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There’s a critical need for electric vehicle charging stations.
In fact, if the U.S. wants to see millions of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by 2030, the country needs to put far more charging stations on the road.
Sure, the Biden Administration has a goal of building out a national network of 500,000 EV charging stations. But with EV adoption accelerating, those stations are needed yesterday. It’s part of the reason analysts at RBC Capital just initiated coverage of ChargePoint (CHPT) with a buy rating, with a price target of $9 a share.
According to Barron’s, RBC has “confidence in the path forward.” It also sees the number of U.S. charging ports “going from roughly 1 million today to more than 30 million by the end of the decade,” they added. “That’s more than $75 billion in capital investment, which is good for EV-charging companies, including ChargePoint.”
TD Cowen also has an outperform rating on the stock, with an $11 price target.
They added that “the number of public charging ports in the U.S. must grow to 1.7 million by 2030 to keep pace with a growing EV fleet,” as quoted by CNBC.
“Minimal capex is required in the ChargePoint business model as the company relies on its commercial, hospitality, parking, fleet, and other customers to effectively crowdfund the buildout of EV-charging infrastructure,” said TD Cowen. “This capital-light plan also attaches software to every charging station sold with a nearly ~100% attach rate, offering the company strong visibility into recurring revenue streams.”
CHPT last traded at $5.18 a share.


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Play Games24x7 Private Limited, the parent company of online rummy market leader RummyCircle, has launched a new fantasy sports portal called ‘My11Circle’.
The My11Circle platform is slated to initially offer fantasy sports contests on domestic and international cricket games, and is scheduled to also add other sport contests in the near future.
The company, through a press release, noted the USP of My11Circle would be fast cash rewards and live player statistics as well as live scores that would be available on the platform.
Commenting on the launch, Bhavin Pandya, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Play Games24x7 noted, “Today is a very important day for Play Games24x7 as we launch our first ever fantasy game. We, of course, start with cricket but the goal is to offer multiple games in this format. Our focus on understanding player behavior has enabled us to provide awesome game playing experiences and we shall continue that endeavor by providing awesome fantasy cricket experiences to our players.”
Saroj Panigrahi, Business Head, My11Circle added, “Play Games24x7 has a history of successful growth across different product platforms and is excited to introduce the My11Circle fantasy sports app for all Indian cricket lovers. Fantasy sports has great potential in our country and complements Play Games24x7’s existing portfolio perfectly.”
Besides RummyCircle, PlayGames24x7 has a social gaming mobile app called ‘Ultimate Games’ that offers games like poker, teenpatti and cricket betting. In September last year, the company had announced that it would be launching a real money horse betting website called ‘Turfbets’. The plan was later shelved as the company felt that the website could be misconstrued as a gambling product.

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FY2018 trading in line with market expectations.
At the first Annual General Meeting of Sumo Group to be held today, Ken Beaty, will make the following statement:
“We are now nearly half way through our first year as a public company and earlier this month passed the 15th anniversary of the founding of Sumo Digital. We continue to see strong demand for the Group’s services and are well placed to take advantage of the considerable opportunities in our fast-growing global market. The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) reportsthat the global software market is expected to grow from $137.9 billion in 2018 to an estimated $180.1 billion by the end of 2021. This leaves us full of optimism for the future of our business. The Group’s business development pipeline is very strong and I am pleased to report that the Company is trading in line with current market expectations and is well positioned to take advantage of growth in the global software market.
“There is global confidence in the gaming sector, as was evidenced at the recent E3 Conference in Los Angeles. A particular announcement to note was Microsoft’s acquisition of four studios, and their plan to open a new additional studio in Santa Monica. This highlights the need to secure valuable development talent and experience, a challenge faced by all in the industry, and one that Sumo is particularly focused on with great success to date.
“At E3, Sony demonstrated a small number of focussed high quality first party exclusive games. Microsoft showed the trailer for one of our games, Crackdown 3, during their popular E3 press briefing and this was well received with the launch date now confirmed for February 2019. The launch of Team Sonic Racing for Playstation 4, Xbox One, Switch and PC had been announced in May and the demonstration was also well received on the show floor at E3 with this title securing several “Best of Show” nominations and being awarded the Best Racing Title by Curse (www.curse.com). Finally, of those additional titles Sumo are working on, IO Interactive announced their partnership with Warner Brothers to publish Hitman 2.
“Elsewhere in the Group, Atomhawk, our complementary visual design company which services the games, film and visual effects industries, was double shortlisted at this year’s North East Business Awards, in the “Let’s Grow” and “Export” Categories. Atomhawk continues to export its services to an enviable list of clients across the globe. In May 2018, Atomhawk announced that it was approached by Unity, a leading global gaming industry software company, to help refresh and reboot their 3D Game Kit with a re-imagined style.
“Overall, the Group continues to operate with positive cash balances which are in line with management expectations. We continue to execute on our stated organic growth strategy and given the fragmented nature of our market we will also look to accelerate growth by exploring suitable acquisition opportunities. The Board is confident about the outlook for the Group in the year ahead and we expect to deliver full year results in line with market expectations.”
The Group will be hosting an analyst and institutional investor Studio Site Visit in Sheffield on Monday 9 July 2018 and expects to announce the unaudited interim results for the six months to 30 June 2018 on 25 September 2018.


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In its 25th annual year handing out Automotive Loyalty awards, IHS Markit recognized both the Ram 1500 and the Chrysler Pacifica. The company honored the vehicles for their unmatched levels of customer loyalty in their segments.
IHS Markit has been awarding automakers with Automotive Loyalty awards for 25 years. To determine which models came out on top this year, the company reviewed 12.4 million new retail vehicle registrations and cross-referenced them with the household’s previously registered vehicles. If a customer had previously purchased from that same manufacturer, this demonstrated customer loyalty.
The Chrysler Pacifica has now been honored with IHS Markit’s Automotive Loyalty award for two consecutive years. This is no surprise, as the family-friendly minivan keeps getting better with an optional hybrid powertrain, available Stow ‘n Go® Seating, and an impressive new Uconnect® system for the 2021 model year.
Even better, the Ram 1500 has earned the Loyalty award over other light-duty pickups for half a decade. Its powerful engines, trailering technology, and massive 12,750-pounds of maximum towing capacity are just some of the reasons why customers keep coming back to the Ram 1500.


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With marijuana currently legal—either medicinally or recreationally—in 33 states and consumer acceptance of the once-taboo drug on the rise, restaurant operators are seizing the opportunity to capitalize on pot culture and weed-infused menu items.
As far as Nick Bergelt, chief concept officer of Georgia-based Stoner’s Pizza Joint sees it, in five years, “the marriage of all things cannabis and food experiences” will be as common as pairing beer, wine or spirits with a meal.
Some concepts, such as the soon-to-open The Village Joint in Cocoa, Fla., are riffing on the popular jargon of pot culture in themed menu items. Others are actually incorporating marijuana and its derivatives in dishes.
Here’s a glimpse at how operators are making the most of the country’s current burning fascination with marijuana.
Stoner’s Pizza Joint
Georgia, South Carolina, Florida; 7 units
Stoner’s, which started in 2013, was acquired in 2017 by multiconcept operations group HHI Hospitality. “We thought it could be a strong brand moving forward, with just the general paradigm shifts across the U.S. around marijuana,” Bergelt says. “It’s a green space for us.”
Bergelt and team are working to rebrand the concept, with an eye toward targeting millennials and college campuses. Stoner’s is currently signing franchise agreements and is at work on CBD-infused oils and pizza sauces to add to its menu. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a component of marijuana that many believe offers health benefits without providing the drug’s physical high. “Everything is on fire for anything within the sphere of marijuana culture,” Bergelt says.
The chain, which gets half its revenue from delivery, is focusing on tech to ease operations, using artificial intelligence to streamline drivers within its own delivery fleet. “The hospitality piece would get lost through Uber or a Postmates driver,” he says.
The Stoner’s Pizza Joint app delivers messages to customers through the entire order, from the point of sale to pizza preparation to delivery. The process is adaptive, though, and based on whether consumers engage with the messages. “We’ve put a lot of effort into making you feel really good about that pizza by the time it’s handed off to you,” Bergelt said.
Arizona, 2 units
In Arizona, where pot is legal medicinally, two-unit Mint Dispensary is upping the traditional edibles offerings with a full menu of marijuana-filled dishes. All items are available for takeout only and include medicated breakfast burritos and biscuits and gravy (listed on the menu as having 25 milligrams of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana). For the holidays, the dispensary sold apple and pumpkin pies with customizable THC levels. With the growing number of dispensaries around the country, a full food menu that goes well beyond traditional gummy bears and hard candies represents a big area of opportunity for enterprising operators.
NYC, LA, Boston, Providence, R.I.; 13 units
New York-based vegan fast-casual juggernaut By Chloe garnered headlines late last year for adding a line of menu items infused with CBD, joining a growing number of restaurants and food manufacturers now selling CBD-laced drinks and snacks. By Chloe’s CBD items, launched at the two units of the chain’s dessert-focused spinoff, Sweets by Chloe, include infused coffees and teas as well as crispy rice treats, brownies and more. The line was created after By Chloe offered a limited-time CBD Daily Hit Brownie.


