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What you need to know
- Fitbit users recently started noticing SP02 monitoring in their Fitbit apps.
- Oxygen level monitoring is something expected to come to Apple Watch.
- But Fitbit beat it to the punch.
Fitbit has started to roll out oxygen level monitoring to some of its fitness trackers, with the Ionic, Versa, and Charge 3 all seeing new options appear in the Fitbit app.
Users in the US started seeing blood oxygen monitoring – or SPO2 – data appear today according to a Tizenhelp report (via 9to5Mac.) And while the Fitbit app does note that the data is estimated, it's certainly going to be more accurate than what Apple Watch offers. Which, at this point, is nothing.
Blood oxygen saturation normally fluctuates, but big variations can be linked to breathing issues. Estimated oxygen variation approximates the changes in your blood oxygen saturation.
Given the fact that this feature was added via software, it's possible that Apple may be able to do something similar if its Apple Watches already have the hardware required. We don't know whether that's the case, but it would absolutely stand to reason. There would likely be FDA approval requirements to consider, but it's possible we could see Apple Watch SPO2 monitoring in the future. Hopefully we won't need to buy Apple Watch Series 6 to get it, though.
A Reddit hack has plastered popular subreddits with pro-Trump messages
Reddit is investigating a series of vandalized communities which have been plastered with pro-Trump messages. Compromised moderators may be the source of the attacks.
Go beyond the Wall in Apple Arcade's Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows
"Game of Thrones" fans can now explore the lands beyond the Wall on their iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
Review: The Porsche Taycan can stream Apple Music, no phone or data needed
The 2020 Porsche Taycan is a sweet ride, but it's also the first to fully integrate Apple Music into its own infotainment system — without your phone or data.
Workout finished? Time to recover with these great post-workout routines
It's important to take care of your body after you push it to its physical max. These are the best post workout recovery routines and why your body will thank you endlessly for them.


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As science and technology continuously evolve, so must quality standards. This is as true today as it was when USP was founded nearly 200 years ago. In the 19th century, spectrometry was introduced as a new way to assess molecules, and was adopted into standards as the technology matured. Today, we continue to explore new technologies to consider their potential implications on quality standards.
Our collaborations with a diverse set of organizations, academics, and researchers are key to USP’s work envisioning the future of quality – including exploring the quality implications of new approaches, such as 3D printing of medicines, continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing, and digital therapeutics that use software as therapy.
Bridging from batches to continuous manufacturing
“The pharmaceutical industry is beginning to adopt continuous manufacturing approaches, which promise to improve flexibility and efficiency, compared to traditional “batch” manufacturing methods. Of course, new technologies bring new quality challenges. USP is collaborating with experts from academia and industry to best understand the implications on medicines quality of this complex manufacturing approach.
That’s why USP launched our Pharmaceutical Continuous Manufacturing (PCM) Initiative this year -- to help ensure the quality of medicines that are manufactured in a continuous process, as this approach becomes more broadly adopted by industry.”
Chief Science Officer
Exploring quality needs for new technologies
“Exciting new technologies are creating treatment options for patients with certain conditions -- such as attention deficit hyper activity disorder and substance dependency -- that are based entirely on software. This means that instead of taking medicine, a patient can interact with an app on his or her phone or tablet to achieve positive clinical outcomes. The FDA has recently approved several of these digital therapies, which treat substance use disorders, type 2 diabetes, respiratory disease, schizophrenia and other chronic conditions.
Along with the Digital Therapeutics Alliance, we co-hosted a roundtable discussion with USP experts and leading companies in the digital therapeutics field. Through this convening and our ongoing work we are exploring the meaning of quality in the context of these therapies and how quality standards can be applied to digital therapeutics.”

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Spain: They use blockchain technology for the traceability of hake
The technology blockchain and its traceability function are revolutionizing the fishing industry in Spain , specifically in the case of hake.
Through this innovative solution, consumers can track the hake supply chain from catch to plate, providing transparency, safety and quality assurance throughout the process.
Puerto de Celeiro bets on blockchain for food traceability
In the Spanish town of Celeiro, a technology-based traceability solution has been implemented blockchain for hake, the region's star product. This technology allows consumers to access detailed information about the fish supply chain with just a click, including who caught it, how and where .
Initially, the use of blockchain is limited to hake, which represents almost 90% of the turnover in Puerto de Celeiro. However, the businessmen involved in the project intend to expand its application to other species, such as mackerel, squid or bonito.
The traceability system based on blockchain offers a number of significant benefits. First, it improves efficiency in the supply chain. It does this by providing a shared, permanent record of all data generated on the feed journey. This guarantees the reliability of the brands, food safety, sustainability and the freshness of the food.
In addition, this technology helps prevent food fraud and waste, which contributes to the reduction of economic and environmental losses. By establishing an immutable and transparent record of each step in the supply chain, potential issues can be quickly identified and corrective action taken in a timely manner.
The commitment to technology blockchain in the food sector could grow in the future
The traceability solution developed by Lãberit, in collaboration with Puerto de Celeiro, uses technology blockchain de IBM Food Trust. This platform allows you to generate a permanent and secure record of all relevant data. In this way, suppliers, producers and other participants in the food industry value chain can safely access it in a transparent manner.
In the pilot phase of the project, the traceability system is being applied blockchain 10% of the Celeiro skewer hake catches. However, it is expected that in the future it can be implemented on a larger scale. It is estimated that the volumes transmitted by Puerto de Celeiro amount to approximately 2,000 boxes of 12-13 kilos of skewered hake per month.
This means that around 24,000 to 26,000 kilos of Celeiro skewer hake per month will benefit from this traceability solution. End consumers will be able to find out, at any time, when and where their hake was caught, as well as ensure that it complies with the sustainability standards certified by the Friends of the Sea seal.
It should be noted that in recent years, Spain has shown a growing interest in the application of technology blockchain . One of the industries that has invested the most has been fishing. Blockchain has been used to guarantee traceability and food safety at various stages of the production process. A prominent example is the mussel pilot project . It was carried out by the DOP Regulatory Council of Mexillón de Galicia in collaboration with the certification and digital development companies Kiwa and NTT Data.
Welcome to P2E GAME
Hearing the echoes from Metaverse.


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SPECSAVERS Opticians across the Costa Blanca have teamed up to collect food donations for vulnerable people in the region.
Staff are collecting items throughout this month for the Alicante Food Bank (Fundación Banco de Alimentos de Alicante) and Brits are being asked to give generously during what can be a difficult season for some.
Lisa James, a store director at Specsavers in Guardamar, explains: ‘It’s that time of year where sadly some families will miss out on the festive cheer for various different reasons, but this year in particular the pandemic has had a devastating effect.
That’s why the work of our local food banks and charities is such an important lifeline for so many people in our community and we’re delighted to support this incredibly worthy cause.
Studies by FESBAL (Spanish Federation of Food Banks) shows demand has increased by over 40% since the Covid 19 pandemic started.
In total, 1.8m people are being helped to feed themselves and their families.
Across Europe, the FEBA (European Food Bank Federation) survey revealed that over 85% of food banks throughout the continent continue to experience growing demand.
Branches collecting food donations are in Javea, Calpe, Benidorm, Torrevieja, Guardamar and La Zenia.
Foodstuffs needed are full fat milk, rice, sugar, oil, drinking chocolate and canned fish such as tuna.
Donations can be left at any stores until January 5.
Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store and contact details.
Find out more about the Alicante Food Bank on their website www.bancodealimentosalicante.org


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Bandai Namco has revealed a release date and trailer for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the first big DLC expansion for the game.
The new expansion was announced last year alongside a teaser image showing a boyish figure (likely Miquella) astride a spectral steed (possibly Torrent) while the Erdtree burns in the distance.
You can check out the new trailer for yourself below.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is releasing on June 21.
Elden Ring is available now across Windows PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.


