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AGL turns the ignition switch on new electric vehicle plan
AGL today accelerated its drive into the growing electric vehicle (EV) market with the launch of a new offer for EV owners.
AGL Chief Customer Officer Christine Corbett said the new electricity plan1 would provide eligible customers with bonus credits over the two year period of the plan.
“This new plan allows our customers to make the most of their investment in electric vehicles while taking the pressure off their running costs and the environment,” Ms Corbett said.
“It is based on our AGL Essentials Plus fixed-plan which has proven popular since it was launched in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in January 2019.
“The new plan provides flexibility for customers who value fixed rates, the inclusion of carbon offsets, and the peace of mind that vehicles can be charged at any time of the day.
“The plan also builds on the knowledge gained from our world-leading Electric Car Plan trial, which allowed us to learn more about the needs of EV owners.
“We ran workshops with EV owners to develop the new proposition and it became clear that flexibility and offsetting carbon emissions were key requirements.
“Certified carbon offset programs allow customers to offset their household electricity emissions, including when they charge their car at home.”
Ms Corbett said the new plan was consistent with AGL’s growth strategy and reflected the company’s focus on creating opportunities to connect with customers in an emerging electrified world.
For more information about electric vehicles, including details about the new plan for EV owners, go to: http://www.agl.com.au/get-connected/electric-vehicles
1 Basic Plan Information Documents (NSW, SA, SE QLD) for this plan available at agl.com.au/bpid. Fact Sheets (VIC) available at agl.com.au/vefs. For clear advice on the right plan for you contact AGL on 131 245


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Want to know how the new 13-inch MacBook Pro stacks up against its predecessor or other MacBooks on the market? A new report by Japanese language Apple blog Macotakara compares the Geekbench CPU scores for various MacBooks.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, announced earlier this week, has a Geekbench score of 4565 and 1093 for multi and single core scores for its Intel Core i7 variant. Meanwhile, the lower spec Intel Core i5-sporting MacBook Pro model scores 4489 and 1066. That’s only marginally better than 2019 13-inch models.
Early benchmarks for the 2019 Mac Pro have now started surfacing online — and they might be a disappointment for some.
The scores achieved by entry-level and mid-tier machines are similar to those you will get from a 2017 iMac Pro. In fact, iMac Pro and even the budget Mac mini achieve significantly higher scores in some tests.
Benchmark tests confirm the MacBook Pro released today is as fast as the speedy macOS laptops introduced earlier this year. That’s good news for anyone who’s been nursing along an older MacBook, waiting for this new 16-inch model.
Apple promised its newest 13-inch MacBook Pro would deliver faster performance than the previous model. But we weren’t expecting to be up to 83% faster!
That’s the kind of speed increase you’re getting with the latest model, according to early benchmarks. It gives existing owners a massive reason to upgrade — even if they have no interest in the Touch Bar.
Apple’s marketing for the recently-announced 2019 MacBook Pro emphasizes how much faster it than last year’s model, and now a benchmark score may confirm that this macOS laptop is almost 30 percent speedier.
The first Geekbench report on Apple’s new iPads suggests that at least one of the new tablets has a benchmark score of 4,806 and multi-core performance of 11,607. Those numbers put it roughly on a par with Apple’s iPhone XS Max.
Although it lags (understandably) behind the pricier and more power iPad Pro, it’s certainly promising news.

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For an agency’s whose doom is all but certain, one might think Pennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board would be working extra hard these days to avoid any controversy and stick to what it does best: price gouging and finding ways to inconvenience the Commonwealth’s drinking class. To the contrary, the embattled booze board this week brought a hellacious storm of criticism on itself with an ad campaign meant as warning to youngsters of the link between binge drinking and date rape. But in true LCB form, the ad, which depicts a young woman’s legs on a bathroom floor with her panties around her ankles and the words “She didn’t want to do it, but she couldn’t say no,” the message was bungled.
Just as quickly as the ads began to appear, critics charged that instead of issuing a warning, the message puts rape’s blame on the victims. And in response to the mounting criticism, the LCB decided to pull the ad on Wednesday.
LCB pulls controversial ad [AP via Inquirer]


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Aston Martin has announced that the all-electric RapidE will enter production in 2019.
RapidE is Aston Martin’s first all-electric model and production will be limited to 155 cars. Williams Advanced Engineering will work alongside Aston Martin with the complex engineering.
The RapidE is based on the Rapide AMR concept and will have driving dynamics like the Rapide S.
Having unveiled the RapidE Concept back in October 2015 we reach another milestone with the confirmation that we are now putting the first all-electric Aston Martin into production.
RapidE represents a sustainable future in which Aston Martin’s values of seductive style and supreme performance don’t merely co-exist alongside a new zero-emission powertrain, but are enhanced by it.
The internal combustion engine has been at the heart of Aston Martin for more than a century, and will continue to be for years to come.
RapidE will showcase Aston Martin’s vision, desire and capability to successfully embrace radical change, delivering a new breed of car that stays true to our ethos and delights our customers,
said Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President and CEO.
Williams Advanced Engineering has always endeavoured to work collaboratively with its customers to meet their sustainability challenges and find energy efficient solutions. For today’s car manufacturers, this is particularly important as legislation demands more energy efficient vehicles.
This project with Aston Martin will draw on the extensive battery and EV experience we have accumulated and we are extremely pleased to be supporting this prestigious British company with their future electrification strategy,
said Paul McNamara, Technical Director at Williams Advanced Engineering.
Details to the RapidE’s all-electric powertrain will be released at a later date.


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The Hunt Brothers quietly built an Austin icon
Brandon and Zane Hunt are humble and soft spoken when talking about their multi-million-dollar pizza company, Via 313 in Austin, Texas.
“We just serve good pizza and try to take care of people,” Zane says.
The Hunt brothers have amassed an incredible following in Austin and beyond for the Detroit pizza they perfected 10 years ago, at a time when the only likely place you could find Detroit-style pizza was in the Motor City. With three brick-and-mortar locations and two permanently placed pizza trailers, Via 313 crushes annual sales at more than $12 million and consistently ranks as one of the hottest pizzerias in the country. This year, Via 313 receives a new distinction as Pizza Today’s 2020 Pizzeria of the Year.
Rising up from a rough childhood in Detroit, the two self-made entrepreneurs took an idea to recreate the pizza they loved as kids and open a neighborhood pizzeria. After relocating to the Lone Star State, the two pulled the trigger on the first trailer in downtown Austin in 2011 and before the year was up, they added a second trailer.
Check out more on Via 313’s origin story and the Hunt Brothers.
Self-made Hunt brothers’ Via 313 initiates Detroit-style pizza’s move west. Before Detroit-style pizza became the hit thing outside of the Motor City, trailblazers Brandon and Zane Hunt decided to bring their hometown pizza to Austin, Texas. It wasn’t called Detroit-style pizza then. It was just pizza… READ MORE.
When it came time to open the first brick-and-mortar location, the brothers had done all the legwork to launch a new spot, but they needed a little motivational push from industry greats like the late Big Dave Ostrander and Tony Gemignani to put the plan into motion. The brothers opened their first sit-down restaurant in the Oak Hill neighborhood in 2015.
“I think that when we opened the restaurant down in Oak Hill, we already had this positive momentum and there is already this yearning for a different option, maybe a downtown brand per se at that time to open in their neighborhood,” Zane says. “So now we are in this family neighborhood. At the time, we feel like we took a chance by opening that first restaurant in Oak Hill.”
The leap paid off as eager customers lined the block on opening day and the location continued to thrive. A North Campus location followed in 2016 and a restaurant in East Austin in 2018. The trailers still focus on pizza, while the restaurants offer a full menu and bar.
“When I look back onto what we’ve been through in the almost 10 years since we started, I feel like we rose up to meet demand,” Zane says. “We did it really organically. We did work hard at it, but we also got lucky. A lot of this that has happened is being in the right place at the right time honestly.”
Success often blends fortitude and good fortune. Via 313 is culmination of the fruition of the brothers’ dream; a tenacious work ethic; strong business sense; a lead, not follow mentality, people-focused values and a little bit of luck.
Brandon and Zane built the Via 313 concept around themselves. “That was the whole point of starting the business to be a bigger thing, an extension of us, whether it be the black building or the music that is playing, the pictures on the wall,” Brandon says. “It’s all curated of who we are, that’s for sure.”
The stores and trailers are designed to be gritty in the best possible way. Each location is polished but intentionally made to look like the pizzeria has been there for 30 years.
“That’s really what we wanted to do is open a pizzeria in the classic sense, very old fashioned, full service, pitcher of beer after softball or soccer, that whole thing with kids and families,” Zane says.
The concept was built to center around the pizza, that signature rectangular pie with sauce on top and caramelized edges. Moreover, it’s about creating a sensory experience. “There was shit that we ate when we were kids that tasted a certain way, that we had memories to and we tried to get as close to that as possible,” Brandon says. “You know when you eat a pepperoni it tastes like a pepperoni, but does it hit a memory?”
Zane continues, “For us pizza nerds and the folks in the industry that nerd out about this stuff like us, we know what those things are, those little flavor profiles that you are trying to hit those notes. We know what we need to do to take it there, but our customers don’t know really, for the most part. Although they are more educated now than they were 10 years ago about these things. It is about hitting on those things that are deeply embedded in your mind. I say that while also acknowledging that Brandon and I are fortunate enough to grow up in southeast Michigan, which has a wonderful pizza scene.”
Taking care of people is at the heart of the Hunt’s business. “We have raving fans,” Brandon says. “We haven’t spent any money on advertising. It’s all been trying to provide a five-star atmosphere, whether that be the first-timer welcome, dumdums when you’re done, having a server that might be intimidating looking but ends up being the most pleasant person that you’ve met. The focus is customer service.”
That hospitality extends beyond Via 313’s customers. “If you’re bragging about not paying for marketing and taking care of people,” Brandon says, “that doesn’t stop at the customers. That goes all the way down to the employees, to the Favor drivers. We have to be there for everyone. It takes a community to support everything.”
Brandon and Zane have assembled a team of nearly 200 employees. It’s important to the brothers that wages are well above the Texas minimum wage, but also show equity across positions. “We probably lean a little more sensitive to kitchen people,” Zane says. “I think they get the short end of the stick in Texas, where they can’t get tipped.”
Via 313 has packaged impressive employee benefits, like paid time off for employees who work 30 hours a week. The brothers also try to cap everyone’s workweek to 40 hours. Employees who work 20 hours a week are eligible for company health insurance. Managers receive mileage reimbursement and cell phones.
With the sheer volume at each unit, the jobs can be demanding and challenging, but it’s a fun environment with an eclectic mix of staff members. “It’s pizza, ice cream and beer and those things lend themselves to being inclusive,” Zane says. “Our environment and culture should be as inclusive as possible. We try to make it as inclusive as possible.”
Zane and Brandon always look to being better leaders and learn from their team. That requires them to evaluate and re-evaluate their business constantly. “We’re old by Austin standards. So, we don’t always have our finger on the pulse,” Zane says. “We can always learn and evolve and the only way that is going to happen is through listening to (our team) and listening to the community that we are in. We are trying to be a good community partner that lends itself to the team, as well. We need to be a good community partner within the restaurant with our team.”
Learning and Adapting
When it comes to the business, It’s not enough for Brandon and Zane to be good. “I say we are like 85-percent nailing it all the time,” Brandon says. “But I think that 85 percent goes a long way. And we are constantly trying to make it 90 to 95, trying to get to 100. I think the customers pick up on that we are always trying to get better. Every time you come to the restaurant something has been updated or changed or cleaned up. We’re constantly reinvesting in the business. I feel like that goes a long way, too.”
One of the most beneficial changes Zane and Brandon made a little over three years ago was switching to a tablet-based POS system. “Adding that new POS system really made us more efficient and helped cut down on the errors, as well,” Brandon says.
Brandon and Zane strive to keep learning and growing. “I always feel like being a small business owner is just doing a bunch of things that you are probably not comfortable doing or not really good at,” Zane says. “There are some things I think we are good at, not a lot. We are willing to learn. And now that we’ve gotten a little busier, we can hire people that can help fill those weaknesses.”
A willingness to learn had helped Via 313 become beloved in the Austin food scene. “The fact that we are nine years in and not irrelevant,” Brandon says. “I think that is the hardest thing is staying relevant in the current climate. And just having that loyalty from the customer base is just incredible.”
Just as every pizzeria has adapted to operating a restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic, Via 313 quickly shifted to a carryout-only model. With a large percentage of Via 313’s business coming from dine-in, Brandon and Zane built the model to run at 60 percent of its normal sales. They restructured staffing needs and adjusted server pay to fit a carryout model. They also added a service charge that goes to the team. “The days are condensed and it’s just one shift for everyone and we cut out everything, you know, no table-seating app, very little CO2, no linens being delivered,” Brandon says. “We pretty much have the bill down to everything that is the bare minimum that we need to run the restaurant with a carryout platform, and it’s proven to work well.”
Zane concurs. “(The model) works and we’re fortunate that it works,” he says. “It’s sustainable like this for the time being but this isn’t what we set out to do. Yes, we can serve a lot of the pizzas like this, but the hospitality piece is lost for the most part.” The hunt brothers are eager to get back to what love: hospitality.
Our 2020 Independent Pizzeria of Year offer parting advice to fellow and prospective operators: “I think it’s just doing it whatever you want to do,” Brandon says. “That’s the biggest life lesson that I have learned from all of this. ‘Man, I wish we would have done this five years ago.’ You just got to do it. If you have an idea, just put it on paper, make sure it makes sense financially and do it.”
Zane follows up Brandon. “Nobody is going to give you anything,” he says. “You’re going to have to go work for it and prove yourself, prove your worth.”
DENISE GREER is Executive Editor at Pizza Today.
Special thanks to Consumable Content providing some of the images for this feature.