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Faraday Future is an automotive start up in Gardena, California that, until now, has kept its plans cloaked in secrecy. A few weeks ago, a rumor began that it was really a front for Apple. Since then, the company has begun to raise the Cone of Silence that surrounds it by inviting journalists to visit its offices in a nondescript office building that was once home to a Nissan research facility. It says it will have a presence at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show this January.
Nick Sampson is head of Research and Development for Faraday Future. He used to work at Tesla as a chassis engineer for the Model S. He says Faraday Future was born as the result of a conversation. “Three people sitting around in an office, discussing the future of the car and what people’s mobility would be in the future. Eighteen months later, we’ve got over 400 people working from all over the world.” He expects that number to double within the next year.
Richard Kim, the man who headed the design team for the BMW i3 and i8, is now in charge of design for Faraday Future. He declined to discuss specifics, but did point to a mock-up sitting under wraps. “It’s a car to some degree,” Kim told Tamara Warren of The Verge. “It’s a mobility device, and when people interact with cars, there is of course the irrational desire to have it. The car is still going to be beautiful, as traditional car designers want to have.” Warren was sworn to secrecy but says, “the shape was distinct from anything I’ve seen on the road.” Hmmm…..that’s tantalizing, isn’t it?
During the conversation, Sampson did offer some clues about what Faraday Future has in mind. Basically, it plans to disrupt the car business — including Tesla Motors — in two important ways. First, it will sell not just cars, but also the content that gets displayed on a car’s touchscreen after the sale.
“At home on your TV, you might have a subscription to Verizon or Cox or somebody, but you also download movies and you pay for those. You might watch a premium sports event and pay for that. So there is an ongoing revenue stream from having a TV in your home that’s over and above any profit that some company made from getting that TV to you. And if you look at what you pay monthly in services of those sorts … there are a lot of opportunities. [It’s] a revenue stream completely outside of you going to Best Buy and buying that TV. You have to think of a lot bigger basis than just the one-off customer purchase deal. It’s what’s going to follow on after that.”
That concept fits perfectly with the ideas of Chinese entrepreneur Jia Yeuting, the man rumored to be the money behind Faraday Future. Yeuting has made a fortune from Le TV, which is known as “the Chinese Netflix.” He is someone who knows a lot about delivering content to video screens and getting people to pay for it- but Faraday Future’s plans for disruption doesn’t stop there.
Faraday Future Wants to Change Car Ownership Forever
Sampson tells Bob Sorokanich of Road & Track, “The way people want to purchase or have access to mobility has got to change,” Sampson says. “Some of the model could be non-ownership. You just have an app on your phone and you call up your mobility to get home.” He told Tamara Warren, ”I don’t have to buy one ‘compromise’ vehicle, I can just have use of the perfect model when I need it, like a subscription service. The car industry today aren’t moving fast enough in those directions,” Sampson says.
In the bright, wonderful world of Faraday Future, we will wake up in the morning and select the kind of vehicle we want to drive that day. Perhaps a red convertible is called for. Or, perhaps, a 7 passenger SUV. Maybe a pickup truck to transport building materials or an RV to take the kids camping? Whatever your choice, Faraday Future will know all about you and your preferences. It will know the route to where you work. It will notify the nearest Starbucks to have your favorite latte ready and let you upload countless selfies of yourself so your friends can all share in your wonderfulness. It will free you from the chore of actually driving, so you will have time to watch reruns of F Troop or My Mother The Car along the way.
That’s the future of motoring, according to the geeks who are designing the cars of tomorrow. Talk about your brave new world!
Photo Credit: The Verge.


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A New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control investigation has found that 29 bars and restaurants, including 13 TGI Fridays, allegedly substituted cheap booze (or worse!) while charging for premium drinks:
At one bar, a mixture that included rubbing alcohol and caramel coloring was sold as scotch. In another, premium liquor bottles were refilled with water — and apparently not even clean water at that.
In January and February, investigators went to 63 establishments they suspected were scamming liquor customers. They ordered drinks neat — that is, without ice or mixers — and then covertly took samples for testing.
Of 150 samples collected, 30 were not the brand as which they were being sold.
Why can't government regulators leave the market to sort this out for itself? Nanny-statism at its worst!


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Apple has clearly been a worldwide leader in innovation. Their brand’s mission statement is “we’re on the face of the earth to make great products,” and they certainly have proven themselves, thanks mainly to the brilliance of Steve Jobs. But now Tim Cook is broadening the Apple brand to also “make a significant contribution to culture,” and “enable customers to engage the world in more meaningful ways.”
This additional dimension to Apple’s company brand represents an extraordinary transition to a next generation concept for why a corporation exists and what it should stand for. The traditional “reason for being” for a corporation has involved maximizing shareholder wealth, but this supplemental goal of “advancing humanity” initiated by Tim Cook (plus other “CEO Statesmen,” like Mark Zuckerberg) has long-lasting implications. Tim Cook’s emphasis on supporting social issues was summed up in his recent statement to investors: “We do things because they’re just and right. If you want me to make decisions only on the bottom line, then you should get out of the stock.”
While Apple is known for its revolutionary product innovations, it is their customer friendly design and services that has always been their hallmark for fame, as well. Millennials have been a key driving force behind Apple’s success, so it is not surprising that these emerging brand values of Apple like trust, human rights, dignity, environmentalism, and privacy are consistent with the passions of this younger target segment. And there is also a business rationale for this focus. As Tim Cook stated, these Millennials represent a much bigger target market than religious conservatives, and it is critical for Apple to emotionally connect and bond with them, which is what branding is all about.
The importance of trust is paramount in the mindset of these Millennials. The virtues of trust, integrity, and transparency also reflect the values of the Apple brand today and help explain its obsession with consumer privacy and security, including its current clash with the Government over opening up their iPhone for FBI analysis. Relevant examples of their attitudes (source: Edelman 2014 trust barometer):
- 87% of Millennials believe companies should place equal weight on society’s interests and its business interests (e.g. shareholder value)
- 72% would recommend a brand that supports a good cause over one that doesn’t (a 39% increase since 2008)
- Trust in Government is at an all-time low, just 41% among all Americans (and lower among Millennials), and it is the least trusted institution in the U.S.
- Meanwhile the most trusted industry is technology at 79%, which includes Apple
Apple’s passion to protect consumer privacy has important social and economic implications around the world too. China is Apple’s second-largest market – consumers there spent $59 billion on Apple products in 2015. The security of its iPhone has caused it to become a status symbol as well, since Chinese consumers are always worried about hacking and cybercrimes, especially by their Government. If Apple acceded to U.S. law enforcement demands to open up the iPhone in the San Bernardino case, Beijing would undoubtedly ask for a similar tool. If Apple refused, it would surely face a battery of penalties.
Tim Cook’s mission is to nurture a global base of technophile supporters, and also shape public policy beyond Apple’s immediate business interests. In this sense, he has become a leading CEO-Statesman, similar to other corporate leaders of a century ago: Henry Ford campaigning for world peace, or Andrew Carnegie promoting universal education. This is different from the CEO-Celebrity of the 1980’s-90’s like Jack Welch, who was more focused on his own ego, management philosophy, and posing for magazine covers. Tim Cook is not interested in publicity as much as crafting a meaningful legacy. The Reputation Institute, a noteworthy think tank, estimates that only one-third of a CEO legacy is attributed to financial performance, with the rest influenced by perceived leadership and corporate citizenship.
Just as Apple has so radically changed our lifestyle with its innovative products, Tim Cook is leading the way for transforming corporate branding to become more socially conscious and influential. As Tim Cook stated, Apple’s contribution to society and culture will depend on what the brand does, and not just what the brand is.


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If you’ve seen your airfares decrease lately, as many Americans have, don’t thank the federal government. In fact, Congress imposes so many taxes and fees on air travel that more than 20 percent of the average ticket price is diverted to government coffers. Yet some politicians are pushingto make flying more expensive by increasing the […]
While the Highway Trust Fund is used to support highway infrastructure across the country, more than twenty-eight percent of these funds are currently diverted away from roads and bridges. This coalition letter from thirty-six groups calls on reforms to fix an outdated and misused funding mechanism, rather than simply increasing consumer taxes at the […]
A pair of powerful senators, Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, and their allies in the House, are pushing to expand costly and ineffective federal subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs). However, the evidence finds that subsidizing electric vehicles is a bad idea for consumers, taxpayers and the environment. Read about this in Inside Sources.
Government taxes and fees account for more than one-fifth of the price of a typical domestic flight, making air travel one of the highest-taxed sectors of the American economy. Travelers pay a 7.5 percent excise tax, a $4.10 fee per flight segment, a commercial jet fuel tax, and a $5.60 security fee per flight segment, […]
Airports have recently intensified their lobbying efforts to raise the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) – possibly doubling the charge. A new report finds that increasing the PFC would suppress economic activity, reduce consumer benefits by billions of dollars, and cost thousands of jobs. On top of these harmful effects, increasing the PFC is unnecessary. PFC […]
Preventing duplicative and discriminatory taxes on digital goods means more money in the pockets of consumers, and more freedom to shop as they choose. To read this opinion piece, visit THE HILL.
Unless there is major action in Congress to address dire funding issues, the overall condition of Missouri’s roads and other infrastructure across the country is likely to deteriorate precipitously. Read this op-ed to learn about a new proposal to fund the country’s infrastructure needs.
Local governments considering the imposition of taxes on certain foods and sweetened beverage should take a long look at the tax disaster in Philadelphia. It’s been more than two years since Philadelphia began imposing a massive tax on sweetened beverages, and the bad news just keeps rolling in. Court documents now reveal that one of […]
In fiscal year 2018, the USPS reported $3.9 billion in losses, up from the $2.7 bilion loss it experienced in 2017. It’s been over a decade since the USPS was last profitable, which is particularly concerning given that the agency was intended to be financially self-sufficient. Adding to its financial challenges, the USPS rarely meets […]
A group of national organizations sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of efforts to pull $0.93 billion in federal grants from a California high-speed rail project. Citing waste, the lack of oversight, delays, and noncompliance with the terms of the funding, the coalition letter also called for the return of […]