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DJI Mavic Secrets in Bourbon IN 46504
Contrary to other high quality drones that involve monotonous disassembling right before being crammed with your luggage, the Mavic Professional is made to fold in on by itself and in shape securely in even the tightest bag.
You will find 4 other cameras on board, but these aren’t for images; they’re to aid in-flight steadiness and basic safety. Two downward-going through cameras assistance continue to keep the drone from drifting about indoors or in regions of bad GPS protection (commonly, GPS info is applied to maintain placement), even though Yet another pair faces frontwards, detecting obstructions within a ahead arc and protecting against the drone from hitting them.
Electronics Stores in Bourbon, Indiana 46504
Drones for Sale in Bourbon Indiana
Bourbon IN - BingNews Search results
Bourbon: One Of The All-American Targets For Counter-Tariffs
All this talk about trade wars and tariffs can be a little difficult to grasp for people who aren't fluent in global finance and economics. But those political and economic actions have pretty severe impacts on American industries. To explain how severe ...
How Kentucky Became the World’s Bourbon Capital
There’s no law mandating that bourbon must be produced in Kentucky, although it might seem that way given the state’s dominance in distilling the distinctive corn-based, barrel-aged whiskey. According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the ...
Kentucky bourbon shoots straight to the top with a Bulleit
Spirits industry professionals rolled out the red carpet for Kentucky bourbon maker Tom Bulleit of Bulleit whiskey in Houston recently. And why not? The high rye bourbon is among the country’s best-selling brown spirits and a bartender darling.
Man robbed twice in French Quarter, NOPD says
Around 3:30 a.m. a man was walking on Bourbon Street when two unidentified men struck him in the face and stole his cell phone, according to the report. Police say the victim then got into a car thinking it was an Uber when the driver of the vehicle robbed ...
Man robbed twice in same night on Bourbon Street
NEW ORLEANS – Minutes after he was struck in the face during a robbery on Bourbon Street, a man was robbed a second time when he got into what he thought was an Uber. The pair of robberies occurred just after 3:30 a.m. on June 17, according to initial ...


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Funny—we already know what the Mazda6 looks like.
Read This Article
Not every dad can rock the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 as the family whip.
Summer has officially arrived, which of course means warm weather.
The latest rise in gas prices is once again impacting both driving habits and vehicle purchase decisions.


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That was the idea at the opening night gala for Connie Payton`s new full-service salon in Schaumburg recently. Bears and hair.
Guests in silk, taffeta and velvet were tackling the salmon, lobster and roast beef hors d`oeuvres and locally bottled Lynfred Wineries red and white. But something was amiss. ''Sweetness'' was not there.
Walter Payton was en route to his wife`s new business, Corporate Salons, at 301 W. Golf Rd. in Schaumburg, when his limousine was cut off on the expressway. He was unhurt in the accident, but two passengers in the vehicle were hospitalized briefly.
Walter`s accident forced the temporary cancellation of the planned charity auction of a $3,000 blush fox coat donated by York Furriers.
But the celebration drew about 200 friends, business associates and promoters. Proceeds from the cocktail party, and a 12-hour ''Beauty Aid''
event scheduled for last weekend, were earmarked for the Midwest Association for Sickle Cell Anemia and the Maryville Academy of Youth.
Connie Payton`s Corporate Salon, the first of a planned chain, will provide full services, including hair, massage, a makeup artist and a ''nail technician.''
The salon has state-of-the-art equipment and style. There`s a massage room and a pedicure chair equipped with a whirlpool foot bath. The salon`s makeup expert, Christina Kreis, even signs the faces she does. Exquisitely made-up salon associate Cathy Jones was sporting the words ''a Visage'' in pencil along her jawline.
Connie Payton said the salon`s businesslike name does not mean it is exclusively geared to businesswomen. ''We just didn`t want a cutesie-cutesie name,'' she said.
The front room of the salon is being reserved for a small boutique. Opening a boutique has been a dream of hers for many years, Payton said. She hopes to launch a line of clothing in her own name next.
Connie Payton, dressed in a black velvet skirt with a red and black satin jacket, praised Walter for supporting the salon. ''Walter makes sure we have something to eat here every morning,'' she said. ''He brings over coffee cake.'' The former running back also is providing a sound system for the salon.
Payton and her associates, Jones and Nezy Oliver, first considered starting the business two years ago, and put it in motion last February.
At the celebration, guests mingled in the salon as a harpist strummed in one corner, next to a barber-style gray leather chair. Two models strolled the room, showing Chicago designer Reginald Thomas creations.
The salon is hardly a masculine place, so perhaps it`s not surprising that no football Bears were visible in the crowd. But Cathy Jones, the salon`s chief hairstylist, has been doing Walter`s hair at home, according to Connie Payton.
Two Maryville priests stood out among the finery. Father John Smyth, executive director of the academy, and Father David Ryan stopped by to thank Connie Payton for the benefit.
''I`ve never been in a beauty shop before,'' Father Smyth remarked.
''They look better than barbershops.''
The gray-walled, mirrored salon has plush furniture and the obligatory barber`s chairs and looks more like a Hollywood set than a beauty shop.
The salon may indeed become a studio set. Kathy Rivera, an independent television producer, said she has been negotiating with network television about creating a beauty talk show to be hosted by Connie Payton from the salon.
''We`re going to make Connie Payton the Bob Vila of beauty,'' Rivera said. ''We`ll be dealing with inside beauty as well as outside beauty.''


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Analysts forecast that Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ) will announce sales of $683.99 million for the current quarter, Zacks reports. Six analysts have provided estimates for Domino's Pizza’s earnings. The highest sales estimate is $692.59 million and the lowest is $672.99 million. Domino's Pizza reported sales of $624.22 million during the same quarter last year, which would suggest a positive year over year growth rate of 9.6%. The firm is expected to report its next earnings results on Thursday, April 26th.
On average, analysts expect that Domino's Pizza will report full year sales of $683.99 million for the current fiscal year, with estimates ranging from $3.02 billion to $3.17 billion. For the next fiscal year, analysts anticipate that the firm will report sales of $3.34 billion per share, with estimates ranging from $3.25 billion to $3.50 billion. Zacks’ sales averages are a mean average based on a survey of sell-side analysts that cover Domino's Pizza.
Domino's Pizza (NYSE:DPZ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The restaurant operator reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $891.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $904.79 million. Domino's Pizza had a net margin of 9.97% and a negative return on equity of 12.02%. Domino's Pizza’s revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS.
Domino's Pizza (DPZ) traded down $1.29 during trading on Friday, reaching $226.40. 675,327 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,124,578. The company has a quick ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of -1.14. The company has a market cap of $9,905.38, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.70, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.43. Domino's Pizza has a twelve month low of $166.74 and a twelve month high of $236.00.
Domino's Pizza declared that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, February 20th that allows the company to buyback $750.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the restaurant operator to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 14th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.97%. This is a positive change from Domino's Pizza’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Domino's Pizza’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 31.45%.
In related news, CFO Jeffrey D. Lawrence sold 17,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.87, for a total transaction of $3,142,790.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 26,841 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,962,095.67. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 3.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DPZ. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. bought a new position in shares of Domino's Pizza during the 3rd quarter valued at $1,314,000. Dupont Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in Domino's Pizza during the 3rd quarter valued at $848,000. Swiss National Bank boosted its position in Domino's Pizza by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 177,100 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $35,163,000 after buying an additional 1,900 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. boosted its position in Domino's Pizza by 20.6% during the 3rd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 15,100 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $2,998,000 after buying an additional 2,575 shares during the period. Finally, Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its position in Domino's Pizza by 83.3% during the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 113,663 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $22,568,000 after buying an additional 51,666 shares during the period. 94.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
About Domino's Pizza
Domino’s Pizza, Inc is a pizza restaurant chain company. As of January 1, 2017, the Company operated in over 13,800 locations in over 85 markets around the world. The Company operates through three segments: domestic stores, international franchise and supply chain. Its basic menu features pizza products in various sizes and crust types.
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
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Jabil pays $665M for plastics manufacturer
St. Petersburg's Jabil Circuit is buying a Massachusetts-based maker of precision plastic products for about $665 million, bolstering its presence in the health care, packaging and consumer electronics industries.
Jabil CEO Tim Main said the acquisition of Nypro Inc. also will be "an important strategic step" in the development of engineering and capability intensive businesses.
Already the biggest global employer based in the Tampa Bay area with about 140,000 employees, Jabil is adding Nypro's network of 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations in 10 countries. Nypro has more than $1 billion in annual revenues.
The deal will be funded with Jabil's existing cash and credit facilities.
Shares in Jabil closed Monday at $19.24 apiece, down 12 cents, or less than 1 percent.