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After a decade in downtown Davenport, Ragged Records & Music plans to expand to its first Illinois location, opening Sept. 24 on the second floor of the former Laborspace building next to Rozz-Tox at 2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island.
In addition to new and used vinyl, CDs and vintage stereo equipment, the store will feature vintage music gear, amps, guitars, keyboards and music accessories, owner Bob Herington said.
Unlike the store at 418 E. 2nd St., Davenport, which is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, the Rock Island store plans evening hours later in the week. He's tentatively planning to be open later on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Herington said he decided to open the new store, to be managed by local artist and musician Jon Burns, since recording engineer Pat Stolley has moved his futureappletreetoo studio from the second floor to the first to an area formerly occupied by artist studio space.
"It seemed a natural place to go," Herington said, noting Ragged Records has partnered with Rozz-Tox on past events, such as last year's All Senses Festival.
The former owner of several Co-Op Records locations in Illinois, Herington opened Ragged Records at the foot of Brady Street in late 2008 and moved to his current location in 2010. Ragged has more than 30,000 new and used rock, blues, soul, jazz, hip-hop and punk records.
Burns, who has done graphic design for the store since 2015, said it made sense to split the new store with an emphasis on music equipment and gear. The Music Go Round store at Davenport's Village Shopping Center closed last year.
"People are interested in vintage equipment, and we will have new accessories," he said. "We'll try to provide people with some cooler, different options.
"People come in and bring in their old records," he said. "They can sell stuff or can get store credit. A lot of people approach us with old stereo equipment.”
Burns also said it makes sense to partner with Rozz-Tox, which boasts many artists and films every week. He said the new store will a place people can visit after work.
"It will be good to have extended hours," he said. "People special order records. They come over every Friday when the new records come out."


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A gift in COVID times as Kentucky bars reopen: 'It's like Christmas day'
Many bar customers around Kentucky are welcoming the happiest hour in more than three months as bars were allowed to open at noon on Monday.
“Today’s a big day,” said Amy Kummler who owns Up and Over bar in MainStrasse. “We’re looking for a good, safe night where people are considerate and kind and obey by the rules.”
There are concerns about safety after many states that reopened bars saw a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Some of the bars in MainStrasse were able to set up extended seating on the sidewalks to get more distance between groups.
“It’s kind of a challenge in a sense. In all honesty, we’re counting on the people and our customers to come in here and do their job and practice social distancing,” said Curt Zinga, who owns MainStrasse Village Pub.
Many of the Village Pub’s regular customers are excited to get back.
“I would say pretty elated,” said one regular customer at the Village Pub. “After three and a half or four months of not being able to socialize like this, it’s like Christmas day.”


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China protective film manufacturers exposure Galaxy S8 pic.twitter.com/8VOXpikUsc— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) February 21, 2017
The pictures also show the screen of the Galaxy S8 turned on as part of Samsung’s always-on display while another shot gives us a closer look at the fully functioning display. The Galaxy S8 will feature a 5.8-inch while the S8 plus will come with a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display, as previously reported by Evan Blass.
The next set of pictures reveal the sensors on the top of the smartphone and it looks like the S8 might come with an iris scanner after all.
All the leaked pictures show the Galaxy S8 in black colour with an aluminium shell.
Earlier today, Android Police also reported that some graphic mock-ups of the Galaxy S8 had been discovered through the system dump found on the Galaxy Tab S3, by one of their tipsters. The graphics fall in line with the recently leaked images of the Galaxy S8 which show the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor beside the camera module and the smartphone’s on-screen navigation keys.
Additionally, we also get to see the DeX dock which essentially enables the Galaxy S8 to extend to an external display. The DeX dock will flip open to mount the smartphone and through an HDMI connector, will expand on to a connected display.
Samsung’s new flagship will be powered by Snapdragon 835 processor, will come with 6GB RAM and either 64GB or 128GB onboard storage. The Galaxy S8 will sport a rear 12-megapixel camera and a front facing 8-megapixel camera. The normal Galaxy S8 will have a battery capacity of 3,000 mAh while the larger Galaxy S8 Plus will come with 3,500 mAh battery.
Samsung has set up March 29 as the official launch date of the Galaxy S8 and the S8 Plus.


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One otherwise unexpected source of higher deal flow and valuations this year is retail, said M&A professionals surveyed by Grant Thornton. While retail M&A never led last year’s league tables, activity was more robust than an understandably muted 2020. Supply chain constraints continue to loom large, however, with 57 percent of those polled saying their deals have been delayed or cancelled due to related issues.
Some of the most interesting findings? Despite the logistics-related risks, bottlenecks also presented an opportunity for deals for corporates in particular, 33 percent of whom were positive on the logjam’s impact on their M&A prospects. Private equity was a bit less sanguine, agreeing with the statement to the tune of 20 percent. But the upside is clear for those with dealmaking teams in search of it.
Examples abound. A.P. Moller – Maersk purchased end-to-end and last-mile services provider Pilot Freight Services from private equity firm ATL Partners and institutional investor British Columbia Investment Management Corp for $1.5 billion last month. Amazon nearly doubled its fourth quarter profit in recently announced results, proof that logistics can overcome current conditions. And suppliers with smaller footprints are turning to more flexible—if more expensive—forms of transport like long-haul trucking to avoid the complexity of intermodal shipping.
Some of that increased dealmaking energy may come from technology, as a sponsor told me. The pandemic has created more lucrative opportunities in restaurant tech, for instance, than brick and mortar locations. The digital transformation wave is breaking against all shores; even face-to-face businesses where it was once thought unlikely. In fact, survey respondents bet operations that had combined physical and e-commerce footprints would be most in demand.