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Well, we were not disappointed as today Apple announced the first Apple Silicon Macs. We also got a release date for the new MacOS Big Sur.
The transition has started and if we take Apple's figures from the presentation, it looks like we are in for a big speed bump with the new silicon.
- New M1 chip powers new machines
- Big Sur to be released on Thursday November 12th
- New MacBook Air powered by Apple silicon
- New MacBook Mini powered by Apple silicon
- New 13 inch MacBook Pro powered by Apple silicon
- Screenshots of Final Cut Pro X, but no updates (Hello Summit!)
When Apple promised they would have a new silicon machine out by Christmas, they over-delivered by updating three at once.
From watching the presentation, it looks like the new M1 chip gives a large performance boost. By having the CPU, GPU and security processing all on one chip, not only is it faster, but it produces less heat.
“There has never been a chip like M1, our breakthrough SoC for the Mac. It builds on more than a decade of designing industry-leading chips for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, and ushers in a whole new era for the Mac,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies. “When it comes to low-power silicon, M1 has the world’s fastest CPU core, the world’s fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer, and the amazing machine learning performance of the Apple Neural Engine. With its unique combination of remarkable performance, powerful features, and incredible efficiency, M1 is by far the best chip we’ve ever created.”
- Apple’s latest image signal processor (ISP) for higher quality video with better noise reduction, greater dynamic range, and improved auto white balance.
- The latest Secure Enclave for best-in-class security.
- A high-performance storage controller with AES encryption hardware for faster and more secure SSD performance.
- Low-power, highly efficient media encode and decode engines for great performance and extended battery life.
- An Apple-designed Thunderbolt controller with support for USB 4, transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps and compatibility with more peripherals than ever.
Apple are quoting it has industry-leading performance per watt figures which also leads to longer battery times. For FCPX users, it was mentioned that timelines can render up to six times faster.
Now on to the machines!
“The introduction of three new Macs featuring Apple’s breakthrough M1 chip represents a bold change that was years in the making, and marks a truly historic day for the Mac and for Apple,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “M1 is by far the most powerful chip we’ve ever created, and combined with Big Sur, delivers mind-blowing performance, extraordinary battery life, and access to more software and apps than ever before. We can’t wait for our customers to experience this new generation of Mac, and we have no doubt it will help them continue to change the world.”
The MacBook Air with the M1 chip is available in configurations up to 16GB of memory and 2TB of storage.
When compared to the previous generation, the M1-powered MacBook Air can:
- Export a project for the web with iMovie up to 3x faster.
- Integrate 3D effects into video in Final Cut Pro up to 5x faster.
- For the first time, play back and edit multiple streams of full-quality, 4K ProRes video in Final Cut Pro without dropping a frame.
- Export photos from Lightroom up to twice as fast.
- Use ML-based features like Smart Conform in Final Cut Pro to intelligently frame a clip up to 4.3x faster.
- Watch more movies and TV shows with up to 18 hours of battery life, the longest ever on MacBook Air.
- Extend FaceTime and other video calls for up to twice as long on a single charge.
13 inch MacBook Pro
The 13 inch MacBook Pro with the M1 chip is available with up to 16GB of memory and 2TB SSD. (The Intel versions are still available)
When compared to the previous generation, the M1-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro can:
- Build code in Xcode up to 2.8x faster.
- Render a complex 3D title in Final Cut Pro up to 5.9x faster.
- Fluidly design intricate game scenes in Unity Editor up to 3.5x faster.
- Perform ML tasks in Create ML up to 11x faster.
- Separate out beats, instrumentals, and vocal tracks from a recording in real time in djay Pro AI, thanks to the amazing performance of the Neural Engine.
- Play back full-quality, 8K ProRes video in DaVinci Resolve without dropping a single frame.
- Compile four times as much code on a single charge, thanks to the game-changing performance per watt of the M1 chip.
The new Mac Mini again can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. (Intel versions are still available.)
When compared to the previous generation, the M1-powered Mac mini can:
- Compile code in Xcode up to 3x faster.
- Play a graphics-intensive game like “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” with up to 4x higher frame rates.
- Render a complex timeline in Final Cut Pro up to 6x faster.
- Take music production to new levels by using up to 3x as many real-time plug-ins in Logic Pro.
- Magically increase the resolution of a photo in Pixelmator Pro up to 15x faster.
- Utilize ML frameworks like TensorFlow or Create ML, now accelerated by the M1 chip.
Oh yes and Big Sur will be out Thursday November 12th!
Finally, Final Cut Pro X did make an appearance, note the icon in the Dock. As there was no FCPX update, will we see 10.5 at the FCPX Global Virtual Summit next week?


text: As part of the International Immersion Programme (IIP) at IIM Nagpur, some students from the PGP Batch of 2018-2020 had the opportunity to visit South Korea. The students visited Incheon International Airport Authority to understand the baggage handling system at one of the largest, busiest and cleanest airports of the world, which claims to have a baggage mishandling rate of 0.0001%. The contingent also visited Samsung Electronics and Samsung Innovation Museum to learn about the history of Samsung and the latest innovative trends to hit the market in the times to come. The visit to Incheon Harbour Authority gave them an understanding of how the port contributes to national economic growth by developing the eco-friendly port as a logistics hub and marine tourism destination. The students visited the Incheon National University, Sogang University, as well as some of the prominent cities including the capital city of Seoul gave the students the opportunity to experience Korean culture, and interact with several Korean students to learn more about the country and its work culture.


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As part of the push for a more sustainable clothing industry, brands far and wide have begun offering upcycled options as a part of their regular lineup. Names like Patagonia and Taylorstitch have been some of the most vocal in their call to action, but that’s not to say there aren’t other players looking to join the mix. With the announcement of its Levi’s SecondHand program, Levi’s is among the latest — and certainly the most prominent — of brands to offer thrift clothing in its catalog.
Through Levi’s SecondHand, users will be able to buy used and vintage Levi’s-branded products. But that’s not all — in addition to selling used denim, Levi’s SecondHand will also offer a buyback program for current Levi’s owners. Regardless of the condition, any denim article guarantees you $5. However, if you’re clothing is of good enough quality, you can expect anywhere from $15 to $35 in gift card compensation. Levi’s entry into the second-hand market is proof of its commitment to sustainability. For if everyone bought one used item (over a new one) this year, it would save an estimated 449 million pounds of waste.


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Many of us are familiar with Miracle Gro, a plant-food and lawn-care brand that lines the shelves of most gardening stores across the U.S. While these products can be helpful to plants, unfortunately, certain pesticides used in some products may harm the very insects our ecosystem needs in order to survive.
Luckily, Miracle Gro’s parent company, Ortho, just made a major announcement that is will move away from the use of neonicotinoid-based pesticides. Moreover, they’ve partnered with the Pollinator Stewardship Council to “help educate homeowners on the safe and appropriate use of pesticides,” according to a statement. By 2017, the brand plans to completely eliminate the use of neonic active ingredients such as Imidacloprid, Clothianidin, and Dinotefuran. You don’t have to be a chemist to know that those pesticides sounds pretty scary.
This is a huge victory, considering these pervasive killers are believed to damage the immune systems of bees, rendering them unusually susceptible to disease. Neonicotinoids currently threaten pollinator numbers all over the globe, and a result threaten both natural and agricultural vegetation everywhere. This announcement comes at a time that’s more urgent than ever, considering bee populations are plummeting at an alarming rate. In some places, the Bee Information Partnership records colony losses as high as 60 percent!
It’s far past time for us all to stand up for the bees. Just consider this, these tiny insects are responsible for pollinating an estimated 80 percent of food in grocery stores. Without them, crops such as apples, asparagus, avocados, blueberries, broccoli, celery, cherries, citrus crops, cranberries, cucumber, kiwis, and melons, just to name a few, wouldn’t be available.
“This decision comes after careful consideration regarding the range of possible threats to honey bees and other pollinators,” said Tim Martin, general manager of the Ortho brand. “While agencies in the United States are still evaluating the overall impact of neonics on pollinator populations, it’s time for Ortho to move on. As the category leader, it is our responsibility to provide consumers with effective solutions that they know are safe for their family and the environment when used as directed. We encourage other companies and brands in the consumer pest control category to follow our lead.”
As an industry leader, Ortho’s move signals an increased consciousness regarding the survival of the bees. People are tuning into how important it is that we protect these vital insects – now, it’s time for other companies to follow suit.
Featured Image Source: Creative Commons