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Point Roberts’ only grocery store isn’t threatening to close if the border doesn’t re-open by May, but its owner sure would like to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
It was on Ali Hayton’s birthday when the US-Canada border closed for non-essential travel back in March. At the time, she never would have believed her store would still have no Canadian customers 10 months later.
“I remember the first thing I said was I was so glad this is March and not July (our busiest time of the year). Nobody could have predicted this,” said Hayton.
The International Marketplace is currently running at 45-to-50 percent below its typical business at this time of year. That number dropped to 70-to-80 percent last summer when the store benefits from Canadians at their vacation homes and the peak time for those quick trips across the border for cheap gas, dairy products and wine.
The drop in business meant Hayton had to lay-off three employees for the first time in her 24-year career, even though she hasn’t given herself a salary since the pandemic impacted the border.
The closure of the Banner Bank inside the store in December was another hit to the bottom line and other businesses are not exactly lining up to lease the vacant space. Hayton even considered closing on Sundays at one point but didn’t want to take that option away from residents, deciding on an earlier daily closing time instead.
“Most of my customers have nowhere to go right now, so I kind of have a captive audience, but my store is also 40,000 square feet built to serve 8,000 people a week, not the 1,400 we are getting now,” she said. “We have been trying to do as much as we can. I’m working on a community corner (inside the store) for like the little bakery that had to shutdown. If she could bake her goods twice a week and bring them into the store I will sell them for her. We are also working on a platform for our website right now for people to be able request special items.”
Hayton admits she is concerned when she hears about the Canadian and US governments potentially agreeing on a system that would allow Point Roberts’ residents to regularly get through the Canadian border if they were going directly to the Peace Arch crossing. She says such a deal would have to go both ways to at least allow Canadian property owners to cross the border again.
“Right now they can go on the (free) foot ferry (service to Bellingham) and all they can bring back is what they can carry, she said. “If they create that ability to get to Costco with their car or Winco without getting my (Canadian customers) back down here, then it would not be worth it for me and I would have to close. Then they would have to let (Point Roberts) residents into Canada to get everything they need.
“I’m not saying open the border to let every single Canadian come down, but people who own their homes, have businesses, have packages, if they could just do a rapid (COVID-19) test at the border. Even if we get say an extra 1,000 people a week it would totally stimulate the economy.”
Hayton adds she appreciates the compliments the store has received from its customers as the store navigates its way through the pandemic with hopefully brighter days ahead.
“We just don’t depend on Canadians. We depend on the people that live here,” she added. “It’s those Canadians that makes the business worthwhile.”


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In an exclusive interview Square Enix's worldwide technology director Julien Merceron praised cloud storage and cloud computing, and said platform holders must include it in the generation of consoles.
"When it comes down to future hardware platforms, and official home consoles, I think its going to be instrumental," he told GamesIndustry.biz
"I think it has tremendous benefits. I don't see any good reason not to investigate for platform holders how they could actually think about cloud storage and cloud computing for their next platforms."
He sees huge opportunities not just for designers and asynchronous game play, but as a way of avoiding costly hardware updates altogether.
"If you imagine platform that would basically have cloud computing capabilities, for example, then why would you eventually need to change the hardware? Because actually what you then just do is basically change the back end to be more powerful."
In his interview he also spokes about the ways the cloud could change game play, and connect separate devices in ways that go beyond simple Gaikai style game streaming.
"I think it's going to change also the way players interact together, and the way NPCs are designed," he suggested.
"You could potentially have NPCs in your game that play like your friends, or like some of your friends. So I think cloud storage will actually have a huge impact in terms of gameplay, game design, artificial intelligence, etcetera. It's also going to allow players to play an experience almost on any platform, if they want to, and that's a big changer both for the business and for the games."
Merceron is attending Cloud Gaming Europe, which starts today in London.


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Group Buying Platform for Publishers
Group buying site Tippr has launched PoweredByTippr, a white-label group buying platform for publishers interested in providing their own branded group buying offering.
"What started out as a cool viral buying phenomena has turned into a huge revenue liability for publishers," said Martin Tobias, founder and chief executive officer of Tippr. "Group buying sites are encroaching on the same local marketing dollars that a publisher's sales team is fighting for. Publishers without a group buying strategy risk losing a meaningful monetization mechanism."
With the immense popularity of GroupOn and LivingSocial, expect publishers to flock to the Tippr's new offering - thanks in part to the white-label aspect (the only one we've come across), and supported by other powerful technology features such as a credit/incentive system, social sharing, mobile support and one-click purchasing.
"Most group buying solutions currently in the market require the publisher to turn over their customers, their brand, and ultimately, the long-term viability of their group buying business to the partner," said Samy Aboel-Nil, president and chief operating officer at Tippr. "PoweredByTippr allows publishers a way to build their brand, increase customer loyalty and drive revenues without having to build and maintain their own technology platform."


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Information on the specifications for two upcoming HTC smartphones leaked this week.
Both of these devices are expected to be unveiled after HTC announces the M7 smartphone on Feb. 19.
The first of these handsets is the HTC M4, which is a mid-range device that is a step down from the M7 in terms of specifications. The M4 comes with a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, a 4.3-inch 720p display, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and Android 4.1, JellyBean.
The second handset, the HTC G2, seems to be a notch below the M4 in terms of specs. The device comes with a 1.0GHz ARM Cortex processor, a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 512MB RAM, 4GB microSD slot, 5-megapixel rear camera, and Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.
The specs were leaked by Unwired View, who also stated that these two handsets will not be unveiled at this year's Mobile World Congress, but will debut at a much later date.
HTC sent out initiations last week to an event that will take place on Feb. 19, where the company might end up unveiling its new M7 smartphone.
The invitation reads "save the date" and takes place at 10 a.m. Feb. 19 in New York City. HTC did not reveal the purpose of the event, but it is safe to assume that those in attendance will get a first look at a new smartphone.
The HTC M7 is expected to be an extremely impressive device that features several industry firsts. HTC will also replace the One X with the M7, making it the new flagship device for the company.
These firsts include specs that rival and top away many of the handsets currently available in the market, such as a 4.7-inch display with a pixel density of 468ppi and a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a second generation 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB of internal flash storage, and LTE connectivity.


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Although still representing a minuscule percentage of the automobiles on state roads, electric vehicle sales are slowly but steadily growing in Connecticut.
Whether they will continue to do so depends, in part, on the Trump administration’s decision announced last month to roll back auto emissions standards.
The administration wants to freeze antipollution and fuel-efficiency standards that the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, among others, say compel auto manufacturers to make their vehicles significantly more fuel-efficient.
The proposed changes would also eliminate a waiver allowing Connecticut and other states to establish their own gas mileage standards as part of their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, producing angry disapproval in some quarters.
“This is a decision to ignore all of the warnings on air quality and on greenhouse gas emissions and say to Connecticut, and other states who are struggling to address air pollution, ‘screw you’,” Rob Klee, commissioner of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), told NPR last month.
While Klee was not available for further comment, Paul Farrell, DEEP’s assistant director for air quality, told the Business Journal that the commissioner’s sentiments reflected those of himself and the agency at large.
Transportation accounts for some 41 percent of Connecticut’s carbon emissions, Farrell said, while 67 percent of all nitrogen oxide emissions in the state come from cars, trucks, and similar gas-burning equipment like lawn mowers.
“That’s by far the biggest source in aggregate of air pollution in Connecticut,” he said. If the proposed rollbacks take place, “We have no chance of meeting our fresh air quality standards in the time required.”
Under Connecticut’s Global Warming Solutions Act, greenhouse gas emissions are mandated to be 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and to be approaching 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050.
Farrell said that DEEP and the state are considering litigation over the matter.
“The Trump administration is determined to roll back protections, like these auto emissions standards, that are critical to the health, safety and well-being of Connecticut residents,” Attorney General George Jepsen said.
“As a downwind state,” he continued, “Connecticut struggles to maintain our air quality, and lessening standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks nationwide will only exacerbate the problem. My office will continue to work with our partners in other states to aggressively fight this administration’s assault on clean air.”
In the meantime, according to the International Energy Agency, the number of electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the world’s roads exceeded 3 million in 2017, up 54 percent over 2016. China was the largest market by a wide margin, accounting for nearly half the year’s total with nearly 580,000 electric cars sold, up 72 percent from the previous year. The U.S. placed second, with about 280,000 cars sold in 2017 compared with 160,000 in 2016.
According to the Electric Vehicle Club of Connecticut (formerly the Westport Electric Car Club), 6,264 vehicles were sold in Connecticut last year compared with 4,636 in 2016. Board member and secretary Barry Kresch noted that the term “electric vehicle” (EV) includes both battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV).
So far this year, EVs represent 0.28 percent of all vehicles registered in the state, up from 0.20 percent for the same period last year. “EV sales have been growing by double digit percentage increases for several years now,” Kresch said, noting that Greenwich leads all Fairfield County towns by a large margin: 511 compared with second-place Stamford’s 298.
DEEP’s Farrell noted that the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) offers incentives of up to $5,000 for state residents who purchase or lease a new eligible EV; there are more than 40 eligible vehicles available, he said, with the list continuing to grow as manufacturers release new models.
James Fleming, president of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association (CARA), said that Connecticut currently ranks eighth in EV sales and is behind only Vermont in the Northeast. The group played a key part in establishing CHEAPR, he said.
“We’re doing well,” he said, “Manufacturers are looking to sell now, not 10 months from now, which has made a big difference in Connecticut.”
Also helping is the roughly $8.4 million Connecticut received from a $108 million federal settlement from Volkswagen, which the carmaker paid when caught violating the Clean Air Act by selling vehicles designed to circumvent emissions tests; some of that money is being used for Connecticut’s EV policy.
Connecticut joined with 11 other states and the District of Columbia to create a “Northeast Corridor Regional Strategy for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.” Released earlier this year, it established goals for promoting EVs and installing charging stations. Not having ubiquitous charging stations has worked against more widespread adoption of EVs, Farrell said.
There are now 313 public charging stations in Connecticut, offering 678 outlets. In April, two new chargers were unveiled at the Westfield Trumbull Mall.
Fairfield County dealers said that general interest in EVs has been on the rise. “It’s getting better,” said Tim Kraemer, general manager at BMW of Bridgeport. “The biggest issue has been the range (how far cars can go on a single charge), and BMW has addressed that” with such models as its X5 SUV and i3 and i8 sedans, he said.
Such vehicles “are not for everyone,” Kraemer said, “but in general people want to do good things, things that are good for the environment.”
Higher prices — the i3’s MSRP is $53,895, while the X5 starts at $60,700 — are offset by rebates and incentives on leases, Kraemer said, noting that in addition to the state’s CHEAPR program, a federal tax credit can reduce an EV’s purchase price by $7,500.
Kraemer said the power that’s obvious when driving such a vehicle also makes a difference. “It’s such a smooth acceleration and it’s faster than its gas counterparts,” he said.
Not all dealers are convinced, however. “It’s been very light,” said David Beylouni, president and co-owner of the Colonial Automobile Group, whose Colonial Ford in Danbury offers that automaker’s Focus Electric. He said the dealership sells “one or two” Focus Electrics per month.
Beylouni blamed what he called “a lack of infrastructure on the electric side” — the relative lack of charging stations — as well as the price: the standard Focus starts at $17,950 while the electric version starts at $29,120. “Usually for the consumer, it boils down to economics,” he said.
Beylouni also cited gas-powered cars’ improved mileage. “We’re at a peak time in engineering,” he said. “Gas-powered engines are now so fuel-efficient and very, very clean.”
He also questioned how “green” EVs ultimately are. “When the battery (in an EV) is gone, how do you get rid of it? That’s another example of negative, ‘brown’ energy — it’s a different kind of pollutant that you need to consider.”
Farrell downplayed such talk, but said that the fight for EVs still remains an uphill one. “Auto manufacturers are not necessarily doing this out of the goodness of their hearts,” he said. “That’s why we’re trying to build the necessary infrastructure. (The Trump administration action) isn’t helping, and the manufacturers are looking several years into the future.
“If there’s uncertainty now,” he said, “that doesn’t help down the line.”e
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Volkswagen is unveiling the CrossBlue Coupe Concept at the Shanghai Auto Show, the second crossover concept the company has shown this auto show season.
Read This Article
If Volkswagen has its way, there's going to be a lot more diesel powered vehicles on U.S.
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety announced today that the 2011 Saab 9-5 and the 2011/2012 Volkswagen CC have been awarded Top Safety Picks.
In July 2010, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration began an investigation into the Volkswagen Passat.