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The Barbados Light & Power Company (BL&P) said today that “dramatically increasing global oil prices” will have a notable impact on the April 2022 Fuel Clause Adjustment (FCA) and customers’ bills.
In a statement, the company said that the FCA component of customers’ bills is a variable cost and directly influenced by the cost of oil on the global market. Fuel cost is passed directly to consumers as incurred.
Johann Greaves, BL&P’s Director Operations said: “The FCA for the month of April 2022 is approximately 45 cents per kilowatt hour, an increase of 22 per cent over March.
“The volatility and uncertainty of global markets has impacted all Barbadians, resulting in this notable rise in the price we pay for fuel to generate electricity, as well as in the cost of oil products such as petrol and diesel at the pumps, and everyday goods that must be transported to our stores and markets.”
BL&P said the 22 per cent rise in the fuel portion of customers’ bills will result in a notable impact to monthly electricity costs.
“We know that these are significant and impactful changes month over month, and we also know that the cost of fuel may continue to be high for the foreseeable future,” Greaves said.
“Light & Power urges customers to use electricity wisely. We also want to assure customers that we are unwavering in our commitment to transitioning from fossil fuel-based generation toward renewable energy sources. Easing our reliance on foreign oil will enable us to bring greater stability and predictability of energy costs to customers.”
Greaves urged customers to be efficient in the use of electricity at home and at work to ease the impact of the rise in the world price of crude oil, as “this considerable jump in the Fuel Clause Adjustment due to global events [is] beyond our control”.
“We implore customers to consider small changes that will have an immediate impact on energy costs such as switching to LED lighting, unplugging unused electronics to minimise standby power, and prudently managing air conditioning use.”
Greaves said BL&P will continue to give updates. (PR/KG)


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Darren Rowes launches his ProBlogger.com community today. It’s actually a forum of likeminded individuals committed to becoming better bloggers and citizens of social media. Darren Rowes is charging $1.95 a month for his community.
That’s less than a cup of coffee and you get access to real people making money online blogging. If you’re interested in joining, go to http://www.problogger.com/ and pay your 2 bucks! I hope to see you on the inside.


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While the world is getting increasingly complex, companies that follow and stick to a simple business model can fare well. Especially if they’ve built up a strong brand over the years.
Management who works to ensure that a company’s operations can stay simple will often see great results. And investors who keep their investing simple can also reap the benefits from the compounding power of a simple company not overspending to complicate its operations.
One company working on keeping things simple now is Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB). The company manufactures paper products with brands such as Kleenex, Cottonelle, and Scott.
To keep things simple, KMB now plans to condense operations to three divisions. The simpler operational model will also help the company speed up its profit growth.
Currently, Kimberly-Clark is coming off a flat year. But shares look inexpensive at 18 times forward earnings.
Action to take: Kimberly-Clark could be a great stock for long-term investors at current prices. A simpler operation structure could help boost profit margins.
Plus, KMB is a dividend growth stock, with a 3.9% dividend at today’s prices. The company has a history of growing that payout over time.
For traders, shares are likely to keep trending higher in the coming months. The July $135 calls, last trading for about $1.80, could see mid-to-high double-digit returns from a further rally in shares.
Disclosure: The author of this article has no position in the company mentioned here, but may trade after the next 72 hours. The author receives no compensation from any company mentioned in this article.


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The First Muuvr Event: Kickstarting a New Era in Sports Technology
On June 15th, nestled in the heart of Zurich at Trust Square Paradeplatz, a unique event will mark a new chapter in the world of sports technology. The inaugural Muuvr event will be a meeting of minds, a confluence of innovation and a showcase of pioneering sports tech .
Michael Hartweg, the CEO and co-founder of Muuvr, will be the first to take the stage, he will bring to life the narrative of Muuvr, mapping its evolution from an idea born of ambition and ingenuity to a transformative sports technology start-up.
Delving into the Tech
Evan Tomlin, CTO and co-founder will follow, delving into the technology that powers Muuvr. Detailing the nuts and bolts of Muuvr’s tech stack, showcasing how it’s primed to redefine connections across the sports ecosystem.
Marketing the Muuvment
James Vickers, CMO will present an intriguing glimpse into Muuvr’s marketing strategy, centred around userbase growth via strategic partnerships and network effects. James will unveil the Athlete Journey Manager – a brand dashboard set to enhance user experience significantly and offer brands a novel way to deliver relevant, personalised content.
Deciphering Tokenomics and Opportunities
Rounding up the presentations will be co-founder and investment opportunities and tokenomics expert, Claus Hilpold. Claus will explain how Muuvr presents exciting avenues for potential investors, giving insight into the tokenomics and business model.
Engaging Panel Discussion
Following the presentations, there will be a vibrant panel discussion featuring distinguished athletes and brand representatives. The collective dialogue about their anticipated evolution with Muuvr, and the role they envision playing in motivating individuals to lead healthier, more active lives.
Closing the Evening
The event will conclude with an interview with three times Swiss National Ironman Champion Jan Van Berkel as he shares details of his retirement and his preparations for the final season.
Keep an eye out for more updates from Muuvr as they continue their journey in redefining the sports technology landscape. A wave is being set in motion, and it’s time to join the Muuvment!


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- September robusta coffee fell 1.1% to $1,742 a tonne, having hit a three year high of $1,793 on Tuesday
- October raw sugar fell 0.9% to 17.27 cents per lb, having closed up 2% on Tuesday
LONDON: Arabica coffee futures on ICE hit 4-1/2 year highs on Wednesday as investors assessed the damage done to crops in top producer Brazil from frosts a day earlier, the second to hit the crop in a month.
September arabica coffee rose 0.1% to 169.90 by 1100 GMT, having earlier hit its highest since late 2016 at $171.20. The contract closed up nearly 7% on Tuesday.
September robusta coffee fell 1.1% to $1,742 a tonne, having hit a three year high of $1,793 on Tuesday.
Dealers said Brazil's coffee crop, which is still flowering, could have lost 1-2 million bags due to the frosts, which hit key coffee growing areas like Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo states.
They added however that conditions should warm to above freezing on Wednesday.
Coffee trees are extremely sensitive to frost, which kill leaves and can hamper the production potential for the next crop.
October raw sugar fell 0.9% to 17.27 cents per lb, having closed up 2% on Tuesday.
While frosts also hit some sugar cane areas in Brazil, dealers said the affected areas had already been harvested and a repeat of frosts in the same areas could not do much more damage.
Still, top sugar producer Brazil already has a smaller cane crop this year due to a drought and the frosts over the past month have further hurt production.
Dealers said on balance, shrinking Brazilian output should more than offset worries over the rapid spread of the Delta coronavirus variant, boosting sugar prices.
October white sugar fell 0.5% to $446.90 per tonne, having closed up 1.2% on Tuesday.
September London cocoa rose 2.2% to 1,594 pounds per tonne, having hit its lowest in a year last week.
Cocoa remains under pressure from this season's record output in Ghana, the world's second-biggest producer, despite some positive data on demand recovery recently.
September New York cocoa rose 0.9% to $2,278 a tonne.


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Apple is being sued by a group of iOS developers for pushing "profit-killing" commissions and fees onto App Store devs.
California-based developers Donald R. Cameron and Pure Sweat Basketball Inc. filed the class-action complaint against Apple, and take issue with the company's minimum pricing mandates, 30 percent commission rate, and annual $99 developer fee.
The lawsuit alleges the use of such fees puts Apple in direct violation of federal antitrust laws and California's unfair competition laws, and seeks to end the iPhone makers "abusive monopoly" on the distribution of iOS apps and related products.
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and is currently seeking class action status. Law firm Hagens Berman is handling the case, having previously won a suit against Apple in 2016 over the company's approach to e-book pricing.
“Between Apple's 30 percent cut of all App Store sales, the annual fee of $99 and pricing mandates, Apple blatantly abuses its market power to the detriment of developers, who are forced to use the only platform available to them to sell their iOS app," said Steve Berman, the attorney representing the proposed class of developers.
"In a competitive landscape, this simply would not happen. We think app developers should be rewarded fairly for their creations, not over-taxed by a corporate giant. After 11 years of monopoly conduct and profits, we think it’s high time that a court examine Apple’s practices on behalf of iOS app developers and take action as warranted by the law and facts."


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(The Center Square) — Yet another key inflation marker has hit its highest rate in decades, newly released federal economic data show.
The personal consumer index, a key marker of inflation, rose about half a percent in December, adding to a total 5.8% increase in the previous 12 months, according to the Department of Commerce.
That increase is the highest in nearly 40 years.
“The PCE price index for December increased 5.8 percent from one year ago, reflecting increases in both goods and services,” the Bureau of Economic Analysis said. “Energy prices increased 29.9 percent while food prices increased 5.7 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index for December increased 4.9 percent from one year ago.”
The data comes out as Americans’ pessimism about inflation hits record highs.
Gallup released polling data Wednesday reporting that 79% of surveyed Americans “predict inflation will go up,” with 50% saying it will go up “a lot.” According to Gallup, those are the most pessimistic numbers on inflation the group has ever recorded.
Meanwhile, the pollster found Americans are split on economic growth, with 40% saying it will increase and 39% saying it will decrease.
“In the past, Americans have always been more likely to say inflation will increase rather than decrease, but the current expectation is higher than usual — in fact, it is the highest Gallup has measured in its trend,” Gallup said. “The prior high was 76% in September 2005. In recent years, from 2007 through 2020, roughly six in 10 Americans have expected inflation to increase.”
President Joe Biden took fire for the inflation numbers Friday, though defenders point out that wages also rose to help offset the rising costs. Republicans have repeatedly hit Biden and other Democrats on inflation, hoping to carry those issues into the 2022 midterms.
“Every Democratic senator up for election in 2022 has voted with Joe Biden 100% of the time,” said Sen. Tom Cotton. “Voting Democratic in 2022 is voting for Biden’s record of inflation, crime, and open borders.”


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One of the most notorious cases in recent years was the finding of melamine in infant formula produced by Sanlu Group, a leading diary firm in north China, in 2008. Six babies were killed and thousands fell ill.
The bill includes a specific provision on infant formula powder. Producers will now have to test every batch of their product, conduct regular internal inspections and submit reports to regulators.
National outcry surrounding this incident brought about the first Food Safety Law in 2009 but public confidence in domestic baby formula has never been fully restored.
Such is China's demand for baby formula that several countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Germany, have introduced quota on milk powder exports to China. Stricter legislation and tighter scrutiny are expected to help restore the reputation of the industry.
Diary firms are also asked to register the formula of their baby milk powder and source of ingredients to provincial regulatory agencies. They are forbidden from outsourcing production.


