cartography.
Purpose-built accommodation and pipe-lay barge on charter to Petronas equipped with VSAT and L-Band services.
Globecomm Maritime has been awarded a contract
One of the world’s most sophisticated shipping simulators is being used by Australia’s leading maritime pilotage company, Australian Reef Pilots (ARP), to enhance
The Mexican Navy selected VSTEP to supply a Class A NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge (FMB) Simulator and 24 NAUTIS desktop trainer stations for the Naval Academy in Veracruz.
Today it has been announced that the Simrad MX Series MX521B Smart Antenna, and HS80A and MX575D DGNSS Compasses have been upgraded to be compatible with both Global
Seatronics, an Acteon company, has signed a worldwide contract with Digital Edge Subsea Ltd for Digital Edge Subsea’s complete range of digital video inspection systems.
In view of an increasing demand for security of merchant ships and maritime trade, Raytheon Anschütz, a German-based manufacturer of Integrated Bridge Systems,
Danelec Marine has received orders to supply Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) and Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) for 18 offshore support vessels in China.
Videotel, part of KVH Industries, Inc., has launched a new program, Social Media at Sea, addressing the unique dangers of inappropriate use of social media by shipboard
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI) announced today that it developed Hyundai Intelligent Collision Avoidance Support System (HiCASS) for the first time in
Fugro Satellite Positioning released its Seastar XP2 PPP GNSS augmentation service on July 1, 2014, which provides increased redundancy for mission-critical offshore
Simrad Yachting has announced its exclusive partnership with Sportsman Boats Manufacturing. The Simrad NSS evo2 system is now the standard navigation system on
ECDIS, AIS, GPS
Electronic navigation systems such as GPS, Electronic Chart Displays (ECDIS) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) provide great assistance


text:
According to the information reported by several specialized websites in Brazil, Brazilian TV channel SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão) started its broadcasts for audiences living in Angola and Mozambique. Those residing in either of the two countries will be able to access SBT as part of their pay TV offer through ZAP, one of the largest DTH operators in both countries.
SBT will be available 24 hours a day and will be part of a new package into the operator’s programming, called ‘Mini Mais’, together with more than 60 channels. In addition, the offer includes some of the programs that are part of the channel’s current programming grid, as well as other programs that are part of the SBT’s library.
‘With our channel’s expansion to the African pay TV market, we aim to translate and understand the needs of subscribers looking for quality content, information and family entertainment’, reported Carolina Scheinberg, New Business Manager at SBT. The executive also highlighted that the strategy is part of the brand’s global expansion plan.
According to Jose Carlos Lourenço, CEO at ZAP, ZAP and SBT ‘already had a long way to go in terms of partnerships, with the provision of content that reached ZAP clients as part of the ZAP VIVA channel’s grid, but we concluded that it made sense to take a new step, with the availability of the SBT channel itself. We confirm that this possibility will reinforce the quality and competitiveness of ZAP’s offer as the best TV operator in Angola and Mozambique’.
At present, SBT offers international broadcasts in Europe, through the BrasilPlay platform, whose offer also includes other Brazilian channels, such as Globo Internacional, Sportv Internacional, Band News and Band Internacional; and in the US through Dish Network, where it is part of Sling TV’s offer. In addition, SBT sells programs to broadcasters in other countries.


text:
The ability to conduct business from anywhere, anytime, with anyone is more important than ever before. Comcast Business is bringing together business leaders to share best practices, learn from each other’s success and listen to experts explain the coming changes our business landscape will undergo. Join us on July 23rd at 9 a.m. PST for the “The Future of Business” Virtual Conference.
“As the pandemic and its impacts play out, it’s imperative that businesses review what cracks have been exposed and employ new resources and technologies to shore up any glaring holes as they revisit company plans and procedures,” said Peter Neill, Comcast Business Senior Vice President for the company’s West Division. “Our hope is this virtual conference, featuring experts across various industries, will help inform business of all sizes as they look to transform their operations and technology strategies by sharing best practices and experiences.”