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A Highland distillery has been recognised for its industry-leading visitor tours at an annual awards ceremony dubbed the ‘Oscars of tourism’.
The World Travel Awards winners for 2024 were announced in Berlin last week, with the Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery crowned Scotland’s Leading Distillery Tour.
The Muir of Ord distillery, located just a 35-minute drive from Inverness Airport, reopened its doors in 2022 as part of Diageo’s £185-million investment into Scotch Whisky tourism.
Celebrating the best of Scotland, it was designed to honour the slow-crafted single malt and its history while also giving locals and tourists an immersive experience to ‘explore everything the Highlands has to offer’.
The distillery was previously named Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Scotland and World Whiskies Awards 2024 in December last year, as well as a Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award having been consistently rated by the public as a five-star attraction in 2023.
Following last week’s win, Leigh Aitken, brand home manager at The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery, said: “To be named as Scotland’s Leading Distillery Tour by one of the biggest tourism award bodies in the world is such an honour.
“Scotland is famous for our unmatched larder, scenery, and of course, whiskies and in particular so to come out on top of this category is a testament to the versatile offering we have here, thanks to our team of whisky experts, bartenders, and local suppliers who each give us that extra something special.
“We look forward to welcoming even more people into the Highlands to try out our award-winning whisky experiences.”
Sitting on the famous North Coast 500 route and accessible by bus or train from Inverness, the visitor attraction is known for working closely with suppliers from around the area to provide visitors with local produce, cultural moments with home-grown artists, as well as a series of unique tasting experiences.
This includes a Malt to Cask Tour, which offers the chance to explore onsite drum maltings, sneak a glimpse into the bonded warehouse, and taste the award-winning malt straight from the cask.
Elsewhere The Singleton Distillery Tour is a guided introduction to the process of the superior malt, plus a tasting of three unique expressions.
The distillery is also home to a circular Bar and Deli area known for hosting ‘Singleton Sessions’ with local musicians and showcasing the very best of Scotland’s larder.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards ‘acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence’ across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.
Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh was also recognised at this year’s ceremony and claimed the title of Europe’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience 2024.
The eight-floor visitor experience for the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky opened in September 2021 after four and a half years of planning and is hailed as the ‘centrepiece’ of Diageo’s investment into Scotch whisky.
Since opening, Johnnie Walker Princes Street has welcomed over 800,000 visitors from 131 countries, ‘from Andorra to Zimbabwe and everywhere in between’.
In addition to the ‘Journey of Flavour tour’ where visitors have their personal flavour preferences mapped with drinks tailored to their palate whilst exploring the 200-year history of Johnnie Walker, exclusive tours and experiences are also available all year round, including STIR, a collaboration with two Michelin-starred team James and Maria Close which combines ‘world-class cocktails with innovative cuisine’.
Four distilleries, Glenkinchie, Cardhu, Caol Ila and Clynelish, are linked directly to the venue in Edinburgh, representing the “four corners of Scotland”.
Together, this creates a unique Johnnie Walker tour of Scotland, encouraging visitors to the capital city to also travel to the country’s rural communities.
A spokesperson for Diageo’s Scotland Brand Homes business, said: “Diageo has invested £185 million in creating world class visitor experiences in Scotland over the past few years, with the ambition of putting Scotland and Scotch whisky at the forefront of global food and drink tourism.
“It is wonderful to see that investment paying off with the recognition our visitor experiences, such as The Singleton of Glen Ord, are receiving on the world stage.”