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Google is promising a new vision for the future of gaming, and we'll be hearing all about it next week.
Google has released a brief teaser to let everyone know to tune in for the company's GDC 2019 keynote. The presentation will be streamed live on Tuesday, March 19 at 10am PT, 1pm ET, 5pm UK.
Google said it'll be unveiling its "vision for the future of gaming," but didn't reveal much else. This is actually the second time the company brought attention to its GDC event, after initially sending out invites to developers, and some in the media.
Google is expected to officially reveal Project Stream, the game streaming service it's been trialling recently. It's possible the company has more than just a streaming box planned, however unlikely.
Earlier this week, a patent for a controller - presumably designed to go with the new box - leaked online, which indicates we're closer than ever to the big moment.
And, if all of that isn't enough evidence, Google is showing how serious it is about gaming by hiring Jade Raymond, former Assassin's Creed, and EA Motive boss. Raymond, who recently left EA, announced her new position on Twitter.
I’m excited to finally be able to share that I have joined Google as VP!
— Jade Raymond (@ibjade) March 12, 2019


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Japan’s Nikkei today reported that Sanyo Electric Co. will increase spending on rechargeable batteries and solar
Price Pulse: Compare Hybrid Prices
Compare prices, waiting lists, and deposit info with your fellow hybrid car shoppers. The difference between buying from the dealer next door, and the guy two towns over, could be thousands of dollars and several months.
> Go to Price Pulse


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So, you’ve been itching to get your hands on a new Google Android phone, but you don’t want to break the bank in the process, nor do you want to sign a lengthy contract. Wind has you covered, because they’ve just released the Huawei U8100. This touchscreen smartphone is the first Google Android smartphone to be made available through Wind Mobile in Canada and you can get it for just $160. As with all Wind phones, that’s sans contract, making it one of the most affordable Android phones on the market today.
The features are pretty standard fare for an Android phone; with quick access to Google applications, Google Maps with GPS, and a customizable main screen. The specs aren’t the best with just a 3.2MP camera and QVGA display, but it is cheap, and it comes with Android 2.1 out of the box.
Photo: Wind’s 8100 will be available only in Black.


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Blueberries were the most exported agricultural food in Mexico
during the first quarter of this year, producing over 70,000 tons and representing 15 percent of Mexican berry exports, according to Horticultivos.
The crop has shown growth exceeding 20 percent in recent years, both in growing area and in production.
Currently, about 97 percent of production is exported, or 68,300 tons, to 31 destinations. The main market is the U.S., but it includes important developing countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, and the UAE, among others.
Organic production has taken great relevance globally, with a 15 percent of the blueberry area in Mexico (around 3,360 acres) currently produced organically. About 10,500 tons of organic blueberries have been exported during the current season.


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WhatsApp wants to retain the title of “the most popular and important messaging app in the world” with a new configuration that many of its users have been waiting for.
Since the app was released in 2009, there is already more than that Two billion people Those registered with this messaging service may have stopped or reduced that number in the coming months.
Due to a dispute over WhatsApp’s new terms and conditions, unconfirmed rumors suggest that the app will have full control over its users’ privacy and will use this information to make a profit. Telegram.
For this reason, for WhatsApp, it is very important to get back the people who left the app, and it seems that a new technology on its platform will solve this.
This was reported Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and WhatsApp CEO Will Catchcart, In an interview with the special media ‘WABetainfo’ confirming that the device will call “Multi-tool” It aims to use WhatsApp account on many devices without having to connect to the main internet.
According to WABetainfo, this idea stems from the need to have the services of a messaging app, regardless of the availability of a basic device and network connectivity. With “multi-tool”, The user can link up to four devices simultaneously, Each gained complete independence from the others.
This way, the smartphone on which the app is installed does not need to have internet and can use the WhatsApp web; Holding open sessions on multiple computers or other devices at the same time will not be a hindrance.
Likewise, this new option will allow migration of chat history between Apple (iOS) and any mobile with Android operating system.
“Synchronizing all your messages and content is a big technical challenge”
Finally, the directors of Facebook and WhatsApp have assured that voice and video calls will work on any of the linked devices, however, the selected device must be connected to the Internet.
Now, according to Facebook, this WhatsApp device is part of a new update available for beta testers for Apple and Google operating systems in about two months.
Functionalities still show or cause some errors Bugs And that they are somewhat limited in relation to the goal to be achieved. One of these drawbacks is the inability to access multiple cell phones at the same time. Thus, it is only possible at this moment WhatsApp Web, WhatsApp Desktop, Portal Share session with main cell phone.
However, in the Alpha version it is expected that two smartphones will already be able to connect to each other at the same time, or on similar devices Tablets.
Note: To enjoy all the options, the user must have the latest WhatsApp update.
Problem solver. Incurable bacon specialist. Falls down a lot. Coffee maven. Communicator.


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EMC inks deal to buy software provider ScaleIO
HOPKINTON, Mass. (AP) — EMC Corp., which makes Data storage equipment, said Thursday that it reached a deal to buy storage software company ScaleIO.
Specific financial terms of the all-cash deal were not disclosed, but EMC said it doesn’t expect the addition of the privately held company to have a measurable effect on its fiscal 2013 results.
EMC said the combination of its own flash cards and ScaleIO’s highly scalable server software — a term that implies the software can handle a large increase in users and/or workload — will boost its product offerings.
When the deal closes, ScaleIO will become part of EMC’s flash product division.
EMC shares rose 3 cents to $24.49 in morning trading.


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Contrary to popular opinion, homes for sale in the winter sell faster and for more money than during any other season, according to Redfin.
In Baltimore, homes listed during the winter sell within six months 54 percent of the time, according to the online real estate brokerage. That number falls to 43 percent during summer, 45 percent during spring and 46 percent during fall.
"The data contradicts the popular sentiment that selling a home during winter is more difficult because there are fewer people looking to buy. Further, the advantage of selling a home in winter holds true in temperate climates as well as those with harsh winters," Redfin said in a statement.
Houses sold during the winter also fetch 1.2 percent more money than those sold during any other season.
Although it might be true that people prefer to shop for houses during warmer months, Redfin agent Paul Stone said in a statement there are reasons why winter buyers push up sale prices.
“There are plenty of people who need to buy a home in the winter, whether it’s because of a job relocation or major family change, like a new baby," Stone said. "These buyers want to get into a home quickly, and are sometimes willing to pay top dollar."
There are extra incentives for buyers to jump quickly this winter. The improving economy and shifting Federal Reserve policies likely will lead to sharp increases in mortgage rates during the coming months.


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P1Harmony have released the full version of “Breakthrough,” the intro of their debut EP, Disharmony: Stand Out.
The track dropped alongside a vibrant music video, which was created in collaboration with fashion magazine DAZED Korea. The clip, which is titled “Mix Harmony,” features the boyband performing powerful choreography on a neon-lit set.
“In Mix Harmony, P1Harmony collaborated with designer Yoon KD, 1MILLION choreographer Lee Yoojung and art director May Kim who are professionals of three key areas, such as fashion, performance and artwork in order to showcase the digital single ‘Breakthrough’ in a visual output,” reads a statement for the release.
Back in October, P1Harmony made their debut with their first EP, Disharmony: Stand Out. The group hail from FNC Entertainment, which is also home to groups like SF9, Cherry Bullet and CNBlue.
Watch the video for “Breakthrough” here:


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25 Aug 2013 David Noriega
The Witcher 2: Assassin Of Kings
Don’t come thinking “ooo Dwarves, Elves, Magic!”, instead prepare yourself for sexually ambiguous monarchs, monsters with depression, morally grey despots, racism, adultery and bloody murder. Modern gaming should stop and take a long hard look at The Witcher 2.
17 Apr 2012 Jim Cross
Tomasz Gop announces brand new RPG in conjunction with new studio Deck13.
5 Apr 2012 Matt Mann
Online retailer set to stock signed copies of The Witcher 2 for its launch on Xbox 360
5 Apr 2012 Harriet Jones
We look forward to the upcoming Enhanced edition of The Witcher 2, set for release to consoles very soon.
29 Mar 2012 Jim Cross
Our video game reporter Matt Mann chronicles his top five gaming titles of the past 12 months...
1 Jan 2012 Matt Mann
The follow up to the notorious Demon's Souls will lure you in and break your spirit. Prepare to die.
9 Oct 2011 Ed Moorhouse
Witcher 2 was one of the best received RPGs this year and it sold very well so no real surprise a threequel is coming.
26 Sep 2011 Matt Mann
PC users who buy a retail copy of Battlefield 3 will still be forced to use the EA's digital distribution service Origin to play the game.
12 Aug 2011 Matt Mann
"The extra time will allow us to polish the title to perfection" as the game is pushed back to the first quarter of next year.
1 Aug 2011 Matt Mann
If we as an industry are going to move away from originality for monetary reasons, isn't there money to be had by trying to duplicate some of what makes the Mass Effect series so special?
17 Jul 2011 Matt Mann
The next six months are about to be filled with more RPG goodness than any one mere mortal could comprehend. Thankfully we’ve prepared a guide for you...
11 Jul 2011 Phillip Aram


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Intel raised its third-quarter revenue forecast and said global demand for computing products was stronger than expected, sending its shares up sharply.
The news helped the stock market open higher, setting the stage for the chip sector to help the market shake off last week's losses.
Shares of Rival Advanced Micro Devices also climbed.
Intel, the world's biggest chipmaker, said it sees third-quarter revenue between $9.4 billion and $9.8 billion, up from its previous range of $9.0 billion to $9.6 billion.
Analyst had expected revenue to be about $9.38 billion, according to Reuters Estimates.
Intel also said that its gross margin in the period would be in the upper half of the previous range of "52% plus or minus a couple of points."


