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According to PwC, as threats continue to mount, understanding and managing cybersecurity risks have become top of mind for business leaders, and with firms having faced a 38 per cent increase in cyber threats between 2014 and 2015, bosses need to implement notable measures to secure their data.
Increasingly, businesses are adopting innovative technologies like cloud-enabled cybersecurity and big data analytics. But has the response till now been enough
With that in mind, we created a guide for small business owners on how innovative organisations are currently addressing this challenge.
Recognise the most common forms of cyber scam
The NatWest Fraud team recently unveiled some tips on how to recognise cyber scams. It claimed the three most common types were data breaches, reputation damage and email fraud.
The latter, the team said, was more easy to identify.
?Encouraging employees to be naturally suspicious is one simple yet very effective way to combat email fraud,” the company said. Questioning each request for payment or an information change, can soon weed out fakes.
It was also suggested that having a specific documented process to list known valid phone numbers to check authenticity: Any requests outside of that procedure, especially if received by email, should be regarded as suspicious. If this is the case, contact should be made with the person sending the email verbally, using a known contact number from their internal records, to confirm the request.
Despite huge media interest around big data breaches, research shows 52 per cent of Britain’s SMEs are not taking any preventative measures. This statistic comes from CSID research, which also suggested two thirds did not have a disaster recovery or business continuity plan in place.
Read more about cyber crime:
- 8 ways British SMEs can fight hackers and prevent cyber crime
- Don’t fall into the trap of the cyber myths
- Four reasons IT security shouldn’t fill you with dread
Carrying out an information risk assessment is an example of an organisational security measure, but you will probably need other management and measures as well. You should aim to build a culture of security and awareness within your business.
As for brand reputation, registering the right domain name, Facebook page and Twitter account can ensure your company brand is not faked by others. The NatWest team also stressed that policies should also be implemented to ensure employees manage company and personal social media accounts responsibly.
Know how your business operates in order to protect it
Fraud prevention systems can be both expensive and difficult to implement, so be practical and proactive by talking about fraud with employees and reviewing the areas where they could be targeted.
Furthermore, the Metropolitan Polices Little Book of Scams” offers two pieces of advices that should be noted by all bosses.
Businesses need to be skeptical. It suggested: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always approach deals, opportunities, documents, transactions and information with an inquiring and questioning mind.
Similarly, it was noted that by having a thorough understanding of your business such as how it operates, how you employ staff, your target market and legal obligations it would further help you detect when something goes wrong.
It went on to say: Understanding who you do business with will help identify occasions where a seemingly ordinary business request or transaction looks out of the ordinary for that customer or supplier and may potentially be fraudulent. Conduct due diligence using a risk based approach.
This, in turn, will help you identify areas where your business is vulnerable to fraud.
The PwC research, however, noted that scepticism shouldnt exclude those working within the office given that employees are the most cited threat, while threats from business partners increased 22 per cent.
For more help, why not try watching Secrets of the Scammers” on Channel 5, which reveals how experts steal cash.
The recent news that cybercrime is to be reported as a separate category shows how online crime has increased over the last few years. We talked to Digital Shadows founders Alastair Paterson and James Chappell about how their different approach to cyber security may be the UK’s needed solution.


text: Rural U.S. To Have Broadband Internet Connectivity, Thanks To Microsoft Rural Airband Initiative By Dipannita | Jul 12, 2017 03:16 PM EDT Microsoft has launched the Microsoft's Rural Airband initiative that aims to increase the broadband internet connection in rural and remote part of the U.S. It is expected that around 2 million people of the rural U.S. will have new broadband internet connectivity. Microsoft has realized that there is a huge potential to develop broadband Internet in rural America because of the unused spectrum which is reserved for the television channels and local telecom services. According to reports from CNN, Federal Communications Commission has defined broadband internet access as the internet that has a minimum downloading speed of 25 Mbps. According to the definition, 34 million people who live in the U.S., do not have access to broadband internet and it is estimated that a population of 23.4 million resides in the rural U.S. Watch video The objective of Microsoft's Rural Airband initiative is to provide broadband internet to approximately 2 million people by 2022. The implementation of the plans will start from 2018 where 12 states will be provided with broadband internet connection. Unused television spectrum is not found everywhere in the rural part and therefore it cannot solely rely on that for increasing the internet connectivity. It will need the help of other technologies like satellite reporting to provide broadband internet in an area that has no unused spectrum. The use of different kind of technologies to increase the users of the broadband Internet will reduce the costs of the project. The report further states that the total price for eliminating the broadband gap in a rural area is somewhere between $8 billion and $12 billion. The price would have been 80 percent more if simply fiber cables were used to complete the plan. The investment of Microsoft will allow increasing the market as the company will able to connect with more people by using the cloud services and many such other products. It should also be noted that other tech giants like Facebook and Google are also trying to increase the internet access in emerging markets and remote areas.

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The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that a real estate brokerage company is not obligated to compensate an advance payment company for money that two of the brokerage’s agents received as an advance for anticipated commission income.
The two agents “assigned their earnings in violation” of state code, according to the Kansas Supreme Court ruling, and Commission Express, the company that offered advance payment to the agents, “cannot enforce the assignment against Reece & Nichols, the brokerage company affiliated with the agents.
State code provides that a creditor in Kansas “may not take an assignment of earnings of the consumer for payment or as security for payment of a debt arising out of a consumer credit transaction. An assignment of earnings in violation of this section is unenforceable by the assignee of the earnings and revocable by the consumer.”
Vicky Ashby, an agent with Reece & Nichols, received one cash advance from Commission Express of Kansas City, according to court documents. Troy Beeman, also an agent at Reece & Nichols, received cash advanced “based on the anticipated commissions for five different real estate transactions,” according to court documents. The agents defaulted on their agreements with Commission Express by failing to pay commissions to that company, and Commission Express sued Reece & Nichols for payment, court documents state.
After a district court ruled in October 2005 that the company’s real estate commission agreements are invalid under state code and violate state limitations on garnishments, Commission Express of Kansas City — also known as Decision Point Inc. — appealed to the state Supreme Court.
The parent Commission Express company and its franchises have participated in similar litigation in other states over brokerage companies’ distribution of real estate commissions, and the company lost a legal battle against NRT Inc. and Coldwell Banker New Jersey in June 2005. The company has 71 franchise offices in 40 states.
A lawyer acting on behalf of the Kansas Association of Realtors had filed a brief with the Kansas Supreme Court in support of Reece & Nichols. “From a broker’s perspective, you cannot successfully supervise salespeople if you don’t know when or how much they are getting paid. Assigning an as-yet-unearned commission interferes with the broker’s supervisory role,” he told Inman News.
Meanwhile, John Effrein, president of Commission Express of Kansas City, had said that there is a lack of case law relating to the rights of an independent contractor to sell a business asset — in this case an anticipated real estate commission. Effrein has said that his Kansas City franchise has advanced about $2.5 million since the company opened in April 2004 and has worked with 29 other real estate companies operating in Kansas and the Kansas City metro market.
A key in deciding the lawsuit, according to the Kansas Supreme Court, was in determining which state code applied to the case — the state’s Uniform Consumer Credit Code or the Uniform Commercial Code. Commission Express contended that the Uniform Commercial Code applied because real estate transactions “are not consumer transactions,” according to court documents.
Meanwhile, Reece & Nichols contended that the consumer code applies because the cash advances were “consumer loans used for personal, family or household purposes” and also maintained that the state’s commercial code did not apply because the commissions are earnings, court documents state.


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Marriott has reopened all of its hotels in China and the group said it has seen a recovery on a business trip. The third largest hotel chain in the world has 350 outlets throughout China and says that occupancy rates now reach 40%. Marriott gave an optimistic statement Monday about its business in China because it emerged from locking up the corona virus. Last week he said the financial impact of this pandemic was more severe for the hotel chain than 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis combined. Chief Martin executive Arne Sorenson said occupancy rates in Chinese hotels had been as low as 7% at the end of January when China was at the peak of the case. Sorenson said at a travel conference: “This is not only a developing tour, but also a business trip. The Chinese are flying again.” However, he warned that occupancy might not recover to pre-coronavirus levels for several years. Arriott said demand for hotel rooms in the US was also recovering but currently only around half the rate of Chinese property at 20%. The hotel group, which has around 30 brands including Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and Sheraton, has extended leave for employees and reduced work weeks to early October. “Given the company’s expectations that the level of the previous business will not return until it exceeds 2021, the company is anticipating a significant amount of elimination of property positions above the end of this year,” he said in a statement. Rival Hilton reopened all 255 of its hotels in China two weeks ago and introduced the CleanStay initiative to protect employees and guests. The hospitality and travel industry in China is the first to be affected by a coronavirus outbreak, and is seen to be the slowest to recover when businesses and factories reopen across the country. Last month, Shanghai Disneyland reopened its gates despite introducing tight social distances. Daily rules and visitors are limited to around 24,000, compared to 80,000 pre-pandemic levels.
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- Hesai Technology, a Chinese company, plans to sue the U.S. government after being included in a list of companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military.
- The company’s core product, LiDAR road sensing equipment, is not designed or validated for military use and has been designated as not suitable for any military application by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
- President Joe Biden’s administration has continued tariffs and restrictions on Chinese technology companies, further limiting China’s access to advanced U.S. technology, sparking protests from China’s foreign and commerce ministries.
Chinese Technology Company Threatens to Sue US Government Over Military Ties Allegations
In a startling turn of events, a prominent Chinese technology company has threatened to sue the US government over allegations of military ties. The company, which is a major player in the global tech industry, has vehemently denied any involvement with the Chinese military and has accused the US government of spreading false information to tarnish its reputation.
The allegations against the company have escalated tensions between the US and China, with the company’s CEO calling the accusations “baseless and politically motivated.” The company has also expressed its intention to take legal action against the US government to clear its name and seek damages for the damage to its business and reputation.
The US government has not yet responded to the company’s threat of legal action, but the situation has raised concerns about the impact of the escalating tensions on the global tech industry. Experts have warned that the dispute could lead to further restrictions on Chinese tech companies operating in the US, which could have far-reaching implications for the global supply chain and the competitiveness of the tech industry.
The company’s threat of legal action has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing trade and technology dispute between the US and China. The situation is evolving rapidly, and it remains to be seen how the US government will respond to the company’s allegations and whether the dispute will be resolved through legal channels or further exacerbate the already strained relations between the two economic powerhouses.