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Due to overcrowding at the grand opening of the RazerStore in the Syntrend Mall in Taipei, mall management, citing safety concerns, requested that Razer suspend its weekend launch activities.
The opening of the new Razerstore purportedly drew thousands of fans from Taiwan and abroad, including the United States, Europe and Asia, which resulted in a line forming many hours before the store opening.
While Syntrend provided extensive security support for the event, the magnitude of people drawn to the mall for Razer's retail event were expected to exceed capacity, potentially taxing crowd control resources and impacting other tenants of the mall.
Razer will comply with Syndrend's request to suspend its previously planned activities this weekend. As a result, free Nabu X wearables will not be distributed to the first 250 visitors in line each day, May 16 and May 17.
The new Razerstore Taipei will still be open and operating during normal business hours this Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Razer community team on location plans to issue swag on a discretionary basis, honoring fans who come equipped with Razer gear, such as Razer Kraken headphones, shirts, bags and the likes.
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Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of ready-made garments in the world, after China. The growth of the industry has been dramatic. In the 1983-4 fiscal year, Bangladesh exported garments worth just over US$31.5 million, and employed 120,000 workers in 384 factories. By 2013-14 it exported garments worth more than US$24 billion, and employed some 4 million workers in 4,536 factories. Garments account for almost 80 percent of the country’s export earnings and contribute more than 10 percent of GDP.
According to the industry’s most powerful trade body, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), factories have played an important role in alleviating poverty in Bangladesh “through skills development and employment generation.” More than 20 million people depend directly and indirectly on the industry, according to the BGMEA. Eighty percent of the workers are women. According to the ILO “the industry is the major driver of Bangladesh’s development. Most workers are women from poor backgrounds for whom jobs in the RMG sector are a lifeline out of poverty. Continued growth of the garment industry is critical for eradication of poverty in Bangladesh.”
Although the government increased the minimum wage in late 2013, Bangladesh has historically paid its garment workers less than its major competitors, and has a record of poor industrial relations. In November 2013, the government deployed a paramilitary force, the Border Guard Bangladesh, to help quell violent protests by workers seeking an increase to the minimum wage. In December 2013, the government raised the minimum wage to US$68/month from US$39/month, bringing it closer to the wages paid in other Asian countries, but still significantly less than the workers had demanded.
Trade unions are legal in Bangladesh but, as discussed later in this report, workers seeking to form unions face an often daunting environment—including at times violent retaliation, termination of employment, and other violations— as well as arbitrary barriers to registration, and harassment and retaliation once a union is established. In one of the worst cases, labor activist Aminul Islam was abducted, tortured, and killed in April 2012, and to date his killers have not been found.
Amendments to the labor law in July 2013 have made registering a union easier. Factors such as international pressure following the disasters at the Rana Plaza and Tazreen factories, and the government’s hope that the United States might reinstate suspended GSP trade benefits, have led to improved government response in registering trade unions. But even with the recent new union registrations, unions exist in fewer than 10 percent of garment factories in Bangladesh today.
The rapid rate at which the industry has grown, as well the failure of the Bangladesh government to enforce its building and labor regulations, has resulted in many unsafe and poorly constructed factories. On April 24, 2013, Bangladesh witnessed the worst industrial disaster in its history when the Rana Plaza building collapsed, killing more than 1,100 workers and leaving hundreds more badly injured. A government investigation found that there had been a series of irregularities in its construction—the top two floors were added illegally and the building was not designed or built for industrial use. Five months before the Rana Plaza tragedy, Bangladesh’s deadliest factory fire occurred, at the Tazreen Fashions factory, killing at least 112 people.
These were not isolated incidents. Factory fires alone killed almost 500 workers between 2006 and 2010, according to fire department figures quoted by the Clean Clothes Campaign. In April 2005, 64 workers were killed when the Spectrum factory collapsed. Since the Tazreen fire, the Solidarity Center has tracked at least 68 garment factory fire incidents, in which 30 people were killed and more than 800 people—most of them women—injured.
Since the Rana Plaza accident, Bangladesh has come under intense pressure to reform the industry, both from retailers considering pulling their supply chains out of the country, as well as from major donor nations. The United States suspended Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade benefits in June 2013 because, as President Barack Obama phrased it, Bangladesh was “not taking steps to afford internationally recognized worker rights to workers in the country.” The European Union also threatened to remove trade benefits for Bangladesh garment exports if reforms did not take place.
In July 2013, Bangladesh signed a Sustainability Compact with the European Union to improve labor rights with a particular focus on freedom of association and collective bargaining; occupational safety and health and factory safety; and supporting and promoting responsible business conduct. A stock-taking report produced a year later noted some achievements. These included the adoption of an amended labor law in July 2013 which made it easier for workers to establish trade unions, including by streamlining the process for registration of new unions, and called for the hiring of new factory inspectors. But the EU report added that the country’s labor law needed further amendments to fully comply with core international labor standards. It also called on the Bangladesh government to address “reports of denials to register trade unions, anti-trade union discrimination, intimidation, and harassment.”
Additionally, three separate initiatives to inspect the factories for safety are underway. The first, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, is being run on behalf of 175 retailers, most of which are based in Europe. The signatories of this legally binding agreement are responsible for inspecting and overseeing improvements in 1,611 factories. Members of this ground-breaking initiative also include trade unions and campaign groups. The second initiative, the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, is inspecting and overseeing improvements in 587 factories. The Alliance is a group of 26 North American retailers, including Walmart and Gap. Finally, the government’s own inspectors, supported by the ILO and funded by the EU, are inspecting and overseeing improvements in the remaining factories, which number about 1,500.


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Today’s article subject spawned from a discussion that began in the QS Discord chat. One of our members was contemplating stepping away from the game for a while and wanted to know the best place to park his money and/or what to trade into. As expected, a lot of people immediately jumped to Power. The general […]
The sequel to Guilds of Ravnica and the 80th expansion set in Magic: The Gathering’s history is due to release on January 25, 2019. Here’s what we know about Ravnica Allegiance (RNA) so far, including any cards in the spoiler, the guilds represented, and cards to speculate on before the full spoiler is released. The Guilds […]
The holidays are in full swing and the new year is right around the corner. And as some of you may know, the stock market has been a bit shaky in the last month or so. But it seems Magic is still doing pretty well during this slightly volatile time. I think a good portion […]
Ultimate Masters is still in full bounce back mode, and the last World Magic Cup has come to a finish. Plus, some sweet Ravnica Allegiance spoilers have hit the market so there’s gonna be a nice mix of things to talk about again in this piece. Owing to the spoilers, this might be a little […]
Ultimate Masters has hit the market and there’s already been a lot of movement. The prices of the reprints dropped as they usually do when a set first hits the market. But it seems like the prices have started to rebound a lot quicker this time around. There’s a slight possibility they could drop again […]
Magic Online has a problem. A card value problem. In a recent Channel Fireball article, Florian Koch showed just how much card prices have fallen over the past few years: That’s right. To own a playset of the cheapest version of every Magic card ever printed on MTGO would have cost you roughly $28,000 in […]
Welcome back, folks. It’s been a while since I last wrote an article, in large part because I’ve been unwilling to make any financial moves on MTGO before reading the December 6th announcement about competitive play on Arena. What is announced there could have major ramifications for investing on MTGO, and so I’ve been very […]
Many people have been saying there’s been a little less movement regarding Magic finance during the past few weeks or months. Some people are saying there’s a slowdown. Others are saying it’s normal because the holidays are around the corner and players have less money to spend on Magic cards. Regardless, Magic continues to move […]
Hello, everybody and welcome to a new week of the Daily Stock Watch! Standard cards are starting to move in the wake of new brews with cards from Guild of Ravnica, and we’re all but ready to see which deck will be the new Black Red Midrange (arguably the best deck from last season) of […]
Edward covers the latest shifts in the wake of Pro Tour 25th Anniversary, including a new section that highlights major targets he missed in earlier articles.
What’s the link between results from premier paper tournaments and MTGO prices? Adrian looks at a few high-profile examples to see what lessons we can learn.
In this article, Eddie puts reader feedback into action. He also provides a new section to give us real-time insight to reflect on previously mentioned cards.
Welcome to a new edition of State of the Meta! PT 25th Anniversary is right around the corner, which will feature Team Constructed only (no draft) with each team member playing a separate format (Standard/Modern/Legacy). Things have been shifting a bit as of late in the world of eternal formats: from the dominance of Matt […]


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'Debt tagging' by collection agencies a growing problem
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Michael L. Hughes started getting the harassing phone calls several months ago. He figured they were from scammers and he tried to ignore them. Sometimes he'd pick up the phone just to hang up on them. Finally, he decided to find out what they wanted. The caller said Hughes was $12,000 in debt.
He checked his credit report and realized what had happened: The debt collectors had the wrong person. His credit report showed a $12,000 debt -- for Michael B. Hughes. They even worked at the same company. And now one's money troubles were dragging down the other's credit.
"They don't give a flip," Michael L. Hughes said. "They're not paying people to sit in an office and correct people's mistakes. They're in there to collect money."
Credit experts liken the incident to a financially dangerous game of tag that has become increasingly common as consumer-default rates hit record highs. Debt tagging prompted a Federal Trade Commission investigation of Credit Bureau Collection Services, or CBCS. The company agreed to pay more than $1 million to settle charges that it violated federal law by inaccurately reporting credit information and by pressing consumers to pay debts they often did not owe.
Hard times for consumers have meant boom times for debt collectors. And some can get their hooks into people who have never missed a debt payment.
Sometimes, as in the case of Hughes, they go after people with the same names as those who owe money. They might also relentlessly call wrong phone numbers, hoping to pry information out of whoever answers. Some finagle enough identifying information to make people seem liable for debts they never owed.
In the uncertain economy, people are especially sensitive to anything that can hurt their credit rating. The FTC said it recognizes that third-party collectors contact millions of people each year, and it receives more complaints about the debt-collection industry than about any other.
In its 2010 annual report on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the FTC said it received 119,364 complaints about third-party and in-house debt collectors in 2009, up from 104,766 the previous year. To be sure, people who receive mistaken calls from debt collectors don't always report anything to regulators. In Hughes's case, he contacted fraud resolution specialist Identity Theft 911 to help repair the damage to his credit report. He said he hasn't heard from collectors since.
Mark Schiffman, spokesman for the Minneapolis-based credit and collection trade group ACA International, said the FTC does not separate consumer inquiries from complaints. He added that his agency has always worked with the FTC to get more clarity on its complaint data, but that it hasn't happened yet. "There are complaints, but we take them seriously and are resolving them to the satisfaction of our consumers," he said.
J. Reilly Dolan, assistant director of the FTC's Division of Financial Practices in Washington, said his team made a point of bringing the CBCS case.
"It's not an isolated incident," Dolan said. "We want a case out there to make sure everyone understands it's not acceptable." He said the FTC expects to continue challenging such practices.
Kristin Mack Deuber, a spokeswoman for CBCS, said that the FTC's allegations involved activities that took place years ago, from 2005 to 2007, and the settlement didn't necessarily constitute a finding or admission by the company that it violated the law.