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Suddenly today, Nintendo of America closed two of its satellite offices. Initially reported by Kotaku, sources informed them that it was just the Redwood City, California office (home to its sales and marketing departments). After reaching out to Nintendo for a statement, it was confirmed that the Toronto, Ontario office would be closing as well.
As published by Kotaku, here is Nintendo’s full statement:
Nintendo of America headquarters are in Redmond, WA, and Vancouver, BC. We are moving more of our employees and operations into those headquarters and will be closing small satellite offices in Toronto, ON, and Redwood City, CA, over time.
Devon Pritchard, Executive Vice President, Business Affairs and Publisher Relations for Nintendo of America (NOA), will assume interim leadership of Sales, Marketing and Communications following the departure of Nick Chavez. Ms. Pritchard will oversee strategy and execution of sales, marketing and communications across the U.S. and Canada.
The exiting of Nick Chavez is notable, as his role of SVP Sales, Marketing, and Communications was previously held by Doug Bowser who is now Nintendo of America’s current president. Chavez announced his leave earlier today on his LinkedIn profile, as he will be the new CMO for KFC US and Yum! Brands.
According to Kotaku’s sources, “roughly 100 employees” are displaced due to the closure, and “that many of the now-displaced staff were upset over the decision.”
This story is currently breaking. We expect more details will come to light over the weekend and into next week.
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Samsung Electronics Co. is considering introducing two new smartphone models that will feature bendable screens, including a version that folds in half like a cosmetic compact, people familiar with the matter said.
The devices use organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) and could be unveiled as soon as early 2017, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. That would likely give it a head start on new Apple Inc. iPhones. The second Samsung model will have a 5-inch screen when used as a handset that unfurls into a display that’s as large as 8 inches, similar to a tablet, the people said.
Samsung, the biggest supplier of OLED panels for mobile products, has pioneered the development of new screen formats with its multi-sided Edge smartphones. Using advanced display technology could help the company recapture customers from Apple and boost earnings that have slumped for the past two years.
“This product could be a game-changer if Samsung successfully comes up with a user interface suitable for bendable screens,” said Lee Seung Woo, an analyst at IBK Securities Co. in Seoul. “Next year is a probable scenario. Their biggest obstacle was related to making transparent plastics and making them durable, which seems resolved by now.”
Shares of Samsung rose 1.5% to 1,398,000 won ($1,211.65) in Seoul, extending this year’s gain to 11%. Suppliers to Samsung jumped. V Technology Co, which counts Samsung as its second biggest client according to data compiled by Bloomberg, jumped 15% to 9,270 yen ($86.42) in Tokyo. Murata Manufacturing Co. climbed 4.7% and Screen Holdings Co. reversed early declines to close higher.
Codenamed “Project Valley,” Samsung could unveil one or both of the devices as soon as February, when Mobile World Congress takes place in Barcelona, one of the people said. That timing would give Samsung a head-start on Apple’s iPhone using OLED screens that may be released later in 2017, the person said.
The company may also name the next version of its Note device as the “Note 7,” skipping a number, to bring it in line with its flagship Galaxy S smartphone range, one of the people said. Samsung doesn’t plan to market the new bendable-screen models under the Galaxy S name, the person said.
Samsung declined to comment in an e-mailed statement.
After using OLED on its premium devices, Samsung is counting on the technology to win supply orders. The displays are thinner, have brighter colors and are less draining on the battery than those in most current phones.
While the Suwon, South Korea-based company has previously released slick videos featuring foldable concept phones, it has never made such a device commercially. Moxi Group, a Chinese company based in Chongqing, has shown off a bendable phone with black and white screens.
Samsung vice chairman Lee Jae Yong is accelerating a push beyond phones as growth in the market slows. The company has held talks to supply OLEDs to Apple, people familiar with the matter have said. Samsung was one of the biggest makers of chips and displays for Apple until the companies started suing each other in 2011 for alleged patent infringements.
By Jungah Lee, with assistance from Cynthia Kim.


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“Apple is negotiating with production studios and networks to provide content for a television set that would emphasize apps over cable TV, according to people familiar with those discussions,” Zachary M. Seward, Gina Chon, and Kevin J. Delaney report for Quartz. “Among the companies that have talked to Apple are Disney’s ESPN, Time Warner’s HBO, and Viacom, which owns MTV Networks, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central.”
“Sources say Apple’s strategy could include forming its own pay TV service, essentially becoming a cable company itself, except with content delivered entirely over the internet,” Seward, Chon, and Delaney report. “Apple wants to release a full-fledged television set, seeking to control the entire experience of watching TV, according to sources… [it] would attempt to usurp the role of the cable box in people’s living rooms.”
Seward, Chon, and Delaney report, “Sources say Apple has concluded that it doesn’t need all, even most, content providers on board before it can release a TV set that people would buy. It just needs enough good programming to distinguish the new product, which will try to simplify the experience of connecting internet video to the TV. A deal with a top-tier content provider like ESPN or HBO could represent a tipping point that would encourage Apple to bring the product to market.”
“Apple’s TV set could shift the paradigm of traditional television watching. Instead of organizing everything around channels, it would organize around apps from networks, studios, and others that own content,” Seward, Chon, and Delaney report. “Other features, like search, might help eliminate the notion of channel-flipping altogether. Cable companies, in that scenario, could become just another app that consumers choose to pay for or not, rather than the core of the TV set.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The app is the channel:
“Content producers should get to work then on producing their own apps, as ESPN has done already for their channels… We’ll make a folder of them on our iOS devices and it’ll look and act just like the channel lineup.” – MacDailyNews Take, April 11, 2011
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Judge Bork” for the heads up.]


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Jessie James Decker Shows Off Her Toned Body In Thong Swim-suit: Pics
Jessie James Decker showcased her summer-ready curves as she stripped down to a tiny black swim-suit. Lately, the 33 year-old Jessie & Eric star is more inclined towards her business than making reality TV appearances. But recently, over the weekend, when she took to Instagram to feature a skimpy garment from her Kittenish brand, fans received it with excited spirits.
Jessie stunned her 3.9 million followers with her phenomenal figure as she went jet black. The turned up the glam on the swimwear by adding an extra touch of some gold chain action.
Ahead, see the photo, and some of Jessie’s James Decker’s best looks.
Jessie Sends Temperatures Rising In Tiny Swim-suit
Keep scrolling to see the photo. The country singer turned up the heat as she posed outdoors, by the palm trees, and telling fans to “get ready baby!” The blonde beauty flaunted her peachy rear as she drew attention to her backside. Jessie rocked a tiny thong swim-suit with a strapless and bandeau top, plus a high-waisted finish.
Jessie James Decker stuns in sheer black swim-suit
The swim-suit bombshell looked over her shoulder to face the camera and flashed a full smile. Her unkempt blonde tresses cascaded on her back. She wore a subtle face of warm makeup that included a rosy pink lip and defined brows.
The businesswoman flaunts her enviable figure in the two-piece
In the caption, the South Beach Diet ambassador told fans that 3.10 is the date for her latest “@kittenish swim” drop. “Ya’ll are going to love this collection,” she added. Jessie James Decker has found a place in the long list of celebrities whose brands retail swimwear. These include moguls Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner to model Emily Ratajkowski.
Reality star Savannah Chrisley also left a like on Jessie’s latest post.
The Reality Star Is Building An Empire
Her previous acclaim includes topping Amazon’s book lists with her Just Feed Me cookbook. And now, Jessie has launched her own swimwear brand Kittenish, and it is bound to go places.
In a conversation with Forbes, Jessie said,
“I’ve technically had Kittenish since 2014, but it was a completely different business model before. It was a partner collaboration with another brand and we would do a couple of small drops a year. By 2018—and many ups and downs—the brand was falling apart and out of my hands and I knew I needed to take full control.”
Jessie James Decker is on her way to building an empire.
The stunner added:
“We hit $1 million in sales in one month for the first time last year,” referencing a pandemic boom. “I think that’s when we looked at each other and knew this was about to take off even more. We are projected to grow 100% year on year, bringing in $20 million.”
Jessie James Decker looks breathtaking in a floral-printed swim-suit from her brand Kittenish
There are several celebrities who support and adore Decker’s brand. One in particular is actress and singer Jamie Lynn Spears.


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Opera Browser Adds Free VPN
The Opera web browser for Android now includes a free VPN service, for securing data over untrusted networks such as public Wi-Fi. Opera for Android version 51 includes the feature, which is activated with a simple toggle, requiring no sign-in nor account. Opera lets users choose from one of several VPN server locations around the world, and does not log user activity. Opera for Android also includes an ad blocker. The new Opera app is available now from the Play Store.
Jun 3, 2019
Apple today announced iOS 13 with a long list of new features for iPhones. The Apple text keyboard now supports swipe gesture typing, which Apple calls Quick Path.
Nov 18, 2020
Google today launched a major revamp of its Google Pay app with a new interface and several major new features. Instead of a stack of cards and list of transactions, the new interface centers around the people and businesses you exchange money with, with a conversation-style interface for each person, group, and business.
May 27, 2020
This summer, Samsung will launch Samsung Money by SoFi, a new financial product integrated with Samsung Pay. Like Apple Card, Samsung Money can be used as a payment method with the wallet app (Samsung Pay), the account is managed within the wallet app, and the product also includes a physical payment card.
Jun 18, 2019
Facebook today announced Libra, a new digital currency that aims to combine the best features of other cryptocurrencies in order to be more consumer-friendly. The currency will be administered by the Libra Association, a new non-for-profit based in Geneva.
Jun 22, 2020
Apple has revealed iOS 14, which brings a number of new features to the OS for Apple's iPhones: Widgets : Apple has promoted Widgets to the main home screen. Just as Android has always allowed, you can now mix re-sizable widgets in with your app icons.