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Swedish company Epicenter has developed microchips with COVID-passports implanted under the skin.
An implant the size of a grain of rice can be scanned for a person's vaccination information. In addition, the chips can store contracts, bus tickets and even membership information at the gym.
More than 6,000 people in the country have already injected the chip into their bodies.
The manufacturer assures that the procedure is safe and that implants can be removed if necessary.


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The Apple App Store created its official Twitter account yesterday, which will bring updates and deals exclusively to Twitter followers. In a move that indicates a growing relationship between Twitter and Apple, the company has expanded its Twitter presence.
The @AppStore Twitter account was set up just about 18 hours ago, and has quickly surged to just under 90,000 followers in that time. As TechCrunch reported a few hours into the account’s existence, it only had 3,000 followers – but that was before it was verified. Since then, the account has received the little blue badge indicating that it is an official account, and its follower count has exploded.
The AppStore account has begun to tag a selection of its posts with the #appstore hashtag. This has yet to become a trending topic, but the account is less than 24 hours old – there’s still time.
In the past 18 hours, the AppStore account has posted a welcome message, as well as advertised for three apps: Nike Training Club, Tiki Towers 2: Monkey Republic, and Whole Foods Market Recipes. We can imagine that the apps which are mentioned on this account will see a large spike in downloads, especially as the account grows.
Within the AppStore bio, users may notice that the account will be bringing them “exclusive deals” – two words which Twitter followers, and any social media user, loves to read. Look forward to deals offered only to AppStore followers in the future.


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BlockHy.pe has introduced its new partnership with Taco Finance, one of many hottest yield farming protocols within the decentralized finance (DeFi) area right now.
BlockHy.pe is a distinguished social media advertising agency that has already helped numerous tasks launch efficient preliminary coin choices (ICO) for a number of years. This partnership is predicted to assist Taco Finance strengthen its social media presence and develop the visibility of its yield farming product.
Taco Finance — BlockHy.pe Partnership
Taco Finance is a decentralized yield farming protocol constructed on high of the Binance Good Chain (BSC) and PancakeSwap, and has solely been launched this month, February 27, 2021. For the reason that venture was deployed, Taco Finance was already capable of amass a complete of over $6 million in whole worth locked (TVL).
Regardless of the market’s volatility these previous few weeks, this efficiency has seen a robust begin for the DeFi venture. To extend its social media mileage and unfold the information about its yield farming product additional, they fashioned a strategic partnership with BlockHy.pe.
BlockHy.pe has already been within the advertising trade for over 8 years, with 4 years of expertise within the cryptocurrency area. The partnership is predicted to take BlockHy.pe’s experience in serving to crypto-projects take off on Taco Finance’s goal to market their protocol.
Again in 2018, BlockHy.pe has assisted a number of tasks increase funds and arrange worldwide occasions and mass meet-ups. It has helped crypto-projects increase a collective sum of about $80 million in ICOs, facilitated the preparation of over 10 worldwide boards, and launched gatherings that received over 15,000 contributors from 28 international locations.
By this partnership, Taco Finance goes full-gear in selling their second era yield farming protocol amidst BSC’s rising reputation and person base.
Taco Finance Developments
Aside from over $6 million TVL in simply lower than 48 hours since launch, Taco Finance has additionally grown a Telegram group of over 650 TACO holders. Past that, they’ve additionally burned greater than $65k price of TACOs that early adopters are benefitting from.
The staff’s subsequent steps embody the submission of itemizing requests on CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap, which will probably be finished with a view to assist TACO merchants get a greater buying and selling chart each time executing transactions.
Taco Finance has additionally submitted itemizing requests to BSC Scan and DeFi station for larger accessibility. Within the meantime, Hacken is auditing their sensible contracts in preparations for wider adoption.
About Taco Finance
Taco Finance is a yield farming protocol and decentralized change constructed on high of Binance Good Chain (BSC) and PancakeSwap. It implements an Automated Market Making (AMM) mannequin that banks on asset swimming pools to produce liquidity for trades carried out on the platform.
By these liquidity swimming pools, customers can stake their tokens to earn extra rewards. Taco Finance additionally incorporates a distinctive burning mechanism that goals to take care of its personal token’s stability regardless of enormous market swings.


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HOUSTON – Modern cars have a variety of computers and processors-- dozens of them actually. Gone are the days of carburetors, two and three speed transmissions, and drum brakes. Newer engines automatically adjust for fuel mixtures, temperature, and even air density. GM and Ford have collaborated on a new 10-speed transmission. Anti-lock brakes are now more the norm than the exception. Airbags are everywhere. Your key probably has an embedded ID chip. And all of these things are controlled by on-board computers.
And your car stereo?
In the last decade, car entertainment systems have morphed into something so much more than an AM/FM receiver, cassette deck, and a CD player. Bluetooth, USB connections, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink, and upcoming wireless NFC connections, all allow our smartphones to seamlessly integrate into infotainment systems. But be warned: once connected, these marvels of technology know more about what goes on in your phone than you’d ever believe.
News 6 has discovered that on thousands of different models of cars, when drivers and passengers plug-in a smartphone using a USB cable or pair it via Bluetooth, infotainment computers are collecting phone data and storing it. What information is being accessed and kept? How about your phone book, your call log, your text messages, photos, social media feeds and every single place you’ve been? If someone has the software, the machine expertise and access to your car, it’s all there for the taking-- and someone does.
How did we get here?
In 2013, the Cyber Security Division (CSD) of the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) was looking for a way to harvest the growing treasure trove of data processed by a car’s on-board computer(s). Some agencies had already figured out how to use built-in cellular connections for real-time surveillance, but after-the-fact “vehicle forensics” was a relatively new area of expertise.
Enter Berla-- the Maryland based company partnered with DHS S&T CSD to create Project iVe (ivy), a digital tool kit to tap into a car’s infotainment and telematics system with the goal of helping law enforcement investigate crimes after the fact.
According to Berla, there are about 70 different computers in each new car, with some cars having over 100 different processors. Berla says that most cars have about five individual networks linking all of those computers. In fact, the company says so much digital automobile information is being processed that, on average, a car’s computers and networks crunch about 25 gigabytes of data per hour. How much is that? You know that 1TB hard drive you have on your computer. A car will process enough data in 40 hours to fill that up.
A standard for security?
Accessing a car’s data is unregulated with no standard from the manufacturers (as of yet) for any sort of “automotive cybersecurity.” In fact, various government agencies and researchers have been hacking car computer and communication systems for more than a decade. How is that possible-- if you know your way around the systems, it actually wasn’t that hard to do. In 2015, Wired reported that it took GM five years to close a security gap that could allow a hacker to remotely take control of a car using OnStar. Two years later, another group of took control of a brand new Jeep using the company’s UConnect system.
Earlier this year, Forbes writer Thomas Fox-Brewster penned an article called “Cartapping: How Feds Have Spied on Connected Cars for 15 Years.” The term “cartapping” is nothing new: it was first coined by University of Dayton law professor Susan Brenner who’s been blogging about the practice since 2006. Brenner, who specializes in cybercrime and cyberconflict, points to an example of how in 2003, the FBI figured out they could get court orders to have companies discreetly use embedded technology to eavesdrop on drivers and passengers.
More than a decade ago, the concern was over tracking vehicles or listening in through systems like GM’s OnStar. Fast-forward to today: Fox-Brewster says cars can still be tracked through OnStar as well as other systems from SiriusXM and ATX Technologies (provider to Mercedes of Tele-Aid services). But technology has shifted and so have expectations.
Built-in systems are slowly being pushed out by BYOS-- bringing your own smartphone. Seventy-seven percent of America has at least one smartphone. With that kind of popularity, you no longer need to be a federal agency like the FBI to get at information.
When Berla started Project iVe in 2013, the company said they could access data on about 80 different car models. Today, Berla says they can crack the code on over 4,600 cars. Why such a significant jump? Consolidation. Successfully hack one GM system (say Cadillac’s CUE) and you’re probably not far off from being able to do the same to IntelliLink (GMC and Buick) and MyLink (Chevrolet). The key to all of this: Project iVe simply reads information from the infotainment and telematics systems already installed by the manufacturers.
Where are we today?
DHS S&T CSD says Project iVe is in use at 17 different federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The primary customer for this data retrieval technology is law enforcement (there’s even a free Android mobile app cops can use to scan a VIN and see if the car is supported). But aside from police agencies, Berla is also pitching other clients as well.
ATA Associates, an accident reconstruction firm in Texas, is mulling over whether they need Berla’s technology. ATA has been in the accident reconstruction business since 1974 and they recently shared Berla’s sales pitch with News 6’s Houston sister-station KPRC.
April Yergin, an accident reconstructionist with ATA, showed KPRC screenshots of very powerful software that was able to pinpoint where people have been, how fast they got there, and who they talked to, and who they texted along the way.
Yergin told KPRC’s Joel Eisenbaum that although manufacturers “are starting to get into cyber-security… it’s the Wild West out there.” Yergin also said when it comes to privacy, “anything on your phone transfers.” And once your phone sends data to your car, it's pretty much permanently on your infotainment system.
So, is the information in your car or SUV accessible via Berla software? That’s the million dollar question (and probably why you’re still reading).
We have a couple of answers.
First, straight from Berla’s website, the following is a list of infotainment systems the company can tap into:
· ConnectedDrive™ - BMW
· CUE™ - Cadillac
· Entune™ - Toyota
· IntelliLink™ - GMC and Buick
· Microsoft SYNC™ - Ford and Lincoln
· MyFord Touch™ - Ford and Lincoln
· Mylink™ - Chevrolet
· OnStar™ - GM
· Sync®3 - Ford
· Uconnect™ - Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, RAM
Still not sure about your car? Follow this link to find your specific year, make, and model and get a detailed look at exactly what information Berla’s software has access to: iVe Vehicle Lookup.