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Twitter recently lost its “real” blue checkmarks, but there’s no need to be sad because now Gmail has similar verification icons that actually mean something. The new blue checkmarks will help you determine if a sender is genuine or if they might be a fraudster. Therefore, you now see a blue checkmark next to the name when you receive an email from a company that has verified its identity.
The checkmark is Google’s latest implementation of the technology Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI). Google began testing BIMI in Gmail in 2020. Initially, it enabled brands enrolled in BIMI to include authenticated logos in their emails.
When you hover over the blue checkmark in Gmail, you’ll see a popup that says the sender of the email has verified that they own the domain the message was sent from and the logo in the profile picture.


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By Matt Gerardi
Welcome back to The Roundup, the New York Videogame Critics Circle’s weekly look at our members’ writing and news from around the world of videogames. This week, our writers recount their run-ins with some interesting VR experiments, introduce us to Amazon’s first big videogame release, and get the skinny on all those weird Intel CPU names. Plus, more on our fundraiser podcast with Reggie, and our young writers review Neversong and Good Job!
As a noted connoisseur of virtual reality, interactive theater, and escape rooms, Scott Stein is just about the best person on Earth to be giving us the skinny on a strange project that combines all three into a new kind of VR experience. That’s what Adventure Labs is promising with its virtual escape rooms, collaborative puzzle games that pair a team of VR-headset-wearing players with a live actor who takes the roles of guide and antagonist. Scott took a look at the first of the company’s games, a cartoony little adventure called Dr. Crumb’s School for Disobedient Pets, and found it a novel, fun experience, albeit one that can’t quite live up to its real-world counterpart. The kicker, according to Scott, is the price tag for a single session, which, at $100 for a group of four, might not be worth the virtual trip.
Elizabeth Ballou was one of nearly 20,000 New York University graduates who, as the COVID outbreak escalated, suddenly found themselves without a graduation ceremony and without the NYU tradition of Grad Alley, a “pre-graduation tradition of eating, drinking, and watching performances at the NYU campus right off Washington Square Park,” as she describes it in an essay for Waypoint. (That’s to mention nothing of the many thousands more students who were forced out of their dormitories into difficult or potentially dangerous living situations.) What the university offered instead was VR Grad Alley, an attempt to create a virtual space for communing and celebrating with your fellow displaced graduates that ended up being so empty and embarrassing Elizabeth came to see it as “a perfect representation of NYU’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
This week saw the release of Crucible, the first major console or PC game to come out of the Amazon Games Studio initiative the company launched way back in 2012. Speaking with industry experts and analysts, Annie Pei broke down everything you need to know about the game, where it fits within Amazon’s media-domination ambitions, and the challenges Crucible faces, particularly in a year where Call of Duty and Riot’s Valorant are shaking up the free-to-play shooter world.
Have you ever wondered where the code names for Intel’s computer processors comes from? Coffee Lake, Whiskey Lake, Cascade Lake—it’s all very strange and meaningless, when you think about it. Well, Michelle Ehrhardt was thinking about it, and set out to figure out what, if anything, it all means. Through interviews with past and present Intel employees, she got a few very different answers: one being a standard company line about North American landmarks and relevance to the teams that develop the chips in question; the other leading to a much bigger discussion about marketing, secrecy, and consumer obfuscation.
On the Circle site this week, our senior intern Ronald Gordon shared his thoughts on Neversong, a moody action game that, despite its cute exterior, gets stranger and more discomforting as it goes along. Ronald compared it to a thrilling, chillingly escalating fever dream. “It starts off hopeless, gives you the slightest glimmer of something good, and then takes it away before you can grasp it,” he said.
While Ronald was navigating Neversong’s twisting inner journey, Isaac Espinosa was having an absurdly fun day at the office in the madcap puzzle game Good Job! Isaac loved the freedom the game gives players, allowing you to turn mundane office-space demands into wacky, physically impossible stunts. And while he didn’t find it to be a perfectly consistent ride, it was “still a wonderful bundle of charming and catastrophic fun,” he said.
Finally, we couldn’t possibly pass up an opportunity to mention Talking Games with Reggie and Harold, our official podcast featuring Circle founder Harold Goldberg, Circle board member Reggie Fils-Aimé, and their special guests. The show has been put together to help our organization raise money for students in need and, this week, saw the release of its exciting second episode, which featured an appearance by Xbox head Phil Spencer.
From Beyond The Circle
In the wake of SimCity’s success, government agencies and corporations were flooding the developers at Maxis with requests to make specialized simulation games. One of these proposals, a simulation of Chevron’s oil refineries, actually made it to a playable state, but never made it to the public eye—until just this month. That’s when archivist Phil Salvador, after years of research, published a sprawling article about the short-lived Maxis Business Simulations division, its creation of SimRefinery, and its subsequent spinning-off from Maxis and second life as Thinking Tools. It’s a fascinating, vital story, helping to preserve a bit of gaming history that was destined for erasure. Its publishing has even led to the unearthing of a floppy disk containing SimRefinery itself.
Writing for The Guardian, Sarah Maria Griffin penned a short, lovely essay about the value and warmth of sidequests in games, a feature that so often goes overlooked, underappreciated, or just flat out poorly. But the thing about sidequests, she argues, is that when so much of gaming narrative is spent worrying about massive world-ending calamities and mythical battles of good and evil, it’s the small, personal kindnesses they represent that end up giving stories the emotional texture and memorable moments they need. “Whether we’re talking role-playing epics such as Final Fantasy and The Witcher, or indie adventures such as Night in the Woods and Iconoclasts, it is off the beaten path that the stories gain their power,” she writes.
It’s no secret that white supremacists have long used a warped view of Europe in the Middle Ages as a sort of “origin story for whiteness,” as one Medieval scholar once put it. That image of a lily-white, culturally and militarily supreme Europe is, of course, drawn completely from hate and delusion, rather than any sort of historical accuracy. This has caused problems for a number of developers whose games pull from that setting, particularly Paradox, whose beloved simulation Crusader Kings 2 was adopted by these groups as a way to live out their white supremacist fantasies and indirectly became a potential doorway to radicalization for some players. Medium’s OneZero blog recently published a great piece from Medieval historian David M. Perry that talks through this phenomenon and the changes Paradox is implementing in Crusader Kings 3 in the hopes of pulling the game as far from these groups as possible.
That’ll do it for this week’s Roundup. Thank you for reading. Stay safe. Stay healthy. We’ll see you next week.
Matt Gerardi is a writer from New York, the former games editor at The A.V. Club, and a member of the New York Videogame Critics Circle.


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Global semiconductor chip Crunch has taken a second bite Peugeot 3008 And 5008.
Peugeot Australia has adjusted to another “specification” of its top-spec 3008 and 5008 SUV models, as it removes more convenient features due to the lack of semiconductors.
A spokesman for Peugeot Citroen Australia has confirmed that the 2022 Peugeot 3008 GT Sport and 5008 GT Sport will miss a wireless charger from June, as well as the Power Telgate from August onwards.
“Despite our continued efforts to provide our customers with the best possible experience, and to help reduce the impact on vehicle availability, an adjustment has been made to the specification of the MY22 Peugeot 3008 and 5008 ranges,” a Peugeot Citroen Australia spokesperson said in a statement.
“Since the arrival of June, wireless charging will not be included in all variants of the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 ranges, and since the arrival of August, all variants of the Peugeot 3008 and Peugeot 5008 ranges will not include electric tailgates.”
A Peugeot Citroen Australian spokesman confirmed that no retrofit solution is available for any of these features.
They encouraged customers to talk to their local Peugeot retailer about the specifics of their 3008 and 5008 orders.
This latest development is based on the high-spec 3008 and 5008 models that are lost in the focal premium sound system due to a “production irregularity” that is understood due to material shortages and production limitations.
A Peugeot Citroen Australia spokesperson confirmed that the Focal Premium sound system is not yet available in SUV models.
For context, the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUVs are related – but the latter is a boxer, seven-seater version.
Despite missing features due to the lack of semiconductors, the price of both the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 remains unchanged before being asked on-road.
The 2022 Peugeot 3008 The range begins $ 47,240 before on-road costs For Mohan And extends to $ 79,990 before on-road costs For GT Sport PHV.
The 2022 Peugeot 5008 The range begins আগে 61,940 before on-road costs For GT Sport Patrol And extends to $ 62,990 before on-road costs For GT Sport Diesel.
Although the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 lost feature features due to a lack of semiconductors, Peugeot recently removed side thorax airbags and adaptive cruise control from its specialist commercial van.
To read an evolutionary list of brands and models currently affected by semiconductor deficiencies, Click here.
More: Everything Peugeot 3008
More: Everything Peugeot 5008