From marketing to business security, the free, half day conference features Comcast Business leaders and subject matter experts addressing some of the biggest topics and questions facing today’s businesses as they look to emerge from the global pandemic connected, productive and engaged.
The conference schedule includes breakout sessions, keynote speakers, including Chef and talk show host Robert Irvine, and networking opportunities. During the conference a Comcast Business “Tech Station” will also be open for the duration of the conference for attendees to stop in and engage with the Comcast Business Sales Engineering Team to learn more about Comcast Business’ suite of products & services.
Although businesses should focus on the present, it’s also critical to have a plan; learn more about how companies are embracing change and adapting to the new normal.
Interested businesses can view full conference details and register here.


text:
The government of British Columbia is considering allowing recreational cannabis consumption spaces and has launched a public consultation on the topic.
Consumption spaces “could provide an opportunity for the sector to become more economically viable and could better meet the interests of people who use cannabis,” Mike Farnsworth, the province’s minister of public safety, said in a Wednesday news release.
The spaces could include business or special events where cannabis could be sold and used, and “examples include cafes, lounges, concerts or festivals, ticketed events and spas,” according to the release.
However, provincial law would still prohibit any indoor smoking or vaping.
Indigenous and local governments would also have a say.
“Consumption spaces could create cannabis, tourism, and hospitality jobs – especially in areas that have a history of growing cannabis or at existing tourism destinations,” according to a B.C. government discussion paper published alongside the public engagement announcement.
Cannabis consumption spaces could also “encourage consumers to choose legal sources and help increase the legal market’s share of the cannabis economy,” the paper noted.
The public consultation launched April 6 and runs until May 9.
A report will be issued later this year.
Apply to speak at MJBizCon 2023
Think you’ve got a great story, insights, or best practices to share about your cannabis business? We want to hear from you!
The MJBizCon team is now accepting speaker applications for the 2023 event in Las Vegas.
We are looking for engaging industry leaders from all sectors of the cannabis industry, whether you run a multi-state operation or a mom-and-pop business.
Apply to speak at MJBizCon today – The speaker application portal closes May 5!
Nearly one-third of British Columbians 19 and older report having used cannabis in the past year, according to background information provided by the provincial government.
The province had 426 licensed cannabis retail locations at the end of 2021.
British Columbia sales of legal cannabis totaled 50 million Canadian dollars ($39.7 million) in January.


text:
Strong inflationary trend is unlikely to endure in Japan
- Accelerating price growth since the beginning of this year has been largely driven by exogenous factors such as soaring global energy and commodity prices. Meanwhile, domestic consumer demand has been tepid.
- The recent strong inflationary trend is unlikely to last long in Japan owing to weak wage growth, household tendency to reduce spending when prices surge and an anticipated economic slowdown in major economies.
- The Bank of Japan (BOJ, the central bank) is under no duress to contain inflationary expectations and it will maintain its ultra‑accommodative monetary policy throughout 2022.
Japan's headline rate of consumer price inflation reached a seven‑year high amid surging energy costs. Data released on May 20th by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed the general consumer price index (CPI) rising by 2.4% year on year in April. Core inflation, which strips fresh food prices and is used by the BOJ as a tracker of price changes, exceeded the central bank's 2% price stability target for the first time since March 2015. The upswing of consumer prices since the beginning of this year has raised the prospect of a return of persistent inflation to Japan. However, the durability of the current inflationary trend is less than certain owing to still weak domestic demand and anticipated headwinds in the global economy.
Consumer inflation is still driven mostly by exogenous factors
Headline consumer price inflation has been accelerating since the start of 2022, mostly driven by climbing global energy prices in the build‑up to and following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, underlying inflationary pressures have remained latent as a result of tepid consumer spending on services and non‑discretionary consumer goods, which was first dampened by a quasi-state of emergency imposed in January-March and then curtailed by the rising cost of essential goods.