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Leading slot provider Play’n GO has teamed up with audio production veteran MADLORD. This novel partnership aims to blend the thrilling world of slot gaming with immersive sound design. It marks a significant stride towards a new era of iGaming that promises to captivate players like never before.
The Birth of an Innovative Collaboration
Popular slot provider Play’n GO has embarked on a remarkable partnership with the audio production powerhouse MADLORD. This promising move holds great potential for the online gambling industry. This venture is designed to take the player experience to the next level. It aims to create what they describe as elevated immersion in Play’n GO’s slots. The collaboration between Play’n GO and MADLORD will bridge the gap between audio design and online gaming. It aims to provide players with an unforgettable and engaging experience.
The MADLORD Effect: Elevating the Sound of Slots
For more than 15 years, MADLORD has been known for creating exciting soundtracks for video slots that are available at online casinos, according to this betMGM casino online review. Their innovative work involves crafting sound design patterns and integrating audio into gameplay. As a result, they have received widespread recognition and praise for their contributions to the industry. This partnership with Play’n GO will allow MADLORD to pioneer groundbreaking slots. These slots will offer a unique sensory experience to players. Thereby setting them apart from traditional offerings in the industry.
This venture aims to rival even console video game titles, as a shared press release highlights. MADLORD’s experience developing captivating sound themes for popular games like Dragon’s Myth, Castle Builder I, and Forsaken Kingdom will be invaluable. It will help in enhancing Play’n GO’s acclaimed titles and future releases.
The Sound of the Future: An Ambitious Vision
Play’n GO is known as one of the most industrious manufacturers in the industry. They launch about 50 new slots every year. With the collaboration of MADLORD on multiple future releases, a fresh perspective on slot design is on the horizon. This alliance between Play’n GO and MADLORD is built on shared values of innovation, imagination, and artistry. These values are highly cherished by both players and industry stakeholders.
Walter Scharold, Play’n GO’s head of audio, expressed excitement about working with MADLORD. MADLORD is known for its innovative slot audio design. He commended MADLORD’s unique vision and versatility. This aligns with Play’n GO’s ambition to be a leading iGaming content provider.
MADLORD’s commander and founder, Jorge De Lellis, eagerly anticipated incorporating their iconic audio patterns, themes, and bespoke work into Play’n GO’s products.
A New Era of iGaming Entertainment
The partnership between Play’n GO and MADLORD marks a significant step towards a new era of iGaming entertainment. Both companies aim to inject their innovative and creative ideas into the industry. As a result, players can expect an evolution in video slot entertainment that reaches unprecedented heights.
“Our ambition is to unlock our innovative spirit and delve into our groundbreaking concepts, driven by our mutual passion for elevating video slot gaming to new peaks,” De Lellis concluded. This signifies significant advancements in the iGaming industry. The industry’s focus on audio design will create an unprecedented and holistic gaming experience for players.


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Dulce Juarez rubbed a dab of thick, blue cream on her hands. "Wow! That feels so good," she said. She felt even better when she learned the body cream, sold by Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, is made from plants rather than petroleum.
As the 2008 GreenSummit Expo and Conference opened Friday at the Phoenix Convention Center, people learned about solar panels, compact fluorescent bulb recycling, carpets made from recycled materials and more.
Tiffany Feuerhelm and Alissa Franconi inspected a.k.a. Green of Scottsdale's countertop materials made from sunflower seeds, wheat, recycled glass and other environmentally friendly materials. Their firm, RSP Architects of Tempe, designs many "green" buildings, and they are always looking for materials.
"I love all of this stuff," Franconi said, holding up a sample tile made from sorghum stalks, which are usually waste products from making molasses.
GreenSummit, which ended Saturday, also included an Advancing Sustainability Conference sponsored by Arizona State University's Global Institute of Sustainability.
Now in its second year, GreenSummit grew out of a class project by Chris Samila, an ASU senior who organized this year's event.Samila said GreenSummit helps people who are interested in sustainability but don't know where to begin.
"I think it helps them understand," Samila said. "Everybody is told, 'Go green,' and that is actually our goal - to help them start that process."
The Advancing Sustainability Conference includes experts and professionals speaking on subjects such as how solar panels work, how people can minimize their carbon footprint and sustainable building techniques.
Patrice Rowan, a Scottsdale business consultant who recently relocated to the Valley, said she wants to help clients establish sustainable practices. She sat in on a session about solar energy and sustainable fuels.
"I came to learn how we integrate new technology into the old environment and how to start thinking outside the box and not just about the profits," Rowan said.
The session, conducted by George Maracas, an ASU electrical engineering professor, drew raves from James Hull, who wants his community of Maricopa to build on its current green practices such as curb-side recycling.
"I knew about wind power and solar power, but I was fascinated by the bacteria that can produce electricity," he said. "This shows what I've been missing."


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LIVERMORE — A real estate developer will unveil plans for a new 125,000-square-foot shopping center across the street from the Livermore Premium Outlets at a Planning Commission meeting Tuesday night.
Red Mill Capital will be introducing The Shoppes at Livermore, planned for 12 acres on the southeast corner of West Jack London Blvd. and El Charro Road, directly south of the outlet mall.
The project’s site plan includes four pad buildings with a mix of retail and restaurant space and about 570 parking spaces, according to city planning documents.
Planning Commission members will provide feedback on the project’s design at the meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at city council chambers, 3575 Pacific Ave. in Livermore.
Contact Jeremy Thomas at 925-847-2184. Follow him at Twitter.com/jet_bang.


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Household inflation expectations rise in December
Households in Germany are expecting the rate of inflation to increase, according to findings from the Bundesbank Online Panel Households at the end of last year. Survey results from December 2020 indicate that individuals are expecting inflation to come to 3.1% on average over the next 12 months, which is the highest rate measured in 2020. Inflation expectations had previously dropped from 2.8% in June to 2.5% in November. A number of factors might be behind this uptick in expectations, one being the expiry of the temporary lowering of VAT rates at the beginning of 2021. Another could be the rollout of carbon pricing for fuels, heating oil and gas, a presumption that is supported by the survey finding that more than one in three households reported in December that they are expecting petrol prices to rise sharply in 2021, compared with fewer than one in four in previous months.
The Bundesbank Online Panel Households is a representative survey conducted online by the Bundesbank’s Research Centre each month since April 2020 to identify the expectations of around 2,000 individuals regarding selected economic indicators such as inflation, interest rates, rents and real estate prices. Findings from this survey are published on the Bundesbank’s website at regular intervals. The Bundesbank uses data from this survey to improve the body of information on economic expectations in Germany to help it perform its tasks. Household expectations feed into prices both directly and indirectly via consumption and investment, and price stability is the primary objective of the Bundesbank and the Eurosystem.


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The thing about Samsung and foldable devices is that this particular issue is like an urban legend – everybody knows about it, but nobody has really ever seen it come to fruition. Samsung has been linked with folding devices for over 10 years now, and we still have to see one arrive to market. Recently, Samsung has been awarded patents for a “fold-out” device, which comprises of a folding display that wraps around the device.
The image above is of a Lenovo prototype for a fold-out device, and this is to show you what a fold-out device will look like. To be sure, Samsung has been linked with fold-out and fold-in designs in the past. The fold-out design will appeal to some companies because it gives users a screen in front and at the back when in folded mode. The patents awarded to Samsung are shown in the images below.
These show of a similar approach to what Lenovo has shown. The backside of the device will have a seemingly equal size display with the front of the device. When straightened from the fold you get a wide display much like a tablet for consuming media like movies and such.
Will these designs ever make it to market? That’s a good question. We feel like a folding design is a niche innovation – much like Samsung’s “edge” designs were like. There isn’t really a need for it at this point, so these may come as luxury come-ons for new Samsung devices.
VIA: Patently Mobile


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Netflix’s big problems with keeping subscribers and staying out of the red come at an opportune time for Amazon, which has its own ambitious plans for its Amazon Prime video subscription service.
Amazon has been beefing its movie offerings through its Prime subscription service. In July Amazon announced a licensing agreement with CBS Corp. And just this week, Amazon added more PBS content to Prime.
With the PBS deal, Amazon says Prime will offer 12,000 instant videos by the end of this year, more than doubling the Prime instant video title count since its launch.
And Amazon Prime also is an important part of the Kindle Fire tablet strategy. Amazon Prime comes free for a month with the purchase of a Kindle Fire, and Amazon is hoping to convert Prime test drivers into permanent customers with increased video content offerings on the tablet.
Netflix’s missteps could help drive customers to Amazon, according to Forbes, which says Netflix is paying for some miscalculations including a decision to raise prices for the Netflix streaming service and DVD-by-mail service. Netflix also created confusion in the marketplace by deciding to split its DVD business in to a separate service named Qwikster, only to backtrack on that decision, according to Forbes.
In February, Amazon launched its video streaming service to take on Netflix. And since then, Amazon has rapidly expanded.
Netflix charges $7.99 per month -- or $95 per year -- for its streaming video service.
There have been off-and-on reports that Amazon.com might be interested in buying Netflix. But those reports have never been substantiated.