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HP and Samsung are taking very different approaches for business users with flagship phones announced at Mobile World Congress, and it all has to do with the underlying Android and Windows 10 Mobile platforms the devices run on.
Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge could be tuned for futuristic business applications involving virtual reality headsets and wearables. The Elite X3 on the other hand is heavily tied to a large PC user base running classic Windows applications.
The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are already popular in enterprises, but Samsung is looking ahead. The use of virtual reality in enterprises is still being explored, but the smartphones -- with the help of headset and camera accessories -- can help real-estate agents shoot 3D home tours or train employees in conducting certain tasks or troubleshooting problems. Samsung introduced this week at Mobile World Congress the Gear 360 3D camera, which helps shoot 3D videos, and already offers the Gear VR headset through which to watch the videos.
Samsung also foresees the S7 phones working with its Android Wear and Tizen wearables so businesses can be more efficient. For example, sensors could detect when a bank customer wearing a Gear smartwatch enters a branch, and alert the manager. The manager could immediately order the preparation of reports for the customer, which could save time and money. Samsung said it has a special custom deployments unit working to implement such usage.
Protecting business data is important, and the S7s have better security features than the S6. The smartphones have Knox 2.6, an improved security layer built into Android that taps into OS and chip features to secure a device. Smartphone users have a special workplace on the S7 from which to access secured enterprise apps. Knox now supports the Android for Work program, and applications can be deployed directly into the workspace by system administrators from the enterprise version of the Google Play store.
On its part, HP views its 5.96-inch Elite X3 as a smartphone that can also be a laptop. The device is designed for business users familiar with and tied heavily to applications running on the Windows desktop.
HP is providing multiple accessories so the smartphone can turn into a full-fledged PC. The accessories includes a smartphone dock that can be hooked up to a larger display, and a "Mobile Extender" that enables computing from the smartphone on a 12.5-inch laptop-like device. Microsoft's Continuum enables smartphone applications to run on larger screens.
Key to the success of Elite X3 is for traditional x86 Windows desktops applications to work on the smartphone, which has an ARM-based chip. HP is providing services so Windows programs can be brought to the Azure cloud, from where the smartphone can access applications.
HP is also working with companies like Salesforce to build applications specific to its device. HP executives said it will develop more enterprise services over time.
HP views virtual reality as a big part of the future, but a company executive said there are no such usage models designed for the handset yet. HP -- which is returning to the smartphone market after a hiatus -- has a long way to go before it catches up with Samsung, which offers more location, geo-tagging and mobile-device management features.


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The Nexus 5 is ready in waiting and we know the specs
Kris Carlon comes to the AndroidPIT Editorial Team via a lengthy period spent traveling and relying on technology to keep him in touch with the outside world. He joined the Android community while resurfacing in civilization back in 2010 and has never looked back, using technology to replace his actual presence in other people's lives ever since. He can usually be found juggling three phones at once and poring over G+ posts, Reddit and RSS feeds.
So that's where it's been all this time, hiding in the Great White North. We know the big reveal is only a matter of days away now, and if you believe some, hours, as there is a Google+ event scheduled for today, before we see the big announcement of the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 along with the Nexus 10 and possibly also the Gem smartwatch. There's not much else to know, but this is like seeing the presents under the tree on Christmas morning. I just wanna tear into those boxes and die in an ecstasy of geeky giddiness.
Pallets of Nexus 5's have appeared in a photo of an LG distribution warehouse in Canada and one of the shiny new boxes was plucked out to show off the retail packaging which looks just like the image we saw a little while ago. There's apparently 30,000 of the new Google flasgship spread across the country. The full specs of the new device are about as confirmed as it's possible to get now too, with a pre-registration page appearing on Wind Mobile's Facebook page in Canada. All the leaks and slips and ridiculously obvious publicity stunts and so on have painted a picture of the Nexus 5 so perfect there's nothing left to know, and Google has probably spent zero dollars so far on advertizing.
Just to ''confirm'' what we already know, here's the technical specifications pulled from the pre-registration page of Wind Mobile's Facebook page:
Are you happy with everything you've seen? What are your thoughts on the way the Nexus 5 has been systematically leaked to death?


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BAYAN LEPAS, September 14 – The World Congress on Innovation and Technology 2022 (WCIT 2022) that taken place in Penang kick off from 13- 15 September 2022 is on the run to enter the Malaysia Book of Records. PIKOM, the organizer of The WCIT 2022 has announced that they have over-achieved the target of delegates with more than 200 speakers and 4,000 registered participants including Industry Visionaries, Government Officials, Captains of Industry, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Academicians and Media from over 60 countries.
Yesterday’s Opening Ceremony commenced with one of the world’s largest and most prestigious innovation and technology summits also featured more than 500 technology brands, occupying an exhibition space exceeding 6,500-square-metres. At the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Sean Seah, Chairman of PIKOM and Organizing Chairman of WCIT 2022, proudly said, “This highly complex congress serves as a testament to the dynamic nature of WCIT, with multiple global stakeholders coming together to make this edition a resounding success.
Often referred to as the “Olympics of the global Information, Communications and Technology Industry”, WITSA’s 26th Edition of the WCIT was hosted in Penang. The congress was officiated by His Excellency Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak, Governor of Penang; the Right Honourable Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia; and the Right Honourable Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang this morning at SETIA Spice Convention Centre.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has expressed his confidence that the country has the ability to achieve the RM 70 Billion Digital Investment by 2025 which is in line with the Digital Economy Blueprint. Malaysia play a very important role as a Digital Investment Hub in Asean with World Class Infrastructure, Digital Ecosystem and Skilled Digital Talent, Malaysia can also be the Digital Investment destination in Asean,” he said during the officiate of World Congress on Innovation & Technology (WCIT 2022).
The MSC Malaysia initiative which was launched back in 1996 had attracted the Digital Investments that worth RM 384 Billion, generated 180,000 Jobs and RM 588 Billion in revenue. MSC Malaysia has been rebrand as Malaysia Digital (MD) after 26 years and which will transform the National Digital Ecosystem. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Malaysia Digital (MD) was launch back in July and it had manage to attract Direct Digital Investment that worth RM 52 Billion in two months time.
The investment were from 28 Foreign Companies involving in Data Centres, IT Services, Technological Creative Content and Global Business Services which created more than 6,000 High Value Jobs with total of RM 4.76 Billion up to August 24, 2022. The three-day congress will present four stages that involves business forums, roundtable discussions, interactive panels and keynote speakers, centred around topics such as new innovative technology, NFTs, Smart City development, SpaceTech, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, 5G, EduTech, Blockchain, HealthTech, E-Commerce and the furtherance of ASEAN’s economic growth post-pandemic.
Delegates, speakers, partners and visitors of WCIT 2022 along with the local Penangites will be able to witness a 688 Drone Light Show programmed by our official Malaysian Drone Partner Drone-Sifu on the eve of Malaysia Day, followed by a 6-Minute Choreographed Musical Firework with Penang Port Cruise Terminal being the Prime Spot to view the spectacle on 15 September at 10.30 pm. WCIT 2022 will also feature the WITSA Global Innovation and Tech Excellence Awards 2022 on 14 September 2022.


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Electronics Production | February 22, 2006
Automation benefits Teknoprod
Mid-volume EMS-provider Teknoprod increasies its focus on manufacturing of robotics systems and automation equipment. Nowadays demand for such products is high thus more and more western European companies chose to automise its production to stay competitive against their Asian rivals.
Half of Teknoprod's sales come through manufacturing of robotics system and automation equipment. Robotics systems has increased by 23 % and automation equipment has increased by 40 % during the latest year. Teknoprod's turnover in 2005 was 20 MEUR and the profit was 0,6 MEUR. Teknoprod reinvests all profit. A new production unit for Teknosystem, the subcidiary of Teknoprod, is under development outside Warsaw in Poland. Teknoprod also plans to open another sales office in Göteborg, Sweden during this spring. Teknoprod currently has production units in Poland and Sweden. The picture shows Teknosystems' new unit in Poland.


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Select AMC locations to air UFC 264 Poirier vs. McGregor live
While some are mulling whether to spend $70 dollars on a PPV, a new option has emerged, as American Multi-Cinema (AMC), the largest cinema chain in North America, has announced that it will be airing UFC 264 live from 95 of its locations across the country.
Tickets will cost $25 per person, says CEO Adam Aron, making it more affordable than a PPV.
This is not the first time the theater chain has tried its hand at airing live events. They had also done this for the Mayweather vs. McGregor crossover fight.
UFC 264 – a rare Sunday event for the UFC – will be taking place on July 11th, and while there are many interesting fights on offer, all eyes will be on the main event; the rubber match between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor.


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The crypto community in India has been tapping into international crypto exchanges after domestic players found themselves embroiled in legal troubles in the country. US-based crypto exchange, Binance, headed by Changpeng Zhao, has achieved 429,000 downloads in India as of August this year. With this, the international crypto exchange has overtaken its rivals Coinbase, FTX and Coinmarketcap to gain downloads from Indian investors. Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower has highlighted this detail.
Development Binance CEO Zhao claimed that it does not wholly own the Indian exchange WazirX, which is under investigation in India over allegations of alleged money laundering. those days. Zhao had indicated that he had a role in the closure of WazirX and asked Indian users to migrate to the main Binance platform to facilitate the exchange.
While Binance has registered a surge in its India-focused user base, WazirX’s monthly downloads declined to 92,000 in August from around 596,000 in January. Bloomberg report states,
Indian crypto investors have been brought under the tax regime this year. Community members have been paying 30 percent tax on transactions of virtual digital assets since April.
Later in May, India also implemented a one percent tax deduction on every crypto transaction, including every purchase and deposit of crypto assets.
In the backdrop of these tax laws taking effect, CoinDCX downloads declined to 163,000 in August, from 2.2 million in January, and Coinbase downloads declined to 16,000 in August, from around 31,000 in June.
As reported by Bloomberg, Binance has emerged as the most downloaded international crypto exchange with its low fees, various offerings, and a popular peer-to-peer marketplace for facilitating movement between tokens and cash.
The crypto exchange established in 2017, is striving to become the most licensed crypto exchange in the world.
The company has already obtained operating licenses in Kazakhstan, France and UAE.
Back in July, Binance Labs investment director Ken Lee told Gadgets 360 in an interview that the company was actively monitoring the Indian market to grab lucrative business opportunities.