Exogenous inflationary factors remained the biggest forces behind rising consumer prices in Japan. The 19.2% year-on-year growth in energy prices in April mainly reflected higher imported fossil fuels costs, rather than a sharp jump in domestic energy demand. By contrast, the services CPI recorded a 0.3% decline in the same month. Although this was the shallowest decline in services prices since March 2021, it was partially a result of diminishing policy distortion on communication costs—the prices of mobile data packages plunged in April 2021 as part of a policy initiative introduced by the then prime minister, Suga Yoshihide, and this has weighed on consumer prices since. The so‑called core‑core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, rose by just 0.1% year on year in April, reflecting tame price growth outside the energy category.
Hope of a new inflationary era is likely to fade
There are signs showing that domestic consumer demand has been strengthening, particularly following the lifting of the quasi-state of emergency in March. The cost of dining out, an indicator of the dynamism of commercial activity and the trend of non‑essential spending, increased by 0.8% in April from a month ago, marking the strongest month-on-month growth since October 2019. Despite Japanese businesses' traditional reluctance to pass on rising costs to customers for fear of losing sales, this stance is likely to face a harsher reality check during the ongoing inflationary bout. The producer price index (PPI) has been recording above‑8% year-on-year growth in the past seven months; the last time the PPI was this high for this long was in the early 1980s. The longer input costs stay high, the harder it will be for companies to sacrifice their profit margin or hold out against wage growth, and the pressure to raise retail prices will grow.
However, the persistently slow price growth outside food and energy products casts doubts on the durability of the latest inflationary trend. One of the consequences of Japan's deflation mindset is that in anticipation of future price increases, consumers are inclined to cut back spending rather than bringing forward their purchases, which in turn creates a disinflationary feedback loop. Therefore, rising essential goods prices are likely to persuade some households to reduce or delay discretionary spending. Services purchases, including dining out and entertainment, will bear the brunt of a tightened purse. More importantly, wage growth in Japan has been particularly subdued. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, average wages rose by just 0.3% in 2021. Corporations, which are in a stronger position in wage negotiations with trade unions, are no more inclined to concede stronger growth in pay this year owing to the prospect of shrinking profit margins. This reduces the likelihood of a wage-price spiral taking hold and will help to keep a lid on inflationary expectations. Meanwhile, an expected economic slowdown in major economies this year could cause a decline in global energy prices in the second half of this year, thereby easing price pressures from exogenous factors.
BOJ in no hurry for monetary policy change
EIU expects that consumer price inflation will continue to accelerate in Japan in the coming months owing to persistently high global commodity prices and firming domestic consumer demand. However, the pace of price growth will slow around the last quarter of this year as strong inflation curbs household spending while global energy price softens. We will revise up our headline consumer price inflation forecast for 2022 to about 2.2%, from 1.8% currently. Increasing headwinds to growth in Japan and major economies around the world in 2023 lead us to expect much weaker price growth in Japan in that year.
Consequently, EIU believes that the BOJ is under no duress to contain inflationary expectations and that it will maintain its ultra‑accommodative monetary policy throughout 2022, prioritising low borrowing costs to spur domestic demand. This policy stance also means that the central bank will carry on its planned purchases of ten‑year Japanese government bonds to keep long‑term bond yield at around zero, instead of shifting focus on containing the depreciatory pressures on the yen.


text:
Our team believes floors should be beautiful, comfortable, and engineered for safety, even when wet. Life Floor tiles meet six unique performance based standards: slip-resistance, impact absorption,…read more
GlobalData suggests potential damage to China’s tourism brand image
GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, predicts China as a tourist destination will take a long time to recover from COVID-19 as their brand image must be restored.
According to GlobalData, pre COVID-19, China was predicted to have a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2% between 2016 and 2020 reaching 63.9 million international arrivals.