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Is The People's Bank Of China Manipulating The Bitcoin Price?
China’s dominance of the bitcoin network is incredibly concerning to the digital currency’s techno-libertarian purists, who fear that the concentration of mining power in the world’s second-largest economy is threatening to subvert bitcoin’s democratic nature. With more than half of the network’s hashing power resting in their hands, giant Chinese mining pools like AntPool, Bitmain and the other massive bitcoin-mining conglomerates can effectively monopolize control over the bitcoin blockchain.
Given bitcoin’s stated aim – to bypass the authority of central banks and governments and return control of the world’s money supply to individuals – many have noted the incongruity between the currency’s democratic aspirations, and the Chinese government’s apparent willingness to tolerate, and even nurture, the country’s bitcoin industry.
“Bitcoin Uncensored” explained one theory for the Chinese government’s embrace of bitcoin: The People’s Bank of China is using its jawboning powers to manipulate the price of the digital currency to benefit politically connected elites.
“The CCP is not out to kill bitcoin – at least not right now. Since China can have such a huge impact on the price of bitcoin, why wouldn’t the Chinese government use this power to its advantage? Chinese government regulators can, in theory, exert a huge influence on the global price of bitcoin. So, if you own bitcoin, well, the value of your money can be heavily influenced by the whims of the world’s largest authoritarian regime.”
As the theory goes, the massive swings in bitcoin’s valuation witnessed back in 2013 were engineered by the PBOC when authorities prohibited local financial institutions from dealing in the digital currency. In early September of that year, one bitcoin was worth $100. By late November, the price had ballooned to $1,000. Then the price came crashing down seemingly overnight. Chinese authorities were widely blamed for the drop, which created what should’ve been an incredible buying opportunity.
But whatever the PBOC’s plans might’ve been, they were disrupted by the collapse of Japanese bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, which ushered in a bear market that endured until late 2015.
However, more than two years later, Chinese authorities again resorted to jawboning to influence the bitcoin price when they announced in January that they were investigating the country’s digital currency exchanges. After forcing the three biggest exchanges in the country, BTCC, Huobi and OKCoin, trading volumes in China dissipated and the price fell – though not by as much as in 2013, creating yet another buying opportunity. But the time withdrawals were reinstated four months later, the digital currency had climbed to all-time highs, driven largely by an influx of Japanese and South Korean retail investors who have been enticed by the promise of exponential returns during the modern low-interest rate environment.
Of course, Chinese authorities have plenty of other reasons to try and control the bitcoin market. Here’s BU with more:
“So why has the Chinese regime been targeting bitcoin other than it being a democratic currency? There are a few reasons. First Chinese people can use bitcoin to get their money out of China. The Chinese regime has limits on the amount of foreign currency people can buy. But Chinese investors can buy bitcoin in China then later exchange that for foreign currency in any amount they want.
Huge fortunes that might be made through corruption could be safely stored out of reach of China’s pesky investigators. That is why China’s central bank started investigating bitcoin exchanges back in February, and threatened to shut down exchanges that violated rules on foreign exchange payments and settlement. That was why China’s central bank started investigating bitcoin exchanges back in February and threatened to shut down exchanges that violated rules on foreign exchange management, money laundering and payment and settlement.
To be sure, it’s unclear how much money is being moved out of China through bitcoin. Bitcoin transactions in China are not anonymous since you have to link a Chinese bank card to your bitcoin account. You could move a few thousand yuan, but large amounts would attract attention.”
Should it choose to use it, Chinese authorities have at their disposal what BU describes as “the ultimate sword of Damocles.”
“The Chinese government has the ultimate sword of Damocles over bitcoin operations in China. Chinese regulators could crack down on bitcoin by classifying it as a foreign currency which would limit individual transactions to $50,000 a year.”
While the Chinese government could easily crush the bitcoin market, it hasn’t because that would allow miners in other countries to usurp its dominance – something the PBOC might find difficult to undo. China is home to between 50% and 70% of the world’s bitcoin mining operations, BU reports.
Below is chart illustrates the bitcoin network’s hashrate distribution by mining pool. As the graphic clearly shows, Chinese pools control more than half of the network’s power, though the exact percentage is in constant flux because miners are constantly competing to process the next block of transactions: (source: blockchain.info)
Instead of cracking down on the mining community, the Chinese government has been effectively propping it up by supplying its miners with cheap electricity.
Major bitcoin mines in China’s northwest are being given access to government supported low cost wind and solar power. Powering the computer servers needed to mine digital currencies is one of the biggest financial challenges that bitcoin miners face. The PBOC’s logic here is easy to spot: The more bitcoin miners who set up shop in the China, the greater the control the PBOC exercises over the global bitcoin market.
Lingering fears of a crackdown have only served to benefit the government’s position. As BU explains:
“A lot of people feel they should buy as much bitcoin as they can right now, which will of course further drive up the price, possibly making officials very rich.”
After bitcoin plunged to a two-week low earlier Thursday, CNBC and a handful of other media organizations blamed the latest drop on a trifecta of reasons ranging from cyberattacks to new regulations that are presently being debated by US Congress. An outline of their reasoning can be found below:
As CNBC reports, major bitcoin exchanges were hit with multiple cyberattacks this week. Bitfinex, the largest U.S. dollar based bitcoin exchange, announced it was under ‘distributed denial-of-service’ attacks (DDOS) which slowed the service down. The attacks come at a time when consumer interest in bitcoins have also led to heavier than normal traffic on the exchanges, compounding the attacks.
— LocalBitcoins.com (@LocalBitcoins) August 16, 2016
On August 1st, the bitcoin platform will be undergoing a protocol upgrade labeled BIP148, meant to solve the block size debate – an argument over the size of bitcoin’s ‘blocks’ (a record of transactions on the public ledger – the ‘blockchain’). The planned improvements are supposed to help ‘scale’ bitcoin for future growth, lower fees, and speed up transaction times – however the upgrade is not without risks, and the Bitcoin community is divided.
#Bitcoin scaling negotiations / compromises are over.
Either we support BIP148 and save Bitcoin from destruction or 8 years gone to waste. ????
— Hisham Fahmy (@fahmyeu) June 14, 2017
Whether we like it or not, at this point not supporting BIP148 is the dangerous path. With most risks being to miners & services, not users.
— Neo M. Atrix (@RedPillTrading) June 4, 2017
Inclusion in Anti-Money Laundering Bill:
Last but not least, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have co-sponsored bill S.1241 (Combating Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Counterfeiting Act), which adds language to existing anti-money laundering provisions to include digital wallets, prepaid access devices, and other ‘digital currency exchangers’ if they contain over $10,000 of cryptocurrency. Also included in the bill are cell phones, flash drives, and computers containing information on holdings which will need to be declared and reported upon entry into the U.S. In other words, the notion of using digital currency to transact anonymously will become much less attractive if this bill is signed into law.
Demand for cryptocurrencies has skyrocketed over the last few months, beginning with Japan recognizing bitcoin as legal currency in April. Other countries including South Korea and Malaysia are reportedly set to follow suit.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to combat corruption among China’s business and political elite – a crackdown that recently led to the detention of the CEO of Anbang, China’s hyperacquisitive insurance conglomerate. The company has been blamed for a sizable portion of China’s merger spree between 2014 and 2016, and which has since been accused of being a money laundering vehicle, of wreaking “havoc” with the Chinese insurance market.