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TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – This year when you’re toy shopping. make sure you check your list and check it twice for safety.
Nyla Patterson from Topeka is 15 months old and getting ready for her second Christmas.
“It’s an exciting time. She is getting so much older, and you can see the gears turning in her head and begin to explore,” said A.J. Patterson, Nyla’s dad. “So you want to make sure you’re finding toys that are expanding her knowledge and education, but also that she will also be excited about.”
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said last year, there were 226,100 toy-related injuries treated in hospitals around the U.S. and an estimated 73% of the injuries were among kids younger than 15 years old.
That’s why Safe Kids Shawnee County stresses the importance of paying attention to age limits and warning labels.
“When we are shopping for toys for kids, look at the packaging on the toys and heed the manufacturer’s recommendations for age, and the warning labels too,” said Teresa Taylor with Safe Kids Shawnee County.
“As a parent, it’s always easy to want to try to find toys that they can grow into. But you got to be aware of the fact that they are little, and you want to make sure they have things they can play with right now, and that they won’t swallow or break,” said Patterson.
Toy safety resources and reminders can be found at https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/toy-safety


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KING 5, the broadcast media company and NBC affiliate based in Seattle has just moved into new three-floor headquarters including the latest technology. Two KING 5 news anchors just gave our colleagues at Geekwire a sneak peak of their new TV studio and newsroom, which features a Microsoft Surface Hub with its 84-inch touch-screen and an iteration of Windows 10 that's optimized for large-screen applications.
The Surface Hub is Microsoft's solution aimed at enabling advanced collaboration solutions, by reimagining the company's own Pixel Sense technology. The Surface Hub utilizes the giant touchscreen, array microphones, dual cameras, and special software functionality to enable groups to share and interact with information in conference rooms and across distances. Last year, Microsoft announced price hikes and delayed shipping dates for its Surface Hub portfolio, and the last time we checked the first Surface Hub devices were supposed to ship to customers in early 2016.
KING 5 is now the first TV station that is using Microsoft’s Surface Hub, and it's an interesting application because Microsoft has so far primarily marketed the device as an enterprise-focused collaboration tool designed for meeting rooms. But as the Surface Hub runs a specialized version of Windows 10, developers can create custom applications utilizing its various capabilities, and a Microsoft spokesperson told Geekwire that KING 5 will be able to "not only use the touchscreen for maps and Internet capabilities, but also connect directly with reporters in the field, lending itself to more cohesive and collaborative storytelling."
The team is inauguring this new TV studio today. If you live in the Seattle are, you may well see KING 5 news anchors interact with their Surface Hub during upcoming broadcasts.


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The owner is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
It’s every collector’s nightmare come true: a beloved vehicle stolen in the middle of the night, right out from under your nose. That’s exactly what an auto body shop owner in Clarksville, Tennessee is dealing with after someone recently took two of his own cars. Using a GM tow truck, the unidentified suspects loaded up one car under the cover of darkness, then returned later for the second classic car. Both vehicles were being stored in shipping containers.
James Rollins told local news station WKRN that surveillance video captured the thefts, which took place outside of this business, The Shop. It took the suspects a mere five minutes to load the first crate and drive off, the 1941 Chevrolet Deluxe Master two-door coupe inside seemingly gone forever.
Rollins said the coupe was one of the first commercial vehicles to offer air conditioning, making it historically important. The Chevy also had extensive restoration work done, including all the wiring replaced, a new engine installed, and the interior restored to perfection. After all the money and time spent on making the truck just the way he liked it, Rollins might never get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Even worse, the car had been gifted to him by a friend shortly before that friend passed away from a battle with cancer.
As if that weren’t enough, the suspects returned later in the night and took a second shipping container. Inside that was a 1964 Pontiac Star Chief. While it hadn’t been restored like the Chevy pickup, having it taken like that was still a big violation of trust.
The body shop Rollins owns focuses on restoring classic cars for customers. For that reason, Rollins believes the thieves possibly knew the containers had old cars in them, figuring they would be worth a considerable amount.
At least two people are suspected of stealing the cars, with one standing outside of a GMC tow truck spotting while the other was in the cab maneuvering everything. Rollins is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone providing information which leads to an arrest.


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Within 24 hours of AMD’s Ryzen 7 1800X, Ryzen 7 1700X, and Ryzen 7 1700 announcement, pre-orders for the newly announced CPUs quickly drove the three new products to Amazon’s CPU Best Seller’s list despite the fact that the CPUs aren’t even expected to ship until March 2nd.
While pre-order rankings and information has been limited from other vendors, similar numbers may have also been seen across the industry as a recent article by Digitimes reports that AMD’s initial shipment of Ryzen CPUs are expected to top one million units. Motherboard makers are also expected to cash in on AMD Ryzen’s historic return to performance computing as shipments of AMD AM4 motherboards are also initially expected to top one million as well. AMD motherboard partners have already planned over 80 new motherboards based on the AMD X370 and B350 chipsets.
AMD is also expected to announce several new products following Ryzen later this year. The list includes AMD’s next generation enthusiast class GPUs, codename Vega, AMD’s Zen based server platform, codename Naples, Ryzen for notebooks, and Radeon Instinct, designed for machine learning and deep learning applications.


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Earlier this week Fetch TV announced a partnership with Metrological that will see the cloud-based platform integrated onto the Fetch service. A soft launch is expected at the end of the year.
Comcast acquired the Dutch technology start-up Metrological in September last year. The app integrator’s technology allows for simple integration of over-the-top streaming apps, which can be uploaded once into its system and rolled out across a number of providers.
CEO of Fetch TV Scott Lorson said that the deal had been in the works for a while but ramped up recently and implementation is already underway.
“We have been speaking to them for about a year and a half but when Comcast bought them 12 months ago we realised that they would become the default app store.”
Metrological is used by Comcast, Liberty Global, Vodafone and Turkcell. It will also allow Fetch to integrate niche apps, such as NBA League Pass, NFL Game Pass.
Lorson said that the new addition to the Fetch TV user experience and the back-office product suite enables Fetch to onboard, monetise and optimise apps that it offers its customers.
“It is an international app store and we are building the gateway that opens up a world of digital apps for us.
“It augments our current strategy and is entirely aligned. We are a master aggregator and this lets us aggregate even more content.”
Metrological offers content providers access to the open Lightning Software Development Kit (SDK) for quick app development, with a single app build facilitating distribution to a global footprint of operators.
Fetch will deploy the Metrological application platform on its existing service in Australia and has secured rights for the New Zealand market. Fetch will work with Metrological and its partners to expand the available portfolio of local and international apps.
This helps address the issue that local providers like Fetch have faced with having native apps made for global content companies like Disney +.
Companies like Disney can upload its app into Metrological’s systems and providers that use Metrological can now provide the app through their set-top-boxes. Lorson said that while Fetch will continue to produce native apps but this will help address previous capacity restraints that stopped them from offering as many apps.
“We will continue to integrate tier-one apps and this is a bridge between the tier-one apps we integrate natively and the long tail that has historically been difficult for us to accommodate.
“The consumer appetite continues to grow and our capacity to satisfy that through local integration has been limited and this addresses capacity constraints while preserving user experience.
“It is about taking the best of our local experience and being a part of an international group of tier-one Telcos and that will put us well ahead of our competition.”
Fetch will also be utilising the Metrological Lightning Framework to provide GPU accelerated rendering of the user interface which will help create smoother transitions and animations.
In a statement released about the announcement Jeroen Ghijsen, CEO of Metrological said:
“Fetch shares our view that during this unprecedented time, where more content is being watched than ever, providing an integrated, single viewer experience becomes even more essential.
“With the Metrological Application Platform Fetch can seamlessly integrate OTT content into the main TV viewer experience and manage content in response to subscribers’ changing content needs, delivering an even more compelling content proposition and viewing experience.”


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Bitwala Blockchain Banking Plans to Launch in November with €4 Million Funding
Bitwala has announced that an undisclosed German partner bank would now take over regulatory responsibilities of its cryptocurrency debit card offering after Visa cut ties with issuer Wavecrest.
The company in a press release said the cryptocurrency community is eagerly awaiting the launch of its new service it described as Germany’s first Blockchain banking service and will offer convertible fiat and cryptocurrency balances linked to a debit card.
Bitwala president Jörg von Minckwitz commented in the release that he is very proud that with their new product the company will close the gap between crypto and traditional banking and solve one of the biggest hurdles on the road to mainstream adoption.
Minckwitz also told Bitcoinist that it is Europe’s first fully regulated blockchain banking account.
Crypto users usually need a dedicated exchange to convert their fiat money into cryptocurrencies. A lot of times, these exchanges are based offshore. He added,
“That’s like taking a detour when compared to what we at Bitwala are offering now: On the basis of blockchain technology, our customers are able to convert Euro into Bitcoin and back from their current account. That is unprecedented in Germany and probably the first real blockchain banking experience worldwide.”
Bitwala originally announced the move in March this year, the funding round was led by Earlybird Venture Capital and also saw participation from Barry Silbert’s Digital Currency Group among others. The rollout of Bitwala’s cards, which will be available to residents beyond Germany, will begin with the reported 30,000 who signed up for early onboarding, the company says.
The banking partner will facilitate standard functionality of a German bank account for cardholders, such as SEPA payment compatibility and direct debits. A further benefit comes in the form of €100,000 deposit protection under German legislation, with the product supervised by the country’s central bank and regulatory authority BaFin.


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Recognizing Celiac Awareness Month: Supporting education and awareness
May is national Celiac Awareness Month, an annual campaign to promote awareness and educate individuals about celiac disease throughout the year. While most people are aware of the disease, many are unfamiliar with what the condition is and how many are affected by it.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by the consumption of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, an estimated 3 million Americans have celiac disease, yet 95 percent of those that have it are undiagnosed.
Over the past several years, diagnosis of the condition has risen sharply as awareness of the disease increases and more people speculate that gluten could be at the root of their health issues. In addition, adhering to a gluten-free diet (the only current treatment for celiac disease) has become easier and tastier as more manufacturers and restaurants feature products that are safe to eat.
Gluten Free Living Now, a local organization that focuses on building, supporting and enhancing the gluten-free community through lifestyle advice and educational resources, will sponsor its third annual Gluten Free Expo on October 5 at The Fountains, in Carmel. “It will feature local and national experts on celiac disease and over 80 gluten-free food, product and service vendors,” says Shelia Cafferty, co-founder of the organization.