The outbreak originated in China and quickly spread globally. The effects of this severely impacted China as a tourism destination as well as Chinese travellers. China-outbound tourism is a significant contributor to the global tourism industry, accounting for 159 million global outbound travellers in 2019.
Moreover, the Chinese-outbound market had the second-highest spending last year, with an expenditure of US$275billion. This means when travel restrictions were introduced, China was not only impacted as a tourism destination but so were many other destinations that rely on high-yielding Chinese visitors.
GlobalData Travel and Tourism Analyst, Amber Barnes advises “China as a tourist destination will not be able to rebound quickly and it is uncertain how long it will take the tourism industry to recover. Additionally, the brand image of China as a destination may be damaged. This is due to the virus starting in China which means tourists may have fear of the destination.”
GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Case Study: Impact of Covid-19 on Destinations’, reveals that the predicted forecast of 64 million international arrivals in 2020 will be impacted due to COVID-19. International arrivals were predicted to increase from the 62.6 international arrivals which China received in 2019.
Barnes adds “this steady increase will change to reflect a slowdown in 2020. The uncertainty of COVID -19 indicates tourism destinations will take time to recover and travellers will have doubts and fears about traveling in the future.
“Tourism organisations and authorities must promote and reassure tourists that China is a safe tourism destination to attract tourists once COVID-19 is controlled.”
Barnes concludes “China does have the potential to recover as a destination. The country previously has shown robustness to recover from a pandemic. This was severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which originated in China and quickly spread globally in 2002. This emphasises that although a lengthy process, the brand image and tourism destination can be restored provided the relevant DMOs engage travellers with effective campaigns.”
Image: Guests and costume characters at Shanghai Disneyland
21st April 2020 - GlobalData predicts short term boost for Australian domestic tourism
15th February 2020 - GlobalData considers the impact of Coronavirus on South East Asian tourism
23rd April 2020 - China’s Wuhan Zoo reopens after three-month lockdown
22nd April 2020 - FIBO CHINA 2020 suspended to prevent spread of COVID-19
21st April 2020 - New survey suggests China set to lead Thailand’s tourism recovery
20th March 2020 - Reports indicate reopening of theme parks and museums in China
12th February 2020 - Coronavirus continues to impact China’s sports events
8th February 2020 - IAAPA monitors coronavirus outbreak and cancels Meet IAAPA event in China
Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.
However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.
Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.
Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.
Click here to subscribe.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
Fun Wheels Pty Ltd are the premium dealer in Australasia for the Dutch company BERG’s commercial and domestic products. Our flagship product is their revolutionary pedal go-kart – the…read more
Principal Consultant Simon Weatherill has spent the last 20 years developing the world renowned Melbourne Sports Hub, as former Chief Executive Officer of the State Sports Centres Trust…read more
TJS Services is a leading national facility services provider. We deliver quality cleaning, maintenance, construction and facility management services to over 1,500 sites Australia wide. Our…read more
We are Aussie Strength. The ultimate supplier for Commercial Gym Equipment that's built to deliver in the toughest environments. From USA-Built hardcore weight training equipment from Arsenal…read more
ProSlide is the global leader in water ride design and manufacturing, supplying high-performance water attractions to new and expanding water parks around the world. For over three decades, ProSlide…read more
iDwala is the Community Sports Facility Specialist offering the highest quality designs and technical expertise to Councils, Schools and Sporting Clubs looking to create sporting…read more
Developed in Europe, this innovative system offers a safety management solution for swimming pools that checks individual swimmers via their wristband - monitoring their depth and time. Sensors…read more
get listed with our suppliers directory
Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!


text:
Jamba Juice squeezes Android Pay wallet for mobile-savvy customers
Jamba Juice, seeking to increase convenience for its mobile-savvy core customers, has unveiled a mobile wallet based on near field communications that enables users to pay for items with Android Pay and then store and redeem promotions, maintain loyalty credentials and keep track of gift cards.