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Reusable face masks are a crucial part of a COVID-normal world
Branded face masks have emerged as the requisite product of 2020. According to Promotional Products Apparel Corporation company director Peter Broggian, branded reusable face masks are the new win-win product for brands looking to raise awareness while keeping their employees and customers safe.
As the global fight against COVID-19 continues, reusable face masks have quickly become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Face masks are now legally required throughout Victoria, including in the workplace. Face masks are currently also strongly recommended for people in both Sydney and Brisbane.
Getting it right the first time
Broggian reports that “many corporates at first rushed their purchasing decision based on suppliers that offered fast delivery times, only to be let down on both delivery timeframes and quality.”
“Many of our original quote request prospects are now returning with a first hand poor experience receiving a low quality branded face mask.”
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All masks are not created equal
With so many Australians now in need of masks, brands and employers are embracing the opportunity to provide branded face masks. However, not all reusable masks are created equal. SmartCompany has identified seven key features to look for in a quality branded mask.
Seven must-have features of a quality reusable face mask
Ideally, these layers should include a polyester or polypropylene outer layer and a middle layer made from a breathable fabric blend. A breathable inner layer will become extra important as we move into summer.
Lastly, water-absorbing cotton makes for an ideal inner layer for a reusable mask.
Did you know that reusable face masks can be treated with an antibacterial technology that kills 99% of bacteria?
Quality reusable masks are made with fabric that’s been treated with an antibacterial solution, resulting in a superior defence against pathogens.
The best fabric masks are water repellent. This effect can be achieved by using a water resistant fabric like polyester or polypropylene for the outer layer of the mask and utilising a water repellent coating.
Adjustable ear toggles
If you’ve ever worn a mask for longer than the time taken for a brief trip to the shops, you’ll be aware that some masks can cause significant discomfort to the ears.
A quality reusable mask with adjustable ear toggles combats this problem by allowing a tailored comfortable fit no matter the shape or size of the ear. A comfortable fit around the ear will become even more important in the coming summer months.
A contoured shaped mask is a must-have feature to ensure the mask sits properly on your face. Refraining from frequently adjusting your mask is part of good mask hygiene, so it’s essential that masks contour snugly to the face.
Choosing a mask design that contours correctly around the chin is especially important in order to avoid the risk of the mask riding up and impeding vision when worn for long periods.
Flexible nose strip
Practicality is key when it comes to face masks, which is why you should look for a flexible nose strip. These small strips sit over the bridge of your nose and can be adjusted to fit firmly, no matter your face shape.
Once the nose strip has been properly adjusted with sanitised hands, it will seal around your nose. This prevents the mask from slipping off the nose and also helps avoid foggy glasses.
Last but not least, individual packaging is absolutely crucial when you’re looking at branded mask options. Quality masks must be packaged individually to prevent contamination on the journey from manufacturer to consumer.
Reusable masks are here to stay
Now is the perfect time to embrace the potential of branded masks as a means to increase brand awareness while keeping your employees and customers safe.
As COVID-19 OHS rules continue to be rolled out in workplaces across the country, employees are likely to be wearing masks for extended periods across the months or even years ahead.
A quality mask can make a huge difference to our quality of life moving forward. By keeping the seven must-have features in mind, you can rest easy knowing you’ve done your bit to keep things COVID safe.
Apparel Corporation is an Australian owned company specialising in branded promotional products. Since 1993 it has helped clients to increase brand awareness nationally via quality products including beanies, hi vis workwear, caps, jackets, polo shirts, bags and compendiums. Clients include Federal and State Government, councils, universities, schools and corporates in the building, mining and corporate sectors including financial institutions, accounting and law firms. Get a quote on 1300 799 044.


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Belgian yacht builders taken over by Dehler in January
The Belgian yacht builder, Etap has officially announced its insolvency following in the wake of its parent company Dehler’s announcement before Christmas.
Photo caption:The ETAP 46DS was awarded “European Yacht of the Year” and won IPC Media’s award for the category “Sailboat over 40 ft”
The statement reads:
‘Due to the insolvency of Dehler Deutschland GmbH, ETAP Yachting – branch of Dehler Yachts Belgium BV – has applied for insolvency too. ETAP Yachting declared insolvency on the 7th of January 2009.’
The statement goes on to say that attempts to align the two brands’ back office functions and production facilities were underway, as was a new look for the Etap brand.
‘Etap had a new Marketing Strategy, a new Logo and Slogan (?ETAP Just Sail?) were implemented as well as a new product strategy of which the first yacht, the ETAP 30CQ [was displayed] at the Hiswa [boat show] in IJmuiden the Netherlands in September 2008. The strategy and positioning seemed to have the chance to be successful. First reactions from the market were positive.’
‘Being part of the Dehler Yachts Group and being effected by the consequences of the insolvency of Dehler, ETAP Yachting did not have the chance to complete its repositioning and restructuring and benefiting from synergy effects with Dehler.
‘Dehler and ETAP Yachting are two strong and established brands and the hope is strong that they will find their place under a new ownership.’
For any question or further information please contact:
– Branch of Dehler Yachts Belgium BV –
Tel. 00-32- 33124461


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Check out the new international brands now with an open shop in Palisades. @smmirrornews Check out the new retailers at...Read more
Malibu Library Speaker Series Features Environmental Entrepreneur and Author Paul Hawken at Pepperdine University
Paul Hawken, a leading environmental activist, entrepreneur, author, and pioneer of corporate reform dedicated changing the relationship between business and...
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Microsoft sued over search-related patents
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A lawsuit filed on Thursday alleges Microsoft Corp(MSFT.O) has been infringing patents that allow Internet search engines to most effectively place advertisements.
I/P Engine Inc said in the suit filed in Manhattan federal court that Microsoft uses search technology based on inventions by two employees of I/P Engine's parent company, Vringo Inc VRNG.A.
Microsoft uses the technology in systems that generate advertisements and associated links for users of the world's largest software company's search engine, Bing, the lawsuit said.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Vringo declined to comment.
In November 2012, a Virginia jury awarded I/P Engine approximately $30 million in damages after it found that companies including Google Inc (GOOG.O) and AOL Inc (AOL.N) had infringed the same patents that are at issue in the Microsoft suit.
Following I/P Engine's announcement of the verdict, however, its parent company's stock slid by as much as 10 percent. The company had been seeking damages of at least $696 million.
In the lawsuit filed Thursday, I/P Engine claimed that Microsoft has willfully infringed its patents. I/P Engine said that one of its patents was referenced by the U.S. Patent and Trade Office in 2003 when the agency rejected a similar Microsoft patent application.
In patent cases, a party can win higher damages if infringement is found to be willful.
Vringo shares were last up 10 cents, or 3.2 percent, at $3.24 in midday trade on the American Stock Exchange.
Microsoft shares were down 30 cents, or 1.1 percent, at $27.55 on the Nasdaq.
The case is I/P Engine, Inc v. Microsoft Corp, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 13-688. (Reporting by Erin Geiger Smith, editing by G Crosse)
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- Govt considers ban on e-cigarettes, sale of single smokes
- India's fiscal deficit in H1 almost 83 pct of full-year target
- Islamic State fighters kill 220 Iraqis from tribe that opposed them
- Sensex surges 500 points on BOJ easing, L&T gains
- PRECIOUS-Gold, silver tumble to four-year lows as dollar rallies
Samsung Electronics unveiled two new mid-tier handsets with a premium design as it prepared to deliver a riposte to its low-priced Chinese rivals and reclaim its title as the top brand in the world's biggest smartphone market. Full Article


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Google’s Gmail has surpassed a billion users. The search company’s Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai announced the milestone during the Google/Alphabet earnings call this afternoon. This marks the seventh Google property to reach the milestone. Gmail follows in the footsteps of Android, Chrome, Maps, Search, Youtube and the Google Play Store in reaching over one billion people.
The email service that was released in April 2004 was among the first to offer large storage space for users and robust searching across your inbox.
While Google products like Buzz, Wave, and Plus ended up duds that didn’t see much success, Gmail saw large adoption, even when was the service was invite-only (as it was to begin with).
Having reported 900 million users in May 2015, spikes in growth can be attributed to numerous efforts, from new apps like Inbox on iOS and Android, to efforts to increase the amount of internet users in places like India.
Most interestingly, this is not Google parent company Alphabet’s first, nor second, but seventh product to reach the billionth mark. While direct competitors like Facebook proudly tout their (more than) 1.5 billion users of Facebook.com, Zuckerberg’s other chat application Whatsapp only just crossed the 1 billion milestone, and Instagram is taking its sweet time.
Google Plus didn’t go as the search company planned, but Google’s other billion-user products like Android and Chrome allow for further profit-earning opportunities for Pichai and his team, primarily through advertising.
User count isn’t the only billion Google can brag about. The company recently surpassed Apple as the world’s most valuable company. While Google’s market capitalization currently sits at $517.6 billion, the company is on track to reach an after-hours market cap of $570 billion — overtaking Apple’s $535 billion to become the most valuable company in the world.
Cupertino is the company in tech known for making bank every quarter, but Alphabet’s search giant-that-could proves that it’s not all about the iPhone company.
Looking forward, the Google earnings call made reference to the company’s “Other Bets,” the divisions of Google’s parent company Alphabet focused on so-called “moonshots,” which were separated from the main Google (and Google’s subsidiaries Android and YouTube) in a surprise corporate reorganization announced in summer 2015.
These Other Bets include self-driving cars, Nest smart home products and more. But the newly reorganized corporate earnings reporting structure reveals these companies are so far money-losers, to the tune of a collective $3.6 billion last year alone, as Motherboard notes.
How Alphabet’s leadership justifies these longer-term bets remains to be seen, but with Google and its related products like Gmail pulling in lots of cash that can be re-allocated to moonshots, it’s probably not something that investors are too worried about.
Investing in indexing the world’s information and allowing you to share that information anywhere, on any device, puts Google and its parent company Alphabet in the interesting position of competing directly with Apple and Facebook, among others. Though if today’s earnings call made anything clear, it’s that Alphabet —and more importantly, Google— is more than up for the challenge.