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It is undeniable that there has been a marked, if not alarming increase, in the number of Americans diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowl syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease in the last two decades.
It is also undeniable that the increase in statistics coincides with the increase of factory farms and the introduction of genetically modified produce as well as the increased use of Monsanto’s Roundup pesticides, bovine growth hormones and daily doses of antibiotics.
Not surprisingly, the increase in obesity among Americans, particularly among our youth, has erupted into an epidemic proportion following the same time line as the introduction of factory farming and the increase in synthetic chemical sweeteners and preservatives.
Multinational corporations, already profiting from the increased illness and disease in America by selling prescription and over the counter drugs, have no interest in addressing the underlying causes because to do so would reduce their bottom line profits.
To make matters worse, many American corporations, especially Monsanto, are in an unholy partnership with the U. S. Government to participate in the profits from the sale of drugs and the production of genetically modified foods that harm Americans.
The increase in Crohn’s, IBS and IBD are directly related to a person’s individual food sensitivity to the chemicals found in processed, packaged and farmed foods, including meat and poultry. These chemicals include but are not limited to Roundup pesticides, rGBH, antibiotics, nitrates, MSG, Maltodextrin, carcinogenic caramel food coloring and incredible amounts of genetically modified soy and corn byproducts.
MSG, genetically modified soy and corn are in every package. They are used as cheap fillers and to enhance the flavor of flavorless genetically modified foods.
A simple look at the ingredient’s label of a frozen food item will disclose as many as 150 different chemicals on the package. And where the label includes artificial or natural flavoring, those flavorings contain up to 300 different esters (artificial chemicals) that are not required to be listed on the package. Why? Because they are protected by the trade secrets of multinational corporations.
Our grandmothers didn’t have to put more than 150 ingredients into the food they served our families to make them yummy. Most Americans don’t have more than 20 spices in their spice cabinet. I doubt that you can find one American that can name more than 50 ingredients in their food, let alone 150.
Yet, American food manufacturers faced with tasteless genetically modified ingredients are compelled to add these chemical ingredients to fool your taste buds not only into buying their food but to become addicted to it.
As we note in our books, Doritos has more than 39 ingredients in their recipe. Yet, you only need three ingredients to make chips at home. So, what are the other 36 ingredients? Chemicals, chemicals and more chemicals.
Pepsi and Coke finally acknowledge that the synthetic caramel coloring in their soft drinks is carcinogenic and have planned removal of these ingredients by the summer of 2012. Now if the industry will only acknowledge the dangers of high fructose corn syrup and remove it from their soft drinks, the world could be a safer place to eat and drink.
For people with digestive diseases and syndromes, these chemicals upset their stomachs, inflame their colons, irritate their bowels and eventually lead to colon cancer. If you total up all of the chemicals off the ingredients labels on the packages of food you eat daily, you may find that you are eating and drinking the equivalent of five to six ounces of chemicals a day.
If you drink sugary soft drinks, that number may increase to as many as 20 ounces of some form of chemicals daily. Just imagine pouring yourself a tall glass of chilled chemicals every day and ask yourself what are they doing to your body?
Then ask yourself, how many days, weeks, months and years can you drink eight to 20 ounces of chemicals a day before it rots your insides out, causes Crohn’s, IBS, IBD, heart disease, diabetes or leads to cancer?
It is simple math that, when applied to infant children, is even more alarming. The ingredients of baby food now contain the same dangerous chemicals that adult food contain. Only, starting a child on chemicals almost immediately after birth has far reaching consequences on the future of our society. The recent increase in childhood maladies is dramatic proof of this.
Additional proof can be found in research conducted by UC Davis scientists found in an article in the Los Angeles Times, Groundwater Nitrate Contamination Grows in California Farm Areas, that cites nitrate pollution leaching into aquifers from fertilizers and manure applied to cropland as the cause of high levels of nitrate linked to cancer and reproductive disorders that can be lethal to infants.
The research also pointed out the long term danger when it said, “Because it can take years or decades for nitrate to migrate through aquifers, the authors warned that the effects of the rising volume of manure may not be evident for some time.”
Our water is polluted. Our food is polluted. And over time, our bodies will be polluted with these chemicals resulting in illness and disease. For Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowl syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease sufferers, it is a prescription for pain, suffering and ultimately colon cancer.
If you doubt it, go to various websites, including the CDC, FDA and other more independent sites, and chart the increases in these illnesses and diseases from 1994 until 2011. The numbers are increasing exponentially and are projected to increase even more dramatically in the next 25 years.
The only way to reverse this trend is to eat organic foods and demand that the U.S. government require full and complete disclosure of chemicals in the labels found on foods sold in markets. True disclosure will enable Americans to make their own decisions and not let our government, twisted and turned by political contributions and legalized bribes, make those decisions for us.
To do otherwise will be to condemn our children and grandchildren to a shorter life punctuated by obesity, illness and disease.


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A new report from Voicebot.ai suggests that 19.7% of Americans have at least one smart speaker in their homes with nearly 72% of them being Amazon Echo devices powered by Amazon Alexa. The report goes on to suggest that by the end of the year, nearly 50% of households will have at least one smart speaker in their house.
The reports is based on a survey of 1,057 US adults and extrapolated from there. While it may not be the largest sample size, it does give a solid indicator of where smart speakers going in the market and their adoption rate. While Echo adoption was at 71.9%, Google was a distant 2nd at 18.4%. The likes of the Hardon Karmon Invoke, powered by Microsoft Cortana, falls into the “other” category which accounted for 9.7% of devices.
While those numbers are not impressive for Google, you have to keep in mind that Google Home only debuted in November 2016, a full two years behind Echo. They still have a lot of catching up to do and clearly Google Home and Google Assistant are key future products for the Mountain View company.
Other interesting statistics from the Voicebot.ai report include:
- 65.7% of respondents have one smart speaker in their home while 8% have three speakers
- The Living Room is the most common place for the smart speaker to be placed
- 57.8% of smart speakers users are male, 42.2% are female
- Nearly 63% of owners use their smart speaker daily
The full report is a free download from Voicebot.ai. You will just need to register with them and a link to the report will be emailed to you.


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Taipei City is set to host the World Congress on Information Technology Sept. 10-13, attracting more than 90 industry experts and 2,500 business leaders from 80 countries and territories to discuss and exchange ideas on the latest technology developments.
Co-organized by the Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the event themed Fulfilling the Promises of the Digital Age: Building and Sharing the Dream also involves nearly 100 business heavyweights from home and abroad showcasing the latest product offerings.
This is the second time Taiwan has hosted what is widely considered one of the most important information and communication technology gatherings in the world, the MOEA said July 5.
In bringing together top business figures from home and abroad, the congress will enhance Taiwan's position as a global powerhouse in ICT applications, highlight its achievements in digital infrastructure and promote business opportunities through cross-border collaboration.
According to the ministry, the event's four-day schedule is packed with must-attend activities. These include business-to-business matchmaking, keynote speeches, leaders' dialogues, a ministerial roundtable and seminars on such topics as big data, infrastructure building, Internet of Things and innovative applications of mainstream technologies.
Among the lineup of keynote speakers is MOEA Minister Lee Chih-kung; Alan Marcus, senior director and head of ICT industries of the World Economic Forum; and executives from Microsoft Corp., MIT Connection Science and Human Dynamics Labs, NTT Data Corp. and Philips Lighting.
Lee is expected to elaborate on Republic of China (Taiwan) government efforts aimed at promoting smart growth within the framework of the circular economy, which is a key component of President Tsai Ing-wen's five-plus-two innovative industries initiative.
A raft of other events is planned on the sidelines of the gathering. Some of these are the Global ICT Excellence Awards, a special exhibition on Taiwan's smart city developments, and a startup expo and youth forum.
Launched 39 years ago in Barcelona, the congress has taken place annually since 2016. It is the flagship event of U.S.-based World Information Technology and Services Alliance, whose members make up 90 percent of the global ICT market.
Source: Taiwan Today