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Intel Partners With ARM Chip Maker Rockchip on Tablet Products
The deal with Rockchip is aimed at accelerating the adoption of Intel chips by device OEMs, according to officials. Intel introduced the SoFIA road map last year; the products will be the first to include the wireless modems on the chip. Currently, Intel sells chips with discrete modems, but integrating the modems onto the chip will help device makers create smaller and cheaper tablets and smartphones, which are increasingly popular in such emerging markets as China, India and Brazil. The new SoFIA chips—as with those already in the works—will be manufactured by contract chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), though Intel reportedly plans to begin manufacturing SoFIA SoCs at its own facilities in 2016. Intel is also investing a lot of money and energy in China. In April, the company announced a $100 million fund and plans to build a design center in China designed to fuel the adoption of Intel chips in smart devices, such as smartphones, tablets, wearable computers and new PC form factors. "The China technology ecosystem will be instrumental in the transformation of computing," Krzanich said at the Intel Developer Forum in China. "To help drive global innovation, Intel will stay focused on delivering leadership products and technologies that not only allow our partners to rapidly innovate, but also deliver on the promise that 'if it computes, it does it best with Intel'—from the edge device to the cloud, and everything in between.""This is a win-win strategy, giving Intel a massively expanded sphere to sell chips to (via Rockchip) in the rapidly growing low-end tablet market, primarily Android-based," Gold wrote. "This gives Intel a better ability to compete against the ARM ecosystem." For Rockchip, the deal gives it "a huge competitive advantage against its many rivals in the fabless semiconductor space who don't have the ability to access the huge amounts of strategic IP available from Intel, as well as the potential for Rockchip to use Intel's foundry services for customized designs (which also benefits Intel by filling its fabs)."
Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates, said in a note that the deal with Rockchip makes sense for both companies.


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LAS VEGAS, NAB Show 2017, Booth N5924: Starfish Technologies, a pioneer in broadcast ad insertion technology, today announced that is has joined forces with Bridge Digital, a US service and support business, that provides and manages professional services and technology solutions for the media and entertainment industries.
The alliance will help Starfish support the increasing demand for its wide range of technology for ad insertion; regional programme replacement; transport stream splicing and processing; multi-platform delivery and much more.
The new office, located in Nashville, Tennessee is headed by President and Founder Richie Murray who said, “We help media businesses create, manage, distribute and monetize video assets more effectively, and Starfish Technologies’ products are a perfect parallel for those endeavours. We are delighted to be working with them as they expand their presence in the growing US market for their technologies, most specifically, their acclaimed TS Splicer ad insertion software.”
Starfish Marketing Director Peter Blatchford added, “TS Splicer’s clear advantages are gaining significant traction in the U.S. and the time has come to offer local support as we continue to add new features appropriate for the ever-growing range of application areas.
Also at NAB, we are launching a new product, a transport stream switch, which builds on our expertise in this area and adds another ground-breaking product for customers implementing IP-based content delivery systems. We are delighted to have Bridge Digital’s knowledgeable and experienced team of experts on the ground to support the new TS Switch, along with our other transport stream processing products in this crucial market.”
- CJP Broadcast forms partnership with AOTO for LED volumes - January 25, 2023
- EditShare implements two highly resilient storage networks in the UAE - January 23, 2023
- Spicy Mango is delighted to announce that Dyn Media selects Gameday™ for their new service to launch in summer 2023 - January 16, 2023


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Louis Ragy joins Rizzy Home as national account manager
Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 26, 2012
CALHOUN, Ga. — Rizzy Home, a rug, textiles and furniture source, has hired Louis Ragy as its national account manager.
"Louis brings many years of experience in sales and product development that will help grow our business," said Mark Ferullo, vice president of Rizzy Home. "He has both textile and rug experience that will contribute to the success of Rizzy Home."
Ragy has worked as senior vice president of sales for Beaulieu of America's textile division, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Tradeam, and as president and CEO of Smartful Rugs and Textiles. According to Rizzy Home, he has specialized knowledge of the international rug and textile markets, marketing and sales, and product development, and has worked with top U.S. retailers.
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FTTV: Frontline Friday From F/T


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Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Influencers have drawn in a great deal of revenue from financial backers and merchants all around the world over the most recent couple of years. With the progression of time, Indians have likewise entered this industry, and we currently have a huge number of bitcoin powerhouses that advance the worth and need of digital currencies and have brought in cash from their ventures.
A portion of these Indian figures has been essential in instructing the young about blockchain and its utilizations, while others have been unbelievably occupied with spreading crypto mindfulness. The most remarkable Indians in the crypto/blockchain world, as we would see it.
What is Cryptocurrency?
Computerized monetary standards are alluded to as digital currencies. To manage exchanges and issue new “coins,” they utilize computerized cryptography. Bitcoin and other digital forms of money are engaging because they are decentralized. As such, neither banks nor state-run administrations have command over cash access. States and banks, then again, can all the more effectively impact government-issued money.
Altcoins are Bitcoin options that number in large numbers. Bitcoin’s underlying thought has been based upon other cryptographic forms of money like Ethereum and Ripple, which have set up changes in their monetary standards to help particular employments. Meanwhile, visit this site to begin exchanging cryptographic money.
Crypto Adoption in India
For the digital money business in India, the year 2021 has been exciting. As Ethereum and other altcoins experienced bullish energizes in a steady progression, Bitcoin set new standards, driving the crypto market to new highs. As indicated by studies, the popularity of cryptocurrency in India has sped up significantly. Indeed, even level 2 and level 3 urban areas have shown that computerized monetary standards are all the more broadly acknowledged.
Also, this extension is occurring notwithstanding the public authority’s absence of administrative activity. In all actuality, the RBI and other government authorities from the money office set out to boycott all private digital currencies at the colder time of year meeting of Parliament last year. It is probably correct that the idea of digital currency has dazzled Indian financial backers.
1. Balaji S. Srinivasan
Balaji S. Srinivasan, the previous CTO of Coinbase, is a private backer. Srinivasan was a Stanford University teacher who likewise helped to establish Counsyl, a genomics firm, with his master’s level college cohorts and sibling Ramji. The organization proceeded to turn into a significant achievement, checking the DNA of guardians in 3% of all US births.
Srinivasan established Earn.com, a Bitcoin mining organization, soon after Bitcoin was perceived. Earn.com was subsequently bought by Coinbase for an undisclosed amount of cash, setting Srinivasan in a situation as the organization’s CTO close by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. He is point of fact, one of our nation’s top crypto forces to be reckoned with.
2. Nischal Shetty
He began his calling in 2004 as a programmer. In 2017, at the time bitcoin was soaring, his advantage in Blockchain and digital currency took off. He helped to establish WazirX with Samir Mhatre and Siddharth Menon in 2018.
Nishcal drove the India Wants Crypto lobby after the RBI prohibited digital currency transactions through banking channels.
3. Ajeet Khurana
Ajeet Khurana, India’s driving bitcoin player, wears various caps. He is a private backer, tutor, TEDx speaker, creator, and an individual from the NASSCOM Start-Up Warehouse directing group, among numerous different achievements. This Blockchain Expert and Entrepreneur recently filled in as the Chairman of India’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee. He was likewise the past CEO of Zebpay, India’s first digital money trade. His enchanting methodology and energy for contributing have made him a prestigious TedX speaker and visitor speaker for an assortment of news sources.
4. Vignesh Sundaresan
Usually known as MetaKovan, is a computer programmer and Bitcoin very rich person from south India. Vignesh at first spent just roughly $5000, yet his confidence in Bitcoin was solid that he kept on contributing every single penny of his cash and dedicated all of his opportunity to set up Bitcoin organizations. He is right now an example of the rare type of person who has made an enormous profit in the Bitcoin world.
5. Tanmay Bhat
Tanmay Bhat, a humorist, and YouTuber is a bitcoin financial backer. He has made numerous films on different kinds of cryptographic forms of money and oftentimes examines them via online media, pointing out them.
4 Tips For Trading Cryptocurrency
The accompanying digital currency exchanging exhortation isn’t thorough and ought not to be viewed as expert venture counsel.
1. Put forth a benefit and misfortune objective for yourself
The simple however troublesome thing to comprehend is when to leave a Bitcoin bargain, whether or not it is productive. Setting a stop misfortune level, which can support the decrease of misfortunes, is an imperative attribute that all financial backers ought to have. In Addition, Benefits are in a comparable circumstance. Try not to become covetous; set benefits to focus too to hold everything under wraps.
2. Watch out for your dangers
Be shrewd enough not to pursue colossal wealth but instead to wait and gather little benefits while proceeding to exchange digital money consistently. In a less fluid market, it is smart to contribute less of your capital.
3. Enhancement is the best way to go
Since bitcoin is eccentrically unstable, broadening is the best way to deal with staying away from surenesses. At the point when BTC devalues against the dollar, any remaining coins deteriorate too, as well as the other way around. Broadening can be a fabulous instrument for making due in the digital currency market in the present circumstance.
4. Focus on market capitalization over moderateness
In Addition, Novices much of the time tragically buy a coin when the cost is low. Notwithstanding, the market size should overshadow reasonableness when choosing whether or not to put resources into cash. It is desirable to consider a coin’s market cap rather than its cost to choose whether or not to put resources into it. The bigger a coin’s market capitalization is, the better it is for digital currency exchange.
In Addition, Crypto is presently essential for mainstream society, with Elon Musk perhaps its most notable delegate. India has moved toward setting up an ideal administrative climate for its crypto markets. The overall population’s revenue in crypto seems to have flooded in light of the previously mentioned crypto forces to be reckoned with.