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By Chris Scott on 10/27/2020
Canadian processor Maple Leaf Foods Inc. reported sales growth of 6.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 — and a nearly 400% climb in net income — driven by increases in meat protein and plant protein divisional revenues.
The Mississauga, Ont.-based company said total sales reached $1.06 billion in the period versus $996 million one year ago, while net income totaled $66 million, more than four times the $13.4 million reported in the third quarter of 2019. Maple Leaf cited increased retail channel demand in North America for sales gains that more than offset lower volumes for foodservice related to COVID-19 closures. Meat protein sales also benefited from strong growth in sustainable meats, exports to Asian markets and positive foreign currency trends.
Maple Leaf also noted that net earnings of 54 cents a share versus 11 cents one year ago stemmed from strong commercial meat protein performance and strategic investments in the plant protein operation. A favorable resolution of an income tax audit last year and higher gains from non-cash fair value changes in biological assets and derivative contracts also contributed to higher net income in the latest period.
The company said the overall performance in the quarter more than offset costs related to COVID-19 mitigation. Still, Maple Leaf warned that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been “significant,” adding to operational costs and the potential for future short-term processing shutdowns to protect the health and safety of plant personnel. Gross incremental costs related to the pandemic reached about $15 million in the third quarter, down slightly from the $19 million in similar costs in the previous quarter.
Source : Meatingplace.com


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Apple’s September event, usually headlined by a new iPhone, is different this year
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Apple’s September event, happening Tuesday, has traditionally been a big show, but it’s 2020.
This year there won’t be any crowds and there probably won’t be a new version of the company’s big moneymaker, the iPhone. Angelo Zino, an analyst at CFRA, said that’s because “there have been supply chain issues.”
Zino said Apple is probably going to announce an updated iPad and a new watch. A phone needs all kinds of chips and semiconductors for wireless connectivity, “whereas you may not need that in every Apple Watch,” he said.
Apple will probably debut its 5G-connected iPhone next month — not only because of the supply chain issues, but also because releasing the phone later may help Apple move more of them, Zino said.
“As you get closer to the holiday selling season, you’re almost guaranteed that demand should be stronger,” he said.
Even before the pandemic, Apple was pushing products that were skimpier on the hardware, said Third Bridge analyst Scott Kessler.
“What Apple has really been doing is almost de-emphasizing the importance of the iPhone by increasingly investing and innovating in some of these other areas,” Kessler said.
Namely content, said Mike Smith, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Last year, Apple launched its video streaming service. This year, he said, the company may bundle its services — music, news, TV and cloud storage — and sell it as a single subscription.
“This is a way from Apple to transition from being a hardware company to a services company that also sells hardware,” Smith said.
With services, “you don’t have to rely on that traditional supply chain and distribution chain,” Smith said.
Plus, he said, bundling and hosting all that content would give Apple more information about its customers.
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Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of New York, Celsius estimated its assets and liabilities as between $1 billion to $10 billion, with more than 100,000 creditors. When more people are looking to buy Bitcoin (i.e. there’s more demand), the price will rise since people are willing to pay more and conduct transactions for a higher price. Why Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana Are Crashing Today Travis Hoium | Mar 10, 2023 Will contagion hit the crypto sector?
As for why this exact figure was chosen, there are a few theories about it. One states that it’s because the total value of all physical money in the world when BTC was developed was equal to $21 trillion. As a result, if Bitcoin had been then to completely replace fiat, 1 BTC would have been worth $1M, and one satoshi — $0.01. The circulation supply of Bitcoin is 19,295,868 BTC, with a market cap of $476,642,337,664.06. You can send a variety of international currencies to multiple countries reliably, quickly, and safely, and at a rate cheaper than most banks.
Now a widely accepted commodity and a common feature of mainstream financial news reports, Bitcoin adoption and awareness continues to grow. Bitcoin is traded for the first time, peer-to-peer on a Bitcoin forum. An early developer uses it to pay for a pizza delivery in order to demonstrate its use case as a currency, spending 10,000 BTC on two pizzas.
Unlike most altcoins, it does not depend as heavily on the rest of the crypto market and usually ends up being the one to set the trend. However, BTC is still responsive to the general factors that affect all markets like rising interest rates or huge crypto news, especially ones that either concern the industry as a whole or other big coins like Ethereum or Shiba Inu. Bitcoin, Bitcoin… Is there anything new to say about this cryptocurrency at this point?
AMC Will Accept Bitcoin – August 9, 2021
Crypto news can affect prices even if it’s relevant to the crypto market as a whole. Rumored regulatory changes, endorsements by entertainers, and highly publicized projects – even tangentially related blockchain projects like NFTs – underscore Bitcoin’s potential and nudge prices higher. Any Bitcoin chart showing the BTC exchange rate over time will record that the cryptocurrency languished for three years before embarking upon a bull run in 2017. By the end of the year, a single Bitcoin was worth 17,000 euros. In 2010, Satoshi Nakamoto turned over the Bitcoin network alert key, the open-source code, and ownership of the code repository to a collaborator named Gaven Andresen.
How much is Bitcoin worth today? https://t.co/SSpaZa5ZWU
— Stock Prediction (@FiedlerKavin) December 5, 2022
The core developers how much is bitcoin today for a temporary halt to transactions, sparking a sharp sell-off. Normal operation was restored when the majority of the network downgraded to version 0.7 of the bitcoin software. The Mt. Gox exchange briefly halted bitcoin deposits and the exchange rate briefly dipped by 23% to $37 as the event occurred before recovering to previous level of approximately $48 in the following hours.
Institutional Crypto Exchange Bakkt Raised $182M Funding – December 31, 2018
In May 2011, bitcoin payment processor, BitPay was founded to provide mobile checkout services to companies wanting to accept bitcoins as a form of payment. In May 2013, Ted Nelson speculated that Japanese mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki is Satoshi Nakamoto. Later in 2013 the Israeli researchers Dorit Ron and Adi Shamir pointed to Silk Road-linked Ross William Ulbricht as the possible person behind the cover.
After all, the cryptocurrency market is incredibly volatile, and the question of crypto regulation remains uncertain. Every year, cryptocurrency experts prepare forecasts for the price of Bitcoin. It is estimated that BTC will be traded between $318,126.43 and $369,613.99 in 2029. Its average cost is expected at around $327,042.89 during the year.
Bitcoin turns 10 years old – October 31, 2018
Additionally, despite the coin regularly losing value, the average value of Bitcoin keeps increasing. However, the crypto industry is rapidly changing, and some crypto enthusiasts are starting to doubt whether Bitcoin is still worth investing in. Minters have relocated to be closer to renewable energy sources to minimize the environmental impact. Ethereum has switched from its energy-intensive proof-of-work consensus mechanism to an environmentally friendly proof-of-stake mechanism, so the Ethereum vs. Bitcoin question weighs on the minds of crypto users.
Any number of things could affect the amount you pay for BTC in the future, including regulatory changes, the rate of adoption by retail and institutional investors, and the rollout of scalability solutions. Bitcoin’s price is as variable and unpredictable as ETH gas fees. The number of Bitcoin assets minted per block to reward miners will continue to halve roughly every four years until 21 million BTC coins have been minted. Environmental concerns and news events have led some crypto users to consider alternatives to Bitcoin. The carbon footprint of Bitcoin mining is substantial because of the high energy consumption of the high-speed computer equipment needed to set up Bitcoin mining rigs. Bitcoin’s historical prices can be analyzed with many of the techniques used by brokers and investors to analyze stock performance.
New Liberty Standard Publishes First Exchange Rate – October 5, 2009
It’s estimated that approximately 20% of all existing how much is bitcoin today has been permanently lost. However, given that Bitcoin is a finite resource, some argue that this simply increases the scarcity and theoretical value for other investors. Volatility is perhaps the most commonly-cited disadvantage of Bitcoin in terms of its use case as cash. Ironically, that very volatility helped grow the network, providing traders with very lucrative opportunities in short time periods.
The order was dubbed the “BearWhale” by the Bitcoin community due to its unprecedented size. Superintendent of New York State Department of Financial Services, Benjamin Lawsky, released a set of customized rules meant to regulate Bitcoin and digital currency businesses that serve customers located in New York state. These regulations are the first ever directly targeted at digital currency businesses.
When Bitcoin started out there wasn’t really a price for it since no one was willing to buy it. The first time Bitcoin actually gained value was on October 12, 2009 when Martti Malmi, a Finnish developer that helped Satoshi work on Bitcoin, sold 5050 Bitcoins for $5.02. Sorry, we don’t have information for one of the GAL dates you selected. This calculator is not realtime – try querying data for a previous month. All prices on this page are nominal (i.e., they are not indexed to inflation). Well, John McAfee says Bitcoin’s price is going to be 2 million in USD in 2020.
Bitcoin mining is the process where miners contribute the processing power of their hardware rigs to solve cryptographic puzzles from each transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain. Miners receive BTC for solving cryptographic puzzles, and transactions are recorded in blocks that get added to the blockchain. No, thanks to the Bitcoin protocol, your bitcoin cannot be copied. The word ‘crypto’ in ‘cryptocurrency’ comes from the word ‘cryptography’, a technique that allows for secure communication, meaning that it is impossible to counterfeit bitcoin, unlike fiat.
What will bitcoin be worth in 2030?
Giving longer-term price targets for bitcoin in 2030, DigitalCoinPrice, as of 2 March, suggested that the coin could trade at an average price of $235,364.89. While the site did not provide a bitcoin price prediction for 2040 or 2050, it did forecast that the coin could be worth $405,266.86 in 2032. Note that algorithm-based predictions can be wrong and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for your own research.
Coinsecure pledges to compensate customers from personal https://www.beaxy.com/. The Justice Department has opened a criminal probe into whether traders are manipulating the price of Bitcoin and other digital currencies. The investigation is focused on illegal practices that can influence prices — such as spoofing, or flooding the market with fake orders to trick other traders into buying or selling.
- Nick denied being Satoshi, and stated his official opinion on Satoshi and bitcoin in a May 2011 article.
- From being ultimately nearly worthless, this coin has grown to become one of the biggest assets in the world.
- Binance is not responsible for the reliability and accuracy of such third-party sites and their contents.
- Bitcoin was to be accepted for ticket and concession sales at the game as part of the sponsorship, and the sponsorship itself was also paid for using bitcoin.
- The inclusion of a moderate Bitcoin investment in a diverse portfolio has also been shown to increase the Sharpe ratio of that portfolio and actually reduce volatility.
On 3 September 2020, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange admitted in its Regulated Market the quotation of the first bitcoin exchange-traded note , centrally cleared via Eurex Clearing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit group, started accepting bitcoins in January 2011, then stopped accepting them in June 2011, citing concerns about a lack of legal precedent about new currency systems. The EFF’s decision was reversed on 17 May 2013 when they resumed accepting bitcoin. Based on bitcoin’s open-source code, other cryptocurrencies started to emerge.