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In FY22 so far, UPI has processed a little over 40.49 billion transactions worth Rs 74.51 trillion
Subrata Panda |
Last Updated at March 1, 2022 13:28 IST
Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the flagship digital payments platform of India, logged 4.52 billion transactions, amounting to Rs 8.26 trillion in February, according to data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the umbrella organization for retail payments in the country. This was marginally lower than the record 4.61 billion transactions the payments platform had reported, amounting to Rs 8.32 trillion, in January.
The marginally low transactions, both in volume and value terms is because of fewer days in the month of February. Having said that, on a year – on – year (YoY) basis, UPI transactions were up 97 per cent in volume terms in February and 94 per cent in value terms.
After reporting a dip in transactions in May last year due to the second wave of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, UPI transactions have witnessed spectacular growth since, in sync with the economic recovery and increased adoption of digital payments in the country.
In FY22 so far, UPI has processed a little over 40.49 billion transactions worth Rs 74.51 trillion. This is almost double the number of transactions (in volume terms) reported in FY21, reflecting the increased adoption of digital payments in the country, especially UPI. Further, with one month remaining in the financial year, UPI has achieved the goal of over 40 billion transactions in FY22 set by NPCI’s CEO. In CY21, UPI had processed more than 38 billion transactions, amounting to Rs 71.59 trillion.
NPCI has set itself a target of 1 billion transactions a day on the UPI platform in the next 3 – 5 years. “To achieve this milestone in the next 3-5 years, it is imperative that we follow the three “zero” approaches – zero touch (contactless), zero time (it has to be faster than cash), and zero cost to the customer. If these three “zero” come along then 1 billion transactions a day will happen in the next 3 – 5 years’ time, Dilip Asbe, NPCI CEO had said.
Launched in 2016, UPI crossed 1 billion transactions in October 2019. The next 1 billion came in under a year. In October 2020, UPI processed more than 2 billion transactions. The journey from 2 billion transactions a month to 3 billion was traversed in 10 months, but it took only three months for the payment platform to reach 4 billion transactions per month, from 3 billion.
According to experts, the next boost to the already burgeoning UPI transactions will come the AutoPay feature, which has seen massive adoption since recurring payments through cards saw disruption due to the Reserve Bank of India’s new guidelines on e-mandates. The AutoPay feature of UPI allows recurring payments of upto Rs 5,000.
Another popular payment platform, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) — an instant payment interbank electronic funds transfer system — processed 420.93 million transactions in February, amounting to Rs 3.84 trillion, down 4.37 per cent in volume terms and 0.77 per cent in value terms. Further, toll collection through FASTag saw record high transactions of 243.64 million transactions worth Rs 3,631.22 crore, up 5.46 per cent in volume terms and 0.76 per cent in value terms.
The rapid adoption of digital payments in the country is reflected in the Reserve Bank of India’s digital payments index (DPI), which was launched in January to indicate the extent of digitisation of payments across the country. The DPI for September 2021 stood at 304.06 as against 270.59 in March 2021. In March 2019 the index stood at 153.47 and by September 2019, it rose to 173.49, followed by 207.94 in March 2020, 217.74 in September 2020, and 270.59 in March 2021. RBI has said the index will be published on a semi-annual basis with a lag of 4 months. The RBI-DPI has been constructed with March 2018 as the base period, i.e., DPI score for March 2018 is set at 100.
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Spotify announced that it's been hacked and will send users an Android update in the next few days. Those with iPhones or Windows Phone won't need an update, according to the statement.
Chief technology officer Oskar Stal said in a blog post that someone gained unauthorized access to the company system and so far only one user has been affected.
Our evidence shows that only one Spotify user’s data has been accessed and this did not include any password, financial or payment information. We have contacted this one individual. Based on our findings, we are not aware of any increased risk to users as a result of this incident.
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Nonetheless, Spotify is having some users logged out of the system, so they must of log in again. Android users will also be given an "upgrade" in the next few days. Windows Phone and iOS users won't need any additional upgrade. Playlists downloaded for listening offline will have to be downloaded against after the new update, according to The Verge.
Spotify's announcement and (mostly) quick fix is probably the best way to handle a security breach. Although it was a small security risk and may be insignificant, the company still told its customers and laid out its plans to handle it with minimal fuss.


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This afternoon saw the latest edition of our favourite news service Nintendo Direct being streamed to the US and Europe. This edition of Nintendo Direct was very 3DS focused and brought with it some rather exciting announcements.
We started off with some new information on The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Most notable of the details was some information on how the game uses StreetPass. The game allows players to battle Shadow Link’s, which will reward you with a fair amount of Rupees if you manage to beat the Shadow Link. The Link that players send out can also be customised with different weapons.
Next up we were treated to another look at Bravely Default, which explained a couple of the rather more complex aspect of the game and also revealed that characters can be customised using the Job system. After that we were given a closer look at the deluxe edition of the game which is being sold through Shopto, which I have to say looks really nice. It was also confirmed that a demo for Bravely Default is going live on the 3DS’ eShop sometime today!
Next we were quickly given a look at Mario Party Island Tour which is coming to the 3DS next year, it showed off a few of its mini-games and also confirmed that up to four players will be able to play the game through the 3DS’ Download Play.
Next up we were treated to some footage of Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks and told the game will be released on the 14th of February. It was also mentioned that the game can link up with the last Inazuma Eleven games, Lightning Bolt and Bomb Blast.
Next we were treated to some of the biggest news to come from the Direct as it was revealed that YouTube will finally be coming to the 3DS later this month, the Wii U app will also be updated to allow for off-TV play. However, it was also announced that the 3DS will be getting a system update in December which brings two quite exciting changes:
(1 We’ll be able to sign-in to our Nintendo Network ID on our 3DS and thus share any credit you may have on your Wii U with your 3DS and vice versa.
(2 The 3DS will finally be getting Miiverse added!
After these big announcements things quietened down for the most part. Nintendo revealed one brand new game for the 3DS in the form of Nintendo Pocket Football Club which, as you may have guessed, lets you build and manage your own football team. The game will include both wireless and online modes, but little else about the game was shared. We’ll learn more about it in the months to come!
With the 3DS news finished we moved on to some Wii U news. First off it was revealed that Animal Crossing Plaza will be getting an update that includes special stamps (which will be added for other titles in the future) for your Miiverse posts, a monthly poll of characters, and resident registration allowing you to meet the animals you have in your Animal Crossing: New Leaf town. The update will go live tomorrow morning.
We finished off with a look at ten reasons why you should have your eye on Super Mario 3D World, with the list including some interesting looking stages, some interesting challenges and speed-run stages, and a fifth unlock-able character!
So, with another Nintendo Direct over and done with, which of the games and announcements interests you most?


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Twitter has already announced that it is in the process of introducing a 'Buy' button and now Pinterest looks set to do the same which is BAD news for anyone who likes to have money in their bank account.
According to Recode, the change could come within as little as three to six months, but others say it's likely to take much longer while they test how the function would work.
The button would mean that while scrolling through all the lovely-looking things on Pinterest, we'd be able to buy certain items without ever having to even leave the app.
We can totally see how this would work with clothes, interiors and some beauty products, but could this mean we could shop the ingredients for a whole recipe as well? We can only dream.
"A big part of what has excited some marketers about Pinterest is its potential to become a spectacular e-commerce platform. For example, it's logical to assume people are signalling some interest — if not clear purchase intent — in a product when they Pin an image. By adding a Buy button, Pinterest is aiming to shrink the time between wanting something and buying it."
A spokeswoman for Pinterest reportedly declined to comment on the 'Buy' button specifically, but explained: "Part of our strategy to help people discover new things, save them, and do these things in real life has always been to make Pins more useful."
With Facebook also developing a 'Buy' button and Google reportedly looking into a similar thing next to their adverts, we sense our purses are about to take a SERIOUS hit.
* LOVE Pinterest AND Cosmo? Come and follow us on Pinterest HERE


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Although you may not have heard of ASML, you've certainly heard of its customers. The company provides lithography equipment to major semiconductor manufacturers around the world, including Intel. That means ASML plays a crucial role in driving down process sizes and pushing Moore's Law forward. Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) is widely understood to be one of the next steps on that road. The company has been developing extreme ultraviolet lithography tools for some time now, but production-ready versions of that hardware have proven elusive. For just one example, an AMD presentation (PDF) projected that EUV "could be ready for high volume manufacturing of semiconductor chips in 2012 or 2013" all the way back in 2007. Today, GlobalFoundries has only committed to "EUV compatibility at key levels" for its upcoming 7-nm process, and TSMC expects to begin deploying EUV technology in 2020 at its purported 5-nm node.
If those companies were holding their breath thanks to ASML, they might be able to exhale a bit now. According to ASML itself and reporting from EE Times, the company has achieved a major milestone on the way to delivering production-ready EUV tools to its customers. Thanks to what the company calls "an upgraded EUV source" install in one of its own Twinscan NXE:3400B step-and-scan tools, ASML says that tool can now achieve its internal performance target of 125 wafers per hour of throughput. EE Times says that this source delivers 250 W of EUV photons, a figure the site says "is directly related to productivity." For perspective, EE Times says that EUV sources were limited to just 25 W in 2012.
Now that ASML has demonstrated a functioning version of this EUV source, the company says it will begin focusing on "achieving the availability that is required for high-volume manufacturing as well as further improving productivity." ASML says its EUV equipment order backlog grew to €2.8 billion in its second-quarter financial results, a development it says is indicative that "preparation for high-volume manufacturing is well underway in both logic and DRAM." EE Times reports that the majority of those orders are for Intel's fabs, but the blue team hasn't publicly commented on when it plans to insert EUV tools into its production process. Whenever major semiconductor companies do begin using EUV to make production chips, however, we can be sure we'll hear about it.
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The launch of the Google Nexus S may only be a day or two away, but that doesn’t mean that you need to get rid of your old Android phone just yet. Hot on the heels of T-Mobile USA’s Android 2.2.1 update for the myTouch 3G, Vodafone UK has just unveiled that they will be releasing the same update for the HTC Magic.
Vodafone will be gradually rolling out the Android 2.2.1 update to the HTC Magic over the next few weeks. While the hardware on the HTC Magic may seem a bit dated at this point, it’s nice to see HTC is still rolling out an update to a handset that was released nearly 20 months ago. We’re hoping a few other manufacturers will take note as to how long they should be supporting their handsets with new Android updates, but we won’t be holding our breath.
Android 2.2.1 will give customers a number of improvements including: latest Gmail and Android Market clients; ability to save applications directly onto an SD card; support for USB tethering so the phone can be used as a modem; improved support for Active Sync Exchange (email, contacts and calendar sync); enhancements to Bluetooth; and enhancements to the camera. The update also includes the latest Google security patches. Vodafone


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Image gallery: 2017 Ford EcoSport
The Ford EcoSport has just received a face lift, and the compact SUV was showcased ahead of the the 2016 Los Angles Auto Show in the US. Ford has tweaked the exterior as well as the interior, in order to keep it relevant in light of the competition. The interior, especially, had begun to show its age and you'l be surprised to see how the refresh has managed to transform the interior. There's better equipment too. We expect Ford India to launch the new EcoSport in the country, sometime next year. While the 2017 version for the US loses the tailgate mounted spare wheel, expect the Indian Eco-Sport to continue with the feature. Scroll through the image gallery and discover what's new on the 2017 Ford EcoSport.
The 2017 model gets a new hexagonal grille with twin slats. The projector headlamps and large fog lamps look contemporary, and the faux skid plate adds to the rugged looking front end
The removal of the tailgate mounted spare wheel results in the number plate holder moving to the tail gate. Note the rear faux skid plate. It does look neater without the spare wheel at the back
New alloy wheels look quite sporty
The interior looks far more upmarket than the predecessor's
There's new switch gear, new steering wheel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with SYNC3
Starts Rs 7.99 Lakhs
- Top 10 best selling cars in India 2021 - Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai dominate
- Tata Punch interiors leaked ahead of launch, features revealed
- Why are manufacturers like Ford shutting their plants in India?
- 2021 MG Astor midsize SUV revealed with level 2 autonomy and AI assistant
- Mahindra XUV700 variants revealed ahead of launch