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Trans World benefits from online sales
Acquisition pushes Albany company's sales up 16 percent
Albany's Trans World Entertainment Corp., which for decades made its money by selling music and videos at suburban malls, is starting to like online retailing — a lot.
Trans World, which owns the fye chain of pop culture stores, says its recent acquisition of the online retailing company etailz made the biggest impact to its sales figures this Christmas.
Trans World acquired the Spokane, Wash., company in October for $75 million.
Since then, etailz, which runs several e-commerce websites and operates a consulting business, had $26 million in sales.
That helped Trans World boost its overall sales 16 percent to $116 million, more than offsetting a 10 percent drop in sales at its fye stores.
Trans World CEO Mike Feurer says that declines in mall traffic are hurting retailers like fye, which is why the company has also made a huge push into online sales.
"Our sales results demonstrate the benefit and potential of our acquisition of etailz," Feurer said. "Our sales growth is directly attributable to the diversification of our business into the fastest growing segment of retail, the digital marketplace."
Shares (Nasdaq: TWMC) gained 10 cents to close at $2.80 on Thursday.
firstname.lastname@example.org • 518-454-5504 • @larryrulison


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| Jun 13, 2012
| 4:36 PM
Like many of his classmates at DePaul University, John Barley spent his breaks living with his parents. But for Barley, that meant staying at their …...
| Oct 1, 2012
| 9:32 PM
He has to be one of the most understated personalities on television. But Lt. Joe Kenda (retired) made a solid impression on viewers with the premiere season of Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda, and he’s returning to his nightmares and to...
| Mar 11, 2012
| 6:54 PM
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Turtles, rum and glistening white-sand beaches.
A toast to sun-splashed Barbados and three of its biggest attractions.
Turtle snorkels in Barbados are very popular. Tourists on a boat don snorkels and masks and quickly enter...
| Mar 20, 2012
| 6:54 AM
Peabody Heights Brewery, formerly called Charm City Brewing Company, has signed a lease this month for a bottling plant near Waverly, in the Abell neighborhood.
The lease puts it one step closer to becoming the first large-scale brewery to open within...
| Apr 5, 2012
| 4:00 AM
Craft brewer 16 Mile Brewing Company has launched six packs in Baltimore.
The Georgetown, Del.-based brewer, now three years old, stopped producing its signature 22-ounce aluminum bottles and shifted to six packs last fall.
Southern Maryland was...
| Apr 7, 2012
The former bottling plant in the Abell neighborhood has been all but abandoned for years. The Beverage Capital Corp. sign outside has faded. The white office walls have yellowed. A nearby mechanic uses the space that used to hold the bottling line as a...
| Dec 15, 2011
| 5:00 PM
Michigan State Senate passed a bill today that means one popular West Michigan brewery would be able to continue to operate its cafe while continuing to grow.
Currently, breweries with restaurants are allowed to operate under a Class C license, which...
| Jan 1, 2012
"Back again, back again, we've got Franklin D. Roosevelt back again, since Roosevelt's been re-elected moonshine liquor's been corrected, we've got legal wine, whiskey, beer and gin." —Recorded by Bill Cox in 1936
Happy New Year!
Oh, I'm sorry....
| Jan 6, 2012
| 1:24 PM
MILWAUKEE — At the turn of the 20th century, Milwaukee was in its heyday. Its thriving breweries, tanneries and manufacturers provided good jobs, and its many tradespeople and craftsmen built quality housing.
Some of the houses were more...
| Jan 29, 2012
Think of what follows as a travel tapas buffet — tidbits that just might whet your appetite for more. Here are a dozen pieces of information for the 2012 traveler.
1. You will know how much you'll pay to check your bags when you're flying. The...
| Oct 10, 2012
| 10:05 AM
NEW YORK -- Cattle farmers struggling with record corn prices are feeding their cows candy instead.
That's right, candy. Cows are being fed chocolate bars, gummy worms, ice cream sprinkles, marshmallows, bits of hard candy and even powdered hot chocolate...


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No action will be taken against the beer license of Archer’s Food Center in Norris by the city’s Beer Board in the wake of a state undercover “sting” operation in April during which an Archer’s clerk sold wine to an underage customer.
The Norris City Council, sitting as the Beer Board, decided during a special meeting last Friday that it did not need to do anything in conjunction with the sting operation, because that involved the grocer’s wine license, which is issued and managed by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
City Manager Scott Hackler told the council members that the city’s legal counsel had advised that the Beer Board did not have a role to play in the aftermath of the sting, which has already resulted in the ABC fining Archer’s $1,500 for the violation.
The clerk who sold the wine, who was not identified, was charged with a criminal misdemeanor offense of selling alcohol to a minor and cited to appear in General Sessions Court. The outcome of that case was not disclosed by Hackler or state ABC officials.
Archer’s owner Wayne Chaniott said the store was informed of the violation right away, and said it was merely an oversight.
“It was my best young college student cashier, who’s usually right on top of things,” he said, adding that she made a mistake when calculating the purchaser’s age from the ID.
“It’s just one of those things,” Chaniott said. “We’re glad everything’s fine now.”
In Tennessee, cities and counties issue beer sales permits, but all wine sales permits for grocery stores come from the ABC, which also polices any violations of its rules, Hackler said.
Brent Clayton, deputy ABC chief, told the Courier News that during an ABC undercover operation at Archer’s on April 11, the unnamed clerk sold wine to a customer who presented an ID showing that he was just under 21, which is the minimum age to buy wine in Tennessee.
“We do these ‘minor compliance checks’ all over the state during normal business hours,” Clayton said. “This one was conducted under our USTOP program, which means ‘Underage Sales Tennessee’s Operational Plan.’”
It was Archer’s first violation under the state’s new wine-in-grocery-stores law, which took effect in 2016, Clayton said.
“On a first violation, the establishment will get a regulatory citation, and the server will get a criminal violation to be heard in criminal court,” he said, adding that the normal fine for the establishment is $1,500, which Archer’s paid in July.
In most cases, the violation is a simple oversight by the merchant, rather than a deliberate act of selling alcohol to a minor, Clayton said.
“What I see in a lot of these cases is young people who can’t do the math in their head, or they get confused on the dates when checking an ID,” he said.
“Rarely do we see anyone doing it intentionally.”
Clayton said that the local beer board could opt to act on its own against an offending business even if the violation was for wine and not beer.
“If a beer board cites one of our establishments [for selling beer to a minor], we sometimes will cite them as well, if we’re notified,” Clayton said.
As for the ABC sting operations, “If we didn’t do these checks, people would get more lax in checking IDs,” he said.
Hackler said the city manager nor the City Council was notified about the Archer’s violation, although the police chief at the time knew it had happened.
“The chief should have made us aware of it,” he told the council. He also noted that it was not the current chief who failed to pass the information along.
Clayton said Tennessee law requires that all purchasers of alcoholic beverages in retail stores show ID to verify their age before the clerk can make the sale.
That rule applies only to retail sales, he added, noting that in bars and restaurants, the server can make an observed determination of a person’s age before requiring ID.


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Korea, Singapore begin talks on digital trade agreement 2020-06-23
Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee (right) talked with her Singaporean counterpart Chan Chun Sing via videoconference on June 22, to start negotiations on the Korea-Singapore Digital Partnership Agreement (KSDPA), the first digital trade deal for Korea.
Trade Minister Yoo said that the agreement is expected to help ease digital trade barriers between the two countries and enhance global competitiveness of new technology-based Korean firms.
The first official round of negotiations will be held in mid-July.
- Minister Sung meets with Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister for investment and foreign economic affairs 2020-07-07
- Korea launches hydrogen economy drive to foster hydrogen-related businesses 2020-07-01
- Trade Minister Yoo announces bid to run for WTO director-general 2020-06-24
- Korea, Singapore begin talks on digital trade agreement 2020-06-23
- Minister Sung holds joint conference with OECD chief to discuss post-corona trade orders 2020-06-18
- Minister Sung holds emergency meeting after explosion of inter-Korean liaison office 2020-06-17
- Minister Sung holds webinar on Korea’s COVID-19 response to make “K-quarantine model” global standard 2020-06-16
- Minister Sung holds meeting to discuss post-corona cooperative strategy for automakers 2020-06-15


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Dozens of charges were laid after York Region police seized about $150 million worth of illegal cannabis, Sgt. Andy Pattenden said.
Investigators with the organized crime bureau — guns, gangs and drug enforcement unit — laid the charges as part of Project Green Sweep, which took place over the summer, he said.
The project, which was part of the police service’s cannabis enforcement strategy, saw officers conduct 15 search warrants at various cannabis grow operations throughout York Region, including Markham, King, Stouffville and East Gwillimbury.
Those search warrants resulted in 37 arrests and 67 charges, Pattenden said.
Several exotic animals, including three kangaroos and two zebras were also at a location in Schomberg. Animal control was notified and is investigating.
He said investigators believe organized crime continues to exploit the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulation, which allows some designated growers to grow hundreds of plants and store hundreds of kilograms of harvested cannabis for personal use.
Licensed growers can pool up to four grow licences per address and turn a single production site into a cannabis farm, Pattenden said.
Police are alleging that all the cannabis grown and harvested at the identified locations was destined to be sold in the criminal market.
Organized crime networks have embedded themselves in the business, capitalizing and exploiting loopholes in the current legislation. Proceeds derived from the illicit cannabis trade often fund other facets of these crime groups, including the distribution of other illicit drugs and firearms, Pattenden said.
Officers seized nearly 29,000 plants and nearly 1,800 kilograms of harvested cannabis with a total street value of about $150 million. Seven firearms, two crossbows and a conducted energy weapon were also seized.
“The illegal production of illicit cannabis is a growing problem in York Region and our citizens regularly call to report these large-scale indoor and outdoor grow operations,” police Chief Jim MacSween said in a statement.
“Organized crime continues to exploit an outdated Health Canada medical licensing system, which is generating tremendous profit that we know is resulting in violence and funding other criminal activity in our community.”


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Nutritional fast food?
Traditional fast food company Talosto has launched a new line of healthy convenience food containing the ideal ration for nutrition.
Why it matters
Healthy food has become so sought after that even convenience food manufacturers are dramatically shifting their product offering. Will fast food brands need to completely change their identity to survive people’s changing attitudes towards food?
Sometimes we use more chemical ingredients than our skin actually needs. That’s why Sanex Zero% contains only what your skin needs and nothing more. And with its eco pack it’s better for the environment too.
A new t-shirt can fix your posture; this tension-sensitive shirt notifies the wearer with a small vibration if it detects a slouched position.