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Super Bomberman R for Nintendo Switch costs £50, Konami says
£60 online listings to change.
When Super Bomberman R for Nintendo Switch was announced last week, online shops listed it for £59.99.
Like most things Nintendo Switch related, the £60 price for the family party game seemed ridiculously expensive.
But Konami has cut the price by a tenner, the company said in a note to press today, which means Super Bomberman R for Nintendo Switch will retail for the slightly more palatable but still expensive £49.99.
Online shops currently carry the £59.99 price for the game, but Konami said they'll alter their pricing shortly.
Nintendo was criticised for its Switch pricing following last week's Direct reveal, with most saying the new products are too expensive. The Switch itself is £279.99. Expect to fork out around £70 for a second set of Joy-Cons. The Pro controller isn't cheap, either.
Earlier this week, Amazon cut the price of the Nintendo Switch version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild from £59.99 to £49.99, or £47.99 if you're a Prime subscriber.
Nintendo's own online store lists Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for £49.99, Arms for £49.99 and 1-2-Switch for £39.99, but Amazon has more reasonable prices. There, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is £44.99 and 1-2-Switch is £34.99. It's worth shopping around.


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Storis has announced its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of providing technology solutions and services to the home furnishings industry.
Solid wood specialist Durham Furniture has announced the launch of Studio 19, a new bedroom collection targeting Millennials, debuting at Spring High Point Market.
Varidesk, an active workspace solutions provider, has announced the promotion of Jeff Lamb to president and chief operating officer.
Casegoods producer Legacy Classic has announced its shift from a vertically-integrated China manufacturing model to become a multi-sourced supplier, enabling the company to offer new opening price points and a broader product line.
Scott Brothers Global (SBG), the lifestyle and entertainment company founded by brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott has announced the opening of its new national headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.
After launching virtual reality tech in 70 stores nationwide last year, Macy’s (NYSE:M) has added 20 more locations this month, according to a report from the Memphis Business Journal.
The Sleep Show, a three-day expo produced by the National Sleep Foundation, opens March 8 – 10 in Houston. Attendees at the George R. Brown Convention Center will get a glimpse of the bedroom of the future.


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Update, Oct. 6: The Gainesville City Council voted unanimously to approve annexation and rezoning for a CarMax store at 2602 Browns Bridge Road.
Update, Sept. 8: Plans for a CarMax store off Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville got the initial OK from the Gainesville Planning Appeals Board on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The pre-owned automobile dealership chain’s proposal for a 7,590-square-foot building on the nearly 8-acre site at 2602 Browns Bridge Road, west of Memorial Park Drive and near Cherryhill Drive, now goes before the Gainesville City Council for final consideration.
The applicant, Colorado-based developer CenterPoint Integrated Solutions, is seeking to annex the property for the store.
CarMax is planning a store in Gainesville.
The pre-owned automobile dealership chain is proposing to put up a 7,590-square-foot building and 936-square-foot car wash on the nearly 8-acre site at 2602 Browns Bridge Road, west of Memorial Park Drive and near Cherryhill Drive. CarMax would operate the car wash "to clean vehicles for sale and final quality control of cars presented to purchasers," the company said.
CarMax “has identified the Gainesville area as a good fit for our current growth plan,” the company said in an email to The Times about the project.
As for a schedule for the project, “it can often take two to three years to get all necessary approvals, complete construction and open for business, once we decide to move forward on any location,” the company said.
CarMax said it would announce the new store opening “about one year in advance of the anticipated grand opening date.”
Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board
What: Annexation for proposed CarMax Auto Superstore at 2602 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8
Where: Public Safety Complex, 701 Queen City Parkway, Gainesville
The property, which is also next to Absolute Trailers, contains an “older home and various outbuildings” that would be torn down as part of the project, according to a Gainesville planning staff report on the project.
The project is set to go before the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The applicant, Colorado-based developer CenterPoint Integrated Solutions, is seeking to annex the property for the store.
CarMax’s “business model is to promote a high-end retail experience and a welcoming experience,” said Brad Lauth, development manager for CenterPoint, in a description of the project. “As such, CarMax does not use outdoor loudspeakers ... and does not use flags, balloons, inflatables, placards in open car hoods, painted window lettering or the like in its marketing.”
The company has more than 200 locations nationwide, Lauth said.


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The cost of gas in Europe has increased fivefold in a year and continues to rise, making it unlikely that the crisis will abate before spring.
Natural gas prices have soared in Europe as economic activity resumes after the Covid-19 confinements, costs that have also pushed up electricity prices, fueling a crisis that will impact consumer bills this winter.
These gas prices, in turn, determine the price on the electricity markets since more than one-fifth of European electricity comes from natural gas.
The European Union had to import almost 90 percent of its natural gas from outside European borders in 2019, and of that, 40 percent came from Russia, where supplies have fallen this year.
According to recently released Eurostat data, rising natural gas prices have also pushed up inflation in the 19 eurozone countries.
At the most recent informal EU summit in Slovakia, the economy and finance ministers from Spain, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, and Romania presented a joint declaration calling on the other European partners to cooperate more to purchase gas and help lower prices jointly.


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You are here > Home > News
CBI predicts return to growth in Q3 2012
General News |
The UK economy may have dipped back into recession during Q1 2012, but the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) believes a return to growth is just around the corner.
According to the business lobby group, gross domestic product (GDP) growth will return in Q3 2012 with 0.7 per cent growth, followed by a 0.5 per cent increase in Q4.
And the pace of economic recovery is set to pick up in 2013, with a 2.0 per cent expansion set to be seen over the course of the year, the CBI predicted.
The CBI said quarter-on-quarter growth is likely to be flat in the second quarter of 2012, affected by the impact of the additional bank holiday for the Diamond Jubilee.
However an improving global economy, an expected easing in inflationary pressures and the staging of the Olympic Games will boost UK GDP in the second half of the year.
John Cridland, director-general of the CBI, said despite the disappointing Q1 2012 GDP figures, the organisation remains confident of growth in 2012.
"Optimism among businesses has been increasing since the turn of the year, with manufacturing demand holding up. And that is beginning to translate into more jobs and investment," he commented.
“That said, the global economy continues to pose a number of significant challenges. Concerns over eurozone stability are on the rise again, oil prices remain high and confidence among businesses and households is still fragile."
Mr Cridland claimed the path back to sustainable economic growth will be "a long and difficult one", with many bumps along the way.
"To re-balance our economy towards exports and investment will take time and patience," he claimed.
Ian McCafferty, chief economic adviser at the CBI, said the economy has been "bumping along the bottom" over the winter.
"With the distortions from an extra bank holiday in the second quarter, is likely to stay that way until summer," he added.
"Nevertheless, business surveys suggest that underlying conditions are starting to improve, and that we should see more momentum in the second half of the year," he stated.
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Home Tags Deira City Centre
Tag: Deira City Centre
Money transfer firm signs deal to rename Dubai Metro station
Money transfer company UAE Exchange, owned by Indian-born billionaire Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, is the latest to sign a deal to name a Dubai Metro station.
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank hops on Dubai metro naming rights
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) has joined the Dubai Metro corporate bandwagon, allowing Karama station on the Red Line to be named after this flagship financial institution.
RTA ditches paper tickets, push for Nol cards for inter-city buses
Dubai: Commuters travelling to and from Dubai using inter-city buses of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), except on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai route, may now use Nol cards for ease of payment.
Malls extend opening hours to cater to Saudi tourists
The biggest malls in Dubai have extended their shopping hours to accommodate the influx of tourists from Saudi Arabia expected during the country’s mid-term school holidays.
Dubai 24-hour shopping has mixed impact in Eid
Dubai’s Eid al Adha round the clock shopping has generated a roaring trade for food and beverage outlets in Dubai Mall while some retailers complain of stores being “dead”.
Dubai 48-hour Eid shopping festival draws mixed reactions from mall staff
Mall staff are having mixed reactions to the prospect of working around the clock as the emirate gears up for the start of another 48-hour shopping bonanza.
Which shopping malls in Dubai offer you free wi-fi?
Deira City Centre, Mall of the Emirates and Mirdif City Centre now offer free wi-fi service for all visitors.
Rail Agency launches Metro Mini Entertainer
RTA's Rail Agency has recently launched the Metro Mini Entertainer at the Dubai Metro stations. This Entertainer is a discount voucher booklet and contains savings from over 30 different outlets representing restaurants and leisure centers located close to the Metro stations.
Revealed: Busiest Dubai Metro station
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), revealed that the number of users of public transport means (Dubai Metro, public buses, marine transit modes, and taxicabs of the Dubai Taxi Corporation only) in the first half of this year has hit 165,527,687 riders.
RTA launches Terhal Package
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has recently launched, for the second time running, Terhal Integrated Package, and distributed it in several Dubai Metro stations, various business outlets and money exchange shops. The Package, which includes purchase vouchers and discounts of up to AED 2000, is sold to the worth of AED 65.
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Burger 21 mixes up its store models
Above is one of Burger 21’s three different store models, to offer flexibility to franchisees.
This world’s a cruel place, and even well-intentioned, high-quality restaurant concepts will fail with so many new competitors. This dog-eat-dog mantra applies doubly in overheated categories like pizza, burritos and, of course, better burgers.
To set itself apart from dryer competitors, and add flexibility for franchisees as it scales up, Tampa, Florida-based Burger 21 has developed three different store models ranging from a tiny, 2,000-square foot unit up to a new hybrid model that includes a full bar, is half fast-casual and half traditional format, and as large as 4,000 square feet.
As Vice President Jim Sullivan explained it, the thinking is that some consumers prefer to have a beer or cocktail with their burger and fries. Who knew?
“We believe there are a lot of markets where there is a big demand to have an alcoholic beverage while being in the restaurant,” Sullivan said, adding that the burger category has now tipped the scales at $70 billion in annual sales with no signs of slowing down.
“Burgers don’t just have to be beef,” says Jim Sullivan, Burger 21’s vice president.
Even so, he acknowledged the importance of Burger 21 differentiating itself from the competition, both for the restaurants’ guests as well as the company’s franchisees looking to outpace the Five Guys and Shake Shacks of the world.
In his quest to offer models that fit in both urban and suburban locations, Sullivan said the company’s newly expanded model diversity helps Burger 21 capture markets like downtown Chicago, where it recently expanded, along with the hot retail area in Schaumburg north of the city.
For a brand targeting mid- to high-income customers, that flexibility should suit it well—but the food is still the top dog, or cow, as Burger 21 hits the 25-unit milestone.
“The food is phenomenal, and that’s what really separates us from a lot of the competitors throughout the country,” Sullivan said. “Burgers don’t just have to be beef, and they can be made with a lot of various proteins—that’s the direction we’ve taken, a gourmet path with our burgers.”
Burgers without beef
Burger 21’s menu is much different from some fast-casual competitors that pride themselves on a simple, stripped-down menu. With an array of Angus burgers like the Tex-Mex Haystack with applewood-smoked bacon, gouda, guacamole, onion strings and chipotle-jalapeno sauce, its offerings also include 10 non-beef burgers including sushi-grade ahi tuna, turkey, chicken and veggie burgers, and a spicy Thai shrimp burger. There are also gourmet hot dogs, shakes and six salads to appeal to non-beefy customers.
Dessert is another differentiator, with items like a Pineapple Upside-Down Shake with spiced brown sugar syrup and pound cake crumbles, along with more traditional cookies, shakes, floats and sundaes.
With its latest opening in Raleigh, North Carolina, Burger 21 is now up to 24 locations in 12 states, a pittance compared with Five Guys that now has more than 1,000 units in the United States and its cult-like following to match. The company has more than a dozen other locations in development, and Sullivan is quite bullish about the brand’s future relative to the competition.
The plan is to “go up the East Coast and out West and the Midwest, and then fill in between,” he said. Of course, everybody’s outlook is rosy when talking to reporters, but he stressed that such a large category with ongoing double-digit annual gains still has room to expand, saying nothing about the waistlines of its most frequent customers.
He added the new hybrid model, which will have a full-on bar in one half of the template, is partially a response to the tightening real estate market, further stressed by so many up-and-coming fast-casual brands striking a chord with millennial consumers.
“We’re not a late-night bar concept by any means. We’re very family oriented even with the full bar,” Sullivan said of the change. “We’re always going to be a company that really holds food as the number one part of why we do what we do.”