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Small Businesses- Keep The Internet ReliableWashington – Small business owners overwhelmingly consider their website domain name a good value for the money and place greater value on ensuring a higher-performing Internet than lower domain name prices, according to a new national poll sponsored by the Association for Competitive Technology (ACT).
Public Opinion Strategies conducted the poll just after the Board of ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Number) approved a settlement and new registry agreement with VeriSign. The poll is particularly compelling because it focuses on micro-businesses, that are highly-sensitive to increased costs of doing business. More than half of the businesses surveyed had 3 or fewer employees and 87 percent had 10 or less. One of the most common criticisms of the settlement is that it allows annual domain name fees to increase by a total of $1.86 over the next six years. Moreover, domain name costs are less than two-tenths of one percent of the costs to host a small business e-commerce website.
“This survey underscores that even the smallest businesses consider it more important that the Internet remain fast, secure and reliable than whether their annual domain name cost increases by 40 or 50 cents,” said ACT president Jonathan Zuck. “The real concern for “Mom and Pop” businesses that rely on websites for communications and e-commerce is the reliability and availability of the Internet.”
According to the survey of 300 small business owners conducted March 3-6:
- 95 percent of small business owners considered their domain name a good value for the money.
- A substantial majority, 62 percent, also said they would prefer having a more reliable and better performing Internet to keeping the cost of domain name prices low. The percentages are even higher for businesses that rely heavily on the internet for e-commerce and communications, where 70 percent of respondents were more concerned about reliability.
- Eighty-four percent said that a less reliable Internet with slower speeds and periodic outages would have a negative impact on their business – including 56 percent who said it would have a major negative impact.
“Too many people have been trying to speak for small business, so we decided it was time for someone to speak ‘to’ small business on this issue,” said Zuck. “Representing more than 3000 small IT firms from around the world, ACT is particularly concerned with creating an environment where small businesses can innovate and grow. This poll demonstrates that this settlement rather than harming the Internet will likely improve it. It's clear that ICANN reached an accord with VeriSign which is in its own best interests and the interests of its real constituents: domain name registrants."
The businesses polled are micro enterprises. Besides the vast majority having less than 10 employees, 79 percent earn annual revenues of less than $1 million.
Among these companies, half said they use their domain name to conduct e-commerce or for their email. More than half also said they use the Internet to pay or send invoices (53 percent) and to use business software programs to manage operations (51 percent). Ninety-three percent said they email to communicate with customers and business associates.
The businesses cover the spectrum of commerce. Twenty-four percent are in the retail business, 18 percent in the service/hospitality business and ten percent in finance/real estate commercial. The rest were divided among many commercial interests, including health care, manufacturing, marketing, consulting and construction.
The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) is an international education and advocacy group for the technology industry. Focusing on the interests of small and mid-size entrepreneurial technology companies, ACT advocates for a “Healthy Tech Environment” that promotes innovation, competition and investment. ACT has been active on issues such as intellectual property, international trade, e-commerce, privacy, internet policy and antitrust. ACT represents more than 3000 software developers, systems integrators, IT consulting and training firms, and e-businesses from around the world.


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T-Mobile has promised to cut its overseas data-roaming charges later this year, after one of its senior executives told conference delegates that it is "screwing" its customers at the moment.
The remark was made by the operator’s enterprise strategy head, Ed Williams, at the Mobility Summit in London, during a panel discussion on the subject of mobile data tariffs.
Discussion moderator Chris Lewis, a senior analyst with Ovum, asked Williams if, despite T-Mobile’s £8.50 "all-you-can-eat" data tariff for usage within the UK, the operator still "screws" its customers on data roaming.
"Completely screw them, yes," was Williams’ response.
Williams, who is also a director of the Mobile Data Association, told ZDNet UK on Tuesday that his comment was "made in jest". He also revealed that T-Mobile will be lowering its data-roaming tariffs later in 2006.
It's not yet clear exactly what T-Mobile is planning, but another company executive, senior pricing manager Uday Kansara, later told the conference that T-Mobile is planning to bring its consumer rates down "as the costs come down".
Last year, ZDNet UK exposed the fact that many mobile workers were falling victim to excessive roaming costs. MPs have accused the mobile operators of 'profiteering' from their customers, and the European Commission has now intervened in an attempt to drive prices down.
Ovum's Chris Lewis told ZDNet UK that T-Mobile’s flat-rate domestic data tariff is "what is needed" in the drive towards IP-based communications, but warned that networks such as T-Mobile and Orange "do make a significant proportion of their revenue from roaming charges".
According to Lewis, some UK-based multinational companies are finding that up to 60 percent of their mobile bill comes from voice and data-roaming charges.
Calling the transparency on data-roaming charges "negligible", Lewis told ZDNet UK that "CIOs want to see what they’re getting for their money".
"Most companies are saying ‘we don’t mind paying a bit of a [mobility] premium’… but it should be a fair rate for the service being offered. We loosely talk about value-added services, but value to whom? Value has been added for the operators — they have been charging premium prices," he said.
Data-roaming rates vary widely between operators, and between countries. Tariffs can be as high as as £10.28 per MB (in the case of Vodafone, if roaming outside one of its preferred partner networks), but most can be viewed on an operator's Web site. The one exception at the time of writing is T-Mobile, although a spokesperson for the company said on Tuesday that its worst-case scenario maximum tariff was 6.38 per MB.
The T-Mobile spokesperson also said it was an oversight that this tariff is not available on its Web site, and said that the situation would be corrected.
Orange’s vice president of business solutions, Alistair MacLeod, who appeared on the panel with Williams, told delegates that "the industry is adjusting itself as fast as can be coped with", although he pointed out that "mobility has an innate value that is worth paying for".
Referring to recent trends such as the promotion of so-called "free" fixed broadband, he continued: "At the moment there is a real sense that communications is free. We fully understand where the economics are going with this [and] we’ve got to manage the transition from where we were to where we’re going".
MacLeod also said that "all the operators are anxious to pre-empt the regulator", a reference to European Commissioner Viviane Reding's attempts to drive down roaming costs.
Speaking on the same panel, Clifford Wetherall, the group operations director of Telecom Plus, claimed that some companies were finding themselves with huge roaming bills because they were "very determined to get a good headline [flat] rate". As a result, they "forsake" some of the best roaming tariffs and end up with "monstrous international bills".
The moral of that story, said Wetherall, was that "flat doesn’t always work", and "every organisation needs to know what is important for them".


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Prices are trending higher for finished data center space and server cabinets, according to executives at the leading public companies in the sector, who expect these trends to continue as demand remains strong. The cost of converting unfinished "shell" space into raised-floor technical space is also on the rise, they said.
The findings are no surprise, given the strong demand for data center services, as well as tight supply for space in several major markets. The latest information, compiled from third-quarter conference calls from Digital Realty Trust (DLR) and Equinix Inc. (EQIX) represents a view from the top of the market, and pricing will likely differ between providers and geographic markets. But given the breadth of their operations, these two companies offer insight into pricing trends for premium data center equipment space.
Data Center Space: "We're seeing a significant uptick in rents," said Michael Foust, CEO of Digital Realty. "Rents are up easily 15 to 20 percent this year alone, if not more." In the quarter that ended Sept. 30, Digital Realty commenced leases for 114,000 square feet of finished data center space at an average price of $97 a square foot, while 60,000 square feet of unfinished space was leased at $30 per square foot. New leases that were signed in the quarter (which reflect more current pricing than commenced leases) averaged $109 a square foot for finished space, according to DLR.
"Rents on our turnkey space have typically been averaging $100 to $120 a foot, and often higher," said Foust. There's much stronger demand for for finished "turnkey" space than shell space, which along with pricing trends has influenced Digital Realty's strategy for leasing the 1.2 million square feet of unfinished expansion space in its portfolio. "We're seeing more customers looking for turnkey solutions, so we expect 40 to 50 of that space will be built out by us," said Foust.
Improvement Costs: Building out that space will not be cheap, according to Equinix, which is in the process of developing huge new data centers in Ashburn, Va., Chicago, and Secaucus, N.J. Several years ago, improvement costs for premium data center space ranged from $500 and $600 a square foot, according to Equinix CEO Peter Van Camp. ""What's happening now is that we're seeing costs close to $800 per square foot, and even $1,000 on the colo floor. That's a radical change in the building of a data center."
Cabinet Pricing: Pricing for the 16,200 customer cabinets in Equinix data centers in the U.S. and Asia averaged $1,475 per cabinet in the third quarter, up 2.3 percent from $1,442 in the previous quarter. The company said it expected to see that average exceed $1,500 in the fourth quarter. Cabinets in the U.S. fetched the highest price, averaging $1,559, up from $1,543 in the previous quarter.
Van Camp said Equinix has been implenting "modest" price increases as existing customers renew or extend their contracts. "What's starting to show up (in the rising average) is that new business deals are priced significantly more" than existing cabinets, said Van Camp. "The sales force is living under a new rate schedule."