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NRA Chicago Restaurant Kiosks and Conversational AI in May NRA is our next show (May in Chicago). Visit our NRA page. We’ll be in the Tech Pavilion in booth 6475. If you are interested in a free pass, would like to meet or just reconnecting, drop me an email or call (720-324-1837). We will also be holding Kiosk… Read More »
Bluestar and Zivelo Partnership News FOR IMMEDIATE USE Scottsdale, AZ (October 2, 2018) – World-class kiosk manufacturer ZIVELO (best known for providing kiosks to McDonald’s across North America) is proud to announce the completion of a Distribution Partnership with BlueStar to streamline the company’s ability to meet increasing demand. Founded in 1929 with a network of over 12,000… Read More »
McDonald’s Kiosk Accessibility We don’t normally see kiosk-related content on the DailyKos but this week a couple of nice videos surfaced on McDonald’s kiosk accessibility and in particular Low Vision and the magnifier. To top it off for McDonald’s videos, we’ve included one from the new robotic server in Dallas. Robotics are NOT going away and will just… Read More »
McDonald’s and its local franchisees are combining to invest $111 million in physical and technological upgrades at 140 Colorado restaurants this year and next, the company has announced.Click here to edit the content
The work, which ranges from remodeling to complete rebuilds, is part of a $6 billion modernization effort McDonald’s will roll out across the U.S. by the end 2020, according to a news release issued Tuesday.
The work includes:
• Adding self-order kiosks to make ordering and paying easier
• Creation of new counters that allow workers to bring food to customers at the table
• Creation of designated parking spots for mobile order pick-ups
• Expanded McCafé counters and new digital menu boards
• New dining room decorations and updated exteriors
McDonald’s has more than 200 independently owned locations in Colorado, according to the company. State Senate President Kevin Grantham, R-Canon City, called the company “a leader in job creation and economic growth,” in Tuesday’s release.
Reprinted with permission from QSRweb. Link Nov. 18, 2016 | by Shelly Whitehead McDonald’s took one giant leap into its digital future this week, saying it’s switching to self-serve order stations and table delivery for all U.S. in-restaurant dining, and will soon roll out a new mobile order and pay system for the drive-thru. The huge burger-centric chain… Read More »
Posiflex to Unveil Slim Self-Service Kiosk and Next-Generation Models of its Flagship Point-of-Sale Order Terminal Line Posiflex is pleased to join National Retail Federation at NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show in New York City on January 15, 2023 in booth #5502. Posiflex will showcase next-generation POS terminals from its popular RT Series: the RT2015-G2 and RT2016-G2. In addition,… Read More »
Samsung Kiosk Windows NRF 2023 News Samsung visualizes the future of connected retail with updates to its display technology including the NEW Samsung Kiosk Windows 10 IoT Enterprise edition — Press Release — This has been expected since the original came out with the Tizen unit which is the essential media player for Samsung displays. You can see… Read More »
ADA Self-Service News The U.S. Access Board conducted a very in-depth review of accessibility design for retail and restaurants in February 2023. For more information you can email [email protected] – we offer free consulting and advice. There were several areas of interest we found in the 2-hour webinar, including: Queues and Waiting Lines Self service shelves (pickup at… Read More »
Taco Bell Cantina Kiosks Design elements marry old Hollywood architecture with Taco Bell’s modern Cantina experience – now open on Hollywood Boulevard Editors Note: We are pretty sure the actual kiosks (seen in ABC video below) are by Elo. Elo does the NYC cantina.) IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Roll out the purple carpet, as Taco Bell has opened its doors to… Read More »
Shake Shack Kiosks From Yahoo Finance Jan 2023 Tagline – Shake Shack’s outlook for 2023: more locations, more sales—and drive-thrus Looking for a $10 burger? Most chains cannot stop themselves from uttering the phrase “AI” or “robotics” for that matter. Interesting areas here are the relentless focus on drive-thru, kiosks improving margins (albeit cashless) and using kiosks to… Read More »
Fast Food Technology News Bit of news on the restaurant front and as usual it is the smaller chains that are headlining the news. One prediction related to all this that I will make is that given the new generative Chatgpt, VR and the Super Bowl commercial that it won’t be long before some celebrity takes your order… Read More »
Kiosk Meaning What does the word kiosk mean? It meant one thing 600 years ago. 1620s, “kind of open pavilion” (made of light wood, etc., often supported by pillars), from French kiosque (17c.), which is (along with German and Polish kiosk) from Turkish koshk, kiöshk “pavilion, summer house,” from Persian kushk “palace, villa; pavilion, portico.” They were introduced in Western Europe 17c. as ornaments in gardens… Read More »
See on Scoop.it – Kiosk & Kiosks McDonald’s Kiosks in Action. As a follow up to this post, Battling Higher Minimum Wages: McDonald’s Just Bought Touch Screen Cashier Kiosks for Its 7,000 European Locations, EPJ reader Kingsley Edwards tweets:. Craig Allen Keefner‘s insight: Includes link to picture of unit in Belgium. I am surprised at the size… Read More »
The effect of recent minimum-wage increases isn’t yet clear, but increased use of automation technology is likely to be a result. By Richard Slawsky for Kiosk Industry Group As California and New York each prepare to raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour, operators of quick service and fast casual restaurants as well as other small… Read More »
Fast-food chain McDonald’s spending $557 million to add self-order kiosk for self-service to restaurants in Germany.
72 “restaurants of the future” to launch. By end of 2019 McDonalds figures on having most of its 1400+ sites done. New gourmet burgers are making inroads and McDonalds is losing customers and share.
In the US it is estimated self-ordering kiosks in the U.S. number 600 which plans to expand that to 1,000 by years end.
Minimum Wage Kiosks and Kiosk Self-Order From Marketwatch an article referencing new study on Minimum Wage impacts — nice article from Marketwatch looking at the results from 2021 Princeton study on the effects of raising minimum wage. The usual most vocal critics are people like Andy Puzder back in the day that he ran Carl Jrs. Labor costs… Read More »
Self-order kiosks in restaurants dominated reader interest in 2017 as several national foodservice chains announced kiosk deployments.
Writeup on most read stories on KMC this past year by Elliot Maras.
1. best read story in 2017 was a summary of self-serve kiosk introductions at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago.
2. The second best read story addressed disability access lawsuits, an ongoing issue that continues to dog self-service technology.
3. Redbox announced plans to add 1,500 kiosks.
The usual “we are going to launch” PRs.
KFC to launch 5,000 kiosks with facial recognition to predict customers’ orders in China. Interesting that they have partnered with Baidu (BIDU).
Subway and McDonalds of course.
I think here in December a lot of buzz for Taco Bell and YUM has been percolating. One might think they have issued an RFP…
very nice order kiosks in Rome centre Piazza di Spagna. 11 wall mounted 32″ kiosks installed to prevent queues. very nice
McDonald’s Kiosk News McDonald’s this week described plans to install self-ordering kiosks and mobile ordering at its restaurants. It isn’t the only food chain turning to automation. Source: www.computerworld.com Good article using Chili’s. McDonalds in the U.S. has been a bit of a luddite but then there isn’t any usage date from Europe come to think of it.… Read More »
The Winter Garden location has increased from 50 employees to almost 70 since the kiosks were added two months ago.
“I would say that, for the employees, it’s actually allowed them to interact on their terms,” Watson said regarding how it has benefitted the employees at his store. “It’s a little more of a personal experience. We used to have a 6-step process on greeting customers, like robotic, you (did) these steps over and over again. … Now it’s more personalized (because) we allow the employees to engage with the customers and greet them within reason. So a younger employee will greet a younger customer with ‘Hey man, what’s up?’”
McDonalds Kiosks Update From Chicago and NRA Josef Schneider(Entrepreneur / Tech Geek) • Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.“ Team Pyramid Computer GmbH North America checking out McDonald’s innovation stores near Chicago prior to National Restaurant Association show. Always great to see kiosks at… Read More »
McDonald’s Drive-Thru Outdoor LCD Failures Worth noting the noting of this isotropic screen failure at McDonalds Drive-Thru in California (Sep2020). Further investigation points to a Samsung OH55F, which given the specifications, is surprising. Our guess is the vendor supplying these is Coates and we have sent a query to them asking about this. August 2022 Update Another example… Read More »
In truth, nearly 90% of McDonald’s locations are independently-owned by franchisees who aren’t making “millions” in profit.
Makes sense McDonald’s would use someone retired to say it since it allows them to stay at arm’s length.
Customers at a McDonald’s in Wesley Chapel can order their food at a self-service kiosk. Source: www.wtsp.com Post Views: 112
Could cashiers disappear? Source: www.businessinsider.com and now come the objections from employees. basic fear and one of the main obstacles of self service. a lot easier to ramp up for a burst of activity by turning on a machine.. Post Views: 107
The company is opening 150 “Create Your Taste” outlets there this year.
The company currently has more than 2,000 stores in China.
Calls for a minimum-wage hike nationwide and in Illinois are increasingly met with businesses’ use of technology to cut costs.
Chicago is one of 300 cities worldwide where strikes and protests are scheduled. SEIU has spent $70 million on its Fight for $15 campaign. The union’s Local 73 represents more than 28,000 government workers in Illinois and Indiana.
Protestors may want to stop by the McDonald’s at Adams and Wells to meet their replacement – an automated McCafé kiosk.
The store, which is anticipating Chicago’s minimum-wage increase to $13 an hour by 2019, is testing out coffee kiosks in the restaurant instead of having employees serve it. The kiosk features a touch-pad for ordering and paying. The screen also prompts customers to answer questions about their kiosk experience, giving the impression this is something that could be adopted as an alternative to hiring. This kind of automation, which replaces a human employee with technology, is one of the unintended consequences of Chicago’s minimum-wage increase.
It may not just be a coffee machine either. Other McDonald’s locations have used self-service kiosks with touch-screens for paying. And while self-serve kiosks don’t seem too unusual, San Francisco-based Momentum Machines has created a robotic hamburger-making machine the company claims can produce 400 high-quality burgers in an hour with minimal human supervision.
Wendy’s will make self-service ordering kiosks available to all of its franchises later this year as minimum wage hikes help market push labor costs.
6,000 plus restaurants getting selfservice kiosks. Adoption rests with the franchisees. Most have been raising prices. Most of minimum wage is phased in years from now and virtually unchanged in California.
- New York went from 9.00 to 10.50 (on way to 15)
- CA went to $10 this from $9.00
- Company owned Wendy stores number is 5% of total stores.
- Wage inflation seen at company stores is 5%
- More customers hit bottom line at 3.6% same store sales increase for last quarter
Wendy’s President Todd Penegor said, “wage pressures have been manageable both because of falling commodity prices and better operating leverage due to an increase in customer counts. Still, the company is wary about both wage hikes and a possible recovery in commodity prices and is “working so hard to find efficiencies” so it can deliver “a new QSR experience but at traditional QSR prices.”
In addition to self-order kiosks, the company is also getting ready to move beyond the testing phase with labor-saving mobile ordering and mobile payment available systemwide by the end of the year. Yum Brands and McDonald’s already have mobile ordering apps.
McDonald’s is simply responding to competition from other chains that have offered “enhanced burgers,” said Hilda Fahey, a company representative who was in Simcoe to help with the changeover to the new services at the Queensway East restaurant.
“We have 35 different people we didn’t have before,” Maskell said on a Wednesday afternoon while preparing for an opening that night for the new services.
More people are needed in the kitchen, he explained, to service the customers out front.
Restaurants such as McDonald’s and Panera Bread are leading the charge toward automation in the quick-service food industry, which offers an important example of how the labor market is transforming.
Nice article by ZDNet. “The $15 per hour wage talks spooked a lot of fast food companies and forced them to look at ways to cut head count and augment labor costs,” said Frank Olea, CEO of Los Angeles-based kiosk manufacturer Olea Kiosks. “This technology has been available to restaurants for years, but price was high and labor was cheap. Now it’s getting to the spot where brands can see the ROI.”
According to him, McDonald’s introduced self-service kiosks in response to increased wage demands from workers.
nice exposition of ex-ceo logic and how he is missing much of the context of the issue.
Several restaurant chains are using kiosks and other technology that allow orders to be placed more rapidly and efficiently. Kiosks are fostering fears about job losses, but in reality, kiosks are serving to reallocate labor from the front to the back of the restaurant and in some cases, add jobs.
Good writeup. The Rensi/Puzder misinformation drives me crazy. What McD needs is to sell more stuff. Just like Paneras is now doing thanks to adding self-service, expanding their kitchen, and yes, hiring more people…it’s lazy journalism catering to the controversial.
Here is a personal opinion letter/piece that I wrote for rebuttal to Andy Puzder and Rensi. I was deliberately ruthless and demonstrative for effect. I also sent to the Washington Post and may send to some more. I also published as personal letter on the Kiosk industry group site.
Here’s a paradox you don’t hear much about: despite a century of creating machines to do our work for us, the proportion of adults in the US with a job has consistently gone up for the past 125 years. Why hasn’t human labor become redundant and our skills obsolete?
In this talk about the future of work, economist David Autor addresses the question of why there are still so many jobs and comes up with a surprising, hopeful answer.
They are gigantic touch screens that let you customize your burger with toppings like guacamole, grilled mushrooms, onions, and bacon.
Good point on the oversize smartphone. Writer says the units are expensive but never notes a cost. Looking at them with the Verifone “wart” I personally think they are in the B- range when it comes to design, which usually equates to cheaper.
They are gigantic touch screens that let you customize your burger with toppings like guacamole, grilled mushrooms, onions, and bacon and sauces like sriracha mayo. But the kiosks have drawbacks, like not working in the drive-thrus that provide 70% of McDonald’s revenue and being relatively expensive.