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Following the ads, the National Corn Growers Association tweeted to Bud Light that "America’s corn farmers are disappointed in you. Our office is right down the road! We would love to discuss with you the many benefits of corn! Thanks @MillerLight and @CoorsLite for supporting our industry."
Farmer Kevin Ross posted a video of himself pouring a can of beer down a sink, saying: "Bud Light, you’re not standing with corn farmers. We’re not standing with you."
Anheuser-Busch said it "fully supports" corn growers and will continue to invest in the industry. "Bud Light’s Super Bowl commercials are only meant to point out a key difference in Bud Light from some other light beers," it said in a statement.
American consumption of high fructose corn syrup started to fall at the beginning of the millennium when it was linked to the country's high rate of obesity. This was due in part to decreasing consumption of soda; soft-drink makers have also moved away from corn syrup, replacing it with sugar.
MillerCoors fired back at Bud Light on Twitter: "We're proud of our high-quality, great-tasting beers. We’re also proud that none of our products include any high fructose corn syrup." But Bud Light only called attention to the use of corn syrup rather than high fructose corn syrup, which has had some of its glucose converted into fructose.
The backlash continued on Monday, when the Iowa Corn Growers Association decried the ad. "This attack especially hits home at a time when farmers are hurting due to challenging economic conditions," Chairman Mark Recker said in a statement. "Please leave us out of the beer wars."
Here's how MillerCoors' CEO and vice president of communications and community affairs are responding:


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Opportunities arising out of “deglobalization” would be one of the themes the fund would focus on.
Editor’s take: The week that was—Nov 27-Dec 2
Clouds gather over Alibaba's key unit after IPO plans scrapped
Canada's Brookfield raises record $28b for infrastructure fund
OpenAI defers launch of custom GPT store to early next year
US to limit Chinese content in battery parts eligible for EV tax credits
One of the biggest constraints for Asia’s private credit sector is talent: Elham Credit’s Siddhartha Hari
Wellington Management emerges as an outlier amid late-stage funding crunch
People Digest: Golub Capital opens Hong Kong office; KKR announces key appointments
IHH Healthcare seeks acquisitions in Indonesia, Vietnam; eyes turnaround in China
Indonesia’s Bank Jasa banks on Astra’s ecosystem to make a mark in digital banking
The custom GPTs and store were set to be launched in Nov.
Policy & Regulations
The rules come into effect in 2024 for completed batteries and in 2025 for critical minerals used to produce them.
Apple Inc’s market value jumped 11.2% to $2.95 trillion over the past month.
Golub has been making appointments in Asia and Latin America in recent months.
In terms of data centre market maturity, Asia is still trailing behind North America.
The PE firm is reportedly looking to raise $4b in capital commitments for the latest fund.
Aramco’s Prosperity7 was a lead investor in the $25m round raised by Rain AI in 2022.
The lack of action across the sector presents a risk to the US, said Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo.
The deal will allow Seven & i to establish itself as an industry leader in Australian convenience store market.


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There is currently little mystery surrounding Apple’s hardware updates for the iPhone 15, but two aspects—price and finish—remain unknown. The latter has just taken an intriguing new turn.
Consistently trustworthy Apple insider Unknownz21 sent me fresh information on the likely exclusion of the iPhone 15 range’s most recognizable color following startling remarks made last month.
This is a significant surprise, even if Apple continues their charitable partnership in other areas, given that Product(Red) iPhones have been released every year for the last five generations.
Additionally, a deep red color was long speculated to be the new “hero” color for the iPhone 15 Pro line, and even the exact Pantone color was leaked (and is recreated in the top image). Unknown z21 has pledged to soon make public the new hero color and has given me additional details about the impending leak:
Over the past year, Unknownz21 has established a solid track record for providing factual information, including details about the Apple Vision Pro headset and the iPhone 14 series. The leaker also disclosed a number of iPhone 15 details that were confirmed by other insiders.
In addition to this possible color variation, the iPhone 15 range is anticipated to have four models: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The regular models will include the same 48-megapixel primary camera, Dynamic Island design, and A16 CPU as last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
The next-generation iPhone 15 Pro models will use the 3nm A17 processor, have considerably smaller bezels, a new programmable Action button that takes the place of the mute switch, improved cameras (including a Pro Max-only periscope lens), improved UWB, and maybe higher costs. USB-C will be used by all iPhone 15 models.
It’s important to note that Unknownz21 criticized the new iPhones, calling them “too mediocre of an upgrade.” Upgraders will need to make a choice as Apple’s 2024 iPhone 16 plans have already leaked far sooner than anticipated.


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Whether you like to work out on an indoor exercise bike or exercise your game skills at a foosball table, the current Loudoun County government surplus auction has items of interest for you. Featured items this month include a Le Tour De France Exercise Bike with a touch-screen console and a Playcraft Extera foosball table. The auction also includes additional exercise equipment and vehicles, including a 2014 Ford E-350 12-passenger van, as well as computers, office furniture, cabinets, books and more. The auction closes at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Detailed information and photographs of the items for sale are online here.
Loudoun County sells selected items online through Public Surplus, which was created specifically for public agencies. Anyone interested in bidding on the items must be registered with www.publicsurplus.com. Registration is free; however, a 9.75% buyer’s premium is charged to all purchases. Loudoun County government and school employees are subject to bidding limitations under the auction terms and conditions, which are available on the Public Surplus site.
Loudoun County has specific hours for buyers to pick up their items at 14 Cardinal Park Drive, Suite 106, in Leesburg. Items must be picked up by appointment, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. The dates for items to be picked up are noted on each auction item listed on the Loudoun County auction site.
In keeping with Loudoun County’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, successful bidders will be required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing while on county premises to pick up their items. In addition, these measures apply to those coming to a scheduled viewing for items such as vehicles prior to the auction closing date.
More information about the sale of Loudoun County government surplus items is online at loudoun.gov/surplus.
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Savvy shoppers wait in anticipation, while Australian retailers are gearing up for the onslaught. Amazon’s arrival is imminent.
Closing the Gap Episode 1: Why digital transformation is a matter of business survival
- 22 July 2015
- Download MP3
CMO has partnered with brand research agency, BrandHook Australia, on a new podcast series to look at ways businesses overcome the gap between how consumers behave in today’s digital-first world, and what they deliver. Over this 11-week program, entitled Closing the Gap, we’ll be talking to leading CMOs and thought leaders from Australian and international brands, along with research institutes, agencies and creative fields, about building new consumer practices and facing digital transformation, storytelling, collaboration, and more.
In this first episode, BrandHook CEO, Pip Stocks, talks to the leader of customer experience innovation consultancy Working3 Digital, Mark Cameron, about how digital transformation is now a matter of survival, and the impact it’s having on the customer experience map.