The system, which integrates Fishbowl’s Promotions Manager software into Android Pay, also allows merchants to process redemptions in real time, preventing fraudulent usage. The integration fits with Jamba Juice’s other in-store moves to please the forward-thinking consumer by offering as many technological experiences as possible with its health-conscious products.
“Brands like Jamba Juice that care deeply about the guest experience and are able to move quickly and be innovative will leverage technology to create a seamless and convenient guest experience,” said Cynthia Siedel, director of digital and social for Jamba Juice, Emeryville, CA.
“Jamba Juice partnered with Google, Fishbowl and Modern Climate to move as quickly as they did to make this a reality in a very short period of time and this is just the beginning.”
First, the customer receives an email or sees a social post or digital ad with an offer. He or she then saves the offer to a phone.
Jamba Juice embraces mobile aggressively.
If the customer walks by a Jamba store, a reminder comes on about an offer, or if the offer is about to expire the customer can receive a reminder.
The guest then walks into the store, orders the item that is on offer, and taps an NFC enabled POS system to pay and redeem the offer.
He or she is charged for the selection minus the discount. Once the guest receives the item, the offer in Android Pay is shown as redeemed.
Jamba Juice has strived for some time to find ways to support the growing number of consumers who embrace mobile retail transactions.
“Mobile is not in the future, it’s now,” Ms. Siedel said. “It’s how consumers interact, communicate and engage in commerce and with brands.
“People want things now and they want an easy and enjoyable experience,” she said. “It’s not a nice to have, it’s a must have.”
This past spring, Jamba Juice integrated its operations with Apple’s mobile payments solution, providing an easy, secure and private way for consumers to pay for their fresh juices, smoothies and energy bowls.
The integration with Apple Pay let consumers pay by placing their mobile device over a near field communication reader, keeping information secure.
Apple Pay, which, at the time was accepted at 700,000 merchant locations and supported by more than 2,500 banks, also uses NFC to initiate secure payment transactions between contactless payment terminals and Apple devices such as the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch.
A recent Jamba Juice promotion.
“At a high level, this [Android Pay] integration addresses restaurant operators’ concerns about how best to move data from a Smartphone to a POS terminal efficiently,” Ms. Siedel said. “It generates data that helps them market more effectively in the mobile ecosystem.
“It also provides a seamless redemption process for operators – no buttons to push, no training required.”
Michael Barris is staff reporter on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York


text:
The UK is still on course to have the worst radio in the world. Ofcom's response to protests is that most people are happy with the current quality of DAB (digital audio broadcasting), apart from a very small minority of audiophiles. It's not bovvered that DAB sounds worse than CD and FM. And when home cinema users are moving from stereo to 5.1 surround sound, Ofcom is allowing stereo music stations to broadcast in mono. This is progress?
Ofcom's summary of its latest consultation says: "Of the 210 responses to Ofcom's discussion document on the future of radio, over 70% (153) were regarding the quality of current DAB digital radio broadcasts." However, this was "primarily as a result of an article published in the Guardian's Technology section on 23 November 2006, entitled The future of UK radio is now in your hands, by Jack Schofield, who has previously written several other articles critical of DAB's audio quality", says Ofcom.
Ofcom therefore got ICM to conduct a poll in January to find out what users thought. They interviewed 677 DAB listeners, and "81% of all respondents rated sound quality as either excellent or good, with a further 14% rating it as average. Only 3% rated it as poor or very poor, with 2% who said they didn't know." What Ofcom calls "DAB hi-fi owners" (listeners who defined themselves as such) had the same response "with 83% rating quality as excellent and a further 12% as average".
This is, of course, nonsense. The current quality of DAB in the UK - which is broadcast at low bit rates using an inefficient MP2 codec - is provably worse than FM. But I don't think that DAB radio owners have cloth ears. DAB does have advantages in eliminating background hiss and avoiding the signal interference that can afflict FM unless you use a decent aerial. However, the most popular DAB radios are mono models with small speakers, and most listening is done in the kitchen on table-top radios that can't offer proper stereo imaging. You can't honestly evaluate audio quality on that basis.