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Apparently so, according to Microsoft, and they ought to know. Launching alongside the original Xbox a full decade ago, Halo's one of a handful of games released this century that can genuinely claim to have made a permanent impact on the development of video gaming, turning the console first-person shooter from a curio into the dominant genre it is today.
In celebration, Microsoft is going right back to where the adventure started, re-releasing the original game in a revamped, remastered Xbox 360 version sporting all the bells and whistles modern gamers have come to expect from their shooters. High-definition visuals, online multiplayer: it's all here.
But can a ten-year-old shooter really compete with the latest and greatest Modern Warfare installment? Yes and no seems to be the answer, though with average scores well into the 80s, it's more of the former than the latter.Read More »from Acclaimed ‘Halo’ remake heads up huge release week


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Oh, how we laughed at the ClamCase concept, which turned an iPad into a laptop. Then, when this Chinese OEM turned up on FCC, we finally understood. Now? Now you can pre-order one from Brando for $US70. [Brando via CrunchGear]
Brando's iPad-To-Netbook Bluetooth Case Available For Pre-Order
Trending Stories Right Now
What do you do if you get busted for pirating a terrible Adam Sandler movie? Deny it. That seems to be the lesson of a recently dismissed US federal case, which raises the burden of proof that copyright owner must meet in order to hold you accountable for infringement.
We all use our smartphones to take photos -- probably more often than we make phone calls or maybe even send messages to our friends. But while we're all used to snapping away with the camera apps that our phones come pre-loaded with, there's a whole world of creativity waiting to be unlocked -- if you just take a quick look into the app store. Here are five of our favourite apps for Android phone photography that will update the way you'll take, edit and share photos.
More Australians would prefer to travel with their mobile device than with a loved one, according to a recent survey. 64 per cent of us value the company of our phone while 42 per cent prefer the company of friends or family on a holiday. It sounds awful, but when you look at exactly we are are doing on our phones while travelling, it begins to make sense.


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Google Stadia Streaming Platform Launch, Game, and Feature Details Revealed
Google has unveiled its new gaming initiative, Stadia, detailing features for players, developers, and streamers, as well as giving an overall vision of Google’s future game streaming platform.
Stadia will launch this year, Google’s Phil Harrison confirmed during the Google Stadia conference, however no price or exact release date for Google Stadia was announced. The plan is to launch in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Europe first.
Harrison teased more details in the summer about launch games for the Stadia, which may be a possible time at which we get Stadia price and release date details. No details about possible VR integration or subscription details were offered. Currently, no preorder information has been revealed for Stadia.
The first teaser trailer for Stadia also revealed a look at Google’s Stadia controller. Google intends Stadia and its features to be supported on desktops, laptops, TV, tablets, and phones. Harrison specifically said there is no console involved in this process.
Update: Our Google Stadia announcement story below has been updated with a much more thorough breakdown of the Google Stadia information we’ve learned from the GDC conference.
We’ve also refreshed our opinion piece on the rise of streamed gaming in the industry, and how Google’s not the only company investing in a streaming future.
Read on for launch, game lineup, feature, and controller details, as well as an in-person look at the controller.
The controller connects through Wi-fi directly to the game running in the Google data center. The controller also has a capture button, which will save game clips to YouTube, either privately or to the world. There is also the Google Assistant button. Players can use the built-in microphone with this button to access features created by developers to use in games. And, amusingly enough, the Konami Code showed up on the Google Stadia controller.
These additional features clearly tie into Stadia’s sharing features, and Google’s efforts to allow players, streamers, and developers to more closely experience games together.
Industry Support for Google Stadia
Google has partnered with Unreal Engine, Unity, and Havok for Stadia support, among many other game development companies. Several third-party game developers and publishers were on hand to offer support for Google Stadia, including Ubisoft and id software.
Last year’s Project Stream implementation of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was the first example of Google’s gaming initiative and the hopes it has for Stadia.
Google Stadia Features
Google highlighted a number of features, both for developers and for players, emphasizing the shareability of Google’s Stadia philosophy.
One of the most intriguing features shown off was State Sharing. Players can essentially pinpoint any moment in a gaming experience, and create a shareable link for that game state. Other players can grab that link and open the same game at that exact point and begin playing the experience from there.
Google also highlighted, with indie dev Tequilia Works on stage, the ability for developers to test out new art styles by feeding Stadia development tools certain images. Style Transfer ML uses machine learning to allow developers to integrate new art styles into games and finetune what they’d like. Google showcased a demo in which a game world transformed art styles from Starry Night to pencil sketchings to even Pac-Man.
Crowd Play will also be integrated into Stadia — this feature will let players watching a YouTube streamer jump right into a game with that streamer.
Google Stadia Games
Not many games have been confirmed for Google Stadia. We do now know Google started a Jade Raymond-led first-party Stadia studio for in-house development, but the company has also partnered with other companies.
Id Software’s Marty Stratton came on stage to confirm Doom Eternal for Stadia, while Ubisoft reaffirmed its commitment to Google’s Stadia.
Additionally, Star Fox developer Dylan Cuthbert confirmed he is working on a game for Stadia, specifically meant to take advantage of the Stadia’s state sharing feature.
And while not proper games revealed for Stadia, Google highlighted tech demos of multiplayer experiences, one with a fully destructible city environment, and another forest-set multiplayer squad experience.
Google Stadia Release Date, Price
As mentioned above, we don’t have a firm release date for the Google Stadia launch. However, we know that Google is planning a 2019 launch for Stadia.
Additionally, we don’t have price details for what the streaming platform or the specific Stadia controller will cost. And, while, technically, you don’t need to purchase a specific Stadia console, for players wanting to enjoy Stadia on TV, a Google Chromecast will be one of the options to play.
Source: Read Full Article


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Though the expanded Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) has only been in action for six months, its impact on logistics has been tremendous.
In fact, the pathway has received nothing but praise from its users, specifically transport companies, the NLEX Corporation shared on Sunday (October 24).
According to NLEX Corporation President Luigi Bautista, the positive feedback coming the SFEX’s way validates their efforts in “spurring investments and boosting efficiencies of businesses in North and Central Luzon provinces.”
Bautista also recognized the important role that truckers and transporters play during this COVID-19 health crisis.
“Our truckers and those in the logistics industries serve as lifeline maintaining critical supply chains during this pandemic,” he said.
“We are delighted that the new SFEX has been significantly beneficial for this sector that plays a key role in the economic recovery,” Bautista added.
JA Global Logistics Solutions’ President Bernstein Estiandan said the expanded SFEX significantly reduced their travel times.
“Roads are considered the arteries of our economy and improving the flow of traffic means faster delivery of goods and services. This is what the SFEX made happen with its expansion―the travel time of our trucks to and from Subic Port is now 50 percent faster. Our operations became more efficient. And most importantly, it increased the level of safety in driving,” he said.
As part of its expansion and upgrade, the SFEX received 16.4 new lane kilometers, two new bridges in Jadjad and Argonaut, and a new tunnel to improve mobility and travel safety.
New LED lights were installed along the expressway and drainage was enhanced as well.
Want more news like this one? Head over to Nation Builder PH Business News Section for the latest updates.
Image credit: PortCalls