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Phone management stuff crammed into one user-friendly client.
O2 UK was among the first operators to see the value of an app that gives consumers a chance to monitor and control voice and text allowance, data consumption and more.
It launched the My O2 iPhone App in late 2009, which achieved almost two million downloads.
The Android version, built by MIG, includes the same user interface as the iPhone version and also features a simplified ‘Help’ section and a new ‘Extras’ section which gives users information on customer loyalty programmes such as O2 Priority Moments and other O2 related content.
In addition to this it also allows O2 customers to natively monitor their own data consumption, as well as manage their data bolt ons.
Niki Fearns, senior self service experience manager at O2, said: “Customer centred design is at the heart of our approach to self service and the My O2 app.
"Our customers have been asking for native data consumption for a long time and not only can we now fulfil this but we can also provide the app on another software platform, Android."


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with the change of people’s thinking, the implementation of national policies, coupled with the current rapid development of the entrepreneurial market, women’s entrepreneurship has become more and more common things. Moreover, local governments in order to support women entrepreneurship, but also the establishment of a variety of related service centers. Xingtai Qiaodong District Women’s handicraft service center established in this case, will help more women to achieve entrepreneurial dream.
8 on the morning of 28 July, held in Xingtai Qiaodong District Women’s handicraft Service Center inaugurated. Chen Bing, chairman of the Xingtai women’s Federation, Qiaodong District executive vice mayor of Xingtai and Qiaodong District, co founded the women’s home service center inaugurated, President Chen Bing delivered a speech at the ceremony.
in recent years, Qiaodong District attaches great importance to the development of family handicraft industry, increasing support, so that the handicraft industry has made considerable progress. In a cordial guidance of Qiaodong district government’s strong leadership and the Municipal Women’s Federation, Qiaodong District Women’s Federation to carry out the women’s entrepreneurial action, build women’s handicraft industry development platform, and the Municipal Women’s Federation jointly build development service center of Xingtai city women’s handicraft industry, establish training bases for the development of Qiaodong district family handicraft industry.
in the hands of women in the lobby of the industrial service center, arts and crafts works, attracted many people stop to watch. "I have been busy at home yourself to do something, the service center is now established, not only can let me do something for everybody to show, can take this craft to make money, and now I can also be employed." A female merchant said at the scene.
it is understood that at present, including the old hand woven coarse cloth, hand, cheongsam ten family businesses have been successfully settled in the service center. In addition, Qiaodong District Women’s Federation as a carrier, since August 20th, every Saturday, Sunday launched a craft fair at the service center, actively recruiting vast handicraft enthusiasts to participate, providing a platform for the exchange of Arts and crafts enthusiasts, and show a rich variety of handicraft products to the general public.
is different from the male entrepreneurs, more women also need to take into account the family, and, they often cultural knowledge is not high, therefore, want to succeed in business, only choose the more appropriate project. In short, the establishment of women’s family handicraft industry service center to fully tap the Xingtai folk crafts, Qiaodong district to further promote the development of domestic industry, driven by more women is of great significance to achieve employment and entrepreneurship.


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Exchange your old coffee machine, get the CBTM Kaldi coffee machine at 50% off and help contribute to the survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan!
This is CBTL's way of expressing their biggest #thankyoufor50 treat for their 50th Anniversary celebration, and in light of the recent Super Typhoon Yolanda, CBTL has decided to donate 100% of all machine sales to all those affected by the typhoon. This will be done in cooperation with Red Cross PH, Habitat for Humanity, and Operation Blessing.
The Great Exchange event will be happening on November 15 - 17, 2013 at the following CBTL branches: 26th St. Bistro Net Lima, 26th St. Bistro Shangri-La and CBTL Coffee Bar Tuscany.
In trying times like this, help out in anyway you can. What you give out, always comes back a hundredfold.
Your pig out buddy,


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Aside from not getting enough exercise, I believe we’ve forgotten how to eat.
And we're so bombarded by mass media hype, that we're confused. Either way, we often end up eating emotionally, and for the wrong reasons.
To make matters worse, society has developed a fear of getting fat; so much so, that we spend more time and money than ever before battling that very issue – instead of maintaining a sensible eating plan for life.
We go from the 'low carb diet', 'no carb diet', 'best lose-weight-fast diet' to the 'no-fad diet' to the 'weight gain diet', the 'keto diet' and so on.
What defies all logic and reason – is that the number of people ‘on a diet’ is growing, yet obesity levels and public health spending continue to rise at alarming rates.
FOOD INDUSTRY ONSLAUGHT BY THE MEDIA
Why has the food which was previously so institutionalized, become so ostracized?
There's no shortage of 'hype' in the press regarding the food and beverage industries.
Of course, ensuring the quality-levels of specific ingredients is essential. By all means, let the consumer watch dogs loose, so they can monitor the manufacturing of processed foods – and the food industry as a whole.
However, many campaigns have caused widespread changes in so-called ‘junk food’ marketing because of claims that children are being targeted. To that I say:
"We as parents need be responsible and informed, in order to guide our children to make healthy choices and decisions."
There's been a lot publicity regarding advertising during kids’ television programs, and on what school cafeterias are dishing up. And while it's good to ensure our children are getting healthy types and portions of food for adequate growth and energy, it should not be overdone.
As Diane Abbott, British politician and former shadow minister for public health, puts it:
"Families are struggling against a tide of junk information on junk food."
Also, banning advertising will not make 'unhealthy' food go away.


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Food for thought on our future
Despite the Irish economy enduring its worst downturn since independence, food and drink -- our largest indigenous industry -- is booming. According to figures published yesterday by Bord Bia, Irish food and drink exports grew by 12pc to a record €8.85bn in 2011.
Of course it helps that food commodity prices are at close to record levels on international markets. However, that is only part of the story.
In addition to the traditional sectors such as beef and dairy, which recorded overseas sales of almost €2.8bn and €2.7bn respectively last year, we have the prepared foods sector.


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The iconic Four’N Twenty pie is celebrating its 70th birthday this year, and producer Patties Foods continues to watch the brand increase sales volumes.
In 2016, Four’N Twenty sold a staggering 21 million pies, pasties and sausage rolls, equating to more than 57,000 of the hot savoury pastries consumed each day in Australia
Four’N Twenty GM, Marketing & Innovation, Stuart Smyth said that sales of Four’N Twenty pies had grown by 19% in supermarkets, and 2% in convenience stores.
According to Smyth, meat pies have long been Australia’s favourite food because of their taste, convenience and value. He said that the continuing growth in Four’N Twenty sales has been driven by flavour innovations and increased quality.
Roy Morgan Research’s latest findings show the number of Australians (aged 14+) who like eating pies (and pasties) has grown from 8.1 million (42.6%) in 2013, to 9.4 million (47.5%): That’s almost one of every two Australian adults who enjoy meat pies – and Patties says that the number is growing.
Four’N Twenty began in 1947 when Mr LT McClure began baking “the most delicious meat pies in Bendigo”.
To keep up with orders, McClure opened a store at the Melbourne Showgrounds, before eventually building a larger bakery in Ascot Vale, where deliveries were sent to cities and towns all across Australia.
In 2003, Patties Foods bought the Four’N Twenty business and has grown the market by steadily increasing its ready-to-eat range to a staggering 41 variants today.
Overall it has become Australia’s biggest selling brand, with Four’N Twenty products making up four of the ten top-selling pies in the convenience channel (AACS SOI Report 2015-16).