I suspect Ofcom's survey mainly shows that listeners think their £100 DAB radio (prices range between £40 and £250) sounds better than the old AM/FM tranny on which they spent, what, £25? But it would still be cheaper to provide them with something better.The point is that I'm not against DAB, just against the UK's mediocre implementation. It is possible to deliver better-quality digital radio - and offer many more stations - simply by switching to a more efficient codec.
The rest of the world has recognised this and adopted a form of AAC (advanced audio coding) as the new standard for DAB+. AAC is also used in by Digital Radio Mondiale, the DVB-H and T-DMB mobile TV standards, Digital Radio Mondiale, Apple's iTunes Music Store and many music players and mobile phones.
The main chip manufacturers, Frontier Silicon and RadioScape, are now working on dual standard systems that will support both DAB and DAB+. These could reach the UK market by the end of this year. There aren't any DAB+ broadcasts yet, but Ofcom could, like some other countries, announce plans. The Channel 4-backed 4Digital Group has applied to Ofcom to operate a new commercial digital radio system and seems very keen to use DAB+.
Some people in the UK industry seem to be scared that if consumers find out about DAB+, this will have a negative effect on sales of DAB radios, which have sold fewer than 5m units since 1995. But this is the digital age, not the 1950s. You can't stop progress.
People buy mobile phones, MP3 players, PCs, games consoles and digital cameras even though they have a life expectancy that could be only two to five years, and even today's DAB radios will last longer than that. But consumers also expect to be given fair warning about technological changes, and I don't see why the radio industry can't deal with that. Give people the facts and let them make their own decisions.
Perhaps Ofcom should stop muddling along behind a radio industry that is in decline and give it some direction. Setting a schedule for DAB+ and some minimum audio quality standards would be a start. Ofcom's blueprint for the future of radio does neither.
· If you'd like to comment on any aspect of Technology Guardian, send your emails to email@example.com


text:
Morrisons to install UK's largest collection of Amazon Lockers
Big four supermarket Morrisons is to install the UK's largest collection of Amazon Lockers this year as part of its drive to introduce new popular services in its stores.
The chain plans to install hundreds of Amazon Lockers at its supermarkets this year, allowing customers to pick up their orders placed with the US online retail giant.
Trevor Strain, chief financial officer of Morrisons, said: “Many busy customers can’t wait at home for their delivery, and we believe the option to pick it up from one of our hundreds of conveniently located supermarkets will be attractive.”
The introduction of Amazon Lockers at Morrisons builds on the relationship between the two companies.
In May, Morrisons began to supply thousands of grocery items that are now available to Amazon customers through AmazonFresh in London, Amazon Pantry nationwide and Amazon Prime Now, the company’s ultra-fast delivery service available to over 30 per cent of the UK population.
John Tagawa, Amazon’s vice president of UK Operations, said: “We are delighted to introduce Amazon Lockers at Morrisons supermarkets.
“Amazon Lockers are the delivery option of choice for many customers who want to pick up their shopping at a time and place that suits them best.
“Morrisons supermarkets are ideal locations for Amazon Lockers which allow people to pick up their parcels while on the move.”
Morrisons says one of its main priorities is to add “popular and useful services” to its stores, as it looks to win back customers.
The Bradford-based supermarket, alongside the other big four - Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s, has been hit by the rise of German discount chains Aldi and Lidl in recent years.
Over the past year Morrisons has improved its in-store cafes and has partnered with Timpson to expand its dry cleaning, key cutting and shoe repair business.
Customers using the Amazon Lockers will receive an email or text with a unique code.
They enter the code or scan the barcode from the email to retrieve their product at the locker. There are more than 1,000 Amazon Lockers nationwide in locations ranging from petrol forecourts, convenience stores and shopping centres to universities, train stations, banks and airports.